The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-11-06
CAPTURE OF A RENEGADE.

expected knock was watched for in
vain. Rain set in, and grew heavier
and heavier. Her two servants went to
rest. and left her alone in the little par
Tor. The candle burnt far down; the
silence became the silence of midnight:
still no signal. At length the first
cock crew. Then the thought, the hope
struck her that she might have hern
made merely the plaything of an i'm.
poster. and that the wild tale had only
been feigned to cXtort a boon. Full Of
this hope, thankful, and relieved of half
her anguish; the maiden retired to her
couch.
That morning, when Rachael sent the
miserable renegade back into the bush,
he sauntered leisureIy along, and when
he had satisfied his hunger, sat down to
smoke his pipe. He was three miles
down the road rom the township, quite
secure at that early hour from the OBJ
servat'on OF any one likely to question
and modest him. He had no suspicion
that the gang would pursue him; he
supposed they would not discover his
absence til! morning, and then not sur
mise why or WHITTIER he had withdrawn
But the day would be a longish one, and
he must sleep away as much oft as he
could l.: he would have smoke, and he
should need a drink after his pipe; so he
would just have his smoke by the river
side, and then 60 over the range into
the first hollow beyond, and find nice
shady tree, and get the day over in the
best way he could.
The road along the river side was a
sandy one; point Of the range ran close
down to the brink of the channel Just
ahead OF where he sat, obstructing the
view almost Immediately. His schemes
perfected IN success, his pipe allght, his
hat of, leaning on his elbow, pitching
stones into the pool below, he felt that
at last 1t would do; little nob-worl;
wasn't such a bad help, after ALL.
Hark "a quick, indistinct, grinding
tramp OF many feet in the sand Near
er-plmner! Sight as well as sound
HE back in front, on his strong bony
horse, and his gIarng eye making him
ITS focus in al instant; his four mates ri
ing double behind ! IN inStant's check
OF the horse, fierce dash in ofthe spurs,
and that stern ebon face was right over
him.
son, he's done it, said the black,
turning to the rest of the party, without
drignIng even TO look into his face.
"llere's a handkerchief full of grub; a
white handkerchief; regular lady'S
handkerchief; and see look in your hat
there, Rooney: he's GOT it half full of to-
| baccO -
They didn't talk much: they asked
him NO questions, and they uttered no
lmPrecations: they spoke in an ordlna-
ry tone, but rather a reserved way,
among Themselves; it was chiefly about
the horses being "rather blown" with
the double load and the sand, and the
speed, and the heat. But IN minute
Or so, Morgan Brown got down and
took the tether rope (there was but the
one broughD of his horses neck, and
laid his hand on the head of Marcus, and
SAID, Come, get up on Martins horse"
1t was said almost coaXinglv; but there
was a dreadful signifcancy about it.
In vain the captured traitor protested,
pleaded, struggled, lied, offered to tell
the truth-to tell ALL
TELL what, man z" cried the black.
''Who's asking you to tell anything
Pm no scholar, but | can make out that
k. M. that's marked in the corner of
that handkerchief; know thel e's none
OF that sort OF tobacco within five miles
of here but what's in the jews store.
Jump up, and don't make fool of
YOURSELF"
They dashed his feet together be-
meath the horses belly, and wound the
tether-rope over and over his thighs and
round his waist, and round by the
horses withers ahd back, and round and
over and over again; they lit piece of
rag from his pipe to light Their own, and
Beck gave him the snow-whte haudker-
chief with his GRUB" in to carry in one
hand, and the bride in the other; and
had drink apiece. Then Beck flung
the handful of tobacco far away into the
water hole, and the two stockmen and
their mates pushed off back down the
road. Beck's horse followed of its own
accord, and Beck followed it-folowcd
mile after mile on foot, at equal speed
with the horses.
On-on-on, under the burning
cloudless sky, at full trot; then up over
the ranges, for short cut and untrav-
ersed track but more slowly. Noon ::
and rest by water-hoIe at the base
of huge and forlorn hill lone of the
portals of mighty ravines, full of trees
and shadows, and cold air; sending forth
from deepest silence odd musical,
mournful notes Of birds. and not sound
besides. And they leave him to rest,