UNCLE 'RASMUS'S ADVICE
Plead though I might, little Frenchie would give us no hint as to the
plan of which he had spoken; but when we were on our homeward way,
walking well within the cover of the foliage lest we inadvertently come
upon Horry Sims, he turned the conversation upon such of the
fortifications of the town of York as he had seen, and both by his tone
and by his manner did I understand that he would give us no inkling
whatsoever of that which he had in mind concerning Silver Heels and
Saul's mare.
The lad must have seen more of military movements than we had fancied,
for he knew full well all the names of the different kinds of
fortification, and could explain their construction, speaking at times
almost as a veteran soldier might have spoken.
Although Saul and I knew nothing whatsoever concerning such matters, we
understood from Pierre's speech that he had not only taken note of each
half-completed redoubt or bastion; but knew full well what part each
might be called to play in the defences of the town, if so be our
American army made an attack.
He told us that the British line extended on an irregular course from
the river to the sloping grounds in the rear of the village near what is
known as the Pigeon Quarter, and was seemingly intended, when completed,
to entirely surround York Town. Across the peninsula of Gloucester and
just in the rear of that settlement, he said that another line of
entrenchments was being thrown up.
From what he had seen of the completed work, as well as that which was
half finished, or but just begun, he announced that there would be seven
redoubts and six batteries on the land side, all to be connected by
entrenchments, and that on the river bank preparations were making for a
line of batteries, the largest, or grand battery, being near the church.
As for outworks, Pierre said there would be three redoubts on the margin
of the ravine to the southwest of the town, another a little eastward of
the road to Hampton, two on the extreme right near the river, and the
Fusileer's redoubt on the left.
He also told us that my Lord Cornwallis had made his headquarters at
Governor Nelson's house, for it can well be understood that our governor
of Virginia, noted for more than a leaning toward the cause of liberty,
would not remain within the limits of York Town, or anywhere that it was
likely the Britishers could get hold of him, while General Cornwallis
was occupying this portion of our state of Virginia.
More than this: Little Frenchie in his quiet way had learned that my
Lord Cornwallis's army numbered nearabout seven thousand men, meaning
that such number of British troops were encamped either at Gloucester or
in the town of York.
When I questioned him as to how he had gathered all this information,
which it seemed to me none save an adroit man might gain, he put me off
with a laugh, declaring that while Englishmen and Frenchmen were natural
enemies, these red-coated soldiers seemed to take an especial liking
for a small French boy who had lived no nearer France than New Orleans.
It came into my mind more than once that mayhap Pierre had found even
among the king's troops an old friend, improbable though this
possibility might be; but if such was the case the lad never admitted
it, and to this day it is impossible for me to say how he learned so
much concerning York Town and the enemy who occupied it, in that one
visit of four or five hours.
The pain in my heart caused by the theft of Silver Heels was in no
degree lessened as we journeyed on, now listening to what little
Frenchie had to say regarding the situation of affairs at York Town, and
again, either Saul or I breaking out in some wild plan for regaining
possession of our horses, which, if put into execution, would have led
to our arrest, if not to our death.
Then we were arrived home, and although I might have expected it, I was
thoroughly surprised at finding everything in confusion. The greatest
excitement prevailed everywhere among the people, and work was seemingly
at a stand-still.
As a matter of course, my father was not at home, he being with the
American army somewhere in the North, and I wondered much that Dalton,
the overseer, had not set matters straight, for many hours had elapsed
since the visit of the red-coated thieves.
Uncle 'Rasmus was the only one among the slaves or the servants who
appeared to have regained possession of his senses, and he was sitting
in the stable-yard as I had seen him almost every day of my life when
the sun was shining, meditatively chewing a straw and looking straight
ahead as if he could see in the distance that which was not visible to
other eyes.
The old fellow was apparently unmoved by the bustle and confusion
everywhere around him, and I, certain of finding in him a sympathizer,
went to speak with him even before visiting my mother.
