The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-02-17
4 gwen r,Iuta, 10 snouUs ana s;Hpy.

nau gwen pIace 10 SHOUTS ana sOnYS.
"Steady, therel Steadyr' called out
Captain Faust as he looked back at the
men.
"He thinks the troubles are with Them"
said Simon. He'll have to look out or
the ground will hit him in the face. It's
all right, and we'll make q try pretty
quick"
"Harkl What's thatP'' inquired John
sharply.
The sound of bugle could be heard in
advance of them. The three prisoners
looked at one another in dismay, for doubt
less the approaching men were redcoats,
and. their coming meant the downfall of
all their hopes. Faust, too, had heard the
sound and realized that he was in no fit
condition to be seen by any of his superior
officers.
"Icre, Captain Faust said Peter
Bacot quickly, you take my hat and coat
and give me yours and your sword, and
I'll help you out. Be quick You haven't
q minute to loso."
G-glad-to-to-haye ye," said the
leader thickly, at once carrying out the
suggestion.
The transfer had hardly been made and
the men formed in line by the roadside
before Colonel Cruger's band of redcoats,
escorting supplies and re-cnforcements for
the upper stations appeared in the road.
present arms!" called Captain Peter,
and the men, who were too stupid to per-
ceive the change in officers, obeyed, and
also carried out his order to salute the
new corners.
"Who's in command of these men, and
what are they?' inquired Colonel Cruger
as no drew rein on his horse.
Captain Faust's in command, replied
Peter saluting, land these fellows are
prisoners for Charleston.
GOOD place for them, " replied the colo
mel. You'd better hurry on, though, for
men may get away"
"We'n hurry" replied Peter, watching
the colonel as no and his men passed on.
Then Peter restored the sword and belong
ings to Captain Faust, and the march was
resumed, though the lines of tho guard
were still unsteady, and the men plainly
were almost overcome.
Their guns amt drunk" whispered
Simon, shaking his head in reply to Peters
suggestion that they should start and run
into the woods, and the three prisoners
kept on after tho others.
Night overlook them in the woods, and
the band took up their quarters in q de.
serted log house by tho roadside. Then the
prisoners were placed in one room, with a
door opening into the hall and window
into the yard, while the drunken Tories
md sober American officers were all left
in the hall together.
The three prisoners soon began to work.
The sounds that rose about them showed
that most of the men were sleeping. They
whispered together, and then Simon began
to Use the bottles that Nancy had given.
Tie sounds of the sleeping guards te-
cane louder, and soon it was manifested
that all but the sentincls of the three pris-
onUrs had forgotten the hard march of the
day and wore sound asleep.
'Ni!l you please get me drink of wa
ter" Simon said to the sentinel in the
hall.
Tho sentinel grumbled, but went for
the water and held out the gourd Us he re-
turned. With one quick blow Simon
knocked tho gourd from his hand, and the
water splashed over the gun and into the
face of tho astonishcd Tory. Instantly Pc
ter and John were by his side, and the
sentinel was secured and gagged.
Then the three men hastily secured tho
guns; but, though their efforts were not
heard by the drunken Tories, the prisoners
in the other room had heard and were
leaping out of the window into the yard.
The outside sentinel was aroused and
fired, but tho noise of the report only
served to awaken the drunken men in the
hail and quicken the pace of the escaping
prisoners.
"I'll tend to that sentinel" said Simon,
quickly leaving the hall and presenting
his gun before the soldier could reload.
The dazed Tories meanwhile had been
reused, only to find themselves without
guns and facing tho barrels of their own
muskcts. In n few minutes the three reso-
lutte men completed their work and pa
rolled the Tories and disappeared.
John Starke concealed himself in the
woods and was fed and cared for by Nancy
till he was sttong enough to make his way
to Sumter's army. Captain Peter Bacot
became an officer in the regulars of South
Carolina, but of Simon no word was ever
received.
After the war, when John Starke used
to relate the story for his grandchildren,
he would close by saying, It's the only
time in all my recollection l can rcmem-
Der that drunken men ever did any good"
Pn-tny, T,Ipl,,