The
moment his body arose above the shadow of the ground, it was seen, and
the chase commenced. For a single instant, Birch was helpless, his blood
curdling in his veins at the imminence of the danger, and his legs
refusing their natural and necessary office. But it was only for a
moment. Casting his pack where he stood, and instinctively tightening
the belt he wore, the peddler betook himself to flight. He knew that by
bringing himself in a line with his pursuers and the wood, his form
would be lost to sight. This he soon effected, and he was straining
every nerve to gain the wood itself, when several horsemen rode by him
but a short distance on his left, and cut him off from this place of
refuge. The peddler threw himself on the ground as they came near him,
and was passed unseen. But delay now became too dangerous for him to
remain in that position. He accordingly rose, and still keeping in the
shadow of the wood, along the skirts of which he heard voices crying to
each other to be watchful, he ran with incredible speed in a parallel
line, but in an opposite direction, to the march of the dragoons.
The confusion of the chase had been heard by the whole of the men,
though none distinctly understood the order of Lawton but those who
followed. The remainder were lost in doubt as to the duty that was
required of them; and the aforesaid cornet was making eager inquiries
of the trooper near him on the subject, when a man, at a short distance
in his rear, crossed the road at a single bound.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191