"Are all the horses gone, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I asked, seating myself by his
side, while Saul and Pierre followed my example.
"All de saddle hosses, chile. De Britishers done took ebery las' hoof
dat was wuff takin'."
"And Silver Heels with them," I said in a tearful voice.
"Yes, chile, Silber Heels is wid de res'. I kind'er 'lowed it was gwine
ter break your heart, honey, but dere was nuffin' ole 'Rasmus could do
to stop it, kase it seemed like dis yere stable-yard was plum full ob
red-coats, all ob 'em swearin' an' laughin', till it seemed like dey was
jes' achin' to 'buse some ob us niggers scandalous, an' I 'low dey
would, ef we'd giben 'em de least little word ob back talk."
"Do you know who sent them here, Uncle 'Rasmus?" Saul asked suddenly,
and the old negro nodded his head as he replied:
"I'se done gone hab my 'spicions, chile. Dere's plenty ob plantations
nearer de town ob York dan dis yere, an' yet 'cordin' to what I heard de
sogermen say, dey haben't been anywhere else yet. So I was 'lowin' dat
some ob de folks 'roun' here, dem as claim to hab a mighty big love for
us, set 'em on."
"Can't you guess who it was, Uncle 'Rasmus?" Saul continued, and the
old man replied in a dreamy tone:
"I done hab my 'spicions; but in dese yere times when you don' know
who's your friend more'n half de time, dere ain' any sense in talkin'
right out what you'se tinkin'. I'se 'lowin' I can guess who set de
red-coats aflame."
"You couldn't guess in a week," Saul interrupted, "because you're
thinking it might be some one of the planters, like Master Sims, instead
of which it was that worthless son of his--Horry."
Watching Uncle 'Rasmus closely, I fancied that this information was not
new to him, and straightway fell awondering how it was that this old
negro who seldom strayed out of the stable-yard, let alone going away
from the plantation, should have an inkling of what might be done so far
away as the Sims place.
"Pierre has been to York Town, Uncle 'Rasmus, and he knows where Silver
Heels and Saul's mare are quartered."
"An' is dat all he knows, chile?"
"It strikes me that's finding out considerable in one day," and then I
explained how it was little Frenchie was able to move about York Town as
he had, after which Uncle 'Rasmus asked in a hopeful tone:
"Did he fin' out, chile, which ossifer was gwine to ride Silber Heels,
an' which one laid his mark on Saul's mare?"
As a matter of course Pierre could not give the information; but he
explained with great minuteness where the horses were stabled, and I was
impatient with him because of wasting so many words when it could do no
good.
Much to my surprise Uncle 'Rasmus drank it all in, and when little
Frenchie had come to an end of his overly long story the old negro said,
taking the straw from his mouth and holding it in the air as if to
ascertain from which direction came the wind:
"I reckon I'se 'bleeged to be goin', chillun. For an ole man like Uncle
'Rasmus it's quite a journey from here to de town ob York, an' ef I
counts on doin' it 'twixt now an' sunrise, I'd better get my ole legs
amovin'."
"York Town, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I cried in surprise, and well I might, for
within the past three years I had never seen the old negro go as far
from the house as the cotton fields.
"Dat's what I said, chile, an' I'se 'bleeged to be amovin'."
"But why are you going there, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I cried, catching him by
the arm to insure his attention, and he replied dreamily, but, as it
seemed to me, with a certain air of decision:
"I 'low it's time I was lookin' arter Marse Hamilton's house down
yander, whar ole Mary libed when he done set her free."
"There's no need of your looking after that old shanty, Uncle 'Rasmus,"
I cried. "Surely father gives no heed to it now; it isn't worth half a
dozen shillings, except for firewood."
"I know dat, honey; I'se done foun' all dat out, but sumfin's tellin' me
dat it's time I was lookin' arter Marse Hamilton's property what's been
lef dere in de town ob York, whar de Britishers am rampagin' an' rarin'
'roun' like dey was gone crazy."
