Afewwagonloadsofroastingearsandsweetpotatoswouldhavebanishedeverytraceofscurvyfromthecamp,healedupthewastingdysentery,andsavedthousandsoflives。AnydaythattheRebelshadchosentheycouldhavegottenathousandvolunteerswhowouldhavegiventheirsolemnparolenottoescape,andgoneanydistanceintothecountry,togatherthepotatosandcorn,andsuchothervegetablesaswerereadilyobtainable,andbring,themintothecamp。
　　WhateverelsemaybesaidindefenseoftheSouthernmanagementofmilitaryprisons,thepermittingseventhousandmentodieofthescurvyintheSummertime,inthemidstofanagriculturalregion,filledwithallmannerofgreenvegetation,mustforeverremainimpossibleofexplanation。
　　CHAPTERLI。
　　SOLICITUDEASTOTHEFATEOFATLANTAANDSHERMAN'SARMY——PAUCITYOFNEWS
　　——HOWWEHEARDTHATATLANTAHADFALLEN——ANNOUNCEMENTOFAGENERAL
　　EXCHANGE——WELEAVEANDERSONVILLE。
　　WeagainbegantobeexceedinglysolicitousoverthefateofAtlantaandSherman'sArmy:wehadheardbutlittledirectlyfromthatfrontforseveralweeks。Fewprisonershadcomeinsincethosecapturedinthebloodyengagementsofthe20th,22d,and28thofJuly。Inspiteoftheirconfidenttones,andourownsanguinehopes,theoutlookadmittedofverygravedoubts。ThebattlesofthelastweekofJulyhadbeenlookedatitinthebestlightpossible——indecisive。Ourmenhadheldtheirown,itistrue,butaninvadingarmycannotaffordtosimplyholditsown。
　　Anythingshortofanabsolutesuccessistoitdisguiseddefeat。ThenweknewthatthecavalrycolumnsentoutunderStonemanhadbeensobadlyhandledbythatinefficientcommanderthatithadfailedridiculouslyinitsobject,beingbeatenindetail,andsufferingthelossofitscommanderandaconsiderableportionofitsnumbers。ThishadbeenfollowedbyadefeatofourinfantryatEtowahCreek,andthencamealongintervalinwhichwereceivednonewssavewhattheRebelpaperscontained,andtheypretendednodoubtthatSherman'sfailurewasalreadydemonstrated。Nextcamewell—authenticatednewsthatShermanhadraisedthesiegeandfallenbacktotheChattahoochee,andwefeltsomethingofthebitternessofdespair。Fordaysthereafterweheardnothing,thoughthehot,closeSummerairseemedsurchargedwiththepremonitionsofawarstormabouttoburst,evenasnatureheraldsinthesamewayaconcentrationofthemightyforceoftheelementsforthegrandcrashofthethunderstorm。Wewaitedintenseexpectancyforthedecisionofthefateswhetherfinalvictoryordefeatshouldendthelongandarduouscampaign。
　　AtnighttheguardsintheperchesaroundtheStockadecalledouteveryhalfhour,soastoshowtheofficersthattheywereawakeandattendingtotheirduty。Theformulaforthisranthus:
　　"Postnumbah1;half—pasteighto'clock,anda—1—1'sw—e—l—l！"
　　PostNo。2repeatedthiscry,andsoitwentaround。
　　OneeveningwhenouranxietyastoAtlantawaswroughttothehighestpitch,oneoftheguardssangout:
　　"Postnumbahfoah——halfpasteighto'clock——andAtlanta's——gone——t—o——
　　hell"
　　Theheartofeverymanwithinhearingleapedtohismouth。Welookedtowardeachother,almostspeechlesswithgladsurprise,andthengaspedout:
　　"Did'youhearTHAT？"
　　Thenextinstantsucharingingcheerburstoutaswellsspontaneouslyfromthethroatsandheartsofmen,inthefirstecstaticmomentsofvictory——acheertowhichoursaddenedheartsandenfeebledlungshadlongbeenstrangers。Itwasthegenuine,honest,manlyNortherncheer,asdifferentfromtheshrillRebelyellasthehonestmastiff'sdeep—
