Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-03

and trees.
Haiti"
C--2tain Alton in a very cautious tone
gave the command, and the entire party,
now deployed as a line of skirmishers,
crept more steadily up the hillside among
the trees.
The ground was stony, rough and Un-
even. Great powders Of rock had CEN
turtles before, broken from the bluffs
above and rolled down the hill, some
even reaching the ravine at the bottom.
At the top OF the hill the Americans
halted. The weather was very warm, and,
slight as the exertion had been, they were
Feeking with perspiration. They were in
a dense forest, where scarcely a breath Of
air could reach them.
"Gritf, where dye intend goin'2" asked
4 hardly know, Griffith answered.
Il don't intend stopping until I have as
contained something of the secret moves
Of the British,
Won't we run right into emf" asked
Tommy RUffies, somewhat nervously.
Il don't know but we may" Captain
find something of these strange acts of
the British, and it IS possible that we
may come in contact with them before we
return"
But they're a hundred to one"
That makes no difference" grOWled
most interestin' period O. their existence
Of we do.
Tommy Rufies saidnOthing. Though it
was evinced that he did not relish this
most interesting period for their foes,
he kept his place with iron resolution,
and determined to die rather than shrink
from his post Of duty.
The little command of Americans were
in the thickest part of the wood, where
an object could not be seen a dozen
PAGES away.
Captain Alton really depended as
much on his sense of hearing as upon
sight.
After listening a few minutes they be-
gan to advance. Slowly and cautiously,
like beasts of prey stealing upon some
sleeping victim, the Americans crept
through the woods, over hill and dale.
At every few rods they stopped and
listened, then continued still more eau
tiousIy through the thickets and woods.
Their course was due north, and they
were getting between the right wing Of
the British army and the sea coast.
They came to q small, narrow valley, in
the center Of which was a cleared spot Of
ground, where was a small mound.
Upon this mound Griffith halted and
told his followers it would be better for
them to rest and listen. If the enemy
were making any move they could doubt
less hear them
Griffith, what dye think them thar
Britishers are gOin' to do, any Way?"
asked one of the villagers.
81 don't know, Ben; but 1t certainly
has the appearance of concentrating
their forces toward the coast, as if they
had an idea of going aboard the man-of-
war"
Coin aboard the ship2"
Eyes"
What fur?"
L%4ogc +r, Tosvrs EJ.o 1lasE
why, law bless me, Griff, let 'em go,
cried the viuager; ~ef they're tired o.
ManOa, an want to give it up, don't try
to hinder 'em."
IF the prisoner on board the man Of
war was safe in ManOa We would have no
objections to their raising the siege at
any moment; but if they should set sail
with Miss Ola Gatren there is no telling
when, if ever, she would be released. Be
sides, her most bitter enemy is aboard
that man Of-War.
ooh, yes, Griff; it is that scamp Bridges
what heerd about a year ago. She met
him some ars, and he kinder fell in love
with 'er, didn't her"
He pretended that he did, but such an
infamous scOundrel as he is incapable of
loving any one.
Ben, who was very inquisitive fellow,
continued:
Didn't ye hev little fuss with him
once, Griff?"
ave have exchanged shots, and within
the last few hours crossed swords"
Il thought [ heerd sOmethin' about thet
afore, but L guess I've forgot all that L
did hear"
"Quietl" commanded the Captain in an
under tone. Unless my ears deceive me,
I hear the tread of many feet"
All became quiet as death, and in a few
moments the tread of feet became more
audible.
"Tbar's some 'un. Griff; sure's you live,
thar's some 'un gOin' round through them
woods"
Remain here-don't move" cautioned
Captain Alton. UNLESS my ears entirely
deceive me, the British army is marching
| down to the coast.
The villagers from Manoa assented, and
| Captain Alton, accompanied by Tommy
Rufies only, crept over the hill in the
direction of the sounds of marching men.
CHAPTER XIII
A SIGNAL.
The quick, nervous ear of Tommy
/ Rufies was painfully strained,
/ His eyes were opened to their widest
/ extent, and he ierked his head from side
| to side, as if he expected some British
| sharps shooter was about to blaze away al
/ him.
Griffith - Captain Alton-d'ye see
! anything?"
mo. Tommy; We viii be as likely tc
! discover them as they US, and more so
/ for they do not suspect our being so neal
| them, while We know just where they
are, Captain Alton answered, in a meas
ure to assure his somewhat timid com
/ paniOn.
aB-b-but, &C. Crit, We are but hand
full and they great army"
@They have no knowledge of our mum
| bers, and so long as they are in Ignorance
of that fact we are safe. They may think
/ that We have an army concealed in these
woods, and We need not tell them that We
/ do not number score"
ct viii soon be pitch-dark.
Yes; but that viii be to our advantage,
| the Captain said. while 1t is yet light
/ let rs ascertain from whence come
those sounds Of marching men"