_Captured._
By this time the ports and harbors of the Chesapeake were declared in a
state of blockade, and after her visit in Washington was over, Lettice
returned to Baltimore to hear that little fleets of British ships were
appearing off the coast.
“You are much safer here than at home,” Mrs. Tom Hopkins said; “for
if the British should come up the bay, there is no knowing what will
happen. Think how they have burned and plundered lower Virginia. We may
yet see our homes in the country burned over our heads.”
“Do you really think so, Aunt Martha?” Lettice asked apprehensively.
“One cannot tell,” Mrs. Hopkins returned, shaking her head. “Alas, this
foolish war! It has taken my husband from me and may rob me of my home.”
“Why don’t you go to Boston when Mr. Kendall and Rhoda go?” Lettice
asked demurely.
“Because my duty is here,” her aunt replied, a little sharply. “I shall
not neglect that for the sake of my own comfort and convenience. I was
not brought up that way.”
“Isn’t it a pity that all the Massachusetts people don’t feel so?”
Lettice said slyly.
“Why, child, what do you mean?”
“I mean that they don’t want the war to go on because it interferes
with their comfort and convenience, and yet it is their duty to stand
by their country’s rights.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about,” replied her aunt. “A chit
of a girl like you doesn’t know anything about politics.”
“I’ve been to Washington, and I heard, oh, so much talk about it there!
I know all about war matters,” Lettice returned triumphantly. “You
ought to have heard Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun! And even Mr. Randolph, I
believe, would think we ought to defend ourselves if the enemy invades
the country.”
Mrs. Hopkins went back to her first grievance. “And they will invade
it. Nothing but discouraging news from your uncle, and no news at all
from Joseph. We are not strong enough to resist this invading foe.”
“But just look at the victories at sea!”
“A few, to be sure; but as soon as the British are roused to a sense of
the real situation, our little navy will be wiped out. I am told that
they have said they will chastise us into submission.”
“They will, will they? I’d just like to see them!” Lettice’s eyes
flamed, and she stamped her foot in rage.
“Why, Lettice, what a temper you display!” said Mrs. Hopkins, viewing
Lettice’s angry tears with disapproval. “You never see Rhoda fairly cry
with temper.”
Lettice’s remembrance of Rhoda’s reserved manner and her quiet
self-control served to calm her. “I don’t care,” she said. “I know she
boils inside, whether she shows it or not.” Then she sat very still for
a time. A picture of Rhoda’s tranquil face with its small features, her
smooth light hair, her neat slim figure, rose before her. She wondered
if at that moment she and Robert Clinton were walking the streets of
old Georgetown. From this her thoughts wandered to the old graveyard,
and she jumped up with a suddenness that startled her aunt. “Do you
suppose, Aunt Martha,” she said, “that Brother Tom wasn’t drowned
after all?”
Mrs. Hopkins put down her work and looked at her niece in surprise.
“What in the world gave you that notion, Lettice?”
“I don’t know. Often when I’ve been down in the graveyard at home I’ve
thought of it.”
“His body was never recovered, it is true,” Mrs. Hopkins returned
thoughtfully. “It is possible, but not probable, and I’d put any such
notion out of my head, if I were you. He was not only a trial to your
parents, but he was not a benefit to society.”
“No, he wasn’t, and yet, at his best, he was a dear fellow. No one was
so thoughtful of mother, and no one ever loved me so much as Brother
Tom. Nothing was too much trouble for him to do for others, and if
he had let those wild fellows alone, he would have been all right.”
Lettice’s eyes were full of tears again, but this time they were not
tears of anger.
Her aunt viewed her with a puzzled smile. “How you do fly from one
thing to another, child. One minute you are in a rage, and the next you
are melted to tears of sorrow. Come, give that fantasy no more thought.
Run down and tell Mrs. Flynn that she must not let that barrel of
oysters go to waste, even if we have them three times a day. We have
such a little family now that it is hard to dispose of things, but with
prices so high, there is need of economy.” She sighed as she spoke, and
Lettice, who had been planning an excuse to get back to the country,
felt conscience-smitten, and would not suggest such a thing, now that
she realized how utterly alone her aunt would be.
It was very dull for her in the quiet house, and Mrs. Hopkins would not
allow her to have even Lutie. She endured Danny, to be sure, because
his master had a fondness for the little fellow, and, moreover, he made
himself useful in many ways. But Lettice spent a tedious winter, and
though she tried to be patient, and did enjoy a few frolics, she was
glad to see the first signs of spring.
