TRYON'S DEMONSTRATION.
Although we, meaning Sidney and I, had saved a man's life, it was but
a trifling incident to the majority, so intense was the interest in
the outcome of the trial to be held on the morrow.
The welfare of the colony, and, perhaps, the lives of hundreds of our
people depended upon what would be done next day in the Hillsborough
court-house, and with such a great stake at hazard, the citizens might
well be excused for giving but little heed to the fact that a
tax-collector had been very near death.
Those who paid any particular attention to the events which I have
just set down, viewed the entire proceeding as but the first move in
the game betwixt rulers and those who are ruled, and if any
disquietude was felt, it arose from the fact that the more
superstitious took Sandy Wells' escape from death as a token that our
oppressors would win the legal battle, or contrive some way by which
it might be turned into a farce.
When I rejoined my parents I found them looking decidedly
uncomfortable in mind, and it was possible to guess the reason for
their anxiety when mother said to me in a low tone as she clasped my
hand lovingly:
"My son, in case it should not be prudent to return home at once, I
feel confident you will conduct yourself as if my eyes were upon you
all the time."
"Then father thinks Tryon will get the best of us to-morrow?" I cried,
looking up quickly.
"It is possible that, despite all our show of force, the king's party
may outwit us, or force the judges to decide in Tryon's favor," my
father replied thoughtfully.
"If that should happen the people would make quick work of the
traitors," I said, thinking of the scene I had just witnessed.
"No one can say when or how a gathering like this is to be swerved
from its purpose. Within four and twenty hours the situation may
appear entirely different to those who now cry out against the king's
minions."
"But the Regulators will hold steadfast," I said quickly. "Having
announced themselves as true Sons of Liberty, they cannot give up the
struggle while right is on their side."
"I know not what may be the result of to-morrow's trial," my father
replied gravely, "and it is of little use to speculate, as I have
already been led to do by certain questions your mother asked. We
shall know the outcome in due season."
"But you have intimated to her that it may be several weeks before I
return home, as if believing the result will be in favor of Tryon's
party," I insisted.
"I have said that it might become necessary for the Regulation to
remain in session some time and of course, since you are a member, it
will be needful to remain in camp."
I understood that father had indulged in more forebodings while
conversing privately with mother, than he cared to have made known to
me, and was not surprised thereat. It had been in my mind for many
hours that the governor could and would influence the decision of the
court, if he believed it might be done with safety so far as he
personally was concerned, and it would not have caused me astonishment
had I been told that the case was already settled without regard to
any evidence which might be submitted.
The judges upon the bench would be Chief Justice Martin Howard, with
Maurice Moore and Richard Henderson as his associates.
It had been said more than once that to these gentlemen Tryon's desire
was of more importance than the king's written law, and even General
Hamilton was quoted as having declared that the words of the decisions
in the cases which were to come up on the morrow would have been
dictated by the man who made of justice a mockery.
However, when I looked around upon the vast assembly, and realized
that the governor knew beyond a peradventure that all these people
would cry out against any additional wrongs, even to the extent of
resorting to arms, I could not believe he would dare trifle with them.
Mother, observing the mood into which I had fallen, bade me forget her
words, but not the substance of them, and to change the current of
thought suggested that father and myself escort her around the
encampment in order that she might meet our friends.
We were on the point of acceding to what was really a proposition,
when one of the Regulators came up hurriedly with the word:
"The members of the association are ordered to fall into line,
mounted, and fully armed."
It was a command to be obeyed on the instant, and as I ran toward my
camp to make preparations, I wondered what could have happened to give
color to such a warlike proceeding.
So far as I was able to see, everything appeared in much the same
condition as when we had rescued Sandy, yet there could be no question
but that danger threatened from some quarter.
Sidney was by my side before I arrived at the lean-to, and his first
question was as to whether I knew the meaning of the command.
"I can see nothing to cause alarm, and yet General Hamilton is far too
cautious to do anything unnecessarily which might provoke a conflict,"
I replied. "At such a time as this it needs but a spark to set all
these men aflame, for after the many wrongs committed in the king's
name they are like to so much tinder, and our forming into ranks will
arouse them at once."
