Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-28

good many of them, too, said Tarleton,
rising quickly and rushing to the piazza,
an example which all, including Mrs.
Slocumb, at once followed. She was
trembling now, for she felt assured that
she could explain the cause Of the com
motion.
May ask, madam, +" said Tarleton,
turning to her as soon as he had given
his orders for the action of the troops,
whether any of Washingtons forces
are in this neighborhood or not?''
You must know that General Green
and the marquis are in South Carolina,
and | have no doubt you would be
pleased to see Lee once more. He shook
your hand very warmly the last time he
met you, am told. "
An oath escaped the angry colonels
lips, and he glanced for moment at
the scar which the wound Lee had made
had left on his hand, but he turned
abruptly and ordered the troops to form
on the right. and he dashed down the
lawn.
A shout and the sound of firearms
drew the attention Of Mrs. Slocumb to
the long avenue that led to the house.
A cry escaped her at the sight, for
there was her husband, followed by two
of her neighbors, pursuing Oh horseback
band of five Tories whom Tarlet on
had sent to soour the country
On and on they came, and it was evil
dent that the pursuers were too busy to
have noticed the army of Tarleton.
Broadswords and various kinds Of wea-
pons were flashing in the air, and it
was plain that the enraged Slocumb saw
nothing but the Tories he was pursuing.
Could nothing be done? Would they run
into the very heart of the camp? Mrs.
Slocumb tried to scream and warn her
husband, but not sound could she
make One Of the Tories had just fallen,
when she saw her husbands horse sud-
denly stop and swerve to one side. What
was the cause?
Sambo the slave whom Mrs. Slo-
cumb had dispatched, as soon as Tarle-
ton had come, to warn her husband,
had started promptly on his errand, but
the bright coats of the British had so
charmed him that he had fingered about
the place, and when the sound of the
guns was heard Sambo had gone only
as far as the hedgerow that lined the
avenue. Discretion became the better
part Of valor then, and the negro in his
fear had crawled beneath it for shelter,
but when his frightened face beheld his
master approaching he had mustered
courage enough to crawl forth from his
hiding place and startle the horses as
they passed.
"Hol on, NASAL Hol on" he shout
ed.
Recognizing the voice, Slocumb and
his followers for the first time stopped
and glanced about them. Off to their
left were /, 900 men within pistol shot.
As they wheeled their horses they saw
body of horsemen leaping the hedge
and already in their rear. Quickly
wheeling again they started directly for
the house, near which the guard had
been stationed. On they swept, and,
leaping the fence of lath about the gar
den patch amid shower of bullets they
started through the open lots Another
shower of bullets fell about them az
their horses leaped the broad brook, or
canal, as it was called, and then almost
before the guard had cleared the fences
they had gained the shelter of the
woods beyond and were safe.
The chagrin of the British Tarleton
was as great as the relief of Mrs. Slo-
cumb, and when OH the following day
the troops moved on the cordial adieu
Of the hostess led the colonel to say:
"The British are not robbers, madam.
We shall pay you for all we have
taken.
I am SO rejoiced at what you have
not taken that shall not complain if l
do not hear from you again." she re-
piled.
And she neither heard nor complain
ed.-Louisville Courier Journal.