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“And how do you expect to pass the pickets?” asked the standard authority on “Tactics.”
“ I reckon this wull brung 'em,” answered Bible, tapping his canteen significantly.
“Well, it wont,” replied the general, laughing; “but I'll give you something that will. And here, take this canteen and get me some of that ‘big brandy,’ and tell the squire I'll be over there one of these days.”
The general gave Bible a pass, another canteen, and five dollars of Confederate scrip, to effectually “raise the spirits;” and then the scout, saying, “Ye kin reckon on gittina sich brandy, giniral, as wull sot ye up so high ye'll nuver come down agin,” walked leisurely out of the rebel lines.
Once, while scouting near McMinnville, Bible was captured by a small party of Forrest's cavalry. One of the Confederates knew him, and he was told he must die. Throwing a rope over the limb of a tree, they adjusted it about his neck, and the rebel officer, taking out his watch, said to him: “You can have five minutes to say your prayers.”
“I thanks ye, cap'n,” said Bible; “fur thet shows ye's got a spark uv humin feelina in ye; ana ef ye'll jest pile a lettle light 'ood on ter thet spark, it mought be it 'ud blaze up ana make ye a better man nur ye is, or kin be, whiles ye's a fightina agina yer kentry. As ter prayina, cap'n, I doan't need no time fur thet; fur I'se allers a prayina, not wuth words-but silent, deep, down yere” --placing his hand on his heart--“whar I'se allers a sayina ‘Our Father!’ Our Father, cap'n; your'n as wull as mine! Ana doan't ye 'spose He's luckin down on ye now sorry, grieved ter His vury heart thet ye, ”
