第20章

Isaidthedoctorsmadeapretenseofaffordingmedicalrelief。Itwashardlythat,sinceaboutalltheprescriptionforthoseinsidetheStockadeconsistedingivingahandfulofsumachberriestoeachofthosecomplainingofscurvy。Theberriesmighthavedonesomegood,hadtherebeenenoughofthem,andhadtheiractionbeenassistedbyproperfood。

Asitwas,theywereprobablynearly,ifnotwholly,useless。Nothingwasgiventoarresttheravagesofdysentery。

AlimitednumberoftheworstcaseswereadmittedtotheHospitaleachday。Asthisonlyhadcapacityforaboutone—quarterofthesickintheStockade,newpatientscouldonlybeadmittedasothersdied。Itseemed,anyway,likesigningaman\'sdeathwarranttosendhimtotheHospital,asthreeoutofeveryfourwhowentouttheredied。ThefollowingfromtheofficialreportoftheHospitalshowsthis:

Totalnumberadmitted……12,900

Died。8,663

Exchanged……828

Tooktheoathofallegiance……25

Sentelsewhere2,889

Total12,400

Averagedeaths,76percent。

EarlyinAugustImadeasuccessfulefforttogetouttotheHospital。I

hadseveralreasonsforthis:First,oneofmychums,W。W。Watts,ofmyowncompany,hadbeensentoutalittlewhalebeforeverysickwithscurvyandpneumonia,andIwantedtoseeifIcoulddoanythingforhim,ifhestilllived:IhavementionedbeforethatforawhileafterourentranceintoAndersonvillefiveofussleptononeovercoatandcoveredourselveswithoneblanket。Twoofthesehadalreadydied,leavingaspossessorsof—theblanketandovercoat,W。W。Watts,B。B。Andrews,andmyself。

Next,Iwantedtogoouttoseeiftherewasanyprospectofescape。

IhadlongsincegivenuphopesofescapingfromtheStockade。Allourattemptsattunnelinghadresultedindeadfailures,andnow,tomakeuswhollydespairofsuccessinthatdirection,anotherStockadewasbuiltcleararoundtheprison,atadistanceofonehundredandtwentyfeetfromthefirstpalisades。ItwasmanifestthatthoughwemightsucceedintunnelingpastoneStockade,wecouldnotgobeyondthesecondone。

Ihadthescurvyratherbadly,andbeingnaturallyslightinframe,Ipresentedaverysickappearancetothephysicians,andwaspassedouttotheHospital。

Whilethiswasawretchedaffair,itwasstillavastimprovementontheStockade。Aboutfiveacresofground,alittlesoutheastoftheStockade,andborderingonacreek,wereenclosedbyaboardfence,aroundwhichtheguardwalked,treesshadedthegroundtolerablywell。

Thereweretentsandfliestoshelterpartofthesick,andinthesewerebedsmadeofpineleaves。Therewereregularstreetsandalleysrunningthroughthegrounds,andasthemanagementwasinthehandsofourownmen,theplacewaskeptreasonablycleanandorderlyforAndersonville。

Therewasalsosomeimprovementinthefood。Riceinsomedegreereplacedthenauseousandinnutritiouscornbread,andifservedinsufficientquantities,woulddoubtlesshavepromotedtherecoveryofmanymendyingfromdysentericdiseases。Wealsoreceivedsmallquantitiesof"okra,"aplantpeculiartotheSouth,whosepodscontainedamucilaginousmatterthatmadeasoupverygratefultothosesufferingfromscurvy。

