Beadle's Dime Novels No. 95 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

by Putnam, who, haying exhausted all he knew-of the disaster _ in a loud debate with his brother officers, collared his friend - Ronald for additional particulars.. Ronald smiled at the earnest- | ness of the partisan, who; at this early period, was known as — one of the best soldiers in Johnson’s camp. \ “TH tell you what it is, my lad,’ he cried, “ we shall have to make an end of this,” | “ Of what, my dear fellow ?” “ You knew as well as Lde. Turning men into the woods to fight Indians, who depend upon ordinary modes of warfare, Yes, sir, they send over Scotchmen who have fought battles, and brave ones too, on many plains in Europe,and who bring with them their ideas of file right and file left, mareh and coun- termarch, and all that, nonsense, and try to make it work in the face and eyes ofjan Indian ambuscade. Hayen’t I seen it all? and don’t I know all about it ?” “* Perhaps, you do, but-—~” “ You know I do, Ronald Mannering. I have fought over the ground under different leaders, and I know how it is, They will keep a line of men in line of battle, with thickets on both flanks and one in front, the infernal fools—and. ex- pect them to stand. Of course they won’t do «—how should they, poor devils ?—and when they run, they blame them, and not the impenetrable stupidity of the Generals they give us. Mind, I don’t say that of Johnson, for, look you, I think he has a. wrinkle. a peworan his-noddle more than the greater por- tion of our men.” Ronald laughed slightly:. “Tf some of them.could hear you, my dear Put, it would be the end of you.” ft ¥ “Tam talking to a provincial,” replied Put,“ I know bet- ter than to speak my mind to them, licking a General’s boots as they do. Look at Lyman, now.” “T understand you, But these things ena be hittpads yo - know. A ran learns many things at the army.” - “So I think,” said old, Put, grimly. .“ Zounds, though, it makes my blood boil. What are we staying here for—can you tell ?” “ Waiting for Lake George. to, dry. ie so. that we ean march down to Crown Point on the bottom. I thought. you knew that before,” replied Ronald, in a mocking tone connicoooks.comnn