Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-22
From the Literary Companion.
John Putnam, the Spy.

tiy into village oil halt dozen rude dwellings
in the northern part of New York, and halling
the decrepld looking nn-keepcr, cried out. sim.
uaneously with many barbarc oaths, " Helloa,
old wine bibber has, thou noted any lying and
sneaking pedler at thy door to-day2'
BY my spurs!' prompousy added Captain
Dick, the elder of the two, we have ridden
these last thirty miles 10 vain, it the scoundrel
be not caught lurking in this hamlet. Hast seen
him, Boniface Speak, man, we be in haste
bid thee answer, by the kings command
! The 'hesitating landlord held on to The horse
post, and replied, Sirs, he half deaf, yet me
thinks guess your meaning. BE yc gallant
troopers Of his majesty after a stray pader, eh !?
What would ye with him?'
Sheath! tie rascally grey beard HqSess.o1eth
us!' interrupted the younger of the horsenen,
a bragsdocial private, e,--and wheeling his stead
around he touched the tavern keeper rather
roughly with the gloved hand and continued
We desire no questioning, old dotard Has
thou seen the pedlar? We would know this,
and righi quickly too
oh be not rough, pr'thee. pedlar, snyest
thou? Had he pack!
Pack or no pack, hast thou seen him ,
ferccly cried Dick.
'Pa,ienf, masters: but my memory is treach
erous, and | must reflect. A pedlr! With
a staff, did ye say?'
'l'll break your skull with staff, i thou be-
fool u.s. said the bully, striking at the old man,
who rather ninb!y for his looks, leaped out Of
the troopers reach.
The captain then seriously threate1 violence,
and s!ernly demanded reply. Asif frightened
into submission, he then hesitaliugy said, &C.
yea-yea-now bethink myself. | did observe
a sneaking pedar' pass here this morning ont
foot, aud in extreme hasle.'
Which way (which road took e?' cx-
claimed both the others.
That deliberately answered the man, point
ing to travelled lane that led from the one in
which they stood.
Art sure? If thou lie to us, by St. George,
thou shalt be hung at thine own door like a
sign
'Ay, an that be not the road, thou mayest
hang me- observed Boniiace.
TO horse them he is six hours in advance !;
to horse, and brevet to the one of us that
catches the first. sight Of the Spy = shouted
Captain Dick, and rapidly they dashed away,
leaving clouds OF dust behind them. Bat ere
hey had gone twenty yards, the inn keeper
shook his fra ne like strong man, and mutlered
GAY, when they catch me they may haig me-
He then glanced cautiously 'srcand, sn@qalckly
entered the house.
Meanwhile, Capt. Dick and his companion
spurred their beasts to a race that would have
injured animals unused to their hardy life
Mile after mile was left behind, until in three
hours they had covered every step that man
could have walked in whole day. Then, un-
successfully, they thought of returning.
The internal rebel hath euded us. We
calculated that he would hasten to the camp Of
Washington We are mised, or have passed
him secreted in the forest
Perhaps that inn-keeper deceived US. Me-
thought he was not so imbecie as be pretended.
'By my souls salvation? thou hast hit it!
Dots-asses that we are! Did'st not note the
ninbleness of his leap when thy hand was lifted
against him? Judas how will! this villain tri-
umph! Ride back for thy life, ride like hight
ming
Nay, not back 1T he be a spy, he hath
taken the other road, and sent us FOOLS errand
on this. A league hence we passed by path
tina, doubtless intersects the highways, some
distance to the west, along the river
We'll, that be our direction. Ecod how
we have ded; nor would have credited the
clown with such wit
'Ay, an now that sufpect him, | recolect
; the qu,e,ude of the village. The place was
solitary. Nor even proffared the man ttste Of
his wine'
: Ugh didst moi see his keen eye?'
, True like the spy's own, black as jet twas
he himself, curse him. But surely our beasts
need batting, after so long ride, and i faith |
feel ike tasting of my flask
Mind it not now; wait--we must capture
that fellow, an we starve ourselves and stall our
stecds. On. on, five hundred pounds and my
brevet. Thine be-
The gold for me, Captain
And the brevel,-done. This ride shall
cost The pedlar DEAR
Here we go! Huzza Tally ho! Five
hundred pounds!
Silence, Wolf; once upon his scent we mu t
surprise the fugitive =
'Ay, quiet will be, but five hundred pounds
love. It's enough to reward the taking of two
0 spies Up, my gallient nag, he continued
shaping his horses neck, "thou shalt be sta
bled fortnight. if thou doest Thy duty
However, the path was much longer thar
d they imagined. Darkness came on, and long
h before nightfall they were compelled to res
? themselves and their beasts, at log house tina
|. opporlunely lay in their way. After couple
of hours they pursued their object, and at lengt
i, emerged on the high road, upon which, as they
Q conjectured, the fugitive was a league in ad
>. vance of them, fastening towards tho American
i. rendezvous.
Is John Putnam, who had so easily duped hi
m pursuers, al the deserted hotel before mentioned
deserted because of late foray and msrderou
attack upon ii by the British, was indeed hnI
i ryng along the turnpike, with pack upon hi
+ shoulders and staff in his hand Under th
IN lining of his cloths were sccreted description
I'd Of the English forces lying in the vicinity whic
IN il was necessary to place in General Washing