Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-01-05

o small patch OF woods on the LETT, and chal-
| lenged the new corners. The answer was a
pistol shot from Marks, which tumbled the
challenger from his horse. A general alarm
at the farmhouse succeeded, and was an
swered by bugle-call short distance
ahead. Marks found that he had come upon
| post of the enemy, and dashed on with his
| force. At turn of the road. a hundred
yards further, they found small detachment
formed across their path. AS the Americans
knew the road forked on the other side of
this force, and their chances Of escape were
| good, if they could reach the left hand road,
which was a mere by path. to be ridden by
only one horseman at time, they charged
! sword in hand
Three of the troop managed to break thro'
and escape, but Marks, and stout trooper
named Gahl, from Bucks county, were in
tercepted, and obliged to cross saDres with
| the enemy. It proved useless to contend with
such superior numbers, by this time reinfor-
ced by others from the farmhouse; and after
short and severe contest, resulting in the
death of one of the British troops, the two
Americans were taken prisoners and carried
back to the house of M'Ilvaine.
Marks was filled with chagrin, partly at
his folly in taking the most dangerous path,
and partly at his inability to convey to the
Commander in-chief the valuable Information
he had picked up in the city. He veiled bis
modification, however, in cool and careless
dcmeanor; and in reply to the lieutenant
commanding the British detachment, said
that he had been on a foraging party, had
lost his way, aud managed to get almost in
sight of the city before he discovered his
blunder. Priscilla, who, with the rest of the
: family, was now awake and dressed, saw,
but apparently did not recognize, Marks
After some more questions, which were an
swered in what seemed to be an open man
ner the lieutenant directed the Americans to
be placed, securely bound and guarded, in
until morning. BY way of comfort, he gave
them the assurance that they would both be
hanged as spies.
Marks passed a sleepless night; it was
not alone the prospect of an ignominious
death which troubled him, but he had
learned enough in the city 70 know that q
surprise movement, similar to that attempted
on the previous 4th of December against the
American forces was set down for the fol-
lowing day, and he was aware that it was
: entirely unexpected. He revolved various
plans of escape in his mind none of which
appeared to be practicable, and finally con-
cluded to dismiss ary premeditation on the
9 matter, and be merely prepared to take ad-
vantage of any unexpected circumstances.
r As for Gahl, he took matters like philoso-
i phcr, and snored away all night in happy
, Inconsistencies of his situation.
g At daylight the prisoners were brougL;
down and placed upon the porch, while Lieut..
Draper and the men under his command took
Y breakfast il the house. The horses Of the
1 troopers, with those OF Marks and Gahl also,
/ were all saddled and hitched to the fences
b under charge of little Scotchman, named
C MPherson. Priscilla, accompanied by Lieut..
D., Draper. came out the former bearing some
e food After it was rartaken Of, Priscilla
q laid the dishes, knives and forks upon
: bench in the porch. and listened with appa
i rent interest to the questions put By Ii:
d lieutenant. The latter, by way of eneour
o agement, assured the two Americans that
is they gave true statements. their lives woule
l. be spared ed-otherwise they would certainly b
= hanged. lie then left them for short time
IS to digest the information, Prisbilia remaiuin!
r. behind.
l. The Quaker girl, still appearing not to re
# cognize Marks, said to him. loud enough t
At be heard by the soldiers who were passing t
At and fro:
y Il would advise thee. friend, to tell al
Il thee knows. Friend Draper Will keep hi
l. word with thee, [ am sure"
lie She then added, In low voice:
( Keep still, John aud l will save thee
,r Answer what say, but pay no heed to vha
in [ do"
If Marks caught her intent in a moment, an
r replied aloud:
=. Il won't turn scoundrel miss, for fear G
ID death, even if had any surety the csptai
IS there would keep his word"
I'd Other conversation followed, aud Priscilla
to who had concealed sharp knife in her sleeve
rn managed to cut the prisoners bonds withou
E. observation, cautiouing them at the sam
ne time not to move too soon. She told ther
tn that the lieutenants horses, one Of which wa
r, ridden by his servant, and both standin
lis nearest the gate were the swiftest of all, an
on then went out and exchanged some sHgl
lie observation with M'Pherson, patting and az
miring the various horses, one by one. Marx
by kept close watch upon her. anu notice
We that she passed something under the saddle
nd cloth Of each horse but she did not lay b,
lie hands upon the two horses of the lieutenan
ite Priscilla returned presently, and with si
he nifcant glance at the captives, entered Il
,er house and engaged Lieut.. Draper in conve
lrd satiOn.
III MPherson, in the meanwhile had notic
me that some maneuvering was being made, al
ID, came to the porch to iDspec; the fastcuiDgs
ms the prisoners. AS he did SO, Gahl, who W
alf very powerful, struck him between the II
but eyes with his full force, and the Scotchm
lat fell backwards from the raised floor to I
he ground, striking his head against stone
yet severely to take away his senses for
ing time. Before the alarm could be give
up Marks and Gahl were mounted on the o
GERS horses. and galloping furiously up
ug, road Draper rnshed out. and pistols
the being Intellectual. he ordered pursuit.
d the party had not proceeded dozen va
to before every horse grew reative, and
rse- length utterly unuanageable, All atsem