The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-01-12

given him the WORD. lie was game 10
/ 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
I sinews of his wrist. | expected to see
that point of steel shoot. with quick
stab, into the scarlet blouse before
me.
Shoot n be damned" said D'ri.
'"Fore die We II hev hole er tew n
tibet air karkiss o. yourn. Shan't give
up no weepon tell we've gin me yer
word we III let tibet air woman alone"
I expected a volley then. A very
serious look came over the face of the
captain. He wiped his brow with
( handkerchief. l could see that he had
been drinking.
"Ah. | see You have an interest in
her. Well, my man, | want no share
/ in your treasures. I accept the condi-
ton"
Evil as was the flavor of this poor
/ concession, D'ri made the best of il.
"She s an honest woman for all
know" said he, handing over the
weapons. Amt a-goin' t. see no ledy
mishused-nut eff l can help it.
We gave ourselves up hand and
foot TO the enemy; there was no way
out of it, I have read in the story
books how men of great nerve and skill
have slaughtered five to one, escaping
with no great loss of blood. Well Of
a brave man | like to believe good
things. My own eyes have seen what
has made me slow to doubt a story of
prowess that has even the merit OF
possibility. But when there are only
two Of you, and one without arms,
and you are in a 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 a novelist
can bring you out of your difficulty.
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 a bun
die. Then they tied our hands behind us
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. 1t was my great fear that
somebody would recognize either one
or both of us.
-Four Of our men were sitting in a
| guard-house at the British camp. After
noon mess a teamster drove up with a
big wagon. Guards came and shacllled
us in pairs, Dri being wrist to wrist
with me. They put a chain and ball
on D'ri's leg also. | wondered why, for
no other was treated with like respect.
Then they bundled us all into the wa
gon, now surrounded by impatient
cavalry. They put a blindfold over the
eyes of each prisoner, and went away
at a lively pace. We rode a long time,
as it seemed to me, and by and by
knew we had come to a city, for
could hear the passing of many wagons
and the murmur of a crowd. Some
were shouting, Shoot the ID Yam
kees!" and now and then a missile
struck among us. There is nothing so
heartless and nnthinking as a crowd,
the world over. l could tell presently,
by the creak of the evener and the
stroke of the hoofs, that we were
climbing a long hill. We stopped short
ly; then they began helping us out.
They led us forward a few PAGES, the
chain rafting on a stone pavement.
When we heard the bang Of an iron
door behind us, they unlocked the
heavy fetter This done, they led us
along a gravel walk and over
sounding stretch Of boards-a bridge,
l have always thought-through an
other heavy door and down a winding
flight of stone steps. They led us on
through dark passages, over stone paw
ing, and halted us, after long walk,
letting our eyes free. We were in black
darkness. There were two guards be-
fore and two behind us bearing can
dies. They unshackled us, and opened
lattice door of heavy iron, bidding us
enter. l knew then that we were go
ing into a dungeon, deep under the
walls Of a British fort somewhere on
the frontier A thought stung me as
Dri and | entered this black hole and
sat upon a heap of straw. Was this
to be the end of our fighting and Of
us?
you can have candle day." said a
guard as he blew out the one he car
ried, laying 1t, with Undertook, on a
shelf in the wall Of rock beside me.
Then they filed out, and the narrow
door shut with loud bang. We peered
through at the fading flicker of the
candles. They threw wavering, ghost
ly shadows on every wall of the dark
passage, and suddenly went out of
sight. We both stood listening a mo-
ment.
Curse the luck!" whispered pres
emily.
Jest es helpless es If we was hung
up by the heels" said D'ri, cropping his
way TO the straw pile. Ain no use
gittin' wrathy."
What III we do?" | whispered.
Dunno" said he: AN when we dun