The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-20
Of peace meant tho beginning OF war? Then
came another name, passed hurrledlY from

Christine went in haste, to come back with
eyes big with Interest No. ma am, tbs not
the troops returned. Tis marines marching
to the Common. And, oh. 'tis said they go
out to help the others, who are all prisoners.
rna'am!'
s. prisoners? Impossble!" responded Alice; =
but the very rumor was disquieting.
Where was Captain George Tudor? Where
were all the other gay and careless officers
who had gone forth so iauntly?
Running swearing screaming. Hoarse with
rage. Pick up your gun: get back to the
ranks! Load, damn you, load! Ny Cod Har-
riman, the men are wild. Is Gould down?
Another officer gone! Here, corporal, help
that man bind up his arm. Leave the gun;
he.Acannot use it. In-step, men; steady,
steady. Thank God, here's halt! Close up!
Halt!' Bullets came from nearby thckets,
from walls and trees. and barns. Protected
by the hill assailable from one side only,
the men continued to drop in the ranks. and
looked In vain for the enemy-for but single
man to shoot at. ~ 4.tl So.
I'm not hit" said Tudor to his lieutenant.
met yet, thank God, but here Is hole in
my sleeve How close the farmers creep up:
and they drop from the very clouds. There
seems to be a man for every bush. And the
heat, Hartman, and our poor devils tired and
hungry! But here we go on again. Forward,
march! Hartman, doubt we can hold them,
for another fifteen miles. Thank Goi soon
~,
man! Steady, say! Shall I run you
through" Sweating, swearing, Captain
Tudor is beating his men with the fiat of his
sword. "
The Americans are firing from every cover; ;
the troops. tired and demoralized, are passing
panic rumors along the line. Major Pitcairn
has had to leave his horse The lieutenant
colonel is wounded No renforeements were
coming at all. How close the farmers creep
up what devilish shots, and never seen to
fire at in return. How can you hit what's
moving? Tomkins down, Wilkins hurt, Bill
\ son shot in the throat. There's that fellow
with the red neckerchief coming up to fire
again, He never misses; he moves too fast
to be hit, Thank the Lord, he, fired at the
company in front Here's the man he hit,
twitching, already dead. Step over him and
pass on. Oh for water. water! The SER
geant was killed at tie last WE'LL. when he
tried to drink. God, there's the man with
the red kerchief again! HOW quickly he
loads! r.
The men press away from the fellow with
the red bandanna; the captain shouts and
darts, with threatening sword, to keep them
on the road-and so, for rod after rod in
dust and heat with parching throat, eyes
smarting, feet sore, seeing blood on the road,
and now and then fallen comrade fearing
the blow of the bullet, and in return firing
but at the air; seeing merely head here,
1.-THE figure there, and next black muz-
zle on go the flower of the troops, all but
running. II
:"It is of no use to worry" Alice told her
self. But the uncertainty confuses, me.
Take me-" she asked of Dickie when he
came, ito see Barbara ~,
For the first time she was In the streets,
seeing on all hands frightened faces, with
eager, unsatisfed, questioning looks. !, At
Barbaras gate they entered, to be met at the
NP he h1y.c hxrp ch4~o -.IQ
cold face
Why do you Gomez she asked, occupying
the passage, without offering to stand aside
why, Barbara!' faltered Dickie
/ 'Barbaras brother was out in the country
fghting-fghting against Alice's brother.
Dickie was a tory, and had been smiling.
On such day to smile! i So Barbara con-
fronted them at the door. why do you
Gomez she asked again.
Barbara said Alice gently, "you and
are friends We must always be friends,
whatever happens. Let me in, I come to ask
the news
''The news is bad said Barbara; but she
stood aside and4let them enter. Il 2
IL The. wings had the news; they had had it
Barbara. 'The countrymensara firing on the,
regulars all along the line Of their retreat -
"Retreat?" cried Dcke.
wait, returned Barbara; ''wait until IA
|, ther comes .. - F.. ~ ~
+ Then Mr.. Savage entered the house Bar
bara,' he called, he entered, Fetch me my
spyglass. Mistress Tudor-Dicke. Come
with me, all of you, to Beacon Hill, Cam
bridge bridge has been taken up; the troops
| must come back by way of Charlestown or
not come at all" .a. ~. .~
And then-Alice could see 1T again at any
| time she pleased by closing her eyes, First
was the eager climb up the steep hill, the
hundreds of people already there, the hun
| dreds more coming She saw the broad inlet
of the river, the mainland a mile away in
T front, and off to the right the peninsula of
Charlestown, the point of safety for the
troops. Then was waiting and watching
| talking, fearing, and at last ~ =,
There is snokeit' = -..E@
No; dust on the Cambridge road''
There were smoke and dust together. and
then the glitter OF arms. She looked three
times through Mr.. Sayage's glass. 1t was
terrible sight. Along the road, in a lengthen-
Ing line, were the troops, dusty, red, without
order and in great haste. From them puffs
OF smoke, beside% them puffs of smoke, above
them, on the hillsides Duffs of smoke. Men
were swarming on the hills, men in brown
the countrYmen. The troops marched fast,
now hidden by houses and trees now plainly
visible in their uneven array. That was the
army, the pride Of the nation. and those
heaven were the cowardly farmers! . She
saw q man fall. ia
On and on the troops went There were the
marines. there the carts with wounded, there
the useless cannon. And puffs and puffs and
puffs of smoke came from fields and houses
and hills. The rapid Marcia htght--contin-
ued; no sound was heard from the distant
muskets; 1T was silent panorama, but near,
hera Dlckie BIT his lip and swore and men
drew Kissing breaths, and women groaned and
tainted. Yet the march went on, nearer and
nearer Charlestown, and the ships and safety,
while the column grew thinner and shorter,
and here and there red hodies dotted the <dus-I
ty road. a
But at last+-at last the final quarter mile
was passed and she saw the troops crossing
Charleston Neck. Safety! The guns upon
the skins began to thunder; those men in
the fields drew back; fresh companies, sent
over from Boston, were in line across the lit
tie isthmus; and in frightened Charleston the
weary troops cast themselves down, even
upon the payements, to draw breath
r. The cloudless day was over; June in April
brought its lovely sunset. The nation was
aflame; for fort.- miles around men were
Fastening toward Boston. and the men of
Marblehead and Salem, arriving just too late,
were gnashing their teeth at the sight OF the
troops in safety-but the day was over and
the fighting dono.
Alice was cold. Was one of those red spots,
mot otionless on the distant road, her brother?
Was Frank unhurt?
This last question was answered. Mr. Saw
age sweeping the shore and water with his
glass, suddenly said, ..1'here comes Frank