Show os i t r Y c Romance of amance o Braddock Braddocks Defeat 4 j r r P k HUGH U I r ra ions 6 ty y h 1 M Y ERS d 4 F Fw w w. N u u. u s Copyright b y Nu 9 f e L CHAPTER IX Continued IX-Continued Continued 26 26 Til do as ns you ask mister i but before before be be- fore the fighting begins If there Is any 1 want to see you a minute tf It theres there's sure to be fighting come back to me inc Ill I'll be near the first wagon If It Is possible Ill I'll do that that I agreed glad to make any terms term that would Insure her bel safety There was some delay In starting although the drums had pounded out the long march It seems that Gen General General eral Braddock wished to examine the i Hush Bush creek shore personally before breaking camp Now my hopes were high again but alas I 1 The precipitous banks Impressed him as us being too tot much of an un obstacle to overcome now w we were so close to the fort And during the few minutes minutes- he be walked along the banks and scowled at the rugged shore over the stream the fate of 01 tin nn array army and of a continent were J 1 decided I felt a great greut regret that the ridge road was nut not followed but I 1 fully bei be i Hexed Ile the river road would at the I must mist cost some tires Urs It was not r given glnn to the nor even to the girl witch to read the next few hon hours rs It was teas near neur mi midday duy before we got gut gutIn In tn Gist was already out with the 1 1 Hound Round Puw luw und and 1 l took to the woods together bui but quickly separated and arId scouted toward Turtle crl creek k When we came carne back to cutup that night we made the same sam report report report-no no signs of any BIlY enemy In goads lu In numbers Our had ex exchanged hanged shots with v a few French hut but no DO were brought in Pining During the day das the army had fol r t limed I the he hea a valley of Long Run lion for a 8 adl dl distance of about eight miles in a southwesterly course so su slowly did we move e and had nude mall camp on the slope between the Monongahela hela and und a rivulet rivulet let called Crooked Hun Run Throughout the night the wagons kept coming coating InIn In In the morning morning July July July eighth eighth Col oll r Washington ton arrived and Insl I 1 on un exchanging the covered ered wagon foru for foru u horse lorse lie He showed his Illness ver very verj plainly and was not Dot fit to be In th the saddle Lie Ul was a young man younger than I. I anti and yet his face was very ery grave e. IH 1 I saw him when he tie went to in a 8 council with the cum corn and und the field I was V waiting near when he came from the confluence conference In company with Sir Peter Pete Sir Peters Peter's visage was vel very verj melancholy Holy and not good for the regulars reg reg- regular ulars ular to see The two of ot th them m ended their conversation close by me and asI aus as- as s I 1 was there there was no rea reason sun son why I should plu plug my ears Sir Ir Peter Petel said I l urged upon him to have ever er every foot fOHt of the ground examined and you ou heard what hut he replied that he re refu refused fu- fu fused cd to lose time me beating the tile forest for red Indians as Highland hunters bunter heat put the woods In driving out game Hut But methinks we could well take H Ii h sun les-sun n from these same HI Highland hUllt hunters rs It Jt will be a great fault It we the do donot not IWI seize belze the for fords ford K at the least said C 11 1111 el Washington Even E were that dune done there will remain much nuch fang linger tr r TIe The French will never abandon II Du flu quesne without making a fight gut Bill Buiwe we C must Bout have good courage e. e The 11 French Indians do not want to tu rt tight fight ht Out ruly danger will tie oe In u a panic pani upon lion the regulars You I dismiss that tear rear SH Su II er Iw il h t lIy replied 11 ed Ills His J uj ely eMy s Cuard know their duty too well t rand I If the provincial will limit there need he no fear concern lt it t the h soldierly Q qualities u of the fl I 1 am tau convinced the provincials win will Sir Ir Peter Ieter crisply assured Col ol 01 noel 1 out I Wu Washington ton Thereupon they parted purred wit with II core cere c re- re j hoes bows und and Colonel Washing Washington ton beheld me nie for the first rime dine lie the greeted me Ole warmly as an on old friend nA nAI j I had to UI tell him my experience us aga u 11 1 tUI guest t of Captain and he re n requested 4 requested quested me to repeat repeal what the cup cup- J tain tali hud had said about lu laying ln nn Rn ambus ambuscade code cade at ot the crossings Wh When n I hall hail finisher finished be he said j 3 It titles dues look HOk as us It the Indians r air 1 fulling failing him at the lust last moment Our scouts grouts rt report port there ore ure no CI signs ot ut Indians at either crossing Ther Theres There's s 's d iG flot nothing to hinder us seizing both hoth N funds fords now And AnI r yet yot t we should al I always ways mays beware 0 ot of th the