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

gle?'
He knew my voice indeed. The door
fell back, and little wiry man looked
out on u.s. at first stax1ing at sight of
my prisoner
"The colonel" said 1.
eyes, I, Pringle. I'll have you hung
some day."
'sNot today, sir, said the cobbler,
motioning us in.
81 am his prisoner, - said the colonel
rather savagely.
''Ip New York, +" said Pringle
Eyes, Il you get away" he said
tits my business to attend to that"
the cobbler retorted. Gas it is was
ABOUT to cross in an hour. "
<AB9t your boat?" the prisoner asked
wonderingly.
:. IT'S down there in the bushes he
said
"But the patrols?"
~ know the password. I'm or Sir
Henry's business.
''What treachery!'' he cried "What
treachery''
stYou can 't>depend on men in town
SO divided as this. Colonel Van Halo, .
the cobbler said grimly. "and the mean
ing of that word treachery depends on
the side you re on.
GIVE found that out, said the pris-
oner rather bitterly. $ can t call them
all set of rascally traitors when fam
lilies like the Mordaunts are so lQuch
concerned and he bowed courteously
to me.
I bowed back, acknowledging his.
and we stood together in that cabin, all
oddly assorted trio. Here was the little
cobbler himself-one of those whom civ
il war makes into daredevils; here was
the proprietor Il prisoner in our hands,
and here was tho still uncertain cnter-
prise OF taking him to the boat and OF
getting the boat across to Paulrs hook.
That moment, as well as chance had
carried the enterprise, twas nothing 70
gamble on.
The colonel's bright apprebensive
eyes studied us as we talked it over to-
gether. Now l wonder if | have made
his resistance to me appear too snail.
AS I have said, he always was held Il
bravo man, but this emergency, with It's
need of sudden action, had nade him
rather q coward. Yet you can't call
a man coward i'll that phrasing. IT'S
term that plays both ways Do they
not say that the bravest soldiers run iii
their first battles, and why should not
a brave man make his resistance rather
less because he never had been d prisoner
SO taken by Il desperate escaped prisoner
and held now as we'll by q spy whose
life would be the forfeit Il the British
knowledge of his business: And indeed
Colonel Van Halo had resisted me Well
in that sharp tussle Even il then l had
thrown the pistol down he reasoned
that we were desperate men when band
ed together. To all these considerations
was added his anaazelnent at discover
ing not only Pringle's real trade, but
more, that this obscure civilian knew
the word of the night and could pass
the river. Who could have given it? no
was asking himself.
ssYou will not spy much longer, fcl-
low, he observed to Pringle.
81 am not the only one in New York, -
the cobbler retorted "Ycu yourself
will have seemed
The proprietor s face turned ashen,
and interrupted:
''None of that I have promised to
see Colonel Van Halo returned. !"
without an exchange"
without an exchange. said !. ct
have given my word. .
'Why not leave him here if that's
the case? We can bind and gas him and
lock him in. But, you see, Mr.. Nor
daunt, this spoils my business.
"You will have to get some other, F."
said /. "Turn schoolmaster, for I've
heard you were once half schoolmaster,
half cobbler. As for the other matter,
Colonel Van Halo crosses the river with
u.s.
"a matter of pride, eh?" said the
cobbler. "Shall we bind and gag you,
colonel?''
81 will cry out, - said he, 'if you
DON'T"
"Why not in my company said /.
"There We're no sentinels near enough
before you could have killed me. but on
the river the patrol will hear and catch
you.
eyes, said i. "you must tie his
hands-no, that's not needful Gag
him, Pringle. .
The prisoner looked about as if medi-
tating resistance, but he saw it was
useless, as i took his pistol and held It.
over him, while Pringle proceeded to
gag him, muttering something low ia
his ears.
The candle in the rough room flicker
ed on the scene. An old rheumatic dog
rose laboriously from his corner and
shifted at the prisoner Pringle slipped
band about his wrists aMd then sauliod
the candle.
"You'll walk, colonel. or we will
carry you.
He walked without demur, and we
left by little path where the thick
bushes swept our faces. The moon MAS
low on the horizon, and the night soon
would fall dark, but Fringle, If once
on the river, did not fear light So nlnch.