Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-09
CHAPTER XII.

I found the door. and Dri flung our
"duds" into the darkness that lay be-
yond It. Then he made down the lad.
der and after him. II was pitch
dark In the cellar---a deep. dank place
with a rank odor of rotting potatoes.
We sroped our way to corner and
stood listening. We heard the clink
Of spurs on the stone step.
"Ah, my good woman" said Q man
with a marked English accent. have
you seen any Yankees? Woods are
full OF them around here. No? Well
BY Jove, you're a good-lo0king woman.
Will you give me a kiss?"
He crossed the floor above us, and
she was backing away.
Come, come, don't be SO shy. my
pretty woman" said he. and then we
could hear her struggling up and down
che floor. was climbing the ladder,
IN the midst Of it. my face burning
with anger, and D'ri was at my heels.
A. the door opened saw she had fall
len. The trooper was bending to kiss
her. I had him by the collar and had
hauled him down before he discovered
us. In twinkling D'ri had stripped
him Of sword and pistol. But it was
ono of the most hopeless situations in
all my life. Many muzzles we're point
Ing ct us through the door and win
dow. Another hostile move from either
would have ended our history then
and there. I let 60 and stood back.
The man got to his feet-a handsome
soldier in the full uniform of British
captain.
"Ah, there's a fine pair!" he said
eoolly, whipping a leg of his trousers
with HE glove. II II teach you better
manners. my young fellow. Some o.
those shipwrecked Yankees" he added.
ouSning to his men. III they move
without an order. pin 'em up to the
wall"
He picked up his hat leisurely, step
ping In front Of D'ri.
Nov, my obliging friend" said he.
Adding out his hand. Il II trouble you
for my sword and pistol
D'ri glanced over at me. an ugly
look in his eye. He would have fought
% his death then and there If I had
given him the word. He was game to
the core when his blood was up, the
same old D'ri.
Don't fight" said.
He had cooked the pistol and stood
braced. the sword in his right hand.
noticed little culver in the great
sinews Of his wrist expected to see
that point Of steel shoot. with a quick
stab. into the scarlet blouse before
me.
Shoot n be damned" said D'ri.
"Fore die We II hev hole err tew n
thet air karkiss o yOurn. Shan't give
up no weepon tell we've gin me yer
word ye II let tibet air woman alone"
expected a volley then. a very
serious look came over the face Of the
captain. He wiped his brow with a
handkerchief. l could see that he had
been drinking.
"Ah. see! You have an interest in
her. Well, my man. I want no share
in your treasures. | accept the condi-
tion.'
Evil as was the flavor OF this poor
concession. D'ri made the best Of it.
"She S an honest woman for all
know" said he. handing over the
weapons. Amt a-goin' { see no ledy
mishused-nut ef I can help it,"
We gave ourselves up hand and
foot to the enemy; there was no way
out Of II. have read In the story
books how men Of great nerve and skill
have slaughtered I'VE to one. escaping
with no great loss of blood. Well. OF
. brave man l like to believe good
things. Ny own eyes have seen what
has made me slow to doubt story Of
proves that has even the merit Of
possibility. But when there are only
two OF you, and one without arms.
and you are in . corner. and there are
10 pistols pointing at you a few feet
away, and as many sabers ready to
be drawn. say no power less remark
able than that of God or = novelist
can bring you out of your dificulty.
You have your choice Of two evils
surrender or be cut to pieces. We
had neither Of us any longing to be
slashed with steel and bored with bull
lets. and to no end but good epitaph.
They searched the cellar and found
our clothes. and wrapped them in bun
tle. Then they tied our hands behind lis
and took us along the road on which
had lately ridden. A crowd came jeer-
ing to the highway as We passed the
little village. II was my great fear that
somebody would recognize either one
Or both Of 10.
-Four of our men we're sitting In Z
guard-house at the British camp After
noon mess q teamster drove up with q
big wagon. Guards came and shscklet
us In pairs, D'ri being wrist to wris
with me. They put chain and bal
on D'ris leg also ! wondered why, fo
no other was treated with like respect
Then they bundled us all into the wa
gon, now surrounded by impatien
cavalry. They put a blindfold over tn,
eyes OF each prisoner. and went ava.
at q lively pace. We rode long time
as 1t seemed 10 me. and by and by
knew we had come to a city, for
could hear the passing Of many wagon
and the murmur OF crowd. Som
were shouting. Shoot the ID Van
kees!" and now and then a missil
struck among us. There In nothing s.
heartless and unthinking as a crowd
the world over. l could tell presently