The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-08
CHAPTER v.
A CHANGE OF FRONT.

"Truss him up good" said one.
'These rebels are not to be trusted even
when they are tied"
gave careful notice to the man who
spoke, evidently the leader of the party.
He was OF middle size, middle age and
truculent features. His most noticeable
characteristic was his dropping eyelids,
which would induce the casual observer
to think he was fast asleep, though in
reality he was wide awake. He was
dressed in the uniform of captain in
the British army. l set him down as a
partisan chief on small scale. He had
five comrades, cast in the same mold as
himself, all dressed in British soldiers
uniforms and rather wild of look.
They bound me securely and set me
with my back to the log and my face to
the fire, much in the position that had
occupied while the girl was singing.
| Confound her for lulling away my eau
tion and suspicious in such manner!
had no doubt now that she had seen the
red uniforms of the British when first
went into the wood to search for the
cause of the noise. | was a fool to let
my distrust of her decrease for mo-
ment
"That was complete job, Miss How
ard, " said the leader, "well done by ev-
erybody, and your part is the best done
of all "
| "You have rescued me from the
hands of rebel, Captain Crowder, she
replied. land am back with my own
<sople, for both of which thank you. -
thought it was time for me to say
something.
'It is true you have trapped me be-
tween you, Captain Crowder, for SO ]
hear the lady call you, said, "but ]
wouldn't exult, because the next chance
might be mine, and it would hurt your
feelings for me to pay you back.
| 81 don't know about any next chance
for you," he said, because here in the
south we generally hang rebels"
did not reply to his threat, thinking
that had said enough, and turned my
head away. My glance fell now upon
Old Put. His eyes were full of reproach
to me. The told you SO expression was
there, and the am sorry for you and
myself expression was mingled with it.
81 will never lose faith in you again,
best of all comrades signaled back.
Captain Crowder, having seized me,
also seized my camp, evidently with the
intention Of spending the night there,
and he posted one sentinel, while the
others sat around the fire, making them
selves comfortable. The girl occupied
her old seat on the tree trunk, leaning
against the projecting bough.
"Do you know where my father is,
Captain Crowder?" she asked.
"With Tarleton, he replied.
Sand where is Tarleton?"
"Hot on the chase of the rebel major
and his men,"
"Can we overtake Tarleton by noon
tomorrow"
Undoubtedly, for he has to go rather
slowly, not knowing just where Morgan
is. He doesn't want to run past the
game Morgan s hard to catch, but when
Tarleton once comes up with him
there'll be an end to one rebel army"
listened to this conversation with
the closest attention and continued to
listen while he described Tarleton' s
movements, force and equipment If
could escape him and the hangman e
rope with which he had threatened me,
this information would be of great
value to us. was glad that, for the
sake of precaution, ! had torn up the
girls letters and other written facts
about US when / captured her, for now
she could rely only upon speech !
waited for her to tell Crowder about us,
but she said nothing upon that point,
and reflected that her reticence was
natural, as she would want to give her
! information herself to Tarleton, and