The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-18
TO THE RESCUE.
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strength and agility; doubtless because /
was and am stall OF a slender build and
not noticeably tall--your grosser men L
have ever pitied-he imagined me easily
suppressed. / wriggled and struggled,
five minutes after the rascals left me, L
slipped free and tore the sitting gag
from my mouth. My first impulse was
To run back To the house and alarm my
aunt and the servants, nut that was now
some distance away and / knew that
Washington's boat should be already COM
ing up the river from faulus Hook | had
"A slight hope that he might come with at
tendants sufficient to protect him, but L
knew that the British were as far as Staten
Island, and their ships in the nay, and
instinctiveiy felt that the general, as yet
untried by black ingrititude. would feel
himself safe IN paying passing visit 10
an old friend so far up the island. All
there was that traitor guards cunning,
for i realized that the deed might DO
done and Washington's dead body DO
borne on board the n lDg's ship before an
alarm could beat the patriots TO arms. /
turned about and ran To the shore.
In the dusKy dimness OF the n ew fallen
night i perceived "a i lessaned my pace
to walk on approaching the river, many
silent, shadowy forms scattered along
the edge. They were seen by me against
the water but could be scarcely seen from
coat against the black hills of the
island. They were evidently thus picket
ed 90 meet the boat at once wherever, a
TO eT hundred yards up or down. she should
land. Il hesitated "A minute, desperately =
turning in my mind how to warn the
General. 10 right and left were these
watching traitors, and, 10 give the alarm
successfully | must not allow the poatmen
TO land. l saw but one course, and
that l took. i crept down To "a point
which obtruded on the water, and from
which l had often bathed. / knew the
water was deep enough there 10 dive
from. A solitary man skulked OH the
edge intently watching for the boat, and
him rushed past silently and suddenly,
and, grazing bis shoulders, dived into the
current. The man gave startled, sup
pressed cry as plunged, but when l came
To the surface after swimming under
water as far as | could, | heard no sound,
and concluded that he fsncied ma some
frightened beast The waiting wretches
suspected nothing; they could not dis
tiDguish my head in the dark waters and
/ took care TO swim noiselessly out upon
and down the river.
/ was just in time. l had not swan
three hundred yards before l heard the
beat of oars. 1 made for them, fearful
To cry out lest should alarm the boats
occupants, and grasped the stern. A tall
alone. save for the boatman at the sculls.
] thanked God that Washington's fear
lesspess and trust in gong alone TO visit
an old friend in such disturbed times had
not led him 10 his death For IL was he,
and though startled at my strange APP
partitions he remained calm and listened
TO my agitated story. While the amazed
boatman lay oil his oars. the General said
not n word until / finished. though felt
his grand frame tremb BILE with wrath. AT
last his hand gripped mine with con-
vulsion Of grief and:
so soon are there traitorsy' he said.
Indeed, sir, broke in, INV AUNT
81 know, l know he said, with
little laugh. Il remember her well, my
lad. Mistress Redwood's heart was always
in advance of her head. "
He thought for moment and then
ordered the boatman TO turn down stream
and pull his hardest We had not gone "a
mile before we overhauled barge with
many men, who, at Wsshington's voice,
came alongside Us with many expressions
OF surprise. Washington stepped into the
larger boat with me by the hand, and /
found them To be mis- staff and guard
coming from Paulus Hook Many Of
them pressed or me and shook my hand
when they heard the tale. but one turned
TO the General reproachfuly.
General" be- said. you take too
much risk. Will chance always stand
between you and treason, do you Think"
"God, said Washington Rravely, TAX
ing off his hat, always watches over the
right
And 1 remembered these words at West
Point four years later.
We landed, by the Generals order,
down tho river, and marching up the
shore, surprised the traitors. still waiting
for the boat, and there was bat short
fight, for the wretches ran. OF all OF that
band who that night We're carrying out
the ideas of bigger men. only one was
killed, and that was Ralph Lidgett. We
bore him to my aunt's the nearest house,
and let my dear relatives horro and
contrition at the black crime meditated
by those whom she had looked upon as
well-meaninR peacsmakers, be passed over
with this word. Shs was overcome but
Washington took Fer hand most kindly
and spoke cheeringly TO her,
II should he ungrateful to many dear
Virginia memories, said be. with u
courteous kindness at which none ever
equalenl him. "if believed that Susan
nah Redwood ever erred but with the
best intent.
"But nv fault is beyond pardon. she
said, weeping. "Stay, General. take the
last OF our family with you TO the wars.
believe, If he is like his father, that he
will earn forgiveness for me, though in.
deed, indeed, | sought but To save you
both from war.
And So my aunt herself sent me out 10
fight and that my General forgave her
untimely zeal, l have his own word,
when he seDt me back TO her afterwartl
with colonel's rank TO tell Ter that
had earned her pardon we'll -P. Y. Block,
in Atlanta Constitution.