Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-08-26


he knew what would occur,
But, General" he ventured to
stammer, ''Ramapo Pass is one of the
headquarters of the Tories, and shall
surely he taken if I try to go that way
Why may not go by the upper road !?
[ am familiar with every foot of the
country"
Young man. said Washington.
stamping his foot in real OF pretended
anger, your duty is not to talk but to
obey"
Ihe'young preacher saw that all re-
monstrance would be in vain, and al
though he could not understand WHY
he should not be left to select his own
route, especially since he was to 90
through a country he knew thorough
~, he only bowed his head and
promised to do his best. ''When am
[ to go?" he inquired.
Now. just as soon as you can get
ready"
Just at 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.
It was about half an hour before sun
rise when he came near to Ramapo
Pass. "Mv time has come,' he said
to himself. "If / can once get safely
through this place I 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-fowing 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 bee 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 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 a walk when they no.
ticed the stranger.
He could see their faces now, and
his alarm increased when he recog-
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 a
desperate Claudius Smith had been,
and what terror his gango cowboys
had been in Orange county and along
the borders of New Jersey. Many 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
looking men they were.
He grasped his walking-stlck more
firmly and tried to appear calm. :,
ssGood 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, Montague
breathed more easily. The danger was
almost passed and in a moment ne
would be beyond their sight. :,
But he was not to escape so easily.