Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American TaleMitchell, I. (Isaac)
History
Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale
Mitchell, I. (Isaac)
Gothic fiction; Love stories; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Fiction
Edgar and Alonzo then requested their prisoner to show them the springs
of the secret doors, and how they were opened. The springs were sunk in
the wood, which being touched by entering a gimblet hole with a piece of
pointed steel, which each of the gang always had about him, the door
would fly open, and fasten again in shutting to. On opening the
trap-door over which the gang had sat when they first discovered them,
they found the table and chairs, with the decanters broken, and the
money, which they secured. In one part of the cellar they were shown a
kind of cave, its mouth covered with boards and earth--here the company
kept their furniture, and to this place would they have removed it, had
they not been so suddenly frightened away. The canoe they found secreted
in the bushes beyond the canal.
* * * * *
It was then agreed that the man should go before the proper authorities
in a neighbouring town, and there, as state's evidence, make affidavit
of what he had recited, and as complete a developement of the characters
concerned in the business as possible, when he was to be released. The
man enquired to what town they were to go, which, when they had informed
him, "Then, said he, it will be in my power to perform one deed of
justice before I leave the country, as leave it I must, immediately
after I have given in my testimony, or I shall be assassinated by some
of those who will be implicated in the transaction I have related."
He then informed them, that while he, with the gang, was prosecuting the
illicit trade, a British ship came and anchored in the Sound, which they
supplied with provisions, but that having at one time a considerable
quantity on hand, the ship sent its boat on shore, with an officer and
five men, to fetch it; the officer came with them on shore, leaving the
men in the boat: "As we were about to carry the provisions on board the
boat, continued the man, a party of Americans fired upon us, and wounded
the officer in the thigh, who fell: "I shall be made prisoner, said he,
taking out his purse; keep this, and if I live and regain my liberty,
perhaps you may have an opportunity of restoring it:--alarm the boat's
crew, and shift for yourselves." The boat was alarmed, returned to the
ship, and we saved ourselves by flight.
"This happened about four months ago; the ship soon after sailed for New
York, and the officer was imprisoned in the gaol of the town to which we
are to go; I can therefore restore him his purse."
The man farther informed them, that they had several times come near
being taken, and the last trip they were fired upon, and one of their
party killed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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