Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-11-19

the more for your labor. But bring him up
here, Joe; my friend, Captain Tifin, would
like to look at him."
"Don't think | could do that ere thing,
Captain"
/ "Why notl What is to hinder you!'
'Nothing much-only that don't happen
to have him handy"
"Not have himl-but where did you leave
him,''
"Didn't leave him anywheres in particu-
lar
'sNst got him with you-didn't leave
him!" reiterated the completely confused
royalist. 'But how-surely you did not
/ find it necessary to take bis hter' -
'sThat's little sleeser said than done,,''
doggedly uttered Joe.
Then you will oblige me by explaining
the natter"
81 jess thought had"
"Now, by all the great gods on high
olympus, I'll stand this no longer! What
have you done with himr'
"Nothing."
'sBut you have seen himr'
Yes"
"And put your men upon hint"
"Yes"
"And-and-''
They were licked clean out-chawed up
like plug o. tobacco. Four deader than
herrings, but before be could get a chance
at the rest of US, james Brigade came down
the hill like whirlwind in a hail-storm-
SO We had to draw bee Iine.'"
"Killed four and kept the rest at bay un-
til succor chanced to befriend him! Tell
me, Tiffin, am ! awake, or is this but the
lubierOus workings of a late supper's dream!
Killed four, and frightened eight out of
their wits! How brave! how nobly you
have fulfilled your mission! How"
"Now see here, Captain, just hold up a
bit! This kind o. nonsense talk aint gcing
10 help matters bit. We tried our best to
nab the nab the boy, but it want no go-he
turned out To be too many for US, and when
chap does his best, there aint no sense in
making game o. the thing! There, them's
my sentiments, and | don't think as how
they are much out Of the way!"
Having delivered this short, but, never
theless, sensible specimen of oratory, Joe
leaned back in his chair, and with degree
of condescending dignity, awaited its result.
"Well, Joe, will agree with you that it
| is useless to speak of the matter now; but
then think that twelve strong, hardy
wuodsmen would be sufficient to master
one."
| "And so they would, in a nat'ral way,
but then, ye see, he had every bit O. the
vantage. In the first place he got wind o.
what was up, and killed the feller we sent
ahead to meet him, and afore we got around,
lie had slowed himself snugly between a
couple of rocks, and he had the fun all to
himself!''
"But couldn't you shoot him!'
"P'raps we might if we'd only happened
10 have something to shoot with"
You should have had pistols with you."
| "And so we should if we'd thought how
things was going to turn out"
| Belksford arose from his seat and paced
the floor with slow and measured strides
at times pausing to gaze vacantly from his
window into the street, as though he would
seek from thence some aid in solving the
| problem which was wandering dimiy through
his brain. None appeared, and as each at
tempt at conclusion drove him farther
! from the point, he paused, and gave the
matter up in despair.
| Tell me, Joe, how is he to be taken!"
at length exclaimed the Captain, after he
had resumed his seat again.
/ much If fn
] Joe as it had been to his keen-eyed superior,
for having been used to receive commands,
and acting in accordance, this new vocation
plotting instead of working, was one step
above his sphere. That it would be no
child's play to entrap the young patriot, .ex-
perence had conclusivey proved, and Sc,
as he could think OF nothing to say in the
matter, be said nothing.
Again Berksiord arose and paced the
room. A new thought had evidently pre-
sented itself to his mind-a new idea was
glimmering family through the confused fan
cies of his Imagination. At length he paus-
ed and stared vacsntly toward the drapery
he was in front of Joe, leaning eagerly for
ward upon the stand:
"Joe, I've caught it!'
"What the young rebel!"
"No, no-the plan. I've caught the idea
| have been studying upon SO long"
"What is it!"
"First promise me your add
"In course | will"
"Even to the jaws of death!"
"Why-yes-that is to say if there's a
rea enable chance O. keeping out of her
grinders.
"Ofcou there isl merely used the
figure to show you the undertaking was very
dangerous-still not more So than we are
incurri z every day of our lives"
"Well spit it out reckon I'm enough
for it!''
: alt is this, you have heard o. James
Brigade'-every one has heard Of it-he is
. with them. They must be ferreted out
their stronghold examined, and a detsch-
ment of the Kings troops conducted into
their camp. This must be conducted with
o the utmost caution the task is yours, and
also two-hundred pounds if you succeed!'
.But how--how is il to be done!"
you must join them"
"What! Go right among 'em"
"Yes. Count their force-and examine
every pass and defile that leads to their en-
campment-mark at what times portions
of them are absent, and while you are doing
this, men shall be secreted near by to march
e at your call. Do nothing rashly, and re.
n member-two hundred pounds, and perhaps
S Lieutenant's commission"
"By Christopher! I'll give it ,ry"
u "Wel, you had better 60 nov, and be
making your arrangements, for leave. the
II matter entirely to you. But mind, you take
Z this young Raymond if possible If not
shoot him, for he must not be allowed o.es
II cape!"
g The Captain gently touched the bell-cort
do