Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-10

To this end bethought me of taking to
water, and by swimming outhank the de-
lenses; but soon realized that the banks of
either river would be doubly guarded by
sentinels and patrol boats, though, aside
from the risk, gave over the idea, as the at
tempt would necessitate my complete dis
arming.
Turning northward, therefore, / kept
within the limits of the black desolation I'M
til reached it's upper termination Leaving
it behind, cut through the grounds Of
Kings college, walking with apparent care
lessness, then on to the hospital, through its
confines, and still onward over garden or
two and a field until had arrived at the
edge of Lispenard's Meadows.
dared not trust myself to its broad open :.
l could have been too easily marked from a
distance, SO turned me toward the Hud-
son, keeping the while close to the shrubbery
which defined the meadows limits, and
finally took refuge under chestnut tree,
though ere long was up it and as far toward
its top as burst venture.
Years after looked in vain for this tree.
but it had fallen under the ak, as fell ali
the heavy timber on the island during the
terrible winter of 1880.
was now wet through. The cloak I
had continued to wear to prevent easy iden-
LITIGATION, together with the reeling wealth
er and the showers of water which had
poured from the wet leaves, had saturated
me, and was anything save comfortable as
sat astride Dough and waited for the day
to end.
1t was something after five o'clock, but as
yet had discovered no signs of pursuit in
my direction. To beguile the time, Ireload-
ed my rifle and pistols, though laid more
reliance on my strength of arm and hard
ness of fist to overcome single guard than
did on firearms. The great wet meadow
stretched before me like green sea, broken
only by the clump of trees which was to
have been my dueling ground on the NOR
row, and the sluggish brook taking its rise
from the Collect, cutting in twain length.
wise and draining the plain which had once
been dangerous and pestilence- breeding
quagmire. The thunderstorm had passed,
but the sky was yet heavily overcast, prom.
Using dark, wet night (Which suited my
purpose), and by the time the sun set and
swung myself from my lofty perch the rain
was coming down, not in torrents, but with
a steady drip-drop that told of decided
change of weather.
1 had no preparations to make, nor from
the point at which had been hiding had ]
long distance to go before coming to the
line of defenses. This line was not con-
tinuous embankment, but consisted of short
breastworks and redoubts at no great dis.
lance apart, every foot of the intervening
spaces being patrolIed by sentinels. had
resolved to strike the line near its center, or
about midway betwixt the Kingsbridge and
Greenwich roads, and SO walked straight
over the meadows, crossing the brook and
feeling my way up the rising ground of the
northern boundary of the great field.
1t was not yet dark, but through the
gloom soon made out that was exactly
in the rear Of redoubt. Retracing my
steps, worked eastward, then again head
ed north, and this time found myself at the
end of slight dip of the ground, with forth
fications on the heights at either hand. The
military works, though what guard was
there posted could not guess, and as yet it
was too light to attempt the passage.
Still protecting my primings, / threw
myself on the sodden ground, and in this
fashion lay waiting, while the minutes
dragged and the half hour seemed length
ened to an age. say half hour, but it might
have been more or less. There was no
sound save the patter of the rain, the dismal
chirrup of forlorn tree toad, and an oc.
casional hail of guard. Finally, the
gloom grew to dusk, the dusk to darkness,
and that to pitchiness in the tree-shadowed
passage which lay before me. And now
girded myself for the attempt, fully con-
scious that my life and death hung finely
balanced.
had first thought of crawling through
the line like snake, belly down, but the dis
lance and nature of the ground made such
a course impossible unless I was to take the
whole night to it, and if discovered would
be taken at a disadvantage Rising, there
fore, stepped behind tree, slung my rifle
across my back, aud drew my cloak well
about my sword throwing back the garment
in manner that left my right arm free.
From this cover l slipped to another and
another, and so onward until I found my
self at what l thought to be the edge of q
small clearing beyond, but could neither
see nor hear aught ahead, a fact causing me
some perplexity. was debating the
feasibility of advancing boldly and riskins
an encounter, or staying until I could looats
the santnsl knsB ultt b. syae WIN -