Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-05
Private Britain S
Bath p.
BY ARTHUR A. MURDOCH

Bob Britain. private in the -th Penn.
sylvania infantry. was advancing with
lis regiment over a tobacco field In
Virginia in thin skirmish line when
a strong force of Confederates issued
from wood beyond and scattered the
like chaff. Bob ded
distance behind him. and. fearing to be
followed and taken prisoner. be look
I'd about him for place in which to
conceal himself. Under some shade
trees be saw a plantation house. and
there he went. Hearing sounds that
led him to believe the Johnnies were
coming and spying well near the
house. he ran for It. The bucket was
hung on balanced pole. Between a
idueking and term in southern pris-
on Bob did not hesitate. and. catch
ing the bucket. he jumped into the we'll.
He went down in hurry and when
he rose TO the surface. realizing that
the other end of the balance pole would
give him away. let go his hold. empty
ing the bucket which went up to the
well house.
: Even In hot summer weather well
water affords pretty cold bath. Bob
Skinned up out OF II and by bracing his
feet and ciutching with his fingers
managed to fhaintafn position above
the surface There he remained for an
hour. when he heard some one above.
and the bucket was lowered. When
it had been filed and was being raised.
he looked up and saw girls face
bending over the well.
As he had preferred cold plunge to
a Confederate prison. so he now pre-
ferred a girl to continued shiyering.
As the bucket passed him on its way
up he emptied it and proposed with its
assistance to climb up and trust to
the muscles of feminine enemy. With
one hand on the bucket and the other
clutching the stones. getting his toes
in the cracks. he was making the as
cent when he heard the girl exclaim:
"Lordy! How heavy
Nevertheless the young soldier main
tanned his hold and slowly mounted to
the well house. The girl. seeing that
instead Of drawing up bucket Of wa
ter she had pulled up man. released
her hold. and had not Bob with both
hands caught the top stones he would
have gone back to where he came
from.
Southern girls Of that period were
used to startling events. and this one
recovered herself rapidly. Indeed she
caught on to the situation that u man
was in danger Of falling into well
and. lending hand, assisted him on to
terra tirrna Bob stood before her
dripping and shivering.
"Well. declareT were her first
words.
Bob said he was sorry to spoil the
water for drinking purposes by maxi
ing bathtub OF the well. but 1t was
either that or Libby prison. and from
what he had heard of Libby 1t was not
a desirable residence.
"Have you heard any soldiers moy-
ing about here?" he asked, looking
about him fearfully.
There were some of our boys here
looking for Yankees about an hour ago.
but they've all gone. Are you q Yam.
keeT'
"Yes. Are you going to give me
away?"
Il don't know. I suppose I ought to"
Don't
There was no reply to this, but the
girl didn't look as IL she could turn
over the unfortunate youngsters to be
harshly dealt with. and Bob. encour'
aged. asked her If she couldn't find a
more comfortable hiding place than o
WELL She said the chicken house might
serve; it was dry and not very clean,
but the chickens were all out Of it for
the time being, and there would be
room such as it was. Bob said be
would prefer a chicken house to a
prison so the girl took him there tenn
porarily till she could find something
better for him. She said that If the
men-her father and brother-knew OF
his presence on the place they would
march him in. Since he had parted
with his musket and his pistol had
been in the well with him be would
be very easily marched.
The chicken house not being Clearly
after dark Bob went out and got some
sleep under a tree. In the morning the
girl brought him something to eat and
told him that the Confederates were
occupying the region round about. Her
father and brother had taken their
squirrel guns and had gone to help
drive the Yankees out Of Virginia. and
he might come to the house if he want
ed to. So the men Of the place having
gone after Yankees, Yankee domesti.
Gated himself in the abode and was
made comfortable by the daughter OF
the family. m -. FL
About week after this young Vir.
ginia gentleman. sporting a gold head,
ed cane. walked into the camp of the
-th Pennsylvania and was looked at
cTrio11SIv nv the hoVS fill one of them