AN UGLY SITUATION
After Morgan had finished telling us what would be our duty in case he
gave up his life while trying to get through the lines, then came a
discussion as to how it would be possible for us to procure food.
With Abel Hunt at liberty, roaming around the village seeking us out and
most like counting to denounce us as rebels, it was in the highest
degree dangerous for any member of our company to venture forth from the
cabin lest we come upon that fellow whom I doubted not was bent solely
on doing us a harm.
Why he should have turned his attention to such end I cannot well say,
save it might be that he fancied it was the best way to curry favor with
the British officers. Neither Saul nor I had done anything to make of
the fellow an enemy. It is true we did not associate with him, and I
question whether that could have rankled in his breast, because he knew
full well that lads of our standing would not stoop to such a thing.
However it might be, certain it was, as I set it down in my own mind,
that after we had met him the night before he would leave no stone
unturned to bring us into trouble, and it would not be a difficult
matter for him to learn from some of the Tory citizens of York who yet
remained in the village, which of the buildings were owned by my
father.
Having come to know that this cabin belonged to the Hamilton plantation,
there was every reason to believe Hunt would watch it closely, therefore
for any one of us three lads to venture out even though we might be
starving, would be much the same as advertising him of our whereabouts.
Certain it was that the Jerseyman could not aid us in this extremity,
for he must remain even more closely hidden than we, lest he be
prevented from making the desperate attempt he counted on as soon as
night had come.
"I see no other course than for Pierre Laurens to set his wits at work
striving to find some way out of this trouble," I said after we had
talked together, as you might say at random, without having arrived at
any definite conclusion. "Since we came into this village of York Pierre
has shown himself ready of thought and has pulled us out of more than
one hole. If he cannot devise some means to procure food save at the
expense of bringing Abel Hunt down upon us, then will I say it is
useless to attempt it; but that we must either starve, or take the poor
chances of trying to follow Master Morgan through the lines, which would
be much the same as death."
"But why should we be so certain this cabin is likely to be watched?"
Saul asked in a tone of irritation. "Why may we not say to ourselves in
good truth, that after you and Pierre met Abel Hunt--"
"Who is it calls on Abel Hunt?" a familiar voice from the outside cried,
causing the blood to run chill in my veins, and almost at the same
instant the door was burst open, the flimsy barriers we had set against
it being of no avail as opposed to the strength of him who threw all his
strength upon it.
We sat there like statues, and I dare say fear was written on every
face, even on that of the Jerseyman's, when Abel Hunt in his bullying
way strode into the center of the room and stood there gazing around at
us as if to say we were at his mercy, and would obey his lightest word
because we dared not do otherwise.
As for myself, I was literally paralyzed with fear. That man who could
do us more mischief in this town of York than any other, had found out
our hiding place, and what was even worse, had seen in our midst, as if
taking council with us, a British soldier, for Master Morgan still
retained so much of his uniform that it might be readily
distinguishable.
My limbs trembled as if I was suffering from an attack of the palsy, and
in my great terror I saw no way to counteract this last stroke of
misfortune. I could bring to mind no act of ours which would tend to
relieve us from the danger that menaced, and I might almost fancy that
at his heels he had brought a squad of red-coated soldiers to carry us
off to prison, from which we would emerge only to stand under the
gallows.
Involuntarily I glanced toward Pierre, for the little French lad had
ever shown himself of such ready wit that in time of great danger all my
hopes were centered in him, and again did I have cause for fear. The
lad, keeping his eyes fixed upon Abel Hunt that he might watch his every
movement as a cat watches the movements of a mouse with which she is
playing, was slowly yet surely moving around the room toward the door,
and in my folly I said to myself that we were in such desperate straits
that Pierre Laurens was not only willing, but striving, to give us the
slip.
Although knowing him so well, I imagined that he, like me, was well nigh
overcome with terror, and intent only on saving his own skin without
giving heed to whatsoever might come upon his companions.
During a single instant my eyes fell upon the Jerseyman, and I saw what
I fancied was already pictured plainly on my own face, until he, like
me, had a glimpse of Pierre. Then it was as if a wave of satisfaction
and approbation passed over his features, whereupon he turned to Abel
Hunt, who still stood in the center of the room grinning in triumph at
each of us in turn, and began to engage him in conversation.
It seemed to me that the Jerseyman uttered the words of a foolish
person, when he said to the grinning fellow who was burning to humiliate
and bring us to our death:
"There is no good reason, Hunt, for such I gather to be your name, why
you should not sit down. Let us discuss the situation. I admit that you
have caught us foul; but there is no need to hasten affairs, and we may
as well speak of the matter among ourselves while there is yet time, for
I am of the belief that it may be mended."
