The Van Buren press., 1876-07-04
Legend OF l77G.

Night hau set Ill deep, ana Ill q small
/ log hut. situated few miles from Tren
ton, New Jersey, sat five men, four Of
whom were seated ut All old oaken table.
/ in the center OF the room. engaged in
playing cards, while they frequently
moistened their throats with largh drinks
frem an earthet jug that stood on the
table
i Taey were ieaviiy. bearded, coarse
| looking men. and, from their dress which
somewhat rcsemhied the British uniform
they were evidently Tories. The other
was a stout bailt young man, clad in the
| Continental uniform. He sat in one cor.
ner of the room, with his face buried in
/ his hands
| Tom,s said one of the Tories, rising
from the table, and seating himself near
the young prisoner-for such he evident
ly was" Tom, yon and were school
boys together, and love you yet. Now,
why cant yeu give up your old, wild no.
tions, and join us2 You are our prison
er, and if you don't, we shall hand you
over to the head, quarters, 70 mqrrqM.
naue, aoI, WITH 35us pfasEfy aha tat'
ents, YOU vii! distinguish yourself In the
ROYAL army. Now. there are two alter
natives; which do you choose Z"
Neither said the young man, rails
inc his head, and looking the Tory strait
IN the eyes 81 am now, AS you say,
your prisoner; but when the clock strikes
IL, | shall disappear in cloud 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, il You will,
but higher power than yours has ordain.
ed that | should leave you at that time :
"Poor fellow His mind wanders, =
said the Tory, "he'll talk differently in
the morning And he returned to his
seat az the table. leaving the youth with
his head resting in his hands.
When the clock struck IL, the young
prisoner drew pipe and some tobacco
from his pocket, and asked the Tory lea
der if he had any objections to his smo
king.
None in the least" he said with Q
laugh. "TIlat is if you'll promise not
, to disappear in cloud Of smoke
The young man made no reply bn
Immediately filed his pipe, having don't
, which he arose and commenced pacing
the floor.
He took half a dozen turns up ant
down each side Of the room, approach
ING nearer to the table, each time, when
0 having exhausted his pipe, he returned u
/ his seat and refilcd it,
8 He continued to smoke until the clocl
, struck IL, when he arose from his seat
). and, slowly knocking the ashes out OF hi
0 pipe, said
v :" There, boys, it's II O'Clock, and
t must leave you. Good-by."
It Immediately, all around the room
d were seen streaks Of fire kissing an
r. souirming--the cabin was filled dens'
q snlphurons smoke, amidst which was
II clap of thunder. The Tories sat in the
. chairs, speechless with fear
!, The smoke cleared away, hut the pris
d oner was nowhere to be seen. The tabl
d was overturned. the window was smasl
=, cd to pieces, and one chair was lying o
81 the ground on the outside OF the bult
r. ing
The Tory leader, after recovering fro
Ie his stupor, gave one glance around II
room. aud sprang out CT the winao'
y followed by his comrades. They r.
through the forest at the top OF the
g. speed, in the direction of the British Ell
campment, leaving their muskets ar
n other arms to the mercy of the flame
which had now begun to devour the ca
ut in.
The next day two young men in Il
X uniform of the Continental army we
ID seen standing near the rui1s of the o
; cabin. One was our prisoner OF Il
Ks night previous.
IS !" Let ua hear all about it, then. sa
the other.
O. Well" said he, last evening as
was passing this place, two Tories ri
x out Of the cabin, and took possession
ca me. Before | could make any resistanc
at they took mo in, and who do you su
ar pose saw as leader of their party b
John Barton our old. old schoolma'
Ii He talked with me. and tried to lndn
at me to join them, but told them cou
lis not do it that at IL O'Clock ] was gol'
n, to escape--disappear in aeloud OF smoh
But he laughed at me and said was
y. of my head