BO , 
 
 BY EDWARD S.ELLIS 
 
THE 
 
 GAMMANS POETRY 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 GEORGE H. GAMMANS, II 
 
 Class of 1940 
 
 First Lieutenant Army Air Corps 
 
 Distinguished Service Cross 
 
 Missing in Action January 15, 1943 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ■ 
 
 00022085850 
 
 v>y 
 
 This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS 
 ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE 
 CENTS a day thereafter. It is DUE on the 
 DAY indicated below: 
 

 GENERAL WASHINGTON RFINED UP AT JACKS SIDE, WITH THE CHEERY SALUTATION, 
 
 how do you do, my young FRIEND? 1 ''— Page 284. Frontis. The Boy Patriot. 
 
The Boy Patriot. 
 
 A STORY OF 
 
 JACK, THE YOUNG FRIEND OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS. 
 
 **&&■ 
 
 With Eight Page Illustrations by J. Watson Davis. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 A. L. BURT ? PUBLISHER. 
 
Copyright, 1900, by A. L. BURT. 
 
 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 By Edward S. Ellis. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter. page 
 
 I. Young Patriot and Young Tory 1 
 
 II. Down the Delaware 15 
 
 III. Trenton, 1776 32 
 
 IV. " Confound it ! " 44 
 
 V. The Days that tried Men's Souls 59 
 
 VI. An Important Engagement 72 
 
 VII. The Eavesdropper 88 
 
 VIII. Crossing the Delaware 102 
 
 IX. The March to Trenton 116 
 
 X. On Guard 131 
 
 XI. A Clever Trick 145 
 
 XII. A Desperate Chase 159 
 
 XIII. A Prisoner 173 
 
 XIV. Fritz 187 
 
 XV. Through Mishap and Peril 199 
 
 XVI. Past Midnight .' 215 
 
 XVII. Near Morning 229 
 
 XVIII. The Alarm 238 
 
 XIX. The Turning Point of the Revolution 253 
 
 XX. On the Firing Line , 264 
 
 XXI. After the Battle 280 
 
 XXII. Conclusion 294 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/boypatriotstoryoOOelli 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 General Washington reined up at Jack's side with the 
 cheery salutation, "How do you do, my young 
 
 friend?" Frontis. 
 
 page 
 
 ' ' The one who gets that gun has it in his hands now, " 
 quickly replied Mr. Fitch 38 
 
 : ' I think you will remember my name when you hear it," 
 said General Washington 73 
 
 The Commander-in-Chief stood erect, with arms folded, 
 
 looking off in the darkness toward the Jersey shore. . 113 
 
 Jack heard the splashing as the young Tory leaped into 
 the water, and quickly the young patriot did the same 170 
 
 Jack suddenly went out of the window head first into a 
 
 pool of water 201 
 
 "Give me that letter to Col. Rail," demanded Jack, "if 
 you want to save your life. " 226 
 
 " Mein Gott," he exclaimed, throwing down the cards 
 and leaping to his feet, " we're attacked." 252 
 
 The Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 YOUNG PATEIOT AND YOUNG TORY. 
 
 Jack Marlton was angry " clean through " 
 and more dissatisfied than he had ever been in 
 his life. 
 
 You may have noticed that now and then 
 when a day opens wrong, everything gets askew 
 and matters grow worse with every hour. It 
 had been that way with Jack, and, though he 
 was naturally one of the manliest and pluckiest 
 of fellows, I am forced to admit that his temper 
 proved unequal to the strain, and before night 
 came, he was in a fighting mood. 
 
 Now, as I shall have a *pod deal to tell you 
 
2 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 concerning Jack Marlton, for he is the hero of 
 this story, it is best that we should have an un- 
 derstanding about him, in order that the events 
 which follow shall be clear. 
 
 I never saw Jack, for he died long before I 
 was born, but I do remember a number of old 
 men, who knew him well, both in youth and 
 manhood, and all told me that he was one of 
 the most admirable lads they ever met. He was 
 fine-looking, sturdy, honest and truthful, and 
 one of the most devoted patriots that ever 
 lived. That he was full of genuine American 
 bravery you will admit long before you finish 
 this record of his deeds and adventures. 
 
 The most irritating day which came to Jack 
 was late in the summer of 1776, when he 
 lacked a few months of the age of sixteen. 
 His home was on the Pennsylvania side of the 
 Delaware River, a few miles above the city of 
 Trenton, which at that time was only a strag- 
 gling town. 
 
 His father, James Marlton, had served as a 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 3 
 
 captain in the French and Indian War, and in 
 the famous battle in front of Quebec, in Sep- 
 tember, 1759, he was badly wounded. His left 
 arm was taken off close to the shoulder, and of 
 course his fighting days were over. Besides 
 this he was troubled with a permanent lameness, 
 due to a bullet received at Braddock's massacre. 
 In other respects, however, his health was rug- 
 ged, and you would be surprised to see how 
 well he got on in tilling and cultivating his 
 little farm on the Bucks County side of the 
 Delaware. It seemed as if the deftness and 
 skill of his former two arms were concentrated 
 in the single one, and only for a short time did 
 he need the help of his neighbors. 
 
 Jack was his only child, and as he grew in 
 strength, his aid became valuable. He was a 
 natural athlete, a fine swimmer, runner and 
 horseman, and cheerfully gave all the help he 
 could to his parent. 
 
 There was a wide contrast between the dis- 
 position of the father and mother. The latter 
 
4 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 was affectionate, indulgent and full of emotion. 
 She was a great talker, but her patriotism rang 
 as true as her husband's, who was silent, stern, 
 rarely smiling, and, although it cannot be 
 doubted that he deeply loved his noble son, he 
 rarely gave expression to the feeling. Perhaps 
 the discipline of the army led him thus to con- 
 trol his feelings. The boy inherited qualities 
 from both his parents. 
 
 When the Revolution was fairly under way 
 Captain Marlton sent a letter to General Wash- 
 ington, asking the privilege of helping his 
 country in some one of the many ways that he 
 was sure could be found for him. Washington, 
 who remembered him well, replied in a kindly 
 message, complimenting him on his patriotism, 
 but assuring him that there were enough able- 
 bodied patriots in the colonies to win their in- 
 dependence, and insisting that the captain had 
 well earned the privilege of devoting the rest 
 of his days to the comfort of his family. 
 
 When the veteran read the letter from 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 5 
 
 Washington, he sighed, looked lovingly at the 
 coarse blue paper on which the flowing words 
 appeared written with a goosequill, and thrust 
 it into his pocket without a word. He had read 
 it aloud to his wife and boy. After a few 
 minutes, he addressed Jack. 
 
 " How old are you ? " 
 
 " I'm in my sixteenth year, father." 
 
 u When you are eighteen, you may enlist — 
 that is if you want to." 
 
 Jack's eyes sparkled. His heart quickened 
 with joy and his handsome face glowed. " Good ! 
 good ! thank you, father ! But isn't there some 
 way," he added with a rueful expression, " that 
 I can hurry up and reach eighteen ? " 
 
 " I don't know of any ; maybe your mother 
 does," replied the parent, looking solemnly at 
 his wife, as if the problem, though a serious one, 
 was capable of being solved by a woman's wit. 
 She smiled and stroked the dark locks of her 
 boy, seated in his chair beside her, with his hand 
 clasping one of hers. 
 
6 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " My dear Jack, by and by you won't be in 
 such a hurry to have the years rush past ; they 
 go fast enough as it is. I shall be sorry to lose 
 you, but, if your country has need of your help, 
 and you live to reach the age of eighteen, I shall 
 give you up without a murmur and follow you 
 with my prayers to the end." 
 
 The father lit his pipe, crossed his legs and 
 said no more. Sitting by the crackling logs of 
 hickory on the broad hearth, his eyes remained 
 fixed upon the glowing embers, while he slowly 
 puffed the smoke from between his thin lips and 
 gave himself up to reverie, as was his favorite 
 custom. 
 
 It was a cool night in autumn, and by and by 
 Jack bade his father goodnight and went to his 
 room, whither his mother followed him, listen- 
 ing to his prayer at the bedside, and after he had 
 bounded into his trundle bed, she " tucked him 
 up," leaned over and kissed him, and then left 
 him to his own communings. 
 
 u I wonder if there's any way of my soon 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 7 
 
 reaching eighteen," muttered Jack, giving ex- 
 pression to his whimsical fancies ; " it seems to 
 me the days weren't ever so long as now, and 
 it will be a week before to-morrow morning. 
 It'll take a year for the next month to pass, and 
 Christmas won't come till after we've had several 
 Christmases " 
 
 He checked himself at the oddity of his own 
 ideas, for, if- he went on at that rate, he would 
 become so befogged that he would be all at 
 sea. He concluded to swing back upon solid 
 ground. 
 
 " No ; there isn't' any way of fixing things ; I 
 must wait, and there's no use of trying to coax 
 father to change his mind. He said I can be- 
 come a soldier when I reach the age of eighteen, 
 and he won't let me enlist one day before that 
 time. If I pester him, he won't say a word but 
 just take down that strap over the mantelpiece. 
 — Queer, how well father can use that single 
 arm of his ! " added Jack in a half-scared voice, 
 as he recalled several episodes of his boyhood ; 
 
8 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 u I'm sure lie couldn't do better if lie had both 
 arms, and most fathers couldn't do as well." 
 
 " I wish I knew how long the war is going to 
 last," he added, a moment later ; " what I'm 
 afraid of is that it'll be over before I get a 
 chance ; maybe it won't end till they have the 
 help of a lot of young chaps like me — s'pose it 
 should fail, just because some of us are only 
 boys ! " 
 
 Jack gasped at the thought. He did not see 
 anything grotesque in the idea that the success 
 of the war for independence depended upon 
 himself and some others equally youthful, be- 
 cause the number of young patriots he had in 
 mind was vague. 
 
 " There may be several hundred of us," was his 
 generous thought, u and they must miss us. Too 
 bad that we weren't born a few years sooner ! " 
 
 With a myriad of fancies running riot in his 
 brain, he finally gave way to drowsiness and 
 did not open his eyes till the gray light of morn- 
 ing was stealing into the small room of his 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 9 
 
 modest home. Then he bounded out, hurriedly 
 dressed himself, attended to his chores, and, as 
 soon as breakfast was finished, asked his father's 
 permission to run over to see his nearest neigh- 
 bor, Aaron Wagstaff. The parent nodded his 
 head, without speaking, and Jack hurried up the 
 road in the direction of the larger farm and finer 
 residence of old Mr. Sartos Wagstaff. 
 
 Being a near neighbor, Jack and Aaron were 
 naturally thrown a good deal together, though 
 I am sorry to say that the two boys had more 
 fights than ought to have been the case. Aaron 
 was fully a year older than Jack, taller and 
 slimmer, and not his equal in physical dexterity. 
 Jack was a better rider, swimmer and horse- 
 man. 
 
 The bouts at fisticuffs did not seem to lessen 
 a certain fondness the lads felt for each other, 
 and they occasionally spent an eveniog together, 
 playing checkers, talking over matters in which 
 they had a mutual interest, eating nuts, cakes and 
 fruits, and drinking sweet cider. Then perhaps 
 
10 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 a quarrel would keep them apart for a week or 
 more, when their friendship would assume the 
 gushing order, as if to make up for the time lost. 
 
 At the school, which they attended during 
 the winter months, Jack Marlton led the bo) r s 
 in scholarship, and Aaron showed considerable 
 jealousy over the superior brightness of his 
 neighbor. 
 
 But Jack thought nothing of all this, as he 
 trotted over the highway, for he was eager to 
 tell his friend the news. Just before reaching 
 his house, he met the youth sauntering in the 
 direction of Captain Marlton's home. 
 
 " O Aaron, what do you think ? " exclaimed 
 Jack, dropping to a walk, and then pausing in 
 front of him ; " father says when I'm eighteen 
 years old I can enlist." 
 
 " What of it ? " growled Aaron, who seemed 
 to be in a sulky mood that morning. 
 
 " I s'pose your father will let you enlist too ; 
 you're a year older than I, but I want you to 
 wait so we can go together." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. H 
 
 Aaron scowled and looked at him for a full 
 minute in silence. 
 
 " Say, Jack, which side do you mean to 'list 
 on?" 
 
 But for the expression on the face of young 
 Wagstaif, Jack Marlton would not have be- 
 lieved him in earnest. 
 
 That's a fine question to ask me, Aaron Wag- 
 staff ! I wish I was eighteen years old this 
 morning ; for, if I was, I'd never stop running 
 till I reached General Washington and had a 
 musket over my shoulder." 
 
 " You're a fool ! I s'pose you think General 
 Washington can't get along without you ; you 
 always was the most conceited boy I ever 
 knowed." 
 
 " I think Washington needs every patriot he 
 can get ; haven't you ever thought of enlist- 
 ing ? " 
 
 " Yes ; father and me have talked it over, 
 but, Jack Marlton," added the speaker, step- 
 ping forward and shaking his finger almost 
 
12 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 against the nose of the astounded lad ; " I want 
 you to understand one thing : when I do enlist 
 it will be on the side of King George, and I'll 
 do all I can to put down the rebels like General 
 Washington, you and the rest of 'em, that don't 
 know what is best for you and haven't a spark 
 of gratitude in 3 )ur hearts. The king ought 
 to hang all of you ! " 
 
 Young Marlton recoiled a step, and for a 
 moment or two was too astounded to make fit- 
 ting answer to this avowal. Then his face flushed 
 and his eyes flashed. 
 
 " The king ought to hang me ! " repeated the 
 young patriot, as if he failed fully to grasp the 
 meaning of the words. 
 
 " Yes, hang you and all of them ! " added the 
 other, with a sneer, leaning over until his face 
 almost touched that of Jack ; " you can hear, 
 can't you ? you're a traitor ! " 
 
 " And you're a Tory, Aaron Wagstaff ! If 
 you think so much of King George, why don't 
 you go to England and live under him ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 13 
 
 " I am living under him ; this is his country 
 as much as England ; I say he ought er hang 
 every one of the rebels, and I hope to see the 
 day when you'll be dangling at the end of a 
 rope, and I shall be there to laugh at you : do 
 you hear that ? " 
 
 "Yes, I can hear without your yelling loud 
 enough to wake the dead ; I say you're a Tory 
 and you're not fit to live in America ; we're 
 going to gain our independence and you and 
 the rest of your gang will beg for mercy from 
 
 us." 
 
 " Beg for mercy from the like of you," said 
 Aaron, his face twisted into the worst sneer of 
 which it was capable ; u it's all well for you to 
 talk of 'listing when you're eighteen years old, 
 but why don't you 'list now ? " 
 
 " I'd be mighty glad to, if father would let 
 me, but he won't." 
 
 " 'Cause he thinks by that time you'll have a 
 little sense in your head and won't make a fool 
 of yourself." 
 
14 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Why don't you enlist ? " 
 " I'm thinking about it ; when you start to 
 jine Washington's ragamuffins I'll set out to 
 jine the army of King George, and won't we 
 make you rebels dance ! The first thing we'll 
 do will be to hang that General Washington of 
 yours that has been put at the head of the 
 rebels." 
 
 " Do you call General Washington a rebel ? " 
 
 " Yes ; a rebel and traitor, ten times over ! " 
 
 " By gracious ! I can't stand that ! I don't 
 
 mind what you call me, but when you say 
 
 General Washington is a traitor, that ends all 
 
 talk!" 
 
 u What are you going to do about it ? " 
 " Sail in ! Off with your coat ! " 
 Nothing loth, the young Tory doffed his coat, 
 and as soon he had done so, the young patriot 
 proceeded to "sail in," in his most vigorous 
 fashion. 
 
the boy patriot. 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DOWN THE DELAWARE. 
 
 A half-hour later Jack Marlton arrived at his 
 home. The father scrutinized hini closely as he 
 approached the barn, where the parent was look- 
 ing after the two horses, and though the boy's 
 clothing was untorn and his face unmarked, the 
 other saw evidence of an exciting experience, 
 whose meaning he suspected. 
 
 " Have you seen Aaron \ " he calmly asked. 
 
 " Yes, sir." . 
 
 " Did you have a fight with him ? " 
 
 u Yes, sir." 
 
 " I told you last week that I was tired of this 
 fighting between you and him ; go to the house 
 and bring me the strap." 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied the boy, running to the 
 
16 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 home, near at hand, and speedily reappearing 
 with the instrument of punishment, which he 
 promptly handed to his parent. 
 
 " You see, father, he called me " 
 
 " I don't wan't to hear any explanation ; it's 
 
 a disgrace that you can't live within half a mile 
 
 of another boy without fighting him almost 
 
 every time you meet ; take off your coat." 
 
 While Jack was complying, he managed to say, 
 
 "Aaron said General Washington was a 
 
 traitor " 
 
 " What ! " thundered the parent, suspend- 
 ing the partly raised strap. 
 
 " Yes, sir, — and that he ought to be hanged." 
 " And you stood by and allowed him to say 
 that ! Off with your coat in a hurry ! " 
 
 "But I didn't, father! That's what we 
 fought about ! I told him I didn't mind what 
 he called me, but when he said General Wash- 
 ington was a traitor I couldn't stand it and must 
 sail in.' 1 
 
 " Well, what did you do ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 17 
 
 "Sailed in." 
 
 " How did you make out ? " continued the 
 captain, unconsciously lowering the leather, but 
 not fully satisfied. 
 
 " I don't look as if 1 suffered much," replied 
 Jack with a grin ; " do I ? " 
 
 " I am not asking about what you suffered ? 
 What about him f " 
 
 " Well, father, you ought just to see him ! 
 He's got two black eyes ; his nose is banged out 
 of shape ; I skinned that knuckle on his 
 teeth " 
 
 "Did you make him take back his words 
 about General Washington ? " 
 
 " You bet I did ! When I got him down and 
 treated him as he deserved, he yelled ' Enough ! ' 
 andbawle d for me to let him up. I told him I 
 wouldn't do it till he took back his words about 
 General Washington." 
 
 "Did he doit?" 
 
 " I had to punish him well, and he twisted 
 about and kicked and tried to get loose, but 
 
18 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 when he found it was no use, he gave in and 
 said he was sorry and wouldn't ever say any- 
 thing like it again. Then I let him up." 
 
 " What next?" 
 
 " He waited till he was a good way down the 
 road, and then looked around and yelled, f Gen- 
 eral Washington is a traitor.' " 
 
 " What did you do ? " 
 
 " Started after him, but he dashed through 
 the gate and was in the house before I could 
 catch him, but I'll settle with him the next time 
 we meet." 
 
 u You won't forget it ? " 
 
 " No, sir ! " 
 
 " Here ; take the strap back to the house and 
 split some wood for your mother." 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied Jack, who may be excused 
 for chuckling softly to himself, as he made his 
 way into the house, where he came face to face 
 with his mother. 
 
 " Why, Jack, what have you been doing that 
 your father should punish you \ " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 19 
 
 " Nothing, mother." 
 
 " He never punishes you without good cause ; 
 I am grieved " 
 
 " But he didn't punish me, mother." 
 
 " What are you doing with that strap in your 
 hand?" 
 
 " Going to hang it up where it belongs." 
 
 "But," continued the mystified parent, "I 
 don't understand it at all." 
 
 "Well, you see, Aaron WagstafT and I had 
 the biggest tight of our lives " 
 
 " How sorry I am, Jack." 
 
 " You ain't half as sorry as Aaron is. Father 
 was going to punish me for fighting till I told 
 him Aaron called General Washington a traitor, 
 and being as I couldn't stand that, I thought it 
 my duty to teach Aaron better manners." 
 
 u And did he say General Washington was 
 a traitor ? " asked the horrified mother. 
 
 " That's what he said." 
 
 "And you — you — taught him to be more 
 careful in his speech." 
 
20 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " I think I did," said the son, not deeming it 
 worth while to tell how the Tory had broken 
 his pledge, when he was beyond reach. 
 
 " Bless your heart ! I'm proud of you," and 
 both her arms swung round the neck of the 
 young patriot, with such fervency that Jack 
 found it hard work for a minute or two to keep 
 up his regular breathing. 
 
 " I know after this," was his conclusion, " that 
 when any one slurs General Washington it's my 
 Christian duty Lo stir up things, and by gracious ! 
 I'll do it." 
 
 Now, I am sure I have told you enough to 
 justify me in skipping the better part of a 
 year, and coming down to the day on which, as 
 I said, Jack Marlton was angry clean through 
 and more dissatisfied than he had ever been 
 before in all his life. 
 
 That brief but decisive encounter between 
 him and Aaron Wagstaff naturally made their 
 relations strained. They avoided each other, 
 and when they occasionally met, had little or 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 21 
 
 nothing to say. The Tory made no reference 
 to General Washington, and the patriot did not 
 feel himself justified in " sailing in " again, so 
 long as the other held his peace. 
 
 Meanwhile news had come of the Declaration 
 of Independence, and the hopes of the patriots 
 were high. But by and by matters began to 
 go wrong. The ragged Continentals were de- 
 feated by the more numerous and better 
 equipped armies of King George, and the outlook 
 grow gloomier as the months passed. It was 
 known that the expedition sent to Canada the 
 preceding year had met with woful disaster. 
 General Montgomery, the leader, was killed in 
 front of Quebec, Arnold was badly wounded, 
 and everything had gone amiss. 
 
 Washington had done everything possible to 
 strengthen New York against Howe, but, in the 
 latter part of August, a battle was fought on 
 Long Island, in which the Americans lost many 
 prisoners, had a large number killed and were 
 saved from utter overthrow only through the 
 
22 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 generalship of Washington, which enabled him 
 to extricate the defeated army from a most 
 perilous situation. 
 
 This was the news that had been brought to 
 Captain Marlton by a wounded patriot, who was 
 permitted to walk to his home, near that of 
 the captain, and who bore the dismal tidings 
 which reached the ears of Jack on the last 
 day of the summer of 1776. 
 
 It was this news which upset the young 
 patriot and made him fighting mad. He 
 yearned for some one to give him cause for 
 a battle. Meeting Aaron Wagstaff on the high- 
 way, he glared at him, hoping he would say 
 something to justify him in stern measures. But 
 the young Tory was discreet, and, to quote one 
 of our late members of Congress, " he remained 
 mute, silent and dumb, and besides didn't say 
 a word." 
 
 It was a great relief to Jack, when his father 
 told him early in the forenoon to go to Trenton, 
 and buy him some tobacco and tea, for, despite 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 23 
 
 the " Boston Tea Party " of nearly three years 
 before, it was not hard to secure the luxury in 
 most parts of the colonies by paying the high 
 price demanded. 
 
 You must bear in mind that no bridge 
 spanned the Delaware for a good many miles 
 above Trenton, until after the opening of the 
 nineteenth century. Near the town was a 
 ferry with several others at points further up- 
 stream. Those who owned small boats used 
 them in crossing the boundary between the two 
 States, or when they chose, resorted to the broad 
 flatboats employed at the ferries. 
 
 When Jack Marlton visited Trenton he 
 always used his small sailboat, if the river was 
 open. He could embark in it near his own 
 home, sail down stream, if the wind was favora- 
 ble, and return the same way. If there was no 
 wind, he knew how to handle the oars. Ordina- 
 rily the row was a laborious one, but a sturdy 
 young fellow like him did not mind that. 
 
 (xlad of the order from his parent, Jack 
 
24 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 sprang into the craft, as he shoved it from 
 shore, and hoisted the leg- of- mutton sail. A 
 brisk wind was blowing, and, if it did not 
 change many degrees, would be equally useful 
 on his return. Seating himself in the stern, 
 where he could control the rudder and the sail, 
 he sat back and would have been buoyantly 
 happy but for the disturbing news about the 
 reverses of the patriot army near New York. 
 
 " I suppose we must expect such things," he 
 mused with a sigh ; " for father says they're a 
 part of war, but it seems to me we're getting 
 more than our share. How Aaron and the rest 
 of the Tories are chuckling over this ! When 
 I met him a while ago, he tried to look sober, 
 but he would have hurrahed if he dared. I 
 wish he had tried it ! " muttered the young 
 patriot, compressing his lips. 
 
 He steered his boat out into the middle of 
 the river, so far as to have the advantage of the 
 current, for he was in that mood that he was 
 restless and sought relief through the activity 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 25 
 
 of his body. It was characteristic of the times 
 that the previous year Jack had painted out the 
 name " George III." on the stern of his boat, 
 and replaced it with that of " General George 
 Washington," in letters as big as there was 
 room for. Aaron Wagstaff had named his craft 
 " Kitty," when it was made, but as that was 
 not expressive enough to suit him, he wiped it 
 off, so to speak, and in letters as large as those 
 on the stern of Jack s boat, he painted the name 
 that had formerly been used by the young patriot. 
 
 Jack observed it for the first time, when 
 Aaron turned across the river, just behind him, 
 and sailed in close to the eastern or Jersey side 
 of the stream. The Tory had evidently started 
 for Trenton town, and there could be no doubt 
 that he thus guided his craft in order that the 
 young rebel might see the royal name recently 
 given to it. 
 
 Jack gnashed his teeth. The sight, while he 
 was gloomily brooding over the news from New 
 York, added to his irritation. 
 
26 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " That's the most impudent thing I ever saw," 
 he said to himself ; " I've a great notion to run 
 into him and sink his old boat." 
 
 In fact, Jack partly headed his craft toward 
 the other, with the resolve to rid the Delaware 
 of its presence, but he reflected that he would 
 hardly be justified in the act, and he contented 
 himself with the thought : 
 
 u He mustn't get in my way, for, if he does, 
 there'll be a row ! " 
 
 Apparently Aaron Wagstaff had no thought 
 of getting in his way, since none knew better 
 than he the consequences of such a proceeding. 
 
 The speed of the boats was about the same, 
 and, in the olden times when the boys indulged 
 in a race now and then on the river, the ques- 
 tion of superiority was never settled. Because 
 of the assistance from the current, Jack gradually 
 drew away from his neighbor, and when he ran 
 his craft ashore near the ferry, there was a 
 space of fully a mile between them. 
 
 The broad flat boat used for carrying passen- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 27 
 
 gers and teams across the river, happened to be 
 on the Pennsylvania side, there being but one 
 craft in use, and the two sturdy men who poled 
 it to and fro were with it. The water was low, 
 and no persons were waiting on the Jersey shore 
 to use the ferry. Thus it happened that when 
 Jack landed, no one was near. 
 
 That, however, had happened before, and, 
 drawing the prow as far up on the shingle as he 
 could, he carried the heavy stone, to which a 
 half dozen yards of rope were tied, the full ex- 
 tent up the bank and threw it down as a sure 
 anchor. He had done this many times, and 
 could count upon the brothers Bobbins, who 
 managed the ferry, to keep an eye on his prop- 
 erty. 
 
 Without any misgiving, but in a gloomy 
 frame of mind, Jack Marlton continued up the 
 sloping bank, and entered the small town of 
 Trenton, which was destined soon to play so 
 important a part in the Revolutionary history 
 of our country. 
 
28 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Perhaps some of my readers are familiar with 
 the modern city which is the capital of New 
 Jersey. If so, it may be hard for them to pic- 
 ture the town as it was during the war for in- 
 dependence, and perhaps it is not worth while 
 for me to dwell too much upon it. 
 
 You understand of course that few landmarks 
 remain to-day, but let me refer to several, for 
 the ground has long been familiar to me. 
 
 The street which extends along the river bank 
 and is now known as Front was formerly First 
 Street. State Street of to-day runs parallel to 
 it, and is the main avenue of the city. It con- 
 tains the capitol or State House and the most 
 elegant of the private dwellings as well as the 
 leading business houses. Of course it was a 
 short street a hundred years ago, when it bore 
 the name of Second Street. The only building 
 that I know of to-day, which was standing in 
 the Revolution, is the First Presbyterian church, 
 which has been remodeled since those far-away 
 times. Further up the street, on the present 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 29 
 
 corner of State and Warren, where now stands 
 the imposing Masonic Hall, was the brick house 
 in which Abraham Hunt lived. I remember 
 the building well, for it is only a few years ago 
 that it was torn down. There was a small 
 house on the left, where Washington met in 
 council with his officers. It was made of stone 
 and was razed some twenty odd years ago. 
 
 The next streets in importance are Greene and 
 Warren, running at right angles to State Street. 
 Previous to the Revolution, and indeed for some 
 time afterward, they were King and Queen 
 Streets. St. Michael's Church, on Warren Street, 
 was there in a humbler form during the Revolu- 
 tion, as was the old tavern which I remember 
 well on the other side of Warren Street, on the 
 present site of the Catholic Cathedral. It was 
 in that building that the mortally- wounded Rail 
 was carried, after the Hessian surrender at 
 Trenton. 
 
 Through the middle of the city runs the As- 
 sunpink Creek, which was spanned by a wooden 
 
30 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 bridge, built nearly a hundred years before the 
 Revolution. I recall some years ago, when this 
 old bridge was taken apart to make room for 
 the modern structure that now spans the stream. 
 None of us will forget that the oaken timbers 
 dug from the ground, where they had reposed 
 for two centuries, were as sound as on the day 
 they were laid down. 
 
 It was into this little town, containing less 
 than two thousand inhabitants, that Jack Marl- 
 ton, on the last day in the summer of 1776, made 
 his way and strolled through the streets with 
 which he had long been familiar, He walked 
 slowly up Queen (Warren) Street to the little 
 tobacco and snuff store, on the left near Abra- 
 ham Hunt's home, and purchased the tobacco 
 for his father. Then he crossed to the other 
 side, and walked about half-way to St. Michael's 
 Church, where he went into a grocery store and 
 bought two pounds of tea for which he paid in 
 English gold, receiving his change in coin, for, 
 early as it was, and patriotic as most of the 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 31 
 
 people felt, they were not partial to Continental 
 currency that was in circulation with a rapid 
 " downward tendency," which, as respects valua- 
 tion, soon reached the vanishing point. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 TRENTON, 1776. 
 
 I suppose you have heard of John Fitch, the 
 real inventor of the steamboat. He was a 
 native of Connecticut and was a watchmaker by 
 trade, but when the Revolution broke out he 
 turned his attention to making guns for the 
 American army. He was wonderfully skilful 
 and his weapons were excellent. In 1785, he 
 built a steamboat which ran regularly between 
 Philadelphia and Burlington. It was proven in 
 the courts in 1817, that Robert Fulton, who is 
 credited with constructing the first steamboat, 
 had access to the drawings and papers, and that 
 Fulton's invention was precisely the same as 
 Fitch's. - 
 
 When Jack Marlton made his visit to Trenton, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 33 
 
 after calling at the store where he bought his 
 tea, he walked down Second Street a short way, 
 and turning to his right, entered a shop, which 
 jutted out slightly in advance of the dwellings 
 alongside and consisted of a single room. There 
 was a work-bench extending across the rear, but 
 without any partition separating it from the 
 front of the store. Thus the workman could 
 pursue his labors, interrupting them only when 
 a customer entered. In the window showing on 
 the street were several muskets, leaning against 
 the sides, while between them on a level with 
 the stocks, were three or four well-made swords, 
 bayonets and pistols, — all the firearms of course 
 being of the flintlock pattern. 
 
 The artificer busy at his bench, with his back 
 toward the outer door, of course was bareheaded, 
 and wore a leathern apron, while he plied his 
 tools with the deftness of an expert. He 
 was in the prime of life, being slightly above 
 thirty years of age, with a fine athletic frame, 
 abundant dark hair, regular features and a face 
 
34 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 covered with a short sandy beard, while his eyes 
 were keen and bright. 
 
 As the little bell, fitted over the door so that 
 it would tinkle when the door was shoved in- 
 ward, gave out its warning, the man turned his 
 head quickly, without moving his body and held 
 his work suspended. 
 
 u How do you do, Mr. Fitch ? " called Jack 
 pleasantly. 
 
 " Helloa, Jack, you're just the fellow I want 
 to see." 
 
 " What can I do for you ? " asked the pleased 
 youth. 
 
 Let me say here that Jack and Mr. Fitch were 
 old friends. The skilled mechanic was a sports- 
 man, and, when tired of labor (and often when 
 not tired), he seized one of his best guns and 
 went up the Delaware on a hunt for birds. 
 Deer, bears and wolves were plentiful in those 
 days in the neighboring woods, and wild ducks 
 could be counted upon at any time. 
 
 Mr. Fitch's favorite plan was to sail up or 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 35 
 
 down the Delaware, and hunt on the Penn- 
 sylvania side. This habit brought him in 
 contact some years before with the grim, stern 
 Captain Marlton. Strange to say, the two 
 formed a strong liking for each other from the 
 first. Mr. Fitch enjoyed nothing more than a 
 hunt on one of the keen, autumn days, and a 
 visit to Captain Marlton's home, where he ate 
 an evening meal and often stayed over night. 
 
 Naturally the gentleman took a fancy to Jack, 
 who often accompanied him on his hunts. 
 Rarely or never did the boy make a visit to 
 Trenton, without calling on his old friend, who 
 was always glad to see him. 
 
 When, therefore, the man said in his heartiest 
 manner that Jack was just the one he wished to 
 see, the youth attached no meaning to it except 
 that it was his way of welcoming him. 
 
 u I have asked the opinion of several of my 
 friends," he replied, " on a little piece of work and 
 I want to hear yours." 
 
 u All right ; let me see it." 
 
36 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 From one end of the work-bench the gun- 
 maker picked up a weapon and handing it to 
 the boy said : 
 
 " There ! I should like to know what you 
 think of that." 
 
 It was an old-fashioned rifle, considerably 
 lighter than the clumsy weapons used by west- 
 ern hunters, and was made with exquisite skill. 
 There, of course, was the claw-like hammer, grip- 
 ping the piece of yellow flint, the powder -pan 
 and the vent-hole through which the flashing 
 grains carried the fire into the barrel and ex- 
 ploded the charge, the iron ramrod, running 
 through the clasps along the under side of the 
 barrel, until its lower end passed from sight 
 into the polished walnut, which extended for- 
 ward from the stock and was pierced for the 
 purpose of holding it, the little receptacle in the 
 side of the stock closed by a lid with a spring, 
 and intended to contain the tiny squares of linen 
 that were wrapped around the bullets to gain 
 additional power and accuracy, while the stock 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 37 
 
 itself was beautifully ornamented with silver 
 work. 
 
 " My gracious ! " softly exclaimed the admir- 
 ing Jack, after he had turned it over several 
 times in his hand and feasted his eyes upon it, 
 "it's the finest gun I ever saw." 
 
 "You really like it then?" 
 
 " Like it ! Why, Mr. Fitch, why don't you 
 put it in the window so as to let folks see it as 
 they go along the street ? It will make a big 
 excitement in town and bring you all the custom 
 you want." 
 
 " I've got all I can attend to from General 
 Washington, but never mind about that ; I 
 want to know how you like the gun." 
 
 Jack raised the weapon to a level and pointed 
 it toward the door. Fitch watched him closely, 
 and saw that he did so without the slightest 
 tremor, and apparently with the greatest ease. 
 Then he lowered it, and again turned it over and 
 inspected every portion. 
 
 " That must be worth twenty or thirty pounds." 
 
38 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " It isn't for sale, Jack, for the reason that it 
 is already sold or rather given away." 
 
 " The chap is lucky who gets that." 
 
 u The one who gets it has it in his hand now ; 
 it was made for you ; I told your father and 
 mother several months ago what I was going to 
 do ; I suppose your father made some excuse 
 for sending you to Trenton to-day, but his real 
 reason was that I might hand you that gun ; he 
 knew you would be in to see me, and I told him 
 I should have it ready ; of course the powder- 
 horn, bullet-mold and pouch go with it." 
 
 While Mr. Fitch enjoyed the astonishment of 
 his young friend, he had no wish to make any- 
 thing like a scene. When, therefore, the time 
 came to spring his little surprise, he completed 
 it and left no necessity for any postscripts or 
 addenda. 
 
