Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-14
CHAPTER XIV.

IArnold, who, on account of wound re-
ceived at Saratoga was unfit for service,
TO take possession of Philadelphia.
! 1t was the morning of June ~. Iflo,
that Captain Maurice and small party
of his best troopers escorting the car
iriage which contained Amelia and Ruth.
followed the main army marching IN the
direction Of the Delaware.
"WilI it be advisable to hazard gen.
eral engagement?'' Washington asked his
subordinates, when the council met.
One after another answered that they
feared the American army was not
strong enough to hazard a general at
tack; but a majority recommended the
sending of detachments to harass the
enemy on the march. AS usual Lee took
the view fu. thest from the commander
an-chief.
81 favor no such measure" he declar-
ed. "Such notions may prevail among
striplings and those who know nothing
Iof military affairs, but l object to any
interference with the enemy whatever
81 cannot agree with Gen. Lee" Wash
lngton declared. SHOULD we permit the
enemy to march across the country un-
molested, it would greatly discourage and
for the fray, and we must not give them
cause TO believe we fear either the skill
or strength of the enemy
Maurice obtained permission from his
commanding officer to send Amelia and
Ruth to Harcourt Hall under an escort,
and reported himself ready for duty. He
was assigned to operate with Cadwalla-
der, who had orders to fall in the rear
+I,o apo,nv Naurica was given the
extreme advance of the corps, which
placed him nearest the enemy.
A large number of Tories had left
philadelphia with the British army and
among them was Sir John Harcourt. On
finding himself near Harcourt Hail. he
asked Captain Sanford to accompany
him with small escort, and reached
home with all his servants before his
niece and her new-found friend arrived.
Sir John Harcourt met his niece in his
aristocratic manner, coldly and politely,
as if they had never been separated, and
nothing unusual had occurred. He bowed
very low to Ruth, who watched him with
hawk-like eyes. Old Dobbins was in
constant attendance on his master, at the
same time his features expressed the
most tender sympathy with Amelia.
The great house was quiet and appar-
ently peaceful, though all over it the
scowling clouds of war were gathering,
threatening at any moment to burst in
fury and carnage. Sir John kept his
apartment very closely He was rarely
seen outside, though he sometimes took
short strolls about the grounds. On one
of these walks he was startled and
alarmed by meeting face to face tall,
powerful black, whose baggy breeches
and turban, as we'll as his oriental fea
lures, indicated the Hindoo. For a single
moment look of ineXpressible fear
swept over the handsome face of the
baronet,. then, remembering that distor-
ton was hideous, he recovered his self
possession, and in his clear, pleasant
tones, cried
'Zounds it is Obejah Sahib, the magi-
cian. For CAD, if you do not leave in
stantly, will have the servants seize you
and turn you over to be hanged for at
tempted murder"
The Hindoo gave him a silent stare Of
defiance, and without returning word
walked away.
While these incidents were transplring
in the hall Maurice, with his company,
was leading the advance in the rear Of
Sir Henry Clinton's army. Often they
were within sight and hailing distance of
them, and frequently exchanged shots
across the hedges and fields.
On the morning of June = Captain
Fitzgerald was early astir, and with
twelve of his best men struck out on
the road in the direction the army had
gone.
"Haltw commanded Maurice at last,
and in a second every horse stopped.
Maurice took small field glass from
his pocket and gave some remote OBJ
iects 4 careful survey. There were only
FIVE of them, one of whom was his most
bitter enemy, Captain Sanford. Maui
rice folded his glass and, returning it,
mounting toward the British horsemen
said in n low tone:
YOU see those men, and you are, no
doubt. as eager as myself to charge
them. There is one whom no one must
touch save myself-that is the man in
the uniform of captain. For personal
reasons l want him spared for my own
sword. Do you all understand"
1--WE do
Are you ready?'
1--WE are" every man answered, gath
ering up his reins. a strip of meadow,
low stone wall and fence lay between
them and the British Dragons. who were
riding down the dusty lane, unconscious
of the presence of danger.
"Chargew cried Maurice.
Every man clapped spurs at the same
instant and their maddened eoursers flew
over the meadow. clearing the low stone |
wall at bound. The Dragons saw them
coming. fired their pistols. and; pale with |
fear. plunged their rowels deep into the |
tanks of their horses.
1t was a mad chase of death Pistol |
shots rang out on the morning air, and |
bullets whizzed about the ears of the |
fleeing men.
One was seen to reel in his saddle and |
ms Maurice leaped the fence into the
lane. he saw him crouching on hands and |
knees under a locust tree, the blood |
trucking from his head. Maurice saw but
one man-his hated rival and though /
pursuit was dangerous, as every step he