SNUG QUARTERS.
It is true that when the enemy came into view from amid the whirling
snow, Alec’s first thought, as he has since told me, was much the same
as mine--that we had brought disaster upon our country.
It is nothing of credit that at the time we gave no heed to the peril
which menaced; but I here set it down as some slight plea in our favor,
that once the mischief had been done we gave no heed to what might come
out of it to us.
The snow was falling in such volume, and being whirled so rapidly by
the rising wind, that it was impossible to see very far in either
direction, and whether we had been surrounded by a regiment of
soldiers, or only a squad of a dozen or more, it was impossible to say.
I knew, however, it had been reported that the Britishers were
gathering at Port Rowan, and this fact it was which caused our people
to believe a descent upon Presque Isle was contemplated.
Now I knew beyond reasonable doubt that these men had come from the
first-named place, and a great hope sprang up in my mind that they
might have ventured out for the same purpose as had Alec and I--that
our capture was the result of an accident.
All these thoughts ran through my mind during the first two or three
seconds after the enemy appeared, and before a single word had been
spoken on either side.
The party, fully armed and in uniform, wore storm coats, therefore it
was impossible, save by his bearing, to distinguish an officer from a
private; but Alec and I quickly understood, or believed we did because
of not being immediately questioned, that the men were waiting the
arrival of a superior.
It was as if a party of dumb people had come together in this fleecy
downpour which whirled and danced until one’s eyes ached from the
ceaseless swirling.
Alec looked meaningly at me, and I understood what he would have said.
There was in his glance a warning against our holding converse lest
we might betray something of importance to the enemy; but had the lad
known me better he would not have thought such a caution necessary.
A boy who has lived on the frontier during such troublous times as
I had known, is not garrulous in the presence of strangers, and when
those strangers are known to be enemies, he would be little less than
an idiot who should open his mouth unnecessarily.
Well, we two remained in the centre of this silent group while one
might have counted thirty, and then the circle was broken to admit a
figure, muffled, like the others, to the eyes in a coat of fur, but
approaching with such an air of authority that we knew at once he must
be in command.
Now it was I noted the fact that none of the Britishers wore skates,
and there came into my mind like a flash the knowledge that we must be
close ashore, else these men would not thus have ventured out upon the
ice.
I also noted, for one who lives much in the forests is quick to observe
every trifling detail in a scene, that the officer asked no questions
of his men as to where we had been found, or how they chanced to come
upon us; therefore I understood that our approach had been known before
we were thus made prisoners, and the remainder was easy to guess.
While I had supposed we were half a dozen miles from the Canadian
shore, we must have been within view of those on the foreland, and
this squad had come out for no other reason than to capture us, a fact
which took much of the burden from my mind, for I had feared we were
met by the advance guard of a force sent to attack Presque Isle.
“Where do you come from?” the officer asked, in that insolent tone
which was usually employed by those holding his Majesty’s commission
when addressing one from the American border.
There was nothing to be gained by concealing the truth, and I answered
the Britisher fairly, save that there was no good reason why I should
explain our purpose in being abroad.
“Why have you come on this side of the lake?” he asked, and I replied,
yet holding to the truth, but not telling all.
“We were skating, and had ventured so far from home when the snow began
to fall, that it seemed safer to continue on than turn back.”
“The question I would have answered is, why did you venture to come so
near this side at the beginning? You were well over before the snow
began to fall.”
“Of that we were ignorant, sir,” Alec replied, speaking as if in
fear; and I observed that his tone gave satisfaction to the valiant
Britisher, who was pleased at being able to frighten two lads. “We must
have skated faster than we fancied, and I do assure you, sir, that
neither of us had any idea how near we were to an enemy.”
Up to this point it appeared as if we were like to come off from the
adventure in safety, and I was beginning to believe no more harm would
accrue to us than that of being sent back through the storm at risk of
losing our way, when one of the men whispered to the officer, after
which the latter asked sharply of me:--
“Are you the son of that Daniel Dobbins who has trafficked on the lake?”
