River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-13


broke through the door, and instinctively
the boy realized that for once he had
been caught mapping.
1t was his way to face danger when he
could not avoid it; so he sprang to the
door, feeling for his package and finding
it safe under his arm at the same mo
ment.
Six men stood outside, and in the dim
morning light he recognized them as
detail from detachment of Hessians
whom he had beer lodging all the pre-
vious afternoon.
| They addressed him roughly. and one
of them, in broken English, commanded
him to find forage for their horses. "Und.
/ yunker,n he added, "rouse der hause
and get right away breakfast"
The boy brought out hay and grain in
abundance for the horses, aud then led
the way to the house. His sister Katie
was already astir, and Immediately COM
pretending the situation, she set about
preparing good breakfast, without any
fuss or hesitation.
The meal passed off quietly, the family
keeping in the background as much as
possible, and the troopers showing no
| disposition 10 make IfUuDlcs
The corporal in charge of the detail,
after partaking most heartily of the good
things that filed the table, seemed in
clined to be quite friendly.
''Und what youi name ist, mien kindtl'
he said to his hostess.
"Katie, sir, replied the girl.
IVA, vol, Katrina. Du Dist liebes
madchen-goot girl. Und der bruder9'
"hy brother7 His name is Ned
| Edward, / mean"
so, Etouart, yal Und der fader, wo
ist9n
At this moment "Etouartn came to the
door leading the corporal's horse. "l've
watered him, he said, "and rubbed him
down as well as l coulo l. G hurry"
IVA, vol, schooner kerl. Now we go
aheat mit;" and the dangerous question
as to the fathers whereabouts was not
answered.
On inquiring the way to Shrewsbury
town, the corporal decided that "Etouartn
must accompany the party mile or two
up the shore to point out the road.
The boy did not dare to object under
the circumstances, and was the less un-
willing to go as in walking up the beach
he might meet Dennis Hendrickson, the
messenger expected to take the dispatch
and carry it forward.
He therefore led the way down to the
shore, striding along beside the corporal's
horse, explaining to that worthy the state
of the tide, and the necessity for making
some haste to avoid the rising water.
The Kovenhovens still spoke Holland
Dutch at home, and "Etouart" understood
nearly everything the Hessians said to
each other, but he was very careful not
to permit any sign of intelligence to
escape him.
To his surprise and conservation, he
found that one object of their raid long
shore was to capture himself. They were
tons to pick him up on the way, though |
they had but dim ideas as to what he
could be like, or where they could come
up with him.
He had taken the precaution on leav- |
ing the house to make an excuse for |
handing his sister the spyglass, which
hangs over every 'longshoreman's mantel. |
The quick witted girl had caught the
hint to keep watch of the party, as he |
knew she would do.
After following the beach nearly a |
mile. and finding the Hessians hadn't |
shade of suspicion in their minds as to who |
he was, he was just congratulating him.
self on getting out of dangerous predica-
ment in safety, when oat OF the very lane
the soldiers were turning into, there came
the last man in the world he wanted to
see. This was shoe maker by the name
of Sanborne, bwhom everybody in the
neighborhood disliked and distrusted
He evaded his duty as patriot, and was
believed TO be traitor at heart.
Coming upon each other at right
angles, Sanborne and Edward met almost
within arms length. No sooner did the
shoemaker see the troopers than he threw
up his hat and cried out:
"Kalte Kovenhoven caught, by George,
So they've got you at last, you young
rebelr'
Edward tried his best to make San
borne understand that he was not a
prisoner and that the Hesslans did not
know him; but the man would not heed
his signals.
"You needn't make signs to me-" he
said. 81 don't know any of your signs,
and don't want to-"
"Kalte Kovenhoven?" querled the
amazed corporal, looking all about him
in confusion. "Wo list Kovenhoven2"
'This is the little sand-snipe that has
made you more trouble than hull regi-
ment o ragged Continentals.'
''Du Kleiner SpitsbubeI" cried the cor
poral, not without amused interest list
dot soln
The soldiers drew their horses around
him, and melted by Sanborne, two of
them loosened their halters to secure him
with them. If they once confined him,
they would get possession CT the dis
patch.
He had no great fear as to his own fate
even if made prisoner. but the dispatch
they must not get hold Of. Such were
The thoughts that flashed through the
boys mind, and prompted desperate
resort.
Dropping to the ground as one of the
troopers reached out to lay hands on him
Cool Conover darted out from between
the horses and sprang across the beach.
Tearing off his coat as he ran, he leaped
into the surf and dove through the break
ers that were rolling from four TO six feet
high over the bar.
Fire! ire ]! screamed SanDorae. Tie II
get away from vouw
But the stolid German soldiers were
not gwen to firing without orders, and
the corporal, completely bewildered,
could only remark, "Dot poy win go
trownt"
'-Etnuart," however had no notion of
drowning. Clearing the line of breakers,
he struck out straight off shore, and
although several shots were fired at him
he was not hit, and soon he WAS out of
musket range. The tide, running flood,
carried him up the beach, and tho soldiers
followed along after him, expecting him
soon TO grow weary, and to see him sink
under the waves.
Katie Conover watched the departure
of the soldiers With long sigh OF relief,
and the moment they were out of earshot
called to her mother that they were
fairly off.
She followed their MOVEMENTS until
they turned towards the lane, and then
dropped the glass, satisfied that all was
we'll. Something. however, prompted her
to take another look after Ned, and while
trying to make him out, she saw figure
dash across the beach and into the surf.
A moments reflection told her what /
4 4 = Il