Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-11
A Tale of the Days that Tried Mems Souls
By the Author of The Scout of the Lake, waldo, oi
Life on the Border" &C., &c.
CHAPTER VII.
THE ESCAPE.

~~>~>N"s~SNo~N'
CHAPTER VII.
THE ESCAPE.
When Thomas Rand reached the side OF the
Scout, the latter was apparently fast asieep'
and it was only by repeated efforts that the Tory
succeeded in arousing him to state OF con-
scousness. The task once accomplished the
Scout gazed into his captors face with bewil-
dered stare, as if he but imperfectly compre-
hended the position in which he was placed.
"Who are you ?" he at length asked with a
sleepy yawn.
"Dont you remember where you've seen
me before? replied Rand, looking attentlvely
at Hopkins, to detect, if possible, whether his
manner was real or assumed.
"Can't say as dew. I've got sich an infer
nal pain in my head, pears like don't rcmem-
bur nothing as used to-
The pain in that mug o'yourne amt to be
spoken of side of the one you'll have in your
carkis as soon as tbs daylight" ="
Nothing short of stickin' my body full OF
n,edles, would begin to come up to this ere pain,
reckon. If thar small airthquake inside
it could'n axe wus You hain't got swig OF
Jimaky that you'd give chap, hev you ? ,
q Plenty ont" SAID Rand, pulling bottle
from his pocket and holding it upso the Scout
could see it.
" That's got the jiuewine look tot said
Hopkins, his eye sparkling
Z" Take drink" said Rand holding the bot
tie towards Hopkins.
{" Cant dew it when my hands are tied in
this ere fashion. Jest you onloose 'em minnit
and I'll be eternally obliged
Wont you try to escape if | unite your
hands, and give you some of the Jimaky?" "
/" Sartain, won't SO be about it, for I've got
q powerful hankerin' arter some of that ar stuff
in your bottle"
Thomas Rand united the hands of the Scout
and then handed the bottle to Hopkins, the latter
seized it eagerly but just as he was about rails.
ing it to his lips quick suspicious look passed
over his features, and he returned the bottle tc
its owner.
"I've alters made it pint when a mans
ginerous enough to treat, that | won't drink
fust, no how
Rand raised the bottle to his mouth, and hal
of its contents rapidly disappeared He ther
handed it to the Scout, who emptied it of its
remaining contents.
"That ar's prime stuff exclaimed Hopkins
with evident satisfaction,
"'Taint likely you git sich as that often,
said Rand, replacing the flask in his pocket
"Where dye fndit?"
{" 1t come right from old Tryon's cellar, AM
it's on to twenty years old
"l wish YOU d told me that, afore drink
Cd exclaimed the Scout.
/" What for 2"
" Because wouldn't hev drinked the cnssed
pizen stuff for chunk o'gold as big as tn
flask what held it, ugh 1t makes me sick Il
think ont" and the contortons of the Scout
countenanae gave emphasis to his words.
W h1U hdhco JOu clChj UuO Oliniudhy
i" Not exactly that, but to think had drink
cd British rum
"Ef you don't git nothing worse than that
you II fare better than the most Of the rebels
who are raising sich rumpus in the colonies.
It's rumpus what wont be stopped b.
the hull British army, and King George t.
boot
They'll hev the hull gang of the leader
hang in less n month "
Catchn' comes afore hangin' and it'll SCUM
bstter to talk, arter you've got EN- safe. =
If they are all as green as Lincoln's Scou
twill be done easy enough
Hopkins eyes flashed at this, and he replied
"Ive Just thought where I've seen YOU"
@ mistrusted it would come to you after
while Your in a fix, reckon"
"I'll soon git un6xed, though"
"Maybe you WILL and maybe you won
Your chance of seeing Mark Lincoln's cam
agin is "a mighty narrer one"
"I'll bet my head agin yourn, that I'll st
MIN alofe tO-mOfrOW nlgnt.
." It's bargain. You're in u trap, YOU
never come out of till they send you out by til
jerk of a rope "
Don't g for to fret yourself about IN
chances o'livin.
" If you should 60 back to the camp Llncol
wouldn't let you 60 on another trail, A IA
Scout wouldn't have gone to sleep side of til
road, and granted likea hog, 50 anybody with
mile could hear him, continued Rand in
taunting tone.
" Its mighty lucky for you that can g
up, you snoakin' white ivered Tory sa
Hopkins in an angry tone.
" What did Mark Lincoln say when you gi'
him that letter." asked Rand laughing.
6 None o your business You fooled II
that time, but darn it if don't pay YOU evel
and little more, then my name ant Lgc Hol
kins."
When hangin' time comes, maybe yc
wont be thinking O. sich things
I'm bound to say that thing wont happe
no how. When knock under, twill be in
regular skrimmage. Who-whoop! Eff it wal
for these ere cords, | wouldn't mind 6ghtin' Il
huil pack OF them ar boss thieves yondcr."