The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-07-16
I'll cannot tell, stammered the half

dead BOY
You shall tell, Or
"Spare me, and Iii tell you everything.
When | left the house there was no one
there but our family and Major Brad
stone"
'EWho is he ?" asked James
"I don't know dou't indeed"
Tell threatened Frank.
"IIe is Captain of the Yorkshire
dragoons"
The blue eyes of James g,istened with
JOY, and he soon gained from the Tory
son a revelation which stamped his father
traitor of the most appalling character.
He discovered that old Livingston net
only kept up a correspondence with the
British commander, but he had so plot
ted in his traitorous design that the little
village Of Newark was to be burned 10
ashes and its women and children left
exposed to the pitlless foe. The old
Tory was tor receive as a compensation,
the land whereon the village stood, aud
an annual pension frcm the British
UpNGTNlbeHl.
Bat stranger than all, the plot was to
be consumated on the very night the
Tory's son had been captured, while he
was going on an errand to neighb0r
two miles distant The little band OF
heroes learned tco, that the British troops
had secured their horses in Livingston
stable, and Intended to descend the creek
in large boat There were twenty OF
them besides their captain.
Major Bradstone, though the leader of
the band, was in temper and heart thor
ough demon, and scrupled not In his cru
city to destroy the slumering infant or
the sick wife. Not few in that youth
ful band trembled for a widowed mother
or defenceIess sister. Some were for
departing Immediately, but James VIII
son, still! retaining his grasp cn thc Tory s.
son, ordered all to be silent. The pris-
oner WAS bound hand and foot, a thick
handkerchief bound over his mouth to
prevent bin from calling assistance, and
a stout cord fastened 10 his breast aud
wound about a tree. All hope of escape
forsook George Livingston. Wilson no-
toned his little band to follow him, and
in few moments they stood on the sum.
nit of high precipice which overriding
White Clay Greek.
"Now boys" said Wilson, "the nara
tive which we have Just heard is true, |
and as We have no muskets or ammuni.
tion, we must make the best Of the occa
sion. The British baud Will pass this
spo; in their boat, and as We have an
hpur 10 work let US busy ourselves in
rolIing some Of those large rocks to the
edge Of the preciplcc. and when the red /
coats pass below, let US sink them to the
bottom"
Each boy Immediately set to work, and
in an incredible short space Of time nine
huge rocks, each half ton in weight !
were balanced upon the edge Of the giant
preclpice The creek at this point was
not more than twenty feet wide, and was
directly ovcrhung by the mass of rock on
which our heroes stood If the British
descended the creek they would certainly
pass this spot; and if they pass II then
death was their certain fate. In about
an hour the q2ick ear of Wilson detected
the measured beat of mutfled oars
They are coming" he whispered, ''let
no one drop his rock til give the word,
and then all at once
Peeping cautiously over the cliffs
James Wilson saw the Tory boat slowly
but surely approaching. An officer stood
on the bow guiding the oarsmen by his
orders, and the epaolets on his shoulders
betrayed to them that he was the identi-
eal iond, Major BradstoDe.
Don't drop till l give the order"
lgaiB whispered Wilson When the
boat was about twelve feet from the rock.
he boz leader fell securely behind his
stone defence and shouted "Who goes
here 2"
In a moment the 0arsmen ceased row.
NJ and gazed with astonishment about ,
hem. The impetus which tie boat had
cquired, caused it to drift slowly beneath :
he rock, and just as it was fairly below.
:ame forth the loud doomed words:
Cut loose 10 the name Of liberty !"
Each boy pushed his rock at that in, =
tant, and as if with one impulse the
igantic stones fell 4 loud shrek from
he dark waters told how we'll the plan ;
ad succeeded, and as the exultant bows :,
gain looked over the rocks, nothing was
cen but few pieces of wood. The
oat was burst in pieces, and the occu- :,
ants found grave at the bottom of :
White Clay Creek. A cry of victory
urst from the joyous lips of the youthful q q
atriots, and it was echoed along in sol. = =
mn grandeur. =
Now for our prisoner cried Frank
Toward. bounding ahead; bat what was
ne establishment of tLe hOvs IN find that