Nothing could have suited Marcy Gray better. The fact that Bowen had travelled hundreds of miles through a country that was in full possession of the enemy, and had even come within sight of the Union lines before he was captured, proved that he was not only a brave and persevering man, but that he was skilled in woodcraft as well; and such a man would be an invaluable companion if they could only manage to escape at the same time. Bowen said it would be impossible for them to escape from the jail, for in addition to the sentry, who stood in the hall and could look through the grated door into the room and see every move that was made among the prisoners, the building was surrounded by guards every night. It would be folly for them to make the attempt until they were certain of success, for no man in the rebel army ever deserted more than once.
“But whether we escape in one month or two we’ll have something to think about and live for, so that our minds will not be constantly dwelling upon our misfortunes; and that’s a great thing in a case like this, I tell you,” said Bowen. “We must keep up a brave heart by thinking about pleasant things, or else it will not be long before we shall be moping like those poor fellows over there in the corner. They’re all the time worrying, and the first they know they will be down sick.”
“I suppose that is the right way to do, but it is awful hard for a conscript to be jolly,” said Marcy, who was thinking of his mother and of Jack, whom he might never see again.
“I know it; but it is the only way for us to do if we want to keep on our feet.”
When five o’clock came and the long table which occupied the middle of the room had been cleared of the men who had been sitting and lying upon it, and the supper was brought in, Marcy Gray began to realize that being shut up in jail meant something. While Bowen talked he had been slowly working his way through the crowd toward the table, and now Marcy saw what his object was in doing it. The supper, which consisted of bean soup and corn bread, was brought in in small wooden tubs which were placed upon the table, together with a sufficient number of pans and spoons to accommodate about half the prisoners at once. No sooner had these pans and spoons been set on the table than Bowen seized two of them as quick as a flash, and filled the pans with soup with one hand, while he passed Marcy a generous piece of corn bread with the other.
“Now get over there by the window before somebody jostles you and spills it all,” said he; and although Marcy, acting upon the suggestion, succeeded in reaching the window without losing his supper, it was not owing to any consideration that was shown him by the prisoners, who made a regular charge upon the table, pushing and crowding, and acting altogether like men who were more than half famished. Marcy said, in a tone of disgust, that they reminded him of a lot of pigs.
“I don’t know’s I blame them,” said Bowen, swallowing a spoonful of his soup with the remark that it was somewhat better than common. “You will soon learn to push and shove with the rest.”
“I hope not,” replied Marcy.
“Then you’ll have to eat out of a dirty dish; that’s all.”
“Do you mean to say that someone will have to use this pan and spoon after I get through with them?”