ButalltheseameliorationsofconditionweretooslighttoevenarresttheprogressofthediseaseofthethousandsofdyingmenbroughtoutfromtheStockade。Thesestillworethesamelice—infestedgarmentsasinprison;nobathsorevenordinaryapplicationsofsoapandwatercleanedtheirdirt—grimedskins,togivetheirporesanopportunitytoassistinrestoringthemtohealth;eventheirlong,lankandmattedhair,swarmingwithvermin,wasnottrimmed。Themostordinaryandobviousmeasuresfortheircomfortandcarewereneglected。Ifamanrecoveredhediditalmostinspiteoffate。Themedicinesgivenwerescantyandcrude。Theprincipalremedialagent——asfarasmyobservationextended——wasarank,fetidspeciesofunrectifiedspirits,which,Iwastold,wasmadefromsorgumseed。Ithadalight—greentinge,andwasaboutasinvitingtothetasteasspiritsofturpentine。Itwasgiventothesickinsmallquantitiesmixedwithwater。IhadhadsomeexperiencewithKentucky"apple—jack,"which,itwaspopularlybelievedamongtheboys,woulddissolveapieceofthefattestporkthrownintoit,butthatseemedbalmyandoilyalongsideofthis。Aftertastingsome,IceasedtowonderattheatrocitiesofWirzandhisassociates。Nothingwouldseemtoobadtoamanwhomadethathishabitualtipple。

[ForamoreparticulardescriptionoftheHospitalImustrefermyreadertothetestimonyofProfessorJones,inapreviouschapter。]

Certainlythiscontinenthasneverseen——andIferventlytrustitwillneveragainsee——suchagiganticconcentrationofmiseryasthatHospitaldisplayeddaily。Theofficialstatisticstellthestoryofthiswithterriblebrevity:TherewerethreethousandsevenhundredandnineintheHospitalinAugust;onethousandfourhundredandeighty—nine——nearlyeveryothermandied。Therateafterwardsbecamemuchhigherthanthis。

Themostconspicuoussufferingwasinthegangrenewards。Horriblesoresspreadingalmostvisiblyfromhourtohour,devouredmen\'slimbsandbodies。Irememberonewardinwhichthealterationsappearedtobealtogetherintheback,wheretheyateoutthetissuebetweentheskinandtheribs。Theattendantsseemedtryingtoarresttheprogressofthesloughingbydrenchingthesoreswithasolutionofbluevitriol。Thiswasexquisitelypainful,andinthemorning,whenthedrenchingwasgoingon,thewholehospitalrangwiththemostagonizingscreams。

Butthegangrenemostlyattackedthelegsandarms,andtheledmorethanthearms。Sometimesitkilledmeninsideofaweek;sometimestheylingeredonindefinitely。IrememberonemanintheStockadewhocuthishandwiththesharpcornerofacardofcornbreadhewasliftingfromtherationwagon;gangrenesetinimmediately,andhediedfourdaysafter。

Oneformthatwasquitprevalentwasacanceroftheloweronecornerofthemouth,anditfinallyatethewholesideofthefaceout。Ofcoursethesuffererhadthegreatesttroubleineatinganddrinking。Forthelatteritwascustomarytowhittleoutalittlewoodentube,andfastenitinatincup,throughwhichhecouldsuckupthewater。Asthismouthcancerseemedcontagious,noneofuswouldallowanyoneafflictedwithittouseanyofourcookingutensils。TheRebeldoctorsatthehospitalresortedtowholesaleamputationstochecktheprogressofthegangrene。

Theyhadatwohourssessionoflimb—loppingeverymorning,eachofwhichresultedinquiteapileofseveredmembers。IpresumemorebunglingoperationsarerarelyseenoutsideofRussianorTurkishhospitals。

Theirunskilfulnesswasapparenteventonon—scientificobserverslikemyself。ThestandardofmedicaleducationintheSouth——asindeedofeveryotherformofeducation——wasquitelow。TheChiefSurgeonoftheprison,Dr。IsaiahWhite,andperhapstwoorthreeothers,seemedtobegentlemenoffairabilitiesandattainments。TheremainderwereofthatclassofilliterateandunlearningquackswhophysicandblisterthepoorwhitesandnegrosinthecountrydistrictsoftheSouth;whobelievetheycanstopbleedingofthenosebyrepeatingaversefromtheBible;whothinkthatifingatheringtheirfavoriteremedyofbonesettheycutthestemupwardsitwillpurgetheirpatients,andifdownwarditwillvomitthem,andwhoholdthatthereisnothingsogoodfor"fits"asablackcat,killedinthedarkofthemoon,cutopen,andboundwhileyetwarm,uponthenakedchestofthevictimoftheconvulsions。

