LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2599, 5 August 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A VERY CURIOUS EXPERIENCE.

BY MARK TWAIN,

( Continued .)

This gave me a most unpleasant sensation. I wanted to scoff at it, bat It was not a time to scoff at anything that had the least auspicious tinge about it, Nevertheless, It cost me a pang to give the orders which I now gave to Eayhnrn. I felt like a father who plots to expose his own child to shame and Injury. I told Rayburn to keep quiet, bide hts time, and got me some of those writings whenever he could manage it without the boy’s finding it out. And I charged him not to do anything which might let the boy dlaoover that he was being watched. I also ordered that ho allow the lad his usual liberties, but that he bo followed at a distance when he went out into the town.

During the next two days Rayburn reported to me several times. No success. The boy was still writing, but he always pocketed hla paper with a careless air whenever Rayburn appeared in his vicinity. He had gone twice to en old deserted stable in the town, remained a minute or two, and oomo out again. One could not pooh-pooh these things—they had an evil look. I was obliged to confess to myself that I was getting uneasy. I went into my private quarters and sent for my second in command—an officer of inte’Hgence and judgment; son of General James Watson Webb He was surprise! and troubled. Wo had a long talk over the matter, and came to the conclusion that it would bo worth while to institute a secret search. I determined to take charge of that myself. So lhad myself called at two in the morning, and pretty soon after I was In the musicians’ quarters, crawling along the floor on my stomach among the snorers. I reached my slumbering waif’s bunk at last, without disturbing anybody, captured his clothes and kit, and crawled stealthily back again. When I got to my own quarters I found Webb there, waiting and eager to know the resu't We made search immediately. The clothes were a disappointment. In the pockets wa found blank paper and a pencil; nothing else except a jackknife and such queer odds and ends and useless trifles as boys hoard and value. We turned to the kit hopefully. Nothing there but a rebuke for us—a little Bible with this written on the fly-leaf; < Stranger, be kind to my boy, for his mother’s sake.’ I looked at Webb, he dropped his eyes; he looked at me, I dropped mine. Neither spoke. I put the hook reverently back in its place. Presently Webb got up and want away without remark, After a little I nerved myself up to my unpalatable job, and took the plunder back to whore it belonged, crawling on my stomach as before. It seemed the peoullarly appropriate attitude for the business I was in. I was honestly glad when It was over and done with.

About noon next day Eayburn came as nsual to report, I cut him short. I said, 4 Let this non.'ense be dropped. _ We are making a bugaboo out of a poor little cub who has no more harm in him than a hymnbook.’

The sergeant looted surprised, »nd said, 1 Well, you know it was your orders, air, and I’ve got some of the writing.' ‘ And what does it amount to ? How did you gat it ?’ *1 peeped through the key-hole, and see him writing, so when I judged he was about done I made a sort of a little cough, and I see him crumple it up and throw it on the fire, and look all around to sse if anybody was coming. Then he settled back as comfortable and careless as anything. Then 1 comes in, and passes the time of day pleasantly, and sends him of an errand. He never looked uneasy, but went right along. It was a coal-fire and new-built. The writing had gone over behind a _chunk, cut of sight ; bat I got it out. There it is ; it ain’t hardly scorched, you see.’ I glanced at the paper and took ia a sentence or two Then I dismissed the sergeant, and told him to send Webb to me Here is the paper in full: ‘ Fort Trumbull, the Bth. * f' ot.onkl, —l was mistaken ss to the caliber of the guns I ended my list with. They are 18-pounders. All the rest of the armament is as I stated. The garrison remains as before reported, except that the two light infantry companies that were to be detaohed for service at the front are to stay here for tha present. Can't find out for how long just now, bnt will soon. We are satisfied that, all things considered, matters had better be postponed un— ’ There it broke off—there is where Bayburn coughed and interrupted the writer. All my affection for the boy, all my respect for him and charity for his forlorn condition withered in a moment under the blight of this revelation of cold-blooded baseness But never mind that. Here was business. Business that requi ed profound and immediate attention, too. Webb and I turned the subject over and over, and examined it all around, Webb said—

