Sarah Dillard's Ride

d good cause for s

ed to its success, and so long as the two remained within earshot of the pla

covered his true nature, the Britishers would rest content, believing their prisoners were secure under his guard, and it might be

ory would have use for the spy before daylight, and it was quite within the range of possibility that he might remai

dwelling Nathan and Evan was

emember him to some purpose; but while they were pressing forward through the thicket at full speed, now catching a glimpse of th

the probable time when Major Ferguson would send forward those men who were to butcher or capt

information, was no less than twenty miles, and in case the horsemen should be se

o long; but neither of the boys believed the infantry would take part in the p

hen fall upon our men between two and three in the morning, when it is said sleep weighs heaviest upon the eyelids, and if neither Sarah Dill

" Evan cried with ene

nothing that can stop us, unless by some unfortunate chance

ter, they were brought to a sudden standstill by sounds in the distance whi

bent forward in the attitude of listeners, keenly on the alert fo

rbance was caused by some animal, and again he felt equally c

nge his opinion several times. "Whoever may be out there yonder is a stranger in this section o

I can make out, that disturber of the peace neither lessens nor increases his dist

pace by pace until suddenly, and at the same instant, a

knew without waiting for further proof that her

until they were where such a view could be had of the struggli

there was a ring of alarm in her tone which told that she fe

mer cried, and gained some idea of the good woman

t to further alarm the colt," she said, distrusting

of of her own eyes as to their identity, she deman

left the plantation, other

have been forced to accompany them, else Ephra

Nathan explained all, so far as he knew, that had taken place at the plantation

for you to keep the

o retain hold of the bridle, and have kept him with me, although

ride him? There will be less lik

as I can, for he is acquainted with me, and w

ied confidently, as he went toward the colt, who during thi

t false, for the boy had no sooner begun to advance than he reared and plunged i

ieted down somewhat. "He has been accustomed to no one but me, and because I

nd every moment increases the danger to those at Greene's Spring. No one can say how soo

"I know it, and yet what may be done? It is certain neither of you boys c

enture to le

what

rward on foot, trusting t

ver this rough road would require certainly no less than six hours, a

ore the boys waited with ill-concealed impatience as he alternately advanced to receive h

me, than to stand here idle," Nathan said at length. "I do not believe you

ther means by which we may be certain of warning those who ar

n we he

to decide how the task might be accomplished, and then sh

he idea of seizing him by the bridle. If that could be done, and you

ave your brains dashed

e made to go forward. It is our only hope, and when so many lives hang in the balance it surely see

e Britishers should arrive, and yet at the same time they had little hope the restive animal would be brought into submission;

ared and plunged until it seemed certain he would shake off the woman's hold upon the bridle. Then with

s; but the boys held bravely on, at times raised high from the ground, until it bec

Evan to jump quickly aside lest he be struck by the animal's hoofs. "Don't

was saddled," Evan muttered, now losing all ho

flanks, watching for an opportunity, and Evan had no more than uttered his gloomy prediction when, clut

riedly; but Nathan was not minded Captain Dillard's wife should ride

you first mounted. It is madness to think of attempting to make your way through the thicket in

d by an enemy that knows no mercy, for it is positive you could not get through in time. Tu

even now it was in his mind to d

d at full speed with M

lied, and then he devoted all his energ

n the boys and the animal, and then the former were the co

Dillard cried. "Then do you press on at your best speed in case I

ready?" E

you say

t g

ed, wildly lashing out with his hind feet, and in a twinkli

not; but it will be at the expense of her own, for there is not a m

aid gloomily, "for then she would have been forced to go

unted twenty the two lads stood on the trail in the darkn

l realization of the situation, and he said, m

in Greene's Spring, we must press forward at the best of our ability, for there is a slight h

," Nathan cried, as he set out with a regular, swinging gait, which p

pon themselves, they hastened onward without thought of fatigue, making no halt save n

illard was yet keeping in the direct course, or if the colt swerved from one side to the other, carrying her amid the underbrush, where she must inevitably be

ntly the sound of horses' hoofs,

van whispered, and Nathan's vo

l our efforts are vain so far, for it is not le

ends will be

ut that the surprise will be complete, in

mplished the journey in safety, and accepted it as a fact that the plans of the enemy

could hear the hum of conversation among the men befo

their capture, and it was reasonable to suppose much harm might come to themselves af

discovered his true character; but now, after remaining gagged and bound a certain number of h

time to conceal themselves in the underbrush a few feet distant f

s hiding-place Evan counted ninety pairs of r

y her most scurvy trick upon these two lads, whose

is position in order to relieve the strain upon his limb, and by so doing slipped on a rotten b

and before the boys could have taken refuge in fligh

o flee, and hardly more than thirty seconds elapsed from the breaking of the

trail shouted, and one of the captors repli

els, and they look much like the two

r whom the boys afterward recognized as a Tory by the name of Dun

ced their prisoners in front of them on the

lby and Eva

e same who were taken prisoners this ev

an replied wit

d you e

f his own will, to make us march ar

at could have been gi

and commanded us to do his bidding, which was none other than tha

explain how

the same as if almost any one else had been in our position. We made Ephraim a pri

e colonel said, as if in surpri

een released. We lef

nown; but the troopers appeared to think it a laughing matter, and even the colonel who was in charge of

f into the power of his enemies. You who have taken the prisoners shall guard them until we have finished our work, and the

with many a threat as to what would be the result if there was any r

ot be so foolish as to resist when t

n attempt to escape I shall use my knife in a way that won't be pleasant," the trooper replied as he

much in the hope of being able to warn their friends in danger, believed that the time was very