Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-11-30
CHAPTER X.-CoNTINUED.
By CHAUNcY c. HoTCHKIss

L
1t 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 spied the rolls of money which had
been given me, but nothing else of service
was in sight and there was not an instant to
lose in investigation. Releasing Clinton,
jumped for the gold, swept it into my pock-
ct, and scizing Scammel's cloak as | went,
ran to 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 to 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 a temporary shield betwiXt
me and a possible shot from the house had
my line of flight been discovered. 1t was a
fair post for a minutes observation and re-
Election, and, bounding through an empty
embrasure, | lodged down, and then rais-
ing my head above the edge of the works,
looked back.
To my astonishment / was not at once
pursued, though two or three figures ap-
peared at the window / had gone through,
all others being seemingly deserted. | had
to thank the day for my good fortune, as the
Sabbath was a time for general relaxation,
and were it not for that my chances would
have been next to naught. Few soldiers
were about, a corpora's guard only being
before the house when | entered it, but that
there would soon be wild confusion and a
general turning out | had small doubts.
The banks of the Hudson at this point
terminated in a 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 a 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 sackened 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 l had no definite plans before
me.
1t came to me that I was now doubly
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 a wolf, and with less
mercy from one quarter at least. In short,
though | was then breathing free air, | was
in desperate straits, and, being so, it took
little reflection to see the necessity for act
ing like a desperate man.
! came, then, to this decision: would at
tempt a return to the tavern, recover my
arms and the paper of instructions, 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 if
1 acted with dispatch. Then to the Dove
would go, and throw myself under the pro-
lection of Stryker, whom, | had reasc %
believe, was one of the true men sc -etly
helping the patriot cause.
OF the brave girl to whom / had sacri-
feed the pass ian act l did not for mo-
ment regret) | thought much Like me, she
was marked for destruction; like me, she
had now two yirulent enemies, for | could
not help believing that Mrs. Badcly was at
the bottom of Clinton's desire to remove her
from a field which threatened the social su-
premacy and interests of that lady. / Won
dered how she had Jared and in what direc-
ton she had fled.
But was in no position for long wonder
ment. Rising from my seat, walked on un-
til | had reached point opposite King
street, then coming out into the Broadway,
crossed it and got myself to the rear of the
tavern. The man who interfered with me
now would be past praying for, but to my
surprise ! 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. 1t 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. Scammell 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 to the floor in probable search for
reasonable documents (Which search also
accounted for the general disorder), but no
part, OF it was missing, nor, barring the pa
per. had any of my personal property been