ny but 2000 troops, double as many raw militia, and--MacDonough of
the Lake.

Ten times did Rolf cover that highway north of Plattsburg in the week
that followed, and each day his tidings were the same--the British
steadily advance.

Chapter 79. McGlassin's Exploit

There was a wonderful spirit on everything in Plattsburg, and the
earthly tabernacle in which it dwelt, was the tall, grave young man who
had protested against Hampton's behaviour at Burlington--Captain, now
General Macomb. Nothing was neglected, every emergency was planned for,
every available man was under arms. Personally tireless, he was ever
alert and seemed to know every man in his command and every man of
it had implicit confidence in the leader. We have heard of soldiers
escaping from a besieged fortress by night; but such was the inspiring
power of this commander that there was a steady leaking in of men from
the hills, undrilled and raw, but of superb physique and dead shots with
the ride.

A typical case was that of a sturdy old farmer who was marching through
the woods that morning to take his place with those who manned the
breastworks and was overheard to address his visibly trembling legs:
"Shake, damn you, shake; and if ye knew where I was leading you, you'd
be ten times worse."

His mind was more valiant than his body, and his mind kept control--this
is true courage.

No one had a better comprehension of all this than Macomb. He knew that
all these men needed was a little training to make of them the best
soldiers on earth. To supply that training he mixed them with veterans,
and arranged a series of unimportant skirmishes as coolly and easily as
though he were laying out a programme for an evening's entertainment.

The first of these was at Culver's Hill. Here a barricade was thrown up
along the highway, a gun was mounted, and several hundred riflemen were
posted under leaders skilled in the arts of harrying a foe and giving
him no chance to strike back.

Among the men appointed for the barricade's defence was Rolf and near
him Quonab. The latter had been seasoned in the Revolution, but it was
the former's first experience at the battle front, and he felt as most
men do when the enemy in brave array comes marching up. As soon as they
were within long range, his leader gave the order "Fire!" The rifles
rattled and the return fire came at once. Balls pattered on the
barricade or whistled above. The man next to him was struck and