Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-01-18
CHAPTER vI-(Continued.,

opened back against the outer wall,
and then went down, pulling the shut
ter from it's rusted hinges in crashing
clamor fit to rouse the dead.
AS II they were quick echoes, other
crashes followed as of chairs flung
back; and then the window just above
me filed with crowding figures.
marvel that 1 had the wit to lie quiet
as 1 had fallen, but 1 had; and those
above, looking from a lighted room
into the night, saw nothing. Then
Captain Stuart shouted to his dragon
horse holder.
"Ho! Tom Garget; this way, mani"
he cried; and when he had no answer,
put a leg across the window seat to
Chamber out. Twas in the very act,
while l was watching catlike every
movement, that 1 saw the precious
scrap of parchment in his hand.
Tom Garget's sword had clattered
down beside me- and with it I sprang
afoot and cut a whizzing circle by my
doughty captains ear that made him
cringe and gasp and all but tumble out
upon me. The bit of parchment fiut-
tered down and in a trice had it safe.
A bold sortie for the horses 1 made
while yet the captain hung in air and
sought his foothold.
With all my GREATNESS haste it was
not done too soon, nor soon enough.
When l had quickly freed horse
from the dead hand that held it teth-
cred, and was making shift TO climb
into the saddle, they thronged upon
me; the captain from his window, the
others pouring hotly through the gap
ing doorway.
1 made shift to get astride the horse,
to prick the poor beast with the point
of sword, and so to break away In
some brief dash beneath the oaks. But
IT was a chase soon ended. AS | re-
member, I was Keeling in the saddle
what time the foremost of them Ger
took me. 1 held on griml! till the
horse pursuing Tapped the one l rode
by head, by neck and presently by
withers. Then I turned and would be
making frantic-feeb passes with the
sword at the man upon his back.
1t was my plotting captain who rode
me thus to earth; and when / thrust
he laughed and turned the blade aside
with his bare hand. Then, pressing
closer he struck me with his fist, and
thereupon the night and all its hap
penings went blank as if the blow had
been a cannon shot to crush my skull.
How long a time came in between
my futile dash for liberty and their
dragging of me back to the manor
house, I could not tell. 1t must have
been an hour or more, for now glib
bous moon hung pale above the tree,
tops, and all around were bivouac fires
and horses tethered to show that in
the interval troop had come and
camped.
The scene within the great fore
room of the house had been shifted,
too. A sentry was pacing back and
forth before the door, and when the
two trooper bailiffs thrust me in, saw
at the table. sitting as in council, some
haIf-score officers of the British light
horse with their colonel at the head.
AS it CHANGED. this was my first sight
near at hand of that British command
err whose name in after years the pa
triot mothers spoke to fright their
children This was that Colonel Ban
astre Tarleton who gave no quarter TO
surrendered men; and when 1 looked
into the sloe-black eyes l saw in them
for me waiting gibbet.
sol" he raped out. when 1 was
hailed before him. You're the spying
rebel captain. Ell? Are you alive
enough to hang? They tell me you
were in the service once and left it
honorably. / am loath to hang a man
who has worn the colors. Would II
please you best to die a soldiers death,
Captain Ireton ?"
l said it would, most surely, and ne
said should have the boon If would
tell him what an officer on the Baron
de Kalb's staff should know: the
strength of the Continentals. the gem
erals designs and dispositions, and 1
know not what besides think II was
my laugh that made him stop short
'Tll make you laugh another tune!"
he said You rebels are all of a piece.
and clemency is wasted on you!"
Your mercy comes too dear; you
set too high price upon 1t. Colonel
Tarleton. II. for the mere swapping
of rope for a bullet l could be the
poor caitif your offer implies. hang
ing would be too good for me"
IF that is your last word-But stay:
!.
1T needs not an hour nor a minute"
I replied IF knew aught about the
Continental army-which do not-rd
see you hanged in your own stirrup-
leather before I'd tell you. Colonel
Tarletol.."
Colonel Tarleton signed 10 those who
guarded me. A hand was laid upon
my shoulder. but when l would have
turned to so with them a woman's cry
cut sharp into the stiffness. Then, be-
fore any one could cay a word or think
a thought my dauntless little lady
stood beside me. her eyes alight and
all her glorious beauty heightened in
blaze Of generous emotion
For shame, Colonel Tssvleton." she
cried do you come thus into my
fathers house and take a wounded
guest and hang him? You say he is
spy, but that he can not be. for he has
lain abed in this same house month
or more. You shall not hang hirn,"
At this there was mighty stir
about the table, as YOU may guess; and
some would smile and some would
snuff the candles for better sight Of
her sweet face.
sHa, How is this. Mistress Mar
gery?" cried the Colonel. do you
keen open house for the kings enc
nilesg That spells treason, my dear
young lady"
HE is no spy"
You should not make me contradict
lady. Mistress Margery. 'Tis evident
you have not ali his confsdence. He
was captured red-handed In the act at
yonder window. listening 10 that which
he may never know and live TO pirate
about Besides. he killed sentry Tor
hts chance to listen, and for that I'd
hang him II he were my own fathers
guest"
So much he said as mild as II he had
not left his reading OF the law to ngure
In our annals as King Georges butch
err My brave one stood moment,
.f,. 40 NJ FIR Then