"If Sandy Wells can stir up the visitors to the point of murder, it
stands our officers in hand to go slowly and with exceeding caution,"
Sidney said in so grave a tone that I looked at him in surprise.
When we began saddling our horses, which had been kept within the
enclosure that day lest they might be frightened away, or stolen, the
collector was alarmed, and, poking his head out from under the
brushpile, asked in a voice trembling with apprehension:
"What is the matter? Have any others from the sheriff's office been so
reckless as to follow my example by coming across the river?"
"We don't know what is on foot," Sidney replied; "but certain it is
that we are called out for duty. Take my advice and keep under cover
till night, when we will make an effort to send you over to the town."
Sandy disappeared like a flash, and despite the fears in my mind I
could not repress the smile which was provoked by a glimpse of his
face.
The day was exceedingly warm, and his hiding-place must have been
close indeed, for not a breath of air could reach him beneath all that
brush. His cheeks were flushed crimson, and the perspiration oozed
from every pore, only to be covered with pine needles which adhered to
the skin as if glued there.
We were not long in answering the call, and once my comrade and I were
on the brow of the hill overlooking the town, where the command was
being formed, it was possible to understand why we had been summoned.
Across that sea of heads, just in front of the court-house, was
Governor Tryon's army, drawn up as if for action. We could see that
every man was fully armed, and all the officers in position, ready
for immediate movement.
"What is the meaning of that display of force?" I asked in surprise,
and the man nearest me replied grimly:
"That is what all of us would like to know. It may be that Tryon is
only showing the visitors what he can muster in case of a riot, and
yet such would be a foolish move, for it simply proves that this
multitude could make short work of them. If I stood in Tryon's shoes I
should hesitate about showing my hand so plainly."
"The fellow is no fool, however much of a knave he may be," one of the
Regulators who had heard the reply said quickly. "I warrant those
soldiers are not there to overawe the people."
"Then why have they been called out?" Sidney asked impatiently.
"In my opinion they will march across the river, or, at least, to a
point mighty near this camp."
"Meaning that the governor counts on showing fight?" I asked in
dismay.
"You are getting beyond me; but the question is likely to be answered
very soon, for the men are in motion."
As he spoke the command wheeled into files, and advanced in order of
fours directly toward us. At the head of the column rode three
officers tricked out with gold lace and feathers; but we could see
readily that Tryon himself was not among them.
By this time the people, who had been aroused by seeing us form in
line as if to resist an attack, now perceived what was happening on
the other side of the river, and straightway a murmuring sound arose
which was at the same time menacing and disquieting.
I could see that the male visitors were hurrying the women and
children around to the other side of the hill, as if expecting a
battle was imminent, while the younger men and older lads were
collecting into a solid mass.
"If yonder fellows were armed, Tryon's recruits would have a rough
time of it," Sidney said with a laugh as he pointed at the throng
which was edging toward the hill as if to support us.
"God forbid that such should be the case, else Hillsborough would be a
shambles this night," a horseman near me said in a low tone. "If Tryon
begins blood-letting to-day, he and we alike will rue it."
The soldiers advanced in something like regular order until they were
come to the river bank, and there, not more than two hundred yards
from where the Regulators and their horses remained like statues, they
came to a halt.
The three officers who had led the column rode into the stream to a
point midway across the ford, where they also halted.
"It is a parley!" I heard some one near me mutter, and then came a cry
from that officer whose uniform bore the greatest amount of gold lace:
"Is there any one who professes to command your force?"
General Hamilton, attended by Master James Hunter and my father, rode
to the line of the encampment, and the old Scotchman lifted his hat in
answer to the question.
"Who am I addressing?" the officer asked, and then it was that I
recognized him as the governor's secretary.
"That you know full well, David Edwards!" our old commander shouted;
"but lest you may think I'm afraid to bring myself under the ban of
your mock court, I'll repeat it. I am Ninian Bell Hamilton, a
freeholder of this colony, president of that association known as the
Regulation, and bending the knee to no one outside of bonny Scotland!"
