New Ulm review., 1901-03-20

stores at Bennington and destroy the
| town. Oh. if the mountain boys-if
brave John Stark-only gets the.
news!
'sThey will, father she replied,
'.and now I must help them still fur
ther.''
You-you what can you do?''
"William has surely found Luke.
God will help him to make ;t plain.
Luke will send word to Col. Stark, and
then fell trees to obstruct the ROAD.
I will use the ak, father. I will go
up the hill and cut down trees. We
mustn't leave the way open for the
enemy to return
''And am wounded and can't help
you!" he walled after her as she ran
from the house with an ak in her
hand.
quarter of a mile up the Benning-
ton road the highway passed through
the virgin forest, and there was deep
cut, through the hills. The girl
glanced up at the trees to see how
they leaEed, and then selected one and
applied the ak. In quarter of an
hour it came crashing down and the
roadway was blocked. Then another
and another, and her work was done.
The last tree was down and the GIRL
stood painting, when the sounds of
musketry reached her ears. Dropping
the ak, she ran with all haste to the
house.
"Aye! / hear them-the fight has
begun!" shouted the father as she en-
tered.
Il am going up to the barricade,
father, and I will take both muskets
along. If the enemy seeks to return
| must fire upon him-I must hold
him!"
And II cannot go with you!" he
moaned, as he held out his hands and
sobbed in his helplessness
With a musket in either hand the
girl ran back up the road, her foot
steps fastened by the voileys of
musketry. Kneeling at the ,barricade,
she loaded weapon with trembling
hands, and was about to creep for
ward among the felled trees, when the
idiot leaped down beside her and glee-
fully shouted:
81 did it, Bessie told Capt. Luke!
He cut down trees, and sent word to
the big general, and they are fighting
fighting fighting! Don't you hear
it? They can't get out, and we shall
kill 'em ALL"
''God bless you, William!" she half
sobbed as she rose up. ooh, if we
only had a hundred men here--fifty-
a score-a dozen!"
s'But amt [ here, Bessie? I can
shoot musket, even if the noise does
make me jump. See how tall I am!
See what long steps can take! Right
face! Left face! Shoulder armsi
Order arms! Parade rest! Don't you
be afraid when I am here"
"William, she said, as she laid
hand on either shoulder, "isten to me
and help me, and may God give you
mind as bright as day for your re-
ward! We have got to fight. We have
got to kill men. We have got to hold
this road. Keep your eyes on mine
and try to understand every word I
say. You do understand, don't you?"
"Yes-yes-I understand. We have
got to fight and kill men. Yes, 1
know
Heaven is sending him light
whispered the girl as she followed
him. ''He understands and will help
mel"
1t had been quick work with the
patriots. They had looked for the
enemy by the other road, and had
easily held at bay the small force sent
to deceive. The idiot had fastened as
never before. He had told his story
almost word for word as he had been
commanded to, and within quarter
of an hour trees were falling acr ,ss
the highway and a courier was rid .ng
to Col. Stark. Then the patriot fefce
gathered with the swiftness of de,.tk
| They swarmed out of Bennington
| down from the hills-out of the greer
forests. They gathered behind the
felled trees and the great powders
and opened fire. The naughty and
headstrong foe scarcely halted at
first, but as fresh forces came up they
were made to realize they had entered
" u az anu luuSC IiSnG loI Lnelr lives.
eve are hemmed in-we are lost!''
| was the cry, and it was answered from
| the barrier with:
eve are fighting Bessie arr
fighting and killing and whipping the
| enemy! Load! Aim! Fire! Isn't il
grand ?"
"Down, William, dowu!" cautioned
the girl. ''We are holding them-we
are confusing them! OH! if we had !,
| dozel more--a dozen more!"
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" cheered
score of men who burst through
thicket on the hillside and came
tumbling and rolling to the roadway.
''Into the barricade, men, and hold il
| to the last"
It was Capt. Greenwood and few
of his scouts, and they had scarcely
| fired three yolleys before the fate OF
the battle was decided. There was no
advance-no retreat-no breaking out