It was evident that this soldier, whose face I could not see because of
the coat-collar which covered it, had recognized me, and I replied with
all the boldness it was possible to assume:--
“I am, sir, and therefore you may know of a certainty from whence we
come.”
It would have been better had I been less talkative, for now both Alec
and I understood that the Britisher’s suspicions were aroused.
“Where is your father?” he asked sharply.
I would have given much had I been able to reply promptly; but with his
question there came into my mind the thought that I might unwittingly
betray an important secret, and for the instant speech was well-nigh
impossible. Then, after that unfortunate hesitation, I said:--
“I do not know, sir.”
“Is he not at home?”
“I am unable to say, sir.”
“Why? Was he not at home when you left?”
Now it was necessary I should explain that Alec and I had been these
past three days at the blockhouse, and this statement seemed at
variance with the one first made.
The Britisher looked at us searchingly for a moment, and then said,
much as though speaking to himself:--
“It is evident you lads have something to conceal. I was inclined to
believe the story first told; but now it seems wiser to doubt it. Take
off your skates,” he added harshly, and we had no choice but to obey.
When we were thus made helpless, so far as escape was concerned, the
officer gave some order in a low tone to one of the men, after which he
wheeled about, walking in the direction where I believed lay the shore,
and was soon lost to view amid the falling snow.
“Forgive me,” Alec whispered as he pressed my hand, and I understood
full well all that was in his mind.
We two were not inclined for conversation; but even though we had been,
it was best to remain silent lest yet more suspicions be aroused, and
contenting ourselves with a single glance which meant, for my part,
that there was no thought of resentment toward my comrade for having
led us into these straits, we obeyed the order of our captors to march
in advance.
It was not easy to walk on the ice now thickly covered with dry snow,
and our progress was by no means rapid; yet in less than fifteen
minutes we were arrived at the shore, and I wondered why it was we had
failed to note the fact of being so near the enemy’s lines before the
storm began.
We pushed on, forced to do so by those in the rear, straight over the
outermost end of the Point, where was a well-defined path showing that
it had been frequently travelled, until arriving on the opposite side.
Then could be seen a dozen or more log huts, lately constructed, as
might be told from the chips and branches which covered the snow in
every direction.
Now we knew what I would have given much to have told my father.
The reports that a force of Britishers were meditating an attack
upon Presque Isle were not without ample foundation, for here beyond
a peradventure were the quarters of those soldiers who were to be
employed in the manœuvre.
As nearly as I could judge from a hurried glance around, there were
quarters for fully two hundred men, and I believed that number had
already assembled here.
Many soldiers came out of the huts when we arrived, and because no
surprise was exhibited by any of them, we again understood that our
approach was observed some time before the capture.
If there had been any hope in our minds that we would be treated mildly
because of our youth, it was speedily dispelled.
The soldier in charge of the squad which conducted us, and I judged
that he might be a sergeant or a corporal, seized us roughly by the
arms, literally thrusting us into a small pen--I can give no other name
to that place used as a prison--which was built at one end of the hut
nearest the shore.
The door of logs was closed and barred behind us.
It was a regular coffin into which we had been introduced, and save
for the light that filtered through the chinks of the logs, we would
have been in darkness. Our prison measured, perhaps, five feet square,
and we had the choice of standing in a bent position, or of throwing
ourselves upon the frozen ground carpeted with snow.
“Snug quarters these!” Alec cried with an unsuccessful attempt at
cheeriness. “I have always heard it said that his Majesty had no love
for those who call themselves Americans, but never before knew he would
vent his displeasure upon boys.”
Fearing lest he might say that which would betray somewhat of our
purpose in coming out on the lake, I added gloomily:--
“If my mother could know where we are thus imprisoned it would seem
less hard; but she is like to be anxious concerning us when night
falls, and we have not returned.”
