The Irish standard., 1912-05-11
hand, to wait patiently, our eyes scam

"who are those fellows back
there?" questioned at last, made
nervous by the silence.
''The boys in the gulch? 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 hand in the real
thing once in while even at that.
We were over at Germantown, and
down at Brandywine. Farrell's got q
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 Washington knows 1t.
Over there to 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 bettex. 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?"
We'll. 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. I 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 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
ly, and could dimly distinguish a
vague shadow on the summit of a dis
tant rise of land. The shadow moved,
however. and as we both stared in I'M
certainty. there came to our ears the
far-off crack of whip We drew
farther back against the bank, pals-
Ing to make sure there was no decep-
ton. One by one we could perceive
those vague shadows topping the rise
and disappearing. I counted ten, con.
vinced they were covered wagons.
and then the night wind brought tn
us the creaking of wheels, and thu
sound Of a mans voice. Duval's hand
gripped 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
us in the middle of the road, his shor
| broad figure almost laughable in thu
moon shadow.
We'll. are they coming?"
Just over the crest" replied Duva
brusquely. Il counted fifteen wagons
Quite convoy, an worth fightin,
for Take the left, Duval; Major
come with me-"
We drew aside under the protection
OF boulder, from where we could Sc,
clearly to the top of the ridge. Onl,
for moment was there silence, tn,
men all about us lying low in theil
coverts, breathless and intent Thel
we heard horses hoofs and the muir
muir of approaching voices.
We could see them quite clearly, al
they topped the crest, the moonlight
revealing men and horses so distinct
ly could even guess at their uniform
Those In advance rode slowly, -four
abreast, down into the black shadows
lolling In thei r saddles, voices mur
muring. seemingly unconscious Of an!
danger. 1t was easy to comprehend
their state Of mind. Delavan had bee,
left alone for week, permitted t.
sweep the countryside unmolested
He and his command had naturally
grown careless, never suspecting thei,
every move had been watched BY
keen-eyed scouts. Now, guarded by
Grants 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 they
would be within sight of the Phila
delphta outposts, and serenely conf
dent in their numbers. the night
march had therefore become mere
routine. heard Farrell chuckle grim
ly to himself as he observed the care.
less approach Of those advance rid.
ers.
They were the Queens Rangers,
the white facings Of their coats con.
spicuous, their guns swung at the
shoulder in reckless confidence. A
slim young lieutenant appeared to be
in command.
Ten wagons passed without move.
ment or sound from the mer lying
concealed almost u{th}o orpoSo. ..o.1,