Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1168 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

Oe an wer ree CHAPTER V. PRODIGAL TOM APPEARS, For hours the old Indian sat silently smoking and nodding drowsily before the cheery giow of the fire. The wounded soldiers still rested easy under the relief he had Meanwhile Captain Danton waited patiently for the return “s his courier with an escort from Corn- wallis. His fears of the Scariet Wings had been in- creased when he learned that the negro cow-boy had not returned with Pat from the field. He believed he had been sent away to raise the alarm, and bring succor to the relicf of Delaware Dick. But. bot Hazen and Pat denied sending him away. They stated that fear of the soldiers kept him away. Thus the hours wore away, and as noon approach- ed a cup of coffee, some buttered rolls, fried ham and warm biscuits were p upon a tray by the good Mrs, Hazen, who requested that the same be conveyed to Delaware Dick, as he had had no break- fast. Captain Danton, whose gallantry and human- ity added much to his pepe qualifications, com- ied with her request, and with the provision passed to the prison-room, In a moment he returned with the er and pro- vision untouched. His face wore a look of bitter dis ointment, and his hands trembled. Why have you brought the food back?” Mrs, Hazen asked. ‘* Because, my yen them, ood woman, thereis no one in that wom to éat it. Delaware Dick has escaped.”’ He put the tray down, and going out gave the alarm. In a moment the wildest excitement pre- railed. Hazen and all of his servants were arrested for complicity in his escape. The old Indian doctor, still drowsing by the fire, was the only person that received the news with in- difference. Dick had escaped by way of the cellar, having cut a hole through the floor of his prison and let himself down. ‘“*Who knows but what she ; Spgs yr out of the cellar this morning and failed to return from the field was Delaware Dick himself?’ asked a sol dier. ~ m Impossible,” replied Danton; “‘he was a genuine BR : b | ‘fearch wag at once instituted for the escape? pris- oner. The afternoon was passed ina vain tearch for him. In the meantime, Doctor Dave had stolen as silently away as an Arab. His disapp/arance caused eonsiderable unfavorable comment among the troopers. Srontir approached, and no word frem ciimp had yet been received. Danton resolved to rett m under cover of the night. He was already prejaring to départ when a dozen horsemen drew up “efore the door. They were Tories, and led by ta notorious Prodigal Tom, brother of Delaware Dick. Danton and his men were rejoice? to meet the young Tory who, being in a hurry, 7-fused to dis- mount, but, in the gray of the winte’¢vening, helda short Soares With «the capéria. They talked about Dick and his escape. ‘*T could have told Sen og captain,” said Tom, “that not but an iron or stone prisun would hold Dela- ware Dick. I have known him from a child, and should I ever capture him, J. will keep a line of bayo- nets around him and watchfal eyes upon him, until I know he is ina Yay of safety, which place, I am afraid, is not short of the grave.” ‘‘T am satisfied he had assistance in getting away from us,” said Danton, ‘‘I have Hazen and his ser- vants under arrest, accused of aiding him.”’ ‘‘They mighf have helped him,” replied Tom, “though I doubt it very much; and I would not do the Hazens violence on strength of my suspicions, were I in your place.” r some further conversation, Prodigal Tom his band departed, going north. * Brother ‘st brother,’’ said Captain Danton, ‘‘andi never heard two voices sound so near alike as fiose of Delaware Dick’s and Pr al Tom’s. I could not see Tom’s featurés in the dark, but if they resemble Dick’s'as does his voice, one might easily be taken for the other.”’ 2a ‘‘ Who knows but they are one and the same?” said @ soldier. “*No one knows it; forsuch a thing is preposterous, But hark!” Even as he spoke, the report of firearms smote upon the ears of the ty. The sound came from north, and that al Tom was in trouble Danton had not a doubt, and in a moment he was moving at the head of his men to the assistance of his friends, As they were thundering down the road in the yo star-light, a horseman, wrapped in a blanket, swept apast them like the wind. eS bid you see that, captain?’ asked a trooper. “T’d been blind not to; and by the royal crown it was that old Indian doctor! Boys, there’s somet wrong about that Doctor Dave—he is in league wi Delaware Dick!” CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLE OF TRENTON. GENERAL WASHINGTON waited with some impati- ence the return of Delaware Dick from the British camp. It was . “= = SE erarnation rg the enemy's quarters made uneasy and impa- tient, but fear of Dick’s safety. Hismenaround him did not fail to notice the feeling of unrest that agitat- ed his breast; but none of them know the real cause, for none of them knew that Delaware Dick, the Wing- of-the-Wind, was one of his most important spies. _On -e7e, however, Dick returned, to the ‘two days and nights. ig ne great relief and. joy, after an absence of Delaware Dick. When alone with the young patriot in his private room, the commander said: ‘4 s Well, Dick, I had about given you up as lost this ime.’ “T have had some close figuring, general, since I left you,” Dick answered. ‘I have not only been in the enemy’s camp, but a prisoner in their hands. A party of troopers captured me at Ben Hazen’s house, and placed me in prison there; but with the assist- ance of that mysterious ‘power behind the throne,’ Iwas cnabled t effect ai¥ cocape. Dui, BRGUcius since my departure I have learned that Colonel Rahl is stationed at Trenton with about fifteen hundred German troops, and he is in mortal fear of you. But Cornwallis sent him word that he need not fear you —that a corporal’s guard would hold you in check, This I learned, by acting as self-constituted courier from Rahl to Cornwallis.” ‘* What is the strength and disposition of the rest of pa ee army under Cornwallis?” asked the general, “Some are at Princeton, some at New Brunswick, some at other points, and one @ vision under his own immediate command. This I r-ceived from his own lips. Anticipating his movements, I concealed my- self, with the assistance of my men, in a hollow ‘back-log,’ in a deserted cabin on the Trenton road. We had a pretty good idea that Cornwallis would en- camp at that point; and as the cabin was the only building in the vicinity, we felt satisfied the general would occupy it. To make it more attractive, we built a roaring fire on the hearth, taking care to put on a ‘back-log’ that would last a week. Then we laid in a big supply of wood, in the bottom of which, with ends cunningly blocked up, was placed the hol- low log in which I was ensconced. Sure enough, the army camped right there, and Cornwallis took pos- session of the cabin; and what surpassed my most sanguine hopes, he called a council that night. I heard if all,’ “Then you learned the course he will pursue?” ioe, the commander, his countenance beaming with oy. Yes; as soon as the Delaware freezes over he will cross into Pennsylvania, rout you and march upon Philadelphia. e has no doubt of his ability to do this, for he considers you vanquished.” “Let him remain over-confident,”’ said Washing- ton, ‘for self-assurance often begets defeat in time of war. I shall strike a blowuvexpected to him, To- morrow is Christmas-day—a great holiday to the German people—and as the Hessians stationed at Trenton have been assured that they have nothing to fear of me, they will doubtless give up to festivi- ties and merry-making, and finish up with a drunken carousal at night, Then will be my time to strike; and should we succeed in carrying the town, our vic- tory will be, in a measure, Owing to you, my boy; for withont the information you have given me, I would never have dared to undertake such a move- ment. But something has got to be done to remove the gloom and déspondency into which the public mind has fallen, owing to our late reverses. Dick, are you acquainted with the country around Tren- ton?” “T know it to perfection, general,” was the an- swer. “Here, then, isa map. Will you give me some in- formation regarding the country back of the town and along the river below it, say, for ten miles?” “With pleasure, general,’ and Delaware Dick gave the information in a clear, comprehensive manner. After some further conversation Washington dis- missed his young spy, and sat down to complete his arrangements for thé Christmas party at Trenton; and thus he spent most of the entire night. But he was astir early on the morning of the 25th, as were the soldiers also; for it had become known through- out the camp that an attack was to be made on the Hessians at Trenton. | Of the splendid achievement that followed on the terribly cold night of December 25th, ail our school histories tell us. It was a complete surprise to the British and their German emissaries—the advance of Cornwallis’s army holding Trenton, and Rahl, the commander, was among the prisoners taken, He was mortally wounded; and before retiring again to the Pennsylvania side of the river, Washington, ac- companied by Delaware Dick and two of fis aids, visited the wounded man, When they entered the house and were admitted to the presence of the stricken coloyel, they found a surgeon and a young British officer in attendance upon him. ~Washington saluted them, not as & conqueror, but as a generous and kind-hearted fellow-man, — young officer ad- vanced toward Dick, and, taking him by the hand, said: ‘‘ Good-evening, Richard Melinott!” Dick started at the words. It had beei wany a day since he had heard his right name spoken; and coming, as it did, from the lips of a British officer it filled him with surprise. He fixed asearching look upon the officer’s face. Hehadseen the face before but could not recall the time and place when and where it was. “Sir you have the advantage of me,” our hero re- lied. 2 ‘“You have forgotten Captain Clement Fairmont, who escorted you beyond Cornwallis’s lines, the oth- er day?” “Not at all, captain!” exclaimed Dick, as a light of recognition flashed in his eyes. dyes . Then the two withdrew into an adjoining yoom and conve ‘ “You have won & signal victory to-night, Dick,” Fairmont said. ~ ‘“Tt was a glorious victory, captain,” returned our hero, enthusiastically. | “T presume your Visit to our eamp had