The National tribune., 1904-03-17

nous duty. / was glad Plain John Jones
was with me. He was good company.
Before noon he had chased mp cotton-tails
| until thought there was no end Of them
He picked quart OF berries, and found
quairs nest with Is eggs in it. He took
fee, then unrolIed q mysterious package he
had carried. spread the paper in shady
place, and we had fine dinner OF cold
fried chicken, biscuits thanks to Auntie),
eggs, wild berries and coffee.
He watched while I ate; said he wasn't
hungry. ~.
"I'm, going to leave for Meade's army
this evening" he said, leaning against a
tree and scanning the road and field in
front.
| / didn't answer at once. had begun
| to like the boy, and was really sorry to
hear that he was going; "How do you ex-
Before he could answer the report OF
rife rang out clear on my left. jumped
up instantly and ran to the road, but could
see no living thing In either direction. The
road was higher than the fields on either
| side, and / could see nothing there. l
whistled for Wilson; then called; the echo
this was q situation calling for caution.
Stationing Jones in the road to watch, l
crept along the fence, watching both the
| field and woods. Wilson was nowhere to
be seen. stopped to think and listen.
Just at that instant Jones screamed. i
looked around-into the muzzles Of three
rifles not 10 PAGES away in the woods.
The rebels laughed at my discontinue,
but 1t was no joke to me. The terrors Of
Andersonville doomed up before me and
sent chill up and down my spine. They
at once relieved me Of what property
had belonging to Uncle Sam.
One of them pointed his rife and called
L ~ Uak ho
side me. as unperturbed as il nothing I'M
usual had happened. Another OF the trio
grabbed my hat and threw his greasy one
| at my feet. gave it kick in utter dis
gust, and picked up q plantain leaf, which
I used instead.
While two OF them tied my hands be.
hind me, the third made dive for Jones
hat, but he lodged. The little fellow then
grabbed his hat in both hands, and pulling
| il tight over his face, began to cry.
Leave the cub aione!' commanded the
| leader. This is no time for play. Go tell
Jake and Sam to bring the other one up
| to the road; then see il Bob and Lee have
Of your'n till tina warts draps off!
Wilson Thames, who had fred an inef-
| fectiye shot at them, was brought in, tied
1 as was. We hay here In the shade for
half an hour or more. Next, the one
named Lee came. They had a whispered
Il
through the woods. leaving Lee and Jake
to guard US.
1 Lee was particularly kind and pleas.
| ant. We chatted about other things than
war. told him about the chicken and
biscuits / had left on the other side Of the
boy Jones after the food. They were
hungry, and, much to my surprise, FOL.
lowed my suggestion. Jones disappeare
behind the embankment-the men didn',
even look In his direction: they didn't seem
to care il he got away or not. hoped hs
would take advantage OF this chance, blu,
to my disappointment and chagrin he re
Appeared In q few minutes with the Vi
ands
4 After eating, they released our hand,
and marched rs to Williamsport, which
place we found full OF rebel soldiers. THAI
afternoon two other prisoners, who said
they had been captured the day before
we were marched Eve miles, to HagesI
i town.
1t was yet tight. We were takeu
through by-road to the edge Of town and
put in an open Geld, with huge oak neal
its center. Other prisoners-eight or 10
REG: there. Some women of the Sol
dierS Relief Society, Of Hagerstown
brought food, which the guards allowed q,
to take, and expressed much sorrow at on,
predicament. They also took watches and
other valuables from some of the prisoners
and promised to send them home. or keer
them safely until called for. Plain John
Jones wrote lsttar home, and ave Il h
the ladies to forward. gave Them mr.
4 watch and asked them to Keep Il Tor me
told Jones to lie down and xet Seme
sleep. but no couldn't The sltuafion was
novel one to him. ale was tho mosi
?ubilant prisoner I sysr saw. ] thought
he was too y0fnR to sn6nrafera ~
scoidsd him Cor not attsapting 10 rel