SUSPENSE
Pierre and I flung ourselves down at Uncle 'Rasmus's feet as if by such
close companionship we could the better dull that deadly pain in our
hearts, or lessen the horrible suspense which was about us like a dark,
threatening cloud.
We had no inclination for conversation, because if we gave words to the
fearful thoughts in our minds it was as if we were making of the
possibility a reality. Therefore we lay on the puncheon planks
alternating between faint hope and blackest despair, feeling that there
was one chance in mayhap a thousand that something had occurred to call
the lad out of the village, yet at the same time knowing that he must be
in the hands of the enemy, otherwise would we have received some token
from him by this time.
I said to myself again and again that if the red-coated gentry held him
in their power a prisoner, he would be treated with some fair
consideration, for these soldiers of the king were not red Indians, and
would not proceed to extremities at least until after the semblance of a
military trial.
I could account for the dear lad's absence only that by giving way to
his ill temper he had unwittingly revealed the reason for being in the
town of York, and had been arrested as a spy. That seemed the worst of
the possibilities, for surely if such was the case they could prove him
guilty, and I knew only too well the fate which would be his.
On looking at the matter more hopefully, I prayed that he might have
gotten into a brawl with some of the soldiers, and been carried to the
guard-house simply as a disturber of the peace, in which case nothing
more serious than his own distress of mind and discomfort of body would
occur.
It was Horry Sims who broke the long silence, and on hearing the voice
of that Tory cur it was with difficulty I could prevent myself from
leaping upon him, choking from his worthless carcass the last breath of
life, because he was responsible for all our suffering at that moment.
"It seems to me that now is the time when you can afford to make with me
some kind of a trade," the young villain said, struggling to rise to a
sitting posture, and before I could utter the words of wrath that arose
within me, Pierre asked with that soft, mild voice of his, as if the
idea of trading with the Tory was agreeable:
"In what way would you have us bargain, Horry Sims? What have you to
offer?"
"You must be willing to admit that at some time in the future it will be
necessary to set me free," he began, paving the way for that proposition
which was coming, and little Frenchie said in a friendly tone:
"Yes, that is true, unless before such time comes you make it necessary
for us to take your life in order to protect ourselves."
"Surely you would not kill me in cold blood when I stand ready to obey
whatsoever command you may give?"
"In that case we should hesitate before taking even such a worthless
life as yours," Pierre replied, and one might have thought from the tone
of his voice that he was saying something which would be pleasing to the
listener.
"Then if it be true, as you admit, that the time must come when I am
allowed to go free, it seems to me you had better make a bargain now,
rather than be forced to let me go later and bear all the consequences
of this high-handed proceeding of yours. Surely you must understand that
my friends, and my father has many nearabout the towns of James and
York, will take revenge because of what you have done to me. Suppose I
agree to hold my peace forever regarding what you have done, and, in
addition, promise to go out and seek diligently for Saul? I can go where
you dare not; I can receive replies to my questions when those whom you
approached would be dumb, and may promise almost with certainty that
before daylight Saul Ogden will be with you, for if the Britishers are
holding him my people have influence enough with Lord Cornwallis to
effect his release."
"You are forgetting, Horry Sims, that we have been forced to allow you
to share too many secrets of ours," Pierre said mildly, and the Tory cur
added eagerly:
"You have my word of honor that I will not so much as think of them
after leaving this hovel. Whatsoever I may have heard or seen here is
locked in my breast forever, if so be you are minded to treat with me."
"Such a proposition as you make might be heeded if he who suggested it
was one who had any honor on which we could rely," Pierre said, still
speaking in a mild tone. "We know as well as you, that instantly you
were allowed to go free your feet would carry you to Lord Cornwallis's
headquarters, and there, regardless of your so-called word of honor, you
would repeat everything you have heard--most likely very much you have
imagined. I am not willing to have dealings of any kind with a Tory; but
it may be that Fitz Hamilton is more foolish, and if he chooses to
accept your bargain I shall hold my peace."
