Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-21
start he had acquired either the bullets or
tho enaad Of bc nurStiers

start he had acquired, either the bullets or
the speed of his pursuers.
But they had not pursued him. After fir
ing, the two soldiers had started in pursuit,
but had been recalled by the voice of their
officer, who with the rest of the party had
hurried at once to the back part of the cot
tage.
"You cannot catch him now, and care
not that he should be chased out of sight OF
what is going on" muttered the officer, in
whom Mrs. Cameron had recognized at once
the traitor Johnston. "Come here, my good
lady," continued he, in a louder tone, adj
dressing Mrs. Cameron, "you, too, sup
pose, being the head canters wife, belong
to the cursed crew'
Mrs. Cameron, though mild, amiable
woman, was by no means deficient in spirit
but she knew it was useless to reply, and
therefore made no answer to Johnston's in
sulting speech.
You will not answer, will you ?' ex-
claimed the rufian, with an awful oath
"well, it matters not. Every one knows
you and the girl there, as the wife and daugh-
ter of an arch hypocrite and rebel-and if
we cannot reach him, through his own can't
ing heart, we can through yours. What say
you, Thornton 2"
Shall order out the file?" said the in
dividual addressed, an old man with very
repulsive countenance, who acted as second
in command.
No, no, I've better plan than that" -
said his officer, with an internal smile
But, halo, men, why are you not at the
cupboards | warrant the villain has some
good liquor about, somewhere-these can't
ing scoundrels are Just the men for it,
and, gladly receiving the usual license to
plumber, the men spread themselves through
the cottage.
They'll be ready for any kind of work
in the course of half an hour" muttered
Johnston to himself, as loud outcry told
that their search had not proved unsuccess-
full
We shall not attempt to portray the feel
ings of the mother and her child at this juno
ture. That horrd fate, probably death, "a
waited them, they knew but JOY al the escape
of the husband and father mingled with that
deep religious faith in the overlooking prov
idence of God, in which they had been nur-
tured until it had become portion of their
very life, and they awaited with degree of
calmness which we in this day can hardly
conceive, the proceedings of the soldiery.
The half hour passed over, and the SOL
diers were as their officer had said, fit for
any deed however fiendish. After a short
consultation with Johnston, his lieutenant
called them together, and bidding the trem-
bling women accompany them, they marched
down to the water side Then, alas, their
victims knew what fate was in store for
them. It was not the first instance in which
the strangling wave had been made to do
the work of the sword There was an in
fernal earnestness in Thornton's features, as
he walked along the beach and calculated
by the marks left by the water upon two or
three huge rocks, the state of the tide 1t
was rising, and within about two hours of
its full. 1t was smooth, sandy beach, the
breeze was still and gentle, and the waves
rolled leisurely one after another upon the
shore. Directly, two of the soldiers, who
had been left behind at the house, appeared,
each bearing heavy, sharp-pointed stake,
and rope.
God in Heaven and Thou lookedst on,
and no voice of thunder broke from the
clear, calm, quiet sky! The sun shone as
usual, and the birds ceased not their song
the waves rolled still as gently and smoothly
up the beach-while those accursed men
with laughter and jeer, suppressed though
in spite of themselves, for they felt that they
were doing horrid work, waded out into
the sea, and drove those cruel stakes deep
and firm into the hard sand.
And not further than a quarter of mile
from the spot, on a high hill, in full view o
all that was going on, stood the agonizeC
father and husband SO engrossed were the
soldiers with their awful work, that no one
had noticed him, until shepherd lad came
up to Johnston, who was standing apart anc
modify gazing at the progress of his men
and pointing him out to him, said that Mr.
Cameron offered to deliver himself up a
once, if the women might go unframed
Then Johnston laughed aloud-a demo
MAC laugh it was, and such as could come
from no heart not eternally lost-and badt
the boy answer that he would not exchange
the qualification of that moment of revenge
for ten such traitors as Robert Cameron
And the wife and daughter, who had hearc
it all, thanked God that he had hardened
his heart, that so the husband and fathe
At length the fatal moment had come
and Mrs. Cameron and Effie, giving eacl
other last fond embrace, entered the water
and quietly suffered themselves to be boun,
to the stakes. They were neither of then
very tall, and the water every moment ris
ing, now just covered their shoulders. Ell
ie was rather taller than her mother bu
this suited the purpose of their executioner
all the better, for they would not have bot
die at once.
Again came the shepherd lad to Johnston
he said that Mr.. Cameron prayed him Oh
his knees to take his life, and spare his wifi
and child-and Johnston turned and saw tn
miserable man kneeing upon the hill, wit
his arms outstretched for mercy. And agail
he laughed loudly, and still louder-as if h
wished his supplicator to hear his mockin
answer. See he does hear it--he clasp
his hands together, and falls upon his fac
on the green sward.
"Tell that villain" said Johnston to tn
boy, " to remember his sermon four month
ago,-but stay" continued he scoffingly, a
the boy was turning slowly away, " ask hin
why he prays to me a? l am not touching tn
women-if he be one of the saints, let hin
pray to that God who holds, as have hear
| him cav fhe waters in tho bolIo,y -f l.;