SAUL'S OPPORTUNITY
It was destined that we should approach neither white man nor negro in
quest of food on this day, however severe might be the pangs of hunger,
for little Frenchie had hardly more than began a blind tramp across the
country, trusting that fortune would bring him to the destination
desired, when we were startled, I should say alarmed, by the report of a
cannon which rang out startlingly clear on the morning air.
As a matter of course we were brought to a sudden halt; but before
either of us could speak, boom, boom, boom came from the direction of
York, and with the report of the guns we could see heavy smoke rolling
up from the village telling of burned powder.
"What can it mean?" I cried, fancying like a simple for the moment that
this cannonading had somewhat to do with us, and Pierre, quick-witted as
ever, cried joyously as he turned his face shoreward once more:
"Our people are advancing upon York, and the king's soldiers are warning
them to keep back."
He ran at racing speed through the brush, I following as best I might at
his heels, and all the while came that dull roar of cannon, intermingled
now and then with sharp, crackling noises, which I understood to be the
rattle of musketry.
Before we had gained the river bank it was positive our forces had come
within touch of the enemy, and I who, as has already been seen, was
wholly ignorant of military matters, believed the Americans were forcing
the Britishers to a battle.
No sooner had we arrived where an uninterrupted view of the river could
be had, than we saw half a dozen vessels with as many barges coming down
the stream as if from the direction of Williamsburg, and, favored by the
wind, were shaping their course directly toward the Gloucester shore on
that side the point opposite where we were.
Then it was that the guns of Gloucester joined with those of York, and
as these heavy pieces were discharged it seemed to me that the very
ground trembled, while over all hung smoke from the burning powder until
it was as if a heavy cloud had suddenly gathered, shutting out the light
of the sun.
This fleet which was coming down the river apparently giving no heed to
the king's ships that lay in the stream, was hardly more than two miles
away, and as we lads gazed at the vessels breathlessly, trembling with
excitement, I fancied I could see the uniform of our Virginia militia.
Then my heart sank within me, for both the _Guadaloupe_ and the _Charon_
were slipping their cables that they might swing around in such position
as to deliver broadsides upon those who were advancing so boldly.
There is no good reason why I should not set down now the facts instead
of waiting until we came to learn of them later.
This fleet which was coming down the York river was manned by a French
Legion, by French marines, and by a brigade of Virginia militia under
General Weeden, the whole under command of a French officer. They had
been sent to lay siege to the British encampment at Gloucester, for our
General Washington was not minded any of the soldiers under command of
Lord Cornwallis should make their escape, now that he held them as one
might say in the hollow of his hand.
Although we could not see anything in the rear of York village, we knew
full well, because of the incessant cannonading, that our people must be
advancing by land as well as by water, and the one question in our minds
was whether a battle might be fought that very day, for then, as can
readily be understood, we had no idea that a regular siege was to be
begun before York.
It was when the British vessels slipped their moorings to pour a
broadside into the little fleet of Americans that Pierre Laurens saw
clear before him the plan which we should follow, and running with all
speed toward where the skiff had been hidden in the foliage, he shouted
to me:
"Make haste, Fitz, make haste! Now is the time when we can gain the
village with but little danger of attracting unpleasant notice, for
while the Britishers have their hands full with trying to hold our
people back, two lads like us may slip in without heed from friend or
foe."
"But why shall we strive to enter York?" I cried, growing timorous once
more. "If there is to be a battle it were safer we stayed here, rather
than took our chances of being killed by cannon ball or musket-shot from
our own people."
"It is not allowed that we shall stay here, Fitz Hamilton!" Pierre cried
almost angrily. "Do you forget that Uncle 'Rasmus, with that Tory
prisoner of his, yet remains in York awaiting our coming and needing us
most sorely? Even though it were certain we would be shot immediately
after gaining old Mary's cabin, then are we bound to keep on. Are we to
stay here simply to insure our own safety, when Saul is in the
Britishers' guard-house exposed to even as much danger as we would be
with Uncle 'Rasmus?"
It was not needed the lad should say more in order to recall me to a
sense of duty. A red flush of shame came over my face as I realized that
I would have played the part of a coward, forgetting that there were in
York those who needed me, and from that instant Pierre had no reason to
complain because I moved too slowly or failed to display an equal amount
of enthusiasm with him.
