Show the master of f chaos cha by levins irvng bacheller copyright 1112 1932 by irving Bi scheller service CHAPTER XII continued 15 which abeln oblee oble ged eged to speak honest an beggin yer pardon it dont make no difre difference rence amos began which the fact Is satan picks out his bis help careful like he done in the garden 0 eden I 1 may be a gram mistrustful but I 1 never let ft a word out 0 me till the wrath 0 god Is in my an I 1 have hac to spit it out youve youre promised to marry the d dest purt lest neatest gal that ever a man set his eyes on this infernal war has shoved ye apart which I 1 say athars ten thousand on us tore away from our hums an fam fambles lles an the work we should be a doln it we can stan it why hell bell an blazes you orto be able to keep yer feet under ye an I 1 say it knowin the power 0 satan thanks amos its all very true I 1 had never thought of 0 that I 1 take off my hat to you satan has had me belly deep in the mire aint nobody safe not nobody vi we c git to feelen peart an the fust we know our heels fly in the air an down we go which I 1 pray god to keep us from the flames 0 hell tin an help us to find pleasure in the way 0 grace after a little silence amos continued ive fetched myself to the 0 tellen ye euthin which fer the time bein its a mortal secret im in love an calculation on abeln married as soon as the barll let me 1 I congratulate you tell me about the woman and how it happened ashes a spick an span woman where I 1 was billeted on the long island bout my age good honest christian boman Foi vo man inan well put up an a good worker which she runs runa her own farm an has it all paid for aint so handsome as some but pleasant spoke an she can ride a boss an pull a trigger it was slow hard work to intention tion her which she have no private till shed heerd beerd all bout me from general greene then she was easier to git along with but she kep me an arms length away I 1 was never worse difficult ed which it easy to see the poin pointing tins 0 providence one evenin when we was alone together I 1 draws out my watch an I 1 says betsy that abeln her name betsy I 1 says tit ill give ye ve one hour afore its up ye got to say yes or no im nigh wore out my constitution Is br break eakin ln down 1 I showed her the watch an put it on the table which she only smiled and kep on a knitting I 1 walked up an down in this here new blue uniform she watched me which I 1 guess she kind 0 liked the looks 0 me I 1 went over an tried to make up to her she draws back an says eyes on an hands off 1 I sets down an takes the watch in my hand bym by I 1 says yeve got just three minutes wore more not a word out 0 her I 1 the last minute come az 1 I says betsy it wont do us no harm to kneel down an pray she knelt beside me an I 1 prayed as I 1 never prayed afore kep her on her knees fer halt half an hour I 1 could say ay to the lord what I 1 say to her an I 1 put in some good licks which I 1 laid down all the facts in the case byra bym by I 1 stopped an I 1 says to her betsy if ye aint convinced now ill pray some more dont she says sly my constitution has broke down I 1 know that you could be so anxious anxious I 1 I 1 says im like a dog chasin a rabbit well I 1 believe it she says you come here an give me a kiss she were just ft a waltin to see how anxious I 1 could git gil we done some kissin she fetched a bottle 0 rum an we had a good time together an you better believe it im a lucky man which thir aint no mistake im happy to know about it said the young colonel 1 I hope now that satan will let you alone A man Is a lot safer when hes intentioned tensioned ed proper as to women said gald amos which aint no doubt 0 that colln colin answered laughing as he imitated the dialect of his friend they parted at a fork in the road when colln colin returned to the great house on a hill in the lower highlands which the commander in chief had chosen for his headquarters he be found mrs bowlby waiting tor for him the general having ridden out with his stair staff the young man went with his friend to a rustic seat scat in the gardens for a talk did you find miss Faye meather he asked 1 I did 1 I tear fear that you risked your life in doing it it I 1 am very grateful and my ears ache for the news but first tell me how you found her my life was in no danger I 1 got well down the lake when a wind came up it was hard going around the points I 1 hid bid my canoe in a cove marked the place and took the trail A british scout overtook me going north it was wa a lonesome part ol 01 0 the woods lie ile kept my pace and we went on together I 1 told him that I 1 was a loyalist woman going to see sec my sister in montreal ile he began to make love to 10 me inc I 1 like him lie he was a bard hard looking man of course I 1 put dut up with it I 1 warned him to let me alone ile he col colln n int interrupted erupted her saying youve bad a hard bard time im sorry you be sorry for rue me I 1 felt sorry for him ne he know me ile he undertook to ling hug and kiss me I 1 threw him against a tree it hurt him it made him mad youre a d d rebel in disguise he said reckon he thought a woman be so stout ile he drew a big godo god o mercy pistol and fired at my head tie lie missed me I 1 miss him it was hi him m or me and he got it it tried to bring him to