I did not give the young Tory time to ask my opinion. While he and
Pierre had been talking the anger in my heart was nigh to stifling me,
for I feared that little Frenchie might be inclined to put faith in the
fellow's word, and on the instant I cried in a rage:
"Trust you, Horry Sims? Not for a single second after you were free to
move about or to speak! There is no oath which you Tories could take
that would bind you as against those who are risking their lives to free
the colonies. I would sooner throttle you this minute, than trust one of
the fair words you might speak!"
It must be that Horry Sims had fully believed the time was come when he
could bargain with us to his own advantage, for straightway I ceased
speaking he flew into a rage, the first real signs of anger he had shown
since we made him prisoner, and began to threaten as to what his people
would do with us when my Lord Cornwallis had driven back the forces
under General Lafayette.
He continued in this strain mayhap while one could have counted twenty,
and then Pierre, quietly laying his hand across the creature's mouth,
said with a laugh:
"You are putting too much dependence upon the future, Master Sims, when
you reckon time by a victory to be gained by the Britishers. This
particular portion of the King's army is in a small hole, from which
there can be no escape, and within very many days you and your Tory
friends will be striving to curry favor with those whom you now call
rebels."
Horry Sims could make no reply to this remark, for the very good reason
that Pierre held him dumb, and again we fell into painful silence,
picturing in our minds the possible fate of Saul, until little Frenchie
said in a tone of hopefulness:
"Why may we not rid ourselves of this fellow entirely? While we hold him
he is a menace, and but for the necessity of keeping watch over the cur
we would be at liberty to move around at will."
"But how _can_ we rid ourselves of him?" I asked impatiently, forgetting
for the instant that this little lad from New Orleans, so gentle and so
girlish in his ways, was full of resources at such a time.
"It should not be difficult to smuggle him through the lines during the
night, and by carrying the fellow to General Lafayette's army I have no
doubt the officers would hold him fast for us, because of understanding
what might be the Jerseyman's fate if he was allowed to go free. You
would only be forced to tell your father the story, Fitz, in order for
him to guard the scoundrel as he would guard something very precious."
On the instant my heart leaped with joy, for verily did this plan seem
to promise both success and relief, and without looking ahead to the
possibilities I said promptly, as if it were in our power to do
whatsoever we pleased:
"He shall be carried to Williamsburg! Once there I'll answer for it he
has no chance to join his friends who claim to love the king so dearly."
Then Pierre and I set about discussing the best course to pursue while
leaving the town of York, as if we would set off that very night, when
Uncle 'Rasmus put an end to the hoping and planning, at least so far as
the present was concerned, by saying dreamily:
"I'se 'lowin', chillun, dat you won' fin' it so ter'ble easy to get out
ob de lines dis yere night. Dere's sumfin in de air dat's trubblin'
Marse Cornwallis, an' you can be mighty sure dese yere sogers am keepin'
dere eyes wide open."
Surprised at thus learning that the old negro knew so much of what was
going on outside, I asked irritably why he had formed such an opinion.
"Didn' you tell me yoursef, honey? I ain' 'lowin' dat dese yere sogers
would be shovelin' dirt in de night 'less sumfin had come up sudden
like. Des look out ob dis yere winder, an' see de torches all 'roun' us.
How you 'low you'se gwine to sneak out ob dis yere cabin wid de young
Tory 'tween you, an' get away widout anybody's askin' questions?"
There was no need for me to do as Uncle 'Rasmus suggested. While Pierre
and I had been searching for Saul we had seen signs, as I have already
set down, of unusual activity in every direction, and I realized that we
could not hope to make our way through the lines unnoticed while, as it
seemed to me, every member of Cornwallis's army was astir.
"Uncle 'Rasmus is right," Pierre said mournfully, "and I was a fool not
to have remembered what we have just seen. There is no sense in our
talking of leaving town, at least until the Britishers have quieted
down. We must carry the Tory into the loft again, and say to ourselves
that we are held prisoners in the village of York even as he is in this
cabin."
