The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-21

water mark, and, to the dismay of the peo-
pie, the ship let go her anchor, swung her
yards round, and lay quiet about half mile
from the first cliff. They were going to
land to burn the town. With their spy
glasses the people could see the boats lows
cred to take the soldiers ashore.
All ! then there was confusion and ups
roar. Every horse in the village was PUT
into some kind of a team, and the women
and children were hurried off to the woods
behind the town. The men would stay and
offer as brave resistance as possible.
Their guns were light and poor, but they
could use the old 'ish-houSc as a fort, and
perhaps make brave fight of it. if worse
came to worse, they could at least retreat
aud take to the shelter of .he woods.
1t was a splendid sight. Five large boats
manned by sailors, and filed with soldiers
in gay rec coats. dow their guns glittered
in the sun The oars all moved together
in regular order, aud the officers in their
fine uniforms stood up to direct the expe-
ditlon. 1t was a courageous company COM
ing with a war-ship and cannon to fight
helpless fishermen.
So Rebecca Bates and Sarah Windsor
thought. as they sat up i'll the lighthouse
tower looking down on the procession of
boats as it went past the point and entered
the harbor
ooh! if l only were a man - cried Re.
becca.
''What could you do? See what lot
of them; and look at their guns.'
Il don't care. I'd fight I'd use fathers
old shot -gun-anything! Think of uncles
new boat and the sloop.''
''les; and all the boats.''
Its too bad; isn't it ?''
Eyes and to think we must sit here
and see it all and not lift finger to help"
do you think there will be Il fight 90
81 don't know. Uncle and father are
in the village, and they will do all they
eau"
See how still it is in The town There's
nota pan-.e he .scen."
''ai, they are hiding till the soldiers ees
nearer. Then we'll hear the shots and the
drum
.>, r I.aestsqun = How can they. It's here.
Father brought it home to mend it last
night" =.
"Did he? :, Oh . then let s--"
'sSee, the first boat has reached the sloop.
Oh They are going to burn her,
''Isn't it mean ?''
Its too bad I-.oo-''
'Where is that drum?'
dts in tic Kitchen"
''Fve great mind to go down and beat
it,
"What good would that do ?''
''Scare 'em."
They'd see it was only two gi'ls, and
they would laugh and 81 on burning just
the same
''No. We could hide bchind.ihe sand
hills and the bushes. Come let. -
ooh, look ! look ! The sloop's afire ~
Come, l can't stay and see it any more.
The cowardly Britishers to burn the boats
Why don't they 60 up to the town and
fight lke-''
Come, lets get the drum. It'll do no
harm and perhaps"
''Well let's. There's the fife, too. We
might take that with u.s.
Eyes and wcll-''
No time for further talk. Down the
steep stairs of the tower rushed the two
young patriots, bent On doing what they
could for their country. They burst into
the kitchen like whirlwind, with rosy
checks, and flying hair. Mrs. Bates sat
sorrowfuly gazing out of the window at
the scene of destruction going on in the
harbor, and praying Cor her country and
that the dreadful war might soon be over.
She could not help. Sons and husbands
were shouldeling their poor old guns in the
town, and there was nothing 20 do but to
watch and wait and pray.
Not so the two girls. They meant to do
something, and, in a fever of excitement,
they got the drum and took the cracked
fife from the old bureau drawer Mrs.
Bates, intent on the scene outside did not
heed them, and they slipped out by the
back door, uunoticed.
They must be careful, or the soldiers
would see them. They went round back
of the house to the north and towards the
outside beach, and then TUNED and plough
ed through the deep sand just above high
water mark. They must keep out of sight
of the boats, and of the ship also. Luckily
she was anchored to the south of tie light
and as the beach curved to the west. thew
soon left her out of sight. Then they
took to the water side, and, with the drum
between them, ran as fast as they could
toward the mainland. Presently they
reached the low heaps of sand that showed
where the spit Joined the fields and woods
Painting and excited, they ;ightened ND
the dium and tried the fife softly.
''You take the fife, Sarah and I'll
drum" We must march along the shore
towards the light"
''Won't they see us 20
tsNo: We Ii walk next the water On Tho