Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-11-29
lannon's Mare.
A REVOLUTIONARY SKETCH.

The exploits Of Fannon, the famous to-.
ny partisan of North Carolina, would make
a body Of facts more interesting thln any
tale Of fiction. He was bloody fellow
bloody minded as the hounds of Hayt-
lie sometimes slew the helpless and inocent
in cold bIood-the coward But he had
that instructive tone and bearing Of author
ity, that kept his people within the metes
and boun Is of his despotlc will. He and
his party were one day resting themselves
by spring, lounging here and there on the
green grass in the shade Of the trees. One
Of his subordnates, big, strong man had
got mad with him. His rage had been
boiling in him for several days; and some
/ fresh a0ront at the spring caused his anger
TO become ungovernabe- he drew hil
sword, and was resting with his elbow OF
the ground and his hand under his head
His devoted followers were around him anC
he heard the click of their locks as the,
cooked their rifles Let him alone - criet
Fannon, in his quick, sharp tone, lie IaiC
still, calm and self possessed with his keen
dark eyes fixed on the raging lieutenant, al
he made tremendous plunge at his breast
But when the stroke came, lis object swery
ed away like a snake, and the baflled mas
plunged his sword into the ground. Quicl
as lightning lannon's sharp blade passed
through his gigantic form" Thus and thu
punish those who disregard my authority ?
and his eyes glowed and sparkled like
serpen's The man sunk to the earth for
ever.
But lannon's mare is written at the teI
Of this sheet; and she is the hero of tn,
present writing Achilles had his Xanthu
aud Balus; Alexander had his Bucephalus
Nc Donald had his Selim. Fannon was
man of Blood like them, and like them HI
had his favorite charger, and Fannon'
mare was worthy of her owner, or ever
a better man." He called her the Re,
Doe, from her resemblance in color to
deer. The was a rare anlmal-heet, pow
erful, intelligent, dociIe as a lamb-an
her owner valued her, dare say, abov
king or country, or the life of his fello,
man She bore him proudly and fearl essl
in the bloody Skirmish or the retreat
When be stood in the noisy council Of hi
partlzans, or in the silent ambush, the faitf
iul brute was By his side, ever ready {
bear him whithersoeyer he would. b.
Fannon lost his mare.
Down on the east Of Little River. III
partisan and some four or FIVE of his follow
ers one day captured man by the name
Hunter--a wing from the country abo
Salisbury N. c. This was sufficie
cause Of death, and Fannon told the m;
he should hang him. Hunter was evident
a man of the times; but what could he
alone and defenceless, with dozen bitt
enemies 1t was a case of complete de
, paration. The rope was ready, and
strong old oak threw out its conyenic
, branches. Fannon told him he might pra
for his time had come. The poor m
4 kneeled down, and seemed absorbed in |
!. last petition to the throne of mercy. Fa
non and his men stood by, and the trus
mare stood among them, with the reins
her neck. They began to be impatient
e their victim TO close his devotional exerc
n es. But they soon discovered that the
e was more of earth than Heaven in Hunte
: thoughts-for he suddenly sprang on IA
d non's mare, bowed his head down on
= powerful neck, pressed his heels on h
l. tanks, and darted away like the wind.
s The tory rifles we're lcvelled in nome
/ -" shoot high shoot high!' cried ia
II non" save my mare !" The slups
d whistled over Hunters back, save one Il
o told with unerring aim, which tore and b
II tered his shoulder dreadlulIy. He reel
II on The saddle and felt sick at heart: t
hope was before him, death behind, and
G nerved himself for the race. On he sped
If through woods, ravines, and brambles, {
n that powerful mare carry him safely a
f and swiftly. His enemies were in hot y,
e suit. They followed him by the trail
= blood from his wounded shoulder.
E. came te Little River; there was no fol
V the bank was high, and deep place in
stream before him. But the foe came;
drew the rein, and cIdpped his heels to
% sides, and that gallant mare plunged re,
5, lessly into the stream. She snorted in
!: spray as she rose, paved the yielding wa
. arched her beautiful name above the S
d face, and skinned along like swan
d Hunter turned her down srean, in
Il hope Of ev ding his pursuers aud she re