The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-07-25

What followed will never be clear to
me, for my mind became on the instant
so crazed with the idea that was grow
Ing Oh me moment by moment, that
can but recall certain sense of moon
light and woods, with three tall figures
standing in bit Of open swale, talk
ing as If for my benefit, while 1 lay
there is dream. Yet do I remember
the so-called Gustavus saying:
May ask what is your plan for
the taking of the Notifications
1T is that on the 2Sth the attack
should be made by falling quickly on
the southern outpostS, and that You, ex-
pectlng US, should have made the way
clear by leaving pickets widely separ-
ated, by having the garrison unpre-
pared, and by showing me on the plans
the exact position of the guns and the
spot where we may enter''
Again comes a vacancy in my mind
till I heard:
LAS to my requirements. The letters
40 not speak as clearly of them as
could wish"
All Will be as you require-personal
protection, the stated amount, and a
command for yourself" replied the man
called Andre.
Besides the further details?'
beSldeS the further Details
1T will only he necessary for you to
meet me, then, on the 25th, when
snail deliver over the plans
An exclamation broke from Andre.
You have no plans with you, them"
said he in a stern voice.
was unsafe to bring them to
nrst meeting. The description of ar
engagements and the strength of the ap-
proaches were sent you a week ago."
Ihose are now in my chiefs hands,
put t Is necessary that we have the
complete plans"
They will be ready on the 25th."
Where is Washington" asked An
ore suddenly. His tone, the figure
looming in the half light, both spoke of
1mpatlence and dissatisfaction,
AT Fishkill"
And that is
On the other bank. above my house.
which stands opposite the fortress"
could do naught but lie back and
gaze in silence at the branches over
head, with the indescribable weight of
something terrible on my mind, even as
IN boyhood I had often lain quiet in
my bed at home when Weakened sudden
~ from wild dream, half in belief
that t was true, half conscious that
indeed such things could not be. How
long 1t may have been / could no more
tell than can describe the feelings that
governed me- but certain it is that I
suddenly became aware Of a movement
on the part of the three towards the
BOAT. Then some discussion arose; I
sui lay flat upon my back, gazinz up
ward, but loud and angry words came
to me, and the figures of the ctlree re-
turned,
T is a strange nlischance, but we
must not excite them" the voice of
Arnold was saying. do you, Squire
Smith, go with them to Haverstraw,
and Major Andre and I will walk to
your house. can give him the papers
there"
And in an instant they were gone.
So lay space. How long? The good
God only knows! But of sudden the
reaction took me, and I started up with
but one idea raging through my head
To get to Fishkill! To give the story
to ray great chief! To see him catch
the traitor before the 2Sth could come
upon us!
How It was done no one can tell,
least of all myself. But cross the river
again did, and then, without head or
planning, began to run upstream until
should find a house, or horse, or any
one or thing that might help me to get
on the faster. 1t may have been an
hour, to two, or more. T cannot tell. AL
ways I ran on and on. My ears sang
loudly, and the breath had gone from
me long ago.
Good runner and strong man as I
was, I could not tell from step to step
how t was that got on In the rutted
road and the slippery mud T fell again
and again; my hat and sword were
gone long since. AS I look back on it
now, 1t must have been close upon
a lunatic that plunged on northward
through that night.
There came an end, however; one
that was most sudden and unexpected.
For caught 2 cry, just as saw a huge
figure loom up ahead in the mist, Of
Who goes there?" and saw the long
line Of rifle go up to shoulder
II was no time for parleying, and on
the instant I cried out let me pass,
and discharged my pistol straight be-
fore me. There came but one sound
too loud for a pistol-and a hot streak
passed along my scalp and through my
hair
Stand away'" cried T.
"Phat's that?" cried a voice. "Giye
the countersign!!"
Il do not know it," cried I, doggedly.
I fought not!i' came the rich brogue.
Il must see General Washington at
once!" I cried, the tears of exhaustion
and disappointment running down my
face. .a5s,E4-- ssc-'
no! We IL see him soon enough, me
frind-phat the divil are We, though ?"
he added, as a lantern was brought by
some others, who ran up. For the love
o GaWd! plat lunatic is it?' he cried,
when he caught glimpse Of my face
and clothes. 95
Let me by, man! Who are you?
Where am I?''
"Ye're all right me lad.'' laughed the
sentinel; "yere me prisoner, and we're
jist wan foot inside the Tiller Pint
picket line, goin' north!!"
CHAPTER VI.
IN WHICH A PRISONER rs TRTED