Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-10
CHAPTER XIV.
THE AMBUsCADE.

Like spirits on evil intent the Ameri-
cans swept silently over the sand. So
unexpected was their attack that the
British were wholly unprepared for them.
Even after they were upon the party
that had given the signal, their deadly
rifles leveled at their heads, the BritOns
did not seem to realize that they were
others than their own friends, who had
blundered upon them.
Surrender" cried Capt. Alton, in a
low, determined voice.
Old on, there! there IS some mistake
. ere, said the officer in command, who
when excited, resOrted to his cockney
dialect. I'VE hare friends, hare We not?"
mo, you are our prisoners. Ground
your arms, or we will blow you into eter-
nifty"
"W'y, 90 hare your"
Americans.
"Hamericans! You must be ioking?"
"NO, We are not. You are our prison
ers, and must ground your arms to a man.
Keep them covered with your rifles, men,
and if one makes an effort to resist, pour
a volley into all of them"
Don't yer be skeered but what we
Will, one of the Americans answered.
His peculiar dialect and accent convinced
them more than any assertion that they
were Americans.
Standing back within the darkness,
their forms only vaguely outlined, the
Americans seemed a legion. Some of
them could not be seen. Only the long
barrels of the deadly rifles prOtruding
out Of the darkness were visible. This
sight, and the cool, determined threat, was
enough to intimidate the bOldest, and in
three minutes after the young officer had
demanded their surrender, the last gun
was grounded and the BritOns disarmed.
Now, Grif, that we've got en-, what
we gOin' to dO?" asked one of the vii
layers,
1--WE must in some way get them to
ManOa. But listen-dO you hear moth
ing?"
A death-like silence fell on the party.
The faint sounds of the measured dip of
oars could be heard coming toward the
beach.
Don't you hear it, Tommy" Griffith
asked of the little tailor.
Yes, I do"
What do you make of those sounds?"
"A boat comm in to shore.
"That is it. We must take that in,
also"
@Why, Griff, we've got more here now
than we kin guard, said one of the Amer
leans.
1--WE will manage that. said our hero,
encouragingly. "A few of you must
guard these, shoot them down if they
attempt to escape, and the remainder Of
us viii look after the boat crew.
Four were detailed to guard the British
prisoners, each having four men to guard.
Griffith, with the others, took his place
close to the beach.
The boat came rapidly in, and when
but few cables length away some one
in the boy hailed those on shore.
"AhOy, there! shipmates, ahOyi"
AYE, aye, Griffith boldly responded.
What We want to tumble up hull
ships crew at this time o. the night fOr?"
We've got important messages, Crit
fifth answered, boldly assuming the role
of the British officer who had fired the
rockets.
The boat without a shadow of sus-
piciOn came into land.
Where are the cOwardly Yankees to-
night?" the officer asked.
All in their holes, sleeping like hedge
hogs, with one eye open.
"The cowardly knaves. I would like
to enter their port and cut their Threats
as they Sleep the Briton responded.
The boat ran upon the sand, and the
! officer standing IN the bow reached out
his hand for the dispatches.
Griffith seized his Outstretched hand
and ierked him from the boat, head first
/ upon the sand; and at the same moment
half a dozen Americans leaped into the
boat with fixed bayOnets.
Low but deep rang out the command to
| surrender on the startled ears of the boat
men. They each found the steel point Of
1 a bayOnet at his heart, and in the fierce,
/ determined men who held them they
recognized their executiOners, unless they
| complied with their demand.
They could do nothing more than sur
1 render.
NOW, Griff, what ye goin' to do with
/ 'em?" asked one of the villagers.
Their prisoners were swelled to twenty
/ two in number.
| village"
How'll ye do it?"
an the boat. Make them all fast save
/ twelve men to row the boat, and Tom
/ Conley will take the tiIler and steer it
/ into the village. Six of our men for
/ guards viii answer, and 1 want you to
| take twenty-five or thirty more of our
] men with you.
What dye intend GriR?"
Il intend to drive the British back.
! Bring this boat and another so We can
| retreat by the water if nece ssary.
! The lea ran high, but with very little
! difficulty the prisoners took their places
] and were dashed to their seats.
/ Tom OOnley seized the tiller and they
/ pulled out into the water. The boat
! swept around a point Of land and disap-
/ peared into the harbOr.
/ Griffith, with his remaining compan-
ious, waited upon the sand.
Il don't see what yer wGitin' here fur,
/ Grriff, said Tommy Rufies. Dye intend
| fight'in' the British2
I'VE may abuscade them and drive
them back before morning
How kin yer"
They viii grow tired Of waiting the
return Of their companions, and star'