New Ulm review., 1903-07-29
s. CHAPTER II.
THE FIGURE IN. GRAY.

The horseman's daring was SO
great that it had taken the breath
from Bessemer and his men. Tempt
ed to pursue, the British colonel yet
feared trap. He had heard much
of the ambush warfare waged by
southern revolutionists, and he had
no desire to have his troops caught
in an ambuscade. It did not seem to
him that even one of these daredevil
southerners would risk his life in so
reckless manner without some def
mite object in view; and what object
could he have unless it were to tempt
the British to pursue him and thus
lead them into the arms of supe-
rior American force? Besides his
own troops, he had many prisoners
taken in yesterdays battle to be
guarded. i.@ -.
Calling his officers about him, he
consulted with them hastily. Almost
to man they were against pursuit.
Perhaps the half-fnished breakfast
awaiting them had something to do
with the unanimity of opinion, for
your Britisher loved his food then
as he does to-day. t
So back to breakfast they went,
and Jane was so relieved at their
decision that she ordered Aunt De-
some of her famous, crisp-edged,
golden centered batter cakes to help
repair any injury the breakfast might
have suffered from the interruption.
.sReckless, reckless Godfrey" she
was saying to herself, as she bade
Gabriel pass the syrup to her guests
and herself filled their coffee cups,
'swill he never learn discretion? Why
should he so risk his life out of mere
bravado?"
But, indeed, she wronged the
horseman. Though he was quite ca
pable, as she well knew, of having
ridden into the British lines out Of
foolhardy defiance and because he
loved to take his life in his hand
for the thrill such adventure gave
him, vet in this instance he was guilt
less of so mad a piece Of folly.
|. On the contrary, he had been as
much surprised to find himself in the
midst Of SO large a body Of redcoats
as the British had been to see him.
One Of the few Americans who had
escaped from the fight Of yesterday,
| he was flying through the country
has fast, as his horse could carry him,
striving to get together band of
American sympathizers to revenge
Bessemer's refusal of quarter to the
Americans at that battle.
This mission bringing him close to
his own home, he stopped there to
/ see his parents for few moments,
| and was besought by his sister to
carry a note to her dear gossip, Jane,
since. lis route lay past the Ellery
! place He was at the mouth of the
| lane which led to the Ellery planta-
ton when he came upon couple
of scouts whom Bessemer had sent
out to reconnoiter. Thinking them
but stragglers from the British
army, and having no idea the mair
| body was so close, he set upon the
soldiers and pursued them as they
retreated towards the mansion, firing
] as he went. It was these shots which
startled the British from their ease
and before the young man coul6
realize his predicament he was facing
the stern, straight lines of Besse
mer's dragons with their leyeleG
1 weapons staring at him.
i As the horse went pell-men through
the woods, taking the underbrusl
and stumps that came in his wa,
until he could find the bride path
his rider looked back over his shoul
der, on the watch for pursuers
When he became convinced that non,
followed, he dropped back nonchal
! antly into his saddle and shrugged
his shoulders contemptuously
Upon my soul, what towards thes,
British be at heart, for all thei
/ splutter and their murderous ways
| he muttered, out Of the insolenc
born of his temporary triumnh