A BOLD STROKE.
Isaac's heart beat hard and fast when he and Nathan were thus left with
but a single man to guard them, for he believed the time had come when
they might succeed in turning the tables, because surely it would be
easier to overpower one than three.
In this, however, he soon came to understand that he was mistaken.
Had either of the others been left on guard it is possible something
might have been done; but Jason Wentworth was not a man to be caught
napping, and while he seemingly directed his gaze out over the waters,
at the slightest movement of either of the prisoners he was on the alert
against an attempt at escape.
Twice had Isaac changed his position in order to make certain the man
was keeping close watch upon them when his attention was apparently
directed elsewhere, and each time he saw Master Wentworth's musket
raised that it might be ready in case a bullet was needed to check the
flight of his captives.
"You had better not try that again," the man said warningly when Isaac
shifted his position the third time for no other reason than to make
himself more comfortable. "In a case like this your lives count as
nothing, and while I am unwilling to leave you to starve in the woods, I
shall not hesitate to kill either or both, therefore do not make any
feint at giving me the slip lest my patience should become exhausted."
After that Isaac was exceedingly careful, as was young Beman, to remain
silent and motionless.
While Corporal 'Lige's recruit was ready to encounter serious danger in
order to accomplish his ends, there was no idea in his mind of risking
life needlessly when there was nothing to be gained.
Young Beman lay face downward, as he had thrown himself when the halt
was called, giving no heed to the conversation between his comrade and
Master Wentworth, and Isaac believed young Beman intended for him to
understand that he would take no part in an effort to effect their
release.
An hour passed and nothing had been heard from the two who had gone in
search of a boat.
It surely seemed as if they must have met with some mishap, and a great
hope sprang up in Isaac's breast.
When thirty minutes more had passed Master Wentworth's face gave
evidence of the anxiety which had come upon him, and he looked toward
his prisoners with such an odd expression that Isaac Rice trembled,
fearing the man was beginning to believe it would be better to do with
them as his friends had suggested.
Then, when it seemed impossible for Jason Wentworth longer to control
his impatience, Master White returned as when he departed, and having
the appearance of one who had walked far and rapidly.
"You found no boat?" Master Wentworth said interrogatively, and the man
replied, as he seated himself wearily near by the prisoners:
"I do not believe there is one this side of Crown Point. Most likely the
rebels took good care to gather in every craft that was to be found
within half a dozen miles of here."
For the first time since the little party came to a halt did Nathan
evince any interest in what was going on around him, and now he
partially turned as if to speak.
Isaac, believing he was on the point of telling what he knew regarding
the seizure of boats, covered the boy's mouth with his hand, for he was
not minded to give the enemy any information.
Master Wentworth observed the movement, and evidently would have
demanded an explanation, but for the fact that at this moment Ezra Jones
came up through the thicket, instead of along the shore.
His report was much like Master White's.
The boat he had expected to find near the trail leading to Sudbury was
missing, and he had continued on nearly two miles further, but without
avail.
Again did hope come into Isaac's desponding breast.
The boy had believed Master Jones would surely find the craft in which
he and Nathan had crossed the lake; but fortune favored the "rebel"
cause in that respect at least, for the man must have turned about,
when, by continuing on a very short distance further, he would have come
upon that for which he was searching.
"We must go on foot," Master Wentworth said after a short pause, "and
the sooner we set out the better."
"It's all very well for you, who have been resting here, to say that,"
Jones replied petulantly. "I've been making a road through the thicket
for a matter of five miles or more, and don't propose to move again
until after I've had a breathing spell."
"Why didn't you come back by the shore, as you went?"
"Because there are a hundred pair of eyes watching this side of the
lake. I could see the rebels on the opposite shore before I gained the
trail, and then it was necessary to keep well hidden in the bushes. Even
though I had found a boat, it is doubtful if I should have been allowed
to pull up this way, for Seth Warner and Ethan Allen are much too keen
to let any one pass who is headed in the direction of Crown Point."
