Chasing an Iron Horse

oga for a couple of hours, until all the good effects of their warming at Farmer Hare's were quite vanished. Watson, having showed by his mother-wit and presence of mind

had never discovered America there would never have been any United States; had there never been any United States there would never have been any war between North and South; had there never been any war be

tself into the now stormy waters of the Tennessee River. There was no light nor sign of life about the

ght. It's too dark to make any sort of time. And we are far enough away now from Jasper to

oke so much at his own expense as their clever escape had proved. Even if he did, they reasoned, the chance

. "Some negro probably lives here-and we can tell him our usual

to make some one hear. He took Waggie out of his pocket, and the shrill lit

ggor. "The seven sleepers must live here.

sistance, due to a bolt or two; but, instead of that, the door flew open so suddenly that they were precip

p, to the great excitement of Waggie. "The place must be deserted. So much the

His foot struck against something which proved to be a small piece of dry pine-wood. With the flame from his last match Watson succeeded in lighting this remnant of kindling. He carefully nursed the new flame until the stick blazed forth like a torch.

at a very high price," remar

nough for a few hours

sed themselves on the floor, where, worn out by the fatigues of the day and the stirring adventure of the evening, they were soon fast asleep. They had closed the door, near which Waggie had settled his little body in the capacity of a sentinel. George dreamed of his father. He saw him standing at the window of a prison, as he stretched his hands through the bars and cried o

d that Waggie was leaping upo

ngry at being aroused. But Waggie went on barking until he had succeeded in awa

trouble?" de

ws, however, were barricaded with shutters. He hurried to the door, which he opened a few inches. The rain had now stopped, and he could hear, perhaps a quarter of

avalry?" ask

Watson. "Perhaps the Vigilants a

ld them, after al

on, "but I think we have the gentlemen

darkness before it's to

ey are on the scent, and we leave this hut, they w

the force of Watson's argument. And now the Vigilants, if such they were, came nearer and nearer. Th

to do," quickly murmured Watso

by a tenant this is the very reason for their looking in to see if we are hiding her

try a little strategy," answered the soldier.

n asked if he could speak Hebrew, he

" asked Watson, a

rge. "When I was up in C

tell you, and if you can give a good imitat

nwhile Watson was whispering some instructions to George. After he had finished he leaned against the door wit

pursuing the fugitives they did not seem to think secrecy of mov

is, but he's moved away, down

e in it now, eh?" s

tarnation spies are in it," was

the cabin must inevitably be caught like rats in a trap. Yet they waited courageously, breathlessly. It was a tense moment. Another minute would deci

or of the cabin, he gave it a push as if he expected it would open at once. But there

lver. "Here, here," he shouted; "if there's any o

leader rattled savagely at the door. "Let's break in," he cri

leader, and dismount when there came a wheedling voice

t dis time o' night

here," muttered the

b an ole niggah at dis hour?"

out the leader. "We only want so

nswer. "I'se a nursin' my old man here-h

se to contagion, the Vigilants, with one accord, put spurs into their horses and rushed madly away. The leader, dropping his revolver in his excitement, and not even stopping to pick it up, leaped upon his horse and joined in the inglorious

avern, which now looked dark and uninviting; "those three spies, if spie

remark. One of the Vigilants said, in an injured to

h he had previously declared they had taken) and landed on the bank of the river. They could be easily caught, he said. He carefully suppressed any account of the way in which he had been outwitted by Watson. The fact was that Hare made up his mind

h his two companions in the pitch black interior of the cabin,

like smallpox,

a darky's voice," put in Macgreggor.

