The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-06-13

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brave John Stark-only gets the
news!"
They will, father" she replied
"and now l must help them still fur
ther."
"You-you-what can you do?"
william has surely found Luke.
God will help him to make it plain.
Luke will send word to Col. Stark, and
then fell trees to obstruct the road.
l will use the AK, father. / 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.
A 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 a 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.
81 am going up to the barricade.
father, and | 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 volleys of
musketry Kneeling at the barricade,
she loaded a weapon with trembling
hands, and was about to creep for
ward among thefelled trees, when the
idiot leaped down beside her and glee-
fully shouted:
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. "Oh. if we
only had a hundred men hcre-fifty-
II score-a dozen"
But amt | here. Bessie? I can
shoot a musket, even if the noise does
make me jump. See how tall ! am,
See what long steps | can take Right
facet Left face! Shoulder arms,
Order arms! Parade rest. Don't Won
be afraid when | am here"
William, she said, as she laid a
hand on either shoulder, listen to me
and help me, and may God give you
mind as bright as day for your re
ward! We have got 70 fight. We have
got to kill men. We have got to hold
This road. Keep your eyes on mine
md try to understand every word |
say. You do understand, don't you?"
Yes yes-I understand. We have
got to fight and kill men. Yes. |
lnow."
Heaven is sending him light"
whispered the girl as she followed
lim. "He understands and will help
mel"
1t had been quick work with the
patriots They had looked for the
anemy by the other road, and had
'asily held at bay the small force sent
TO deceive. The idiot had FASTENED as
leTer before. He had told his story
almost word for word as he had been
commanded to, and within quarter
If an hour trees were falling across
he highway and courier was riding
% Col. Stark. Then the patriot force
gathered with the swiftness of death.
they swarmed out of Bennington
Town from the hills-out of the green
forests. They gathered behind the
felled trees and the great powders
md opened fire. The naughty and
leadstrOng foe scarcely halted a:
drst, but as fresh forces came up they
we're made TO realize they had entered
a trap and must fight for their lives
1--WE are hemmed in-we are lost"
was the cry, and it was answered from
The barrier with:
1--WE are fighting Bessie-we are
fighting and killing and whipping the
enemy! Load! Aim! Fire! Isn't il
grand?"
Down, William, down." cautioned |
the girl. eve are holding them-we
are confusing them! oh! if we had a
dozen more,a dozen more!"
'Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" cheercd |
a score of men who burst through a
thicket on the hillside and came |
tumbling and rolling to the roadway. |
Into the barricade, men, and hold it |
10 the last"
II was Capt. Greenwood and a few
of his scouts, and they had scarcely |
fred three volleys before the fate Of |
the battle was decided. There was no |
ADVANCING retreat-no breaking out |
of the blood-sodden highway to right
or left There was nothing left but