Billy Green Saves the Day by Ben Guyatt Page A

surrounded. Nobody could get through their lines.”
    â€œI can do it. I’ll go back to Levi’s house and get his horse. They can’t catch me if I stay off the trails.” Billy gripped his musket and started off.
    â€œBilly, wait. I know I can’t talk you out of it, so I might as well tell you I have the American password.”
    Billy twisted beneath the heavy vegetation to face him. “What is it?”
    Isaac stared at the ground. “I gave my word as a gentleman that I wouldn’t tell.”
    â€œYour loyalty lies with this country. For God’s sake, you have the wound to prove it.” Billy pointed at Isaac’s scar.
    He pushed Billy’s hand away. “I promised I wouldn’t tell the British.”
    Billy broke into a mischievous grin. “I’m not British. I’m Canadian.”
    â€œLook, Billy, the trip to Burlington Heights will take hours. It’s not worth risking your life.” Isaac looked skyward. “Besides, it’ll be dark soon.
    Billy shook Isaac by the collar. “Give me the password!”
    â€œYou don’t understand. Of course, my patriotism lies with the British, but if I tell you, members of my own kin might get killed.” Isaac straightened his shirt. “And if you’re caught, they’ll know who gave the password to you and we’ll both be hanged for treason.”
    â€œIf I’m caught, I’d rather die first than give it to them. Please, Isaac, what is it? I’m begging you. For the sake of our families and our country, what is it?”
    â€œWil-Hen-Har,” Isaac muttered. “Please be careful.”
    Billy slapped him on the back and scrambled off but promptly halted and glanced at him. “If something happens to me, tell Sarah that I love her.”
    Isaac nodded as Billy quickly faded into the bush just as a contingent of American soldiers discovered Isaac and aimed their weapons.
    â€œMajor Thomas had second thoughts,” one of the Yankee soldiers said. “Despite the fact that you’re a relative of General Harrison, he wants us to escort you home and keep you there.”
    â€œFine, but we’d better hurry,” Isaac said with a knowing smile. “When it gets dark, that’s when the Indians like to hunt.”
    Completely terrified, the soldiers followed him, their eyes searching frantically for Natives in the trees.

CHAPTER SIX
    T he sun set slowly, casting an orange glow across the western horizon. Low, dark clouds portended a menacing storm. Billy ran along the rough terrain and crouched when he heard voices. He parted some branches and saw a handful of U.S. soldiers talking at the outskirts of the Gage encampment. Glancing down at his chest, he saw his shirt flutter with each heavy beat of his quickening heart. Billy swallowed hard and turned for the main road. After a short distance, he stopped and withdrew a piece of beef jerky. Taking a moment to rest and eat, he peered through the trees and discovered another enemy regiment several hundred yards away. The small battery of men was marching in his direction but was unaware of his presence.
    Thoroughly panicked, Billy looked around for another route to escape but saw none. “The password ... the password,” he whispered to himself, trying to remember it. He noticed the jerky in his hand, quickly pulled his coat over his head, and dropped to all fours.
    One of the soldiers squinted and spied Billy hobbling across the road, remarkably resembling a bruin. “Bear!” the Yankee shouted, raising his musket. “Slow your step!” he said to the others as Billy disappeared into the woods.
    Minutes later Billy scurried up a steep embankment and hid behind a tree. He scanned Levi’s home. The only sign of life was the curl of smoke drifting from the chimney, and two saddled horses grazing near the front of the house. The door opened, and two American soldiers stepped onto the porch,