M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-08-26

gan to bark, the inmates of the house
were alarmed, and a light at one OF
the windows showed them to be stir
ring. At the same moment, a horse
man rode unexpectedly from the shad'
ow of a small patch Of woods on the
LETT, and challenged the newcomers
The answer was a pistol shot from
Marks, which tumbled the challenger
from his horse. A general alarm at
the farm house succeeded, and was
answered by q bugle call short dis.
tance ahead. Marks found that he
had come upon a post of the enemy,
and dashed or with his force. At the
turn of the road a hundred yards fur.
ther, they found Il small detachment
formed 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 they
could reach the left hand road, which
was a mere by path. to he ridden by
only ono hOrseman at q time they
charged sword in hand.
Three Of the troupe managed to
break through and escaped but Marks
and stout trooper by the name Of
Gahl, from Bucks county, were inter
cepted, and obliged to cross sabres
with the enemy. 1t proved useless to
contend with superior numbers, by
this time reinforced Ivy others from
the farm house; and after a short and
severe contest, resulting in the death
Of one Of the British troops, the two
Americans were taken prisoners, and
carried back to the house, OF Mclll-
vainc.
Marks was filled with chagrin, part,
ly at his folly in taking the most'dan-
gerous path, and partly at his inabiIi-
ty to convey to the CommandGr.iH.
chief, the valuable information he had
picked up in the city. He veiled this
modification, however, in a cool and
careless demcanor, and in reply to the
lieutenant commanding the British
detachment, said that he had been ont
on q ioraging party, had lost his way,
and managed to get almost within
sight Of the city before he discovered
his blunder. Priscilla, who with the
rest Of the family, was now awake and
dressed, saw, but apparently did not
recognize Marks. After some more
questions which were answered in
what seemed to be an open manner,
the lieutenant directed the Americans
to be placed, securely bound and guar.
dcd, in an upper room OF the house,
there to remain until morning. BY
way OF comfort he gave them the as.
suranee that they would both be
hanged as sples.
Marks with his companion passed
a sleepless night; it was not alone the
prospect of an ignominous death
which troubled him; but he had learned
enough in the city to know that Il sur.
prise movement similar to that at.
tempted on the previous 4th Of De
cember, against the American forces,
was set down for the following day.
and was aware that it was entirely IN.
He revolved various plans
Of escape in his mind, none OF which
to be practicable, and final
ly concluded to dismiss any premedi.
tation on the matter, and be merely
prepared to take adyanta re of uneX
pected circumstances. AS for Gahl,
he took matters like a philosopher,
and snored away all night in happy
Inconsistencies of his situation.
At daylight the prisoners were
brought down and placed upon the
porch, while Lieut.. Draper and the
men under his command took break.
fast in the house. The horses of the
troopers, with those. of Marks and
Gahl also, were all saddled and hitch.
ed to the fences, under charge Of a
little Scotchman, named Mcpherson.
Priscilla, accompanied by Lieut.. Ora.
per, came out, the former bearing
some food. After it was partaken Of,
Priscilla laid the dishes, knives and
forks upon a bench on the porch, and
listened with apparent interest to the
questions put by the lieutenant. The
latter, by way of encouragement, as
sured the two Americans that # they
gave true statements their lives would
be spared otherwise they would GER
tainly be hanged. He then left them
for short time, to digest the intor.
nation, Priscilla remaining behind.
The Quaker girl, still appearing not
to recognize Marks, said to him, loud
enough to be heard by the soldiers
passing to and fro:
81 would advise thee, friend, to tell
all thee knows. Friend Draper will
keep his word with thee, | am sure" "
She then added, in a low voice, keep
still, John, and will save thee. An
swer what | say, but pay no heed to
what | do" .....
Marks caught her intent in a mo-
ment, and repliel aloud: