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

authority / as Instantly understood
the purpose and stepped TO the front
Grant stared at my face In the CLEAN
OF the smoking torch, almost as
though he looked uDon a ghost.
"Youl"
Certainly Captain. Il is n pleas
ure to meet with You again, especially
under such happy circumstances. But
my men are becoming impatient. DO
you surrender"
Under what terms7" he parleyed.
"None, but we are not savages. You
win be treated as prisoners Of war"
His hatred OF me made him obsti-
nate, but the utter helplessness Of
their position was too apparent to be
ignored. A Hesslan muttered some
thing in German, and Grant dropped
the point of his sword with an oath
Good" said promptly. "Lleuten-
ant, have your men disarm the pris-
oners."
There was no resistance, and the
militiamen herded them against the
brusquely. 81 counted fifteen wagons"
quite a convoy, an worth fighting
for Take the left, Duval; Major,
come with me-"
We drew aside under the protection
Of a boulder, from where we could see
clearly to the top of the ridge. Only
for a moment was there silence, the
men all about us lying low in their
coverts, breathless and intent Then
we heard horses hoofs and the muir
mur of approaching voices
We could see them quite clearly, as
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 their saddles, voices muir
muring, seemingly unconscious Of any
danger It was easy to comprehend
their state Of mind. Delavan had been
left alone for a week, permitted to
sweep the countryside unmolested.
He and his command had naturally
grown careless, never suspecting their
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-
delphia outposts, and serenely conf
dent in their numbers, the night
march had therefore become a 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 a move
ment or sound from the men lying
concealed almost within arms reach
of the unconscious guards. Farrell
never stirred, and I scarcely ventured
to breathe. Then there came a squad
ron of Rangers an officer riding alone
in front, the black shadow of another
section of the wagon train looming
over the ridge behind them. The
horsemen passed us, the officer turn
ing in his saddle with an order to
close up their ranks. I recognized
Grants voice, and then, sharp as
blow, rang out Farrell's whistle at
my very ear.
There was a leap of flame from
both sides the road, lighting up that
cash in the clay bank as though it
was an inferno, the red and yellow
glow cleaving the night asunder, with
ear-splitting roar. / was on my feet,
my rife splitting, yet hardly conscious
of any act, stunned by the suddenness
of the reports, confused by those
black figures leaping forward through
the weird glare. I saw and heard, and
yet 1t was all a confused medley, in
which I bore active part while scarce
ly realizing its significance. It was
a fierce hand-tohand melee so swiftly
fought as to be over with almost in
a minute, and yet so desperate the
narrow roadway was strewn with bod
les. Frightened horses whirled and
ran; wagons we're overturned; hem
med in against the high walls, Ger
mans and British made one mad effort
to extricate themselves; the advance
guard came squirting back, pushing
blindly into the ruck, the boyish voice
of their young lieutenant sounding
above 'the uproar But our men were
between the two, a compact body,
each borderman fighting independent
Iy, but knowing the game l heard no
word of command, no shout of direc-
ton from either Farrell or Duval, yet
we ripped them asunder with sweep
ng rife butts, and, almost before /
could catch a second breath, the few
who remained on their feet were help |
essly trapped. Farrell saw it was all |
)ver, and his whistle sounded again,
3tilling the uproar Up to that mo-
nent he was beside me; with the
'choing Of the shrill blast he had dis |
appeared.
1t was Duval who emerged from the
wreck Of the train, demanding surren-
Ter.
who commands here?" he shouted.
Speak up quick"
There was hesitancy, and then out
# the black mass huddled against the
'ank recognized Grants voice
I suppose l do; has any one seen
captain Delavan?"
HE fell at the first fire, sir" an
wered some one huskily.
Grant stepped forth into the moon