The Coolidge examiner., 1933-04-21
CHAPTER IIl-continued

III TWO minutes luey WOutu udNc
had me helpless" said Colin.
There's no telling what would have
happened. | should probably be a
prisoner on the British Somerset
which lies in the harbor near the
Neck. suppose that Harry Gage
and Dave Fayerweather had organ
lied a raid across the line TO start
on signal. They have influence
enough 10 do II without the knOwl-
edge of General Gage. Your com
ing as you did broke up the pretty
plan. We got them and we had TO
get them off our hands. Harry Gage
would have been an embarrassing
piece of property"
"Why?"
washington is opposed to duels,
and IL Gage hac gone TO the guard
house. | should have been up before
ahe Commander in Chief for breach
of discipline and the whole little
army. Now nobody need know that
there was a duel unless your men
go blabbing. Keep them quiet.
did my hest TO save him. but that
pig-bralned fool had to be slashed."
'He hankered fer 1t an | was
glad to see you put a leak In his
hide which III have to lie like
child o. Satan in that report. 'Tain't
the fust time. | guess It's what the
Lord would expect o me. I've got
so many sins 10 be paid for 1t might
as well be throwed on the heap"
"welI. | guess the Lord likes
peace and mercy about as well as he
likes truth. I'm not crazy TO be
hero and get some fellow hung or
writhing under the cat-o'-nine-tails.
Let's call II little row with some
drunken loyalists whom we met on
the road. I'd lie any day TO save
the honor of lady or TO prevent a
Dot of unnecessary suffering"
Came a few moments of silence
broken only by the creak of saddle
leather and the plodding hoofs of
their horses. Amos was the first TO
speak.
If God hears us. ! wouldn't won
der If he was laughin' leetle."
The remark cleared the air and
both captains began to laugh. Amos
was rarely in merry mood. When
IL came II was ike thunder storm
after a drought, with no sign of re-
straint in II.
swell. anyhow ! guess he'll be in
no mood to send us to hi" said
Colin.
"If He is, | reckon there won't be
folks enough in Heaven to keep
each other from bein' lonesome
which ] like comp'ny, an plenty of IT,
Ev'ry day ] pray to have the flint
took our o. me nm ! pray fer my
nelghbOrs an rhe hull town. cause
IL the Lord God lets me in don't
want to be lonesome like I've been
on that Of farm"
II don't think you've any cause
esr man has any need to tremble
and be afraid. YOU tackled those
raiders like man. You're no cow
ard"
Il can be skeered easy. but not
when I'm riled. which I'm like a
TOarin' lion an it's shameful how !
act an talk. When I'm in q sober
mind think o the fire O He'll. That's
when do my tremblir'. Fire never
felt good to me. Burnt bad when !
was young. Got enough of It,"
In the moment Of silence that fol-
lowed, Colin was laughing under
his breath. Amos sighec and added:
I've done some backslidin' in my
time. but never nothin' equal 10 this
night. which Id call II uncommon
slippery. II ever a man needed the
healin' balm o Gods mercy. do"
Soon Amos found a sense of re-
lief in these words of the young
man: You can't be a saint and
so TO war. The LORD don't expect 1t.
How is soldier to keep the ten
commandments"
They We're in Cambridge and be
fore the gate at general headquar-
ters. The window, OF the old man.
sion were aglow The guard pacing
in front OF 1t blew his whistle
hostler came from the stables.
Colin said TO him, "She is cool
Give her water and oats. | shall
want her at eight il the morning."
Billy came out OF the front door
and seeing the young captain said
I'VE was worried about you. sir. The
General is In his Office Said he
wanted to see you as soon as you
got in"
Colin had MOI anticipated tina,
he would have 10 see the General
nor did he know of the alarming M
turr of the report of Revere and of
Its effect on the Commander In Chief
and Lady Washington.