Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-01-29

kill me-"
She went to the corner of the room
| and, leaping upon chest that stood
| there, reached up and took down a mus
ket that hung upon the wall. Amazed
| as young LathrOp was at this action, il
did not escape his notice that the arm
that she put up when she reached fol
that muSket was worth more than mo.
ment's notice, not only because of the
whiteness, but also because of the grace
full swell of it.
what mean you, girl?" said grand
father Scribner, whose mind went back
to the year when the settlers i'm these
parts were ready for surprises, and even
went to meeting with their flint-lOcks
for walking sticks.
"Tell me where are your ears?" Sally
answered, not yet dismounting from the
table, but, pouring powder from the horn
into her hand and tremendous charge
OF shot, she loaded the weapon and then
primed it. Then she put the butt upon
the table and bracing herself Herewith,
leaned over and opened the window.
Listen, now" she said, "1ear you not
the red-cOat .Britishers firing? They're
coming this way. They'll arson the
house as | live. See the light of the
flames. Where can be the borough mil
itia?"
The report of musketry was distinct,
and the light that came from over the
hills showed the track of the invaders.
Then it was that grandfather Scribner
seized the gun and the squire seemed to
awaken to the business before them.
Sand yOu,' said Sally Wages, going
up to young LathrOp, Twill yeu stand
there like Tom Perkins lad at school
with ounces cap on? What will you
do? Will you go with US, or will you
hide under petticOat?"
Young Lathrop hesitated not minute.
'In truth, Sally Wages you are young
woman of spirit. You'll not find me
wanting"
Just then old Tim Wages, faint with
running and terror, came in, and, in
spite of his anxiety, his first thought
was of his stomach, and begged for a
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
coasters the slip, and were marching up
from the coast, shooting, burning and
rObbing, and sad work they were max
ing, 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 Ridgefeld hill were of no more avail
then a 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"
"HOw many are there. Tim, to the best
of your knOwIedge?' asked the Squire.
Not more than two dozens nor less
than a 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 think that
there are more than four, or twice four
said Sally Wages.
"And what would you do, Sally?"
"This is what would do, and will do.
Perceive the darkness coming; that will
help US or mistake. Now, father, go
to the great barn and take the three
lanterns 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 suf-
fer grandfather to load the guns the
while,and dOn'l put rabbit shot in the muz
zles, either. | will be back myself i'm
the space of five minutes or Whereabouts"
Squire Scribner said long after that
it surprised him, as he thought it all
over, that he did not conjecture that
this stupid girl was out of her head, in
stead of implicitly following the COM
mands she gave them.
In five minutes, more or less, the form
of man appeared in the dining-rOOm
with gun i'm his hand, and so much of
were i'm great state of CONSERVATION,
and it was not until the man spoke with
the voice of Sally Wages, that confidence
was restored.
Indeed, the form seemed that OF
man, because Miss Sally had upon her
head the cooked hat, on her body the re-
gimental coat that Grandfather Scrib-
ner had worn in the French war, twenty
years back, and, as for the short clothes
and stockings, the mystery of the ar
rangement by which Miss Sally made
herself appear from the knees down like
a heavy-limbed young fellow was never
explained.
'Five of u.s." she said, with no such
thought of the picturesque, perhaps
cOmical picture she made as fitting
through the quick brain of young Lath-
rOp.
She led them out to the hill that TANKS
the highway by which the British must
come, a matter of hundred rods from
the house. Then she commanded her
father to fasten the five lanterns to a
long pole, and attach each end of that
to tree, and the moment she gave COM
mand he was, by such violent swinging
of the pole, to make, by the confusion of
lights, the five lanterns seem as near
like fifty as the alcohol in his nerves
would permit.
Without 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 Captain Sally and young
LathrOp stood exposed.
Bye-and-bye the British came along.
They were merry with liquor, and Cap
tain Sally's army could hear their boasts
of what would happen in the 'squireS
house within an hour.
Young Lathrop was for shooting when
away from the range, and Captain 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.
At last they got half a dozen of them,
well abreast of the army in ambush on
the hillside.
Now" whispered Captain Sally, when
give the military command, father, see
to it that the lanterns culver like fire.
bugs, and we'll give them reception
from the 'squire's farm that some of
their wives and sweethearts will la