Theyhadacaseofinstrumentscapturedfromsomeofourfieldhospitals,whichweredullandfearfullyoutoforder。Withpoorinstrumentsandunskilledhandstheoperationsbecamemangling。

IntheHospitalIsawanadmirableillustrationoftheaffectionwhichasailorwilllavishonaship\'sboy,whomhetakesafancyto,andmakeshis"chicken,"asthephraseis。TheUnitedStatessloop"WaterWitch"

hadrecentlybeencapturedinOssabawSound,andhercrewbroughtintoprison。Oneofherboys——abright,handsomelittlefellowofaboutfifteen——hadlostoneofhisarmsinthefight。HewasbroughtintotheHospital,andtheoldfellowwhose"chicken"hewas,wasallowedtoaccompanyandnursehim。This"oldbarnacle—back"wasassurlyagrowleraseverwentaloft,buttohis"chicken"hewasastenderandthoughtfulasawoman。Theyfoundashadynookinonecorner,andanymomentonelookedinthatdirectionhecouldseetheoldtarhardatworkatsomethingforthecomfortandpleasureofhispet。Nowhewasdressingthewoundasdeftlyandgentlyasamothercaringforanew—bornbabe;

nowhewastryingtoconcoctsomerelishoutoftheslendermaterialshecouldbegorstealfromtheQuartermaster;nowtryingtoarrangetheshadeofthebedofpineleavesinamorecomfortablemanner;nowrepairingorwashinghisclothes,andsoon。

Allthesailorswereparticularlyfavoredbybeingallowedtobringtheirbagsinuntouchedbytheguards。This"chicken"hadawonderfulsupplyofclothes,thehandiworkofhisprotectorwho,likemostgoodsailors,wasveryskillfulwiththeneedle。Hehadsuitsoffinewhiteduck,embroideredwithblueinawaythatwouldravishtheheartofafinelady,andbluesuitssimilarlyembroideredwithwhite。Nobelleeverkeptherclothesinbetterorderthanthesewere。Whentheduckcameupfromtheoldsailor\'spatientwashingitwasasspotlessasnew—fallensnow。

Ifoundmychuminaverybadcondition。Hisappetitewasentirelygone,buthehadaninordinatecravingfortobacco——forstrong,blackplug——

whichhesmokedinapipe。Hehadalreadytradedoffallhisbrassbuttonstotheguardsforthis。Ihadaccumulatedafewbuttonstobribetheguardtotakemeoutforwood,andIgavethesealsofortobaccoforhim。WhenIawokeonemorningthemanwholaidnexttomeontherightwasdead,havingdiedsometimeduringthenight。Isearchedhispocketsandtookwhatwasinthem。Thesewereasilkpockethandkerchief,aguttaperchafinger—ring,acomb,apencil,andaleatherpocket—book,makinginallquiteanicelittle"find。"Ihiedovertotheguard,andsucceededintradingthepersonalestatewhichIhadinheritedfromtheintestatedeceased,forahandfulofpeaches,ahandfulofhardlyripefigs,andalongplugoftobacco。IhastenedbacktoWatts,expectingthatthefigsandpeacheswoulddohimaworldofgood。AtfirstIdidnotshowhimthetobacco,asIwasstronglyopposedtohisusingit,thinkingthatitwasmakinghimmuchworse。Buthelookedatthetemptingpeachesandfigswithlack—lustereyes;hewastoofargonetocareforthem。Hepushedthembacktome,sayingfaintly:

"No,youtake\'em,Mc;Idon\'twant\'em;Ican\'teat\'em！"

Ithenproducedthetobacco,andhisfacelightedup。Concludingthatthiswasallthecomfortthathecouldhave,andthatImightaswellgratifyhim,Icutupsomeoftheweed,filledhispipeandlightedit。

Hesmokedcalmlyandalmosthappilyalltheafternoon,hardlyspeakingawordtome。Asitgrewdarkheaskedmetobringhimadrink。Ididso,andasIraisedhimuphesaid:

"Mc,thisthing\'sended。TellmyfatherthatIstooditaslongasI

could,and————"

