The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-13

ures: as sure rs Il gun, it is IIarry's
old trcubler, that he thought he'd
killed once. and felt so guilty about
it. till he heard be didn't. But what
can the fellow be up to here, in such
hurry, just at this time? Don't
like the looks ont, exactly. Bart,
hasn't his tall tory got wind of our
movement, somehow, and come on to
warn Il gang, that, not finding here
he has gone to meet. Let's be off and
trace him. But bark Do you hear
that? Another coming from the same
quarter! Aye, and scratching gravel
too, ike Mars, Isshould think, by
the way his horse's feet rise the
ground Here he comes What. it is,
by mighty it's Harry and Lightfoot in
full chs Sc! Go it. Lightfoot Catch
him Harry! Stuboy. stuboy" he
added, in low, eager shouts of eXulta-
ton, as the recognized horseman
passed. like fash, by his place of
concsalment.
SprinGing forward to small elevation
in the field, which commanded brok
en- view of the road to the path before
described and even small portion Of
the latter, Bart t.sked both eye and
ear to the utmost 10 trying to trace
the dimly discerned forms of the re,
ceding horseman now obviously but a
short distance asunder his object be
| ing to ascertain whether Peters would
keep on the main road or as he sus-
pected his intention to be, strike into
the path to Asa Roses and try to
reach the tories before he should be
oyortaken. For one moment, in which
he los, sight of both pursuer and pur
sued, Bart stood in doubt; but the
next, the changing direction of the
still au iible sounds, and the slight
glimmerings of the sparks from the
horse's hoofs, now seen extending out
in line Dearly at right angles To the
course they had been pursuing
sufficiently apprsed him that his sus
picious were correct. Waiting there
fore no longer than to ascertain this
he turned and plunged into the wood
on his feet; and taking the course he
had really decided on for joining his
companions and being now melted to !
his exertion to reach the other road in
time to warn WOODBURY. OF the trap in
to which his antagonist was doubtless
intending to draw him at the tory rem
dezous or to be ready to render any
needed assistance in case collision |
took place between them before reach
ing it he made his way through the |
opposing obstacles Of the thicket with |
a rapidity probably that a wild In I
dian could not have equarl till sud I
denly he found himself in the path of /
which he was in at est aithin a few I
rods of the small opening where stood I
the suspected log tenement Of Asa I
Rose. His first act now was TO stoop I
down and examine the soft ground in
the road, to ascertain whether Peters
and his pursuers had passed the place.
A moments inspection however con
hrming him in the negative he rose
and bent listening ear in the direc
ton of their expected appearance: but
no sounds reached him indicative of
their approach. While standing here
10 doubt respecting the course next to
be pursued, his attention was attract
ed by a commotion at the house when.
stepping forward towards the edge Of
the opening he caught a glimpse of
the whole body of the tories with
their leader at their head just leaving
the house and moving silently and
with quick step. in the road towards
him. Stealing softly away from his
post of observation. he reiterated rapid
ly along the path, some hundred yards
into the wood; when he fortunately
encountered Barney and his two men,
to whom he hastily communicated all
the discoveries he had made since he
left them.
Fearing, from the non appearance of
Peters and his pursuer, of whom,
nothing had yet been seen
or heard. that the former had given
the latter the slip in some by path.
which would enable him 10 reach the
tories in the rear, or otherwise apprise :
them of the danger of proceeding,
Barney instantly adopted the bold res
olution of attempting the immediate
capture of the whole band by stratagem,
trusting to the frmness and ingenuity
Of himself and his men to keep, or get
them forward, till the expected reen-
should arrive.
I'VE must multiply ourselves, and
then act according to circumstances.
he SAID, after apprsing his men of his
81 will multiply into platoon of
ten, and be their orderly. if you will
let me have my own way in the way
Of managing of 'em. captain, said
Bart, entering with great spirit into
plan in which his pecularities so well
fitted him for taking leading part.
"Well them" replied the other,
take station in the bushes five or
six rods ahead: the rest of us will take
our coverts here on different sides. of
the road. You must act for yourselves, =
and on the hints of the moment; but 4
wall take the lead. and give you
,lews as the case may require.
Scarcely had this fearless little band
settled themselves in their respective
stations, before the tories, marching A
n close Indian file, made their APP
1earance, and came forward wholly
of danger. They were
to advance unmolested till
hey were nearly all between the two
points of ambush; when Captain e.
Barney, stepping partly out from his ="
presented his gun. and
- N
"Stand. Surrender, or dier' d
"Halt!" cried the surprised. though d
lot frightened tory captain, who was 4
lot only fine looking, hut cool and
capable young otficer-''h halt, till we
zee what all this means. -
"You will soon find out what it
means, unless you surrender, re-
oined Barney. in bold and confident r
one. Il give you one minute to de- =
ide Attention there - he continued, I.
8 if addressing numerous band of
oncealed forces attention there, a
light, left, and front platoons :,
Every man at his station and ready for u
Word -