Thegreatesttroublewastocarrythetunnelforwardinastraightline。
Asnearlyeverybodydugmostofthetimewiththerighthand,therewasanalmostirresistibletendencytomakethecourseveertotheleft。ThefirsttunnelIwasconnectedwithwasaludicrousillustrationofthis。
Abouttwentyofushaddevotedournightsforoveraweektotheprolongationofaburrow。WehadnotyetreachedtheStockade,whichastonishedus,asmeasurementwithastringshowedthatwehadgonenearlytwicethedistancenecessaryforthepurpose。Thethingwasinexplicable,andweceasedoperationstoconsiderthematter。Thenextdayamanwalkingbyatentsomelittledistancefromtheoneinwhichtheholebegan,wasbadlystartledbythegroundgivingwayunderhisfeet,andhissinkingnearlytohiswaistinahole。Itwasverysingular,butafterwonderingoverthematterforsomehours,therecameaglimmerofsuspicionthatitmightbe,insomeway,connectedwiththemissingendofourtunnel。Oneofusstartedthroughonanexploringexpedition,andconfirmedthesuspicionsbycomingoutwherethemanhadbrokenthrough。Ourtunnelwasshapedlikeahorseshoe,andthebeginningandendwerenotfifteenfeetapart。Afterthatwepractiseddiggingwithourlefthand,andmadecertaincompensationsforthetendencytothesinisterside。
Anothertroubleconnectedwithtunnelingwasthenumberoftraitorsandspiesamongus。Thereweremany——principallyamongtheN\'Yaarkercrowdwhowerealwayszealoustobetrayatunnel,inordertocurryfavorwiththeRebelofficers。Then,again,theRebelshadnumbersoftheirownmeninthepenatnight,asspies。Itwashardlyevennecessarytodresstheseinouruniform,becauseagreatmanyofourownmencameintotheprisoninRebelclothes,havingbeencompelledtotradegarmentswiththeircaptors。
OnedayinMay,quiteanexcitementwasraisedbythedetectionofoneofthese\"tunneltraitors\"insuchawayasleftnodoubtofhisguilt。