 Jack Marl ton Avas so overcome for the mo- 
 ment, that he felt faint and had to sit down on 
 one of the stools, placed for the convenience of 
 visitors. He quickly rallied and then modestly, 
 
THE ONE WHO GETS THAT GUN HAS IT IN HIS HANDS NOW," QUICKLY REPLIED 
 
 MR. fitch.— Page 38. The Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 39 
 
 but with deep feeling, uttered his thanks. He 
 told the truth when he said that for two years 
 the dearest wish of his heart had been to own a 
 weapon like the one that had just been pre- 
 sented to him. His father allowed him to use 
 his gun at times, but it was so heavy that it was 
 quite laborious to handle it. 
 
 " But this " 
 
 And the delighted boy leaped to his feet and 
 aimed it at an invisible foe. 
 
 " Your father and mother expect you to bring 
 it back ; so, suppose we put a charge in it that 
 you may be ready for whatever happens, though 
 it isn't the season to look for game on your way 
 home." 
 
 The rifle was loaded by Jack, with the equally 
 pleased donor looking on. The flurry being 
 over, the thoughts of both turned to the war. 
 
 " You have heard the bad news ? " was the 
 inquiring remark of Fitch. 
 
 " You mean about the battle on Long 
 Island?" 
 
4.0 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 The man gravely nodded his head. 
 
 " Yes ; Lew Bascomb was wounded and is 
 now at home. He came over to our house early 
 this morning and told us?' 
 
 " I heard of it yesterday and have a little 
 later news to-day.' 1 
 
 "What is it? " eagerly asked Jack. 
 
 ' ; Nothing of special moment ; Washington 
 managed to get the army, or what was left of 
 it, beyond reach of Admiral Lord Howe, and 
 has retreated up the Hudson. That of course 
 gives New York to the redcoats." 
 
 " What will they now do ? " 
 
 " I have been studying over that and believe 
 the next move of Howe will be against Phil- 
 adelphia, because it is our capital. It will be 
 a big thing to send Congress flying for their 
 lives." 
 
 iC But Washington won't let that be done." 
 
 " Washington is the greatest and best man 
 that ever lived, but he can't stop the redcoats 
 unless he's got the men and guns to do it with. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 41 
 
 He'll do all that's possible, but something tells 
 me that we've got to lose Philadelphia. Con- 
 found it ! " exclaimed Fitch, with more im- 
 patience than he had yet shown ; a my position 
 is such that I'm growing madder every day it 
 lasts," 
 
 " How is that ? " asked the surprised Jack. 
 
 " Why, when Washington wants every man 
 he can get, here I'm working at my bench, as if 
 the sound of an enemy's gun has never been 
 heard in the country." 
 
 " But aren't our armies short of guns ? They 
 can't do any fighting without them and no one 
 knows so well how to make them as you." 
 
 "That's what General Washington has told 
 me several times, though there are plenty that 
 can do as well as I. He says I'm helping him 
 more by making muskets than I could in the 
 ranks." 
 
 " Don't you believe him ? " 
 
 " I believe anything he says, but that doesn't 
 take away the meanness I feel over doing no 
 
42 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 fighting, while so many are risking their lives. 
 I'll stand it as long as I can, and, when I can't 
 stand it any longer, I'll catch up my gun and 
 off I'll go." 
 
 After some further conversation and the prom- 
 ise of Fitch to make his friends up the Delaware 
 a visit, as soon as he could, Jack bade him good- 
 by, and with his beautiful present resting on 
 one shoulder, he strode up Second Street on his 
 way to the riverside to return home. 
 
 It would be idle to pretend he was not proud 
 of his handsome gift. He met several men, 
 and a number of boys about his own age, with 
 whom he was acquainted, and whenever any 
 one of them made any remark about the gun, 
 Jack took the occasion to stop and exhibit the 
 weapon, warning the friend that it was loaded 
 (unnecessary pains in the case of a flintlock, 
 which shows at all times the powder in the 
 pan), and explaining that it had not been bought 
 by him, but was a present from Mr. Fitch. 
 
 He received many congratulations, while a 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 43 
 
 few who were not strangers showed by their 
 looks and manner how much they admired the 
 weapon. Possibly Jack Marlton made a more 
 circuitous walk through the town than was 
 necessary ; perhaps, too, he was unusually de- 
 liberate in his gait, and paused in front of some 
 of the shop windows with pretended interest 
 longer than was his custom ; but, if so, who 
 shall blame him ? He finally reached the river- 
 side and then came another of the great provo- 
 cations and annoyances which were to make that 
 day one of the most memorable in his life. 
 
44 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "confound it!" 
 
 Jack Marlton strode rapidly down the river 
 bank, with his handsome rifle resting on his 
 shoulder, intending to shove off and make all 
 haste homeward, for, boy-like, he was anxious to 
 exhibit his present to his parents, that they 
 might share in his delight, bat lo ! his boat was 
 gone. 
 
 He stopped in dismay and looked around. 
 Not onlv had it vanished, but it was nowhere 
 in sight on the broad expanse of river to the 
 north or south. A mile away, a little craft was 
 skimming diagonally up-stream, and careening to 
 one side under the propulsion of the brisk wind 
 which had veered around so that it could not 
 have been more favorable. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 45 
 
 A second glance told him that the boat was 
 the " King George III.," owned by Aaron 
 WagstafT, who was seated at the stern, with his 
 hand on the tiller. The keen eyes of Jack 
 showed him that his old acquaintance was look- 
 ing over his shoulder, and he fancied he saw 
 the grin of pleasure on the Tory's face, as he 
 observed the anger and disappointment of 
 Jack. 
 
 The Bobbins brothers were poling their big 
 flat boat to the Jersey side and were already so 
 near that the young patriot hailed them. 
 
 " Helloa, you fellows ! do you know what's 
 become of my boat ? " 
 
 The elder brother replied : 
 " Wagstaff and Jim Wilkins took it." 
 1 What did they do with it ? " asked the lad, 
 not fully understanding the reply. Instead of 
 explaining, the brothers continued poling their 
 bulky craft until it grated against the shingle, 
 and leaving the younger to look after it, Hugh 
 the elder stepped out. 
 
46 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Just before we took Doctor Hawkins and 
 his gig across, Wagstaft' and Jim came down to 
 the bank and talked together for a few minutes. 
 I wasn't nigh enough to hear all they said, but 
 I caught enough to know that Wagstaff claimed 
 he had bought the boat of you while you and 
 he were in Trenton and he wanted to sell it to 
 Jim. He couldn't have asked Jim much," added 
 Bobbins with a grin, " because he couldn't pay 
 much, but they made some sort of bargain, and 
 the two together pushed it from shore, slung the 
 anchor aboard and Jim jumped in and headed 
 up-stream. I didn't pay any more attention to 
 them. I say, Bill," said Hugh turning to his 
 brother, " did you notice where Jim went with 
 the boat ? He doesn't seem to be in sight." 
 
 The younger pointed up-stream. 
 
 " All I seen was that he kept close to the 
 Jersey side and he can't be very far off." 
 
 The fellow shaded his eyes with one hand 
 and peered up-stream, but failed to discover 
 anything of the missing craft, which might well 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 47 
 
 be, since the bank was lined with overhanging 
 bushes and undergrowth. 
 
 Jack Marlton did not tarry to make more in- 
 quiries, for he kneAV he had learned all there 
 was to learn. He was angered that the two 
 men should have allowed such a thing to take 
 place under their very noses, when they ought 
 to have known something was wrong and "Wag- 
 staff was playing a despicable trick. 
 
 Jim Wilkins was a loafer belonging to Tren- 
 ton, who generally spent enough time in fishing 
 on the Delaware to earn sufficient to keep him 
 supplied with drink. Certain that he must 
 have been a party to the shady transaction, 
 Jack started up the bank at a rapid walk. His 
 belief was that the fellow was hiding some- 
 where along shore, intending to wait until 
 night, when he would probably return to town 
 and perhaps try to sell the boat to some one 
 else, and thus secure a liberal return for his 
 rascality. 
 
 Jack's impatience caused him to break into a 
 
48 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 lope, but as lie sped forward, he made sure he 
 did not overlook any spot where his property- 
 might be drawn under the bushes. Wilkins 
 was somewhere along shore, or it might be he 
 had turned to the westward and headed for the 
 wooded island, which stands a short distance 
 above Trenton nearly opposite the present site 
 of the State lunatic asylum. 
 
 Better luck attended Jack's efforts than he 
 expected. He was still trotting along, his 
 bright eyes scanning every yard of the shore 
 between him and the river, and occasionally 
 pausing to make his scrutiny complete, Avhen 
 he sprang across a small brook, which mean- 
 dered down from the woods on the right, and 
 found its way into the Delaware. At the 
 moment of making the leap, the youth fancied 
 the undergrowth looked denser than usual close 
 to the water. He decided to investigate. 
 
 He was moving carefully through the under- 
 growth, when he heard a rustling, and an instant 
 later, caught sight of the white sail of his boat, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 49 
 
 which had evidently just been raised. A few 
 paces further, and he saw his own craft, with 
 Jim Wilkins in the act of sitting down at the 
 stern to take charge of the tiller. 
 
 " Hold on there, you thief ! " called Jack. 
 
 The startled fellow turned his head like a 
 flash, and, forgetting in his excitement to steer 
 right, the craft swung round and thrust its nose 
 in the mnd. 
 
 "What's the matter with you, sonny?" 
 growled Wilkins, his fright vanishing when he 
 saw that it was only a boy who had hailed him. 
 
 u What do you mean by running off with my 
 boat?' 7 
 
 u Your boat, be blowed ! I bought it of 
 Aaron Wagstaff." 
 
 u You knew it belonged to me " 
 
 " He bought it of you this afternoon in 
 Trenton." 
 
 " That's a lie and you know it ; why are you 
 sneaking along shore under the bank, trying to 
 keep out of sight till night ? " 
 
50 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Be keerf ul, young man, how you talk to 
 your betters ! If you don't like what I done, 
 you kin settle with Aaron Wagstaff ; this ere 
 boat has been bought fair and square by me, and 
 what's more I'm going to keep it." 
 
 " I don't think you will." 
 
 " You don't, eh ? How're you going to hender 
 me ? " 
 
 Jack Marlton took his gun from his shoulder 
 and leveled it at the fellow, whose sodden, 
 bloated countenance showed his fright. He 
 could not have failed to notice the weapon 
 at command of the youngster, but he did not 
 suspect the determination behind it. 
 
 " If you don't get out of that boat and leave 
 inside of two minutes, I'll let daylight through 
 you ! " 
 
 " Say, hold on ! " called back Wilkins, duck- 
 ing his head and throwing up one elbow, as if 
 to ward off the expected shot; "don't shoot 
 that infarnal gun." 
 
 u Do as I tell you and I won't." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 51 
 
 " Lower the blasted thing or p'int some other 
 way ; it might go off accidental like." 
 
 Even in his anger, Jack could not help smil- 
 ing at the terror of the loafer. Since the latter 
 was unarmed and the boy commanded the situa- 
 tion, he lowered the weapon. 
 
 " I've got my eye on you," he said warningly ; 
 " if you try to get away or play any of your 
 tricks on me, that'll be the last of you, Jim 
 Wilkins ! This is a new gun that I've never 
 fired yet, and I would as lief begin on you as on 
 any other brute." 
 
 But Jim didn't fancy serving as the first tar- 
 get of the terrible weapon. The boat was still 
 held motionless, by the clayey soil into which 
 the prow was pushed, and by taking a single 
 long step, he placed himself on shore. 
 
 " There ! take your blasted old boat ! I 
 didn't want it any way." 
 
 " Why then did you steal it ? " 
 
 " Just foolin', that's all ; can't you take a 
 joke ? " 
 
52 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Those kind of jokes are best answered by a 
 rifle shot ; now, off with you ! Don't try to 
 come near me," added the youth warningly, re- 
 coiling a step, as the fellow sidled up, apparently 
 with some sinister purpose in his mind. At the 
 same time, he partly raised his gun, and Wilkins, 
 seeing that he was baffled, turned away, hastily 
 scrambled up the bank and hurried in the direc- 
 tion of Trenton, without once glancing over his 
 shoulder. 
 
 Jack gave him no further attention, for it was 
 not necessary. Laying his gun in the boat, he 
 pushed the prow clear, sprang aboard, and, grasp- 
 ing the tiller, headed up and across the stream. 
 He was master of the situation, but he was full 
 of resentment toward Aaron Wagstaff, who had 
 played the trick on him. 
 
 Looking up the river, he saw that the other 
 boat had almost reached its destination. The 
 sail looked no bigger than his hand, and the 
 craft was running close inshore, as it approached 
 the place where it was to land. Aaron himself 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 53 
 
 was but a tiny speck thrown in relief against 
 the white of the sail, and it was more than 
 likely that he believed it was Jim Wilkins who 
 was guiding the " General Washington " that 
 was skimming over the surface after him. 
 
 " If he keeps up this sort of work," muttered 
 Jack, " it won't be long before he'll find himself 
 in the worst trouble of his life." 
 
 The sight of the gleaming, beautiful weapon 
 lying on the seat in front of him did much to 
 restore the temper of the boy, but when the 
 flush of the first excitement was over, his mind 
 reverted to the woful news that had been 
 brought a short time before from Washington's 
 army. It was a serious blow to lose the city 
 of New York, though at that time it was a 
 smaller town than Philadelphia, the capital of 
 the new-born United States. What caused 
 Jack Marlton to shudder was what had been 
 said by his friend Mr. Fitch, who, thorough 
 patriot that he was, did not allow his hopes to 
 deceive him. He was convinced that Philadel- 
 
54 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 phia would be the next chief point of attack. 
 Not only would it be attacked, but it would be 
 captured, for with Admiral Howe's fleet to assist 
 the large and well-equipped army, it was abso- 
 lutely impossible for the patriots to make an 
 effectual resistance. 
 
 " When things get to going wrong, a good 
 many people are scared ; I suppose hundreds 
 that have been shouting for independence will 
 give up and say it's no use to keep up the fight 
 any longer, but," added the young patriot with 
 a flash of his fine, hazel eyes, " I know two per- 
 sons that will never give up : they're General 
 George Washington and Jack Marlton ! " 
 
 He smiled at the fancy of coupling his name 
 with that of the great man, but he was in earn- 
 est in declaring to himself he would never yield, 
 so long as the breath of life remained in him. 
 
 " When I'm eighteen, I'm going to enlist — on 
 the very day ! I am now in my seventeenth 
 year and on the tenth of next October, will be 
 eighteen." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 55 
 
 Strange that such a bright youth as Jack 
 Marlton had not yet detected a grave error in 
 his calculations, but it may be that his fervent 
 hopes obscured his usually clear perception. 
 
 A few minutes later, he ran his boat ashore, 
 lowered the sail, sprang out, carried the anchor 
 well up the bank and then walked rapidly to 
 his home. Night had fully come and the stars 
 were shining, but there was no moon in the sky. 
 It was warm and still, and when he passed 
 through the gate, he saw his father and mother 
 seated on the porch, the former smoking his 
 pipe and not uttering a word, while his wife 
 kept up a continual run of small talk. 
 
 " Why, Jack," called the mother in pretended 
 surprise, " whose gun is that you are bringing 
 home $ " 
 
 u Mine, of course," was the proud reply ; 
 " Mr. Fitch asked me to do him the favor of 
 accepting it as a present from him, and I didn't 
 want to hurt his feelings by refusing. Look 
 out ! it's loaded," added the son as he handed 
 
56 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 the weapon to liis father, who grimly turned it 
 over and inspected it as well as he could in the 
 gloom. 
 
 " That's a very handsome present," commented 
 the captain, with a warmth he rarely showed, 
 as he passed the rifle back to his son ; " I hope 
 it will be of some use to General Washington, 
 when you join his army." 
 
 " I shall do my best to make it so," said the 
 sturdy patriot, seating himself at the feet of his 
 parents on the porch. " I haven't long to wait 
 now, — only a little more than a month." 
 
 " A little more than a month," repeated his 
 father, removing his pipe and looking curiously 
 at him ; " how do you make that out ? " 
 
 u This is the last day of August and my birth- 
 day comes on the 10th of October." 
 
 " How old will you be on your next birth- 
 day?" 
 
 " Eighteen." 
 
 " No," interposed the mother gently ; " you 
 were born October 10, 1759, on your next 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 57 
 
 birthday, you will complete, if you live, seven- 
 teen years of existence." 
 
 " Why, I was thinking I would be eighteen 
 years old " 
 
 " You will enter your eighteenth year, but you 
 will not be eighteen years old until October 10, 
 1777." 
 
 " Is that so, father ? " asked the dismayed 
 Jack. 
 
 " Of course ; you ought to know without ask- 
 ing me." 
 
 The young patriot's heart became as lead. 
 What cared he now for the beautiful rifle that 
 had been presented him ? Ever since his father 
 promised him liberty to enlist upon reaching 
 the age of eighteen years, he had been figuring 
 that the happy day would come in the approach- 
 ing autumn, and behold he was a year off in 
 his calculations. When Jack Marlton first 
 stepped upon the porch he was as hungry as a 
 wolf. Now all his appetite was gone. He asked 
 whether any chores were awaiting him, but his 
 
58 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 father inere.y grunted " No," and continued si- 
 lently smoking. After a while the son bade him 
 good night, and, rifle in hand, went to his trundle 
 bed, where his mother as usual listened to his 
 prayers and " tncked " him up. 
 
 Jack waited until she passed out of the room, 
 when, looking to the corner of where he had 
 leaned his new gun, but which he could not 
 see in the gloom, he gave one vigorous kick 
 that sent the quilt and sheet flying against the 
 opposite wall, and then feeling mad " clean 
 through " he concentrated all his rage and dis- 
 gust into the one fierce exclamation — 
 
 " Confound it ! n 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 59 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE DAYS THAT TRIED MElf's SOULS. 
 
 Matters grew worse and worse, Washing- 
 ton, favored by Providence, the elements and 
 his own superb generalship, had extricated his 
 army from its peril, after the disastrous defeat 
 on Long Island, in the latter part of August, 
 1776, and retreated up the Hudson. While 
 most of his men displayed hne bravery, there 
 was a woful lack of discipline. Nathan Hale, 
 the martyr spy, after passing through innumer- 
 able perils and gathering valuable information 
 for the commander-in-chief, had been betrayed 
 by a Tory relative, was made prisoner and 
 hanged, expressing his regret on the scaffold 
 that he had but one life to give to his coun- 
 try. 
 
60 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 The practise among the patriots was to en- 
 list for short terms, so that men were constantly 
 going and few coming. In a letter to Congress 
 w r ritten on the 2d of September, Washington 
 used these words : 
 
 " Our situation is truly distressing. The 
 check our detachment sustained on the 27th 
 ultimo has dispirited too great a proportion of 
 our troops and filled their minds with appre- 
 hension and despair. The militia, instead of 
 calling forth their utmost efforts, to a brave and 
 manly opposition in order to repair our losses, 
 are dismayed, intractable and impatient to re- 
 turn. Great numbers of them have gone off ; 
 in some instances, almost by whole regiments, 
 by half ones, and by companies, at a time. 
 This circumstance of itself, independent of 
 others, when confronted by a well-appointed 
 enemy, superior in number to our whole col- 
 lected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable ; 
 but when their example has infected another 
 part of the army — when their want of dis- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 61 
 
 cipline, and refusal of almost every kind of re- 
 straint and government have produced a like 
 conduct, but too common, and an entire dis- 
 regard of that order and subordination necessary 
 to the well-doing of the army, and which has 
 been inculcated before as well as the nature of 
 our military establishment would admit of — our 
 condition becomes still more alarming ; and with 
 the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my 
 want of confidence in the generality of the 
 troops." 
 
 A few days after this gloomy letter was 
 written, the British fleet entered New York 
 harbor and an armed vessel sailed up the East 
 River. It did not bombard the city, however, 
 but evidently intended to approach by the land 
 side. General Greene, next in ability to AYash- 
 ington, favored destroying the city, so as to 
 prevent its serving as winter quarters for the 
 enemy. One argument of Greene was that two- 
 thirds of the people in New York were Tories. 
 It was finally decided to post troops so as to 
 
60 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 The practise among the patriots was to en- 
 list for short terms, so that men were constantly 
 going and few coming. In a letter to Congress 
 written on the 2cl of September, Washington 
 used these words : 
 
 " Our situation is truly distressing. The 
 check our detachment sustained on the 27th 
 ultimo has dispirited too great a proportion of 
 our troops and filled their minds with appre- 
 hension and despair. The militia, instead of 
 calling forth their utmost efforts, to a brave and 
 manly opposition in order to repair our losses, 
 are dismayed, intractable and impatient to re- 
 turn. Great numbers of them have gone off ; 
 in some instances, almost by whole regiments, 
 by half ones, and by companies, at a time. 
 This circumstance of itself, independent of 
 others, when confronted by a well-appointed 
 enemy, superior in number to our whole col- 
 lected force, would be sufficiently disagreeable ; 
 but when their example has infected another 
 part of the army — when their want of dis- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 61 
 
 cipline, and refusal of almost every kind of re- 
 straint and government have produced a like 
 conduct, but too common, and an entire dis- 
 regard of that order and subordination necessary 
 to the well-doing of the army, and which has 
 been inculcated before as well as the nature of 
 our military establishment would admit of — our 
 condition becomes still more alarming ; and with 
 the deepest concern, I am obliged to confess my 
 want of confidence in the generality of the 
 troops." 
 
 A few days after this gloomy letter was 
 written, the British fleet entered New York 
 harbor and an armed vessel sailed up the East 
 River. It did not bombard the city, however, 
 but evidently intended to approach by the land 
 side. General Greene, next in ability to AVash- 
 ington, favored destroying the city, so as to 
 prevent its serving as winter quarters for the 
 enemy. One argument of Greene was that two- 
 thirds of the people in New York were Tories. 
 It was finally decided to post troops so as to 
 
64 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Harlem Heights should be evacuated, and all 
 the forces withdrawn, excepting three thousand 
 troops that remained to defend Fort Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 This being done, Howe cautiously advanced, 
 feeling every rod of the way, and on the 28th 
 of October, made his attack. The Americans 
 oifered a brave resistance, but were compelled 
 to fall back. This placed Fort Washington in 
 great danger, but it was decided to hold it. A 
 furious assault was made on the 16th of Novem- 
 ber, when Colonel Robert Magaw of Phila- 
 delphia, the commander, surrendered. 
 
 Washington was convinced long before this 
 that the enemy meant to push a campaign against 
 Philadelphia. He, therefore, crossed the Hud- 
 son into New Jersey and posted himself with 
 General Greene at Fort Lee. Shortly after, 
 Lord Cornwallis with six thousand troops landed 
 on the Jersey side at a point almost opposite 
 Yonkers. It was impossible to hold Fort Lee 
 against so strong a force, and it was abandoned, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 65 
 
 General Greene withdrawing to the other side 
 of the Hackensack, between that stream and the 
 Passaic. 
 
 With a view of protecting Philadelphia, 
 Washington now began retreating southward 
 through New Jersey, with Cornwallis almost 
 upon his heels. His advance was frequently 
 within si^ht of the American rear-guard, and 
 the two bodies continually fired at each other. 
 At the then small town of Newark, the patriots 
 were passing out of one end as the British came 
 in the other, and thus the retreat and pursuit 
 was kept up with Washington steadily falling 
 back toward Trenton, on the road to the capital 
 of the country. 
 
 Those were the days that tried men's souls. 
 It seemed as if every house passed by the 
 Americans on that woful march had a piece of 
 red flannel tacked at the side of the front door 
 as a sign that they looked to the enemy for 
 protection. Winter had come, and few of the 
 patriots had stockings, many only bits of leather 
 
$6 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 for shoes, while hundreds were barefooted. 
 Winter had set in unusually early and the 
 weather was extremely cold. The roads were 
 frozen, and snow lay in the fields and was sprin- 
 kled along the highways. The well-equipped 
 British army, following hard after the pa- 
 triots, saw red splotches on the stiff mud and 
 snow and knew what they meant. They were 
 blood left by the barefooted patriots, who were 
 still ready to fight. 
 
 That is to say, most of them were, but it 
 looked for a time as if the ragged army would 
 crumble to pieces and pass out of existence. 
 When night came, it was found that there were 
 scores less than at the start in the morning. 
 Daring the night, scores of other shadowy 
 figures slipped past the sentinels into the gloom 
 and started on their wearisome tramp homeward. 
 
 " What's the use of fighting, when there's not 
 the first glimmer of hope ? " was the question 
 they asked themselves and then answered by 
 deserting. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 67 
 
 Thus it went until the dissolving army en- 
 tered the town of Trenton early in December, 
 1776, with only about five thousand wretchedly 
 equipped soldiers, all hungry and in rags, but 
 sternly loyal to the peerless patriot who was 
 still their leader. Straggling through the gap- 
 ing town, they made their way to the riverside, 
 and, taking possession of all the boats for a 
 long way up and down stream, crossed to the 
 Pennsylvania shore, the last man landing just as 
 the advance of the twenty-seven thousand sol- 
 diers of Cornwallis entered the upper end of 
 Trenton, all exultant and confident that in a 
 short time the only formidable American army 
 in existence would be destroyed or made pris- 
 oners. Cornwallis was the best officer in the 
 British service, and calmly viewing the situation, 
 who could see a spark of hope for Washington 
 and his ragamuffins ? 
 
 Congress had fled from Philadelphia. Hun- 
 dreds and even thousands of the staunchest 
 patriots from the beginning, now gave up hope 
 
68 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 and accepted the offers of protection made by 
 Howe and the leading British generals. Among 
 these, it was believed for just a hundred years, 
 was Joseph Reed, the adjutant-general of the 
 Continental army. Then the pleasing discovery 
 was made that the officer who had thus sought 
 protection was a Colonel Read of the Burlington 
 militia. 
 
 When the patriots forced their way across 
 the Delaware, there was considerable ice in the 
 river, but not enough to cause trouble. Had 
 the enemy possessed boats they would have 
 followed Washington, but there was no haste 
 in the matter. Philadelphia was already as 
 good as captured, and the rebels were too insig- 
 nificant to receive serious attention. 
 
 You have heard of the Hessians who were so 
 intensely hated by our patriot forefathers. 
 They were natives of Hesse-Cassel in Germany. 
 The population of England at that time was 
 less than seven million people, but she was rich, 
 and having a number of wars on her hands, she 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 69 
 
 hired several thousand soldiers from Hesse-Cas- 
 sel to help do her fighting in America. It was 
 a simple business matter in which there was no 
 sentiment, and since such was the case, the 
 patriots held these foreigners in detestation. 
 
 Cornwallis remained in Princeton, while the 
 force occupying Trenton, composed almost 
 wholly of Hessians, and numbering 1,500, was 
 under the command of Colonel Johann G. Rail 
 (sometimes wrongly spelled " Rahl "). They 
 were very glad to halt in the town, where all 
 could secure comfortable quarters, and the offi- 
 cers could have plenty of whisky and enjoy 
 themselves. They lost no time in making them- 
 selves at home. 
 
 I have spoken of Abraham Hunt, the prin- 
 cipal merchant in Trenton during the Re volu- 
 tion, who lived, on the site of the present hand- 
 some Masonic Hall, at the corner of Warren 
 and State Streets. Colonel Rail was made wel- 
 come by Mr. Hunt and became a favored visitor 
 there. Merchant Hunt in his heart wished 
 
70 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Washington and the patriots well, but he was 
 discreet and did not allow his patriotism to in- 
 terfere with his business interests. 
 
 What a contrast on the Pennsylvania side of 
 the Delaware ! Amid the whirling snow and 
 piercing gale that made the most warmly clad 
 person shiver, the patriot army reared its di- 
 lapidated tents, which were not sufficient to shel- 
 ter more than one-half the men, and gathering 
 wood started their camp-fires, around which the 
 ragged patriots huddled and half froze or ate 
 their scant rations or tried to mend the rags 
 that only partly covered their bodies. From 
 the neighboring farms forage was obtained for 
 the horses, and the poor fellows, inured to 
 suffering, hunger and cold, did not find their 
 situation so grievous as it would have been ex- 
 cept for their former training and experience. 
 
 But, looking across the dark river, sweeping 
 past with the blocks of ice grinding and churn- 
 ing together, they saw the lights in Trenton 
 twinkling, like stars, low down in the sky, and 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 71 
 
 it was hard to know that the Hessians were 
 enjoying all the comforts that the town could 
 afford, while the defenders of their country 
 shivered and starved so near at hand. 
 
72 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT. 
 
 Captain James Marlton, his wife and their 
 son Jack, had just gathered about the table for 
 their evening meal, and the grim veteran was 
 on the point of bowing his head and saying 
 grace, when there came a resounding knock on 
 the front door. There were no servants in the 
 family, and, instead of allowing the boy to 
 answer the summons as was generally the rule, 
 Captain Marlton himself rose, and, passing 
 through the front room, leaving the door open 
 behind him, so as to utilize the light of the 
 candle, he drew back the door, and saw a large 
 figure in military uniform standing before him, 
 while in the gloom beyond could be traced the 
 dim outlines of the horse that had evidently 
 borne him thither. 
 
I THINK YOU WILL REMEMBER MY NAME WHEN YOU HEAR IT, SAID GENERAL, 
 
 Washington.— Page 73. The Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 73 
 
 The light was too uncertain for the men to 
 see each other's faces clearly, and the visitor 
 said in an inquiring voice, probably catching a 
 glimpse of the empty sleeve : 
 
 u If I am not mistaken this is Captain James 
 Marl ton, who lost his arm at Quebec." 
 
 " Yes, sir ; that's my name, but I do not re- 
 call you." 
 
 " I think you will remember my name when 
 you hear it : it is General Washington." 
 
 It was a wonder that Captain Marl ton did 
 not collapse where he stood. He caught his 
 breath, recoiled and then gasped, as if to himself : 
 
 " General Washington ! — can it be ? " 
 
 It was rare that the great man indulged in 
 anything resembling h amor, but he did so in the 
 present instance. 
 
 u Yes ; I am from Virginia ; I remember you 
 as a brave patriot, but if you do not recall my 
 name, perhaps it will be well to inquire of 
 General Greene and Sullivan and some others. 
 I am sorry you are in doubt " 
 
74 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Tliere ! " protested the veteran saluting ; 
 "say no more, General; this is the proudest 
 moment of my life ; will you come in and sit 
 awhile ? " 
 
 " I learned where you lived and rode out on 
 purpose to pay my respects." 
 
 And doffing his military hat, and, slightly 
 stooping, so as to permit him to enter the door, 
 the Father of his Country followed the happy 
 old soldier to the dining-room. 
 
 " Have you been to supper, General ? " 
 
 " Yes, — that is to say I had supper last night 
 and a mouthful this morning, but rations are so 
 scarce with us that I did not wish to deprive 
 the men of even a small portion, and I have not 
 eaten anything since then. This sort of life 
 gives me a pretty vigorous appetite." 
 
 " I am delighted and proud to have you join 
 us, but I beg pardon," said the captain, em- 
 barrassed by his emotion at seeing the great man 
 under his own roof, and noticing his benignant 
 and inquiring looks at the other members 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 75 
 
 of his family; "this is my wife, Mrs. Marl- 
 ton;' 
 
 Washington bowed with the grace of a 
 Crusader of the olden time, and then took the 
 hand of the blushing woman in his own big- 
 palm and pressed it warmly. 
 
 " I assure you, my dear madam, that it is a 
 great pleasure to me to make the acquaintance 
 of the wife of one of the best soldiers we had 
 in the old French and Indian War. I hope you 
 are well, though your looks attest the truth of 
 that without inquiry on my part." 
 
 Poor Mrs. Marlton tried to utter a suitable 
 reply, but she stammered and made such a mess 
 of it that, to relieve her embarrassment, the 
 visitor turned to Jack, who had risen to his feet 
 and was blushing deeply. 
 
 " So this is your boy Jack," remarked Wash- 
 ington, after the name was pronounced, as he 
 took the dimpled hand in his own and looked 
 smilingly down upon the youth ; " I congratu- 
 late his parents upon having such a manly youth 
 
Y6 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 for their son. How happy I should be, if 
 heaven vouchsafed such a blessing to me ! " 
 
 That was nearly the finish of Jack. He 
 swallowed the lump in his throat, blinked, and 
 looked up in those blue eyes, while the great 
 man retained his hand and then, letting his 
 own eyes fall to the floor, the youth said — 
 nothing. 
 
 " Yes, — no one could wish a better son than 
 Jack," said the father, with more effusion than 
 he had ever shown ; u and his one regret is 
 that he is too young to enlist under you." 
 
 " What is his age ? " asked the illustrious 
 visitor, still retaining the hand of the confused 
 lad and beaming kindly upon him. 
 
 " He was seventeen on the tenth of last 
 October." 
 
 " I should judge from his stature that he 
 was older — at least eighteen." 
 
 " I have promised that when he becomes eight- 
 een, he shall offer himself as a recruit in your 
 army." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 77 
 
 " I shall be glad to receive him ; his father 
 was a good soldier and, Jack, I like your 
 looks." 
 
 " But, General, surety you must be hungry," 
 said the practical housewife ; " we may as well 
 dine and talk." 
 
 The invitation must have been welcome, for 
 the visitor was in sore need of food. At the 
 request of Captain Marl ton, Washington him- 
 self asked grace, and then, it need hardly be 
 said, he did full justice to the fine cooking and 
 generous hospitality of his hosts. 
 
 By this time, Jack Marlton had succeeded in 
 regaining his self-possession and was able, when 
 addressed, to make intelligible answers. He 
 could not wholly free himself, however, from a 
 feeling of awe, when he glanced at the imposing 
 figure, the broad massive chest and the kindly 
 but majestic countenance, and realized that he 
 was the great General Washington, the one man 
 upon whose shoulders rested the destiny of 
 America. The patriot was aware of this feeling 
 
78 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 and did what he could by assuming a lightness 
 of manner to dissipate it, but in his later life, he 
 often complained that his presence, much to his 
 own discomfort, seemed frequently to act as a 
 damper upon the buoyant spirits of young 
 people. Few men, indeed, found it easy, when 
 in the presence of Washington, to forget the 
 fact even for a moment. 
 
 To the delight of the family, he ate a boun- 
 tiful meal and charmed the heart of the wife by 
 many compliments upon her cookery. The dark 
 bread, the browned, juicy game, the mealy 
 potatoes and the fresh milk could not have been 
 better. 
 
 When the meal was finished and the men 
 talked together, while the wife busied herself 
 with her household duties, Washington revealed 
 that an additional errand brought him to the 
 home of the old soldier. 
 
 " You know we have been in camp for some 
 days down the river, nearly opposite Trenton, 
 and you knoAv, too, Captain, that the hopes of 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. f9 
 
 our country could not be much nearer dead than 
 they now are." 
 
 Captain Marlton sighed as he lit his pipe, 
 first asking permission of their visitor. 
 
 " I would gladly give my life at the end of a 
 few years so that I might have two arms for a 
 short time." 
 
 " You need not assure me of that, but some- 
 thing must be done to revive the drooping 
 spirits of our country, and," he added with more 
 animation then he was accustomed to show ; 
 "we are going to do it ! To-morrow night, we 
 go up the river and then cross to pass down 
 the other side and fall upon Colonel Rail and his 
 one thousand five hundred Hessians at Trenton. 
 The enemy, as you may know, are in canton- 
 ments from Brunswick to below Burlington. 
 Howe is in New York ; Cornwallis preparing 
 to sail for England, thinking his work done. 
 Ewing with the Pennsylvania militia is to cross 
 a mile below Trenton and General Gates is to 
 pass over at Bristol and attack Count Donop at 
 
80 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Bordentown. I have engaged several guides, 
 but I have thought that perhaps your boy Jack 
 would be willing to give us his help." 
 
 Jack's face glowed with joy at the prospect of 
 being of some assistance to Washington and the 
 cause of independence. The great man smiled. 
 
 " I do not think there is an acre of ground 
 within ten miles of Mount Vernon that is not 
 familiar to me and I thought it might be the 
 same with your son." 
 
 " I could follow every foot of the roads blind- 
 folded ! " exclaimed Jack. 
 
 " And, if your good parents' are willing, will 
 you serve as one of my guides ? " asked Wash- 
 ington, turning smilingly toward him. 
 