"You'll mend nothing with me, you renegade Britisher!" Abel Hunt
snarled. "I looked to find a nest of rebels here; but didn't count they
would be harboring a traitor such as you give token of being."
"Why should you call me a traitor?" the Jerseyman asked calmly and much
to my astonishment, yet even at that moment when I was both terrified
and perplexed I noted that he gave more heed to Pierre Laurens, than to
the man with whom he was talking.
"Why should I not give you the name of traitor?" Abel growled. "You
still wear part of the king's uniform, and it must be you have turned
against him, else why do I find you consorting with rebels?"
"It may be I am striving to lead them from the error of their ways,"
Master Morgan said with a smile, and then it was I saw Uncle 'Rasmus
pulling his chair forward, at the same time shaking his fist at Horry
Sims in token that he should remain in the corner.
"Don't think to blind my eyes!" Hunt screamed. "Don't fancy that soft
words will butter any parsnips with me! I've got you all under my thumb
now, and count on keeping you there!"
"All of which you know to be a lie," the Jerseyman said, still speaking
quietly but fixing the fellow with his eye as if to hold closely his
attention.
As a matter of course these words were amply sufficient to arouse Hunt
to the highest pitch of anger, and on the instant he seemed to give no
heed to any save the one who had insulted him.
"You shall live to repent those words, and die regretting them," he
snarled.
"Why don't you cause me now, single-handed, to regret them?" Morgan
asked threateningly, rising to his feet as he spoke as if expecting an
attack, and Abel Hunt literally shrieked in his anger:
"Because there is no need why I should spend my strength on one who lays
so near the gallows as do you. I count on turning you over to those
officers of the king who will deal out such justice as you have earned,
instead of spending my time flogging a traitor who deserves more the
halter."
Now it was, when it seemed to me as if Master Morgan was trying to
provoke a rough-and-tumble fight, that I began, thick-head though I was,
to have an inkling that some plan, which had been concerted without the
aid of words, was on foot, for as soon as Abel gave way to anger old
'Rasmus moved his chair yet further forward until it stood as a
barricade in front of the door, while Pierre held in his hands by one
leg a stool, handling it as if it were a weapon.
"If you have aught against me, and are not a coward, you will try it out
now and here, instead of hiding yourself behind the skirts of the king's
soldiers!" the Jerseyman cried as if he no longer held control over his
temper, and at the same time he advanced a step toward Hunt as if to
grapple with him.
The cowardly fellow fell back before Morgan; but dared not take his eyes
from the Jerseyman because of fearing that a blow might be delivered.
Back, back, slowly, pace by pace he retreated, Morgan advancing with
clenched fist, and then against Uncle 'Rasmus's chair the fellow came at
full force, half toppling over.
Then it was that I understood all the scheme; understood why Uncle
'Rasmus had moved where he did, and why the Jerseyman strove to provoke
Hunt to anger, for Pierre raised the stool which he had been swinging to
and fro in his hands, and brought it down upon the scoundrel's head with
such force that he was nigh knocked to the floor.
If little Frenchie had been able to get in a direct blow, I have no
doubt it would have settled matters on the instant, for I could see even
in the gloom that the lad was putting all his strength to the effort,
and counted on taking human life if by so doing he could the better
relieve us from the difficulty into which we had fallen.
As it was, unfortunately, Pierre's arm glanced across the back of Uncle
'Rasmus's chair, and the blow was robbed of half its force. It was
sufficient, however, to partially daze Abel Hunt, and before he could
recover either his senses or his footing Morgan was upon him like a
wild-cat, clutching both hands around the fellow's throat to prevent any
outcry, while the two came down upon the puncheon planks with a thud
that shook the building.
On the instant, and without giving any heed to the struggling men, Uncle
'Rasmus sprang with the agility of a boy to the corner where Horry Sims
stood as if ready to leap forward to Abel Hunt's aid, and there the old
negro, with his cane upraised, held the Tory lad where he neither dared
lift a hand or open his mouth.
At the same instant little Frenchie sprang toward the door, replacing
and mending so far as possible the barriers which had been torn away,
and otherwise doing what he might to put it in such shape that it would
resist, at least for a short time, the efforts of any who might try to
enter.
Meanwhile Saul and I stood as if dazed, looking down upon the floor
where Master Morgan and Abel Hunt were struggling most desperately,
rolling here and there with such swiftness of movement that had we been
armed with the best of weapons it would have been impossible for us to
have struck a blow in defence of the Jerseyman, save at great risk of
hitting him instead of our enemy.
