Year: 1861

breath thlckened, perSplration ooZed from me


at every pore, and / was prostra ted With hor,
ror | had missed my landmark and knew


not where | was. Below or above, beneath


the shelter of the bank, lay the skff | had


hidden, ten days before, when | commenced


my operations among the followers of JEFF


Davis.


As stood gasping for breath, with all the


unmistakable proof of my calling about me,


the sudden cry of a bird or the plunging of a
fish, would act like magnetism on my frame,
not wont to shudder at shadow. No matter
how pressing the danger may be, if man
sees an opening for escape he breathes with
freedom. But let him be surrounded by dark
ness, impenetrabe at two yards distance,
within rifles length of concealed foes, for what
knowledge he has to the contrary knowing
too, with painful accuracy that detection of
bis presence would reward him with a sudden
and violent death, and if he breathes 10 faster
and feels his limbs as free and his spirit as


light as when taking favorite promenade,
he is more fitted for hero that am


la the agony of that moment-in the sud
den aud utter helpleSsness, felt to discover
my true bearings was about to let myself
gently into the stream and breast its current,
for life and death. There was no alternative
The northern pickets must be reached in safe
ty before the morning broke, or / should soon
be swinging between heaven and earth from
some green limb of the black forest in which
| stood


At that moment the low, sullen bay of a
blood hound struck my ear. The sound was
reviving the fearful stiffness broken. The
uncertain dread fled before the certain dan
ger. | was standing to my middle in the
shallow bed of the river, just beneath the
juttiDg banks. After the pause of a few sec
onds began to creep, mechanically and stealth
lily, down the stream, followed, as | knew
from the rustling of the grass and frequent
breaking of twigs, by the Unsuitable brute !;
although, by certain uneasy growls, felt as
sured he was at fault. Something struck
against my breast, | could not prevent a
slight cry from escaping me as stretching out
my hand | grasped the gunwale of a boat
moored beneath the bank. Between surprise
and joy felt half choked In ali instant |
had scrambled on board and begun searching
for the painter in the bow, in order to cast her
from her fasteniDgs


Scddeny bright ray of moonlight-the
first gleam of hope in that night fell direct
ly on that spot, revealing the svery stream,
my own Skiff, (hidden there ten days before,
lighting the deep shadowy of the verging
wood, and on the leg half buried in the bank,
and from which had that instant cast the
line that had bound me to it, the supple form
of the crouching blood hound, his red eyes
cleaning in the moonlight, jaws diStended aud
poiSing for the spring. With one dart the
light skif was yards out in the stream
and the savage after it. With an oar aimed
blow at bis head, which, however, he eluded
with ease. la the effort thus made the boat
careened over toward my antagonist, who
made desperate effort to get his fourpaws
over the side, at the same time seizing hole of
the gunwaIe with his teeth.


Now or never was my time to get rid Of the
accursed brute. | drew my revolver and placed
the muzzle between his eyes, but hesitated
to fire, for that one report might bring on me
a volley from the shore. Meantime the
strength Of the dog careened the fral craft so
much that the water rushed over the side,
threatening to swamp her. changed my tao
tics, threw my revolver into the bottom of the
skiff, and grasped my bowie" keen as Malay
creese, ard glittering, as l released it from
the sheath, like moonbeam on the stream
In an instant l had severed the sinewy throat
of the hound, cutting through Drawn and mus
Gle to the uap of the neck The tenacious
wretch gave a wild, convulsve leap half out
of the water, than sank and was gone.


Five minutes pulling landed me on the 9th
er side of the river, and 10 an hour after, with
ont further accident, l was among friends,
encompassed by the northern lines. That
night related at headquarters the intelligence
| had gathered and in few days shall again
be cleaning knowledge in the southern camp.


RAT SToRY.-We are assured that once in
Scotland q thrifty lnird Gndinr his stnrn of