The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-07

uiiNi tiISl ~ Wv II VI cAhit
the darkness of the night, gave
desolate and disagrceable sound well
BETTING the place itself. The man
scarcely moved, with the exception
now and then of raising his head,
and peering cautiously above the
mound of earth behind which he lay,
towards the Jail, dimly visible with
its high massive walls in the fields
beyond,
At length light glimmered, the
tread of men was family heard, and
the young man, raising himself from
the spot where he lay, glided along
the rude fence which skirted the bu-
rial ground, until he stood within a
few feet of the execution place.
Here he paused and looked in the
direction of the approaching light.
Family through the haze appeared
three or four files of soldiers, led by
black man, who carried lantern
the only light which seemed to be
in the party. Then walked pris
oner, with his arms tightly bound be-
hind him, and directly after Cum
bingham, the provost marshal, and
five or six soldiers with muskets on
their shoulders.
'Onc, two, three repeated the
young man to himself, as if counting
the number Of men approaching
twelve in all. IT'S desperate un-
dertaking; but my comrade shall
not die if can save him. Now for
skill and courage. Be cool, Dick
Martin, You have been on still
more perilous occasions, your com
handing officers speak the truth
lie glidrd back again to his old
resting place when he stumbled into
a new dug grave that he had not no.
ticed before, Just in the rear Of the
gallows. His first impulse was tc
leap out, for the depth of the grave
did not exceed three feet, but Sec
ond thought altered his determine.
ton. and he murmurcd-
This is the best place for me
they certainly will not think of look
ing for a living man in the grave !!
and he stretched himself at ful
length in the marrow house that h'
knew one day or another he Shout,
have TO fill. They entered the blu
rial ground and proceeded directl
to the gallows. Forming circle
the black fellow with the lantern
{; Cunningham, and the prisoner in tn,
centre, preparations were made t.
90 through with the awful ceremon,
that of depriving fellow being O
life.
The black fellow looked up at tn
) gallows, from which the two bodie
were hanging, and then proceede'
very deliberately to cut them down
observing
Desc chaps hab hung long a'nun
| guess dey ant much better da
dead niggers now
The prisoner looked on with
glance Of no common interest, 70
he felt that his soul was futtcring o
the confines Of eternity. 1t is use
less to talk Of bravery when ma
in the full vigor of health beholds tn
r preparations making to deprive hii
: of existence. True, he may NEE
= death with manlness and fortitudC
; and display to no human eye any {
the physical shrinkings by which W
are apt to increase the outward cour
age of man; but within there is
, feeling that the great Creator alon
perceivcs, and He judges whethc
or no the man is prepared to die.
=, The negro had passed arope thrC
the beam where but few moment
before hung the inanimate clods tn;
now encumbercd as it were ii,
, ground beneath the gallows. TIL
done, he said
:. 'Dar, Massa Cunningham, is
L, rope dat will hold de prisoner Ion
', a'nuE. reckon. Guinea Sambo j
stop aboard a man o'-war for muffin
| guess. | larn to reeve dat KIN,
wild hitch dat &c dcbbil could'l
= break
AS he finished this classical speed
he very deliberately kicked the bod
of one of the dead soldiers aside, al
rolled the other very coolly into Il
" grave where lay the young mar
y and the dead rested with the living
!: A shudder run through the frame
i the you'll, as he felt pressing abo,
" him the cold form Of one who but Il
day before had been as full of life
he now was, but not a sound escal
. ed him, for he knew that silence W
" his only preservation.
y well, rascal, you see what &c
# are coming to for deserving from h
- majesty's service. A halter, SUI
. pose, is more agreeable than zoo
~ treatment and soldiers pay
IN Thus spoke Cunningham to Il
c. prisoner.
. IT a.is.l -. A. 49, -.