Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-21
Copyright. 1893. by Robert Bonner,s sims
All rights reserved.

Iely OF TWO guns on an eminence Molly
fltcher was cheering and shouting to the
men at the guns who were loading and
nring as rapidly as they could be work
ed. The thunder of the cannon and
grape and canister checked the enemy
who, forming line of battle, opened a
deadly fire.
Molly, for heavens sake, retire be-
hlnd a tree to some place of safetyv'
cried Maurice.
No. | won't" the daring woman an
swered. She had seized a bucket and
was hurrying toward spring at the foot
of the hill
Where are you going?"
To the spring for water John and the
boys are thirsty" she answered.
Molly was half way back when she
saw her husband suddenly drop the ram
mer and fall. She ran to his side and
raised his head, tears starting from her
eyes.
John! John. speak to me- Oh, speak
but one wordp' she sobbed. But John
lips were silent forever, and his voice
would never be heard again. He was
dead. While the woman was calling
upon him in all the endearing terms at
her command, to lust speak one word
more" she heard the officer in command
of the battery order the gun to be re-
moved from the field.
"Why are you going to take Johns
gun away?" she asked.
I'VE have no one to man it, and don't
want the redcoats to get it, was the
answer.
r fol hns %
place, and this cannon shall avenge his
DEATH"
She seized the hammer, sponged the
cannon and rammed home the shot.
Never has such heroism been known on
the part of woman. When sponges,
swabbng cloth and wadding became
scarce, she took her skirt for that pur
pose, and worked on, shouting and
cheering, and doing the work of hero.
Gen. Washington was everywhere
along the line of forming troops. British
grenadiers saw him and fired hundreds
of shots at him. A company of dragons
was sent to cut off the general and Sc
cure his capture. They Numbered over
the marshy ground, and aad almost sue
ceeded when, like a thunderbolt, they
were struck By half hundred dragons
in blue, who, emptying their pistols,
struck them right and left from their
saddles. The Britons, unaccustomed to
such furious assaults wheeled and fed.
Washington, having formed Lees shat
tered army, asked him if he would now
command them until he could bring up
the main force. This Lee assured him he
would do, and that he would not be the
last to leave the field. The great white
horse flew over the hill and the battle
ragged.
4 party Of British Dragons while
irving to turn the Americans left, be-
came lost in the wood and a part Of
Morgan's rifiemen and Maurice's COM
pany was sent to capture them.
Two hundred yards away from where
the fight ragged thickest, Maurice was
suddenly confronted by a woman whom,
to his horror, he recognized as Ruth San
ford.
"Where is he? Where is hep she cried,
her eyes wildly dilating, and her face
expressive of insane anxiety.
Ruth! Ruth! in heavens name, what
are you doing here?'
81 came to find him. Oh. spare him;
He is mine-all have left to lover
Sharp firing was heard in the wood
ahead, and Maurice galloped in that di-
rection. His men became scattered, and
he lost sight of them. Suddenly he
heard a voice from a thicket say:
"That disposes of the cursed Hindoo,
| and if I can find the woman and settle
her. Sir John will have nothing to fear
Maurice clapped spurs TO his horse,
| plunged into the thicket and next mo
| ment his horse stood by the dead body of
! Obeiah Sahib. He had just been shot,
| and was still gasping in the agony aof
death, while the smoke of pistol hoated
| slowly above him.
Maurice wheeled his horse about and
started in search of the murderer. The
roar of battle could be heard on the plain
near at hand, but no one was to be seen.
"The mystery which surrounded that
Hindoo and the secret he knew OF Anne
ua's birth have died with him." the lover
thought. {,
| Suddenly wild shrek rose on the air
from the wood in front, followed by
| shot. A fallen tree, torn and lightning
riven by the storm of the day before, lay
before him; his horse leaped 1t at a
bound. but. slipping on the muddy
ground, fell -
Maurice leaped from the saddle, ms
sword in his hand. Before him was Cap
tain Mark Sanford, kneeling by the siue
of Ruth, who had been shot in the breast
| evidently at close quarters, for the posona
| of bar dress was burned with powder.
"Murderer! Coward" cried Maurice.
81 swear it was stray shot"
.sDefend your life, for intend that you
or / shall not leave this wood, crieu
| Maurice. .4ols
Both men had emptied their pistols
but had their swords. From the oesin-
ming of the conflict the Brlton was e.,
cited and confused. lie lungeu ~iuy'
down then. like flash of lightning the
hu;aht kaen blade of Maurice leaped Tor
ward. plunging almost to the hiit IN the
Briton's breast. -
Eor on instant Sanford stood bolt up