The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-26


But it won't last long. Our boys'll
drive 'em so fur moth pretty soon that
your darkies'n hev to stop runner
away"
Nov dom yo' believe dat so sarten."
"Do you really believe the Yanks can
whip us?"
de Lo'd hes sent 'em to tote his col
| ored people out O. bondage"
Mark was satisfied with this prelimi-
nary examination that he could trust
the old man.
"Uncle, Pm no secesh. I'm Union
| man. I want to stay with you today
and travel tonight. Keep me all day.
and I'll go away as soon as it is dark"
'Fo' de Lo'd. knowed yo' want
no south'n man all de time"
"How?"
"Yo' amt got de south'n mans way
o. taken. Yo' did hit well enough. but
yo' CANT fool me-"
"Well, will you keep u.s."
Reckon will"
whats your name?"
"Randolph's my name, sab. Jef'son
Randolph. My marst'r said he glib me
mighty big name. but hit didn't do
no good. Dey always call me notten
but JEFF"
you're as well off as the president
of the Coufederacy in that respect"
said Mark. Il guess we'll go inside"
eyes, go in dar. Keep dark"
Mark and Jakey waited for the day
to pass, and as they had no means Of
amusing themselves it passed very
slowly. Jakey played about the creek
for awhile, but both were glad when
the darkness came and they could get
away.
Before setting out on his expedition
Mark had carefully studied map Of
the region. preferring to Tx it in his
mind than to carry it about his person.
Upon leaving Jefferson Randolph's hut
he made direct for the Tennessee river.
Once there, he knew from his remem-
brance of the map that he was not far
from Chattanooga, and that between
him and that place was Moccasin point,
formed by bend. or rather loop, in
| the river, the point putting, out south
ward for more than two miles, with q
distance Of nearly mile across its
neck. But he knew the ground was
|, ligh on the east shore Of the peninsula,
and he did not know the proper place
to strike inland and cut off the dis
lance around the rivers margin. There
| was no one near to inform him, so he
kept on by the river.
1t wis late at night when they reach
ed a point where the river took
slight turn to the east, and about a
mile from the quick bend around Moe
rasin point. Mark was anxious to en-
ter Chattanooga either late at night or
soon after daylight. hoping to meet
few people. that his entrance might
not be noticed. He cast his eye about
for some means Of crossing the river.
Noticing a skiR moored just below a
hut. he surmised that the skif belong
ed to some one living in the hut. Co
Ing to the door he knocked
"Who's thar?"
~Do you uns own the skif on the
river below hyar?"
"Waal, supposen I does"
81 want to cross"
w udI u WduC CeC 90 Iu0C lux at
this time o. nIghtY'
Father dyen. Just got word spell
ago."
"WhatIl y give ter get over?"
give dollars"
what kind o. shinplasters
"Greenbacks."
"Whar d. y git emp
From some people ez got 'em traden
with the Yankee sojers at Battle
Greek"
"All right, stranger, but it's sight o.
bad times ter be called ter a mans
door at night You uns go down ter
the river n III cover y with my gun
tel l know yer all right"
II won't mind a small thing like
that eff you'll put me n my leetle
brother across"
Mark and his companion went down
to the river. Pretty soon a wild look
ing man, with beard growing straight
out from his face like the spokes Of a
cart wheel. came cautiously down, coy
ering them with a shotgun.
"Got pass, strangerT
mo"
Reckon they won't let y land when
y get over thar"
"These army fe1lers are like a rat
trap" said Mark; ''they amt so par
ticI11ar Aa I'm Oman IN. itsc tho oooy, mt