The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-23
the dark forms of men pressed in be-

this fighting. Who are you? oh,
Grant! What's the trouble now? The
old thing, eh?"
had no desire to wait his answer,
confident that Grant was sufficiently
angry to blurt out everything he knew.
They were all facing his way, actu-
ated by the recognition. Breathless
still, yet quick to seize the one and
only chance left, l grabbed up my
jacket from the grass, and sprang into
the darkness. l had gained a hundred
feet before those behind grasped the
meaning Of my unexpected flight, and
then the tumult Of voices only sent
me flying faster, realizing the pursuit.
The only open passage led directly
toward the river, and | raced through
the black night down the slope as
though all the fiends of hell were aft
er me. ! heard shouts, oaths, but
there was no firing, and was far
enough ahead to be invisible by the
time l attained the bank. An open
barge lay there, a mere black smudge,
and | stumbled blindly across this.
dropping silently over its side into the
water. 1t was not thought, but breath
less inability to attempt more, which
kept me there, clinging to a slat on
the side Of the barge, SO completely
submerged in the river, as to be In.
visible from above. Swearing fierce
ly, my pursuers stormed v e the
barge, swinging their swords along
the edges to be sure I was not there.
One blade pricked me slightly, but |
held on. sinking yet deeper into the
stream. ] could nee the dim outline
Of heads peering over, but was not dis
covered. The same gruff voice which
had interrupted the duel broke through
the noise:
Il tell you he turned to the left; l
saw him plainly enough. What did
you say the fellows name was.
Grant,"
How do I know? He called himself
Fortesque."
Sure; the same one Carter was
sent out hunting after. Well, he
lodged down there among those coal
sheds. This is the OILY way he could
have disappeared 80 suddenly. Come
on, all of you, except Moore and Car
taret, and we1l beat the shore"
heard them scramble across to the
bank, but there were sounds also
proving the guards left behind were
still on the deck above me. Then one
of the fellows sat down on the edge Of
the barge, his feet dangling within a
few inches of my head.
Might as well take 1t easy, BILL" he
said lazily. They're like to be an
hour layin' hands on the lad, an all
we got to do is see he don't fox back
this way. Got any tobacco, mater"
The other must have produced the
necessary weed, for there was a scrap
ing of flint and steel, a CLEAN of fire
glinting on the water. and then the
pungent odor waited to me in puff of
smoke. With n hand, I unbuckIed
my sword belt, letting 1t, sword and
all, sink silently into the river. /
must cross to the opposite bank some.
how, and would have to dispense with
the weapon. Inch by inch, my fingers
gripping the narrow Stat to which
chung, | worked slowly toward the
stern Of the barge, making not SO
much as a ripple In the water, and
keeping well hidden below the bulge
Of the side. The voices above droned
along in conversation, Of which
caught a few words.
who was he? You mean the lad
they're after down yonder? Oh, l mind
now, you came up later after we'd
started the chase. Holy Mother,
don't know much myself, now l come
to think of It He looked like a Brit
Usher, what I saw Of him. an he was
fightin' with a Captain OF Rangers
Grant was the name; maybe You know
the an?--behind n of the stands"
They'll never get him." returned
the other solemnly.
Because it's my notion he swum
for It. | was closest down the bank.
an somethin' hit the water"
But them's the Jerseys over yon-
der; If he was a spy he'd be headin'
the other way"
Its little he'd think Of the way
the gang OF us yelpin' at his
heels, Besides, there's plenty Of his
kind over in those Jerseys Who'd take
good care Of the likes Of him."
But there's a guard stationed
yonder."
"Pish, a corporal's squad. just about
opposite at the ferry landin', an a
company Of Yagers down at Glouces-
ter. There's plenty room between for
i bold lad t o find free passage"
The two fell silent, staring out over
he water. They had set me thinking.
however, and this knowledge Of where
he British pickets were stationed was
the Information / most re-
l had no desire to cross the
Delaware, yet apparently in that d.
lay the only remaining avenue
II escape.
At the lower end OF the float / man
lged to silently remove my boots, and
hen waited, listening to the move
nents Of the men above. l must have
lung there ten minutes, expecting
very moment the party securing the
ihore would return. yet not daring to
make the venture with those fellows
there. and silently gazing out II