Page 42 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

the thicket as a half-dozen shots were sent ringing after him,
the bullets hissing and whistling over his bead* Several men
dashed into the woods after him in hot pursuit, and a couple
more galloped up the road to intercept him; but Bob's feet

were winged, and he slipped through briers and brush like a
scared hare. T h ey scratched his face and threw him down,
but life was up again. Now and then a shot crashed behind
him, but he did rot care for that; he thought only of being
caught.

A few hundred yards up, lie plunged into the stream, and
wading across, was soon safe from his pursuers. Breathless,
he climbed the hill, made his way through the woods, and
emerged into the open fields. Across these he sped like a
deer. He had almost given out. W hat if they should have

caught his father, and he should be too late! A sob escaped
him at the bare thought, and he broke again into a run,
wiping off with his sleeve the tears that would come. The
wind cut him like a knife, but he did not mind that.
As he neared the house he feared that he might be inter­

cepted again and the clothes taken from him, so he stopped
for a moment, and slipped them on once more, rolling up the
sleeves and legs as well as he could. He crossed the yard
undisturbed. He went around to the same door by which

he had come out, for he thought this his best chance. The
same sentinel was there, walking up and down, blowing his
cold hands* Had his father been arrested ? Bob’s teeth
chattered, but it Was with suppressed excitement.