Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-09-09
CHAPTER VII,

well, Captain" he at length eeio'
"what do you think Of our expedition
I'm what respect, RodericT Seaton mao
been startled from a deep reverie, ana
had taken some little time to RESPOND.
"ln respect to the whole AFFAIR." con
tinued the lieutenant. "What Will De tne
kencral verdict? We came forth IN the
xull panoply Of war. and have captured
hundred drunken vagabonds.
"Douglas! Are you seriousF'
'Not for myself; but may not others
look at Il In that lightr'
"Surely." said Seaton, with nal.
mournful smile, "Our nights WORK WI!
not pass into history among the brilliant
exploits Of the war, and yet our acpieve-
ment IL none the less decisive and impor-
{ant. The fame Of Cyrus was not less
ened because the hosts Of Babylon were
eutrappet, In the midst Of a midnight
reyel. When we act forth upon this ex-
pedition we fully expected to encounter q
host of well.armed, strong and desperate
men. Not a member Of our troop but
took his life In his hand, ready to sacri-
Ace II upon the altar Of the nations cause
1.-THE cause Of Iiberty-if necessary.
That we found the enemy a. we did was
our good fortune"
"Aye," responded Douglas, land the
hey to that good fortune was your won
derful recognition Of the false messen-
eer. Surely fate has worked In our "a
Sor."
"And in favor Of hundreds Of Patriot
families that would have been exposed TO
1Ae ravasing brutality Of these Tory out
laws but for u.s." added Seaton. An,
Oouslas, the fate Of contending armies
does NOT always hinge upon hardest tight.
lns, Circumstances, In themselves seem
lnSly trivial, and altogether unpredemi.
lated. often turn the Hateful scale. VI
Sne thing we are assured: We have done
Re work that was given 10 to do. and can
Judge that those who have employed us
VIII be satisfied"
"Yes," said the lieutenant, I'VE have
certainly done the work. With the cap
turing OF this band think we have wip-
Cd out the only organised band Of Tories
IN this section. How shall We be next
smployedf'
''Perhaps--"
But before Seaton could finish the sen.
tencs he was interrupted BY the arrival Of
one Of bis sergeants, who Informed him
that q man had been found, bound hand
and foot. and gagged, and dashed to
trse, who wished to see him.
rs he one Of the bandT" asked 6eaton.
II don't know, cir. He won't say .
word. only to ask to see our chief.
Whether he's afraid, or whether IT, some
monkey, I can't make up my mind"
''Is be clad like the rcstf
wears the jacket Of British hussar. With
the buttons Of q commissioned o6cer."
'Iu bis drunken madness, Pagan may
H.. ,,.,t oua ~ Ma ovn 1ieutenAnto In
DURANGO"
''Or," suggested Douglas, zone Of Fa.
sans lieutenants may have taken the
fancy to exchange sarbs with this man."
"Hav exclaimed the captain, starting
10 bis feet, my wits are out. should
have thought Of that. Come, let 10 30
and see who and what he To-"
The sentinel was called to resume his
watch over the outlaw chief, after which,
osaton and Douglas followed the ser.
eeant to q sort Of cul.de-sac, among the
rocks, where the prisoner was found. He
had been released from the tree, and the
bond removed from his legs, and 40 the
party approached he arose from the stone
upon which he had been sitting. The
CAPTAIN took q lantern from one Of the
guard, and cast its light upon the stran.
Ger. He was q man tall and strongly
built, and though bis face took some.
what sinister aspect from streaks Of
crusted blood that had flowed from two
ugly cuts upon the forehead, yet bis eyes
were clear and frank. with . downright
honest look.
"Well. well. my poor Sparrow. you have
fallen into bad company"
The man started. and . new light
Steamed In his eyes; but directly the
shadow Of doubt came again.
"Ah! you have seen my papers," be
said.
Eyes. / think have" returned sea.
ton. But. answer me truly. are you
Daniel Sparrow"
II am" was the prompt reply.
"Then you have found friends"
"And you ore"
"Patriot soldiers; and those who held
you prisoner are captured. every one"
"Thank G0dv burst from the mans
lips, In hearty accents not to be mistaken
The bonds were cast from Sparrow
arms, and when he had drank q cup OF
spirits, and eaten bit Of cold meat and
bread, be told bis story. He had set forth
from New York with dispatches from
Gen. Washington to Congress. All had
gone well with him until after he had
miles or whereabouts below that point
just at nightfall, he had been attacked
and captured by four stout desperadoes
the leader Of whom had exchanged
clothes with him, and taken bis papers
while the other three had brought him
up into this mountain hold.
II was careless" he said, "Or ! should
not have been SO readily surprised; but j
had allowed myself to entertain the mis-
taken, and perhaps foolish. Idea that
when had left the Jerseys behind me
was safe"
"But," said seaton. could you moi
have destroyed the important papers"
"None of them were Of very grave Inn
portance. Captain. They simply contain
cd intelligence Of movements already
made"
"But In one Of them Washington speaks
OF the probability Of his being soon oblig
Cd to leave Manhattan Island"
"Yes-and Gen. Howe knows that a
well - Washington does. No, no, Cap
tain, the really secret messages carried
In my head, and It 10 not too late yet t
transmit them. When can ! be In Phila
delphiaY"
by another noontide."
"Good! My mission may not have beer
IN vain, after ALL"
After this Sparrow gave to his new
found friends . detailed account of tn,
Aoings Of the American army on LON
Island, and OF the straits to which Wash
IN RtOn WAS redliCod nv tho Naso.<lo,, a,