Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-07-26

What follow ed will never be clear to
me. for my mind became on the instant
so crazed with the idea that was grow
ing OH me moment by moment, that 1
can but recall q certain sense of moon
light and woods, with three tall figures
standing in q bit OF open swale, talk
ing as IL for my benefit, while / lay
there Is a dream. Yet do 1 remember
the so-called Gustavus saying;
May 1 ask what is your plan for
the taking Of the fortifcations?"
1T is that on the 2Sth the attack
should be made by falling quickly on
The southern outposts, and that You, ex-
pecting US, should have made the way
clear by leaving pickets widely separ-
ated, by having the garrison unpre-
pared, n by showing me on the plans
the a position of the guns and the
spot where We may enter"
Again comes a vacancy In my mind
till l heard:
AS to my requirements. The letters
do not speak as clearly of them as
could wish.'
"All Will be as you require-personal
protection, the stated amount, and q
command for YOURSELF" replied the man
called Andre.
Besides the further detallsT"
Besides the further Details"
1t will only be necessary for you to
meet me, then, on the 25th, when ]
shall deliver over the plans"
An exclamation broke from Andre.
You have no plans with you, them
said he In a stern voice.
1T was unsafe to bring them to q
first meeting. The description Of ar
rangements and the strength Of the APP
proaches were sent you a week ago"
Those are 10Y In my chiefs hands,
but t is necessary that we have the
complete plans"
They will be ready on the 25th."
Where is Washington asked An
DIRE suddenly. His tone, the figure
looming In the half light, both spoke of
impatience and dissatisfaction.
A Fishkill."
And that is"
0 the other bank, above my house,
which stands opposite the fortress"
l could do naught but lie back and
gaze in silence at the branches over
head, with the indescribable weight of
something terrible on my mind, even as
In boyhood / had often lain quiet in
my bed at home when Weakened sudden
ly from a wild dream, half in belief
that t was true, half conscious that
indeed such things could not be. How
long 1t may have been / could no more
tell than l can describe the feelings that
governed me, but certain 1t Is that |
suddenly became aware Of n movement
on the part of the three towards the
boat. Then some discussion arose; !
still lay fiat upon my back, gazinz up
ward, but loud and angry words came
to me, and the figures of the three re-
turned.
ct is a strange mischance, but we
must not excite them" the voice of
Arnold was saying. do you, Squire
Smith, go with them to Haverstraw,
n Major Andre and 1 will walk to
your house. / can give him the papers
there"
And In an instant they were gone.
So / lay a space. How long? The good
God only knows! But of a sudden the
reaction took me, and / started up with
but n idea raging through my head.
To get to Fishkill! To give the story
to my great chief! To see him catch
the traitor before the 2Sth could come
pom us!
How t was done no one can tell,
least Of all myself. But cross the river
again | did, and then, without head or
planning, I began to run upstream until
| should find a house, or q horse, or any
on or thing that might help me to get
on the faster. 1t may have been an
hour, to two, or more. I cannot tell. AL
ways l ran on and on. My ears SANG
loudly, and the breath had gone from
me long ago
Good unner and strong man as
was, L could not tell from step to step
how { was that l got on. In the rutted
road and the slippery mud / fell again
and again; my hat and sword were
gone long since. AS I look back on 1t
now, ii must have been close upon
q lunatic that plunged on northward
through that night.
There came an end, however; one
that was most sudden and unexpected.
For l caught g cry. just as / saw a huge
figure loom up ahead in the mist, of
"Who goes there" and saw the long
line Of q rifle go up to a shoulder.
IT was no time for parleying, and on
the instant I cried out let me pass,
and discharged my pistol straight be-
fore me. There came but one sound
too loud for q pistol-and a hot streak
passed along my scalp and through my
hair.
Stand away" cried l..
"Phat's that?" cried q voice. "Give
the countersign!!"
Il do not know it," cried I, doggedly.
Il fought not" came the rich brogue.
Il must see General Washington at
Once!" 1 cried, the tears of exhaustion
and disappointment running down my
face.
"Ho! We IL see him SOC enough, me
frind-phat the divil are we, thought
he added, as a lantern was brought by
some others, who ran up. For the love
o Gawd! PLAT lunattc is it?" he cried,
when he caught a glimpse Of my face
n clothes.
Let me by, man! Who are you?
Where am I?'
"Ye're all right, me lad" laughed the
sentinel; we're me prisoner, and ye're
jist wan foot inside the Tiller Pint
picket line, goin' north!!"