The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-03

replied the latter, with an air O
mingled vexation and self'reproach
but couldn't help 1t. /"
"Help whatY What has happened
Where Is the LADY," rapidly asked thu
alarmed and impatient lover.
"Taken prisoner by the tories as
guessed 'em. She and Vine Howard
that come with her, and the boy tina
drove me. "
"How when? wherey'
"Why, as we were coming down this
side the mountain, and when nearly
to the bottom, five or six fellows, with
guns rushed out of the bush, seized
the horse, pulled out the women, and
hurried them of with two Of their
number into the woods towards the
pond; while the rest made a push ia
take me, who was riding Just behind.
But firing a pistol in their faces, and
giving Lightfoot my stitfest sign,
we dashed through'or over them. and es
capped with their bullets whistling
after us one after another till out OF
reach. p"
"These ladies' shall be rescued before
sleep or l will perish in the attempt"
said WOODBURY. with stern emphasis.
LET us arm and set forward immedi.
ately with the best force we can
| raise.
"There is a thing or two to be ditter
done first, it strikes me" observed
Dunning with his usual GOODNESS !:
THAT is if we don't want enemies both
before and behind us on the way
what is that Dunning"
Secure those three chaps in the
bar room or they'll be ditter sure
either to be on our heels or get there
before us to raise the alarm Of our
coming.
care they armed think your"
with Otter knives only, I'm think.
ing-their guns may have been left
in the point of woods yonder in charge
of the spy | named who now | ditter
think ont ought to be taken about the
same time for fear of some secret sig
nal being given"
The suggestions Of Dunning who, as
the reader will already have inferred,
had been made a sergeant 10 Wood
burns company of Rangers were at
once approved by his superior who
accordingly, as the first step, des
patched him and Bart to the woods,
where the man conjectured to be in
charge of the arms of his comrades
was supposed to be concealed. After
waiting till the two others might have
had time to gain the woods in ques
ton. WOODBURY. left his stand, and,
passing round to the front Of the
house, boldly marched INTO the bar
room, where the three suspected per
sonages still sat listening to the stories
with which the landlord who suspected
what was in progress, seemed intent
on amusing them. They, however,
now seemed suddenly to lose all inter |
est in the recital going on, and, after
exchanging easy and significant glances
rose to depart.
You are my prisoners, gentlemen, y
said WOODBURY., stepping before them
and presenting a cooked pistol.
For moment, the surprised tories
stood mute in alarm and doubt, alter
nately glancing from their armed OPP
ponent to the landlord, and from the
latter to the-door and windows, as if
the chances and means OF
escape. But, the next instant, two OF
them suddenly turned, and DRAWN
and hourishing their knives behind
them. sprang for the open windows,
with the intention of leaping through
them.
"At 'em, Roarer exclaimed Coffin,
seizing one escaping tory by the leg
and hurting him back with stunning
effect upon the floor.
The dog was but little behind his
master in drawing back, by grip in
ais clothes, the other to the floor,
where he was glad to lie without offer
ng further resistance to the grim and
growing conqueror standing over him.
The third, in the meanwhile, not
laring to stir lest worse fate should
,efall him, standing AS he was direct
Y before the muzzle of Woodburn's
1istol. and seeing the situation of his
comrades, Immediately submitted:
when all, giving up their concealed
.rms, now quietly yielded themselves as
prisoners.
In few minutes after the surrender
II the tories, their guns were brought
n by Dunning and Bart, who found
hem at the suspected place, though
he traitor Redding, whom they identi
led, had Just taken the alarm. and
vas seen retreating over distant
,noll, as they came up to the spot.
The prisoners being left in charge OF
he landlords oldest boy, who was
rmed for the purpose, and the dog
1oarer, the rest of the. company now
etired to another part of the house, to
evise measures or the rescue of the
air captives for which preliminary .,
tep only had as yet been taken. HAY
ng at length fixed on the plan of OPP
rations which they believed most
of suspicious results they -,
commenced their hasty :
reparations for the bold adventure. :
md Dunning's six recruits luckily 9
irving in season, the whole company, 4.
ow consisting of ten resolute woods
zen and led on by man fully resolved :
} succeed or perish set forward little i,
fter sunset for the scene of action :"
hich was several miles distant from =
ne tavern. According to the plan :
lat had been adopted, two men were :
, proceed to the eastern shore of TIE l
Ond, take a log canoe, and, under
over of the darkness, row silently to
,me point beyond, but near the tory >
ncampment: and, after making what .
they could respecting the >
tuation of the captives lie in ambush {
nd await the operations of the rest of g
lie company who were to proceed :
,und by the road, enter the woods, +"
nd gain post on the other side OF
lie encampment, an, by feigned at !.
lck, draw off the tories, and thus
ford the former favorable moment >.