Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-08-26

promised to do his best. when am
/ to go?" he inquired.
NOW. just as soon IS you can get
ready"
Just ut dusk, dressed in citizens
clothing, and with the dispatches
sewed inside the lining of his sleeve,
young Montagnie was carried across
| the river and started on his journey.
Even horse was denied him, but the
bard young Continental cared little
for that, and all night long he kept
steadily on his way.
1t was about half an hour before sun
rise when he came near to Ramapo
Pass. "Mv time has come," he said
| to himself. eff can once get safely
through this place have no fear of
the rest of the way" But he was
more excited than he knew, and he
was breathing rapidly as he entered
the pass. He grasped his heavy
walking stick more tightly and glanced
about him. The passage between the
hills was becoming very narrow. Be-
side the roadway there was only a
narrow little strip of land and the
swift flowing stream that ran noisily
on its way. The steep hillsides rose
abrupt and rocky. The damp, cool
air of the early morning, the noise of
the stream, the threatening cliffs and
powders, which might conceal some
of his enemies, all increased the nerv-
Gus dread of the messenger, and he
quickened his steps. Once through,
his greatest danger would be passed.
clark What was that He
stopped and listened, and in mo-
ment he knew he had not been de-
ceived. He could hear the sound of
approaching horsemen, and they were
coming rapidly down the road behind
him.
He glanced behind for a hiding
place, and already had started to
climb the cliffs, when he caught
sight of the approaching men and re-
allied that he could not gain a place
of concealment before they would be
near enough to see him. Perhaps
they had already discovered him.
There was nothing left but to resume
his place in the road, walk on as
though he neither feared nor suspect
ed anything, and keep on as bold a
face as possible. But if his face was
bold, it was the only thing bold about
him, for his heart sank when he saw
the six men enter the pass, and bring
their horses to walk when they no.
ticed the stranger.
He could see their faces now, and
81 he
nized the leader as Richard Smith.
He had been at Goshen when his
father, Claudius Smith, along with
Gordon and De la Mar, had been
hanged. Montagnie knew what n
desperate Claudius Smith had been,
and what a terror his gangof cowboys
had been in Orange county and along
the borders of New Jersey. Manyr re-
wards had been offered for his arrest,
and about year and half before this
time he had been captured at Oyster
Bay and taken to Goshen, where he
was chained to the floor of the Jail
and strong guard placed over him.
All his efforts to escape had been in
vain, and with his two companions he
had been hanged, as Montagnie him
self knew, for he had been in Goshen
on that very day. But Smiths son
Richard had been avenging the death
of his father, and the poor Wings in
that region had been suffering more at
his hands than they had from his
father. These were the thoughts
that were passing rapidly through the
mind of the messenger, and there was
this desperate, Richard Smith, APP
preaching, and with him five men as
desperate as he at his back. What
Misunderstanding men they were.
He grasped his walking-stick more
firmly and tried to appear calm.
Good morrow, gentlemen" said
Montagnie.
A gruff word was the only reply,
but each man was glancing sharply at
him. Evidently they were suspicious,
but, as they passed on, Montagnie
breathed more easily. The danger was
almost passed and i'll moment he
would be beyond their sight.
But he was not to escape so easily.
Without turning his head he was
aware they had stopped and We're
watching him. The moment was q
critical one. Would it never come to
an end
"Hold, stranger" called one of the
men. "You travel early"
The messenger stopped, for there
was nothing else to be done, and
waited their approach. They soon
gathered about him, and he knew his
only hope lay in being calm.
EYES," he replied, "and neither are
you late in your start"
whittier might you be bound ?"
said Smith. ignoring his words.
ooh, up the road here, among the
hills.
Smith laughed derisively as he re-
Piled; "That won't do. Up the road
may lead you to Morristown, or it
may be New York. You'll have to give
an account of yourself.
The young preacher glanced quickly
about him. Shonld he try to fight
Six men, armed and mounted, were
before him, and they would think no
more of shooting him than they would
squirrel by the roadside. But the
leader had not failed to note his hest
tation, and he turned to his men and
said: Search him, boys. If he's
straight it'll do no harm; and if he
isn't, it's the thing to be done"
In a mo aent Montagnie had for
gotten his caution If the papers were