which must continue until the battle was decided.

Alice was too young fully to understand the peril in which Ben was
placed. She had kissed him goodbye when he ran to take his place
with the others, and, with a light jest on his lips about her and
Linna, he had snatched a kiss from the little Delaware's swarthy
cheek.

The mother added a few cheering words to the children, and it was
a striking sight when they and a number of others, about their
age or under, began playing with all the merriment of children who
never dream that the world contains such afflictions as sorrow,
woe, and death.

It was easy to follow the course of the patriots for a time after
they were beyond sight, by the sound of their drums and the shrill
whistling of several fifes.

In those days it was much more common than now for people to drink
intoxicating liquors. Just before the patriots started up the
valley, I am sorry to say, a few of the men drank more than they
should. It has been claimed by some that but for this things would
have gone differently on that day, which will live for ever as one
of the saddest in American history.

By and by the anxious people near the fort noticed that the sound
of drums and fifes had ceased, and the reports of firearms were
heard.

They knew from this that the opposing forces were making ready for