Immediately the skiff was water borne we lost no time in setting off on
what might prove to be a perilous passage, and yet there was none of
danger whatsoever in it as we soon came to know.
The men on the British ships had sufficient to occupy their attention
without giving heed to two lads who pulled against the current, making a
detour of a mile or more, for they were serving their guns with all
diligence, hoping to check the advance of those rebels who so lacked in
reverence to the king and his commands that they made their appearance
in warlike array without first having asked permission.
The roar of the cannon both from the ships and from my Lord Cornwallis's
encampment was almost deafening, and as we tugged at the oars, straining
every muscle in order to take advantage of each moment of time, it
seemed to me as if the waters of the river were dashed here and there
into waves by the concussions.
Without losing stroke or ceasing to exert ourselves to the utmost, we
kept our eyes fixed upon the scene before us, and again and again,
without being aware that I had uttered a cry, I shouted aloud in joy and
in pride at seeing that little fleet of small craft moving steadily on
toward its destination regardless of the heavy shot which were being
poured in upon them.
So far as we could make out, not a British ball hit the mark. It is very
likely some of the missiles found their way among our people; but no
severe damage was done else we should have observed it; the fleet would
have been thrown into confusion had one of the craft been seriously
disabled, or turned back if they suffered too heavily. Instead of which,
however, they continued on as I have said, seemingly indifferent to the
efforts of the enemy.
It was a sight well calculated to stir the blood of a boy from Virginia,
and my excitement, my admiration for the coolness of our people, and the
determination shown where the Britishers were doing their best to work
destruction, fired my heart until it was with difficulty I could
continue my share of the work at pulling the skiff.
"Unless you can look at what is going on around you and row at the best
of your strength at the same time, then it is better you close your
eyes," Pierre said sharply when I missed a stroke and thereby nearly
threw him from the thwart.
I could not have taken my eyes from that which thrilled every nerve in
my body; but true it is I did succeed in holding to my work, at least to
such extent that Pierre no longer found cause for fault with me, and by
the time we had reached the bank of the river, almost at the same point
from which we had embarked the night before, the fleet had so far closed
in with the land that the king's men did not dare fire upon it from the
ships lest they do more damage to their own people on Gloucester Point
then to impudent rebels, who had the effrontery to disturb the servants
of his majesty.
The cannonading from the town still continued, now dying away to a
single shot every moment or two, and again roaring in thunderous notes
as battery after battery discharged all its cannon.
These people were not firing upon the vessels near by Gloucester; but
straightway up the river, and therefore it was we knew our people were
coming over the land in considerable force, giving no more token of an
inclination to halt because of this summons by heavy missiles, than had
those who manned the fleet.
The water front of the village was much the same as deserted when the
bow of our skiff grounded on the shore. I was too deeply excited to give
particular heed to everything within my range of vision; but it was to
me as if no man stood near at hand to observe our landing, and on
comparing notes with Pierre afterward I learned that he was of the
belief that we had come ashore into this encampment of seven thousand
soldiers without having been observed.
As we made our way up into the village we found that all the troops were
in front of us, having manned the outermost entrenchments. We passed my
Lord Cornwallis's headquarters to find it apparently deserted. At the
stable lines of the Rangers not a single horse stood, and my heart went
heavy as lead for I realized that poor little Silver-Heels, with a
red-faced, red-coated Britisher upon her back, was most likely well
toward the front where she stood a good chance of being disabled if not
killed, for by this time Pierre and I understood, because of the roar of
guns in the distance, that our people were not remaining silent under
this iron hail which the enemy were sending among them.
"If they keep this up ten minutes longer we shall have no trouble
whatsoever in making our way to old Mary's cabin," I cried almost
gleefully, forgetting in this my moment of triumph, when I was pluming
myself with having accomplished something heroic, although I had simply
taken advantage of an opportunity, that men a short distance away were
lying mangled and in the agonies of death.
"We can do better than that, lad," Pierre cried, catching me by the
shoulder as if a sudden thought had just come into his mind. "Look about
you as we run, and if so be your eyes light upon a pick or an axe, seize
upon it."
"To what end?" I asked, panting because of the swift pace which my
comrade had kept. "Are you counting on taking part in the battle?" for
then it was I had no doubt but that our people had set about measuring
strength with my Lord Cornwallis's army.
