The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-07-18

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. \ small schooner,
which had been their convoy from the
city, lay with her guns bearing on the
place of embarkation. Against this con-
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 thei-
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 enerny he most feared had
passed, stood erect. in order to make
greater progress. The moment his body
arose above the shadow of the ground it
H.,
peddler betook himself 10 flight
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
alivei"
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 I:
Hunted like a beast of the forest, ~
He felt life and its accomplishments to
be burden and was about to yield him.
self 20 his enemies Nature. however.
prevailed If taken, there was great rea-
son to apprehend that most probably the
morning sun would witness his ignomin-
ious execution. He again Ged. A frag-
ment OF 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 peddler now
beat high with hope. when the voice of
Captain Lawton again rang in his ears,
shouting TO his men 10 make room. The
fearless trooper rode at the wall at the
top Of his horses speed. and few 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" was uttered above his
head, and in fearful proximity to his
ears
Harvey stole a glance over his shoulder
and saw within a bound of him the man
he most dreaded. BY the light of the
stars he beheid the uplifted 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-
flied 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
dsmount with NE and 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 ixeo in their saddles as il
they composed part of the animals they
rode.
Captain Lawton." said the orderly OF
his troops, ''we are now passing the house
of the peddler spy is it your pleasure
that we burn it!'
mol" roared the captain, In a voice
that startled the disappointed sergeant
ARE you an incendiary? Would you burn
house in cold blood? Let but a spark
approach, and the hand that carries il
will never light another"
.sZouEdsl'' 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 be SUBS tantiated against him to his
injury. Age and sorrow were now about
to spare him further molestation, for the
lamp of life had been drained of its oil
The confusion OF the day helped to hasten
the event he would fain arrest for little
while. As night set in. his illness in
creased to such a dsgree that the dis
mayed housekeeper sent truant boy. whs
had shut up himself with them during
the combat, to the Locusts. in quest OF q
COMP anton to cheer her solitude. Caesar
alone, could be spared. and. loaded with
eatables and cordials by the kind-heartec
Miss Peyton, the black had been dispatch
ed on this duty. The dying man was
past the use Of medicines. and his chief
anxiety seemed to center in a meeting
with his child.
as he alive?" asked Birch. trenulous
". as he entered the house, and seeming
ly afraid to receive the answer.
surely" said Katy. rising hastily, che
must live till day, or till the tide is down.
Disregarding all but the fact that his
father still lived. the peddler stole gently