Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-03-15


sons men, to change sides, and to turn
over-mountain men, know not to this
day, nor ever shall know
Tell these gentlemen what you have
told me-" said Shelby. briefly; and the
factor, cool and collected now, rehears-
ed the undeniable facts: how in Char
lotte had figured as member of
Lord Corvallis military family; how
had carried my malignancy to the
patriot cause to the length of throwing
a stanch friend to the commonwealth,
to wit, one Owen Pengarvin, into the
common jail; how, as Lord Corvallis
trusted aide de- camp, / had been sent
with an express to Major Ferguson.
Also, he suggested that If l should be
searched some proof of my duplicity
might be found upon me-
AT this William Campbell nodded to
two of his Yirginians. and 1 was
searched forthwith, and that none too
gently. In the breast pocket of my
hussar jacket they found the duplicate
despatch: the one / had taken from
Tybee and which had so nearly proved
my undoing in the interview with Ma
tor Ferguson. Isaac Shelby opened and
read the accusing letter and passed it
around among his colleagues.
Il shall not ask you why this was
undelivered, sir" he said to me, stern
ly IT'S enough that it was found up
on your person. and it sufficiently
proves the truth of this gentleman's
accusation. Have you aught further to
say Captain Ireton Taught that may
excuse us for not leaving you behind
us In halter?"
Suddenly Richard Jennifer and
Ephraim Yeates pushed their way
through the thickening ring of
onlookers; the latter to range himself
beside me with his brown barreled ri
fe in the hollow Of his arm, and my
dear lad to fling himself upon me in a
bears hug of joyous recognition and
greeting.
Score one for me, jack" he cried.
I'VE were fair at t'other end of the
mountain Then he whirled upon my
Judges What is this. gentlemen pa
court martial? Captain Ireton is nv
friend and as true a patriot as ever
drew breath. What is your charger"
Colonel Sewer, in whose command
Richard and the old borderer had
fought in the hilltop battle, undertook
to explain. 1 stood self confessed as
the bearer of dispatches from Lord
CORVALLIS to Major Ferguson, he said.
and 1 had claimed that the orders had
been so altered as to delay the majors
retreat and so to bring on the battle.
But they had just found Lord Cornwall
lis letter in my pocket, still sealed
and undelivered. And the tenor of it
was precisely opposite to that of an
order calculated to delay the majors
march. as Mr.. Jennifer could see If he
would read It,
While Sewer was talking. the old
borderer was fumbling in the breasat
of his huntini.- shirt, and now he pro-
duced = PACKET of papers tied about
with red tape.
Pears to me like you Injun- killers
from t'other side o. the mounting Is in
a mighty hot sweat to hang somebody"
he said, as coolly as IL he were adj
dressing a mob of underlings Here's
a mess . billy-doos with Lord Corn
wallis lame to 'em that I found
'mongst Major Ferguson's leavings If
you'll look EN- over maybe you'll find
out, immejitly If not sooner, that Cap'n
John here is telling We the plumb
truth"
The papers were examined hastily.
and presently John Sewer lighted up-
on the despatch 1 had carried and de-
livered. Thereat the colonies put their
heads together; and then my case was
re-opened. with Sewer as spokesman.
I'VE have a letter here which appears
to be the original order to Ferguson.
Captain Ireton. Can you repeat from
memory the postscriptum which you
say was added to it?"
l gave the gist of my old patriarchs
addendum as well as l could; and
thereupon suspicion fed away and my
late judges would vie with one another
in hearty frontier hand -grasps and
apologies, whilst the throng that ring
ed us in forgot caution and WEAKNESS
and gave me cheer to wake the
echoes. Twas while this burst of graf
ulation was abuzz that Ephraim Yeates
raised cry of his own.
stop that there black-legged imp o.
the law!" he shouted. pushing his way
out OF the circle. Hes the one that
ought to hang"
There was a rush for the wagon bar
ricade. a clatter of horse-hoofs on the
hillside below. and Yeates' rifle went
to his face. But the bullet flew wide,
and the black CARRIED figure clinging to
the horses name was soon out of sight
among the trees.
'Ez 1 allow. ye'd better look out for
that yaller- skinned little varmint
Cap'n John" quoth the old man. Hes
rank pizen, he is. and ye'll have TO
break his neck sooner r later"
Now that 1 was fully exonerated l
was free to go and come as 1 chose:
nay. more. 1 was urged to cast in my
lot with the over mountain partisans
AS to this. 1 took counsel with Richard
Jennifer whilst the colonies were set
ting their commands in order for the
march and loading the prisoners with
the captured guns and ammunition.
What is to the fore. Dick?" asked;
more fighting?"
The lad shook his head Never an
other blow. fear. Jack These fellows
crossed the mountain to whip Fergu-
son. Having done IT they viii go
home"
"'Tis nigh on to a crime" said I.
This victory. smartly followed 10.
might well be the Turning of the tide
for US"
But the :, would not admit the
qualifying condition. Twill be no
less as il is." he declared. Mark you.
Jack: twill put new life into the cause
and nerve every man OF ours afresh-
And as for the redcoats. II my Lord
CORVALLIS gets the news of il in a
lump. as he should. Gates will have
plenty OF time TO set himself in mo-
ton. slow as he Is"
What are your plans, Richard."
Il have none worth the name"
Then you are not committed to Coll
onel Sewer for term OF services"
NO: nor to cleveland. nor McDow-
ell. nor any. We heard there was TO