The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-11-14

AiAttoNNl hNS az llOlitC ataI lLOilS I44t'S AAS
was going to stay over night, and strongly
urged the brutal Tories to come and take
him and that he would be on hand to help
them. Of course they joyfully accepted
the invitation, telling the betrayer that
they would be at the mansion before II
o'clock that evening. Dick returned home
and reported his mother better. During
the evening the willy Ashantee managed
to slip into his masters bedroom, and
taking his pistols from the holster he
dipped them in water and replaced them.
He likewise drew Mr.. Pickens' sword from
the scabbard and placing his foot on it
he broke the blade, leaving about foot
of it attached to the hilt. He replaced the
broken weapon in the scabbard and hid the
balance Of the blade. The villain unlocked
the rear door of the chamber, and put the
key in his pocket. After this he chuckled
at his cunning, and thinking his plans
complete, awaited the coming events with
some anxiety.
Meanwhile Mr.. Pickens and his lady had
been seated in their summer house. He
had told her exactly where their encamp-
ment was, and she was well acquainted
with the spot. About sundown he called
Dick and gave him directions in regard to
his business, and his obsequious servant
was ready and willing TO do anything for
'marst." The sun had set. supper was
over and Mr.. Pickens and lady had retired
to their chamber, but had not gone to bed.
Dick was "a settin IN de kitchen, Il lookin
outen de winder, watching for de To
ries." About eleven o'clock Mr. Pickens
hearing noise went to the window and
saw by the light Of the full moon that the
yard was filed with armed men, about
twenty five in number. He raised the win
dow and inquired the cause of this intru-
sion. He was answered by gruf, brutal
voice, that he well knew came from a GER
tain Captain Kaig, 4 notorious Tory and
murderer, who told him that he was their
prisoner, and that he must come down i'm
mediately, or they would come up and
take him. The villain at the same time
gave his men their orders that they must
take the prisoner alive and unhurt, and
;hat If any of them wounded him he would
! shoot them in their tracks for, said he,
''Air. Fickens has to hang on King George S
Oak" The tree was about four miles dis
tant, and was favoriie place with the To
ries to hang innocent men, and already
| several Of the gallant sons of liberty had
been executed at this fatal spot by the say
! age, brutal Tories
Mr.. Pickens answered them defiantly,
telling them to come up and take him if
| they felt ike it. Oar hero now whispered
to his wife and told her what to do She
was calm, cool and collected. The dew
| lis were ascending the steps, our soldier
prepared to receive them. He first seized
his sword, and drawing the broken weapon,
! he cast it from him and seized his pistols
! and prepared for action. With wild; bru-
tai curses the foe advanced on him. He
! snapped first one pistol and then the other.
He saw that some traitor had been there,
but he could not guess who. There was
no time to lose. He dubbed his heavy
pistol and knocked the first villain down
a second savage shared the same fate and
the third fell under fearful blow to rise
no more. The passage was narrow, and
| he kept the enemy at bay. They could
easily have shot him. but their orders were
to take him unhurt under the penalty OF
! death. But at this crisis, as our hero was
facing the foe he was seized from behind
and hurled to the floor by the powerful
arms of the negro traitor, who sprang
upon his masters breast and held him by
brute force until the room was filed with
i hlnpHthirStyr yyilIainS VIII haI /, IN,
securely tied. After they had him secure
they Informed him that he would be hung
on King Georges Oak at sunrise, the bru-
tai Kaig telling him that God, man OF
devil could not save him. Mrs. Pickens
heard all they said, and left. No one
knew where she went. They took their
prisoner into the yard, mounted him on a
horse and tied him to the stirrups. The
villains did not even stop to plunder the
mansion, the captain telling them it would
be time enough to plunder the house after
they returned. They carried out their
dead companion and laid him under tree
in the yard, and said they would attend to
him on their return. Now they started
for the oak. Dick mounted a horse and
! went along, as he said, to ''see de fun. "
They got to the oak before daylight, and
dismounting turned their horses loose to
Craze. They sat about in groups and
waited for dawn. They did not deem it
requisite TO place any scouts or guards, foT
they thought that no enemy was nigh, land
their leader told them that Sumpter was
sixty miles distant. Dick had stolen a
small demUohn of fine old brandy from his
master, and with this be treated ''de jem-
men, The coarse, brutal kaig gave
Dick liberty to taunt his powerless master,
which the sarage fiend did in his OWL
style, telling him among other things, ''dat
dis chile am de owner oh de place now, al
dat de proud mistis would be his servant .
/, But Mr.. Pickens bore his taunts without
. ! or;,,;p., them the SemblaOce of attention