The Glenwood post., 1912-08-31

hand, to wait patiently, our eyes scan
ming the distance
who are those fellows back
there?' l questioned at last, made
nervous by the silence.
THE boys in the gulch? Jersey
nilitiamen,' 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. Sc
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 We're over at Germantown, and
down at Brandywine. Farrel's got
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 a lieutenant in each sec.
ton who is in touch with the neigh.
bors there. I belong in Camden, and
don't go outside very often, but there
is sort of organization all the way
between here and New York. When.
ever there is a big fight on, the most
of us get into it somehow. Washing.
ton counts on us in 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 hundred yards. looked eager.
ly, and could dimly distinguish a
vague shadow on the summit of dis.
tant rise of land. The shadow moved,
however, and as we both stared in un.
certainty, there came to our ears the
far-off crack of a whip. We drew
farther back against the bank, paus.
ing to make sure there was no decep.
tion. One by one we could perceive
those vague shadows topping the rise
and disappearing. l counted ten, con.
vinced they were covered wagons
and then the night wind brought to
us the crealing of wheels, and the
sound of a mans voice. Duvars hand
gripped my arm and to the signal we
crept back beyond the crest, and then
hurried dswn to where Farrell had
concealed his men. He was awaiting
us in the middle of the road, his short
moon shadow.
We'll, are they coming?"
Just over the crest" rer lied Duval
brusquely. Il counted fifteen wagons"
quite convoy, 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
coverts, breathless and intent Then
We heard horses hoofs and the mur-
mur 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 gueGs at their uniform.
Those in advance rode slowly, four
abreast, down into the black shadows,
lolling in their saddles voices mur-
muring, seemingly unconscious of any
danger. 1t was easy to compr chend
their state of mind Delavan had been
left alone for a week permitted to
sweep the countryside unmolested.
He and his command had naturally
grown careless, never suspecting their
every move had been watched by
keen-eyed scouts. Now, guarded by
Grants troop, they believed them
selves sufficiently strong for any
emergency; that no force the scat
tered enemy could gather would ven
ture upon attack. By daylight they
would be within sight of the Phila-
delphia outposts, and serenely conf
dent in their numbers. the night
march had therefore become mere
routine. heard Farrell chuckle grim
ly to himself as he observed the care
less approach of those advance rid
ers.
They were the Queens Rangers,
the white facings of their coats con.
spicuous, their guns swung at the
shoulder in reckless confidence. A
slim young lieutenant appeared to be
in command