The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-18
Copyright, A. Q. KeClurg q c., lsli.

authority, as instantly understood
the purpose, and stepped to the front,
Grant stared at my face in the CLEAN
OF the smoking torch. almost az
though he looked upon a ghost,
."You!"
Certainly, Captain. It is a pleas.
nre to meet with you again, especially
under such happy circumstances. But
my men are becoming impatient. Do
you surrender"
Under what terms?" he parleyed.
None, but we are not savages, You
will 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 Hessian muttered some
thing In German, and Grant dropped
the point of his sword with an oath.
Good said promptly. "Lieuten.
ant, have your men disarm the pris.
oners."
There was no resistance, and the
militiamen herded them against the
bank, encircled by a heavy guard.
Duval singled out the officers from
among the others, and brought them
forward to where stood. There were
but three-Grant and two Hessians.
looked at them keenly, recalling the
slight figure Of the young lieutenant
with the boys voice. Could the lad
have been shot, or what had become
of him?
"Are you three all that are left?"
I questioned b1untly. "Who command
ed the vanguard?"
The two Hessians looked at each
other stupidity, and I asked the ques-
ton again before Grant saw fit to re.
ply. His manner was excessively in
solent.
"That is more than I know. We
Joined after dark, and did not meet
Delavan's officers"
"He vas vat you call maybe a VOL
unteer leftenant," added one of the
Germans brokenly. cat Mount Holly
We met, yah, and from there he
-joined.".,s u. 81 .,-. -. .s.., : .
"Not one of Delavan's men them"
Il d1nk not; he vas Light Dragon
I hat the wagon guard-the first vag-
ons-an' see him there. Mine Colt!
he come pack vid his mems all right
slash, shoot-his horse rear up; that
vas the last I see already"
''The lad got away, with three 9TH
ers, sir" broke in a.new voice at my
back. ;"They wheeled and rode
through us, across the water. We
thought the horse guard would get
them over there, but guess they
didn't; anyhow there was no firing.
The fellows must have turned in un.
der the bank, and rode like hell"
Satisfied as to this incident, and not
altogether regretful that the boy had
thus escaped, held short consulta.
ton with Duval, seeking explanation
as to why the command had been so
unceremoniously thrust upon me. A
few words only were required tc make
the situation clear. Farrell's ability
to injure and annoy the enemy largely
depended on his leadership not being
known. While taking part in every
engagement, he always required his
neutenants to represent him in nego.
tiations, so that up to this time, what.
ever the British might suspect, they
had no positive proof that he was
openly in arms against them. Duval,
in turn, taking advantage of my pres.
ence, had shifted the responsibility to
my shoulders.
"But what do you people do with
your prisoners?" 1 asked
"Send 'em to the Continental lines
when we can," he explained, "and II
we can't then turn 'em loose No use
paroling 'em, as they consider us
guerillas. If l was you I'd run 'em
back to the farm house across the
creek, an hold EN- there till we get
rid of this stuff. Maybe it'll take
twenty-four hours to hide it all, and
burn the wagons. Then the boys can
turn 'em loose, an there's no harm
done. I'd like to take that fellow
Grant into our Knes-he's mean
pillaging devil-but it's too big risk:
Bristol Is about the nearest picket
post, and the redcoats have got cav:
airy patrols all along in back Of the
river"
"But cannot wait here" an.
swered, impatiently. Farrell under
stood that. l have important informa
ton for Washington, and only came
with you tonight because you were
following along my route. I've got tc
60 on"
That's all right; just give your
orders, and we'll attend to the rest.
What we want is for these lads to
90 back to Philadelphia saying they
we're attacked by force Of militia un.
der command Of an officer of the Con-
dnental line That will give Clinton
4 scare. and turn suspicion away from
US. Grant knows you. I understand,
70 he'll report the affair that way.
You can be off within thirty minutes
It was easy to grasp the point OF
view, and saw no reason for refusing
assistance 1 gave the necessary Or
ters. standing under the torchlight In