Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-28

tHHulER knee ueep ShlL iWaCEfs
watched the fight Of his horse, but, I
babe him cone aboard at onces and he
did se, casting sidelong glances, at the
boatmen, who regarded him with as
tonishment.
Mr.. Foxcroft meanwhile had dragged
his horse aboard, and Mount ordered
the boatmen to push of at once.
AS the lei took up their heavy sea
poles j heard them whispering to each
other that Mount and I must be scouts
sent ahead to spy for the soldiers.
Presently. Mount touched my arm
and pointed. High up IN the dark haze
above the city two bright lights hung.
So we knew that Rolfe was watching
from the belfry of the Old North Meet
ing House and that Paul had read the
twin lamps message and was now gal
Looping west through the Middlesex
farms.
Shemuel, shivering in his wet and
muddy garments, crept up beside me
to ask whore we were to be landed.
I did not know nor dared I ask, fear
ing to awake suspicion.
you land at Phipps' farm, sir?" in
quired a sweating boatman Of Mount.
"Phipps' farm!' broke in Mr.. Fox
croft. "Its in the marshes O. Leche-
mere. I'm hanged If I'll be landed at
Phipps'w
isn't that where the troops land.
sir?" asked the boatman, resting his
oar.
Mount shook his head mysteriously.
1--WE are on special service, lads" he
said. TASK no questions, but put us
ashore at Willis creek and tell the colo
mel to give you a guinea apiece for
me-"
AS the distance slowly increased be-
tween us and the troop boats 1 began
to breathe o freely. Slowly the
dark shore took shape before US. Al
ready I could smell the land smell and
hear the wind among the reeds.
Something touched my hand. Shem-
ne came covering to my side.
II hat done all l could he said in a
shaking voice. ~ shall nefer be safe
no more"
what do you mean?' I asked.
81 don't know. I shall nefer set
foot on shore no more. 1 don't live
long now, MI. Cardigan"
He trembling from head to foot
as I laid my hand on his shoulder.
The boatmen had dropped their oars
and taken to their poles once more.
The tall reeds rustled as our scow
drove Its square nose into the shadows
and grounded with a grating jar.
There's a road swings northwest
through the marshes" said Mount,
wading cut into the water and leading
his horse up through the rushes. ~Fol.
low ne, lad. I should know tits esun.
try from Cobbie hill to Canada"
Foxcroft had mounted. Jack climbed
stifay into his saddle. I threw War.
lock around in the reeds, prepared to
set foot to stirrup, when Shemuel
seized my arm convulsively. A patrol
OF British light horse, riding in single
file, came picking their way down the
shore in the moonlight.
Mount and Foxcroft saw them and
drew brides. I slung my legs across
Warlock Just as they hailed US.
Get up behind! Quick" I whispered
to Shemuel, watching the horsemen
riding toward Mount, who was ahead
Of Foxcroft.
Impatient, I stopped to grasp Shem'
mel, and I already had him by the col.
lar when an exclamation and a sudden
trampling of horses made me turn my
head just in time to see a British officer
seize Jack Mount and attempt to drag
him from his saddle.
Before I could straighten up the
cavalry were upon us. I saw Foxcroft
snap his pistol, wheel and gallop into
the reeds. / saw Jack Mount fling the
officer off and fetch him a cracking
blow with the barrel of his rifle. Two
men rode at me. l raised my rifle with
n hand, calling Shemuel to mount be
hind me, but the frightened peddlel
squirmed out of my clutch and rushed
Off headlong into the marsh.
A horseman followed him, cursing
The other trooper, mired in the PUSHES
struggled to get at me.
i swung my rue W NY Caeeh. ~
flashed in the pan. The brute set his
horse at a gallop and, leaning forward,
deliberately shot at the unarmed ped.
dler. Shemuel lodged, ran a few
yards, doubled on the horseman and
came rushing back toward Mount. He
gained a little hillock of rising grolnd.
He could have escaped into the firing.
ing willows, but to my horror he
turned and waved his arms to me,
shouting:
ride. ride. Mr.. Cardigan! For Miss
Warren's sake ride, sir!!"
Again l tried to shoot the trooper
but the flint sparks died out in the
damp pan. With a groun I rode after
him, calling out to shemuel to sees
cover III the brush.
Then while my horse was founder
Ing in the marsh, slowly drawing his
mired limbs to firm ground, 1 saw
Shemuel dart toward me with q shrek
and ere I could reach him l saw the
trooper bend down from his saddle
and clash the Door, frightened crea