Page:The woman in battle .djvu/493

Rh prison you will find plenty to help you, and will be able to effect some kind of an organization."

"Well, don't you want to see the party that the despatch is for?"

"No, it won't do for me to talk to too many; and it is better for a number of reasons, in order to avoid any suspicion, that I should not be seen in conversation with him."

"Well, I'll give the despatch to him in any verbal message you may send."

I then dropped on the ground a package containing eight hundred dollars, and said, "There is some money; conceal it as quick as you can, and distribute it among the men as far as it will go."

He thereupon sat down on a block of wood in front of me and commenced whittling a stick, while I stood close to him with my back to the guard, and with my skirts covering the package. Watching a favorable opportunity, when the guard was looking another way, he seized the package and slipped it into his boot, and then went on whittling in as unconcerned a manner as possible.

I then told him that I would leave Sandusky the next day at the latest, and that with the delivery of the despatch I held in my hand, which contained full and minute directions, my part of the business would be finished, and that the consummation of the scheme would depend upon himself and the others. I cautioned him to be exceedingly wary, and to take none of the prisoners into his confidence unless he was perfectly sure of their thorough reliability.

He promised to be discreet, and then wishing him good by and success, I shook hands with him, passing the despatch as I did so.

The precious paper once in his possession, he started off, whistling and whittling as he went, while I hurriedly returned to the office, when I told the commander that I was unable to find the man I was looking for, and thought that I would have to visit some of the other prison camps.

He said he was sorry, and hoped that I would have better luck next time. We then walked together towards the boat, conversing in general terms about the prisoners and the war. At the landing we met the lieutenant, who seemed to be rather surprised to see me there. He exclaimed, "Why, have you been visiting the prisoners ? If I had known that you wanted to see them, I would have escorted you over to the Island."