Page 139 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

Explored with due regard to the existence of ihe Federal
pickets, who were posted at the roads and along the paths.

If the pickets caught sight of them they might he shot, or
even captured, The latter seemed much the worse fate to
hick, unless, indeed, the Yankees should send them to John­
son’s Island, where his father was. la that case, however,
what would his mother do ? It would not do to be captured,
jack laid out the plan of campaign. They would 11 beat the

woods,’' going up the stream at a sufficient distance apart,
Jake, with the axe and corn, on the inside, and he, with the
gun and rope, outside. Thus, if either should be seen, it
would be he, arid if he came on a soldier, he, having the gun,

would capture him. He gave orders that no word was to he
spoken. If any track was found notice was to be given by
imitating a partridge; if danger appeared, it was to be shown
by the cat-birds call of LJ Naik, naik.hl This was the way they
used to play 11 Injiri.s.”

They worked their way along for an hour or two with­
out seeing any traces, and Jaket contrary to Jack's com-
mand, called out to him :
“ Oh, Jack, we ain’ gwtne fine no horse down hteah ; dese
woods is too big ; he done los’. There s a clearin’ right ahead

here ; let's go home.1’
There was a little field just ahead, with one old cabin in
it ; a path ran down from it to the bridge. Jack replied in
the cat-biid1*; warning note of 11 Naik, naik,” but Jake was
tired of working his way through briers and bushes, and he
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