andersonville-第59部分

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direction；　was　long；　torturous　and　difficult；　with　a　fearful　gauntlet　of
blood…hounds；　patrols　and　the　scouts　of　Hood's　Army　to　be　run。　　I　had　but
little　difficulty　in　persuading　Harvey　into　an　acceptance　of　my　views；
and　we　began　arranging　for　a　solution　of　the　first　great　problemhow　to
get　outside　of　the　Hospital　guards。　　As　I　have　explained　before；　the
Hospital　was　surrounded　by　a　board　fence；　with　guards　walking　their　beats
on　the　ground　outside。　　A　small　creek　flowed　through　the　southern　end　of
the　grounds；　and　at　its　lower　end　was　used　as　a　sink。　　The　boards　of　the
fence　came　down　to　the　surface　of　the　water；　where　the　Creek　passed　out；
but　we　found；　by　careful　prodding　with　a　stick；　that　the　hole　between　the
boards　and　the　bottom　of　the　Creek　was　sufficiently　large　to　allow　the
passage　of　our　bodies；　and　there　had　been　no　stakes　driven　or　other
precautions　used　to　prevent　egress　by　this　channel。　　A　guard　was　posted
there；　and　probably　ordered　to　stand　at　the　edge　of　the　stream；　but　it
smelled　so　vilely　in　those　scorching　days　that　he　had　consulted　his
feelings　and　probably　his　health；　by　retiring　to　the　top　of　the　bank；
a　rod　or　more　distant。　　We　watched　night　after　night；　and　at　last　were
gratified　to　find　that　none　went　nearer　the　Creak　than　the　top　of　this
bank。

Then　we　waited　for　the　moon　to　come　right；　so　that　the　first　part　of　the
night　should　be　dark。　　This　took　several　days；　but　at　last　we　knew　that
the　next　night　she　would　not　rise　until　between　9　and　10　o'clock；　which
would　give　us　nearly　two　hours　of　the　dense　darkness　of　a　moonless　Summer
night　in　the　South。　　We　had　first　thought　of　saving　up　some　rations　for
the　trip；　but　then　reflected　that　these　would　be　ruined　by　the　filthy
water　into　which　we　must　sink　to　go　under　the　fence。　　It　was　not
difficult　to　abandon　the　food　idea；　since　it　was　very　hard　to　force
ourselves　to　lay　by　even　the　smallest　portion　of　our　scanty　rations。

As　the　next　day　wore　on；　our　minds　were　wrought　up　into　exalted　tension
by　the　rapid　approach　of　the　supreme　moment；　with　all　its　chances　and
consequences。　　The　experience　of　the　past　few　months　was　not　such　as　to
mentally　fit　us　for　such　a　hazard。　　It　prepared　us　for　sullen；
uncomplaining　endurance；　for　calmly　contemplating　the　worst　that　could
come；　but　it　did　not　strengthen　that　fiber　of　mind　that　leads　to
venturesome　activity　and　daring　exploits。　　Doubtless　the　weakness　of　our
bodies　reacted　upon　our　spirits。　　We　contemplated　all　the　perils　that
confronted　us；　perils　that；　now　looming　up　with　impending　nearness；　took
a　clearer　and　more　threatening　shape　than　they　had　ever　done　before。

We　considered　the　desperate　chances　of　passing　the　guard　unseen；　or；　if
noticed；　of　escaping　his　fire　without　death　or　severe　wounds。　　But
supposing　him　fortunately　evaded；　then　came　the　gauntlet　of　the　hounds
and　the　patrols　hunting　deserters。　　After　this；　a　long；　weary　journey；
with　bare　feet　and　almost　naked　bodies；　through　an　unknown　country
abounding　with　enemies；　the　dangers　of　assassination　by　the　embittered
populace；　the　risks　of　dying　with　hunger　and　fatigue　in　the　gloomy　depths
of　a　swamp；　the　scanty　hopes　that；　if　we　reached　the　seashore；　we　could
get　to　our　vessels。

Not　one　of　all　these　contingencies　failed　to　expand　itself　to　all　its
alarming　proportions；　and　unite　with　its　fellows　to　form　a　dreadful
vista；　like　the　valleys　filled　with　demons　and　genii；　dragons　and　malign
enchantments；　which　confront　the　heros　of　the　〃Arabian　Nights；〃　when　they
set　out　to　perform　their　exploits。

