American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-10-03

HE Went by Me, Digging His Horse
With His Spurs and Lying Close"
he only stopped to ask the road. I
knew 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 a Ora
goon's cape tapping from his Shout
ders, but twas the boy all right. All!
there go the 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 | swung up into the saddle, and
drove my horse down the slippery
shore into the water. The stream
was not deep, although the current
Howed swiftly, and a moment later l
had found Maxwell.
Yes" he said to my first question,
1--WE are going to fight, although it
may not be anything more serious
than skirmishing today. Washington
has decided in spite of Lee, thank
SO1 oae - - ~ "a - - AN 'NtN
coats. Lafayette commands the ad,
vance, and Wayne will be up within
a few hours. We are to skirmish for
ward toward Monmouth Court House;
Clinton has turned that way
"You learned that from a scout?"
Eyes; he just came through; one OF
Charles Lees men, | understood-a
hI,,. r,oJ rArr .LooIroJ 49, ,.I, .,.l
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 IN up?"
About four thousand, with the mi
litia. We are ordered to hang close
to Clinton's left, while Morgan circles
him to the right. 'Tis said the Brit
ish have transports, at Sandy Hook,
and are trying to get there; that was
the word young Mortimer brought ill.,"
The bath in the water seemed to
have helped my horse, but l 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-
hitting, the rain a food, water leaped
down the side of the hill cascades,
and, blinded, l drew my horse back
into the slight shelter OF thc wood,
and waited, gripping him by the bit.
Men raj back down the hill, seeking
shelter from the fury of it, and | bent
my head, soaked to the skin. For the
first time | realized how tired | 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; m 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 vents leading up to this
hour, and, as surely, reverted to Claire
Mortimer. | had almost forgotten
the sturdy %downpour so intensely was
i thinking, when a 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 Cen
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?"
I Yes" leading forth my horse.
Come on, lads, it's the top Of the
hill! What about the artillery"
W may not be able to move the
he answered. but you are to
keep your powder as dry as possible
and hold Clinton to the road. Dry
powder will be sen as soon as the
storm breaks. That's all, sir"
I could scarce see the fellow as his
horse whirled. and went splashing
down the slope. Through the mist Of
rain the men gathered about were
mere blotches.
All right, you water-rats, come ont"
l sang out cheerfully. We'll give tho
Red-coats the butts Of our guns any
how"
There was a faint cheer as the
drenched figures sprang forward rae
ing after me. Twice We ran up against
small parties Of horsemen, exchanging
shots, but these fell back, leaving the
road clear. By dark We were at Eng
lishtown. hungry and thoroughly worn
out, and there we halted, sleeping
upon our arms. All l had in my hav-
ersack was a single hard biscuit,
after m%unching which l lay down upon
the ground and fell instantly asleep.