Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-15
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA

| with increduloas wonder Half-wild with de-
| light, they dragged him out upon the grass
and went dancing round him with barbaric
yellS of triumph The horses even were brought
to see, in the honr of his fall the man who
had caused them many hard gallop.
Since the discovery was made and beyond
remedy, Alice no longer avoided her old time
lover, but sought to be near him and comfort
him whenever she was allowed to. She blamed
herself greatly for being the cause of his cap
ture she would never cease to regret bringing
him to harm. Then she reproVed his termer
ty, the admiration of her eyes believing the
words of her mouth the while. There certain.
ly was no need that she should embrace him
while talking with him, especially as he couldn't
return the compliment. Perhaps she thought
to protect him from the Hessian sabres or
perhaps was weeping on his shoulder. Not a
bit of it, She was thinking how he might
escape, and telling him of her plans.
" III set the barn on fire." she says d" aud
the moment their attention is directed by that
I'll cut this band and you can be off on one of
their horseS.'
" No, Alice, bless your dear heart They'd
only murder you il | get away. You try and
take your mother over to our house, and any
silver or such like that you can carry handy
Then get team over there If you can, aud all
drive down to Cedar Island"
" I'm coming back to help you, Amos"
No, no, dear girl, you must not. Ifthere
is any chance you may be sure I'll try it but
if they found you helping me they would shoot
US both i'll minute"
Fortunately for their composure, these young
people did not understand the amiable discus
sion going IN around them. The Hessians
were divided in opinion as to whether they
would hack their captive to pieces where he
stood, each ia rotation giving him cut, or
hang him to the nearest tree. The argument
for hanging finally prevailed, hanging beio G
considered the most degrading death.
The growth of wood about Deal being most
Iy small cedars, the troopers could find no tree
suitable for their purpose except on the far
side of Poplar Creek, quarter of mile dis
tant To the creek, then. they took their way
fated prisoner, with guard of half dozen on
each side then the rest of the men-about a
score-bringin2 up the rear.
Poplar Greek, like most others long shore,
is very deep except just at the mouth, where
it widenS out aud pours across the beach into
the sea, a broad shallow stream. The process.
sion, accordingly, passed down the creek to the
shore where they prepared to cross with pre-
else military ceremony. First, the twenty in
advance were ordered over, and when they
were in position on tie other side, the prison
er and bis twelve keepers entered the stream,
thus keeping each bank guarded while the
prisoner was croSSing-a very wise disposition
no doubt, but one just calculated to afford tha
daring 'longshOreman a chance to escape. NOI
was he slow to perceive aud improve it. When
in the middle of the stream he coltrived TO
stumble against the men next him, on the off
shore side, and threw two of them without fall
ing himself. During the confusion incident to
their struggling and sputtering in the water,
with mighty effort he burst his bands and
was off, far out in the boiling surf.
After the Dutch bewildered aStonshment
had subsided the first impulse was to fire on
the bold swimmer. A dozen Intellectual shots
were tried, and then the captain concluded it
was only waste of powder. They would have
the pleasure of seeing him nearly drown, and
then he y ould wash ashore to be hung after
all.
1t certainly did seem impossible that any
human being could exist in the serf that day.
The wind had been blowing a gale from the
southwark and eastward, and the brakerS roll
ed in over the bar higher than a twoS story
house. Bnt to Cool CouoVer the chances were
not SO utterly desperate as they seemed. Fa-
miliar with the spot from childhood, he un-
derstood well all its dangers and oil human
means of overcoming them For the rest be
trusted to Providence. Swimming with all his
strength he would dive iut0 the middle of each |
wave as he met il, and gaining a little as it |
passed over him, would take long breath and |
be ready for the next one. And so, more than |
half the time deep buried in the water, he
;trove manfuly on determined to drown rath
er than go back Two or three times his |
brain whired round, and the backnesS of
darkness came over him before his hard tried |
limbs could force him through the solid water.
Buffeted and dashed about, in spite of his best |
Efforts, by the coming seas, had not spirit and
flesh been strong and resolute the HeSSians
might have hung his body yet
But at last, weary and worn, in sad plight |
indeed, he did pull through. In still water
outside the bar, having divested himself of his |
coat and boots be could float with only mis-
nose aud mouth above water and rest in COM |
Darative comfort His trials were not yet over,
however If he proposed to wait and land
under cover of night he must have felt that his
situation was hopeless. As the heightened |
shadows slowly gathered into twilight he could |
see the dragoons extending their line up and
down shore, evidently intending to biVouac on
the sand. Now swimming in little way as the
first breaker buoys him mp, be can sec them
gathering wood for their camp fires. The
captain has a field glass and is looking off,
for the Vulture perhaps. Amos
wishes she would stand in and pick him up
there might be chance of exchange. Now
here il a hurried movement down shore and |