Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-16
"Here we go. Huzza! Tally Ho F!
Five hundred pounds :" -

cay, quiet will be, but the five hun
dred pounds. Jove! IT'S enough to re
ward the taking of two spies. Up, my
gallant nag" he continued, slapping th,
horses neck, ''thou shalt be stabbed ;
fortnight, if thou dost thy duty"
However, the path was much Longer
than they imagined. Darkness came on
and long after nightfall they were com
PEELED to rest themselves and their beasts
in log house and baer that opportunely
lay in their way. After couple of hours
they pursued their object, and at length
emerged on the high road, upon which,
| as they conjectured, the fugitive was q
league in advance Of them, Fastening
to the American rendezvous.
John Putnam, who so easily deluded
his pursuers at the deserted hotel-de-
serted because of late foray and mur-
derous attack upon it by the British
was indeed hurrying along the turnpike,
with pack upon his shoulders and a
staff in his hand. Under the lining of
his clothes were secreted descriptions OF
the English forces living in the vicinity.
which it was necessary to place in Gen.
Washington's possession, before he could
make any decisive movement. Putnam s
mission had thus far been successful, and
upon his safe return rcposed the success
of his commander. Therefore knowing
himselfpursued, he had already assumed
and dotted several disguises in the course
of hundred miles travel, and at length,
in his original costume, hailed with ioy
the familiar spots that indicated his ap-
proach to the American outposts.
Thank heaven !" he exclaimed, ssthat
these weary limbs are near home: but
thrice the distance would I walk, and.
aye, even let myself be hanged to the
door of an inn, to further ashington's 8
glory, and save the lives of my country
men. God, he cried, looking upward,
Thou who wishes this struggle for lib
erty, smile on our last effort! Save thy
true believers !"
''But the sun will be up anon; l must
quicken my gait: already those troopers
must have discovered my deceit, and are
following me. Fearful is the apprehen-
sion; but never finch, Jack Putnam, this
stick shall not let thee die without an
effort ~
"Ah! did | hear football! Hist ,
Nay, 1t was the tiutter of some bird, or
the dawn awaking of some beast. Stay.
and | am captured or killed, who will.
oh the torture my wife and child :,
But, | have it General Washington
promised to act fathers part towards
my children, if shall fail doing nv duty.
It's all right-it's all right, old fellow
halloa !! this is Hickory Hill, and I'm not
far off the lines. Now, feet of mine,
walk ~
In this soliloquising manner he NUT
tered, until suddenly the Gathering horse
feet became too distinct to escape his
notice.
Thunder can they be so close +? And
yet I cannot hide in the brushwood.
Washington must have these papers by
twelve o'clock this day: / haven't time to
hide. But hang me if | do hide, like a
cowardly redcoat. I'm no coward, though
a dozen Hessians be on my trail, like
bloodhounds. I'll 60 on, and if nv tongue
save me not, by the mighty Hercules this
club shall ~
So he continued his journey, and came
IN view of the beautiful Hudson, that in
this instance was dotted by the white
canvas of several fishermen, but these
hoated on their way unnoticed by him.
who strained every nerve, short of run
ming, to gain the Continental head-ouar-
terS. But nearer and closer came the
horsemen, and he could recognize their
grutt voices in boisterouS converse. Put |
nam turned curve in the road, and ran
up the hill side surrounded by huge trees
and massive rocks. Everything COM
blned to render the spot romantic. While |
this emlnence, and, for the hun |
dredth time, boldly resolving not to Sc
crete himself, he heard, with an emotion
of excitement, the dragons within fifty
yards of him. Both shouted with ioy.
"Ha! thou cursed rebel We have
thee at last" cried the ruffian Wolf.
" Halloa, there-stop, or by George,
we'll maxi mince meat of thee; helloa-a.'
"ln the Kings name, halt" COM
manded Captain Dick, or rather Captain
Richard Moles, a man superior, in some
to his companion.
''Shall l be deaf, stupid or Dmch2" que
ried the pedlar to himself Open defiance
is last resource" :" But he quickly de-
cided, as Wolf cried out, "Halt, thou
base, low, peddling coward, or I'll crop
thine ears with my sabre" Nerving bis
arm, he suddenly stopped, and turned to
meet them.
The same, by the God !" exclaimed
Dick, on observing the pedlar's brave
face.
Huzza! five hundred pounds; down
on thy marrow bones and beg for thy
life"
"What want ye with me?" demanded
the American.
Want Ask our Colonel-ask the
gibbet on to-morrow's dawn. Want g.
why, down spy, on thy knee, and sur
render"
THAT | will not :" shouted the other,
with sudden energy that startled both
the soldiers. Flinging off his burden, by
quick motion he caught up his club,
and, with the first blow shivered to pieces
the sword uplifted by the captain to ar
rest him.
"Thy steel, Wolf, he has broken mine.
Traitor by Heaven, thou shalt die ~
Nay, nay, it taketh two to make a
bargain" coolly said Putnam ; and while
the captain was grasping his pistols. an
,tbor bJor,- c,o,,, A. c+oT J,raan,uol 49,.