Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-05-13

he only stopped to ask the road. l
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. Ali
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
flowed swiftly, and a moment later l
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
iod, n We'll have a 80 at the Red
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?'
Yes; he just came through; n Of
Charles Lees men, l understood-a
blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked boy, who said
his name was Mortimer. He had rid
den from Cookstown. and was Keeling
In the saddle, but would go on. our
men are over there, major, beyond the
clump of timber. In my judgment
wen 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 the mi
l1tia. We are ordered to hang close
to Clinton's left, while Morgan circles
him to the right. IT'S said the Brit
lsh have transports, at Sandy Hook,
and are trying to get there; that was
the word young Mortimer brought in"
The bath in the 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-
hitting, the rain a flood, water leaped
down the side of the hill cascades,
and, blinded, l drew my horse back
into the slight shelter Of the wood,
! and wottaI arinDIn~ htp, NV N. hIt
Men ran back down the hill, seeking
shelter from the fury of 1t, and l bent
my head, soaked to the skin. For the
first time l 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. l 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. l had almost forgotten
the sturdy downpour so intensely was
| 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, l 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
gums" he answered. but you are to
keep you powder as dry as possible
and hold Clinton to the road. Dry
powder will be sent as soon as the