The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12

| was the infantry rank on rank. the glitter
| ing bayonets slanting in the October SUM-
| light as the regiments moved into place. OF
| Standing in rigid groves Of steel at the
| command to halt and port arms.
! What was there in all our poor raw land
, to stand against this well-trained host.
armed-as We were Dot-with the deadly
bayonet, and moving as one man at the
word Of command? Not the brayest homo
guard or militia troop. 1 thought; and this
| seeing OF what he had had TO front on
the field OF Camden made me think less
scornfullv OF Horatio Gates.
Riding presently around the field to be
the nearer to the General when my time
| should come. I missed the mark complete
~. II go CHANGED that as the parade was
ended my Lord and his suite were at the
| extreme right: and when the regiments
broke ranks l was forced to skirt the en-
tire camp to come into the road. BY this
time these I sought were gone into the
town. SO 1 must needs turn about and fol-
low. with the thing / had TO say still I'M
spoken.
1 need not drag you back and forth with
me on the search 1 made TO find Lord
CORVALLIS again. 'Tis enough to say that
after missing him here and there I ran
him to earth at the Courthouse. where. it
was told me. my Lord was sitting in coun-
Gil with his staff officers.
Thinking II worse than useless to try to
i
waited in the ra1 OF soldiery without ours
ing the delay which gave my despairing
resolution time to cool. When had closed
the door OF my dear iady's chamber behind
me 1 was resolved to ding myself upon
that fate which needed but O word from
me to make my calling and election to a
sibbet swift and sure. Had l found my
Lord CORVALLIS in his bedroom the word
would have been spoken: but now the iron
Of resolution cooled in spite Of me.
Twas not that was less willing to pay
the price Of expiration: that must be done
In any case. But had seen the enemy.
and all the soldier in me rebelled at the
thought OF dying like o noossd bullock in
the shambles. Could l but strike that one
good blow
The old Courthouse Of cur greater Meek
lenburg was such as some OF you may re-
member: a stout wooden building raised
upon brick pillars to leave a story under
meath. In the time Of the British occupa-
ton this lower story served as a market
house. and the public entrance to the court
room above was reached by steps on the
outside. In my boyhood days this outer
stair was the only one: but now in wander
Ing amnesty through the market place be-
meath I found another flight in a corner;
the Jury STAIR they called 1t. since 1t pro-
vided the means OF egress from the jury
box above.
The sight Of this inner stair set me plot
ting. Could l make use OF 1t TO come I'M
seen into the council chamber Of Lord Corn
wallis and his officers?
The market place was we'll thronged with
vendors and soldier buyers: the patriotic
Mecklenburgers were not averse to the
turning Of an honest penny upon the needs
Of their oppEessors. as It seemed. watched
my chance. and when there were no pry-
Ing eJc3 to mark 1t made q dash up the
steps.
Happily for the success OF the adventure,
there was an anglo in the narrow stair to
hide me whilst I lifted the trapdoor in
the courtroom floor scant half inch and
got my bearings. As had hoped, The trap
opened behind the jury box. and was able
to raise 1t cautiously and 30 to draw my
self up into the room above, unseen and un-
heard.
A peep around the corner Of the high Jury
stalls showed me my Lord and his suite
gathered about the lawyers table In front
Of the bar. OF the stan recognized only
Stedman. the Commissary General: Tarle-
ton. looking something the worse for his
late illness; Major Hanger. his second in
command. and the young Irishman. Lord
Rawdon.
At the moment Of my espial CORVALLIS
was speaking, and I drew back to listen,
well enough content to be in earshot. For
| IL my good angel had timed my coming I
could net have arrived at a more opportune
| moment.
What We have to consider now Is how
best 10 reach Ferguson with an express in
| stantly." his lordship was saying. This
| rising Of the over-mountain men Is likely
| to prove a serious natter-not only for
| the Major. but for the Kings cause in the
| two provinces. Lacking positive orders to
| the contrary. Ferguson will fight: we all
| know that; and II he should be defeated
| twill hopelessly undo his work among the
| border loyalists and set US back another
| twelvemonth."
! "Then your lordship viii order him to
come in with what he hast. said q voice