 " Nothing could suit me better ; when you 
 get across — but where will you cross the river ? " 
 asked the lad stopping abruptly and forgetting 
 all formality in his patriotic excitement. 
 
 " About a mile above." 
 
 " That's nearly opposite the Brummagen 
 road." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 81 
 
 " And how far is Brummagen from the 
 river ? " 
 
 " About four miles." 
 
 "That corresponds with what I have been 
 told ; do you know of the Scotch road ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; it turns off from the Brummagen 
 road." 
 
 " And does it connect with the Pennington 
 pike ? " 
 
 " It leads straight into it." 
 
 " So I have been informed ; and, when you 
 reach the Pennington pike, what then ? " 
 
 " Why you don't have to follow that far 
 before you come right into Trenton at the 
 upper part of the town toward Princeton." 
 
 " I am pleased to know that your information 
 agrees with what I have received from others 
 whom I believe to be trustworthy. And all this 
 ground is familiar to you, my son ? Kemember 
 that we expect to travel all those roads by 
 night, and if there is any mistake made, it may 
 lose us the battle." 
 
82 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " There Avon't be any mistake if you do as I 
 tell you." 
 
 Strange as it may sound, General "Washington 
 shook with laughter. The simplicity of the 
 boy, who in his glowing patriotism assured the 
 commander-in-chief that he would make no mis- 
 take if he did as the lad directed, was so deli- 
 cious in its way that the great man was moved 
 to mirth, and even the father and mother (who 
 had now joined the group) could not reprove 
 their blushing son. 
 
 " I mean — I mean " stammered the con- 
 fused Jack. 
 
 " Just what you said ; don't spoil it by any 
 apologies. Well, Jack, if you will hold your- 
 self in readiness to-morrow night I shall be very 
 glad to have the benefit of your services." 
 
 " You don't forget, General, that it is Christ- 
 mas," suggested the youth timidly. 
 
 " No ; that is the reason I have selected that 
 time ; the Hessians and Colonel Rail will be so 
 occupied with their festivities that they will 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 83 
 
 give little thought to an attack by those whom 
 they hold in great contempt. I regret, but am 
 not surprised, to hear that they are carrying 
 things with a hio\h hand. 7 ' 
 
 " Confound them ! " exclaimed Captain Marl- 
 ton, smoking vigorously. 
 
 " Mr. John Fitch — do you know him ? " asked 
 Washington, looking around abruptly into the 
 face of his host. 
 
 " He is one of our best friends — they haven't 
 harmed him. f " 
 
 " No ; but they would have done so, had he 
 not been too smart for them. They took all 
 the weapons from his shop (you know he is a 
 gunmaker), burned it down, and he tied across 
 the river two days ago and joined us. It seems 
 there was a small boat which we overlooked 
 that served his needs." 
 
 " He told me he was anxious to join you," 
 said Jack. 
 
 " He has been desirous for a loner time of 
 doing so, but I assured him he could do much 
 
84: THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 better in his trade, for lie is a most excellent 
 workman." 
 
 Captain Marlton pointed to the two rifles 
 suspended on deer's antlers above the fireplace. 
 
 " He made the smaller one and presented it 
 last summer to Jack." 
 
 Washington glanced up at the weapon. 
 
 " It seems to be a very fine gun ; well, Mr. 
 Fitch is with us now, and says, with much em- 
 phasis, that he means to stay to the end, if his 
 life is spared. But to return to my main 
 errand in calling upon you. We shall make a 
 start early in the evening, for our aim is to cross 
 the river by midnight, so as to reach Trenton 
 before daylight. Much depends upon a sur- 
 prise. I need not remind you all that our plan 
 must be kept secret from every one." 
 
 " You may depend upon that," said the cap- 
 tain, speaking for himself, wife and Jack. 
 
 " I am sorry to say that our greatest danger 
 is from Tories ; they seem to be everywhere. 
 I suppose you know of some ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 85 
 
 " Our next neighbor to the north is a Tory, 
 both he and his son, a young man a year older 
 than Jack." 
 
 " Mr. Wagstaff ; I have made inquiries about 
 him," replied Washington, who seemed never to 
 neglect any precaution. 
 
 " The father is as bitter as he can be, but he 
 is too old to take any part except to play the 
 spy ; it is his son Aaron who is as mean as 
 poison. Why, General, last summer, he said to 
 Jack's face that you were a traitor. Luckily 
 for Jack's hide, he pitched into the young 
 scamp and punished him so that he showed the 
 effects of it for weeks." 
 
 Jack Marlton would have given everything 
 he expected ever to have in this world could 
 he have known of a surety the effect these 
 words produced upon General Washington. 
 He did not speak, but turned his head slowly, 
 and looked fixedly at the youth for a full min- 
 ute. His face seemed immobile, but Jack fan- 
 cied he detected just the shadow of a smile at 
 
86 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 the corners of the large mouth. He seemed 
 more than once on the point of speaking, but, if 
 so, changed his mind and turned his glance 
 to the face of the father. 
 
 " I do not see how this young man can learn 
 of our intention ; he and his father will become 
 aware of our marching past their home ; but he 
 cannot know our destination, but it will be well 
 to be on our guard, and I shall not forget your 
 warning. Are there any others in the neigh- 
 borhood whom we should suspect ? " 
 
 " I know of none," replied the captain, " but 
 there are plenty of them on the other side." 
 
 " I shall have little fear of them. With the 
 aid of your son and the other guides whom we 
 have engaged, we shall take the shortest route 
 to Trenton. It isn't likely that any one will 
 learn the truth until we have passed him ; then, 
 if he undertakes to pass us, it will be easy to 
 check him." 
 
 " Yes, General," replied the captain signifi- 
 cantly, " unless he cuts across lots" 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 87 
 
 " "Well, we shall do our best and leave the 
 rest to heaven ; I must now bid you good 
 night, my friends ; the countersign for to-mor- 
 row night, Jack, will be ' General Nathanael 
 Greene.' Come to camp as soon as you have 
 finished your evening meal." 
 
gg THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE EAYESDEOPPER. 
 
 Twice during the interview between Wash- 
 ington and the Marlton family, Jack, who was 
 sitting near the window, thought he heard a 
 slight rustling outside. He gave no attention 
 to it, for the cold, wintry wind was blowing 
 almost a gale, and the shrubbery and naked 
 rosebushes were so close that he supposed the 
 sound was caused by their brushing against the 
 side of the house. 
 
 When the illustrious visitor passed to the 
 front door, the three went with him. While 
 the good-bys were being exchanged, the lad 
 ran down the short walk, opened the gate and 
 untied the bridle-rein of the waiting horse. A 
 minute later, Washington followed him through 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 89 
 
 the gate, and as he placed one of his feet in the 
 stirrup, he extended his hand to Jack. 
 
 " Good -by, my son ; I count upon seeing 
 you to-morrow night." 
 
 " I expect to be there, 7 ' replied the boy, " and 
 I am glad to do anything in the world foi 
 you." 
 
 " Thank you." 
 
 As the General swung into the saddle, three 
 members of his staff, who had been patiently 
 waiting outside, rode briskly forward, saluted 
 and joined him, and the four horsemen started 
 down the highway through the gloom at an 
 easy gallop. Jack gazed admiringly after their 
 leader, until all passed out of sight. Then he 
 turned to go through the gate to the porch of 
 his home. 
 
 His father and mother had already passed in- 
 side, and the door was closed. With no thought 
 of the faint rustling that had disturbed him, the 
 youth glanced up the road. As he did so, he 
 caught the dim outlines of some one standing 
 
90 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 in the middle of the highway, motionless and 
 apparently intently watching him. 
 
 Yielding to a sudden suspicion, Jack walked 
 briskly toward the figure. Instantly it wheeled 
 and started oft' on a run. Jack was after it 
 like a flash, going at the top of his speed, as did 
 the fugitive. Neither spoke, but each gave his 
 utmost efforts to running, where a misstep 
 would have caused a bad fall. 
 
 Jack Marlton was the swiftest runner in the 
 neighborhood, and the race had lasted but a 
 few minutes, when he saw he was steadily srain- 
 ing. Still the other kept up his flight as if his 
 life depended upon his escaping. 
 
 The end, however, was inevitable. Less than 
 two hundred yards had been covered, when 
 Jack gripped the shoulder of the fugitive. 
 
 " What do you want ? " sullenly demanded 
 the latter, coming to an abrupt halt and facing 
 about. 
 
 " I want you, Aaron Wagstaft ; what do you 
 mean ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 91 
 
 " What do you mean by chasing me like this ? " 
 
 " Yon were listening under our window, when 
 General Washington was talking to us." 
 
 " Was that General Washington \ " asked the 
 young Tory, with well affected surprise ; " I 
 didn't know it." 
 
 u It don't do you any good to lie ; you know 
 it was he ; I ask what you meant by listening 
 under our window." 
 
 " I haven't been listening under your win- 
 dow ; I was walking 'long the road, when I 
 seen your door open and some one come out ; I 
 just stopped to look, when the first thing I 
 knowed you made a dive for me." 
 
 " What made you run ? " 
 
 " To get away from you ; I didn't know but 
 what you had a gun." 
 
 u If I had I wouldn't hare had to chase you ; 
 you needn't deny it, Aaron ; you were listening." 
 
 " I tell you I wasn't," persisted the Tory in 
 an aggrieved tone ; " suppose I was," he 
 added in a blustering voice, " what of it \ " 
 
92 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Did you hear what was said ? " 
 
 " How could I hear what was said, when I 
 warn't listening ? You talk like a fool." 
 
 Jack Marlton was puzzled. He reflected 
 that General Washington had freely discussed 
 his intentions for the morrow, when he meant 
 to march up the Pennsylvania side of the 
 Delaware, cross the river during the darkness, 
 and, by a forced march down the Jersey side, 
 surprise Colonel Kail and his Hessians. If 
 Aaron Wagstaff had learned of his purpose, he 
 would go to Trenton on the morrow, warn 
 Colonel Rail and overthrow the whole scheme. 
 
 Jack believed the Tory knew all about it, 
 though he could not be forced to admit any- 
 thing of the kind. What should be done ? 
 The youthful patriot hit upon a novel plan. 
 
 u Aaron, the last time you and I had a talk 
 it ended in the biggest fight of our lives ; I'm 
 older and stronger than I was then ; do you 
 want to have another fight with me ? " 
 
 " Why should we fight ? " whined the other, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 93 
 
 scared at the prospect of a bout at fisticuffs with 
 his young master. 
 
 " All right ; there's only one way to prevent 
 it, and, if we do tight, when I get through with 
 you, you won't be able to walk home." 
 
 " What do you want me to do ? " 
 
 " Give me your solemn oath that you won't 
 tell any living person, nor go away from your 
 home, for — three days," added Jack, after a 
 moment's reflection. 
 
 " Why will I swear to anything of that 
 kind ? " 
 
 u Because it's the only way to save your 
 hide." 
 
 " But what's the use ? I told you I wasn't 
 listening and didn't " 
 
 " That hasn't anything to do with it," impa- 
 tiently interrupted Jack, with a threatening 
 movement of his fists ; " come ! be quick or 
 take a hammering." 
 
 " Well, since it doesn't make any difference^ 
 I s'pose I might as well." 
 
94 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Jack gave the curious ceremony all the solem- 
 nity possible, by compelling the Tory to hold 
 up his right hand and repeat after him an 
 impressive oath that he would do as demanded 
 and that if he violated the pledge in any way, 
 he would expect Jack Marlton to shoot him 
 dead. 
 
 " Now you can go," said the patriot, who 
 stood motionless in the middle of the road, 
 until the form of the hurrying sneak was 
 swallowed up in the gloom in the direction 
 of his home, from whose windows a light 
 twinkled. 
 
 Jack returned in a thoughtful mood, and 
 hardly waited until he was seated before he told 
 the particulars of the incident. The mother 
 made light of it, but the father was disturbed. 
 
 " It looks bad," he said, with a shake of his 
 head ; " I have no doubt that Aaron sneaked 
 around the aides and overheard every word 
 spoken by Washington ; you know the General, 
 though he does not speak loud, has a clear 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 95 
 
 voice ; lie never made any effort, when lie was 
 giving commands in the army, but we often 
 noticed we could hear him further than any one 
 else, though he shouted at the top of his lungs. 
 Aaron may not have caught our words, but he 
 didn't miss anything the General said." 
 
 "What will lie do?" 
 
 " He's telling his father the whole thing this 
 very minute, and they'll hatch up some plan of 
 getting word to Colonel Rail to-morrow." 
 
 Jack heaved a sigh of despair. 
 
 " Then it is all up and the country will be 
 ruined." 
 
 The grim captain could not help smiling at 
 the woe depicted on the countenance of his 
 son. 
 
 u That doesn't follow ; I'll go down the camp 
 the first thing to-morrow morning and tell the 
 General ; then he will send a squad of soldiers to 
 arrest the old man and his hopeful youth, or 
 place a guard around the house, so that none of 
 them can get away until it is too late to do any 
 
96 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 mischief. When you are a little older, my son, 
 you will understand how easily such things are 
 done." 
 
 Jack brightened on the instant. 
 
 " I never thought of that ; I was just as sure 
 as you that Aaron knows all about Washington's 
 plans, but I didn't know what to do, so I tried 
 the oath." 
 
 " It did no more harm than it did good." 
 
 " Don't you think he will feel bound to keep 
 it ? " asked the wife. 
 
 " He might, if he was a patriot, but, being a 
 Tory, he will break it at the first chance and 
 chuckle to think what a fool Jack was to believe 
 he would pay the slightest attention to anything 
 of the kind." 
 
 In good spirits, but with a certain anxiety, 
 all retired some time later, and, as was the cus- 
 tom among the country people, they were astir 
 before it was fairly light. Jack was the first 
 one down -stairs, where he raked off the ashes 
 from the glowing embers of wood, upon which 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 97 
 
 he heaped other sticks that speedily broke into 
 crackling flame, and diffused a genial warmth 
 through the room. Then he hurried to the 
 spring not far away, and, from the pail of cold 
 clear water, filled the kettle which was hung on 
 the crane over the blaze. By this time, his 
 mother descended the stairs and took charge of 
 matters inside the house, while Jack with an- 
 other pail hurried out to milk the cow (the sec- 
 ond one being dry), and attend to the two horses. 
 Soon after the father made his appearance, and, 
 by the time Jack had finished his morning 
 chores, breakfast was ready and was eaten by 
 candle light. 
 
 Captain Marlton did not forget his duty. 
 He went directly from his stable down the high- 
 way to the dilapidated camp of the Continental 
 army, opposite the town of Trenton. General 
 Washington had given the password for the 
 night, but not for the day. So the captain was 
 halted by the sentinel, who sent his name to the 
 General. A few minutes later, the visitor 
 
98 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 entered the tent of Washington, who had two 
 callers — Generals Greene and Sullivan, both in 
 the prime of life. The famous Quaker leader 
 from Rhode Island was handsome and bore no 
 slight resemblance to Washington himself. 
 Sullivan was shorter, somewhat inclined to cor- 
 pulency, with scant black, curly hair, florid 
 smooth face, and was of impulsive temper. 
 Neither Greene nor Sullivan had served in the 
 French and Indian War, and Washington in- 
 troduced their visitor to each, who greeted him 
 cordially. 
 
 They were about to withdraw, but Washing- 
 ton asked them to remain. It took the captain 
 but a few minutes to explain his errand. It 
 produced a manifest effect upon all three officers, 
 but Washington showed the least emotion. The 
 face of Sullivan flushed, and there was an 
 ominous glitter in the bright gray eyes of Greene, 
 but neither spoke until after the commander- 
 in-chief asked them for their opinion. 
 
 u Arrest the whole family," was the prompt 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 99 
 
 suggestion of Greene ; " it is no time for trifling, 
 Sir. 7 ' 
 
 " I should say arrest and shoot the father and 
 son," amended Sullivan, who was in a rage. 
 
 " On what charge ? " mildly asked Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 " That of being Tories, — confound them ! 
 They have no right to draw the breath of life 
 in America." 
 
 Greene's eyes twinkled and a quick glance 
 passed between him and Washington. It was 
 the former who spoke : 
 
 " That might work, General, if they were the 
 only Tories in this part of the world, but I am 
 grieved to say that there are more Tories than 
 patriots, and, since equal treatment should be 
 meted out to all, I see no reason for singling 
 out these persons for distinction above their 
 fellows." 
 
 " It is time we showed more sternness to- 
 ward " 
 
 The angered Sullivan saw the sly look pass 
 
100 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 between Washington and Greene, and, realizing 
 the situation, abruptly checked himself, con- 
 cluding they could get on without any more 
 counsel from him. 
 
 " The river is so full of ice," said Washing- 
 ton, in his grave, thoughtful voice, " that we 
 shall have hard work in crossing, and it seems 
 to me there is hardly a possibility of our friend 
 the young Tory forcing his way through with 
 his small boat. Nevertheless, due precaution 
 must be taken. I shall not molest your neigh- 
 bors, but will place the family technically un- 
 der arrest. I shall have a guard stationed out- 
 side with orders not to allow any member to 
 leave the premises, until to-morrow morning. 
 By that time it will make little difference 
 whether they leave or stay." 
 
 Having completed his errand, Captain Marl- 
 ton had the good taste to withdraw. Had he 
 chosen to remain, he would have been certain of 
 courteous treatment, but with such an impor- 
 tant movement impending, the commander-in- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 101 
 
 chief had no time to give his thoughts or ener- 
 gies to anything else. Repeating his eagerness 
 to do anything possible to aid the patriot army, 
 the captain withdrew and hurried homeward. 
 
 He had hardly explained matters to his wife 
 and son, when five soldiers, under a sergeant, 
 marched briskly past the house on their way to 
 the home of the Wagstaffs. Fearing that after 
 all they were too late, Jack followed them at a 
 respectful distance. He paused in the road, 
 near the privates, when the sergeant passed up 
 the walk and sounded the huge brass knocker. 
 To the lad's delight, it was answered by Aaron 
 himself, and while he was receiving the official 
 notice from the officer, the father showed him- 
 self beside his son and took part in the angry 
 conversation. 
 
 " They're both home," chuckled the happy 
 Jack, turning about and making off ; " they 
 can't do any harm now." 
 
 But little did he understand the malignancy 
 of the two Tories. 
 
102 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CROSSESTG THE DELAWARE. 
 
 Christmas Day, 1776, was one of the severest 
 of an usually severe winter. It broke cold and 
 blustery without a glimpse of the sun. As the 
 hours passed, the cold grew bitter. An arctic 
 wind moaned through the leafless trees, and late 
 in the afternoon, the air was filled with sleet, 
 like billions of needle points that seemed to be 
 shot from innumerable guns. When they struck 
 the hands or face, they pricked as if they were 
 so many pin points and the cold became more 
 penetrating. 
 
 "All the better," was the thought of the 
 patriots, " for the Hessians will not be expect- 
 ing us." 
 
 The guard stationed at the house on the prem- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 103 
 
 ises of Sartos Wagstaff did their duty and in- 
 deed a little more than their duty, as the old 
 Tory viewed matters. 
 
 A part of the squad was placed at the front 
 and the remainder at the rear, where they had 
 a clear view of each door. When the situation 
 of the sun in the sky showed that noon had 
 come and slightly passed, the sergeant gave a 
 resounding blow with the huo;e knocker. It 
 was Aaron who appeared in answer to the sum- 
 mons. The sergeant made a military salute and 
 said : 
 
 " Tell the old man we're ready for dinner." 
 
 Aaron was a coward and held these men with 
 loaded muskets in awe, but this impudence 
 roused his resentment. 
 
 " Well, what have we got to do with that ? " 
 he demanded. 
 
 "This is our usual time for dining, unless 
 circumstances interfere," explained the sergeant, 
 who seemed to be of a wa^ish nature ; "we're 
 sorry to inconvenience you, my gentle youth. 
 
104 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 but we all own awful appetites ; if you keep us 
 waiting much longer, we'll eat up every blamed 
 thing in the house and then swaller you and 
 your dad and mommy b} r way of dessert. We 
 ain't particular, young man, and if you'll take 
 my advice you won't keep us waiting long. A 
 fond adieu for a few minutes," added the ser- 
 geant, waving his hand at the indignant Aaron, 
 who closed the door and hurried out of sight. 
 
 Since there was no help for it, the family 
 avoided the risk of rousing the hungry patriots 
 to violence. A bountiful meal was prepared, 
 and Aaron showed the sergeant and three of 
 his men into the dining-room, the others remain- 
 ing on guard until their turn came to feast. 
 
 No member of the Wagstaff family appeared 
 in the dining-room while the meal was in prog- 
 ress. Everything had been placed on the table, 
 and the self-invited guests were left free to help 
 themselves. It need not be said that thev did 
 so with a vigor and heartiness that could not 
 have been improved upon. Every man partook, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 105 
 
 and all agreed that it was the best meal they 
 had eaten for months. When at last the)' 
 marched out of the house to resume their watch, 
 the parents and Aaron timidly returned to the 
 dining-room. Surveying the very scant rem- 
 nants, the elder remarked : 
 
 " We shall have to live on short allowance for 
 a month." 
 
 " Let us be thankful they didn't eat the table 
 itself," added Aaron, while his indignant mother 
 uttered but a single scornful exclamation : 
 
 u The hogs ! " 
 
 Quite early that evening, amid the driving 
 sleet and biting cold, the Continental army 
 marched past in the highway. They numbered 
 two thousand four hundred men, and were the 
 pick of the troops, as were the officers command- 
 ing them. Among the latter were Generals 
 Greene, Stirling, Sullivan, Stephens, Stark, Mer- 
 cer and St. Clair, while Knox had charge of the 
 artillery that rumbled over the frozen road. 
 There was some snow on the ground, but it was 
 
106 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 not deep, and, as one of the men expressed it, 
 seemed to have been all blown away by the 
 hurricane which drove across the country, and 
 at times blinded them, as they set their teeth and 
 pushed their way against it. It had the peculi- 
 arity of striking one in the face, no matter what 
 course he took, for one seemed always to be 
 inarching in the teeth of the gale. 
 
 There were no lights in the house of Sartos 
 Wagstaff, as the long string of men, rumbling 
 artillery and officers on horseback filed past in 
 the gloom. The Tories were afraid that some 
 of the ragamuffins might be tempted to take a 
 shot at them, and they peeped cautiously from 
 the windows until the last stragglers had gone 
 by and were swallowed up in the night. 
 
 Then the watchers heaved a sigh of relief, 
 expecting the guard would be removed and 
 would join the troops, but no officer of the 
 American army could have committed an im- 
 prudence like that. Even if the Tories were 
 unable to cross the river, they might have some 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 107 
 
 way of signaling by means of camp-fires or- 
 torches to the Hessians on the other side. It 
 was a long march that lay before the patriots, 
 and no unnecessary chances were taken. So the 
 guard remained, announcing when night had 
 fully come, that they could be relied upon to do 
 justice to a good supper, which they did. 
 
 Washington led the army a little way up the 
 river, the drums and fifes silent, until he reached 
 the present site of the village of Taylorsville, 
 which is about eight miles above the city 
 of Trenton, but on the Pennsylvania side. If 
 you ever ride northward from the capital of New 
 Jersey, over the Belvidere Division of the Penn- 
 sylvania Railway, the train will halt at a station 
 directly opposite Taylorsville, which bears the 
 name of " Washington's Crossing." The river is 
 spanned by a faded covered bridge and marks 
 the place where the patriot army crossed the 
 stream on Christmas night, 1776. 
 
 With the commander-in-chief and his officers 
 riding silently side by side, their senses on the 
 
108 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 alert, they noticed some things that pleased them 
 and some that caused concern. Ordinarily, the 
 cold and sleet would have been unwelcome, 
 but it was not so on that eventful night, for 
 where so much depended upon surprising the 
 enemy, all this contributed to that end ; but the 
 ice in the river was more formidable than it had 
 been since Washington entered the neighbor- 
 hood. While the stream was invisible in the 
 darkness, the huge masses could be heard grind- 
 ing together, and tumbling and craunching over 
 one another with a loud splashing as they hur- 
 ried past. The current flowed rapidly, and, 
 since the stream was of varying width, there 
 was a good deal of roughness and confusion 
 among these miniature icebergs, some of which 
 were large enough to weigh many tons. 
 
 It would seem that if any of the divisions that 
 were to try the Delaware that night could get 
 across, all could do so, but when Cadwalader 
 marched down to the river's edge at Bristol, he 
 looked anxiously at the vast field of surging ice 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 109 
 
 watched it a few minutes and then turned away 
 with a shake of his head. 
 
 " Impossible," he said to his brother officers, 
 " not a single boat could be forced through to 
 the other bank, nor could we drag our artillery 
 over these piles of ice along shore." 
 
 It should be said that the Delaware at Bristol 
 is more than double its width at Trenton, so 
 there was reason for General Cadwalader's fears. 
 In fact, down to the present time, the Delaware 
 has never been bridged below Trenton. 
 
 Much the same thing occurred with General 
 Ewing, when he reached the river almost oppo- 
 site Trenton, near the scene of Washington's 
 encampment. Thus it came about that the 
 Hessian and English detachments at Borden- 
 town, Burlington and Mount Holly were not 
 disturbed. 
 
 Well aware of the great task before him, 
 Washington had under his command several 
 hundred Marblehead boatmen, — the same that 
 had handled the boats when the army was 
 
HO THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 extricated with so much skill from its perilous 
 situation on Long Island, after the disastrous 
 defeat in the previous August. These men 
 Could be counted upon to do everything within 
 the limits of human possibility with the boats, 
 but there are a good many things that are be- 
 yond those limits. 
 
 In preparation for this important movement, 
 a large number of flatboats had been gathered 
 on the Pennsylvania shore, where they were 
 under charge of a guard awaiting the coming of 
 the army. They were broad structures made of 
 thick planks, very strong and capable of floating 
 almost as much as could be crowded into them. 
 The propelling power was the long poles, some 
 of them fifteen or twenty feet in length, and 
 capable of reaching bottom in the deepest part 
 of the river. The channel of the Delaware at 
 that point is quite narrow, and there would not 
 have been the least difficulty in ferrying the 
 men, artillery and stores across, except for the 
 ice. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. Ill 
 
 Under the cheery directions of General Knox, 
 the cannon were run on board of the boats, by 
 the light of the big fires that had been kindled 
 on the bank. As soon as a boat was sufficiently 
 loaded, the Marblehead men shoved off and 
 began their battle with the furious river. A 
 few minutes later, another started and then a 
 third and a fourth, one of which contained sol- 
 diers alone. 
 
 The storm increased. The gale was so vio- 
 lent that it carried the sleet and snow almost 
 horizontally against the men, many of whom, 
 though their countenances had been browned 
 and toughened in all kinds of weather, had to 
 bend their heads against what was like fine bird- 
 shot fired into their faces. In their eagerness 
 to shove the boats clear, some of the soldiers 
 stepped knee-deep into the icy water, and it is 
 a sad fact that more than one of those men were 
 barefoot ! 
 
 Whose heart does not throb with admiring 
 gratitude at the recollection of the " Boys of 
 
112 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 '76," that left their bloody footprints on the 
 snow, and with gnawing hunger and their cloth- 
 ing in rags, won our independence for us ? 
 
 One man, in his anxiety to work a boat free, 
 waded out to the further end, where the water 
 reached to his waist. Tossing his musket in- 
 side the craft, he bent his shoulder against the 
 corner of the boat, and had just moved it clear 
 when an enormous mass of ice seemed to make 
 a direct lunge at him and carried him off his 
 feet. His power as a swimmer saved him from 
 going under the surface, and, resting his bare 
 hand for an instant on the ice, he speedily re- 
 gained his feet. 
 
 Several of his comrades who saw his mishap 
 broke into laughter, but none laughed more 
 heartily than he. Seizing the gunwale, he 
 vaulted over into the boat as lightly as if leap- 
 ing from the ground into the saddle of his 
 horse. 
 
 " I was caught foul that time," he remarked, 
 catching up one of the poles, while the water, 
 
THE OWUmMMTO STOOD ERECT WITH ARMS FOLDED, LOOKMB OFF IS' THE 
 BARENESS TOWARDS THE JERSEY SHORE.-Page 1,3. Tke BoyPuMoT 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 113 
 
 dripping from his saturated garments, quickly 
 turned into icicles aboutdiis bare feet ; u and I 
 reckon I'll know better after this." 
 
 Washington waited till most of the troops had 
 anbarked, when he stepped into one of the 
 boats with General Knox. The latter seated 
 himself on the gunwale, but the commander-in- 
 chief stood erect, with arms folded, looking off 
 in the darkness toward the Jersey shore. His 
 horse, beside several belonging to other officers, 
 was taken over on other boats. 
 
 Three big bonfires had been kindled on the 
 Jersey side, as if in reply to the signals oppo- 
 site, and they shed an encouraging light 
 through the gloom. Looking across at them, 
 myriads of slanting rays of sleet resembled so 
 many spears as they gleamed against the yellow 
 background. The shadowy figures of men 
 could be observed passing back and forth in 
 front of the blaze, many of whom paused to 
 warm their chilled limbs and bodies. 
 
 The action of General Knox, soon after leav- 
 S 
 
114 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 ing the shore, showed he was uneasy, for he 
 rose to his feet, peered around in the gloom, sat 
 down again, and almost immediately was up 
 like a man full of misgiving. When he looked 
 at the Marblehead fellows, as he dimly saw 
 them fighting off the plunging masses of ice, 
 forcing the boat between and around them, now 
 and then vainly striving to avert a resounding 
 collision with the enormous cakes, he could not 
 help admiring their skill and power. 
 
 " But for them every boat would be 
 swamped," he said, coming to his feet once 
 more close to Washington. 
 
 The latter, with arms folded, his military 
 cloak blowing off his shoulders, was still stand- 
 ing erect with folded arms, as if he had taken 
 his station to watch a parade of his army. 
 With his feet spread slightly apart, he had 
 braced himself so well that the jarring of the 
 cumbersome craft did not disturb him. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 He nodded his head, as he made this response 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. H5 
 
 to the remark of General Knox, but said no 
 more, and the officer who knew the moods of 
 the commander-in-chief so well, ventured noth- 
 ing further. Truth to tell, Knox was in so nerv- 
 ous a state over the peril of the boat that he 
 gave no thought to anything else. He had 
 been full of the scheme of surprising the Hes- 
 sians, and was among the most enthusiastic of 
 all the officers, but nothing of that was in his 
 mind now : he only prayed for one thing, which 
 was that they might speedily reach the solid 
 land of New Jersey. 
 
116 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE MARCH TO TRENTON. 
 
 " Thank the Lord ! " 
 
 It was General Knox who uttered the fervent 
 exclamation, as he bounded out of the bumping 
 flatboat and landed on the icy shore. Wash- 
 ington turned his head and looked inquiringly 
 at him, but did not speak. Then, when a couple 
 of the men held the craft still, he walked its 
 length and stepped to land with that dignity 
 that was a part of his nature. 
 
 Naturally the work of forcing the boats 
 through the ice-gorged river caused them to 
 drift down-stream, so that land was made con- 
 siderably lower down than the starting-point. 
 Because of this, the camp-fires were not really 
 opposite those on the Pennsylvania bank. 
 Washington's boat had come ashore so near one 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. Hf 
 
 of these that, when he joined Knox, the glow 
 was reflected from their clothing. The sleet 
 was still fiercely driving through the air, and it 
 seemed to be growing colder with every minute. 
 
 Walking to the nearest fire, Washington and 
 Knox joined Greene, Sullivan and Stirling, the 
 other officers being busy superintending the 
 work. Knox did not pause more than a min- 
 ute, when he hurried off to where a number of 
 men were dragging one of the cannon out of a 
 boat. 
 
 Knox, formerly a bookseller of Boston, was 
 the best artillery officer of the Revolution. He 
 did splendid service all through the war and, 
 strange to say, several years after the death of 
 Washington, he lost his life through the lodg- 
 ment of a chicken-bone in his throat at the 
 dinner table. 
 
 Washington's plan was to reach Trenton in 
 the early morning, but he saw that the labor 
 of crossing the river would delay him. It 
 was close to midnight and all the troops had 
 
118 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 not yet landed. When they should do so, a 
 
 march of eight or nine miles was still before 
 
 them. 
 
 While everything was being pushed with all 
 possible vigor, a party of countrymen emerged 
 from the storm and gloom and came up to the 
 camp-fire, where the commander-in-chief was 
 standing. They saluted with some timidity, and 
 the leader announced that they were the men 
 who had been engaged to act as guides to the 
 American army in the march to Trenton. He 
 looked at them with interest. They were 
 sturdy, manly fellows, all warmly clothed, their 
 ears muffled up, so that, in most cases, only their 
 noses and eyes showed. Their trousers were 
 tucked in the tops of their heavy boots, and 
 nearly every one carried a heavy staff in his 
 mittened hands. 
 
 Washington expressed his pleasure at seeing 
 them and asked their names. Here they are, 
 and my reader must bear in mind that there is 
 no fiction in this statement. I give the names 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 119 
 
 of all the men who served Washington as guides 
 on that memorable march to Trenton. I was 
 well acquainted with many of their grandsons 
 (one of whom was General Gershorn Mott, who 
 made a highly creditable record in the late Civil 
 war) and their descendants are all well known 
 to-day in Trenton. 
 
 Colonel Joseph Phillips, Captain Philip 
 Phillips, Lieutenant Elias Phillips, all of whom 
 belonged to Lawrence township ; Joseph Inslee, 
 John Muirhead, John Guild, Edon Burroughs, 
 Stephen Burroughs, Ephraim Woolsey, Henry 
 Simonds, all of Hopewell Township ; Captain 
 John Mott, David Lanning, Amos Scudder and 
 "William Greene of Trenton. 
 
 While Washington was listening to these 
 names, slightly nodding his head as each was 
 pronounced, by way of acknowledgment, his 
 eyes wandered among the heavily clothed figures, 
 as if disappointed over something. It should 
 be said that the guides named, who were officers, 
 were attached to the army itself, and were not 
 
120 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 in the group that lined irregularly up in front 
 of the commander-in-chief. 
 
 " You are a fine lot of men," was the com- 
 ment, " and it gives me great pleasure to meet 
 you. An important service is expected of you 
 to-night." 
 
 u We shall do our utmost to meet your 
 wishes," replied the spokesman, whose name I 
 have never been able to learn, though I sus- 
 pect it was John Muirheacl. 
 
 " You are a goodly number," continued Wash- 
 ington, " but I expected to see one among you 
 who is absent." 
 
 The men looked woncleringly around at one 
 another, as if searching for some person whom 
 they had forgotten, but who was not dis- 
 covered. 
 
 " We think all that were engaged are here," 
 respectfully suggested the leader. 
 
 " This was not a man, but a boy, Jack Marl- 
 ton by name ; perhaps some of you are ac- 
 quainted with him ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 121 
 
 The men glanced significantly toward one 
 another, and Muirhead replied : 
 
 "We all know him well, General, and there 
 isn't a finer lad in the country." 
 
 " I am sure of that ; you will be good enough 
 to remain near ; w T e shall start as soon as we 
 can make ready." 
 
 The commander gave his attention to the 
 more important work in hand. He had a 
 general knowledge of the country, and had per- 
 fected his plan before leaving Pennsylvania. 
 As perhaps my reader knows, there is a road 
 which follows the bank of the Delaware, it may 
 be said almost from its source. It keeps close 
 to the stream and is known as the "river 
 road." Naturally it leads into the lower end 
 of the town, which years ago w^as known as 
 " South Trenton." Another highway goes back 
 into the country, and by following it, one will 
 in time strike the Pennington pike which enters 
 Trenton at the northern end, or as it is still 
 known, the tt head of town." Less than a mile 
 
122 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 separates these two localities, and the plan of 
 Washington was to divide his force, so that the 
 two divisions should reach Trenton at the same 
 time. There is comparatively slight difference 
 in the length of the respective routes. 
 
