Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-04-12


first, the men crowding shoulder to
shoulder to brace against the sweep OF
the current which, on the western side
of the stream, was little less than
mili-tail for swiftness. After them
came the foot and horse in solid
squares. and always with more to fol-
low. None the less. our little handful
did not blanch; and when the Guards
in midstream held straight across in
stead of bearing to the right as the
ford ran. shout went up on our side
and the fifty FASTENED up from the
ford head as one man to face the enc
my squarely.
Now it was that the brown -barreled
rifles began to crack and spit fire: and
do think If we had had our other two
hundred and fifty out of that back field
on the manor lands, we might at least
have made the wading redcoats hurry
little. Indeed, as it was, the van of
the Guards broke here and there, and
we could hear OHara berating his men
as only a battle-mad Irishman can.
Having no firearms save our wetted
pistols, Jennifer and l crouched in COW
err waiting to do what two swordsmen
might when the blades length should
bridge the narrowing distance be-
tween us and the advancing host.
We had tethered our horses in
thicket of scrub oak where they would
be out of bullet-reach until the enemy
gained the bank. AS l looked to make
sure of them, the sorrel gave a shrill
neigh to welcome the pounding of hoofs
on the Appleby road. I made sure this
would be General Davidson bringing in
the reserves; and so. indeed. it was;
but he came too late. OHara's men
were climbing the bank; and Joe Ora
ham was rallying his little company
for fight in the face of an onset that
made the tree fringe sing with musket
balls.
"'Tis our cue to run away" Dick
shouted. dragging me to my feet. ITO
the horsesl"
But now we were too late. David
sons men were between us and the
scrub oak thicket, and we must wait
till the column swept by. Dick put his
face to the foe and his back to a tree.
Whereupon / dragged him down
promptly. telling him his broadsword
would make but a poor shift parrying
musket-balls.
What followed after was over and
done within a dozen futtering heart
beats Seeing the case was desperate,
General Davidson gathered Graham's
fifty in his flying column, fiogged his
rear into the retreat, and was pitched
out of his saddle by a Tory rifie-ball
whilst he was doing it. And when the
way to our horses was clear of the gall
Looping Carolinians, and we would have
run to mount and ride after them, the
swarming redcoat van was upon US.
up with you and out of this" cried
Jennifer, setting me the example. I'VE
must cen gallop as we can. Quick.
mani"
How we rode free out of that hurly-
burly at the ford head you must figure
for yourselves, If you can. The men
of the British vanguard were all about
us when we got to the scrub oak thick
ct and mounted, but no one of them
raised a hand to stay us. have
thought since that mayhap they took
us for a pair of their own Tory allies
who were not above wearing the stolen
uniforms OF the dead. Be that as it
may, we rode away unhindered, Dick in
all the bravery of his captains slash
ings, and / in lighthouse buff and
blue, taking the road toward the man
or house because that was the only one
open to us, and ambling leisu-eIy till
we were beyond the sight and sound OF
the victors at the ford. But once at
| large, we put spurs to our horses in
! true ritter fashion; and we had gall
Hoped half way to Appleby house be-
fore Dick said:
Now we are we'll out of that, what
next? We can not go to Margery with
the whole British army at our heels"
Nay. but we shall. If only for a
short half hour" l asserted. Then, as
once before, l gave him my best bow.
For the last time, 1t may be, let me
play the lord OF the manor. You are
very welcome to my fathers demes ne.
Richard. and to all of its holdings"
AMP" said he, giving me quick
shot as we pressed on side by side.
Yes. ALL said I; and / meant it in
good faith. He should have the lady,
too: that precious holding of the old
manse without whom my fathers acres
would be but a bauble to be lost or
won indifferently.
Then you do not love Madge more p
he queried. his eye kindling.
NAY. l did not say that. But did
say the other; that you should have
the house and all Its holdings"
We were cantering up the oak-sen-
tried avenue TO that door which Gilbert
Stair had once sought to keep against
us with his bell-mouthed blunderbuss
There was no sign of any living thing
about the place; and when we had nc
answer to our swordhilt knockings or
the door. the lad turned upon me with
flash OF anger in his eyes and his liz
a-curL
You knew full we'll what you were
promising. John Iretoni" he said. "She
is not here"
ITO be contfnued)