　　voicedwelcomeisfromthehowloftheprowlingwolf。
　　Theshoutwastakenupallovertheprison。Eventhosewhohadnotheardtheguardunderstoodthatitmeantthat"Atlantawasoursandfairlywon,"andtheytookuptheacclamationwithasmuchenthusiasmaswehadbegunit。Allthoughtsofsleepwereputtoflight:wewouldhaveaseasonofrejoicing。Littleknotsgatheredtogether,debatedthenews,andindulgedinthemostsanguinehopesastotheeffectupontheRebels。
　　InsomepartsoftheStockadestumpspeechesweremade。IbelievethatBostonCorbettandhispartyorganizedaprayerandpraisemeeting。
　　Inourcornerwestirredupourtunefulfriend"Nosey,"whosangagainthegrandoldpatriotichymnsthatsetourthinbloodtobounding,andmadeusrememberthatwewerestillUnionsoldiers,withhigherhopesthanthatofstarvinganddyinginAndersonville。Hesangtheever—
　　gloriousStarSpangledBanner,asheusedtosingitaroundthecampfireinhappierdays,whenwewereinthefield。Hesangtherousing"RallyRoundtheFlag,"withitswealthofpatrioticfireandmartialvigor,andwe,withthroatshoarsefromshouting;joinedinthechorusuntilthewelkinrangagain。
　　TheRebelsbecameexcited,lestourexaltationofspiritswouldleadtoanassaultupontheStockade。Theygotunderarms,andremainedsountiltheenthusiasmbecamelessdemonstrative。
　　Afewdayslater——ontheeveningofthe6thofSeptember——theRebelSergeantswhocalledtherollenteredtheStockade,andeachassemblinghissquads,addressedthemasfollows:
　　"PRISONERS:IaminstructedbyGeneralWindertoinformyouthatageneralexchangehasbeenagreedupon。TwentythousandmenwillbeexchangedimmediatelyatSavannah,whereyourvesselsarenowwaitingforyou。DetachmentsfromOnetoTenwillpreparetoleaveearlyto—morrowmorning。"
　　Theexcitementthatthisnewsproducedwassimplyindescribable。Ihaveseenmenineverypossibleexigencythatcanconfrontmen,andalargeproportionviewedthatwhichimpendedoverthemwithatleastoutwardcomposure。Theboysaroundmehadenduredallthatwesufferedwithstoicalfirmness。Groansfrompain—rackedbodiescouldnotberepressed,andbittercursesandmaledictionsagainsttheRebelsleapedunbiddentothelipsattheslightestoccasion,buttherewasnomurmuringorwhining。Therewasnotaday——hardlyanhour——inwhichonedidnotseesuchexhibitionsofmanlyfortitudeasmadehimproudofbelongingtoaraceofwhicheveryindividualwasahero。
　　Buttheemotionwhichpainandsufferinganddangercouldnotdevelop,joycould,andboyssang,andshoutedandcried,anddancedasifinadelirium。"God'scountry,"fairerthanthesweetpromisedlandofCanaanappearedtotheraptvisionoftheHebrewpoetprophet,spreadoutingladvistabeforethemind'seyeofeveryone。Ithadcome——atlastithadcomethatwhichwehadsolongedfor,wishedfor,prayedfor,dreamedof;schemed,planned,toiledfor,andforwhichwentupthelastearnest,dyingwishofthethousandsofourcomradeswhowouldnowknownoexchangesaveintothateternalGod'scountry"whereSicknessandsorrow,painanddeathArefeltandfearednomore。
　　Our"preparations,"forleavingwerefewandsimple。Whenthemorningcame,andshortlyaftertheordertomove,AndrewsandIpickedourwell—
　　wornblanket,ourtatteredovercoat,ourrudechessmen,andnolessrudeboard,ourlittleblackcan,andthespoonmadeofhoop—iron,andbadefarewelltothehole—in—the—groundthathadbeenourhomefornearlysevenlongmonths。
