The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-08-18
4 FFTIETH ANNIVERSARY WAR
81 F A MITCEEL.
merican Press Association)

merican Press Association).
him halter about his neck.
Hand over your guns" said the Of
ficer.
The guns were handed into the boat,
all except Jakey's shotgun.
"That other one too.''
sThat's only a shotgun, captain" said
Mark.
"Well, never mind the popgun."
Every moment the deserters looked
for Mark to declare his exalted posi-
ton on General Bragg's staff, but no
such declaration came. It seemed pos
sible to them that perhaps he would
not wish to disclose his identity to so
many. At any rate they said nothing.
Had it not been for his assumption
Mark would have applied to the cap
tain to let a poor countryman and his
little brother pass. Had he done SO
it is quite possible that the men he
had deceived, surmising that he was
a refugee like themselves, would not
have betrayed him; but Mark knew
that besides this danger the officers,
having found him in such company,
would not let him go.
Marks heart was heavy as the boat
in which he sat was pulled slowly
against the current to Chattanooga. He
realized that there was now no oppor-
tunity for his wits, on which he usual
" relied, to work. He was in the
hands of the enemy; he would not be
released without thorough question
ing, and he could say nothing that
would not tell against him.
On landing all were taken to the pro-
vost marshars Office. The soldiers ac-
knowledged that they were members OF
the til Tennessee regiment, but
stoutly denied that they were desert
ers. They were Union men. some OF
the northerners who had been impress
ed into the Confederate service, or
had enlisted for the purpose OF Tying
to the stars and stripes as soon as they
could get near enough to warrant an
attempt They were sent to their reg1-
ment under guard. As they were lea7-
ING one Of them said to Mark:
Il hope you'll keep your promise.
Mark did not reply; he had cherished
hope that they would be taken away
before anything would come out as to
his assumption Of authority.
What promise?" asked the provost
marshal quickly.
He's an officer on General Bragg's
staff. You ought to know him, colo
mel"
'sThe devilv' exclaimed the colonel.
"Oh, saw the men were doing
something they were ashamed of, and
I bluffed 'em to row me across said
Mark with assumed carelessness.
"Who are you?'
'T belong in east Tennessee"
"You don't belong to any such place.
You're not southern born at all. You
are Yankee. I thought you were only
trying to get north with these men;
now believe you are spy"
I'm a southern man, sarten," sa1o
Mark, with such GOODNESS that the OIL
Ger was for moment in doubt as to
his surmiSe.
"Let me hear you say New York"
New York"
'sNew York." repeated the colonel
ironically. IF you were a southern
man you'd say New Yawk. ! shall
have to hold you for further informa-
ton"
81 would like to go to my home in
Tennessee. I came here to buy a gun
for my brother. But if you won't let
me I'll have to stay with you, I sup
pose. Only hope you won't separate
US. Jakey's very young, and I don't
want to turn him adrift alone in
strange town"
II shall have to hold you till I can
report the case to headquarters said
the officer, and Mark and Jakey were
led away to a room in the house oc"
cupied by the provost marshal for pr1s-
oners temporarily passing through his
hands.
The reply that came to the announce
ment of the capture Of the citizen and
the boy was to hold them under vigil
liant guard. It was reported that Mark
had been personating all officer Of the
staff, and this looked very suspicious;
indeed quite enough so to warrant their
trying him for a spy by drumhead
court martial and executing him the
next morning.
Mark was searched and everything
of value taken from him. They went
through Jakey's pockets and felt of the
lining of his coat, but as he was
child the search was not very thorough,
or they would have found the bills IN
his boot. They took his gun, but by
this tine Jakey realized that there was
something more momentous than
squirrel gun at stake, and parted with
it without showing any great reluc-
tance. He realized that Mark, Tor
whom he had by this time conceived
regard little short of idolatry, was