 This division of the army, however, was not 
 made at the riverside, but at the hamlet of 
 Birmingham, still called by the countrymen, 
 " Brummagen," which is several miles inland 
 from the Delaware. It was dark, bitterly cold, 
 and with the air full of driving sleet, when the 
 two thousand four hundred Americans reached 
 the forking of the roads at Birmingham. Not 
 a light twinkled from a single house of the 
 farmers, who were almost as numerous, in 1776, 
 in that neighborhood as they are to-day. 
 Hardly had the troops halted, when a dog from 
 one of the dwellings near at hand began bark- 
 ing. No attention was paid to him, even when 
 several others joined in the outcry ; but, by 
 and by, a light gleamed in one of the windows, 
 and a man closely muffled came gingerly down 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 123 
 
 the short lane to learn the cause of the alarm of 
 the canines. When he caught sicrht of the hun- 
 dreds of shadowy figures, heard the commands 
 of the officers, and noticed the moving to and 
 fro, the fellow was seized with a wild panic and 
 ran back to his house, as if a bloodhound were 
 pursuing and nipping at his heels. 
 
 The arrangement was that General Sullivan 
 should continue the march to Trenton by the 
 river road. The main division included the bri- 
 gades of Mercer, Stirling, Stephen and De Fer- 
 moy, under the command of Greene, and accom- 
 panied by Washington were to push further in- 
 land over the old Scotch road to the Penning- 
 ton pike. Under Sullivan's command were the 
 brigades of St. Clair, Glover and Sargeant. 
 There was a conference of the leading officers, 
 who had learned the precise distance to be trav- 
 eled, and there seemed to be no reason why 
 the two divisions should fail to carry out 
 the plan of striking the town at the same 
 hour. 
 
124: THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Everything being fully understood, the army 
 split in two, Sullivan, as has been stated, heading 
 for the river road, while Washington and his 
 brigades pushed inland over the highway lead- 
 ing to the Pennington pike to the northward. 
 The guides of course also divided. 
 
 The march was of the most dismal character. 
 There was no martial music, and the figures 
 craunching over the snow, through the arctic 
 sleet and driving wind, looked like so many 
 straggling phantoms, led by phantom horsemen. 
 Occasionally, a starlike point of light gleamed 
 across the fields, but most of the time it was 
 murky gloom that deepened only when the 
 road led through a stretch of woods. 
 
 It would be idle to attempt to read the 
 thoughts of the great man who led this com- 
 paratively small band of patriots to the impor- 
 tant achievement that was to be made within 
 the next few hours, but, strange as it may seem, 
 a remark or two which he made to Genera] 
 Greene, his most trusted officer, showed that as 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 125 
 
 is often the ease, when one knows himself to be 
 on the edge of momentous events, he was per- 
 plexed by an affair so insignificant that one can- 
 not fail to wonder that it had any place at all 
 in his thoughts. 
 
 He could not understand why Jack Marlton 
 was absent from his place among the guides. 
 The great man understood boy nature well 
 enough to read the delight and joy which came 
 to the son of his old friend at the prospect of 
 doing a favor to the commander-in-chief of the 
 American army. 
 
 Not only was he absent from among the 
 guides, but he had not presented himself at 
 camp as he expected to do. He had been given 
 the countersign by special favor, and it was un- 
 derstood that when he went thither, he would 
 ask at once to be taken into Washington's 
 presence. 
 
 What troubled the great man was the fear 
 that some harm had befallen the youth. From 
 some cause, he felt an unusual interest in him, 
 
126 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 but it could not be expected that much as he 
 liked the boy, he could continue to speculate as 
 to the reason of his absence, for much more im- 
 portant matters demanded his thoughts. 
 
 Perhaps half the distance to the Pennington 
 pike had been passed, when the sound of a gal- 
 loping horse rang out at the rear of Greene's 
 division. The next minute a courier from 
 General Sullivan reined up beside General 
 Washington and saluting said : 
 
 " The compliments of General Sullivan to 
 General Washington, and he is sorry it is his 
 duty to report that all our powder has become 
 wet and he begs to inquire of General Washing- 
 ton what he shall do." 
 
 " Give the enemy the bayonet.' 1 
 
 The words were shot from the mouth of 
 Washington as if each were a bullet. He uttered 
 not another syllable, and the courier, saluting 
 again, wheeled his horse, and was off like the 
 wind through the storm and darkness. When 
 he overtook his immediate commander, and de- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 127 
 
 livered the reply of the chief, Sullivan shrugged 
 his shoulders and muttered : 
 
 " Umph ! he seems to be in earnest to- 
 night." 
 
 A mile further, and here and there a light 
 twinkled in from a farmhouse. Morning was 
 approaching, and most of those people rose early, 
 as do their descendants to-day. Some of them 
 heard the sounds of the craunching footsteps, 
 over the snowy road, the whinnying of the 
 horses in reply to the calls of those in the stalls, 
 and they came to the doors to look out upon the 
 phantom-like army, straggling along the high- 
 way. Few or none could have suspected the 
 real meaning of the sight. 
 
 Another half-mile, and, in the misty light, a 
 horseman was observed riding headlong across 
 the fields. He seemed to have been following 
 the troops for some distance, as if to satisfy him- 
 self of their identity, when he wheeled to one 
 side, leaped his animal over the low rail fence 
 and was off like an arrow, with the evident 
 
128 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 intention of placing himself in advance of the 
 
 army and carrying the news to Trenton. 
 
 He was quick, but not cpick enough. A 
 sharp call to halt was made, and failing to obey 
 it, a volley was fired. Down went horse and 
 rider in a heap, the man turning a complete 
 somersault. 
 
 But otherwise he was unharmed. The sol- 
 diers had aimed at the animal, who received all 
 the bullets sent in that direction. By the time 
 the dazed fellow could climb unsteadily to his 
 feet, he was surrounded, among the captors 
 being David Lanning and Amos Scudder, two 
 of the guides. 
 
 " Do you know who he is ? " asked a lieu- 
 tenant. There was sufficient light to see the 
 scared face quite plainly, and Lanning re- 
 plied : 
 
 " Why, that's Bill Johnson ; he lives two miles 
 back on the road to the left." 
 
 ' : What sort of a fellow is he ? " 
 
 " The biggest liar within eighteen and a half 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 129 
 
 miles of Trenton, the worst loafer and good-for- 
 nothing in the whole state. Besides that, he's 
 a Tory. It's a pity you didn't hit 1dm instead 
 of his horse, for the animal is worth something, 
 and he ain't." 
 
 "Why, David," said the scapegrace with a 
 reproachful look ; " it ain't Christian to speak 
 that way about a neighbor." 
 
 " Why did you try to ride around us ? " asked 
 the lieutenant. 
 
 " I was in a hurry to do an errand for my 
 wife ; besides I didn't hear you when you 
 called to me to halt." 
 
 u How, then, do you know I called to 
 you?" 
 
 " I don't," was the unabashed reply ; " I only 
 guessed it." 
 
 " Well, we'll take charge of you." 
 
 " You ain't agoin' to shoot me, be you ? " asked 
 the fellow, trembling with terror. 
 
 "That depends on how you behave yourself, 
 and what the General says ; tramp along and 
 
130 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 the first trick you try, down you'll go like that 
 horse of yours. We always fetch something 
 when we shoot, and now that your animal is 
 dead, we'll make sure of not missing you." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 131 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ON GUARD. 
 
 I need not tell you that Jack Marlton was a 
 hundred times more anxious to serve General 
 Washington than the latter was to have his 
 services. He was so full of the exploit of 
 assisting as one of his guides on the march to 
 Trenton, that hardly anything else entered his 
 thoughts throughout the day. Once, when his 
 mother referred to the weather as being too 
 severe for him to venture out, he protested so 
 vehemently that she made haste to declare she 
 was not in earnest. 
 
 The father was thoughtful and much pre- 
 occupied. He left the house several times in 
 the course of the day, and not only walked down 
 to the river, but went up the shore a long way.. 
 When Jack, after a hasty supper, expressed the 
 
132 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 thought that it was time for him to be off, the 
 parent said : 
 
 " You were not to go to camp until night ; it 
 is as bad to be too early as too late ; I'll tell 
 you when to start." 
 
 But when night closed in, the father aston- 
 ished his son by taking him alone into the front 
 room, where there was no fire. The air and 
 manner of the parent could not have been 
 graver and he was kinder than usual in his 
 words. 
 
 " Jack," said he, " I shall not let you act as a 
 guide to General Washington to-night. 
 
 " O father ! " and the lad broke into tears. 
 
 " Wait till you hear me through," the captain 
 hastened to add ; " you and I are as good friends 
 to General Washington as he has in the whole 
 world." 
 
 " I would die for him." 
 
 " I don't doubt it, and so would I ; he engaged 
 you as a guide, not because he needs you, for 
 he has hired all he wants, but because he saw it 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 133 
 
 would please us both. You would be glad to 
 serve hini in any way possible ? " 
 
 "Surely I would." 
 
 " One moment ; I have found the means by 
 which you can do him a real service and one 
 that may help a great deal in winning the 
 battle that will be fought in a few hours." 
 
 Jack stared wonderingly at his parent at a 
 loss to know what he meant. 
 
 " The real danger that threatens General 
 Washington's plans is not from losing his way 
 on the march to Trenton, but in Colonel Rail 
 being warned, and the danger of that is from 
 Sartos Wagstaff and his son Aaron." 
 
 " But they have no chance ; there's a half- 
 dozen soldiers guarding their house ; if either 
 of them attempts to get out and run off he will 
 be shot." 
 
 " That is well enough while daylight lasts, 
 but despite the guards, one of them will find 
 some way of doing it to-night and contrive to 
 get word to Kail. He may not cross the river 
 
134 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 ■ — I don't see how he can do it when it is so full 
 of ice — but he will manage to give the guard 
 the slip. I hate to say it, and I wouldn't say it 
 to any one but you, but General Washington 
 made a mistake to-day." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " In not arresting both of the Wagstaffs and 
 keeping them in custody till morning. He 
 could have done it just as well as not ; General 
 Greene advised it, and I wanted to say the 
 same thing, but my opinion wasn't asked." 
 
 The next question of the son was a natural 
 one. 
 
 " If those soldiers with their guns can't keep 
 Aaron from slipping away, how shall I be able 
 to do it, father ? " 
 
 " There's the point. I have been thinking a 
 good deal of that. My first plan was to let you 
 act as guide, while I watched or rather helped 
 the guard to watch, but neither they nor I have 
 the advantage that you have. Before the war 
 came and when such a thing as a Tory was not 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 135 
 
 heard of, you used to spend days in playing 
 with Aaron at his home, just as he did here. I 
 have no doubt you know all the ins and outs of 
 his house, which is a good deal bigger than 
 ours, as well as he does." 
 
 "I do ; I know every inch from garret to 
 cellar." 
 
 " I was sure of that ; there are places not sus- 
 pected by the soldiers, where Aaron could slip 
 out in the darkness and make off, and they never 
 dream of it, but you would be sure to detect 
 him. Now, if you want to do General Wash- 
 ington a real service, make your way down to 
 Aaron's home and see that he does not leave it 
 to-night." 
 
 By this time Jack was interested in the new 
 scheme, though it cost him a pang to give up 
 the one upon which he had set his heart. 
 
 " What will General Washington think when 
 he finds I have backed out ? " 
 
 " That you have been scared, 11 was the blunt 
 reply. 
 
136 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " I will go down and explain it to him before 
 he marches up the river." 
 
 " No ; don't you see that what you are going 
 to do looks as if the guard would fail of their 
 duty ? The General might resent that, because 
 it was by his orders they were placed there. 
 You will have to let him believe until to-mor- 
 row that you have shirked your duty. When 
 he learns what you have done and that it was 
 by my order, he will praise instead of condemn 
 you. Do as I tell you, and, instead of having 
 to wait until you are seventeen years old be- 
 fore enlisting, I will allow you to do so on the 
 first of the coming month, which is only a week 
 distant." 
 
 The heart of Jack bounded with delight. 
 TJiis was the kind of reward he craved above 
 everything else. 
 
 " You are right, father ! " he exclaimed ; " I 
 will do as you wish." 
 
 The parent added a few suggestions. 
 
 " Of course when you go down to WagstafFs 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 137 
 
 you must see the sergeant and the others and 
 explain why you are there." 
 
 " Won't they object ? " 
 
 " Not a bit of it ; no soldier objects when 
 some one volunteers to help him at his work. 
 While they watch the doors and windows, you 
 must move about the house in the darkness, on 
 the alert for some unsuspected opening by 
 which Aaron will slip out : I feel in my bones 
 that he will attempt something of the kind 
 to-night." 
 
 While there was every reason to believe the 
 fears of the veteran well founded, it is strange 
 that neither he nor his son thought of a simple 
 precaution which either could have taken, and 
 which would have rendered all this extraor- 
 dinary care unnecessary. 
 
 Hardly had the long column of soldiers 
 marched past in the road, when Jack Marlton, 
 warmly clad and muffled, passed out of the door 
 of his home. 
 
 " Hadn't 1 better take my gun with me ? " he 
 
138 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 asked, halting for a moment and turning to his 
 father. 
 
 " No ; if there's any shooting to do let the 
 soldiers do it." 
 
 Veteran as he was, Captain Marlton shuddered 
 at the thought of one of the boys firing a shot 
 at the other. It should be added, that nothing 
 would have induced his son to proceed to such 
 extremity with his former pi ay mate. The taking 
 of his weapon seemed only a natural precaution 
 to him. 
 
 His mother kissed him good-by, and he 
 hurried down the road, his heart light, not 
 only because he knew he was doing an im- 
 portant service for General Washington, but 
 because of the promise of his father that 
 in a few days he would be permitted to 
 offer himself as a recruit in the Continental 
 army. 
 
 Jack broke into his loping trot, which he could 
 maintain a long time without fatigue, and soon 
 arrived o|3posite the large house and outbuildings 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 139 
 
 with which it may be said he was as familiar as 
 the occupants themselves. 
 
 In the sleet and piercing cold, he paused for 
 a moment and peered around in the gloom. He 
 could see no one, nor was there a sign of a light 
 in any of the rooms. Naturally perhaps this fact 
 strengthened his belief that the immates were 
 plotting something by which to outwit the 
 watchers. 
 
 Drawing open the gate, he started along the 
 graveled walk, but had taken only two or three 
 steps, when a sharp command rang out : 
 
 " Halt ! "Who goes there ? " 
 
 " A friend." 
 
 " Advance friend, and give the countersign." 
 
 " I haven't it, but I'm a friend," replied Jack, 
 standing motionless. A man stepped down 
 from the porch, and with musket presented ap- 
 proached. It proved to be the sergeant himself. 
 Seeing that it was a boy instead of a man who 
 confronted him, the officer first inquired whether 
 he had any companions. Being assured that 
 
140- THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 the youth was alone, he was ordered to tell his 
 name and business. 
 
 Jack did so as clearly as he could. The 
 soldier was interested. He had never heard of 
 Jack Marlton, and had to form his own conclu- 
 sion as to the truthfulness of the story told him. 
 But he was an intelligent man and came to the 
 belief that he had an honest lad before him who 
 was likely to prove useful. 
 
 " They're a bad lot," remarked the sergeant, 
 referring to the Wagstaff family ; " I don't see 
 how they can dodge out without our knowing 
 it, but there may be danger of their doing so. 
 "We are glad, therefore, to have your help, Jack ; 
 but in order to prevent any awkward mistake, 
 I will introduce you to the men." 
 
 He took the lad forward to where one of the 
 guard was standing on the front porch, explained 
 who the boy was and his business, and then 
 passed to the rear and the sides where the others 
 were stationed and did the same. 
 
 " He will have to keep on the move most of 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 141 
 
 the time," added the sergeant, " and you will be 
 sure not to mistake him for any one belonging to 
 the house. The countersign, my boy, is ' Gen- 
 eral Sullivan.' If you are mistaken in the dark 
 and challenged, you will know what to say 
 That's all." 
 
 An understanding having been reached, the 
 sergeant returned to his position at the front of 
 the building. He had been ordered to keep 
 guard until daylight, when the squad was to with= 
 draw, passing down the road to the camp, where 
 a force had been left by Washington. Since 
 there could be no relief, therefore, through the 
 long, bitterly cold night, it will be seen that the 
 duty of all was anything but of a pleasant 
 nature. 
 
 Thus it happened that within a brief time 
 after Jack Marlton's arrival, he found himself 
 standing among the shrubbery, on the southern 
 side of the Wagstaffs' dwelling, with no one in 
 sight, though he knew that armed men were 
 stealthily groping about near at hand. He re- 
 
142 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 fleeted how much better and effective it would 
 have been, had the soldiers entered the house, 
 and, stationing themselves there, confined the 
 three prisoners to one room, mounting guard at 
 the door. By such a simple course, all 
 possibility of escape would be averted, the men 
 themselves would be comfortable and could 
 relieve one another at the task. But it was idle 
 to speculate over that, since their orders pre- 
 scribed a different duty and they were simply 
 fulfilling it. 
 
 Now, nothing was plainer to Jack Marlton 
 than that Aaron Wagstaff would make no 
 attempt to leave his home by the front or 
 rear door, for, to do that, insured his detec- 
 tion before he could take more than a single 
 step. The old structure had windows on 
 every side and of course all were under sur- 
 veillance. What chance, therefore, was there 
 of one of the inmates eluding the guards ? 
 Of course the storm and darkness were 
 favorable, but by keeping close to the walls 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 143 
 
 of the house this advantage would be OVer- 
 
 come. 
 
 Naturally Jack had been speculating with 
 himself as to what was the most likely course 
 of the young Tory. 
 
 " Now, if I were in his place,' 1 he reflected, 
 " I would drop from one of those windows of 
 the second story, when I thought no one was on 
 watch, and then wait till the coast was clear 
 and sneak off, or I would come up out of the 
 cellar window ; I think I would try that" he 
 added, referring to the last-named recourse. 
 
 The window he had in mind was at one end 
 of the building, the upper part being on a level 
 with the ground. It was placed thus to obtain 
 light and ventilation, which, was secured by the 
 usual excavation in the ground in front. It is 
 not probable that any one of the guard noticed 
 this inviting avenue of flight, but Jack thought 
 of it while coming up the road. 
 
 He knew it was the only window connected 
 with the cellar, and therefore was the single 
 
144: THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 subterranean opening through which Aaron 
 
 might be tempted to leave the house, though it 
 
 was possible he would try one of the upper 
 
 
 
 windows. The profound darkness and gloom 
 
 of the interior left no doubt that the family 
 were stealthily watching their chances and keep- 
 ing themselves out of sight. 
 
 Jack halted beside the cellar window and 
 stood for some minutes intently listening. 
 From the river came the sound of splashing 
 water, the grinding of gigantic masses of ice 
 against one another and their grating along the 
 shore as they swung past. The icy wind moaned 
 through the leafless branches and howled around 
 the corners of the old building, while the needle- 
 like sleet pattered against the exposed window- 
 panes and shutters. No more dismal night can 
 be conceived. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 145 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A CLEVE R TRICK 
 
 In the olden times many of the dwellings of 
 the well-to-do people had wooden shutters on 
 the outside of all the windows on the lower 
 floors, while those above were provided with 
 none. I have seen panes that have stood the 
 beating of storms for sixty years without a frac- 
 ture. All were thin and curved inward, but 
 among the whole number on one side of the 
 house not a single flaw was observable. 
 
 Now, as Jack Marlton reasoned, Aaron Wag- 
 staff would not attempt to leave the building 
 by one of the lower windows, since he would 
 have to push open a pair of shutters to clear the 
 way for him, and that was certain of detection ; 
 but he could readily raise an upper sash and 
 
 drop to the ground. The distance was so slight 
 10 
 
146 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 that he would hardly be jarred. Jack recalled 
 that each of them had often done the same 
 thing when chasing each other through the 
 building. 
 
 The theory of the youth was that the young 
 Tory would first decide for himself which side 
 of the house was least guarded, and then quietly 
 leap to the earth, provided he did not conclude 
 to use the cellar window. 
 
 One thing pleased the lad ; in walking cau- 
 tiously around the building, he met a guard 
 every few minutes. They were alert to their 
 duty, and it seemed impossible for any one to 
 elude them. The sergeant was still at the front 
 and finally Jack took his station at a corner of 
 the dwelling. On his right, ten feet distant, 
 was the cellar window, which of course was in- 
 visible in the darkness, while the whole side of 
 the rear was on his right. 
 
 " I don't see how he can make it," muttered 
 Jack, shivering despite his thick clothing and 
 bending his head against the millions of icy 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 147 
 
 javelins that were hurtling through the air ; " he 
 would like to help Colonel Kail and " 
 
 He started, for surely through the freezing 
 storm he heard a sound that was different from 
 the craunching ice on the Delaware or the howl- 
 ing gale around him. He could not tell its pre- 
 cise nature, but it suggested a dull, subdued 
 throb. Instantly he thought of the window. 
 
 " Some one is at work there," he thought, 
 stepping cautiously thither, though in the tem- 
 pest there was no need of such care, but before 
 he reached the place, he checked himself, stopped 
 by the reflection that nothing occurring at the 
 window could cause the sound that had dis- 
 turbed him, and which was of such a nature t bat- 
 it was impossible for him to locate it. 
 
 He was retracing his steps, when the darkness 
 on his left^that is, against the side of the house 
 from which he was separated only by a step or 
 two — took a peculiar appearance. A part of it 
 suggested a form of something. 
 
 " What the mischief causes that ? " the puzzled 
 
148 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 youth asked himself, as he reached out his hand 
 to investigate. 
 
 And then the section of gloom assumed still 
 more definite form, for a figure suddenly bounded 
 out forward, and dashed on a dead run across 
 the lawn, not toward the highway but the fields 
 that stretched along the side of it. He ran 
 rapidly and burst into momentary view so 
 abruptly that Jack Marlton was dazed. But 
 only for an instant, when he shouted : 
 
 " Here he goes ! Quick or he'll get away ! " 
 
 But one of the guards had detected the fu- 
 gitive, and, as Jack Marlton leaped forward, the 
 soldier darted across the path in front of him, 
 shouting : 
 
 " Halt or I'll fire ! " 
 
 The one fleeing, ran the harder. The guard 
 was in no mood for trifling. He stopped, 
 brought his musket to a level, and the gloom 
 was lit up by a flash, accompanied by a report 
 that sounded weak and muffled in the gale. 
 
 " I dropped him ! " was the gratified exclama- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 149 
 
 tion of the soldier, running eagerly forward and 
 bending over the prostrate figure. The report 
 brought the sergeant and rest of the guard to 
 the spot. Jack was terrified at the thought of 
 the death that had overtaken his former friend 
 and stood back, silent and awed. 
 
 When the sergeant took hold of the arm of 
 the fellow, he groaned, but was able to help 
 himself upon being partly lifted to his feet. 
 Then they started for the house walking slowly, 
 the prisoner limping and apparently suffering 
 great pain. 
 
 While no member of the guard felt any spe- 
 cial pity for the wounded Tory, they were too 
 manly to exult over his mishap. No one spoke, 
 as the group moved haltingly across the yard to 
 the front of the house, a man on each side of 
 the prisoner and bearing almost his entire 
 weight. 
 
 The sergeant himself turned the knob of the 
 door, which swung freely inward and led the 
 way, followed by the little group, with the 
 
150 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 white-faced Jack Marlton at the rear. As the 
 door was opened, a lamp was noticed, on a table 
 at the side of the hall, with its candle burning. 
 The closed shutters prevented any of its rays 
 reaching the outside. 
 
 Suddenly the sergeant uttered an exclamation, 
 and, catching up the lantern, held it in front of 
 the prisoner's face. 
 
 Then all perceived that it was not Aaron 
 Wagstaff whom they had captured, but his 
 father. Moreover, the man who had been groan- 
 ing and limping, now stood erect with a sardonic 
 grin on his countenance. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said he, " I have the pleasure 
 of informing you that the bullet fired at me may 
 have passed quite close, but it did not touch me. 
 I am ready to listen to your congratulations on 
 my providential escape." 
 
 The sergeant's congratulations took the form 
 of a sturdy oath. 
 
 " Where's your son ? " 
 
 " It is impossible for me to tell you precisely. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 151 
 
 but probably he is half way to Trenton by this 
 time, and is certain soon to give Colonel Rail 
 information that Washington and his rebels are 
 on their way to surprise him." 
 
 " We have been tricked and have played the 
 fool ! " exclaimed the enraged sergeant, hurry- 
 ing through the front door ; " scatter every one 
 of you and shoot him on sight." 
 
 It was a clever artifice — and it had been car- 
 ried out with skill. Before the elder Wagstaff 
 spoke, Jack Marlton saw through the whole 
 thing. The father had dropped from one of 
 the upper windows, intending, while seeming to 
 flee, to allow himself to be seen and recaptured. 
 To give realism to the trick, he had run more 
 risk than probably he dreamed of when he drew 
 the fire of one of the guards. 
 
 None of the men knew the direction followed 
 by the real fugitive. The whole six scattered, 
 taking different routes, all so enraged that they 
 were ready to fire the instant they caught sight 
 of the fellow, and to hail him afterwards. 
 
152 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 But Jack Marlton knew whether he had gone, 
 and the bitterness of his chagrin was intensified 
 by the knowledge of the almost criminal forget- 
 fulness that had left the way open for the Tory. 
 His small boat had been lying on the bank, 
 pulled up far enough to be out of the way of 
 the masses of ice. There it had lain for several 
 days, when nothing would have been easier than 
 to take possession of it. Even if that were not 
 done, one of the guards could have stationed 
 himself near and nabbed the fellow when he 
 came in sight. 
 
 But this simple precaution had not occurred 
 to Captain Marlton, to his son nor to the sergeant. 
 It was a woful oversight but the mischief had 
 been done. 
 
 Jack's weak hope as he dashed down the river 
 bank was that Aaron Wagstaff had not the 
 pluck to venture upon the Delaware, when it 
 was gorged with ice, but to his dismay as he 
 reached the side of the stream he saw the boat 
 
 gone. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 153 
 
 " Heavens ! " was the dismayed exclamation ; 
 " lie is on the river ! " 
 
 The last shadow of hope vanished when, from 
 the stormy darkness, came back the tantalizing 
 shout : 
 
 " Well, Jack, you're a bigger fool than I took 
 you to be ; it's a pretty rough passage but I 
 shall make it." 
 
 Dimly through the gloom, Jack caught the 
 outlines of his enemy, fighting his way among 
 the huge piles of grinding ice. In his exaspera- 
 tion, the young patriot would have made good 
 use of his rifle had it been in his hands. 
 
 The sergeant himself dashed panting to his 
 side the next moment. 
 
 " Didn't I hear some one call to you ? " asked 
 the officer. 
 
 " Confound it, yes ! He's taken to his boat 
 and is on the river." 
 
 " Can't we follow him ? " 
 
 " Yes, if you want to jump on the pieces of ice 
 and swim half the way," was the disgusted 
 
154 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 answer of the youth ; " sergeant, which is the 
 
 bigger fool, you or I ? " 
 
 u It's a toss up, but by thunder ! Washington 
 twon't punish you, and he's likely to order us all 
 shot for to-night's work.'* 
 
 Jack did not pause to hear anything more. 
 A new resolution came to him. Turning up 
 the bank to the highway, he started on a dead 
 run for home. The distance was not far but it 
 never seemed so long. He was in a fever of 
 rage, and chagrin. He felt he ought to stop 
 and tell his father of the frightful mishap, but 
 he dared not take the time. Beside, he feared 
 his parent would veto the resolution that had 
 crystallized in his mind before he dashed from 
 the house of the Tory. 
 
 When he caught the glimmer of the light 
 from the dining-room of his own home, he 
 diverged to the left and ran diagonally down 
 the river bank to the edge of the water. The 
 storm was raging more furiously than ever, but 
 he paid no heed to the cutting sleet nor the 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 155 
 
 penetrating cold that at any other time would 
 have chilled him to the bone. His frame seemed 
 to be on fire, for he felt that the issue of the 
 battle of Trenton rested on his shoulders. Aye, 
 it might be that the independence of his be- 
 loved country was hanging in the balance, 
 and all depended upon Ms success or fail- 
 ure. 
 
 Washington and his two thousand four hun- 
 dred picked troops were several miles up the 
 river, fighting their way through the tumbling 
 ice to the Jersey shore. That they would get 
 across Jack did not doubt, but suppose the 
 Hessian commander received several hours' 
 warning of their coming ? He would be on the 
 defensive and the battle would be a severe one, 
 with the probability that Washington would be 
 defeated. 
 
 If Aaron Wagstaff succeeded in forcing his 
 way through the ice to Trenton, nothing could 
 prevent his reaching Colonel Rail with news of 
 his danger. The young Tory had overheard 
 
156 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 the conversation in the home of Captain Marl- 
 ton, and was therefore fully informed. Kail 
 had already proved himself a good soldier at 
 White Plains and Fort Washington, and could be 
 counted upon to offer a sturdy and skilful 
 resistance. 
 
 The reader may have suspected the nature 
 of Jack's resolution, which was to cross the river 
 in his boat in the hope of reaching the other 
 side in time to head off the Tory. He longed 
 to have his rifle with him, for it looked as if 
 some shooting would be necessary before he saw 
 the end of his adventure, but, as has been shown, 
 he did not hesitate for an instant with any idea 
 of entering his own home, the main reason 
 being his fear that his father would forbid him 
 to make the rash attempt. 
 
 There lay his boat, pulled up on the shore 
 just as Aaron WagstafFs had been, with the 
 two oars and pole lying in the bottom. The 
 sail had been carried to the house to protect it 
 from the storm, but it would have been of no 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 157 
 
 use that night : everything depended on the 
 oars and pole. 
 
 Seizing the craft by the stern, the youth 
 applied all his strength, his body inclining 
 almost horizontally. Never was he so strong. 
 The hull grated over the pebbly beach and the 
 boat slid out into the water. AVith a second 
 powerful shove, he leaped in as it was swinging 
 clear, caught up both oars and braced himself 
 for his severe w'ork. 
 
 The danger began with the first moment. 
 When the paddle on his left was dipped it sank 
 into clear water, but the one in his right hand 
 slid over the top of a cake of ice, as if the sur- 
 face were oiled. No resistance being offered, 
 the boat described a half circle, and the next 
 moment the obstructing mass banged against it 
 with a shock that it seemed must have crushed 
 in the side as if it were an egg-shell. 
 
 But the craft was staunch, and in an instant 
 Jack regained control of it. The reader will 
 perceive the danger and difficulty by which he 
 
158 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 was surrounded. Had he stopped striving and 
 floated with the current, there would have been 
 little or no trouble, for the progress of all 
 would have been substantially the same. The 
 cause of the craunchins; and occasional collision 
 of the masses of ice was the eddies and different 
 currents which gave an erratic movement to 
 them. Now and then this was so marked that 
 a vast block would slide upon another, as if 
 climbing the roof of a house, and bear it out of 
 sight, or would bump against it with a violence 
 that sent sprays of water high in air. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 159 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A DESPERATE CHASE. 
 
 Now, when it is remembered that Jack Marl- 
 ton had to force his way through these surging 
 masses of ice, it will be seen that he had under- 
 taken a task harder for him than that of the 
 soldiers who were fio-hting the current several 
 miles further up the Delaware. 
 
 In the first place, the Marblehead boatmen 
 were powerful and skilful, and in each of the 
 large boats were a number with poles who 
 could sheer off the impinging masses, and, even 
 when their craft were struck, as was often the 
 case, they were staunch enough to resist the 
 shock. The fact that every man, horse and 
 cannon were transported safely across the 
 
160 THE B0Y PATRIOT. 
 
 Delaware is proof that the peril was not so 
 great as has often been pictured. 
 
 With Jack Marlton, however, it was different. 
 The strongest vessels that venture into the 
 polar regions are always in danger of being 
 " nipped," that is to say, crushed by the resist- 
 less mountains of ice, and many a daring navi- 
 gator and his crew have been sent to the bot- 
 tom of the Arctic Ocean from this cause. 
 Should the boat of the youth happen to be 
 caught between two of the masses, weighing 
 many tons apiece, it would yield like pasteboard, 
 and his situation become perilous in the ex- 
 treme. 
 
 And yet there was no escaping the risk, and 
 the knowledge that such was the fact did not 
 hold him in check for an instant. Having 
 swung his craft around, he bent to the oars 
 again, and succeeded in driving it perhaps 
 twenty feet, straight away from shore, when 
 both paddles struck the ice, and slid so swiftly 
 over the surface, that the failure of resistance 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 161 
 
 on the part of the blades caused him to fall 
 over on his back. 
 
 He was up in an instant, and peered about in 
 the gloom trying to decide the best thing to do. 
 One peculiarity struck him, — the same that was 
 afterward mentioned by many who took part 
 in the eventful incidents of that night. Snow 
 and sleet filled the air, and the wind blew a 
 gale from nightfall till daybreak the next morn- 
 ing, and yet there seemed to be at times a pecul- 
 iar lightness to the gloom. It would appear 
 that the darkness ought to have been so pro- 
 found and impenetrable that the proverbial 
 phrase of one being unable to see his hand 
 before his face should have applied. 
 
 But for a good deal of the time it was other- 
 wise. A person could distinguish for twenty 
 feet and sometimes further. Such it will be 
 remembered was the case, when the young Tory 
 called to Jack from his boat some distance out 
 on the river, and when our young hero looked 
 
 anxiously about him, he plainly discerned his 
 ii 
 
162 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 surroundings. At times, the field of vision was 
 more extended than at others, and then again, 
 it narrowed to a yard or two. 
 
 That which Jack Marlton detected convinced 
 him that his oars were as useless as his sail 
 would have been. He, therefore, unshipped 
 and dropped them in the bottom of the boat, 
 and catching up the pole, rose to his feet. It 
 w^as all-important that he should get forward as' 
 fast as he could, and at considerable risk he 
 jammed the iron-pointed end of the pole into 
 the surface of a cake of ice and pushed with 
 might and main. 
 
 The craft shot forward under the propulsion, 
 and all went well for several minutes, when 
 something very much resembling a catastrophe 
 occurred. An odd commingling of the grinding 
 masses drove the edge of one enormous piece 
 directly under the boat, which was lifted entirely 
 clear of the water, and the next instant was 
 riding downward as buoyantly as if resting on 
 the deck of a vessel. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 1G3 
 
 " This will never do ! " exclaimed the startled 
 Jack, as he stepped over the side of the craft 
 upon the cake that was supporting it, and began 
 pushing with might and main. 
 
 The task proved harder than he expected, for 
 his feet slipped on the wet, glassy surface and 
 he fell two or three times, without moving the 
 boat. He stopped to think of some way of 
 getting out of the scrape. A minute was 
 sufficient for his Yankee ingenuity to assert 
 itself. 
 
 Jamming the lower point of the pole into 
 the ice, he used it as a lever and pried the boat 
 sideways. It readily yielded, and, continuing 
 the effort, he soon had the satisfaction of hear- 
 ing it drop into clear water. Pole in hand, he 
 stood upright within the craft and continued his 
 sturdy battle. 
 
 Carefully, strongly, courageously and coolly, 
 he pushed his perilous work. Now and then he 
 raised his eyes from his immediate surroundings 
 and peered through the tempest and darkness. 
 
164 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 The twinkling lights in the direction of Trenton 
 showed where the Hessians were making merry 
 on this joyous Christmas. As yet they had no 
 suspicion of that shadowy host that were fight- 
 ing their way through the turbulent river and 
 among the masses of ice inspired by the grim 
 resolution to strike a blow for the independence 
 of their country that would fire anew the droop- 
 ing spirits of their countrymen. 
 
 But what a cruel fate if, when Washington 
 and his fellow-patriots arrived in town, they 
 should find the mercenaries prepared and eager 
 to be attacked ! The thought thrilled Jack 
 Marlton with new determination, and, had he 
 known that by giving up his young life such a 
 catastrophe could be averted, he would not have 
 hesitated for an instant. Of such stuff were the 
 boys of the Revolution made. 
 
 Jack's battle with the ice had lasted for half 
 an hour, and he found himself speculating as to 
 how far he had progressed. It seemed to him 
 he must be most of the way across, but when he 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 165 
 
 looked at the twinkling points in advance, tliey 
 still appeared a long distance off. However, 
 he began to fear that, before he could make 
 land, he would be carried considerably below the 
 town. 
 