　　Myfeetwerestillinmiserableconditionfromthelacerationsreceivedintheattempttoescape,butItookoneofourtentpolesasastaffandhobbledaway。Were—passedthegateswhichwehadenteredonthatFebruarynight,agessince,itseemed,andcrawledslowlyovertothedepot。
　　IhadcometoregardtheRebelsaroundusassuchmeasurelessliarsthatmyfirstimpulsewastobelievethereverseofanythingtheysaidtous;
　　andevennow,whileIhopedforthebest,myoldhabitofmindwassostronglyuponmethatIhadsomedoubtsofourgoingtobeexchanged,simplybecauseitwasaRebelwhohadsaidso。ButinthecrowdofRebelswhostoodclosetotheroaduponwhichwewerewalkingwasayoungSecondLieutenant,whosaidtoaColonelasIpassed:
　　"Weil,thosefellowscansing'HomewardBound,'can'tthey？"
　　Thissetmylastmisgivingatrest。NowIwascertainthatweweregoingtobeexchanged,andmyspiritssoaredtotheskies。
　　Enteringthecarswethumpedandpoundedtoilsomelyalong,afterthemannerofSouthernrailroads,attherateofsixoreightmilesanhour。
　　Savannahwastwohundredandfortymilesaway,andtoourimpatientmindsitseemedasifwewouldnevergetthere。TheroutelaythewholedistancethroughthecheerlesspinebarrenswhichcoverthegreaterpartofGeorgia。TheonlyconsiderabletownonthewaywasMacon,whichhadthenapopulationoffivethousandorthereabouts。Forscoresofmilestherewouldnotbeasignofahumanhabitation,andintheonehundredandeightymilesbetweenMaconandSavannahtherewereonlythreeinsignificantvillages。Therewasastationeverytenmiles,atwhichtheonlybuildingwasanopenshed,toshelterfromsunandrainacasualpassenger,orabitofgoods。
　　Theoccasionalspecimensofthepoorwhite"cracker"populationthatwesaw,seemedindigenousproductsofthestarvedsoil。Theysuitedtheirpoverty—strickensurroundingsaswellasthegnarledandscrubbyvegetationsuitedthesterilesand。Thin—chested,round—shouldered,scraggy—bearded,dull—eyedandopen—mouthed,theyalllookedalike——alllookedasignorant,asstupid,andaslazyastheywerepoorandweak。
　　Theywere"low—downers"ineveryrespect,andmadeourroughandsimple。
　　mindedEastTennesseanslooklikemodelsofelegantandculturedgentlemenincontrast。
　　Welookedonthepoverty—strickenlandwithgood—naturedcontempt,forwethoughtwewereleavingitforever,andwouldsoonbeinonewhich,comparedtoit,wasasthefatnessatEgypttotheleannessofthedesertofSinai。
　　TheseconddayafterleavingAndersonvilleourtrainstruggledacrosstheswampsintoSavannah,androlledslowlydowntheliveoakshadedstreetsintothecenteroftheCity。ItseemedlikeanotherDesertedVillage,sovacantandnoiselessthestreets,andthebuildingseverywheresoovergrownwithluxuriantvegetation:Thelimbsoftheshadetreescrashedalongandbroke,uponthetopsofourcars,asifnotrainhadpassedthatwayforyears。ThroughtheintersticesbetweenthetreesandclumpsoffoliagecouldbeseenthegleamingwhitemarbleofthemonumentserectedtoGreeneandPulaski,lookinglikegianttombstonesinaCityoftheDead。Theunbrokenstillness——sodifferentfromwhatweexpectedonenteringthemetropolisofGeorgia,andaCitythatwasanimportantportinRevolutionarydays——becameabsolutelyoppressive。Wecouldnotunderstandit,butourthoughtsweremoreintentuponthecomingtransfertoourflagthanuponanyspeculationastothecauseoftheremarkablesomnolenceofSavannah。
　　Finallysomelittleboysstraggledouttowhereourcarwasstanding,andweopenedupaconversationwiththem:
　　"Say,boys,areourvesselsdownintheharboryet？"