Thedeathrattlesoundedinhisthroat,andwhenIlaidhimbackitwasallover。Straighteningouthislimbs,foldinghishandsacrosshisbreast,andcomposinghisfeaturesasbestIcould,Ilay,downbesidethebodyandslepttillmorning,whenIdidwhatlittleelseIcouldtowardpreparingforthegraveallthatwasleftofmylong—sufferinglittlefriend。

CHAPTERXLVII。

DETERMINATIONTOESCAPE——DIFFERENTPLANSANDTHEIRMERITS——IPREFERTHE

APPALACHICOLAROUTE——PREPARATIONSFORDEPARTURE——AHOTDAY——THEFENCE

PASSEDSUCCESSFULLYPURSUEDBYTHEHOUNDS——CAUGHT——

RETURNEDTOTHESTOCKADE。

AfterWatt\'sdeath,Isetearnestlyaboutseeingwhatcouldbedoneinthewayofescape。FrankHarvey,oftheFirstWestVirginiaCavalry,aboyofaboutmyownageanddisposition,joinedwithmeinthescheme。

IwasstillpossessedwithmyoriginalplanofmakingmywaydownthecreekstotheFlintRiver,downtheFlintRivertowhereitemptiedintotheAppalachicolaRiver,anddownthatstreamtoitsdebauchureintothebaythatconnectedwiththeGulfofMexico。Iwassureoffindingmywaybythisroute,because,ifnothingelseoffered,Icouldgetastrideofalogandfloatdownthecurrent。ThewaytoSherman,intheotherdirection,waslong,torturousanddifficult,withafearfulgauntletofblood—hounds,patrolsandthescoutsofHood\'sArmytoberun。IhadbutlittledifficultyinpersuadingHarveyintoanacceptanceofmyviews,andwebeganarrangingforasolutionofthefirstgreatproblem——howtogetoutsideoftheHospitalguards。AsIhaveexplainedbefore,theHospitalwassurroundedbyaboardfence,withguardswalkingtheirbeatsonthegroundoutside。Asmallcreekflowedthroughthesouthernendofthegrounds,andatitslowerendwasusedasasink。Theboardsofthefencecamedowntothesurfaceofthewater,wheretheCreekpassedout,butwefound,bycarefulproddingwithastick,thattheholebetweentheboardsandthebottomoftheCreekwassufficientlylargetoallowthepassageofourbodies,andtherehadbeennostakesdrivenorotherprecautionsusedtopreventegressbythischannel。Aguardwaspostedthere,andprobablyorderedtostandattheedgeofthestream,butitsmelledsovilelyinthosescorchingdaysthathehadconsultedhisfeelingsandprobablyhishealth,byretiringtothetopofthebank,arodormoredistant。Wewatchednightafternight,andatlastweregratifiedtofindthatnonewentnearertheCreakthanthetopofthisbank。

Thenwewaitedforthemoontocomeright,sothatthefirstpartofthenightshouldbedark。Thistookseveraldays,butatlastweknewthatthenextnightshewouldnotriseuntilbetween9and10o\'clock,whichwouldgiveusnearlytwohoursofthedensedarknessofamoonlessSummernightintheSouth。Wehadfirstthoughtofsavingupsomerationsforthetrip,butthenreflectedthatthesewouldberuinedbythefilthywaterintowhichwemustsinktogounderthefence。Itwasnotdifficulttoabandonthefoodidea,sinceitwasveryhardtoforceourselvestolaybyeventhesmallestportionofourscantyrations。

Asthenextdayworeon,ourmindswerewroughtupintoexaltedtensionbytherapidapproachofthesuprememoment,withallitschancesandconsequences。Theexperienceofthepastfewmonthswasnotsuchastomentallyfitusforsuchahazard。Itpreparedusforsullen,uncomplainingendurance,forcalmlycontemplatingtheworstthatcouldcome;butitdidnotstrengthenthatfiberofmindthatleadstoventuresomeactivityanddaringexploits。Doubtlesstheweaknessofourbodiesreacteduponourspirits。Wecontemplatedalltheperilsthatconfrontedus;perilsthat,nowloomingupwithimpendingnearness,tookaclearerandmorethreateningshapethantheyhadeverdonebefore。

