Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-10-11
CHAPTER Discontinued.

CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.
who are those fellows back
there?" l questioned at last, made
nervous by the silence
"The boys in the guich? 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
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 Washing on knows It.
Over there ito 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 a 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 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 1t somehow. Washing
ton counts on us in a pinch, but most
~ 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
Iy, and could dimiy distinguish
vague shadow on the summit of a 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. I counted ten. con-
v1nced they were covered wagons.
and then the night wind brought to
as the creaking of wheels and the
sound of a mans voice Duvals hand
gr1pped 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
JUS In the middle of the road. his short
oroad figure almost laughable In the
moon shadow.
"Ab a. bASs COuliIS
"Just over the crest" replied Duval
brusquely. Il counted fifteen wagons"
Quite a convoy, an worth lighting
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
Tor 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
iy could even guess at their uniform
Those in advance rode slowly. four
abreast. down into the black shadows
iolling in their saddles. voices muir
muring, seemingly unconscious Of any
danger. 1t was easy to comprehend
their state of mind. Delavan had been
left alone for a week. permitted to
sweep the countryside unmolestea
He and his command had naturally
grown careless. never suspecting their
every move had been watched nv
keen-eyed scouts. Now. guarded nv
Srant's 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 the,
would be within sight OF the Phfla
sa'phia outposts, and serenely conf
dent in their numbers. the nigh
carch had therefore become a mer,
FoUfine heard Farrell chuckle grim