Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-05-03
Chapter NN

most his whole army, Washington sent
Arnold. who. on account of Il wound re-
ccivell III Saratoga was unfit for service,
to take possession of Philadelphia.
1t YVES the morning of June 20. HIS,
that Captain Maurice and Il small party |
OF his hest troopers escorting the car
riagc which contained Amelia and Ruth,
followed tho main army marching in the
direction of the Delaware.
Witt it be advisable to hazard a gen
srai engagcMcnt?' Washington asked his
sn',orslinatcs. when the council met.
One after another answered that they
feared the American army was not
strong enough to hazard IL general at
tack; bnt Il majority recommended the
scntlin- OF 1etachmcnts to larass the
enemy IN the march. As usual Lee took
the Wow furthcst from the commander
in-chief.
Il favor no such mcasure.' he declar-
ed such notions may prevail among
striplings and those who know nothing
of military affairs. but 1 object TO any
interference with the enemy whatever
II cannot agree with Gen. Lee" Wash
iugion declared. 'Slould we permit tie
enemy 10 march across the country I'M
molcsiad. it would greatly discourage and
disrupt our troops. The men are cnypr
49,
for the fray. and We must not give them
cause To believe We fear either the skill
or strength Of the an
Maurice obtained permission from his
commanding officer to send Amelia and
Ruth to Harcourt Hall under an escort.
and reported himself ready for duty. Tie
was assigned to operate With Cadwalla-
der. who had orders TO fall in the rear
of the enemy. and Maurice WAS given the
extreme advance of the corps, which
placed him nearest the enemy.
y large number of Tories had left
philadeiphia with the British army and
among them was Sir John IIarcourt. On
finding himself near IIarcourt Hall. he
asked Captain Sanford to accompany
him with u small escort. and reached
home with all his servants before his
niece and her new-found friend arrived.
Sir John Iiarcourt met his niece in his
aristocratir manner coldly ana politely.
as if they had never been separated. and
nothing unusual had occurred. He bowed
very low to Ruth, who watched him with
%7nwk-like eyes. Old Dol,bins WAS in
constant attendance on his master, Mt the
same time his features expressed the
most tender sympathy with .Amclia.
The great house was quiet and appar-
emily 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 lie was startled and
alarmed by meeting face 10 face Il tall,
powerful black, whose baggy breechcs
and turban. as we'll as his oriental fca-
lures. Indicated the IIindoo. For a single
moment n look OF indispensable fear
swept over the handsome face of the
haronet, then. remembering that distor-
tion was hideous. he recovered his self
possession, and III his clear. pleasant
tones, cried;
BOUNDS. it is Obeiah Sahib. the magi-
clan. For CAD. If YOU do not leave in
s%tantly, l viii have the servants seize you
and turn you over to be hanged for at
tempted murder
The IIindoo gave him Il silent stare of
defiance. and without returning a word
walked away.
While these incidents wore transpirins
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 juno = Captain
Fitzgerald was early astir. and with
twelve of his best men struck out on
the road in the direction the army had
gone.
Halt commanded Maurice nj last,
and in a second every horse stopped.
Maurice took Il small field glass from
his pocket and gave some remote OBJ
5ects Il careful survey. There were only
Eve of them, one of whom was his most
bitter enemy. Captain Sanford. Maui
rice folded his glass and, returning it.
pointing toward the British horsclnen.
said in a 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 m~yself-that is the mar in
che uniform of a captain. For personal
reasons | want him spared for my own
sword. Do YOU all understands
We do
Are you ready!'
I'VE are" every man answered, gath
ering up his reins. \ strip of meadow,
a low stone wall and a fence lay between
them and the British Dragons. who We're
riding down the dusty lane, unconscious
of the presence of danger.
Charge cried Maurice.
Every man clapped spurs Mt the same
instant and their maddened coursers flew
over the meadow. clearing the low stone
wall ut abound. The dragons saw them
coming. fred 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
as Maurice leaped the fence into the
lane, he saw him crouching on hands and
knees under a locust tree, the blood
trickling from his head. Maurice saw but
one n.an-his hated rival, and though
pursuit was dangerous, as every step he
took brought him nearer to the British
lines, he pressed on.