"But you'll starve to death there, Uncle 'Rasmus. I don't fancy there
are very many of old Mary's goods left in the hovel, for if I remember
rightly young Dinah laid claim to the greater portion, and how will you
get along for something to eat?"
"I was kind'er 'lowin', chile, as how you an' Saul, an' maybe little
Pierre as you call him, would tend out on de ole man, des enough to
fetch now an' den what he was needin' to hol' de soul in his body."
"But if, as Pierre says, the British entrenchments run back of the town
as far as the Pigeon Quarter, then old Mary's cabin must be inside, and
how would we be able to get through the lines?"
"Well, chile, I ain' got any great lub for de Britishers; but I'se
'lowin' dey ain' so hard-hearted as to hold out a couple ob chillun what
wanted to feed a pore ole nigger. It kind'er seems as if dey'd be
'shamed to let your Uncle 'Rasmus starbe, eben ef he is no 'count kase
ob bein' so ole, specially ef all dey'd hab to do to keep him erlong,
was to let a couple or three chillun in de lines."
It was all blind to me, this sudden whim of Uncle 'Rasmus to take up his
quarters in old Mary's cabin, which was hardly more than the veriest
shanty, and while I stood looking at the old man, trying to get some
glimmer of truth out of what was fast becoming a mystery, little
Frenchie's face lighted up wondrously, as he leaped forward, seizing the
old darkey by both hands while he cried joyously:
"It's a great plan, Uncle 'Rasmus, it's a great plan! I'll go with you a
good part of the way so's to help along, for of course you count on
carrying something."
"I spects I'se boun' to hab a blanket, chile, an' sumfin in de way ob
food, kase I ain' sich a foolish ole nigger as to tink I could get trou
a sogerman's lines in de night, an' so I'll be needin' sumfin for a bed
ef nothin' more."
"But if you are foolish enough to go to York Town, what's the sense of
starting to-night? Why not wait till morning? You say yourself you don't
expect to get through the lines after dark, therefore why sleep on the
ground when you could stay here in comfortable quarters?" Saul cried,
whereupon Pierre, turning from Uncle 'Rasmus, said to the lad:
"Can't you understand that this old negro is paving a way for you and
Fitz to get at your horses?"
"I may be a thick-head; but I surely can't see how taking up his
quarters in old Mary's cabin, where we've got to carry food to him every
day or two, is helping us along very fast," Saul cried angrily, and
little Frenchie, throwing back his shoulders, laughed heartily, finding
something so comical in Saul's words that it was a full minute before he
could make reply.
Then he said, his voice all atremble with mirth:
"Don't you see that Uncle 'Rasmus is making a reasonable excuse for you
to go into the town of York every day, if so be you're minded? Can't you
understand that once he's in old Mary's cabin there's good reason why we
should spend the night with him now and then? Suppose we carried Uncle
'Rasmus food three days running, it would become necessary to explain
that the old man had been intending to come out to the plantation; but
since we had lost our horses we were forced to feed him as best we
might, because he was too feeble to walk home. Can't you also see,"
Pierre continued eagerly, "why the old man wants to get there in the
night? He counts on sneaking through the lines, instead of meekly lying
down on the ground, as he has said, and intends, if so be it is
possible, to get into old Mary's cabin without making known to the
Britishers that he has just come into the village; but rather counts on
letting it be understood that he has been there ever since they entered
the town."
"It's amazin' how some ob dese yere chillun can pick up an idee what
oder folks am tryin' to hide," Uncle 'Rasmus said as he patted little
Frenchie on the head, and then hobbled toward his cabin as if he was so
feeble that only with the greatest exertion could he drag one foot after
another.
Surely I was thick-headed on that afternoon, for even after Pierre had
made full explanation of Uncle 'Rasmus's intended movements, it was a
good five minutes before the whole scheme came plain in my mind, and
then I realized that this old negro of ours was about to do more toward
regaining possession of Silver Heels, if indeed she ever did come into
my possession again, than all of us lads with our noisy talk.
