Beadle's Dime Novels No. 92: The Twin Scouts — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

~ {Ae THH TWIN SCOUTS. “¢T have arranged my order of march, colonel.’ “¢ But, sir, the troops you have sent in advance do not un- derstand Indian fighting.’ | “ «They are his majesty’s regular troops, sir, and know their duty. You know your position.’ “ Washington went away looking disgusted enough. But he took his place as before, and the march was pushed on. ‘ You never saw such a jungle. But the troops were full of spirit, and it pained me to see so many brave fellows marching on to their deaths. . Lieutenant-Colonel Gage led the advance. He was a brave fellow, but knew us much about what he was doing as Braddock did. All at once, we heard the rattle of rifles, and the yells of the savages. Ina few moments, back came the vanguard on a dead run, and plunging into the ranks, made the greatest confusion you ever saw. “ Then we saw how it was. The rascals had waited ‘until the whole army were fairly in the woods, and then they opened upon us right and left. Not an enemy was in sight ; but from every tree, and bush, and log, rifles gleamed and bullets. hissed. out. upon us. -We did our duty, God knows, and the brave death of Braddock almost atoned for his foolish -rashness. Three times his horse went down, and as Many times he mounted again, and strove to rally his troops. I don’t blame ‘them for being scared! It seemed as if pandemonium had broken loose about-us. And the fire was withering ; our men sunk down in scores. That narrow pags in, the woods was one great slaughter-pen. Every mounted officer, except Washington, was down. ‘The ranks were thinning, and men rushed this way and that. A rifle cracked close to me, as I fought among the provincials, and then I saw Braddock ‘fall. The troops only wanted that! They would not, could not fly, while that ‘man rode up and down the line; but when he fell, they broke and fled in dismay. . Not the provincials, thank God ;, they saved the army !’ “ How ?” : | “ Washington threw them into the rear of our army (they were in the flank before), and gave the copperskins back shot for shot. There were not many of them, 1 don’t think. It was the surprise and kind of ground that did it: Neyer in my time did I witness a defeat so sweeping, so utter. Half ~~ " COmmconooks.com