Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-14
From the Ladies' Companion.
Arnold, or the British Spy.
ny JAMES II. ryCRAHAM.
CHAPTER /.

session of the British troops under SIR Henry
Clinton, he was slowly lroring his horse. Ills
Journey was nearly ended with the day, Tor the
needle.like spire of Trinity church had been, for
the last half hour prominent object in his eye,
and the expanded bay, grt with It's majestic is
lands. and covered with the fleets Of England, as
sured him that he was approaching the head
quarters of the British army.
He rode slowly along, with his arms folded a.
cross his breast, and the reins dropped careless
ly over the dropping neck Of his large brown
horse, who stumbled and foundered over the
rough road as if he had been ridden fast and far.
The horseman was heavily framed man, with
dark countenance, rendered still darker by thick
brovs and whiskers. His face wore an express
sion of dogged resolution and reckless daring
His costume was partly that of yeoman, partly
military tustian fruck buuoned to the throat,
and reaching to the strrup, and broad Tapping
hat that he wore-belonging TO the class of yeo.
manry, and eathern belt stuck with a brace of
pistols, and sustaining servlceahle broad sword,
with stout buff buck-skin breeches, somewhat
Soiled and darkened by long servce-appcrlain-
ing to the last profession. He appeared lost in
thought, and indifferent to surrounding objects;
but the alert and wary movements of his eyes,
and, what a closer scrutiny discovered, one hand
of his folded arms rested on the butt Of a pistol,
and the other grasping the ht of his broad sword,
showed that he was on a watch for sudden dan
ger, and prepared TO meet 1t.
He had just gained the brow Of gentle decIiv-
ity, over which the road wound, from whence
there was view Of the town, and from which
the broad banner Of England, floating above the
quarters of general Clinton, was full in sight,
when the sun dipped beneath the horizon at the
same moment the report oil the sunset gun, fired
from the battery. reached his ears-thc flags on
fort and shipping descended from their stats, aud
over the fortified town, night and warchfulness
took the place Of day and security. The horse.
man now gathered the rons in his huge, brown
fist, settled himself in his saddle. and muuering
in a sort of subdued growl;
"Come, Bruin, we have Ioitcrod fall Iong-srir
stir measure of corn and cup of sack, await
US at the inn: so, forward!'
He applied. as he spoke, both spur and whip to
the sides of his beast, who. forthwith, throwing
back his ears, set off towards the town at a round
pace.
short ride further through Il Struggling sub.
urb, brought him in front Of low barrier thrown
across the street, with a sentinel pacing before it:
and guard house, with group of soldiers
few yards within, on the left. When he came
urged his horse forward, aud rode directly to-
wards it as if he intended to clear it at flying
leap. The sentinel, on perceving him, chaIIen-
ged, in quick, stern tone. Without replying,
he continued TO advance at full speed till within |.
ten feet of the gate, when, with sudden aud
powerful Jerk, he threw his horse backward on
his launches, and leaped eff to the ground Just
as the ball from the sentinel's musket hummed
harmesslv over his head
"Well aimed for beel.fed John Bull, cried
the horseman, with loud laugh, sprnging into
his saddle again. The corporal of the guard, |
with his command, on hearing the report of the
piece, hastened to the post, anda a dozen muskets
were instantly leveed at the rider, who sat i'm
movable on his steed, gazing cooIly on his ad-
versares.
"How, sir! What means this bravado!" de-
munded the corporal Of the guard; "surrendcr,
or | fire upon YOU"
"So(ily, good sir corporal! You've wasted
powder enough already. did buttry to see how
we'll you kept the barriers-and what meule your
men are made of for the story goes that pretty
wench or jug of whiskey can cross your post
in broad noon, and the sentineI's never the wiser
It's who goes therol' 'Man with a Jug of whis- |
key Stand, man! advance, Jug of whiskey, |
and give US u taste.' Or, 'Who goes Thereof
Husband and wife, Stand husband advance
wife, and give us a kissl' Ha, ha, ho! this is |
your system of tactics down in York, they say up
above. Elo, ha, hal"
His laugh met no otherreturn thana few round
oaths from the soldiers, while the corporal rep-
ed, "You should come then in wench's shape
to test us fellow.''
"Wench or whiskoy, must go into town."
"ShoW your passport"
The man drew from his pocket an iron box,
deliberately tapped the lid, opened it, took there
from a pinch of snuff, and handed it over to the
soldiers. One of them only acknowledged the
compliment, by thruStng his arm through the bar
rer, and helping himself to half the contents.
$50, no, man, you'd better take q shovel, and
fill your knapsack. Here, sergeant, is my pass
port, added the horseman, thrusting his fingers
beneath the snuff, and extracting folded paper
crumpIed and dingy. 1t waspronounced correct
snow, pass, sir" said the subaltern, 'but if
you approach the next post after this fashion,
may they send score OF bullets throurb vour
jacket should not have borne with Won as /
have but my orders led me 10 look out for one of
your cut and kidney"
While he was speaking, the barrier was thrown
open, and the horSeman dashed through with
coarse joke at the expense of the soldiers, which,
in the breast of those gentlemen, excited wrath
rather than mirlh. In few seconds, horse and
rider were lost to their gaze in the increasing
darkness and gloom of the distant streets. Alter
riding short distance, the stranger turned from
the principal 10 the left, and entering winding
lane, which, by circuitous route, led him TO.
wards the battery. On the corner of this slree,.
(hen called Queen) and Broad street, he come
TO an inn, from which proceeded the sounds Of
mirh and music. Here he drew rein, and dis.
mounted amda lhrong of oilers, gave his horse
to negro hosrIer, with strict iniunclons to take
the best care of him, and then with the cool i'm.
pudence of a man confident in great physical /
powers, passed through the crowd, oslling in ei.