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So saying ho poured the contents of the vial into the canteen； and
then going to a water…cart filled it up。 Ho waited until the camp
was quiet； and then； taking off his boots and fastening in his bolt
his own bayonet and that of one of the men sleeping near； he
quietly and cautiously made his way out of camp。 There were no
sentries placed here； for there was no fear whatever of an attack；
and ho had little difficulty in making his way round to the back of
the village to the spot where Vincent was confined。 Ho moved so
quietly that ho was not perceived until he was within a few yards
of the shed。
〃Sergeant Newson； am you dere？〃
〃Bress me； what a start you hab given me； for suah！〃 the sergeant
said。 〃I did not hear you coming。
〃You didn't s'pose I was coming along shouting and whistling；
Sergeant Newson？ Don't you talk so loud。 Dar am no saying who's
about。〃
〃Hab you brought do stuff？〃
〃You don't suppose I should hab come all dis way to tell you I hab
not got it。 How am do prisoner？〃
〃Oh； he's dere all right。 My orders was to look in at dat little
winder ebery five minutes； and dat when it began to get dark me
was to tie him quite tight； and me hab done so。 And one of do
sentries goes in every five minutes and feels to see if de ropes are
tight。 He am dar； sure enough。〃
〃Dat's quite right； Sergeant Nowson。 I knew when you came to
'hove me as do captain knew what ho was doing when lie choose
you for dis job。 Ho just pick out do man he considers do very best
in do regiment。 Now； here is do spirit； and fuss…rate stuff it am；
too。〃
〃Golly； but it am strong！〃 the sergeant said； taking a long gulp at
the canteen。 〃Dat warm do cockles ob de heart in no time。 Yes； it
am good stuff…just do ting for dis damp air。 I hear as a lot of do
white soldiers are down wid de fever already； and dere will be lots
and lots more of we stop here long。 Here； you two men； take a
drink of dis； but mind； you mustn't toll no one 'bout it。 Dis a secret
affair。〃
The two negroes each took a long drink； and returned the canteen
with warm expressions of approval。
〃De oder men are on duty；〃 the sergeant said with the air of a man
who knew his business； 〃dey mustn't hab none of it； not until dey
comes off。 As we are do relief； it am proper and right dat we drink
a drop out of a canteen of we want it。〃
〃Quite so； Sergeant Newson；〃 Tony said in a tone of admiration。
〃Dat's do way to manage dese tings…duty first and pleasure
afterward。〃
〃It am nearly time to relieve guard；〃 the other said； and den dey
can have a drink。〃
In five minutes the two soldiers relieved those on guard； and they
also took a long drink at the canteen； to which the sergeant also
again applied his lips。
Now I must be going；〃 Tony said。 〃I will leave the canteen with
you； sergeant。 I have got some more of the stuff over there； and I
dare say you will like another drink before morning。〃
So saying he stole away； hut halted and lay down twenty yards
distant。 In ten minutes he heard the sergeant say：
〃I feel as if I could do just five minutes' sleep。 You keep your eyes
on de shed； and of you hear any officer coming his rounds you
wake me up。〃
Tony waited another half…hour and then crawled up。 The sergeant
was lying on his back sound asleep； the two men with him were on
their faces； with their rifles pointing toward the shed； as if they had
dropped off to sleep while they were staring at it。 Then he crawled
on to the shed。 The soldier on sentry at the back had grounded his
musket and was leaning against the shed fast asleep； while the one
at the door had apparently slid down in a sitting position and was
snoring。
〃I hope I haben't given it to dem too strong；〃 Tony said to himself；
〃but it can't be helped anyhow。〃
He opened the door and entered the shed。
〃Are you awake； Marse Wingfield？〃
〃Yes； I am awake； Tony。 Thank God you have come！ How did you
manage it？〃
〃I hab managed it； sah； and dey are all fast asleep；〃 Tony said； as
he cut the ropes which bound Vincent。
〃Now； sab； let's be going quick。 Dar am no saying when dey may
come round to look after do guards。 Dat's what I hab been
worrying about do last quarter ob an hour。〃
Vincent sprang to his feet as the ropes fell from him； and grasped
Tony's hand。
〃Here am a bayonet； sah。 I hope we sha'n't want to use dem； but
dar am no saying。〃
They made their way cautiously across the fields till they
approached another camp。 A few sentries were walking up and
down in front of it； but they crawled round these and passed
through the space between the regiment and that next to it。
Several other camps were passed； and then； when Vincent knew
that they were well in rear of the whole of them； they rose to their
feet and started forward at a run。 Suddenly Tony touched Vincent；
and they both stood still。 A distant shout came through the air；
followed by another and another。
〃I 'spect dey hab found out we have gone； sah。 Dey go round two
or tree times in do night to sec dat de sentries are awake。 Now；
sab； come along。〃
They were on the road now； and ran at full speed until they
approached Union。 They left the track as they neared the village；
and as they did so they heard the sound of a horse at full gallop
behind them。
〃That's an orderly taking the news of our escape。 Sheridan's
cavalry are scattered all over the country； and there are two
squadrons at Union Grove。 The whole country will be alive at
daybreak。〃
Making their way through the fields they soon struck the track
leading to Worley Farm； and in a few minutes were at the door。
The woman opened it at once。
〃I have been watching for you；〃 she said； 〃and I am real glad you
have got safe away。 Wait a minute and I will strike a light。〃
〃You had better not do that；〃 Vincent said。 〃They have got the
alarm at Union Grove already； and if any one caught sight of a
light appearing in your window； it would bring them down here at
once。〃
〃They can't see the house from Union；〃 the woman said。 〃Still；
perhaps it will be best。 Now； sir； I can't do anything for you；
because my men's clothes are the same sor' of cut as yours； but
here's a suit for this man。〃
Thanking her warmly Vincent handed the things to Tony。
〃Make haste and slip them on。 Tony； and make your
352
WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA。
other things up into a bundle and bring them with you for a bit。
We must leave nothing hero； for they will search the whole
country to…morrow。 We will take the horse away too； not that we
want it； but it would never do for it to be found here。〃
〃Will you take your letter again？〃 the woman asked。
〃No； I will leave it with you。 It will be no use now if I get through；
but if you hear to…morrow or next day that I am caught； please
carry it as we arranged。 What is this？〃 he asked as the w