"They are waiting for the wind to die away before setting out to take
the fort, and if we would save it to the king it is time to be about the
work," Master Wentworth said half to himself, but his comrades gave no
heed to the words.
Then ensued a long time of silence, and Isaac was well content, for each
moment of delay lessened the danger, as he believed.
Thanks to the indolence of Masters White and Jones, it was nearly
nightfall before they were ready to begin the journey, and then the
latter intimated that he had recovered from his fatigue.
"If we fail to give the warning in time, you and White can take the
fault to yourselves," Master Wentworth said angrily, after which he
ordered the prisoners on in advance once more.
"They have begun to quarrel among themselves, and perhaps our time will
come before morning," Isaac whispered to Nathan as they pushed on in
advance, and young Beman appeared more willing to listen than when the
subject was first broached; but yet he made no reply.
An hour later night had fully come, and the flying clouds so completely
obscured the sky that it was difficult for the travelers to make their
way even along the shore where was nothing, save here and there a point
of rocks, to impede the progress.
More than once did the boys walk directly into the water, and twice
Master White fell headlong over a fallen tree, despite all efforts to
the contrary, and then it was Jason Wentworth who proposed a halt.
"We are not making two miles an hour at this rate," he said in the tone
of one who is offended with his companions. "We may as well stop where
we are until it is light enough for us to see the way."
Nathan and Isaac came to a halt immediately, and, ordering them to keep
close by his side, the leader of the party sought for a camping-place
amid the shrubbery.
It was not possible to make any choice selection while it was so dark
that one could not distinguish objects a dozen paces in advance, and at
the first cleared space sufficiently large to admit of the men
stretching out at full length, Master Wentworth made his preparations
for the night.
He ordered the boys to lie down; covered them with four or five
saplings, and on the ends of these he and Master White laid themselves
in such manner that the first movement made by the prisoners must awaken
the captors.
It was the Indian method of guarding captives; but, owing to the absence
of robes or blankets with which to cover the ends of the saplings, those
who lay on the outside had a most uncomfortable bed.
Isaac, still on the alert for any advantage, observed, rather by sense
of hearing than of sight, that Master Wentworth kept his musket close
beside him, while the other two leaned their weapons against the bushes.
It seemed to Corporal 'Lige's recruit as if Nathan Beman had finally
come to understand that escape might yet be possible, for the latter
prodded his comrade with his elbow from time to time, as if to prevent
him from falling asleep, and Isaac returned the pressure with vigor.
Then, when it appeared as if fully an hour had passed, the heavy
breathing of the men told that they were fast asleep, and Nathan
whispered cautiously:
"These fellows ain't so smart as I'd counted on. I've heard father tell
how he outwitted the savages when they had him in the same kind of a
trap, an' I can work this if you're ready."
"Begin at once; there is no time to lose."
Then it was that young Beman breathed loudly as if wrapped in profound
slumber, and tossed about restlessly, all the while pressing against
Master White.
Isaac did not understand the purpose of such maneuver, but he was
content with knowing that his comrade had at last consented to make an
effort toward escape.
More than once Master White partially awakened, and grumbled because of
Nathan's restlessness; but at the same moment he unconsciously moved
aside slightly, and each time he did this the prisoners were so much
nearer liberty.
Then came the time when Nathan whispered:
"He has at last rolled off the saplings, and I can crawl away without
disturbing him. Are you ready to follow?"
"Yes. Can't you get the muskets? Two are near our feet, and the other is
by the side of Wentworth."
"It is enough if we give them the slip."
"If we get possession of the muskets they cannot send a bullet after us
in case one awakens before we are well off."
"I'll try it," Nathan replied as he began wriggling his body out from
under the saplings, not daring to move in the direction of where Master
White lay.
Isaac, literally trembling with excitement, followed his example, and it
seemed to him as if half an hour had been consumed in the task, when
really no more than five minutes were thus spent before the boys were on
their feet and the men apparently still wrapped in slumber.