Weconsideredthedesperatechancesofpassingtheguardunseen;or,ifnoticed,ofescapinghisfirewithoutdeathorseverewounds。Butsupposinghimfortunatelyevaded,thencamethegauntletofthehoundsandthepatrolshuntingdeserters。Afterthis,along,wearyjourney,withbarefeetandalmostnakedbodies,throughanunknowncountryaboundingwithenemies;thedangersofassassinationbytheembitteredpopulace;therisksofdyingwithhungerandfatigueinthegloomydepthsofaswamp;thescantyhopesthat,ifwereachedtheseashore,wecouldgettoourvessels。

Notoneofallthesecontingenciesfailedtoexpanditselftoallitsalarmingproportions,andunitewithitsfellowstoformadreadfulvista,likethevalleysfilledwithdemonsandgenii,dragonsandmalignenchantments,whichconfronttheherosofthe"ArabianNights,"whentheysetouttoperformtheirexploits。

Butbehinduslaymoremiseriesandhorrorsthanariotousimaginationcouldconceive;beforeuscouldcertainlybenothingworse。Wewouldputlifeandfreedomtothehazardofatouch,andwinorloseitall。

Thedayhadbeenintolerablyhot。Thesun\'sraysseemedtoseartheearth,likeheatedirons,andtheairthatlayontheburningsandwasbrokenbywavylines,suchasoneseesindicatetheradiationfromahotstove。

Exceptthewretchedchain—gangploddingtorturouslybackandforwardonthehillside,notasoulnorananimalcouldbeseeninmotionoutsidetheStockade。Thehoundswerepantingintheirkennel;theRebelofficers,halforwhollydrunkenwithvillainoussorgumwhisky,werestretchedatfulllengthintheshadeatheadquarters;thehalf—cakedgunnerscrouchedundertheshadowoftheembankmentsoftheforts,theguardshunglimplyovertheStockadeinfrontoftheirlittleperches;

thethirtythousandboysinsidetheStockade,proneorsupineupontheglowingsand,gaspedforbreath——foronedraftofsweet,cool,wholesomeairthatdidnotbearonitswingsthesubtleseedsofrankcorruptionanddeath。Everywherewastheprostrationofdiscomfort——theinertiaofsluggishness。

Onlythesickmoved;onlythepain—rackedcriedout;onlythedyingstruggled;onlytheagoniesofdissolutioncouldmakelifeassertitselfagainsttheexhaustionoftheheat。

HarveyandI,lyinginthescantyshadeofthetrunkofatallpine,andwithheartsfilledwithsolicitudeastotheoutcomeofwhattheeveningwouldbringus,lookedoutoverthesceneaswehaddonedailyforlongmonths,andremainedsilentforhours,untilthesun,asifwearywithtorturingandslaying,begangoingdownintheblazingWest。Thegroansofthethousandsofsickaroundus,theshrieksoftherottingonesinthegangrenewardsrangincessantlyinourears。

Asthesundisappeared,andtheheatabated,thesuspendedactivitywasrestored。TheMasteroftheHoundscameoutwithhisyelpingpack,andstartedonhisrounds;theRebelofficersarousedthemselvesfromtheirsiestaandwentlazilyabouttheirduties;thefiferproducedhiscrackedfifeandpipedforthhisunvarying"BonnieBlueFlag,"asasignalfordressparade,anddrumsbeatenbyunskilledhandsinthecampsofthedifferentregiments,repeatedthesignal。IntimeStockadethemassofhumanitybecamefullofmotionasananthill,andresembleditverymuchfromourpointofview,withtheboysthreadingtheirwayamongtheburrows,tentsandholes。

Itwasbecomingdarkquiterapidly。Themomentsseemedgallopingonwardtowardthetimewhenwemustmakethedecisivestep。Wedrewfromthedirtyraginwhichitwaswrappedthelittlepieceofcornbreadthatwehadsavedforoursupper,carefullydivideditintotwoequalparts,andeachtookoneandateitinsilence。Thisdone,weheldafinalconsultationastoourplans,andwentovereachdetailcarefully,thatwemightfullyunderstandeachotherunderallpossiblecircumstances,andactinconcert。Onepointwelaboriouslyimpresseduponeachother,andthatwas;thatundernocircumstanceswerewetoallowourselvestobetemptedtoleavetheCreekuntilwereacheditsjunctionwiththeFlintRiver。Ithenpickeduptwopineleaves,brokethemofftounequallengths,rolledtheminmyhandsbehindmybackforasecond,andpresentingthemtoHarneywiththeirendsstickingoutofmyclosedhand,said:

