Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-21
MAT WARD;
OR,
TIL E TORY'S DOOM.
A Tale of the Days that Tried Mems Souls.
CHAPTER ".
A STRATAGEM.

A sTRATAGEM.
Marx Lncolns slumbers, the evening fol-
lowing his Scouts adventure with the Tories,
were disturbed by troubled dreaus, Thrice he
was combating with imaginary foes, but awoke
to find himself safe in his own tent. The fire
had not wholly died away, although it was
past the midnight hour, and rising from his
couch, he sauntered forth. The men were all
asleep. and as he gazed upon their forms he
could but envy their undisturbed rest. lie
had been but few moments without the tent
when he heard step behind him, and turning,
boheld the form of Hopkins.
81 thought you were asleep" said Mark as
he recognized the Scout.
WALL Capn, haint had Il wink of sleep
tonight, not Il darned wink. | sec you as
plain as day when you stopped and gin IA glance
at the men yonder."
6 What kept you awake?"
"'Cause | couldn't sleep. Ireckon. A raj
Scout, sir, wont sleep in sich times as these
when the cussed Tories are thick as bumbcbeet
in q clover-feld, and no sentries posted to kceI
the varmnts off,
You are over cautious, Hopkins. A stran-
ger cannot find his way in here. Wherefore
then is the need Of a sentry?"
Taint alters best to trust tew much without
guard, Capn; leaStways, I've found it so,-
I've found my way into many II wuss place than
this ere with nothin but an Injun trail to
guide me. It's almost like guess-work to trail
an Injun, and come to take the trail of Il chap
that aint noways careful of his tracks, you see
'twouldn be hard job to foler him ~
" You are right, Hopkins. If you please,
we'll act as sentries ourselves, tonight"
" That ar aint according to the way I've
seen it done. Can't some of the men dew it
jest as well ?'
20 Yes; ; but let them sleep. For my own
part I've no desire to slumber again tonight "
<rhat .t' is the right kind Of spirit. Lord
,l-massa, sir, thar aint but IL few men who COM
mand but what would think it beneath EN-
to stand watch"
There is but little patriotism in their bo-
SONS then. The leaders must set examples tor
the men, q
g You should have seen Gineral Putnam, sir
in close skrilnmage He pitches right mt
the fight like he was one Of the privates.
{" And by that means inspires his men will
something of his own courage"
"You may well say that. He's reg Ia
devil in fight, and will put on thelicks leetl
the darndest of any chap ever set eyes on"
"Why did you leave the army and com
hore?"
Cause I've got woman and d gal here
abouts that claim the fust use O. my arms l
these ere troublous times. I'm rough chal
sir. and it's word and a blow, and the bio
ginerally comes fust when aint among friends
but when was away from the woman, an
heard of the terrible dewins they was haylr
with the bloody Tories, [ couldn't sleep {
nights, thinking of Betsoy and the gal, and
one mornin bright and airly, told the Cine
al guessed l. make tracks toward hum
"You are acquainted with this localit
then -
81 reckon thar aint spot hereabouts b
what I've been over. I've campod nigh I'll
spot when was trapping, many night"
. You are just the man | want, then. L
rather delicate piece of business that wi
.4, tl perform, in which there is great cauti
to be observed.
"Thon faint a reg lar skrimmagc?
No." replied Mark.
81 was in hopes, Cap'n, thar would be
chaince to give them tarnal critters blow.
They're getting mighty on-Christan-like, mi
derin folks and stoaln' all they've got
&c 1t is time they were checked, and tt
shall be, even at the sacrifice of my life.
"Then thar Il be chance for reg lar ha
to hand knock down and drag out, We
thar?"
''There will be fighting enough, asJ
you"
Who-whoop! shouted Hopkins in costa
"Im powerful in skrimmago, sir; 'spocio
when we're outnumbercl and thars sn
chainco of gettin whipped.
"Tako a seat on this log, and will give
a detail of my plans, trust you with thi
said Mark, as Hopkins seated himself, s. beca
am confident you will exercise moro prud'
than Watson, who came so near running Il
q" You neodn t bo afraid tew trust me
kin (oler EN- week, and they wouldn't
trust was nigh EN-"
This is precisely what wish you to d
Skinner and His company have gone above
and they expect by setting their spies at II
tain point to entrap me-
"And you want ,hould trail 'em, and
whereabouts he sets the chaps?
81 do, Hopkins; but this is not all, Iv
you to penetrate even to the camp itself,
learn their plans of action if possible, 50
can make the best disposition of our IL
should we conclude to attack them
81 kin dew it like a book, sir
"There is a family some three miles Il
this spot who ! ain afraid will suffer