"Why take the trouble to carry him into the loft?" I asked fretfully,
angry because it had been shown me beyond a shadow of doubt that the
plan I leaped at so eagerly was an impossibility.
"Because when morning comes no one may say how many red-coated soldiers
will be here hunting for us. If Saul has been arrested, then are we
under suspicion."
"And if they come to search for us, there is no more assurance of our
remaining hidden with this Tory in the loft, than if he remained here in
the room."
"We will take him there nevertheless," Pierre said in a tone so decided
that I could not have contradicted him even though I had made ready a
good argument for so doing, and without delay the little lad from New
Orleans set about acting on his own suggestion.
It was not a simple task which we had before us, for Horry Sims, bound
hand and foot, was as unwieldy as a bundle of merchandise, and, in
addition, he fought as well as he might to prevent us from forcing him
up the shaky ladder.
Not until I had cuffed him soundly, promising a more severe punishment
in case he continued to resist, did the lad give over the useless
struggle, and after considerable labor Pierre and I contrived to hoist
him to the loft above.
It was when we had finally succeeded, and were seated on the puncheon
planks near the scuttle resting from our exertions, that Uncle 'Rasmus
said, speaking sufficiently loud for us to hear him while he yet
remained in his chair near the window:
"I'se 'lowin', chillun, dat you bes' stay right whar you are, an' de ole
man will keep an eye out here, so's dere won't any ob dese yere
Britishers sneak in widout our knowin' it. If de man from Jersey comes
erlong, I'se boun' to gib you notice, so try to get your forty winks ob
sleep while dere's a chance."
It seemed to me like veriest folly to talk of sleeping while our hearts
were so heavy with grief, and danger seemingly closing in around us, yet
when Pierre acted on Uncle 'Rasmus's advice by throwing himself down on
the puncheon planks by the side of Horry Sims, where he could have due
warning if that young scoundrel attempted any mischief, I followed his
example. With the Tory between us we two lads lay there on the hard bed,
both, I doubt not, thinking with tears in our hearts of Saul's possible
fate, and both within a short time journeying over into Dreamland
despite all there was in the situation to prop our eyes wide open.
When next I became conscious of my surroundings it was possible to see
the faint grey light of coming dawn through the narrow apertures which
served as windows, and I sprang to my feet quickly, almost frightened
because I had given myself up to slumber for so long a time.
Scrambling down the shaky ladder as if time was most precious, I made my
way to the room below, where I found Uncle 'Rasmus sitting as when I had
last seen him, with a blanket drawn over his knees and his eyes
fastened upon the moving figures of the soldiers outside.
"Why did you let us sleep, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I demanded. "We should have
remained awake so that you might have an opportunity to rest."
"Ole bones don' need so much ob de bed as young ones does, honey, an'
I'se no good 'cept to set right here an' watch. Don' you fret 'bout your
Uncle 'Rasmus, kase he'll look out for hissef all right."
"But it seems selfish for us to have slept while you remained awake."
"Now you'se frettin' 'bout nuffin, chile, when dere's plenty ob real
trubble to take up your min'."
"What has happened?" I asked anxiously, thinking for the instant that
the old negro had seen tokens of impending danger.
"Dere's sumfin goin' on in dis yere town, honey, as is pas' my
understandin'. Dese yere sogers has been workin' all night, an' dey're
still at it, as ef de ole man from down below was arter 'em."
"I don't see that we need fret very much if the Britishers have grown
frightened," I said with a laugh, and Uncle 'Rasmus replied:
"It looks to me, honey, as if dey counted dere was gwine to be a battle
'roun' here mighty soon, an' ef anyting ob dat kine does happen, I'se
askin' mysef how we'se comin' out ob it. We'se a good deal like Brer
Rabbit, when de fox an' de wil' cat was fightin' to see which one would
hab him for breakfas'. Whicheber way it turned he was boun' to be eat
up, an' it kind'er looks to me as ef we'd be in de same fix ef our folks
an' de Britishers got to shootin' off dere guns while we was in dis yere
cabin."
