Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-04-02
CHAPTER Y.

of Mary, whom we left bound to the sap
ling, with the penknife given him by the
peddler, secured in his mouth. ..s
After the departure of Langsford the
three men who had been left to guard him
took their stations not many feet from him,
and for few moments attentively watch
ed every movement he made. But the
troopers had ridden hard and far that day
and it was soon proposed that two of the
party lay down and rest, while the. third
kept watch for an hour, when he should
rouse one of the sleepers to take his place.
Lots We're drawn; the first guard fell upon
one of the three, called Lazy John,
from a well known propensity he had of
going 10 sleep without being aware of so
doing. Haa''E
'.Take care, John or you will be asleep
before we are" said one of the men, as he
stretched himself upon the ground at full
length. mis-
"Keep your eyes wide open, John, cried
the other as he followed his companions
example.
"Can't see the use of watching man
who's tied fast to a tree at any rate" NUT
tered John as he sank upon log near the
fire.
Twenty minutes went by, and the men,
who had stretched themselves upon the
earth, gave undoubted signs of being asleep.
John however still remained seated upon
the log with his head mid, mid, nod, nod,
and his body occasionally lurching to and
fro, in state of ofdrowsiness which was next
thing to asleep, but which a slight noise
would have thrown off, and awakened
fully.
L was in this state of affairs that Harry
Bodman, the prisoner, began his prepara-
tions to escape. The knife was taken
from bis mouth, and the keen blade soon
severed the cord which fastened him to the
tree. He then stopped down, and draw
ing off his boots, took one in each hand
and noiselessly made his way to the door
of the house-it was partly ajar, entering
it he quickly ascended the stairs, where he
paused and drew on his boots, then advanc-
ed to the entrance of Mary's apartment and
knocked upon the door.
'Who's there?" demanded the we'll known
voice of Steel.
"Harry let me in," he answered.
The key turned instantly in the lock, the
door opened, and he glided into the room
"How did you escapeH p murmured Mary.
as he fastened to her side. -. 4. -
"You saw the peddler!'
"Gen. Marion-he was in this room,
she answered. s-
ale furnished me with knife to cut
The cords that bound me, and as all the
men left to watch me slept, took adyan-
tage of the opportunity to come into the
house. But bark " a-s.e
They listened in breathless silence, anC
could plainly hear the sound of heavy fir
ing on the Santee, which told the foemar
were engaged.
'.May God defend the right" fervently
CALCULATED Mary 3sa
"Amenl" responded a deep voice outside
the window, and three distinct raps wer'
heared upon the pane.
"Who's there !' demanded Harry Bodmal
as he strobe to the spot.
"Brady," replied the same Voice "hoist
the window Bodman, you lave no time tC
lose" ...... ~.
Harry threw up the sash, and the r,ar
outside sprang into the apartment. HI
was full six feet high, dressed in a hunting
shirt of deep blue, and carried a long rifle
in his hand For an instant he gazet
around him and then exclaimed:
''You must all leave the house at once.
"Has Marion been defeated then 2 askec
Mary in breathless alarm.
"No, Miss, but portion of the floggec
British will make this house place OF de
fence, and in case of that kind you weri
better out of it."
"But we can fasten them out, said SteeI
resolutev.
"Nav, better let them trap themselves il
it.n replied Brady calmly. ''There is a lad
der nj the window, which You can all GO
down. and my opinion the sooner the bet
. TOR | hear the British coming already =
As he finished speaking, the distant
trend of horses feet were heard gallopina
down the road towards the house.
ABE it so," replied Steel, passing through
\ the window to the ladder. "Let Mar,
come next"
The maiden followed her father, and the
two reached the ground.
"Stand close to the house in the darl
shade there" said Brady, speaking to thos,
below and as they obeyed him, the Sound