The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-21
THE PENSACOLA JOURNAL SUNDAY MORNING JULY 81 1919

signed the paper, and enclosed It In
another sheet, across which he
scratched a line of address.
'fYou will deliver this to General
Arnold in person, major; do not spare
horse-fesh. You were in the action
today?'
with Maxwell's brigade"
''That was a hard fight along the
stone wall; you. came out unhurt?"
"A slight bayonet wound, sir; moth
ing to incapacitate me from duty"
Very well; take ten Dragons as
escort. Hamilton will write you an
order. I have told Arnold our victory
is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night, for he is a
willy old fox, put he has lost his pow
err to injure US in the Jerseys. hope
to bottle him up. before morning, so
that any retreat will be impossible,
but even If he succeeds in getting his
army to the transports at Sandy
Hook, he has lost prestige, and the
victory is ours Goodbye, major, and
the Lord guard you on your journey"
Ten minutes later, mounted on a
rangy sorrel, my drago6n escort trot-
ting behind, rode south on the
Plainsboro road, as swiftly as it's ter.
rible condition would warrant
: The evidences of war, the wreck
age Of battle, were everywhere. Sew.
eral times we were compelled to leap
the stone walls to permit the passage
of marching troops being hurried to
some new position; several batteries
passed US, rumbling grtmly through
the night, and a squadron Of horse
galloped by, the troopers greeting us
with shouts of inquiry.
We took to the fields, but, as there
seemed no end to the procession, /
turned my horses head eastward, con-
fdent. we were already beyond the
British rear-guard. and. struck out
across country for another north and
south road. We advanced now at a
swift trot, the sound of our horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise, and, within an hour, came again
to parallel fences, and well travelled
road.
This was the road running annie,
or SO, to the west. of Elmhurst. It
led as straight as any, toward Phila-
delphia, but whatever stragglers the
British army had left behind would
be found along here. However, they
would probably be scattered fugitives,
unwilling to interfere with as strong
an armed party as this OF. mine. If
I was alone it would be safer to turn
aside. Then, 1t was strong tempta-
ton to me to pass thus close to- ELM
hurst 1t would be after daylight
when we reached there; might even
get a glimpse across the apple orchard
Of the great white house. Would Claire
be there? 1t seemed<o me quite prob
able, as Eric was taking the wounded
colonel home for nursing. The girls
face rose before me against the black
night, and my heart beat fast. When
came back, would ride to Elm
hurst-surely she would be there then.
The sergeant touched my arm.
Pardon me, sir, but there are horse
men ahead"
Indeed? / was lost in thought,
Conroy Coming this way?:
mo, sir, they seem to be travelling
south slowly. I noticed them first
as we turned the corner back there;
/ could see outlines against the sky -
How large a party? They form
merely Jumping shadow to my eyes.
mot more than three or four, sir,
with a covered rig of some kind,
They're halted, now; heard us coming
l reckon"
I could perceive the little group
but merely as a black smudge. Then
mounted figure seemed to detach it.
self from the darkness, and advance
toward us.
Halt your men, sergeant" l said
quietly. ''I1l ride forward and learn
what the fellow wants"