"Yes, we'll fight a battle on our own account, and the result shall be
the release of Saul from the guard-house. I'm allowing that the sentries
are not giving any great attention to prisoners just at this moment, and
if those who should be outside the prison have pressed toward the front
to see what may be going on, our chance has come."
It did not need that the dear lad should go into the details of what he
would do. I realized on the instant that even though we were within the
enemy's encampment, there was a possibility we might work our will, and
no time was wasted.
It was reasonable to suppose that the sentries here, there and
everywhere throughout the village would be pressing toward the front
from motives of curiosity, if nothing else, feeling thoroughly well
convinced that no harm could come upon them from the rear.
Fortune so far favored me as we run that I was speedily armed with an
axe which had been left near by a pile of fuel, and before we had
traveled twenty yards further Pierre came upon a pick. Therefore it was
we had all the weapons we needed for an attack upon the guard-house, if
so be little Frenchie had the same aim in mind which had come to me,
that is to say, to force an entrance through the chimney into the
fireplace.
Then we were come to that house in which the Jerseyman had told me our
comrade was confined, and I, thick-headed as usual, would have begun an
attack upon the chimney without delay, for we had approached the
building from the rear; but before I could strike the first blow little
Frenchie grasped me by the arm, as he whispered warningly:
"Would you take the risk of spoiling everything by going to work
blindly? We must first learn if there be sentries on the other side."
Then, leaving me standing motionless and silent, covered with confusion
because of having shown myself such a simple, he went cautiously around
the house, moving with as much care and deliberation as if having full
knowledge that a squad or more of red-coats were on guard, and I awaited
his return, my heart thumping so violently that it was as if the
pulsations vied in volume of sound with the reports of the cannon.
When next I saw Pierre he approached from the opposite side of the
house, thus showing that he had made a complete circuit of the place,
and the expression on his face told as clearly as words could have done
that we might set about our task without delay, for there were none near
at hand to stay us.
Without waiting for him to speak I struck my axe into the structure of
sticks and clay with such force that it was buried to the head, and I
could not release the tool until little Frenchie had aided by tearing
away some of the fabric with his pick.
"Haste is like to make waste," Pierre reminded me in a half whisper.
"Unless we get about this work with somewhat of system we shall make but
little headway, and no one can say how soon the sentries may remember
that it is their duty to stay here on guard instead of watching the
advance of the rebels."
I would have been a dull lad indeed had I not come by this time to
understand that it was Pierre Laurens who should take the lead when he
and I were working together, therefore I stood back, leaving him to
begin the task, and striking with my axe when he directed me so to do.
Before we had succeeded in cutting a hole as large as a man's hand, I
heard a voice from the inside which I believed to be Saul's crying
excitedly:
"Who are you that are striving to enter? There should be a sentinel just
outside the door, and unless you take due care he will give an alarm."
"Saul! Saul! It's Pierre and Fitz!" I cried, no longer able to restrain
myself, and little Frenchie clapped his hand over my mouth on the
instant, saying angrily:
"Is it not enough that you have opportunity to work your will even here
in the midst of the enemy's encampment, but that you must raise your
voice to give notice of what you would do? It matters little whether
Saul knows it is us who are here, or that he waits until we have
effected an entrance."
While he spoke Pierre was working industriously, having taken his hand
from my mouth after leaving it there sufficiently long to give token
that he intended it for a reproof, and from that moment until sounds
from the inside told that whoever was held prisoner had been on his part
aiding in the work, I held my peace, watching little Frenchie's every
movement, determining never again until we were out of this village,
would I raise my voice until he had given permission.
Whether we worked there at tearing a hole through the chimney five
minutes, or thirty, I have no idea. Around us yet roared the cannon,
telling that the American forces were still advancing, and the
Britishers striving to hold them back. Ever present in my mind was the
knowledge that at any moment the guard might come up and take us into
custody.
[Illustration: THE RELEASE OF SAUL OGDEN.]
One can well understand in what a tumult was my brain, and how like a
flood in spring-time the blood leaped through my veins. I was like as
one held in the grip of a raging fever, until from out that aperture
which we had made in the flimsy chimney I saw Saul Ogden, looking
considerably the worse for his short imprisonment, come crawling until
it was possible for me to clasp him in my arms, where for an instant I
held him fast, tears of gratitude rolling down my cheeks because of
having been permitted thus to have taken some little part in the dear
lad's release.