What a shout went up from the people as the old gentleman thus boldly
announced himself! It was as if the hill literally trembled because of
the tumult, and not until a good five minutes had passed was it
possible for Master Edwards to make himself heard.
Then, when the people were hoarse from much shouting, the secretary
cried:
"In the name of the king I bid you disperse!"
"Wherefore?" General Hamilton asked sharply. "Is it not allowed that
the people may assemble when their court of law is about to decide
upon the fate of two most worthy members of this colony?"
"It is not lawful to menace the king's officers while they are in
discharge of their duty."
"It is you who are menacing, my good man. We have come here in orderly
fashion, and were doing our best to preserve order when you marched
out in full war array."
"You are inciting the people to deeds of violence. It is hardly an
hour since one of his majesty's officers was foully murdered by you
who call yourselves Regulators, and I demand that those who had any
hand in that cowardly deed be delivered up to his excellency's guard,
whereof I am temporarily in command."
"Whatever is the rascal talking about?" I heard General Hamilton
mutter; but after Master Hunter had spoken with him, he looked around
as if in search of some person.
I made bold to spur my horse forward a few paces, believing I
understood what the general would have, and immediately he motioned me
nearer.
"Have you that rascally tax-collector in your charge, my lad?"
"Aye, sir; that is to say, he was in our camp half an hour since."
"Bring him out here, and we will see if he's the man yonder popinjay
prates about so loudly."
I rode back to our lean-to without loss of time, and once there called
to Sandy.
He poked his head out from amid the brush like a turtle, and because
of the pine needles which covered his face the best friend he had in
the world would have failed to recognize him.
"The governor's troops have sent for you," I said curtly, intent only
on performing my duty in the shortest possible space of time. "You are
to come with me."
"I don't dare, lad, I don't dare!" he cried in an agony of terror.
"You alone amid all this throng cannot protect me!"
"There will be no throng where you are to go. The Regulators are drawn
up in line, and I give you my word they will brook no interference
from those who were near to doing murder."
Instead of coming out, he drew back till I could see no more than the
top of his head, and I was angered because of the delay.
"The general has sent for you, and I am not willing to waste time. If
you are not by my side before it is possible to count ten, I'll put a
bullet into your head as you lie there!"
Although I would not have done such a thing to save my right hand, the
coward must have believed I was in deadly earnest, for he crept out,
shaking with fear like a man suffering from an ague fit.
"Now march by the side of my horse, holding to the stirrup," I said
sharply. "It will be well so long as you obey orders; but once I see
any show of running away, my bullet will make a target of your
carcass."
"How could I run away while on every hand are those who would murder
me?" he asked with a whine. "If the people see me I am undone."
"The governor's troops have come to conduct you to the town, and
surely you may trust them!" I cried.
Sandy shook his head doubtfully; he was in that frame of mind where he
trusted no one, and his terror was so great as to excite pity.
I contrived, however, by a liberal use of threats, to keep him by me
until I had arrived at General Hamilton's side, and then the old
Scotchman bade me advance with Sandy until I was midway between
himself and the three officers.
"Is that the man you accuse us of murdering?" the general asked when I
had obeyed his order, and I could see a look of surprise come over
Master Edwards' face.
"Is it Sandy Wells, of the sheriff's office?" he asked; but my
prisoner remained silent, whereupon I prodded him in the side,
whispering as I did so:
"Speak out, man! Do you distrust your own friends?"
"I'm not certain if I have any," he said mournfully, and then so far
plucked up courage as to reply in a thin, tremulous voice:
"Aye, sir, I am Sandy Wells."
"We heard that you had been murdered," Master Edwards said, much as if
disappointed because such was not the fact.
"I was indeed very near death; but those who call themselves
Regulators rescued me from the vile men who accuse me of having worked
them harm because of obeying the sheriff's orders."
"Is that the man you declared had been murdered?" General Hamilton
shouted, and after some delay Master Edwards replied:
"That is the man."
"Send him forward, lad, and let those brave gentlemen take the fellow
without delay to his excellency, who will be in distress of mind until
after having assured himself that he is in the land of the living."