"Theonethatgetsthelongestonegoesfirst。"

Harveyreachedforthanddrewthelongerone。

Wemadeatourofreconnaissance。Everythingseemedasusual,andwonderfullycalmcomparedwiththetumultinourminds。TheHospitalguardswerepacingtheirbeatslazily;thoseontheStockadeweredrawlinglistlesslythefirst"callaround"oftheevening:

"Postnumbahfoah！Half—pastseveno\'clock！anda—l—l\'swe—l—ll！"

InsidetheStockadewasaBabelofsounds,aboveallofwhichrosethemelodyofreligiousandpatrioticsongs,sunginvariouspartsofthecamp。FromtheheadquarterscametheshoutsandlaughteroftheRebelofficershavingalittle"frolic"inthecooloftheevening。Thegroansofthesickaroundusweregraduallyhushing,astheabatementoftheterribleheatletallbuttheworstcasessinkintoabriefslumber,fromwhichtheyawokebeforemidnighttorenewtheiroutcries。ButthoseintheGangrenewardsseemedtobedeniedeventhisscantyblessing。

Apparentlytheyneverslept,fortheirshrieksneverceased。Amultitudeofwhip—poor—willsinthewoodsaroundusbegantheirusualdismalcry,whichhadneverseemedsounearthlyandfullofdreadfulpresagesasnow。

Itwas,nowquitedark,andwestolenoiselesslydowntotheCreekandreconnoitered。Welistened。Theguardwasnotpacinghisbeat,aswecouldnothearhisfootsteps。Alarge,ill—shapenlumpagainstthetrunkofoneofthetreesonthebankshowedthathewasleaningthererestinghimself。Wewatchedhimforseveralminutes,buthedidnotmove,andthethoughtshotintoourmindsthathemightbeasleep;butitseemedimpossible:itwastooearlyintheevening。

Now,ifever,wastheopportunity。Harneysqueezedmyhand,steppednoiselesslyintotheCreek,laidhimselfgentlydownintothefilthywater,andwhilemyheartwasbeatingsothatIwascertainitcouldbeheardsomedistancefromme,beganmakingtowardthefence。Hepassedundereasily,andIraisedmyeyestowardtheguard,whileonmystrainedearfellthesoftplashingmadebyHarveyashepulledhimselfcautiouslyforward。Itseemedasifthesentinelmusthearthis;hecouldnothelpit,andeverysecondIexpectedtoseetheblacklumpaddressitselftomotion,andthemusketflashoutfiendishly。Buthedidnot;thelumpremainedmotionless;themusketsilent。

WhenIthoughtthatHarveyhadgainedasufficientdistanceIfollowed。

ItseemedasifthedisgustingwaterwouldsmothermeasIlaidmyselfdownintoit,andsuchwasmyagitationthatitappearedalmostimpossiblethatIshouldescapemakingsuchanoiseaswouldattracttheguard\'snotice。Catchingholdoftherootsandlimbsatthesideofthestream,Ipulledmyselfslowlyalong,andasnoiselesslyaspossible。

Ipassedunderthefencewithoutdifficulty,andwasoutside,andwithinfifteenfeetoftheguard。Ihadlaindownintothecreekuponmyrightside,thatmyfacemightbetowardtheguard,andIcouldwatchhimcloselyallthetime。

