Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-11-10
ne pavster begged hard for leave 20

49,
Major VIII Chronicle, OF Mecklenburg,
who fell just before the ending of the
BATTLE.
The dead buried and the wounded
cared for IN some rough and ready fash
ion, preparations were made in all
haste for a speedy Withdrawal from
the "neIghborhood of the battlefield. Ru-
NOR had it that Tarleton, with his in
viacible legion, was within a few hours
march: and the mountain men, sodden
weary with the tolls of the flying ad-
vance and the h~ard-fought conflict,
were in no fettle to cope with a fresh
foe.
As yet 1 had not made myself known
to the patriot commanders, having my
hands and heart full with the care Of
poor Tybee, who was ~grievously hurt.
and being a measure Indifferent to what
should bef$ll me
But now as we were about to march
/ was dragged before the committee Of
colonies and put TO the question.
Your uniform is a strange n to
us" said Isaac Shelby, looking me up
and down with that neaVy-lidded right
eye of his. Explain your ran and
standing. if you please
/ told my story simply, and, as l
thought. effectively; and had only
black looks for my pains.
Ills :, strange tale, surely, sir-too
strange 10 be b~eiiCyable," quoth Shell
by. You are a traitor, Captain Ireton
of the kind we not cumber ourselves
with on "A march"
WHO says that word of me?' I
demanded, caring not much for that to
which his threat pointed, but something
for my good name.
Shelby turned and beckoned to a man
in the group behind him. Stand out,
John Whittlesey," he directed; and 1
found myself face to face with hat
riheman of Colonel Davies party who
had been so fierce to hang me at he
fording of the Catawba.
This man gave his testimony briefly,
telling but the bare truth A week
earlier / had passed in Davies camp
for a true-blue patriot, this though 1
was wearing a ragged British uni
form at the moment. AS for
the witness himself, he had mis-
doubted me al along, but the colonel
had trusted me and had sent me on
some secret mission, the inwardness Of
which he, John WhittIesey, had been
unable to come at, though he confessed
that he had tried 10 worm it out of me
before parting company with me on
the road to Charlotte.
I looked from one to another of my
judges.
IL Ills NC al, pNilANAANAA' IN iiSN
does but confirm my story l said.
1T is not ALL" said Shelby. Mr..
PengarVin, stand forth"
There was another stir in the back
grounding group and the pettifogger
edged his way into the circle, keeping
well out of hand-reach of me. How he
made shift to escape from FerguSon's
men, change sides, and to urn up thus
serenely in the ranks of the over-moun-
tain men, l know not to this day, nor
V e shall know.
Tell these gentlemen what you have
told me, said Shelby, briefly; and the
factor, COO and collected now, re-
hearsed the undeniable facts: how in
Charlotte l had figured as a member Of
Lord Corvallis family; how l carried
my malignancy to the patriot cause to
the length of throwing a stanch friend
to the commonwealth, towit, one owen
Pengarvin. into the common jail; how
as Lord CORVALLIS trusted aide-de-
camp, / had been sent with an express
to Major Ferguson. Also, he suggested
that if | should be searched some proof
Of my duplicity might be found OF me.
At this William Campbell nodded to
two of his Virginians, and l was
searched forthwith, and that none too
gently. In the breast pocket of my
huss9r they found that accused dupli-
cate dispatch; the one l had taken
from Tybee and which had so nearly
proved my undoing in the interview
with Major Ferguson.
Isaac Shelby opened and read the
accusing letter and passed it around
| among his colleagues.
II shall not ask why this was unde-
livered, sir" he said to me, sternly.
Z" Ills enough that it was found upon
your person, and it sufficiently proves
the truth of this genueman's accuSa-
ton. Have you aught further to say,
Captain Ireton?-aught that may eX-
cuse us for not leaving you behind in a
halter?'
Do you wonder, my dears, that / lost
my head when l saw nov completely
the tolls of this little black-clothed
fend a closed around me? Twice,
nay, thrice / tried to speak calmly as
the crisis demanded. Then mad rage
ran away with me, and / burst out in
yelling curses 50 hot they would surely
dry the ink in the pen were / TO seek
TO set them down here.
Twas q silly thing to do, you will
say. and much beneath the dignity OF
a grown man who cared not a hndle foi
his life, and not greatly for the man
ner OF it's losing. ! grant you this; and
yet it was that same bull-bellow OF
soldier profanity hat saved my life
Whilst | was in the storm OF it, ours.
ing the lawyer by every shouted cpl.
tibet | could lay tongue to, a miracle
was wrought and Richard Jennifer and
Ephraim Yeates pushed their way
through the ever-thickenfug ring of or.
lockers: the latter to alge himself be.
side me with his brown-barreled rife fr
the hollow Of his arm, and my dear lac
to fling himself upon me in a bears
hur of iOyouS and greet.
ing.
Continues NeSf ~eek