something to do wih it,” observed the king's omcer. hat in hand, stood by the roadside, ra . ee eee a 5 “Itis a mystery to me, captain,” said Dick, eva- sively, “why PP An ever permitted me to leave your lines as you did, unless you have not the cause of your king at heart.” The young officer smiled. “Tam loyal to my king, Dick, as far as my heart will allow me to be,” he said, toying with the hilt of his sword. ‘But, Dick, I have known you some time, and why shouldn't I when you have won the heart of her to whom I am betrothed.” Dick started as though a cannon had been dis charged near his ear. His face colored, and a look slightly touched with scorn passed over it, Captain Fairmont,’ he exclaimed, “ you speak in riddles,” Before the captain could answer, one of Washing- ton’s aids announced their readiness to depart from the house, and as Dick turned tothe door, )airmont said, in an undertone full of strange meaning: ‘Never mind, Richard Melinott; I may soon de mand honorable satisfaction of yeu.”’ Dick’s face grew almost livid; but the presence @ Washington prevented him from replying to Fair mount as his feelings dictated. : A parole was made out for Captain Fairmont, @ well as the rest of the officers captured; then Wash ington and his friends left the house and rejoined the army. CHAPTER VI. A ROGUE'S PLOT AND A PATRIOT'S REVENGE. ‘Bea parding, massa, but the young missus wish- es to see you.”’ Delaware Dick raised his eyes, A darkay, Ng 9) a tall wooden building, known as the Hoalf-way Inn, It was rather a forbidding-looking agen and Wing-of-the-Wind eyed the mh with evident mistrust. He had always heard that the keeper of the Half-way Inn was a violent Tory, and thought i¢ rather strange that he should be wanted there by hig wife. In fact, Dick had become a little suspicious, He had just escaped a very network of dangers, Having made a tryst at Melross farm with sy, fe he had kept it at imminent hazard, only to learn that Agnes was not Richard Melross's daughter but his niece, and that she was soon to return to Eng- land. He was sick at heart over this separation; and had been, too, unfortunate enough to lose in his hard run for life from British Bill’s gan, the little’ memorandum-book in which her new address wag written. It was riding slowly onward after his escape from Bill, and another race with a squadron of dragoons, lek he was arrested by the sound of tho negro’s voice. “The young mistress?’’ the spy exclaimed. ‘‘ What does she want?” **Don’t know, massa; she jist come here little while ago, and seeing you come up the ror, told me to tell you dat she want to see you. I ¢on't mean ole missus; I mean Miss Agnes Melross, I coes, She in de house,”’ Without another word Delaware Dick dismounted, and, giving the reins to the darkey, approached tbe house. He felt satisfied that the black told the truth, although it seemed impossible for Agnes to have come to the inn since their parting at the Hawk’s Nest, ; He was admitted to the house by the innkeeper's wife, and, as he crossed the threshold, two men sprung from behind the door, and seizing him, pin- ioned his arms at his side, while a third man appear- ing, Pty a to disarm him, “Caught at last, you infernal yo rebel!’’ the innkeeper hissed.. “It was a clever thing that [ knew of your love for Miss Agnes Melross, and that there was a witness to your interview at the Hawk's Nest, I'll give you free lodgings for a while, my fine fellow, He was at once conducted up a pair of stairs and into a small, gloomy a ent from which there seemed no escape, save by the way he entered, “Stay in there, my Fay cavalier,” said Ben Dar ling, the innkeeper, * till I can send word to Corn. wallis of yor capture. He's offered a reward, f understand, for your head, cold or hot,” ‘Just so,” thought our hero, as the heavy door closed upon him; hoa ia the first place, I was a fool for g entrapp and I a I will have to take the consequences. Still, when that n mentioned Agnes’s name as he did, I couldn’t help but believe him,” Pondering over the matter, Dick glanced around the room. A bed in one corner and a long wooden bench constituted the supply of furniture. There was no Window in the walls; but a small, square moles intended as such, had been cut in the side the road. It was not over elght inches ae and was the. only source of lig room. - Dick walked to this opening and ed out. The first thing his eye fell upon was the treacberou” darkey leading his horse into the stable across tb’ road. He glanced down the bh meas? and discov ered & carriage coming up toward the inn, A dri in livery occupied the nt box, while a col footman was perched upon the rear seat. Alto~ gether, it was a stylish and aristocratic turnout for that day; and, as it drew nearer, the prisoner saw that it was an ancient affair, whose gilded panels bore the English coat-of-arms and r figures of heraldry emblazoned upon them. This convinced him that it belonged to some old Englishman, and no doubt, a royalist, who adhered to the anci né as arelic of the pristine glory of bis house with the devotion of an old friend. He kept hig eyes upon it, feeling almost certain that it bom some British general or royal colonial officer: bub -COMICHOOKS. 4 7 . mx bee e ~