Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-10-29
CHAPTER V.
THE ESCAPE.

CHAPTER V.
THE ESCAPE.
We must now return to the rebel lover
of Mary, whom we left bound to the sap
ling, with the penknife given him by the
pedler secured in his mouth.
After the departure of Langsford, the
three men who had been left to guard him
took their stations not Rany feet from him,
and for few moments attentively watched
every movement he made But the troop
ers 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
were drawn, and the first guard fell upon
one of the three called Lazy John, from a
well known propensity he had of going to
sleep without being aware of so doing.
Take care, John, or you will be asleep
before We are,' said one of the men as he
stretched himself at full length upon the
ground.
Keep your eyes wide open, John, cried
the other, as he followed his companions
example.
Don't see the use of watching man
who's tied fast to tree, at any rate, NUT
tered John, as he sank upon log near the
fire.
Twenty minutes went by, and the two
men who had stretched themselves upon
the ground gave undoubted signs of being
fast asleep. John, however, still remained
seated upon the log, with his head mid,
mid, noddin',' and his body occasionally
lurching to and fro, in state of drowsi-
ness which was the next thing to sleep, but
which slight noise would have thrown off
and awakened him fully
1t was at this state of affairs that Harry
Bodman, the prisoner, began his prepara-
tions to escape The knife was taken from
his mouth, and the keen blade soon severed
the cords which fastened him to the tree.
He then stopped down, and drawing off his
boots, taking one in each hand, and noise
lessly made his way to the door of the
house. 1t was partly ajar, and on entering
he quickly ascended the stairs, where he
paused and drew on his boots, then advanc-
ed to the entrance of Mary apartment and
knocked upon the door.
who's there demanded the well known
voice of Steel
Walter, let me in he answered.
The key turned instantly in the lock, the
door opened, and he glided into the room.
How did you escape? murmured Mary,
as he hasted to her side.
you saw the pedler!'
General Marion-he was in this room,
she answered. t.
He furnished me with a knife to cut
the cords that bound me, and while all the
men left to watch me slept, | took advan-
tage of the opportunity to come into the
house But bark
They listened in breathless silence, and
could plainly hear the sound of heavy firing
up the Santee, which told the foemen were
engaged,
May God defend the right y fervently
calculated Mary.
'Amenp responded deep voice outside
the window, and three distinct taps were
heard upon the pane.
Who's there" demanded Harry Bod
man, as he strobe to the spot.
Brady replied the same voice. Hoist
the window, Bodman (; you have no time to
lose'
Harry threw UP the sash, and the man
outside sprang into the apartment. He
was full six feet high, dressed in hunting
shirt of deep blue, and carried long rifle
in his hand For an instant he gazed
around him, and then exclaimed;
you must all leave the house at once
HAS Marion been defeated, them asked
Mary, in breathless alarm.
NO, Miss, but portion of the fogged
British will make this house place of de-
fence, and in case of that kind you are
better out of it,
But we can fasten them out, said Steele,
resolutely.
Nay, better let them trap themselves
in it, replied Brady, calmly. There is
ladder at the window by which you can go
down, and in my opinion, the sooner the
better. hear the British coming already
AS he finished speaking, the distant
tread of horses feet was heard coming
down the road toward the house.
BE it So replied Steel, passing through
the window on the ladder. Let Mary
come down first
The maiden followed her father, and the
two soon reached the ground
STAND close to the house in the dark
shade there, said Brady, speaking to those