Year: 1867

''They are all asleep" he muttered In tone
satisfaction. II might as well follow suit. ~


Accordingly, to the great relief Of the peddler
who was looking on, he threw himself back ane
in five minutes, he too, was asleep.


'Now's my time" thought the peddler. y
reckon I can get along without making much noise
Anyhow, if they should happen to fire at me
they Il be confused like, and shall be Oft befor
they know what's going on
He began to prepare himself for the attempt.


Having observed that the shoes, which he wore
creaked slightly, he drew them off, and laid then
on the ground near by. Next he buttoned up III
coat tight, so as to make it look more like mill
tary uniform, and likewise tomake himself small
er mark for the enemy in case he was unfortunate
enough to have bullet sent after him.
| ssNow guess I'll do" he said, and commenced
| his approach to the sleeping soldiers
His approach was as cautious as described onc'
before. Every few steps he would pause and lister
to see if he detected any difference in the sound
the breathing, but there was not one who was in
condition to suspect theneighborhood Of an enemy
A silence reigned which would have been almos
oppressive but for the occasional snore from one
the seepers.


The peddler had now reached the outer circle o
the sleepers He was near enough to Hewes II
touch him if he had so chosen. Compelled to pas
between two, he decided to 60 between him ant
Dunbar, being decided by the fact that these two
were further apart than either Of the rest, and III
would be less likely to touch them.
He succeeded in reaching the pile of baggage IL
the middle of the circle without attracting atten
ton, or in the least disturbing the sleepers. Ht
had no difficulty in picking out the pack from the
pile Taking it between his teeth, he commenced
cautious retrograde movement In this he wa
not quite so successful Hehad crept along till hi
was Just between Hewes, the sentinel, and Dun
bar.


At this moment, the former cleared his throat
as one who is on the point of waking.
Without an instants thought, the peddler sank
down beside him, stretching out his limbs like the
rest of the sleepers.


''Eh, Dunbar" said Hewes, with his eyes scarce
| ly open.
The peddler at once inferred that Hewes hac
taken him for Dunbar, and, as the best method o.
preventing an examination which would have dis
covered that this was not so he gunted out in the
tone of one who was overcome with sleep.
"What"


"You'ye to stand watch now The Meutenan,
told me to wake you at twelve o'clock.


"Well, muttered the pedder in the same drow
sy tone.


Glad to get rid of this responsibility, HeWe:
composed himself to sleep again. This required
little time, as he was already more than halt in
state of stupefaction.


The peddler lay by his side, scarcely daring te
breathe for fear of leading to
might not be so readily answered.


"a pretty sentinel I'll make" he thought te
himself, and he could not help being amused at the
responsibility which had been shifted upon him
When ten minutes had elapsed he rose by de-
rees. and crept out of the dangerous circle carry
ing with him his pack. Reaching hisformer place
of conceament he put on his shoes, and fastened
way. But before going he could not help ventur
ing on one practical joke. Drawing out his pisto
he fired it in the air, and without stopping to wit
ness the scene of confusion which followed, he wa
mile away before the soldiers fairly discoveret
their loss, and when the darkness made pursul
quite impracticable.