American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-08-15

away, scarcely a word was exchanged
between us. Just before dusk we over.
o a dozen horsemen In the breaks
OF a creek bottom, roughly dressed
Ieiiows, heavily armed, riding In the
same direction as ourselves, and. aft.
er the exchange of a word or two, the
whole party of us logged along togeth-
or. others struggled in, singly, or by
smaA groups, as darkness closed
about, until We formed quite a respect.
aole company. 1t was rather a silent,
weird procession, scarcely a word be-
ing spoken, and no sound heard, other
IMAM the dull reverberation of unshod
nools on the soft turf. To me. CLAN
chg back from where I held position
beside Farrell, they seemed like spec
tral figures. with no rattle Of accoutre-
ments. no glimmer Of steel. no sem.
olance OF uniform. Yet my heart
warmed to the knowledge that these
were no holiday warriors, but grim
ngntlng men, They had left their
plows in the furrow to strike a blow
for liberty.
1t was an hour or more after dark
when our compact little body Of
horsemen rode down a gully into a
broad creek bottom, and then advanc-
ed through a fringe Of trees to the
edge Of the stream. There was a
young moon In the sky yielding a
spectral light, barely making those
faces nearest me visible. At the sum.
init of the clay bank. Swallowed by the
forest growth encircling them, were
the others who had gathered at this
war rendezvous. the majority dis.
mounted. holding their horses in readi-
ness for action. AS we rode in among
them %neighbOrs clasped hands silent
ly, but the words exchanged were few.
Farrell forced his horse through the
press toward where a tall figure sat
stiff in the saddle. and my own horse
followed unguided.
"a goodly turnout, Duval," he COM
mented briefly. What was the num-
Der before We came?"
"Forty-seven rifles" the Lieuten-
fO4't udSdls dllu uiku NIlCltu.
"The men from Orchard and Spring.
dale are not in yet. How many ar
rived with you?"
Twenty; ample for our purpose,
even If the others fail us. This is
Major Lawrence of the Maryland
Line"
shook his long. thin hand. marking
the iron grip of the fingers.
We'll introduce you to some typical
Jersey fighting tonight, Major" he
said GENTLY. I'VE have a style all
our own"
81 had supposed I had witnessed all
styles"
We'll see: the difference is that
every man among US has some outrage
to revenge. Our quarrel is a personal
one against thieves and murderers.
What is the program, Farrell?"
ITO intercept Delavan's raiders.
They will be along the main road
within the hour from all reports. He
has a wagon train loaded with stuff
gathered up between Medford an
Mount Holly. together with a consid
cradle drove of cattle and some
horses"
"And what force?"
About fifty men originally. but re-
inforced this afternoon with as many
more to help guard the train into
Philadelphia"
Mounted? ?"
The relnforcements were, but the
original foragers YER afoot; they
were Hessians: the others Grants
company of Queens Rangers"
GLORY be to Cod" exclaimed a
voice near at hand. did ye hear that,
IT'S Dutchmen and Tories we're
against tonight Be CORY, I wouldn't
missed the chance of this shindy
fer the best farm in Camden" r..
There was a low growl from the
cluster of men, and an ominous move
ment Of bodies pressing closer. DuvaI
mfrthlessly.
THE bloodhound takes the scent" {
he said grimly. God help those poor |
devils when we cut the leash. Far.
rell. Where do you propose meeting 6
them?" {
Across there in the bluffs" point |
ing. where the road turns in between {
the high clay banks. Well leave our
horses here, an cross on foot. Is that /
the right plan, boys?'
There was a murmur Of acquies
cence, a few questions, and then the
silence of approval. 1t was evident
minute men were under small
discipline, and their officers led only f
by force of character. Without orders c
horses were led away, tied Sc
in the black depths of the G
woods, and the men came struggling c
back, rifles in hand. grouping them. f
selves along the edge Of the stream L
There was no attempt at military c
formation, but Duyal Strengthened Y
u so as to count the number 4
present.
"Sixty-nine, all told" he announced t
briefly. "AlI right, boys, come on. and r