Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-04

soon discovered that it was irreparaDie.
The other wagons being some as
lance in advance, and all heavily load
ed, the men decided to bury the pow
der somewhere where it would not De
, found by the enemy when advancing,
! flushed with late victories.
The soldiers were discussing the bur-
ial of the ammunition when boy OF
Is appeared suddenly in their midst.
He was a stout lad not very well ciad,
but bright eyed and eager to lend a
hand in time of need.
IF you bury the powder here you
must take care that the tories don
watch you and turn it over to the Brit
ish when they come along" said he to
the sergeant, who had charge OF the
wagon guard.
You've got tories here, have you,
boy?" asked the sergeant.
Three families, sir. You might
throw a guard around their houses
while you bury the powder and that
will keep them from finding out where
you put it"
1.-The very thing. You're fit to COM
mand a regiment" cried the soldier,
and then he told the boy to point out
| the homes of the three tories, which
was done. and the guards were placed
/ at the houses.
1t was far into the night when the
wagon guard moved on without the
powder, and the boy had been caution
ed to keep the secret that had been in
| trusted to his care.
"I'll do that, sir" said he, his eyes
| flashing. You move on believing that
| Toby Travers won't tell the enemy the
hiding place of the ammunition. It's
safe here. and when you come back,
you'll find it right where you've hid it.
DAYLIGHT saw the headquarters OF
| Lord CORVALLIS established in one OF
the tory homes, and Toby saw more
red coats than he ever expected TO see.
He was standing in the doorway of
his humble home when he espied four
British soldiers, headed by tall SER
geant. advancing toward him, and while
he gazed they halted in front of the
house.
You're Travers' boy, aren't you?"
| the sergeant said haughtily.
MY names Toby Travers."
81 thought so. Well, Master TRAY
ers, we want you"
Toby started little, but kept his
composure.
Whatever can you want with me-"
he inquired.
Come along and We'll answer that
| question in little while"
Without a word Of further explana-
ton he was marched TO the Tory's
house and pushed half rudely across the
threshold.
This is the boy" said the sergeant,
saluting his officer. I'VE caught him
at his home and he knows where they
buried the powder.
For moment longer the leader of
the British army looked across the Ia
Bile and then said gruff1y:
Where is it, boy?"
| All eyes were riveted upon Toby and
the tall sergeant at the door grinned
his delight.
Aren't you going to teli?" demanded
CORVALLIS.
why should 1? II you found the
! powder you would use 1t against Gen.
eral Washington.
"Of course we would. That would
be paying the rebels back in their own
COIN"
Then" said Toby, resolutely, you
can 90 and find the powder
The face Of CORVALLIS flushed for
moment-his eyes seemed to flash.
do you know who am, boy?" he
exclaimed.
yes, sir-you are General Cornwall
! lis"
Il am. l command this army and
serve the king. l hold your fate in my
hands, young sir, and unless you tell
where the rebels hid their powder last
night you are liable to severe punish
ment."
Il cannot do that, General" said To-
by, resolved to keep his secret at all
hazards. Il promised"
Whats a promise to a rebel?" inter-
rupted the British chief. Come, sir,
we can't wait all day on you. You are
delaying the advance of my army and
! you must tell"
Il refuse to tell you, sir. There,"
This is treason of the deepest dye,"
| exclaimed Cornwalis. I never saw
anything like it, and from boy, too"
This is too much" venteured one
| of the other officers in lowered voice.
You should discipline the young rebel,
my lord"
Just what | am going to dc. Here,
sergeant, take the prisoner and see
! that he is guarded till night. II he still
refuses to disclose the hiding place of
! his rebel powder you will stand him be-
fore six soldiers and see that the mus
kets are loaded with ball"
Toby was escorted to the only empty
/ in 10 of N al Ctn of
| fair with a clapboard roof and one lit
tie window, which had been boarded up.
| Nearly all day the British force fol-
lowed throughthe village on its march
after Washington's retreating army.
All day tall, gruff sentry paced up and
down in front of Tony's prison. Every
now and then he looked in to see that
the rebel brat" was safe and each time
he caught the resolute boy still con-
fined between the four walls.
| why don't you make clean breast
of il, boy" said the guard toward even
ing.
u am not tory, sir" came the quick
| answer.
TORY or not, it behooves you to tell
where the rebel powder is. You know
| the orders.
Toby turned away and went over to
the other side of the old house, where
he remained looking defiantly at the
guard. who thought him one of the
"stubbornest rebels he had ever seen.
Night came at last, throwing her sa-
Bile pail over the memorable little
| place.
The last detachment of the British
army had vanished, but twenty men