company of our own," the boy explain

d again," said Watson. "They have be

r own brains that did

the sun came peeping over the horizon, between tearful clouds, as if afraid that it was almost too damp for hi

give us another chase this morning," said Watson, as they were laboriously ascending one of the mountain spurs which led down to the river

faring, and where might be the intrepid Andrews. Sometimes Waggie scampered joyously on; sometimes he reposed in his master's overcoat. The clouds had

cried George, about noon-time. "I

ack of the river. The smoke was curling peacefully from one of the two great chimneys, as if offering a mute invitation to a stranger to enter the house and partake of what was being cooked within. In a field in

for something?" suggested Macgreggor,

selves any more than is necessary," he said. "Rather than risk our

George and Macgreggor, and even seemed to be reflected i

d be any more danger here than in Chattanooga or Mariett

ass knocker of the front door, and gave it a brisk rap. After some delay a very fat negress opened the door, and eyed the strangers rather suspiciou

ttitude. Watson was about to reply when an attractive voice, with the soft accent so

faced gentlewoman of about

I can do for you?"

rmy further south. His heart smote him as he did so, for she was so gentle and sympathetic in her manner that he loathe

both my children are away, fighting under General Lee, and I am only too glad to do anything I can for others who are helping the great cause." Sh

he added, "there is a Confederate officer in the house now-Major Lightfoot, of the -th Virginia Regiment.

eating from the mansion with his companions. But it was too late. Such a move would only excite suspicion,

allway. She made them gather around an unset table. "Sit here for a few minutes," she said, "and the servants will bring you the b

present moment," whispered Watson. "It's easy enough to deceive the Southern country bumpkins, and make

ngingly at a mahogany sideboard. "Didn't you hear Mrs. Page say th

ughed Watson, "for

e came to partake of it, and how grateful the three hungry travelers felt to the mistress of the house. When it had been disposed of, and the servants

ray-blue eyes and resolute mouth denoted one who was not to be trifled with. He was dressed in the gray uniform of a Conf

men," he said, shakin

son, trying to look delighted, but n

Major. "I hear you b

are ready to die for our country, and s

o take up arms," observed the

ined to put a bold face on the affair, and he saw no reason why the

, who felt no compunction in deceiving the Major, whatever

nt on the officer. "That interests

ve been more disconcerted. What did they know about Kentucky, if they had to be put through a series of c

ged to a Virginia regiment," exclai

n Virginia two years ago. I was born and bred in Ke

siasm. They felt that they were treading on dangerous grou

ky?" queried the Major, as he sat down on a c

er county in the State. "I fear, sir, we must be moving on towards Chattanoo

nty," he said. "Well, that's pleasant news. I know Fleming County like a book. T

the United States in square inches he could

f I only knew more of Kentucky geography

part of the county," said Mac

what

part of Fleming County, Kentucky. The Major was looking at t

from any town; we worked on adjoining farms, and when the call to ar

at's all very pretty, and I'm glad you are so patriotic-but tha

t it was somewhere in the part of Kentucky in which Fleming County

e said shortly. "And now, Major,

d Macgreggor, who were both devoutly wishing t

nt of the door to bar the way. "You seem to be strangely ignorant o

in the witness box," cried Watson, who hoped to carry the situ

; "for it won't work. I see very clearly that you fellows have never been in Fleming County, nor do I think you

sked Macgreggor, trying to ass

g to me! And as you've lied to me about coming from Kentucky, it's quite as likely you've lied to me about your being on your way to enlist in the C

rested, but to think that he might never take part in the bri

n. "You talk about putting us under arrest, but you're only playing a game of bluff yourself. We are three to your one-and I'd like to kno

stened, as if he thought the whole scene rather a good joke. "Half a mile back of this mansion there's a squadron of Confederate cava

of fear. "Why were we fools enough to come to this house," he

lessly in a chair and swinging one of his long legs over the other. "If, on investigation, it proves that you are not

ad. "Unless you promise not to have us followed, you shan't leave this room alive!" he cried with the tone of a man dar

ng Macgreggor away as though he were "shoohing" off a cat. "You know I would promise anything, and the second your backs were turned

pistol ominously the meanwhile: "We've but one chance-and we'll take it! We will never let you

e wouldn't do you any good, my boy! If you do shoot me before I can escape from the room the shooting would only ala

lood, and gaining nothing by it. He has trapped us-and, so long as those plagued cavalrymen are so near, we had better s

e the force of Watson's reasoning. The Major rose to his fee

Watson with a woebegone ex

Lightfoot, "that I wa

up Waggie. "Can I take my dog along

Changed the Pos

ge, and patted the tiny animal. "Hello!

