Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-28

of Poncho's appointment, and he was al
ready waiting at the door of the room in
which he was to see the colonel. Presen tly f
the officer opened it. and Immediately let
the boy into the room.
"Poncho" said he. gravely, you said
YOU would do something for Mass4
Linkum.' Now, I'll tell you what you I
can do"
"All right, Massa, III do it, surel"
'I want you to 90 up in the belfry of St,
Marks church. 1t will be bright moon {
| light, and if You see a company Of soldiers
ride down the turnpike, and come into
town any time during the night. | want
YOU to strike on the big bell three times
with this hammer" The colonel took a
hammer from the mantel and showed it to
| Poncho.
"All right. Massa. Dis child do any
thing for Massa Linkum."
"Strike slowly, and strike as hard as
you can, and when you strike, open your
mouth this way, and your ears will not be
hurt"
The colonel opened his mouth very wide
and so did Poncho.
"After you strike the first time, think
you will hear the bugle call. Ii not, you |
will hear it after you strike the second or
third time. When you hear the hugle |
call, you need not strike the bell again,
but YOU had better stop in the belfry until |
one of the soldiers calls you down. Now
remember. Don't strike if you see few
men, but strike hard if you see grea
many. Another hing. When you strike,
lie down on your bnck, so rs to hit the in
side Of the bell. Perhaps you will be shot
at, PonchO for the soldiers, if they come,
will be sccesh soldiers; but they cant hit
YOU if you are lying on you back As soon
AS we hear the bell, we will ride into toV n
and I'll send a man to bring you down."
AN will | be doin suthin' for Massa
LinkumP'
"Yes; shall tell 'Massa Linkum' my
self"
Den I'll do it, sure"
Poncho took the hammer.
"rll send some one to let you into the
church bv the back door. The man will
90 with you into he belfry and after you
get there he will leave you and take away
the ladders, and lock the door tight, so that
nobody can reach you. Then you will be
all alone. Keep your eyes open. If you
are afraid. say so, and you need not GO. :"
"Gim me the hammer, sah," replied
Poncho.
The colonel then made the boy repeat
the instructions he had given him.
By this time it was dark. Lights glim-
mered from the houses along the streets,
and the dim figures of the soldiers and
their horses were seen as they moved to
and fro. Five minutes later Poncho, ham,
mer in hand. accompanied by man, was
on his way 10 the old church. At halt-pas
5 the sentry found himself in the lofty
belfry of ST. Mark alone.
1t was the plan of the colonel to march
his regiment ont Of the town, as if to &C
back to the mp they had left the morn
ing before, but really TO secrete his soldier!
in the woods near by and fall suddenly
upon the enemy, AS soon as the stroke o
the bell should announce that they wer'
comiuo-for he felt sure, from information
he had received, that they would return ii
force.
Poncho. being the signal officer upor
whom so much depended, was unconcous
" a very important parsonage He put hi
woody head out of the belfry and listened
The neighing of the horses, the shoutin
of the officers, the catter of swords an
carbines, and the beat of hoofs on th
ground, gradually died away in the dis
in their houses, and nothing was TO b
heard save now and then the barking of
dog or the voice of some crying child. Th
hot air grew cool, and foncho felt yer
comfortable rs he he lay gazing in the
rection of the turnpike, over which til
moon shed its brightest beams, and ovt
which the confederate troops would prot
ably come. He was filled with Joy at II
A., OIL hiNEr fnR
man from whom he had received 30 muc
and he wondered if, in case he did his dul
well, he should see him.
Nine o'clock came, and still no soldie
on the turnpike. Ten o'clock came, AT
- the quiet remained unbroken, Eevt
O'Clock came, and all was calm. The pc
fume of the magnoias and jessamln
hoated up on the soft air, ere long to
polluted with battle smoke and the see
tho of carnage. Twelve O'Clock came; al
me now Ponchos keen ear caught the dsta
md sound of horses feet on the turnpike.
oes He listened. large company of sc
is ders were certainly coming! He CLUTCH
ler the hammer tighter in his hand.
to strained his eyes far down the moon
m. road and made sure that it was no &C
poral's guard approaching.
ow A few rapid scouts rode ahead. But
.gi- little while Poncho saw glistening arr
)ne and long column of men. The turnpi
mp, was alive with troopers, swarming IN
ard town. It was time to strike!
hen His heart beat wildly as he crept und
Ira the great bell. and he gathered himself
'ur- the first blow.
ers, Dong! The loud and sudden sigr
'm- doomed from the high belfry, filled the a
the and echoed far away. 1t was PoDch
nile first stroke for "Massa Linkum," and nj
tel, he was fairly enlisted for the Union eau
y a Half stunned, the boy waited till the b
'out eased vibrating, and listened for
the promised bugle note. But no bugle BILE
lion Another stroke. louder than before. I
ace soldiers in the street were startled. til
his knew that those terrible clangs me-
'ad something.
'ed. Still there was no bugle-call and PonC
he struck a third time. All at oncH ca
you sounds of IL tumult in the street below
shouts, shots, the rattle of sabres, g
this rapid galloping of horses.
ned Guess dey've come now, sure" s
utly Poncho to himself; "but amt heerd
he trumpet Is gwine to pound this y
as old bell till does
And he opened his mouth wide. as
this colonel told him to, and beat upon the
the with all his force. It's clang was deaf
sed. ing. Unable to bear the noise, be craw
nel from under the bell and stood on the @
i'm side of it
He was now in sight from the strt
fur The moonlight illuminated the belfry, {
the boys round head and dark figure stt
link out in plain relief. Pausing to peep do
on the uproar of battle below, he expo
himself for moment at the tower, VIII
zip! something struck the wooden cas-
near him and splintered it, and hit the
ould behind him with sharp ping"
p" Guess dey's shooting at me down da
IN quoth Poncho drawing back. But {
can't hit one OF Massa Linkum's s soldie
we'd Dey's foolish to tempt it, And he W
on pounding the bell.
oom The bullets whistled about him s.
site, denly his hands received shock WI
benumbed them. A ball had struck
,cho handle of the hammer and cut it in t
isw Poncho stopped down, and seizing the /
ht." head in his lame fingers went on poundi