The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-16
An INCaDEET OF '5e.


Night had set in deep, and In . email
log cabin situated few miles from Tren.
ton, n. j., sat FIVE men, four of whom
were seated around an old oaken table il
the center of the room engaged in playing
cards, while they frequently moistened
their throsts with large draughts from m
earthen jug that stood on the table.
They were heavily bearded, coarse look
ing men, and from their dress, which pons-
what resembIed the Ritish uniform, they
were evidently tories The other was q
stout built young man, clad in the conti>
mental uniform. He sat in one corner Of
the room with his face buried in his lanIs.
"Tom," said one of the Tories, rising
from the table and seating himself near
the young prisoner, for such he evidently
was, ''Tom, you and l were school boys
together, and like you yet Now, why
| can't you give up your wild notions and
Join US. You are our prisoner, and if You
don't we shall hand you over TO headquar-
ters to morrow, while if you join Dc your
fortune is made, fer with your bravery
and talents you will soon distinguish
| yourself in the 70, q srny, and after els
rebellion is crushed out, your canse would
be rewarded by knighthood and promo-
tion in the army. Now there are tHo
alternatives; which do you cheossi
Neither" said the young man, raising
his head and looking the Tory steadily in
the eye.
"I am now, as you say. your prisoner,
but when the clock strikes twelve I sIal,
leave you-I shall disappear in e eloud Of
fire and smoke, and neither you nor your
comrades, not even myself can prevent it.
You may watch me as closely as you
please, tie me hand and foot if you will,
but a higher power than yours or mine
has ordained that shall leave VOC At that
ime."
"Poor fellow, his mind wanders," said
te Tory, ''he'Il talk differently in the
morn ng" And ne returned 10 his seat ut
the table, leaving the youth with his head
again resting in his h,nds.
When the clock struck eleven, ths young
prisoner drew a Iipe and some tobacco
from his pocket, and asked the Tory lsader
if he had any objection to his srsoking.
''NOne in the least" he said. adding with
a laugh-''that is, if you'll promise not 1o
disappear in cloud of tobacco smoke -
The young man made no reply. But I'm
mediately filed and lighted his pipe. having
done which, he arose and commenced pac-
ing the floor.
He took half dozen turns up anddcwn
each side of the room, approaching Nearer
the table each time, when having exhhuSs-
ed his pipe he returned to his seat and
refilled it.
He continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve, when ne aroee from his seat
and slowly knocking the ashes out Of Lis
pipe, said
"Thcre, boys, lis twelve O'Clock, and
must leave you good bye -
Immediately all around the room streaks
of fire ran kissing and squirming the cabin
WAS filled with dense, sulphurous smoke,
amidst which was heard a clap of thunder
The Tories sat in their chairs paralyEed
with fright.
The smoke soon cleared away, but the
prisoner was nowhere to be eeen The ta :
ble was overturned, the window wns
smashed to pieces, and one chair was y ing
on the ground outside of the building.
The Tory leader, after recovering from
his Etupor, gave one glance around ths
room and sprang out of the window.
followed by his comrades. They ran
through the forest at the top of their speed
Id the direction of the British encampment,
leaving their muskets and other arms to
the mercy of the flames, which had now
begun TO devour tie cabin.
The next day two young man dressed
in tho Continental uniform were seen
standing near the ruins Of the old cabin.
One ~as of the night previous. "Let US
hear all about it, Tom" said the other.
''Well," said he, ''last evening as.I wss
passing this place, two Tories ran Qua of
the cabin and took possession of me.
Before i could make any resistance they
took me il, and who do you suppose saw
as leader of their party but John Barton,
our old school mate. He taftsd with me,
and tried to induce me to join them; bos
: told them I couldn't do it--that at
twelve O'Clock I vas going to escape, dis
appear in a cloud of fire and smoke bat
he laughed at nS and said Uas out of
my head.
"About stsSs1 O'Clock 1.skad hil.a If l
might smoke. Ee lid ko Aa1 no objeo-
tions /; 60 filled - : ye and :,,;hsed 1t.
and commcucsG xs..ipg t1e Soos. had
about pound os guaPoN Ia my pocket.
and es walked ssrsv-1i !: Z 4 osar the
floor. Nhea TIA S;ccS SEc:h twelve ]
. bid then sooG cye, e@d tsIl thsEa had
, TO 90 an tie3 Lnoc.iEg TO, ,aes ont oi
I1y pipe, shs powder iGnitoa SEs Do sling
f.a.ns o. Ere Gssoa ss~oSA escG-j and al
. o7er tee room, Eheg , waA so9beatine
eacSa. BotO5s il cloerOj scsS hurled
q eh1;r tsroUga ia v..z3sV, GrNnS Out
and depasted, kasiCs eSr - their owe
reflections. Ycu kroC tx ~"
l LAusEreo, Pun czta e - cher.