The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-02-17

De ErNfliA asked, NhAi nave You kni
thercT and NJ the same time roughly
jerkcd the sack from the terrified boys
shoulder
plunging his arm into the sack, he
drew ont the United States nag Al
sight Of this the corporal shouted.
Spies -iraifarSg and danced about
wildly
IL was useless fof as TO tfy 10 sx.
plain 70 the infuflated man. and. TO
tell the truth. We were too badly
frightened 20 give good account of
ourselves
I'm going 10 carry you TO General
Beanrerard's headquarters" the cor
porai said. and you'll be shot as
spies.
We believed him. II was not, there
fore. with very good spirits that we
ptarted on our march 10 General Bean
regards headquarters.
We wished 10 throw our sacks away.
but our captors would not allow II, 80
/ we plodded along, our loads on our
backs aud the corporal constantly
threatening TO thrash us for our slow
ness
We turned out OF the turnpike into a
( crossroad ventured TO ask how far
/ General Beauregard's headquarters
I were and received a euff on the side OF
I the head from the corporal. asked
the other soldier II he would not carry
my sack behind him ON his horses
back little way. | believe he would
have done so II the corporal had not
forbidden It.
Just as We reached the top OF long
hill and was about TO drop from ia
tigue ! saw that we were near our
journeys end In front of us was
large building which before the days
Of railroads had been roadside Inn.
Two guards slowly marched back and
forth before the tumbledown steps
that led TO the porch which extended
across the front OF the house and
which was now crowded with sol
diers, apparently couriers and order
lies.
As we reached the porch the soldiers
began 20 rally the corporal upon his
baby prisoners" He made no reply,
but staIked pompously through the
open door after instructing his com
panlon to hold us.
This was a useless instruction. We
needed no holding except as we were
receiving from the floor of the porch,
upon which we had fallen completely
exhausted and where we remained un-
I'll the corporal came out to summon
US to the presence of General Beaure-
gard.
Bring the sacks yelled the corpo-
raj as we started In without them.
! am certain that no murderers ever
went TO receive sentence OF death with
weaker knees than we had as we were
pushed into the presence Of General
Beauregard
! had my eyes shut, but opened
them when l heard low, kindly voice
saying, "well, my boys. what Is the
troubleT
| saw seated at little pine table a |
dapper little man In q gray uniform. |
with small mustache and imperial and |
kind looking brown eyes. He was
smiling straight into my eyes, and be-
fore l knew what ! was doing | was
smiling, too, and thinking that our
lives were safe In the hands of man
u,ka onuId emile, lII,a fhat
Behind the general several men were
busily engaged in writing, and scat
tered around the room were officers
whom took to be members Of the
stan.
Every one was smiling In the pleas
ATTEST way. In fact, the only III ma
tured man In the room was the cor
poral who had brought us In.
"Well. WE'LL" the general repeated.
what is the trouble?'
The corporal began to answer but
the general said: Il have had your
story. Now want the boys side"
Jack was much encouraged. He step
ped forward and told straightfor-
Nuld oltil Va tHt way III WHICH w
had been arrested and Of the cor
poral's brutal treatment of lis.
Shameful said the general as he
looked at the corporal with angry
eyes. Then. turning to Jack again, he
said kindly, Now tell me where you
got the flag and other things
I'VE got them from General Buffers
abandoned camp on Shippen's farm
said Jack promptly.
What! Are you telling the TRUTH
excitedly asked the general as he
jumped up and walked around to
where we were standing. At the same
time the room was filled with the
sound Of rattling swords as the officers
approached.
Yes, sir, am telling the truth"
Jack answered proudly. looking the
general straight in the eyes. Contin-
uing. he told the whole story from be
ginning TO end. not forgetting the din
ner We had eaten In General Buffers
kitchen tent
General Beauregard held q whisper
ed consultation with the officers pres
ent, and they soon hurried out Turn
ing TO the corporal. the general said
''ln view of the important Information
these boys have given the ! forgive
your foolish arrest and brutal treat
ment Of them You may 60"
The corporal went out, crestfallcn. \
By this time II had grown quite dark.
and the military clerks were writing
by the light OF tallow candles. Gen
erai Bcauregard turned to one Of them
and gave instructions Ia low tone,
We sat down on bench at the dark
side OF the room. apparently forgotten.
Presently the general walked over
TO where we were sitting and. placing
his hand on my head. said. Il suppose
you boys are anxious TO get homer
Yes, sir" we answered. both ~
once.
"Well. will send you home In my
Meantime accept my ,
thanks for the important information |
You have brought me."
We drove home. the happiest boys /
IN the world. in General Beauregard's !
!. ..r....s.. a,..as,.fas,re psffh ,aur ser,.rlaffg