White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-11

5, glades opened here and there mall directions
If and vast arcades stretched of in the dIssann.
It groined and vaultCd like Gothic minister. |
Z was Just such spot as Robin Hood might hav
n chosen in old Sherwood. Here were gnarle,
monarchs Of the forest which had braved tn
: lishtnings and storms of a thousand years; her
h were natural bowers formed by the Interlacinj
: branches Of trees-such as fair Rosamond nigh
: have sheltered in; here were vines, drsopinJ
e from the huge branches, like curtains, or hang
Z ing in festoons across the way, like the drape6
4 banners OF a mighty host. The whole scene
e was full of picturesque beauty. And the effecl
s was heightened by fires, which glimmering here
= and there between the trees, cast wild and
!, Pickering shade over the sward, and gave the
: prospect the air Of an enchanted forest. Fra.
grant plants filed the atmosphere With delicious
perfume-the laurel, the shrub, and, much more
! exquisite than all, was the sweet scented les.
samine.
: This was Marion's celebrated camp, at Snow
r Island. 1t was piece of high river swamp,
nearly enclosed by water, and defended by its
natural position from surprise and siege alike
Here, after his famous expeditions, he would
retire to recruit his mon, exhausted BY the long
and rapid marches, often sixty miles day,
| which they had been called on to endure Per-
haps the great secret of this renowned partizan's
success, next to his indomitable courage, which
reminds US of knight of chivalry, was the care
which he took to give his followers sufficient rest
between enterprises. His maxim was to lie
low and feed high, until the hour came to strike;
but then his motions were as rapid and the blows
he struck as decisive as the thunderbolt
=. The present occasion was one of those on
which his men, having returned from success
full expedition, were resigning themselves, like
true soldiers, to the pleasure of the moment.-
The sentinels were indeed posted at the out
skirts; but inside the camp was universal was
sail and song. The reins of discipline seemed,
for the time, to have been relaxed. The differ
I ent masses were gathered together over their
meals, and many merry Jest was told, or lyric
of war or love was sung by those jovial boon
companions.
One of these groups seemed even more mer-
~ than the rest. 1t was composed of about
dozen men, prominent among whom was Pres
toms sergeant, Macdonald, who was director Of
the ceremonies for the time being, and saw ,es,
pecially to the circulation of the cup.
"Keep it up, boys" he said, handing around
the bottle, " it isn't often we get such real old
stuff as this, for it's not every day we have the
rifing of rich Tories cellars, as we had last
week. A short life and merry one, is my motto
Hillo. my excellent frienu Jacob, why don't you
drink? You needn't sit showing US your teeth
all the time, though they are so handsome
Comrades, here's the health of Jacob Snow
that's you, my old chap, suppose-he serves
as pretty mistress as there is in the thirteen
colonies, and boasts shin bone that curves like
reaping hook. Jacob Snow, standing, egad!'
"Lor, Massa Macdonald, I'm deeply obliga-
ted for dis honor" said the old butler for it was
indeed he. "Pm discumfounded for words to
distress my feelings, here he laid his hand on
his heart.
-" That's it-blaze away, old fellow, ;. said the
sergeant, shaping him on his back. "I knew
you could talk as glib as a parson. So you were
at Mrs. BiAkeiy's when we we're before that
place, were you7 You remember my sending
in for my baggage2"
"Gor Almighty, yesn' said old Jacob, full of
revereniial admiration. And you is de gen.
tlcman, too, dat shot Lieut.. Torriano at three
hundred yards. Yaw! yaw. yaw! dat made
'em furious. Major Lindsay say you we're an
Inin, and no better than cannon ball-he,
yaw"
"Ha! Ia. A cannibal, suppose you mean,
my old brave. But that hitting of the Leuten-
ant was triae to the way served Major Cal
ney. Wasn't it, lads7"
save, was it," echoed half dozen voices
Tell it to him-tell it,
"ShaII tn said the sergea-t, addressing ia
cob with something of drunken gravity-for the
whole party had, BY this time, done ample JUS
tee to their Hagons.
Jacob nodded, and Macdonald began:
"Well then, you must know, my jolly old
blale-but fill your cup again, and drink perdi-
ton to the Englishmen-that party of US had
brush down by Georgetown, not long time
ago, withsome British regulars, who were killing
beeves at White Bridge. We soon whipped the
red coats, and then chased them towards the
town. But their friends there, hearing the fir
ing, came swarming out like bees, and so We
went at it again. hip and thigh, as the good book
says, and for sometime it was the toss Of six
pence which would win. We fought pretty
bit that day; but at last the red coats gave
ground again. had noticed among them an
officer whom I took to be Major Gainey,a fell
low that had the impudence to boast he would
carry Marion prisoner on his saddle into
Georgetown; and sol singled him out, resolv-
ing to try his pluck, and comb him down a spell.
But no sooner did he see me coming down On
Black Bess then. he clapped spurs to his horse
and cursed good one it was-and made
straight for the town, like an old woman whs
sees mad dog. Down the road we went, clat-
tering and laundering; but devil Of bit for a
long while could gain on him. I might have
cut down half dozen fellows as dashed past,
but made up nv mind to hav, nothing but the
leader. Old Black Bess did wonders that day.
The trees and fences few past as II running
race The Majors blooded horse went a. I
never saw horse go before, but was close be-
hind. and beginning to gain on him. We went
now almost to the entrance of Georgetown.-l
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