Year: 1861

mtted us to depart, and we left him, ev
identity in thick fog as to the fate of thu
property SO inconsiderately entrusted tc
the keeping Of a stranger.


Aftera short drive, during which bu
few words were spoken, we arrived al
spot where we had agreed to conceal the
horse and wagon. This operation effect.
ed, we next proceeded to calculate chan.
ces. After few parting puffs --
shook the ashes from his pipe, thrust i,
into the pocket of his jacket, and draw
ing forth from the wagon coil of fine
rope, which he hung round his neck,
gave the word to advance. 1t was now
pitch dark the distance to the place OF
our destination two hundred yards, accor-
ding to my comrades estimate. A soli-
tary light cleaning red amid the dark
ness ahead ofus, betrayed the spot where
stood the building which contained the
object of our expedition. With this light
for our guide we cautiously advanced in
silence, unbroken save by the occasional
swapping of some dried twigs beneath
our feet and the muttered malediction
bestowed upon it by my companion.


ARRIVAL AT TIE SCENE OF OPERATIONS


AT length we came into close proxim
ity to the house. Everything seemed to
be buried in deep stiffness. Not IA
sound could we hear. Not the warning
growl of a dog gave notice of our ap-
proach. No light was visible but the one
which had hitherto been our guide, ana
this still shone from the hallclosed case
ment of ar apartment on the ground
floor. The window sill was about as
high from the ground as the ordinary
height of man, and under this we crept
aud crouched to listen for any sounds
that might escape from the interior. Di-
rectly over this room, H told me.
our intended prize was concealed. He
was thoroughly informed as to the differ
ent passages necessary to pass through
in order TO gam the desired treasure.
Tie darkness of ,he night was SO dene~
tina; il was with difficulty we could dis
Germ the presence oi each otner as we lav
and listened.


Suddenly there was hustle within and
the sound Of several voices. The warn
ing produced by the low, Kissing hush
of my comrade prevented halfuttered
exclamation of surprise from fully esca
ping my lips. This noise of men and
voices was evidently caused by large
party now collected in the room in which
the light was burning. They must have
entered the house from the other side.
and the clang OF arms, rs we distinctly
heard the men carelessly lay aside their
weapons, assured us they were no neu-
trails in the struggle going on between
our divided countrymen.


From fatigue, arising from the con
strained posture in which lay, | made
a sudden movement which caused me to
fall against my companion, at the same
time making the gravel beneath my feet
seen forth the grating sourd peculiar 10
it when suddenly aud violently disturbed.
In an instant the sounds within ceased
(silenced by the suspicious caused by
my most unfortunate stumbling,) the
easement was thrown open, and half a
dozen heads were thrust out into the
gloom. A movement now, if no louder
than that the lizard makes amongst the
grass, or single sigh forced from our
beating heart and compressed breath,
would have been the forerunner of GER
tain death. Nothing could have saved
US from the fate of a spy. For several
minutes we remained motionless, and
heard various conJectures among the
men as TO The cause OF their sudden alarm
Little did they imagine that at that mo-
ment, within few feet of their knives.
which more than one grasped in his hand
unsheathed, lay. concealed by the dark
ness, two of the hated invaders. But We
would have been found no easy sacrifice
Each Of us covered with the muzzle o
his revolver the breath Of foe, aud the
first inlimalion given of our discovery
would have cost them at least two lives
that night.


At length they withdrew their head,
into the apartment. hall closed the case
ment AS before, and We were again alone
Whether they retired perfectly satisfied
as to the result of their blind inspec tior
or not, we could not tell Ii was at thi,
moment that Il, grasping me by
the arm. whispered me 10 follow hin
closely. In crouchng attitudes we crep
round the building, each step taker
with peculiar care, lest any unluck,
sound on our part should again rous
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