Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-07-16
THE CAPTlVES.
A Tale of the American Revolution,
BY s. ID ANDERSON.

N BYs. ANDERSON.
81 No portion Of the infant colonies so utlerej
Tmore from the rude and unspafiug hand of
SSwar than did the South, and especially the
> sCarolinas. The storm Of desola;on fell with
sdouble fury on those devoted sections uC our
Acounity, not only from foreign invaders. see-
s hing 10 strike down the gem of our Liberties.
1but also from the intestine foes with which
ashe was cursed. This IaIer kind of warfare
lwas the more tn be dreaded 8s il fell alike
son the old and y0ung--,he blooming youth
sand the blushing maiden. No condition was
-spermited to escape. Gray bdITs were moth
Eug in The estimation of those fieuds in hu.
sSmau shape, called Tories. Chlldrch were Ia
Skeu from a weeping mother. and consigned
.9to lingering death; beauty was ,Oru from The
Sbridal altar. aud Uuocecce from ,he house OF
Nprayer; all The kind and holy feelings Of The
Efamily hearth, aud even The household circle
.swere often mace the scene of = brutal death.
tSuch were some OF the dangers and difficult.
Cites our fathers had TO encounter ia The
J. .strugge for independence
y A beautiful day Ia The spring Of 1881, was
gdrawing TO close. The day had been warm
gbui now the genial breeze Of night, so pecu-
: LARRY pleasing 10 southern climates, had
TspuDg up. Dim twilight had taken the
fplsce OF day, the song uf the nighi-bird was
tbeglnnng To be head in The wood. the deep.
Ngreen foliage Of the pines looked still deeper
lin The fast increasing shadows Of night. and
Zone by one The STARS took THEN PLACES 10 The
ssky. Silence still aOd deep res'ed all around
Esnd paught WIS heard save the occasional
4 sh0ot OF he solitary owl far IN The sombTe
gdepths Of the fotest iha, sha:ien both sides of
Ilhe road,- such the dImly marked path
smlghi be called-w hich led ihioug n this sec
stiOn Of the wood. The ground was covered
swish dense growth OF pines aud other trees,
.inteIlac with wild vines aud smaller shrub
Sbery, SO that their shade. even in daylight,
6excIudeG from the eye everything that was
sremoved few PAGES from the roadside, bot
snow. as the darkness came down, all was
ablank. Suddenly the stiffness Of The scene
twas broken by slight noise, aud a solitary
4 Ehofseman emerged from the cover of the
Ewood into the opening. When he had gain !
Jed the road he checked his horse and care
sfuliy examined the vicinity, as if to satisfy
ghimseli Of the sateness ol hls position. as we'll
: as to mark the locality Of The spot. This
scaution seemed 90 proceed as from settled,
zhabit CT watchiulness, common in DAYS OF
Zperil, as from sense OF personal DAGGER. la
appearance the stranger seemed not 10 havel
sarryed at the full age Of manhood. tic was
sclsd IN a hur ting -irock Of blue domestic.
common in those days among the inhablt-
sants of the southern States. The sly lie aud
finish Of his dress, however. bespoke more;
lthan usual attention to The Il ness Of the aui-'
sces. Around his waist was eifded broad
seaher belt, embelishCd in front with q mas
,slyo buckle, aud underneath this might have
! been seen, almost concealed by the folds Of
! his cloak, pair Of pistols, such rs weie useds
zby the horseman Of that day. His panlaloons-
gwere Of the same material as his coat, and ON
ahis head he wore a hat tina, differed from that
.of common cIiize0 only ia The addition
'al ornament of a small cocksde, worn onI
sthe left side near the TOP. This, with pair
/ sof boots made of unlanned leather. and arm,
led with rude spurs, made up the costume Of
sthe new conner. lu stature hc was rathers
soyer the usual tandsrd, but not so much so;
Jas TO take from his figure its appearance uf
grace and activity. His features were large!
aud manly, and his complexion. though dar /:
.kened by exposure TO the burning rays of thef
southern sun, still showed the t,nge OF blood
upon the check. Has eyes were dark and
piercing and prelusion OF black aud curling
hair covered foely shaped head. In the !
whole appearance and besriug of The indvid. J
.ual could be read the love of the daring and
shared In common with the no.
bic and chiyalrous sons of the South 10 those
days Of peril and Danger.
After the horsemaD became satisfied Of the
absence OF any intruder, he advanced = Shor7
.distauce up the path we have rnentioneci IN
'til he gained place where the understood /.
Twas still more dense and impeuetrable. IL
was q small rsvine. made by a rvnlet 8 he
wet seasons. but at this time was dry. There
he branches of the trees iuterlace1 an1 form
led a natural retreat, so dense az TO preclud I
its being reached with auy chance Of success. i
When Immediately in front Of this, be raised
IBIS hands To his mouth and produced a sound
$50 nearly resembling the cry Of the wood owl {
hat person who was not very familiar with +
he singular note Of this bird must have been
mistaken. Ii was Immediately repeated fomf
/ he ravlne aud in short Time second uer- b
son made his egress from the lcafy ambush.
The appearance OF the new conner differed IN (
Ial respects from that of the first. He was
,modern Hercules in frame aud figure, and
bore the marks of long and severe service IN
sun and storm. But he wai dressed much #.
ter the fashion Of his companion, though The
materials were Of a coaser kind ADD buastcd
mo ornaments. He wore on his head a CAP
made Of the skin OF a fox. His arms we're
the usual brace OF pistols, bat in addition he
bore IN his hand short rife, and sluug fiom
hts broad shoulder was the powder horn aud
bullet.ponch OF the forest ranger. 10 his face
could be seen the marks Of the, froolet life,
good nature and courage--a man 70 trust in 4
danger--s friend when most needed. He ad.
- ..s. q rs-r-s--..s.r ~