 These gloomy thoughts were in his mind, and 
 he was still striving with might and main, when 
 he w^as thrilled by the sight of a person directly 
 in his front and engaged with the same work 
 with himself. That is to say, he w r as standing 
 up in his boat, pole in hand, and doing his best 
 to fight his way among the masses of ice to the 
 Jersey shore. 
 
 It was Aaron Wagstaff the Tory ! There 
 could be no doubt of it. By a strange provi- 
 dence he had been carried down stream until he 
 and his pursuer were w r ithin a few yards of each 
 other. Furthermore, when Jack glanced at him 
 lie discerned the dim outlines of the shore be- 
 yond. They were nearer land than he had 
 suspected. 
 
 Ah, if he only had his rifle with him ! He 
 
166 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 would not shoot the Tory, but he would cover 
 him with the weapon and compel him to cease 
 struggling and allow the boat to drift down the 
 river or make him turn about and work his way 
 back to the Pennsylvania shore, or he would 
 hold him a prisoner until both landed. 
 
 But why speculate as to that, when neither 
 of them had any kind of weapon at command ? 
 
 The bad feature of the situation was that the 
 Tory was nearer land than the patriot, and, 
 since Jack saw him, it was reasonable that the 
 other saw Jack. In the natural course of events, 
 Wagstaff would make shore soon enough to 
 gain all the start he wished. The only way to 
 prevent it was by working more vigorously or 
 at least more skilfully. 
 
 Jack plied the pole with might and main, but 
 glancing at his enemy noted that he was doing 
 the same. Plainly he realized his peril and was 
 striving his utmost to escape it. 
 
 The young patriot's eagerness and impet- 
 uosity worked ill, for it made him reckless. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 167 
 
 He knew he was close to land, and the moments 
 were of measureless value. Instead of fighting 
 off the blocks of ice, and picking his course, he 
 pushed ahead with all the strength he could 
 summon. Besides, the Tory was so near the 
 shore that not a moment must be thrown away. 
 The most desperate chances had to be taken 
 without hesitation. 
 
 What might have been expected came speed- 
 ily. There was a shock that threw Jack on his 
 face, with the pole flying overboard beyond his 
 reach, and then came a crushing, ripping, tear- 
 ing sound and the flying of splinters about him. 
 The boat had been caught between two im- 
 mense ice cakes, under the erratic control of in- 
 terfering eddies, and the craft was crushed as 
 utterly and completely as was the supply 
 steamer " Proteous," when on its way to the far 
 North with supplies for the Greely party. 
 
 Only the activity of Jack Marlton saved him 
 from death. Quick to understand his peril, he 
 partly rose to his feet, and made a tremendous 
 
168 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 bound from the wreck, landing on one of the 
 bergs that had done all this mischief. He was 
 so near the edge of his support that it instantly 
 tipped with him, and, despite a desperate effort, 
 he dropped into the icy water whose thrilling 
 chill caused him to gasp for breath. 
 
 But not once did he lose his presence of mind. 
 His heavy clothing hampered him, and despite 
 his skill in swimming, he might have been in 
 serious danger, but for the blocks of ice that 
 were all around him. Grasping one of these, he 
 was fortunate in finding it buoyant enough to 
 allow him to climb out of the water without 
 drawing the edge under. 
 
 Glancing in the direction of the Tory, he saw 
 that he, too, was in trouble, for his boat had 
 been nipped and he was obliged to leap out ; 
 but, instead of falling into the water he landed 
 on a cake of ice, sprang to another, and was 
 thus making his way uncertainly to land. 
 
 If he could do that, what was to prevent 
 Jack Marlton imitating him ? On the instant, he 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 169 
 
 made a bound from the mass on which he had 
 first leaped, but the support was so light that it 
 immediately sank. Before, however, it could 
 go under, Jack had jumped to a second which 
 was firmer, then to a third, which sank so sud- 
 denly that only by a quick leap did he save 
 himself. Then to another and another, rushing 
 blindly, as may be said, for, having started, he 
 had to keep going, even if a space of clear water 
 opened in front. 
 
 That very thing happened. He was taking 
 long leaps, hurrying from one support to an- 
 other, and accepting the chances as they came, 
 when to his dismay, he perceived more than a 
 dozen feet of unobstructed water across his path. 
 He glanced up and down the river, but it looked 
 as if some projection of land turned all the ice- 
 masses away from the shore and no support 
 would come to him. Possibly he might find 
 what he needed by going up or down stream, 
 but there was no time to do so. 
 
 For all the while, the Tory had been improv- 
 
170 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 ing the moments. Fortune seemed to be with 
 him, and he went from one support to another, 
 as if each had been specially placed for his ac- 
 commodation. He was not directly in front of 
 Jack but a little way up-stream. Nevertheless, 
 he was called upon to face the open spot, and he 
 did so unhesitatingly. Jack heard the splash as 
 he leaped into it, and only a few seconds behind 
 him, the young patriot did the same. To his 
 vast relief, the water was so shallow that it did 
 not rise above his knees. He splashed through 
 on a run, and with the moisture flying from 
 his dripping garments at last stood on firm land. 
 The Delaware had been safely crossed, and 
 he had emerged directly opposite the town, but 
 his whole interest centered in Aaron Wagstaff 
 who had the advantage of two or three minutes 
 and was making the best possible use of the 
 opportunity. He started on a run up the slope 
 with the young patriot perhaps fifty feet behind, 
 and sure to overtake him, if the chase lasted a 
 hundred yards further. 
 
JACK HEARD THE SPLASH AS THE YOUNG TORY LEAPED INTO THE WATER. AND 
 
 quickly the young patriot did the SAME,— Page 170. The Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 171 
 
 " Stop ! " commanded Jack, " before I shoot ! " 
 
 It was a brave bluff, and would have worked 
 but for an exasperating interference. Without 
 looking around, the Tory slackened his pace, 
 feeling that it was all up, when from a point 
 directly in front, rang out a sharp command : 
 
 " Halt ! who comes dere ? " 
 
 It was a Hessian picket, who had noted the 
 singular race, and stood with leveled musket 
 in front of the two youths and only a short 
 distance off. 
 
 It was an immeasurable relief to the Tory 
 and an unspeakable aggravation to his pursuer, 
 but there was no help for it and both abruptly 
 halted. 
 
 The German, who could speak English quite 
 well, demanded an explanation of the strange 
 proceeding. 
 
 " He was running away and I was trying to 
 catch him," replied Jack Marl ton. 
 
 " Vy does you run away I " asked the sentinel, 
 turning to the Tory. 
 
172 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " I have important news for Colonel Rail ; I 
 was hurrying to take it to him ; this rebel knew 
 it and tried to stop me." 
 
 "I no like your looks," said the Hessian, 
 shaking his head, and looking fixedly at Wag- 
 staff ; " I likes the look of the oder much better ; 
 I believes what he says ; he will tell whether 
 what you say be true." 
 
 Jack Marlton was sorely tempted for the mo- 
 ment. He had but to utter a falsehood and the 
 great service he craved to render to the Father 
 of his Country would be rendered. The Hes- 
 sian would not believe the Tory, if the patriot 
 contradicted him. 
 
 " No," said Jack Marlton ; " he tells the truth ; 
 he has a message for Colonel Rail ; I tried to 
 prevent his delivering it, for I am the biggest 
 rebel for a boy that you ever saw or ever will 
 
 see." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A PRISONER. 
 
 It was not in a spirit of braggadocio that Jack 
 Marlton spoke these emphatic words. The 
 utterance of a falsehood would have given him 
 a vast advantage, as the case appeared, for the 
 Hessian sentinel left no doubt on that point. 
 He liked the lad and had declared he would 
 believe what he said, even though it was con- 
 tradicted by his companion. 
 
 Jack knew when he made his reply that it 
 insured his detention as a prisoner and, woful 
 to say, the delivery of the message of Aaron 
 Wagstaff to Colonel Rail, with the probable 
 overthrow of the brilliant campaign of General 
 Washington as a sequel. The consciousness of 
 
174 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 this fact sent the bitterest pang of his life 
 through the heart of the youth ; but above and 
 beyond that was the thrilling, approving voice 
 of conscience : 
 
 " You have spoken the truth ; leave the issue 
 with your Maker." 
 
 And no misery could dim the exquisite pleas- 
 ure which was a part of that knowledge. He 
 had done his duty and higher praise cannot be 
 accorded to mortal. He was content to accept 
 his fate. 
 
 It would be interesting could we tell the 
 thoughts that entered the brain of the stocky, 
 powerfully-built Hessian, who heard the youth's 
 avowal. While that is impossible, there can be 
 no doubt that he was favorably impressed by 
 one who had already won his esteem. But 
 he was a soldier, who knew only his duty. 
 With hardly a moment's hesitation, he called 
 the corporal of the guard, who speedily 
 made his appearance, with a couple of other 
 soldiers. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 175 
 
 The brief conversation that followed was in 
 German, of which the boys caught only one 
 word that they understood. That was the name 
 "Fritz," applied to the sentinel. He explained 
 to the corporal the circumstances, and that of- 
 ficer in broken English gave the youths to under- 
 stand they were prisoners. They were ordered 
 to walk up the bank and into First Street, 
 which now bears the name of Front and runs 
 parallel to the Delaware. 
 
 It was a curious procession, with the youths 
 in front of the corporal and two soldiers walk- 
 ing immediately behind them. Each of course 
 carried a loaded musket, which he was ready to 
 use on the instant that either sought his liberty 
 by a sudden dash. There might have been 
 some difficulty in firing the flint-locks, whose 
 powder was probably wet from the tempest of 
 driving sleet, that had been raging for hours 
 and still raged with an diminished fury, but the 
 youths were too prudent to take any risk. 
 Rather should it be said that one of them was 
 
176 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 too prudent, for the Tory had nothing to fear, 
 since he was among friends and engaged on 
 business in their behalf. 
 
 The clothing of both was saturated, and but 
 for the movement of their limbs their garments 
 would have frozen to them. They were chilled 
 through, but the varying and intense emotions 
 of the two prevented suffering from that 
 cause. 
 
 Jack Marlton's senses were never keener. 
 What first attracted his notice was that while 
 Fritz the sentinel was perfectly sober, the cor- 
 poral and both his men were plainly under the 
 influence of liquor. It must be remembered 
 that it was Christmas, and the Hessians were 
 having an old-time jollification in Trenton on 
 that historical occasion. 
 
 The corporal had fair control of himself and 
 was able to walk steadily, but one of the sol- 
 diers lurched so much that he brought a sharp 
 reproof from his officer, who, like many persons, 
 when slightly under the power of intoxicants, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 177 
 
 believed lie was concealing the fact by his own 
 supernatural sobriety. 
 
 It was but a short walk up the bank and 
 into First Street, when the party turned to the 
 eastward, which is in the direction of the present 
 canal and railway station. There were dwell- 
 ing-houses on either hand, though some of them 
 were separated by considerable space. Despite 
 the lateness of the hour and the driving storm, 
 lights gleamed from the windows of nearly 
 every house, and when the procession came 
 opposite the first large structure, the sound of 
 music was heard within. It was a curious mix- 
 ture — that of a violin, a hautboy and some 
 kind of a horn, discoursing the liveliest kind of 
 strains for the roystering dancers. 
 
 It may be worth saying at this point that 
 Colonel Rail was almost foolishly fond of band 
 music. He kept the members playing for 
 hours for his amusement and showed as much 
 delight over the harsh rapid notes of the haut- 
 boy as a child. Old residents of Trenton, who 
 
 12 
 
178 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 lived there when lie and his Hessians occupied 
 the town, used to tell of seeing the sturdy Ger- 
 man standing perfectly enraptured with the 
 work of his musicians, who blew until their 
 cheeks cracked, probably inwardly cursing their 
 commander who could never get too much of 
 the entertainment that was an oppressive bore 
 to those who provided it. 
 
 Walking side by side through the dismal 
 storm, occasionally lit up by the light from the 
 dwellings on their right or left, Jack Marlton 
 and Aaron Wagstaff could have touched hands, 
 had they wished, but they did nothing of the 
 sort, and for a time neither spoke. Then, the 
 chuckling Tory said : 
 
 " Well, Jack, you have learned what a big fool 
 you are, haven't you ? " 
 
 " Yes," was the grim response of the young 
 patriot ; " we were all a lot of fools to give you 
 the chance to slip off as you did ; it would have 
 been easy enough to take away your boat if we 
 had thought, but we didn't." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 179 
 
 " I watched all day for it to go, and thought 
 when I hurried down to the river that I wouldn't 
 find it there, but it was waiting." 
 
 " Suppose it hadn't been there," continued 
 Jack, as if trying to add to his own bitterness 
 of memory, " what would you have done ? " 
 
 u Nothing ; what could I have done ? " 
 
 " And you heard all that General Washing- 
 ton said to us last night ? " 
 
 " I didn't let a word get away ; I was going 
 along the road, when he rode up and tied his 
 horse in front of your gate and left the aides 
 waiting outside ; I thought something was up, 
 and sneaked round to the side window. I'm 
 afraid of only one thing." 
 
 " What's that ? " eagerly asked Jack. 
 
 " That General Washington won't be able to 
 get along without having you to guide his rag- 
 amuffins over the roads to Trenton." 
 
 And the Tory chortled, while the patriot bit 
 his lips with chagrin and rage. His enemy 
 mean to rub it in without mercy. 
 
180 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Maybe they won't let you see Colonel Rail." 
 
 " Don't you shake hands with yourself over 
 that ! I don't care if they don't ; they'll take 
 the old man's note to him. He wrote it all out 
 on paper, wrapped it about with a piece of oil- 
 skin and I have it snug and dry in my inside 
 pocket. If there's any delay or trouble about 
 my seeing Colonel Kail there won't be any about 
 getting the old man's message to him, and then 
 what will become of General Washington and 
 the rest of the traitors ? " 
 
 In desperation the young patriot appealed to 
 the better nature of the Tory. 
 
 " Aaron, why do you do this ? You will be 
 sorry for it all your life." 
 
 u Sorry for it ! " he exclaimed ; u I wouldn't 
 miss the chance for ten thousand pounds ; I can 
 hardly keep from jumping for joy, even if I am 
 half frozen to death." 
 
 Jack Marlton could not restrain his indigna- 
 tion. 
 
 " You are the meanest, most cowardly scoun- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 181 
 
 drel that was ever allowed to draw the breath 
 of life—" 
 
 At that moment, Jack Marlton was knocked 
 almost senseless by a blow on the back of his 
 head. The drunken soldier brought down the 
 butt of his musket with a force that sent the 
 youth forward several paces and came nigh 
 throwing him on his face in the icy, muddy street. 
 
 " Keep your mouth shet ! " explained the cor- 
 poral, who probably ordered the youth to be 
 struck the cruel blow. 
 
 Jack was so infuriated that only by a strong 
 effort could he restrain himself from attacking; 
 the brute like a tiger. His rage was intensified 
 by the fact that the Tory at his side had not 
 been touched, though it was he who opened the 
 conversation. It was evident that the three men 
 had learned the principles of their prisoners. 
 
 The Tory was mean enough to gloat over the 
 outrage his companion had just suffered, and, 
 knowing that he himself was safe from harm, 
 he laughed : 
 
182 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 "How did it feel, Jack!" 
 
 It Avas running great risk to violate on the in- 
 stant, as may be said, the order of the brutal 
 guard, but Jack did it, lowering his voice just 
 enough to prevent any ears, excepting those for 
 which they were intended, from hearing his 
 words : 
 
 " If you open your mouth again, 111 jump 
 onto you and beat the life from your body 
 before any one can stop me ! " 
 
 The conversation ended. 
 
 The walk along First Street was compara- 
 tively brief. On the right, which was toward 
 the river, the party moved a short distance over 
 the sleet and mud and paused in front of a low, 
 small building that was really a barn. It con- 
 sisted of a single room, something more than 
 twenty feet square, with a mow overhead, partly 
 filled with hay. There were no stalls belo'w, so 
 that it had been used simply to hold fodder, the 
 animals being kept in another building a short 
 distance away. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 183 
 
 This structure was one of the guard-houses of 
 the Hessians during their occupancy of Trenton. 
 The floor was the cold bare earth, there was not 
 a spark of fire in the building, and the only 
 thing suggesting a bed or couch was the hay 
 which some kind hand had flung down from 
 the loft overhead. 
 
 From the rafters hung four lanterns, whose 
 candles dimly lit up the gloomy interior. 
 There was but a single door, and one of the 
 lights was suspended over this, while a guard 
 stood with loaded musket on the inside, and an- 
 other in the storm outside. It was the latter 
 who received the prisoner Jack Marlton, and, 
 thrusting the sharp point of his bayonet against 
 his hip, said : 
 
 "Indere! Go!" 
 
 Needless to say, Jack did not delay in obey- 
 ing. He took several steps, and then paused 
 and looked around to see whether his Tory 
 companion would join him. He did not. 
 Through the driving storm Jack heard the mux- 
 
184 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 nmr of voices, but' no Aaron Wagstaff* put in 
 his appearance. Why should he be held a pris- 
 oner, when clearly a friend ? 
 
 " Within half an hour," reflected Jack 
 Marlton with anguish, " Colonel Rail will re- 
 ceive that message. God help General Wash- 
 ington ! " 
 
 His prayer was really for his country, but to 
 him, that and Washington w r ere one and the 
 same, and who can question the correctness of 
 his view ? 
 
 Convinced that it was intended he should 
 occupy this prison indefinitely, the wretched 
 Jack braced himself with the grim heroism that 
 he had inherited from his father and which, 
 therefore, was a part of his nature. 
 
 He looked up at the lanterns, the mow, and 
 the rafters, dimly outlined in the gloom over- 
 head. Then he surveyed the hay scattered over 
 the icy ground. Here and there a form was 
 discerned. There were four in all lying doubled 
 up and as motionless as if they were dead. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 1S5 
 
 Each had a blanket drawn around him, and was 
 so covered with that and the protecting hay that 
 barely more than the outlines of his form could 
 be distinguished, though the sound of heavy 
 breathing showed all were sleeping soundly. 
 Doubtless they were soldiers who had been 
 celebrating the day too heavily so they had 
 been tumbled into the guard-house to remain 
 until they sobered up. 
 
 The door was closed, and with only a glance 
 at it, Jack walked over the hay to the opposite 
 side of the cheerless room and sat down with his 
 back against the heavy boards. Two causes led 
 him to do this. The first was that it located him 
 as remotely as possible from the drunken sleepers, 
 and the other was that it placed him directly 
 beneath the single window with which the 
 lower part of the barn was provided. The sash 
 that had originally been there had been smashed, 
 and the opening was crossed by bars of iron, 
 which of course were no protection against the 
 wet or cold. 
 
186 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 It may seem to have been imprudent on the 
 part of Jack Marl ton, but, by sitting close under 
 the window, he escaped the arctic wind and 
 sleet that drove through, for both were carried 
 so far over his head that he felt none of their 
 effects. While every portion of the dismal 
 structure was cold, cheerless and wof ully uncom- 
 fortable, he had chosen the most favorable spot, 
 if any spot at all could be considered favorable. 
 
 Besides, an odd question took vague form in 
 his mind — 
 
 " Perhaps that window may prove a friend to 
 
 me." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 187 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FRITZ. 
 
 It would be hard to picture a more dismal, 
 cheerless and wretched situation than that of 
 Jack Marlton. 
 
 He sat down in the hay of the gloomy barn 
 and drew a quantity of it about his body. 
 There was precious little warmth in it, and his 
 teeth chattered with the cold. Be it remembered 
 that it was on that eventful night that two of 
 Washington's hardy soldiers were frozen to 
 death while making their march through the 
 sleet and driving tempest to Trenton, and many 
 others suffered severely from the fearful tem- 
 perature. 
 
 Jack's teeth rattled like castanets ; there was 
 no way of drying his saturated clothing, which 
 
188 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 crackled with ice whenever he moved his limbs 
 or body. But for his youthful vigor he must 
 have succumbed, as did many another patriot 
 on the eve of the battle of Trenton. 
 
 But wretched as he was in body, he suffered 
 mentally to a more intense degree. Perhaps it 
 was merciful that such was the fact, for it 
 imparted a feverish glow to his frame and there- 
 by helped to fight off the insidious approach of 
 that drowsiness and stupor which is invariably 
 fatal to any one exposed to extreme cold. 
 
 The most exasperating reflection that can 
 torment a person is that his despairing situation 
 is the result of his own short-sightedness. Jack 
 recalled that he had noticed the boat of Aaron 
 Wagstaff lying against the bank, on passing the 
 house of the Tory earlier in the day, and when 
 he went to help watch the traitors he knew it 
 was still there, and yet it never occurred to him 
 that it was likely to serve the purpose to which 
 it was applied. 
 
 He felt there was some excuse for his father, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 189 
 
 and, perhaps to a less degree, for the guard that 
 had been placed around the house by order of 
 General Washington, for they were strangers in 
 the neighborhood and were not likely to think 
 of the craft ; but there was none for Jack Marl- 
 ton himself. 
 
 He had been nerved to a state of exaltation 
 by the belief that it was to be his happy lot to 
 render the Father of his Country a great service, 
 and he had utterly failed to accomplish anything* 
 He had come within a hair's breadth of checking 
 the Tory in his daring night across the Delaware, 
 but that, too, miscarried, and here he was a 
 prisoner of the Hessians. 
 
 Why think further about it ? And yet he 
 could not help thinking of it. The Tory had 
 been permitted to go free, and no doubt by that 
 time Colonel Rail was reading or had already 
 read the momentous note of Saros Wagstaff, 
 and was making disposition of his troops to 
 baffle the exultant patriots, hurrying from the 
 Delaware to attack them in town. 
 
190 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Jack listened for sounds that would indicate 
 such preparation. The sleet and snow rattled 
 against the boards and on the shingles over 
 head, a deep murmur came from the direction 
 of the river where the masses of ice still 
 craunched and tumbled and ground together, the 
 shouts of revelers were heard in the streets, and 
 the heavy breathing of the doubled-up form 
 nearest him made itself heard through these 
 other sounds. But they had been in his ears 
 from the first. He could hear nothing like 
 hoarse commands, the call of bugles and the 
 hurrying to and fro of horses and men. But 
 all that must soon come. 
 
 Drawing his knees close to his body, with the 
 hay inclosing his form, and his arms clasped 
 about his lower limbs, Jack looked across the 
 dismal room at the figure of the sentinel, who 
 had assumed an unmilitary posture by leaning 
 against the jamb of the door. His musket 
 rested on his shoulder, and he seemed to be 
 gazing steadily at the young prisoner. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. i9l 
 
 The stiff hat with its projecting brim shaded 
 his forehead from the rays of the lanterns, but 
 Jack noted the lower part of his face, which was 
 covered with a grizzled goatee and with a huge 
 mustache shading his upper lip. He was tall 
 and spare, and the lad plainly saw the glitter of 
 his dark eyes under his visor as he looked stead- 
 ily at him. 
 
 " I wonder whether he has ever seen me 
 before," the lad asked himself, unable to recall 
 how such could be the case, since he had not 
 been in Trenton for the past month ; " he knows 
 I am a rebel and it may be he is asking himself 
 whether it isn't best to send a bullet through 
 me. If it wasn't for mother and father I 
 wouldn't care a penny if he did ; I am of no 
 use to anybody, and, if I should ask General 
 Washington to take me as a soldier, he would 
 tell me I'm worth nothing to him or any one 
 else." 
 
 Evil thoughts were passing through the brain 
 of the Hessian. If they partook of the sinister 
 
192 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 nature suspected by the hapless Jack, they were 
 dissipated by an unexpected interference. The 
 door was suddenly pushed inward and another 
 soldier, his garments covered with sleet and ice, 
 stepped quickly into the prison. 
 
 He had come to exchange places or rather to 
 relieve the sentinel on duty. The method of 
 doing so was unmilitary, for regulations re- 
 quired a certain formula to be gone through 
 with by the sergeant or corporal of the guard, 
 but all this was disregarded in the present in- 
 stance when Trenton was almost topsy-turvy 
 with merry-making. In truth, the two men 
 were friends, and the new arrival had come 
 voluntarily to take the place of the man on 
 duty, whose time for relief was still a full hour 
 away. 
 
 But he was anxious to go to a certain spot, 
 where he would find a dark-eyed Tory lass in 
 whom he felt more than a passing interest. It 
 was a great favor indeed when his friend re- 
 lieved him, though in a comparatively short 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 193 
 
 while the good Samaritan would be free to 
 relinquish his trying task. 
 
 There was a hurried exchange in German, 
 and then the sentinel, whose garments were 
 dry, strode ont into the storm, and the one who 
 was cold and wet took his place. He, too, 
 rested his musket on his shoulder, but he did 
 not loll against the side of the door, though he 
 faced about and looked at Jack Marl ton with 
 the same steadiness as his predecessor. 
 
 " I should like to know what the mischief 
 those fellows see to interest them so much in 
 me," mused the puzzled Jack ; " if he wants to 
 make my acquaintance, why doesn't he come 
 over here and introduce himself ? " 
 
 As if in answer to this thought, the guard at 
 that moment left his station and walked across 
 the hay directly toward the crouching lad, who 
 was startled by his action. 
 
 As he approached, his relative change of posi- 
 tion caused the light of one of the lanterns to 
 show his face quite distinctly. It was smoothly 
 
194 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 shaven, broad, like his own stocky figure, and lie 
 
 was unmistakably grinning. 
 
 But it seemed that it was the window and 
 not the prisoner which interested the Hessian. 
 Apparently without looking at the latter, he 
 reached out his hand and tried the iron bars in 
 succession. He seemed to finger and tug at one 
 of them, as if doubtful of its stability, but he was 
 through at last, and then, looking down at Jack, 
 he asked with the same grin and in a low voice, 
 as if afraid of awaking one of the heavy 
 sleepers : 
 
 "How you do?" 
 
 " I suppose I am well, but I couldn't feel 
 more miserable." 
 
 The Hessian grinned more expansively than 
 before. 
 
 " You does not remember me ? " 
 
 " We have never met before ; how could I 
 remember you ? " 
 
 " Dere vos vere you is mistooken ; I am Fritz 
 ven you brings dat tarn fool of a Tory and you 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 195 
 
 vos a bigger tarn fool 'cos you hollered out loud 
 dat you vos a rebel, — eh, vot you tinks ? " 
 
 Jack Marlton was astounded. In the gloom 
 at the riverside, it was impossible for him to 
 see the face of the sentinel, but other circum- 
 stances made it easy for the Hessian to identify 
 him. The boy's face lighted up, and he started 
 to rise to his feet, bat Fritz motioned him to 
 remain where he was. 
 
 " Don't do dot ! " he said hurriedly, speaking 
 so low that Jack was hardly able to hear him 
 with the noise of the raging storm in his ears. 
 " Bime-by mebbe somepody come to the door, 
 and ven he sees me talking mit you he say ' tarn.' " 
 
 "Why, Fritz, I never dreamed it was you." 
 
 " Jim, vot vos here when I took his place, — 
 he want to shoot you 'cause you be a rebel, 
 He tells me you looks as if you might git away. 
 — so I comes ober and I looks at the winder, — 
 yaw ! yaw ! " 
 
 The stocky fellow shook with silent laughter 
 and then suddenly controlling himself added : 
 
196 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " De winder be not very strong, — one ob de 
 bars ish loose, — I must looks out dat no tarn 
 rebel slips out ven my back is turned." 
 
 " If you want me to promise, Fritz, that I will 
 take no advantage of your kindness, I am ready 
 to give my parole." 
 
 "Who ask for your parole?" demanded the 
 Hessian angrily, " vait till somebody don't ask 
 it and den mebbe you vos not so big a tarn fool 
 as you is alretty, — eh, don't it i " 
 
 When excited, Fritz seemed to speak more 
 brokenly than at other times. The grin had 
 gone from his broad, good-humored countenance 
 and he looked as if really angry from some 
 cause with the American } r outh of whom he 
 had expressed so favorable an opinion but a 
 short time before. 
 
 Jack Marlton was not slow mentally and a 
 glimmering suspicion flashed into his brain. 
 The candle-light shone full upon his upturned 
 face, and, looking up at the sentinel, he did not 
 speak, but smiled and solemnly winked one eye. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 197 
 
 " Vat for you winks at me, you rebel \ Don't 
 do dat agin or I — I — bur-r-r ! " and he puffed 
 his cheeks and shook his head, as if unable to 
 express his rage, but there was no deception this 
 time. His grin was more tremendous than 
 before, and displayed his big white teeth, while 
 his eyes sparkled. 
 
 Since his protest was uttered in louder words 
 than he had been using, the fact gave rise to the 
 suspicion that they were intended for the ears 
 of some of the forms doubled up in the hay, if 
 perchance any of them were awake. Jack did 
 not attempt any reply, but, strive as he might, 
 he could not smooth out the smile on his own 
 face. 
 
 As if not daring to trust himself further, 
 Fritz strode angrily to his position by the door. 
 Then he stood for a full minute, looking straight 
 at Jack Marlton, who might have felt uneasy 
 under the fixedness of the stare, had he not 
 been sure of its meaning. 
 
 The lad made a movement as if to rise to his 
 
198 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 feet, but paused when partly up, so that lus 
 posture was a stooping one. For another 
 minute, the guard did not stir a muscle; then he 
 deliberately turned his bach on the prisoner. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 199 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THROUGH MISHAP AND PERIL. 
 
 Jack Marlton rose like a shadow to the up- 
 right posture. The Hessian remained as motion- 
 less as a statue with his back toward him. 
 
 The change of position brought the head and 
 shoulders of the youth above the sill of the 
 window, and chilled as he ahead}' was, he 
 shivered when the sleet struck his face and 
 neck. But he bravely faced the tempest and 
 grasped the lower bar of iron which crossed the 
 window. He exerted a tremendous pull, but it 
 remained as firm as if imbedded in solid rock. 
 
 The window was so slight in extent that 
 three rods crossing it horizontally were sufficient 
 to prevent the egress of the smallest man. He 
 seized the middle bar, and ? throwing all his 
 
200 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 strength into the effort, drew furiously back- 
 ward. The resistance was so slight that it was 
 really none at all, and Jack went over in the 
 straw, grasping the iron with both hands, and 
 with his feet pointed toward the rafters. 
 
 Amid the racket, he fancied he heard a sound 
 resembling suppressed laughter, and, as he 
 climbed hastily to his feet, he looked around. 
 The sentinel's back was toward him, but, unless 
 he was greatly mistaken, Jack caught a glimpse 
 of the broad, red face at the instant it whisked 
 away, and there could be but one cause for the 
 quivering of those huge wet shoulders. 
 
 Jack Marl ton, as has been shown, was of 
 sturdy frame and was thickly clothed, bearing 
 that the space he had opened was not large 
 enough for his body, he tried to wrench the 
 topmost bar from its fastenings, but it was as 
 strongly imbedded as the lowermost, and did not 
 yield so much as a hair. 
 
 " I guess I can make it," was his thought, as 
 again holding fast to the upper one, he drew 
 
JACK SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF THE WINDOW HEAD FIRST, INTO A POOL OF WATER. 
 
 Page 201 . The Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 201 
 
 himself slightly upward, thrust his head through 
 and began vigorously working his body be- 
 tween the two rods. It was a tight squeeze, 
 and twice he thought he was inextricably fast, 
 but working desperately, he suddenly went out 
 head first, dropping on his face into a pool cf 
 water and ice. 
 
 It was as dark as Egypt, but when he strug- 
 gled to his feet, he could not help turning about 
 and peeping through the window. 
 
 There was the gloomy interior, dimly lit up 
 by the suspended lanterns, the mow on the 
 right, the hay on the floor, with two of the 
 sleepers visible, and directly opposite was the 
 single door of the barn. And beside that door, 
 stood Fritz the sentinel, not with his back 
 turned, but facing about, with a grin that 
 seemed to reach his ears, while his whole body 
 shook with merriment. 
 
 " Heaven bless you ! " muttered Jack Marl ton ; 
 " the Hessians aren't very popular in this part 
 of the world but you are a good fellow." 
 
202 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Fritz moved hurriedly across the floor, picked 
 up the displaced rod and carefully restored it to 
 place. Before doing this he thrust his head be- 
 tween the other bars, and blinking in the sleet, 
 attempted to peer into the impenetrable dark- 
 ness. He could see nothing, and it may have 
 been he depended on his hearing, but that was 
 equally at fault, and he drew his head back 
 again, made the window look as it was before, 
 and returned to his former position by the door. 
 
 Jack would have been glad to express his 
 thanks to his friend, or to communicate with him 
 in some manner, but he feared it would not be 
 pleasing to him, and he began picking his way 
 from the spot. 
 
 This was difficult, for, familiar as he was with 
 Trenton, he could not be expected to know the 
 back-yards and all of the out-of-the-way places. 
 He recalled in what part of the toAvn he was, 
 but of his immediate surroundings had no more 
 knowledge than if dropped from a balloon into- 
 the interior of Africa. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 203 
 
 Pie understood he must pass around from the 
 rear to the front, in order to reach the street 
 where he would feel at home, provided no one 
 molested him, but in whatever direction he 
 looked, he could not catch a glimpse of the 
 slightest illumination. Moreover, that peculiar 
 lightness to which I have referred, seemed to 
 have departed for the time, so that, had the lad 
 held his hand in front of his face, he would 
 have been unable to detect so much as its 
 outlines. 
 
 " I guess I won't have any trouble," he thought, 
 as, with hands outstretched, he began cau- 
 tiously feeling his way forward ; " all I've got 
 to do " 
 
 Some one had stretched a clothesline across 
 the dark space over which Jack was groping, 
 and under the thorough wetting it received, it 
 had shrunk as taut as a wire. Slipping directly 
 under his chin, he was almost lifted off his feet, 
 and an abrupt change was produced in the cur- 
 rent of his thoughts, 
 
204 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " My gracious ! " he muttered, rubbing his 
 throat ; "I thought it had sawed my head off, 
 but I believe it is still on my shoulders." 
 
 The fear that there might be another branch 
 of the line caused him now to hold his hands 
 higher than before, while he advanced literally 
 inch by inch. 
 
 We always take in our line when it rains and 
 I don't see why other folks don't do it ; as like 
 as not — great Ciesar ! " 
 
 Since it was impossible to see where he placed 
 his feet, and the ground was covered with ice 
 and sleet, Jack's shoes at that instant shot for- 
 ward and he sat down with so sudden a thump 
 that the whole night was illumined by myriads 
 of stars, and his teeth rattled more violently 
 than ever before. But his thick clothing and 
 his rugged frame prevented any serious injury 
 from the jar. 
 
 " I wonder how long this thing will keep up," 
 he said, carefully climbing to his feet and dis- 
 posed to smile at his predicament ; " it begins 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 205 
 
 to look as if Fritz had let me out of the frying- 
 pan into the fire." 
 
 For a few steps he made fair progress. Look- 
 ing behind him, he could see the dim glow of 
 the yellow light from the lanterns as the rays 
 straggled through the barred window ; but that 
 was of no help, since he could not return, and 
 he was still in utter ignorance of his surround- 
 ings, but he reflected that if he kept on he must 
 come out someivhere, and he continued to advance 
 with a care that could not have been greater. 
 
 " If I had known that I was ever to climb 
 into this place," he reflected, giving rein to his 
 queer fancies, " I would have come over from 
 home last summer and studied the lay of the 
 land » 
 
 This time, he banged against the side of a 
 board fence, with a violence that was strange, 
 considering the caution he put forth ; but he 
 struck it fairly, his cap flying off, while he was 
 sure that his nose was so flattened that it would 
 never recover its normal shape. He had not 
 
206 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 drawn on his, mittens, since lie removed them 
 for the purpose of handling the oars and pole 
 of his boat. His hands were chilled, but he 
 thought it better to keep them uncovered until 
 his eyes could serve him to better purpose. 
 
