Part 25 (1/2)

Quite a number of deserters were picked up Benja desertions Learning the brand of tobacco specially liked by the Hessians, he had offers concealed in packages of this tobacco, which was distributed where the Hessians would get them These hired troops had no love for the cause for which they were fighting, and many of them had little for the tyranny hich they were treated when at home in Germany When they read these offers, printed in Gere masters, especially if they did not happen to be of those who loved fighting for the privilege it gave thee

How the country people, all the Americans, indeed, except the Tories, despised and dreaded the Hessian! In fact he was no more brutal than many of the British, but he was trained to loot and thus was held in disrepute On several occasions he had bayoneted the American soldier after the latter had surrendered

”Why didn't our men serve 'em a like turn at Trenton?” was a question some had asked

Zeb well expressed thediscussed around the camp-fire

”I reckon that job at Trenton wasabout it to be asha to be proud of If we'd butchered the pig-stickers when they hinin' on their knees it wouldn't hev looked well in history”

”There co ave the call, and several Rangers ran up A halfon in close order till they arrived at sos when they were seen to break ranks

”Let 'e rifle to his shoulder

Then, loading as he ran, he called, ”Coers, hearing the firing, ca this they not only obeyed orders, but et into a skirmish with the ene anything but a cheerful song about the ears of the Hessians, who began to reform their ranks and returned the fire After several of the off their dead and wounded, pursued by the Rangers clear to the ene numbers to retreat

As they passed the farm on the way back, ”Do-as-much Bunster,” a Pennsylvania Dutchman, exclai to vait, I tink”

”Reckon your thinker is workin' this mornin',” was Zeb's reply as he turned aside to look over into a pen beside the road where a fine litter of white pigs lay cuddled about the old sow

”You fellers hev earned one o' the out of his barn and proceeding to slaughter one of the innocents without evident compunction

”Do as hed That hat the Dutchood as his word, too, which not only gave him his nickname but made him one of the most popular men in his company

He was both fat and jolly, as Dutchmen should be, but not always are

His blue eyes twinkled with good huerness showed that he was fond of roast pig

How good it tasted though cooked, as it had to be, under unfavourable conditions over a camp-fire, and without proper utensils There was, however, a look of contentment on the faces of those who partook of the feast that afternoon, and sat around on the warers

”Let's see,” said Zeb, ”Bunster and I and Rodney are off duty to-night”

”Yah, and I tink I zuet”

”One of those Hesse-Cassel ruffians swaps even for one good American, and there's a lot of our boys rottin' in the prison hulks in New York harbour to-night”

”Which is one way of saying we should capture a few Hessians for a pastier into Bunster's fat ribs The Dutchman squealed and leaped to his feet, for he was so ticklish that one, wishi+ng to see hier at hih he is too lazy to take his pigs in out of danger I hate to see hih that pig pen an' it looked like a good place to sleep What d'ye say, boys, if we tote ourselves down thar this evenin'?”

”Zum place to sleep, yah?”

”I'o,” replied Rodney, so they set out