The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-04-17
NEW SERIES ---TOL. O. NO. 81

that'r you, my old chap, suppose-he serves
as pretty a mistress as there is in the thir-
teen colonies, and boasts shin bone that
curves like, Keeping hook. Jacob Snow,
standing, egadP pa. ss,a, ,.a5 @,
sEdr, Massa Macdonald, Pm deeply Obli-
gated for dis honor said the old butler, for
it was indeed he. I'm discumfounded for
words to distress my feelings here he laid
his hand on his heart. T.. lg
That's it-blaze away, old fellow said
the sergeant, slapping him on the back, 4
knew you could talk as glib as parson.-
So you were at Mrs. Blakeley's when we,
were before that place. were you! You re.
member my sending in for my baggageP
'Gor Almighty, yes!' said old Jacob, full
Of reverential admiration. 'And you'se de
gemmcn, too, dat shot Lieut. Torriano at
three hundred yards. Yaw! yaw! yaw!
dat made 'em furious. Major Lindsay say
you were an 1njun, and no better than u
cannon ball-he, yawr
'Ha!ha cannibal, ] suppose you mean,
my old brave. But that hitting of the Lieu
tenant was trife to the way served Ma
jor Gainey. Wasn't it, boys!' ss
'Ay. was it, echoed half dozen voices.
Tell it to him--tell it, :sE-s
Shall II said the sergeant, addressing
Jacob with something of drunken gravity;
for the whole party had ,by this time, done
ample justice to their fagons.
'Well then, you must know my jolly old
biade--but fill your cap again, and drink
perdition to the Englishmcn--that party Of
us had brueh down by Georgetown, not q
long time ago, with some British regulars
who were killing beeves at White Bridge
We soon whipped the red coats, and ther
chased them towards the town But theil
friends there, hearing the firing, came swarm.
ing out lire bees, and so we went at it AGAR
hip and thigh, as the good book says, and
for some time it was the toss Of sixpence
which should wln. We fought a pretty
smart Bit that day; but at last the red coat:
gave ground again. had noticed among
them an officer whom / took to be Msju
Gainey, fellow that had the impudence !C
boast Ne wou'd carry Marion prisoner or
his sudde into Georgetown; and so sin
gled him out, resolving to try his pluck, ant
comb him down spell. But no sooner dix
he see me coming down on Black Bess thar
he clapped spurs to his horse--snd a cursec
good one it was--and made straight for The
town, like an old woman when she sees
mad dog. Down the road we went, clat
teriDg and laundering; but devil bit for
long While could gain on him. nigh
have cht down half dozen big fellows as
dashed past. but | had made up my mind t.
have nothing but the leader. Old Blacl
Bess did wonders thst day! The trees ant
fences flew past as if running race. tn,
Majors blooded horse went as never saw
beast 60 before, but I was close behind, ant
beginning to gain on him. We were now
almost to the entrance Of Georgeto&n.--
Still held on, whooping to old Bess like ,
mad devil, as I was. Just as we reached
Richmond fence, Tapped the quarter of th'
Majors horse, and with lunge ran my bay
onet into his back. The NJ jor had turne'
around, half frightened to death, lifting u
his hands beseechingly; and / thought haG
him sure, till the cursed buyohet came off
and left me only the gun. / was mad e
nough at having lost him, yet could no
help laughing as saw him GO down thu
streets of Georgetown, the bayonet stil
sticking into him, like skewer into trus
sed fowl. hauled up, and came. off safe
and that's the last we've heard Of Majcl
GaiGey.' #,
With narratives like these the night pas
sed; the old butler listened with open moutl
and ears. At length towards midnight tn,
tread of horse's feet was heard and direct
Iy clear commanding voice was beard Gu II
ing Macdonald by name. '3 rag
.The captain, by the Lord' exclaimed the
sergeant jumping up as if struck by an cleo
tric shock. 'Here he is at last alive an
sound which I began to fear for-huzza!-
But stop. Now Jacob Snow, Esq, delive
your mission. Stand up like man, as !, dc
and don't sway about like pine tree in
hurricane. Captain, this gentleman has
message for you from Miss Mawbray. bu
he's too drunk to know it,
!, At these words our hero, who was re
garding the group with a look of silent re
buke, turned suddenly on the old butler
4 who was If the truth must be told, the onl
sober one Of the party. A fash of joy j
Iup Captain Preston's face as he extende
his hand for the supposed letter. Taco
had no missive of that character TO delive
; bu: had come wholly on his own responsi
i bility, and hesitated what to soy. Will
the two parties were thus regarding eac
: other we will explain the incident whic
had brought them unexpectedly together.
Il Captain Preston, had found great dificul
! ty in regaining the camp. in consequence
of Major Lindsay having left word Of tn
. place where he sought refuge, with some to
{ ries in the neighborhood. These men AMI
! ious 70 secure so redoubtablea leader, ha
. imme diately stationed patroles at sll the y
! sual outlets Of the swamp, and thus twic
4 had our hero haau dy;van hack ;nto ita RI