The Marshall republican., 1911-11-02

~ long time Would eiapse De- L
fore II would be discovered
4 4 that Souri, was in his place I
and he had escaped. II might be "a J
few minutes. II might be half an houf.
Il might possibly be not till morning. !,
though OF this he had little hope. He
believed that within half an hour he
would be pursued BY bloodhounds.
He had been about the town enough
10 know the direction Of the river and
started toward II. He was at home in
the water. and determined that be
would not attempt to 6nd boat. but
would plunge In and swim for his life.
The width of the river at Chattanooga
was only about three-quarters OF
mile, and Mark did not regard this q
great distance for n good swimmer.
Once across the dogs would have 10
pick up the scent on the other side,
and II he should permit the current to
carry him far down the stream the
difficulty In doing so would be greatly
increased.
II was n soft summer evening. and
the larger stars had already begun TO
shine. Casting glance to the right
he saw a streak Of light over Mission.
ary ridge and knew that before long
nc would be ut n disadvantage from
the rising Of full moon. He walked
briskly whenever any person was In
sight. and when he thought that be
was unobserved he ran.
No one OF the few people who passed
the strapplng negro girl. whose face
was hidden within the blue check sun
bonnet. dreamed that Union soldier
was passing; that the scaffold was be-
ing cheated: that a messenger with
tho secret OF one Of the most impor-
tant moves any Confederate general
had made or was destined TO make
during the war was on his way north
in tho person Of the negro woman
hurrying on toward the river.
He sped onward. running and walk
ipg briskly alternately. till he came TO
a place where board fence was cap
ped by a narrow strip. He mounted
it and walked ns far rs the fence ex'
tended. perhaps a hundred yards. hop.
ing by this means TO throw the dogs
OF the scent for few minutes. aud
thus gain a little time. Then he jump
ed down and hurried forward. A man
passed and called to him. but he paid
no attention to the call. and the man
stood looking after him. doubtless sus-
pecting that the girl was a runaway
slave.
At last the grateful sight Of the river
met his gaze. Il cheered him and
seemed TO beckop him on to rest upon
its bosom. or. as an alternative with
the dreadful tragedy Of the morning.
20 1nd oblivion beneath Its surface.
He stood for moment beneath
low clump Of trees on the'bank listen.
ing and looking up and down the riv-
or. A boat was passing. and he felt It
necessary to wait for II to go by. He
lost Eve minutes, but Il seemed half
an hour. Then taking on his dress
and shoes and bonnet he put the dress
and the shoes In the bonnet and tied
the strings around his neck. resting
the bundle on his back. Going down
TO the margin. and again listening a
moment TO make sure he was not OBJ
served, he waded out as far as he
could touch bottom. and then began to
swim.
Az II was midsummer he had ex-
pected to find the water warm. His
expectations were realized TO q rea'
sonable degree. and he felt that he
could remain in II long while with
out being chilled His plan was "a
drift down considerable distance
He might bs expected TO swim across
as rapidly as he could. and the cur
rent in this case would land him per
haps a mile below the town. Thost
who would follow him with dog
would doubtless track him to the riv
er margin, then take the dogs across
ana endeavor to pick up the seen
some distance below on the other side
Mark had weighed all these circum
stances, and determined to drift dowI
Al far as possible, land ut the moutl
of creek II he could find one, ente
It and swim or walk up II in the wa
tet. thus rendering 1t difficult for tn
dogs to track him.
He swan slowly till he reached tn
middle Of the river; then, floating witt
scarcely any motion Of his hands an,
feet, he permitted himself to drtf
down with the current. A favorit
way with him. when boy, of restin
In the water, had been to 6oat on hi
back. Unmindful Of the wetting b
would give the clothes tied around hi
neck. he turned over and drifted wit
his arms spread beside him, bis eye
turned directly to the sky.
In the position ON his back be coul
enly look upward ct the stars. Thes
Was The great dome above him spai
sied with myriads Of bright polnt
and spannsd BY The "mllky way'" p
had always ben fond of. ~ ster
onA - oeder g divert his mind picke
0ut some cf hls favorites and tFace0
fsw constsIlations With which ~ VI
1hmiIlnr. IN thin way ho 6lvesteG D
WE Inlnd nnf1l hla rArYaa hocoWo Urll