The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-06-06

~ 70
az 10 a Pleasure to Meet With You
Again, Especially Under Such Hap
by Circumstances. Do You Surren-
der7"
in mid-stream. We trailed dropping
I'D the eastern bank, coming out upon
a well-traveled road. A hundred feet
beyond was the cleft through the clay,
and there Farrell halted us, dividing
the men into two parties. Under his
orders they disappeared like magic,
the silent night. engulfing them COM
pletely The three Of US, Duval, Far
rell, and myself, alone remained IN
the deserted road.
"Duval," said the blacksmith quiet
ly, you an the Major feel your way
along to the top, an discover what is
happening I'll stay here, an take
care of the boys"
The road was gradual rise, the
clay packed hard under foot, but from
the summit we could look away for
some distance. over level country,
dimly revealed under the new moon.
There was nothing in sight, and no
sound disturbed the solitude. We sat
down on bunch of turf, rifles in
hand, to wait patiently, our eyes scan
ming the distance.
who are those fellows back
there? 1 questioned at last, made
nervous by the silence.
1.-THE boys in the gulch? Jersey
militiamen," he explained shortly.
"You see there's some of us that
can't get away all the time, because
of the women and children, and the
farm work. Besides, regular soldier
ing don't just appeal to our sort. So
we do our fighting round home in our
own way. However, the most Of us
manage to have a hand In the real
thing once in a while even at that.
We were over at Germantown, and
down at Brandywine Farrell's got a
commission, but the rest OF us are
taking our chances. It's neighbor
against neighbor. Whatever we've
got left has been held at the point OF
the rifle. We're doing our share in
this war. an Washington knows it.
Over there to the east Red Fagin,
Old Man Kelly, an their gangs Of Pine
Robbers, are making the fields red;
sometimes they get down this far
raiding the farms, but mostly, we're
fighting foragers out of Philadelphia,
and they're not much better Half the
houses in this country have been
burned, and mercy isn't very common
on either side. Those lads yonder are
not pretty soldiers to look at, but
they're wolves to fight, and hungry
for it"
They are called on whenever Far
rell wishes?"
"Well, yes;. those come who can.
They're not always the same bunch.
You see Farrell covers quite bit of
country, with lieutenant in each sec
ton who is in touch with the neigh
bors there. / belong in Camden, and
don't go outside very often, but there
is a sort of organization all the way
between here and New York. When
ever there is big fight or, the most
Of us get into 1t somehow. Washing
ton counts on us in a pinch, but most
ly we're raiding or cutting off British
supplies. Say, Major, isn't that those
fellows coming?"
He pointed into the east, in which
direction the road ran, barely revealed
by the faint light of the moon for per-
haps a hundred yards. looked eager
ly, and could dimly distinguish q
vague shadow on the summit Of dis
tant rise Of land. The shadow moved
however, and as we both stared in un3
certainty, there came to our ears the
far-off crack Of a whip. We drew
farther back against the bank, pausd
ing to make sure there was no decep4
tion. One by one we could perceive
those vague shadows topping the rise
and disappearing. l counted ten, CON.
WINGED they were covered wagons,
and then the night wind brought to
US the creaking of wheels, and the
sound Of a mans voice. Duval's hand
gripped my arm, and to the signal we
crept back beyond the crest, and then
hurried down to where Farrell had
concealed his men. He was awaiting
us in the middle of the road, his short
broad figure almost laughable in the
moon shadow.
well, are they coming?"
"Just over the crest, replied Duval
brusquely. Il counted fifteen wagons"
quite a convey, an worth fighting
for. Take the left, Duval; Major,
come with me"
We drew aside under the protection
Of boulder, from where we could see
clearly to the top of the ridge. Only
for moment was there silence, the
men all about us lying low in their
eoverts, breathless and intent. Then
we heard horses hoofs and the muir
muir of approaching voices.
We could see them quite clearly, as
they topped the crest, the moonlight
revealing men and horses SO distinct
ly could even guess at their uniform.
Those in advance rode slowly, four
abreast, down into the black shadows,