The Springfield herald., 1913-01-10

1T is on the Medford road"
"Ah, you have met the lad. possibly.
major" and he turned his face to-
ward me. 1.-THE boy interested me
greatly"
mo. sir; endeavored to find him
at Lees headquarters. but faxed.
have met his father and sister.
IA lovely girl. no doubt"
ITO my mind. yes. sir"
His grave face lighted with sud
den smile.
~ sometimes imagine. Colonel Ham
ilton." he said quietly. that this I'M
happy war might be very pleasantly
concluded II we could only turn our
young officers over to the ladies OF the
enemy. Would such plan meet with
your approval, major?"
81 should prefer 1t to the present
method"
mo doubt. and Mistress Mortimer?
But let that pass. until we hold
council of war upon the subject. Just
now we shall have to be content with
the more ordinary plans Of campaign.
gave the boy permission to remove
his father. and they are upon the road
ere this. I would that all the British
wounded had homes close at hand.
You have informed the major of his
mission. l presume. Hamilton. and
there is nothing l need add"
"He understands clearly. SIR
Then will complete the letter. Be
seated. gentlemen"
He wrote for several minutes stead
lily. once pausing to consult map.
signed the paper. and enclosed 1t In
another sheet across which he
scratched line Of address.
you will deliver this to General
Arnold in person. major: do not spare
horse-nesh You were in the action
today?"
with Maxwells brigade"
THAT was hard fight along the
stone wall; you came out unhurt?"
"a slight bayonet wound. sir: moth
ing to incapacitate me from duty"
VERY we'll; take ten dragons as
escort. Hamilton Will write you an
order. have told Arnold our victory
is practically complete. Clinton may
slip away in the night. for he Is a
willy old fox. but he has lost his pow
er to injure US in the Jerseys. 1 hope
to bottle him up before morning. SO
that any retreat will be impossible.
but even II he succeeds in getting his
army to the transports at Sandy
Hook, he has lost prestige. and the
victory is ours. Goodbye. major. and
the Lord guard you on your journey"
Ten minutes later, mounted on a
rangy sorrel. my dragon escort trot-
ting behind. / rode south on the
| plainsboro road, as swiftly as Its ter
rible condition would warrant
The evidences of war the wreck
age of battle. were everywhere. Sew
eral times we were compelled to leap
the stone walls to permit the passage
Of marching troops being hurried to
some new position; several batteries
passed us, rumbling grimly through
the night, and a squadron of horse
galloped by. the troopers greeting us
with shouts of inquiry.
We took to the fields. but. as there
seemed no end to the procession. I
turned my horses head eastward. con-
6dept we were already beyond the
British rear-guard. and struck out
4 across country for another north and
south road. We advanced now at a
swift trot. the sound Of our horses
hoofs on the soft turf almost the only
noise. and. within an hour. came again
to parallel fences, and a well travelled
road.
This was the road running mile
or SO, to the west of Elmburst. 1t
led as straight as any, toward Phila-
delphia. but whatever stragglers the
British army had left behind would
be found along here. However they
would probably be scattered fugitives.
unwilling to interfere with as strong
an armed party as this of mine. If
1 was alone it would be safer to turn
aside. Then. it was strong tempta-
ton to me to pass thus close to Elm
hurst It would be after daylight
when we reached there; ! might even
get glimpse across the apple orchard
of the great white house. Would Claire
be there? 1t seemed to me quite prob
able, as Eric was taking the wounded
colonel home for nursing. The girls
face rose before me against the black
night, and my heart beat fast. When
l came back, would ride to Elm
hurst--surely she would be there then.
The sergeant touched my arm.
Pardon me. sir, but there are horse
men ahead"
Indeed? was lost in thought.
Conroy. Coming this way?"
mo. sir. they seem to be travelling
south slowly. noticed them first
as we ttrned the corner back there;
could see outlines against the sky"
How large a party? They form
merely Jumping shadow to my eyes"
Not more than three or four. sir.
with a covered rig of some kind.
They're halted. now; heard US coming.
l reckon"
could perceive the little group.
but merely as a black smudge. Then
a mounted figure seemed to detach IT
self from the darkness. and advance
toward US.
Halt your men. sergeant" I said
quietly. I'll ride forward and learn
what the fellow wants"
| CHAPTER XVII.
| The Escorf