I did succeed, after mayhap a full minute had passed, in gathering my
wits sufficiently to seize upon a stick of firewood which was lying at
one side of the fireplace, and then I went toward the combatants,
watching the opportunity to strike a blow in Master Morgan's defence. So
great was the rage within my heart, that I sincerely hoped I might bring
the oaken stick down upon Abel Hunt's head with such force as to kill
him on the instant.
At almost the precise moment when the Jerseyman leaped upon Abel Hunt,
the British cannon were discharged, and from then on until long after
the struggle had come to an end, was the firing kept up on both sides
with such violence and volume of sound that however much of a
disturbance we might have made in the cabin, or however near the
Britishers had approached to the building, no token of our movements
could have been heard. Otherwise certain it is to me that we would have
brought the enemy down upon us, for the tumult inside old Mary's cabin
was indeed great.
How long the struggle between the two men continued I had no means of
knowing. My blood was, as one would say, so boiling in my veins that I
saw nothing but red before me, and was conscious of but the one desire
to kill the scoundrel who without reason had sought to hunt us down.
Therefore it was I could not have told whether I sprang here and there
in the effort to strike a deadly blow, five minutes or half an hour,
and something very like disappointment came over me when Master Morgan
concluded the fight without aid from any of us.
His grip upon Abel Hunt's throat was so firm that the fellow's eyes were
literally starting from their sockets when he had been choked into
insensibility, and his tongue hung out of his mouth seemingly a finger's
length.
The Jerseyman although victor, had not come out of the fight unharmed.
He was bleeding from a cut on the face. His shirt had been torn from his
body until he was near naked, and so severe had been his exertions that
when Hunt finally sank back upon the puncheons like one dead Master
Morgan could only with difficulty move to his knees, panting, and with
the perspiration running down his face in tiny streams.
How long Saul and I stood gaping open-mouthed at the apparently dead man
and nearly exhausted spy I dare not venture to say. Neither of us
thought we had any part to play now that the battle was at an end; but
not so with Pierre Laurens. He, dear lad, ever on watch and ever ready
to take advantage of the first opportunity, understood that Abel Hunt
had only been choked into unconsciousness, and that it was necessary we
set about so fettering him that the battle could not be continued when
his senses returned.
Pierre seized upon the blanket which had fallen from Uncle 'Rasmus's
knees when he set about making his way toward the door to offer his body
as a living barricade, and tore it into strips until he had an apology
for a rope sufficient to have tied two men, and began dextrously binding
Hunt's feet and arms.
His action caused me to bestir myself, and I began to fashion a gag for
the fellow's mouth, knowing full well that we could not frighten him
into silence as we had frightened Horry Sims.
The Jerseyman recovered from his exertions before little Frenchie and I
had finished our task, and then he took from my hand the stout billet of
wood which I was wrapping with strips torn from the blanket, as he said:
"I am not minded to have the blood of this fellow on my head, yet
perhaps it would be better for all concerned if we shut off his wind for
so long a time that it could never be recovered again, for he is like to
be a millstone around your neck, lad, and may yet succeed in working his
purpose. Killing one in cold blood, even though it be for the Cause, is
more than I am willing to undertake."
"But he must be gagged," I cried, thinking that Master Morgan was
growing soft-hearted and might waste too much time in mourning over his
victim.
"Let not your heart be troubled as to that, lad," the Jerseyman said
grimly. "To thrust this gag into the fellow's mouth just now would be
indeed the same as cutting his throat. We must wait until he is well
nigh conscious of his surroundings, and then bind it in place so
securely that he cannot work loose from it."
Then it was, while Morgan knelt by Abel Hunt's side awaiting the proper
moment to deprive him of all power of speech, that I realized what we
had done. I speedily understood that this victory of ours was the same
as a disaster, for how could we, unable to procure food or water save at
great risk, care for two prisoners, and at the same time the thought
came into my mind like a red light of warning, that the companionship of
Abel Hunt would embolden Horry Sims, and mayhap make of him something
more than the coward he had thus far shown himself.
Even though we should be able to feed these prisoners, yet must we hold
them here in the midst of the British camp where the least accident
would bring the soldiers in upon us, and it did not at that moment seem
to me possible we could keep the two fellows in the loft any length of
time without in some way betraying the secret.
"What about the Tory lad?" Master Morgan asked while he yet awaited the
proper time for thrusting the gag into Hunt's mouth.
