Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-15

I
and so passed into the lantern light,
which fickcrcd. for the night was gus
| ty, New York being exposed on all sides
! TO stretches of violcnt wind. He, it
seems, was pcering about, for he saw
me only to stop. did not run. for did
not know where.
Tho other saSl
Captain Mordaunt.
You're mistaken, began.
stop" said he. "Comc, turn back.
You can't get away"
| hcsitatcd for moment. / looked
mp and down, and the wind moaned n
chorus to lly thoughts, and yet after q
week i'll cell it brought the sweetness
of freedom. 1t sang that word i'll my
ears; it put my pulse to beating. The
chance should not present itself in vain,
said then. l shouldn't be stopped by
this fellow, whoever he might be.
Twas question nc tho most of man to
man, and fer his compact, powerful
f:ure | held that my legs were good
and tho lane was long and dark and de-
serted.
When you are telling long after what
you did in impulsive activity the words
may choke tho action. You fail to pro-
drcc for the reader the effect of the mo-
| ment For ycu can be assured it was
not a moment hardly an instant. before
| was giving bin my heels in answer to
! his demand. The situation had framed
itself so fortuitously, and l was not the
man that moment to let it slip me.
The lane was dark enough, l 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 Manhut-
tan Island and lights blazcd to right
and left and scurrying figures appeared,
some with CLEAN of red brooches, and
/ realized that on that lane l had hap
pencd on the quarters of some company.
had run surely into net.
Two net me squarely, but / bore
down on them like ram-mv head
bent down as ! have seen Il negro in
Maryland run, my fists clinchcd. They
had no time to reach for weapon. A
pistols butt would have brought me
over, but my impetuosity bore thcm
down, and l 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. l felt as if / We're the whole
army Of congress breaking through the
kings lines and scattering thcm exact.
! ~ indeed as General Washington did
in Jersey.
But had small time to feel my JOY.
Twas followed shortly by fit OF de-
preston. ] had been glad too soon,
when had everything to do. The lane
seemed to be mp hill and from the
farther side came an order. / could not
mistake that quick, positive tone. They
were heading me off, while from behind
came the cry Of the hunters and again
the scurrying of lanterns light-yel-
low, searching.
The choice was small. / leaped low
fence at my left and broke through
some bushes and found myself on the
edge of lawn with great house ut 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
fiat on the sod, and then other sounds
distracted
These were hoof beats, and an officer
drew up or 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, no Went into the
house, while the man with the horses
led them away about corner of the
house, leaving the door ajar, as if he
were about to come back
l reflected for moment, but | did
not know where to turn Presently the
sounds were nearer. saw that l must
be surrounded willy nilly-that must
take a 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? | did not know the lay of the
land, nor how well 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-somcwEcre had read or heard
# man hiding in house in tho very
heart Of an oacmy's town. The chances
were that | should not hide, but that
should run on them full tilt. But then,
as | have said, what were the chances
on the other side?
Dut to bring this reasoning to an end,
/ stole across that noonlit space and
through the door. At the halls end was
a single pencil of light as from door s
crack. A broad stairs foot faced me.
To the left was the door of an unlit
room. Into this stole as quietly as you
please. At one side in the moonshine
saw another door, and this I pulled
open cautiously, finding myself in a
long, deep closet. So far it had been
we'll. l began to feel quite proud about
it All and that my father himself might
not disapprove of my readiness, Then
remembered in time enough not to leave
myself vain that the chance of that
door at the Jail was, while extraordina-
ry, very simple one to take, and re-
mcmbered, too, how tho expedition in
to Westchcster had failed through my
ovcrconfidencc. Thought as well Of my
poor comrades in their Jail. l tell you
was left even frightened by thoughts,
with the consideration that was still
rather tightly caught. Should | have q
moment to breathe l as well might try