 The fact that he had collided with the fence 
 indicated that he was making some progress ; 
 and since the boards were in the nature of an 
 obstruction, he naturally felt that it was imper- 
 atively necessary for him to place himself on 
 the other side. 
 
 " It can't be very high and I can climb over it." 
 
 Reaching upward, he failed to touch the top. 
 
 " It's higher than I thought, but I can make it 
 by jumping." 
 
 Stooping down, he made an energetic leap 
 upward, both hands extended to grasp the top. 
 His finger-tips just touched it, and, as he dropped 
 back on his feet, his palms scraped, down the 
 side of the boards, gathering several splinters 
 during the process. 
 
 " The top is up there somewhere," he mut- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 207 
 
 tered desperately, as he stooped still lower and 
 put all Iris strength in the effort. This time, he 
 firmly seized the top, though half prepared to 
 find it studded with needle-like nails, quickly 
 drew himself upward and flung one of his sturdy 
 legs across the jagged support to rest himself 
 for a moment. 
 
 " Well, I've got so far," he muttered with a sigh 
 of hope, " and by George ! I'm going somewhere 
 else," he added, as the frail support gave way 
 under his weight. Evidently the fence had not 
 been constructed with a view of holding up 
 lusty young patriots, for, before Jack could help 
 himself, it went down with a crash that he was 
 sure must have been heard several rods away, 
 despite the turmoil of the tempest. 
 
 If he had been unfortunate in his attempts to 
 reach the street from the rear of the guard- 
 house, he had been extremely fortunate in 
 another respect, in that he escaped personal in- 
 jury, despite the severe bumping and jars he 
 underwent. The fence went down as if it were 
 
208 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 waiting until he ensconced himself on the top, 
 when it collapsed in a twinkling. Jack knew 
 he was not hurt, but the most alarming discov- 
 ery of all accompanied the crash of the fence. 
 Just beyond, he caught the twinkle of a light 
 from the lower story of a house, only a few 
 paces distant, and with the glimpse he heard the 
 ominous growling of a huge dog, which bounded 
 out of the gloom and rushed toward him, as if 
 he, like the fence, was waiting until his victim 
 was inextricably in his power. 
 
 But again, the wonderful good luck of the 
 youth remained with him. The massive canine 
 arrived like a thunderburst, and Jack felt his 
 nose jammed against his own cold face, as he 
 began climbing to his feet ; but the brute did 
 not bite nor make any attempt to bite him. 
 The lad addressed him soothingly and the 
 animal, after nosing around for a few minutes, 
 seemed to be satisfied, and trotted off to the 
 shelter of his kennel, possibly through disgust 
 with the weather. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " I wonder if he knows who I am," was the 
 grim query of Jack Marltou, who was once 
 more upright ; " maybe he concluded not to 
 chew me tip, feeling sure he could have more 
 fun in keeping under shelter and watching me 
 break my neck." 
 
 But his situation had improved. While all 
 was blank darkness behind, there was light in 
 front. The house sat low on the ground, and a 
 glow showed at a rear window. There was no 
 closed shutter, but the interior was hidden by 
 a curtain drawn across the panes. 
 
 Jack formed a sudden resolution to ask for 
 hospitality. He was not only wet and cold, but 
 involved in such a labyrinth of turnings and 
 windings, that he doubted whether he could go 
 any further before daylight, except with the 
 certainty of receiving grievous injury. His 
 good luck coidd not last. 
 
 It was only a few paces to the door at the 
 
 side of the window, and he advanced with more 
 
 confidence than he had yet shown. He had 
 14 
 
210 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 not reached it, when, as if she had heard some- 
 thing of the racket, a young woman suddenly 
 opened the door and stood revealed by the light 
 of a roaring fire of logs behind her. 
 
 Jack instantly increased his pace, calling out 
 cheerily : 
 
 " Good evening, Miss ! Don't be frightened ; 
 for I am only " 
 
 His haste brought the inevitable catastrophe, 
 for he made the last few paces of the interven- 
 ing distance on his back, with his feet almost 
 carrying the woman off her balance. She saved 
 herself by leaping back a step with a startled 
 exclamation : 
 
 "My goodness ! what's the matter with 
 you ? " she gasped. 
 
 " Nothing at all," replied Jack, picking up 
 his cap, which had been again displaced ; " the 
 walking doesn't seem to be good in this part of 
 the country." 
 
 " Are you hurt ? " she asked pityingly. 
 
 u Nothing to speak of ; I think I have broken 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 211 
 
 both legs, one of my arms and my neck is 
 twisted about a foot to one side. Were you 
 expecting me ? " he asked grimly. 
 
 "Why, I thought you were Jim," was the 
 innocent reply. 
 
 " Won't you accept me as Jim for a little 
 while, till I can warm myself ? " he asked, turn- 
 ing his handsome, smiling face toward the 
 comely maid so pleadingly that she restrained 
 herself from shutting the door in his face ; " I 
 am nearly frozen, and you can see how wet my 
 clothing is. I need warmth to save my life," he 
 added more seriously, taking a step into the 
 cosy room. 
 
 The woman's heart melted and she closed the 
 door not in front but behind him. 
 
 " You are welcome," she said graciously ; " I 
 don't know how soon Jim will be back, but you 
 can stay till he comes." 
 
 The situation was plain. Jim was keeping 
 company with the young woman and she was 
 waiting for his return. He had been there, and 
 
212 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 was called away for a time, but there was little 
 doubt of his return, else she would not have 
 been up at this late hour, for, though there was 
 no timepiece in sight, it was certainly beyond 
 midnight, and it was apparent that the people 
 of the house were unaware of the visitor below 
 stairs. 
 
 Jack Marlton had entered the kitchen, which 
 was clean and tidy. Best of all, a big fire on 
 the hearth filled the room with a glowing warmth 
 that gave new life to him. Apologizing and 
 thanking the girl for her permission, he placed 
 himself so near the blazing logs that the steam 
 began ascending in clouds from his saturated 
 and frozen clothing. 
 
 " May I know your name ? " he asked respect- 
 fully of the girl, who had seated herself a little 
 distance away. 
 
 " Mary Brown." 
 
 " Well, Mary, I shall never forget your kind- 
 
 ness." 
 
 " Who are you and where did you come from ? " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 213 
 
 " My name is Jack Marlton and my home is in 
 Pennsylvania, which you know is on the other 
 side of the river. I lost my way, when I hap- 
 pened to see your light, and, being chilled 
 through, I made bold to ask for shelter for a 
 short time." 
 
 This answer, while truthful as far as it went, 
 did not satisfy the young woman, who evidently 
 was suspicious. 
 
 " I don't understand how, if you lost your 
 way, you got into the back-yard of Mr. Grilnian's 
 house. 1 ' 
 
 " Do you suppose I would have gotten there 
 if I hadn't lost my way, Mary ? I thought I was 
 pretty well acquainted with Trenton, but there 
 are some parts that are new to me." 
 
 " But you had to climb the fences to get into 
 our yard." 
 
 u I climbed only one fence." 
 
 " What made you do that ? " 
 
 u It got right across my path and it was so 
 dark I couldn't see my way round it." 
 
214 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " But why did you climb it at all ? " persisted 
 the young woman. 
 
 Jack did not think it safe to tell her the 
 whole truth, for there was no saying what her 
 political sentiments were. She might be a Tory 
 as ready to do him harm as was Aaron Wagstaff. 
 While he could not tell a falsehood, he thought 
 himself warranted in misleading her. 
 
 " You know there are a good many drunken 
 soldiers abroad on Christmas night and I think 
 it best to keep out of their way. But tell me 
 please, who Jim is." 
 
 " He is one of Colonel Rail's soldiers ; he 
 went round to the guard-house a little while ago 
 to shoot a young rebel they caught this evening ; 
 then he's coming back to spend the rest of the 
 evening with me. It's about time he is here, 
 for it won't take him long to kill the little rebel. 
 I wish he would hurry up." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 215 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 PAST MIDNIGHT. 
 
 Jack Marlton suddenly concluded that his 
 clothing was sufficiently dried and there was no 
 need of his remaining longer in the kitchen of 
 the house in which he had taken shelter. 
 
 " Jim " was liable to put in an appearance at 
 any moment, and, to say the least, unpleasant 
 complications were sure to follow. 
 
 " I guess I'll go now, Mary ; I'm much obliged 
 to you for your kindness." 
 
 ""Why, your clothes are not half -dry," she 
 protested ; " wait till Jim comes, for I will feel 
 safer with company." 
 
 " I — I am in a hurry and have stayed too long 
 already," said the lad, walking quickly to the 
 door and drawing it open ; " good night ! " 
 
216 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 In the flood of light which streamed out into 
 the sleet, Jack saw the figure of a man, tall, 
 erect, dripping, in Hessian uniform, and with a 
 musket in his hand. He was only a few paces 
 away, and was so clearly revealed in the glow- 
 ing firelight that the lad recognized him on the 
 instant as the soldier who was acting as guard 
 over him, when relieved by the kinder-hearted 
 Fritz. 
 
 He must have been astonished at sight of the 
 sturdy figure, for he stared wonderingly without 
 moving. The same cannot be said of Jack 
 Marlton, who was out of the door in a twin- 
 kling, and hurrying around the rear of the house 
 and toward the front, which, it will be noted, 
 was in the direction of the river. He was run- 
 ning a risk of another bad fall, but it would not 
 do to hesitate. He slipped once or twice, but 
 kept to his feet, and while still groping onward, 
 found that he had debouched upon the small 
 street which ran for a little way parallel to 
 First Street and the Delaware. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 217 
 
 No fence separated the dwelling from this 
 avenue, but a glimmering light here and there 
 helped the lad to recognize where he was. He 
 turned to the right and proceeded with more 
 caution. 
 
 Less than half a dozen steps were taken in 
 this guarded fashion, when he heard footfalls in 
 the darkness behind him. They were un- 
 doubtedly those of Jim, who having learned the 
 identity of the fugitive, had set out to com- 
 plete the fearful duty that took him from the 
 side of Mary. 
 
 " Hold on dere ! " called the Hessian, unable 
 to discern anything in the midnight sleet 
 but well aware that his victim could not be 
 far off. 
 
 Jack's hand touched the trunk of an immense 
 oak, which grew at the side of the path and 
 between it and the highway. He stopped short, 
 and silently moved around the icy bark so as 
 to interpose it between him and his enemy. It 
 seemed impossible that the latter should hear 
 
218 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 the movements of the youth, but Jack took no 
 chances he could avoid. 
 
 " Hold on dere ! " called the half-drunken 
 Hessian ; " you tarn rebel, I vants " 
 
 There was a crash and the fellow went down 
 on the broad of his back with a violence that 
 fairly made the earth tremble and would have 
 cracked his skull had it not been of unusual 
 thickness. That he was not killed, was proven 
 by the volley of oaths uttered in German as the 
 wretch began gingerly climbing to his feet and 
 felt around in the gloom for his musket and 
 hat, 
 
 Jack Marlton shook with silent mirth. 
 
 " Good ! " he thought to himself ; " he's get- 
 ting a little of the fun I had awhile ago." 
 
 Jim must have made up his mind that the 
 job he had undertaken was an unprofitable one, 
 for he turned about and groped back to the 
 more comfortable kitchen, where his sweetheart 
 waited to bathe his wounds and speak words of 
 soothing cheer. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 219 
 
 There were some features about this incident 
 which, even in his disturbed mental state, 
 puzzled Jack Marlton. Jim, as has already been 
 stated, was the Hessian on duty when Fritz 
 appeared and voluntarily took his place. That 
 the friendly German did this for the express 
 purpose of giving Jack a chance of escaping 
 could not be doubted, and the reason for his 
 course must have been that he knew the young 
 rebel was in danger of his life. It followed, 
 therefore, dreadful as it may sound, that when 
 Jim scanned his prisoner so closely, he was 
 meditating the dreadful crime of shooting him 
 while helpless and in his power. Probably he 
 would have carried out his purpose, but for the 
 timely coming of Fritz. 
 
 The remarkable feature, however, was that, 
 after resigning his place to his comrade, he 
 should have deliberately left the side of Mary 
 Brown and gone back to the guard-house with 
 the intention of carrying out his murderous 
 design. While this proved that he had no sus- 
 
220 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 picion of Fritz's friendship for the prisoner, it 
 argued a cold-blooded cruelty that seems incred- 
 ible. It argue sfurther that the miscreant con- 
 templated a crime which civilized warfare 
 punishes severely, and yet there was no hesita- 
 tion on the part of the wretch, who most likely 
 would have shot Jack Marlton before Fritz 
 could have interfered. 
 
 In partial explanation of the extraordinary 
 proceedings, it should be said that most of the 
 Hessians were lawless, cruel and savage to the 
 last degree. There were 1,500 of them quartered 
 in and about Trenton ; they stole from the 
 people, abused the old men and children, insulted 
 the women, robbed right and left, and indulged 
 in wanton outrages that made their presence 
 like a deadly plague. If a soldier on the street 
 chose to strike down one of the inhabitants by 
 a blow from his musket, or if an officer for a 
 fancied insult drove his sword through the body 
 of an unoffending man, there was no redress. 
 It will be understood, therefore, that when Jim, 
 
THE BOY PARTIOT. 221 
 
 yielding to his murderous mood, and made more 
 murderous doubtless by the strong drink he 
 had swallowed, started to return to the guard- 
 house for the purpose of shooting an inoffensive 
 youth, he was not troubled by any fear of con- 
 sequences to himself. Learning from Mary that 
 his intended victim had just left her presence, 
 or perhaps, suspecting his identity from the 
 glimpse caught of him as he whisked off in the 
 darkness, the Hessian made after him. The 
 gloom was all that saved Jack Marlton from 
 serving as the target of the Hessian's musket. 
 
 Still further, it must be remembered that 
 these incidents occurred on Christmas night, 
 1776, when the lax discipline among the in- 
 vaders of Trenton was more lax than usual, and 
 the majority of the officers and soldiers were 
 partly or wholly intoxicated. 
 
 The situation of Jack was better than before, 
 and, finding himself freed from the malignity of 
 the Hessian, he picked his way with little diffi- 
 culty to the corner of the street near at hand, 
 
222 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Passing up the slight incline, he crossed First 
 Street and continued on toward Second Street, 
 which, you will bear in mind, was the main 
 avenue of the town at that time, as it is to-day 
 known under the name of State Street. 
 
 Relieved of immediate personal danger, Jack 
 did not forget that so long as he stayed in town, 
 he was exposed to a certain degree of peril. 
 Now, since many of the citizens as well as the 
 soldiers were on the street, and the interference 
 was no greater than usual, except so far as was 
 due to the merrymaking, which kept many 
 abroad longer than at other times, — it would 
 seem there was no reason why suspicion should 
 be directed toward the young patriot. Why 
 should he be singled out from others who walked 
 to and fro unmolested ? 
 
 There was no reason for such distinction, ex- 
 cept on the part of those who recognized him. 
 It looked as if Jim and Fritz were the only ones 
 who could do this, and there ought to have been 
 no cause to fear either. Fritz was a friend, and 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 223 
 
 Jim was not likely to leave the side of his 
 sweetheart to hunt for a youthful rebel toward 
 whom he had no grounds for special spite. 
 
 But Aaron "Wagstaff ! He was "base enough 
 to encompass the death of Jack, if the oppor- 
 tunity presented. Where was he and what was 
 he doing ? 
 
 These questions brought Jack Marl ton's 
 thoughts back to the momentous theme that had 
 engaged them for hours past, and that had 
 brought him into all this danger. 
 
 Surely if Colonel Rail had received the mes- 
 sage from the Tory, he had not acted upon it, 
 for the signs on the streets showed no unusual 
 excitement. On anv other nigdit, the citizens 
 would have been in their homes and sleeping, 
 with only the guards passing back and forth on 
 their dismal beats, but, as has been shown, it 
 was different now because it was Christmas 
 night. 
 
 Jack was perplexed for an explanation of this 
 state of things. He recalled that he had heard 
 
224 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Colonel Rail held the Americans in contempt, 
 and had said many times that he had not the 
 slightest fear of an attack from them ; but I 
 have already said he had proven himself a good 
 soldier, and therefore was not the one to turn 
 down a warning like that which the young Tory 
 had brought from his father. 
 
 Jack could figure out but one explanation : 
 despite the time that had elapsed, something 
 had interfered to prevent Aaron delivering his 
 letter to the Hessian commander. 
 
 " But he will do so any minute " 
 
 The young patriot caught his breath, for of 
 all the shocks received that evening, the greatest 
 came to him, when he recognized Aaron Wagstaff 
 less than a dozen paces in front of him ! 
 
 Now, if you choose to visit Trenton to-day 
 and look around you, you will discover well out 
 on State Street (and first beyond Warren) a 
 cross avenue, called Willow, which slopes down- 
 ward to Front, where it ends. Willow Street 
 was there in the Revolution, and Jack Marlton 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 225 
 
 was making his way up it to Second (State), 
 when by the glimmering light from a house on 
 his left, he recognized Aaron Wagstaff coming 
 toward him. 
 
 Jack being in deeper gloom was not identified 
 by his enemy, wdio approached without any sus- 
 picion of the truth. Moreover, it must be added 
 that Jack was shocked to note, from the slightly 
 uncertain gait of the Tory, that he, like most 
 other people that night, was feeling the effect 
 of liquor, though to a less extent than were 
 the majority of those who were celebrating the 
 " auspicious occasion." 
 
 A startling resolution crystallized in Jack 
 Marlton's mind. 
 
 " He hasn't given his note to Colonel Rail ; 
 I'll take it from him ! " 
 
 Aaron Wagstaff was coming along the un- 
 
 paved street, with no thought of harm, when 
 
 something like a catapult crashed against him 
 
 from the gloom and bore him backward to the 
 
 ground. A hand was at his throat, while the 
 *5 
 
226 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 other tore open his heavy coat and began hastily 
 running through his pockets. 
 
 " What do you want ? I hain't got any money,' 1 
 spluttered the Tory, struggling vainly to free 
 himself from the iron pressure that impeded his 
 utterance. 
 
 " Give me that letter to Colonel Rail ! If you 
 want to save your life let me have it right off ! " 
 
 " I hain't got any letter for Colonel Rail." 
 
 " You have and I know it ! Let me have it 
 or I'll choke you to death ! " 
 
 It must have flashed upon the Tory just then 
 that he was in the grip of his old acquaintance, 
 for still sputtering and writhing he managed to 
 say: 
 
 " I did have it, Jack ! But I gave it to Colo- 
 nel Rail two hours ago ; you're too late, as 
 you've been every time to-night. Let me up ! " 
 
 With a sickening heart, Jack Marlton searched 
 every pocket, but the little package wrapped in 
 oilskin was missing. He did not doubt that 
 Aaron spoke the truth and the momentous letter 
 
"GIVE ME THAT LETTER TO COLONEL RALL," DEMANDED JACK, '"IF YOU WANT 
 
 to save your LIFE. 1 ' — Page 226. Tfie Boy Patriot. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 227 
 
 had been delivered some time before to the 
 Hessian commander. 
 
 Had the young patriot been given time in 
 which to deliberate, he probably would not have 
 made his assault, for, suppose he had recovered 
 the letter, how would it have availed him, since 
 the Tory could deliver his message just as well 
 by word of mouth ? Possibly it would have 
 had less effect than a written one, signed by 
 a personage whose sentiments were known 
 to Colonel Rail, but the ultimate result of such 
 a warning would have been as effective as 
 a written one. 
 
 Jack was angered enough to administer a 
 beating to Wagstaff on "general principles " as 
 may be said, but he refrained, and permitted 
 him to climb to his feet. 
 
 " Take another drink, and you'll tumble down 
 on the street and freeze to death ; it would be 
 the best thing that could happen to you." 
 
 By way of reply, the Tory raised his voice 
 and yelled at the top of kis lungs : 
 
228 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " Watch ! watch ! I'm robbed ! A rebel spy 
 is here ! Quick ! " 
 
 The startling words were in the mouth of 
 Wagstaff, when to Jack Marlton's alarm, he 
 heard, amid the sleet, the sound of some one 
 running toward them in response to the call of 
 the Tory. That he was a guard was proven the 
 next moment, when he called out : 
 
 u Shtop ! or I shoots ! " 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 NEAR MORNING. 
 
 There was not a moment to spare. The 
 guard was almost upon Jack Marlton, when he 
 turned to run for his life. He was fleet of foot 
 and familiar with that part of the town, but the 
 same was to be said of the Hessian, who gripped 
 him by the collar before he could run a dozen 
 steps, and held him immovably, though the youth 
 struggled with might and main to free himself. 
 
 The Tory dashed up. 
 
 •' He's a rebel spy ! he's been sneaking round 
 town all ni^ht to find out something to tell 
 General Washington ! Why don't you kill him ? " 
 
 " Mebbe you vos kills him, — don't it ? " 
 suggested the guard. 
 
 " I would do so, but he stabbed me, so I feel 
 faint. Oh, how I would like to get at him ! " 
 
 u I lets you got at him," said the soldier, who 
 
230 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 seemed to be in an accommodating mood that 
 Christmas night ; " you and he fights mit him 
 out, don't it ? " 
 
 But this was a contingency that the Tory had 
 not counted on. 
 
 " I'd do it some other time but — but — Colo- 
 nel Rail wants to see me," and Wagstafl: turned 
 about and hurried up the street toward Second, 
 on which the Hessian commander had his head- 
 quarters with the merchant, Abraham Hunt. 
 
 Despite the words of the guard, he had not 
 once loosened his grip on the collar of Jack 
 Marlton's coat. He stood quiet for a moment 
 after the departure of the Tory, for, despite the 
 latter' s outcry, no one else had been attracted to 
 the spot. When they were alone, the Hessian 
 released his hold, and with a tone of deep dis- 
 gust, said : 
 
 "You vos de tamnedest fool dot I never 
 seed ! " 
 
 " Why, Fritz, is that you % " exclaimed the 
 delighted Jack, recognizing for the first time the 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 231 
 
 voice of his old friend ; " I thought I was a 
 goner this time sure." 
 
 " So you vos ! you makes me sick ; vot ain't 
 de matter ? ?' 
 
 " Why what have I done, Fritz ? " 
 
 "Dit you hear dot lobster yell out like a 
 house afire \ " 
 
 " I didn't know he would do it ; he did it 
 before I could stop him." 
 
 " Why you not pound his head off afore he 
 yells?" 
 
 Jack understood him now. He was angry 
 because the young patriot had not " done up " 
 the Tory off-hand and thus quenched his 
 voice. 
 
 " I'll remember next time," said the youth 
 meekly ; " he's a bad fellow and it would serve 
 him right." 
 
 u You vos better go somewhere else ; you 
 goes mit me, don't it ? " 
 
 Jack never did anything more willingly than 
 when he accompanied his strange friend. He 
 
232 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 might have felt some misgiving, when he saw 
 they were walking down Willow toward First 
 Street, on which the guard-house stood, but for 
 his confidence in Fritz, who had already done so 
 much for him. 
 
 They passed a hundred yards or more beyond 
 the guard-house, in front of which a lantern 
 gleamed in the sleety darkness, and then, turn- 
 ing to the right, which was on the same side, 
 stumbled through the night to the rear of a 
 dwelling, where all was gloom ; but evidently 
 Fritz knew where he was, and, like many of his 
 companions, had a sweetheart within convenient 
 distance. 
 
 He had to take the hand of Jack to guide him 
 down some short steps, when he knocked on the 
 door, repeating the summons several times, be- 
 fore it was answered from within. It was the 
 peculiarity of the knock, that caused it to be 
 recognized, for, when a twinkling candle showed 
 through the window, the fastenings were un- 
 barred without hesitation, the door was drawn 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 233 
 
 backward and a blushing maid stood before 
 them. 
 
 At first Jack was startled by the belief that 
 the girl was the same Mary from whose presence 
 he had hurried, but a glance at her face showed 
 his mistake, though the impression might have 
 been strengthened by the appearance of the 
 kitchen, where a glowing fire of hickory logs 
 roared up the big chimney, and everything wore 
 the same air of neatness. 
 
 While Fritz and the girl were talking in 
 German, the youth walked into the room and 
 sat down on one of the splint-bottomed chairs. 
 Though he could not understand a word of the 
 conversation, which was rapid and in low tones, 
 he thought it would be in good taste for him to 
 keep his back toward the lovers, and carefully 
 avoid looking at them. They talked for a con- 
 siderable time in low tones, and it is natural to 
 believe they indulged in a number of endear- 
 ments. 
 
 In one sense, Jack was employed as pleas- 
 
234 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 antly as they, for the room glowed with the 
 most delightful w T armth. Seated in the com- 
 fortable chair, thoroughly tired out from the 
 exposure and hard work of the evening, a drow- 
 siness gradually overcame him, and with the 
 hum of the lovers' voices in his ears like a 
 lullaby, his senses departed and he sank into the 
 deep, refreshing sleep of youth and health. 
 
 The nights were the longest of the year, but 
 even this long, tempestuous and historical night 
 was drawing to an end. It was far along when 
 Jack made his perilous venture across the Dela- 
 ware in pursuit of the young Tory, and midnight 
 was well past at the time he effected his escape 
 from the dismal prison, thanks to the friendly 
 help of the Hessian Fritz, who was much the 
 superior mentally and morally of most of his 
 companions. It was Jack's manly truthfulness 
 which gave the German his first thrill of admi- 
 ration, and when the dim lantern in the prison 
 revealed the pleasing countenance of the youth, 
 the soldier was attracted still more toward him. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 235 
 
 It is hardly necessary to make this statement, 
 in view of the incidents already recorded. 
 
 Besides all that, every man with a spark of 
 honor or patriotism in his breast respects honor 
 and patriotism in another. We may be defeated 
 and overcome by a foe, but, if that foe is de- 
 fending his own fireside and country, we hold 
 him in higher esteem therefor. Benedict Arnold 
 was considered valuable enough for the British 
 General Clinton to pay him thirty thousand 
 dollars in gold for his services, for before the 
 purchase, he had proven himself to be one of 
 the bravest officers who ever drew a sword ; but 
 every man in the British army, and indeed all 
 England, felt an inexpressible contempt for the 
 American who betrayed his country. The 
 reader does not need to be reminded of the 
 ostracism to which Arnold was subjected in 
 London, nor of his lonely and miserable death. 
 
 Something of the same sentiment, though in a 
 less degree, actuated the course of Fritz. He 
 saw before him two youths, one of whom was 
 
236 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 risking his life for his country, while the other 
 was doing all he could against it. It mattered 
 not that the latter and the Hessian were allies, 
 nor the fact that the soldiers from Hesse Cassel 
 were mercenaries in the true sense of the word, 
 since they were hired by England to help fight 
 her battles in America. Fritz didn't like such 
 allies. 
 
 But to return to Jack Marlton asleep in the 
 chair. Fritz must have said something pleasant 
 about him to his sweetheart, whose name also 
 was Mary, for she walked softly in front of the 
 youth, and looked for a moment at the hand- 
 some ruddy countenance. The head had fallen 
 to one side on his shoulder, but he was sleeping 
 as soundly as if in his bed at home. 
 
 Looking at him for a minute only, Mary 
 tripped lightly up-stairs, and quickly returned 
 with a pillow and blanket. These were carefully 
 adjusted on the floor, and then the muscular girl 
 raised him to his feet. Jack partly awoke, 
 mumbled brokenly, gave slight help, and then 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 23V 
 
 slumped helplessly down. He was so over- 
 come that it would require a much greater dis- 
 turbance than that to awaken him. 
 
 Mary folded the blanket over him, saw that 
 the head rested comfortably on the pillow, and 
 then she went away, closing the door behind 
 her as she passed up-stairsagain. 
 
 I have said that it needed a greater shock 
 than that which was caused by the incident just 
 described to rouse Jack Marlton to his full 
 senses. That shock came within the ten min- 
 utes following the departure of Mary, and made 
 him leap to his feet, as if awakened by the 
 " crack of doom." 
 
238 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE ALARM. 
 
 You have been told something about Abra- 
 ham Hunt, who, during, before and after the 
 Revolution, was the leading merchant in Tren- 
 ton town. I well remember the house in which 
 he lived on the corner of Queen and Second 
 (now Warren and State) Streets, and have been 
 inside of it many times. It was of brick and 
 was such a commodious and imposing structure 
 that it remained standing until only a few years 
 ago, when, as I have stated, it gave way to the 
 present fine structure known as Masonic Hall. 
 
 Hunt was wealthy, fond of the good things 
 of life and inclined to luxuries in the way of 
 eating and drinking. His cellar was well stored 
 with excellent wines and liquors, and that per- 
 son counted himself fortunate who was invited 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 23$ 
 
 to enjoy his entertainment. Probably lie was 
 an American in his sentiments and wished the 
 colonies well in their struggle for independence, 
 but the old merchant was worldly wise, and, to 
 repeat what I have already said, he did not 
 allow his sentiments to interfere with his busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Nothing was more natural, therefore, than 
 that when Trenton was occupied by Colonel 
 Kail and his one thousand five hundred Hessians 
 he should place himself on good terms with 
 the military master of the situation. Colonel 
 Johann Gr. Rail was about fifty years old at the 
 time of which I am speaking, and like most of 
 his countrymen, was as fond of his pipe and 
 his toddy as Hunt. Naturally the two gravi- 
 tated together, and, when the merchant invited 
 the officer to spend an evening at his house, he 
 gladly did so. It was their custom, on the 
 wintry nights, when the storm howled outside, 
 to sit by the table in the rear room and play 
 cards until well into the small hours of the 
 
240 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 morning. A roaring fire on the hearth filled 
 the apartment with glowing warmth, and, as 
 the two faced each other and played, the steam- 
 ing toddy and pipes made their situation as en- 
 joyable as it could possibly be for two such 
 cronies. 
 
 On Christmas night, 1776, they were thus 
 engaged, with little thought of what was going 
 on outside. Each had taken several deep 
 draughts of the spiced rum whose fragrant 
 fumes filled the room, and had a long-stemmed 
 pipe in his mouth, which he slowly puffed as he 
 dealt the cards or played his hand, pausing now 
 and then to take a swallow or two from the hot 
 mug at his elbow. At intervals, the colored 
 man, who was the favorite servant of the mer- 
 chant, came quietly into the room, stirred the 
 fire, heaped on more logs and made sure that the 
 water in the kettle on the crane over the blaze 
 was kept at the right temperature, and that the 
 supply of spirits did not run too low. He had 
 performed the duty many times before and was 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 241 
 
 so deft at it that he attracted no notice. Oc- 
 casionally, when his master looked up and spoke, 
 he answered softly and respectfully, and in short 
 was a model servant in every respect. His 
 duty finished for the time, he moved like a 
 shadow out of the room, certain to return when 
 necessary without being summoned. 
 
 The couple had been playing but a few min- 
 utes, when Colonel Rail looked abruptly toward 
 the servant and said briskly : 
 
 " George ! " 
 
 "Yes, sah," he promptly replied, with a mil- 
 itary salute. 
 
 " I vill see not any ones to-night ; don't forgot 
 vat I says." 
 
 " Yes, sah," with another military salute. 
 
 " Remember, George, the wishes of Colonel 
 Rail," added the merchant. 
 
 " Yes, sah," and the servant passed noiselessly 
 out of the room. 
 
 Colonel Rail never forgot to be considerate 
 
 to his host. Though a bitter partisan of King 
 16 
 
242 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 George, he did not obtrude his sentiments upon 
 Hunt. Inevitably there were references to the 
 war, but the Hessian commander carefully re- 
 frained from saying anything that could wound 
 the feelings of the merchant. The latter was 
 equally respectful, and whatever his thoughts 
 might have been, he never said a word that 
 could give umbrage to his guest. Since they 
 were equally fond of their hot toddy, their to- 
 bacco and their cards, you will understand that 
 two brothers could not have gotten along more 
 smoothly than the couple on those memorable 
 nights a long time ago. 
 
 In the corner of the room ticked the tall, old- 
 fashioned clock, marking the hours which slipped 
 past unnoticed by either. Still George came 
 and went like a shadow, and the fragrant punch 
 in the brown stone pitcher on the corner of the 
 table, although the mugs were frequently filled, 
 was not allowed to get near the bottom. 
 
 When either awoke to the fact that the pun- 
 gent smoke from his pipe was biting his tongue, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 9^3 
 
 he refilled the bowl, relit it from one of the tall 
 candles on the table, sipped again from the 
 steaming mug and resumed his playing. 
 
 Sometimes in recalling that nipiit, I have 
 wondered as to the name of the game that so in- 
 terested the two men. I have asked of others, 
 who were familiar with the incident, but no one 
 
 Rail's Headquarters, Trenton. 
 
 seemed to think the matter of any interest. One 
 thing, however, is interesting, — Colonel Rail 
 and Abraham Hunt were deeply absorbed in it 
 and would have been impatient of interruption. 
 Both were capable of hard drinking. What 
 they had already swallowed would have sent 
 almost any other man to the floor, but neither 
 
244 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 showed any effect from his indulgence. When 
 the pipe of one was extinguished, and he deliber- 
 ately refilled and relighted it, there was no tre- 
 mor or unsteadiness of the hand, and every refer- 
 ence to the game under way was intelligent. 
 Not a point was lost nor did either make any 
 misplay. 
 
 Now and then, the rattling sleet and the fu- 
 rious gale made itself heard even in that retired 
 nook. Some of the drops pattered down the 
 chimney and spat in the embers ; the hail 
 sounded like bird shot against the windows ex- 
 posed to its violence, and at times it moaned as 
 if a strong man were in distress. Through the 
 tempest sounded the shouts and occasional bursts 
 of song from the revellers on the streets or 
 making merry in some of the near-by resorts. 
 Military discipline was greatly relaxed, and the 
 sounds of revelry and roystering, even when 
 they reached the ears of the Hessian commander, 
 did not disturb him: His officers would look 
 after the soldiers, so far as it might be necessary, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 245 
 
 and, even if tliey should be neglectful of their 
 duty, what did it matter ? The shivering Con- 
 tinentals were in Pennsylvania, with the impas- 
 sable Delaware, choked with ice, rolling between. 
 The most that they could do was to huddle to- 
 gether to keep themselves from freezing to death. 
 
 There was little difference in the skill of host 
 and guest. The merchant kept score with the 
 stub of a pencil on a piece of paper, and some- 
 times he was ahead and then fell behind. Both 
 were deeply interested, and the colonel showed 
 considerable glee when he led his opponent by 
 several points. 
 
 Thus matters were going, when both were 
 startled by the ringing sound of the knocker on 
 the outer door. Rail looked up impatiently and 
 uttered an oath in German. 
 
 " I vill see no ones ! " he said : " vy does he 
 comes here I " 
 
 " Give the matter no thought, Colonel," re- 
 plied Hunt ; " my servant will attend to the 
 caller ; it is your play." 
 
2-16 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 It was Aaron Wagstaff, who, having success- 
 fully eluded Jack Marlton, had gone to the 
 headquarters of Colonel Rail. The alert colored 
 man was prompt in responding. 
 
 " I must see Colonel Rail," said the Tory, 
 placing one foot on the upper step, as if sure 
 no objection would be offered. 
 
 " Sorry, sah, but it am onpossible ; he gibs 
 strict awdors dat nobody warn't to see him to- 
 night under no sarcumstances howsumeber." 
 
 " But this is of the utmost importance ; " per- 
 sisted Aaron. 
 
 " Dat mought be, but nuffin can't be so 'inpor- 
 tant as dat de cunnel mustn't be 'starbed while 
 he am drinkin' kyards and playin' his toddy. 
 Ef I sh'd 'starb him, he'd bust my head inter 
 a tousand pieces. You doan' want dat, do 
 you ? " 
 
 " I shouldn't feel very bad," growled Wag- 
 staff, who was fast losing his temper, " for such 
 a fool as you ain't of any use." 
 
 " I'se a mighty big use to myself ; I sh'll hev 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 247 
 
 to do myself the honah ob wishin' you good 
 night, sah.' 7 
 
 The Tory became desperate. 
 
 " I say if you let me see the colonel, he will 
 thank you all his life." 
 
 " Dat may be, but he'll bust my head fust ; 
 den what good will his tanks do." 
 
