Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-09

card by the soldiers who were passius to and


fro:
II would advise thee, friend; to tell all thee
knows. Friend Draper will keep his word
with thee, am sure" She then added in
low tone: keep still, John, and will save
thee; Answer what l say, but pay no heed
to what do"
Marks caught her intent in moment, and
replied alOud
won't turn scCundrel, Miss, for fear OF
death, even # had any surety the captain
there would keep his word"
Other conversation followed, and Priscilla,
who had concealed sharp case.knifc in her
sleeve, managed to cut tho prisoners bonds
without observation; cautioning them at the
same time not to move too soon. Sho told
them that tho lieutenant's horses, one Of which
was ridden by his servant, and both standing
nearest the gate were the swiftest Of all; and
then went out and exchanged somc light OBJ
servatiOns with Mcpherson, patting and ad-
miring the various horses, one by one: Marks
kept close watch upon her, and noticed that
she passed something under the saddle cloth
Of each horse; but she did not lay her hands
upon the two horses of the lieutenant. ,Iris-
ella returned presently, and with IL significant
glance at the captives, entered the house and
engaged Lieut.. Draper in conversation.
Mcpherson, in the meanwhile, had noticed
that some mancuvcring was being made and
came on the porch to inspect the fasteninss
OF the prisoners. As he did so, Gahl who was
powerful man, struck him between the two
eyes with his full force, and the Scothman
fell backwards from tho raised floor to the
ground, striking his head against stone SO
severely as to take away his senses for time
Before the alarm could be given, Marks and
Gahl were mounted on the officers horses
and galloping furiously up the road. Draper
rushed out and hurried pistol shots being in:
efectual, ordered pursuit. But the party
had not proceeded dozen yards before every
horse grew restive, and at length utterly un-
manageable. All attempts to control them
were in VAIN, and the horses growing more
furious, unseated trooper after trooper. The
single exception was Marks own horse, which
Draper had mounted.
He was quiet enough but Draper happcn-
ing to dismount in order to examine into tho
cause Of the trouble, the steed gaIIoped off af.
ter his master, whom he ultimately overlook:
After considerable time thus lost, 1t occur
red to the lieutenant that there was some trick
in the matter. The horses were stripped, and
It WAS found that the sharp burs of the bur.
dock had been placed under every saddle, and
had fretted and CALLED the animals almost to
madness. By this time the flgitives had too
much start and pursuit was abandoned.
About four miles further on, Marks and
Gahl fell in with three troopers of tho enemy.
The Americans were without sabres, but there
were pistols in the holsters, and with these
they settled two Of their opponents. The third
put spurs to his horse, and turning down Q
cross road, escaped. Marks and his friend
were in too much Of hurry to pursue him,
and rode on to the camp, where they arrived
that afternoon. The information that Marks
brought was Of essential service. The British
arrived during the night, but found such for
midable preparations made to receive the at
tacking columns, that they quietly rctreated
by the road they came.
Lieutenant Draper suspected Priscilla, who
denied having hand in the matter, and won
dered very much where the burs came from at
that season Of the year. The truth is that the
girl had got them from some uncoinbcd wool
which lay in an upper chamber, the sheep Of
tho farm having gathered them in their ram
bles. Thus two kinds of non-combatants had
played important parts in the matter; but the
lieutenant never found that out lie never
ceased to lament the loss of his pistols, which
were handsome silver mounted pair, nor his
snowy cloak, which had been strapped behind
his saddle, both proving Of great service to
Marks
Marks and Gahl were promoted. The latter
was made scrjeant, and was afterwards killed
in skirmish at Van Dams Mill. Mark served
through the war, became ultimately captain,
and distinguished himself in several actions.
After the war he returned to Chester county,
and Priscilla became his wife. The latter was
formally "disOwned" for marrying out of
meeting" " and for having aggravated her of.
fence by being married BY hired priest. {"
The expulsion did not seem to effect her spirits
much, for she became jolly, contented ma
tron, and lived to good old age, surviving
her husband two years. The descendants OF
the couple still live in Chester and MontSom-
cry counties, with tho exception of grand
son. George Marks, who is, or was recently, .
thriving farmer in Vinton county Ohio.
EATEN UP BY THEIR OWN DoGs.--An old story
tells that ActeOn, famous hunter, kept many
hounds, and they ended by eating him up
Actse0n is an old namc-it is Crock, besides.
How many Act@ons do yli1 and l know-men
eaten up by their own Nogsl know men
who damage their body by their business; so
do you. Many moro know who break down
their conscience, their affections, their higher
manhood. Mechanics sicken of their craft !;
painters have the lead collie; tailors and shoe
makers are pale and dyspeptic looking; prin-
ters 60 off in consumption, which they have
caught from breathing ink and type-mctal.-
Is that the worstP Iknow men whose ambi-
ton, whose vanity, whose covetousnoss, has
wrought them worse mischicf-a consumption
of the mind, numb palsy of the affections,
gout in the conscience, a general dyspepsia of
their humanities.
DARK HoURS.-Thcre are dark hours that
mark the history Of the brightest years. For
not whole month in the many millions of
the past, perhaps, has the sun shone brilliant
ly all the time, and there have been cold and
stormy days in all. And yet the mists and
shadows Of the darkest hours have been dis.
sipated. The most cruel ice letters have been
broken and dissolved, and the most furious
storm loses its power to harm. And what
parable is this In human life-of our outside
world, where tho heart works in its shadow.
ing Of the dark hour, and many cold blast
chills It to the corel But what matters it !--
Man Is born hero, and It is only In darkness
and storms that heroism gains It's greatest and
best development, and the storm bears It more