"We are forced to hold him, as a matter of course. The question in my
mind as you spoke was how we might care for two prisoners, while we
ourselves are in much the same situation, save than we are at liberty to
move about inside this cabin?"
"There are many things, lad, which seem impossible while they are yet in
the future; but when the moment for action comes the way is made plain,
and we succeed where failure appeared certain."
Not understanding fully the meaning of what the Jerseyman said, I did
not extract much of comfort from his words; but stood looking down upon
Abel Hunt who was now beginning to breathe heavily like one who snores
in his sleep, until Pierre aroused me by saying:
"We shall be forced to put both prisoners into the loft, as a matter of
course, and may as well get Horry Sims there now, for stowing Abel Hunt
away will be considerable of a task."
Despite the roar of great guns from the outside the Tory lad heard what
little Frenchie said, and straightway set about begging us not to put a
gag in his mouth, vowing by this and by that which he held most sacred,
that he would make no outcry.
At first it seemed to me absolutely necessary for our own safety that we
deprive him of the power to raise an alarm; but Pierre, who had already
thought over all the possibilities of the situation, said:
"We will put Abel Hunt one side of the scuttle, and Horry Sims the
other. Whoever is on guard must sit by the side of the Tory lad, and if
so be he gives any token of crying out, then shall the gag go in and
remain there."
"Do you count on making the same bargain with Abel Hunt?" I asked
scornfully, for my blood was yet so heated that I could have no feeling
of tenderness or of mercy toward those two who had forced us to
encounter such peril.
"He must take his dose," little Frenchie said from between his clenched
teeth, and I was really pleased, even while standing there facing death,
to see that the French lad's anger could be aroused.
Without loss of time we drove Horry Sims up the ladder, and when he was
in the loft Pierre and I fettered him securely with strips of blanket,
threatening him with the gag if he moved a hand's breadth in either
direction.
Then we went to the floor below, ready to do our share in hoisting into
his attic-prison the scoundrel who would have denounced us as spies.
The Jerseyman had already put the gag in Hunt's mouth, and when we came
down he was telling the fellow what he might expect if any resistance
was offered.
"Here is a pistol with mayhap a dozen charges of powder and ball,"
Master Morgan said as he drew from his ragged trousers a weapon and a
small package which I knew contained ammunition. "Whichever of you lads
stands guard over the prisoner, and close watch must be kept night and
day if you would preserve your lives, will have by him every moment this
pistol ready loaded and primed. At the first sign of an attempt to
escape, or to give an alarm, which you see Abel Hunt display, put the
weapon to his head and blow his brains out regardless of everything,
even though there might be a squad of soldiers standing beneath the
scuttle, for his life must be as of no value if you would hope to come
out from this British nest with whole skins."
Then looking at Hunt, who perforce lay there motionless and silent, the
Jerseyman repeated to him very much the same as he had said to us,
assuring the fellow over and over again that if the Britishers should
come to his aid, or if it was discovered either through his exertions or
by accident that he lay there a prisoner, we lads were bound to kill him
because of what he could tell to our disadvantage.
I have seen a wild-cat held helpless in a trap, and there was much of
his look about Abel Hunt's face as he glared at Pierre and me, unable to
stir even a finger, while Master Morgan was threatening.
It seemed as though the fellow must have realized that we would have no
compunction about taking his life in cold blood if so be he stood
between us and liberty, yet was he like the wild-cat, ready and willing
to struggle to the very last even though the odds were so heavy against
him, and when we strove to carry him into the loft he did his best to
prevent it, although both hands and feet were bound securely.
It was not until we had made a rope of the second blanket, thus
depriving ourselves of even the apology for a bed, and tied it around
his body, hoisting him as we would a bale of cotton, that it was
possible to get the fellow through the scuttle.
With two of us pulling from above and the others shoving him up from
below, we finally succeeded in landing him on the puncheon planks,
rolling the fellow over until he was at such a distance from the opening
in the floor that he could not well spy upon those who were below.
All the while, fortunately for us, the cannonading continued, therefore
we were at liberty to work as we would regardless of making a noise, and
well it was, for had we stood in danger from eavesdroppers, then must
all of us have been in the guard-house within five minutes after the
fight between Master Morgan and Abel Hunt began.
It was with a sense of greatest relief that I stood near the edge of the
scuttle wiping the perspiration from my face when finally we had got the
scoundrelly cur where we wanted him, and then the satisfaction which
should have been mine because of having thus far succeeded in holding
our own, was entirely wiped out by thoughts of the future. Strive as I
might, I could not prevent my mind from going ahead of time and
picturing what must finally be our fate.
