The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER TX.
With Minute Men.

must have slept very heavily. the
sleep OF utter exhaustion, for ! awoke
with my mind clear and body rested.
The door of the shop remained wide
open, and Farrell sat there. his eyes
upon the road without, an open book
upon his knees AS | moved slightly
he instantly turned his face toward
me.
Il began to fear | should have 10
arouse you, Major" he said. coming
within. you have slept soundly for
six hours, an we must be off pres
emily. First. however, We Will have
bite TO eat"
He began to prepare the meal, while
/ bathed my face.
81 was very tired" I explained. "but
now am ready for any service. What
has occurred since lay DOWN."
Very little; Duval stopped a mo-
ment to report. an two Of my couriers
rode past this way. We are going TO
have goodly sized gathering tonight,
an from all hear viii need every
rife Grants purpose is. as I sup
posed, to guard the forage train into
Philadelphia. He expects to meet
them somewhere between Fellowship
and Mount Laurel, an the chances are
we shall have to fight both detach.
ments. But fall to, man. an We can
discuss all this as We eat"
He talked freely enough while we
remained there, but conversation
yeered to the book he had been read
ing, and l learned little of his plans,
except that he reHed upoR surprise.
and swiftness of movement to over
come the decided advantage of num-
bers. After We mounted and rode
away, scarcely a word was exchanged
between US. Just before dusk we over
took dozen horsemen in the breaks
Of q creek bottom, roughly dressed
fellows. heavily armed, riding In the
same direction as ourselves, and, aft
err the exchange of a word or two, the
whole party of us logged along togeth-
err Others struggled in, singly, or by
small groups, as darkness closed
about, until we formed quite respect
able company. It was rather silent.
weird procession, scarcely word be-
ing spoken, and no sound heard, other
than the dull reverberation Of unshod
hoofG on the soft turf To me, CLAN
cling back from where I held position
beside Farrell, they seemed like spec
trail figures. with no rattle Of accoutre-
ments, no glimmer Of steel, no sem
blance of uniform. Yet my heart
warmed to the knowledge that these
were no holiday warriors. but grim
fighting men. They had left their
plows In the furrow to strike blow
for liberty
1t was an hour or more after dark
when our compact little body OF
horsemen rode down a gully into
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
spectral light, barely making those
faces nearest me visible. At the sum
NIT 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
~, but the words exchanged were few.
Farrell forced his horse through the
press toward where a tall figure sat
stlff In the saddle, and my own horse
followed unguided.
"A goodly turnout, Duval," he COM
mented briefly. What was the num-
Der before we Gamer"
"Forty.seven rifles" the Lieuten-
ants voice nasal, and high pitched.
THE men from Orchard and Spring
dale are not in yet How many ar.
rived with your"
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" be
said genially. eve have style all
our own"
Il had supposed | had witnessed all
styles" taa
Wen see; the difference Ia that
every man among us has some outrage
to revenge. Our quarrel Is a personal
one against thieves and murderers.