Part 7 (1/2)

The question now upperet away

Toward evening I returned to the pasture, saddled my mare and rode to the picket line where I had entered Here, to my dised

But I used the saained admission for me In a sack tied to roes during the day These, I explained to the outposts, were intended as presents for my mother and sisters back on the far contraband in it, allowed me to pass

I now ht of houses and of strangers On the second day I passed several detach as a scout enabled h my mare had proven herself an animal of splendid endurance, I had to stop and rest her occasionally At such ti after leaving Forrest's couard of Smith's army They halted me when I rode up, and for a time I had more trouble with them than I had had with any of Forrest's men I was not alarmed, however, and when the captain told me that he would have to sendto see General Seneral?” he asked in amazement

”Yes,” I said ”I hear that General Smith can whip Forrest, and I would like to see any man who can do that”

Without any promises I was sent to the rear, and presently I noticed General Sed, however, to draw near to hiht speak to hi me to be a Confederate prisoner, he assented, and when I had saluted I said:

”General, I am Billy Cody, the man you sent out to the Confederate lines”

”Report back to your charge,” said the general to the officer who had me in custody ”I will take care of this man”

My commander was much pleased with my report, which proved to be extreuise he had failed to penetrate did not deceive my comrades of the Ninth Kansas, and when I passed them they all called me by name and asked me where I had been

But my neas forColonel Herrick gavethe soldiers

General Smith, to whohly of ratified to know that his choice of a scout had been justified by results

It was not long before the whole command knew ofexpedition, and had brought back infor ofthe sa my Tennessee clothes, I rode out with the entire command in the direction of Forrest's army

Before I had traveled five miles I had been pointed out to the entire coreeted ot ith the general and asked if he had any further special orders for me

”Just keep around,” he said; ”I may need you later on”

”But I am a scout,” I told hi information”

”Go ahead,” he replied, ”and if you see anything that I ought to know about cohted to be a scout once iven orders that I was to be allowed to pass in and out the lines at will, so that I was no longer haot beyond the sound of the troops when I saw a beautiful plantation house, on the porch of which was a handsohters

They were greatly alarmed when I came up, and asked if I didn't know that the Yankee ar in a few minutes and that my life was in peril All their ownin the tied the old lady, when I had seated lass of ht through this house They will break up the piano and every stick of furniture, and leave the place in ruins You are sure to be killed or taken prisoner”

By this ti up the road General S on the porch I saw that he had noticeddone so Astheir co toward the house I walked out and ordered theeneral They all kneho I was, and obeyed, hter

Turning to my hostess, I said:

”Madam, I can't keep them out of your chicken-house or your smoke-house or your storerooms, but I can keep them out of your home, and I will”

I remained on the porch till the entire co was molested Much pleased, but still puzzled, the old lady was now convinced that I was no Tennessee lad, but a sure-enough Yankee, and one with a remarkable a to eat in return for what I had done, the best there was in the house was spread before ed me to eat as speedily as possible, and be on my way

Her men folks, she said, would soon return from the timber, and if they learned that I was a Yank would shootthe back door was pushed open and three men rushed in The old lady leaped between them and me