The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-11-08

~cheered him; twill give the man n
heart"
You favor the joining of issue?"
why not? Were We ever In bette
lettle? A retreating army Is Away
half whipped, and we can choose on
ground. Why, lad, It's reported Gin
TONS line stretches out full lively,
miles, with train of baggage Wagon
ana battery horses, and camp follow
ers enough for a division. Twill b,
easy work attending to them, and mos
OF his troops are Dutch and Tories,
by daylight We came up with tn,
New Jersey militia, lying at rest aIont
the bank of the Milestone river. wait
ing their turn to ford that stream am
JON Maxwell on the opposite shore
from where stood | could see the
thin lines of C~ontinentals spreadins
out Ike a fan, as the skirmishers ad
Vanced up the opposite bluffs. Down
the trainpled bank, men were strug
gIlng with a light battery, and sudden.
~ IN the press Of figures l came upon
Farrell. He was mud from head to
foot, his face streaked with it. but he
looked up with beaming eyes as |
spoke his name, and our hands
clasped,
i thought you would be over there
with Maxwell" he said, pointing
across at the black dots, now clearly
distinguishable in the glow of sun.
shine.
I was left behind, and came up lust
now with Morgan" I replied. But I
am anxious enough to be with my W
fellows. What means that skirmisb
line, Farrell? Are we already In touch
with Clinton?"
He swept the hair out Of his ewes
with his great fist.
mo n knows exactly, but the Brit
ish are not far off, and are headed this
way. A scout came through with the
news two hours ago-Clinton has TAX
en- the road to Monmouth" He
chuckled grimly, glancing at my face.
And who think ye the lad was who
told us?"
"Who?" my throat Tightening.
The same you was so anxious about
Il few days back"
Mortimer! Eric Mortimer"
Aye, unless my eyes fail me al.
ready, it was the boy"
You are sure? You saw him"
We'll, had a glimpse, as he came
up the bank here from the ford, his
horse dripping, 1t was dark still, and
only stopped to ask the road. I
the voice, and the form-the lad
Is as slender as a girl-then he went
BY me, digging his horse with the
spurs, and lying close. He had q ORA
yoon's cape tapping from his Shout.
ters, but twas the boy all right. All!
here go the guns up the bank. Now.
perhaps, they'll let me take my fight
ng dogs across"
The way was open for me. at least.
md swung up into the saddle, and
lrove my horse down the slippery
shore into the water. The stream
vas not deep, although the current
lowed swiftly. and a moment later I
lad found Maxwell.
Yes" he said to my first question.
we are going to fight, although It
nay not be anything more serious
han skirmishing today. Washington
as decided in spite of Lee, thank
Iod, and Wen have a go at the Red
Lafayette commands the ad.
anCe, and Wayne will be up within
few hours. We are to skirmish for
ard toward Monmouth Court House;
linton has turned that way"
You learned that from a scout?"
Yes; he just came through; n of
harles Lees men, | understood-a
Iue-eyed. rosy-cheeked boy, who said
Is name was Mortimer. He had rid
en- from Cookstown, and was Keeling
the saddle, but would go on. Your
en- are over there. major, beyond the
lump of timber. In my judgment
ell accomplish little today, for
Iere Is a heavy storm in those clouds
How many men will we have when G
'ayne comes up?" d
About four thousand, with the mi. a
la. We are ordered to hang close b
Clinton's left. while Morgan circles |,
m to the right. 'Tis said the Brit. D
b have transports, at Sandy Hook, v
ID are trying to get there; that was Il
e word young Mortimer brought In" b
The bath In the water seemed to Il
We helped my horse. but | rode SLOW a,
up the valley toward the wood W
lich served as my guide. Before d.
reached the skirmishers, great drops
rain fell, and then a downpour, ut IA
+ly blotting out the landscape. m
ghtning flashed, the thunder unre- H
tting, the rain a flood, water leaped d.
the side Of the hill cascades, A,
blinded, / drew my horse back al
the slight shelter Of the wood, ly
d waited, gripping him by the bit. ri
IN ran back down the hill, seeking OF
alter from the fury Of it, and | bent W,
head, soaked to the skin. For the IN
IT time / realized how tired ! was. lis
cry muscle aching with the strain an
the long nights march, my head in
from the awful heat Of the as
ly morning. ! sat down in the
d and water; my arm through the an
H - -Av LznI aaA -
Ole rein, my head against the do
Of a tree, which partially pro IN,
ted my face from the beating rain. &c,
there was no sleep possible. "a
fly mind pictured the field of action. 20
the events leading UP to this q,
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