* What a pity he was interrupted ! Something ie going to be postponed until when ? And what is the something ? Possibly he would have mentioned it, the plons little reptile ?’ ‘Yes,’ I said, ’we have missed a trick. And who ie ‘ we’ in the letter ? Ia it consplrato's inside the fort: or outside ?’ That ‘ we’ was uncomfortably suggestive. However, it was not worth while to be guessing around that, so we proceeded to matters more practical. In the first place wo decided to double the sentries end keep tbe strictest possible watch. Next, we thought of calling Wicklow in and making him divulge everything, bat that did not seem wisest until other methods should fail. We must have some more of the writings ; so wa began to plan to that end. And now we had on ilea ? Wicklow never went to the post office—perhaps tha de set ted stable was hia post office. We sent for my confidential clerk—a young Qermon named Sterne —and told him all about the case and ordered him to go to work on it. Within an hour we got word that Wicklow was writing again Shortly afterward word came that be had asked leave to go out into town. Ho was detained awhile, and meantime Sterne harried off and concealed himself in the stable. By-and-by ho saw Wicklow saunter In, look about him, then hide something under some rubbish in a corner, then take leisurely leave again. Sterne pounced npon the hidden article—a letter -and brought it to ns. It had no superscription end no sigeature. It repeated what we had already read, and then then went on to say—- * We think it beat to portpono till the two companies are gone. I mean the four inside think so ; have not communicated with tbe others—a’rald of attracting attention. I say four because we have lost two; they had hardly enlisted and got Inside when they were shipped off to the front. It will be absolutely necessa y to have two in their places. The two that went were the brothers from Thirty-mile Point. I have something of the greatest importance to reveal, but must not trust it to the method of communication ; will try the other. ’ * The little scoundrel!’ said Webb ; 1 who could have supposed he was a spy ? However, never mind about that—let us add up our particulars, such as they are, and see how the ease stands to date. First, we’ve got a rebel spy in our midst, whom ve know; secondly, we’ve got three more In our midst whom we don’t know; thirdly, these spies have been introduced among as through the simple and easy process of enlisting as soldiers in the Union army—and evidently two of them have got scld at It, and heiug shipped off to the front; fourthly, there are assistant spies outside—number indefinite; fifthly, Wicklow has veiy important matter which he Is afraid to communicate by the present method—will try the other. That is the case as it now stands. Shall we collar Wicklow and make him confess? Or shall we oitoh the person who removes the letter from the stable and make him tell? Or shall we keep still and find out more ?’ We decided upon the last course. Next day’s events hurried things up somewhat. Wicklow wrote another letter; Sterne preceded him to the stable, and saw him deposit it; captured it as seen as Wicklow was out of the way, then slipped out and followed the little spy at a distance, with a detec' ive in plain clothes at bis own heels, for we thought it judicious to have the law’s assistance handy In case of need. Wicklow went to the railway station, and waited around till the train from New York came in, then stood scanning the faces of the crowd as they poured out of the ears. Presently an aged gentleman, with green goggle eyes and a cane, came limping along, stopped in Wicklow’s neighborhood, and began to look about him expectantly. In an Instant Wicklow darted forward, throat an envelope into his hand, then glided away and disappeared In the throng. The next Instant Sterne had snatched the letter, and as he hurried past the detective he said : ‘Follow the old gentleman—don’t lose sight of him.’ Then Sterne sknrried ont with the crowd, and came straight to the fort. We sat with closed doors, and Instructed the gua d outside to allow no interruption First we opened the letter captured at the stable. It read as follows :

‘ Holy Alliance - Pound in the usual gan. commands from the Master, left there last night, which set aside the instructions heretofore received from the subordinate quarter. Have left in the gun the usual indication that the commands reached the proper bands’—

Webb, interrupting, * Ln't the boy under constant surveillance now V

I said—’ Yes, he had been under snrveil lanoo ever since the capture of his former letter,’

‘ Then how could ho put anything into a gun or take anything out of it, and not get caught ?’ • Well,' I said, * I don’t like the look of that very well.’ ‘I don’t either,’ said Webb; ‘it simply means that there are conspirators among the very s ntinels. Without their connivance In some way or other this couldn’t hive been done.’

I sent for Rayburn and ordered him to examino the batteries and see what he could find. The reading of the letter was then resumed—

1 The new commands are peremptory, and requiro ti at the MMMM shall bo FFhFF at three o’clock to-morrow morning. Two hundred will arrive in small parties, by train and otherwise, from vadous directions, and will ba at appointed place at right time. I will distribute sign to-day. fineness Is apparently sure, though something must have got out, for the sentries have been doubled, and the chiefs went the rounds last night several times. W. W. comes from southerly to-day and ’will receive secret orders —by the other method. All six of you must ho In 166 at sharp 2 a.m. You will find B. 8., who wlil give yon detailed instructions. Password same ss last time, only reversed —put first syllable la-t and last syllable first. Remember XXXX. Do not forget. Bo of good heart j before the next sun rises you will be heroes ; your fame will be permanent j you will have added a deathless page to history. Arae j.’

■ Thunder audjMars, ’ said Webb.l'but we are getting into mighty hot quarters as I look at It I’

I said there was no question but that things were beginning to wear a meat serious aspect. Said I, 4 A desperate venture la on foot, that la plain enough. To-night is the time set for it—that also is plain. The exaot nature of the enterprise—l mean the manner of it—is hidden away under those blind bunches of M’a and F’s. But the end and aim, I judge. Is the surprise and capture of the post. We must move quick and sharp now. I think nothing can be gained by continuing our clandestine policy as regards Wicklow. We must know, and as soon as possible, too, whore 1 166 ’ is located, ao that wa can make a descent upon the

gang there at 2 p.m. ; and, doubtless, the quickest way to get that Information will be to force it out rf that boy. But first of all, and before we make any important move, I must lay the facts before the War Department, and ask for plenary powers.’ The despatch was prepared in cipher to go over the wires ; I road it, approved It, and sent it along. We presently finished dlscues'ng the letter which was under consideration, and then opened the one which had been snatched from the lame gentleman. It contained noth'ng bat a couple of blank sheets of note-paper I This check was a confounded annoyance, and we naturally chafed under the delay i for we had fully expected to get out of that letter some of the most important secrets of the plot. Now appeared Sergeant Rayburn, and drew from his pocket a piece of twine string about a foot long, with three knots tied in It, and held it up * I got It out of a gun on the water front,’ said he ; ‘ I took the tompions out of all the guns and examined close ; this string was the only thing that was in any gun.’ So this bit of string was Wicklow’s ‘ sign ’ to signify that the • Master’s ’ commands had not miscarried. I ordered that every sentinel who had served near the gun daring the p-st twenty-four hours be pat In confinement at once and separately, and not allowed to communicate with any one without my privity and consent. (To be continued .)