The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-17
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
From the Illustrated Family Friend.
THE PATRIOTS STRATAGEM;
OR, A SPIRITED SLEIGH RIDE.
By CHARLEY cLEwLIsE.


OR, SPIRITED SLEIGH RIDE.
By CHARLEY CLEwLINE.
Now do not claim that every particular in
cident in the story which am about to tell
you, dtd actually occur; nevertheless, they
might have done so under the circumstances,
and still have been less strange than q thou
sand ether events of the period and people of
which and Of whom am going to write.
The ltng rent up fires of Canadian discon-
tent had finally burst forth throughout the two
provinces, IN fame OF revolution, which
threatened, ere long, to crush the CALLING yoke
OF British rule from off the tax and tithe.bowed
necks OF ensiaved Canadians and had Papi-
neau possessed the energy, mckenzie the
honesty, or tive out OF every twenty of the pa
mot leaders the courage of DR.. Wolfred Nell
son-tnan whom no braver man or truer patri-
OF ever drew his sword in any cause-it is al
most certain that before six months of the
struggle, commenced in 1887, had gone by, the
iast red coated minion of England would have
Deen driven from the country, and the free flas
OF new Republic would have foated from
every nag staff and fortifcation from Quebec
to PenetengosheDe, in the place of the crimson
banner of ST. George.
ne gallant Nelson, with two hundred has
MY armed Habitans, had met, engaged and
defeated more than double that numher of
Britain's besr and bravest veterans. at 81. Den.
| mis- /; and had the patriots generally through.
out the Canadas follow ed the doctors exa,bnIe
and struck home for liberty, the rebelli,n of
st. Dennis would have been the first we'll.
fought battle in successful Canadian Reyo.
luton.
But all was apathy, indecision and treachers
Gus cowardice among those who had lighted
the flame, and very soon the victor of ST.
Dennis found himself hunted fugitive, fol.
lowed by human blood hounds, set on by
brute demagogues, clamorous for his blood.
Ou,lawed, driven from his home, price set
upon his head, wanderer in the very depths
of an inclement Canadian winter, and hunted
mig hit and day as he was by British myrmi-.
dons, it is not in the least strange that DR.. VOL
fred Nelson should have met with adventures,
some OF which, if we'll told, would amply repay
the reader for the time expended in their peru
sal. One of these l will tell in the briefest
possible manner, merely remarking again, as
preface, that if the incidents are not all true,
they might hare been.
For ten days and nights, almost without in
termission, The hue and cry had been kept up,
and the hunted patriot driven hither and thith-
er among the wild mountain passes, serried
crags and dark ravines between the Oioway
and st. Lawrence, assuming various DISCUSSES,
and subslsting as best he mig ht upon the hum
honest habitdns, among whom he was exien
sively acquainted end universally beloved |;
when one cold, clustering morning, as he was
traversing the highway leading towards the
river Maurice, he was overtaken by a young
Canadian who had served under him at ST.
Dennis, who came dashing along the road,
driving pair of spirited ponies tandem before
"pung" loaded with two tierces, one contain
ing brandy and the other good old ST. Croix,
h 11 IL H.,
| ticle, who owned store some fifteen leagues
| ahead.
Jump on, Doctor y shouted Antoine-siump
op quick, for twenty of the red hounds are on
your track not FIVE miles behind and in an
instant the ex-patriot chief was seated astrde
one of the casks as one sits on horseback,
while, bestr;ding the other in like manner,
Antoine piled bis whip until he had his ami
| mails going once more al the top of their speed,
when he again addressed his companion:
Doctor, shall carry you safe off from your
pursuers, and you must pay me well for it,
Certainly, Antoine; any price that you may
name. have not much money about me now,
but
'Peste, doctor! Who speaks of money p
Not Antoine Lafranier. No, doctor, you must
| do me great favor
Most certainly will. Antoine; but what is
| ii you wish?'
'I'Il tell you, doctor. You see. about two
leagues further on is the inn of Louis Lablanc,
who will marry his daughter the day after to.
| morrow, to the English trader at Boisblanc,
whom Ceceile hates, while she loves me very
much. And now, doctor, you must help me to
get Ceceile from her father
But how am TO do that, Antoine?'
'Ah! that is what l really don't know, doc-
tor; but get her we must, or l shall have no
heart to drive my ponies further on. You i'll
be taken, Ceceile will be married to man she
hates, and shall go home aud shoot myself
with two razor, or cut my throat several tunes
| with some small guns-what you shall call pis-
tols.'
L have it, Antoine!' exclaimed the doctor,
as an idea flashed suddenly upon his brain
while the young Canadian was speaking. 4
have thought OF plan that will serve our
purpose, SO drive ON TO the inn as fast as you
can.'
Forty minutes later the equipage of An
tome Lafranier drove into close shed in the
rear OF substantial inn, kept by Louis La
blanc, one of the wealihiesI habitans OF the dis
trict.
The doctor was we'll known TO the prOprie-
tor of the inn, who met him with welcome
at the door, and offered to conceal HIM as long
as he chose to remain under his roof. But Nell
son informed the host that he dared not tarry
with him. as he was closely pursued by par
~ of royal cavalry, who would soon arrive al
the mn, and concluded by begging OF Lablanc
| to furnish him with some dlsgu by which
he nigh, escape the Argus.eyed scrutiny Of
his enemies, if oyertaken by them on the road.
The landlord retired TO procure the disguise,
and in a moment the refugee was whispering to
| Ceceile, who entered the apartment as her Ia
tner left it, urging her instantly 10 join Antoine,
| who had remained in The shed.
Within ten minutes from the moment he en-
| tered the inn, the putro, chist EMERGED from
door next the shed, SO completely disguised IN
the grey eapote, long over hose. ius gloves
thut il is extremely doubtful il even his own
| wife. would have recognized him arrayed as he
was, as her polished. noble looking husband.
| Louis Labanc was very husy with some
guests just arrived from Boisbianc, who had
come to the wedding OF his daughter, when