　　Thereplycameinthatpiercingtrebleshriekinwhichaboyoftenortwelvemakesevenhismostconfidentialcommunications:
　　"Idon'tknow。"
　　"Well,"（withourconfidenceinexchangesomewhatdashed,）"theyintendtoexchangeushere,don'tthey？"
　　Anotherfalsettoscream,"Idon'tknow。"
　　"Well,"（withsomethingofaquaverinthequestioner'svoice,）"whataretheygoingtodo,withus,anyway？"
　　"O,"（thetrebleshriekbecamealmostdemoniac）"theyarefixingupaplaceoverbytheoldjailforyou。"
　　Whatasinkingofheartswastherethen！AndrewsandIwouldnotgiveuphopesospeedilyassomeothersdid,andresolvedtobelieve,forawhileatleast,thatweweregoingtobeexchanged。
　　Orderedoutofthecars,weweremarchedalongthestreet。Acrowdofsmallboys,fullofthecuriosityoftheanimal,gatheredaroundusaswemarched。Suddenlyadoorinarathernicehouseopened;anangry—facedwomanappearedonthestepsandshoutedout:
　　"Boys！BOYS！Whatareyoudoin'there！Comeuponthestepsimmejitely！
　　Comeawayfromthemn—a—s—t—ythings！"
　　Iwilladmitthatwewerenotprepossessinginappearance;norwereweascleanlyasyounggentlemenshouldhabituallybe;infact,ImayaswellconfessthatIwouldnotnow,ifIcouldhelpit,allowatramp,asdilapidatedinraiment,asunwashed,unshorn,uncombed,andpopulouswithinsectsaswewere,tocomewithinseveralrodsofme。Nevertheless,itwasnotpleasanttohearsoaccurateadescriptionofourpersonalappearancesentforthonthewingsofthewindbyashrill—voicedRebelfemale。
　　Ashortmarchbroughtustotheplace"theywerefixingforusbytheoldjail。"Itwasanotherpen,withhighwallsofthickpineplank,whichtoldusonlytooplainlyhowvainwereourexpectationsofexchange。
　　Whenwewereturnedinside,andIrealizedthatthegatesofanotherprisonhadcloseduponme,hopeforsookme。Iflungourodiouslittlepossessions—ourcan,chess—board,overcoat,andblanket—upontheground,and,sittingdownbesidethem,gavewaytothebitterestdespair。
　　Iwantedtodie,O,sobadly。NeverinallmylifehadIdesiredanythingintheworldsomuchasIdidnowtogetoutofit。HadIhadpistol,knife,rope,orpoison,Iwouldhaveendedmyprisonlifethenandthere,anddepartedwiththeunceremoniousnessofaFrenchleave。
　　IrememberedthatIcouldgetaquietusfromaguardwithverylittletrouble,butIwouldnotgiveoneofthebitterlyhatedRebelsthetriumphofshootingme。IlongedtobeanotherSamson,withthewholeSouthernConfederacygatheredinanotherTempleofDagon,thatImightpulldownthesupportingpillars,anddiehappyinslayingthousandsofmyenemies。
　　WhileIwasthussinkingdeeperanddeeperintheSloughofDespond,thefiringofamusket,andtheshriekofthemanwhowasstruck,attractedmyattention。Lookingtowardstheoppositeendofthe,penIsawaguardbringinghisstillsmokingmuskettoa"recoverarms,"and,notfifteenfeetfromhim,aprisonerlyingonthegroundintheagoniesofdeath。
　　Thelatterhadapipeinhismouthwhenhewasshot,andhisteethstillclencheditsstem。Hislegsandarmsweredrawnupconvulsively,andhewasrockingbackwardandforwardonhisback。Thechargehadstruckhimjustabovethehip—bone。
　　TheRebelofficerincommandoftheguardwassittingonhishorseinsidethepenatthetime,androdeforwardtoseewhatthematterwas。
　　LieutenantDavis,whohadcomewithusfromAndersonville,wasalsosittingonahorseinsidetheprison,andhecalledoutinhisusualharsh,disagreeablevoice:
　　"That'sallright,Cunnel;theman'sdonejustasIawdahedhimto。"
