Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-29


ing toward the American rendezvous.
II.
John Putnam, who had so easily
duped his pursuers, at the deserted ho-
tel-deserted because Of late foray and
murderous attack upon it By the Brit
ish--was indeed hurrying along the turn
pike, with pack upon his shoulders and
a staff in his hand. Under the lining
of bis clothes were secreted descriptions
Of the English forces lying in the vicin-
ity, which 1t was necessary to place in
Gen. Washington's possession, before he
could make any decisive movement. Put
nam 5 mission had thus far been success
ful, and upon his safe return reposed the
equal success of his commander There
fore, knowing himself pursued, he had
already assumed and doffed several dis
guises, in the course of hundred miles
travel, and at length, in his original cos
tune, hailed with joy the familiar spots
that indicated his approach to the Amer
lean outposts.
Thank Heaven r. he exclaimed,
that these weary limbs are near home.
But thrice the distance would [ walk,
and, az, even let myself be hanged at
the door of an inn, to further Wash
ington's glory and save the lives Of my
countFymen. God r. he cried, looking
upward, Thou who watehest this strug-
gle for Liberty, smile on our last effort .
Save from tyranny thy true believers
But the sun will be up, JRon ; l must
quicken my gait already those troopers
may have discovered my deceit, and are
following me- Fearful Is the apprehen-
sion. But, never finch, Jack Putnam
this stick shall not let thee die without
an effort.
"Ahl did hear football? +? Hist
Nay, it was the futter of some bird, or
the dawn-awaking Of some beast Stay,
an I'm captured or killed, who will-oh,
the torture my wife and child But
l have it Gen. Washington promised
to 'aet a fathers part toward ny children,
if l should fall doing my duty. It's all
right-it's all right, old fellow. Hal
lOa this is Hickory Hill, and I'm not
far of the lines Now, feet Of mine,
walk In this soliloquising manner be
muttered, until suddenly the Gathering
oi horse feet became too distinct to es-
cape his notice.
. Thunder can they be 50 close +?
And yet cannot hide in the brushwood.
Washington must have these papers by
twelve o'clock this day; l havn time
10 hide, ike coEardly y TedcOat I'm no
coward, though dozen Hessians be on
nv trail. ike bloodhounds. III 60 on,
an if my tongue saves me not, by the
mighty Hercules, this club shall,
So he continued his journey, and came
in view of the beautiful Hudson, that in
the distance was dotted by the white can
vss of several fisherman, bat these foated
on their way unnotieed BY him, who
strained every nerve short Of running, 70
gain the Continental headquarters. But
nearer and closer came the horseman,
and he could recognize their grutt voices
II. boisterous converse. Putnam turned
a curve in the road, that ran up the hill
side surrounded by huge trees and mas
siye rocks..everything combining to ren-
der the spot romantic. While climbing
this eminence, and for the hundredth
time. boldly resolving not to secrete him
s,,lf. he heard, with an emotion OF excite
m,nt, the dragons within fifty yards Of
him and having Just rounded the bluH,
thew discovered him. Both shouted
with joy.
Hah, thou cursed rebel we have
tbe, at last" cried the rufian, Wolf
). Halloa, there, stop, or by George, We l.
make minee meat Of thee-halloa-a-a
..I In the kings name, halt! com
manded captain Dick, or rather Capt
Richard asoles, man superior in some
respects to MSS companion.
!. Shall I be deaf. or stupid, or Dutch?
dueried the peddlar to himself. open
defiance Is last resource % But he
quickly decided, as Wolf called out,
: Halt! thou base, low, peddling cow
ard, or III crop thine ears with my sa-
bre. Nerving his arm, he suddenly
stopped and turned to meet them.
. The same by the gods = exclaimed
Dick, on observing the peddlars brave
face.
Huzza FIVE hundred pounds
down on thy marrow bones, and beg thy
life.
What want We with me ?" demanded
the American.
Want? Ask our colonel-ask the
gihbet on to-morrow's dawn. Want ?
Why, down, spy, on thy knees, and sur
render
That viii not shouted the other,
with sudden energy, that startled both
the soldiers. Flinging off his burden,
bv quick motion, he caught up his
club. and with the first blow shivered to
pieces the sword uplifted by the Captain
10 arrest him.
"Thy steel Wolf he's broken mine.
Traitor by heaven thol shalt die
Nay, nay, it taketh two to make
bargain, coolly said Putnam, and while
the Captain was grasping his pistols,
another blow from the staff, discharged
one of them in the air, and so discom-
fitted him that for moment he remained
inactive.
Wolf struck the spy: shoulder with
his weapon, but made no dangerous
wound. and boldly seizing him, the latter
by main strength, dragged the burly fel-
low from his saddle. A thousand
furies T. shrieked he. | believe thou
art Satan.
aI,et this convince thee r cried the
faeteious peddlar, grasping the raseals
long sword, aud by powerful exertion,
wrenching it from hin, and dropping ms
stick. But by this time, Dick bad re-
covered. and firing his remaining pistol,
its ball entered the peddlar 5 leg, causing
RIM for an instant to tr.embls with pain.
Helpr" screamed the conquered
b,uv as he fell under a severe blow
from his own sword and then, as the
Captain leaped from his horse to assist,
the scene became thrilling to excess.
The sword proving useless IN tins close
.one;ct Pntuam dexterously broke it to
r. ,,I LicEipo, tho