Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-05-07


woodie wheeled in perfect order, opened,
and, as the word charge was given, the
troops of Lawton emerged from their
cover.
The charge threatened too much for
the refugee troop. They scattered in ev-
cry direction, flying from the field as fast
as their horses could carry them. Only
a few were hurt; but such as did meet
the arms of their ayenging countrymen
never survived the blow 1t was upon
the poor vassals of the German tyrant
that the shock fell. Disciplined to the
most exact obedience. these Inflated men
met the charge bravely, but they were
swept before the mettled horss and nery-
Gus arms of their antagonists like chat
before the wind Many of them were lit
orally ridden down, and Dunwoodie soon
saw the field without an opposing foe.
The lawn in front of the Locusts was
hidden from the view of the road by
close line of shrubbery, and the horses of
the two dragons had been left, linked
under it's shelter. Two Cow
boys, who had been cut off from retreat
to their own party, rode furiously through
the gate, with an intention Of escaping to
the open wood in the rear of the cottage.
The victorious Americans pressed the
retreating Germans until they had driven
them under the protection of the fire of
the infantry and feeling themselves, in
the privacy of the lawn, relieved from
any immediate danger the predatory war
riors made toward their intended prizes,
by an almost spontaneous movement.
They were busily engaged in separating
the fastenings of the horses when the
trooper on the piazza discharged his pis-
tol, and rushed, sword in hand, to the
rescue.
The entrance of Cesar into the parlor
had induced the wary dragon within to
turn his attention more closely on his
prisoner; but this new interruption drew
him again to the window. He threw his
body out of the building, anG endeavored
by his threats and appearance to brighten
the marauders from their prey The mo-
ment was enticing. Three hundred of his
comrades were within a mile of the cot
tage; unridden horses were running at
large in every direction, and Henry Whar-
ton seized the unconscious sentinel by the
legs and threw him headlong into the
lawn. Caesar vanished from the room,
and drew a bolt of the outer door.
The fall of the soldier was not great.
and recovering his feet, he turned his fury
for a moment on his prisoner. To scale
the window in the face of such an enemy
was, however, impossible, and on trial he
found the main entrance barred.
His comrade now called loudly on him
for aid, and forgetful of everything else,
the discounted trooper rushed to his as
sistance. One horse was instantly lib
Grated, but the other was already fastened
to the saddle of Cowboy, and the four
retired behind the building, cutting furi-
ously at each other with their sabres.
Caesar threw the outer door open, and
pointing to the remaining horse, exclaim-
ed:
Run-now-run-Ma Henry, run"
EYES," cried the youth, as he vaulted
into the saddle, now, indeed, my honest
fellow, is the time to run" He beckoned
hastily to his father, who stood at the
window in speeches. anxiety, with his
hands extended toward his child in the at
titude of benediction, and dashed through
the gate with the rapidity of lightning.
His horse was of the best blood of Vir-
ginia, and carried him with the swiftness
of the wind along the valley and the
heart of the youth was already beating to
multuously with pleasure at his deliver
ance when well-known voice reached his
startled ear, crying aloud:
"Bravely done, captainl Don't spare
the whip, and turn to your left before
you cross the brook"
Wharton turned his head in surprise
and saw, sitting on the point of jut-
ting rock that commanded a bird's-eye
view of the valley, his former guide, Har-
vey Birch. His pack, much diminished
in size, lay at the feet of the peddler
The English captain took the advice of
the mysterious being, and finding a good
road, was soon opposite to his friends
The next minute he crossed the bridge and
stopped his charger before his old ac-
quaintance, Colonel Wellmere
Captain Wharton - exclaimed the as
tonished commander of the English
troops, land mounted on a rebel dra-
COON horse
Thank God " cried the youth, recover
ing his breath, II am safe, and have es-
capped from the hands of my enemies ::
but five minutes since and was a pris-
oner. and threatened with the gallows."
The gallows, Captain Wharton Sure
" those traitors to the king would never
dare to commit another murder in cold
blood is It not enough tht they took the
life of Andre? Wherefore did they
threaten you with a similar fate?N
Under the pretense of similar Of
Tense" said the captain. briefly explain
ing the manner of his capture. the
grounds of his personal approximations,
and the method of his escape.
During this conversation, which was
held in full view of the Americans, Dun
woodie had been collecting his scattered
troops. securing his few prisoners, and
retiring TO the ground where he had been
posted at the first appearance of his enc
my. Satiefied with the success he had
already obtained. and believing the Eng
fish too wary to give him an opportunity
of haraSsing them farther, he was about
to seek favorable place for taking up
his quarters for the night. Captain Law
ton was reluctantly listening TO the rea-
soning of his commander, and had brought
out ms faNOrlte glass 10 see III no opening
could be found for an advantageous at
tack, when he suddenly exclaimed:
Flows this? a blue coat among those
scarlet gentry. As hope to live to see
old Virginia. il is my masqueradins
friend of the Goth, the handsome Captain
Wharton, escaped from two OF my best
men ="
This intelligence made an entire change
in the views of Major Dunwoodie. He
saw at once that his own reputation was
involved in the escape of his prisoner. He
now joined his second in command,
watching. as eagerly as the impetuous
Lawton himself, for some opening to as
sail his foe to advantage.
But two hours before. and Dunwoodie
had felt the chance which made Henry
Wharton his captive. as the severest blow
he had ever sustained. Now he painted
for an opportunity in which. by risking
his own life. he might recapture his
friend. All other considerations were lost
in the goadings of wounded spirit.