The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-10


suddenly perceived his head On th,
POI 1T OF coming in contact wifi sa ,n
p,oaI' hiSh obstacle, which seemed I,
rise likn wall before him. Surprised
anu SUN more confused than before
ne retreated few PAGES and locke,
upward to try to make out the nutur,
OF o. the obstacle before him: when h,
discovered 1t to be the back side If III,
very shanty Of which he was in search
me strange darkness, which hal
so suddenly overshadowed him. an,
which was caused by the obstrnctin,
OF the skylight by this rude structure
peing now explained, and eyerythinf
mace clear to his mind, he CAUTIONS
y moved towards the front of the
shanty, to lind the entrance, no Ionpe,
doubling that those he sought were
within. On reaching the front corner
so as to enable him to peer round =
vi lhat size, he soon made out the en-
trance; but directly across it to his
disappointment he dlscovf red the hall
recnmbent form of man, with a
musket leaning on his shoulder. AT.
Ter few hurried observations. in
winch he discovered. by the decayinp
lires before them several other shanties
or tents among the trees, few rods
IN front, Bart again skunk back to
the spot he had just left. and was
about to retrace his way to his com.
panlon, when new thought occurred
TO MN, and, moving up to the back
OF the sanity, which was formed bv
broad pieces of thick bark standing
slantlngly against a pole supported by
cfotches,. and. placing his mouth
to crack, softly whispered the names
or the captives, and turned his ear to
the spot to catch the hoped for re-
Spouse. For the first moment. all was
still but the next, the catching of a
long suspended breath, and even. as
he thought, the rapid beating of a
tluttering bosom became audible
Presently a light movement AS of n
cautiously changed position. was heard
within; and the next instant pair of
soft lips came in contact with his
ear at the crevice, articulatine in
sounds scarcely above the slightest
murmur of the air, -
Who speaks my name?'
Bart" replied the other. "You
know what Pm after Can one of the
banks between US he removed without
alarming your keeper?'
Il fear, - but he seems asleep try
1t was the measured and ilesitating
reply.
After slightly essaylng several of
the piece of the bark he wished TO
remove, he at length commenced oper
ations at the bottom Of one of them,
and gently forcing it aside, inch bv
inch. in short time effected an open
ing sufficient, as he judged, for the
egress of the captives, and that too,
he felt confident. without attracting
the attention of the doing guard.
Now feel your way OUT and with
out stirring twig or leaf creep on
after me-, whispered Bart
And preceding a few PAGES from the
opening, he paused to await the re
suit. In moment he had the salts
faction of pereeiving a female form
slowly emerging from the narrow pas
sage into the open air without
Surprising her companion to be i'm
behind, he, now. with IA
word of encouragement. led
the way from the spot. With fire.
quent pauses, both to assure himself
that he was followed by his charge
and to listen for any stir among the
foe that should indicate a discovery
Of the escape, he continued to creep
forward till he encountered Dunning,
when, the latter taking the lead, they
all moved on. one after another in
the same cautious manner as before, and
soon reached the landing in safety:
but as they emerged from the bushes,
and the hunter turned to congratulate
The ladies on their escape, it was now,
Tor the rrst time discovered that but
lne of them was present.
Bart, how is this? ditter tell me
where is the other? " demanded Dun
ling in tone of disappointment and
,exation.
But Bart equally disappointed and per
1lexed, was mute: and the lady who
proved to be Miss Howard. replied
Miss HaviIand if not retaken is
low wandering in the woods. "
"Der wandering in ditter woods,
md you not with her?' again demand
ID the former with an air of mingled
surprise and reproach.
eS SIT. Dul t''l hpt iINChb W
lesert her, promptly replied the girl.
Peceiving we were not watched very
loosely by the man they put over us,
he and | had thought of a p an OF es-
.aping into the woods and getting
ound into the road. And while he
vas talking with another, that had
tepped forward little ways to meet.
We sliped out undiscovered and gained
thicket, when finding | had left my
haw, |. contrary TO Miss HaviIand's
dvice | will own, ventured back to
,et it. and was detected, just as | was
raying the shanty second time, ana
,er absence discovered. This made d
fir among them, aud they ordered OF,
couts after her along the pond towards
he road. which was the way | pointed
,ben they were threatening me If
iGn't tell. But she must have heard
u and escaped.
ESCAPED ditter deuce of an escape
hat: for woman to get out INTO
crest full of Indians in search OF
Ier. - replied the still unreconciled
.unter. "But what course has she der
AIKEN, think ye gal?' i
1.-The one we planned, likely; ana
hat was to take wide sweep round
heir camp, gain the road and make for
he tavern which she said was not far
If, - replied the other.
"Weli.n said Dunning in more
oolified tone, Though der dogs is in
mex TO be sure yet half loaf is better
han none. We must save what we
ave got : SO into the canoe there with
a ali and YOU Bart take her across der
ond find Harry whom I'd Otter rather
on would meet first and tell him you
Eft me this side to go IN search OF Tue
ther, who. if found, can most llkely DC
of TO the road as well the WY she SET
nt as this in the shape things now
tand. "