gie had been chewing at a bone on the floor ever since the entrance of the

well as I do yours, Georg

chair. The three Northerners heard this las

he cried, "I ought to go on the stage; I had no idea I was such a good actor. Don't you kn

one other than Walter Jenks, a sergeant from General Mitchell's camp, whom Andrews had sent out on the bridge-burning party. He had shaved off his beard, a

ck to play on you fellows," he explained, lowering his voice

rate officer?" asked Watson, who now felt a sense of exhilar

ough-and, to avoid pursuit, had to shave off my beard and disguise myself in this Confederate uniform, which I was lucky enough to 'appropriate.' I was nearly starved-stumbled across this place or my

rked Macgreggor, "you can e

oon they had reached a point directly opposite Chattanooga. Here they found a ferryman, just as they had been given to expect, with his flat "horse-boat" moored to the shore. He was

lained, pointing to his companions. "This officer (indicating Walter Jenks, who retained

zy fashion, "but I reckon the river's got somethin' to say as to that!" He waved one hand slowly in the direction of the stream, which was, without a shadow

e to waiting. If they missed the evening train from Chattanooga to Mar

uld give him a certain prestige in the eyes of the ferryman. "I am Major Lightfoot

"That may be true enough, but I calculate nature's got somethin' to say in this world. And I calculate I ain't a-goi

of adventure, and to be stopped at the eleventh hour by this stupid, cautio

of Confederate money. "There's money for

leepy way, and took another

azed at him as if their very lives depended on his decision. "Money!

eedlessness that quite justified him in his hesitation. "Wait till to-mo

thundered Jenks. "We must take the risk-a

pe some strong tobacco, and slowly lighted the stuff. Then he arose, walked to the edge of the wharf, and beckoned to a lad of nine or ten years old who was half asleep in the boat. The bo

rong desire to knock down this imperturbable fellow who

. He sat down again, crossed his leg

fist in the smoker's face, "I order you to tak

very calmly, "I tell you I'm not go

and whispered: "Let's seize the boa

o companions, and told th

hands," said Jenks, "but anything

ver is pretty mischievous-looking, I don't th

d if by that time you haven't made up your mind to take us over the river, we'll take the law into our own hands, se

nswered. "If it's dangerous for me, it'll be deat

cried Jenks, resolutely, k

e George was thinking. Two minutes more passed. The boy was recalling a saying of his father's:

t last. "Come, boys, let's

mposure. "Take the boat if you want," he observed, rising to hi

to the wharf; he was now, perhaps, a quarter of a mile away, but he was not alone. He was bringing

ained the ferryman, "so as there's a picket up

fore you can get a hundred feet away from the bank in this contrary stream those sol

rs of the expedition save his own party, and the triumphal railroad escapade the next day. And when the Northern news

d! There's not a boatman in Kentucky who wouldn't take us across this river. Even a Yankee wouldn't fear it.

cidity, turned a deep red. "Take care, young fellow," he said, in a voice of a

over to Chattanooga!" answered the boy, sturdi

from red to purple, and then to white. All his stolidity had vanished; he was no

oy," he shouted, "I

l-feigned contempt. "That would only show you to be a bully. If you have any courage in your

ile George's companions had caught his cue. He was trying

s never afraid of the water; but our friend

ck pond in the shape of water," added Jenks. Jackson was act

ky thing for you that you didn't enlist in the Confederate

cross-or drown you all and myself-I don't care which. But no man shall ever say that Ned Jackson is a coward!" He ran to the boat, leaped into it and beckoned to th

had now reached the wharf. "I don't want you. I'm going to

age, might only end by sending them all to the bottom. Waggie, who was now reposing in a pocket of George's coat, suddenly ga

Wag's to be drowned, he'll be drowned on a

e," snarled the ferryman; "for he's the only one who