Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-05-05

| perfect silence; then the driver rose
quickly and shouted who are your"
''Friens O. these ere women" said
one | recognized as the corporal D'ri.
He spoke in low tone as he opened
the door.
Grace au ciel!" heard one of the
young ladies saying. 1T is D'ri-
dear old fellow"
Then all hurried out of the coach
and kissed him.
The captains he not here?" said
one of them in French. But Dri did
not understand them and made no an
swer.
"Out wi the lights an he still" said
| D'ri, quickly, and the lights were out
as soon as the words. Jones, you tie
up front leg O. one o. them bosses.
| Git back in the brush, ladies. Five on
EN-, boys Now up with the pike
| WALL"
From far back in the road had come
again the clang of the cow-bell. l re-
| member hearing five strokes and then
loud rattle. In a twinkling was off
the seat and beside the ladies.
Take hold of my dress" I whis-
pered quickly, "and follow me-"
| led them off in the brush, and
stopped. We could hear the move and
rattle of cavalry in the near road. Then
presently the swish of steel, the leap
and tumble of horses, the shouting of
men. My companions were of the
right stuff; they stood shivering, but
held their peace. Out by the road
lights were flashing, and now we heard
pistols and the sound of a mighty
scuffle. | could stay there in the dark
no longer.
Wait here and be silent" said, and
ran like a madwoman," as they told
me long after, for the Pickering lights.
There squad of cavalry was shut
in by the pixies Two troopers had
broken through the near line. One
had fallen, badly hurt; the other was
saber to saber with the man Dri.
They were close up and striving fierce
ly, as if with broadswords. | caught
up the weapon of the injured man,
for | saw the Yankee would get the
worst of it. The Britisher had great
power and a saber quick as a cats
paw l could see the corporal was
stronger, but not so quick and skillful.
AS | stood by, quivering with excite
ment | saw him get a slash in the
shoulder He stumbled, falling heav-
lily Then quickly, forgetting my sex,
but not wholly, | hope, the conduct
that becomes a woman, | caught the
point of the saber now poised to run
him through, with the one | carried.
He backed away hesitated, for he had
seen my hat and gown But | made
after him with all the fury ! felt, and
soon had him in action. He was tired,
have no doubt; anyway, whirled his
saber and broke his hold, whipping it
to the ground. That was the last we
saw of him, for he made off in the dark
faster than | could follow. The trouble
was all over save the wound of the
corporal, which was not as bad as l
thought. He was up, and one of them.
a surgeon, was putting stitches in his
upper arm. Others were tying four
men together with rope. Their weap-
ons were lying in little heap near by.
One of the British was saying that
Sir Charles Gravleigh had sent for
them to ride after the coach
"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" said the man
D'ri Never seen no sech willie Nv
woman es tibet air."
looked down at my gown; felt Of
my hat, now hanging over one ear.
Sure enough, was woman
Who be we, I'd like t know" said
the man D'ri.
Ramon Bella Yankee soldier OF
the rank of captain" ! said, stripping
off my gown. But, l beg of you, don't
tell the ladies l was ever a woman"
Judas Priest!" said Dri, as he
flung his well arm around me.