Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-30

"wbo are in your fathers house q. this
moment9'
"I-I-cannot tell s,ammered the half
dead boy.
You shall tell, Or"
"Spare me, and will disclose every
thing. When LEFT the house, there was
no one there but our irnily and Major
Bardstono."
"who is he !" asked James.
81 don't know don't indeed"
"Tell 7" threatened Frank.
+" IIe !. the captain Of the Yorkshire dra-
goons."
Tho blue eyes Of James glis,oned with
JOY, and he soon gained from the tory's son
revelation which stamped his father a
traitor Of the most appalling character.
lie discovered that old Livingston not only
KEEP, up correspondence with the British
commander, but that ho had 50 plotted in
his ,rai,orous designs that the village Of
Newark was TO be burned to ashes, and its
women and children left exposed to the pit
ilc.s foes. The old tory was TO receive as
his reward tho land whercon the village
stood, and m annual pension from the
British government.
But stranger than hll, the plot was TO
be consumated on the very nigh, the tory's
son had been captured. while he was going
on an crrand to tory neichbor, about two
miles distant. The little band OF heroes
learned too. that the British troops had se-
cured their horses in Liying.ton's stable,
and intended 20 descend the creek In large
boat. There were twenty OF them besides
the captain. Major Bard',one. the leader
Of the hand wss IN temper and heart tho
rough demon. anl scruplcd not in hls cruel.
~ to destroy the ,lumboring infant or sick.
ly wife. No, few in that youthful band
Of patriot. iremblcd for widowed mother
or dciencclcs' sister. Some were depart.
ing Immediately. bu, James Wilson still rc.
tanning hi. grasp IN the tory's>on, ordered
all to bs silent. The prisoner was tied
hand aud foot, thick handkerchief bound
over his mouth to prevent him from calling
assistance and n stout cord fastened 20 his
breast and wound about tree. All hope Of
escape forsook George Livingston. Wilson
mo,ioncd his little band to follow him, and
in few moments they stood on the sum
init Of prccipco which overhuns White
Whi,cclay creek.
Now boys" said James Wilson, I" the
narrative which we have just heard, is true,
and as we have no muskets we must make
the bcs, Of the circumstances. The British
band will pass this -pot in their boat, and
as we have an hour 10 work, let US busy
ourselves in rolling some Of thcse large
rocks to the edge Of the prcciPice, and when
the red.cca,. pass beneath, let US sink them
10 the bottom"
Each boy went to work, and in an in.
credible short space Of time, nine huge
rocks. each halt ton in weight. wero bal.
anced upon the edge Of the giant preeipice.
The creek at this point was not moro than
twenty feet wide, and was directly over.
hung by the mass of.ock on which our he.
roes stand. II the British band descended
the creek they world certainly pass this
spot Lnd II they passed 1t. tren death was
their certain fate. In about an hour. the
quick ear oi Wilson detected the measured
beat Of muiIled oars.
They are coming" he whispered ; 4" le,
no one drop his rock until | give the word,
and then altogether"
II was beautiful night to wreak the
work OF death. The heavens were spangled
with innumerable stars, and every object
which the moonbeam' played upon sparkled
with silvery radiance.
Closer came the doomed loyalists, and the
hearts Of the boy patriots beat wildly in
their bosoms. Peering cautiously over the
cliffs, James Wilson saw the tory boa,
slowly but surely approaching. An officer
stood on the bows guiding tho Oarsmen by
his orders, and the epauets on his shoul.
dcrs told that he was the identical 6end,
Major Bardstone.
"Don't drop till | give the order" again
whispered Wilson.
when the boat was about twelve feet
IRON the rock. the boy leader fell securely
behind the stone defence and shouted,
4" Who goes ,here'"
In a moment the Oarsmcn stopped row.
ing, and gaIed with Astonishment above
them. The impetus which tho boat had
acquired. caused i, to drift slowly beneath
the rock, and just rs 1t was fairly below,
came forth the doomed words
Z" Cut loose in the name Of Liberty"
Each boy pushed his rock in that instant
and with one impulse the gigantic stones
fell. A loud shrek from the dark waters
told how wei! the plan had succeeded, aud
as the e,ultan, boys again looked over the
rock nothing was seen but few pieces OF
floating waod.
The boat had been burst to pieces, and
tho occupant. found a waiery grave beneath
the whiteclay. A cry Of victory burst
from the joyous lips Of the youthful patri-
ots, and it was echoed along the shore in
solemn grandeur.
"Now for our prisoner" cried Frank
Howard, bounding ahead; but what was
the astonishmOnt Of the boys to find that in
his efforts to free himsef, George Livingston
had been caught by tho fatal cord and