A SECLUDED CAMP.
When these raw recruits departed from the town--Corporal 'Lige insisted
that they did not march--they were followed for several miles by nearly
all the men and boys in the vicinity.
The old man was greatly exercised because Colonel Easton, who now
assumed command, allowed such an unsoldierly proceeding as that his
troops should walk arm in arm with their friends, each in his own manner
and at his own convenience.
Had the corporal been invested with the proper authority he would have
had these raw recruits marshaled into ranks and forced to step in
unison, carrying their muskets at the same angle, and otherwise
conforming themselves to his idea of soldierly bearing--all this he
would have had them do; but whether he could have brought about such a
condition of affairs is extremely problematical.
"I allowed Colonel James Easton came somewhere near bein' a soldier,
even though he is only a militiaman," the corporal said in a tone of
intense dissatisfaction to Isaac as the two marched solemnly side by
side in the midst of their disorderly companions, "and I did think we
could set out from here and capture Ticonderoga, if all hands were
willin' to put their shoulders to the wheel; but I take back that
statement, lad, and am sorry I ever was so foolish as to enlist. I ought
to have known better when I saw the crowd that was signin' the rolls."
"Why, what's the matter, corporal?" and Isaac looked around in surprise,
for until this moment he had believed everything was progressing in
proper military fashion.
"Matter?" Corporal 'Lige cried angrily. "Look around and see how these
men are comportin' themselves, an' then you'll know. Here are them as
should be soldiers, seein's they've signed the rolls, mixed up with
citizens till you couldn't tell one from the other unless personally
acquainted with all hands. Then how are they marchin'? Why, a flock of
geese couldn't straggle along in any more ungainly fashion."
"I shouldn't suppose it would make any difference how they marched so
that they got there in time," Isaac ventured to suggest timidly.
"Shouldn't, eh? Then what's the good of calling themselves soldiers? Why
don't they start out like a crowd of farmers an' try their hand at
taking the fort?"
"Well?" Isaac replied calmly. "Why shouldn't they? They are not
soldiers, you know, corporal, and so long's the fort is taken why
wouldn't it be as well if they didn't try to ape military manners?"
The old man gazed sternly at the boy while one might have counted ten,
and then said in a tone of sadness:
"It's a shame, Isaac Rice, that after bein' with me all these years, an'
hearin' more or less regardin' military matters, you shouldn't have more
sense."
"Why, what have I said now, corporal? Is it any harm to think that
farmers might take a fort?"
"Of course it is, lad. If anything of that kind could happen, what's the
use of having soldiers?"
"But I suppose it is necessary to have an army if there's going to be
war," Isaac replied innocently, and this last was sufficient to
completely fill the vials of the old man's wrath.
That this pupil of his should fail at the very first opportunity to show
a proper spirit, was to him most disappointing, and during the half-hour
which followed he refused to speak, even though Isaac alternately begged
his pardon for having been so ignorant and expressed regret that he had
said anything which might give offense.
During all this while the citizens of Pittsfield were following the
recruits in a most friendly manner, believing it their duty to thus
cheer those who might soon be amid the carnage of battle, and perhaps
not one realized how seriously he was by such method offending Corporal
'Lige.
Isaac's father was among this well-intentioned following, as were two of
the lad's brothers, and when these representatives of the Rice family,
having walked as far as the head of the household deemed necessary, were
about to turn back, they ranged themselves either side of the corporal
and his pupil, in order to bid the latter farewell.
"I expect you will give a good account of yourself, Isaac, when it comes
to fighting, and I feel all the more confident in regard to it because
you are under the wing of a man who knows what it is to be a soldier."
This compliment was intended for Corporal 'Lige as a matter of course;
but he paid no other attention to it than to say:
"If the lad had profited by my teachings, he'd know that he has no right
to talk with outsiders while he's in the ranks."
"That's exactly it," Mr. Rice replied, wholly oblivious that the
corporal was administering what he believed to be a most severe rebuke.
"That is exactly it, my son, and you will do well to remember that you
cannot fail in your duty so long as you take pattern from the corporal."
The old soldier gave vent to what can be described only as a "snort" of
contempt; and the boy's sorrow was as nothing compared with what it had
been when bidding good-by to his mother.
After the young Rices had turned their faces homeward in obedience to
the orders of the elder Rice, Isaac gave more heed to copying the
movements of the corporal, thereby atoning in a certain measure for his
previous injudicious remarks.
The boy firmly believed that no more able soldier could be found in all
the colonies than this same Corporal 'Lige, and had any person ventured
to remark that the expedition might be as well off without him, Isaac
would have set the speaker down as one lacking common sense.
Take the corporal out of the ranks, and young Rice would have said there
was no possibility either Crown Point or Ticonderoga could be captured.
Thus it was that an order from Colonel Allen, Colonel Easton, or Seth
Warner was as nothing compared with one from Corporal 'Lige, in the mind
of Isaac Rice; but there were many in the ranks who did not have such an
exalted opinion of the old soldier, and these were free with their
criticisms and unfavorable remarks, much against the raw recruit's peace
of mind, as well as the corporal's annoyance.
