Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-04

augh. " Did you ever think what made me
7our friend, Eph SkInner?"
" Because we are companions, having q COM
non interest," and fighting in common cause"
" It's mighty sight more nat'ral for some
olks to lie than to speak the TRUTH and you're
est one of that kind"
@ Look out, Rand, how you insnuate such
.hings against me :" exclaimed Skinner in an
lngry tone. Remember I'm commander here.'
Z" So yon are, but | don't fear you. I'm
soin to tell you, Eph Skinner, why you are my
friend, and if you say word to the cont'ry,
shall tell you you lie agin, that's all. You are
my friend because you dare not be my enemy,
because know enough of your dirty tricks to
hang you as high as Haman but you'd give
your right hand if was out of the way
That's your kind of friendship, Eph, and there's
precious little love in it. As long as you don't
meddle with my Dizziness, shan't with yours,
but when you undertake to say I'm coward,
you had as well put your foot on rattle-snake
and think he wouldn't strike at YOU"
well, we'll, Rand, perhaps you are in the
right of the matter. think we both know too
much Of each others business. There's my
hand-let us forget this conversation"
Thomas Rand took the profered hand of the
Tory Captain, while a perceptible smile passed
over his features, as he thought how easily he
had suhdund tha man hofora him
i've got plan that'll work about finding
that Lincoln" satd Rand.
Let's hear it, then. If you will get him
into my power, I'll give you fifty pounds.
"Is that all ?" asked Rand.
Isn't it enough? | reckon it's more money
than you or have seen since the war begun. :"
"What Of that ? 1t don't foler because
haint seen a guinea for months, that you re to
have five hundred, and run no risks, and do
all the work, and maybe get strungu up, for fifty.
That ar aint noways equal
" Five hundred is great deal of money!
Rand. reckon there isn't double that sum in
the province"
"And reckon you've got jest half of that
sum hid away in your knapsack, and are goin
to have the rest as soon as Mark Lincoln is
nabbed."
"You are mistaken, Rand, on my honor you
are, said Skinner earnestly.
Your honor i, say you've got the two and
fifty in your hands, and if you haint mind to
go halves on this job, wont stir peg, nohow.
It's free country, so take your chance of get
tin the man you want. Keep your guineas
and do your own work. or shell out, and I'll do
my best to trap Lincoln
"You are unreasonable, Rand. The sum I
offered you is sufficient, but if you Il consent to
assist in Lincoln's capture I'll give you hun
dred"
c. You mean by assistin', that I'm to dew the
work, and you're to have the profits ont
Enough or not, I'm set as pig without the
two and fifty
eff I give you that sum- you promise to de-
liver Mark Lincoln into my hands?"
"No, didn't promise any sch thing. I'll
do my best, and if he aint in our power less n
a fortnight, I'll take the fifty for my pains
That ars what call fair
81 agree to your terms. Now unfold your
plans for cfecting this
" In the first place, then, what are you goin
to dew with his Scout?"
String him up as soon as tits daylight" "
I" And lose all chances to find the Retreat. |
reckon if you was to plan the thing 'twouldn t
amount to much
"What is there to be gained by sparing his
life? But for an accident he would have dis
covered our camp, and brought Lincoln down
upon us in the night"
Make him reveal the secrets he's got, and
then keep him till I go into the swamp"
/" How are you to do this ?"
breath of life in his carcass, and there aint
no trouble about his opening his mouth, to save
his neck"
" And in case he should persist in refusing
to give us the desired information }"
Z" Let him down and bindhim again"
i And after all this what shall we have ac
complished?"
Wait till get through. If he wont tell
jest keep him close till go to the Retreat, if
can get there. If am taken there's no dan
T ger for me as long as you keep him SAFE
=" You are good at planning Rand. If 20,
don tcome back his life shall pay the forfeit i
you do, the same thing will take place.
9" Now that the Dizziness is settled, | wan
to ask few questions
WELL" said Skinner nervously.
"Why do you want to git Mark Lincoln int,
your hands?"
Why? FOR the same reason that woul,
, like to get any rebel leader in my power
Because he's an inemy to the cause your
, Fl tin for?"
, +" Yes; is not that enough for follower o
King George to know?''
( " P'r'aps so but should say it locke
mighty staange for King George or bis Yor
deputies to she'll out the gold 50 free for ma
like Mark Lincoln There are hundreds NOR
s to be feared than he'
By making an example of him, it may tel
rify Others, said Skinner, after moment
hesitation.
"What dye mean by maxim an example
e him-hangn'?
Yes; he is gathering band OF men VIII
1 are armed to the teeth, and all he wants is fe,
more to make him II formidable Adversary
8" If Mark Lincoln was in your hands, tC
night, you'd give him his papers to eternit
afore light, reckon" said Rand.
5 /" Certainly should?"
" And how would you do this?"