The Marshall republican., 1911-10-05

nv sVh ottV IVA tOhtt Dnth
"Sarten. cap"
Mark moved away. and Il wos not
until he had got out of sight that he
realized he had run n great risk. for
he saw that the captain would have
detained him had he not believed In
his sincerity about enlisting.
Mark went straight to the hotel and
paid his bill. He feared the recruiting
officer might send for him or have him
followed. so without waiting to eat his
supper he made n package Of his pur-
chases. Jakey took his gun and slung
his powder and shot flask owe his
shoulder. Then the two left the hotel
to begin an attempt to leave Chatta-
noogn. Their stay had been only from
sunrise to sunset but Mark had gained
all the information he was likely to
acquire and was anxious to get away
with II. True. he did not know where
the enemy would strike. but this he
would not DO likely 10 learn.
Going down to the ferryboat they
found a boat which had all II could do
TO carry the soldiers and citizens who
were crossing. Mark thought he would
try what assurance would do In get.
ting across without a pass. He found
the guard moro wntchful than he ex-
pccted. W. ~
"Can't y''pass me n my lcctle broth.
er. lieutenant" he asked. I'VE ben
dozen some trnden in Chattanoogy and
want ter git home. We ben buyen
some caiiker for the ONE folks"
"old Bragg himself couldn't go over
without n pass" responded the officer.
"whar mougbt I git one2" asked
Mark.
AT headquarters. I reckon"
Mark turned away. lie considered
the expcdiency Of going to headquar-
tiers and asking for n pass. but re.
garded this course fraught with too
much risk. lie determined to make an
attempt to get out Of town and across
the river by the route over which he
had entered. lie knew the ground by
this route. and that was a great ndvan-
tnge. lf no could stenl his way be-
you'd the picket he could doubtless nnd
n method OF crossing. Perhaps be
might make his way down tho river
and across to Shell mound. or. still
lower. TO the mouth or Battle creek.
held by the Union forces.
Mark skirted the town on the west.
and then took n course directly south
till he came 10 the railroad. This he
followed TO n point near where no had
~bivouacked the night before. Crawling
TO n rise In the ground and motioning
Jakey to keep back. he laid down on
his stomach 10 make a survey.
1t was nearly dark. Silhouettes Of
figures were passing between him and
a campfire beside the railroad track.
Beyond. the palisades Of Lookout
mountain stood out boldly against a
streak Of twilight In the west. Be-
tween the track and the river was an
open space. over which he must pass
to get by the picket. The river bank
would AFFORD some protection. Near
where he was 1t was steep. and the
current set directly against It. but
lower down by the picket there ap.
peared to DO places where a man
could walk under the low blum.
The moon was about three-quarters
full, and the night was clear except
for clouds that would Loaf lazily over
Lookout mountain and across the
moons face. 70 that at times her light
was partly obscured.
Calling Jakey. he gave him an nc.
count OF what he intended to try for.
and told him that II 1t should be neces-
sary to run under fire the boy was to
lie down. and. IL advisable. give him.
self up. but on no account to risk be-
Ing shot. Jakey only half promised.
and Mark a obliged 10 be satisfied
with this. Then. waiting for a cloud
20 obscure the moon. he led the way
to the river bank, which he proposed
to skirt He left his bundle. but took
Jakey's gun. loaded and capped. In his
hand. They DOR gained the point
where they had landed the night be-
~fore-nearly opposite where Mark had
seen the sIlhouettes on the railroad.
Treading as noiselessly as possible,
they passed along the river margin un-
der the o~verhanging bank until they
anne to a place where the bank was
low. STOPPING. they proceeded Cor a
short distance TIL they reached the
root of a tree that had been felled long
before. Here they paused and listened.
Suddenly they heard what sounded
like a musket brought from the shout
der down to tile hollow Of a hand, and
q voice: an nlAls
sWho pine thar" Ar
Corporal OF the guard. with relief"
advance, corporal, and give the
c~ountersign."
Then there was some muttering and
Footsteps tramping away.
Mark peeped between the roots Of
the stump toward the point from which
che sounds had como. ne saw. not Z
hundred feet away. 4 man sitting On q
los with hia mpsket resting against
hia ihOunar thu hufk on thu around.