Billy Green Saves the Day by Ben Guyatt Page B

smoking cigars.
    Without taking his eyes off them, Billy ran to the back of the house to the barn and noiselessly slipped inside. Levi’s horse, Tip, became agitated upon his intrusion, and Billy tried to soothe him. “Easy, Tip, easy. Listen to me. I know you’re a plough horse, but I need you to run faster than you’ve ever run before.” Tip grew increasingly skittish as Billy tried to saddle him. The animal threw its weight and knocked Billy against the barn wall, causing some boards to snap.
    At the front of the house the Yankees heard the commotion and raced for the barn, their pistols drawn. Billy tossed the saddle aside and launched himself onto Tip’s back. He kicked his heels hard into the stallion’s side as the horse lunged forward and out of the barn.
    One of the soldiers took aim, but Billy steered Tip directly into his path, knocking the enemy off balance. The second soldier fired, but Billy evaded the attack and rode off. Tip raced through the labyrinth of low branches as Billy ducked and dug his heels harder into the beast’s flesh.
    The Americans were rapidly catching up as Tip galloped along the twisting path. The animal’s nostrils flared as it tried to maintain the breakneck pace. Billy leaned down and wrapped his arms around the horse’s neck. “Come on, boy. Come on.” He turned to look behind him and heard the sound of a sword being withdrawn.
    Billy grabbed a low branch and released it, causing it to swing violently backward into the face of one soldier, sending him reeling to the ground. The second soldier’s animal suddenly stopped, trying to avoid the fallen man, and threw its rider head first into a prickly bush. Billy grinned and guided Tip into the shadows of the timberland.
    On the Gage property one of many campfires blazed, projecting phantom-like outlines of the nearby men as more wood was placed over the crackling flames. The American army was beginning to settle in for the night against the backdrop of twilight. Hundreds of tents had been erected, and now the soldiers casually milled around, enjoying the last scraps of their meal. The cooks continued serving the final few hungry troops while others were already preparing the long loaves of bread for the next day’s breakfast.
    Inside the Gage house Chandler and Winder played a game of cards by candlelight. Chandler glanced out the window with a worried look on his tired face. “This doesn’t feel right. The men are too disorganized and undisciplined.” He watched some of the soldiers wrestling on the ground.
    â€œAs usual you worry too much,” Winder said.
    â€œAren’t you concerned that the British might launch a night attack?”
    Winder rolled his eyes and took a large bite out of a loaf of bread. “You know what you are? An alarmist. The British are hardly in a position to attack us. Besides, we haven’t seen any of their scout parties. They don’t even know we’re here.”
    â€œDon’t be so sure.” Chandler bit his lip and looked up at the moon before it was covered by clouds.
    Winder spread a healthy amount of butter on another piece of bread. “You know, even though you and I are of equal rank, you do know the only reason you’re in command is because of General Dearborn.”
    Chandler turned from the window. “We’ve been over this. What is it you’re trying to say? That I’m unfit to lead?”
    â€œYou said that, not me, but it’s interesting you did.”
    Winder drank some wine. “We shall see, won’t we?”
    Chandler blushed, and he quickly went to the door where he motioned to several sentries. “Tell Major Black that I want him to take eight hundred men to the lake and help safeguard the supplies coming in from Fort George.”
    The sentinel saluted and hurried off.
    â€œAfter our victory at Burlington Heights tomorrow, I think we should press on to Kingston,”