Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24 i Long Beard, the Giant Spy. captured from a British major t’other morn- n **'You don’t say you have these things, do you? Why, if that’s so, it’ll bu’st the Britishers’ calculations all to smash. Gracious! ves, you want to get that news to Hull, and it’ll be the makin’ of you. Youw’re a trump, boy, and ort to be made a ginereal or a govenir when you grow bigger. I’d walk a thousand miles to vote for you, Harry.” ‘* Davy, are you goin’ with me? or will you stay here?” “Stay here?—stay here and git gobbled by the British? Nary stay; Pll shoulder my old rifle and peg out with you. ‘I’ve not much here to lose, and everything to gain. Yes, Sir Harry, lll shoulder rifle and peg out for tall timber with you. I want to take a band in this war, for I never expect to see another war iv my time.” ‘I will be pleased to have your company, Davy; and I'd suggest that we get away as soon as possible, for other enemies may near. But, before we go, me and Belshazzar wants something to eat, if you’ve anything in your ace of the kind. We've fasted for a week, it seems like.” “Anything to eat? Why, just look thar, br’jlin’ on them coals. My jolly, Se a guests put me to bed and then went in on their nervous ge But, ah, me! how very unsartain is life. Now thar they lay, and here I stand. Yes, Harry, we’ll have a rousin’ old supper, then set sail. Fust, let us drag these poor dead devils aside and cover’em up; then, while ’m washin’ up and puttin’ on some clean buckskin, you amuse yourself the best y.ou can.” ** Pll select a rifle from among our enenies’ ef- fects, as I was relieved of mine at the British cainp last night.” ‘** Do so, Harry—ge ahead, make yerself right to home—indulge freely, partake of whatever pleaseth your fancy—be reckless as you please, for this is our last hour, p’r’aps, at the palace of ole Davy Darrett.” Harry examined the weapons of the soldier and Mucklewee, and, to his happy surprise, found the gun and accouterments that he had been compelled to leave in Brock’s camp. Mucklewee had substituted the elegant new rifle for his old flint-lock musket, little dreaming what a shor’ time he was to possess it. Old Davy soon washed the blcod from his per- son and attired bimself in a clean suit of buck- skin from head to foot; then he set about pre- paring supper. This required but a short time, when they sat down and ate heartily. When the meal had been finished some of the remnants were stowed away in a leather game- bag for future need, then the two tcok their de- parture for Detroit, Davy bidding farewell to the cabin as though it were an old time-honored friend. It was dark by this time, at least it seemed so to our friends when they first plunged out into the woods. The wilderness was droning forth its monotonous song; but the sky was clear and starry, and the air cool and fragrant with the odors of the wildwood. The two had journeyed but a short distance when the whinny of a horse suddenly broke through the woods. They came toa halt and listened. Not far away they could hear a sound, like a horse impatiently pawing the earth, mingled with the clinking of ring-bits and stirrups. Davy pressed bis ear tothe earth and listened long and intently, but could make out nothing further than the sounds indicated. ‘By hornits!” exclaimed Harry, as a thought Oe leer wins, inp Piquesticinod 1 ow what, Happy?” questioned Davy. ‘**T hadn’t thought of that before.” ‘*Of what?” ‘‘Of Mucklewee and the soldier havin’ horses concealed near your cabin.” ‘You don’t know yit that such is the case.” “No, but then it’s possible. That noise is made by a horse pawing the ground and he must be hitched in there. Come along, and let us inwestigate the matter anyhow.” They re softly forward and that pound- ing upon, the earth ceased as they advanced, and was followed by a snorting, sniffling sound. ** Just as I told you, Davy,” suddenly burst from Harry’s lips; ‘* here’s two horses all sad- dled and bridled for us. Mount, Davy, and we'll ride down to Detrcit; we will, for asquare fact. Whoa, Prince! easy, now, ole steed,’ and he approached one of the restless animals and began caressing it. In a moment he had quietel its fears, then he untied it, and with but little difficulty mounted into the saddle. Old Davy’s borse was a little fractious, and as the old bordermau had not been upon a borse’s - back for twenty fae he deported hiuself somewhat awkwardly. With some difficulty, however, he finally got into the saddle, and then they resumed their journey. Happy Harry could not refrain from an oc- casional outburst of merriment at the ludicrous figure of old Davy, doubled — and reeling to and fro on the