The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-02-22

my unusual sire would have made disguise
Of little more than temporary benefit. My
line OF fight, which might easily he traced
along the lands OF the strip Of beach, point.
ed plainly toward the region which ] was
now traversing. and 10 remain in its vicin.
i.y waa fantamouns 10 placing myself with.
In easy reach Of my puFsusra. ] bad but one
expedient. and that 10 slude capture until
nightiAll BY placing myself where there was
the least liability OF search. and, under
cover Of darkness. boldly attempting 10 force
the lines Of spot remote from tho regular
roads Of travel.
To this end ! bethough, me Of taking 10
water, and by swimming outilank the de-
lenses; but soon realized that the banks Of
either river would be doubly guarded by
Aentinels and patrol boats, though. hside
from the rick. gave over the idea, IS the at
tempt would neeessiiate my complete dis.
arming.
Turning northward, therefore, I kept
within the limits Of the black desolalion un.
III ! reached It's upper termination. Leaving
II behind cut through the grounds Of
Kings college, walking with apparent care.
lossness. then on 10 the hospital, through ita
confines, aud still onward over garden or
two and a geld until had arrived al the
edge Of Lispcnard's Meadows.
dared not trust myself TO It's broad open I;
! could have been too easily marked from :
distance, 30 | turned nc toward the Hud.
son, keeping the while olosc 10 the Shrubbcry
which defined the meadows limits, and
finally took refuge under a chestnut tree,
though ere long was up it and as iar toward
its top as duyst venture.
Years after looked 10 vain for this tree,
bat il had fallen under the ak, as fell ali
the heavy timber on the island during the
terrible winter Of l7SO.
was now wet through. The cloak
had continued 10 wear to prevent easy den.
tiiication, together with the rcekine wealth.
cr and the showers Of water which had
poured from the wet leaves, bad saturated
me, and was anything save comfortable aa
] sat aslride bough and waited for the day
20 end.
II was something after Eve o'clock. but as
yet ! bad discovered no signs Of pursuit in
my direction. To hcguilc che time, reload.
ed my rife and pistola, though laid more
reliance on my strength Of arm and hard.
ness Of iist 10 overcome a 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 20
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 a dangerous and pestilenoe' breeding
QRagmire. The thunderstorm had passed,
but the ally was yet heavily overcast, prem
ising a dark, wet night (which suited my
rnpoae), and by the time the sun set and
/ swung myscli from my lofty perch the rain
was coming down, not in torrents, but with
a steady dnp-drop that told Of a decided
change Of weather.
bad no preparations to make, nor from
the point at which had been hiding had
a long distance TO go before coming TO the
line OF deiensss. This line was not con.
tinuous emhankmept, but consisted Of short
brcastwofks and redoubts at no great dis.
taucc apart, every foot Of the intervening
spaces being patrolled by senttnels bad
resolved to strike the line near It's center, or
about midway hctwix, the kiugsbrldge and
Greenwich roads. and 50 walked straight
over the meadows, crossing the brook and
feeling my way up the rising ground OF the
northern boundary Of the great field.
Il was not yet dark, but through the
gloom ! soon made out that ] was exactly