　　Ifoundthatlyingaroundinsidewereanumberofbitsofplank——eachaboutfivefeetlong,whichhadbeensawedoffbythecarpentersengagedinbuildingtheprison。Thegroundbeingabarecommon,wasdestituteofallshelter,andthepieceslookedasiftheywouldbequiteusefulinbuildingatent。Theremayhavebeenanorderissuedforbiddingtheprisonerstotouchthem,butifso,Ihadnotheardit,andIimaginethefirstintimationtotheprisonerjustkilledthattheboardswerenottobetakenwasthebulletwhichpenetratedhisvitals。Twenty—fivecentswouldbealiberalappraisementofthevalueofthelumberforwhichtheboylosthislife。
　　Halfanhourafterwardwethoughtwesawalltheguardsmarchoutofthefrontgate。Therewasstillanotherpileofthesesamekindofpiecesofboardlyingatthefurthersideoftheprison。Thecrowdaroundmenoticedit,andweallmadearushforit。InspiteofmylamefeetI
　　outstrippedtherest,andwasjustintheactofstoopingdowntopicktheboardsupwhenaloudyellfromthosebehindstartledme。GlancingtomyleftIsawaguardcockinghisgunandbringingituptoshootme。
　　Withonefrightenedspring,asquickasaflash,andbeforehecouldcoverme,Ilandedfullyarodbackinthecrowd,andmixedwithit。
　　Thefellowtriedhardtodrawabeadonme,butIwastooquickforhim,andhefinallyloweredhisgunwithanoathexpressiveofdisappointmentinnotbeingabletokillaYankee。
　　WalkingbacktomyplacethefullludicrousnessofthethingdawneduponmesoforciblythatIforgotallaboutmyexcitementandscare,andlaughedaloud。Here,notanhourageIwasmurmuringbecauseIcouldfindnowaytodie;Isighedfordeathasabridegroomforthecomingofhisbride,anyet,whenaRebelhadpointedhisgunatme,ithadnearlyscaredmeoutofayear'sgrowth,andmademejumpfartherthanIcouldpossiblydowhenmyfeetwerewell,andIwasingoodconditionotherwise。
　　CHAPTERII。
　　SAVANNAH——DEVICESTOOBTAINMATERIALSFORATENT——THEIRULTIMATESUCCESS
　　——RESUMPTIONOFTUNNELING——ESCAPINGBYWHOLESALEANDBEINGRECAPTUREDEN
　　MASSE——THEOBSTACLESTHATLAYBETWEENUSANDOURLINES。
　　AndrewsandIdidnotletthefateoftheboywhowaskilled,normyownnarrowescapefromlosingthetopofmyhead,deterusfromfarthereffortstosecurepossessionofthosecovetedboards。Myreadersrememberthestoryoftheboywho,diggingvigorouslyatahole,repliedtotheremarkofapassingtravelerthattherewasprobablynoground—hogthere,and,eveniftherewas,"ground—hogwasmightypooreatin',anyway,"with:
　　"Mister,there'sgottobeaground—hogthere;ourfamily'souto'meat！"
　　Thatwaswhatactuatedus:wewereoutofmaterialforatent。Oursolitaryblankethadrottedandwornfullofholesbyitslongdoubleduty,asbed—clothesandtentatAndersonville,andtherewasanimperativecallforasubstitute。
　　AndrewsandIflatteredourselvesthatwhenwematchedourcollectiveorindividualwitsagainstthoseofaJohnnyhisdefeatwasprettycertain,andwiththischeerfulestimateofourownpowerstoanimateus,wesettoworktostealtheboardsfromundertheguard'snose。TheJohnnyhadmaliceinhisheartandbuck—and—ballinhismusket,buthiseyeswerenotsufficientlynumeroustoadequatelydischargeallthedutieslaiduponhim。Hehadtoomanydifferentthingstowatchatthesametime。
