Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-08-06

tent
" If Ham was only here noArxe--" Montague
did not finish the sentence fU s. this moment
there was another report, nd a confused cry
raised that some one was shot
Were Ham but here we N 5ht easily escape
unnoticed in this confusion I9re was q
scusd 6fansried i6otstaa o. .SsDa 80 Sad
was thrust under the canvas. 40 a pair Of eyes
peered anxiously ro md.
" 1alloo there " at last cave in guarded
tone from the object who had thus unceremo-
niously peered into the tent.
:" Ham said Waldo, softly.
Yes-it's me. Stir round there-vamoose
this place quickcr'n thunder, # you want to
get away tonight"
{" We cannot do it. Our arms are tied. y
Ham was soon in the tent and in moment
more Waldo and Montague were free.
liam, what was the meGhfng of the shots
we have just hoard!"
" Jones has been shot, and there's Il big rum
pus about it. Come out Of here, and make
tracks for the woods, tor I'm in considerable Of
a hurry to get out of these ere diggings."
Emerging from the tent at the place where
Ham had entered, the trio bent their steps in
the direction of the woods which skirted the
town. From the occasional gances which
Waldo and Walton caught of Hams face, they
saw he was much excited.
" Have they any suspicious Of who committed
the decd asked Montague as they moved
along.
Cant say as they have. Were your pistols
taken away from you ! "
eyes,
"Then calculate we're in for it, if the Law
and Order gang get track of u.s.
" Are you unarmed
Why did you leave your pistols on such an
occasion as this - asked Waldo.
/" didn't leave EN- exactly dropped them
in something ofa hurr.7, about five minutes ago,
cause reckoned from tho sighs that I'd be
safer somewhere else than whell, was jus, at
that particular time.
" Ham was there name on tAose pistols "
Why?" exclaimed Ham, @erting quickly.
79sh'3ss T;I. 56e rn1. rls1. %t:H W: s's.@4's@
king questions s,sas'as ,1i, an uSua asked jam
gazing with Sbis Ssal: es into Y aldos
"And if Il am " /
ooh, you We right to, mai be, Eut then
there's some secrets jest az saie1ln the Keeping
of one as Dozen
:" l understand you, Ham, and will question
you in regard to that affair no farther. Where
are you taking US to "
" There's spot not more'a mile or two
from here, where there Is a case that nobody
knows of but me, and they souldn't dream
there was one unless they stumbled into it
81 don't fancy the idea of being cooped up
like felons fleeing from justice.
I'm thinking it would be IS pleasant there
as in the tent at Lawrence. Yaa can stay there
unit they give up hunting f. you, and then
come out if You want to. "
A rapid walk soon brought them to the Vi
cinity of the spot mentioned l'y Ham.
Do you see that old deat tree yonder y
asked Ham pointing to one Which stood upon a
slight cmInencc just ahead of 1hem.
Yes"
Well, that trees right ovr the cave, and
you can see out through the tpp ont"
&" But where do you enter the cave I"
" Here it is, right under o,r feet
Ham approached IL small esrmp of bushes, SO
interv oven with weeds and ilnk grass that it
seemed an almost impenerahl9 network.
/" If we 60 into that mass d weeds and grass,
we shall leave "a trace that vSuld be easily dis
, covered should We be pursued y
" Wait and sec Come round on this side,
and vel 90 in and notleave a bit of sign"
Ham, as Waldo and Montague nearcd the
, spot where lie stood, walked to tie opposite
side Of the bushes, where noifing but grass was
growing. Parting it carefully with his hands,
he entered and bade Fr'a"apd M Moa,tf2SJqye fol-
low his example. TIN |lk....,..a-,-e.--- re-
placing the disturbed grass. Before them was
II large rock, in which was assure barely large
enough to admit one person at q time Enter.
ing it, they beheld Il few feet below them, an
open space extending some fifteen or twenty feet
| into the hill, and nearly square. Grasping the
rock they swung themselves. down, and joined
Ham.
" They might tr.vel over the ground above
us for week, and the hounds wouldn't mis-
trust,we were here
" 1t appears you are not alone in the posses
sion of the secret said Waldo, as he noticed
the traces of fire, and saw in one corner SOM
cooking utensils.
: " Yes am. brought them fixins here whel
we first came into the Territory, and hahn
been here since, till last night. There's som
venison in the corner there, under that bark
and if you II be cooking sone ont, III go an,
get some water
{" We will do So | am nearly dead wit
= thist," replied Montague.
y Ham went out, and Waldo and Montaeu
having kindled fire under the roots of tn
n tree, commenced preparing the meal. 1t wa
|, dark in the cave, notwithstanding the sun wa
now up, the light from the tree but imperfect
n dispellng the gloom, But a fire once started
1t the whole was lit up, revealing 10 their eyes ey
cry part of the place they we're in. Half a
j. hour elapsed but Ham did not return, and the
began to fear for his safety, just as Wald
d was about to emerge froll the cave, Har
swung himself into it, and approaching the fir
he threw portion of the water upon it.