Evening star., 1897-05-01

"why not leave him here. if that's the
case? We can bind and gag him. and lock
him in. But you see. Mr.. Mordaunt, this
spoils my business"
You will have TO get some other" said
1. Turn schoolmastcr. for I've heard you
were once half schoolmaster, half cob
bier. AS for the other matter. Col. Van
Halls crosses the river with
"A matter of pride, eh?' said the cob
bier. Shall We bind and gag you, colonel?'
Il will cry out" said he, Iii you don't"
Why not in my company" said L.
There were no sentinels near enough
before you could have killed me: but. on
the river the patiol will hear and catch
you
YES" said L: you must tie his hands
no. that's not needful-gag him, Pringle"
The prisoner looked about as If medi.at-
ing resistance: but he saw 1t was useless
as l took his pistol and held it over him.
while Pringle proceeded to gag him, nut
tering something low in his ears"
The candle in the rough room fickared on
the scene. An old rheumatic dog rose la
boriously from his corner. and shifted at
the prisoner. Pringle slipped band about
his wrists. beyond my request, and then
snuffed the candle.
You'll walk, colonel; or we will carry
you
He walked without demur. and we left
by little path where the thick bushes
swept our faces. The moon was low on the
horizon, and the night soon would fall
dark. But Pringle, il once on the river, did
was spy on US: to us one on Sir Henry;
he was constantly going to and fro.
Presently We found the skiff. the prisoner
entered without resistance. We put out
the coDbier extended me second pair of
oars. He was surprisingly strong in the
way OF those little wiry men; men who
nave, to- astonishing endurance as L
have known many times on long cam
paigns.
The moon had dipped. and the Iandscape
ieil suddenly darker. A frigate loomed to
Reward, and then we settled down to our
STEADY work. dog bayed dismally, and
my heart beat again wildly over this mart
OF the adventure. 1 had succeeded SO far
by an extraordinary association of chances
put fet ominous. 1 watched the still
hgure of our prisoner, who. without that
gag, might have spoilt all by a shout to the
shipping.
But the lights Of that shipping fell te-
nino' when suddenly a challenge fell on our
ears. as the patrol loomed up, The men
backed, and leaned on their oars Prtngle
gave ms own name and the word They
seemed accustomed to his presence on the
river at night.
We had drawn on some distance when a
voice rang out with shrill distinctness:
An escaped prisoner-a spy Stop themr'
L had not noticed our prisoner for some
moments. but now. looking around at this
startling interruption, / saw him upright
MS arms unfettered, the gag out of his
mouth For an instant he stood there
poised, and then sprang into the river
sang out the spy. And understood him.
We pulled on for our lives knowing they
must stop to pick him up. Yet the chance
was small enough. What was the surpris-
MIN out OF the river they did not seem TO
be hurried. They came after u.s. to be sure,
but not so briskly as they might
God bless the colonel!'' said Pringle.
did not think OF that then. Freedom
Tor which had fought so hard was of .m-
port enough to make me forget all else
Not Till some time after. when we grounded
Inder the clif on cur own side of the
river, and We were walking as briskly as
We could toward Mai. Lees pickets did
remember. and ask:
What did you mean by that, Pringle?"
Ine colonel, sir told them the truth,
Let Us get away 1 asked.
Yes, you see. L whispered in his ear.
while WI ,, l was was gasging him, that 1 wouldn't
That's traitorous to u.s."
Mr.. Mordaunt." he answered "oncs
when L needed money. that gentleman
helped me out That was before this
blessed war. In this case 1 intended Civ.
ing him a chance"
1 said nothing. thinking it all over. while
the spy went on.
IF 1t Were traitorous can't I show ona
hundred cases where I've risked INV neck?
Now. L never can go into New York again
till Congress holds it,
Stiil L said nothing, thinking II over
"A man must be human, even In war
gave him only little chance. He might
have been drowned, but he took it." the
spy went on. with sullen persistence ..If
he'd ieen brought over, he would have
had the appearance of having helped YOU"
At last 1 said:
.I don't zee why should report this"
Then he cried out:
why, bless you. Capt. Mordaunt I viii
report it myself. II they don't think / de-
serve some consideration hav
be hanged"
The cobblers thin. wiry figure seemed to
me to take on heroic proportions, as we
walked there together In that still dark
hour. TX he had lost me my prisoner. the
prisoner equally had let me escape And
In fact. when the matter was reported at
headquarters, without an extenuatins
clause the same view was taken of II. and
Pringie was continued In the service. with
the rank of sergeant
so the account ends as abruptly as II he
gan; but 1t may show, perhaps, the char.
acters Of the runaway prisoner; of the Old
tory. and Of the spy. who, despite the
usage of war. could not forget a favor
even though granted by q political enemy.