White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-09

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road hundred yards further. they found
small detachment across their PATH
As the Americans knew the road forked
on the other side of this force, and their
chances of escape were good. if theycould
reach the lsft-hand road. which was a
mere by-path. to be ridden by only one
horseman at time. they charged, sword
in hand. Fs ~.
Three of the troop managed to break
through, and escaped, but Marks, and a
stout trooper named Gail, were intercept
ted. The two Americans were taken
prisoners, and carried back to tbs house
of M'Ilvaine.
Marks was filled with chagrin, partly
at his folly in taking the most dangerous
path. and partly at his inability to convey
to the commander-in-c chief the valuable
information he had picked mp in the city.
lie yelled his modification, however, in
q cool and careless demeanor, and in re-
ply to the lieutenant commanding the
British detachment, said that he had been
out on a foraging party, had lost his way,
and managed to get in sight of the city
before he discovered his blunder.
After some more questions which were
answered in what seemed to be an open
manner, the lieutenant directed the Amer
leans to be placed, securely bound anu
guarded, in an upper room of the house,
there to remain till morning. By way of
comfort he gave them the assurance that
they would both be hanged as spies.
Marks with his companion passed a
sleepless night it was not alone the pros
peet of an ignominious death which trou-
bled him but he had learned enough in
the city to know that surprise movement
similar to that attempted on the previous
fourth of December, against the American
forces, was set down for the following
day. and was aware that it was entirely
unexpected. He revolved various plans
of escape in his mind, none of which ap-
peared to be practicable, and finally con
cluded to dismiss any generalization on
the matter, and be merely prepared to
take advantage of unexpected circum-
stances.
At daylight, the prisoners were brought
down and placed upon the porch, while
Lieut.. Draper and the men under his
command took breakfast in the house
The horses of the troopers, with those of
Marks and Gail also, were all saddled
and hitched to the fences, under charge
of little Scotchman by the name Of
Mcpherson. Priscilla, accompanied by
Lieut.. Draper, came out, the former bear
ing some food. After it was partaken of,
Priscilla laid the dishes, knives and forks
upon bench on the porch, and listened
with apparent interest to the questions
t-put by the Lieut., The latter, by way of
encouragement, assured the two Amerir
cans that if they gave true statements
their lives would be pared-otherUise
they would certainly be hanged. He then
left them. Priscilla remaining behind.
The Quaker girl, still appearing not to
recognize Marks, said to him, loud enough
to be heard by the soldiers who were pass
ing to and fro:
Il would advise thee. friend. to tell all
thee knows. Friend Draper will keep
his word with thee, 1 am sure" She
then added in low voice, keep still,
John, and l viii save thee"
Other conversation followed, and Pris-
ella. who had concealed sharp case
knife in her sleeve. managed to cut the
prisoners bonds, without observation !;
cautioning them at the same time not. to
move too soon. She told them that the
Lieutenant's horses, one Of which was
ridden BY his servant. and both standing
nearest the gate, were the swiftest Of all,
and then went out. 2,
, Mcpherson, who suspected that some
maneuvring was being made, came on
the porch to inspect the fastenings Of the
prisoners. AS he did so, Gail. who was
, a powerful man, struck him between the
two eyes with his full force. and the
Scotchman fell backwards from the raised
; floor to the ground, striking his head
against stone so severely, as to take
away his senses for the time. Before. the
alarm could be given, Marks and Gail
, were mounted on the officers horses. and
galloping furiously up the road Draper
rushed out, and. hurried pistol shots being
Intellectual, ordered pursuit. But the
, fugitives had got too much start. and pur-
suit was soon abandoned. -eq. --rs.f
j About four miles further on, Marks
and Gail fell in with three troopers of
! the enemy. The Americans were with
out sabres, but they wore pistols in the
| holsters, and with these they settled two
! of them. The third put spurs to his
t horse. and turning down-a cross road, es-
| capped. Marks and his friend were in too
. much of hurry to pursue MIN, and rode
3 on towards the camp. where they arrived
: that afternoon. The information that
: Marks brought, was of essential service.
: The British arrived during the night, but
T found such formidable preparations made
: to receive the attacking columns, that they
quietly retreated by the road they came.
Marks and Gail were promoted. The
| latter was made a sergeant. and was kill
/ ed afterwards in a skirInish at Van Dams
e Mill Marks served. through the war. BE-
came ultimately a captain, and dIstin-
t tinguished himself in several actiens. At
: ter the war he returned to Chester County.
| and Priscilla became his wife. The lat
: ter was formally ''disowned" by her sect
= for "marrying out of meeting" The