The state herald., 1913-02-07


never once glanced up. and, as we
passed beyond the radius Of light,
laid my hand upon the name Of Nor
gan's horse.
rs 1t true that Charles Lee thinks
We should let Clinton go without fight
ing?" asked soberiy. THAT was ru-
mored at the ferry"
"'Tis enough" he answered, his
eyes upon the dark column Of plcd-
ding men. And he seems to have
others with him. / know not what has
put the coward into the fellows Of
late. Saint Andrew! the odds are no
greater than We have met before. But
therell be no fighting. lad. fear. un-
less Washington takes the bit in his
teeth and orders 1t. I'm glad the boys
cheered him: twill give the man new
heart"
You favor the joining of issue?"
why not? Were We ever in better
fettle? A retreating army is always
half whipped. and we can choose our
ground. Why. lad. It's reported Clin-
toms line stretches out full twelve
miles, with train of baggage wagons
and battery horses, and camp follow
ers enough for a division. Twill be
easy work attending to them, and most
OF his troops are Dutch and Tories. "
BY daylight we came up with the
New Jersey militia. lying at rest along
the bank OF the Milestone river, wait
ing their turn to ford that stream. and
join Maxwell on the opposite shore.
From where | stood could see the
thin lines of Continentals spreading
out like fan, as the skirmishers ad.
vanced up the opposite bluffs. Down
the trampled bank, men we're strug-
Cling with light battery. and sudden.
ly in the press of figures l came upon
Farrell. He was mud from head to
foot. his face streaked with It, but he
looked up with beaming eyes as !
spoke his name. and our hands
clasped.
Il thought you would be over there
with MAXWELL" he said, pointing
across at the black dots, now clearly
disinguishable In the glow Of sun.
shines
Il was left behind. and came up Just
now with Morgan" replied. But I
am anxious enough to be with my own
fellows. What means that skirmish
line. Farrell? Are we already In touch
with Clinton7"
He swept the hair out OF his eyes
with his great fist.
mo one knows exactly. but the Brit.
ish are not far on. and are headed this
way. A scout came through with the
news two hours ago-Clinton has TAX
en- the road TO Monmouth" He
chuckled grimly, glancing at my face.
And who think ye the lad was who
told u.s."
"Who?" my throat tightening.
THE same you was SO anxious about
a few days back"
Mortimer! Eric Mortimer"
AYE. unless my eyes fail me al.
ready. 1t was the boy"
You are sureY You saw him?"
We'll. ! had glimpse, as he came
up the bank here from the ford, his
horse dripping. II was dark still. and
he only stopped to ask the road. |
knew the voice. and the form-the lad
is as slender as a girl-then he went
by me. digging his horse with the
spurs. and lying close. He had ORA.
goon's cape Mapping from his shoul.
dcrs, but twas the boy all right. Ali
there go the guns up the bank. Now.
perhaps. they'll let me take my fight.
Ing dogs across"
The way was open for mo. at least,
and ! swung up Into the saddle. and
drove my horse down the slippery
shore into the water. The stream
was not deep. although the current
flowed swiftly. and moment later
had found Maxwell.
Yes" he said TO my FIRST question.
I'VE are going to fight. although II
may not be anything more serious
than skirmishing today. Washington
las decided In spite OF Lee. thank
God. and wen have 20 Mt the Rcd,
coats. Lafayette commands tho nd
vance. and Wayne will be up within
n few hours. We arc to skirmish for.
ward toward Monpouth Court House;
Clinton has turned that wny."
"You learned that from n scout1"
"Yes; he just came through: one Of
Charles Loo's men. undcrstood-n
bluc-cyod. rosy y-chccked boy, who unid
his name was Mortimer. ilc had rid
den from Cookstown. and was rcclins
In the saddle. but would no on. Your
men are over there, major. beyond tho
clump OF timber. In my judgment
wen accomplish little today. for
therc In n heavy storm In those clouds
yondcr."
How many men will wc have whom
| Wayne comes up7"