Master Edwards wheeled about as if to join his force, and General
Hamilton shouted:
"Turn back, David Edwards, and take him who has caused you so much
trouble! Why do you not grasp the gallant gentleman's hand?"
"Come back, please, dear Master Edwards!" Sandy shouted. "Else I shall
be killed, for the Regulators evidently will have no more of me!"
At this pathetic appeal the people burst into a roar of laughter which
was like unto the shrieking of a hurricane, and not until he had
crossed to the other side of the river did Master Edwards turn his
head.
Then his cheeks were flaming red as with shame, and I fearing lest we
might let slip this opportunity of safely delivering our prisoner,
said to Sandy:
"Run forward, man, now that you have the opportunity! It is not
certain Sidney and I can smuggle you into the town, and you may come
to grief on this side the river, no matter how close you hide
yourself."
The tax-collector hesitated only an instant, and then seeing that
there were none between him and the line of red-coated soldiers, took
to his heels, crying at the full force of his lungs:
"Wait for me, Master Edwards! For the love of heaven don't leave me
here to be murdered, dear Master Edwards!"
"Wait for the lost sheep which we have restored to you, Master
Secretary!" General Hamilton shouted, and the people were once more
convulsed with laughter.
They roared and shrieked in mirth until Sandy was by the side of the
angry secretary, and jeered both the tax-collector and the soldiers
until the governor's guard fairly ran toward the court-house.
Meanwhile I had ridden back to my place in the line, and, arriving
there, heard one horseman say to his neighbor:
"There will be no further thought of foul play, now that the people
are amused; but if those two lads had not rescued the tax-collector
when he was nigh to death, we should have a pretty hornets' nest about
our ears by this time."
It filled me with pride as I realized that Sidney and I had done so
much for the cause, and I could well understand how important was our
work of mercy, by glancing at the governor's troops.
Had Sandy Wells been killed, as he would have been but for us two
lads, then had Tryon such a weapon against us as must have doomed the
Regulation to everlasting shame and contempt.
We held our line until the governor's soldiers disappeared behind the
court-house, and then the command was given to break ranks, after
which General Hamilton rode up to Sidney and me, saying as he faced
about to check our forward movement:
"I thank you, lads, in the name of the Regulation, for having made it
possible for us to throw ridicule upon the enemy. May you ride long in
the ranks of the Sons of Liberty!"
I was as proud as any turkey cock at being publicly praised by one of
the foremost men in the colony, and when we were alone in our lean-to
Sidney said:
"I reckon we ought to be well satisfied with ourselves. There's many a
one in this company who would give half he possessed to win such words
as we received from the general."
"But for you Sandy would have been killed, and the governor had just
cause to imprison every Regulator he could come at. I have taken my
share of the praise, but without having earned it."
"I say you're entitled to as much as myself," the lad cried hotly. "I
had no idea anything very serious was on foot when I dragged you from
your mother, and once we were in the crowd it was impossible to do
other than exactly as we did."
Sidney's generous heart prompted him to give me a full share in the
work when I had but followed him, and during the remainder of that day
I took good care to make every one who spoke of the matter understand
exactly the position of affairs.
When my horse had been tethered I sought out mother once more, and she
sang my praises till my cheeks were red with something very like
shame, for she would not listen to the explanations I made; but
insisted on calling me "a brave lad" who was an honor to his parents.
A stranger who had come suddenly upon us during the afternoon of this
day would have found it difficult to believe that we were ready for,
and expecting, mischief on the morrow.
The scene on the hill and nearabout the river was rather one of peace
and good-will. Neighbors and friends seemed bent on a holiday, with no
thought of care, and yet their merry-making was carried on between two
small armies, each prepared to meet the other in deadly conflict if
provocation was given.
It was a scene of gaiety which might be entirely changed by the
morrow, and then instead of smiles one could expect to see tears;
instead of laughter, to hear groans of agony, unless God should put it
in the heart of William Tryon to deal justly and lawfully by those
over whom the king had set him.
It was with some such thoughts as these that I looked down from the
brow of the hill upon the joyous throng, and my heart grew sick with
apprehension as I speculated upon that which the morrow's sun might
bring to light.