The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-02-26
heart; her fathers words sounded like

After a while they reached an open
space. Dark as it was, they could per
ceiy- they had overcome the worst diff
culties Of the road.
Jacob took his daughter by the hand,
and led her to a cave ia the rock near
by.
I'VE are now on the frontier, he said
You must stay here; you would only
be in the way over there; and he point
ed ahead of him. ''When | RETURN" he
continued, "I'll whistle; and as soon a.
you hear me, stir yourself. for we'll have
to BE- in a hurry"
Martha sat down upon a stone, and
began to eat a piece Of black bread.
while her father went his way.
In the meantime Fred Anker had
called to see his sweetheart, and receiv-
ed the message Martha had sent by her
| younger sister.
When Fred heard it his brow grew
| gloomy, and lac pondered few moments,
then, as if suddenly resolved, he left the
/ hhAS W lOliON lIdill tlldl
Jacob Krone and his daughter had
| taken
When Martha had eaten her bread,
she sat and listened. She could hear the
mOnotonous fall of the water and the
signing of the wind. The snow had now
ceased falling. She gazed out of the
cavern and saw that the stars had come
out, and the moon was rising, How
slight a thing will sometimes drive
gloom from ones heart Martha actual
| ly felt cheerful when she found the bad
weather had disappeared. She thought
of Frederick, little supposing that lac
was climbing the mountain that moment
to serve her if she needed his assistance
As she sat there calling to mind the
bright face and kind words of her lover,
she heard the signal and footsteps ap-
preaching, and suddenly her father came
to the cave with pack, which he drag
ged after him.
Here, he said, "pull it in; it is not
heavy; but it is a good round sum
though"
Martha hauled the pack into the cave
and her father disappeared again. After
a while she heard his whistle, and he re-
turned with a second load. He com
manded her to shoulder the first package
and go on before him.
"'Tis unfortunate the moon has risen
so soon. l thought We were going to
have a dark night, growled Krone. But
We must hurry tis dangerous to be car
rying the contraband over these roads.
One mile further, " he continued, ''then
I'm safe"
''Father do you hear the barking Of
dogsD asked Martha.
''No, no, girl; travel on" replied
Krone.
"There, l hear it again, =" cried the girl,
''and there is something snuffing behind
us; am sure there is"
''Go along, go along, and hold your
tongue, replied her father
Suddenly Martha stopped and spoke
in whisper, as she pointed over on
their left.
''There is something moving" she
said. ''Now, don't you see itg"
The moonbeams were slanting through
the pines and gave an uncertain light,
but no sooner had Jacob Krone looked
in the direction his daughter indicated,
than he uttered an oath.
"a 'Tis the sharpshooters, he cried.
1--WE are lost if we do not reach the ra-
vine. Quick, girl, quick"
A dog came up and sprang at Krone's
throat, but he seized the creature and
threw him into the abyss which was at
hand. a second dog now made for the
smugsleF, and Jacob, thinking only of
safety, hurled his pack at the savage
brute, and both pack and dog went roll
ing down the mountain side
"Give me your pack" he cried, TAX
ing the pack from the girls back and
springing down the rocky path, with his
daughter following him. Destruction
seemed to press close upon their steps.
Voices in the rear frequently shouted,
''Haltr'
Jacob returned no answer, but dashed
Oh his way. Then came the report of
muskets, which the mountains rever-
berated hundred fold. One shot struck
directly at Jacobs feet,
"'Tis becoming serious, " lie muitered
81 can go farther, cried Martha, '1eave
me and save YOURSELF they will not shoot
woman"
Krone laughed bitterly.
Leave your he replied, ''and have
you betray me and bring your father to
the galIows. Come, jump along"
Il never would betray you," replied
Martha, limping on her way. ''They
might shoot NE, but would not betray
you"
Just then Fred Anker sprang up the
path before them.
"For heavens sake" he cried, ''be
quick"
Take the girl, answered Krone, ''she
is giving out"
Fred threw his arm around Martha
and supported her as she tottered along.
When the road was good he caught her
in his arm and threw her across his
shoulder.
sob! Frederick" she murmured,
"what a risk you are mourning. What
if we should be taken, you will be pun
ished for being in our company"
"Hush," this was ali the reply that
came from Fred's lips.
Again came the cry, "Halt: in the
Kings name we command you to halt"
But the fugitives ran faster, and then
came the whizz of balls again.
A moment more and the ravine was
reached, but at that instant a ball struck
Krone In the shoulder, and he fell.
"Safe for the present, he cried, turn
ing to Anker. 81 know place where
can conceal myself and not be discover
ed. am hit in the shoulder. I'll reach
| home ere long You hurry forward with