Then the dear lad, catching quickly at my reason for thus speaking,
added:--
“It cannot be the English soldiers will deem it a crime that we were
skating on the lake, and our release must soon come.”
After that we fell silent, not daring to speak lest we reveal what
should be kept a secret, and having at heart that fear of the future
which quenched all desire for conversation.
As the moments passed and we were forced to remain inactive, crouching
in the snow, exposed to the wind which came through every tiny crevice,
our limbs became chilled, and I said to myself that we were like to
freeze in these snug quarters where exercise was impossible save as one
might swing his arms to and fro.
That gloom which I had assumed when we were first thrust into the pen
now took possession of me in earnest, and again did I reproach myself
with having allowed the headstrong Alec to go on when I knew we were
in danger.
Then came that which caused us for the time to forget our private
troubles.
A group of soldiers inside the hut which joined our prison, were
talking so loudly that we could hear a goodly portion of the
conversation, and Alec seized me by the hand to attract my attention
when one of the men said impatiently:--
“There is no good reason why we are forced to halt here waiting for the
remainder of the regiment. I venture to say that the Yankee settlement
can be captured with threescore of men.”
There was no need any one should tell us of what settlement they were
speaking. If I had not suspected before, it would have been plain to me
now, that this detachment had encamped here to make ready for an attack
upon Presque Isle.
After a moment’s silence another voice asked:--
“Does any one know when we are like to move?” and to this, reply was
made by the man who had first spoken, so I judged:--
“When we number four hundred, I have heard it said.”
“And how long are we to wait for the remainder of the detachment? Three
days seem like a month, when one is tied up here, half frozen.”
“There is no reason why the attack could not have been made two days
ago,” the first speaker replied. “I am told that those who should join
us were halted at Port Ryers, but it is possible they may be here at
any moment.”
“There is nothing to delay us an hour after they come.”
Then the men began speculating upon the possible defence which might be
made by our people at Presque Isle, Alec and I listening intently for
that which would give us further hint as to the proposed movement.
It appeared to be the belief of the men that our settlement would offer
but little resistance, and I was surprised to know how well informed
they were concerning the condition of affairs.
I question if my father could have told them more regarding the
vessels on the stocks, or the length of time which might be required
to finish them. It was evident beyond a question that in Presque Isle
some one who had been trusted with all the details--perhaps one in
authority--was playing the traitor.
During fully an hour these men talked of that which they counted to
do, treating the matter as if the capture of Presque Isle was but a
trifling task; and we--Alec and I--grew alternately hot and cold, as
we realized what valuable information it would be possible to give were
we at liberty.
Not until nightfall was any attention paid us, and then the door of the
pen was opened, that a soldier might thrust in two small squares of
corn-bread.
“The snow will serve instead of water,” he said, with a leer; and then
we were alone once more.
Until this time neither of us had spoken; each was so intent upon
forming some plan of escape that he had no desire to talk of aught else.
When the scanty rations had been left us, and it was understood, from
what the soldier said, that we were to remain there until morning, I
could keep silent no longer.
“We will get out of this at any hazard!” I whispered to Alec. “It is
certain an attack will soon be made upon the settlement for the purpose
of destroying the half-finished vessels, and information must be
carried even at the expense of our lives.”
“I grant you that, Dicky Dobbins, and am willing to venture on any
chance, however small; but first you shall tell me in what way we may
set about carrying the information.”
The question I could not answer, and he knew it full well even as he
spoke.
The one thing in our favor, as it seemed to me, was the fact that
the Britishers had not taken away the skates. When we removed them,
according to orders, I was not minded to leave behind what had cost me
two dollars in lawful money and twelve muskrat pelts, therefore slung
them over my shoulder.
Now if we could but escape from this pen, with five minutes, or even
half that time, the start, there was no question in my mind but we
might get off scot-free.
