ses over a
piece of rough, stony road. Suddenly Uriah pulls up his horse--

URIAH

Whoa, thar, boy! Ah, you've done et now!

RODNEY [_off a little_]

Whoa! What's happened now, Uriah?

URIAH

Wal', blamed ef I didn't think thet everything had happened to us thet
could happen!

RODNEY [_coming in_]

What's wrong now? Why are you dismounting?

URIAH

This blamed hoss has pulled up lame.

RODNEY

Oh, too bad!

URIAH

Mebbe he's jest got a stone in his shoe--I'll take a look! Here,
boy--lift up yer foot! Come on--let me look at et! Thar! No, 'tain't a
stone.

RODNEY

Can't he carry you any farther?

URIAH

No. He can't hardly hobble. I cal'ate ye better go on without me, Mr.
Rodney, while I lead this hoss into the next remount station.

RODNEY

I--I'm a little afraid to try it alone.

URIAH

Oh, ye kin make et all right--the hosses know the road.

RODNEY

I know--the horses can make it--but I don't know that I can.

URIAH

Gittin' wore out?

RODNEY

I'm afraid so.

URIAH

Wal', ye got to git to Philadelphia--I give my word.

RODNEY

All right--I'll go on--I'll try to make it.

URIAH

Look here--et's six or seven mile to the next remount station--I tell ye
what I'll do--I'll tie this lame hoss here--and thet hoss of your'n will
hev to carry double thet far!

RODNEY

I guess that's the best thing.

URIAH

Let me hev thet stirrup--

RODNEY

You all ready?

URIAH

Let him go.

RODNEY

Tch--tch--giddap! [_sound of horses' hoofs_]

ANNOUNCER

And now let us leave the two riders and their heroic effort against
enormous odds to reach Philadelphia in time to make the decision for
independence unanimous. Our next scene is on the steps of the State
House, the morning of July 2, 1776. The hour for assembling Congress is
drawing near. Thomas McKeen of Delaware is standing on the steps
anxiously waiting and watching for Caesar Rodney. Dr. Franklin rides up
in his carriage and steps out.

MCKEEN

Good morning, Dr. Franklin.

FRANKLIN

Good morning, good morning, my boy. Has Rodney come?

MCKEEN

Not yet. I've been waiting for an hour.

FRANKLIN

Oh, I hope he gets here.

MCKEEN

It is a long, hard ride.

FRANKLIN

This morning our action must be unanimous and final! One dissenting
colony and we'll be defeated!

MCKEEN

How is it with Pennsylvania?

FRANKLIN

I was able to persuade Dickinson and Morris--we can count on
Pennsylvania.

M