The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-05-23

pal oCN, eeAA were SOOn lOSt TO the
eye in the thick woods through
which the path ran. Scarce had
they gone from view of their COM
panions, when the quick ear Of Will
son detected a noise.
"Hist," said he to Frank, as he
pulled him behind a gigantic beach
tree. The noise soon resolved into
"a human football, and in another
moment George Livingston, the to-
rvs son, stood opposite the tree.
Wilson darted from his cover, and
tightly gripped the boy by the neck.
The cowardly- youth trembled like
reed.
"Speak one word" said his cap
tor, land Ill toss you into this
creek 2"
The tory's son was struck dumb
With fright, and before he could re-
cover from his stupor, found him.
self in the midst Of the whole group
of boy heroes, with the vice like
grip Of James and Frank on either
arm.
"Now," said James, "answer me
promptly and correctly, or I'll make
your position uncomfortable. Do
you hear? Who are in your fathers
house at this moment ?''
''I-I cannot tell,'' stammered the
almost dead youth.
"You shall tell Or"
s.Spare me, and / will disclose
everything. When I left the house
there was no one but our own fam
lily and Captain Bardstone."
"Who is he p asked James.
81 don't know don't indeed ?"
"Telli' threatened Frank.
"He is Captain of the York.
shire Dragoons."
The blue eyes of James glistened
with joy, and he soon gained from
the torys son revelation which
stamped his father as traitor Of
the most appalling character. He
discovered that old Livingston not
only kept up a correspondence with
the British commander, but that he
had plotted in his traitorous designs
that the little village Of Newark was
to be burned to ashes, and its women
and children exposed to the mercies
of these pitiless foes. The old tory
was to receive as his reward the land
whereon the village stood; and an
annual pension from the English
government.
But stranger than all the plot was
to be consummated on that very
night, and the tory's son had been
captured while he was going on an
errand to tory neighbcrhood about
two miles distant
The little band Of heroes learned
too, that the British troops had Sc
cured their horses in Livingston's
stable, and descended the creek in
large boat. There are twenty of
them besides the captain. Bard
stone, the leader of the band, was in
UeIHper anu 1IeaTU d PcTrcCs uUInOn5
and scrupled not, in his cruelty, to
destroy the sleeping infant or the
sickly wife. Not a few in that
youthful band of patriots trembled
for the safety of widowed mother,
or a defenceless sister.
Some were for departing immedi-
ately, but James Wilson, who still
retained his grasp on the tory's son,
ordered all to be silent. The pris-
oner was tied hand and foot, thick
handkerchief tied over his mouths
to prevent his calling for assistance
and stout cord fastened to his
breast and wound about tree. All
hopes of escape forsook George Liv-
ingston. Wilson motioned his little
band to follow him, and in a few
moments they stood on the summit
of a high precipice which oyerhung
White Clay Creek.
Now, boys" said James Wilson,
''the narrative we have just learned
is true; and as we have no muskets
or ammunition, we must make the
best of the occasion. The British
band will pass this spot in their boat.
and as we have an hour to work, let
us busy ourselves in rolling some Of
these large rocks to the edge of this
precipice, and when the red coats
pass below, let US sink them to; the
bottom"
Each boy set Immediately to work
and in an incredibly short time, nine
huge rocks, each of half tun in
weight, were nicely balanced upon
the edge Of the giant precipice.
The creek at this point was not
moro than twenty feet wide, and was
directly overhung by the mass of
rocks on which our heroes stood.
If the British band descended the
creek, they would certainly pass
this spot; and if they passed it, then
death was their certain fate. In
about an hour the quick ears of Will
son detected the measured stroke Of
the muffled oars.
s.They are comfng;" he whispered.
-"let no one drop his rock until I
give the word, then all at once"
1t was q beautiful night to wreak
work of death. The heavens were
spanGled with innumerable stars,
and every object upon which the
moonbeams played sparkled with
silvery radiance.
Closer came the doomed Royalist.
and the hearts of the boy patriots
beat wildly in their bosoms. Peer
ing cautiously over the cliff, James
Wilson saw the torys slowly but
surely approaching. An officer
stood in the bow, guiding the oars
men by his orders, and the epaulets
on his shoulders told that it was the
identical fiend, Major Bardstone.
Don't drop till | give the order"
again whispered Wilson.
When the boat was about twenty
feet from the rocks, the -boy-leader
fell securely behind his stone de-
fence, and shouted who goes there ?
In moment the oarsmen ceased
rowing, and gazed with amazement
above them. The impetus which the