AsIcameunderthefencehewasstillleaningmotionlessagainstthetree,buttomyheatedimaginationheappearedtohaveturnedandbewatchingme。Ihardlybreathed;thefilthywaterripplingpastmeseemedtoroartoattracttheguard\'sattention;Ireachedmyhandoutcautiouslytograsparoottopullmyselfalongby,andcaughtinsteadadrybranch,whichbrokewithaloudcrack。Myheartabsolutelystoodstill。Theguardevidentlyheardthenoise。Theblacklumpseparateditselffromthetree,andastraightlinewhichIknewtobehismusketseparateditselffromthelump。InabriefinstantIlivedayearofmortalapprehension。SocertainwasIthathehaddiscoveredme,andwaslevelinghispiecetofire,thatIcouldscarcelyrestrainmyselffromspringingupanddashingawaytoavoidtheshot。ThenIheardhimtakeastep,andtomyunutterablesurpriseandrelief,hewalkedofffartherfromtheCreek,evidentlytospeaktothemanwhosebeatjoinedhis。

Ipulledawaymoreswiftly,butstillwiththegreatestcaution,untilafterhalf—an—hour\'spainfuleffortIhadgottenfullyonehundredandfiftyyardsawayfromtheHospitalfence,andfoundHarneycrouchedonacypressknee,closetothewater\'sedge,watchingforme。

Wewaitedthereafewminutes,untilIcouldrest,andcalmmyperturbednervesdowntosomethingnearertheirnormalequilibrium,andthenstartedon。WehopedthatifwewereasluckyinournextstepasinthefirstonewewouldreachtheFlintRiverbydaylight,andhaveagoodlongstartbeforethemorningroll—callrevealedourabsence。Wecouldhearthehoundsstillbayinginthedistance,butthissoundwastoocustomarytogiveusanyuneasiness。

Butourprogresswasterriblyslow。Everystephurtfearfully。TheCreekbedwasfullofrootsandsnags,andbriers,andvinestrailedacrossit。Thesecaughtandtoreourbarefeetandlegs,renderedabnormallytenderbythescurvy。Itseemedasifeverystepwasmarkedwithblood。Thevinestrippedus,andwefrequentlyfellheadlong。Westruggledondeterminedlyfornearlyanhour,andwereperhapsamilefromtheHospital。

Themooncameup,anditslightshowedthatthecreekcontinueditscoursethroughadensejunglelikethatwehadbeentraversing,whileonthehighgroundtoourleftweretheopenpinewoodsIhavepreviouslydescribed。

Westoppedanddebatedforafewminutes。WerecalledourpromisetokeepintheCreek,theexperienceofotherboyswhohadtriedtoescapeandbeencaughtbythehounds。IfwestaidintheCreekweweresurethehoundswouldnotfindourtrail,butitwasequallycertainthatatthisratewewouldbeexhaustedandstarvedbeforewegotoutofsightoftheprison。ItseemedthatwehadgonefarenoughtobeoutofreachofthepackspatrollingimmediatelyaroundtheStockade,andtherecouldbebutlittleriskintryingashortwalkonthedryground。Weconcludedtotakethechances,and,ascendingthebank,wewalkedandranasfastaswecouldforabouttwomilesfurther。

Allatonceitstruckmethatwithallourprogressthehoundssoundedasnearaswhenwestarted。Ishiveredatthethought,andthoughnearlyreadytodropwithfatigue,urgedmyselfandHarneyon。

Aninstantlatertheirbayingrangoutonthestillnightairrightbehindus,andwithfearfuldistinctness。Therewasnomistakenow;theyhadfoundourtrail,andwererunningusdown。Thechangefromfearfulapprehensiontothecrushingrealitystoppedusstock—stillinourtracks。

Atthenextbreaththehoundscameburstingthroughthewoodsinplainsight,andinfullcry。Weobeyedourfirstimpulse;rushedbackintotheswamp,forcedourwayforafewyardsthroughtheflesh—tearingimpediments,untilwegainedalargecypress,uponwhosegreatkneesweclimbed——thoroughlyexhausted——justastheyelpingpackreachedtheedgeofthewater,andstoppedthereandbayedatus。Itwasaphysicalimpossibilityforustogoanotherstep。

Inamomentthelow—browedvillainwhohadchargeofthehoundscamegallopinguponhismule,tootingsignalstohisdogsashecame,onthecow—hornslungfromhisshoulders。

Heimmediatelydiscoveredus,covereduswithhisrevolver,andyelledout:

"Comeashore,there,quick:you————————————————s！"

