Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-06-29

haze OF dawn, trotted a British officer
superbly mounted. The pale light
glimmered on his silver gOrget the
gold on his sleeves and hat sparkled
Straight on his heels marched the
British infantry, moving walls of scar
let topped with shining steel, rank aft
er rank, In magnificent alignment
"Haltr' cried a far voice The red
ranks stood as one man. An officer
lines and, leaning forward In his sad
die shouted to the disordered group
of farmers, stop that drum
Fall In! Fall inn roared the cap.
tain Of the militia. The old Louisburg
drum Numbered louder yet.
Prime! Loadr' cried the British
officers, and the steady call was re
peated from company to company and
yet to companies unseen, far down the
Boston road
We had scarcely succeeded in reach
ing the corner of the yard, and the
body of the chaise was now safe from
bullets, when British major galloped
into the green, motioning violently to
the militia with his drawn sword.
"Disperse! Disperser he called out
angrily.
"Stand your ground" roared the
militia captain. Don't fire unless
fred upon! But IL they mean to have
a war, let 1t begin here!''
.Dispersev shouted the British
major. Lay down your arms. Why
Don't you lay down your arms and dis
perse"-
A shot cut him short. His horse
gave a great bound, backed, dashed
out with both hind feet. then reared
In agony.
They've shot his horse.' cried Fox-
croft.
"'Tis his YIN men, then" broke in
Mount. II marked the smoke"
"Disper~er' beloved the maddenetl
officer, dragging his horse to stand
STILL "Disperse. We rebelsr'
Behind stone wall farmer rose
and presented his firelock. but the
piece flashed In the pan. A shot rang
out, but / could not see who fred,
Far down the Boston road the solid
front Of second British column APP
peared.
Already some Of the minutsnen We're
quitting the single disordered rank on
the, green, which still wavered, facing
the REGULARS. but their captain contin-
ued lin front Of his men and the drum
mer still drummed his hoarSs chal-
lenge.
Thensa British officer fired his pistol
from the saddle, and before any one
could move or lift finger bright
sheet Of flame girdled the British front,
and the deafening roar of musketry
shook the earth.
galloped to the chaise and terked
the horses back, then wheeled them
westward toward Bedford. where the
remnants of the militia were suddenly
falling back, firing across at the Brit
ish. now marching on past the meeting
house up the Concord road
.sNo! Nor cried Foxcroft. 1--WE can
not risk It! Stay where you ,arew
-I,ook at the Weaselp' muttered
Mount, jerking my arm as my horse
ranged mp beside his.
The Weasel was hastily climbing out
Of his saddle, rifle In hand.
'Cadev quavered Mount. 'Cade,
old friend, what are you doing?"
~Comer' cried the Weasel briskly,
- ~ ~r-1s III
"Redcoatsl Redcoatsw cried Mount
anxiously. where are you going
Cadeg Come backl Come back! They
can't hit us herel Redcoats, Cader not
re<lskinsr
'sThey be all one to mer' repiiedi the
Weasel briskly. scuttling away toseov
q under tuft Of hazel
| ~Bangw went the Weasers Ions
rife. A relocated soldier on thesCon
| cord road dropped
He's done It! God help us'' groan
| a Foxcroft.
.Hold those horsesr' said Noun
desperately. solved the leaders
Mount slipped from his saddle to tn
ground and ran out to the long dea6
grass behind the meeting house.
could see him catch the Weasel by th
arm and attempt to draw him back b,
force, but the mad little creature clunl
obstinately to his patch Of hazel.
Al Mount turned saw the entir
| british column marching swiftly y
the Concord road. small Rankin
party thrown out on the right. IN
weasel also saw the troops and mad
haste to levcI his ride again. but Noun
fell upon him and dragged him dow
into the marsh grass.
Il From the Bedford road our militi
Aired slowly across at the fast vanisl
II ing troops on the Concord read. II
Drltish banking party returned the Ar
but the main column paid no heed
ne shots and pree,ed o. IN silence.
81 10th the Weasel and Mount we'
~ delfberately nriyx At the flankir
nortz, which hid halted - bit
paowed eround and SEEMED to b q
1ocided WhotAer 10 continue the
! morch e return and punish the ~
fcolnoxdy ri1ennen whose bullets n
81 49, ~. k~>>x>ox - No. n<1H1nr n