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something for the comfort and pleasure of his pet。 Now he was dressing
the wound as deftly and gently as a mother caring for a new…born babe；
now he was trying to concoct some relish out of the slender materials he
could beg or steal from the Quartermaster； now trying to arrange the
shade of the bed of pine leaves in a more comfortable manner； now
repairing or washing his clothes； and so on。
All the sailors were particularly favored by being allowed to bring their
bags in untouched by the guards。 This 〃chicken〃 had a wonderful supply
of clothes； the handiwork of his protector who； like most good sailors；
was very skillful with the needle。 He had suits of fine white duck；
embroidered with blue in a way that would ravish the heart of a fine
lady； and blue suits similarly embroidered with white。 No belle ever
kept her clothes in better order than these were。 When the duck came up
from the old sailor's patient washing it was as spotless as new…fallen
snow。
I found my chum in a very bad condition。 His appetite was entirely gone；
but he had an inordinate craving for tobaccofor strong； black plug
which he smoked in a pipe。 He had already traded off all his brass
buttons to the guards for this。 I had accumulated a few buttons to bribe
the guard to take me out for wood； and I gave these also for tobacco for
him。 When I awoke one morning the man who laid next to me on the right
was dead； having died sometime during the night。 I searched his pockets
and took what was in them。 These were a silk pocket handkerchief； a
gutta percha finger…ring； a comb； a pencil； and a leather pocket…book；
making in all quite a nice little 〃find。〃 I hied over to the guard； and
succeeded in trading the personal estate which I had inherited from the
intestate deceased； for a handful of peaches； a handful of hardly ripe
figs； and a long plug of tobacco。 I hastened back to Watts； expecting
that the figs and peaches would do him a world of good。 At first I did
not show him the tobacco； as I was strongly opposed to his using it；
thinking that it was making him much worse。 But he looked at the
tempting peaches and figs with lack…luster eyes； he was too far gone to
care for them。 He pushed them back to me； saying faintly：
〃No； you take 'em； Mc； I don't want 'em； I can't eat 'em！〃
I then produced the tobacco； and his face lighted up。 Concluding that
this was all the comfort that he could have； and that I might as well
gratify him； I cut up some of the weed； filled his pipe and lighted it。
He smoked calmly and almost happily all the afternoon； hardly speaking a
word to me。 As it grew dark he asked me to bring him a drink。 I did so；
and as I raised him up he said：
〃Mc； this thing's ended。 Tell my father that I stood it as long as I
could； and〃
The death rattle sounded in his throat； and when I laid him back it was
all over。 Straightening out his limbs； folding his hands across his
breast； and composing his features as best I could； I lay； down beside
the body and slept till morning； when I did what little else I could
toward preparing for the grave all that was left of my long…suffering
little friend。
CHAPTER XLVII。
DETERMINATION TO ESCAPEDIFFERENT PLANS AND THEIR MERITSI PREFER THE
APPALACHICOLA ROUTEPREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTUREA HOT DAYTHE FENCE
PASSED SUCCESSFULLY PURSUED BY THE HOUNDSCAUGHT
RETURNED TO THE STOCKADE。
After Watt's death； I set earnestly about seeing what could be done in
the way of escape。 Frank Harvey； of the First West Virginia Cavalry；
a boy of about my own age and disposition； joined with me in the scheme。
I was still possessed with my original plan of making my way down the
creeks to the Flint River； down the Flint River to where it emptied into
the Appalachicola River； and down that stream to its debauchure into the
bay that connected with the Gulf of Mexico。 I was sure of finding my way
by this route； because； if nothing else offered； I could get astride of a
log and float down the current。 The way to Sherman； in the other
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 dai