Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-02-10


Twenty minutes went by, and the two men
who had stretched themselves upon the ground
gave undoubted signs of being fast asleep.
john however, still remained seated upon the
log, with his head ssnid mid. noddiD,'' and his
body occasionally lurcLing to and fro, in a
state of drowsiness which was fhe next thing
TO sleep, but which slight noise would have
thrown of and awakened him fully.
Ii WAS at this state of affairs that Harry Bod
man, the prisoner. began his preparations to
escape. The knife was taken from his mouth.
and the Keen blade severed the cords
whichzsfastened him to the tree. He then
steefszd down. and drawing off his boots, talk
.5sfs tne in each hand, and noiselessly made
his way 10 the door of the house. Itwas part
iy aJar, and on entering he quickly ascended
the stairs, wnen lie paused and drew his
boots, then advanced to the entrance of Mary's
apartment and knocked upon the door. $50
ssWho's tkere,'' demanded the we'll known
voice of Steel -.E eE Hf r..H Een
ssW alter, let me in.'' he answered. a#
The key turned instantly in the lock, the
door opened. and he glided into the room.
'.How did You escape ?'' murmured Mary,
as he FASTENED to her side.
ssYou saw the pedler l'' is -.1..
s.GeHeral Aarion-he was in this ROOM - she
answered.
ssHe furnished me with knife to cut the
cords that bOund me, and while all the men
left TO watch me slept, took advantage THE
opportunity 10 come into the mouse. but
harsS 10 tr5--a
They listened in breatfless silence and could
plainly hear the sonnd of heavy firing up the
Sautee, which told the foemen were engaged.
'.May god defend the right' ferYentiy ejac-
ulated Mary. aHe
s.Amen - responded a deep voice out side
the window, and three distinct taps were
heard upon the pane.
S.Wbo's there % demanded Harry Bodman,
as he strobe to the spot.
'.Brady," replied tue same voice. sHoist
the window, Bodman you've no time to
loose
Harry threw up the sash, and the man out
side sPrang into tile apartment. He was full
six feet high. dressed in hunting shirt of
deep blUe, and carried long rife in his hand.
For Instant he gazed around him, and then
exclaimed:
ssYon must all leave the house at once.''
elias Marion been defeated, then? ?'' asked
Mary in hreattlesS alarm.
''No, Miss. but a portion Of the logged Brit
iSii viii make this house place OF defence.
and in case of that kind you are better out
of it.-'
sBut we can fasten them out, said Steele.
resolutely.
s.Nay. better let them trap themselves in it,
replied Brady, calmly. s.There is ladder at
the window by which you can go down, and in
my opinion the sooner the better. | hear the
British coming Already
As he finished speaking, the distant tread Of
| horses feet was heard coming down the road
| toward the house.
s.Be it 500 replied Steel, passing through
the window ON the ladder. ssLet Mary come
down first
The maiden followed her father, and the two
soon reached the ground.
s.Stand close to the house in the dark shade
there said Brady, speaking to those who
| were with him, and at the same time pointing
| his rifle towards the house.
This had scarcely been done before the
troopers reached the house, sprang from their
horses, and in few moments the scouts
the head Of LangSford thrust from the window.
To level and fire with the effect already noted,
~as but the work OF an instant: and as the
Captain fell heavily back upon the floor, the
tramp of more horses heard, and the rebel
/ band OF Marion galiopcd to the spot.
| CHARTER VI.
/ The noise of barring doors and securing the
/ first story windows of the dwelling was heard
| for a few moments after the arrival of the A.
| inericans in tront of the house, and then all re
| lapsed into silence. The men of Marion had
/ dismountcd and surrounded the house. bat the
! shade OF the night was so gloomy where Bod
man, Steel and Mary stood, that they remain
| ed undiscovered by either friend or foe.
Ben Brady, the scout, still erouched behind
! the log with the muzzie of the gun directed
toward the window ont OF which he had es-
capped, within the room OF which the light was
still burning.
Snidenly the moon was covered by a cloud,
and darkness rested like i pail upon every
thing around. Then the voice OF Brady rose
| gradually on the air as lIe exclaimed
s'Hist, Bedman-cOme this way, and bring
the girl and her father with you Quick, as
the moon win soon be out again.
Bodman grasped Mary by the arm, and gil
ded from the shade OF the house, but had
scarcely proceeded twenty steps when the
nlu2zleS OF two carbines were thrust out of the
| window and pointed toward their fleeing cap
| tives, whom they could hear but not see in the
gloom while the dnsky figures of the troopers
| who held the guns were plainly discernable
| within the apartment.
The rifle of Brady was raised in the twink
| ling of an eye, and three pieces beiched forth
their contents together. 4 wild shrek Instant
ly rang upon the air, and the voice OF agony
was recognized by every rebel soldier as De-
longing TO Mary Steel.
There was an instant of death-lik silence,
again broken by the walls of the wounded girl,
l but this time they were drowned by the yells
of vengeance which burst from the lips of Ma
rioa's men, as like SO many blood-hounds,
thew rushed to tie assault.
s.Sparc not a mani'' shouted well-known
musical voice, rising high above the din and
tumuit of the conflict. s.Death to our op-
pressors -
..Down with the British-onI'' and the
| sound of the heavy blows falling upon every
door. was mingled with the sharp crack of RI
hes and the curses of the combatants, as the
assault progressed.
In the midst of the conflict, and ere an en-.
trance had been gained, Harry Bodman, fol.
lowed by Ben Brady, suddenly appeared be-
fore Marion. ,--.f
CA dozen of men ~ said the youth hoarseiy
I "For whas7" fBa 17sa5.ojf