Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-10-11

those in the coming boat than he dis
obeyed my orders and came from for.
word.
"Will We hand me over to yonder
dogs!" he demanded, his hands clos
ing and unclosing nervously as he
stood near the edge of the coaming Of
the cockpit. l stood up. "My
friend" said l, "you had your fling
at me, and took your chances. 1t is
my innings. Get forward"
'IIl be damned il l will, without
first making We pay the piper" he
shouted; and then. as unexpectedly
as had leaped upon him, he threw
himself upon me with a bound, bear.
Ing me backward.
could only grapple with him, and
this did, and in moment we two
/ were rolling on the edge of the narrow
deck beyond the coaming, and In three
! seconds more we were both overheard
and in the waters OF Newark Bay. he
! clutching me with strip Of mad
man.
, 1t looked to go hard with me then,
| for l saw he was anxious for my life
even IL it cost him his own; and
have small doubt that this assault was
only hurried by the appearance OF the
patrol that he had it up his sleeve
for me, ana was blding his time. But
be this as it may, was in desperate
| way ak we struggled and clawcd at
| each other, for the most part beneath
| the surface; and was something bet
| ter than half drowned when | felt
| myself pulled into a boat. When l had
| freed my lungs of water and gathered
| my wits together saw | was in the
| whalcboat a prisoner, as was my late
] guide. lie then lying unconscious in
| the hiige with a sailor working over
| him.
| And it was evident that |, too, had
| been unconscious for at least briei
| space, tor when | .ully scnsed my sit.
| uation | saw The officer (he was very
| younc) turnin. in his hand T. ce or
watersoakcd paper. As he marked
Gne looking at him he smiled End said:
Nov, by my faith, Mr., Melton,
| you l. - had II narrow escape! !
thought You gone, for a moment!"
The name of Melton brought me to
my full senses as hardly anything else
would have done, but perhaps it were
well that | was still too weai; 10 show
| surprise or make an answer, and he
| continued: "'Twere fortunate ! was
hard by. lieutenant; Simcoe told me
to be on the lookout for you, but nIy
| faith! | didn't expect to come across
| You in this fashion. And fancy that
Bellmore won't thank me for intorfer-
! ing, AS had ! not come up in time it is
ten to one that he We're hundred
| pounds richer"
| lie laughed aloud as he spoke, and
held out the paper to me. 1t was the
note OF hand to Lysander Melton, for
one hundred pounds, signed by Bell.
more" which Washington had given
ME at my request. The officer had evi-
| IDENTIFY taken it in search of my
| clothing while l was unconscious.
AZ quick as lightning | saw how the
land lay. This man did not know Mel,
ton, and from the paper he took me to
he him. Certainly it would not do for
me to deny it without explaining how
Melton's note got into my possession
and had no story ready. had moth
| ing ready, for that matter, but
thanked God | would not have tc
prove myself, since the paper ap
! peared to have done it for me.
| ''Who is the chap you were clinched
to?" asked the officer, indicating my
la!e companion who was showing
signs of remaining life.
| II know not" said, pulling myneii
together, save that his name Is Dean
and that he is Il parlous rebel.
hired him TO sail me TO the point, but
he was suspicious, ana WAS taking me
TO Paulus Hook and Lee, conceiyinf
that | was Il desnrter from the rebe
army. We ciinchcd. You know the
rest. What will You do with him?
"Iland him over 10 Simcoe," wa.
the light answer. But az he is only
a noncombatant, he will be likely Il
so free. | tell yc what, Melton, yol
have had damned close call and 1;
| pity IL would have been had you gon;
down; for his exploit is feather il
Your cap, and it won't hurt me 70
having pulled you ont"
made no answer, not exactly know
ing what the young fellow was dr!v
ing at, and the officer went on: "Tl
be free and say lis pity that you arr
Il Southern Provincial ard new to tn
city: bul YOU have been inquiries
about Major Stall was asking Sin
, zoe if he had heard anything OF you
return, and then said that you wer
cursed brave man to Try 10 smoou
your record by volunteering to get in
to Morristown. Did you eet lhcre?"
, yes" | answered.
AYE. Stall said there were not tel
men in the army vino would dare il.
congratulate YOU, and tell you this (
let you know how you stand. Blu
; damne il | care to play cards wit
, you"
He laughed aB II to take The slin