The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-02-04
out upon the dark palmetto grove, behind

moment she tried to pierce the darkness
beneath the window; but, failing in her
endeavors, she crept over the sill, resolved
10 trust to fortune for success.
The distance to the ground was not
great, and The daring girl alighted without
injury.
Now she was free to make her escape to
the friends she had lately left but imme-
diate flight in thar direction was not her
intention.
'Ieaven aid me - she murmured, as
she glided around the old house and APP
preached Tie horses which the tories had
left tethered to the small trees few yards
from the door.
a glance intoth room revealed the forms
OF the Avengers discussing the wine with
oath and jest or watching the roasting OF
the fowls. they did not fear danger, for
their horrible deeds had completely terror
lied the country, and under the sway of
their lawlessness it was fast becoming
desert.
Alice counted them before she touched
a single rein and then in a brief period of
time she loosensd the horses and quietly
led them into q small copse not far away.
The stecds did not refuse tc obey he
gudanceship, and when she had reached
the copse, she strnck them with u whip
which she had found beneath saddle. 1t
was a smart blow that she administered,
and the horses started forward and disap
peared in an instant.
Thus in a few moments Fergusou's
Avengers had been deprived of their horses.
Flushed with triumph, Alice Beauchampe
returned to the house, and again looked in
upon it's hilarious tenants.
She now held pistol in her hand-a
weapon which q holster had granted her,
and she crept to the edge of the porch be
fore she halted. There was the fash of
vengeance in the dark eyes of the partisan
girl while she gazeG upon the party beyond
the threshold. Once or twice she raised
the weapon, but lowered it again, as il
playing with the life of the leader of the
six, whose burly form was revealed by the
light of the fire.
She saw the fowls, smoking and well
burned, placed on the table, and watched
p
shares. Their tongues aud movements
told her that stolen liquor was doing its
accustomed work on all save the giant,
who had supeIintended the cooking of the
late repast This man appeared perfectly
sober, and the angry glances which he Of
ten cast Mt his comrades told that he did
not sanction their bacchaualian conduct.
s'Come enough of this - he suddenly
cried, rising from the table, which had
been dragged to the centre of the room.
.'Gct up, boys, and let's be going. l told
you at Wiley's that you had wine enough,
but you must bring some here and drink
yourselves stupid Tom Scott, and you
Blakeson, I,am ashamed Of you! What
would we do if a gang OF rebels should
catch Us in this condition? You know the
mercy we would get, and yet you sit there
as careless as statues-drunll as OLD Bacchus
himself"
Then an expression Of contempt passed
over the mans face, and, STOPPING he
cried
"Up |! up the rebels, are coming -
But his cry of alarm did not infuse much
life into the men at the table. One or two
heads were raised, but the drunken leer
that made the faces hdeous was enough to
provoke a srlile, even from the mad tory.
"Men 81 he sneercd, contemptuously.
''Dogs every one of you. I've mind to
ride down TO the Pacoet swamp and tell
the rebels hiding there that the men they
bate are in their power. l have thought
that l commanded men, not drunllards ~
and he struck the table with the butt of
his pistol, but could not rouse his stupid
followers.
The next moment, with an oath on his
lips, he strobe to tie door, which he jerked
open, and stepped upon the porch.
Course such dogs rs lead - he hisscd.
Il suppose 1 must lead the horses up, and
tie each fool in the saddle
He was stepping from the porch for the
purpose of attending TO the horses which he
supposed were still tethered at the trees,
when a form rose before him and he
started back, with gasp of terror
''Who in the mischief
''Alice Beauchampe - was .he interrup-
ton of the apparition. ''The daughter of
the old man basely murdered by your
hands !! Down on your miserable knees,
Godfrey Lang, and beg for the mercy you
have never granted others! Down, | sayr'
Perhaps the shadows of the window sash
did not permit him to see the pistol that
was clutched in the hand of the fearless
girl else bis rashness might have been
curbed.
'.Kneel to you? Never y he cried.
The weapon which he raised dropped be-
fore the flash that followed his last words,
and with groan of pain he staggered back
to drop dead among his drunken comrades.
Alice Beauchampe, amazed at her own
courage, stood silent amidst the smoke of
her own pistol. She saw the baccbantes
try to shake off their topper at sight of