The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-01
A LEGEND OF 1776.

log hut situated few miles from Tren-
ton, n. 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 moistened their throats
with large draughts from an ea1then Jug
that stood on the table.
They were heavily bearded, coarse
looking men, and from their dress,
which somewhat resembled the British
uniform, they were evidently Tories.
The other was q 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
from the table, and seating himself near
the young prisoner-for such he evi-
IDENTIFY was-''Tom, you and I were
schoolboys together, and I love you yet.
Now, why can't you give up your wild
notions and join us 2 You're our priso-
ner, and if you don't we shall hand you
over to headquarters to morrow, while,
if you join us, your fortune is made;
for with your bravery and skill you will
distinguish yourself in the Royal army,
your case shall be rewarded by knight
hood and promotion in the army. Now
there are two alternatives which do
you choose 2"
"Neither," said the young man raising
his head and looking the Tory straight
in his eyes ST am now, as you say, your
prisoner, but when the clock strikes -
L shall disappear in a cloud of fire and
smoke, and neither you nor your COM
rades, not even yourself can prevent it.
You may watch me as closely as you
please, tie me hand and foot if you will.
but higher Power thar. yours has or
dained that I shall leave you at that
time"
sPoor fellow his mind wanders, :"
said the Tory. s'He1l talk differently
in the morning." And he returned to
his seat at the table, leaving the youth
with his head resting in bis hands.
When the clock stru K eleven, the
young prisoner drew pipe and some
tobacco from is-pocket, and asked the
Tory leader if he had any objection to
his smoking.
ssNone in the least" he said, adding
with laugh, "that is, if you'll promise
not to disappear in cloud of tobacco
smoke"
The young man made no reply, but
Immediately filed 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, approach
ing nearer the table each time, when,
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 slowly knocking the ashes out
of his pipe, said:
"There, boys, it's twelve o'clock, and
I must leave you. Good byel"
Immediately all around the room were
seen streaks of fire kissing and squirm-
ing, the cabin was filled with dense sui
phurous smoke, amidst which was clap
of thunder. The Tories sat in their
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 was lying
on the ground outside of the building.
The Tory leader, after recovering from
his stupor, gave one glance around the
room and sprang out of the window
followed by his comrades. They ran
through the forest at the top of their
speed, in the direction of the British en-
campment, leaving their muskets and
other arms to the mercy of the flames,
which had now begun to devour the
cabin.
The next day two young men, dressed
in Continental uniform, were seen stand
ing near the ruins of the old cabin.
One was our prisoner of the night pre-
vious. He had in his possession, while
in the hands of the Tories, pound of
good Continental powder, which he
strewed upon the floor while smoking
his pipe. OF course he disappeared in
the smoke and blaze that followed, as he
had warned them he should.