I stood silent and motionless gazing at the old man with my mouth wide
open like a simple, as this possibility of a new danger came upon me. As
a matter of course I had believed there would be a battle between the
two armies; but that we might be held in the cabin exposed to shot and
bombs from both friend and foe, was something to cause the blood to run
cold in one's veins.
It was well for me that just at the instant came a change in the
situation, else might I have given proof of the timorousness which was
in my heart. I was yet looking stupidly at Uncle 'Rasmus when the door
suddenly opened. As I turned to see who was the intruder an exclamation
of joy and relief burst from my lips, for it was none other than Morgan,
and I made sure that now was come the moment when we would have some
information concerning Saul.
"Yes, I have been working all night in the trenches as if my greatest
desire in life was to hold the Americans in check," he said as he sank
down on the floor like one on the verge of exhaustion, when he saw that
I was taking note of the stains of toil upon him.
"What about Saul?" I cried, forgetting that we had had no opportunity of
warning this friendly spy that our comrade had disappeared.
"Saul? Is he not with you?"
"He went out from this house yesterday morning, and has not returned.
Pierre and I were searching for him when we came across you. I then
might have made trouble for all of us, but for little Frenchie, who was
quick-witted enough to see that you feared lest we might speak to you."
"Your comrade has disappeared?" Morgan said musingly, and seemingly
forgetting his weariness of body he rose to his feet like one who
suddenly remembers that the time for action has come.
"We thought you might know somewhat concerning him," I added stupidly,
for by the surprise, and even the fear, exhibited by this man I might
have known beyond a peradventure that he was all ignorant of what had
occurred.
"Is there a possibility he might have gone home simply to please
himself?" Morgan asked after a brief pause, and I replied emphatically,
knowing full well that whatever might be the faults of my cousin, he
would not leave us in ignorance concerning his whereabouts if he had set
off solely for pleasure:
"It is positive he would not have gone away of his own accord without
having told us."
"Then it stands me in hand to find out what has become of the lad. If by
chance he has been taken under suspicion of being a spy, then is my
shrift like to be short, for within the past twelve hours it has become
well nigh impossible for any one to make his way through the lines."
"What has caused such sudden caution?" Pierre asked as he descended the
ladder, having been awakened most like by the sound of our voices.
"Word has been brought in that Lafayette's army is being reinforced by
men from the North. It was said last night that another fleet has
appeared off the Capes; that there is like to be fighting both on the
sea and on the land, and General Cornwallis has come to understand
better than ever before the necessity of keeping his situation a secret.
In other words he has locked the stable door after the horse has been
stolen, for there is nothing new we could carry to our people even
though it were possible for us to go and come at will."
"Do you think a battle may be near at hand?" I asked, and Morgan replied
confidently:
"I am not well skilled in war; but would be dumb indeed if I did not
understand that before a battle between the two armies can take place,
this village will be besieged. Cornwallis is preparing for such
possibility, else why is he fortifying this unimportant point so
carefully. It cannot be carried by direct assault, therefore are we like
to be shut up in here until the Britishers are starved into subjection,
unless, perchance, the fleet which has just come off the Capes proves to
be English, and succeeds in driving the French away."
"Is there any reason why Fitz and I should not show ourselves around the
village this morning?" Pierre asked suddenly, as if some new thought had
come into his mind, and Morgan replied:
"You may do as you will, lad, so that you are careful not to arouse
suspicion, and above all, give no heed to me if we come within sight of
each other. If it should be that Saul has been taken as a spy, I am
thinking you lads will speedily find your way into the guard-house, and
it matters not whether you are taken while on the outside, or here in
the cabin."
