Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-26
VOL. XVIII.
TERRY & SHIELDS ]

suddenly he was precipltated Backward
He had been leaning against the door,
which being opened, he fell across the
Threshold, and was drawn into the house.
The door was closed Immediately and
bolted. the soldiers remaining without
Charles arose to his feet. An old man and
girl OF seventeen stood before him reveal
ed in the light of candle burning on the
table; and the old man, though feeble,
looked brave and noble, and the g,rl was
beautiful to behold.
1t was no time for ceremonies. Charles
asked abruptly if they could save him.
1t shall be done if possible, replied the
old man, for l take you to be brave heart
and an American
At that moment there was summons
from without to open the door Charles had
entered, at the entrance on the opposite
side of the house, there was sound OF
muskets beating the lock.
at is uselessr' cried Corson in despair.
The British are here in some numbers
for you to attempt to save me would be to
endanger yourselves.
He cast glance at the young g1ri, who
seemed to be terrified more on his account
than on her own, and without rejecting
further, having no hopes that she could
hide him he with his own hands undid the
bolts, and stood proudly up before the as
tonished red coats.
81 surrender, said he boldly. Il am a,
your mercy"
Half an hour after Charles Corson was
confined in small room in the garret OF
the house into which chance had thrown
him. He was not bound, bat guards were
placed outside the only door that gave e.
gress from the chamber, and he felt that
there was not the most distant hope Of es-
Gaping.
In another part of the house the remain
der of the soldiery were drinking and ca
rousing. they having found liquor In the
old mans cellar. They did not i'll treat
the inmates of the house, considering it
through their friendly influence that Cor
son had been taken so easily; but having
their prisoner and wounded companions
with them, they did not hesitate to intrude
upon the old mans hospitality for the
night.
Let us return to the captured spy. He
was alone in small apartment without a
light to dispel the darkness and gloom
There was window in the room, but lit
tie light entered thereby, and it was so far
above the ground, that to attempt escap-
ing from it would have been an act ofmad-
dess.
1t was getting late and Corson, with the
window raised was gazing out upon the
black sky. We need not attempt a dcs-
cripton Of his reflection in that dark hour
of trial, it being sufficient to state that he
felt resignedto his destiny, and felt himself
amply recompensed for all his griefs by
the conviction that his life was spent it bat
Ting for the right.
He withdrew fromihe window, having
closed itand lay down upon the floor in
the middle Of his dark apartment, endeav
oring to compose bis mind to sleep.
Suddenly he was startled by strange
sound. A pane Of glass had been shatter-
cd, as ifhy a stone thrown in from with
out. and the fragments ratified upon the
floor A heavy solid substance, too, struck
into the middle of the room, nearthe spot
where the prisoner lay.
Corson bounded to his feet, and ran to
the window to look out. Allwas impene-
,rabIe darkness. No living thing was WIS.,
ible.
"What can this meanl" thought Charles,
pressing his hand to his brow. First let
me find out what has been thrown into the
room"
He crept upon the floor. and grouping
about in the darkness, soontouched cold,
hard substance which he knew at once to
be stone. 1t was about the size Of an
egg, although it was nearly square, and
jagged. He lifted it up. There was
something attached to it. 1t was a small
cord!
A thrill of joy ran through the prison
er's frame, and ray of hope flashed up
on his despairins soul. He advanced his
hand along the cord, and ascertained that
it was attached to some object without
He raised the window, and drew steadily
upon the cord until six or seven yards
were coiled up at his feet in the room.
During all this time the cord had kept
gradually growing heavier and heavier
or rather, the substance to which it was
attached, seemed by degrees to increase in
weight. This Circumstance was explain
ed to the great joy of Charles Corson,
which he found that at the extremity of
the cord, was tied strong, substantial
rope.
THANK God!" exclaimed the prisoner,
"for sending some good angel to assist me
to escaped Yet l must be cautious else |
may disturb the sound sleep of my guar
dian, which | would mt do for the whole
world!
A long rope was soon drawn into the
room, and Corson began to look for some
object to which he could attach one end
oft, but i, was dark, and he could not find
nothing TO which he could tie the cord but
the door-latch, which was made of wood,
and was not strong enough to bear his
weight, and the window-frame was liable
to the same objection. At last he remem-
bered that when taken into the room, he
observed that the rafters overhead were
bare and very low. He climbed upon
chair, and having reached a rudely con-
structed rafter to which he could attach
the rope. This done he dropped the coil
out Of the window He was about 10
slide down the rope to the ground. when
a voice below soft, scarcely audible, ar
rested him.
"Wait moment"
Accordingly, Corson remained in the
room. He soon perceived that some per-
son below was carrying the other oxsrr.ni-
,y of the rope ar distance from the house
and fastening it, probably to render his
decent less difficult.