Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-05-16
hard riding win put you across the
neutral ground by daylight"
CHAPTER II.
Within the Enemy's Lines.

Within the Enemy's Lines.
A long cavalry cape concealing the
British uniform wore, my horse and
myself were ferried across the Schuyl-
kill, just below the mouth of Valley
creek, and there, amid the silence and
darkness of the eastern shore, l part
ed with Hamilton, who had accompa-
MED me thus far, whispering final
words of instruction. My horse was a
fresh one, chosen from the stables Of
the Life Guard, but the trappings were
of the British. service. Within five
minutes l was out of sight of the
picket fire on the river bank, riding
steadily southeast through the night,
every nerve alert. An hours riding
found me we'll beyond our outermost
pickets, yet, in fear that | might en-
counter some body Of irregulars, scout
ing the neutral ground, l held on to
my passport until perceived the first
flush of dawn in the east. Then, con-
vinced Of close proximity to the Brit
ish guard lines, / tore the paper into
fragments. Avoiding all roads, and
seeking every bit Of concealment pos
sible, it was already sunrise before I
plunged suddenly into Hessian
picket post, the distant smoke Of the
Philadelphia chimneys darkening the
sky ahead. Unable to speak German,
my uniform won sufficient courtesy, so
that was escorted back under guard
to an outpost of the Queens Rangers,
where / explained my presence and
rank to red-faced captain in Tory
green, so insolent in manner as to be
insulting, until exhibited the sealed
dispatch, and demanded to be escort
ed at once to Sir William Howe. This
brought results, and entered the city
under escort Of dozen horsemen,
their green coats faced with dingy
white, cooked hats Tapping as they
rode.
It was thus we came to Callowhill,
and the encampment Of British grena-
diers, an officer of the Fifty-fifth regl-
nent volunteering to guide me to
Howe's quarters in High. street. He
was O genial fellow, and pointed out
various places of interest, as we rode
more slowly through the streets close
along the river side, questioning me
often upon affairs in New York, to
which l returned such vague answers
as pleased NE, paying small heed to
the truth. All along the river were
.redoubts, well garrisoned, with black
gun muzzles pointing out across the
water. Many houses had been razed,
and their debris, together with the
~flre ruin Of the past winter, gave to
everything look of desolation. Much
artillery was parked in the state house
yard, and several vessels Of war were
lying at anchor in the stream, while
the entire shore line was filled with
barges, decorated as for fete, large
force Of men laboring about them. My
companion, observing my interest at
tracted in that direction, reined up
his horse to explain.
Those are the gGlleys being made
ready for the Mischianza, Fortesque,
he said, waving his hand. "You came
to us at lucky hour"
"The Mischianza?" asked, puzzled
by the strange term. Some festival,
you mean?-some gala day?"
otis an Italian word, they tell me,
signifying medley. The officers give
It IN farewell TO Sir William. ~ho.Wiil
sail tomorrow. A pretty penny II
costs. See, there is Major O'Hara
: now, one OF the managers; there are
: three others, Sir John Wrottlesly, Ma
jor Gardiner, and the chief engineer
Montresor. Do you know them? MOI
Oh, had forgotten you have only just
arrived. You will know them ere long
however, for they are the leaders in
such affairs. That is Captain Andre
there with o'Hara." He waved his
hand, and the younger officer lifted his
cooked hat in acknowledgment. "Let
us spur over there, lieutenant, until
get you ticket of invitation"
l followed, careless Of the loss Of
time SO / could both see and hear.
ANDRE, this is Lieutenant For
tesque just in from New York with
dispatches for Howe. / have prom
ised him a ticket for tonight"
The young officer laughingly extend
ed a hand.
"The more the merrier, Craig. Will
the Forty-second see, sir; knew YOU
colonel we'll. You'll find America ism
SO bad, after you get used to It. We've
5 had { gay time here, eh, 0'Hara? Tn,
best Of liquor, and the prettiest o
girls, and now we'll show the tow
8 something 1t won't forget in a hurry
j He held out card to me. 'Rathe
y ornate, considering the printers II
i these colonies; designedft myself"
e II was certainly handsome souve
mir, perhaps six inches by fopr II
q Size. engraved as in shield, yielding
. view of The sea, with the setting
= sun, and on wreath the words, "LuccC
= iiscendens, ancto splendore resur
A GAM" while at the top was the gen
a erals crest, bearing the words, "Viv'
!. vale"
y "A fine conceit, indeed" / con
. tessed, "and II the pageant be equa
y to its promise twill be well wortl
the seeing. What is the purpose, gen
Itlemen?"
= $40 give Sir William fit farewell,
returned Andre, pleased at my un
stlnted praise. "And now that tn,
Lord has sent us a fine day. l cal
0 promise festival worthy the herald
: But, Fortesque. II you would have au
+ dience with Howe, ] advise you to &c
+ on. for he will have few spare me
ments between now and day-dawn- tc
: morrow.
We parted with much bowling, Graf
!. and l guiding our horses through tn
d crowded streets, being kept too bus
y avoiding accidents to exchange cor
= versation. Howe's headquarters o
= High street were not pretentious, ant