 " Well, if I can't see him, you must give him 
 this letter," said Wagstaif ; " it must reach him 
 at once." 
 
 The earnestness of the Tory impressed the 
 African. Stolid as he was, he dimly felt that 
 there might be something back of all this which 
 should be known to the Hessian commander, 
 despite the strict orders he had given against 
 being disturbed. 
 
 " I 'pose I kin hand him de letter," he said, 
 accepting the note, " like 'nough he'll jam his 
 sword frongh me, but I'll took de chances." 
 
 "You mustn't forget," added the Tory im- 
 pressively ; " get it to him right away ; you 
 don't know how much depends on it," 
 
24:8 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Aaron Wagstaff had delivered the important 
 message written by his father, warning Colonel 
 Rail that General Washington, at the head of a 
 formidable body of troops, was at that moment 
 nearing Trenton with the intention of attacking 
 him. The youth heaved a deep sigh of relief, 
 like one who feels that a momentous duty has 
 been performed. Upon his arrival in town, he 
 was so chilled that he went in to the old Trenton 
 tavern, and, amid the carousing soldiers and 
 citizens, dried his clothing and warmed himself 
 inside as well as out. He had to make inquiries 
 to learn where to find Colonel Rail, so that it was 
 quite late when he presented himself at the door 
 of Abraham Hunt. The Tory had already taken 
 several drinks, and he now wandered off, caring 
 little where he went, since his responsibility was 
 ended. He intended, however, to remain in 
 Trenton to witness the overthrow of General 
 Washington and his ragamuffins. Shortly after, 
 as has already been related, he ran into the hands 
 of Jack Marlton and received pretty rough usage. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 2±9 
 
 George, the negro servant, unfolded the oil- 
 skin in which the note was wrapped, and hold 
 ing it in his hand, entered the room where the 
 two men were absorbed with their cards and 
 toddy. Both looked up angrily. 
 
 " What is it, George ? " asked his master. 
 
 " Countryman said he nius' see Kunnel 
 Rail." 
 
 "Well, what did you tell him ? " 
 
 " Nuffin, but I smote him in de 'lebenth rib 
 and he fotched up agin de house on de oder side 
 ob de street, wid his head stove in. Jes' as he 
 was fallin' he dropped dis lub letter which may 
 be for one ob de gemnien." 
 
 Saluting and humbly bowing, the African 
 stepped across the floor and handed the note to 
 his master, as if uncertain for which gentleman 
 it was intended. If George had not just uttered 
 such a tremendous whopper, he might have re- 
 peated the words of the messenger as to the im- 
 portance of the message, but he was estopped 
 from that now. 
 
250 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Mr. Hunt glanced at the superscription and 
 passed it to his guest. 
 
 " It is for you, Colonel." 
 
 The Hessian was angry, for he was studying 
 an important play of cards when thus inter- 
 rupted. He held the pasteboards stationary in 
 his left hand, impatiently took the folded paper, 
 and without glancing at the address, crumpled 
 it up and shoved it into the side-pocket of his 
 coat. 
 
 " I vil read him ven dis game ish clone," he 
 said ; " 'tis your blay, Meester Hunt." 
 
 Immediately both concentrated their thoughts 
 upon the contest. It was a hard struggle, and 
 each took a couple of draughts of toddy before 
 it was concluded. 
 
 The merchant won by so slight a margin that 
 the colonel was eager to repeat the contest, 
 and the smiling Hunt was agreeable. Neither 
 thought of the letter that had been thrust into 
 the officer's pocket, and had he done so, it is not 
 likely that it would have been read. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 251 
 
 Still the old clock ticked, the sleet rattled, 
 the gale moaned and the occasional shouts of 
 the revelers were heard. The hour hand crept 
 further and further around the face of the clock, 
 until the long wintry night drew to an end ; but 
 neither paid the slightest heed. They con- 
 tinued to deal and play, to smoke and drink, 
 until even such veterans as they felt the effects 
 of the indulgence, though not to an extent as to 
 interfere with their skill at cards, 
 
 Even George, the servant, succumbed at last. 
 He quietly assumed a comfortable position in a 
 big chair in the adjoining room within easy call 
 and, curling up, went to sleep. To himself he 
 expressed his thoughts without restraint, and he 
 became unconscious. 
 
 " Dem blasted fools am gwine to play right 
 straight ahead for a week; each onehab swallered 
 fourteen quarts ob punch ; dey must be holler 
 from de top of dar heads to dar big toes, and 
 dey's drinkin' yit ; dey am so drunk dat dey won't 
 miss me fur a few days and I'll snoze awhile." 
 
252 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 The night wore on. Colonel Rail was slightly- 
 ahead and was shuffling the cards and in the act 
 of uttering a jest to his host, who had just set 
 down his mug, when he stopped as abruptly as 
 if the tremor of an earthquake was felt. 
 
 The old soldier instantly recognized the fear- 
 ful sounds, that rang through the night, the 
 rattle of musketry. It was volley firing, re- 
 peated again and again, quickly followed by the 
 booming of cannon ! It came from the upper 
 part of the town and there could be no mistak- 
 ing its meaning. 
 
 " Mein Gott ! " he exclaimed, flinging down the 
 cards and leaping to his feet, perfectly sobered 
 by the startling occurrence ; " we're attacked ! " 
 
"meingott!" he exclaimed, flinging down the cards and leaping to his 
 feet, "we're attacked."— Page 252. The Boy Patriot, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE TURNING POINT OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 The fierce storm that had raged during the 
 night abated toward morning, and the faint 
 streakings of daylight showed in the east, as 
 General Greene's division of Continentals de- 
 bouched from the Scotch Road, about a mile 
 above Trenton, on the Pennington Pike, and 
 hurried toward the town. 
 
 The advance guard was led by Captain Wil- 
 liam Washington, cousin of the commander-in- 
 chief, and they had gone but a short distance 
 when they came upon the Hessian outposts. 
 In the dim light, the latter caught sight of the 
 Americans, fired, and the next moment the patri- 
 ots were upon them. A Hessian lieutenant was 
 mortally wounded, and dropped in the road and 
 
254: THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 lay dying as the Continentals ran by him in hot 
 pursuit of his companions, who were fleeing 
 toward the town. Among the pursuers was 
 Lieutenant James Monroe, then only nineteen 
 years old, who afterward became President of 
 the United States. 
 
 The pickets fled in at the top of their speed, 
 the patriots at their heels, and the troops in the 
 rear hurrying after them, with Washington 
 close to the front. At the head of the town, 
 where Warren and Greene Streets unite, six 
 pieces of cannon were hastily unlimbered and, 
 under the direction of Washington himself, 
 pointed down Greene Street, where the Hessians 
 were forming. 
 
 It was at this juncture that Washington heard 
 the sound of musketry from the lower end of 
 the town, in the direction of the river. It was 
 a welcome signal indeed, for it told that General 
 Sullivan had arrived almost on the appointed 
 minute and was attacking at that point. Thus 
 the Hessians were caught between two fires and 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 255 
 
 the patriots pressed them with the utmost 
 
 vigor. 
 
 In a few minutes, the cannon of the Americans 
 flashed out in the early morning light, and, 
 as the startling boom rang over the sleeping 
 town, the shot crashed among the enemy with 
 destructive effect. The terrified inhabitants 
 dashed out of their houses and, then finding 
 the musket balls flying about their heads, they 
 scurried back to their homes and timidly peeped 
 out upon the battle. 
 
 A Miss Potts while running through the 
 street felt a jar in the coil of hair at the back 
 of her head, and, putting up her hand, found 
 that a bullet had lodged there. Where- 
 upon she stayed at home until the firing was 
 over. 
 
 A little way down the street a party of 
 Hessians wheeled three cannon into position 
 and made ready to open on the Americans. 
 They were certain to do great harm unless 
 checked. 
 
256 THE B0 Y PATRIOT. 
 
 " Follow me ! " shouted Lieutenant Monroe 
 (afterward President of the United States and 
 then only nineteen years old), starting down the 
 street on a run, swinging his sword above his 
 head, and not looking around to see whether 
 any one accompanied him. But several, as dar- 
 ing as their leader, were close behind. There was 
 a brief struggle over the pieces, Lieutenant Mon- 
 roe receiving a slight wound, but the cannon 
 were quickly captured and turned on the fleeing 
 enemy. 
 
 Colonel Rail was a brave man, and, knowing 
 on the instant what the sounds meant, he 
 caught up his hat and cloak, dashed out of the 
 house of Abraham Hunt, and flourishing his 
 sword, and shouting his commands in a clear, 
 ringing voice did his utmost to stay the panic 
 and bring order out of the chaos. 
 
 It was an impossible task, for no troops could 
 have been caught at greater disadvantage. His 
 officers did all they could to rally the men, and 
 most of the soldiers displayed commendable 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 257 
 
 bravery ; but they knew they were attacked in 
 front and rear ; the Continentals were pounding 
 them not only with their own artillery but with 
 the pieces they had captured. Moreover, the 
 Americans displayed the finest discipline, firing 
 in regular platoons and advancing steadily 
 against them. It was out of their power to 
 make an effectual stand and they fell back, 
 breaking into a panic, and occasionally rallying 
 under the appeals of their officers, and inspired 
 by the example of Colonel Rail, who plunged 
 into the thickest of the fight and recklessly 
 exposed himself to the greatest danger. 
 
 Suddenly the shouting of the Hessian com- 
 mander ceased, and he sank to the ground. He 
 was at that moment near an apple orchard which 
 stood at the eastern end of State Street, and the 
 officers who ran forward to his help saw that he 
 was badly wounded. He insisted upon being 
 raised to his feet, and he was gently lifted, 
 though his white face and contracted brows 
 
 showed he was suffering great pain. 
 *7 
 
258 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 All this time, the cannon were thundering 
 and the musketry rattling, with fierce charging 
 back and forth and fighting going on in every 
 direction. A large force of Hessians started to 
 flee in the direction of Princeton, but found 
 themselves confronted by Hand's riflemen, who 
 were about to open fire, when the fugitives 
 threw down their arms and surrendered. 
 
 Meanwhile, Sullivan was pressing matters 
 from the riverside. More than a hundred 
 troops and yagers dashed over the Assunpink 
 bridge and slipped away in the direction of 
 Bordentown. Before the remainder could fol- 
 low them, they were hemmed in on all sides and 
 they, too, surrendered. 
 
 Colonel Ball saw that it was all up. With a 
 sergeant on either side, and leaning heavily 
 upon each, he painfully made his way to where 
 Washington was seated on his horse and handed 
 his sword to him. 
 
 " I beg your excellency to see that my men 
 are kindly treated," he said, turning his pale 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 259 
 
 face upward to the benignant countenance of 
 Washington, 
 
 " I assure you, sir, they shall receive honor- 
 able treatment," was the reply ; " I am very 
 sorry to see you in this condition." 
 
 " It is the fate of war ; I have no complaint 
 to make." 
 
 Even in his extremity, he did not forget his 
 courtesy. Resting for one moment on his left 
 arm, he raised the right and saluted Washing- 
 ton, who returned the salutation and looked 
 sympathetically down upon him. By that time, 
 the colonel was unable to walk, and was fully 
 supported by the sergeants until a litter was 
 brought, upon which he was placed and ten- 
 derly carried to his headquarters, which were in 
 a building standing on the present site of St. 
 Mary's Catholic Church on Warren Street, 
 There he was laid upon a bed and a surgeon 
 summoned. 
 
 Lying thus, he recalled the note that had been 
 brought to him some hours before, when play- 
 
260 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 ing cards with Abraham Hunt. He asked one 
 of his attendants to take it from the pocket of 
 his coat and hand it to him. Slowly and pain- 
 fully he unfolded the paper and read the pen- 
 ciled words. Then he refolded and passed it 
 to the attendant. 
 
 " Ah," said he mournfully, " if I had read that 
 this could not have happened." 
 
 When the surgeon arrived shortly afterward, 
 he made an examination of the wound in the 
 breast of the officer and told him it was mortal. 
 " Tis well," he replied ; " I shall die the death of 
 a soldier, though it is one who forgot his duty." 
 
 Some hours later, Colonel Rail was informed 
 that General Washington had called to offer his 
 sympathy and was waiting outside the door. 
 The face of the stricken man lighted up and he 
 ordered that the visitor be admitted. The next 
 moment, the door was gently opened, and the 
 tall, commanding figure of Washington, clad in 
 full uniform and with his hat in his hand, came 
 forward, his face expressive of tender sympathy 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 261 
 
 and sorrow. Walking slowly across the floor, 
 and stepping as lightly as he could, he paused at 
 the "bedside, not heeding the chair the attendant 
 had placed for him. 
 
 Colonel Rail, his Avan face illumined by a faint 
 smile, looked up and feebly extended his hand. 
 
 " I thank you for this," he said in broken 
 English ; " it is kind of you." 
 
 " I cannot tell you how deeply I feel for you," 
 said Washington in a tremulous yoice ; " would 
 that you had been spared." 
 
 " That could not be and I am glad that your 
 Excellency is unharmed." 
 
 " Proyidence was kinder to me than to you ; 
 if there is anything I can do to add to your 
 comfort, I pray you will command me." 
 
 " Nothing could surpass your kindness ; if I 
 think of anything, be assured I shall call upon 
 you, but I know of nothing." 
 
 Washington saw he would only add to the 
 suffering of the Hessian by staying longer. He 
 again took his hand in his own, and the eyes of 
 
262 THE B0Y PATRIOT. 
 
 the American filled with tears as lie warmly 
 
 pressed the feverish palm. 
 
 " Good-by, my dear sir." 
 
 " Good-by," replied Colonel Rail, whose voice 
 choked, as he returned the warm pressure and 
 looked up into the face of the great man, who 
 took his departure without another word. 
 
 A few hours later, Colonel Rail breathed his 
 last. His remains were deposited in the bury- 
 iug-ground of the First Presbyterian Church, on 
 State Street, where they remained for more than 
 half a century, when they and those of several 
 other officers slain in the battle were removed 
 to another part of the same grounds. 
 
 Since the battle of Trenton is justly regarded 
 as the turning-point of the Revolution, it seems 
 strange when we come to examine the statistics 
 and find that, on the side of the Americans, only 
 four were wounded and two killed, and the 
 deaths of the latter being regarded by many as 
 due to the extreme cold, rather than to the 
 bullets of the enemy. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 203 
 
 Of the Hessians about twenty were killed 
 and four times as many wounded. In addition, 
 there were nine hundred and fifty prisoners, six 
 guns and a large number of small arms captured. 
 The situation of Washington was critical, for 
 Cornwallis, with a much superior force, was at 
 Princeton, only ten miles distant, so near indeed 
 that he must have heard the sounds of the 
 firing and would soon arrive in the town. It 
 would not do to remain, and gathering his pris- 
 oners and material, Washington, later in the 
 day, crossed the Delaware again into Pennsyl- 
 vania, where he could feel safe for the time, for 
 all the boats on the river, for a long distance up 
 and down stream, were on his bank. Count 
 Donop at Burlington soon received news of the 
 reverse and abandoned South Jersey. Corn- 
 wallis sent a number of horsemen toward Tren- 
 ton to reconnoiter, but, discovering nothing of 
 the Americans, they returned to Cornwallis, 
 who still occupied Princeton, 
 
264: THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 ON THE FIRING LINE. 
 
 The same startling sounds that sent Colonel 
 Rail flying out of the house of Abraham Hunt 
 in the misty light of December 26, 1776, roused 
 Jack Marl ton from his slumber in the rear room 
 of the home where he had found refuge from 
 the cold and storm. 
 
 He sprang from the blanket upon which he 
 had been sleeping as he recalled his situation. 
 He did not wait for the coming of Mary, who 
 had befriended him, nor for any member of the 
 family. He hastily unbarred the door, hurried 
 out into the yard, and around to the front, which, 
 it will be remembered, faced the river. 
 
 He noticed the almost complete cessation of 
 the storm, though it was still bitterly cold. His 
 clothing was dry and he was in a state of excite- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 265 
 
 merit such as lie had never known before. The 
 battle of Trenton was on, and he wondered, 
 with a rapidly beating heart, how it was going 
 to terminate. 
 
 Ah, what would he not have given for his 
 rifle that he might take part in the struggle ? 
 How he longed to strike a blow for his country ! 
 
 He did not dream for a moment that the mes- 
 sage of Aaron Wagstaff had failed. He was 
 morally certain it had reached Colonel Kail, and 
 equally certain that the Hessians had taken 
 every precaution against surprise. Such being 
 the case, the patriots had need of every arm to 
 help in their defense. 
 
 Jack had reached the river road when he sud- 
 denly leaped several feet in air, with a gasp of 
 terror. It seemed as if a volcano exploded be- 
 neath his feet and lifted him from the ground. 
 He looked behind him. The street was full of 
 soldiers, a platoon of which had just fired a 
 volley over his head. Seeing his perilous situa- 
 tion, he dashed to the side of the street and close 
 
266 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 against the nearest house, from which the terri- 
 fied inmates were peeping forth. 
 
 He saw a number of the soldiers grinning at 
 him, for they understood the panic into which 
 he had been thrown. An officer waved his 
 sword and motioned for him to keep out of the 
 way. 
 
 " No need of telling me that,' 1 muttered the 
 youth ; " I'd never got in your way if I had 
 known you were right behind me. Thank the 
 Lord ! " 
 
 This exclamation was caused by his recogni- 
 tion of the tattered uniforms of the soldiers. 
 They were Continentals, being in fact the troops 
 of General Sullivan, who, as you will recall, had 
 reached Trenton over the river road, and were 
 pushing vigorously through First Street, while 
 the distant rattle of musketry, quickly accom- 
 panied by the booming of cannon showed that 
 Washington was pressing things with equal 
 vigor from the Pennington pike. 
 
 Jack had his eyes on the patriots who were 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 267 
 
 advancing fast, and almost abreast of. him, still 
 firing when scattering replies came from further 
 down the street. Glancing thither, he descried 
 twenty or more Hessians firing at the Americans 
 and reloading as they ran before them. 
 
 The sight so thrilled Jack that, forgetful of 
 the danger, he dashed out from the house where 
 he had been shrinking, and with a shout started 
 at full speed after the fleeing enemy, forgetful 
 that he had no weapon, and that the worst mis- 
 fortune that could come to him was to overtake 
 the Hessians. 
 
 It was not far to where First Street crossed 
 Queen, which I need not remind you was one of 
 the main streets of Trenton, leading north to 
 the head of the town, where Washington was 
 driving the Hessians before him. Upon reach- 
 ing the junction, the enemy in front of Sullivan's 
 men, instead of continuing on to King Street 
 (running parallel to Queen), turned and fled up 
 Queen. There were more than a score, without 
 any formation, but loading and firing at will. 
 
268 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 At the moment of turning the corner, the Amer- 
 icans let fly with a volley, and Jack saw two of 
 the Hessians drop to the ground, where they 
 lay so motionless that it was certain both were 
 killed. Previous to this, two others had been 
 struck, but they limped out of sight into the 
 houses along the street. 
 
 It will be noted that Jack was between the 
 two fires, and in some danger from both, but 
 being at the side of instead of the middle of the 
 street, the peril was mainly from ill-directed 
 shots. That this, however, was real he learned 
 by the nipping of his coat-sleeve, and the whis- 
 tling of a bullet which grazed his elbow, with- 
 out inflicting any injury. 
 
 But he was in the flush of battle, and carried 
 away by the delirious excitement of the occa- 
 sion. The sight of the two Hessians lying at 
 full length at the junction of the streets sug- 
 gested to him a method by which he could 
 secure the weapon he longed to grasp. Leaping 
 from the unpaved sidewalk, he ran at full speed, 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 269 
 
 keeping just in front of the soldiers, who were 
 advancing on the double quick. A lieutenant 
 angrily shouted to him to get out of the way, 
 but heedless of the command, the disobedience 
 of which threatened serious consequences, Jack 
 did not pause until he reached the nearest 
 body. In falling, the soldier had allowed his 
 musket to slip from his grasp and it lay several 
 feet from him. 
 
 Jack picked it up and noticed that it was un- 
 loaded, the man having discharged it almost in 
 the same instant he was hit. The powder-horn 
 and bullet-pouch were still suspended around 
 his neck, and spurred by the preciousness of the 
 seconds, the young patriot placed his hand un- 
 der the head of the poor fellow, raised it slightly 
 and slipped the cords over from the neck, not 
 forgetting the pouch, which contained the bits 
 of linen used to wrap about the bullets. Jack 
 was so hurried and absorbed in his work that 
 he did not look into the face of the Hessian, 
 until he had secured the articles about his own 
 
270 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 neck. Then, as he glanced at the expressionless 
 countenance, a great shock came to him. 
 
 The dead Hessian was " Jim," the enemy 
 who had acted as guard over him when he was 
 first placed in the prison-house, who would have 
 shot him but for the timely arrival of Fritz, and 
 who left the side of his sweetheart to commit 
 the dreadful crime. 
 
 There was no feeling of exultation in the 
 heart of Jack Marlton at what he saw. Rather 
 he was awed, and felt a throb of pity for the 
 fellow who had thus been cut down, while in 
 the performance of what he conceived to be his 
 duty. 
 
 But there was no time for gloomy meditation, 
 for everything was going with a rush. He 
 devoted a minute or two to reloading the 
 weapon that only a few minutes before was in 
 the grasp of his deadliest enemy, and by the 
 time it was finished, the head of Sullivan's force 
 was well up the hill, leading from First to 
 Second Street. Jack started on a run after 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 271 
 
 them, for he wished above all things to join the 
 " firing line. 1 ' 
 
 At Second Street there was some confusion. 
 The discovery was made that a body of Hes- 
 sians were running down King Street toward the 
 Assunpink bridge, with a view of reaching the 
 White Horse road and escaping by way of Bor- 
 dentown. Sullivan, who was cheering his men 
 and shouting louder than any of his officers, 
 discovered it and detached a considerable body, 
 who set out on the double quick to head off the 
 fugitives before they could reach the bridge. 
 The attempt was only partly successful, more 
 than a hundred, as already stated, outspeeding 
 their pursuers and getting safely out of town. 
 
 By this time, the battle was at its height, the 
 most effective part being performed by Greene's 
 division, under the immediate eye of Washing- 
 ton. Uncertain what to do, Jack Marl ton did 
 the best, if not the only, thing possible. He 
 ran out from the side of the street and took his 
 place in the ranks of the Continentals, who 
 
272 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 continued to load and fire, while rapidly advanc- 
 ing. Many of their shots were wild, and often 
 >the youth was unable to see what the men were 
 firing at ; but, judging from their cheering he 
 believed they must be doing effective work. 
 
 No attention was paid to the lad when he 
 took his place at the end of one of the platoons, 
 for every man was absorbed in his duty, but, 
 before Jack suspected, his platoon was projected 
 to the front, by the dissolving and breaking 
 apart of the one in advance, as the halves 
 returned to the rear. 
 
 The commands were so simple that Jack had 
 no trouble in understanding them as well as the 
 veterans at his side. 
 
 " Ready — aim — -fire ! " 
 
 And the musket of the youth flamed out with 
 the others, though he had not the slightest idea 
 where his bullet went. But he cheered as they 
 did, and hoped he had mowed down half a 
 dozen of the enemy. In a twinkling, he had 
 run to the rear of his company, and, while keep- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 273 
 
 ing his position in the Hue, he devoted his skill 
 to reloading his musket. 
 
 This respite gave the men a chance to speak 
 to one another and notice things around them. 
 For the first time, the big fellow on Jack's right 
 seemed to see him. 
 
 "You made a good shot, younker, that time," 
 he said with a grin. 
 
 " Do you think so ? " asked the delighted lad ; 
 " I aimed the best I could." 
 
 " What did you aim at ? " 
 
 " Well, nothing in particular." 
 
 " Well, sonny, that's what you hit ; I don't 
 think your bullet came within a third of a mile 
 of striking anybody." 
 
 " Why what was the matter ? I aimed like 
 the rest of you." 
 
 " Xot exactly, for you p'inted your gun at the 
 sky ; greenhorns like you always shoot too high ; 
 you must aim at the feet of the Hessians." 
 
 u I don't want to wound them in their feet." 
 
 " Well, you won't ; if you hit 'em at all, 
 18 
 
274 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 which ain't likely, you'll do so in the head. 
 Mind what I tell you, for it will soon be our 
 turn again." 
 
 Sooner than he anticipated, but not soon 
 enough to satisfy the impatient Jack, his platoon 
 bulged out on the front, and fired with the same 
 precision and close obedience to commands as 
 before. Remembering the caution of his big 
 friend, the boy aimed low at a group of the 
 enemy, who had made a temporary halt hardly 
 a hundred yards distant, and were standing in 
 a hot fire at the Americans. 
 
 His friend did not forget him in the excite- 
 ment of the moment. He was able to take note 
 of his conduct and as they came together again at 
 the rear, he took the occasion to compliment him. 
 
 " You did well that time ; you'll make a good 
 soldier when you've gained a little more steadi- 
 
 ness." 
 
 " That's what I want to be." 
 " You're made of the right stuff. Load up 
 again and keep cool." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 275 
 
 Jack laughed at himself, for he had forgotten 
 all about ramming another bullet down the 
 barrel of his musket and pouring the powder 
 into the pan. He made haste to do his duty. 
 
 By this time, it was fairly light. The whole 
 town had learned very quickly of the fight that 
 was going on in the streets. There had been a 
 hurried running to and fro. Many who were 
 eager to get out-of-doors, were ten times more 
 eager to get back again, and made a ludicrous 
 scramble to do so, for the bullets were flying in 
 all directions and the wonder is that more were 
 not hit. The twigs were snipped off the naked 
 trees, and most of the branches being coated 
 with ice, the fragments flew in showers. The 
 splintering of window-panes warned the inmates 
 peeping out of their danger, and a scream now 
 and then from a woman or child made it seem 
 that some of them had been hit, but happily 
 such was not the case. 
 
 Sullivan's troops kept their formation well, 
 but they had gone only a short distance along 
 
276 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Second Street, when the lieutenant suddenly 
 gave orders to his men to cease firing. It was 
 just at the moment that Jack Marlton's platoon 
 came to the front, and he and the rest were 
 listening for the order to make ready. 
 
 " What's the meaning of that ? " asked the 
 wondering lad. 
 
 Instead of replying, his new friend, who, like 
 his companions, was gazing intently down the 
 street, suddenly threw his hat in air, broke 
 into frenzied cheering, and fairly danced with 
 joy. Following the direction of his gaze, Jack 
 saw a large body of Hessians in the street, and 
 noticed that they too had stopped 'firing. Be- 
 yond them could be distinguished the gleam of 
 bayonets, though the youth was not tall enough 
 to see clearly. He noticed, however, that wild 
 cheering came from the locality of those shining 
 bayonets, though the Hessians between them 
 and Sullivan's command remained mute. 
 
 Suddenly the big soldier seemed to become 
 aware of Jack's presence at his side. Ceasing 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 277 
 
 his own boisterous outburst, he turned and 
 demanded : 
 
 u Younker, why don't you yell ? " 
 
 u What for ? " 
 
 " What for ! Why don't you see the whole 
 gang have surrendered ? " 
 
 " Is that so ? Then I will yell." 
 
 And Jack let out a whoop that rose above the 
 hoarse shouts around him. He started to swing 
 his hat, but his big friend saved him the trouble 
 by snatching it from his head and flinging it 
 forty feet up in air. The laughing Jack 
 ran forward and caught it as it came down, 
 and then swung and cheered to his heart's con- 
 tent. 
 
 As a soldier, the lad ought to have kept his 
 place in the ranks, like those with whom he had 
 been associated for a brief while, but his ex- 
 uberant feelings would not permit. Not being 
 regularly enrolled, no notice was taken of him, 
 when he slipped to the sidewalk, which was be- 
 ginning to be crowded with spectators, quick to 
 
£78 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 discover that all danger was over and the Hes- 
 sians prisoners. 
 
 Jack worked his way forward through the fast 
 increasing swarm, and had not gone far when he 
 caught sight of the majestic figure of Washing- 
 ton on his white horse, with his staff around 
 him. Then he noticed the slowly moving form 
 of the Hessian commander, supported on either 
 side by a sergeant, painfully making his way to 
 where the American commander was waiting 
 to receive his sword. Jack had never seen the 
 smooth, white-faced Colonel Rail before, but he 
 knew him on the instant, and before his name 
 was repeated by a score of sympathizing spec- 
 tators. 
 
 There was a profound hush while the touching 
 ceremony was under way, the cheering being 
 suppressed out of respect for the wounded 
 officer. The sight of him being carried past on 
 a litter, with others here and there similarly 
 cared for, while there was more than one bloody 
 figure with crimsoned face limping about, gave 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 279 
 
 all a vivid picture of the horrors of war, though, 
 in killed and wounded, the battle of Trentoa 
 can bear no comparison with scores and hun- 
 dreds of conflicts that have since taken place on 
 our soil. 
 
280 THE B0Y PATKlui 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 AFTER THE BATTLE. 
 
 Nevertheless, the battle of Trenton marked 
 the "joyful turning of the tide." It was the 
 one thing needed to revive the drooping spirits 
 of the country, and nothing could have occurred 
 to do it more effectually. To quote the words 
 I have used elsewhere it replaced despair with 
 hope, and though hardship, sorrow and reverses 
 were yet in store, the hand on the dial was never 
 again turned backward. 
 
 It will be seen that the situation of Washing- 
 ton was dangerous in the extreme, for Cornwallis 
 was within striking distance, with his overwhelm- 
 ing force of well-disciplined troops, and was 
 sure to set out for Trenton, as soon as he learned 
 of the reverse. Let me at this point anticipate 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 281 
 
 events to a brief extent. On the same afternoon, 
 as has been stated, Washington recrossed the 
 Delaware into Pennsylvania with his prisoners 
 and captured material. Waiting three days on 
 the western shore, he once more returned to 
 Trenton. About the same time, Cadwalader 
 brought one thousand eight hundred Pennsyl- 
 vania militia over the river from Bristol, and 
 the same number under General Mifflin joined 
 Washington at Trenton. The army itself was 
 so inspirited by the brilliant success that one 
 thousand four hundred of the New England 
 troops, whose terms of enlistment were about 
 to expire, gladly agreed to remain six weeks 
 longer. Thus the Continental army was in- 
 creased to six thousand effective men. 
 
 Robert Morris, the patriotic Philadelphian 
 who did so much for the cause of American in- 
 dependence, knew how badly the soldiers were 
 in need of money, their pay being many months 
 behindhand and set to work with so much vigor 
 that in a brief while he collected $50,000 in 
 
2S2 THE BOY PATRIOT, 
 
 specie, all of which was sent to the commander- 
 in-chief, and by him apportioned among the men' 
 who were delighted and made content. 
 
 Returning to the incidents immediately fol- 
 lowing the victory of Trenton, you will re- 
 member that Jack Marlton, after having served 
 bravely for a brief while in the ranks, fell out 
 again, when he discovered there was no further 
 need of his services. It seemed as if in the 
 course of half an hour the whole town were on 
 the streets. Now that the firing had ceased, 
 men, women, and children were everywhere, and 
 it required energetic measures on the part of the 
 American troops to keep them from interfering 
 with their movements. Trenton, like all other 
 places from New England to the South, was 
 pestered by Tories and many of them had been 
 on the best of terms with the Hessians during 
 their occupancy of the town. They took good 
 care, however, now that the situation was so 
 changed to make it appear that they had been 
 only shamming and were at heart as sound pa- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 283 
 
 triots as their neighbors, who never feared to 
 avow their sentiments. 
 
 Jack Marlton drifted with a crowd that 
 swarmed toward the prisoners, numbering 
 almost a thousand, who were grouped together 
 on First Street, unarmed and under a strong 
 guard. While glancing from one stolid face to 
 another, he was startled by the act of one of the 
 Hessians who raised his hand in a military 
 salute, while his broad face widened into a grin. 
 A second glance showed that his salutation was 
 meant for Jack himself, who, with a peculiar 
 thrill, recognized his old friend Fritz. 
 
 In the hurly-burly our hero had forgotten all 
 about him until this moment, when he saw him 
 in the ranks among his fellow- unfortunates. 
 Fritz, however, did not seem to be cast clown 
 by his situation, and still grinned and repeated 
 the salute. Jack returned it, smiled and started 
 to move toward him, when one of the guards 
 sternly ordered him back. The youth was about 
 to protest, but reflected that it would be useless 
 
284 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 and he returned to the sidewalk. Above the 
 
 noise and excitement, he shouted : 
 
 " I won't forget you, Fritz." 
 
 And then he made a painful discovery. 
 Fritz's left arm was hansrins: at his side and the 
 coat-sleeve was crimsoned from the shoulder to 
 the wrist, and the hand covered with blood. 
 The fellow was wounded. 
 
 Distressed and troubled, Jack Marlton with- 
 drew from the crowd, passed on to Queen Street, 
 debating with himself what he could do to 
 befriend Fritz, who had shown him so much 
 kindness. He was walking slowly and had 
 passed the old home of Abraham Hunt, when 
 the sound of a galloping horse caused him to 
 look up. 
 
 The horseman had come from behind him, 
 and as Jack turned his head, he reined up at 
 his side with the cheery salutation : 
 
 " How do you do, my young friend ? " 
 
 To the youth's amazement he recognized the 
 speaker as General Washington, avIio, identify- 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 285 
 
 ing him from the rear, approached and called to 
 him. Jack was so overcome that he stared 
 without speaking, and forgot even to salute the 
 great man. 
 
 " I am glad to see that you are unharmed," 
 added Washington ; " my headquarters are 
 just across the street ; I am very busy, but I 
 should like to have a little talk with you ; will 
 you oblige me by following ? " 
 
 u Yes, sir." 
 
 Washington pricked the flank of his steed 
 with his spur, and, cantering diagonally to the 
 other side, dismounted, turning over his horse 
 to an orderly, while he hurriedly entered the 
 little stone dwelling, which remained standing 
 for many years afterward, and was known by 
 the name of " Washington's headquarters." 
 
 The great man was returning from his call 
 upon the dying Colonel Rail at the old build- 
 ing on Queen Street. The brief respite given 
 to Jack allowed him to pull himself together, 
 so that when he appeared before the guard in 
 
286 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 front of the building, and said lie came at the 
 request of the commander and was admitted, he 
 * was self-possessed and fully himself. 
 
 He was ushered into the small, low-ceilinged 
 room at the front of the house, where every- 
 thing; seemed to be in inextricable confusion. 
 Several officers were seated about the apartment, 
 the little stand in the middle was littered with 
 papers, men were continually coming and go- 
 ing, some dashing in and out, and Generals St. 
 Clair, Greene, and Sullivan exchanged a few 
 words with Washington, sent out orders, and 
 then hurried away themselves, Greene returning 
 in a few minutes, while the bustle and confusion 
 seemed never to diminish for a moment. 
 
 As Jack, somewhat abashed, entered this 
 place, Washington took two or three of his 
 giant strides toward him and grasped his hand. 
 His manner was dignified but cordial, and, still 
 holding the hand of the youth in his own, he 
 led him to the further side of the room, where 
 neither sat down, but stood and talked in tones 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 2$Y 
 
 that others might have heard but to which they 
 paid no attention. 
 
 "Jack," said Washington, with a significant 
 smile, " I had to get on the best I could last 
 night without your help as guide." 
 
 " O General, I have been so anxious to see 
 you and explain about that : what did you think 
 of me ? " 
 
 " Well, to tell the truth, I didn't have time 
 to think much of you. Still, I have some 
 curiosity to learn how it was you came to fail 
 
 me." 
 
 " Well, now I will tell you all about it." 
 And thereupon Jack gave his story in a 
 straightforward, modest, manly way, from the 
 moment his father made known his change of 
 purpose and sent him to help guard the home 
 of the Wagstaff Tories, the flight of Aaron, 
 Jack's pursuit across the Delaware and his 
 adventures in Trenton the nischt before. The 
 youth passed lightly over his daring pursuit of 
 the traitor, but it is not to be supposed that his 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 august listener failed to appreciate its heroic 
 features, nor did he tell of his attempt to take 
 the letter addressed to Colonel Rail by force 
 from Aaron Wagstaff, but he dwelt fully upon 
 the invaluable friendship of his Hessian friend 
 Fritz, while his possession of a musket com- 
 pelled Jack to explain his brief service in the 
 ranks. 
 
