The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-05-12

the reward equally, which would give each
villain 100 guineas. They lay in thick
ct near the dwelling until dark, when they
approached the house without being seen
and entered without ceremony. The sur
prise was complete. The sergeant told
the Captain to surrender, as he was theil
prisoner, but the Captain demurred, and
snatching a pistol from his belt he shot
the tory Simms dead. Before he could
make further resistance he was overpow.
cred by the active Brjtons and and was
their helpless prisoner.
A scene now followed which l cannot
describe, but will say the parting of tho
father and the children was distressing and
terrible. The gallant Britons quickly
started with their prize, cursing their luck
in losing their guide, and saying that they
would have to camp in the woods unit
morning. AS they left they stole clothes
line which they found in the yard, and
took it with them to tie their prisoner
with. They started in the direction Of
Charleston, but the night was dark, and
they were afraid of getting lost. About a
quarter of mile from the Captains house
they came to an old deserted cabin, in a
thick forest, and here they determined to
stay until daylight Taking their prison
er in the house, they seated him on an old
bench and tying his hands and feet, they
left him TO his own unpleasant reflections,
whilst they kept guard on the outside
But the brave Britons were far from being
happy. They were afraid that Sumpter
might come. They heard an owl hoot,
and thought it was a panther. The fire
flies were emitting their phosphorescent
flashes, and they thought the woods were
full of demons The mosquitoes were set
Ting on their hands and faces, causing the
impous fellows to say bad words. The
scene changed, for about 10 o'clock they
heard some person singing wild snatches
of some Congo melody, and directly after
ward a good-sized negro boy came rollick-
ing along the road. He appeared very
happy, and would stop and dance in the
road and then sing. AS he approached
the Britons, the sergeant called him and
babe him stand or be shot. This threat
brought the Congo to, and he appeared
terribly frightened Said he:
"Gemmen, my name am Dicko, an please
lcef me pass quick, for de marst he am
very sick. He dun got de kollemolligus
De doctor he 50 he mus di eff he don't git
| brandy, an da sont me tn de Korners to
git hat gallon oh ole brandy, which Use
got in dis glass jug, (holdng up small
dcmJoln,) an l mus go now, or dc marst
will di an den da will beat me to def fur
stating SO long"
The brave soldiers ordered Dicko to
give up his brandy, and one of them rudcly
snatched it from him. The negro now
sobbed and cried and said, "dat de marst
will kill me now suah."
The sergeant drew the cork and tasting
the tempting beverage, pronounced it in
his own vernacular to be "prme hold kon-
ehack." He took hearty drink, after
which it was rapidly passed round, each
one drinking eagerly. AT the end of fiE-
teen minutes poor Dicko's glass Jug was
empty, and the four Britons had drank
half a gallon of high proof old Cognac
brandy. The liquor did its work quickly,
for in a very short time the four worthless
were lying prone on the ground in deep
drunken slumber.
Dicko had been watching them with
deep interest, and seeing that they were
now poweress, proceeded to act. lie first
gathered their arms and accoutrements
and threw them into an old well that was
close to the cabin. He then entered the
hut and said, "marst, is you tied 2" Elliott
told him that he was. "Den," said Dicko,
"dis nigga will huff you loose" and cutting
the cords that held the prisoner, Captain
Elliott was again free, thanks to Dcko's
stratagem. The Captain could easily now
have killed his drunken captors, but his
manly soul shrank from striking a sleeping
foe. Leaving the WORTHLESS to sleep off
their drunken debauch, lie and Dicko
started for his homo, and in a short time
they stood side by side on the portico of
the Elliott mansion. The Captain now
turned to thank Dicko for his freedom,
when the boy snatched off his wig and
mask and said, kiss me, dear Pa" The
Captain exclaimed, my God, it is BERTHA"
and it was she. After joyful greeting
with his family, the Captain mounted his
horse and started for camp, which he reach
ed in safety about daylight.
AS soon as her father was taken, Bertha
determined to rescue him or die in the at.
tempt. She ordered old Zeke to dog their
steps, as she had heard them say that as
their guide was killed they would have to
stay in the woods till daylight Zcke soon
returned and reported "dat da was at de
ole kabin, an was put up fur dc nite."-
Bertha in the meantime had put half
gallon of fine old high proof Cognac bran
dy in small demijohn, and putting on a
suit of boys clothes and donning q woolly
wig and black mask that had been used
at masquerade, she at once proceeded to
the rescue of her beloved parent. Most
nobly did she succeed in her perilous I'M
dertaking.
The family, strange to say, were not af-
forwards troubled by either British or To-
ries. The Captain staid with his General
until the close of the war, and during the
time did many deeds of bravery for his
country. He lived to see both his lovely
daughters happily married, and he used to
dandle his little grandchildren on his knee
and tell them fine tales. He lived to see
his dear country take its stand alongside
of the first nations of the earth.
Now, a few words more about the drunk
en- captors and the wounded Colonel, and
l am done. The sun was riding high in
the heavens the next day after the capture
of Capt. Elliott, when his captors awoke
from their drunken slumber. At first they
had lost all recollection of where they
were, but after little time the situation
of affairs flashed up before them. Dicko
was not there, but his demjohn was, but
it was empty. Their arms and accoutre-
ments were all gone. They had the head
ache; they were sick and nervous; their
faces had been bitten by the mosquitoes
until they looked as if they had the small
pox. They started for Charleston, for
lorn looking set of men. When they ar
rived in camp they were taken by the
guard into the presence Of Lord Cornwall
lis, to whom they told wild story of woe.
The sergeant told his Lordship that they
had captured Captain Elliott the night be-