He would take up his abode in the town of York, sneaking through the
lines, if so be it was possible, to the end that the British might not
know he had just come in from the outside, and once there the way was
open for all three of us lads to wander at least so far through the town
as old Mary's cottage. It would be strange indeed, after the red-coats
were accustomed to seeing us come and go, for there could be no question
but that we would get permission to minister to the poor old negro, if
we could not venture further and further inside the lines until, should
fortune favor us, we might be able to go whithersoever we desired.
At all events, with Uncle 'Rasmus dwelling in the town--with Uncle
'Rasmus ill and needing our attention, we would be enabled to spend our
time in York without arousing even the suspicions of that miserable
snake whom people call Horry Sims.
Of course, so far as the little scoundrel was concerned, he might well
wonder how it chanced that Uncle 'Rasmus had gone into the town of York,
for whenever any of the lads had come around the Hamilton plantation
they had been accustomed to seeing the old negro sitting in his favorite
place in the stable-yard; but I could see now as the scheme came home to
me, that it would be possible, in case Horry Sims made inquiries, to let
it be understood that Uncle 'Rasmus had gone there some days before my
Lord Cornwallis's army entered the town, being stricken so ill he could
not be safely moved.
In fact, I saw nothing but brightness in the future, and all through
this old negro whom I had seen sitting in the stable-yard chewing straw
day after day until he had come to seem much like one of the dogs or the
horses, having no mind of his own; but implicitly obeying the will of
his master.
Having come to fully understand all of benefit which might accrue to us
in this move of Uncle 'Rasmus, I would have aided the old negro to the
best of my ability, and insisted that he wait until I go to this
plantation or that where I might borrow a horse to carry him; but he
would have none of it.
He was bent on entering the town of York in his own way, and alone. The
only assistance he would agree to, was that we might carry his blankets
and scanty store of provisions a certain portion of the distance, and
when I would have insisted on bringing out some delicacies from the
house, he positively refused to accept them, whereupon I urged almost
angrily to be allowed to do as I pleased, until little Frenchie, whose
head is ever clear, said to me laughingly:
"Can't you understand, you thick-headed Fitz, that it would be strange
if Uncle 'Rasmus was disabled in old Mary's cabin with all sorts of
delicacies in the way of food? If the Britishers should grow suspicious
and look into the matter, wouldn't they think it odd the old man had
been allowed to remain in that hovel while there were yet horses in the
stables of the Hamilton plantation to bring him back where he belonged?"
Surely there was good reason why I should be called thick-headed, for
this was not the only time since morning that I had shown myself to be a
stupid; yet I was not so simple but I could readily understand that even
though we might have the advantage of being able to go and come from the
town of York to the plantation at will, we would not be so far advanced
toward the recovery of the stolen horses as to be able to say that our
work was in a fair way of being performed.
It was one thing, and I grant you an important one, to enter the town
without giving rise to suspicions; but quite another and more serious to
take from the quarters of the British army horses which would be guarded
by soldiers, and get away with them through the lines of sentinels out
over the entrenchments.
"Then this Minute-Boy business that you talked about Fitz, is to be
dropped?" Saul asked a few moments after Uncle 'Rasmus had left us, and
I turned upon him in astonishment, whereupon he, reading the question
which must have been plainly written on my face, added:
"It would seem as if we were turning all our attention to getting back
the mare and Silver Heels, in which case, as a matter of course, there
can be no other work for us. If we should be so fortunate as to succeed,
it would become necessary to scurry out of this part of the country,
lest my Lord Cornwallis lay us by the heels, for I suppose they would
set it down as stealing if we should reclaim our own."
"And why might it not be that you would continue the work of Minute
Boys, even while striving to get back the horses which were taken from
you?" little Frenchie asked as if in wonderment. "It is not to be
supposed we can go into the town of York, and, without delay, take from
the stables where Simcoe's Rangers keep their horses, two of the best;
but many days will pass, yea _must_ pass, before the work can be
accomplished. In the meanwhile, if we are free to go in and out of the
town, why might it not be possible for us to carry much of information
to the Americans? It would seem as if our work as Minute Boys was but
just beginning."