enemy Better Uel overrate v him than to tn underrate him Well Webster take fake good care cure of nt your self If H the Impossible r It must trust he the colonials who hold the tilt hack buck until t the P regulars fin cnn het eel their h s. s he hp shook my hand anti and nl- nl flesh wt was hot but with fever He lie was wu weak Ii und and hl hi his gaze wondered red to tu hi his covered I er wn IJU I bluntly told mid nun film You Sint be hl In to hod hlll sir advice od Doctor tin Brunet mil milus hl us as r rest t Is ts I hard come collie n b In J the he II wagon on In Is In lilt ut at j ww rather pitiable 0 when one tine saw the feverish in m his thin cheeks and observed the heavy y weariness of at his eyes Butt But ut Its It's worry rather rattier than fatigue that's bothering me famine Damme Webster I Its It's hard faring when 1 I cant can't keep on a horse when I believe belle Im I'm needed but can ride across two counties without discomfort when a IJ dance fiance with a pretty lady Is the objective I turned with him towards his wagon wann ane and h he rested a hand on my shoulder not for support but In simple friendliness and I 1 prompted You worry worly Colonel The regulars he replied In a low voice olce They have no Idea what bush bush- I f fighting means Then he tie caught himself himself him him- I self and his voice was that of an un officer as he warned But Brit that isn't to tobe tobe tobe i be talked Cd about The riflemen will scout against a 0 surprise We were at the wagon and 1 would have liked to have given ghen him a n hand band over o the tall tail but knew better I Early that evening the word was passed that St SL lair Clair was to push forward for for- war ward at a once a strong force so as to tomake tomake ton n make ke both fords secure For Far some same reason he abandoned this plan which might have eliminated all chances chance e of ofa a massacre Perhaps General Braddock Braddock Brad Brad- Iad dock opposed It although I 1 was afterward afterward after after- ward told by lime that Braddock never parsed pa ea upon It It- Could we have but bur Known l that night what had gone on tu lu nuque the thc entire history of or this country tut ht ht have buve read differently always prO pronging provid prong III Ing lug we had taken advantage e of at our knowledge As It transpired infer luter the de brothers on July eighth reported to Beaujeu that our army arms was el eighteen miles from the fort Beaujeu at once in a desperate mood harangued the Indians Indian Th The red men told lold him he Ile was mad to propose an attack on such sueh an army ormy Yet Yel such was his Influence over them that tha t t they hey did not nut fla flatly refuse the venture but did ask a day In which to think over his Ills bold buld project Thus this very ery night after I had spoken with Colonel Washington the cnn clan mandant at Duquesnes was gloomily facing the hours that separated him from flow July ninth tile the day he was to accomplish so much for France and leu leave ve a n memory that was soon to be forgotten But ut he knew nothing ot of all ull tills this and Sir John did not take steps to make malte the double crossing of the Jela safe However er General Braddock Braddock Brad dock dork did realize the necessity of ot doing In part what Sir Peter Halket nod nad urged him hum to do thoroughly and at three of the clock of the morning of 0 the ninth sent Gage forward to secure secure se se- se cure the two crossings and to hold the farther shore share of or the second until the army should come conic up rip Hound Round Paw and I were awake when this tills detachment started and anel we did dill not riot go back to sleep again hud had found Simon Suman Flax Flux he the wagons and und had joined his hits mess At four o'clock In 10 the morn morning In St Si lair followed after aftel Juge Guge with the road rund builders Braddock posted four font lion him tired dred men on the tile surrounding hel hll lits and started for fot the first cros ine at six sis i In the morning roaming Hound Paw und and I J acted us stotts it h bus buts bl been ll erroneously chuu charged gett that Braddock raddock had hud no scouts out Such statements I ire me e absurd The entire Including the 1111 I ns j jund und mid guns mane made the first tirs' enix without un hi i unit und It did seem us as II il the road to lIe was W open before use V We mulched In order If f battle to the second ford furd und and saw v nothing of the enemy e hurl cur car curried ried out nut his Instructions und and the he last Insl crossing was a u 5 clear und and the prize p t wa was as 11 almost I within our oar gru grasp p pA A bund band of J twenty IW lItS ot of the enemy s Indians hud bud been n seen but hut these e hurl hud run away In trl fright ht It lurked lucked an 1111 hour bout before midday uy when we reached th the second crossing but bat it not 1101 until two to hours later Inter that t the he bunks were pronounced safe for the rhe artillery und rind the wagons In hour hou the army array had passed this