The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-12
copyrighted 1912 by F. A. HUBBLE }


CHAPTER VI.
Soon several guards made their
! appearance from across the bridge.
In all probability they had been af-
ter rations. 1t now became evident
that the bridge was properly guard
! ed. Our plans were soon made.
! Carefully we travelled up the stream
out of sight of the bridge some three
miles, and in the early evening in
| spected the possibility OF procuring
| some loose logs along the bank to
! build RATS. We soon had our logs
! in the water, and bound them to-
| gether with long vines from the tall
] pines, and with poles and paddles
| pushed out into the stream. We
were making good headway towards
| the opposite bank, when we struck
a boulder, and our frail craft parted
into rolling pieces. The water was
not deep as yet, and we reluctantly
! returned to shore, while the two,
who were the only swimmers in our
| party, explored the depth further
out, which became quite deep all of
a sudden, necessitating the PROPOSE
! tion that the two who could swim
must carry the other four across on
their backs. Then the question
arose-would they be capable of per-
forming this gigantic task consider
ing our emaciated an dweak physic.
The possibility of sinking with our
load, that under ordinary strength
would be doubtful, changed our plan
to bold and daring ruse-return-
ing, just at twilight and before it
became too light, to our former pos
ition near the approach to the bridge.
Again the sharp lightning lit up
the shadows of the woods, but no
one in sight. 1t was desperate
thought to be separated from them
but what could we do, so lonely
without their counsel. The serious
ness of losing them became a strain
separation by death from some
loved one could not have preyed
upon our minds more than this great
lonesomeness. 1t became almost un-
| bearable.
A wild Shrek of the wind howled
through the deep thicket. 1t was
getting cold and we had nothing to
shelter our naked bodies.
We move on, nearing a clearing,
as the lightning discloses a huge tall
plantation house standing lonely
and ghostly in that field. Surely no
friendly niger lived there. There
were no huts surrounding it. If any
one, it must be white folks. But we
must know.
We were soon near the window.
A fire in the fire place, a drygoods
box, three sawed off logs for seats.
One chair, a man, white or black,
sitting in it, a bedstead in a corner,
heads resting on the bolster.
We knock on the door. The man
Nrvht IL
the window, looks towards the door.
then the bed. He hesitates. We as
sure him-'Fear not, we are poor
soldiers in distress. Let us into the
flre and help us to food or we will
perish Oh, heavens, man, open it,"
Come in-what are you? Where
are your clothes? Merciful heavens,
men, II you are escaped prisoners of
war, go away from here quick. Go.
l say! See that bed. My wife, two
children, sick, hungry. l stole away
from the ranks to be with them. If
the patrol or riders pass and see your
shadows through that window, God
help me and my family. Go, | say"
Too late. Horses hoofs, sabers
rafting against the horses trap
pings, hoofs sounding nearer.
On, my men, why do you stand?
FOLLOW me quick up the stairs, then
another into the garret-two Eng
llsh style shutters across the stays
next to the roof-get on that barrel,
pun yourselves up onto the rafters,
then to the stays. Hurry, men,
hurry, d-n you, hurry"
Out on the roof he goes. We fol-
low. The saber knock sounded on
the door beneath. They are search
Ing the house, up the first flight of
stairs, poking behind old boxes and
barrels in every corner. Again they
ascend into the garret, the first with
torch, the second leading by the
arm the mother of those children,
the wife OF that deserter.
our hungry action brought this
poor, torlorn family into jeopady
ana we poWerless to help them out
y, Tor a weapon of some kind! We
would make the lorlorn hope: we
would spring down and fight them
to death.
Wait! They are searching every
corner. VIII they discover the wood
en- shutters way above? That moor
loren is uncertain for them 1t will
not cast the light far. The slightest
WIND would blow it out. Oh, that
breath from heaven might 20
through this hole in the roof and
destroy that fame!
Listen. She is talking as they
lead her along. i tell you truly
there is no one here. They have
gone. They went through the back
door, out into the timber"
Woman, the house was sur
rounded. They could not get out"
For the love OF my children, be-
lieve me. There is no one here now.
Ihey came Just before you. They
asked for food. ! told them / had
but a quart OF corn meal / needed
Tor my children until my old father
came. He would be here to-day.
Ihey heard you coming and left
through the back door. Believe me,
men. There were three of Them"
NO, my husband belongs to the
2Sth North Carolina. MY grand
rather is caring for me. We came
to this deserted house. There is no
rent to pay. Oh, We are so poor"
All this was said in the time thew