Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-07-04

they stopped, and Wilson and one OF
his companions went foreward to re-
connoiter.5 They had not proceeded
far before they heard footsteps.
Concealing themselves behind tree,
they discovered that the person ap.
preaching was George Livingston,
the old Tory's son. Wilson darted
out and seized him by the neck, and
the two boys soon dragged him to
the spot where they had left their
companions. n The Tory's son was
struck dumb with fright when he
found himself in the whole group OF
boy heroes, with the vice-like grip of
James and Frank on either arm. He
wasi SO frightened, at their threats
that he promised to tell them all
about it il they would not injure him.
The blue eyes Of James glistened
with JOY, and he soon gained from
the Tory's son a revelation which
stamped his father traitor Of the
most appalling character. He dis
covered that old Livingston not only
kept up a correspondence with the
British commander, but that he had
so succeeded in his traitorous 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 viii
lage stood, and an annual pension
from the British Government. a.
But, stranger than all, the plot
was to be cosummated on the
very night the Tory's son had
been captured, while he was going on
an Grand to 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,an intended to de-
scend the creek in a large boat. There
were twenty OF them besides their
Captain. Maj. Bardstone, the leader
OF the band, was in temper and in
heart thorough demon, and scrup-
led not in his cruelty to destroy the
slumbering infant or the sickly wife.
Not a few In that youthful band Of
patriots trembled for widowed
mother or defensive sister, Some
were for departing Immediately; but
James Wilson, still retaining his
grasp on the Tory's son, ordered all
to be silent. The prisoner was tied
hand and foot, a thick handkerchief
bound over his mouth to prevent
him from calling assistance, and a
stout cord fastened to bis breast and
wound about tree. Wilson then
told his little band to follow him, and
in few moments they stood on the
summit Of a precipice which over
hung Whiteclay creek.
Now, boys" said he, ''if the narra-
tive which we have just heard Is true,
we must make the best of the occa-
sion. 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 preci-
pice, and when the red-coats pass be-
low let US sink them to the bottom
Each boy set to work. and In an in
| credibly short space OF time nine
huge rocks were balanced upon the
edge Of the precipice. The creek al
this time was directly overhung by
the mass OF rock on which our heroes
stood. II the British band descended
the creek, they would certainly pass
this spot; and, II they psssed 1t, then
death was their certain fate. In about
an hour the boys detected the meas
ured beat of muffied oars.
Closer came the doomed loyalists,
and the hearts Of the boy patriots
beat wildly in their bosoms. Peering
cautiously over the cliffs, James VIII
son saw the Tory boat slowly bu,
surely approaching. An officer stood
on the bows guiding the oarsmen by
his orders, and the epaulets Of his
shoulders told that he was tie iden-
tical fiend, Maj. Bardstone.
When the boat was about twelve
feet from the rock. the boy leader fell
securely behind his stone defense
and shouted:
"Who goes there?" 1oo
In a moment the oarsmen ceased
rowing, and gazed with astonishment
above them. The impetus which the
boat had acquired caused 1t to drift
slowly beneath the rock, and just as
it was fairly below, came forth the
doomed words:
"Cut loose in the name OF LibertyI
Each boy pushed his rock at tha
instant, and the stones fell. A lout
shrek from the dark waters told how
well the plan had succeeded, and al
the exultant boys again looked ovel
the rock nothing was seen but few
pieces Of floating wood.
The boat had been broken to piec
es, and the occupants had found ,
watery grave beneath the Whiteclay
A cry Of victory burst from the Joy
Gus lips Of the youthful patriots, ant
II was echoed along the shore.
i When the boys went to the plao,
where they had left their prisone
| thav foupd fhat In afYnrfo IN frno hin,