Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-10-13

tie river at Kings Ferry, go up by
Haverstraw and through Ramapo
pass"
Montagnie looked up quickly at the
words "Ramapo pass" Yes, he knew
the place and too well. Itwas mar
row defle among the hills Of New Jer'
sey and already had been the scene Of
some of the most exciting events in the
Revolution. And now the cowboys
and SINNERS held it, 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 l shall
surely be taken if l try to go that way.
Why may I not go by the upper road ?
am familiar with every foot of the
country"
Young man, said Washington,
stamping his foot in real or pretended
anger, "your duty is not to talk, but
to obey"
The young preacher saw that all
remonstrance would be in vain, and,
although he could not understand why
he should not be left to select his own
route, especially since he was to go
through a country he knew thorough
ly, be only bowed his head and prom
ised to do his best.
"When am I to go?" he inquired.
"Now-just as soon as you can get
ready"
Just at dusk, dressed in citizens
clothing and with the dispatches
sewed inside the lining of his sleeve,
young Montagnie was carried across
the river and started on his journey.
Even a horse was denied him, but the
hardy young Continental cared little
for that, and all night long he kept
steadily on his way,
1t was about half hour before sun
rise when he came near to Ramapo
pass. "My time has come" he said
to himself "If l can once get safely
through this place, have no fear of
the rest of the way. But he was more
excited than he knew, and he was
breathing rapidly as he entered the
pass. He grasped his heavy walking
stick more tightly and glanced about
him. The passage between the hills
was becoming very narrow. Beside
the roadway there were only a narrow
little strip of land and the swift flow
ing stream that ran noisily on its way.
The steep hillsides rose abrupt and
rocky. The damp, cool air of the
early morning, the noise Of the stream,
the threatening cliffs and powders,
which might conceal some of his ene-
mics, all increased the nervous dread
of the messenger, and he quickened
his steps. Once through, his greatest
danger would be passed.
"This will never do, thought Mon
tagnie. "If any one is watching me,
l shall arouse his suspicious if l run.
And he began to walk leisurely, al
though his fear increased each mo-
ment. Up to this time he had seen
no one and had met no interruption
on his journey. Perhaps his fear was
unreasonable, but lie had thought so
much and so long of this place and
was SO familiar with the stories of the
deeds of the numbering cowboys there
that every sense was alert. Several
times he thought he saw faces peering
out from behind the powders, but he
had not stopped and now he was al
most through the pass. Yes, he could
see where the valley became wide be-
fore him, and soon he would be out
from under these terrible cliffs, with
their long shadows and dark hiding
places. He began to breathe more
freely now and again qulckened his
pace.
Hark What was that? He stopped
and listened, and in a moment he
knew he had not been deceived. He
could hear the sound of approaching
horsemen, and they were coming rap
idly down the road before him.
He glanced behind for a hiding
place, and already had started to
climb the cliffs when he caught sight
Of the approaching men and realized
that he could not gain place Of con-
cealment before they would be near
enough to see him. Perhaps they had
already discovered him. There was
nothing left but to resume his place
in the road, walk on as though he
neither feared nor suspected anything
and keep on as bold face as possible.
But if his face was bold, it was the
only bold thing about him. for his