The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-28

try what assurance would do in get
ting across without a pass. He found
the guard more watchful than he ex-
pected.
Cant y pass me n my leetle broth
er, heutenant?' he asked. I'VE ben
dozen some traden In Chattanooga and
want ter git home. We ben buyen
some caliker for the women folks"
''Old Bragg himself couldn't go over
without pass" responded the officer.
"Whar mought I git one?" asked
Mark.
"At headquarters, reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered
the expediency Of going to headquar-
tiers and asking for a pass, but re-
garded this course fraught with too
much risk. He determined to make am
attempt to get out Of town and across
the river by the route over which he
had entered. He knew the ground by
this route, and that was q great advan-
tage. If he could steal his way be-
You'd 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 skirted the town on the west,
and then took q course directly south
till he came to the railroad. This he
followed to point near. where he had
bivouacked the night before. Crawling
to rise in the ground and motioning
Jakey to keep back, he laid down on
his stomach to make a survey.
It was nearly dark. Silhouettes of
figures were passing between him and
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 geesby the picket. The river bank
would afford some protection. Near
where be was it was steep. and the
current set directly against it, but
lower down by the picket there APP
peared to; be places where a man
could walk under the low bluff.
The moon was about three quarters
fun. and the night was clear except
for clouds that would float lazily over
Lookout mountain :, and across the
moons face, so that at times her light
was partly obscured
Calling Jakey, he gave him an ac-
count Of what he intended to try for.
and told him that If 1t 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. sJakey 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
seen the silhouettes ON the railroad.
Treading as noiselessly as possible.
they passed along the river margin I'M
der the overhanging bank until they
came 10 place where the bank was
low. STOPPING, they proceeded for
short ydistance till they reached the
root of tree that had been felled long
before. Here they paused and listened.
Suddenly they heard what sounded
like musket brought from the Shout
der down to the hollow Of a hand, and
a voice..
seyUhn cor,.e %y,ap oss
Corporal Of the guard, with relief"
Advance, corporal and give the
countersign."
Then there was some muttaring and
footsteps tramping away.
Mark peeped between the roots Of
the stump toward the point from which
the sounds had come. He saw, not
hundred feet away, man sitting on a
leg with his musket resting against
his shoulder. the butt on the ground.
He was looking Astiessly up at the
sky. Presently he took clay pipe out
OF his pocket, which he filed, and
touching match lighted it.
"He's the river picket" said Mark to
himself.
The sentinel sat smoking while Mark
meditated. His first thought was, 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 slight
chance for life to make a-dash were
he alone. but with the boy it was not
to be thought Of. and Mark was I'M
willing to leave him. He looked back
with view to retracing the route over
which he had come. He was horrif1ed
to see a sentinel pacing a hundred
yards above. He had been placed there
by the relief.
The only hepe- 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
would be hidden from him if they
should go forward,
Mark resolved to wait and watch.
The minutes seemed hours, the hours
days. The soldier still sat on the log,
though now and then he would get up,
and leaving his musket leaning on it
saunter back and forth on his beat.
He we'll knew there was no enemy to
fear; his duty was little more than a
form