Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-01-01

uOt 1all 10 escape dis nOLlC6 ClaG the arr
that she put up when she reached TO
that musket was worth more than
moments notice, not only because of tn
whiteness, but also because of the grace
full swell of it.
What mean you, girl?" said Grand
father Scribner, whose mind went baci
to the year when the settlers in thes'
parts we're ready for surprises, and ever
went to meeting with their fintlocks TO-
walking sticks.
"Tell me where are your earsw Sail,
answered, not yet dismounting from tn
table, but pouring powder from the horl
into her hand and a tremendous charg
of shot, she loaded the weapon and thel
primed it. Then she put the butt upo,
the table, and bracing herself therew;tl
leaned over and opened the window.
"Listen, now," she said. "Hear yol
not the 1ed.coat Britishers firing
They're coming this way. They'll arsol
the houee as live. See the lii ht of tn.
flames. Where can be the borough
militia?"
The reports of musketry were distinct
and the light that came from over the
hills showed the track of the invaders.
Then it was that Grandfather Scribnel
seized his gun and the Squire seemed tt
awaken to the business before them.
"And you," said Sally Wages, going
up to young Lathrop; "will you stand
there like Tom Perkins lad at school
with ounces cap on? What will you
do? Will you 60 with us or will you
hide under petticoatW
Young Lathrop hesitated not min.
ute.
Gin truth, Sally Wages, you are q
young woman of spirit. You'll not
find me wanting"
Just then old Tim Wages, faint with
running and terror, came in, and, spite
of his anxiety, his first thought was of
his stomach, and he begged for mug of
flip, or cold, if they hadn't hot water
ready. So they gave him mighty mug
of liquor that he made short ado with,
and then told them that handful OF
British had given the Continental Coast.
ers the slip, and were marching up from
the coast, shooting, burning, and rob.
bling, and sad work they were making
too, he added. For their coming was
so sudden, and so many of the young
men were away with the Continentals
that the few lads who tried to stop them
on Ridge6eld Hill were of no more avail
than breath of wind.
"And they've heard of your cattle and
rum, Squire Scribner, and it'll not be
two hours later before they are here"
Chow many are there, Tim, to the
best of your knowledge?p asked the
squire.
"Not more than two dozen nor less
than score, squire"
but we are no match. There are
only four men, including you, Tim, who
are more likely to run than fight" said
the Squire.
"Not more than four. I'll venture
I'll give the red coats cause to thinl
that there are more than four, or twice
four" said Sally Wages.
"And what would you do, Sally7'
This is what would do and will do
Perhaps the darkness coming; that will
help US or mistake. Now, father, 20 tc
the great barn and take the three Ian
terms and light them. Mr.. Lathrop, you
light the two you will find on the beam
back of the kitchen oven, and Squire
Scribner, if you have your heart in it
prepare powder and shot, and suffer
grandfather to load the guns the while
and put no rabbit shot in the muzzle
either. will be back myself in the
space of five minutes or thereabouts."
Squire Scribner said long after that
it surprised him, as he thought it all
over, that he did not conjecture thai
this stupid girl was out of her head, in
stead of implicitly following the com
mands ahe gave them.
nfive minutes, more or less, the form OF
man appeared in the dining-room with
q gun i'll his hand, and 80 much of 8
stranger that the women were in great
state of CONSERVATION, and it was not
until the man spoke, and spoke in the
voice of Sally Wages, that confidence
was restored.
Indeed, the form seemed that of a
man because Miss Sally had upon her
head the cooked hat and on her body
the regimental coat that Grandfather
Scribner had worn in the French war,
twenty years back, and as for the short
clothes and stockings, the mystery of the
arrangement by which Miss Sally made
herself appear from the knees down like
a heavy.limbed young fellow was neve,
explained.
give men of u.s." she said, anil with
no such thought of the picturesque,
perhaps comical picture she made az
fitted through the quick brain of young
Lathrop. 80. 80
She led them out to the hill that tanks
the highway by which the British must
come, matter of q hundred yards rods
from the house. Then she commanded
her father to fasten the FIVE lanterns to
a long pole, and attach each end to a
tree, and the moment she gave command
he was, by such violent swinging of the
pole, to make, by the confusion of lights,
the five lanterns seem as nearly like fifty
as the alcohol in his nerves would per-
init. - ::.s7e-s -. =. ...~ss s~s... : !.
Without one word Of remonstrance
Squire Scribner obeyed her, and got be.
hind tree, and Grandfather Scribner
knelt, the better to steady his muscles.
by rock, while Capt. Sally and young
Lathrop stood exposed.
BY and BY the British came along.
They were merry with liquor, and Capt.
sally's army could hear their boasts OF
what would happen in the 'squire'a
house within an hour. -
Young Lathrop was for shooting when
away out of range, and. Capt. Sally
found it necessary to give him tap on
the hip with the butt Of her musket
that made him vince before he came
into discipline. T.. ..z Ass's
At last they got half dozen Of them
well abreast Of the army in ambush on
the hillside.
Now" ~hipsd ubpA sslly, !"