The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-29

Niai uuueT us luluSuCeS. we snail nave
few sober men by morning." said cap
tain, eff this is the way we are to be
treated. I suppose when this little war
is over all this country will be divided
among the soldiers. Eh. colonel?"
Undoubtedly the officers will occu-
Ply large portions of the country" re-
piled Tarleton.
Eyes, know just how much they
will each occupy" said Mrs. Slocumb,
unable to maintain silence longer.
"And how much will that be, mad
amp" inquired Tarleton, bowling low.
''Six feet two.''
The colonel's face again flushed with
anger as he replied, Excuse me- but
shall endeavor to have this very planta-
ton made over to me as ducal seat"
Il have husband, whom you seem
to forget, and can assure you he is not
the man to allow even the king himself
to have quiet seat on his ground.''
But the conversation suddenly was
interrupted by the sounds of firing.
Some struggling scout running
away, !" said one of the men, not quite
willing to leave the table.
No sir. There are rifles there, and
good many of them, too, I" 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 tho 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 Westinghouse 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 colonel's
lips, and he glanced for a 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
cry escaped her at the sight, for
there was her husband, followed by two
OF her neighbors pursuing on horseback
band of five Tories whom Tarleton
had sent to scour 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
Nlniy &kok q
nothing but the Tories he was pursuing.
Could nothing be done? Would they run
into the very heart Of tho camp? Mrs.
Slocumb tried to scream and warn her
husband, but not sound could sho
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 OH his errnnd but
the bright coats CT the British had so
charmed him that he had fingered about
the place, and when the sound of the
guns was heard Sambo had Como only
as far as the hedgcrow that lined the
avenue. Discretion became the better
part Of yalor 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 hors. ! as
they passed
"Hol Gil, NASAL Hol chi" he shout
ed.
Recognizing the voice, Slocumb and
his followers for the fist time stopped
and glanced about them. Off to their
left wero 200 men within pistol shot.
| AS they wheeled their horses they saw
! body of horsemcn leaping the hedge
and already i'll their rear. Quickly
wheeling again they started directly for
the house. near which the guard had
been stationed. On they swept, ana,
| leapilg 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 as
their horses loapcd the broad brock, o..
canal, AZ it was called, and then almost
before the guard had cleared the fences
they had gained tho shelter of tic
woods beyond and were safe.
Tho chagrin OF the British Tarleton
was as great as the relief of Mrs. Slo.
cumb, and when on the following day
the troops moved on the cordial adieu
OF the hostess led the colonel to say:
Tho British ar. not robbers. madam.