There were other prisoners than Saul in the guard-house, and, as can be
supposed, they were not backward in taking advantage of the opportunity
to make their escape from imprisonment even though they were red-coats;
but as the first soldier came on the heels of Saul, Pierre, raising his
pick threateningly, ordered the man to stop.
"Remain where you are, or your death will pay the penalty," he cried,
and there was that in his tones which told it would not be safe to
disobey him.
"If you are willing to let one out, why not another?" the Britisher
asked, an expression of perplexity coming over his bloated red face,
which gave token that he had been brought into the guard-house through
drunkenness.
"Because I don't intend it shall be within your power to work us harm."
"Why should I work you harm?" the half-drunken soldier asked as he lay
on his belly in the aperture looking up at the small lad.
"You are a British soldier who has come here to work the king's will on
us of Virginia, and we are minded to make our escape before you can
atone for your misdeeds by making us prisoners," Pierre cried hotly.
"I have no mind to take anybody prisoner, be he rebel or whatsoe'er you
will, for now the fight is going on, and by joining my troop this little
slip of mine which landed me in the guard-house is like to be forgiven
if not forgotten."
"Stay where you are until we get well away, for we have been taught not
to put overly much faith in what you men who wear red coats may say,"
Pierre cried, and at the same time he motioned for Saul and me to go our
way, which we did without delay, knowing the lad would follow close at
our heels.
Saul had kept a tight grip on my hand from the moment he came into the
open air, and we two ran side by side, thus yoked together by token of
friendship, on the alert for the first show of a red coat in our path.
It seemed to me that we might have raced around and around that village
until we were spent with the exertion, and never have come upon one of
the king's men, for they rushed into the outer works at the first alarm,
officers, soldiers, camp-followers, and even the sentries, all of them
most like believing it would only be necessary for them to give token of
being ready for battle in order to make the Americans turn tail in
terror.
Surely this time they were making a grievous mistake, for the fire from
the front was continued with vigor as I understood full well before we
were a dozen yards from the guard-house, for then a cannon ball came so
near to me that I could feel the wind of it, and I started back in
surprise as if having supposed that our people had been firing blank
cartridges.
Saul laughed at my show of fear, and asked as though he found something
comical in the situation:
"Did you think that amid all this noise there were no shots flying?"
"To tell the truth, Saul Ogden, I haven't had time to think since the
cannonading began. Then Pierre and I were on the Gloucester shore,
having made up our minds it would be useless to try to get into York
before another night had come. When we found it might be possible, as
has been proven, such a fever of excitement seized upon me that I have
had no clear knowledge of what has been going on."
"It seems that you knew sufficient to understand the moment had come
when you might set me free," the lad said in a tone of exultation, and
I, determined that the credit should go where it belonged, replied
promptly:
"It was not me, Saul Ogden, who was quick-witted enough to think that we
might find the guard-house without sentries around it. Pierre Laurens is
the one to whom your release is due, and save for him I dare venture to
say at this moment I would be with you inside the Widow Marshall's house
with red-coated sentinels standing guard over me."
"Why? How? What has happened since I have been shut up yonder?"
It was no time for story telling just then, as Saul must have
understood, for the first cannon ball which had reminded me that there
was danger in the air and that danger coming from the ranks of our own
army, was followed by another and another, until while we ran it seemed
as if we were actually being pursued by these missiles--as if there was
a force in the air to guide them out of a direct course to where they
might work destruction.
By this time Pierre had overtaken us, for the lad could ever run more
swiftly than either Saul or I, and seizing me by the arm as if I was a
child who needed guidance, shouted in a tone of triumph even amid all
that peril:
"If any one had told us when Abel Hunt was following so close at our
heels, that we might have worked this trick, it would have seemed like a
fairy tale, and yet we have come through thus far in safety, with every
chance of gaining old Mary's cabin unmolested."
"If so be we get in the path of one of these messengers," I said,
motioning toward a cannon ball which was ploughing up the earth not
twenty yards away, "then shall we find that we have been molested for
all time."
"If we have worked our will in this encampment of my Lord Cornwallis's,
we two lads alone, then I predict that we shall come through in safety,
at least so far as this work is concerned. What may happen before the
battle is ended I care not, so that we have kept faith with those who
waited for us."
