Billy Green Saves the Day by Ben Guyatt Page B

frightened.” Pleanderleath gestured at the marching troops behind them.
    Billy smiled weakly. “I guess I’m a little worried.”
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” Pleanderleath said as the men came to the foot of a swollen creek. Some complained but were soon reprimanded.
    Through the trees Billy spied a church near the Gage property. “There it is,” he whispered to Pleanderleath, pointing.
    â€œWait here!” Pleanderleath ordered, scurrying off.
    After a few moments, Colonel Harvey appeared on his horse and dismounted as the other British officers gathered around. “Take your men and skirt high around their camp from the south,” Harvey said to Ogilvie. “Major Pleanderleath, you attack from the north side. The general also wants some of your men to march on to the lake. The last thing we need is more Yankees joining the battle.” He glanced at Billy. “Well, son, are you ready?”
    Billy swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, sir! I can handle anything.”
    Harvey shook his hand. “Good man.”
    Billy took a deep breath and moved cautiously forward, flanked by a small battalion. They moved stealthily through the woods and crouched behind some bushes. Billy peered through the branches and saw an American sentry sitting on a fallen tree trunk, his musket across his lap.
    The guard heard leaves rustling and quickly grabbed his musket. The soldier aimed when he saw Billy appear from the obscurity of the forest with his hands in the air to surrender. “I’m an American sympathizer, but the British forced me to fight. I escaped and want to enlist.”
    â€œNobody gets in without the password,” the American said warily, steadying his weapon.
    â€œIt’s Wil-Hen-Har,” Billy said.
    The enemy lowered his gun just as a British soldier emerged from the dark and bayoneted him in the chest. The young American gurgled as air escaped his trembling mouth before he slumped dead over the fallen log.
    Billy was shocked by the stark reality of the extermination and continued to stare at the slain man’s corpse. Colonel Harvey nudged him out of his trance and motioned for him to move along. Still mesmerized by the killing, Billy approached the second U.S. sentinel, who was sitting on a fence post. Sighting Billy, the soldier jumped to his feet and aimed his musket.
    â€œI escaped from the British,” Billy said again. “I’m an American sympathizer. I know the password. It’s Wil-Hen-Har.”
    The guard set his musket aside, and another British infantryman impaled him with a bayonet. The Yankee doubled over and let out a cry as he slipped into death. Twenty yards away, near the church, another American soldier heard the whimper and ran toward the British position.
    Billy panicked as he watched the enemy closing in and turned to Harvey, who was hiding in the shadows. “Shoot him,” he whispered.
    â€œJust give him the password,” Harvey ordered. “We can’t give our position away yet.”
    Nervously, Billy stepped forward, but the American saw his dead comrade. As the U.S. soldier raised his musket, Billy lunged forward and snatched it with his left hand. He watched in horror as the tip of the musket’s bayonet inched closer to his chest. Both men stared at each other with wide eyes until Billy managed to lift his sword with his right hand and stab the Yankee.
    Terrified, Billy stepped back and watched as the enemy dropped to his knees, still clinging to Billy’s legs and holding the musket. Gradually slackening, the American’s body finally relented as he fell onto his back, the sword protruding with the handle clenched in Billy’s hand. With his last breath the dying soldier’s reflexes relaxed as his finger pulled the trigger, sending a loud blast that echoed through the night air.
    Colonel Harvey advanced and angrily shook his head, realizing the element of surprise was lost. “Secure