 Washington quietly remarked : 
 
 " That written warning of which you speak 
 was delivered to Colonel Rail and you have 
 been puzzled to understand why it failed of 
 effect. The truth was he thrust it into his 
 pocket and forgot about it until after the battle. 
 He read it but a short while ago, in his room, 
 where I called upon him, and I regret to say he 
 can live but a short time longer." 
 
 " I knew he had been wounded, but did not 
 know he must die ; I am sorry." 
 
 " So am I, but it is so ordered by Providence. 
 I am so busy, Jack, that I can give you but a 
 few minutes, but I want to say that the story 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 289 
 
 you have just told me proves you to be a true 
 hero. It is not your fault that you failed, for 
 no one could have tried harder than you. You 
 took ten times the risk that would have been 
 yours had you acted as one of my guides. The 
 guard, who failed in their duty, deserve punish- 
 ment, but the victory Heaven has vouchsafed 
 to us, disposes me to be indulgent. You have 
 proven yourself a patriot and friend to me." 
 
 " I want to tell you something, General," the 
 delighted youth hastened to say ; u father is 
 going to let me enlist : what do you think of 
 that f " 
 
 " I am pleased but not surprised ; I was sure 
 he would do so, after I left your home two 
 nights ago. I need not say you will be welcome, 
 and shall have every opportunity to serve 
 you your country." 
 
 u That's all I wish, but I want to ask you a 
 favor, General." 
 
 The boy's eagerness brought a smile to the 
 
 face of the great man, who said : 
 *9 
 
290 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " It will give me pleasure to do anything I 
 can for you." 
 
 " It's about my friend Fritz ; the poor fellow 
 is wounded." 
 
 u I am sorry to hear that, but every one of the 
 unfortunate prisoners will be looked after, as if 
 they were our own men. Have no misgiving 
 on those grounds." 
 
 " I do not, but may I ask what will be done 
 with Fritz after he gets well \ " 
 
 '" He will be exchanged, as soon as the oppor- 
 tunity presents itself. You do not imagine any 
 harm would be done him ? Comfortable quar- 
 ters have been secured for all that need medical 
 attention, and none of them will be neglected. 
 They have surgeons of their own, who will be 
 left in charge, since they do not need the help 
 of ours." 
 
 " But 1 was thinking, General, whether you 
 wouldn't be willing to parole Fritz and let him 
 be taken over to our house, where mother will 
 look after him." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 291 
 
 u I don't know as that will improve matters ; 
 it might be dangerous to expose him while the 
 weather is so inclement, bat I will have inquiry 
 made. What is his full name ? ,7 
 
 " I declare ! I never heard it." 
 
 " Since his given name is Fritz and he is 
 wounded in the arm, it will be easy to discover 
 him. I will say that if his surgeon deems it 
 prudent to let him be taken to your home 
 and he wishes to go, I will give such per- 
 mission ; I will have his parole taken, and all 
 shall be as you wish so far as it is in my power 
 to make it so." 
 
 Jack saw he was usin^ valuable time of the 
 commander-in-chief, for several leading officers 
 were awaiting the chance to speak to him. The 
 youth, therefore, thanked him, made an elaborate 
 salute, and passed out upon the street, where he 
 almost collided with Aaron Wagstaff, hurrying 
 in the direction of the open country to the north. 
 
 u Helloa ! " called Jack ; " matters seem to 
 have gone wrong with your friends." 
 
292 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 " With my friends ! " repeated Wagstaff, in 
 pretended astonislmient ; " I think they have 
 gone just right." 
 
 " Do you call it going right, when Colonel 
 Rail has been mortally wounded, and nearly all 
 of his men captured ? " 
 
 u Oh, you mean the Hessians ; why they ain't 
 my friends." 
 
 " When did they become your enemies ? " 
 
 " They always was ; I never liked them any 
 better than you." 
 
 " What about that letter you took to Colonel 
 Rail last night ? " 
 
 " I never took any letter," w r as the unblush- 
 ing response ; " that was one of my jokes ; can't 
 you see the way things went that Colonel Rail 
 never got any letter from me ? " 
 
 " He got it sure, but he put it in his pocket 
 and forgot to read it until after Washington 
 attacked ; I know that's the fact." 
 
 " It wasn't my letter, for I didn't have any for 
 him, — that's honest, Jack." 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 293 
 
 The latter was on the point of asking whether 
 the dash from his home and midnight flight 
 across the Delaware was a joke, when he recol- 
 lected that it was idle to argue with such a fel- 
 low. He therefore added : 
 
 « I'm going home, Aaron, for a few days and 
 will then enlist under Washington ; I have 
 fathers promise ; why can't you go with me ? " 
 
 " I'll think about it, Jack, and talk with the 
 old man ; if he's willing I'm with you." 
 
 Jack reflected that this was a very safe prom- 
 ise for the Tory to make, and with a few more 
 unimportant words, the two separated. Jack 
 crossed the river that afternoon with the troops 
 of Washington to Pennsylvania, and soon after 
 was at his home telling his story to his father 
 and mother. 
 
294 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 COXCLUSIOX. 
 
 Captain Marlton kept track, so far as was 
 possible, of the movements of Washington and 
 his army. You are familiar enough with the 
 history of your country to know of his brilliant 
 exploit, by which he outwitted Cornwallis, and, 
 leaving Trenton by a circuitous route, fell upon 
 the British force at Princeton, January 3, 1777, 
 and before the baffled and chagrined comman- 
 der could return, Washington was well on his 
 way to Morristown, where he went into winter 
 quarters. 
 
 Seeing that there was no prospect for active 
 service for Jack, his father, although ready to 
 keep his pledge, advised him to wait until the 
 following spring before enlisting, and the son 
 willingly did so. 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 295 
 
 One week after the battle of Trenton, and 
 when the Delaware was comparatively free of 
 ice, Jack borrowed a boat and sailed across to 
 Trenton, where he made his way to the hospital 
 in which he found his old friend Fritz Stahl, as 
 he learned was his full name, still suffering from 
 his wounded arm, but in good spirits. "Wash- 
 ington, in the hurry of his public duties, did not 
 forget his promise to Jack, and the Hessian, who 
 had been paroled, had permission to accompany 
 the lad to his home on the other side of the 
 river, as soon as his medical attendant deemed it 
 safe to do so. It was an unusual proceeding, 
 but the surgeon made no objection and the 
 happy fellow gladly went with his old friend. 
 
 On his way, he paused to see his sweetheart 
 Mary, who was as delighted as he, since it was 
 agreed that he should see her as often as it was 
 prudent, and he was certain to receive the best 
 of care in his new home. 
 
 No one could have been more welcome than 
 Fritz, for the parents of Jack deeply appreciated 
 
296 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 the kindness he had shown their son, when 
 neither had any reason to look for anything of 
 that nature. Fritz was strong, sturdy and more 
 than willing to do everything in his power to 
 make himself useful. His wound rapidly 
 mended and in the course of a few weeks he 
 was as well as ever. Some two months after 
 his entrance into the household, a messenger 
 reached the house with a notification that he 
 had been exchanged and he was ordered to join 
 the command of Baron Wilhelm Knyphausen, 
 who came to this country as second in command 
 of the Hessians in 1776, and in the following 
 year was placed at the head of the German aux- 
 iliaries. 
 
 Fritz ran no little risk in disregarding this 
 order, since it placed him in the position of a 
 deserter, but he boldly took it, led thereto by 
 several reasons. It must be remembered, in the 
 first place, that the Hessians fought in the Revo- 
 lution, as a mere matter of business. There was 
 no sentiment either way, and, had they been 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 297 
 
 hired by Washington instead of King Greorge 
 III., they would have done as good service for 
 the Americans as for their enemies. Therefore, 
 Fritz had no qualms of conscience in the 
 matter. 
 
 Furthermore, he felt such a strong liking for 
 Jack Marlton that he could not bear the thought 
 of fighting against him. The possibility of the 
 two meeting in battle and one killing the other 
 made him shudder with horror. And lastly, 
 but by no means least, a certain blue-eyed 
 maiden in Trenton acted like a magnet in keep- 
 ing him where he could see her quite often. 
 
 It may not be a welcome thing to state, but 
 it is a fact all the same, that there are to-day 
 in the neighborhood of Trenton and in Bucks 
 County across the river, a good many descend- 
 ants of the Hessians, and they are among the 
 best people. I remember some years ago, when 
 an old house -Avas torn down nearly opposite 
 Trenton, there were found more than a dozen 
 Hessian military hats in the garret. How they 
 
298 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 came to remain there for so many years un- 
 noticed no one knew, but the fact has its signifi- 
 cance. 
 
 If you are disposed to make inquiries for 
 Hessian descendants in the section I have named, 
 let me suggest that you be guarded about it, for 
 most of the descendants referred to feel sensi- 
 tive over the matter and might not be disposed 
 to furnish reliable information. 
 
 Fritz Stahl remained for three years with 
 Captain Marlton, who paid him good wages, for 
 he was the best man he ever had in his employ, 
 and his intelligent labor added a good deal to 
 the value of the fertile little farm. Strange as 
 it may seem, Fritz occasionally, when he could 
 be spared, helped on the larger farm of the 
 Wagstaffs, who often found it difficult to pro- 
 cure the hands they needed. It need hardly be 
 said that Aaron never enlisted. His excuse was 
 that his father could not spare him, and he 
 added with a grim smile that must have wrenched 
 him, that Washington was doing so well he 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 299 
 
 really did not need his assistance. Although 
 the sentiments of the family were well known, 
 they were not molested or interfered with in 
 any way, for the patriots were always more 
 magnanimous than the Tories. 
 
 At the end of two years, Fritz and Mary were 
 married and made their home in the comfort- 
 able tenant house built for them by Captain 
 Marlton, who felt that the honest fellow had 
 earned a good deal more than he received. The 
 existence of Fritz seemed to have been forgotten 
 by his former officers, for he was never disturbed, 
 and he and his wife lived to a oreen old a^e, 
 extending so far into the succeeding century, 
 that both are well remembered by more than 
 one of the old inhabitants of the vicinity. 
 
 Washington remained in his winter quarters 
 at Morristown, until May, 1777. In the latter 
 part of that month, with an army numbering 
 less than 8,000, he started on his march south- 
 ward. Howe was at Brunswick (the town was 
 not called " New " Brunswick until after the 
 
300 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 Revolution), with an army fully double in num- 
 bers. He marched to Staten Island, embarked 
 his army on his brother's fleet, and soon after 
 entered Chesapeake Bay. Washington, seeing 
 that his destination was Philadelphia, moved to 
 Germantown with a view of defeating his pur- 
 pose. The battle of the Brandy wine was fought 
 September 11, 1777, and the Americans were 
 defeated. It was in this battle that Lafayette 
 was wounded and Jack Marlton first saw serv- 
 ice as a regularly enlisted private in the ranks 
 of the Continentals. He passed through without 
 harm, but was greatly depressed by the failure 
 of the patriots, followed soon after by the occu- 
 pation of Philadelphia by the enemy. The next 
 engagement in which our young hero took part 
 was in October at Germantown, when the Amer- 
 icans were a»;am unsuccessful, the lamentable 
 feature of the battle being that they withdrew 
 when on the very eve of gaining a brill ant vic- 
 tory. 
 
 Then came the dismal, dreadful winter at 
 
THE BOY PATRIOT. 30 1 
 
 Valley Forge, when the patriots braved starva- 
 tion and death from freezing. Jack went 
 through it with the rest of the heroes, one of 
 the occupants of his miserable cabin being his 
 old friend John Fitch, who never lost his pa- 
 triotic faith in Washington and the success of 
 American Independence. 
 
 The British withdrew from Philadelphia 
 about the middle of June, 1778, and started 
 overland to New York. At Monmouth Court- 
 House, Washington overtook and defeated them. 
 It was in that battle that Jack Marlton's cool- 
 ness and intrepidity attracted such favorable 
 notice that he was made a first lieutenant. 
 
 After that there were few chances for impor- 
 tant service until the final campaign at York- 
 town, where Jack was made a captain, while 
 the siege of Cornwallis was in progress. Heaven 
 was kind to him, and, when the surrender of the 
 British army took place and the courier started 
 on his headlong ride to Philadelphia with the 
 glorious news, the young officer was without a 
 
302 THE BOY PATRIOT. 
 
 scratch, though he had had several narrow 
 escapes. He was among those who shed tears 
 when the time came to bid farewell to the 
 beloved commander-in-chief. 
 
 It seemed to him that as the Father of his 
 Country looked down on him, he held his hand 
 longer than usual, and there was a tremor in his 
 voice and a suspicious moisture in his eyes, as 
 he said : 
 
 " Good-by, Captain Marlton ; you have a 
 true patriot for a father ; I beg you to give him 
 and your mother my most respectful regards, 
 and tell them from me that our country has had 
 no truer or braver soldier in its employ than 
 you ; you proved yourself its devoted servant 
 and a Friend of Washington." 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 * ' By Right of Conquest " is the nearest approach to a perfectly successful 
 historical tale that Mr. Henty has yet published. 11 — Academy. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 In the Reign of Terror : The Adventures of a Westminster Boy 
 By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by J. Schon 
 berg. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 Harry Sandwith, a Westminster boy, becomes a resident at ihe 
 chateau of a French marquis, and aft* r various adventures accom 
 panies the family to Paris at the crisis of the Revolution. I in 
 prisonment and death reduce their number, and the hero finds 
 himself I eset by perils with the three young daughters of the 
 /house in his charge. After hairbreadth escapes they reach Nan- 
 tes. There the «. iris are condemned to death in the coffin- -hips, 
 but are saved by the unfailing courage of their boy protector. 
 
 " Harry Sand with, the Westminster boy, may rairly be said to beat Mr. 
 Henty's record. His adventures will delight boy-, by the audacity and peril 
 they depict. . . . The story is one of Mr. Henty's best."— Saturday 
 Review. 
 
 With Wolfe in Canada ; or, The Winning of a Continent. By 
 G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Gordon 
 Browne. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 In the present volume Mr. Henty gives an account of the strug- 
 gle between Britain and France for supremacy in the North 
 American continent. On the issue of this war depended not only 
 the destinies of North America, but to a large extent those of the 
 mother countries themselves. The fall of Quebec decided that 
 the A.nglo-Saxon race should predominate in the New World; 
 that Britain, and not France, should take the lead among the 
 nations of Europe; and that English and American commerce, the 
 English language, and English literature, should spread right 
 round the globe. 
 
 " It Is not o»ly a lesson in history as instructively as it is graphically told, 
 but also a deeply interesting and often thrilling tale of adventure and peril by 
 flood and field. '''—Illustrated London News. 
 
 True to the Old Flag : A Tale of the American War of Inde 
 
 pendence. By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by 
 
 Gordon Browne, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 I In this story the author has gone to the accounts of officer*? whc 
 
 , look part in the conflict, and lads will find that in no war in which 
 
 American and British soldiers have been engaged did they behave 
 
 with greater courage and good conduct. The historical portion of 
 
 the book being accompanied with numerous thrilling adventures 
 
 with the redskins on the shores of La e Huron, a story of exciting 
 
 interest is interwoven with the general narrative and carried 
 
 through the book. 
 
 '* Does justice to the pluck and determination of the British soldiers during 
 the unfortunate struggle against American emancipation. The son of an 
 American loyalist, who remains true to our flag, falls among the hostile red- 
 skins in that very Huron country which has been endeared to us by the ex- 
 ploits of Haw key e and Chingachgook."— The Time*. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS. 5 
 
 The Lion of St. Mark : A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth 
 Century. By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by 
 Gordon Browne. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 A story of Venice at a period when her strength and splendor 
 were put to the severest tests. The hero displays a fine sense and 
 ^manliness which carry hiin safely through an atmosphere of i.i- 
 'trigue, crime, and bloodshed. He contributes largely to the vic- 
 tories of the Venetians at Porto d'Anzo and Chioggia, and finally 
 wins the hand of the daughter of one of the chief men of Venice. 
 
 14 Every boy should read ' The Lion of St. Mark.' Mr. Henry has never pro 
 duced a story more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious. "Satur 
 day Review. 
 
 A Final Reckoning: A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. By G. A. 
 
 Henty. With full page Illustrations by W. B. Wollen. 
 
 12mo, cloth, price $1.00, 
 
 The hero, a young English lad. after rather a stormy boyhood, 
 emigrates to Australia, and gets employment as an officer in the 
 mounted police. A few years of active work on the frontier, 
 where he has many a brush with both natives and bushrangers, 
 gain him promotion to a captaincy, and he eventually settles 
 down to the peaceful life of a squatter. 
 
 " Mr. Henty has never published a more readable, a more carefully con- 
 structed, or a better written story than this.' 1 — Spectator. 
 
 Under Drake's Flag : A Tale of the Spanish Main. By G. A. 
 
 Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 
 
 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 A story of the days when England and Spain struggled for the 
 supremacy of the sea. The heroes sail as lads with Drake in the 
 Pacific expedition, and in his great voyage of circumnavigation. 
 The historical portion of the story is absolutely to be relied upon, 
 but this will perhaps be less attractive than the great variety of 
 exciting adventure through wK„ch the young heroes pass in the 
 course of their voyages. 
 
 " A book of adventure, where the hero meets with experience enough, one 
 would think, to turn his hair gray. 11 — Harper's Monthly Magazine. 
 
 By Sheer Pluck : A Tale or the Ashanti War. By G. A. Henty. 
 
 With full- page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 12mo > 
 
 cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 The author has woven, in a tale of thrilling interest, all the de- 
 lails of the Ashanti campaign, of which he was himself a witness. 
 His hero, after many exciting adventures in the interior, is de- 
 tained a prisoner by the king just before the outbreak of the war, 
 but escapes, and accompanies the English expedit on on their 
 march to Coomassie. 
 
 " Mr. Henty keeps up his reputation as a writer of boys' stories. ' By Sheer 
 Pluck ' will be eagerly read. 11 — Athenceutn. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 By Pike and Dyke : A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic 
 By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Maynard 
 Brown, and 4 Maps. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 In this story Mr. Henty traces the adventures and brave deeds 
 of an English boy in the household of the • blest man of his age— 
 William the Silent. Edward Martin, the son of an English sea- 
 captain, enters the service of the Prince as a volunteer, and is em- 
 ployed by him in many dangerous and responsible missions, in the 
 discharge of which he passes through the great sieges of the time. 
 He u.timately settles down as Sir Edward Martin. 
 
 " Boys with a turn for historical research will be enchanted with the book, 
 while the rest who o' >ly care for adventure will be students in spite of them 
 selves."— Si. James" 1 Gazette. 
 
 St. George for Kngland : A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By 
 G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Gordon 
 Browne. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 No portion of English history is more crowded with great events 
 than that of the reign of Edward III. Cressy and Poitiers; the 
 destruction of the Spanish fleet; the plague of the Black Death; 
 tbe Jacquerie rising; these are treated by the author in " St. 
 George for England." The hero of the story, although of good 
 family, begins life as a London apprentice, but after countless ad 
 ventures and perils becomes by valor and good conduct the squire, 
 and at last the trusted friend of the Black Prince. 
 
 "Mr. Henty has developed for himself a type of historical novel for boys 
 which bids fair to supplement, on their behalf, the historical labors of Sir 
 Walter Scott in the land of fiction.''''— The Standard. 
 
 Captain's Kidd's Gold: The True Story of an Adventurous Sailor 
 Boy. By J a.mes Franklin Fitts. 12mo, clot i, price $1.00. 
 There is something fascinating to the average youth in the very 
 Idea of buried treasure. A vision arises before his eyes of swarthy 
 Portuguese and Spanish rascals, with black beards and gleaming 
 eyes — sinister-looking fellows who once on a time haunted the 
 Spanish Main, sneaking out from some hidden creek in their long, 
 low schooner, of picaroonish rake and sheer, to attack an unsus- 
 pecting trading craft. Tnere were many famous sea rovers in 
 their day, but none more celebrated than Capt. Kidd. Perhaps 
 the most fascinating tale of all is Mr. Fitts' true story of an adven 
 turous American boy, who receives from his dying father at* 
 ancient bit of vellum, which the latter obtained in a curious way. 
 The document bears obscure directions purporting to locate a cer- 
 tain island in the Bahama group, and a considerable treasure 
 buried there by two of Kidd's crew. The hero of this book, 
 Paul Jones Garry, is an ambitious, persevering lad, of salt-water 
 New England ancestry, and his efforts to reach the island and 
 secure the money form one of the most absorbing tales for our 
 youth that h&& come from the press. 
 
A. L. BURTS PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Captain Bayley's Heir : A Tale of the Gold Fields of California 
 By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by H. M. 
 PAGET'. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 A frank, manly lad and his cousin are rivals in the heirship of a 
 30 siderable property. The former f ills into a trap laid by the 
 latter, and while under a false accusation of theft foolishly leaves 
 England for America. He works his pnssage before the mast, 
 joins a small band of hunters, crosses a tract of country infested 
 with Indians to the Californian gold diggings, and is successful 
 both as digger and trader. 
 
 "Mr. Henty is careful to mingle instruction with entertainment; and the 
 humorous touches, especially in the sketch of John Holl, the Westminster 
 dustman, Dickens himself could hardly have excelled.' 11 — Christian Leader. 
 
 For Name and Fame ; or, Through Afghan Passes. By G. A. 
 
 Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 
 
 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 An interesting story of the last war in Afghanistan. The hero, 
 after being wrecked and going through many stirring adventures 
 among the Malays, finds his way to Calcutta and enlists in a regi- 
 ment proceeding to join the army at the Afghan passes. He ac- 
 companies the force under General Roberts to the Peiwar Kotal, 
 is wounded, taken prisoner, carried to Cabal, whence he is trans- 
 ferred to Candahar, and takes part in the final defeat of the army 
 of Ayoub Khan. 
 
 "The best feature of th? book— apart from the interest of its scenes of ad- 
 venture — is its honest effort to do justice to the patriotism of the Afghan 
 people. ,, — Daily News. 
 
 Captured by Apes : The Wonderful Adventures of a Young 
 Animal Trainer. By Harry Prentice. 12mo, cloth, $1.00. 
 The scene of this tale is laid on an island in the Malay Archi- 
 pelago. Philip Garland, a young animal collector and trainer, of 
 New York, sets sail for Eastern seas in quest of a new stock of 
 living curiosities. The vessel is wrecked off the coast of Borneo 
 md young Garland, the sole survivor of the disaster, is cast ashore 
 on a small island, and captured by the apes that overrun the 
 place. The lad discovers that the ruling spirit of the monkey 
 tribe is a gigantic and vicious baboon, whom he identifies as 
 Goliah, an animal at one time in his possession and with whose 
 instruction he had been especially diligent. The brute recognizes 
 him, and with a kind of malignant satisfaction puts his former 
 master through the same course of training he had himself ex- 
 perienced with a faithfulness of detail which shows how astonish- 
 ing is monkey recollection. Very novel indeed is the way by 
 which the young man escape* death. Mr. Prentice has certainly 
 worked a new vein on juvenile fiction, and the ability with which 
 he handles a difficult subject stamps him as a writer of undoubted 
 skill. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS 
 
 The Bravest of the Brave ; or, With Peterborough in Spain 
 By (J. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by H. M. 
 Paget. 12m \ cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 There are few great leaders whose lives and actions have so 
 completely fallen into oblivion as those of the Earl of Peter 
 borough. This is largely due to the fact that they were over- 
 shadowed by the glory and successes of Marlborough. His career 
 as general extended over l.ttle more than a year, and yet, in that 
 time, he showed a genius for warfare which has never been sur= 
 passed. 
 
 " Mr. Henty never loses sight of the moral purpose of his work— to enforce 
 the doctrine of courage and truth. Lads will read ' The Bravest of the Brave ' 
 yith pleasure and profit; of that we are quite sure."— Daily Telegraph. 
 
 The Cat of Bubastes : A Story of Ancient Egypt. By G. A. 
 
 Henty. With full-page Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 A story which will give young readers an unsurpassed insight 
 into the customs of the Egyptian people. Amuba, a prince of the 
 Rebu nation, is carried with his charioteer Jethro into slavery. 
 They become inmates of the house of Ameres, the Egyptian high- 
 piest. and are happy in his service until the priest's son acci- 
 dentally kills the sacred cat of Bubastes. In an outburst of popular 
 fury Ameres is killed, and it rests with Jethro and Amuba to 
 secure the escape of the high-priest's son and daughter. 
 
 " The story, from the critical moment of the killing of the sacred cat to the 
 perilous exodus into Asia with which it closes, is very skillfully constructed 
 and full of exciting adventures. It is admirably illustrated." —Saturday 
 Review. 
 
 With Washington at Monmouth : A Story of Three Phila 
 delphia Boys. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, price $1 00. 
 Three Philadelphia boys, Seth Graydon "whose mother con- 
 ducted a boarding-house which was patronized by the British 
 officers;" Enoch Ball, "son of that Mrs. Ball whose dancing 
 school was situated on Letitia Street," and little Jacob, son of 
 "Chris, the Baker," serve as the principal characters. Tho 
 story is laid during the winter when Lord Howe held possession 
 of the city, and the lads aid the cause by assisting the American 
 spies who make regular and frequent visits from Valley Forge. 
 One reads here of home-life in the captive city when bread was 
 scarce among the people of the lower classes, and a reckless prodi- 
 gality shown by the British officers, who passed the winter in 
 feasting and merry-making while the members of the patriot army 
 but a few miles away were suffering from both cold and hunger. 
 The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life skillfully 
 drawn, and the glimpses of Washington's soldiers which are give& 
 show that the work has not been nastily done,, or without cob 
 siderable study, 
 
A. L. BURTS PUBLICATIONS. 9 
 
 For the Temple: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By G. A. 
 
 Henty. With full-page Illustrations by S. J. Solomon. 12ino, 
 
 cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 Mr. Henty here weaves into the record of Josephus an admirable 
 and attractive story. The troubles in the district of Tiberias, the 
 march of the legions, the sieges of Jotapata, of Gamala, and of 
 Jerusalem, form the impressive and carefully studied historic 
 setting to the figure of the lad who passes from the vineyard to 
 the service of Josephus, becomes the leader of a guerrilla band of 
 patriots, fights bravely for the Temple, and after a brief term of 
 slavery at Alexandria, returns to his Galilean home with the favor 
 of Titus. 
 
 " Mr. Plenty's graphic prose pictures of the hopeless Jewish resistance to 
 Roman sway add another leaf to his record of the famous wars of the world.'" 
 —Graphic. 
 
 Facing Death ; or, The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of 
 the v oal Mines. By G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustra- 
 tions by Gordon Browne. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 "Facing Death" is a story with a purpose. It is intended to 
 show that a lad who makes up his mind firmly and resolutely that 
 he will rise in life, and who is prepared to face toil and ridicule 
 and hardship to carry out his determination, is sure to succeed. 
 The hero of the story is a typical British boy, dogged, earnest, 
 generous, and though " shamefaced" to a degree, is ready to face 
 death in the discharge of duty. 
 
 " The tale is well written and well illustrated, and there is much reality in 
 the characters. If any father, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the lookout 
 for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth his salt, this is tho 
 book we would recommend.''''— Standard. 
 
 Tom Temple's Career. By Horatio Alger. 12mo, cloth, 
 
 price $1.00. 
 
 Tom Temple, a bright, self-reliant lad, by the death of his 
 father becomes a boarder at the home of Nathan Middleton, a 
 penurious insurance agent. Though well paid for keeping the 
 boy, Nathan and his wife endeavor to bring Master Tom in line 
 svith their parsimonious habits. The lad ingeniously evades their 
 efforts and revolutionizes the household. As Tom is heir to 
 $40,000, he is regarded as a person of some importance until by 
 an unfortunate combination of circumstances his fortune shrinks 
 to a few hundreds. He leaves Plympton village to seek work in 
 New York, whence he undertakes an important mission to Cali- 
 fornia, around which center the most exciting incidents of his 
 young career. Some of his adventures in the far west are so 
 startling that the reader will scarcely close the book until the last 
 page shall have been reached. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's 
 most fascinating style, and is bound to please the very large class 
 of boys who regard this popular author as a prime favorite. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Maori and Settler: A Story of the New Zealand War. By 
 G. A. Henty. With full-page Illustrations by Alfred Pearse, 
 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 The Renshaws emigrate to New Zealand during the period of 
 the war with the natives. Wilfrid, a strong, self-reliant, coura- 
 geous lad, is the mainstay of the household. He has for his friend 
 Mr. Atherton, a botanist and naturalist of herculean strength and 
 unfailing nerve and humor. In the adventures among the Maoris, 
 there are many breathless moments in which the odds seem hope- 
 lessly against the party, but they succeed in establishing them 
 selves happily in one of the pleasant New Zealand valleys. 
 
 "Brimful of adventure, of humorous and interesting conversation, and 
 vivid pictures of colonial life. 11 — Schoolmaster. 
 
 Julian MortimerJ: A Brave Boy's Struggle for Home and Fortune. 
 
 By Harry Castlemon. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 Here is a story that will warm every boy's heart. There is 
 mystery enough to keep any lad's imagination wound up to the 
 highest pitch. The scene of the story lies west of the Mississippi 
 River, in the days when emigrants made their perilous way across 
 the great plains to the land of gold One of the startling features 
 of the book is the attack upon the wagon train by a large party of 
 Indians. Our hero is a lad of uncommon nerve and pluck, a brave 
 young American in every sense of the word. He enlists and holds 
 the reader's sympathy from the outset. Surrounded by an un- 
 known and constant peril, and assisted by the unswerving fidelity 
 of a stalwart trapper, a real rough diamond, our hero achieves the 
 most happy results. Harry Castlemon has written many enter- 
 taining stories for boys, and it would seem almost superfluous to 
 say anything in his praise, for the youth of America regard him 
 as a favorite author. 
 
 "Carrots:" Just a Little Boy. By Mrs. Molesworth. With 
 Illustrations by Walter Crane. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents, 
 " One of the cleverest and most pleasing stories it has been our good for- 
 tune to meet with for some time. Carrots and his sister are delightful little 
 beings, whom to read about is at once to become very fond of."— Examiner. 
 "A genuine children's book; we've seen 'em seize it, and read it greedily. 
 Children are first-rate critics, and thoroughly appreciate Walter Crane's 
 illustrations."— Punch. 
 
 Mopsa the Fairy. By Jean Ingelow. With Eight page 
 
 Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. 
 
 ■' Mrs. Ingelow is, to our mind, the most charming of all living writers foj. 
 children, and 'Mopsa' alone ought to give her a kind of pre-emptive right to 
 the love and gratitude of our young folks. It requires genius to conceive a 
 purely imaginary work which must of necessity deal with the supernatural, 
 without running into a mere rior of fantastic absurdity; but genius Miss In- 
 gelow has and the story of ' Jack ' is as careless and joycus, but as delicate, 
 as a picture of childhood." —Eclectic. 
 
A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS, 11 
 
 A Jaunt Through Java : The Story of a Journey to the Sacred 
 Mountain. By Edward S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 The central interest, of this story is found in the thrilling ad- 
 ventures of two cousins, Hermon and Eustace Hadley, on their 
 trip across the island of Java, from Samarang to the Sacred Moun- 
 tain. In a land where the Royal Bengal tiger runs at large; 
 where the rhinoceros and other fierce blasts are to be met with 
 at unexpected moments; it is but natural that the heroes of this 
 book should have a lively experience. Hermon not only dis« 
 tinguishes himself by killing a full grown tiger at short range, 
 but meets with the most startling adventure of the journey. 
 There is much in this narrative to instruct as well a~ entertain the 
 reader, and so deftly has Mr. Ellis used his material that there is 
 i ot a dull page in the book. The two heroes are brave, manly 
 young fellows, bubbling over with boyish independence. They 
 cope with the many difficulties that arise during the trip in a fear- 
 less way that is bound to win the admiration of every lad who is 
 so fortunate as to read their adventures. 
 
 Wrecked on Spider Island; or, How Ned Rogers Found the 
 Treasure. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 A. " down-east" plucky lad who ships as cabin boy, not from 
 love of adventure, but because it is the only course remaining by 
 which he can gain a livelihood. While in his bunk, seasick, 
 Ned Rogers hears the captain and mate discussing their plans for 
 the willful wreck of the brig in order to gain the insurance. Once 
 it is known he is in possession of the secret the captain maroons 
 him on Spider Island, explaining to the crew that the boy is 
 afflicted with leprosy. While thus involuntarily playing the part 
 of a Crusoe, Ned discovers a wreck submerged in the sand, and 
 overhauling the timbers for the purpose of gathering material 
 with which to build a hut finds a considerable amount of treasure. 
 Raising the wreck; a voyage to Havana under sail; shipping there 
 a crew and running for Savannah; the attempt of the crew to 
 seize the little craft after learning of the treasure on board, and, 
 as a matter of course, the successful ending of the journey, all 
 serve to make as entertaining a story of sea-life as the most 
 captious boy could desire. 
 
 Geoff and Jim: A Story of School Life. By Ismay Thorn II 
 
 lustrated by A. G. Walker. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. 
 
 " This is a prettily told story of the life spent by two motherless bairns at 
 a small preparatory school. Both Geoff and Jim are very lovable characters, 
 only Jim is the more so; and the scrapes he gets into and the trials he en- 
 dures will po doubt, interest a large circle of young readers. "—Church 
 Times. 
 
 "This is a capital children's story, the characters well portrayed, and the 
 book tastefully bound and well illustrated.'' '—Schoolmaster. 
 
 "The story can be heartily recommended as a present for boys."— 
 Standard. 
 
13 A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 The Castaways ; or, On the Florida Reefs. By James Otis. 
 
 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 This tale smacks of the salt sea. It is just the kind of story 
 that the majority of boys yearn for. From the moment that the 
 Sea Queen dispenses with the servicer of the tug in lower New 
 York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off the coast of 
 Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind thro i^h her 
 rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heel; to the 
 leeward, and feel her rise to the snow-capped waves winch her 
 sharp bow cuts into twin streaks of foam. Off Marquesas Keys 
 she floats in a dead calm. Ben Clark, the hero of the story, and 
 Jake, the cook, spy a turtle asleep upon the glassy surface of the 
 water. They determine to capture him, and take a boat for that 
 purpose, and just as they succeed in catching him a thick fog 
 cuts them off from the vessel, and then their troubles be,i.in. 
 They take refuge on board a drifting hulk, a storm arises and they 
 are cast ashore upon a low sandy key. Their adventures from 
 this point cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young 
 people Mr. Otis is a prime favorite. His style is captivating, and 
 never for a moment does he allow the interest to flag. In " The 
 Castaways " he is at his best. 
 
 Tom Thatcher's Fortune. By Hokatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, 
 
 cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 Like all of Mr. Alger's heroes, Tom Thatcher is a brave, am- 
 bitious, unselfish boy. He supports his mother and sister on 
 meager wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John Simpson's factory. 
 The story begins with Tom's discharge from the factory, because 
 Mr. Simpson felt annoyed with the lad for interrogating him too 
 closely about his missing father. A few days afterward Tom 
 learns that which induces him to start overland for California with 
 the view of probing the family mystery. He meets with many ad- 
 ventures. Ultimately he returns to his native village, bringing con- 
 sternation to the soul of John Simpson, who only escapes the con- 
 sequences of his villainy by making full restitution to the man 
 whose friendship he had betrayed. The story is told in that en- 
 tertaining way which has made Mr. Alger's name a household 
 word in so many homes. 
 
 Birdie : A Tale of Child Life. By H. L. Childe-Pemberton 
 
 Illustrated by H. W. Rainey. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. 
 
 " The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it that 
 makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of children at 
 play which charmed his earlier years."— New York Express. 
 
 Popular Fairy Tales. By the Brothers Grimm. Profusely 
 
 Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 " From first to last, almost without exception, these stories are delightful." 
 — Athenozum.