All through the winter had come cheering reports of naval victories
of more or less importance. Many prizes had been brought in by the
Baltimore privateers and letters-of-marque, for this city took the lead
in sending out such vessels. From the port of New York came the news
that Joseph had been successful in capturing more than one English
vessel, and had taken them into the Northern ports. Thirteen merchant
vessels were captured off the coast of Spain by one Baltimore ship
alone, and this record was equalled by more than one gallant cruiser.
Not a day passed but news arrived of some valiant sea-fight. In
February Bainbridge took the _Java_. In March the _Hornet_ worsted the
_Peacock_, and the names of Hull and Decatur, Bainbridge and Jones,
were on every one’s lips. Throughout all this naval warfare Baltimore
was foremost in energetically showing fight, and against the state of
Maryland, in consequence, the strongest enmity of the foe seemed to be
directed.
It was in April that Rhoda and her father announced that they would
return to Baltimore, and then Lettice saw that her desire to go home
could be granted, and she wrote to her brother James to come for her.
James, nothing loath, responded at once, so that he arrived in time
to welcome Rhoda. Under her father’s watchful eye Rhoda was not very
demonstrative in her greetings, and Mr. Clinton, following close in her
wake, was not received with much enthusiasm by Lettice--a fact he was
not slow to notice and to comment upon.
“I am coming down to Sylvia’s Ramble again,” he whispered to Lettice.
“When Rhoda comes, I suppose,” Lettice returned in chilling tones.
“Don’t be jealous,” Mr. Clinton begged.
Lettice turned upon him with scornful eyes. “Jealous! I jealous? You
are vastly mistaken, sir!” and not another word did she vouchsafe him
the remainder of the day.
The next morning early she and James started down the bay on one of the
packets running from Baltimore to Queenstown. It did not seem possible
to those whose plantations lay along the inland creeks that the enemy
could have any object in penetrating into their part of the country;
yet at that very time the British were ravaging the southern shores
of the Chesapeake, plundering plantations, and carrying off not only
slaves and household valuables, but even robbing women and children of
their clothing. In spite of their straits but little protection was
given them by the government--this partly because it was not able--and
the unfortunate inhabitants had to protect themselves as best they
could.
On the morning that Lettice and her brother departed there were lively
preparations going on in the city of Baltimore. Lookout boats were
established far down the river; troops were stationed along the
shores, for the news had come that the enemy was approaching, and that
Baltimore was to be the object of attack.
Mrs. Hopkins and the newly arrived visitors absolutely refused to
venture down the bay. “We will escape in another direction, if need
be,” they said.
“You mean you will stay to welcome your friends, the British,” Lettice
said saucily. “That’s not what I will do. If we are to meet them, let
it be in our own home.”
“Pray, Miss Lettice,” Mr. Clinton said, “remain with us. We will have
the means to protect you and your brother--a means which may be lacking
when you pass beyond our influence.”
Lettice shot him a withering glance. “Your protection, indeed! I’d
rather die than be indebted to your complaisance for my safety!” And
those ever ready and passionate tears began to gather in her eyes.
Rhoda made a slight movement toward her, but her father laid his hand
on her arm and she passed, pressing her lips tightly together. Lettice
gave a toss of her head, and said, “Come, Brother James, it is time we
were off; the packet will be starting without us.”
“I most devoutly wish it would!” Mr. Clinton exclaimed.
“Well, it won’t!” Lettice retorted, moving toward the door. “Come,
James, cut short your adieux. Good-by, all of you. I leave you to the
tender mercies of Admiral Cockburn.” And without a turn of her head she
hastened down the street.
James followed and overtook her at the corner. “You are a spoiled
little minx, Letty,” he said. “Why do you speak so disrespectfully to
your elders?”
“Do you perchance mean Robert Clinton? Am I to have such an inordinate
amount of consideration for him because of his advantage of a few
years?”
“Oh, Robert Clinton, was it? But you included Mr. Kendall and Aunt
Martha in your remarks.”
“Well, if I did, I am glad; I’d not have had the temerity to attack
them but that I was so hot against that weathercock.”
“Weathercock, is it? Humph!” James was silent a moment, and then he
added, “Weathercocks seem to be a product of New England.”
“Are they then male and female?” Lettice asked mischievously. Then
seeing her brother’s face looked really grave and troubled, she linked
her arm in his and said coaxingly: “Never mind, Jamie, there are as
good fish in the sea as ever yet were caught, and one doesn’t need
to go so far from home for them. Let’s whistle these weather-vanes
off, and let them whirl to the tune their north wind blows. Is that
the _Patapsco_? I’m glad to be aboard her once more. There seems to
be a fair number of passengers in spite of the alarms. We will have a
right merry time, I reckon. There is Becky Lowe, as I live! and Tyler
Baldwin, and--Come, Jamie, help me up.” And in a few minutes a jolly
little party was established in one corner of the boat, Lettice and her
brother being welcomed heartily.
