THE HAPPY RELEASE



There came a provost-guard, clapped me in chains,
And had me straight away to Washington.
Their captain, a good fellow, made it clear
The charge was weighty ; -it concerned those maps
Headquarters records- they had run them down
After a six weeks' search; and so I stood
Traitor and thief for trial, with slim chance
To 'scape the threatened noose. I 'd been a fool
Who 'd never thought it out. The maps seemed mine -
Some made before the war, and all as near
As my own hide to me. Then, while I lay
Chewing that bitter cud of fear and shame
And sorrow for my loved ones, came again
That captain who had nabbed me for a word,
A hard man's word of help. " See here," he said,
"Next week they '11 try you, and your chance ain't worth
A sou marque. Now Lincoln's dead, you '11 hang,
For that chap in his boots is gone clean mad,
And all the town is with him. You shall have
A try with Grant, maybe he'll help you out.
He 's a hard ticket, but he is a man
Who sees things straight -knows what it is himself
To tumble in a hole and wallow out
As best he can." The plan seemed but a straw,
And yet I clutched at it, with little hope,
For I had seen that sphinx when came the end
At Appomattox, when he met our Lee
With iron face. " How will you manage it"
" I 'II take you with a guard up to his door



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