It was because of these light-headed volunteers, who saw only in this
expedition a novel and agreeable form of junketing, out of which it was
their duty to extract all the sport possible regardless of the feelings
of others, that Corporal 'Lige withdrew himself, so to speak, from his
comrades, and barely acknowledged the salutes of any save his superior
officers.
At the end of the second day's journey he refused to go into camp with
them; but applied to the captain of his company for permission to
advance yet a short distance further, at which point he could join the
troops when they came forward next morning. It was known by all the
expedition, even including those who were making the old soldier the
butt of their mirth, that he was held in high esteem by Colonel Ethan
Allen, and the request, although irregular, was readily granted, after a
warning against the perils attendant upon such a course.
"It is better you stay with the troops, corporal," the captain said
kindly, "although I have no hesitation in saying you are free to do as
you choose."
"And I do not choose to remain in the encampment for all the young
geese--who fancy that by signing the rolls they have become soldiers--to
sharpen their wits upon, therefore I would halt by myself, taking only
the recruit I claim as my own, for company."
"I will have a care that you are not annoyed again," the officer replied
in a kindly tone; but this was not to Corporal 'Lige's liking.
"If a soldier can only keep his self-respect by running to his superior
officers like a schoolboy when matters are not to his fancy it is time
he left the ranks. After we have smelt burning powder I fancy these
youngsters will keep a civil tongue in their heads, and until then I had
best care for myself."
This was such good logic that the captain could oppose no solid argument
against it, therefore the old soldier received permission for himself
and "his recruit" to form camp wherever it should please him, provided,
however, that they remained in the ranks while the command was
advancing.
Not until after the matter had been thus settled did the captain take it
upon himself to warn the corporal that it was not wholly safe to thus
separate from his companions.
"It is well known that our movements are being watched by both Tories
and Indians," he said in a friendly manner, such as would not offend the
obstinate old soldier, "and you can well fancy that they would not
hesitate to do some mischief to any of the expedition whom they might
come upon alone."
"I can take care of myself, and also the boy," Corporal 'Lige replied
stiffly, as he saluted his superior officer with unusual gravity, and
with this the subject was dropped.
Then the old man said to his recruit, as he motioned him aside that
others might not get information concerning his purpose:
"We'll draw such rations as may be served out, lad, and then push ahead
to where we can be in the company of sensible people, meaning our two
selves."
Isaac would have felt decidedly more safe if he could remain with the
main body of troops, for he had heard the captain's caution; but he did
not think it wise to give such a desire words, and by his silence
signified that he was ready to do whatsoever his instructor should deem
to be for the best.
The rations served these volunteers who proposed to reduce the forts at
Ticonderoga and Crown Point ere they yet knew a soldier's duties were
not generous, and he who, from a desire to avoid seeming greedy, delayed
in applying for them, generally found himself without food, save he
might be so fortunate as to beg some from his more provident companions.
Corporal 'Lige was exceedingly friendly to his stomach; he made it a
rule never to allow modesty to deprive him of a full share of whatever
might be served out, therefore it was he had drawn rations for himself
and Isaac almost before the troops came to a halt, and the hindermost
were yet marching into camp, weary and travel-stained, when he said to
his small comrade:
"There is nothing to keep us here longer, and the sooner we are at a
goodly distance from these silly youngsters who fancy that the taking of
a musket in their hands makes them soldiers, the better I shall be
pleased."
Isaac gave token of willingness to continue the march by shouldering his
weapon once more, and the two set off, attracting no attention from
their companions-in-arms, each of whom had little thought save to
minister to his own comfort, for this soldiering was rapidly becoming
more of a task and less of a pleasure-tour than had been at first
supposed.
Not until he was fully a mile from the foremost of the main body did the
corporal give any evidence of an intention to halt, and then he showed
remarkably good judgment in his selection of a camping-place.
At the edge of a small brook about fifty yards from the main road over
which they had been traveling, he threw down his knapsack, and announced
in a tone of satisfaction that they would spend the night there.
"It is not too far away, and yet at such a distance that we shall not be
forced to listen to the gabbling of those geese," he said as he set
about building a small campfire in order to prepare the food he had
procured. "Make yourself comfortable, Isaac Rice, for it is a soldier's
solemn duty to gain all the rest he can."
"Do you think we shall be safe here?" the boy asked almost timidly, for
it seemed little short of a crime to question any proposition made by
the corporal.
"Safe, lad? What's to prevent? If you keep your ears open for stories of
danger while you are with the army, you'll never know peace of mind, for
there are always those faint-hearted ones ready to exaggerate the
falling of a leaf into the coming of the enemy. I have as much regard
for my own safety as for yours, and I say that here we can camp in peace
and safety."
This was sufficient for the corporal's recruit, and he set about making
himself comfortable, with the conviction that none knew better than his
comrade the general condition of affairs.