The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-27
None But the Brave
In Which hte Special Messenger of
sir Henry Clinton Is Fed.


As I looked about me to gather bit of
the situation of the house. I could not
forbear an exclamation; for. dark as it
was. I could see but sorry house for
our abode. The building was a straight
affair. narrow and high. with a pointed
roof like a Dutch house, and. though at
first the house appeared to be complete.
I saw in a moment that 1t had been prac-
tically destroyed by fire. The lower rooms
seemed to be hastily repaired. but the up
per windows had no frames or glass in
them, and the whole was blackened with
singed wood
Back of the house and toward the water
I could make out in the murlxy darkness
the black ruins of burned dwellings. and
here and there tents built over roofiess
rooms with now and then light shin
ming through the Sits of the cloth.
Acton was standing grumbling to him
self as was his won't
This is no place for u.s." said he; I'VE
shall be caught in a hole like rats
THE longer we stand here the more
likely" l answered, and forthwith raped
upon the door with my sword-hilt. No
reply coming, we pushed in the door, and.
it giving easily to our weight, we entered
to find a long narrow hall. and stairs
running straight up towards the next
story. At the farther end light showed
beneath a door, and with a step we were
at it, finding, on opening, an old woman
confronting us with wonder and suspicion
in her silent face.
who be we, then?' asked She after G
moment
Listen, woman, said I. quickly, "speal
not 50 loud. We come here from Roberl
from Robert, you understand, l added
as l saw her face go white and eager
land we are to wait here secretly fol-
him"
Him. cried she under her breath
You will not let him come here? He
nuts not now! IT would be his DEATH
How came We to let him conner"
He comes OF his own accord, and sent
us on BEFORE" said l. DO not fear for
him He can watch over his own safety
without our aid But instead, give us
food and drink, If you have it.
She looked at us doubtfully moment,
and then went into the back room which
appeared to be the one chamber in the
house spared by the fire. In few min
utes we sat down to a dish of salt beef
and bread. l then carefully opened the
dispatches found on the dead man, and
discovered them to be full account of
the forces at and around Newport de-
falling Rochambeaus strength and the
number of militia troops furnished him by
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massa-
chusetts, though to my certain knowledge
the number was understated.
Following out plan | had thought up,
l altered figures by scratching those Civ
en- and writing in between the lines more
than three times the number above, as
had already been done in one or two
cases. The dispatches of Hazeltine were
letters from Major Andre written In pris-
on. and a statement giving out that
Washington was about to make an at
tack on Paulus Hook and Staten Island,
with some description of the plan of at
tack. Whether this were true or not,
could not tell, hut must take my chance.
We were in the act of sealing up the
packets again, when there came a thun-
derlng pounding on the outer door.
What is it?' cried the woman
"Open in the name of the King" cried
a voice from the outside.
"Ohol" said Acton under mis- moustacIf
They call upon us soon, eh?P and he
drew mis- sword and stood looking at me
Quick. woman 1 said. go to the
door, and do you do the talking"
What shall l say?"
This she did, we standing by her clos;
to the door
"Open in the name of the kingr cried
the deep voice again, ''or we will break
down the door,
Acton and l stock back. silent in tbs
darkness, with a stiff problem ahead OF
us, for there as no mistaking the voice
of Hazeltine.
well, will you open?" cried the voice
a third time, and then l babe Acton
more by signs than anything else, stand
by the handle Of the door.
when l open, catch him and bring hin
in, l whispered, land put all the strength
in your big body"
He nodded, and at my whispered In
stu uction the woman. said again:
What for? Why should | open2"
Because 1 have a warrent for the ar.
rest Of man now IT. this house."
There's none here" she answered, and
then, as l told her, cried out: THE door
sticks. You must push from the outside.
There came a muffied OATH and then a
savage kick at the door, and l heard
other voices.
Harder" cried the old woman, who
seemed to grasp the idea, and as l felt a
body press against the door, I let y
swing suddenly open, and a man was
driven ir to the hall and the door shut
again before he realized that he was
down and one of the strongest men of the
Colonies sitting on him with his fingers
so tighr upon his gullet that he could only
gurgle softly. We had him in the other
room bound and gagged in a moment, but