Show t j BENNY BROWNS BROWN'S BATTLE Benny Br Brown wn sat at on the basic bank of the river down in Georgia fishing Benny was sleepy for the sun shone warmly on the water but the howl of ot animals back in the forests kept him awake awake- for it was more more than one hundred years ago that Benny lived and he was a l lad ld d right sight in the midst of ot the excitement of the revolutionary war So as his cork bobbed his head nodded Then s suddenly he lie sat up and gazed in wonder for around the bend bendin in the river came four stately ships of war On board he could see big guns peeping over the side and men in blue with swords dangling about their knees i The British sloops he cried in as astonishment astonishment astonishment as- as going up the river and andall andall andall all the American troops away Father will wUl be back bacle at dawn from the army but what good will that do And poor Benny set up a shout that was soon answered by three other American American Ameri Amen can boys who had been fishing farther down the stream There are no men at home now explained Benny when his comrades had gathered about But some are due tomorrow for my father gets home early in the day It is up to us boys to keep that fl fleet can fleet can we do doit doit doit it There were Bob Fred and Harold besides himself making four in all So Ben sat still with his head in his hands while the other boys watched the ships sailing toward them Presently Presently Presently Pres Pres- the little fleet dropped anchor and came to rest about a quarter of ofa ofa a a. mile mite off shore I have it ft exclaimed Benny starting starting starting start start- ing to his feet we wo can fool those English and capture their ships all by I ourselves if you fellows will just follow follow follow fol fol- folI fol- I low me Then ho he explained what they were to do Harold knew all the I army bugle calls and arid had an instrument instrument instrument ment with which lie he could send the I notes trembling far over the river ri erso so he lie ran home for it ft while B Benny ex explained explained explained ex- ex the plan to the others Fred was an expert at drumming and happened happened happened hap hap- to have brought his best one along My plan is this said Benny We Ve must make the British believe that the American troops have just arrived but the best plan will be not to do the work until after sunset Then we can manage it easily Now all of us get to work and build bi big bonfires on all of the eight hills in sight That will keep us busy till supper and after you fellows fellows fellows fel- fel lows have had supper come hero here as quickly as you can That captain will think we have troops here and father can make him So all the hot afternoon the four boys worked like hike beavers dragging brush and dead planks to the top of the hills hUls till each one was crowned with a huge pile of brush The English English English Eng Eng- lish ships hips lay still in the bend of the river and did not notice anything go going going going go- go ing on around them But as soon as darkness dankness crept over the land big bonfires began to pop out First one and then another blazed forth till every hill was ss as a beacon light Then Benny had Harold walk along the meadow sounding his bugle as 1 if calling calling call call- ing troops to camp while white Fred on an another another an- an other lowland b beat at his drum loudly as if he also were carrying orders to soldiers All night there were to be heard the shrill calls of ot a bugle and the stately roll Foil of a a. drum echoing from the hills hUls When dawn drew near Benny ran home to greet hl his father who had just arrived In a a. few tew excited words he told his story Write a note to that British captain cap cap- tam tain demanding his surrender telling him hits it is useless to that the American troops troops' are on all sides cried the boy Then take It out yourself yourself your your- self sel under a flag of truce Within half an hour this was done and by the time the first rays of the sun dipped on the water the English captain believing he was in the hands of the enemy surrendered to Bennys Benny's father And a very much ashamed crew were the British sailors when they marched ashore to see that four American boys h had hd d captured their en enire entire entire en- en tire ire fleet Copyright 1916 by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate New York City I |