The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-08-08

-DGAo" 1AiN CiolldW, IllSEC DeIOTe 'ldSL.
1 crossed the river and tried to reach
you at Fishkill. 1 vas captured at Tel
lers Point, and treated as a spy, he
cause letters were found on me. I es-
capped from the guard, took a horse,
n have been riding since yesterday
afternoon to catch you. You were not
at Fishkill-I took the lower road for
Hartford, and missed you; I found my
mistake, went across to the upper
road, missed you again, and-rode
back! I have covered a hundred miles
since 5 yesterday, and now-now I am
too late! 1t is fate! 1t could not have
been otherWise!". -
Several EXPLANATIONS had burst from
the third occupant of the room as I
spoke, and he muttered to himself at
the end:
"Mordieu, but that was a brave
ride!"
1T must have been, indeed, Lafay-
etc. said Washington. Then, turning
to me, he said:
you are hungry and worn out, SER
geant. Sit down and eat."-
II have not eaten in ,twenty-six
hours" I answered, but I cannot wait.
l must, I will find hat man and bring
him back"
A sudden CLEAN shot into the gen.
erals eye. Patience, young man, pa
tience!' he said in a voice that would
make a man ashamed of his own
I'VE will inc him. And he
will be punished, never fear, whether
Wesf1nd him or not, n o shall have
your chance! But who are you?" And
he looked at me with a glance that
seemed to take in all my thoughts.
II I'M called Merton Balfort."
You are an American soldier, too?"
Yes, your e~xcellency. I am a lieu
fPnanf ChVNytrr Yr1a T-~~-1 : n..A
nam"
You have come from him recently?"
asked Washington suddenly. .
Yes, your eXcellency, I am here to
deliver these two letters to you from
him" and I handed him the two notes.
You may sit down, lieutenant"
said the general, as he took the letters
n moved towards the window. But,
whatever the desire might be, I would
not sit in the presence of this man.
AS he read the note from General
Putnam to myself, the chief glanced
once or twice at me with a
thoughtful look, and then went on
reading. Opening the other note, and
discovering it to be in cipher, he took
a small book from his pocket and.
with General Knox's assistance, made
out its meaning. AS they slowly dis
covered its import, the two generals
conversed.
STRANGE" said the commander;
and Rochambeau knew nothing of
this before yesterday.
1.-The letter is dated only a few days
ago, and it speaks Of the affair as TAX
Ing place off Boston,"
True, he cannot have been informed.
Lieutenant" asked Washington, "do
you know what this note speaks of?'
MOT absolutely, o u excellency.
Only in a general way
What Is it?'
THAT General Putnam has advices
from Boston, saying that British war
ships are appearing singly off the coast
here and there"
THAT is correct" .-
into a feet" :
"Also correct, but a mark. signifies
here that you will add something"
THE general wished me to say, your
excellency, that he felt sure that there
was a plan to retake Newport, or to
make some attack on Boston,"
The note also says he advises hav-
ing the fleet watched.
He thinks that an outpost should be
established beyond Cape Cod, both at
h north and towards the SOUTH"
That sounds reasonable and could
be DONE" said General Knox thought
fully.
Evidently said the COMMUNICATIVE
chief to Lafayette, cit is a fleet, sent out
by George the Third to cope with
Rochambeau." ~
II do not understand M. Rochambeau
not having heard" answered the latter.
H could not know, your e~xcellency,"
I interrupted, Since the news was
E brought in by one of the Boston fish
ermen, who had been chartered to
watch out beyond Cape Cod"
Gould such a watch be kept up along
the coast?" asked Washington.
There is no doubt of 1t, your excel
lency," said T. .af"
Lieutenant" said Washington, after
a moments thought, you will return
to Colonel Livingstone, and hold your
self in readiness to set out" :
I saluted, out ~hesitated, with a long
ing to get in a word
"You wish to say something's"
Il am an escaped prisoner of the
%colonels. and he holds me as a spy. I
was being sent on as such to General
Arnold when I escaped"
T Arnold?" cried Lafayette with
enthusiasm. "Ah, that is sublime! Sent
to Arnold! He escapes-he rides a hun
dred miles, and neither eats nor drinksi
All, thai is glorious, young men, And
the ,~Frenchman, whom I now knew for
General Lafayette, patted me gently on
the shoulder. GLORIOUS! glorious! We
Suoulu 1ld'E euSit ulSL Ill FTd1C6 To-
day." 5>.
may. General" said Washington
sadlyl; W need them too much here
Then he wrote a few words on a bit Of
paper and handed it to me.
That will save you from rough hand
ling"
I stood for a moment looking into the
commanders careworn but kindly face.
What! There is still something on
your mind ~
Eyes, your e~xcellency."
Speak out, man! You have spoken TO
suchgood purpose that I can well afford
to hear more" ss
General Washington" I cried, IT de-
mand permission to Tecapture that
traitor to the American cause"
There was a moment of silence. The
three generals looked at one another,
and that same fierce CLEAN came into
the commanders eyes for another in
stant.6SS& REV s557-445Sa75Sagz@S44#
.stLieutenant Ba1fort,'' said washing
ton slowly and sofemniy, with that
same sagacious look, take what food
and rest you need. Then return TO
Colonel Livingsten's command. and
hold yourself in readiness night ard
day to set out on whatever mission the
success Of cause or my will may
Command
I saluted and turned away; forIshad
- nBTt $780, 4, M. EIa - - VI .GEtEt-