How to get out? That was the question I could not answer, and thus far
Alec seemed to be equally in the dark.
The men in the hut adjoining our prison no longer talked sufficiently
loud for us to hear, or when they did, there were so many speaking at
the same time that we could not make out clearly the subject of the
conversation.
The snow was still falling; but the air was rapidly growing colder,
and I had little question that the storm would soon cease, for the
temperature must have been several degrees below zero.
To remain in this place, every corner of which was searched out by
the wind, would have been to freeze, and we ran to and fro as best we
might, thrashing our arms together with such a noise that some one in
the hut cried with a laugh:--
“The Yankee cubs won’t be idle this night, that I’ll venture to say;”
and another, who may have had boys of his own at home, added:--
“It is barbarous to leave them there without so much as a blanket. If
the shed was filled with snow, into which they might burrow, it would
not be so bad.”
“A bit of chill won’t do them any harm, and in case they get home again
it will serve to show the braggarts there what awaits them if they
persist in believing it possible to prevent Britain from ruling the
sea, or the land either, for that matter.”
“We may make as much noise as pleases us, and those fellows will think
only that we are trying to keep warm,” Alec whispered.
“Well!” I replied, not understanding for the moment what he meant. “How
much of satisfaction will you find in making a noise?”
“This much,” the lad replied; and from that moment I understood that,
despite the lack of years, he was my superior in such knowledge as
became one who would be a soldier: “Instead of walking idly to and fro,
what prevents us from spending our strength in trying to dislodge some
of these logs?”
There was nothing to prevent it, as I admitted to myself; but how might
we set about it?
Work of any kind would be welcome, yet it was necessary young Perry
show me how it might be begun.
And that he did, after looking about for a moment, feeling of the
joints in each corner where the timbers were simply laid one upon
another, and only slightly dovetailed together.
“The uppermost one should be pushed aside easiest,” he said at length,
“for no more than the weight of the roof rests upon it.”
“Yet you must have something as a lever with which to work.”
“I will use my shoulder, if it so be you can hold me on your back.”
“That I will do, and for so long a time as you wish,” I replied, with
but little faith that he might succeed in his purpose.
It was true nothing save the weight of the roof rested upon these
uppermost logs; but this was formed of green saplings, which, when
taken as a whole, would prove a burden far too heavy for both of us,
even though we could come at it handily, so I said to myself.
However, there was no harm in trying; and so much good would come of it
that even in the failure we should be gaining needed exercise to keep
us warm.
Crouching as one does who plays at leap-frog, I rested my hands upon
the logs forming the outer side of the pen, to hold myself steady, and
Alec stood upon my back.
In this position he was forced to bend nearly double, and I saw at once
that could I hold him up when he straightened his body, something must
perforce give way.
“Are you ready?” he asked in a whisper, and I, mentally bracing myself
for the effort, replied:--
“Do your best; but quickly, lest I fail to hold this position.”
Alec Perry is a slightly built lad, and to look at him one would say
his strength was hardly more than that of a woman, yet I soon found
that it was far in excess of what his frame indicated.
For an instant it seemed as if the weight of a ton was pressing upon
my bent back, and then I heard a dull, muffled sound, as if some heavy
body had fallen into the snow on the outside.
The strain upon me was lessened wonderfully, and my heart leaped with
joy and gratitude as the dear boy whispered excitedly:--
“We have thrown off the top log, Dicky Dobbins, and unless there be a
sentinel outside who has heard the timber fall, we shall be free from
this pen as soon as you are minded to make the venture.”
He leaped down from my back, and, grasping both his hands to show my
gratitude for his gallant and wondrous effort, for it was wondrous in
view of his slight body, I replied:--
“We’ll count thirty, Alec, and if by that time no alarm is given, it
is for us to make good an escape, taking the chances of losing our way
in the driving snow upon the ice, rather than remain here; for now has
come the time when we may save Presque Isle from falling into the hands
of the enemy.”