Part 14 (1/2)

When we reached the river there were no signs of a ferry, and alked up and down the river bank for about two miles each way before we found any chance to cross There see was based solely upon the fact that we finally discovered a house on the farther bank, and a skiff tied to a tree near by

We built our hopes on that skiff, but there was no way to get it at present, and we decided to drop down the river to a secluded place in the botto the desired place, ent into caetting a good sleep

In the round, but found no better chance to cross, concluding that the owner of the skiff must be the ferrys lying about which were suitable for the purpose The river was too deep to wade, and the water was so cold that ere afraid to risk an effort to swim over, especially on account of Miller's aversion to the ele if we tried thisup the situation in all its aspects, we decided to keep quiet until about sundown and then go boldly down to the water's edge at the road and hail the ferryain sought our hiding place, and passed the day in sleeping and conversation, neither hearing nor seeing anything throughout the day

At the proper tiht the road, without any atteround both in thesince

A short distance froht on, taking hi for a chance to cross the river, but we had not gone twenty paces after seeing hiht into a picket post of nineabout fifty yards distant

There was no help for it but to put on a bold front, and alked right along about our business Seeing the the the way to the ferry

They answered, and asked where ere going, to which I responded by saying that we had been hunting for the ferry for an hour orin a business-like e of the picket guard now called to us to come into ca Then we got a peremptory order in a tone which meant business, and we concluded instantaneously to hear and heed this; so we stopped and asked what they wanted, and walked slowly into caainst the delay as we did so

Miller was now so nervous that he scarcely knehich end he stood, but he quieted down in appearance when I asked hi, and back me up

We were now asked to show our papers, but we had none to show, and by rapid questioning I learned that thesethe river at this point for some time, but had left the river bank for better quarters when the high water ca the corporal his name, I learned that it was Ed Rocket, and I then told hioing ho soldiers in Captain Stewart's Coruder's headquarters at Washi+ngton

He then asked for our passes, and I told him that he was too old a soldier not to know that we could not possibly have a pass, it being all that a captain's coive leave of absence in those days, stating to him, in explanation of our absence from our command, that we had been in service for over two years without any leave; that e had begged our captain to let us go home when it was so close he had told us that we could simply slip off, if ould promise to be back in ten days, and he would not report us absent unless that time elapsed before our return, and that we had taken chances on his word, because anted to get home so badly

This seeht, and he hesitated for a few o on, but that his orders were positive to let _nobody_ cross the river without a pass or proper papers

I again remonstrated at the delay and annoyance, and he syness to disobey positive orders which left no discretion He finally said he would take us over to headquarters at Arkadelphia and do what he could to get necessary per no other course to pursue, we thanked him heartily and at once fraternized with him and his men

They had just cooked supper, and we invited ourselves to eat with thery, but that they would have to put up with it, inasuests

We were quite hungry, and we de the entire quantity of food which the ninethe while, with the party looking on with open-mouthed amazement at our appetites, as they waited for two of their number to prepare an additional supply, the extra quantity being increased as they proceeded, until they really cooked as much more as they had at first prepared for the, Miller inadvertently calledFortunately he did not speak loud, as he was close by ave him a look which spoke volumes, and he kept silent thereafter

After our hosts had finished their supper we started for Arkadelphia, and, while on the road, we learned that the object of guarding the river had been to catch refugee ”Arkansaw” people and to head off such natives as ht be en route to join the 3d and 4th Arkansas Cavalry, then being organized in Little Rock

This was our twenty-first night out since leaving the stockade, and ere now 275 miles from Tyler, Texas, and fifty miles from Little Rock--”so near and yet so far”

CHAPTER XX

IN THE TOILS