tills forc ford rord t I r to r I f The fI and I were er In tn aa as vance and acid bul halted baited ed to watch this passage of the river For the benefit of ot any French scouts the troops had hud been heeD order ordered d on on dress parade It t wu was wasa a 8 wonderful spectacle and my heart beart ben high with pride Hound Round Paw ic founded his Y Yo hahl l J as he gazed wearing their best uniforms uni uni- forms fl and carrying ar arms lS that shone like like s Sh lve io TO add to our enthusiasm the colors were waving and the drums were rolling roiling out the Grenadiers March As s the disciplined files steadily approached approached ap ap- long lines of scarlet and gold 1 I could not believe the sturdy fellows ever er would be thrown Into confusion let Beaujeu act as cun can and audaciously as os be he might As they came on on It was easy to pro them Inexorable of purpose a relentless war machine that could not be stopped That last passa passage e of the tile river was the high point of my hopes the Lilies over oyer Duquesne were as g good od as town down In n this brave and Inspiring fashion was the bulk of the army drawn up In battle array near neur the Frazier cabin There would be no fight light 1 I said to the Onondaga He lie muttered The tuna man man o ol 01 the Wolves sees only red paint 1 remembered my promise to the DIn wold girl and us as there might be u skirmish between our rangers and the retreating enemy I 1 went back to the wagons She was waiting for me DIe behind behind behind be be- hind the covered wagon In which Colonel Washington hoe had overtaken o the flip army array Well be In the fort before sunset I hurriedly told her I 1 must get back to be among those who go ahead If It 1 could go with you you you- Remember your promise 1 rebuked her I 1 have come as ns 1 I said 1 would Now do you keep back with the Ule wag ons oas There may be a few bullets flyIng fly fly- Ing lug about the bend bead of the army Anti And just why did you want to see me little woman 1 She flushed and then lost her ber color and whispered There is a shroud around the rear man I wanted you ou to 0 come buck to see If It one oue had grown about you She stared at ot me as If U looking through me and at something far be he yond then she he gave ove a 8 little tittle laugh and winked back the tears and In great relief murmured You have ha no shroud Thank the Lood good God for that The Onondaga Onondaga- Put Tut no shroud on him I 1 hastily interrupted For IFor If It you do and he knows it he would feel hound bound to get himself killed I say nothing about the Indian Kiss Iss me mister That kiss I was m must most st unreal like something happening In I a dream and yet et I found It greatly to my liking a n fact that surprised me much She was so abrupt In her demand demand It It was more that than an Invitation that invitation that I 1 had obeyed awl and was hurrying hack buck to the Onondaga before 1 I had bad fully analyzed analyzed an on ul zed my emotions m Round Paw spoke to me sharply und and I did not understand what what be he besold said sold He Be trotted off ofT and I 1 followed him My white brother Is as one who has talked with ghosts he told me over his bis shoulder The order of march from the second sec ond and ford had hud the guides and engineers and six light horse following t the le scouts Gages Gage's detachment and the working party under St St. Clair ChilI came next nest Some distance behind hese last came cume the line preceded by bS light horse with four squads acting as flankers Hankers Then Theo followed the sailors and und a subaltern proudly leading lending twenty grenadiers one twelve supported by a company of grenadiers The an vanguard proper followed and behind it came the artillery anti ond wagon trains u and oud the rear guard Flanking parties were out on both sides shIes I saw W nothing ot of und and burl bad time lithe only mils to wave my han hand tl hr h Bosh before the Onondaga had led led m me around a 8 a bend In the Ule road mud At that time Gene General Braddock nil wit with h the main Y UI was well welt hark buck toward to the ford und rind ln the advance column of fIr some setae three p hundred d men taco was well well h he- he yond u II hi cross ravine lne Half way half way between bp be r tween these two divisions was another column of nt two Iwo hundred men Hud Had w we reputed the ravine It would nave have been un an eus eusy matter for Gages Guge's pioneers rs to tu have taken possession ot of it Gages Gage's command hud passed b beyond beyond be be- I yond th pot spat where the he main battle buttle was soon to b he h. fought und and mU must 1 have han Just finished ascending th the s gentle slope when I the he gave alun l a un an explosive grunt seized my toy arm MI HI lulled pulled me use behind some sOllie trees I Isa saw sa figures waving moving toward us from frum the rite din direction of 01 the fort but supposIng Ing lug them to tu be he ome some of the tile enemy enemy's scouts t the hI army Illy TO ITO BE nc CONTINUED |