Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1168 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Bea -—w- ee “iy lord,” continued Delaware Wick, and his face | got him caged. He stop assumed a more desperate and determined look “overy moment I stand here increases my danger, diasire to leave this cabin.’’ * Ah,” said the general, sarcastically, “you now propose to ask terms of me.” “] shall ask that you pass me beyond your lines.” The general reflected, ped an hour or two ago at the old Ben Hazen farm.’ ‘*'You are sure of this?’ ‘** Yes; lam,”’ replied Tookbury, his teeth chatter- ing with cold and excitement. “Iwas on the road when he turned into the lane going toward Hazen’s; and knowing what an old rebel he is, I concluded to see who was goin’ to his aouse at that time o’ night. overpowered apd bound. of his men, besides Tookbury, lay dead, and four had been seriously wounded, For a while after Dick’s capture, the wildest ax- citement prevailed in the Hazen residence; but, as soon as quiet had been restered, Captain Danton dis- patched a courier to Cornwallis with news of Dick’s capture, and askiag for a company of horse as an escort back to camp with the prisoner. He was with eyes and senses alert—7. ta ry’ or what end wiJ Ye * You must think I am a cowardly poltroon,” he | I slipped up to the window and seen old Hazen and | afraid an attempt would be made to release the Wiis finally said. Delaware Dick talkin’ in the parlor.”’ young spy by the patriot settlers. : ‘‘T think no such thing, my lord; but youcansee | _ ‘‘How far is it to Hazen's place?” asked Captain The courier had been absent less than ax» hour, } exactly how we are situated, and you have either got | Danton. when he returned in hot haste with the startling in. bo die or else comply with my demands. Remember, | “About four miles off the Trenton road—five | telligence that Delaware Dick’s band of Scarlet delay is dangerous to you, as well as myself. The | miles from here. Prodigal Tom's off up that way | Wings was encamped at the end of the lane on the morecnt that doortiteh is touched by one from the | somewheres, but, as I didn’t know where exactly,I ; Trenton road. This gave Danton great uneasine putside, I will fire if I die the next moment for it. I | thoughtI’d gallop up to CornwaUis’s head-quarters, | and, had he not been incumbered with the wound will not peaitate to give my life for yours in the | and obtain assistance to take the young rebel, as | men, he would have attempted to reach Camp bya cause of Gere After you have passed me beyond | he’s likely to stay there fill mornin’.”’ circuitous route, But he was too much of a Soldier your Jines, [ will consider myself subject to capture, | **Tead the way, and [ll see that you get your re- | to desert his wounded, and so he resolved to fortif and, that I will have no further claim on your pro- | ward,’’ said Danton. himself in the Hazen house, and endeavor to hold it tection. You know, general, as well as you stand | ‘“* By St. Peter!’ exclaimed uc Tory, “‘I’m in luck | until assistance could be procured. . there, that you are at my mercy, even though thou- | for once, I expected to have to ride all the way to The Hazens protested against the occupancy of sands of your men surround me, _ I mighteven shoot | camp through this ugly weather.” ; their house, but in vain, Captain Danton promised you down and then escape; but I wish to treat_you ‘Tookbury turned about, and led the trooper in the | that they should suffer no injury or insult from his as aman worthy of honor, and show you that Iam | direction of Hazen’sfarm. Captain Danton rode at | command, so long as they made no attempt to en- not without honor myself.” his side, and, naturally enough, the conversation | danger his situation. “You know too much to leave here alive,” said | centered upon Delaware Dick, and the inestimable Delaware Dick was disarmed and bound, then shut the general. good his capture would bring to the crown. up in a little room without windows, A single door ‘*Vory well; if I die,so shall you, You're without ‘‘T never learned until recently,” said Danton, | opening into the main Sp Hest was the only way @ weapon, and one movement or word will be your | “that.Prodigal Tom, the Tory, and Delaware Dick, | in or out of the room. seemed as if it been death-warrant. I have offered you fair and honor- | the ag pbeskd are brothers.” prepared on purpose for a domestic prison. able terms; and give you two minutes to accept ar ‘*] heard that long ago,” answered Tookbury; A guard was stationed at the door to prevent any refuse them,”’ ‘‘and they say Prodigal Tom is a warm friend of the | one from. communicating with the prisoner. The Cornwallis knew that Delaware Dick would keep | king’s—that he took all of his father’s proparty af- | wounded were furnished with beds on the floor of his word. We saw that he was as desperate as he | ter the old man’s death, sold it, and, with the pro- | the sitting-room, and their injuries looked after. It was brave, and, burning with humiliation, the com- | ceeds, 3,4 eo his Som aay of partisan rangers. | was found that the skill of a surgeon was sadly need- maoder threw his cloak about his shoulders, and | That's w ‘4 ey call him prodigal. ed, for one of the troopers was dangerously if not at said: ‘Well, Prodigal Tom and Delaware Dick are both | mortally wounded. “_"" ‘‘ Remember, Delaware Dick, that there is honor | brave and desperate fellows," said the captain. . “I Day finally dawned, cold, raw, and chilly. The between enemies.”’ have never seen either of them.” guards, pacing their beats outside, swore and shiv- “*T feel safe in niente 4 to Oe word; nor will I “Tt have seen Dick, but not Tom,’ said Tookbury, | ered. Fear of an attack by the Scarlet Wings kept deceive you unless faith broken with me,” re- ‘‘Neither of them is often seen. They seem to} them on the alert; and when it was suddenly report- wlied Dick. have a desire not to be personally known, or too | ed that a horseman was approaching from the di- “Then come,” and the British general turned to | conspicuous in the daylight; and, while they are ar- | rection of Woodvale church, all was’ thrown into a the door. | rayed against each other, I do not believe they | state of excitement. But when the horseman, cree Delaware Dick took the commander’s right arm, | would harm a hair of each other's head.” ing down the road at a snail’s Bg was recopniged while with his right hand he held his cocked pistol “All but that, captain,’” returned Tookbury; | as a harmless old Indian, bundled up in a blanket ” his bosom, “boys that would ight each other at home, as they | and s, all fears subsided, and turned to mirth Thus the two passed out into the night. say these boys did, will fight on the battle-field. | and_ridicule. The wind drove the snow and sleet into their faces; | They say them Pa alers war eoutrary as mules— “It is Doctor Dave,” said Mr, Hazen, as the In- at with quick footsteps they passed along through | that Tom joined the British just because Dick es- Pdian drew rein and dismounted in front of the house, * camp that lay wrapt in silence and gloom. poused the cause of the continentals.”’ ** And who’s Doctor Dave?” asked Danton. No one living would have believed that the haugh- ‘‘ Well, Tom is making it lively for some of the ‘*A famous old Indian doctor, who has been tray, ty Lord Cornwallis would ever have submitted to | rebel p I assure you,” said Danton. eling up and down the Delaware these forty years, : ach humiliating terms with an enemy, in the heart And thus the conversation raz. on for some length | administering to those who have faith with no little wf his own camp. But no one, save those who have | of time. skill,” been place:| in similar circumstances, could form The little band of cepopers rade slowly on through ‘Perhaps he can help my wounded men,’’ said the any idea as to what they would do were they brought | the dismal night toward the Hazen farm—so slow, captain. face to face with death, Cornwallis was but mor- | indeed, that it was almost morning when they ar- Herbs are his medicines, where the laying-on-of- “1 and the love of life strong within him. Were the | rived in the vicinity of the farm. hands, as some call it, fails to reach the case,”’ order of thi reversed, he would have done exactly The Hazens were already astir, for lights were ‘Well, he’s coming in,”’ said Danton, ‘‘ and it wil] as the spy did. It was the resort of a brave and des- | shining from the windows, dono harm, if it does no good, to call on him for as. perate enemy. Captain Danton and Tookbury left the command a | sistance "’ On their way down the road they were stopped | short way from the house, and crept forward to re- Doctor Dave moved slowly and cautiously toward - weveral times by the who was unable to re- | connoiter. They had no difficulty in gaining a Riyal the front door, his eyes apparently never moving 1 wognize the general in the kness, but upon mak- | tion near the parlor-window, through which they | from the path before him, He was admitted to the ! éng himself known they were allowed to on. | saw old man Hazen and his young guest seated be- | house by Mr. Hazen, and although a number of sol- ¥inally they d the outermost picket, when | fore a roaring fire, engaged in conversation. diers were in, he was not in the least disconcerted by Cornwallis said: After having studied the face of the latter for a | their Seer ise He was an ae Spee old genius— ' “You are now beyond my lines.” few minu anton plucked his companion aside, | a full-blood Indian, ops | the English language “ Then good-night, my lord,” replied Dick, and the | and thus addressed him: fluently, when he spoke at all. He seemed to p er pext moment he was h down the road at the “Are you sure that is Delaware Dick, Tookbury?” | hearing to betas heard, and answered a question by of his speed. “Tt know it,” was the positive answer of Tookbury. | a shake or a nod of the head where words were not urning with mortification and anger, the British |. “Then I have seen him before.” required. He must have been sixty years of age. general turned and wended his way k to his “ Indeed?” His hair was white; his face furrowed, and his body quarters. Instead of sending a troop of horse after “T saw him yesterday-in our camp.” slight and infirm, : e daring young rebel, he resolved to keep the ‘Ah! he was there as a spy, I assure you.” ** They tell me you are a doctor, old man,”’ Captain whole affair a secret that it might not become a “He came with a dispatch from Colonel Rahl, at | Danton said, when he had been seated before the matter of history by his own confirmation. As soon | Trenton, No one mistrusted him of being anything | fire. . 