Even now Nathan would have made good his escape without an effort to
secure the weapons, and pressed his comrade's arm to intimate that there
was no time to be lost; but Isaac, dropping to his hands and knees,
crept toward Master Wentworth.
When the plan had so far succeeded that they were on their feet, a bold
scheme came into Isaac's head, and he believed now was come the time for
him to gain the good opinion of Corporal 'Lige, if he should be so
fortunate as to see the old soldier again.
Moving with infinite care, and giving no heed to what Nathan might be
doing, the boy crept to Master Wentworth's side, and it was with
difficulty he repressed a cry of exultation as his fingers closed over
the musket.
Cautiously rising to his feet, and at the same instant assuring himself
the flint was in place, but forgetting that he had no powder with which
to prime the weapon, Isaac stepped back to where he had left his
comrade.
Nathan was no longer there, but from a short distance away came a slight
rustling of the foliage, and Isaac waited, his heart beating so
violently that it seemed positive the thumping must awaken their
enemies.
Before Corporal 'Lige's recruit could have counted twenty, Nathan stood
by his side, and it needed but one touch of the hand to tell the former
that all the weapons had been secured.
Young Beman had done his work well, for he not only held the two
muskets, but a powder-horn well filled, and a shot pouch heavy with
bullets.
Now it was that, having all the advantage, Nathan began to be sensible
of a glow of patriotism, and he whispered to his comrade as he carefully
primed one of the muskets:
"It wouldn't be a hard task to take these fellows into Sudbury, if we
had something with which to fetter their hands."
"My mother made the cloth of this coat I am wearing, and I promise that
it's as strong as a rope."
Without waiting for a reply Isaac began stripping the garment into
narrow bands, by aid of his teeth, and the noise caused Master Wentworth
to half rise as he cried:
"Hey! White! Jones!"
"Stay where you are!" Nathan shouted. "We've got all the muskets, and
are in the mood to shoot if you make any trouble. It won't go much
against the grain to put a couple of bullets into the two who wanted to
leave us trussed up in the thicket, where we would starve to death!"
Master Wentworth sank back upon the ground very quickly, and at the same
instant must have discovered that his ammunition had not been seized,
for he cried to his companions:
"They can't prime the muskets, and it is the same----"
"You'll know whether we can or not if you make any move! Don't think we
were such fools as to forget that part of the business! I've got all the
powder and balls that'll be needed to give you three a solid dose. Tie
Master Wentworth's hands behind his back, Isaac, and if he so much as
winks while you are doing it I'll quiet him. Lie down!" he added
fiercely as in the dim light he saw one of the others attempting to
rise. "If you make any fuss we'll shoot first an' talk afterward!"
It was more than probable one of the men might, because of the darkness,
have gotten off without injury; but each knew that should such an
attempt be made Nathan could shoot down perhaps two of the party, and
each probably feared it might be himself who would receive the bullet.
Therefore it was that they obeyed young Beman's orders strictly, and as
soon as might be Master Wentworth was lying on his face with both hands
tied securely behind his back.
To fetter the others in the same fashion was neither a long nor a
difficult task, because, like the bullies they were, both showed the
white feather when danger threatened their precious selves, and no more
than fifteen minutes had elapsed from the time Nathan first set about
making the attempt at escape before the prisoners were powerless for
harm.
With their hands thus securely lashed behind them, it was impossible for
the men to rise without assistance, and while Nathan stood with the
musket raised that he might shoot at the first show of resistance, Isaac
helped the prisoners to their feet.
"Now it is you three who will obey our orders, instead of knocking us
about," young Beman said gleefully, "and I'll make the same threat
Master Wentworth did: At the first show of trying to escape, I'll shoot,
an' even though it is dark, there's little chance of missing aim, for we
shall keep close in the rear. Take one musket, Isaac, and the other
we'll leave here, rather than hamper ourselves by too much of a burden."