That we could hold these two Tories securely for a day, mayhap eight and
forty hours, I had little doubt; but it was the same as a proven fact in
my mind that within a short time must the Britishers learn all the
secret, and lay us under the most terrible of all military charges.
It was as if Master Morgan understood that if we were given much time
for thought there was fear of our growing timorous, for no sooner had we
disposed of Abel Hunt than he called for all to come to the floor below
where he could have speech with us, saying at the same time that the
prisoners could effect nothing toward their release, even though it were
possible for them to cry out, because while the cannon were roaring and
one could hear the crackle of musketry from seemingly every point, the
strongest lunged man who ever lived could not have made his voice heard
an hundred paces away.
"It has come time for me to take leave of you, lads," the Jerseyman said
much to my surprise, and I interrupted him by crying out, for it was to
my mind as if the moment he departed we were standing in even more
imminent danger of death than we did at that instant.
"I thought you were not counting to make the venture until midnight," I
cried.
"That was in my mind, lad, when matters were quiet here within the
entrenchments; but from the sounds of conflict it would seem as if the
Britishers had all they could attend to without looking after a man here
or there. I count on making my way very near the outer works, where I
shall await an opportunity of slipping through the lines."
"Think you it will be possible to do so?" Pierre asked thoughtfully,
and the Jerseyman replied without a tremor in his voice:
"I am of the mind, lad, that the odds are strongly against it, and yet
must the venture be made. I have the hope that if death comes to me you
may have knowledge regarding it, so that that which I have failed in may
be carried on by one of you. It is not a time to think of taking
precautions to save our own lives; but rather to try how we may so
sacrifice them that by our dying we shall have benefitted the Cause."
Even while he was speaking in such a strain as to bring tears to the
eyes of us all, little Frenchie, ever realizing what should be done, was
unbarring the door, and when he had finished the task the Jerseyman went
out without so much as turning to look at us. Never a word did he speak,
but went quickly into the open air as if eager to rid himself of our
company.
Only those who have been in a like situation can understand our feelings
at this moment when we were left alone, and knew that the man who stood
our friend, had gone most like to his death.
We remained silent and motionless, not daring to gaze at each other,
much like a band of mourners who have gathered around the lifeless body
of a dear friend, and so we would have stood there until all the courage
oozed out from our hearts, had it not been for dear little Frenchie,
himself quite as brave a man and as good a patriot as the one who had
just left us.
Regardless of the sorrow in his own heart, and of the forebodings which
I knew must be his, he put on a cheerful face, saying as he righted
Uncle 'Rasmus's chair which had been overturned during the struggle:
"There is no good reason why we should stand around here like a company
of sore-heads, for there is work in abundance to be done. We must have
food, and now would seem to be the time to procure it, when the
Britishers have all on their hands to which they can attend."
"For my part I have no desire for food," I cried, almost irritated
because he had brought up the matter at such a time, when it was as if
we had taken leave of an old friend. "It seems to me as if I should
never be hungry again."
"But yet you will be, Fitz Hamilton, and that before this night-fall.
Even though we were inclined to starve ourselves, thinking it might
benefit the Cause, we have two prisoners to look after, and now that we
have no longer reason to fear a meeting with Abel Hunt, what prevents us
from going through the encampment?"
"It seems to me that at such a time the Britishers would be
over-cautious, and insist on knowing why we lads roamed around instead
of offering our services to those in the entrenchments," Saul said
gloomily, and I was much of his mind; but when little Frenchie has once
set out on a road it is most difficult to turn him back, and now in
answer to our suggestions, he insisted that we must make an effort to
procure provisions whatever short of actual death might stand in the
way.
I am willing now, as I was then, to confess freely that I was afraid to
step outside old Mary's cabin for any purpose whatsoever. The struggle
with Abel Hunt, and the departure of the Jerseyman when it seemed
certain he had gone out only to be killed, had brought to the surface
all my cowardice; but when I said as much in plain words, little
Frenchie laughed me to scorn, declaring he knew me better than I knew
myself, and that it needed only for me to stand face to face with
imminent danger in order to give token of bravery.
"Then surely now should be the time when I showed myself a hero," I
replied with a laugh that had in it little of mirth, "for verily are we
face to face with as many dangers as the most gluttonous swash-buckler
could desire."
"Come with me and we will find more," Pierre said with a laugh as he
opened the door, and for the life of me I could not have refused to
follow the lad, even my knees bent beneath me as I crossed the
threshold.