"What between your plans and those of Uncle 'Rasmus's, I confess to
being thoroughly mixed," Saul muttered impatiently. "In the first place,
even though you deem it of so much importance, I fail to see how being
able to go in and out of the town will add to the possibility of getting
our horses. Unless I am much mistaken in regard to military matters, it
will not be a simple affair to steal either the mare or Silver Heels
from the soldiers. Then, if we are bending all our efforts to that one
purpose, how are we to serve the colony? What we could learn in the town
of York that would be of importance to the Americans, passes my
understanding."
"We shall see," Pierre said laughingly, with a shrug of the shoulders
and a wave of his hand. "It shall be for a little French boy from New
Orleans, who never saw the land where his father and mother were born,
to teach you Virginians how it may be possible to bear a hand in this
business, which is like to grow exceeding warm when our French general
closes in on Cornwallis's army, for now has come the time to hold the
king's men as a strong man holds a child in his grasp, if so be your
General Washington is minded to give him the authority."
"To hear you talk, Pierre, one might suppose you had served with
soldiers all your short life," Saul cried irritably, and again little
Frenchie laughed as he replied:
"My father was a soldier, and fought bravely. I have heard him and his
comrades conversing; I have seen them draw plans for a campaign, and
discuss the strength of fortifications, until it seemed to me, even
though I have had no experience in such matters, that I knew much
concerning them."
Then the conversation ceased, Saul seemingly giving himself up to a
sulky mood, while I had so much food for reflection with dwelling upon
what we might do and the possibilities of running our necks into a
British noose, that I was not minded to give play to my tongue.
Uncle 'Rasmus remained within his cabin a good half hour, while we lads
awaited him, having no inclination to meet our mothers just at this
time lest we be ordered to keep within the bounds of the plantation,
and thereby prevented from carrying out our plans, foolhardy though they
might be.
When the old negro did appear among us again he was ready for the
journey; that is to say, he had with him two blankets and a small
bundle, or package, which I doubted not contained the store of food he
was minded to carry with him to York Town. In addition to this outfit I
noticed that he had his heaviest cane, which was fashioned with a handle
much like a crutch, and I dimly wondered, hardly knowing that I did so,
whether he had taken this particular stick just at this time as a
weapon, or simply to guide his faltering steps.
"I reckon I'se done put ole 'Rasmus's business on dis yere plantation in
shape, an' now, chillun, I'se gwine ter be moseyin' erlong, an' ef
you'se countin' to help de ole man, it won't be out ob de way ef yer
carry dese yere blankets an' de little bundle, kase I ain' been much
used to totin' stuff dese las' years."
"Of course we're going to help you, Uncle 'Rasmus," I said quickly,
taking the blankets from his hands. "We count on keeping right by your
side from here until you come within sight of the town of York."
"I'se 'lowin', chile, dat our roads don' come together till we get to a
dead cottonwood tree, whar you say you an' Saul lay hid while de little
French boy went on inter de town."
"But which way are you going, Uncle?" Saul cried. "There's no other road
than the nearest course from here to York."
"I'se 'lowin' your ole Uncle 'Rasmus knows better'n dat," he cried.
"He's libed on dis yere plantation nigh to forty years, an' it would
seem kind'er strange ef he didn't know all de rabbit an' de coon paths
trou dis yere growth. Ef it won't tucker you chillun out to carry de
blankets an' de bundle, an' leabe 'em at de ole cottonwood, I'll get 'em
'twixt now an' mornin'. Ef so be you'se feelin' kind'er trubbled 'bout
de ole man, come to see him wheneber you gets ready. He's gwine ter be
right dar in ole Mary's cabin, sure's you're bawn."