"Do you count on trying to make your way through the thicket while it is
so dark?" Ezra Jones asked in a surly tone.
"That's what we shall do."
"Then you may as well shoot us offhand, for if it was hard work when we
were free, what chance have we with our hands tied?"
"If you think that is the best plan I'll follow your advice, and never
so much as wince in the doing of it, for you was one who would have left
us to starve," Nathan said so promptly that the man involuntarily ducked
his head as if fearing a bullet might follow the words.
"Where are you bent on taking us?" Jason Wentworth asked, after he had
somewhat recovered his composure.
"Our orders were to go to Sudbury, and I think we'd better keep on in
that direction, rather than lose time by carrying you to Ticonderoga. We
could do that last if we pleased, for our boat is hidden among the
bushes nearabout where Master Jones turned back. What say you, Isaac
Rice? Is it to be Sudbury, or the fort?"
"It is best we see Captain Baker as soon as may be, and if you think we
can find our way through the woods, I'll say nothing against a short
cut, for time presses."
The prisoners were driven like sheep, both boys marching directly behind
them with leveled muskets, and, as may be expected, the advance was
exceedingly slow.
The men stumbled over fallen trees, and each of them fell headlong half
a dozen times before the seemingly long night came to an end; but still
they were urged on at the best possible pace until sunrise, when a brief
halt was made.
Two hours after the journey had been resumed the trail was found, and
from that time on until the outskirts of the settlement was gained, the
party marched at a reasonably rapid rate of speed.
Once a glimpse of Sudbury was had Isaac became exceedingly prudent, and
insisted upon calling a halt, while Nathan declared they should press
forward until the prisoners could be delivered to Captain Baker.
"I shan't feel comfortable in mind until all three are off our hands,
for there's no knowing how many friends they may have in the
settlement."
"That is exactly why I would halt here," Isaac replied, and Corporal
'Lige would have rejoiced had he known how rapidly his recruit was
learning his duties as a soldier. "We do not know in which house Captain
Baker lives, and while making inquiries, still having the prisoners with
us, we might come upon those who would turn the tables once more, before
we had so much as gained speech with the officer."
"Then what would you do?"
"We are within less than half a mile of the settlement. Let us march the
prisoners into the thicket, where they will be hidden from view of any
who may come this way, and while one stands guard over them, the other
can seek out the captain. After that has been done he can take charge of
the affair, and our work will be well and thoroughly done."
"Who is to remain here?" Nathan asked.
"It shall be as you say."
Young Beman remained silent a moment, and then, with the air of one who
has decided an important question, said:
"You shall go into the settlement, and if either of these Tories so much
as opens his mouth while you are gone, I'll put a bullet through him."
"And you must not hesitate to carry out that threat," Isaac added
firmly. "Now is come the time when we may prevent any news from being
carried to Crown Point, and at the same moment deliver Colonel Allen's
message, therefore blood must be spilled if necessary."
Jones and White looked thoroughly alarmed, while Jason Wentworth said
approvingly:
"You lads are in the right, from your own standpoint, which is a wrong
one, however; but since we have been so dull as to let you get the best
of us, it is but proper we should pay the penalty for disobeying
orders."
"Will you give us your word not to make an outcry if any person should
pass by on the trail?" Isaac quietly, having no little respect for this
enemy who could look upon the situation so fairly.
"If by giving up my life I can prevent the capture of Crown Point, you
may be certain I shall not hesitate."
Isaac looked significantly at Nathan, as if to say that this man should
be guarded more closely than the others, and after the prisoners had
been marched into the thicket, where they were completely hidden from
view, Corporal 'Lige's recruit set out, Nathan calling after him:
"Do not loiter by the way, either in going or coming, for I am not quite
at my ease while alone."
"Have no fear I shall delay. It should not be a long task to find
Captain Baker, and most likely you'll see me again in less than an hour.
Keep your wits about you, and remember how much mischief may be done if
you hesitate to shoot when it becomes necessary to do so."