The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-11-10

We're crossing. Mark thought he woulG
try what assurance would do in get
ting across without n pass. He found
the guard more watchful than he ex
pected.
Cant " pass me n my leetle broth
er. lieutenant?" he asked. I'VE ben
dozen some tradcn in Chattanooga and
want ter git home. We ben buyen
some caliker for the women folks"
"Oid Bragg himself couldn't 20 over
without a pass" responded the officer.
"Whar mought l git oney" asked
Mark.
Eat headquarters. I reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered
the expediency Of going to headquar-
tiers and asking for a pass. bat re-
garded this course fraught with too
much risk He determined to make an
attempt to get out of town and across
the river Ivy the route over which he
had entered He knew the ground by
this route. and that was a great adyan
tage. If he could steal his way be
yond the picket he could doubtless find
a method Of crossing. Perhaps he
might make his way down the river
and across TO Shell mound, or. still
lower. To the mouth of Battle creek
held by the Union forces.
Mark 5kitted The town on the west.
and then took a curse directly south
till he came - the railroad This IA"
followed 10 a po@.t lear whore he had
hivop#cted Tie Hi int before. Crawline
to Il ri*" ID The ground aud motioniue
Jakcy 10 keep back. he laid down on
his stomarG to make a survey.
1t was nearly dark. S%ilhouettes of
figures We're passing between him and
Il campfire beside the railroad track.
BEYOND, the palisades Of Lookout
mountain stood out boldly against n
streak of twilight in the west. Be
tween the track and the river was an
open space. over which he must pass
70 get by the picket. The river bank
would afford some protection. Near
where he was it was steep. and the
lower down by the picket there ap-
peared to be places where a man
could walk under the low bluff.
The moon was about three-quarters
full. and the night was clear except
for clouds that would float lazily over
moons face. s that at times her light
was partly obscured.
Calling Jakey. he gave him an &C
coun of what he intended to try for,
and told him that il it should be neces.
Sary TO run under fire the boy was to
lie down. and, If advisable. give him,
self up. but on no account to risk be-
ing shot. Jakey only half promised.
and Mark was obliged to be satisfied
with this. Then. waiting for a cloud
TO 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 soon gained the point
where they had landed the night be-
~fore-nearly opposite where Mark had
e the s~ilhouettes on the railroad.
Treading as noiselessly ~ possible.
they passed along the river margin I'M
der the ov%erhanging bank until they
came to a place where the bank was
ow, STOPPING. they proceeded for q
short distance till they reached the
roo 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 the hollow Of a hand, and
a voice:
:WhO comes thar!
Corporal Of the guard. with relief"
advance. corporal. and give the
countersign.'
Then there WAS some muttering and
footsteps tramping away.
Mark peeped bet the roots Of
the stump toward the point from which
the sounds had come. He saw. not a
hundred feet away. 4 man sitting on a
log With his mmsket resting against
his shoulder. the butt on the ground.
He n looking listiessly up at the
sky. Presently be tor a clay pipe out
of his pocket. which he filled. and
touching a match lighted 1t.
files the river picket" said Mark to
himself.
The sentinel sat smoking while Mark
meditnted. His first thought a Why
did | bring this boy? The situation
was perilous enough without an en-
cumbrance. The guard was facing the
space over which they would have to
pass to escape: there might be a slight
chance for life to make a dash we're
he alone. but with the boy 1t vas MOI
to he thought of. and Mark was un-
willing to leave him. He looked back
with a view to %retracing the route over
which he had ome He was Mortified
to see a sentinel pacing a hundred
yards above. He had peer placed there
by the relief.
The only hope was to wait for the
man nearest him to relax his watchful-
ness. and attempt to pass him. The
sentinel up the river was not to be
feared except by going back. for from
the nature of the ground the fugitives