Sarah Dillard's Ride

ir enemy standing in the doorway, was that he had discovered the flight, and, perhaps, counted on

he grinning Tory had even so much as a suspicion of the real state of affairs

lt to repress a smile of satisfaction as he saw the spy thus unsuspicious, while Sarah Dillard was speeding

e, was enjoying the situation as pictured in his mind, to the utmost of his mean nature, and the boys alm

e window?" Ephraim asked peremptorily after

ived of liberty from seeking fresh air whenever he may be s

long-winded speeches, and we will have done with them

epeated in a tone of contempt. "We have

m counting on you two trying to escape, and th

ne year ago, when you fled in hot haste from what proved to be a turkey-cock, thinking you sa

rom what they were forty-eight hours ago. You are among those who obey t

sedition-breeders' are names which have too much meaning in these days for you to let them fall so trippingly from your tongue! Have a care, you Tor

an Shelby, for it needs only that I raise my voice to bring here those

rave," Evan said with a laugh of scorn which did more t

od rushed into his face until, losing the last semblance of patience, he mot

own sense of importance," Nathan said as he moved back a few paces, Evan following the example. "Have a care, however, that yo

the mastery over himself as to be a

have learned that I am really the master. Now then, you rebels, remember that the king's troops are near at

f reflecting upon how he had best prove his authority, while the two prisoners gazed

t enough to break your spirits, we will see what a little exercise will do for you

llied by such as you?" Nathan

say, and before five minutes have gone by

's eyes with an expression on their faces which would have warned the Tory o

ateningly with upraised hand until he was within striking distance of the prisoners,

ems possible he would have attempted personal violence while alone with

topping to realize what might be the result if this spy was roughly handled, as if with one accord they leaped upon him, Nathan taking the pre

s sudden attack as quickly as did he, and in a twinkling the prisoners

han, in addition to covering his

omplishing anything whatsoever, and he was permitted to thus thrash around, doing

of anger. "You are supposed to be guarding us prisoners, and the redcoats will give little heed to you

was impossible so to do; but his captors could read in

soldiers will be called in to perform what you fail in doing. How well would that plan work if we did our duty, and killed you here and now? It is what s

e of the latter, one would have said that he was in deadly earnest, and real

hare toward frightening the spy, "and perhaps it will be best even though he had not betrayed Col

nds, and then we will contrive a gag so that it i

sufficiently stout to resist all his struggles, and in a comparatively short space of time the T

ork was accomplished did the boys fully realize that they had, pe

ory could not overhear his words. "Of course we cannot hope to keep him here longer than morning, and it is hardly likely the redcoats will

al hours yet, more especially if the villain gave ou

nd must fi

ashed upon him, and turned quickly toward th

ght be possible to pull that

not escape? The Britishers will have no care for us while it is believed that sneak is acting as

of our being able to

y until it ha

ight tug and strain until morning without s

in the line of escape, for suddenly he darted toward the door where he stood a mom

are on the floor below. This Tory has

ng to make your way down past all those

some of the chambers nearby, where perchance we shall

ason to believe such a venture might be made, and without waitin

shioned by hand, and mostlike brought from the

e the alarm, the boys shot the bolt back; the door was opened

at Ephraim was doing, and the boys moved as swiftly as they did noiselessly until, when hardly more than a minute

g-frame, were the articles which the lads brought into the room, careful

window, but whether it might be done silently or not w

d by bending over him now and then the lads could see,

heir escape were brought about wholly through his desire

taking him with them, they would have run many risks in order to accomplish such a purpose; but since that was out of the q

ld such advantage as may be gained," Nathan said. "It is reasonable to suppose th

s may be possible, fo

ge, and upon this Nathan determined to direct his effor

edgewise, which brought one end some distance int

ter advantage, and, after listening for an instant to make certain that none of the enemy were nea

, and then came a creaking as the iron was drawn through the wood; not loud, but sounding in th

orts, and stood near

ned that the redcoats ha

partment below, and the hum of the soldiers' voices n

e raised it half an inch already, and as much more of a strain

nd save for a slight creaking now and

eaking now and then, the work was carried on in almost perfec

with their hands, at the same time pr

had come, thanks to the spy who would have taken their lives had his power been sufficient, that they might

for action had arrived. "The redcoats may come at any moment to see how their spy is faring, and it would

ed. "Do you push off the bar, taking good care that it does not drop from your hands, whi

on as Nathan kneeled by the s

of it. Now hark you, Master Sowers, and remember all I say, for there be more than Evan and I who will carry out this threat. Continue your spying upon the Americans, serve the Britishers longer, and you shall be marked for what may be worse than death. When

he have spoken at that moment, but the gag choked his words, and he per

s ready for

he window impatient to be off, fearing each insta

u reach the ground the redcoats appear, do your b

ver desert

er only those who are in such great peril, for I have many doubts as to whether Sarah Dillard can force that colt over the mountain road. Hesitate no

r of seconds were spent in the effort to force his body through the narrow

ide, allowed himself to slip down at the expense of severe scratching from the bar,

ut making much noise. Do not speak once you are on the ground; but get behind the smaller stable a

ll not

as a minute

ten feet, was all that came back to the anxious listener at the window to tell

im made strenuous eff

ds which confined his limbs, and so fearful was Nathan lest the Tory spy should su

dly to strike one who is helpless, I suppose," the lad said half to himself, and then turned res

because of his being considerably larger, and the clothing was literally torn from his back

ring to creep across the stable-yard to the rendezvous agreed upon, he remained several

Evan had succeeded in making their escape with so little difficulty, he pushed cautiously for

cond from this instant until they had carried the warning to Colonel Clarke's men, or learned that Sarah Dillar

s struck into it an hundred yards or more from

y a question of endurance, and we must not think of self until af