It was a surprise to me that Uncle 'Rasmus should be able to find his
way anywhere between the two rivers, for I hardly remembered of seeing
him stray from the bounds of the plantation; but certain it was, at
least to my mind, that he should go his gait, for now had we come to put
all our dependence upon him, so far as making any move toward recovering
the stolen horses was concerned.
In fact it now began to seem to me, so far as proving ourselves Minute
Boys, that unless we could get within the British entrenchments we could
do naught of good for those men who, I doubted not, were slowly making
their way toward the town of York to hold my Lord Cornwallis prisoner
until the time should come when they might lay their hands heavily upon
him.
Thus it was that Uncle 'Rasmus went off by himself, going down past the
line of grape-vines across the creek, as I supposed, while we three
struck out along the road until we had traveled perhaps a quarter of a
mile, when little Frenchie suddenly halted and said as he turned upon
us:
"Why is it that all three shall travel twelve miles or more this day,
and repeat the same journey to-morrow forenoon?"
"You know why it is," Saul cried angrily. "You claimed to understand
all that Uncle 'Rasmus had in his crazy head."
"I did understand, and it is because of seeing what we may do with his
help, I am asking why the three of us should go from here to York and
back this night, simply to retrace our steps to-morrow morning?"
"What else may we do?" I asked impatiently.
"Two might go on with the blankets and the bundle, and, arriving at the
dead cottonwood, remain there all night, while the third, staying behind
now, can set off from the plantation at break of day, bringing with him
such an amount of food as will explain why we wish to visit old Mary's
cabin."
"Then those who went on to-night would sleep on the ground, whereas the
one who remained here would take his rest in bed," Saul said grimly, and
with that shrug of the shoulders which sometimes irritated and sometimes
pleased me, Pierre replied:
"Yes, that is true, and if you have not yet slept on the ground, you
could be the one to stay here. It makes no difference which two of us go
on; but it seems important that one remain here in order to bring fresh
food in the morning, thus making a pretext for entering the British
lines."
I was not so thick-headed but that I could understand what the lad was
driving at and straightway said to Saul:
"Suppose you go back home? Make such excuses for Pierre and me as seems
to you best. Perhaps it would be as well if you confided our secret in
mother, for we must have some one on the plantation who will work with
us, else we shall not be able to get provisions in sufficient quantity
to keep all of us from hunger."
"And suppose she demands that you return, and I take her command to
you?"
"She cannot call us back before to-morrow night in case only one stays
on the plantation now," Pierre said, "and by that time we will have been
able to get a look around the town--mayhap be so fortunate as to see
some way by which we can work our will. At all events, it seems best
that we do as I have said, although I am willing to fall in with
whatsoever other plan you lads may propose."
"Turn you back, Saul. It is not well we should stand here quibbling
about a trifle when there is a possibility that such sneaks as Horry
Sims may come along and wonder why we are carrying blankets toward the
town of York at this hour of the day."
I spoke impatiently because I was growing anxious, and had begun to fear
that some one might come who would suspect that we were plotting
mischief against the red-coated trespassers.
My cousin wheeled sharply around as if angry, and under other
circumstances I would have held him back lest we part in unfriendly
fashion; but at this moment there was so much of fear in my heart lest
we be prevented from carrying out the half-formed plan, that I could not
parley with my kinsman as I should have done. Rather was it a relief to
me when he turned about to retrace his steps, and, clutching little
Frenchie by the arm, I said curtly:
"Now step out, lad, and if so be we hear any one approaching either from
the front or rear, it is for us to seek cover amid the foliage, even as
rabbits do, for we must not be seen 'twixt now and the time we make
ready to enter the town bearing provisions for Uncle 'Rasmus."
Pierre did as he was bidden, making no protest at my rough handling of
him, and from that time until we were come to the dead cottonwood
neither of us spoke. I fancy that his heart, like mine, was filled with
forebodings of the future, and with questions as to whether he was not
on a road which would lead to the gallows.
It was not yet dark when we arrived at our destination without having
seen man or woman on the road, all of which caused me yet more anxiety,
for I failed to understand why it was that on this day when the curious
people of Virginia should have been going to and fro to see the king's
soldiers, none save ourselves were abroad.
