"I did," replied Kinnison. "Have you ever seen a painting of the fight
between Colonel Allan M'Lean and some British troops? It used to be a
common thing in Boston."

"I have seen the picture," said Hand, "and I should like to hear the
story of the affair. It must have been a desperate fight."

"It was," replied Kinnison. "A man who was intimately acquainted with
McLean, and heard the account from his own lips, told me of it. You may
boast of Francisco's exploits, but here was a man who united the most
daring courage and strength with a very intelligent and quick-working
mind."




THE EXPLOIT OF COL. ALLAN M'LEAN.


"While the British occupied Philadelphia," said Kinnison, "Col. M'Lean
was constantly scouring the upper end of Bucks and Montgomery counties,
to cut off scouting parties of the enemy and intercept their supplies of
provisions."

"Having agreed, for some purpose, to rendezvous near Shoemakertown, Col.
M'Lean ordered his little band of troopers to follow at some distance,
and commanded two of them to precede the main body, but also to keep in
his rear; and if they discovered an enemy, to ride up to his side and
inform him of it, without speaking aloud. While leisurely approaching
the place of rendezvous in this order, in the early gray of the morning,