Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-05-21
LIS SD
BIZ j. FENIrfORE COOPER
W STORY OF THE REVOLUTION
CHAPTER WI


with the most unremitting vigilance. with
out finding any fit opening for charge
The experienced successor of Colonel
Wellmere knew too well the power of his
enemy to leave the uneven surface of the
heights, until compelled to descend to the
level of the water A small schooner,
which had been their convoy from the
city, lay with her guns bearing on the
place of embarkation. Against this COM
bination Of force and discipline, Lawton
had sufficient prudence TO see it would be
folly to contend, and the English were
suffered to embark without molestation
The dragons reluctantly commenced their
own retreat back to the main body of the
corps.
Harvey Birch prudently kept his posi-
ton on the rock, where he had been seen
by the passing glance of Henry Wharton,
until evening. From this height he had
seen all the events Of the day as they
occurred. He had watched the departure
of the troops under Dunwoodie. and with
difficulty had cur5ed his impotence until
the obscurity of night should render his
moving free from danger He had not.
however, completed fourth of his way to
his own residence when his quick ear dis
tinguished the tread Of approaching horse.
By crouching and moving quickly, he
hoped yet to escape unseen. Captain
Lawton was too much engrossed to suffer
his eyes to indulge in their usual wan
dering and the peddler, perceiving by the
voices that the enemy he most feared had
passed, stood erect, in order to make
greater progress. The moment his body
- -. a. -
was seen and a chase commenced. The
peddler betook himself to fight
The confusion of the chase had been
heard by the whole of the men, though
none distinctly understood the order of
Lawton but those who followed The re-
mainder were lost in doubt as to the duty
that was required of them, and were
making eager inquiries when a man cross
ed the road at a single bound. At the
same instant the stentorian voice of Law
ton rang through the valley, shouting:
Harvey Birch-take him, dead or
alive :"
Fifty pistols lighted the scene, and the
bullets whistled in every direction round
the head of the devoted peddler. A feel
ing of despair seized his heart, and in the
bitterness of that moment he exclaimed:
Hunted like beast of the forest ~
He felt life and its accomplishments to
be burden and was about TO yield him
self to his enemies. Nature, however,
prevailed. IL taken, there was great rea-
son to apprehend that most probably the
morning sun would witness his ignomin-
ious execution. He again fed. \ frag-
ment of a wall crossed his path. He
hardly had time to throw his exhausted
limbs over this barrier before twenty Of
his enemies reached its opposite side
Their horses refused to take the leap in
the dark. The heart of the pedder now
beat high with hope, when the voice of
Captain Lawton again rang in his ears,
shouting to his men to make room. The
fearless trooper rode at the wall at the
top of his horses speed, and flew over the
obstacle in safety. The triumphant hur-
rahs of the men, and the laundering tread
of the horse, too plainly assured the ped
der of the emergency of his danger. He
was nearly exhausted. and his fate no
longer seemed doubtful.
stop, or die p was uttered above his
head, and in fearful proximity to his
ears
and saw within a bound of him the man
he most dreaded. BY the light of the
stars he beheld the uphfted arm and the
threatening sabre, Fear, exhaustion and
despair seized his heart. and the intended
victim fell at the feet of the dragoon.
The horse of Lawton struck the PROSTATE
peddler, and both steed and rider came
violently to earth.
AS quick as thought, Birch was on his
feet again, with the sword of the discom-
fitted dragon in his hand. Vengeance
seems but too natural to human passions.
All the wrong of the peddler shone on his
brain with a dazzling brightness. For a
moment the demon within him prevailed.
and Birch brandished the powerful wea-
pom in the air; in the next, it fell harm
less on the reviving but helpless trooper.
The peddler vanished up the side of the
friendly rock.
Help Captain Lawton. there - cried
COrnet Mason, as he rode up, followed
by a dozen of his men, land some of you
dismount with me ana search these rocks:
the villain lies here concealed"
Hold !" reared the discounted captain.
raising himself with difficulty to his feet
''if one of you dismouet, he dies. Tom,
my good fellow you will help me to strad-
die Roanoke again"
The astonished subaltern complied in
silence, while the wondering dragons
remained as fixed in their saddles as il
they composed part of the animals they
rode.
Captain Lawton." said the orderly of
his troops. I'VE are now passing the house
of the peddler spy; is it your pleasure
that we burn it?'
MOI reared the captain. in a voice
that startled the disappointed sergeant
"are YOU an incendiary? Would YOU burn
n house in cold blood? Let but spark
approach, and the hand thst carries it
will never light another"
POUNDS - mutterd the cornet. "there
is life in the captain, Notwithstanding
his tumble"
The house of Birch had been watched
at different times by the Americans with
a view to his arrest. but never with sue
cess. The father Of Harvey had been
greatly molested in consequence of the
suspicious character of the son. But.
notwithstanding the most minute scrutiny
into the conduct of the old man. no fact
could De aSAlASl Hlm 10 MS
injury. Age and sorrow were now about
10 spare him further molestation, for the
lamp Of life had been drained of its oil.
The confusion Of the dag helped to hasten
the event he would fain arrest for little
while. AS night set in. his illness in
creased to such a degree that the dis
mayed houSekeeper sent truant boy who
had shut up himself with them during
the combat, to the LocustS. in quest of a
companion 20 cheer her solitude. Caesar.
alone, could be spared, and, loaded with
eatables aud cordialS by the kind-hearted
Miss Peyton, the black had been dispatch
ed on this duty. The dying man was
past the pse of medicines and his chief
anxiety seemed to center in a meeting
with his child.
us he aliveg" asked Birch. tremulous-
In. as he entered the house. AID seeming
=, r,-,s.-s III,