“I’m scared to death!” Becky cried. “Jamie, I was so relieved to see
you come aboard; it guarantees one more protector if we are attacked
by the British. You will fight for me, won’t you?” And she turned a
coquettish glance upon him, moving a little aside that he might take a
seat next her.
Lettice, leaning over the rail, watched the water as the boat moved
out of her dock and started down the Basin, moving slowly between the
shores now showing their first suggestion of spring.
“Are you scared, Miss Lettice?” asked Tyler Baldwin by her side.
“No, are you?” she asked, without raising her eyes.
“Yes, for you.”
Lettice looked up, startled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I wish to heaven that all the ladies were safe inland,
miles from the coast. I’ve no confidence in our being safe, although
the captain says so.”
“What would they do to us if they were to take us?” asked Lettice,
looking sober.
“They’d not treat you ill, I hope, but they might scare you to death.
Miss Lettice, I have not seen you since your visit to Washington. Did
you enjoy the naval ball?”
“You are changing the subject. Do I look pale with fright?”
“No, you do not; but it is not a pleasant thing to anticipate, and I
should not have spoken of it. Why harrow ourselves with what may not
happen at all?”
“Why, indeed. Yes, I was at the ball. How did you know?”
“I didn’t know, positively; I promised to find out. I judged from the
description given me by one who saw you that it might be you whom my
cousin, Ellicott Baldwin, met.”
“Is he a naval officer? A young man? Yes, I see, it is you of whom he
reminded me. Did he tell you--Oh, Tyler, I hope he didn’t think me a
forward piece. I spoke to him in a moment of excitement, not realizing
that he was a stranger. How came he to mention it?”
“He was most desirous of discovering who you were. He could not learn
your name, and the best he could do was to find out the names of your
companions. When he told me who they were, and described you, I was
able to tell him that I was almost certain that the lady of his fancy
was none other than Miss Lettice Hopkins, of Queen Anne’s County. Do
not trouble yourself over having met him in so chance a way; he has
only admiration for you, and spoke of you in a most respectful manner.
He told me of your meeting, and some day--Heavens! what is that?”
They both started up, for the boat was now opposite North Point, and
they saw bearing down upon them several small vessels belonging to the
enemy’s squadron which lay just within the mouth of the river. Soon
followed a scene of confusion. Becky Lowe fell fainting into James’s
arms. Lettice, with pale face and imploring eyes, clung close to Tyler
Baldwin. “What will they do?” she whispered. “Shall you have to fight?”
“It would do little good, and so I think the captain will conclude. In
such a case discretion is the better part of valor. The captain, for
the sake of all concerned, will probably submit with the best grace he
can summon. We are not prepared for a battle.” And the event proved the
truth of his words.
“We are prisoners,” said Tyler, after returning to her from a tour of
investigation. “All we have to do is to make the best of it. They are
preparing to put us under guard, and are helping themselves to whatever
they can find.”
Becky had recovered sufficiently to sit sobbing by James’s side. He was
trying to comfort her, and looked pleadingly at his sister, that she
might understand that her assistance would be appreciated.
“Come, Becky,” said Lettice, in quiet tones, “there is no use fussing
over the matter. We may be thankful that we are not hurt, and that
there is not going to be any fighting. I think we should submit with
dignity, and show them what stuff American girls are made of.”
But Becky was not to be comforted at once and continued weeping
hysterically.
“Law, Becky,” Lettice said, at last out of patience, “you fairly
provoke me. What is the use of your snivelling and sniffling? There is
nothing to be gained by it, and you only draw attention to yourself;
that is what you want, I shall believe, if you don’t stop. Look at
Sally Weeks, she is as still as a mouse.” Nevertheless, in spite of
any effort to make light of the situation, it was a hard ordeal for
them all; for instead of reaching their homes that evening, as they had
expected, they were all night under guard, and the next morning saw a
wan and weary company.
“How much longer shall we be kept here?” Lettice asked her brother,
wistfully. But the answer came with the order to remove the prisoners
to an old boat. “You are allowed a permit from the admiral to proceed
to Queenstown,” they were told, and they did not dare to resent the
impertinence of the message.
It was a long and uncomfortable trip which was before them; for with
scarcely any food, and with no water at all, after their night of
detention, and upon a miserable hulk of a boat, which made but slow
progress, it was as forlorn a company as one might wish to see, which
at last landed at Queenstown in Chester River. But the effect of this
was that not one of the party but felt that when the moment came, he or
she would do the utmost to work revenge.