Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-07
deed, would you and Ella think of us?'
..But what can Won two boys dopr

a0'
ave can do as much as men; or, il
we can't, we can learn. Gus and J
can plant a bullet where we want to Al
pretty long range, and our bullets
would do the business for Tarlton and
his cut-throats as thoroughly as if fired
by a gray-beard. What's more | can
use my sabre and pistols, if much drill
has been of any use. Wen promise to
be prudent, mother, but we wouldn't
deserve II names if we hung back un-
til the British came and drove you and
my Ella and the children into the
woods. The whole countryside. young
and old. will be armed and taking "a
hand in this game, and you wouldn't
have us hang backP"
'.No indeed, mother" cried Ella.
although tears dimmed .er eyes.
'Burton's right. He and Angus are
doing as ! would do if | were a man.
Young as they are they must act the
part OF men"
'And You, sweetheart, are acting the
| part of a brave little woman. You're
the kind for n soldiers wife. Believe
i'Nf boiiI'l biHEtl hOuiN SOOll iliIh US
if we Stunned il, and we take the best
chance of escaping by meeting it half
way. To protect you We must drive
our enemy back or else make the coun-
try too hot for them. OF course, we
are not going to run like a pair of
fools, right into their clutches. From
behind trees, fences and all sorts of
I nvr., n,a ILL, <,r fr..nl u, c.r, ta- aa,tb
must annoy them with well-aimed
shots. All we can do to-day is to ride
down to Charlotte to see what the pros
poets are, and show that we, OF all
others, are not backward"
Angus had joined them and now
stood with his right arm around his
mother while he held his rife in his
left hand. He had her blue eyes, but
they were quiet and resolute. His
father death and the responsibility il
had imposed had sobered and developed
him beyond his years. The mother
saw his expression and knew lis mean
inc.
Eyes, boys" she said very sadly.
Il see how it is, and | suppose you are
taking the right course, but YOU can't
know how Il mothers heart shrinks
from what may happen. I've suffered
too much" Then kissing them, she
hastily entered the house.
In Il few moments they were gallop-
ing swiftly away, presenting "A fine cDn-
trast rs they sat on their fleet horses
with the ease OF southern youths, who
are almost brought up in the saddle.
They were dressed in blue hunting
shirts bclted at the waist and fringed
around the bottom. Close fitting knee
hrcechcs of blue homespun jeans. and
stockings of IKE color. set of their
1.-the, shapely limbs, while mocassins
that would give them "A noiscless tread
incased their feet. Their hats were
made of raccoon skins, with the tails
hanging j~auntily toward the left
shoulder. Though scarcely more than
boys, they could prove formidable foes
with their thorough knowledge of
the rough, wooded country, and their
celebrity of movement. Barton was the
larger and stronger of the two and in
clined to be impetuous; but Angus had
the cool, wary courage of his Scotch
ancestry. A sense OF the great injury
which he and his family had suffered
was like a slow, steady fire in his Veins,
but he was not one to incur risks from
passionate, hasty action. Burton, on
the other hand, although he assumed
the leadership naturally from his age,
would often heed restraining counsel.
They fould the little village of
Charolette sccthing with excitement,
and many of the women almost beside
themselves with terror. CORVALLIS
and the ruthless Tarleton were said to
be not many miles away, and march
ing on the place. The two friends oon
fell in with their acquaintance, young
George Graham, who IA one of those
natural leaders that are always de-
veloped in stormy times. Although
scarcely a year the senior Of Burton,
yet he had already gathered several
daring spirits about him. Angus and
Burton at once joined this group.
George was acting under the orders of
his brother, Major Joseph Graham,
who had been sent to Charlotte to
take command of the volunteers
there as soon as it was clear
that the British army was
marching on the place. This brave
officer had enlisted in the regular Con-
tincntal army when but nineteen, and
had already seen much dangerous SER
vice. He was now but twenty-one. yet
to him looked both young and old for
the protection of their town and homes.
All the men of the village capable Of
bearing arms were under his COM
mand. and ia the terrible emergency
grandsires. and grandsons mustered
side by side. From the surrounding
country motley groups of men and
boys, clad in homespun, came riding
or trudging in and reporting to the
boy-like looking major, who neverthe-
less was respected not only for his
character, but also for the reason that
he had often proved himself cool and
brave under the encmy's fire. Nothing
gives n greater prestige among raw
recruits than the reputation OF having
smelt gunpowder before, and young Joe
Graham was looked upon as a regular
'ire-eater." He made good his fame
within the mex twenty-four hours. In
deed, he inspired confidence in his men
IL.