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——