id, again quickly reading the signs. "These
men are becoming discouraged, most like having an inkling of what their
officers count on doing, and have deliberately come out of the trenches
without permission, to take such ease as can be found to-day for a
red-coat in the town of York."

We watched the men curiously, and for my part with a certain sense of
exultation because I fancied they knew the fate which was in store for
them. They were all armed, fully accoutered, and should have been at
their posts, as I understood.

After their arrival we talked more guardedly, but not the less
triumphantly regarding what we would do, and little Frenchie explained
how one of us might cross the lines at this point, the second at
another, and the third elsewhere, so there might be no delay in getting
news to an officer of our army immediately we were positive Cornwallis
had drawn off his forces.

We ceased to pay any particular heed to these idle soldiers who were
neglecting their duty, until there came to our ears shrieks of agony
like to chill the blood in one's veins, followed by groans and moans
from that group of idlers.

We soon came to understand that a shot from the American lines had just
missed crashing into old Mary's cabin at the very point where we were
gathered, and plowed its way through that little company of men, maiming
or killing every one.

It was a gruesome sight, from which I turned with my hands over my ears
that I might neither see nor hear, and trembling in every limb with
sheer pity though these who had been thus suddenly hurled into eternity
would have killed me without wincing.

I had believed I was hardened to scenes of war; familiarity with
suffering, with wounds and death such as we had had around us all these
days, prevented me from giving away to feelings of pity; but now was I
shocked even as if this was the first shedding of human blood I had ever
seen.

It was Pierre Laurens who aroused me from the stupor of horror by
shaking my arm as he said stoutly:

"Come, lad, with me; we must not miss such an opportunity!"

"Opportunity for what?" I cried, neither turning nor taking my hands
from my ears save sufficiently to hear his voice.

"Here is a chance for us to arm ourselves. These soldiers who were
killed, and seemingly there are only two alive although they are much
the same as dying, were fully accoutered, and we must have so many of
their muskets and so much of their ammunition as wi