The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-09

right about f0rrdrd! march =" commanded Ger
trude
Deep thunder seemed to reverberate aroun,
the feet of the amazon. IL was the low growls o
her two bloodhounds, that crouched on eithe
side of their mistress. They lay with their for
paws extended, their large heads laid upon them
their great red eyes glowing like balls of fire
They heard the alteration, and instinctivel,
longed to spring at the throat of the intruder
Gertrude looked down. and noticed them for tn,
first time. She smiled, laughed, crowed, shouted
with delight, as she looked at them. Then turn
ing to the bailiff, she said" See here, Mr.. Off
Ger of the law am going to count te'-just ten
and please the patient Lord you don't get out
of here before get to ten, it will 20 very badly
with you for, as soon as get to ten, shall say
Seize him. THudeyt Seize him, Lightning iin
Before she had said another word, mistakine
her tsrest for q command. the BLOODHOUND made
a spring at the bailiff, who turned and fed they
pursuing him, they gaining on him down the
hill.
"Good Heaven! he'll be torn to pieces " ex.
claimed Zoe, in terror, while Gertrude fed out
to recall the dogs. In ten minutes she returned
followed by them.
And now she said {" my dear Zoe, you must
be put in place Of safety. can't whip six men
and there is no doubt that six or eight will re-
turn here this afternoon | did not believe it,
mean the worst of it. No did not dream it
could be true, else would have had you safe
from this fright before this timem
But, dear Gertrude, what is it, then2 Can
they take me up for fathers debts ~
my dear Zoe, my dear little one, il is all a
~
until Brutus returns and then all will be well.
Zoe, promise to obey me in all things until Bru-
tus comes, will your"
But my fatherw
My dear Zoe, the hand of extreme age has
fallen your fathers head, calming his brain to
infalfsiS ss,0s,. -. rs hissy Assi :, X
not interfere with you"
"Well, ] will promise you, Gertrude
"Then, Zoe, 60 now, and make yourself up
little bundle of provisions to last one day. Pack
up pillow and q sheet into as small compass as
possible then put on your bonnet, and come
down here, while 60 and catch Borealisp
Greatly wondering, Zoe went and did the bid
ding of her protectress. By the time she had
returned to the hall, Gertrude had saddled Boz
reals, and donned her own riding cap. Mount
ing her horse and taking Zoe before her, she can
tered down the precipice through the valley, up
the ridge of rocks to Mad river passage, and took
the path down the same frightful gorge that had
witnessed the wreck Of the carriage
"Where are you taking me- Gertrude ~
"My dear child, to place of safety. Don't
ask any more questions-wait till Brutus comes
home--have faith in mel am the most disinter-
ested friend you have in the world, except your
poor old father, who cannot help your
Zoe asked no more questions until they got to
the grotto. Gertrude put her down. dismounted
herself and led her into the cavern.
"You are not a coward, ZoeW she asked.
ooh, mop
"Not afraid to stay by yourself all night~
Oh, no! | have been used to it all my life
when father would stay away all night with Major
Somervillen
Well, this is a safer place, under all circum-
stances, than the Dovecote 1t is safe, because il
is inaccessible-that is, to everybody but me-
Zoe, my child, you must stay here for few days
will bring you clothes, food, fruit, and books
and pictures, and everything to amuse your soil
tude; and win como t~o or Tires simss TO c.s
you. And you need not confne yourself to this
cavern, but can wander at will through all this
glen, for it is perfectly safe and inaccessible"
"Thank you, dear Gertrude But if you will
bring me my needle, and thimble, and scissors
and my little workbasket, with the hexagon quilt
| shall not be lonesome. And, Gertrude, dom
forget to feed my Bantam hens with Indian mea
dougb-and be sure you don't forget to tuck
father up warm when he goes to bed"
81 will remember everything, Zoe And now
| must return to my poor patient, who is alone
you know. | will return again this evening
Good bye, Zoe p she said, STOPPING and kissing
her
GOOD bye, Gertrudew
"God bless you, child ~
"And you too, GertrudeW
And the friends parted.
The bailiff returned to Peakville, breathing
vengeance against the audacious amazon. lie
would have writ out against her. He would
have her arrested, he swore in his wrath. Some
what cooled and exhausted by his long walk back
however and upon cooler reflection, he decided
not TO take any further notice of the matter, feel
ing very doubtful of its final issue, and having
a shrewd suspicion that he would not figure to
much advantage in the business-added to which
was the knowledge that Brutus Lion was not a
man to be enraged with immunity, he contented
himself with the design of returning the next
day to the Lair with posse e0mdatuS, to take the
girl.
On the next day, as Gertrude was waiting on
her patient, the sound of many feet was heard in
the ball below, accompanied by the furious bark
ing and yelpng Of dogs, and rafting of blows.
alt is descent or rather an ascent Of the
Cloths and Vandals," exclaimed Gertrude, laugh.
ing; however, | am ready for themp and she
marched below The hall was half full of men,
The two dogs were kept at bay.
cha! ha hal ha! ha! Really, gentlemen,
there is strength in numbers ~ shouted Gertrude,
rs she bounced into the midst of the room. flung
her torrent of hair behind her, and let fly her
blazing eyes over the circle.
cha. ha! ha ha! ha! Try TO keep each
ether in heart do now for do not know what
should do with seven faintiDg men! Oh don't
be alarmed | won't tread on you am always
careful when walk among ants See, there are
seven Of you Seven men come TO take one little
girl out Of the arms Of one big girl Lord1a-
mercy dear me what heroism Seven OF you !!
You remind me of the Seven Champions Of Chris
tendon You're an honor to your native coun-
try! Seven Of you seven heroes Lord u
Brutus had been home, you'd have come seven
hundred Seven hundred heroes! What gal
LIANT armyw
/" Miss Lion ~ said the deputy-sberif, advanc-
ing from the group, ave have come to search the
house for a girl by the name Of Ioe-and, with
your leave, we wiz proceed"
"And pray, sir, who are you ?'
Her scornful eyes crawled over him from head
to foot
81 am the deputy sheriff Of - county,
ooh Mister Deputy Sheriff Of - county
am so proud to make your acquaintance Mist1
Deputy Sheriff of - county, am hero
worshipper; and have this morning for the first
time heard of your heroic exploits at The Crsgs!
How, with posse at your back, you courageously
made an onslaught upon three feeble women and
a weak old man-how manfully you terrified the
two women to death, and how valiantly you In sim
gle combat knocked the aged man down how you
bound and carried him off in triumph-in CON-
pany with his wife Ob-h nondeIfm Mister
Deputy Sheriff Of - county my poor house
is ,mmonaized by your visit The ground yoh
tread Is elasne ground !" detained Gertrude
waving her hand Electrically.
Every one laughed The brow Of the deputy
sheriff crimsoned.
"Miss Lion, your pride and scorn is not TO In
terrupt me in the discharge Of my duty pro