suade you to give up this mad--

RODNEY

You can't, my dear--

PRUDENCE

Good-bye, and God be with you. [_door opens_]

URIAH

Here ye be, sir--this is yer hoss.

RODNEY

You'll have to give me a hand up--I'm a little weak.

URIAH

All right, sir. [_sound of mounting horses_] Ready?

RODNEY

Ready!

URIAH

Then we're off. [_horses' hoofs, Prudence's fading "Good-bye,
good-bye!"_]

ANNOUNCER

And so out into the July night rode Caesar Rodney and the postrider,
bound for Philadelphia eighty miles away--an hour--two hours--past the
first remount station--it is nearing eleven o'clock. [_sound of horses'
hoofs and thunder_]

RODNEY

Is that thunder?

URIAH

Cal'ate thet's what 'tis.

RODNEY

I hope it doesn't rain.

URIAH

'Twon't help us none ef et does.

RODNEY

I don't see how we can ever make it if it starts raining.

URIAH

We got to make et--rain or no rain. I give my word of honor to Mr.
McKeen. Git along, boy--tch--tch.

RODNEY

It's sprinkling.

URIAH

I felt et. [_another peal of thunder closer_] [_sound of rain and wind_]

RODNEY

I guess it's on us.

URIAH

Here--draw up yer hoss!

RODNEY

What for?

URIAH

Never mind--do what I say! Whoa, boy, whoa! Here, put on my greatcoat!

RODNEY

Oh, no, no!

URIAH

Ye need et. Do as I say. Ye been ill, and I ain't a-goin' to hev ye
catchin' yer death o' cold--here ye be--now put et on.

RODNEY [_giving in_]

But--but what will you do--Uriah?

URIAH

I'm rugged--I don't need et. [_exchanging coat_]

RODNEY

Really, you oughtn't to do this.

URIAH

I'm a-doin' et--thar ye be! [_another clap of thunder and storm noises_]
She's a-comin' down now! Come on, follow me! Giddap, boy!

RODNEY

Giddap! [_sound of horses' hoofs_]

ANNOUNCER

And on into the storm they rode. Another hour--another change of horses.
It is after midnight and they come upon a stretch of good road--

URIAH

Here we be on the turnpike.

RODNEY

Is that as far as we've got?

URIAH

It's nigh onto thirty mile.

RODNEY

But we've got fifty miles more! Can we make it?

URIAH

We got to make et. How ye feelin'?

RODNEY

I guess I'll--hold out.

URIAH

Then let's step along a mite and make up some of thet time we lost in
the storm.

RODNEY

All right. Tch--tch--come along.

URIAH

Giddap, boy! [_beat of horses' hoofs increases_] [_to himself_] Fifty
mile. We got to make et, boy--we got to ma