Part 7 (1/2)
So his brother took hiht to behold them, where they sat, poor fellows!
all hand-cuffed, on the ground But all pity of theot, soon as the eye was turned to a farwoman, wife of one of the prisoners, with her child, a sweet little boy of about five years old The naarb showed her to be poor, but her deep distress, and sympathy with her unfortunate husband, showed that she was rich in that pure conjugal love, that is round opposite to her husband, with her little boy leaning on her lap, and her coal black hair spreading in long neglected tresses on her neck and bosorief, sometimes with her eyes hard fixed upon the earth, like one lost in thought, sighing and groaning the while as if her heart would burst -- then starting, as fro, on her husband's face, and there would gaze, with looks so piercing sad, as though she saw hi in the halter, herself a , and her son an orphan Straight her fraony, and her face to change and swell; then with eyes swi in tears, she would look around upon us all, for pity and for help, with cries sufficient tohis father's hands fast bound, and hisscene, by his artless cries and tears
The brave are always tender-hearted It was so with Jasper and Newton, two of the most undaunted spirits that ever lived They walked out in the neighboring wood The tear was in the eye of both
Jasper first broke silence ”Newton,” said he, ”my days have been but few; but I believe their course is nearly done”
”Why so, Jasper?”
”Why, I feel,” said he, ”that I must rescue these poor prisoners, or die with therave”
”Well, that is exactly what I feel too,” replied Newton -- ”and here is my hand and heart to stand by you, my brave friend, to the last drop Thank God, a man can die but once, and there is not so much in this life that a man need be afraid to leave it, especially when he is in the way of his duty”
The two friends then ereat cordiality, while each read in the other's countenance, that immortal fire which beams from the eyes of the brave, when resolved to die or conquer in solorious cause
Immediately after breakfast, the prisoners were sent on for Savannah, under a guard of a sergeant and corporal with eight , before Jasper, accompanied by his friend Newton, took leave of his brother, and set out on some errand to the upper country
They had scarcely, however, got out of sight of Ebenezer, before they struck into the piny woods, and pushed hard after the prisoners and their guard, who an opportunity to make a blow But alas! all hopes of that sort seeive two ainst ten, especially when there was found no weapon in the hands of the thile the ten, each man was arive up their countrymen, our heroes still followed on
About two enerally called the 'Spa', well known to travellers, who often turn in hither to quench their thirst ”Perhaps,” said Jasper, ”the guard h the woods, they gained the Spa, as their last hope, and there concealed therew abundantly around the spring
Presently the eant, who, on co afresh in our heroes' bosoreat alaruard of four eant with the other four, having grounded their arht up the rear The prisoners, wearied with their long walk, were permitted to rest themselves on the earth
Poor Mrs Jones, as usual, took her seat opposite to her husband, and her little boy, overcoue, fell asleep in her lap
Two of the corporal's ive the prisoners drink out of their canteens
These last approached the spring where our heroes lay concealed, and resting theirdrank theive the prisoners also ”Noton, is our ti, like two lions, from their concealment, they snatched up the two ainst the pine, and in an instant shot down the two soldiers that kept guard And now the question ho should first get the two loaded muskets that had just fallen froeant and corporal, a couple of brave English and seized upon theswift-handed Auns, levelled each at the head of his brave antagonist, the final blow
The tender bones of the skull gave way beneath the furious strokes, and ide scattered blood and brains down they sunk, pale and quivering to the earth without a groan Then snatching up the guns which had thus, a second time, fallen fro enemy, and ordered the called the prisoners to them, they quickly with the point of their bayonets, broke off their handcuffs, and gave each of them a musket
At the cohtened to death, had fallen to the ground in a swoon, with her little son piteously screa over her But when she came to herself, and saw her husband and friends around her, all freed from their fetters and well armed, she looked and behaved like one frantic with joy
She sprung to her husband's bosom, and with her arms around his neck, sobbed out, ”Oh bless God! bless God!yet;” then snatching up her child, and straining him to her soul, as if she would have pressed him to death, she cried out -- ”O praise! praise! praise God for ever!round her eyes in quest of her deliverers, she exclaiels that God sent to saveher eyes to Jasper and Newton, where they stood like two youthful Sa of their locks, she ran and fell on her knees before the their hands, kissed and pressed theels! God bless you! God Alhty bless you for ever!”
Then instantly, for fear of being overtaken by the eneimentals of the slain, and with their friends and captive foes, recrossed the Savannah, and in safety rejoined our arh, to the inexpressible astonishment and joy of us all
Chapter 8
The count D'Estang, with the French fleet, arrives to attack Savannah -- our ar's politeness -- biographical dash of young colonel Laurens -- curious dialogue betwixt hieneral -- unsuccessful attack on Savannah -- the brave Jasper mortally wounded -- is visited by the author in his lastconversation -- dies like a Christian soldier
Could the wishes of our arallant soldiers, (Jasper and Newton) would long have lived to enjoy their past, and to win fresh laurels But alas! the for lion, to an evil net
The mournful story of his death, with heavy heart I now relate
Scarcely had he returned frolory, when an express ca was arrived off Tybee Instantly we struck our tents andnear that fatal place, we found that the French troops, with their cannon and mortars, had just come up