The Irish standard., 1912-06-15

he only stopped to ask the road I
knew the voice, and the form-the lad
Is as slender rs glrl-then he went
by mo. digging his horse with the
spurs. and lying close. He had Dra-
goon's cape Tapping from his shout
ders. but twas the boy I'LL right. ALL
there go tho guns up the bank. Now.
perhaps. they'll let me take my fight
Ing dogs across"
The way was open for me, at least,
and l swung up into the saddle, and
drove my horse down ,ne slippery
shore into the water. The stream
was not deep. although the current
flowed swiftly, and a moment later I
had found Maxwell.
Yes" he said to my first question.
I'VE are going to fight, although It
may not be anything more serious
than diminishing today. Washington
has decided in spite Of Lee. thank
God. and we'll have 90 at the Red
coats. Lafayette commands the ad.
vance, and Wayne will be up within
few hours. We are to skirmish for
|
Clinton has turned that way"
"You learned that from scout?"
Eyes; he just came through; one OF
Charles Lees men, understood-a
blue-eyed, yosy-cheeked boy, who said
his name was Mortimer. He had rid.
den from Cookstown, and was Keeling
in the saddle, but would go on. Your
men are over there. major, beyond the
clump Of timber. In my Judgment
we'll accomplish little today. for
there Is a heavy storm in those clouds
yonder."
How many men will we have when
Wayne comes up?"
About four thousand, with tho mi.
Iitia. We are ordered to hang close
to Clinton's left, while Morgan circles
him to the right. TITS said the Brit
ish have transports, at Sandy Hook,
and are trying to get there; that was
the word young Mortimer brought In"
The bath in tho water seemed to
have helped my horse, but rode slow.
ly up the valley toward the wood
which served as my guide. Before
reached the skirmishers. great drops
of rain fell, and then a downpour, ut
terly blOtting out the landscape.
Lightning flashed. the thunder unre-
Knitting, the rain food, water leaped
down the side Of tho hill cascades,
and. blinded, l drew my horse back
into tho slight shelter of the wood.
and waited, gripping him by tho bit.
Men ran back down the hill. seeking
shelter from the fury of it, and I bent
my head. soaked to the skin. For the
first time / realized how tired l was,
every muscle aching with the strain
Of the long nights march, my head
throbbing from the awful heat of the
early morning. sat down in the
mud and water; my arm through the
bride rein, my head against the
trunk OF a tree, which partially pro.
tected my face from the beating rain.
But there was no sleep possible.
My mind pictured the field Of action,
reviewed the events leading up to this
hour. and, as surely. reverted to Claire
Mortimer. had almost forgotten
the sturdy downpour so intensely was
I thinking, when courier came spur
ring forward. blinded by the storm.
yet riding recklessly. He must have
seen the group Of men huddled at the
edge of the grove, for he drew up his
horse. calling my name.
Major Lawrence. come from Gen.
eral MAXWELL" he shouted between
the crashes Of thunder. "You are
given command Of the right Of the
line, and will press on regardless of
the storm until the enemy is met in
force. Dragons have been seen two
miles east. You understand, sir?"
YES" leading forth my horse.
Come on. lads. it's the top of the
hill! What about the artillery"
I'VE may not be able to move the
guns" he answered, "but you are to
keep your powder as dry as possible
and hold Clinton to the road. Dry
powder will be sent as soon as the
storm breaks. That's all. sir"