Then Master Morgan opened the door as if to go out, and I would have
detained him by clutching nervously at his arm, but he shook me off as
he said:
"I must strive to learn somewhat of the situation, because just now a
grain, or two more of knowledge may save our lives. To-night, if not
before, and in case the three of us are allowed to remain at liberty, I
will try to have speech with you again."
He was gone before I could make further protest, and after closing the
door I turned to face Pierre and Uncle 'Rasmus.
"Our company of Minute Boys seems to be of great assistance to the
Cause," I said bitterly, for with Morgan's words there had come into my
heart the certainty that death stood very near. "Instead of showing that
we could play the part of men, we have simply come into this town of
York and put a halter around the neck of that honest man from Jersey,
for had we remained at home without dreaming of accomplishing the
impossible in the way of winning glory, he would have deserted from the
British army in order to carry the information to General Lafayette, and
thus be out of danger."
"One would suppose to hear you talk, Fitz Hamilton, that the end had
come--that we were doomed beyond possibility of escape."
"And how else can you picture it?" I asked angrily. "With Saul arrested
as a spy we are certain of sharing the same fate; even though you may
account for his absence in some other way, it seems positive we are to
be shut up here with the enemy while our friends are striving to kill
all within the entrenchments. If that does not warrant my belief that we
are standing very close to death, I would like to know how much more
proof may be needed."
"We are yet alive," Pierre said softly and with a shrug of the
shoulders, "and as yet at liberty so far as this cabin is concerned. I
fail to understand why we may not yet prove ourselves worthy of being
called Minute Boys, and succeed in doing something which shall win for
us credit, if not honor, from those who are struggling against the
king."
It angered me that that little French lad should be hopeful at a time
when clouds of danger pressed so thickly and so closely about us, and I
turned away from him impatiently, looking out of the window where could
be seen the laborers in the trenches, squads of men marching here and
there, and officers visiting this scene of activity and that; but all
working with one common aim, which was the oppression of our people.
Whether Pierre was as unconcerned as he would have it appear, I cannot
say; but if he had put on a mask then was he playing his part well, for
he went here and there with a smiling face as he made ready our small
store of food for the morning meal, and actually spoke in a cheery tone
when he announced that our provisions were well nigh exhausted.
"I allow that we can satisfy our hunger this noon, if indeed we have any
desire to eat at that time; but we will go supperless to bed, unless
some means for provisioning the cabin can be devised."
I could not believe we had eaten all that store of provisions which we
brought from the Hamilton plantation until I went to the cupboard and
there saw that Pierre had spoken truly, even within bounds, for if we
ate our fill on this morning the noonday meal would be slight indeed.
When I turned from this dismal inspection Pierre was carrying up the
ladder to the loft a plentiful supply of cold boiled ham and fried
hominy, seemingly a larger portion than he had set aside for our own
breakfast, and I asked angrily if he counted on giving that Tory sneak
more than we ourselves could indulge in, whereupon he said gravely:
"If any go hungry it must not be the prisoner. We are holding him here,
and it is for our honor that he be not allowed to suffer."
"It is for our own safety that he be kept on short allowance," I cried.
"How do you allow we can add to our store now that it is no longer
possible, according to Morgan's story, for us to make our way through
the lines?"
"It makes no difference how we can add to the store, or whether we spend
this day without breaking our fast, the Tory prisoner is to be fed, and
I shall see to it that so long as we have a morsel in the cupboard so
long shall the greater portion of it be his."
I had never heard Pierre Laurens speak so decidedly, and with such an
assumption of authority, as at this time, and surprise silenced me that
the little lad should have taken it upon himself to say this thing,
should, or that thing should not be, when, without having actually done
so in words, I claimed to be the leader of the company.
Pierre took care to feed Horry Sims before he served out any food for
Uncle 'Rasmus and me, and when we sat on the floor near the window
breaking our fast, my heart smote me as I took note that he had given
both to the old negro and me a portion twice as large as that which he
reserved for himself.
