The Kanzas news., 1858-07-24

asked the smith, opening the door; rs ths
barn a-fre, Or
"No. nothing of the kind, boss. But Pve
concluded to borrow old sorrel tonight in
stead of tomorrow morning. I know the
whole plot. and am going to take them pa
pers from Ensign Spencer, and give them
to George Washington
"Why, his horse is as feet as the wind;
and he viii be to Trenton before thou art
half way" said the smith, with laugh.
"You forget that shod his horse, boss
Hutton
s.Well, be is armed and will shoot thee
as dead as nail, if thou dost attempt vio-
lence.''
"Can't be did, boss. I shook the prin
ing from his pistols when he was in to sup
per-"
Thunder and Belzebub-Lord forgive
me-but-''
The remainder of the sentence was losI
on Malachi's ear, for with wild "Ya-hipl
ga-long, Sorrel!'' he was following the track
of the British spy.
CHAPTER II.
The night was very dark, the fakes Of
snow were falling fast over the already whit
ened ground, but the old sorrel was perfect
ly acquainted with every inch of the ground
and, as if prompted by an instinct that be
was on business that admitted of no delay,
it needed but little urging on the part ol
Malachi to make him stretch his neck thro'
the village of Brunswick like greyhound.
Occasionally his rider would rein up and
pause to listen, as if he could hear the clat-
tering of hoofs in the distance, and when
he could hear no sound but the moaning OF
the wind as it whistled through the forest
trees, he would shout .'Ga lang. you critter,
the game is ahead somewhere" and the
horse would resume his old pace.
But this perseverance was not to go long
unrewarded; for he had scarcely put the
village of Brunswick five miles behind him,
when he described the object of his search
short distance ahead, and travelling at such
gait as convinced bim that Ensign Spen-
Ger had little to thank Malachi Doolittle for
his handicrsft. AS the matter stood it was
no great feat for the sorrel and apprentice to
rein up by the side of the officer in the
space of few moments
1t was too dark for Spencer to recognize
his new acquaintance of the smithery.
"Fine evening, Squire" said Malachi,
"sleighing will be frst-rate tomorrow, if it
continues to come down this way"
''There we don't agree, FRIEND" said
Spencer, placing his hand by way of pre-
caution, upon one of his pistols, ''for the
night to my mind, is cursed dark and
stormy one.''
'Well, tits something dark. that's fact -
was Malachi's response, "for man that's
got considerable distance to ride. Got a
fne horse; can't see for sartin. Critter
goes kinder lame, don't he?''
Eyes, thanks to bungling fellow that
shod him about two hours ago, shall not
be able to reach my destination by day
light
Rather guess you won't, squire, at the
rate you are travelling now. Trenton is a
travel. Now, squire, seein' it's you,
wouldn't mind swapping horses. Old sor-
rel assure footed, and only ten years old,
come next grass; though should require a
little boot under the circumstances-not
Continental, but in hard Spanish. and
"Hold on, friend, for heavens sake.
have no wish to trade horses at any rate,
and your loquacity is perfectly overwhelm-
ing. I have but one question to ask, and
you can act your own pleasure in answer
ing it. Who gave the information that
was travelling to Trenton?"
''Jest as slick as grease, squire. You are
on our side. God save King George and
down with the rebels. I am Malachi Doo-
little, Jonas Hutton's apprentice boy, who
shod your critter this very night; and ii
appears it was so confounded dark in the
shop, tbat'I made pesky job of it," :,
'.Pesky job. indeed" said Spencer
"Why, my horse is going dead lame. and
must be in Trenton by tomorrow morning
my business is of the most vital impor-
tance.''
''Could not do the business for you?''
said Malachi. sYou can GO back to Squire
Hutton's while will carry the dispatches
you bear about you to the British camp"
"No," said Spencer, with a laugh; "that
would hardly do. A British officer placing
important dispatches in the hands of a
blacksmith's apprentice. is altogether out oi
the question"
'-By Judas, I've got it," exclaimed Nal
achi. as if struck by sudden thought;
"We will swap horses for the present. I'll
take your critter back to Hulton's and doc
tor him till you call for him, and lend you
old sorrei-he is just as fresh now rs when
he left the stable, and can keep the same gait
for four and twenty hours TO come"
Ensign Spencer was delighted with the
proposition, and, hating at favorable
place. they both dismounted to make the
exchange. But no sooner had the officers
feet touched the ground. Than he found him,
self in the close embrace of tall Malachi.
"Now Squire" he exclaimed, before il
comes to worse tussel. I'll trouble you tc
fork over them papers"
''Why. what do you mean, you plebeian
hound" said Spencer, "by insulting an of,
fcer of King George?" struggling to free
himself from the iron grasp of the black.
smiths apprentice.
'Mean just what say, you gaul darned
cantankerous tory varmiut. Hurrah fol
George Washington and the Continents
Congress. Kiss Mary again, viii you;
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