The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-03


or seventeen years Of age, but he was
as tall, strong of limb and supple as
young ash. His body was bent slight.
~ forward in the eagerness to urge his
horse to renewed speed, but his head
was well up and his eyes keenly on the
watch. They glowed, too, with the
lire OF excitement, and his fingers were
twltching neryously as they handled
the reins. He was both in haste and
on the watch.
He turned suddenly from the avenue
and struck off through the myrtles
toward o dense portion of the woods,
tie had gone half-mile or so, when, all
Of sudden, he stopped, threw back
his head, and gave the boot of an OWL
Ii was answered.
Without further hesitation he
plunged on as fast as the underground
would allow: In few minutes he had
passed through the tangle and entered
an open space. AS he did so he came
upon what seemed to be q camp of
soldiers, OF rather, what had been, for
the soldiers themselves had disap-
peared, leaving five or six youths, the
most OF them no older than the rider,
They were gathered about smolder-
ing fire watching some ash-cakes bake.
Like :! the young rider they were dressed
IN the uniform of the continental army,
but so dilapidated it could barely be
recognized. Indeed, some of them
had dispensed with their coats and
now were hunting shirts of rough ma
terial, with leather belts.
"Boys,' cried Jethro Pinkney, as he
dashed into their midst, "where is
Colonel Aultry and the rest of the
men?"
''Gone for brush with the Brit
ishers!' was the quick reply. "They
were sent for by Marion. He is in a
tight place and wants them to help him
out Of it. They just left US to care for
the camp and the things they couldn't
"Well, this is q 60! I mean" he
added quickly, "because the men are
not here. Boys" he continued, ex-
citedly. "don't stop to eat. Get your
horses at once and your guns, and come
with me, for if we don't act, there's no
one else. That wretch, Balfour, down
yonder in Charleston, has ordered the
execution of old Colonel Rutledge. |
The British claim that he hasn't kept
his vow of loyalty to the mother coun-
try Il wish the old colonel's tongue
lad been cut out when he made itD and
hat hee'has not only been contributing
% the needs Of our partisan soldiery,
out that he has actually joined
Narion's staff, and when he was cap
ured had on the uniform. Very
oolish Of the old gentleman, I must
'ay, to venture back to his home right
lnder the noses Of the guns Of the
ort at Dorchester. But it was all on
Of his daughter, I know. He
wanted to get her to place of safety.
Md now they have captured him, and
re going to hang him for his dis.
oyalty, so they say. But there are
many who know tits because the colonel
Won't tell where the family plate and
'ther treasures are hidden. He VOWS
lie will die before King George or any
# his tools shall touch dollar of it.
But, hurry, boys, hurry, or the
colonel will be past even our help. He
$ to be hanged at II o'clock at place
mile west Of the fort. This is done
o keep the matter from the knowl-
dge Of our prisoners at the fort.
there might be lively scene if they
ound it out, for the colonel is very
popular. There will be detachment
+ soldiers from the fort in charge of
he execution, but not more than
ighteen or twenty, have learned,
Or it is supposed that none of our
len are hereabouts, and they don't
rant to take any more from the garri-