Wichita eagle., 1889-07-30


tense they must kill him-and all that In
the dark. And that much amuses the
British officers"
Lord, let death seize upon them, and
let them go down quick into hell" ejac-
ulated the pastor, in fervent quotation OF
the psalmist.
"Amen!' responded Jameson between
his clinched teeth, continuing his nara
tive. 1T is common sport with them
to cast apples among the prisoners to set
them fighting. The wretched men, whose
minds are weakened by their sufferings,
seem maddened at sight Of the tempting
fruit, and will beat and tear each other,
with claws and teeth, like starving, raw
enous beasts, to get possession of it.
Lord, let burning GOALS fail upon
them: let them be cast into the fire. into
deep pits, that they rise not up again, !"
bee forth the parson.
''Men are shot down like dogs by the
sentries, excuse therefor being found in
the slightest breach of discipline"
"Woe unto the wicked! 1t shall be Ill
with him, for the reward of his hands
shall be given HIM"
Mistress Suydam's cheeks were very
pale, and her eyes blazed with indigna-
ton. Each Of the excited parsons scrip
tural quotations were expressive Of her
sentiments, but she did not open her lips
until he uttered, as prayer:
Lord, root them out of the land of the
living; pity them not, nor spare, nor have
mercy, but destroy them utterly"
Then she very earnestly calculated,
"Ameni"
All that day Robert jameson lay in
hiding among the bushes back of Mistress
Suydam's house, resting, sleeping and
rapidly regaining his strength, while she
watched over his safety and fed him
Parson Ellis went away. Before tax
ing his departure, he told the fugitive:
81 am over here on mission in which
it may be Gods will that l shall lay down
my life, and, indeed, thea chance for it
is SO b eat that I set small store by
the boat that is moored in the bay near
the mouth of this creek. IF l come of
alive l shall easily find another boat.
This one you had better take, and, as
soon as the moon has set tonight, sail
for New London, where you will be safe.
Go not before, lest you be overhauled on
the sound and recaptured."
81 will never be taken alive" answered
Robert, firmly.
"You are brave man, and l do not
doubt your intent, but we are all in the
hand of God. If you reach New London
safely give the boat in charge Of Ebenezer
Holden, whom you will easily find. And
now, farewell"
Robert feared to remain in the house,
lest he might be surprised by party of
the British dragons, who, as he was in
formed, were continually securing the
island. Near nightfall Mistress Suydam
came rushing down to him from the up
per window where she had long been
sitting, watching that she might note the
approach of an enemy far off.
1.-THE dragons are comingI" she cried
to him.
A dozen Of them were coming down
the road at an easy, swinging trot, with
Capt. Tileston at their head. Of course
the fugitive imagined that they were in
pursuit of him, but they were not. He
was supposed to have been drowned and
eaten by the sharks, numbers of which
savage creatures were attracted to the
vicinity Of the prison ship by the prey
that was either tossed to them or that
voluntarily leaped overheard. The dra-
goons had quite another object than his
capture in their cos ng. But he thought
only of flight.
He ran swiftly down the brook, crouch
ing below the line of rank grass that mar
gined its banks, until he reached the bay,
where he plunged in and disappeared.
Day was ended by this time, but the ear
ly rising moon gave SO clear light that
he did not dare to attempt reaching the
parsons boat, though it was only four or
five rods from where he took to the
water. A couple Of the dragons rode
leisurely down the bay, and there sat
upon their horses, chatting. They were
discussing the catching of spies who were
supposed to land there from the Connec-
ticut or New York shore. Presently Capt.
Tleston, with four more men, Joined
them. They had stopped to search for
rebels in Mistress Suydam's house. The
captain had plan.
lit is useless" he said, "for us to at
tempt the capture, upon the water, of
those Yankee spies, who have eyes like
hawks by day and owls by night, and
could see us long before we could see
them. We must let them land. AS ]
have sharper sight than any Of you at
night, will conceal myself in the boat
and watch for them. You viii hide in
yonder clump Of woods. When they
land I will signal to you by initiating
the plovers cry, which way to dash to
fall upon theEl-once for this way, twice |
for that-and at the same moment will
seize their boat to cut OFF their retreat"
So it was arranged. One of the dra-
goons waded out TO the parsons little |
sail boat and drew her in SO that the cap /
tain could step aboard dry shod, after
which he moored her out again. Then
the dragons went away into the woods,
and the captain lay down in the boat to
watch and wait for events. Events were
rapidly approaching him that he had no
Of
A big, floating bunch Of sedge grass
drifted out from near the shore toward
the boat, slowly approaching 1t closer
and closer. At length it seemed to lodge /