Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-10-21

lie knew tue pace hnu tVV "O'''
WAS narrow defile among tue
hills of New Jersey and already
had been the scene of some or the
most exciting events IN the Revo'
luton. Aud now the COWBOYS ana
skinners held il, and if he should
once fall into their hands he knew
what would occur.
"But, general" he ventured to
stammer, "RAmapo pass Is one OF
the headquarters of the Tories, and
shall surely be taken if | Try to
90 that way. Why may ] not 60
by the upper road ? l am familiar
with every foot OF the country"
"Young man." SAID Washington,
stamping his foot III real or pretend
ed anger" "yOur duty is not to
talk, but TO obey"
The young preacher saw that all
remonstrauce would be in vain,
aud, although be could not under
stand Why he should not be left to
select his own route, especially
siGee he was to 60 through couu-
Try be knew thoroughly, he only
bowed his head and promised to do
bis best.
"When am to go" lie inquired.
"Now-iust as soon as you can
get ready"
Jast at dusk, dressed in citizen 3
clothing and with the diSpat ches
sewed inside the lining Of his
sleeve. young MOntagnle was cal
Iird across The river and started Oh
bis Journey. Even horse was de-
nltd BIN, but the hardy Young
| Continental cared little for that,
aud all night long he kept steadily
on bis way.
# was about half hour before
sunrise when he came near to Ran
apo pass. "My time has cone" }"
lie said 10 himself. "If | can Oucr
get safely through this place, ]
have no tear of the rest OF the way
But he was more excited than he
knew, and he was breathing rapid
I, as be entered the pass. III,
grasped his heavy walking stick
more tightly aud glanced abonl
bin. The passage between The
hills was becoming very narrow
Beside the TOadwa there were on
/, a narrow little strip Of land aud
the swift flowing STREAM that rau
u, isiy OH its way. The steep hill
sides rose abrupt aud rocky. Tut
daup, cool air of the early morn
Ing, the noise Of the stream, th'
threatening cliffs and bONlders
which might cOuceal some OF Iii
enemies. all Increased the nervous
= dread Of the messenger, and be
quickene1 bis steps. Once through
his greatest danger would b'
: passtd.
7 This Will never do though
VI lntagnie. "If any one IS watch
ing me, [ shell arouse his snSpl
clons if run" Aud be began e
a walk leisurelv, although his fea
. Increased each moment. Up f
! this time he had seen no one aD'
b had met no interruption on hl
Journey. Perhaps his fear was un
! reasonable. but he had thought 81
a much aud so long of this place au'
was 80 familiar with the stories &
. The deeds of he numbering COW
- BOYS there that every seuse va
n alert. Several times he thOugh
i. hr saw faces peering out from be
hind the powders, but he had no
). stopped aud now he vas almos
, through the pass. Yer, he coul'
= see where the valley became MD
n before him, and soon he would b
out from under obese terrible cliff
with their long shadows aid darr
|, hiding places. He began to breatI,
8. more freely now and again quics
ened his pace.
N Hark! What was that? II
stopped and listened, ana in mC
=, ment he knew he had not bepn d,
!, ceiyeh. He could hear the sOun
of approaching hOrsemen, and the
r. were coming rapidly down Tie roa
C. before him.
r. He glanced behind for hidin
al place, aud already had started
be club the cliffs when hc caugl
e sight of The approaching men an
OF real'zsd that be could not gam
al place Of concralment before the
I" would be near enough TO SEE hin
'e Perhaps they had already discol
ke cred him. There was nothing LEI
but to resume bis place Ia the r0a,
l, walk un IA though he neither feate
nor suspected anything aud kee
'l> on as bold "a lace as possible. B