IN

Perhaps he's better by now. Write him a letter--send it by the
postrider--urge upon him the enormous importance of his getting here by
tomorrow morning.

MCKEEN

Well, I can try it.

FRANKLIN

Do, Mr. McKeen, for we must have unanimous action on this question! We
must hang together on this, or we'll all hang separately!

MCKEEN

All right, sir, I'll go to the postrider's at once! Good day.

FRANKLIN

Good day. And let us pray that Rodney gets here!

ANNOUNCER

So McKeen hurried to the postrider's stable. Now the postrider was to
the people of Revolutionary days what the telegraph or the telephone is
to us today. He carried messages at a very rapid rate, for those days,
by changing horses every ten or fifteen miles.

As McKeen came up to the post stable, he saw the stableman sitting on a
bench, hard at work cleaning a saddle.

MCKEEN

Good day, sir.

URIAH

Day to ye.

MCKEEN

I want a postrider.

URIAH

Wal', postriders are all out, sir.

MCKEEN

Oh, too bad! When do you expect one back?

URIAH

Dunno fer certain. Mebbe three or four hours--mebbe longer.

MCKEEN

But look here--I can't wait that long--I want one right away!

URIAH

I'm right sorry, sir, but thar ain't nawthin' I kin do about et. Come
back this evenin' and I kin hev a man fer ye, but not before.

MCKEEN

But, look here, my man--

URIAH

My name's Uriah Clarke--at yer service.

MCKEEN

All right, Mr. Clarke, I've got to have a postrider to carry a very
important message to Dover, Delaware, to get a man back here from Dover
by nine o'clock tomorrow morning.

URIAH

Dover, Delaware, and back?

MCKEEN

Yes, by nine tomorrow morning!

URIAH

Why, sir, it's nigh onto eighty mile to Delaware.

MCKEEN

I know it.

URIAH

Eighty mile thar and eighty mile back--why, pshaw, sir, we couldn't do
thet under a whole day--even ef we hed a rider to send out right
now--which we ain't.

MCKEEN

Twenty-five pounds if you'll do it!

URIAH

But how kin we? Ain't I jest told ye we ain't got no riders?

MCKEEN

Why can't you go?

URIAH

Law, sir, I ain't rode a trip like thet fer years. It 'ud more than
likely kill me.

MCKEEN

Fifty pounds if you'll do it!

URIAH

No, sir!

MCKEEN

Name your own sum.

URIAH

Ye couldn't pay me, sir--not fer thet ride. I know thet road like a
book--bad, slow, hard on hoss flesh when ye take it easy. I'd stave up
half my hosses--not to mention