The lad was ready to sacrifice his own need to our pleasure, and I would
have forced upon him some portion of the provisions which he had given
me, but that he resolutely refused to take it, saying he was not hungry;
that the news brought by Morgan had driven all thoughts of food from his
mind, and such other excuses which I knew had been invented simply to
force me to take more than my share.
Fortunately for my peace of mind even at this late day, I refused to eat
more than did he, and the keenness of my anger was not yet dulled when I
carried the remainder of the portion allotted me to the cupboard, saying
in what I intended should be a jovial tone:
"The knowledge that your stomach is set against food has weakened my
appetite, and perhaps it will be as well, for we have the more when the
time comes for serving dinner."
The old negro insisted that both Pierre and I should go through the town
to put ourselves in the way of learning whether any further information
had come in from the outside, and declaring that he would take care of
Horry Sims providing we brought him down on the floor once more.
I would have refused to act upon this suggestion; but it seemed to
please Pierre, and he at once set about getting the Tory cur where Uncle
'Rasmus could overlook him, therefore was I forced to lend a hand.
"Am I to be left here trussed up like a chicken ready for the roasting?"
Horry Sims asked angrily when we had put him once more in the corner of
the room without taking undue care as to the handling.
"Your stomach is full; except for your liberty are you better off than
either Pierre or I, and you may lie there thanking your stars that
matters are no worse for you," I cried, whereupon little Frenchie, as if
fearing I might abuse the prisoner of which he was so careful, opened
the door and literally thrust me out.
When we were come near to my Lord Cornwallis's headquarters, I noted
with surprise that a goodly number of the soldiers, together with a
large sprinkling of officers, were pressing on toward the water's edge,
and it was no more than natural Pierre and I should follow the throng,
excited as we were by seeing the privates throw down shovel or pick
without permission, to chase at the heels of their superiors.
Before we were come to the dock it was possible to hear from the
distance a dull boom, as if many miles away a heavy cannon had been
discharged, and then there came another and another, and I heard those
red-coated men nearest me say gleefully:
"Admiral Graves is stirring up the frog-eaters! We may count it as
certain that these two rivers will no longer be blockaded by Frenchmen."
Then I remembered what Morgan had said, and understood that the fighting
for the possession of this town of York had already begun on the sea;
that the British fleet had come down to drive away the vessels under
command of Count De Grasse. Once more I grew timorous with understanding
that if the Englishmen should be victorious in this naval battle which I
doubted not was close at hand, then would it be possible for them to
land troops on the river of York or of James at their pleasure, until
our forces at Williamsburg were outnumbered ten or twenty to one.
The same thought was evidently in Pierre's mind, and he also must have
been fearing that the English sailors might prove superior to the French
seamen, for he said in a whisper, drawing me closely to him by clutching
tightly at my arm:
"My Lord Cornwallis must be mighty uneasy just about this time, for
unless the British fleet can drive away the French vessels, then is he
left to the mercy of our people who are coming down from the North to
join General Lafayette."
"Ay; but if so be the English succeed, then is General Lafayette's force
at their mercy."
"Ay, lad, and it may be a toss-up. At all events, I have it in mind that
whatsoever is going on at sea just now decides the fate of this portion
of the king's troops. Even though the Frenchmen do no more than hold
their own, and prevent the Britishers from driving them out of
Chesapeake Bay, then must the day speedily come when my Lord Cornwallis
will be crying for quarter."
"With all the fortifications that have been thrown up around this town
of York, it strikes me he may hold out many a long hour before being
forced to show the white flag," I said bitterly, and the little French
lad added cheerily:
"You forget that your people, under the command of my countryman, can
work as well if not better with pick and shovel, than have those
red-coated servants of the king, and I make no doubt but that there will
be as strong lines of entrenchments opposing my Lord Cornwallis, as he
has thrown up for his protection."
"And in the meantime we shall be between the two, or what is the same
thing, exposed to the fire of our own people, and taking our chances of
a stray ball from the redoubt here near the point," I said as my heart
shriveled once more under the influence of fear.