It can thus be seen that Pierre, quick-witted and versed in military
matters though he was, believed as did I, that this cannonading
betokened a regular battle, whereas, as we afterward came to know, it
was simply the investment of York, the beginning of a regular siege.
There is no good reason why I should use many words in telling of that
flight across the village, although again and again were we in danger of
death from the missiles sent by the Americans, even though I might make
an interesting story of that which we saw and feared; but it is enough
that we were finally arrived at our destination.
I, who at the end of the race was leading the way, dashed into the cabin
without realizing the alarm that I might thus cause Uncle 'Rasmus; but I
understood instantly I was inside, that it would have been better had I
entered in a more seemly fashion, for the old negro leaped to his feet,
his black face grey with the pallor of fear, believing from my sudden,
noisy entering that the enemy had come to work him harm.
Because of the dim light in the cabin it was a dozen seconds before he
could distinguish our faces, and then while we three stood in front of
him he sank back in the chair where he had so long played the part of
invalid, trembling in every limb as he said in a quavering voice:
"Bress de Lawd! Bress de Lawd for all his mercies! Here am de chillun
come back when I neber expected to see dere faces agin!"
Saul in his delight clasped the old man around the neck, hugging him as
affectionately as though he had been of the same color and of the same
blood; but Pierre, cautious and thoughtful as ever, instead of spending
his time calming Uncle 'Rasmus when there was no real need of doing so,
began looking around to find Horry Sims.
Even though a battle might be raging on the outside, it was yet of vital
importance to us that the Tory be held prisoner, because his escape
might mean our death, if so be the fortunes of war allowed the
Britishers a breathing spell.
Pierre ran hurriedly to the corner of the room where we had last seen
the Tory cur lying, and an exclamation of dismay burst from his lips,
for the lad was not there. Hearing the cry I ran toward him, whereupon
he turned to Uncle 'Rasmus asking sharply:
"Where is he? Has he given us the slip? Who has been here since we went
away?"
"De Sims boy am safe, honey," Uncle 'Rasmus replied as Saul released his
hold on the old man's neck. "I 'clare for it I done got scared kase you
didn' come back, an' 'lowed it wouldn't do no ways to keep dat young
snake whar he could kick up a row ef any ob de king's sogers come in, so
I done put him away, honey, I done put him away."
"Put him away, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I cried in alarm. "Do you mean to say
that you killed Horry Sims?"
"Kill him, chile? Sure not. What for I kill him?"
"But where is he?" Pierre demanded, and I understood from the quick,
nervous tones that he had been equally alarmed with me by the old man's
words.
For reply Uncle 'Rasmus went to that end of the room near the fireplace
where he raised a short length of the flooring, and there we who
gathered around in breathless anxiety, saw Horry Sims lying upon the
earth, bound as we had left him, in a narrow space between the puncheons
which had evidently at some time been hollowed out as an apology for a
store-room.
"How did you get him down there, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I cried, for I had not
believed the old man sufficiently strong to perform such a task.
"I done roll him ober, chile, I done roll him ober. Don you see, honey,
I didn' dare keep him whar de sogers might see him, so I'se boun' to get
him out ob sight. I'd seen dat yere hole befo', an' sence de shootin'
begun I 'low he was mighty glad to be under cover."
"Can't you take me out of here?" Horry asked imploringly. "I've been
tied up so long that my legs and arms are numb and aching. I promise not
to open my mouth and to do whatsoever you say, if these ropes can be
taken off for ever so short a time."
"That's what they shall be," Pierre said quickly. "We have no desire to
cause you suffering, Horry Sims, and never counted on being forced to
remain away so long; but matters couldn't have been changed, for of
course we must think of our own safety before consulting your comfort.
Now, however, you will have a chance to move around."
As he spoke so Pierre did, and when I would have argued with him that it
was unsafe to let the Tory lad have the freedom of the cabin even while
all of us were there to guard him, he shut me up in short order by
declaring that unless we were disposed to give the prisoner something
like fair treatment, he would insist on setting him free altogether.
"And when Abel Hunt has found us out, as I believe of a verity he will,
then Horry is on exhibition where that meddlesome fellow may see him," I
cried hotly, but Pierre, giving no heed to my words, released the Tory
from his bonds.