　　IwouldapproachagapinthefencenotyetclosedasifIintendedmakingadashthroughitforliberty,andwhentheJohnnyhadconcentratedallhisattentiononlettingmehavethecontentsofhisgunjustassoonashecouldhaveareasonableexcusefordoingso,Andrewswouldpickuacoupleofboardsandslipawaywiththem。ThenIwouldfallbackinpretended（andsomereal）alarm,and——Andrewwouldcomeupanddrawhisattentionbyasimilarfeint,whileImadeoffwithacouplemorepieces。Afterafewhourscthisstrategy,wefoundourselvesthepossessorsofsomedozenplanks,withwhichwemadealean—to,thatformedatolerableshelterforourheadsandtheupperportionofourbodies。Astheboardswerenotoverfivefeetlong,andtheslopereducetheshelteredspacetoaboutfour—and—one—halffeet,itleftthlowerpartofournakedfeetandlegstoprojectout—of—doors。Andrewsusedtolamentverytouchinglythesunburninghistoe—nailswerereceiving。
　　Heknewthathiscomplexionwasbeingruinedforlife,andalltheBalmofaThousandFlowersintheworldwouldnotrestorehiscomelyanklestothatconditionofpristinelovelinesswhichwouldadmitoftheirintroductionintogoodsocietyagain。Anotherdefectwasthat,likethefuninapracticaljoke,itwasallononeside;therewasnotenoughofittogoclearround。Itwasveryunpleasant,whenastormcameupinadirectiondifferentfromthatwehadcalculatedupon,tobecompelledtogetoutinthemidstofit,andbuildourhouseovertofacetheotherway。
　　Stillwehadatent,andwerethatmuchbetteroffthanthree—fourthsofourcomradeswhohadnoshelteratall。WewereownersofabrownstonefrontonFifthAvenuecomparedtotheotherfellows。
　　Ourtenterected,webeganageneralsurveyofournewabidingplace。
　　ThegroundwasasandycommonintheoutskirtsofSavannah。Thesandwascoveredwithalightsod。TheRebels,whoknewnothingofourburrowingpropensities,hadneglectedtomaketheplankformingthewallsofthePrisonprojectanydistancebelowthesurfaceoftheground,andhadputupnoDeadLinearoundtheinside;sothatitlookedasifeverythingwasarrangedexpresslytoinviteustotunnelout。Wewerenottheboystoneglectsuchaninvitation。BynightaboutthreethousandhadbeenreceivedfromAndersonville,andplacedinside。Whenmorningcameitlookedasifacolonyofgiganticratshadbeenatwork。Therewasatunneleverytenorfifteenfeet,andatleasttwelvehundredofushadgoneoutthroughthemduringthenight。Ineverunderstoodwhyallinthependidnotfollowourexample,andleavetheguardswatchingaforsakenPrison。Therewasnothingtopreventit。Anhour'sindustriousworkwithahalf—canteenwouldtakeanyoneoutside,orifaboywastoolazytodighisowntunnel,hecouldhavetheuseofoneofthehundredothersthathadbeendug。
　　ButescapingwasonlybegunwhentheStockadewaspassed。ThesiteofSavannahisvirtuallyanisland。OnthenorthistheSavannahRiver;totheeast,southeastandsouth,arethetwoOgeecheerivers,andachainofsoundsandlagoonsconnectingwiththeAtlanticOcean。TothewestisacanalconnectingtheSavannahandBigOgeecheeRivers。Wefoundourselvesheadedoffbywaterwhicheverwaywewent。Allthebridgeswereguarded,andalltheboatsdestroyed。EarlyinthemorningtheRebelsdiscoveredourabsence,andthewholegarrisonofSavannahwassentoutonpatrolafterus。Theypickeduptheboysinsquadsoffromtentothirty,lurkingaroundtheshoresofthestreamswaitingfornighttocome,togetacross,orengagedinbuildingraftsfortransportation。
　　Byeveningthewholemobofuswerebackinthepenagain。Asnobodywaspunishedforrunningaway,wetreatedthewholeaffairasalark,andthosebroughtbackfirststoodaroundthegateandyelledderisivelyastheotherscamein。
