Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-06

lilies like the Mordaunts are so mucn
concerned" and he bowed courteously
to me.
l bowed back, acknowledging his,
and we stood together in that cabin, an
oddly assorted trio. Here was the little
cobbler himself-one of those whom civ
il war makes into daredevils; here was
the proprietor prisoner in our hands,
and here was the still uncertain enter
prise of taking him to the boat and OF
getting the boat across to Paulus hook.
That moment, as well as chance had
carried the enterprise, twas nothing to
gamble on.
The colonel's bright apprehensive
eyes studied us as we talked it over to-
gether. Now wonder if have made
his resistance to me appear too small
AS / have said he always was held a
brave man, but this emergency, with its
need of sudden action, had made him
rather a coward. Yet you can't call
a man a coward in that phrasing. IT'S
a term that plays both ways. Do they
not say that the bravest soldiers run in
their first battles, and why should not
brave man make his resistance rather
less because he never had been prisoner
so taken by desperate escaped prisoner
and held now as well by a spy whose
life would be the forfeit of the British
knowledge Of his business? And indeed
| Colonel Van Halo had resisted me well
in that sharp tussle. Even if then | had
thrown the pistol down he reasoned
that we were desperate men when band
ed together. To all these considerations
was added his amazement 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? he
was asking himself
"You will not spy much longer, fell
low, he observed to Pringle.
81 am not the only one in New York, -
the cobbler retorted. "You yourself
will have seemed
The proprietor's face turned ashen,
and l interrupted:
None of that. have promised to
see Colonel Van Halo returned
Without an exchanged"
Without an exchange, " said L 81
nave given my word. -
why not leave him here if that's
the case? We can bind and gag him and
lock him in. But, you see Mr.. Nor
daunt, this spoils my business "
You will have to get some other, "
said l. 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?'
Il will cry out, said he. "if you
don't
why not in my company" said l.
There were no sentinels near enough
before you could have killed me, but ON
the river the patrol will hear and catch
you.
Yes" said l. "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 took his pistol and held it
over him, while Pringle proceeded to
gag him, muttering something low in
his ears
The candle in the rough room flicker.
ed on the scene. An old rheumatic dog
rose laboriously from his corner and
Fnitfed at the prisoner. Pringle slipped
a band about his wrists and then snuffed
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 was
low on the horizon, and the night soon
would fall dark, but Pringle, if once
on the river, did not fear light so much
To Sir Henry he was a spy ON us; to us
one on Sir Henry. He was constantly
going to and fro
Presently we found the skif. The
prisoner entered without resistance We |
put out The cobbler extended me a Sec
ond pair of oars He was SURPRISINGLY |
strong in the way of those little wiry |
men, men who have, too, astonishing |
endurance, as l have known many times |
ON long campaigns
The moon had dipped, and the land |
scape fell suddenly darker. A fripate
doomed to leeward, and then we settled
down to our steady work. A dog bayed
dlsmally, and my heart beat again wild
ly over this part of the adventure.
had succeeded so far by an extraordinary
association of chances, but felt omi.
nous. watched the still figure of our
prisoner, who without that gag might
have spoiled all by shout to the shin
ping.
But the lights of that SHINING fell,
behind when suddenly challenge fell
on our ears as the patrol doomed mn
The men backed and leaned ON their
oars Pringle gave his own name and
the word. They seemed accustomed IN
his presence ON the river at night
We had drawn on some distance
when a voice rang out with shriu dis.
tinctness:
theml" Twp
had not noticed our prisoner for
some moments, but now, looking around
at this startling Interruption sa,u