Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 183: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

174 THE ARGOSY. after the holly trees had hidden him from sight, he looked down at the twig fastened on his coat and smiled a far away, unfathomable smile. Rosemary ; that’s for Drance, he — remem- * aK oehite Greene was moving south- ward into Carolina, Cornwallis turned his men to Viriginia, and after having secured the forces which Arnold had left at Petersburg, took up his head- quarters at Yorktown. The section swarmed with red coats, while a little to the southward lay an engampment of Continental troops, watching eagerly, breathlessly, Washington and _ Ro- chambeau’s next move. Into a tent an orderly came one day, stating that the elder of the two men within was wanted at headquarters. The commanding officer, deep in contemplation of a map, looked up as he entered, saluting. “ Ravenscroft,” he said, “I wish to speak to you, today; not as your supe- rior officer, not as general to aide de camp, but as man to man.” He paused; Ravenscroft inclined his head. “Our army,” went on the gray haired veteran, “ joined by the French troops, have marched from Philadel- phia to Elkton and from thence have taken shipping down the Chesapeake. All would be well, if we could but wait until Cornwallis’ retreat is thus cut off, but we are weak in numbers and Hur- lock tells me on good authority that unless reinforcements are secured within the next three days, a skirmish is inevitable—a battle possible. You see right well what this would mean to us. These detachments of red coats scattered throughout the land would bathe our lands in blood and later wipe us from the face of the earth. We must have help and soon!” He paused and lowering his voice, pointed to a paper in his hand. “ This document containing important drafts and orders must be delivered in per- 93 son to the commanding officer of the detachment; unless this is done, the most urgent part of the mission will have failed; it must not at any hazard fall into the hands of the enemy; you see how sore is our strait. Now man, what would you advise? ” The lieutenant took a step forward; the blood of all the Ravenscrofts flow- ing through his veins, leaped up; the pride of all the Ravenscrofts shone in his eyes. “ You speak truly,” he said; “ help must be secured with all speed. Me- thinks a man accustomed to the saddle, with a knowledge of the surrounding country, the position of the troops, with the countersign and the necessary pa- pers, could do——” A smile crept around the command- ing officer’s mouth. He had expected this; he had not been disappointed. “What mean you?” he asked. The younger man bent over the map on the table. “ See,” he said in an excited whisper, “it could be done by following the old pike road as far as Dinwiddie Court House; from thence a cut through tHe woodland would land him at Black- water River; then on to the James; up the bank and across; passing between Williamsburg and Yorktown and be- yond to our men.’ He had spoken rapidly and now paused for breath. His eyes were shin- ing with youth’s enthusiasm. “ Well spoken, but do you not see that the plan is well nigh impractt- cable? ” “Nay, why so?” _ “It would be a dangerous ride——”’ “ Aye, but in war times, at great is- sues, soldiers pause not to consider danger.” “A dangerous ride,” the older man spoke calmly, “one that would mean almost certain death.” There was a pause. Before Sir Pey- ton’s eyes there rose the semblance of a womans face. “Do you know one man, skilful, ecomicooolKs eo