Squatter sovereign., 1855-03-13

i
they should become aware that their once
happy home was past being saved. AT
/ ter their work was finished, the incendia-
ries mounted their horses and guided them
northward, and ere long the last one of the
cavalcade was hidden from view by the
dense forest.
We left Ralph Milton and his party
moving rapidly in the direction to which
the tory gang had been seen to go. Not
word or sound passed the lips of the lit
tie band of wings, and their horses needed
no extra urging, foi they seemed hardly to
touch the gxz3&, and slzimmed over the
smooth sur 2, at a seed which testified
their knowledge OF the fact thar everything
depended upon their own strong limbs.
''Should you think we were coming near
them? questioned our hero of the honest
countryman, who was riding by his side.
at would be hard saying" returned the
other. ''If they had any suspicion of be-
ing followed, they have probable travelled
at pretty good speed; if not they cannot
be far from lis"
''List!" spoke the young leader in a low
deep voice; "Heard you not the distant
tramp of horsemen9"
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silent for some time; when the low rum
bling sound of horses hoofs reached the
ears of the listening patriot band.
"It's themr' exclaimed Milton in a low
hurried tone. ssLet each man secrete HIM
self; it willnot do to meet them upon equal
grounds with the disparity of our number
we must let them pass by, and then
overpower them by meansof a surprise du-
ring their nights camp"
At length the party of horsemen came
up to where the detachment of Americans
had been few minutes before. 1t was
evident that they either did not fear, or
considered themselves entirely free from
any pursuing; for they immediately selec-
ted a good convenient spotand commenced
making preparations::for encamping through
the night.
81 say Dave, what in the duce do you
intend to do with the old gentleman and
the two petticoats we toolks" exclaimed one
Of the party to their leader, after the camp
fire had been lighted, and the whole group
had gathered around.
81 can attend to my own affairs without
any of your assistance" retorted the other
in an angry tone But he had hardly fin
ished his not very courteous reply, when
the group were startled by vivid sheet
"a blue fame appearing from every side,
which was instantly followed by the report
of score ofwell aimed rifles.
'Hurra for the Continental Congress-
Give them fitsr' burst from dozen brave
hearts, and before the bewildered Tories
could recover from the first shock of the at
tack, they found themselves roughly ham
died by determined body of men, which,
the death dealing rifles had rendered near
ly their equals in number.
But such contest could not last long,
for it was almost an impossibility for the
attacked party, taken as they were entirely
off their guard, to make anything like
successful stand against the furious charge
of their asailants, and soon more than half
of their numbers were fleeing through the
forest, seeking protection of the over-hang-
ing boughs' of the trees.
But the tory leader had seen and re-
cognized Ralph Milton and knowing
him to be his successful rival, determined
to have sweet revenge for the fancied In
suit upon his honor, and with his weapon
raised high above his head, he made pass
for the others heart. But he had recl-
oned without his host, for he. had not his
adversary many moments, ere the young
patriot leaders steel was buried to the
hilt in his already disgraced heart.
The contest was now decided; for the
few tories who had until now remained to
assist their leader seeing him fall, quickly
followed the example of their fellows and
soon put safe distance between them and
their victorious enemies. The attack en-
ding thus favorably to the victors, search
was commenced for the Tory Captains
prisoners. 1t did not take long to find
them, and ere long Ralph Milton, Mr..
and Mrs. Leland and their daughter, fol-
lowed by the uninjured party of Ameri-
cans, were moving away from the scene OF
the recent conflict; leaving the remnant of
the defeated band to come back and care
for their friends.
Clara Leland was sitting by window
IN her fathers house, new one having
been erected upon nearly the same site of
one before, when the door opened, and
young man dressed in the costume of an
American officer, entered. He advanced
rather tirnidiy towards her, and seating
himself by her side, and taking her hand
within his, said:
Dear Clara, now that the war has en-
ded. when shall the happy day be that Is
to unite uss''
The maiden blushed deeply, but her
answer was not sufficiently distinct to reach
our ears-suffice it to say, though, that
within few months from the. time the
above conversation occurred. there were
quite number of guests assembled at the
house of Mr.. Leland, and Clara Leland
was welded 20 the man of her choice
"a Every body should possess an UNI
brella, and home. The former to keep
him from the rain, and the latter out Of
Printing Offices. as
f6e Pb;ia dsinn;a ,S,..- -sn,,o,,nces