Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-22

tails.
Ezra" said David, eve must get his
sword and pistols and then force him
to go down to the camp! 1t is the only
way"
Little Ezra trembled at the audacity
of this proposition, but both felt that
the case was desperate, and nerved by
this they crept steahhily back until
they could again look on the sleeping
enemy. Then David, angered by the
sight Of the murdered fowls, softly
stole the pistols and the sword away
from the sleeper's side. He gave pis-
toll to Ezra, who Immediately got as
far away from the hand which held 1t
as possible, and kept the sword and the
other pistol for himself.
1t this juncture the PROSTATE SOL
der snored, and the boys, as If pulled
by a string. scampered backward out
of the barn. David, tripping over
the sword, fell sprawling down one
side of the incline. while Ezra rolled
down the other But nothing threat
ening followed, and after cautiously
regaining their weapons they held
council of war and decided upon plan
OF action.
Again the boys crept softly through
the door, and while David hid himself
behind some shocks Of corn within the
shadow of the corner. Ezra climbed
10 the haymow, having first, to his
great relief, hidden his pistol among
the corn. He carried with him in
stead a sack half filed with grain.
Ezra. having reached his post, from
which he could slip out Of sight in an
instant. overturned his load, and
cataract CT golden wheat descended
upon the unprotected face of the SOL
der.
In an instant he was awake. Confus-
ed and blinded by the shower, he
sprang to his feet. cropping vainly for
his weapons In a moment he would
have been out and away. but Davids
voice rang out, sounding. muflied by
the corn. like a mans, IF thee moves
I will shoot thee" The captain stop
ned irresolute. IF thee looks behind
thee or tries to escape. | will shoot
thee through the heart! Thee must
! do Just as | tell thee TO do. Go out
of the door and follow the path to the
left. and mind thee doesn't look be-
hind theei" David stopped, startled
at his own boldhess.
The Hessian, sullenly obeying. stalk
ed out into the sunlight, followed by
David. the sword hitting against his
bare legs at every step. Ezra slipped
down from the NOW, regaining, not
very ioyfully, his pistol, and came
on behind.
The redcoat felt sure that the mys-
terious command must be obeyed.
Once before he had heard that uaker
thee" and the memory was most
Gear. if not most pleasant When
first brought to England from his Ger
man home. he had, when giyen over
To ale and ale filed companions, urea
to break up one of the peaceful meet,
ings of some Quakers. He had viva
recollection of q young man IN col
larless coat, who. following nm out
cf the little meeting house, had saiu,
although It is to the great hurt OF
nv soul. it may be to the betterment
of thine: therefore l SHALL try to drive
satan out of thee" and had thereupon
given him such a thrashing that II
hurt him yet to think Of it.
with many ruttered oaths and
sneculations as to who his captors
conld be the Hessian strobe along,
making no effort to escape, for ne
hoard the clink OF the sword. and
where it was he felt the pistols must
be also
A strange and most ludicrous pic
tnre the trio presented. rs they march
ed one after another down the path
toward the river. over the fields where
the shocks of corn stood in the golden
October sunshine. and the pupklns lay
changing from green 10 yellow. Down
through the rich meadows, shaded
here and there by great oaks and tullp
trees. they marched, and through the
snicewood thickets close by the water
side.
At last they emerged from the
bushes into an ouen grove, beside
which ripped the Brandywine. Scat
tered under the trees were the, white
tents and the nondescript lean-tos OF
the Continentals' camp.
No sooner was the queer procession
seeen than it was surrounded hv
laughing. cheering crowd or SOLDIERS
for discipline was not strict in those
DAYS. and the nerrriment WIS re-
doubled when the Hessian, daring ~
last to look around, went wild win
rage and chaqrin upon discovering the
size of his captors.
But David and Ezra were on their
dignity, and without a smile they
brought the prisoner up where the
gray haired colonel ss)od, drawn
from his tent by the commotion.
David there called out, just as he
had heard the soldiers do, Halt.
prisoner, Attention. DE then
brought the great sword to his shou.-
der and saIuted with the pistol, Ezra
following suit.
what is this, boys?" said the col
onel. with a kindly smile. Have
YOU been raiding King Georges camp
and brought back a prisoner
mo" answered David, but thee
sees. this soldier was sleeping in our
barn. and lad killed our chickens,
and probably meant TO do more, so
we got his sword and pistols and
made him come down here TO thee,
and
Here Ezra broke in: Thee wont
tell mother. will thee? For she would
| think IL was uEHJlASi anu IANL
| Cope would speak about US in First
day meeting"
Ezra's voice was drowned by a
roar of laughter from the circle OF
soldiers. and the colonel, smiling
promised TO make it all right with
their mother by going home with
them, al telling her what brave
hovs she had. if they would first hon
or him by taking dinner in camp. at
which the boys we're struck with