The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-03

AS NO leIt US aiOne Bne unQerSt0Ot
my rage, for she said quietly, II did /
to save YOU. g.
"You have not told him?'
| "Not word. You can still serv,
with tho king"
| "Foolp / muttered as people d,
when only they arc the fools. I heart
her sobs and hurried from her, fearful
what she might tempt me to.
Nor could sleep. I dared not sent
word to Hawkins or to the boatman a
the end Of the lane. Across the river Al
Hobock Colonel Harry waited vainly
Because Of this girl was still held &
traitor by my comrades. And it ap
peared, indeed, as If they must so re-
gard me till tho end Of the chapter.
For as I tossed restlessly, while il
was yet pitch dark, there was KNOCK
at the door and the orderly shouting
"Up, sergeant, in hurry You have
duty. The generals expedition pulls
anchor at 5 for the Virginian capes."
l saw beyond peradventure then that
I had failed dismally. I should have nc
other chance at my man now, while il
! wished to avoid the spy's death
must keep up appearance and serve as q
British soldier.
Outside in the hall was tho girl, her
eyes red by the oandlelight.
Forgive me" said she. When was
silent, she added, II did it for you"
"For him."
"For you--to save you for the cause. "
"Faughl" said l. II despise you for
meddling hussy''
Yet 1 thought afterward she indeed
had not betrayed me. That was certain.
wondered what was the reason, dis.
mayed over the turn Of the adventure.
For here was I, now bound for Vir-
| ginia as earnest patriot as ever served
in the war, but in the uniform of an
English soldier and commanded by the
very Arnold whom I had come to take.
In addition the weather turned dirty,
and / suffered the worst torments the
sea can inflict on those 80 indiscreet as
to trust to its fickleness. Let them be
sailors who will, I would be content to
be the humblest landlubber rather than
to own all the fame of the most es.
teemed admiral,
remember it was week after we
had made a landing before recovered
my heart and was in some way able to
debate the chance of escape to the
American lines. had become, with
memory of that wretChed discovered
letter. us cunning as fox. But despite
nll my cunning, the chance never pro.
sented itself, Icould not hope to abduct
General Arnold with now no man
whom dared trust with even hint of
my true mission of spy How quickly l
should be worsted.
Strangely did in my false position
singularly good service. l was com.
mended again and again when least Of
all did / want praise for part detest.
ID. That old saying Of the mockery in
the way of the world came to me in
those days, when you may be indiffer.
ent to success, 10, it comes to you
As matter Of fact, we remained in
this inaction some three months, till
we joined Lord CORVALLIS at Peters
burg. was then detailed to 60 with
division Instructed to intercept some
reported foragers sent out by Major
Harry Lee,
strained my ears as heard was
arrayed against Major Harry. whom l
loved if ever loved man, both for
being most considerate of his interiors
and always the daredevil leader
laughed as thought Of i'll against
Major Harry
Yet it was not SO comical an affair in
very earnest Here in Virginia was
known. Ono day an old woman who
had heard my history spat at me,
could not blame her.
But two persons hated, Benedict
Arnold and the meddling hussy. I
thought l might kill him, and SO, al.
though I certainly should DO hanged,
should be Landed by my old comrades
as a hero after all these days of appar-
emily deserved contempt.
thought, perhaps, Of the meddling
hussy at the stair head She had foiled
me- but in some curious way she equally
had made it impossible for me to kill
the man had l the chance
1t happened ono evening at o point
near tho Carolinian line.
broke away much as had at Tap.
pan, but this time, knowing the coun-
try better than my pursuers, managed
to elude them with less danger to my
skin.
AS was now walking my horse in
the direction Of the Congaree, where I
supposed Major Harry to have been, I
stumbled directly Oh one Of his pickets.
The man brought me in, covering mo
with his musket. And then suddenly he
recognized me.
Sergeant Major Champe, the desert
er!' he cried. at first incredulously and
then exultantly. God. what a bird l
have brought downP'
Others by this time had gathered, and
then an officer, before whom black
carried lantern, approached over the
half frozen ground. 1t was early March.
Major Lcer' said weakly. for by
some chance had fallen in with no
less parsonage, "Major Lee!" (Ho
was then lieutenant colonel of the dra-
goons, though always "major" to me.)
Where are you2' he began, and
then. leaping from his horse. he cried,
taking my hand III his;
"Chanpei"
"Champe. who failed" I nodded,
shamefaced. The men stood about, as
founded. For was / not deserter? The
major knew their thoughts.
Sergeant Major John Champe is this
gentleman. who, like Captain Hale, to
serve his country took on the disguise
Of . spy among the British.
Then suddenly through that little de-
tachment of my old comrades cheer
went up, and believe that, after all I
Fad Imagined and suffered, this scene
in the Carolina swamp was the happiest
In my life. |
but how did you fail, man?' the
major asked when we rode to his main
division. II really believed you would
carry 1t out. We waited at Hobock un.
til too late for any possible hope Of your