5 he reached the cabin he rolled the hollow “back- | else than a British courier.” The Indian nodded his head, as he stretched out gz” into the fire, that Verte fa might find no ves- ‘**Oh! but he’s a sly one, captain.” his thin, bony hands to the warm glow of the fire. tige of it to reproach him, or to remind his brother “At any rate, he must not escape,” said Danto * We have some wounded men here,’ continued cers of the night’s adventure with the young | and heat once gave orders for his men to surround | the officer, “and if you ean aid them, I would like wanger-epy, Delaware Dick. the house. As soon as this was done, he advanced | for you to do so.” and rapped upon the doer. aving warmed his feet and hands, Doctor Dave CHAPTER TV. Benjamin Hazen and his young guest started with | signified his readiness to attend to the British offi- an exclamation of surprise. A look of uneasiness | cer’s request, and was at once conducted into DEPAWARS. DICK It ‘TROUBLE. shaded the face of the latter. Hazen arose, and ad- | room where the wounded men lay. “Tnx more Cornwallis thought over his adventure | vancing to the door opened it, and demanded: The latter greeted the old man with a look of con- ¢ with Delaware Dick, the more his feelings became “Who's abroad so early?” ez tempt; but red-man was used. to such saluta ; worked up, and in hopes of Seperate the young “ Soldiers of his Majesty, King of England,’ was | and at once went about his work in a manner Y Webel, he Hispatched one Captain Danton with twenty | the response; “and we want the young re ‘1 s0- | was calculated te inspire ‘confidence in the breasts mounted men in the direction of Trenton, with or- | journing under your roof.” of the spectators and wounded troopers. He care- ders to bring every maninto camp they might find on Turning to Dick, the old man exclaimet: ) fully dressed the wounds, applied some salve to the 3 the way. “Wy, Dick, fly for your lite!” cuts and ointment to the bruises; and soon all but ¥ It was past mid when Danton set out, The ‘“Too late; the house is surrounded, said our | one were forced to confess great relief from his ‘weather was cold threa . Clouds obscured } hero, who had seen the soldiers filing apast the win-'| treatment. The exceptional case, hoWever, was a the sky, and now and then a of snow and sleet | dow. man suffering of a contusion of the brain ; but the mmade riding very siengreeanle, Despite the inclem- Captain Danton, and a number of soldiers led by | old doctor not d of relteving him. When "Oa Pe the weather, however, the tish troopers | the unprincipled Tookbury, burst into the room. | all else had failed, he seated himself, and taking the continued on their way. Delaware Dick drew his tru sword, placed his | suffering man’s head upon his lap, began running his They had gone about ten miles when they were | back against the wall, and, with the determination | hands inslow and passes over his head from inet by a man on horseback, who seemed to be in a | of selling his life dearly, awaited the result. each ear to the crown. reat hurry, The rash and headlong Tookbury, anxious to be At first there were some inclined to scoff at this Danton halted him, and inquired: the first to lay hands wpon the young spy in hopes part of the red-man's treatinent as a su tious “ ther away, sir horseman?’ of claiming the reward offered for his oie tank rush- cantation; but when the agonized moans of the ““To Corn 8 camp; but I sée are royal | ed in upon him; but his life paid for temerity. | trooper subsided, and he sunk into a epiet slumber ers,” answered the Praag ag a diy. He fell dead under a blow, cloven to the jaw. under the influence of the old doctor's meemeric “Yes; and we have orders to arrest every man we The sight of blood maddened the soldiers, and touch, they looked upon him as one possessed of And,” Danton, “But what are you going to | they pressed forward upon the young foe, A des- | great and per cen RAYS So ‘Corn sa sad | perate struggle ensued. The sword of the young When the wounded soldiers had all been eared for “T understand the officers of the crown bawve offer- past flashed like gleams of lightning about his | ina satisfactory Manner, the old doctor was taken “ed five hundred pounds for the capture of ‘Delaware | head, and the red-coats fell in‘numbers at his feet, | into the renee oy Hazen and given 4 & Suerte x,‘ the—"* A giant’s per engehs seemed wielding the deadly ee ous breakfast, r the he was the “ Yes: I believe they have,” interrupted Danton; pom.prs £05 9 e the youth held his enemies at bay; of the house, ea no 'r to the But what about it?” t, at length, he met with a misfortune that deci: he took ! which would not have been ** Why, then, I, Dusen Tookbury, royalist, will have | ed the contest: his sword struck the heavy musket- | toleratedin astranger. He wandered about the house “ . barrel of a soldier and snapped in two; and the next | from room te room—u . dow | eo A i rebel'a prisoner." homie war iie “No; I haven't exactly him in gr esto er Bk i But it bad cost Danton dearly to take him. Three exe) 900 C com. m ding ‘S