The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-07-08
CHAPTER X.-CoNTrNUrp.
By cHAUNcy c. HoTcHKIss


II was my final moment Casting quick
look over the table for anything in the mat
ter of writing that might be used as a pass,
my eye sped the rolls of money which had
been given me, but nothing else of service
was in sight and there was not an instant 10
dose i'm Investigation. Releasing Clinton, /
Jumped for the gold, swept it into my peck
ct, and selling ScammelPs cloak as | went,
ran 10 the window, barely evading the
grasp of Mrs. Badely, who made bob at
me and would have hung like leech had
she fastened to my clothing.
In less than second was over the rail,
and, landing on the turf, took 10 my heels,
pointing myself to the earthworks of the
deserted Oyster Battery" which had been
erected by the Americans exactly in the rear
of headquarters and on the edge of the Hud-
son,
This battery, grass grown, dismantled, and
neglected as useless by the British, / knew
would be no permanent cover, but its EN-
bankments made temporary shield betwixt
me and possible shot from the house had
my line of flight been discovered. IL was a
fair post for minutes observation and re-
Election, and, bounding through an empty
embrasure, / lodged down, and then rails
ing my head above the edge Of the works,
looked back.
To my astonishment / was not at once
pursued, though two or three figures APP
peared at the window had gone through,
all others being seemingly deserted. had
70 thank the day for my good fortune, as the
Sabbath was time for general relaxation,
and were it not for that my chances would
have been next to naught. Few soldiers
were about, a corporals guard only being
before the house when / entered it, but that
Ho will NJ n
general turning out had small doubts.
The banks of the Hudson at this point
terminated in steep bluff, at the bottom of
which was a narrow strip of beach. Once on
the sands, / might run along screened from
those at a distance, but could easily be
headed and captured like fish in purse
net. / took the risk, however, and sliding
down the steep, sped northward for some
ways, coming to the top undiscovered and at
the edge of the burned district.
Into this wilderness of destruction ]
plunged, but soon slackened my pace to a
walk TO avoid marked observation from
those who inhabited the shanties abound
ing throughout the ruins. was fairly safe
for the present, and decided there TO halt
and take stock in myself and circumstances,
especially as | had no definite plans before
dne.
.damned-frst, as a spy; second, for doing
violence to the person of the highest func-
tionary in America. was without means Of
escape from the city, and entirely unarmed,
would be hunted like wolf, and with less
mercy from one quarter at least. In short,
though / was then breathing free air, i was
in desperate straits, and, being so, it took
little reflection 10 see the necessity for act
ing like desperate man
came, then, TO this decision: would at.
tempt a return TO the tavern, recover my
arms and the paper of constructions, the last OF
which might at least add weight TO my as
sumed character and help me in forcing my
way through the lines-a move that had be-
come imperative, and might be successful II
acted with dispatch. Then TO the Dove
would go, and throw myself under the pro-
lection of Stryker, whom, ! had reason TO
believe, was one of the true men secretly
helping the patriot cause.
OF the brave girl 10 whom I had sacri
feed the pass Tan act / did not for a mo-
ment regre) thought much. Like me, she
was marked for destruction; like me- she
had now two virulent enemies, for | could
not help believing that Mrs. Badely was AZ
the bottom OF Clintons desire 10 remove her
from field which threatened the social SUI
prcmacy and interests OF that lady. won.
dered how she had Jared and in what dircc-
tion she had fled.
but was in no position for long wonder
ment. Rising from my seat, walked on UNI
ti / had reached a point opposite King
street, then coming out into the Broadway,
crossed Il and got myself to the rear Of the
tavern. The man who interfered with me
now would be past praying for, but 20 my
aurprise met with no opposition on pass
ing through the kitchen and bounding up
the back stairs, marking only the frightened
looks of the two women who were cooking.
In a moment / gained my room. IL was in
a terrible state OF confusion. Bloody bed
clothes strewed the floor, the mattress was
ripped open. blood was upon the table
doubtless Scammell had been laid there
onJ, and the dust Of plaster covered every.
thing. Scanned himself was gone. and
likewise was gone the paper ] had counted
on. My arms, however, were unmolested.
The ammunition had been swept from the
shelf 10 the floor in probable search for
REASONABLE documents (which search also
accounted for the general disorder), but no
part Of II was missing, nor, barring the pa.
Der. had any Of my personal property been