But　behind　us　lay　more　miseries　and　horrors　than　a　riotous　imagination
could　conceive；　before　us　could　certainly　be　nothing　worse。　　We　would　put
life　and　freedom　to　the　hazard　of　a　touch；　and　win　or　lose　it　all。

The　day　had　been　intolerably　hot。　　The　sun's　rays　seemed　to　sear　the
earth；　like　heated　irons；　and　the　air　that　lay　on　the　burning　sand　was
broken　by　wavy　lines；　such　as　one　sees　indicate　the　radiation　from　a　hot
stove。

Except　the　wretched　chain…gang　plodding　torturously　back　and　forward　on
the　hillside；　not　a　soul　nor　an　animal　could　be　seen　in　motion　outside
the　Stockade。　　The　hounds　were　panting　in　their　kennel；　the　Rebel
officers；　half　or　wholly　drunken　with　villainous　sorgum　whisky；　were
stretched　at　full　length　in　the　shade　at　headquarters；　the　half…caked
gunners　crouched　under　the　shadow　of　the　embankments　of　the　forts；　the
guards　hung　limply　over　the　Stockade　in　front　of　their　little　perches；
the　thirty　thousand　boys　inside　the　Stockade；　prone　or　supine　upon　the
glowing　sand；　gasped　for　breathfor　one　draft　of　sweet；　cool；　wholesome
air　that　did　not　bear　on　its　wings　the　subtle　seeds　of　rank　corruption
and　death。　　Everywhere　was　the　prostration　of　discomfortthe　inertia　of
sluggishness。

Only　the　sick　moved；　only　the　pain…racked　cried　out；　only　the　dying
struggled；　only　the　agonies　of　dissolution　could　make　life　assert　itself
against　the　exhaustion　of　the　heat。

Harvey　and　I；　lying　in　the　scanty　shade　of　the　trunk　of　a　tall　pine；　and
with　hearts　filled　with　solicitude　as　to　the　outcome　of　what　the　evening
would　bring　us；　looked　out　over　the　scene　as　we　had　done　daily　for　long
months；　and　remained　silent　for　hours；　until　the　sun；　as　if　weary　with
torturing　and　slaying；　began　going　down　in　the　blazing　West。　　The　groans
of　the　thousands　of　sick　around　us；　the　shrieks　of　the　rotting　ones　in
the　gangrene　wards　rang　incessantly　in　our　ears。

As　the　sun　disappeared；　and　the　heat　abated；　the　suspended　activity　was
restored。　　The　Master　of　the　Hounds　came　out　with　his　yelping　pack；　and
started　on　his　rounds；　the　Rebel　officers　aroused　themselves　from　their
siesta　and　went　lazily　about　their　duties；　the　fifer　produced　his　cracked
fife　and　piped　forth　his　unvarying　〃Bonnie　Blue　Flag；〃　as　a　signal　for
dress　parade；　and　drums　beaten　by　unskilled　hands　in　the　camps　of　the
different　regiments；　repeated　the　signal。　　In　time　Stockade　the　mass　of
humanity　became　full　of　motion　as　an　ant　hill；　and　resembled　it　very　much
from　our　point　of　view；　with　the　boys　threading　their　way　among　the
burrows；　tents　and　holes。

It　was　becoming　dark　quite　rapidly。　　The　moments　seemed　galloping　onward
toward　the　time　when　we　must　make　the　decisive　step。　　We　drew　from　the
dirty　rag　in　which　it　was　wrapped　the　little　piece　of　corn　bread　that　we
had　saved　for　our　supper；　carefully　divided　it　into　two　equal　parts；
and　each　took　one　and　ate　it　in　silence。　　This　done；　we　held　a　final
consultation　as　to　our　plans；　and　went　over　each　detail　carefully；　that
we　might　fully　understand　each　other　under　all　possible　circumstances；
and　act　in　concert。　　One　point　we　laboriously　impressed　upon　each　other；
and　that　was；　that　under　no　circumstances　were　we　to　allow　ourselves　to
be　tempted　to　leave　the　Creek　until　we　reached　its　junction　with　the
Flint　River。　　I　then　picked　up　two　pine　leaves；　broke　them　off　to　unequal
lengths；　rolled　them　in　my　hands　behind　my　back　for　a　second；　and
presenting　them　to　Harney　with　their　ends　sticking　out　of　my　closed　hand；
said：

