The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-04-13
CHAPTER XIV.

/ How empty and weak are my words
that try TO tell of that day. | doubt
If there is in them anywhere what
may suggest, even feebly, the height
and depth of that experience or one
ray of the light of her face. There are
the words nearly as we said them;
there are the signs, the glances, the
tears; but everywhere there is much
missing-that fair young face and
thousand things irresistible that drift
in with every tide of high feeling. OF
my history there is not much more to
write albeit some say the best is I'M
TOLD.
| had never such heart of lead as
went with me TO my work that after
noon. What became of me | cared not
straw then for l knew my love was
/ hopeless. Dri met me as | got off
my horse at the harbor His keen eye
saw my trouble quickly-saw near 10
the bottom of ii.
Ben hit?" said he, his great hand
on my shoulder.
With trouble" answered. Torn
me up little inside"
Thought SC" he remarked soberly.
Judas Priest! We LUX es eff shell 'ad
bu'st'n yer cockpit. Ain nuthin' II
Spite man quicker. Sheer off leetle
an git out o. range. An member,
Ray, don't never give up the ship.
Tibet airs whit Perry tot us
said nothing and walked away, but
have always remembered his counsel,
there was so much of his big heart in
it. The army was TO move immediate
/ ly, in that foolish campaign of Wilkin-
son that ended with disaster at Chrys-
lers Farm. They were making the
boats, small craft with oars, of which
three hundred or more would be needed
to carry us We were to go eastward
On the river and join Hampden, whose
corps was TO march overland TO Platts-
burg, at some point ON the north shore.
Word came, while | was away, that
down among the islands our enemy
had been mounting cannon. 1t looked
as if our plan had leaked, as if, in
deed, there were good chance of our
being blown out of water the first day
Of our journey. So, before the army
started, | was to take Dri and eleven
others, with four boats, and go down
to reConnoitre.
We got away before shutdown that
day, and as dark came, were passing
the southwest corner of Wolf island. /
was leading the little fleet, and got
ashore, intending to creep along the
edge and rejoin them at the foot of
the island. l had a cow-bell, muted
with cork, and was to clang ii for
signal in case of need. Well, | was a
bit more reckless that night than ever
| had been Before | had gone twenty
rods | warned them to flee and leave
me. / heard a move in the brush, and
was backing off, when a light flashed
on me. and / felt the touch of bayo-
net. Then quickly l saw there was no
help for me, and gave the signal, for
| was walled in. Well, l am not going
to tell the story of my capture. My
saber could serve me well, but, heavens!
it was no magic wand such as one may
read in the story-books l knew then
it would serve me best in the scabbard.
There were few words and no fighting
in the ceremony l gave up, and let
them bind my arms. In two hours they
had me in Jail, knew not where. In
the morning they let me send a note
TO Lord Ronley, who was now barely
two days out of his own trouble. A
week passed.; l was to be tried for
a spy, and saw clearly the end of it all.
Suddenly, a morning when my hopes
were gone, l heard the voice of his
lordship in the little corridor. A keep
err came with him to the door of my
cell, and opened it.
1.-THE DOCTOR" said he.
We'll, well, old fellow" said Rom
ley, clapping me on the shoulder, you
are H. l hear"
Really, do not wish to alarm you"
I said, smiling, "but-but it does look
serious"
He asked me to show my tongue, and
did so.
Cheer up" said he, presently; 81
have brought you this pill. 1t is an
excellent remedy"
He had taken from his pocket a
brown pill of the size of large pea,
and sat rolling it in his palm. Had he
brought me poison?
Il suppose it is better than"
He shot a glance at me as il to COM
mand silence, then he put the pill in
my palm. l saw it was of brown tissue
rolled tightly.
Don't take it now" said he; too
soon after breakfast. Wait half an
hour. A cup of water" he added, turn
ing to the guard, who left us a moment.
He leaned to my ear and whis-
pered:-
Remember" said he, q is a, and
3 is b, and so on Be careful until the
guard changes"
lie handed me a small watch as he
was leaving.