The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-05-31

in mid-stream. We trailed dropping
up the eastern bank, coming out upon
a well-traveled road. A hundred feet
beyond was the cleft through the clay,
and there Farrell halted us, dividing
the men into two parties. Under his
orders they disappeared like magic,
the silent night engulfng them COM
pletely The three Of us, Duval, Far
rell, and myself, alone remained in
the deserted road.
"Duval," said the blacksmith quiet
ly, you an the Major feel your way
along to the top, an discover what is
happening. I'll stay here, an take
care of the boys"
The road was a gradual rise, the
clay packed hard under foot, but from
the summit we could look away for
some distance over a level country,
dimly revealed under the new moon.
There was nothing in sight, and no
sound disturbed the solitude. We sat
down on a bunch of turf, rifles in
hand, to wait patiently, our eyes scan
ming the distance.
"Who are those fellows back
there?" l 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 a hand in the real
thing once in a while even az that.
We were over at Germantown, and
down at Brandywine. Farrell's got a
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 rife. We're doing our share in
this war, an Washington knows it.
Over there to the east Red Fagin,
Old Man Kelly, an their gangs Of Pine
Robbers, are making the fields red;
they get down this far
raiding the farms, but mostly, we're ,
fighting foragers out of Philadelphia, /!
and they're not much better. 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
lion who is in touch with the neigh
Dors there. I belong in Camden, and
lon't go outside very often, but there
S a sort of organization all the way
here and New York. When
ever there is a big fight on, the most
If US get into it somehow Washing
on counts on us in PINCH but most
y we're raiding or cutting off British
supplies. Say, Major, isn't that those
ellows coming?"
He pointed into the east, in which
direction the road ran barely revealed
~ the faint light of the moon for per-
laps a hundred yards. looked eager
y, and could dimly distinguish a
'ague shadow on the summit of a dis
ant rise Of land. The shadow moved.
lowever, and as we both stared in un-
there came to our ears the
ar-off crack Of a whip. We drew
arther back against the bank, paus-
ng to make sure there was no decep-
ion. One by one we could perceive
hose vague shadows topping the rise
nd disappearing. I counted ten, con
inced they were covered wagons
nd then the night wind brought to
s the creaking of wheels, and the
ound Of a mans voice Duval's hand I
ripped my arm, and to the signal we
repr back beyond the crest, and then
urried down to where Farrell had Z
his men. He was awaiting
S in the middle of the road, his short r
road figure almost laughable in the :
loon shadow. Z
We'll, are they coming?" 7
Just over the crest" replied Duval I