Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-11-30
mo. XI.


yet there was resouie fir.nness about
! him which showed, that however UNI leos.
ant the duty, il would be strictly and faith
fully performed.
After walking long time in silence,he
stopped short in his walk, and speaking
in hurried tone, SAID / like not this SER
vicei-A spyr-and he hung his head as
he repeated the WORLDWIDE thinks we'll
of spy?--who speaks well of him? Infa.
my and disgrace are his portion: and his
death is like that of common murderer
by halter and hangman!-And am 10 be
thus early branded" He covered his face
his hands and leaned, while his frame shook
with agitation, against a tree. --"Bnt this.
is weakness, said he recovering himself
l,-then taking his seat he added-"If re.
tturn, my countrymen will not be so nm.
grateful IS TO spurn me-and If become
a vicilm-will they not resIee my mem.
ry as martyr for the liberty, which |
pray God they may soon eoioy-away
with despondency!"-and with a lighter
heart he disposed himself on a bed of
leaves TO rest.
Il would he unnecessary to inform The
readef.that the person we have been spea.
30g OF, was spy from the American
q Up. -SSfser our troops had been beat.
en- on Long Island and had retreated to
New York, Washington was DESTROYS of
obtaining information respecting the
strength situation and future movements
OF the enemy. He Could find no ft.-
ting person willing 10 assume the Office re
spy, although he offered great rewa.ds FIR
that purpose. The information he desS,.
ed was all important, and when he almost
despaired of obtaining it, this young man.
captain in one of the New England re-.
gments, volunteered for the dangerous
service. tie was aware of the infaney gen.
orally attached to the character of a spv:
but the high und holy motives which infiu.
enced him to assume that character: he
trusted would preserve him from the obi
Gus stigma. And should he lose his life in
the execution Of his duty, grateful coun-
try, he trusted, would revere his memory.
Even after taking this view of the subject
and after the repeated and earnest solici.
tatlons OF Washington, it caused him Sc.
we're struggle before be could prevail on
hlmselfto accept the officc-a thought of
his bleeding couatry, alone determined
him.
Some five or six days after the night in
which we introduced the stranger to the
readers person in the dress of a Rsitisll
soldier might have been seen walking eau.
tlously along the road Leading from the
encampment AT Bedford, othe neighborinp
hills. 1t was soon after shutdown, and
| thick fog lowered over the Island, render-
ing objects at small distance impercept.
lbe. SO long as the camp could be seen
SO longed the individual Just mentioned
strayed along carelessly. But when the
fog concealed il fom his sight, he gu ok.
ened his pace casting Ut tine hurried and
anxious G a1ces aloat him, until he reach.
ed the commencement of The wooden part
of the heignts, when he darted quickly in.
TO Their closencss, and was soon lost 10
sight.
Courage heart, cou1ogei orc more tri.
| al, and the task is Accomplishment sad tie
individual TO himself, as he plunged deep-
CT atfti deeper INTO the woods, and began
TO tug up tile toilsome ascent. lie cont.n-
ued for quarter of an hour to proceed
with quick pace up the hi. Al lasl ar.
irving at a spot where he woods were ne.
cullarly dense, and he seated himselfat
the foot of large tree. After having
recovered breath lite, he lifted brood
fla, rock that lay beside him, which con.
cealed ii large hole, leading INTO tie trunk
of tree. "Ah YOU are safc?' said he as
he reached his arm, and drew forth bun.
die. He soon had it united, and display.
ed ragged suit of clothes, torn hat. red
shaggy wig and whiskers. He was not
long IN accoutering himself in his new
found dress. Lie there and rot. thou
tinselled things oftyrannyl.' said be, kick.
ing the cast off garments into the hollow
and laying the stone over it.
In the bundle which he had conveyed
10 the tree day or two before, besides
the clothes were pair of pistols, which he
secreted about him. 1t would havs been
difficult in the vagabond looking wretch
now before US, TO recognize the late far.
mer, and still later British solder, so dis
gnised was he. His piercing eye would
at times betray him, as he threw quick
glances through the dense wood, and now
and then bent his ear 20 the ground in an
attitude of intense listening. The thick
fog which had settled down in the dark.
ness, seemed also to have lain finger on
, the pulse of nature. so hushed was every
, thing. There vas not the waving of
+ branch;nor the stirringo a leaf,to break it.
| The young man after listening minute
or two, turned and assembled the hill in a
noiseless manner. When near the suns
! NIT, he threw himself amid some brush.
wood that grew near, which served to con.
ceal him from the most praying observa.
: Ition.
CHAPTER II.