Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-25
Copyright A. @ Acciurs & Co, 1911.

OF the unconscious guards Farrell
never stirred, and | scarcely ventursd
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 10
close up their ranks. I recognized
Grants voice, and then. sharp as a
blow. rang out Farrell's whistle at
my very ear.
There was q leap OF flame from
both sides the road, lighting up that
cash In the clay bank as though II
was an inferno, the red and yellow
glow cleaving the night asunder, with
ear-splitting roar | was on my feet.
my rifle splitting. yet hardly conscious
or any act, stunned by the s%uddenness
OF the reports, confused by those
black figures leaping forward through
the weird glare. / saw and heard. and
yet it was all a confused medley. in
which | bore active part while scarce
ly realizing It's significance. It was
a fierce hand-to-hand melee so swiftly
fought as to be over with almost In
q minute. and yet 80 desperate the
narrow roadway vas strewn with bod
ias. Frightened horses whirled and
ran; wagons were overturned; hem
med in against the high walls. Ger
mans and British made one mad effort
to extrtcate 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
the two, a compact body,
each borderman fighting independent
ly, but knowing the game. / heard no
word OF command, no shout OF direc-
ton from either Farrell or Duval. yet
we ripped them asunder with sweep
Ing rifle butts, and, almost before !
could catch a second breath, the few
who remained on their feet were help
lessly trapped. Farrell saw IT was all
over, and his whistle sounded again,
stilling the uproar. Up to that mo.
ment he was beside me; with the
echoing Of the shrill blast he had dis
appeared.
1t WAS Duval who emerged from the
wreck OF the train. demanding surren,
der.
Who commands hers7" he shouted.
Speak up quick"
There was hesitsncy, and then out
Of the black mass huddled against the
bank l recognized Grants voice.
I suppose I do; has any one seer
Captain Delavan?'
H fell at the first Are, sir" an.
swered some one husaily.
Grant stepped forth into the moon,
Tight, bareheaded, his sword in hand.
| Then I am the senior officer he
announced, his voice shaking slightly.
Who are your"
Camden minute men. Do you sur
~render?"
He took a long breath, ~glancing
about at the dark shadows. Some one
held q lighted torch, the red fame
casting a sudden CLEAN over the sur
rounding faces. 1t was clear that
further resistance was useless, yet
Grant temporized.
Are you in commando"
NO" said Duvsl; but I represent
the commander"
II deal with the one responsible In
this affair and demand terms. Who
is your leaderT'
Duyal smiled, turning his head In
quiringly.
81 don't think you have much
choice" he commented dryly. 'How.
ever, perhaps you are not too proud to
talk to a regular who outranks you
l present Major Lawrence. OF the Con
t~inental Line"
Surprised as | was by being thus
suddenly thrust forward into supreme
authority, l as instantly understood
Grant stared at my face in the CLEAN
of the smoking torch, almost as
though he looked upon a ghost.
"You!"
Certainly. Captain. 1t Ia a pleaR'
ure to meet with you again, especially
uuucA buCI Ahpp1 HNdih9N~'iNcS' bu'
my men are becoming impatient. Dc
you surrender
Under what terms?" he parleyed.
None, but we are not savaRes. You
will be treated as prisoners Of war
His hatred OF me- made him obEti.
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" l said promptly. "IAeuten'
ant, have your men disarm the prls
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 stord. There were
but three-Grant am two Hessians
I looked at them keenly, recalling the
slight figure Of the young lieutenant
with the boys voice, Could the Lac
have been shot, or what had become
OF him?
Are you three all that are left2'
I questioned bluntly. "Who command
ed the Vanguardf"
respee