The Princeton union., 1905-09-14

perately. 'I'd fight the whole British
army If they would only let me get a
chance at them"
Were all with you there, man, and
l guess this time we get chance" re-
piled one of the speakers amid a cho-
rus of approval which showed the spir-
it of the men.
While the men were talking among
themselves thus the four riders on the
tired horses had ridden up to the farm
house. A soldier dressed no better
than the rest stood before the door.
"Halt! Who are your he cried,
presenting his musket.
Friends. Officers from Philadel-
phia with messages for his excellency,"
replied the foremost. 'Don't you rec
ognize me, my man?"
"Why, it's Lieutenant Talbot! Pass
In, sir, and these other gentlemen with
you," answered the soldier, saluting.
Its glad the general will be to see
you.' '-
Without further preliminaries the
young man opened the door and en-
tered, followed by his three compan-
ions. A cheerful fire Of logs was blaz-
ing and cracking in the wide fire.
place in the long, low room. On the
table before it. stood a great bowl Of
steaming punch, and several officers
were sitting or standing about the
room in various positions. The uni
forms Of all save that Of one of them
were scarcely less worn and faded, if
not quite so tattered, than were those
Of the escort. The same grim enemies
had left the same grim marks upon
them as upon the soldiers.
The only we'll dressed person in the
room was bright eyed young man, a
mere boy, just nineteen, wearing the
brilliant uniform of an officer of the
French army. He was tall and thin,
red haired, with long nose and re-
treating forehead. His bright eyes and
animated manner expressed the inter-
est he felt in a conversation carried on
In the French language with his near
est neighbor, another young man
scarcely a year his senior. The con-
uniform of the one and the faded Con-
tinental dress of the other was not less
startling than that suggested by the
difference in their size. The American
officer was a small, very small, man,
but in spite Of his insignificant stature
the whole impression Of the man was
striking and even imposing. In con-
trast to the other his face was very
handsome, the head finely shaped, the
features clear cut and regular He had
decisive mouth, bespeaking resolu-
tton md f1rmness, and two piercing
eyes out Of which looked q will as
hard and 1mperious as ever dwelt in
mortal man.
In front Of the fire were two older
men, each in the uniform of a general
officer, one Of thirty-five or thirty-six
years Of age, the other perhaps ten years
older. The younger of the two, full
faced, intelligent, active, commanding
sort of man, whose appearance indicat-
ed confidence in himself and the light
Of whose alert blue eyes told of dash
ing brilliancy in action and prompt
decision in perilous moments, which
made him one of those who succeed,
would have been more noticed had not
his personality been so overshadowed
by that Of the officer who was speak
ing to him. The latter was possessed
Of a figure so tall that it dwarfed
every other in the room. He was
massively nodded, but We'll proper
toned, with enormous hands and feet
and long, powerful limbs, which 1ndi-
Gated great physical force, and having
withal an erect and noble carriage,
easy and graceful in appearance,
which would have Immediately attract
ed attention anywhere, even If his face
had not been more striking than his
figure
And this was the man upon whom
was laid the burden Of the war of the
Revolution, and to whom, under God,
were due the mighty results of that
epoch making contest. Seldom If ever
do we see men of such rare qualities
that when they leave their appointed
places no other can be found to fill
them, but If such one ever did live
this was he
TO BE CONTINUED.