Spencer, taking advantage of the consternation of High's two accomplices, made his escape, taking with him High's gun, a hunting rifle. The guards, meantime, broke and ran after their comrades.

Spencer immediately started for New Creek Station, where he arrived in safety with his prize-the gun. He was greeted as the hero of the times, all rejoicing that High's race was run.

STORY XCVIII.

ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR, OF OHIO, AND OTHERS, FROM RICHMOND.

MR. MURPHY, learning that his wife was in deep dis tress at his imprisonment, determined to effect his escape, and in concert with Lieutenant Raynor, and Captain Hurd, devised a plan.

They observed that the surgeons were permitted to pass in and out without obstructions, they being distinguished by a bit of red ribbon; and as the sentinels were changed every two hours, they could pass by the guard as surgeons, provided they could get the necessary badge.

Tearing a bit of red flannel from one of their shirts, and putting it on his coat, Lieutenant Raynor passed out without difficulty, and by a previous arrangement, he made a purchase of a pocket compass, and a map of Virginia. Mr. Murphy and Captain Hurd passed out on the next relief, by the same means, and met Lieutenant Raynor on the corner of a neighboring street. This was about eight o'clock.

Their plan was to strike a northeast direction from Richmond, and crossing the Rappahannock, to reach the Potomac, where they expected to reach our fleet. This they successfully accomplished, after great priva tion and suffering, extending through several days, of which the following is a brief narrative:

After going half a mile beyond the city limits, they struck the Union turnpike, which they followed out. Owing to the darkness, they successively ran upon a toll-gate, guarded by soldiers, and a breast-work with cannon, from which they retreated, and succeeded in turning, unperceived, through neighboring fields. They met country wagons, all of which they avoided.

After travelling fifteen miles, as daylight dawned they went to sleep in the woods. At nine o'clock in the morning they resumed their march, keeping in the woods, however, as long as daylight lasted. They eat during the day their only food, a sandwich each, which they had brought with them.

The second night they crossed the Chickahominy river on a mill-dam, and continued their march till daylight, when they reached a large plantation, and nearly encountered a number of negroes going to their work. They succeeded in avoiding them, and continued their journey during the day, crossing the Pamunkey river by means of a raft, which they constructed.

They then built a fire in the woods and made a good meal of roasted corn and potatoes, both of which they had secured in fields on their route. During their whole route, the roads frequently took them out of their course; in which case they would abandon them, and guided by their compass would go across the country till they struck another road which suited their destina

tion. Generally, they slept during the day, doing most of their travelling by night, and of course at times suffering terribly from hunger, thirst and insects. On Saturday they succeeded in crossing the bridge over the Mattapony river, without attracting observation.

Their map, of course, was of but little use to them as regarded the details of the country through which they were travelling, and they were at a loss to determine where they were. On one of the roads they came to a country store, on which they discovered by moonlight a notice posted, which they tore off and took with them to the woods.

On lighting a piece of candle, they discovered it to be a notice to the creditors of the late General Garnet, who was killed in Western Virginia, to present their claims at Bowling Green, in Carolina county. This saved them the risk of making personal enquiries as to where they were, which they had determined to do the, next morning.

On that night they met a negro in the woods, but they passed by each other without salutation. They were assisted too, by the inspection of a guide-board, and at this point a negro came suddenly upon them unawares, but in a seeming fright ran away. Fearing that he might give the alarm, they ran for a long distance, that they might be beyond the danger of pursuit.

On Wednesday morning, about two o'clock, they reached the Rappahannock where they fortunately found a small boat. Mr. Murphy took off his shoes in passing through a small village near the river, that he might avoid making any noise, and in getting into the boat he accidentally left his shoes on the river bank. This was the occasion of much subsequent suffering, as he

had to perform the remainder of the journey barefooted, by which his feet became terribly bruised and swollen.

Having crossed the Rappahannock they started for the Potomac, and had travelled but a short distance when they found themselves upon the margin of a deep swamp, through which they were compelled to wade in mud knee-deep for half a mile. They continued on their course until they came in sight of the Potomac.

They encountered a party of negroes unexpectedly, and were compelled to speak or be subjects of suspicion. They enquired for a boat to carry them across the river, announcing themselves to be Confederate officers, obtained a boat and found one of our vessels, which took them on board, thus ending their perilous and fatiguing journey, their bold, hazardous, and successful adventure from gloomy prison walls to liberty and life.

STORY XCIX.

HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT.

THE following account of the manner in which a blockade runner was caught, is extracted from an English Magazine, and was probably written by an Englishman; who, with several others, was anxious for a safe passage from Nassau to Dixie.

Finding a steamer about to sail, he inquired of the Captain, "When do you start?" The commander's voice sunk to a whisper, as he told me that at sunset every landsman must come on board, taking boat at some secluded jetty to avoid prying eyes; and using

all reasonable caution, since Nassau teamed with Northern spies.

Half an hour after sunset he was to hoist a signal, which was to be replied to; and then the pilot would come off, and the steamer would stand out to sea. "After dark," muttered Pritchard, with an oath, "we may hope to get past that Yankee thief that hangs about the island. The Governor bade her keep at the distance of one marine league, but she's always sneaking in— now for coal, now for bread, now because her engine is out of order; and the United States consul communicates with her every day. I tell you, shipmate, there isn't one of us that isn't dogged up and down by rascals in Federal hire. See there! that mulatto hound has been after me these four days," pointing to a dark-comlexioned fellow, in the dress of a stevedore, who, on seeing himself observed, as he stood under the geranium hedge, lay down with well-feigned nonchalance, and lit his pipe.

I found a good deal of quiet bustle and suppressed excitement on board the Bonnybell. The fires were bunked up, the swarthy faces and red shirts of the engineer and his gang, were visible at the hatch of their Cyclopean den, getting a breath of the cool breeze before starting. Some brass guns, that had been hidden under fruit-baskets, hen-coops, and tarpaulins, were visible enough now: and beside them lay piled little heaps of round shot. The crew bustled to and fro, and the Captain was so busy, that he could but return a brief word and a nod to my greeting. The sky grew darker, and surrounding objects dimmer, every instant.

Before long the passengers arrived. Several Southern gentlemen, a few ladies and children, all making their