The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-06-08

inkling Of the way war would be
waged did the French have the to-
merity to give US battle. But they
could not understand. having had no
experience In our woods style of fight
ing. England had failed to end any
merit In our rifles, although these
typically American weapons resulted
from long experience In f0rest-hunt-
Ing and fighting, where the fear Of
Indians called for a minimum amount
Of noise and the maximum of ac-
curacy. and where powder and lead
were so precious that a small bore,
long barrel piece was the only gun
man could carry any distance.
A sergeant was mildly curious
about the little hinged box In the
stock of the gun where ] kept the
creased patches of linen. proudly
explained the virtue Of the patch. and
be impatiently urged:
you're proper man. Put away
that piece and enlist and learn how
to fight
Il am to serve as a scoutp
you're master dark Of skin for an
Englishman." he remarked, his dull
gaze suddenly growing suspicious.
my. people were English. was
born in Virginia"
you're black enough for a French
man,
II was taken for Frenchman at
DuQuesne this spring"
He grunted and walked away. |
had forgotten him and was starting
to visit the IroQuois camp when q
babel of voices from the direction Of
the parade ground attracted my at
tention. A score Of soldiers, released
from drill. were bearing down on me
In a very bnsinessiike manner. NY
acquaintance. the sergeant, was lead
ing them. They grouped around me and
the sergeant said:
1--WE believe you're a spy from the
French"
"Then report II to your superlors.
But the man who calls me spy Is a
liar"
4 dropped my long rife In the hollow
OF my left arm and swung It about
and enlarged the circle. and warned !:
ETH be easy for you men to murder
me. but I'll take at least one OF you
with me. II sou honestly believe me
q spy, report me. But hands off"
The fellows lacked nothing In c0ur-a
age and | believe they would have
risked closing In on me If not for the
arrival of a horseman. He looked
scarcely out OF his teens, although
only q year younger than |. or twenty
three. The horse, skillfully handled.
swept a cleared space before me, and
the rider sternly demanded:
whats this confusion mean? am
Colonel Washington, aide de camp to
General Rraddock."
OF course recognized him the mo-
ment l giimpsed him. The sergeant
humbly explained:
1--WE believe, sir, he is French spy.
We came to take him before our cap
TAIN"
He dismounted and took a sharp
look at my dark face, and after mo-
ment cried:
. "Hai Mr.. Brond. OF Alexandria.
Webster Brond, whom I haven't seen
these three years. What's this about
you being spy?''
''Its their Imagination, Colonel. l
reported to the council in Alexandria.
after playing spy for the English at
Duquesne. General Braddock himself
will remember me-"
'"Then it was you who was before
the council" he cried and thrust ont
his hand. II arrived after you had
left and In the confusion ] did not
hear your name"
Turning to the soldiers he said:
''This man is loyal subject Of his
majesty and he has done the king and
the colonies excellent service. Be
more cautious another time"
They were glad to withdraw. Coll
onel Washington sat down on the log
and motioned me to sit beside him and
asked: -
"Can you tell me what you learned
while at Duquesne? I'm hungry for
news of the country, and I've had no
chance to talk with his excelIency,
Governor Dinwiddie. was indls-
posed and tardy in rejoining the
army"
So ! repeated In detail, and various
things Bradd0ck had not had the pa
thence to listen to. When I ended. he
thonghtfully mused:
There's but one thing to guard
against-a surprise attack on the way.
II we can avoid that, we'll have Du-
quesne just as surely as we're now
camping on this creek. Where would
they be likely to lay an ambassador"
aYou believe they'll lay one2s
ITO IN c.ONTTNIIED