FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78  
79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   >>   >|  
iting to receive us, for we heard subdued voices from the sentinels on the walls, as if they were giving information to those below of our progress. "It's a big thing we have done, lad," Sergeant Corney said, as he drew himself up by my side while both of us hugged the earthworks as limpets do a rock. "It stands to reason we'll be in danger many a time before we go out from this world, unless it so chances that we come to grief here; but I dare venture to say we'll never be nearer death than we have been since leaving the thicket." The relief of mind was so great, and the knowledge that we had come thus far undetected under the very eyes of a watchful enemy was so overpowering, that I could not for a moment make reply, and by the time I had gathered my scattered senses--scattered through very joy--we heard voices from the inside which told that the men were seeking to learn exactly where we were. "Keep right on till you come to the horn-works," I heard a voice whisper, and the words had little or no meaning to me, for I was not familiar with the names of different portions of a regular fort; but the sergeant seemed to understand the command, for he began to creep in a southerly direction, still keeping within the shadow of the wall, until we arrived where was a stockade. This, as I afterward came to know, was the "horn-works," which as yet was in an unfinished condition, and protected by a stockade of logs, between each of which last were spaces, in some cases two or three inches wide. By lying with our faces against these narrow openings, it was possible to hold converse with those on the inside almost as well as if we were within the walls. "Who are you, and where did you come from?" a voice asked, and Sergeant Corney took it upon himself, much to my relief, to act as spokesman. "Messengers sent by General Herkimer, who have come from Oriskany." "When did you leave there?" "Yesterday." "We thought the woods were overrun with Indians and Tories." "So they are; but by some lucky chance we have come through thus far in safety, and would have speech with the commandant." "I am Colonel Gansevoort. My people saw your signal this afternoon, and I myself have been watching for your arrival, but supposed you to be fugitives, for I never dared hope there was a possibility of reinforcements so near at hand. Will you make an attempt to get in by the sally-port?" "Is there any other entrance, sir?"
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78  
79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

stockade

 

relief

 

scattered

 
inside
 
Corney
 

Sergeant

 
voices
 

General

 

converse

 

Herkimer


subdued
 

Messengers

 

spokesman

 

spaces

 

protected

 
condition
 

sentinels

 

unfinished

 

narrow

 
openings

inches

 
possibility
 

reinforcements

 

fugitives

 

supposed

 

afternoon

 

watching

 
arrival
 

entrance

 

attempt


signal

 

overrun

 

Indians

 

Tories

 

thought

 

receive

 

Yesterday

 

chance

 

Gansevoort

 

people


Colonel

 

safety

 

speech

 

commandant

 

Oriskany

 

shadow

 
thicket
 

leaving

 

nearer

 

knowledge