Everett T. Tomlinson

“ There's one ahead yonder," said Joseph quickly, pointing as he spoke to a log house that could be seen in the distance. It was evidently occupied too, for a man could be seen in the yard with a yoke upon his shoulders, by means of which he was carrying some buckets to a barn on the opposite side of the road.
"Will it be safe?"
"You don't look as if you ought to be afraid," suggested Joseph, glancing at his stalwart companion for a moment.
Robert laughed as he replied: "I'm afraid for what I 've got on me as much or more than I am for myself. ”

“ Joseph, as he spoke, turned sharply to his companion and his voice was harsh and hard, but only for the moment, for quickly he laughed lightly and then said: "We expected when we went into this affair that it would not fill our pockets. We 've lost everything except the dirt of our farm, and the only reason why we have n't lost that is because the Tories or the cowboys could n't steal it or burn it. I don't mind the redcoats so much as I do the Dutch butchers, and I can stand them better than I can the Tories, and the Tories are saints in glory compared with the cowboys. ”

“ The old fellow is as mild and gentle as a dove."
Joseph made no response, and in a brief time the young soldiers drew rein on their horses as they halted in front of the man, who was seated on the section of a huge tree that served as a family horse block. He was an old man and his gray hair (he wore no hat) was thin, and one arm was apparently twisted and drawn out of shape. Evidently there was nothing to be feared from the man himself, but Joseph nevertheless was cautious, and after he had given the morning salutation he said, "We want some breakfast." ”