　　ThatnightbigfireswerebuiltallaroundtheStockade,andalineofguardsplacedonthegroundinsideofthese。Inspiteofthisprecaution,quiteanumberescaped。ThenextdayaDeadLinewasputupinsideofthePrison,twentyfeetfromtheStockade。Thisonlyincreasedthelaborofburrowing,bymakingusgofarther。Insteadofbeingabletotunneloutinanhour,itnowtookthreeorfourhours。Thatnightseveralhundredofus,restedfromourpreviousperformance,andhopefulofbetterluck,broughtourfaithfulhalfcanteens——nowscouredverybrightbyconstantuse—intorequisitionagain,andbeforethemorning。
　　dawnedwehadgainedthehighreedsoftheswamps,wherewelayconcealeduntilnight。
　　Inthiswaywemanagedtoevadetherecapturethatcametomostofthosewhowentout,butitwasafearfulexperience。Havingbeenraisedinacountrywherevenomoussnakesabounded,Ihadthatfearandhorrorofthemthatinhabitantsofthosedistrictsfeel,andofwhichpeoplelivinginsectionsfreefromsuchascourgeknowlittle。IfanciedthattheSouthernswampswerefilledwithallformsofloathsomeandpoisonousreptiles,anditrequiredallmycouragetoventureintothembarefooted。
　　Besides,thesnagsandrootshurtourfeetfearfully。Ourhopewastofindaboatsomewhere,inwhichwecouldfloatouttosea,andtrusttobeingpickedupbysomeoftheblockadingfleet。Butnoboatcouldwefind,withallourpainfulanddiligentsearch。WelearnedafterwardthattheRebelsmadeapracticeofbreakingupalltheboatsalongtheshoretopreventnegrosandtheirowndesertersfromescapingtotheblockadingfleet。Wethoughtofmakingaraftoflogs,buthadwehadthestrengthtodothis,wewoulddoubtlesshavethoughtittoorisky,sincewedreadedmissingthevessels,andbeingcarriedouttoseatoperishofhunger。DuringthenightwecametotherailroadbridgeacrosstheOgeechee。Wehadsomeslenderhopethat,ifwecouldreachthiswemightperhapsgetacrosstheriver,andfindbetteropportunitiesforescape。Buttheselastexpectationswereblastedbythediscoverythatitwasguarded。Therewasapostandafireontheshorenextus,andasingleguardwithalanternwasstationedononeofthemiddlespans。Almostfamishedwithhunger,andsowearyandfootsorethatwecouldscarcelymoveanotherstep,wewentbacktoaclearedplaceonthehighground,andlaiddowntosleep,entirelyrecklessastowhatbecameofus。LateinthemorningwewereawakenedbytheRebelpatrolandtakenbacktotheprison。LieutenantDavis,disgustedwiththeperpetualattemptstoescape,movedtheDeadLineoutfortyfeetfromtheStockade;
　　butthisrestrictedourroomgreatly,sincethenumberofprisonersinthepenhadnowrisentoaboutsixthousand,and,besides,itofferedlittleadditionalprotectionagainsttunneling。
　　Itwasnotmuchmoredifficulttodigfiftyfeetthanithadbeentodigthirtyfeet。Davissoonrealizedthis,andputtheDeadLinebacktotwentyfeet。Hisnextdevicewasamuchmoresensibleone。Acrowdofonehundredandfiftynegrosdugatrenchtwentyfeetwideandfivefeetdeeparoundthewholeprisonontheoutside,andthisditchwasfilledwithwaterfromtheCityWaterWorks。Noonecouldcrossthiswithoutattractingtheattentionoftheguards。
　　Stillwewerenotdiscouraged,andAndrewsandIjoinedacrowdthatwasconstructingalargetunnelfromnearourquartersontheeastsideofthepen。Wefinishedtheburrowtowithinafewinchesoftheedgeoftheditch,andthenceasedoperations,toawaitsomestormynight,whenwecouldhopetogetacrosstheditchunnoticed。
　　Orderswereissuedtoguardstofirewithoutwarningonmenwhowereobservedtobediggingorcarryingoutdirtafternightfall。Theyoccasionallydidso,buttheriskdidnotkeepanyonefromtunneling。
