The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-07-06
CHAPTER XXI.
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" VI lOdT tANNCltiS udQ LukcH
kTTTFH some r~efreshment. hasty Steps
UaEaIy were heard outside the door.
followed by the sentry's hail.
"Ah,' said the general. locking up
eagerly from the book he had been
reading, perhaps that is Mr.. Martin
with news from the enemy.'' Then.
laying aside his book, he rose to his
feet to meet the newcomer. who prov
ed TO be the q he had expected.
The young man stood at attention and
saluted, while the general addressed
him sharply:
well. sir, what have you learned:''
The young officer appeared extreme
ly embarrassed. .I-well. the fact Is,
sir. nothing at ALL" he stammered.
Nothing" said the general loudly.
with rising heat; nothing. sir, Did
you not cross the river as / directed
you!"
NO. sir-that is, | tried to, hut there
was so mnch floating ice and it was
SO difficult to manage a boat that ]
thought it would be hardly worth
while to attempt it, sir. In fact, the
crossing is impracticable for troops"
he went on more confidently. but his
face changed as lie looked Up at his
infatuated superior. The general was
a picture of wrath, tie lines in his
forehead standing out plainly, his
mouth shut more tightly and grimly
thar ever. 1t was evident that he was
furiously angry, and his face had in IT
something terrible from Lis rlge. The
young officer stood before him To-
white and frightened to death.
Il saw him this way at Kip's Land
ing" whispered Hamilton to Seymour.
Look, He has lost control of HIM
self completely. There will be an ex-
plosion sure"
The general struggled for a moment
and then broke away.
"Impracticable, sir, impracticable!'
he roared out in a voice of thunder
How dare you say what this army
can or cannot do? And what do you
mean by not crossing the river AMI
ascertaining the facts | desire to
known The next moment he stepped
forward and, Selling a heavy leaden
inkstand from the table near him.
threw it with all his force full at the
man, crying tiercely:
BE off and senl me a man,
The officer dodgel the missile, whic
struck the wall with a crash, salute
and ran out of the door as if his life
depended on it, feeling in his heart
that he would face any danger rather
than brave another storm of wrath
like that he had just sustained. The
/ general continued to pace up and down
tie room restlessly for a few moments
until he recovered his composure.
IL depended UPON that information,
and / must have it." he s~olilo1uized.
IF that man does not bring it back TO
us before we cross the river I'll have
him cashiered. Shall 1 send another
man? No; III give him another
chance"
Seymour picked up the book the gen
eral had been reading. 1t was tie
Bible, and open ut the twenty-second
chapter of the book of Joshua. His
eye fell full upon the twenty-second
verse, which was marked. 1.-THE Lord
God of gods. the Lord God Of gods. he
knoweth, and Israel he shall know: If
it be in rebellion. or if in transgression
against the Lord (save US not this
day."
Just then the little daughter of
Keith. the swner of the farmhouse al
which they were staying, entered the
room. As the little miss came up fear
lessly to the general he stopped and
smiled Gown at her.
Father and mother wish to know il
You vii! want supper tonight, sir?'
"No. my little maid" he replied
"Not here, at any rate. And which dc
you like the better now. the redcoats
or the ContlnentaN?
''The %redcoats, sir: they have sncl
pretty clothes said the nascent WON
an.
"Ah, my de9r,' he replied blithely,
catching her UP in his arms and kiss
ing her the while, they look better.
but they don't fight. The ragged fell
lows are the boys for fighting
singular mani" unused Seymour,
contrasting the outbreak of wrath at
the reealcitvlnt officer, the open Bible
he had been reading and the last mer-
ry, tender greeting to the child. But
his musings We're interrupted by the
general himself speaking.
General Greene, you would better
ride over to the landing and place the
di.aerent br,gades. Take Hamilton
with you, and perhaps General Knox
will so also to look out for the artil-
lery. The briGaCcs were TO start at >
o'clock for McConkey's Ford, AMI the
nearest of them should be there now.
We shall move in two divisions after
we leave Birmingham on tie other
siGc. | wish you to command tic first
one, which viii comprise tie brigades
of Sterling, Mercer and De Fermoy,
with Eand's r.hemen and HauseS.
gers Germans aud Forests battery. |
shall accompany your column. Gen
eral sullivan will take the second dlvi.
go. nth N,,.~-,tr, at,1 &C. Tl.fY'c