Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-24

companion, though to me he made no reply.
For the most part he walked pace or SO
ahead of me, and thus we went along, 60
ing easily enough while crossing open fields,
but faring sorely when we struck woodland
or plowed ground. Perilously near, too, we
went to dwellings, even stopping at well
hard by one to drink, though first making
sure there were no dogs about. / never
would have dared this had been alone, but
my companion laughed at the risk, and
followed his lead, though it then struck me
as strange that should let this STRIPPING
take the upper hand in our expedition. The
truth is, l was tagged and not myself, and
though if driven to corner would have
fought like shrew, l had no head for fine
Anon we took to the high road for space
10 flank swamp, and once dog went wild
al the smell of us, but we were unmolested.
Not house showed light (though that was
small wonder, it being past midnight), and
now we felt the breath of the damp that
rose in the cooling air, and could even mark
the pondlike appearance of the mist as itlay
in some black hollow of the land. Through
brooks, small swamps and pools we went, !
with heavy boots going dry-shod, though
A:les, with but pumps and stockings, was
wet to the knees, and l could hear the
scrunching of water in his shoes as he
walked. But there was little to choose
about him after / had pulled him out of
ditch into which he stumbled, though he
made Joke of it even while his teeth were
chattering from the chill of his sousing.
1t was fearful going in the dark. The Dove
Law five miles from Turtle bay by road, but,
with our circling and retracing, we must
have gone three or four more. For the most
part we spoke little, and, though much re-
NAMED to talk about, was in no spirits to
asl, ouestions-or answer them either, for
that matter. With me there was now no
thought of what lay behind or before, all
that remained of my wits being stupid,
stubborn determination to get on and reach
our destination, be it what it might.
take 1t twas past one o'clock, and had
been following my leader in an aimless fash
ion for half an hour without word be-
tween us when he halted and laid his hand
upon me, pointing toward house with the
bulk of barn looming through the gloom
behind it. / seemed to wake then, and no.
ticc the glimmer of water stretching beyond,
and knew we were on the bank of the Sound
river.
rs this the place, then?" asked, rs
tried to make head or tail of the bleak build
ing that stood against the faint sky like a
black block.
He grunted an assent and climbed fence,
l following tamely behind, but instead Of
proceeding to the house, we cut around it,
and finally entered what might have been
disused COW shed built against the rear of
the barn. Going to the end, he laid his ear
against the rough boards of the barn and be-
gan scratching gently. Nothing coming of
this, he fumbled about, and presently, to my
great astonishment, broad board came
away in his hand, leaving in the barns side
long, black hole that looked to lead into
the bowels of darkness.
Ames pushed me toward the opening, and
squeezed through, feeling solid boards un-
der my feet, and being greeted by such a
strong smell of old hay that might have
been in the heart of an ancient rick. And
this proved to be the case, for soon heard
| the story of this hole of refuge. 1t had been
made inside the barn and beneath the NOV,
and was now scantily covered with the lit
| tie hay the British had habit of leaving
| farmers to take the curse from their whole
sale robbery. There was no entrance to this
concealed den save the loosened board, and
all cracks and openings being stuffed with
| wisps, from the outside this part of the
building seemed bursting from fullness.
Twas the finest masking of a retreat that
could be imagined, and here one might lie
and escape hanging Gf he ventured not
ahroad), though there would be starvation
To grapple with, and no small danger of
snothering, for the heat was vile, the all
heavy, and there was no means of ventila-
| ton.
My companion followed me into this in
| closure, quickly readjusting the board, and
as though familiar with the place, struck his
steel and got light in pierced tin lantern
which he set on the end of an upturned log
serving as table, on the top of which lay q
scrap of paper,
This he seized, and, bending low to the
| glimmer, read the contents while / took in
| the details of the queer apartment. The
rough boards of the room were barren Of
everything save rifle hanging on a nail
and the wisps of hay that penetrated eacl
crevice from the NOW without. A heap Of
| small arms lay in one corner; in another was
sleeping bunk with straw at the foot Of
which was closely strapped bundle filed
| as l afterward found, with provisions to be
used in the extremity of being driven to this
rereat for protracted stay. 1t was hiding
place pure and simple, and not one to be de
Tended save by secrecy, for brand touched
to any part of the structure would reduce il
TO ashes in less than an hour.
"'Tis all right" said Ames, raising his
head as ! finished my brief survey. "W'
are not bound to this hole yet. We may g
to the house and sleep like modern Chris
tians for once more at least. Comet
Distinguishing the light, he loosened thu
board, and we passed out, the night air com
ing to the lungs like cooling balm afte
the heat and closeness of the contracted
den.
"There is little danger for the next few
hours" he whispered as we made straigh
line for the house. 1.-The redcoats were her,
this noon and searched the place, but my
the boy was then in the barn. They vii
hardly try here again until they have beatel
up other quarters. tbs 2 sorry outlook
Thorndyke! Have you not in your head
way off this island? Think hard, man! w
must both think hard. and then TAX
chances, however desperate. You are will
ing that we pull together?" he concluded il,
terrogatively.
In his earnestness he dropped his assumed
manner of speech, and there was an appea
in his voice that made me think it was no
Tor hlmself ne was most anxious. however
l could give him no comfort, only sayinl
that l had small head for thought until
could clear my brains with sleep, but that j
taken, though it were barren of gain,
would send some of the enemy ahead of u
To ANNOUNCE our coming. Then laid m.
hand in his and swore would stand b!
him, and his brother, too, if need be (thougl
such swearing seemed useless in the face o
matters), telling him ] would be but an I'm
grateful brute to desert him after he hat
lost his chance for help at the tavern b!
giving his hand in my behalf.
We had halted on our way, and in thu
darkness we came to the agreement each t,
stand by the other SO long as chance t.
help remained. Twas compact hurried.
thought of and hurriedly made, but there
under the stars dimly showing overhead
was completed a bond that failed not
Twas made through necessity and becaam..a,'
strengthened by love, Not conceived in a.
excess of happiness nor backed by tn
exuberance or fictitious generosity of stronl
drink, not even expected to extend beyond
the present period of danger, it held through
| life like an invisible chain.
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