Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ... dubious, and there was no chance of escape. I had been deprived of my arms, &c. At last they concluded to make me fast to a tree, and they proceeded to fasten my hands behind me with a grass rope, made me sit down with my back against a hickory sapling, and secured my arms to it. They then all laid down and went to sleep. After feeling satisfied that they slept soundly I commenced to work and twist, and in doing so wore the skin all off my wrists. At last I managed to raise my body up to a standing position, and while straining every nerve I twisted my head around so as to be able to gnaw the rope with my teeth, one of which became fast in it, and while in the effort to release it one of my feet slipped and I fell. I felt a sharp, quick pain for an instant, and discovered I was minus a tooth. The longer I knawed on the rope the larger it seemed to get; I succeeded, however, in freeing my arms from the tree, and crawled cautiously along on my body about one hundred yards. I listened, but all was quiet. I then succeeded in working my legs back, one at a time, thus bringing my arms before me, which was quite a relief. I soon had them untied. I then shaped my course, as I then supposed, toward Corinth. After traveling all night and the next day until evening I found myself back on the same identical spot where they had tied me. Of course the rebels were gone, but let me tell you I was badly scared. I then proceeded to a house, where a woman directed me the course to pursue, and here I am." John thought he had traveled about seventy-fivo miles, when in fact he had not been more than twenty or thirty at most. I asked him why he did not go back, after releasing himself, secure their arms, and kill the last one of them. "Well," replied John, ..".