animal’s back like a monkey ina circus. “Blast it, boy, why do you laff at me? A feller can’t help gittin’ scar—sick, I mean, on account of the vessel’s motion. Jist wait till I catch the hoss’s step, and then I'll sway edzactly right every time.” ; “You're top-heavy, Davy; you are, for a act, ‘*Ah, my boy! if you’d clumped around on foot as old Davy, you’d be top-heavy, too, under sich circumstances as thesc. But, never mind; ll soon git ballasted, and then I'll show you athing or two on hossback. It’s not my fault that I’m reelin’ around here; it’s the hoss’s fault; he won’t walk square under me, that’s what’s the matter.” ‘You are like Jerry Jones when he got drunk and fell down. It wasn’t on his account nor tho liquor’s, oh no, that he fell. He said that the earth was like an old wagon-wheel, and had lost its disk and got to wobblin’ on its axis, and of course he couldn’t keep his footin’.” “Well, Jerry wasn’t fur from right,” re- peated Davy, affecting justification for his own awkward horsemanship. They rode on as fast as the nature of the forest would admit, and about midnight struck the head-waters of a little creek flowing ina south-easterly course toward the Huron river. “Do you know what stream this is, Davy?” Happy Harry questioned. “Tt’s Brownstown creel,” replied the trap- per. ‘It’s bout twenty miles to its confluence with the Huron river, then it’s twenty or thirty miles from there to Detroit.” ‘*Can’t we reach the fort without followin’ the creek and river?” ‘We can, yes; but then as it is night and the way uncertain and dangerous, we'll make time to stick to the water-courses as guides.” ** All right, Davy; as you say,” and they kept on down the stream. They journeyed on until daylight, when they rode into the creek and watered their animals then selected a oe spot, drew rein and dismounted. to allow the animals to rest and graze awhile. While reclining under a tree and ee Migr vat of the remnants of their supper, they were suddenly started by the report of fire-arms far down the creek. The firing was sharp and vigorous for several minutes, then it ceased entirely. ‘Something wrong down that way, Harry,” declared Davy, with a dubious shake of the head; ‘*surely the British haven’t got in ahead of us and been attacked by our sojers.” ‘Impossible; the army could not have moved so rapidly with their heavy guns and baggage-wagons. It may, however, be a de- tachment of cavalry sent out in advance of the main column to reconnoiter. Or it may be a sirimmage atween the Americans and a band of Injins.” “We can soon find out by mountin’ our crit- ters and joggin’ ’em friskily down that way.” ‘*And we might jog into an ambuscade of Injins, too. A feller can’t be too _keerful, Davy, these war times. An Injin or Britisher is just liable to hop«c ut of a bush as a wolf or doer, and we’ve got to feel carefully along.” ‘You know your bisness, so go ahead, just as you think proper.” They finished their breakfast, mounted their animals and rode on down the creek. The im- »rint of horses’ hoofs in the yielding earth sud- enly arrested their attention ; and. upon care- ful examination of the ground they found that a large body of horses had passed down the stream, They also examined the tracks and found that they had been made by iron-shod hoofs. They found such a material difference in the shape of the shoe and that of the animals they rode, that they were led to believe a party of American horsemen had gone down the creek that morning. If so, they had fallen in with a band of savages, which accounted for the firing. “What do you still counsel, Harry?” asked Davy’ “had we better keep on down the creek, or bend off to the right a leetle?”’ ** Keep right on down the Brownstown. We may fall in with a party of friends, and be able to make ourselves useful.” “Just as you say, Harry. I’m in for any- thing that’ll not disgrace the American eagle. An thing that'll shed glory on old Cumby, I’m ln for. They pushed carefully on, and finally entered an opening in the forest of perhaps forty acres in area, the opposite side of this — the keen eyes of our friend caught signt o something fluttering in the air above a clump of bushes. It required not a second glance to tell him what it was. A low, suppressed cry of delight burst from Harry’s lips, while old Davy Darrett swung his cap aloft and shouted at the top of his power- ful lungs: ‘Hurrah for the star-sprangled banner: the es ep eagle! and Hail Columbus, happy and! The sight of their country’s flag waving so gracefully in the bright, morning sun, filled their breasts with renewed spirit and enthu- siasm; and giving their animals the reins, they gall forward. Although they could see no one yet, they knew that ‘beneath the folds of the flag they would be et by friends and American patriots wit ““Freedom’s soil beneath their feet, And freedom’s banner waving o’er them.” CHAPTER XXTX. THE OLD BORDERMAN’S TEST. As Happy Harry and old Davy continued to. advance toward the camp, a man, in the uni- form of a captain of the United States army. rode out of the woods and halted them, ‘* Who comes there?’ he demanded, in a sten-; torian voice. “Two doggone good American chaps,” was old Davy’s response. ‘“‘I am ole David Dar- rett, hunter and trapper, and this ere fractioual art of a man at my side is Happy Harry, the Vild Boy of the Woods.” ‘*Advance, then,” responded the officer. “You will report at once to Majer Van Horne.” The two rode foi'vard and were conducted into the timber where nearly two hundred mounted infantry were temporarily encamped. They were ordered to dismount at the edge of the camp, and while two men took charge of their animals, the captain conducted them to the commandant, whose quarters were under a low, branching tree. Major Van Horne reeeived them kindly, He knew them both ky reputation, and so enter- tained no doubts of. their loyalty. After hay- ing passed the usual compliments, the offic cr asked: ** What news have you from the North-west?” Nothin’ good, major,” replied Harry. ‘*General Brock, with a lammin’ big army, is in this territory, marcbin’ on Detroit, with old Tecumseh and his minions at his right. Ifty miles don’t separate you from them this holy minute; it don’t for a fect.” ‘* Can this be possible?” exclaimed the major, startled by the information. “THs a fact, major’ I war a prisoner in the camp of the British, night before last, and so 1 know of what I’m speakin’. Before ceptuied, I was an eavesdropper at an interview be- tween General Brock and old Tecumseb, and heard ’em make their ‘rangements. Oh, | tell you, ma jor, it’s goin’ to be warm on the pen- insula, They’ve gained edmittance to the lakes with their boats, and, justa few nights apo, a party of us sor pr een and captured the litiie brig ‘Scout,’ with supplies for Brock’s army. But then, major, this is not what I’m here icv —in fact, ’m not here for anything. I’m on my way great interest to the American army.” ‘‘Ah, indeed! Is it possible that you are one of our spies?’ asked Van Horne, in an un- dertone. **T don’t know what you’d call me, but i’m an American boy, and fightin’ for yonder flag. You see, I captured, or rather played a a trick on a British major tother mornin’, and ot from him the paper I am now carrying to Sener Hull.” “Do you think it contains anything that would be of interest to me, Harry?’ ‘* Not a doubt of it, major, for it is of interest to every loyal American; and I believe I’d bet- ter let you see it.” So saying, be pulled cff his moccasin and with the point of his knife ripped a slit in the lining, frem behind which he drew out a folded — and handed it to Van Horne. he major untolded it, and with the assist- ance of Harry, the whole secret wes unraveled. “Good heavens, Harry!” exclaimed the cfil- cer, as soon as it had been examined, *‘that paper must be forwarded to Hull immediately —without another bour’s delay. It is of tle most vital importance to the American army in the North-west. Itisa key that will enable us to open the way to victory. It is the writ- ten plan of the Sa iy general’s proposed campaign, and with this in our possessicn it will enable us to meet them, fully prepared. Yes, Harry, this must be forwarded at once, I will send a special messenger with it—an old ranger, who knows every foot of giound be- tween here and Detroit, and who has the fleet- est horse in the commend. By noon be will deliver it at Detroit. But rest assured, Herry, that your part in this heroic deed shall 1eccive full mention in my official report. Your pa- triotism and bravery in this matter shall not es- cape the notice of President Madison.” to Detroit with some documents of ” Well, major, if this éecument is of so much \ value and importance as that, start your man for the fort at once.” The major summoned one Lieutenant Strub), an old ranger, to whom he intrusted the yuper, with orders to deliver it to Genera] Hull at the earliest moment possible, “Tl do my best toward it, major,” replied the old ranger, bowing himself out of tLe com- mandant’s presence. : ‘Ina few minutes he was mcunted uj on the fleetest horse in the command, end flying through the woods toward Detroit. ‘* Now, my friends,” said Major Van Horne, turning to and Davy, “you fellows must be tired an will order youa h : bite of such _ as soldiers tet to eat, especially on the march, then you can rest. our horses. \ é 2OOKS com (G + * * ( (E(@) fo