The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-25
CHAPTER XIV.
THE AMBUSCADE.

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 not2"
NO, you are our prisoners. Ground
your arms, or We will blow you into eter-
nifty"
aW'y, 90 hare your
Americans"
~Hamericans! You must be joking3"
"No, we ore not. You are our prison.
ers, and must ground your arms to man.
Keep them covered with your rifles, men,
and if one makes an effort to resist, pour
q 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 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, Griff, that we've got 'em, what
We goin' to do?" asked one of the vii
layers.
I'VE must in some way get them to
Manoa. But listen-do you hear moth
ing2"
A death-Iike 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, 7 do"
sWhat do you make of those sounds?"
"A boat comm in to shore.
That is it. We must take that in,
also."
.Why, Grif1, we've got more here now
than We kin guard, said one OF the Amer
leans.
I'VE 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 will look after the boat Grew"
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, ahoy!"
Aye, ave." Griffith boldly responded.
What ye want to tumble up hull
ships crew at this time O. the night for?"
We've got important messages, Grit
fifth answered, boldly assuming the role
of the British officer who had fired the
rockets.
The boat without 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"
SThe cowardly knaves. I would like
to enter their port and cut their throats
as they Sleep" the Briton responded.
The boat rac upon the sand, and the
officer standing in tho bow reached out
his hand for the dispatches.
Griffith seized his outstretched hand
and jerked him from the boat, head first
upon the sand; and at the same moment
lalf 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
bayonet at his heart, and in the fierce,
determined men who held them they
recognized their e1ecutioners, unless they
complied with their demand.
They could do nothing more than sur
render.
Now, Griff, what ye goin' to do with
'em?" asked one of the villagers.
Their prisoners were swelled to twenty
two in number.
I'VE will have to send them all to the
village"
How'll ye do it?"
In the boat. Make them all fast save
twelve men to row the boat, and Tom
Conley will take the t:ller and steer it
into the village. Six of our men for
guards will answer, and / want you to
take twenty-five or thirty more of our
men with you"
What dye intend, GriE?"
Il intend to drive the British back.
Bring this boat and another so We can
re >reat by the water if necessary"
The sea ran high, but with very little
diff ,ulty the prisoners took their places
snI were lashed to their seats.
Tom Hoplav coizaA tho fi11ar Qn1 thav
pulled out into the water. The boat
swept around point Of land and disap-
peared into the harbor.
Griffith, with his remaining compan-
ions, waited upon the sand.
Il don't see what yer waitin' here fur,
Grit, said Tommy Ruffles. Dye intend
6ght'in' the British?"
we may sbusoade them and drive
them back before morning"
How kin ye?"
They will grow tired of waiting the
return of their companions. and start
down to zee what is the matter, tnen We
shall have our ambuscade ready, and
make them think they have entered
hornets nest.
Griffith had taken from the British
officer the dispatch intended for Major
Bridges, and having both flint and steel,
he gathered up some dry sea- weeds and
made a small light by which he read it.
The dispatch stated that news had just
been received from Baltimore, and the
British army was in full retreat and the
Americans rising in every direction.
Their condition was growing desperate,
and they begged to be taken aboard ship.
Their artillery. they said, would have to
be abandoned to the enemv.
Griffith was we'll satisfied with the
course he had adopted, and waited pa
tieptly the return of his comrades, with