The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-02-24

tanning solemn silence At length they gained
the bank of the creek, and slowly following the
winding path, soon came in sight of the object of
their destination. As they came to little log
bridge which crossed little shallow rivulet
leading into the White Clay Greek, james Will
son ordered them to halt.
Let Frank Howard and myself reconnoiter
the premises first, to see whether any danger may
be apprehended All the rest stand here until
we return Make no noise, and keep constant
watch"
James and Frank departed and were soon
lost to the eye in the thick woods through which
the path ran Scarcely had they gone from the
view of their companions, when the quick ear
of Wilson detected noise
"Hist," said he to Frank, as he pulled him
behind gigantic beech tree. The noise soon
resolved into human football, and in another
moment, George Livingston, the Tory's son,
stood opposite the tree. Wilson darted from
his covert and tightly griped the boy by the
neck. The cowardly youth trembled like reed.
"Speak one word,' whispered his captor,
"and I'll toss you into the creek!"
The Tory's son was struck dumb with fright,
and before he had recovered from his stupor,
found himself in the midst of the whole group
of boy heroes, with the vice like grip of James
and Frank on either arm.
"Now," said James, ANSWER me promptly
and correctly, or I'll make your position uncom-
Portable. Do you hear Z"
"Who are in your fathers house at this mo-
ment?"
all cannot tell" stammered the almost
dead youth.
"Yo GU shall tell Or"
"Spare me- and I will disclose everything.
When left the house there was no one there
but our own family and Major Bardston."
"Who is he?" asked James,
II don't know don't.ndeed 2"
"Tel /" threatened Frank.
"He is captain of the Yorkshire dra-
goons."
The blue eyes of James glistened with joy,
and he soon gained from the Tory's son reve-
lation which stamped his father as traitor of
the most appalling character. He discovered
that old Livingston not only kept up a cores
pondence with the British commander, but that
he had plotted in his traitorus designs that the
little village of Newark was to be burned to
ashes, and its women and children exposed to
the mercy of their pitIess foes. The old Tory
was to receive as his reward the land whereon
the village stood, and the annual pension from the
English government But, stranger than all,
the plot was to be consumated on that very night,
and the Tory's son had been captured while he
was going on an ewand to a Tory neighbor about
two miles distant.
The little band of heroes learned, too, that
the British troops bad secured their horses in
Livingstons stable and descended the creek in
large boat They were twenty ofthem besides
their captain Major Bardston, the leader of
the band, was in temper and heart, perfect de-
mon and scrupled not in his cruelty, to destroy
the sleeping infant or the Sickly wife. Not a
few in that youthful band of patriots trembled
for the safety of a widowed mother, or a de-
fenceless sister.
Some were for departing Immediately, but
James Wilson, still retaining his grasp on the
Tory's son, ordered all to be silent. The prl-
soner was tied hand and foot thick handker-
chief bound over his mouth to prevent him from
calling for assistance, and stout cord fastened
to his breast and wound about tree. All hope
of escape forsook George Livingston Wilson
motioned his little band to follow him, and in
few moments they stood on the summit Of high
precpice which over-hung White Clay Greek.
"Now boys" said james Wilson, "the mar
rative we have Just learned is true and as we
have no muskets orammunition, we must make
the best of the occasion The British band will
passthis spot in their boat, and as we have an
hour to work let US busy ourselves in rolling some
of these large rocks to the edge of this precpce,
and when the red coats pass below, let us sink
them to the bottom.
Each boy set Immediately to work, and in an
incredibly short time, nine huge rocks, each of
half ton in weight, were nicely balanced upon