Pierre and I sought the same resting place as had Saul and I earlier in
the day. The little French lad spread out the blankets as if making
ready to spend the night, and I asked if he did not count on seeing
Uncle 'Rasmus very soon, whereupon he said with a laugh and a shrug,
that it made no difference to him when the old negro arrived at the
rendezvous, although it would please him better did the old man come
later rather than earlier; but he was intending to get what rest he
could while he had at his command such an apology for a bed.
"We needn't expect him before midnight at the soonest," Pierre said as
he nestled down on the blankets, motioning for me to follow his example,
"and 'twixt now and then we may get a fairly good night's rest if we do
not spend too much time in talking."
We were where it would be impossible for any passers-by on the highway
to see us, unless peradventure they were so curiously inclined as to
make their way through the underbrush, which was thick at this point,
and I understood, as little Frenchie had intimated, that it was better
for us to hold our peace, because the sound of our voices would carry
far on the night air, and no one could say when such as Horry Sims might
come sneaking around.
Excited and anxious though I was, slumber came to my eyelids within a
very few moments after I had stretched myself out to rest, and I was all
unconscious of what might be happening around me until a light pressure
on my shoulder caused me to spring to a sitting posture very suddenly.
Then it was I could distinguish, even in the gloom of the night, Uncle
'Rasmus's form, and I cried out to know how long he had been there,
whereupon the old negro put his hand upon my lips in token that I should
speak with more of caution, whispering at the same time he aroused
Pierre:
"I des come up, honey, an' can't 'ford to lose any mo' time. Yere po'
ole uncle des hobbles 'roun' like er toad, an' it takes him a mighty
long while to get ober much ob de groun'. I'se pow'ful sorry to 'sturb
you chillun; but allow it's time for me to be toddlin' erlong, ef I
counts on gettin' whar de Britishers are before sunrise. I'll be needin'
dese yere blankets, and it sure am a pity to turn two likely babies out
in de cold."
"Don't fret yourself about us, Uncle 'Rasmus," I said quickly, leaping
to my feet, followed by Pierre.
Then we two lads rolled the blankets into as small a compass as
possible, putting inside them the package of food, and fastening the
whole upon the old man's shoulders according to his directions, in such
a manner that it would not impede him in his movements.
"I'se surely gwine to 'spect you chillun 'fore anudder night-fall," the
old man said after we had explained to him why Saul was not with us. "I
clean forgot to tell ole Missey dat I was 'bleeged to go erway, an' am
countin' on your doin' it, honey," he added, turning to me.
Before I could make reply the old man was striding off in the direction
of the village, walking as spritely, so it seemed to me, as I myself
might have done.
"Be careful, uncle! Don't run your woolly pate into danger when there's
no necessity for it!" I cried after him, and back to me on the night air
came the quavering voice:
"De ole fox allers looks arter hisself when de houn's are 'roun'; but
it's de cubs what are mos' likely fo' to get inter trubble."
Then little Frenchie and I were alone. Standing within the shelter of
the foliage at the foot of the dead cottonwood, and placing my hands on
his shoulders, for just then I literally ached to come into close touch
with a friend, I said, striving to hold my voice steady:
"It may be, Pierre, that Saul and I had no right to drag you into this
mad scheme of ours, for even since Uncle 'Rasmus has set off does it
come to me that it is reckless for us to risk our lives in the hope of
getting back the horses. I have little faith that we shall be able to
accomplish anything as Minute Boys, therefore we must set it down in all
honesty to ourselves that we are pressing forward simply to recover
that which has been stolen, and we have no right to lead you into
danger."
"Do not think I am boasting, Fitz Hamilton," and Pierre shrugged his
shoulders in a way that caused me to laugh despite the heaviness of my
heart; "but yet there comes in upon me the thought that mayhap it is I,
the French lad from New Orleans, who is dragging you and Saul, rather
than that you are dragging him."