The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-12-31

the matter with Morgan had made him
abandon his design for fear that Confed-
crates might examine the bearer SO, for
the contrary reason, lest Squire should
fall into Federal hands, the Lieutenant
had decided to write no letter to his broth
er, and simply charged the old man with
verbal messages of kindness.
In these parts every footpath was
familiar to the negro. every farmers face
and name. North of the Manassas Rail-
| road he had no fear OF molestation. As
for Federals, he had confidence that they
were having enough to do to resist Stuart,
whose cannon could now be heard with
greater distinctness. -'
'Wondeh eff dat boys a-gwine to do
wat he promus.d," was the old mans
| thought. "He done went back avn me
oveh in Mellan' and Penns' yania, an!
amt had no 'scuse feh, mixin' up wild him
no moe. De good book hit say dat ef a
man tell you one lie he tell you thou
san, an b'lieve hits right. gwine to
wait fuh him, but not q a-gwine. to wait
tell git c0tch, now / let shu know dat"
western edges Of Bull Run Mountains,
the intermittent sound OF cannon grew
and grew, and from the varied sounds he
knew the discharges came from no one
spot: some were much nearer than others;
| they seemed to be pounding along a great
iiuc stretching east anu west.
At noon he was near HOpewell. He
must halt at the junction of the two roads
where he had given Barney rendezvous.
lie would turn into the woods that he
might be secreted from view, and watch
toward the north for Barney's coming.
At his left was natural hiding-place, a
tumble-dOwn fence with great bushes and
brlers. He rode to an opening and then
turned toward the chosen spot, but as he
turned hQ hofnro hin, IoJ
and haltered, head to earth, eating; and
at the next breath he saw the dismounted
rider spring up--Barney.
Yes, Unc Squiah, done got ahead of
you feh 0ncet: jest ben a-watchin' of
you, an | seed jn was a-thinking dat dat
you wait. Yah! yah! Now, Unc Squah,
tell de tro0fr'
"Bahney. boy. you 'peahs to be mighty
high sperrited bout some h m.-you does,
feh true. Whah you git dat boss, Bah
neyw
Il got i'm jest whah you got yo'n, Unc
Squiah; dah now" and Bahney laughed
again.
Squire had also dismounted and was
getting ready to feed.
dat hoss you got Bahney. hit seem
to mo dat l done seed dat hoss befo'e
now."
"Mebbe you did. Unc Squiah."
boy. now come you git dis hOSS!"
Don't shu fret shOse'f about dat, Unc
Squiah; i got i'm. An it gwine to take
| good mans two hund'ed dollahs in COLE
| to git i'm. too, Unc Squiah."
An, izh you gwine to sell i'm to dc
Confeddicks!'
Oats jest what lows to do. But
l make you good swap, Unc Squiah, il
You wants him.
Squire coveted the horse, which was a
much better one than his Own-coveted
him for Mahs Charley; but he shook his
head; he had no money to spare.
They made start. Squire insisted on
keeping out Of the main roads: for though
when alone he had had no fear in this
quarter, now, with a companion dressed
in blue, he was afraid lest suspicion be
aroused; moreover, one negro is an limo.
cent slave on some mission for his mas.
ter. but two constitute an insurrection.
In the woods the progress was slower
Neither had definite intention beyond
| thoss OF avoiding the Federal cavalry. and
getting into the Confederate lines They
heard guns, but knew not whether their
own approach was toward the backs of
Union troops or those of Southerners.
1 From time to time Barney bantered
| Squire for q horse trade, but the older
man invariably answered that he would
swap even. or not at ALL while the younger
wanted $50 in gold.
| Dusk was failing and they were still
on the western edge Of the mountains, but