The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-23

over the prairie. f.e
Two footmen pass him, and direct their
course to the southwest. One ofthem is
almost naked. His rags seem to hang
upon him by some wonderful and un-
known contrivance. Yet he is patriotic
very. He. carries on his shoulder a
musket, upon which is fixed rusty old
bayonet.
Look westward Two horsemen are
approaching at full speed /; they are COM
ing towards the field, and will pass near
the cabin of Old Argus.
They halt at the cabin; make an in
quiry for old Argus.
His wife is alarmed. They advance
toward the field; intercept the footmen /;
make detour to the southwest, and pass
around the point of that bluff and dis
appear.
Ragamuffin returns back, and passes
through the field, near where Argus is at
work.
"What do those men want, Scarecrow Pr
"They say the Missourians are coming
in, and you ard every man must turn out,
and go up there, southwest, two miles, to
see what to do"
Gall wind, Scarecrow. 1t is not So"
II allow they are in. Sam told me,
that Prey said, that man told him that
a man come up and brought the news"
Saying which, the rags rlove on, and
Argus shoulders his hoe aid goes home
to consult his wife. He, however, soon
returns to the field and goes to work,
while every other man in the vicinity at
tends the meeting.
Speeches are made; resolutions are
passed, as the day is passing, and COM
pany of abou. sixty in number is formed
| 1t is secret organization. They re-
turn to their homes, and for day or two
all is quiet. The new recruits have not
yet been put 10 the test, and cannot yet
be called veterans. 1t is necessary to test
them. Let us see with what alacrity
they rally to the post of danger.
"The Missourians are collecting in the
Territory, at Hamilton's Fort, below the
Trading Post" cries a horsemsn, as he
dashes along at full speed. He passes
over bluff, over bottom land, through
creeks and ravines, and does not pause
until he has passed nearly across the
county.
Others take up the startling cry, and
start off in different directions. The day
is warm their horses perspire aud pant
but no matter. Onward still onward
till the whole region are aroused, under
arms, and in motion to drive back the
audacious foe.
There they go, rallying at their coun-
try's call, and bravely forsakins The
peaceful and quiet charms of domestic
and social life, to embrace the stern and
terrible ordeal of the battle field.
tits patriotic and praiseworthy deed
Leave is hastily taken of wives, mothers
sisters and the girls that are most dear
The mouth is hastily cr.mmed with food
the pocket with ammunition, before th'
old death-dealing musket is shouldered
and then in groups of three, four or more
they start off for the scene of action.
Our friend, with the rusty bayonet i
in motion among the rest, and sails beau
tifully before the breeze, while hi
! breeches, which are most patheticall.
fractured, fill and flap and futter as
they had caught the inspiration of th
! occasion, and were crowding on all th
canvass the craft could carry, and maxim
all the headway possible.
9 There are several Dutchmen in th
company, but they took the alarm NOR
, coolly than Others, and before the
shouldered their muskets, each individ Us
i filled and lit his pipe. And now the
go smoking and jabbering along the roat
? They have left their work and will 500
: return.
On rush the motley crowd of patriots
some on foot /; Others on horseback
+ Others on jay-hawked mules. There a
also several jay -hawked horses III the con
: pany; butthe word is, onward and the
n footmen and rider, make the best use
: the legs that are under them that ths
D can, and hasten to the contest lest son
o unforeseen casualty shall pluck the vi
tory from their hand and rob them Of Il
. glory of a brilliant campaign.
Onw ard still onward! through 1T
l miserable Pro-slavery town of P" aero
0, smuddy bottom several miles in extsn
g, they dash through the Marais des Cygn,
ie pass the Trading Post, and range ther
g selves along in battle array, somewh
= more than rife shot from Hamilton's Fo
: People in the nsighborhood tell the
st ii is not safe to venture down to the {,
with such a small command, as it Is 4
re exactly known how many are there, :
y surely they outnumber the force viii
have come to assail them.
Is A consultation is held. There can
= no harm at least in keeping at proI
at distance. at may be meal, and it m
e be something l should not relish quite
u well :" so said the rat in the fable. and
e, in substance said and thought that M
IN shal band.
A few Of the more rash and foolhar
" of the band advance, and make . rect
at noisance, but it is, on the whole, not q
y, sidersd prudent to commence an attack
ed present. From the position they occu
-, | ,@ ,z,,,ld ~ ,,..lass ~, arcornne of ,