but I 1 carried him off in the bush and looked over his papers mostly maps of the country around TI IT and wood creek and the upper hudson they were signed gabriel carrick there were also a few let I 1 put on hla big clothes and cap and left mine there with a pairoh pair of scissors and a stan small looking glass in my pack I 1 trimmed my hair to about the length of his his hair and mine were mike alike in color with his hanger and pistol and the papers in my pocket I 1 went on got to the big river rivery saw an immense to log raft with a hut on it coming in the distance I 1 made a rough pad die with my hatchet pushed a strand ed pine log free straddled it and rode it out to the channel when the raft came along I 1 boarded it it the rafts men eager for news from eland gave me a welcome and a good dinner they worked their raft out of the current and behind the great boom near montreal I 1 want ashore and to the house of my sister who is married to a loyalist I 1 filled my friends with astonishment when I 1 told my story they helped roe me I 1 did not change the garments I 1 wore was there nigh a NN week eek near the town was a large camp of the british and the headquarters of sir guy carleton got through all right I 1 wrote a note to miss hiss payer kayer weather in care of general carleton thinking it possible that she would be at his house for I 1 remembered that the letter signed nancy had been sent in his care I 1 toll told her that a scout then quartered at the address of my sister had just returned from with nith important news for her she was there she came in a shay with will an aide of the general she dismissed the aide never have I 1 seen such a beautiful malden maiden like a young fawn in midsummer I 1 fell in love with her myself I 1 shall never forget the look of 0 her when she opened the letter and ate it up with her eyes she kissed it and held it before her face I 1 knew what that meant Is it too late I 1 asked she arose and looked down at nie me proud and kind 0 scornful you do not cot know him that Is what hat she said yes I 1 know him arid aid I 1 know about nancy again she looked at me with big wide eyes then I 1 shall tell you that you have come in the nick of time she came and took my face in her hands and kissed my forehead and says she 11 1 q could love every one who knows him can you take me back with you 7 11 it Is a long hard journey with many nights in the open I 1 said bald it Is not for you there are dangers and my canoe would not hold two of us if she had been one of my scholars I 1 would have had to give her a slapping 11 mrs bowlby went on with a chuckle she said some very bad words about her luck I 1 will not quote them they sounded so funny I 1 had to laugh of course I 1 had never met a high up city gal 11 forgive me says she ive lived in hell so long im losing my religion she sat down at a table and wrote a letter to you with my sisters pen here it Is mrs bowlby drew the letter from the pocket in her skirt and gave it to the young man ile he read it eagerly my beloved your letter Is like a warm wind in the spring it has blown the clouds out of my sky A few drops of rain fell as they were going god Is good to us I 1 can no longer doubt that our love loie has his favor in spite of the fact that I 1 have learned how bow to swear even the best of americans know how to do that its in the blood I 1 have heard beard general burgoyne say that america la is so go full of trouble rocks stones trees stumps S swamps roots mosquitoes bad weather plagues and images that even religion Is hard work so that every one who tries to practice it needs a minute of rest now and then when you add war to all this even women should have a minute or two often for needed relaxation I 1 am happy now like a ship come to anchor in quiet water till green trees in sight after a hard voyage I 1 was dreading tomorrow I 1 had promised to give harry gage his answer tomor row now I 1 know what it will be I 1 shall be going into with the army if I 1 do not find a way to go gei before it leaves I 1 should try to go with the hearer bearer but he Is a curious looking stranger and since he has hoard heard me talk he might be afraid of me I 1 am only a maiden god help me and what can I 1 do but wall wait when you learn that the british army has moved south you may know that I 1 am with it if I 1 am not dead of om old age I 1 think that we have had bad enough of this Puff suffering ering for the sake mke of posterity mother enslow tells me of an old tradition among her people that hint when three sevens come together to in a date america will be free find and inde pendent ohp reminds we me how often the number seven tins has been honored in sacred history how god rested the seventy day and made it the sabbath she tells of the seven vials the seven trumpets the seven golden candlesticks the seven spirits of god the seven wonders of the world the wise men I 1 asked what were the seven w wonders onders and think of it she mention you worst of all I 1 am three thre e times seven years old and it to la 1777 the british may not be worried but these sevens threaten you with a new peril me I 1 am superstitious enough to bellere believe that you and I 1 are going to be free and independent this year and that future generations will no longer need our help