The Glenwood post., 1912-09-07

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
, l 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?"
questioned bluntly. "Who command.
ed the vanguard?"
The two Hessians looked at each
other stupidity, and l asked the ques.
tion 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
Delavans officers"
He vas vat you call maype a vol
unteer leftenant," added one of the
Germans brokenly. "At Mount Holly
We met, yah, and from there he
joined"
Not one of Delavan's men then?
81 dink not; he vas Light Dragon
l haf the wagon guard-the first vag
ons-an' see him there. Mine Gotti
lie 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 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 I 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 a short consulta
tir. with Duval, seeking explanation
as to why the command had been SC
unceremoniously thrust upon me.
few words only were re !uired to make
the situation clear. Farrells ability
to injure and annoy the enemy largely
depended on his leadership not being
engagement, he always required his
/ lieutenants 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 tc
my shoulders.
But what do you people do with
your prisoners l asked
Send EN- to the Continental lines
when we can," he explained, "and il
we can't then turn 'em loose. No use
paroling 'em, as they consider us
guerilas. If I was you I'd run 'em
back to the farm house across the
creek, an hold 'em 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 lines-he's mean
pillaging devil-but it's too big a risk:
Bristol is about the nearest picket
rost, and the redcoats have got cav.
airy patrols all along in back of th@
river"
But cannot wait here" an
swered, impatiently. Farrell under
stood that. l have important informa
tion for Washington, and only came
with you tonight because you were
following along my route. I've got tc
go on"
That's all right; just give your
orders, and we'll attend to the rest
What we want is for these lads tc
go back to Philadelphia saying they
were attacked by force of militia un
der command of an officer of the Con
tinental line. That will give Clinton
scare, and turn suspicion away from
us. Grant knows you. I understand
so he'll report the affair that way
You can be off within thirty minutes"
1t was easy to grasp the point of
view, and | saw no reason for refusing
assistance. I gave the necessary Or
ders, standing under the torchlight in
. full view, and waited while a squad
of partisans rounded mp the disarmed
prisoners, and guarded them down the
slope to the edge of the stream.
Teams were doubled up, and several
of the heavy wagons rumbled away
into the darkness. Two, too badly in
jured to be repaired, were fred where
they lay, the bright flames lighting
up the high banks on either side the
road. found a big black horse, with
British arms on the bride, and a pair
Of loaded pistols in the holsters. a
fne-looking animal and came back
l,,&z
no more time. Duval had disappear
ed, but. as stood there looking about
for him to say goodbye, young
country fellow came up hurriedly
from out the darkenss.
You're wanted down thar" he said.
with the jerk of thumb over his