〃The　one　that　gets　the　longest　one　goes　first。〃

Harvey　reached　forth　and　drew　the　longer　one。

We　made　a　tour　of　reconnaissance。　　Everything　seemed　as　usual；　and
wonderfully　calm　compared　with　the　tumult　in　our　minds。　　The　Hospital
guards　were　pacing　their　beats　lazily；　those　on　the　Stockade　were
drawling　listlessly　the　first　〃call　around〃　of　the　evening：

〃Post　numbah　foah！　　Half…past　seven　o'clock！　　and　a…l…l's　we…l…ll！〃

Inside　the　Stockade　was　a　Babel　of　sounds；　above　all　of　which　rose　the
melody　of　religious　and　patriotic　songs；　sung　in　various　parts　of　the
camp。　　From　the　headquarters　came　the　shouts　and　laughter　of　the　Rebel
officers　having　a　little　〃frolic〃　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。　　The　groans
of　the　sick　around　us　were　gradually　hushing；　as　the　abatement　of　the
terrible　heat　let　all　but　the　worst　cases　sink　into　a　brief　slumber；
from　which　they　awoke　before　midnight　to　renew　their　outcries。　　But　those
in　the　Gangrene　wards　seemed　to　be　denied　even　this　scanty　blessing。
Apparently　they　never　slept；　for　their　shrieks　never　ceased。　　A　multitude
of　whip…poor…wills　in　the　woods　around　us　began　their　usual　dismal　cry；
which　had　never　seemed　so　unearthly　and　full　of　dreadful　presages　as　now。

It　was；　now　quite　dark；　and　we　stole　noiselessly　down　to　the　Creek　and
reconnoitered。　　We　listened。　　The　guard　was　not　pacing　his　beat；　as　we
could　not　hear　his　footsteps。　　A　large；　ill…shapen　lump　against　the　trunk
of　one　of　the　trees　on　the　bank　showed　that　he　was　leaning　there　resting
himself。　　We　watched　him　for　several　minutes；　but　he　did　not　move；　and
the　thought　shot　into　our　minds　that　he　might　be　asleep；　but　it　seemed
impossible：　it　was　too　early　in　the　evening。

Now；　if　ever；　was　the　opportunity。　　Harney　squeezed　my　hand；　stepped
noiselessly　into　the　Creek；　laid　himself　gently　down　into　the　filthy
water；　and　while　my　heart　was　beating　so　that　I　was　certain　it　could　be
heard　some　distance　from　me；　began　making　toward　the　fence。　　He　passed
under　easily；　and　I　raised　my　eyes　toward　the　guard；　while　on　my　strained
ear　fell　the　soft　plashing　made　by　Harvey　as　he　pulled　himself　cautiously
forward。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　sentinel　must　hear　this；　he　could　not　help
it；　and　every　second　I　expected　to　see　the　black　lump　address　itself　to
motion；　and　the　musket　flash　out　fiendishly。　　But　he　did　not；　the　lump
remained　motionless；　the　musket　silent。

When　I　thought　that　Harvey　had　gained　a　sufficient　distance　I　followed。
It　seemed　as　if　the　disgusting　water　would　smother　me　as　I　laid　myself
down　into　it；　and　such　was　my　agitation　that　it　appeared　almost
impossible　that　I　should　escape　making　such　a　noise　as　would　attract　the
guard's　notice。　　Catching　hold　of　the　roots　and　limbs　at　the　side　of　the
stream；　I　pulled　myself　slowly　along；　and　as　noiselessly　as　possible。

I　passed　under　the　fence　without　difficulty；　and　was　outside；　and　within
fifteen　feet　of　the　guard。　　I　had　lain　down　into　the　creek　upon　my　right
side；　that　my　face　might　be　toward　the　guard；　and　I　could　watch　him
closely　all　the　time。

As　I　came　under　the　fence　he　was　still　leaning　motionless　against　the
tree；　but　to　my　heated　imaginat