Part 18 (2/2)

One clear, moonlight night they halted, as usual, in the rear of a plantation, and were debating upon the best means to be employed in obtaining food, when a man, dressed in a shabby Federal uniform, was discovered coming slowly toward them, on the opposite side of the fence that separated the woods from the plantation.

His sudden and wholly unexpected appearance took them completely by surprise. Frank immediately proposed to challenge him. Perhaps, like themselves, he was a fugitive from a rebel prison, and in need of a.s.sistance. But the captain strongly opposed this, and was in favor of shooting the man, who still continued to advance, as if wholly unconscious of the presence of any one-arguing, in his broken English, and with good reason, too, that the appearance of a Federal uniform in that part of the country boded them no good, but was a sure sign of treachery; and evidently thinking that he had won the day, he was about to put his plan into execution, when the major struck up his musket, and shouted:

”Who comes there?”

The stranger, instead of replying, instantly threw himself on the ground behind the fence, out of sight.

”Gott in himmel, major,” exclaimed the disappointed captain, ”I pelieve it's better you shoots that man-purty quick we all gets ketched again;” and as he said this the captain, who, although a very brave man on the field of battle, was very much opposed to fighting an invisible enemy, drew himself behind a tree, as if fully expecting to see a whole army of rebels rush out of their concealments upon them.

”Be quiet, captain,” said the major. ”You have grown very suspicious lately.” Then, raising his voice, he called out: ”Whoever you are behind that fence, whether a friend or an enemy to the Union, come out immediately, or you are a dead man.”

A deep silence, which lasted for several seconds, followed his words. Then came the ominous click of half a dozen gun-locks, which, in the stillness of the night, could be heard a long distance.

The stranger evidently heard it too, for, without further hesitation, he arose from behind the fence, and came forward.

The major allowed him to approach within a few yards, and then ordered him to halt, and inquired:

”Now, sir! who and what are you? Tell the truth, for you have desperate men to deal with.”

”From your language,” answered the stranger, in a voice so soft that it was almost feminine, but which, nevertheless, betrayed not the slightest trepidation, ”I should judge that you are escaped prisoners; if so, permit me to make one of your number. If not, you will find me as desperate as yourselves; for I have suffered too much in prison to ever allow myself to be taken back alive;” and, as he spoke, he displayed a brace of pistols, which showed that he meant what he said.

”Gott in himmel!” exclaimed the captain, springing out from behind his tree, and forgetting, in a moment, all his suspicions, ”vos you captured, too? We been mighty glad to see you, any how.”

”Yes,” answered the man, ”I have been a prisoner for twenty-two months, and it was not until three weeks since that I succeeded in making my escape.”

”We'll take your story for what it is worth, at present,” said the major, ”for we can not stop to talk. We must first make some arrangements about obtaining something to eat, and then we must be off.”

”My haversack has just been replenished,” said the stranger, ”and we have sufficient to last us for a day or two, at least.”

”Well, let us be moving, then.”

The major, as usual, led the way, and Frank walked beside the stranger, who firmly, but respectfully, repelled every attempt he made to enter into conversation, a circ.u.mstance which Frank regarded with suspicion.

At length day began to dawn, and the fugitives commenced to cast sidelong glances at their new companion. He was a tall, slimly-built youth, apparently but little older than Frank, and his boyish face wore a look of care and sorrow, which if once seen could never be forgotten, and which showed that, young as he was, his path through life had been any thing but a smooth one. His clothing was reduced almost to tatters; but still there was enough of it left to show that it was ”Uncle Sam's blue;” and, as Frank surveyed him from head to foot, he discovered something hanging to one of the shreds of his coat, which immediately interested him in the silent stranger. It was a navy b.u.t.ton. This was enough for Frank, who, forgetting the manner in which his advances had been received, inquired:

”Are you a naval officer, sir?”

”Yes,” answered the youth, in a low voice, ”or, rather, I was once.”

”So was I. Give us your hand.”

The sad, gloomy look gave way to a smile of genuine pleasure, as the stranger grasped the proffered hand, and shook it heartily.

”What vessel were you attached to, and when and how were you captured?” inquired Frank.

But his companion had relapsed into his former state of gloominess and silence, and seemed to be pondering upon something at once painful and interesting.

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