Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-01-26
NO. "A.

/ breathing latlmated lighter sleep than
seemed to have locked the two rfians at
: the lire. Still the young man remained
with closed eyes, and 1t was only as l was
just beside him that he started with a
J bound, and glared upon me with a new
terror In his face. | doubt not but that
he thought, as l rose up so unexpectedly
before him in that dusky light that I was
a spirit from the other world " Hush r.
[ whispered, putting my lips to his ear
not word, pointing to the men
was over there; I know all about you
wait till l cut those cords. When with
my pen-knife I had done so, it was some
time before he could use his freed limbs,
1t required but few words to eDjoIn speed
and caution. Do you unbar the door,
/ [ again whispered and for your life
take care Of a sound" Slowly and softly
we moved on. / possessed myself of the
loaded pistol that lay By one Of the sleep
/ ers, as l passed him. But our chief diff
| Guilty lay IN getting the door opened. The
iron bar that crossed it was fix ed in a
staple, and fitted so tightly rs to require
considerable effort for its release, while
the nervousness with which his whole
frame shook made Sweeny but a clumsy
hand
" Let me try" I said a t last in despair
L had just succeeded in drawing cut the
bar, and with scarcely a sound, when my
companion, in a Mortified tone, cried
" For Gods sake hurry I hear the old
woman stirring"
[ INSTANTLY pulled the bolt back more
rapidly; and aware of its weight, it fell
with a dull, heavy clang on the earthen
floor. l hardly know now what at that
terrible moment we did. There was an
instantaneous rustling movement from
the bed but we waited for nothing. All
l can recOllect is, that, quick as light
ming, we were both out upon the heath.
" / IL hold you L don't know the way,
I gasped, as I dreaded that my compan-
ion might think only of himself and de-
sert me. I am sure that he never dreamed
of doing so. He seized me tightly by
the arm aud on we went headlong,
plunging through swamps, and more than
once falling over some unseen lmpedl-
ment. The night was very dark. and l
trusted entirely to my guide. Want of
breath at last compelled US to halt and
we stood painting for moment. Not a
sound of any kind reached US. If pur-
sued at first our foes must have been at
fault, as we heard nothing Of them.
3" Tell me what was to be done tonight
at the colonePs ?" l asked SWeeny.
Fire and murder, was his expressive
answer.
"Come on there at once-you know
the way" | said" will you?
Yes, and without another word, di-
verging a little from the course We had
been pursuing we again hurried forward
with fresh speed. We soon reached the
termination of the bog crossed a road
and got into some fields.
Over there" whispered SWeeny, " is
the colOnel's." Colonel Grey, he ad
ded, in reply to an inquiry. What are
you going to do there
g To warn them-tO save them, to be
sure" / answered And never fear" l
continued, as I noticed some reluctance
on the part of the lad g [ saved you al
ready, aud I'll take care of you still nc
harm shall come to you"
We continued our course through two
or three fields, and turned out on what
appeared to me to be a narrow by-road,
when suddenly, as if from the ditch close
by US, deep, hOarse voice gave a chal-
lenge, who goes there"
May | never" calculated SWeeny, In
a trembling whisper, ''if it ism t the boys;
they're waitin for the rest to go up to the
colonel S.
Answer them boldly" I whispered.
SWeeny replied to the challenge, when
a rapid oss-questioning ensued, and
some passwords were demanded and CIV
en-,
who's with your" asked the speaker
who challenged US, now standing out
in the road, and who seemed to be the
leader of the party, who were still con-
cealed in the ditch
A momentary hesitation nearly proved
fatal to US.
"Oh, " he answered, and his voice shook,
"'tis Bill, sure. We are to go on, Barney
said, and see alps right, and give you the
'7You had better stay here grufay re-
sponded the speaker Go on, indeed
What signal 2"
Just whistle and no more l must
be ruled by Barney, as he's the leader to-
night, replied Sweeny, with an atfectatlon
Of sukiness in his tone, that showed
more presence Of mind than 1 had hoped
well on with you then, and if you
spoil it all tisn't my doing, and to my
infinite relief the speaker sank again into
the shelter from which be had emerged.
We passed leisurely forward beside the
lurking party. afraid to go fast least sus-
picion should be aroused but we had
hardly advanced dozen PAGES when the
heavy tramp Of feet, running at full speed
upon the road, distinctly reached our ears
and from the stir among the ambushed
men, was evidently heard by them too.
"0n, on, for our very lives ]" exclaimed
| Sweeny. Come this Way-quiekl' ~ and
| he plunged in among some thick planta-
| tions, through which it was no easy task
I TO auNhuCE III buC 0hL w GdlAEAN a.
we forced our way through voices loud
and furious behind US, and the single ter
rible expression "Hells fire, men, be
after them - discovered to US at once the
danger we had to apprehend.
This way, this way" cried Sweeny,
dragging me forward we may do them
yet"
/ In two or three minutes we reached a
small, wooden door in a wall, with which
my companion seemed acquainted. He
opened it quickly; and then, we having
passed through. bolted it on the other
side 1t admitted US into what looked
| like the extensive back premises of a
spacious mansion, that rose up dark and
gloomy on our left. Sweeuy strobe rapid .
| II to where single lamp was burning IN
a small window, low, near the ground.
At this he gave two peculiar taps. At
once the light moved.
The moment he opens the door,
whispered Sweeny, that he's coming to
do-you manage with that pointing to
the pistol that 1 had. IT'S Griffen, the
butler, I mean, he's in the plot; and then
you can alarm the house; aud there Is
not moment to be lost"
Most cautiously, an old, grey-heued,
respectable looking servant opened, the
door at which we had stationed ourselves,
rs it all right, Barney? ?" asked low
voice.