Evening star., 1897-05-01
THE TN0sD0oRS
The Rebel, tha Tary and the Spy.
Z Eli =.
Tale Of an Escape From NaH York l77s, by Clinton
u Rh'Th h''Th
Copyright. 1887, by Clinton Ross,

Vopyr12nt, 1881, by Clinton Ro5S.p
Written for The Eveniue star.
A lieutenant Of those days, a major gen.
eral later. has left an scount of an escape
from New York. If seems he was taken
on foraging expedition in Westchester.
The capture Of himself and his comrades,
this Mordaunt states particularly, was his
own fault. His escape was little less than
remarkable. and will leave him to state
1t In his own words. The narrative. you
will notice. begins rather abruptly.
The little town Of gabled roofs broke
at last on my wearied sense, as the guard
troops brought us in. like a scene in q play
I had once seen in Philadelphia-as II I
should turn from it to q town Of the Can
adas, though this was all unlike; a Dutch
town. indeed. with marks put on It Of
long English occupation, as we fell among
the kings relocated so1diery.
wanted. weary as I was. to say word
to my poor comrades, but I was not per-
mitted it: and I accused myself. whose
sorry rashness-for had urged the expe-
dition-had brought them to this plight Of
prisoners of war. But I had no chance
then, nor later.
AS for myself, I was taken into a build
ing which proved an irpprovised jail. where
I was given q comfortable room, the cir
cumstances being considered, where at
once l fell to sleep. 10
do not know how long I slept. when
1 was awakened by sunshine streaming
through barred window. and ins1stent
tones in my ears. A sergeant stood there,
directing a man with my breakfast. ate
heartily, forgetting all my misfortunes.
And this was the beginning of many
days. .:~,
At last one day, long past sunset, heard
considerable cOmmotion outside. MY
barred window showed nothing against the
looking
street-it was a little side street.
But the commotion continued. Present.
1y I heard steps in the corridor, and the
bolts drawn, when my gaoler sergeant ap-
peared with two soldiers supporting
young man IN a lieutenant's uniform, from
whose pale face saw at once that he was
drunk.
1.-The house is filled, and we shall have
to put him in with you." the sergeant said,
the other supporting him to the bed, where
he sank down.
"Why don't I hear from Sir Henry Clin-
TOM" asked like a peevish fool, as If the
sergeant should know. II expect parole,
at .least."
He shrugged his shoulders and went out
and closed the door, and heard the fading
footballs.
Why. indeed. wasn't some action taken
in my case? I had been now prisoner
near week.
The fellow on the bed breathed heavily.
He wore the uniform of line regiment,
and had a young, gentle face, rather worn
with dissipation. 1 do not know to this
day what caused the street noises preced-
Ing his appearance. Watching his hard
breathing, 1 suddenly wished that 1 had
his uniform. though did not think why
The thought was lfke an Inspiration For
what If the door had been left unbolted?
or course it were impossible 1t should have
been? And Yet I had not heard the rasp-
ing of the bolt against it's socket. And
tried 1t. VIII you believe me, that door
swung back. and I was looking into the
corridor.
Quickly I closed it and went back to the
hard-breathing figure on the bed.
For moment in, the flickering light
had lit my candle-I watched his face, which
the courage of my purpose, I shook him
roughly. but he did not so much as stir. So
1 began to pull off his coat, his stock. his
waistcoat. Still he was unconscious, till he
startled me by opening his eyes.
"What?" he asked, fuskily. And then he
rolled over on his side in stupor, leaving me
the possessor of the uniform. The color of
my b.eeches would not be observed, I de-
stock, 1 saw that some ,regimental disorder
had been in the town, necessitating the use
of my gaol as guardhouse.
Now 1 went to the door and opened 1t,
and was In the dusky corridor. Down its
lergth L tiptoed, no one hindering, and then
l was at an outer door, .
Here the risk must be taken, and I hur-
ried. opening the door. The fresh air struck
shoulder. turned about, staring. did not
hesitate for q moment. but, summoning all
my sangfroid, closed the door, as If my ap-
pearance were of course.
''Fll report you for a sleepy knaye" I
said, facing him. If my voice were strange
lie did not notice it, but only saluted as if
all were the matter Of course.
can't account for that lax discipline
now; but l suppose he thought me some
officer. and my authoritative word did not
leave him the sense to inquire. At least he
let me pass on; and turned without fur
ther word, into a little deserted street.
did not know what I now should do
Presently, before me. saw one coming
with swinging lantern-a short, squat
figure of man. l thought to turn back,
but not daring. kept on. AS he approached
lantern light, which fiickered. for the night
was gusty. New York being exposed on all
sides to stretches of violent wind. He, 1t
seems, was peering about. for he saw me
only to stop. 1 did not run. for 1 did not
know where.
The other said:
capt. Mordaunt.'
you're mistaken began.
STOP" said he. Come, turn back! You
can't get away!'
hesitated for moment. looked up
and down. and the wind moaned a chorus
to my thoughts; and yet after a week in a
cell. it brought the sweetness of freedom.
1t sang that word in my ears, It put my
pulse to beating. The chance should not
present Itself IN vain, SAID l then. I
shouldn't be stopped by this fellow, who
ever he might be. Twas a question, at the
most, of man to man: and for his compact,
powerful figure. I held that my legs were
good; and the lane was long and dark and
deserted.
When you are telling long after what you
did In impulsive activity the words may
choke the action. You fail to produce for
the reader the effect of the moment For
you can be assured 1t was not moment,
hardly an instant. before I was giving him
ny heels in answer to his demand The
situation had framed itself so fortuitously,
ard was not the man that moment to let
1t slip me. ~
the lane was dark enough. have said:
There was orly an occasional glimmar from
house edging it. Yet no sooner had
started before the man who had accosted
me broke out in a mighty voice, which
seemed to shake Manhattan Island, and
lights blazed to right and left, and scurry-
ing figures appeared, so4e with gleam Of
red breeches: and T realized that on that
lane had happened % the quarters of
some company; I had run surely into net.
Two met me squareiy,s but I bora down
on them like rarh-mY head bent down
as I have seen a negro in Maryland :un
my fists clinched. They had no time to
reach for a weapon, A pistols butt wonM
bore them down, and wriggled out from
ha{r flxyf ",