The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-07-04

ting of treason. At the time James
Wilson and his little band left the de-
| serted storehouse in the village Of New
ark, dusk had given place to the darker
shades of night; still, it was not dark;
the new moon was perfectly distinguish
able. At length they gained bank Of
the creek, and slowly following the
winding path, soon came to q little low
bridge which crossed shallow rivulet
leading into Whiteclay. Here they
stopped, and Wilson and one of his
companions went forward to reconnoi-
ter. They had not proceeded Gar before
they herd footsteps. Coneealing them
selves behind tree, they disc iyersd
that the person approaching was George
Livingston, the old Tory's son. Wilson
darted OUT aud seized him by the
neck, and the two boys SOON dragged
| him to the spot where they had left
thsir com panions. Tie Tory's son was
struck dunrb with fright when he found
himselfin the whole group Of boy he
roes, with the vise-like grip of James
and Frank on either arm. He was so
frightened at their threats that hs
promised to tell them all If they would
not injure him.
The blue eyes Of James glistened
with joy, and be soon gained from the
Tdry's son revelation which stamped
his father traitor Of the most appal-
ling character. He discoFefed that old
Livingston not only kept up cores
pondence with the British commander,
but that he had SO su seeded in his
traitornIls designs that the village of
Newark was to be burned to ashes, and
its women and children left exposed to
the pitiless foe. The old Tory was to
receive as his reward the land whereon
the villsge Hstood, and an annual pen
sion from the British Government.
But, stranger than all, the plot was
to be eonsumnated on the very night
the Tory's son had been captured, while
he was going on an errand to a Tory
neighbor, about two miles distant. The
little band of heroes learned, too, that
the British troops had secured their
horses in Livingston's stable, and in
tended to descend the river in lerge
boat. There were twenty of them be-
sides their Captain Mai. Bradstone,
the leader of the band, was in temper
and IN heart 8 thorough demon, and
| scrupled not in his cruelty to destroy
the slumberin9 infant or sickIy wife.
Not a few in that youthful band Of pa
triots trembled for widowed mother or
defenseless sister Some were for de-
parting Immediately; but James Will
son, still retaining his grasp on the
Toryis son, ordered all to be silent. The
prisoner was tied hand and foot, q thick
handkereh . tound over his mouth .
prevent him from calling assistance,
and stout cord fastened to his breast
anu wound about q tree. Wilson told
his little band to follow him, and in
few moments they stood on the summit
of a precipice which overhung White
clay creek.
"Eow, boys" said hs, "if the nara
tive which we f1avs Just heard is true,
we must make the best Of the occision.
The British band will pass this spot in
their boat-the creek is deep, swift and
narrow here-and, as We have an hour
to work, let us busy ourselves in rolling
some of these large rocks to the edge
of the preeipice, and when bie red-coats
pass below let US sink them TO the bot
tom"
Each bcy set to work, and in an ia
credibiy short space of time nine huge
rocks we're balanced upon the edge OF
the precipice. The creek at this point
was was directly overhung by the mass
of rocks on which our heroes stood. If
! the British band descended the creek,
they would certainly pass this spot; and
if they passed it, then death was their
certain fate In about an hour the bows
detected the measured beat of mufied
oars.
Closer came the d5omei lnyalists, and
the hearts of the boy patriots beat wild
| ly in their bosoms. Peering cautiously
over the cliffs, James Wilson saw the
Tory boat slow ly but surely approaching.
An officer stood on the bows guiding
the oarsmen by his orders, and the
epsulets on his shoulders told that he
was the identical fiend, Major Brad
stone.
Whenit the boat was about twelve feet
from the rock, the boy leader fell SO
curely behind his stone defense, and
shouted:
Who goes there !"
In moment the oarsmen ceased row
ing, and gazed with astouishment above
them. The impetus which the boat had
acquired caused it to drift slowly be-
meath the rocks, and Just as it was fair
ly below, came forth the doomed word :
"Cut loose in the name of LibertyF'
Each boy pushed his rock at that in.
slant, and the stones fell. A loud
shrek from the dark waters told how
well the plan had succeeded, aud as the
exultsnt boys again looked over the
rock, nothing was seen but a few pieces
Of floating wood.
The boat had been broken to pieces,
and the occupants had found watery
grave beneath the Whiteclay. A cry
of victory burst from the joyous lips of
the youthful patriots, and it was echoed
along the shore.
When the boys went to the place
where they had left their prisoner they
found that in the Efforts to free himself
George Livingston had been caught by
the fatal cord aud choked to death.
| There was no time for repining; the
traitor and his son had met their de-
served doom, and their was no room to
1 4