I 1 hope at least that they will give us an honorable discharge and that we can go away to it a quiet spot far from the hateful smell of gunpowder and all the talk about rebels and redcoats and let the nations do as they please meanwhile I 1 am your true and devoted pat when he had finished reading the letter he said alt witia 1 l action filling the words 1 I liss kiss your forehead lust just as she did you have been a good friend to us neither flat nor I 1 can ever forget what you have done 1 I have more to tell you the good woman noman went on 1 I gave her one of the letters which I 1 had found in the pocket of the scout I 1 did it because I 1 recognized the handwriting it was addressed to col harry barry gage cage I 1 knew the deviltry that was in it it if you ask is tr in anger he turned his horse toward the enemy how I 1 knew it I 1 answer only because I 1 am a woman I 1 gave the letter to pat she looked at the address that Is the handwriting of nancy wood bridge says she 1 I wish that I 1 knew what Is in that letter let me look at it I 1 said she gave gaie it to me I 1 tore it open and read it to her here it Is I 1 brought it with the other hidden under the lining of my coat the penmanship Is that of a man the envelope was addressed by nancy its a beautiful plot to capture you and pat I 1 put my heel on the serpents head bead colln colin read this letter written in new york dear colonel its a stupid place with nothing going on but tavern riots and old ladies teas and dinner parties the loyalists are mostly gone save saie those who are stricken with palsy the beautiful nancy woodbridge Is here exclusively for the entertainment of colonel cabot of the washingtonian ragamuffins raga muffins lie Is with her often until midnight the naughty old baroness her aunt is rushing their little romance I 1 hear bear that there will be a wedding early in september this news of your rival Is all I 1 have to send save my love to my father and best wishes to you from your bored and devoted friend robert st leger P S As I 1 write my name I 1 am urgently called to new jersey so I 1 give this to a friend who agrees to dispatch it tor for me it has been a lucky trip 91 mrs bowlby went ent on that mans letter was the best part of it nancy Is out of gunpowder ashes harmless so far as pat Is concerned she must be a cute miss she and harry were a good team pat told me of nancys nancy beauty U dont let her get her arm aro around nd your neck ashes dangerous you helped me in my trouble with the indians ive never forgotten it I 1 like you and I 1 was glad to help you the masterful mrs bowlby arose and offered him her hand you great intrepid woman pioneer keerl 1 he exclaimed 1 I wonder if any man could have done what you have done you have a singular astuteness tut eness and there are few men who have your strength and courage from the cradle I 1 have had the need of all that men have it my husband 1 Is a like me but I 1 am mortal fond of a I 1 love ove story id foot it to canada any time to keep a good story from going on the rocks A man I 1 get stirred up when I 1 see lowdown low down dirty work lie he gave her a uve alre pound note saying you would make a good soldier when the british come from 6 canada I 1 may be fighting with my husband A lame man and h its his wife are looking after the children colln colin went to his task ask she took a ship to albany two days later clinton landed tour four thousand thou suni british on york island three miles above the city under the cover corer of five big gunboats gun boats it ir was an impressive array that crossed the brouwer farm that day pushing toward the american line what a variety of color 1 norge horse guards dragoons Dragoon sl 1 red ked cout with blue and yellow facings broad belts over the shoulder clubbed hair tied with ribbons officers hats laced wih wah silver and eola the polished voll shed metat metal forgets under their chins chin glow iny in the sunlight 1 ag they advanced the cannonading canno was severe the american line could have hav e been defended but its fighters were sorely out of courage since their recent drubbing they had see seen n men shattered by can non balls and ripped by bayonets with little experience they had no heart tor for that kind of 0 weather A panic spread among them and soon they were all in retreat general washington hurrying to the scene met and tried to rally them they could not be turned they went on leaving him exposed to the advancing enemy A new washington was now with colin cabot who had been riding at his side mortified and dismayed the chief was in a rage ile he snapped his pistol at the retreating men lie he threw 11 it on the ground he threatened them with his sword my G dl he exclaimed are these the kind hind of men I 1 must depend upon in anger lie he turned hla his horse toward the enemy it seemed as it if lie he were of a mind to end his humiliation in a brave and sudden sacrifice rather than join the rout of 0 men fleeing from their duty colln colin cabot seized the bridle of the white horse and turned his head in a moment they were behind a hill riding rapidly northward the chief was himself again the revolution was not dead in the two minutes of time just behind them the tide of war he had turned As they rode along the young colonel got a vision of |