The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-26

course.
"I'll report you for sleepy knave, -
1 said, facing him. If my voice were
strange, he did not notice it, but only
saluted as if all were the matter of
course.
I 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 1 turned,
without further word, into q little de-
serted street.
l did not know what now should
do. Presently, before me, I saw one
coming with a swinging lantern-a
short, squat figure of a man. 1 thought
to turn back, but, not daring, kept on.
AS he approached held myself erect
and so passed into the lantern light,
which f1ickered, for the night was gus
ty, New York being exposed on all sides
to stretches Of violent wind. He, it
seems, was peering about, for he saw
me only to stop. did not run, for did
not know where.
The other said:
Captain Mordaunt."
"You're mistaken, began
STOP" said he. Come turn back.
You can't get away
hesitated for moment. I 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 then. shouldn't be stopped by
this fellow, whoever 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 de-
serted.
When you are telling long after what
you did in impulsive activity the words
may choke the action. You fail to pro-
duce for the reader the effect Of the mo-
ment. For you can be assured it was
not moment, hardly an instant, before
was giving him my heels in answer to
his demand. The situation had framed
itself SO fortuitously, and was not the
man that moment to let it slip me.
The lane was dark enough, have
said. There was only an occasional
glimmer from house edging it. Yet no
sooner had started before the man who
had accosted me broke out in mighty
voice which seemed to shake Manhat-
tan Island and lights blazed to right
and left and scurrying figures appeared,
some with CLEAN of red breaches, and
l realized that on that lane had hap
pened on the quarters of some company.
had run surely into net.
Two met me squarely, but / bore
down Oh them like ram-my head
bent down as I have seen negro in
Maryland run, my fists clinched. They
had no time to reach for weapon. A
pistols butt would have brought me
over, but my impetuosity bore them
down, and wriggled out from their
fingers and presently the hue and cry
fell behind me. The lane opened into
the country, and my heart beat exult-
antly. felt as if / were the whole
army of congress breaking through the
kings lines and scattering them, exact
~ indeed as General Washington did
in Jersey.
But had small time to feel my Joy.
Twas followed shortly by fit of de-
preston. I had been glad too soon,
when had everything to do The lane
seemed to be up hill and from the
farther side came an order. could not
mistake that quick, positive tone. They
were heading me off, while from behind
no, 10 no, - L, 4
the scurrying of lanterns light-yel-
low, searching.
The choice was small. leaped a low
fence at my left and broke through
some bushes and found myself on the
edge of a lawn with great house at its
center. The moon suddenly burst
through the Clouds and it all lay clear,
which was so much the worse for me- /
could hear the two parties meeting in
the road had left and threw myself
flat on the sod, and then other sounds
distracted.
These were hoof beats, and an officer.
drew up On the road before the door.
He was followed by another plainly a
servant, for, dismounting, he threw the
bride rein to him, and, disregarding the
cries of my hunters, he went into the
house, while the man with the horses
led them away about corner Of the
house, leaving the door AGAR, as if he
We're about to come back.
reflected for moment, but [ did
not know where to turn. Presently the
sounds We're nearer. | saw that / must
be surrounded, willy nilly-that 1 must
take desperate chance.
| wonder at it now But what did
was indeed the most foolhardy thing
could have done, yet perhaps not so
badly calculated, since what else could
do? l did not know the lay of the
land, nor how we'll they might have the
place surrounded. At the worst might
be taken. But somewhere-in some sill
ly book Of adventure or in some story
of my father, who had served with
Wolfe-somewher 1 had read or heard
of a man hiding i'll house in the very
heart Of an enemy's town. The chances
were that should not hide, but that