Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-23
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
TREASON.
As Boyden had anticipated, Mark Lincoln's
numbers began to increase, and ere month had
passed, his force amounted to over fifty men,
His signal victory over the Tories, had inspired
the irres ute with new courage, and they came
day by day to join his company.
Upon the night on which Cato had conveyed
Mabel Archer missive to Mark camp having
hastily penned reply and dispatched it by the
negro, 10 re-entered Lis tent, and taking out
small map was soon engaged in tracing out the
various positions in which the enemy were post
ed He had been engaged thus for sometime,
when the head of Hopkins was thrust through
the opening in the tent.
Well Hopkins, what is wanting?' asked
Mark
I've JEST made diskvery which, if you
amt busy, I'd like to let you into the secret
Of
g | am not very busy" said Mark, folding up
the map and laying it aside. What is the
news you wish to tell? ?"
81 came from old Harding's tavern about a
mint ago, and who deye suppose Isaw there p
g cannot conjecture"
:" Wall reckon you couldn't if you was to
guess your lifetime. 'Twan't no more nor less
than one of Washington's guard !"
g Washington 8 guard " exclaimed Mark in
surprise. What can he be doing here?"
Plotting with the cussed Tories'
60 Are you sure of this Hopkins? p
Sure? No; cant no-ways say as am
perfectly sure, but I'm 80 sartain I'd bet my
head ag in bottle O. Jimmaky, that I'm
right"
g How did you learn this" "
81 hid up mere in the woods apiece, and lis
tened while they were talkin'. couldn't git
at nothing clear, but heard things that made
me su.picion all wan jst as it should be-"
Where are they now?"
" At the tavern. They're going to stay there
toni iaht, and then the traitorous chap is going
back to the army"
his does not look probable to me- sale
Mark after moments pause. =" In the frs
place how did one of the Guards get leave o
absence to come no this section?"
That's what don't see into and I'd lik
mighty well to know Boyden is on the watcl
for something of this kind
g. things are as you represent them, thi
is probably his object. If he was only here, nj
doubt he might make this information of grea
service to the cause
"And seeing he's absent, can't we do it OF
our own hook?"
" In what manner -
"By going to the Town and getting posses
sion of their secrets.
"This might be done, but it is the bushes
of one person rather than two"
''No it amt. In case there was skrmmag
two agin two would be better than ONE
" And you propose to go there Tonight -
eyes"
"B' Harding is our enemy and might be
tray u.s."
g" tlcuiate that he won't know either O
us tonight. You We got disguises, and we CD
fool aim easy enough, and sposen We don t, gol
will k "a still tongue in his head?"
d" If We possessed it. What little had a
my com -nand is spent long since
"Ivc been round pickin' up few sinner
lately, said Hopkins, 'and there they arr
hat doa t bride old Harllng's tongue, the
" Il try some other way Hopkins pulled OIL
apurse from his hunting tunic, and held it u
before Mark Lincoln s gaze.
!. British gold, Hopkins! Where did yc
jobtan this?' exclaimed Mark in a wonderir
tone.
81 Them ar pieces is what made me suspcio
the two chaps | see in the woods. You see
followed EN- nigh on to half mile, and couldn
catch word, when one OF EN- put his hand i
to his pocket and drew out some papers, wh'
see this drop. Wall they didn't notice it, y,
when they'd got on piece picked it up al
found these ere gold bits.
% Do you call them honestly gained"
" Honest or not reckon | ain t no ways 9
my W ZION my heGk NY Itiiih tnoll iOW L lOu
these ere sinners. I'm goin TO use it for
darned sight better purpose than bribin a VII
aglu his conscience
" If we are to perform this undertaking
night, it is time we were on our way
g The sooner the better They've gone
the tavern to fix their plans, and we must q
out what they ar and then communicate wi
q the General"
Mark and the Scout now proceeded to d
guse themselves preparatory to learning, if p
sible, the plans of the men whs were acting
despicable part of traitors to the cause
American liberty Once possessed Of their
cret arrangements, and they felt confident ii
it was within their power to defeat their ne
rieus schemes Mark and the Scout ARA,
themselves in the common hunter garb W,
by the settlers, and having by the aid of 81
bark decoction, altered somewhat their fat
appearance, they were ready for their task
Their usual weapons were left in the camp,
some cumbersome muskets substituted, in or
oayold suspicion. Mark retained his pis