The Old Bell of Independence | Page 5

quickly formed. He sent one half his party

around to cut off the escape of Sykes towards the city, and when he
thought they had reached a favorable position sallied out towards the
kiln. When he was about half-way to it, Sykes discovered the party, and,
shouting to his men to follow, ran along the bank of the river to escape;
but the other party cut off retreat, and Jones coming up rapidly, Sykes
and his men were taken. Jones did not intend to detain the workmen
any longer than till he got out of the reach of the British, when he
would not have cared for their giving the alarm. Sykes seemed to be
very anxious to know why he was arrested in that manner; but Jones
simply told him he would know when they got him to the American
camp; and that, if Sykes had not thought of a reason for his arrest, he
would not have attempted to run away. Well, the Americans hurried the
prisoners towards the wood, but Jones soon descried a large party of
British coming over a neighboring hill, and knew that his chance was a
desperate one. Sykes also discovered the party of red-coats, and
struggled hard to make his escape from the Americans. Jones wanted to
bring him alive to the American camp, or he would have shot him
down at once. Suddenly, Sykes broke away from his captors, and ran
towards the lime-kiln. Several muskets were discharged, but all missed
him. Then one of the privates, named Janvers, a daring fellow, rushed
after the prisoner, and caught him just as he reached the kiln. There a
fierce struggle ensued; but Sykes was cut in the shoulder, and, in
attempting to throw his antagonist into the hot lime and fire, was hurled
into it himself. Then Janvers hurried to the woods after his brave
comrades. The British party was near enough to see the struggle at the
limekiln, and came on rapidly in pursuit of our men. A few of the
red-coats were ordered to examine the lime-kiln, to see if Sykes was
alive and concealed; and they found his body burned almost to a crisp."
"Horrible!" exclaimed Mrs. Harmar.
"Well," continued Old Harmar, "there was a long and doubtful race
between the two parties; but Jones succeeded in getting within the lines
of the Americans without losing a man, and with his four prisoners in
safe custody. These fellows were examined, but no evidence of their
being spies and confidants of Sykes could be produced, and they were
discharged with the promise of a terrible punishment if they were
detected tampering with the enemy."
"Captain Jones was a daring fellow to venture so near the British lines,

and with such a small party," observed Morton.
"In such an attempt, a small party was preferable. Its success depended
upon secrecy and quickness of movements," said Wilson.
"It was a horrible death," remarked young Harmar. "Sykes, however,
courted it by treachery to his countrymen."
STORY OF THE SERMON.
"I believe this is the first time I've seen you since the disbanding of the
army, Morton," said Wilson. "Time has been rather severe on us both
since that time."
"Oh, we can't complain," replied Morton. "We can't complain. I never
grumble at my age."
"Some men would have considered themselves fortunate to have seen
what you have seen," said young Harmar. "I think I could bear your
years, to have your experience."
"So do I," added Mrs. Harmar. She always agreed with her husband in
whatever he asserted.
"Let me see," said old Harmar; "where did I first meet you, Higgins?
Oh! wasn't it just before the battle of Brandywine you joined the
Pennsylvania line?"
"No," answered Smith for Higgins, who, just then, was endeavoring to
make up for his want of teeth by the vigorous exertions of his jaws. "He
joined at the same time I did, before the battle of Germantown."
"Yes, just before the battle of Germantown," added Higgins. "I was not
at Brandywine."
"You wasn't? Then you missed seeing us retreat," said old Harraar.
"But we did considerable fightin', howsomever. Mad Anthony was
there, and he used to fight, you know--at least the enemy thought so. I
shall never forget the night before that battle."
"Why?" asked Higgins. "Was you on the watch?"
"No, not on that account; something very different. There was a sermon
preached on the evenin' before that battle, such as can only be heard
once."
"A sermon?" enquired Wilson.
"Yes; a sermon preached for our side by the Rev. Joab Prout. I told my
son there about it, and he wrote it into a beautiful sketch for one of the
papers. He's got a knack of words, and can tell about it much better
than I can.