Therewasnohelpforit。Weclimbeddownoffthekneesandstartedtowardstheland。Aswenearedit,thehoundsbecamealmostfrantic,anditseemedasifwewouldbetorntopiecesthemomenttheycouldreachus。Butthemasterdismountedanddrovethemback。Hewassurly—

evensavage——tous,butseemedintoomuchhurrytogetbacktowasteanytimeannoyinguswiththedogs。Heorderedustogetaroundinfrontofthemule,andstartbacktocamp。Wemovedasrapidlyasourfatigueandourlaceratedfeetwouldallowus,andbeforemidnightwereagaininthehospital,fatigued,filthy,torn,bruisedandwretchedbeyonddescriptionorconception。

ThenextmorningwewereturnedbackintotheStockadeaspunishment。

CHAPTERXLVIII。

AUGUST——GOODLUCKINNOTMEETINGCAPTAINWIRZ——THATWORTHY\'STREATMENTOF

RECAPTUREDPRISONERS——SECRETSOCIETIESINPRISON——SINGULARMEETINGAND

ITSRESULT——DISCOVERYANDREMOVALOFTHEOFFICERSAMONGTHEENLISTEDMEN。

HarneyandIwerespeciallyfortunateinbeingturnedbackintotheStockadewithoutbeingbroughtbeforeCaptainWirz。

WesubsequentlylearnedthatweowedthisgoodlucktoWirz\'sabsenceonsickleave——hisplacebeingsuppliedbyLieutenantDavis,amoderatebrainedBaltimorean,andoneofthathordeofMarylandersintheRebelArmy,whoseprincipalservicetotheConfederacyconsistedinworkingthemselvesinto"bomb—proof"places,andforcingthosewhomtheydisplacedintothefield。Winderwastheillustriousheadofthiscrowdofbomb—proofRebelsfrom"Maryland,MyMaryland！"whoseenthusiasmfortheSoutherncauseandconsistencyinservingitonlyinsuchplacesaswereoutofrangeoftheYankeeartillery,wasthesubjectofmanybitterjibesbytheRebels——especiallybythosewhosesecureberthstheypossessedthemselvesof。

LieutenantDaviswentintothewarwithgreatbrashness。HewasoneofthemobwhichattackedtheSixthMassachusettsinitspassagethroughBaltimore,but,likeallofthatclassofroughs,hegothisstomachfullofwarassoonastherealbusinessoffightingbegan,andheretiredtowherethechancesofattainingaripeoldagewerebetterthaninfrontoftheArmyofthePotomac\'smuskets。WeshallhearofDavisagain。

EncounteringCaptainWirzwasoneoftheterrorsofanabortiveattempttoescape。Whenrecapturedprisonerswerebroughtbeforehimhewouldfrequentlygivewaytoparoxysmsofscreamingrage,soviolentastocloselyvergeoninsanity。Brandishingthefearfulandwonderfulrevolver——ofwhichIhavespokeninsuchamannerastothreatenthelucklesscaptiveswithinstantdeath,hewouldshriekoutimprecations,curses;andfoulepithetsinFrench,GermanandEnglish,untilhefairlyfrothedatthemouth。Therewereplentyofstoriescurrentincampofhishavingseveraltimesgivenawaytohisragesofarastoactuallyshootmendownintheseinterviews,andstillmoreofhisknockingboysdownandjumpinguponthem,untilheinflictedinjuriesthatsoonresultedindeath。HowtruetheserumorswereIamunabletosayofmyownpersonalknowledge,sinceIneversawhimkillanyone,norhaveItalkedwithanyonewhodid。Therewereanumberofcasesofthiskindtestifiedtouponhistrial,buttheyallhappenedamong"paroles"outsidetheStockade,oramongtheprisonersinsideafterweleft,soIknewnothingofthem。

OneoftheOldSwitzer\'sfavoritewaysofendingtheseseanceswastoinformtheboysthathewouldhavethemshotinanhourorso,andbidthempreparefordeath。Afterkeepingtheminfearfulsuspenseforhourshewouldorderthemtobepunishedwiththestocks,theball—and—chain,thechain—gang,or——ifhisfiercemoodhadburneditselfentirelyout——