The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-17
: BARBARA DARE
AND THE FRIGATE.
A Story of the Revolution.

BIZ HENRY {. HAYD0Ck.

bling farmhouse Denlnu Her IOI IL"
minutes rest, leaving her young broth
cr 10 watch by the bedside of her little
sister, who was very i'll. Everyone was
away. Her father and elder brother
were IN the continental army. Her
uncle. an old man, who had stayed at
lone since the war began, had gone TO
The mill that afternoon.
It was a dark hour for the American
cluse; battle after battle had been
Sought, and the troops, weary and for
the time discouraged, were slowly re-
treating.
Barbara was thinking of this, and
wished that she were q man, to go into
the thiclIest of the fight, or even boy,
10 take drum and lead on the troops.
She sighed as she glanced at her skirts,
then, resting her chin upon her hand,
again looked out to sea. To be sure, her
life had not been devoid OF excitement,
for even now there were munitions of
war buried under the woOdpile in the
extension Of the house, but they had
never been touched since they had been
placed there, together with the family
valuables. It was, indeed, a good place
TO hide the muskets, for the house was
in a retired situation, and it was very
seldom anyone came near it.
As Barbara thought CT this she turned
her head, then started to her feet, for
there in the offing was frigate slowly
working its way in shore. Her back
having been partially turned in that
direction, she had not noticed it until
now. and was very much surprised to
see how near it was. She rose at once
and started toward the house to get the
spyglass.
AS she ran she remembered all the
Instances she had heard of English
ships landing men who ransacked farm
houses. sometimes leaving them in
flames when they returned to their
boats.
She wouldn't worry, at any rate, fer
the frigate might only be passing along
the coast, or it might be an Ameri
can man-of-war. She was soon out on
the beach again. The ship was much
nearer. AS she looked al it through the
glass she saw flying from the masthead
The English flag.
AS she watched and listened she
heard the shrill sound of the boat
swain's whistle. The frigate came
about, and she saw they were preparing
to lower 4 boat.
Her worst fears were now realized.
What should she do? The first thought
was to take the children and ran, lcav
ing the house 10 its fate. Then she 10.
ticed how cold and chilly the air Was
as it swept in from the sea, and she
realized that it would never do to take
her sick sister IRON her room into The
open air. for it would probably mean
death to her.
She reentered the house hastily, went
10 the room and beckoned her brother
you must run over to the village and
tell the people the British are about to
land. I win stay here until you can get
uncle and return"
The boys eyes grew black with ex-
element
"You stay here alone and face them!"
he said.
yes" she answered.; "there is no
other way"
Nor did she look afraid, as she stood
there with an air of dauntless bravery
about her.
You're fine!" her brother eX-
claimed. Then he rushed through the
door with a parting shout: 81 won't
be gone long"
ha oh 1aft I.aI 11O
Ba1bara's courage for the moment gave
way, but only for a moment, and then
she was thinking how to act. She was
not so sure she could protect the place
because she was a girl, and if they
found the buried muskets they would
surely burn the house, and then her
sister would have to be taken out into
the chill sea air.
There was one way to prevent this
keep them from entering the extern
sion. Her sisters room was in the eX-
tension, and underneath the room were
the buried uuskets. She must do this
by strategy if possible. She descended
the stairs as she thought, and went
through the long passageway which
connected the extension and the main
portion of the house. .
i AS she entered the main room he1
eyes fell upon huge fireplace, in
which there had not been a fire fol-
some time. The fireplace was directly
beside the door leading into the pas
sage, the door that she must guard
How should she guard it? As she
thought she noticed the brick oven in
the fireplace, the door of which was
ajar; then an expression of triumph
came over her face.
She acted at once upon the thought
went to the back of the house, and re.
turned with small key of powder
1t was very small key, but it hello
enough for the purpose for which she
wished to use it. 1t took her only &
minute to open the oven door and put
1t inside. She closed the door almost
tight. then stopped, and in the oppo
site corner of the fireplace arranged
some fagots and kindling wood I'm
derneath this she fixed huge pair OF
bellows. The bellows were black
smiths bellows, her uncle having beer
BLACKSMITH. He had rugged them ur
by the fireplace, and laughingly said
they reminded him of old times.
Lighting the fire would in no way
endanger exploding the powder, the
fireplace being too large and the fire toe
small; but should she pull down on the
lever of the bellows. line of fire would
My boy came from school one day
with his hand badly lacerated and