　　Ourtunnelrandirectlyunderasentrybox。Whencarryingdirtawaythebearerofthebuckethadtoturnhisbackontheguardandwalkdirectlydownthestreetinfrontofhim,twohundredorthreehundredfeet,tothecenterofthecamp,wherehescatteredthesandaround——soastogivenoindicationofwhereitcamefrom。Thoughwealwayswaitedtillthemoonwentdown,itseemedasif,unlesstheguardwereafool,bothbynatureandtraining,hecouldnothelptakingnoticeofwhatwasgoingonunderhiseyes。Idonotrecallanymorenervouspromenadesinmylife,thanthosewhen,takingmyturn,Ireceivedmybucketofsandatthemouthofthetunnel,andwalkedslowlyawaywithit。Themostdisagreeablepartwasinturningmybacktotheguard。CouldIhavefacedhim,Ihadsufficientconfidenceinmyquicknessofperception,andtalentsasadodger,toimaginethatIcouldmakeitdifficultforhimtohitme。ButinwallingwithmybacktohimIwaswhollyathismercy。Fortune,however,favoredus,andwewereallowedtogoonwithourwork——nightafternight——withoutashot。
　　InthemeanwhileanotherhappythoughtslowlygestatedinDavis'sallegedintellect。Howhecametogivebirthtotwoideaswithnomorethanaweekbetweenthem,puzzledallwhoknewhim,andstillmorethathesurvivedthisextraordinarystrainuponthegraymatterofthecerebrum。
　　Hisnewideawastohavedrivenaheavily—ladenmulecartaroundtheinsideoftheDeadLineatleastonceaday。Thewheelsorthemule'sfeetbrokethroughthethinsodcoveringthetunnelsandexposedthem。
　　Ourtunnelwentwiththerest,andthoseofourcrowdwhoworeshoeshadhumiliationaddedtosorrowbybeingcompelledtogoinandspadetheholefullofdirt。Thisputanendtosubterraneanengineering。
　　Onedayoneoftheboyswatchedhisopportunity,gotundertherationwagon,andclingingclosetothecouplingpolewithhandsandfeet,wascarriedoutside。Hewasdetected,however,ashecamefromunderthewagon,andbroughtback。
　　CHAPTERLIII。
　　FRANKREVERSTOCK'SATTEMPTATESCAPE——PASSINGOFFASREBELBOYHEREACHES
　　GRISWOLDVILLEBYRAIL,ANDTHENSTRIKESACROSSTHECOUNTRYFORSHERMAN,BUTISCAUGHTWITHINTWENTYMILESOFOURLINES。
　　OneoftheshrewdestandnearestsuccessfulattemptstoescapethatcameundermynoticewasthatofmyfriendSergeantFrankReverstock,oftheThirdWestVirginiaCavalry,ofwhomIhavebeforespoken。Frank,whowasquitesmall,withasmoothboyishface,hadconvertedtohisownuseacitizen'scoat,belongingtoayoungboy,aSutler'sassistant,whohaddiedinAndersonville。Hehadmadehimselfapairofbagpantaloonsandashirtfrompiecesofmealsackswhichhehadappropriatedfromdaytoday。HehadalsotheSutler'sassistant'sshoes,and,tocrownall,heworeonhisheadoneofthosehideouslookinghatsofquiltedcalicowhichtheRebelshadtakentowearinginthelackoffelthats,whichtheycouldneithermakenorbuy。AltogetherFranklookedenoughlikeaRebeltobedangeroustotrustnearacountrystoreorastablefullofhorses。WhenwefirstarrivedintheprisonquiteacrowdoftheSavannahiansrushedintoinspectus。Theguardshadsomedifficultyinkeepingthemandusseparate。Whileperplexedwiththisannoyance,oneofthemsawFrankstandinginourcrowd,and,touchinghimwithhisbayonet,said,withsomesharpness:
　　"Seeheah;youmuststandback;youmusn'tcrowdonthemprisonersso。",Frankstoodback。Hediditpromptlybutcalmly,andthen,asifhiscuriosityastoYankeeswasfullysatisfied,hewalkedslowlyawayupthestreet,deliberatingashewentonaplanforgettingoutoftheCity。