The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-18

Yet could hardly believe my ears.
for the voice was Travers's as well as
the face and figure.
"'Tis most wonderful" I said. 'I
could swear you were Travers; you
are the exact"
glanced at him as spoke and saw
his arm upraised with dubbed pistol.
l threw up my arm to ward off the
blow, but 1t was knocked down, and
the pistol-butt descended with scarcely
diminished force upon my head. / felt
my knees give way, l staggered a mo-
ment and fell senseless.
I must have recovered within a Sec
ond or so. for when 1 opened my eyes
/ saw hazily that Travers was bending
! over me and feeling in my coat. did
| not at first realize what he wanted, but
the next moment when 1 saw my prec-
| ious dispatches in his hands, my senses
| came back to me in a Hood. oh that
| my strength had come also!
He laughed as he saw my feeble ef-
forts to stop him, laughed as he looked
| at the addresses of my dispatches, and
| laughed as he mounted his horse and
| rode off. As 1 struggled. dizzy and
faint. to my feet, he galloped back.
| "'Twere unknd,' he cried ito leave
! so good a comrade alone. Come, you
| shall go with me. Here, take hold of
my saddle. Gen. Arnold will be glad TO
| see you, but more welcome will be your
| dispatches"
You coward, you traitor" gasped,
| Hard words bring hard blows, cap
tain" he replied savagely.
| Traitor" l cried again.
For a moment 1 thought he would
strike me, but he laughed and said,
'Tis brave lad" For few minutes
we walked on in silence, and gradual
ly regained my strength, though my
head throbbed with pain.
| Suddenly Travers said: "Cptain, Join
the British with me- We are sure to
win. I'll get you commission and
| good pay"
| TITS a good SERVICE" he continued
think it over before answering. You
get nothing but glory now, and British
gold will outweigh American glory a.
hundred to ona."
You will get me a commission" 7
asked.
"Ay, and good pay. Wilt accept?"
"On one condition.
Name it, then"
You say British gold is good to fight
for?"
"Ay, that it is"
Then, will fight for it,"
Good. You are a man after my own
heart"
Il will fight now"
"If we can find any of Lafayette's
men,"
mo, but here"
| "Eh!
Here, I say. Dismount and draw
your sword, and we will fight man to
man. If you win and l am alive, I'll
Join the British; if l take you alive, I
will hang you for a spy"
You are fool" he cried.
Better fool than a traitor"
Come" he exclaimed, "you cannot
anger me, and we are losing time.
Take hold of my stirrup and run. If
you try to escape 1 will blow your
brains out" and he cooked his pistol
and urged his horse into a gentle lope.
All the time 1 had been planning to
get my dispatches back and take the
traitor into camp. For that had led
him on to think would join the Brit
ish, and had endeavored to anger him
into fighting, but in vain. On we went
at good pace for a couple Of miles, till
l cried, in some distress:
Il can run no further
Then we needs must walk" he
cried.
Now there occurred to me a plan, a
desperate one, truly, but none was too
desperate for me then.
II am dizzy" cried to Travers; "let
me get staff to lean upon"
wilt ask for my horse next?" he
queried sarcastically. But cut a staff
If 1t please you and hurry"
| l hacked down a stout sapling with
my saber. Travers standing close
guard with cooked pistol, and then we
journeyed on at brisk walk until /
said
"As l am a prisoner, what matters
the time 1 reach the prison? Let US
run; am hungry"
| Travers laughe as he touched up his
horse into an easy lope. This was what
wanted, for my plan was suddenly to
thrust my s. IF between the fore legs
of the horse and thus trip it, in the
hope that it would throw Travers This
did so successfully that the horse was
brought to its knees.
| TraVers, unguarded was thrown over
its head. Hardly had he touched the
ground before 1 had my hand on his
throat an my clenched fist struck him
full on his temple to stun him. Then
1 was nearly thrown off his PROSTATE
body for one of his feet was caught
in his stirrup, and the horse frighten-
ed, was dashing down the road, drag.
ging us both after him, his hoofs
threatening every minute to dash out
our brains. For the moment l was
for releasing my hold, but thought OF
my dispatches and hung on with one
arm about Travers's neck and my legs
twined about his. while my hand felt
in his breast. 1t seemed an eternity be-
fore / found the papers, rolled off his
body and lay bruised and battered or
the ground, while the horse continued
at terrific spec down the road, Trav.
er's body bounding along in great leaps
to what seemed an almost certain
death.
(To be Continued Next Saturday,