The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1876-02-24
A Legand of l776.
And then Charlie kissed her,


y. j., sat five men, four of whom were
seated at an old oaken table in the center
OF the room, engaged in playing cards,
while they frequently moistened their
throats with large draughts from an earth
en- jug that stood on the table
They were heavily bearded, coarse
looking men, and from their dress, which
somewhat resemblcd theBritish uniform
they were evidently Tories. The other
was stoutly built young man clad in
the Continental uniform. He sat in one
corner Of the room with his face buried
IN his hands.
Tom" said one Of the tories rising
xrom the table and seating himself near
the young prisoner, for such he evidently
vas, ''Tom, you and were school boys
together, and [ love you yet. Now why
can't you give up your wild notions and
join us? You're our prisoner, and if you
don't we shall hand you over to the head
quarters tomorrow, while, if you join US,
your fortune is made; for with your
bravery and talents you will distinguish
yourself in the Royal army, and after the
rebellion is crushed out, your case shall
be rewarded by knighthood and promo
ton in the army. Now, there are
two alternatives; which do you choose?"
ssNeither," said the young man, rails
ing his head and looking theTory straight
in his eyes:
81 am now, as you say, your prisoner,
but when the clock strikes twelve shall
disappear in a 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 if you will, but a
higher power than yours has
ordained that shall 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
at the table, leaving the youth with his
head again resting in his hands.
When the clock struck eleven, the young
prisoner drew pipe aud some tobacco
from his pocket, and asked the Tory
leader if he had any objections to his
smoking "None in the least, 'he said,
added with laugh, ''that is. if you'll
promise not to disappear in cloud of
tobacco smoke
The young man made no reply, but
Immediately filled his pipe, having done
which he arose and commenced pacing
the floor.
He took half a dozen turns up and
down each side of the room annroa "h;na,
nearer the table each time, which, having
exhausted his pipe he returned to his
seat and reflled it.
He continued to smoke until the clock
struck twelve, when he arose from his
seat, and, knocking the ashes out of his
pipe, said:
There, boys, it's twelve o'clock, and
[ must leave you. Good-bye."
Immediately all around the room were
seen streaks of fire Kissing and squirm-
ing, the cabin was filed with dense sui.
phurous smoke. amid which was a clap
Of thunder. The Tories sat in theil
chairs paralyzed with fright
The smoke cleared away but the pris
oner was nowhere to be seen. The table
was overturned. the window was smash
ed to pieces, and one chair wa:
lying Oh the ground outside Of the build
ing.
| The Tory leader. after recovering from
his stupor, gave one glance around th'
room and sprang out of the window. fol
lowed by his comrades, They RAJ
through the forrest at the top of thei
speed. in the direction of the British en-
oampment, leaving their muske,s an,
other arms to the mercy Of the flames
which had now begun to deyour th
cabin,
The next day two young men, ,dresse
in the Continental uniform, were see
standing near the ruins of the old cabin
One was our prisoner of the nightprevi