The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-27

Swamp
With quick. unexpected movement, Van
tassle drew her to him. lifted her in bis arms.
and moved toward the dark and tangled mass
of wood lying in the rear of the mansion at
the distance of hundred rods, and covering
an area of ten miles in circumference.
By this time Ruth and Judith had missed
her, and came running to the spot as he was
bearing her away. They cried loudly for assist
auce. while terror nearly deprived them of sense
and Volition. At the the moment when the
catastrophe seemed complete. q tai man with
q large black patch over his left eye and a long
rifle in his hand, sprang from a clump Of shrub
berry. seized Vantassle by the throat, wrested
Jessie from his grasp, and choking him till he
was black in the face. hurled him to the ground.
1 While Vantassle lay stunned upon the earth,
his vaRqaisher took his musket from his un-
nerved hand. discharged il into the air, and
broke the stock against the trunk of tree
He en- drew the pistols from The Tory's belt
and thrust them into his own from which all
lreadY protruded the butts of four. The blade
of Vantasse's knife he snapped by thrusting
lit into the cleft of rock but the heavy sabre
he tucked TO his side leaving the rufian en-
,ltirely unarmedss Is es~
sln, gals, in cried the rescuer. Bar your
doors, and say your prayers,for the Tory hounds
have scented blood. and will not rest till they
have gorged themselves
1 The tall, wild looking man glanced at Jessie,
and observing that she was faint, caught her
up as if she were an infant. and carried her to
1.-THE door. Placing her carefully in the thresh
hold, he repeated hs startling warning, aud
vanished 10 the deepening shadows of night,
He was gone before the young ladies had re-
covered sufficiently from their dismay TO thank
him = 50 se-a
While they gazed at each other in stupor
1of wonder, man leaped q high fence at the
right and crossing the intervening ground.
lstood before them, painting and covered with
perspiration. L was Tom Hutter, the partisan
tand scout. who was known to the neiehboring
floyaIisis as staunch aud unsweryiDg patriot
and brave man, shrinking from no danger.
and stunning none of the responsibilities OF
the part he had chosen. 55t
Tom HntIer,' exclaimed Judith and Ruth,
simultaneously. what has happened You
are excited Sith effort; You can scarcely stand
i have been pursued,' said Hutter. i have
had race for dear life. In, and barricade
the doors. A party of the miserable rene
gades will be here in a minute. Where's
BliIko 2 s-a...i;. 80 y - ,qi-si.liaos nss
Il don't know. said Judith, He went out q
few minutes ago. So f,si.
>, (Which way? asked Hutter. > )
p Judith indicated the direction with her fin
fger. 10 ass 7 ~ slF 90
a . Hutter started off like racehofse He saw
a dark object suspended from the anch of q
tree 1t was Blinko. Who was swaying to and
fro, aud quivering in the agonies Of strangula
tion.n Hutter cut him down in an instant, anC
i tearing the rope from bis neck. staggered to
ward the house beneath the weight of hi,
great body A half dozen musket shots wers
Z poured after him from the nearest copse The
balls perforated his clothes and grezed his skii
in several places. but he reached the house il
safety with the half dead black. Leaving hin
: to the care of Jupe. the mulatto gTl, be bar
red the doors and fastened the windows.
Jessie, who had partially recovered her self
possession, looked out and saw forms moving
to and fro among the shrubbery. Her hear
misgave her. How could they resist so man,
enemies She thought of the strange NAL
who had so opportunely appeared to save he
tfrom Vantassle. She wondered why he hai
;left them at such juncture. His deep, reso
5f,lant voice rang in her ears si4 xii
g .Staud back from the window, said Ton
autter. 3 a.s siri,59. t3a e. -
I The warning was timely; charge of buck
hot crashed through the panes as she steppe
G aside, some of whish perforated her dress.w bill
lone of the hurting messenger drew blood tror
her white neck. -
These miscreants make war upon women
5 exclaimed Ruth lHaviland. y,
Make war upon women, Miss Havilandf-
They are more savage nor the wolves aud ca
amounts that prowl through Laurel Swamp
Neither beauty nor tears can move 'em. The
are ten times worse nor the Britishers then
selves. They've marked their way throug
[Carliny with fire and blood. outrage and rol
horv tFs-s~ s,.-zilsa Z