HIRAM'S VENTURE
The other lads were equally disturbed in mind regarding what seemed to
be a foolish venturing forth on the part of Hiram. After matters had
come about so mysteriously in our favor when we had given up all hope of
being able to succeed in the undertaking, it seemed much like flying in
the face of Providence to take any risks that were not absolutely
necessary.
We would be bound to incur so much of danger in order to make an attempt
at releasing Silas, that to put all this on the hazard, simply to
satisfy what I believed only a whim, was to my mind little less than
criminal folly.
You can fancy we were not heartened after Job Lord had spoken so
decidedly regarding the certainty that Hiram would speedily come to
grief, because the pass he believed to be of so much value could avail
nothing when he was come upon by the patrol.
I fancied it was possible to see on that double-faced villain's
countenance joy because of what was being done, and there could be no
question but that he firmly believed Hiram had, as people say,
overturned his dish of porridge.
It may be simply because I was in such a wretched frame of mind that I
imagined it; but for the time it was to me a fact that Seth had regained
a goodly portion of his courage on seeing Master Lord so well pleased,
and even found his tongue once more, saying vindictively, even as had
the man who hoped to have betrayed us, that we were about come to the
end of our rope, when he would have his turn.
That Archie was nearly as disturbed in mind as I, and had quite as many
fears regarding the future, I knew when he said angrily, leaning over
the bed as if to strike the Tory lad:
"It is not well for you to crow yet a while, Seth Jepson. Up to this
moment you have been so cowardly as hardly to know what was going on,
and therefore it is we will have no words from you."
"It can do you no more harm to hear me speak, than when Master Lord
talks," he muttered, and Archie replied with no slight show of temper:
"Job Lord has not shown himself to be the white-livered cur you have.
One may take from him who gives proof of some little courage, more than
would be listened to from a veritable coward."
Seth glanced toward Master Lord as if thinking he would bear him out in
his insolence; but however traitorous the elder prisoner was, he had
neither love nor sympathy for such as Seth Jepson had shown himself to
be, therefore remained silent, and the Tory lad did not venture to speak
again.
We could not talk of our plans for the future without being overheard by
Job Lord, and this would have been, so I argued, in the highest degree
dangerous, for there was yet the possibility he might succeed in making
his escape before we could leave the town, in which case he would have
us at a disadvantage.
Neither were we minded to speak of trifling matters. The situation was
all too full of peril, and there were so many chances we would come to
grief, that it was well nigh impossible for us to do other than sit
there in gloomy silence, watching the prisoners even while we feared
each instant to hear an outcry at the door, which would tell that the
lobster backs had come to learn we from Cambridge were hiding there.
As the moments passed, so slowly that it seemed as if each was near an
hour in length, I came to believe beyond a question that Hiram would be,
if he had not already been, taken into custody, and strove to form some
plan of action, saying to myself that we would wait no longer than until
the setting of the sun before taking to our heels, leaving the prisoners
to be set free by whomsoever should visit the house.
Now and again at short intervals I ascended the ladder, peering through
the crevices of the shutters to learn how near to setting the sun might
be, and thus succeeded in so working myself into a fever of anxiety and
fear as to be like one who has lost his senses.
It so chanced that I was in the upper room trying to gain some idea of
the time, when there came two sharp raps on the shutter through which I
was peering, and so nervous had I become that I cried aloud in fear,
darting back to the trap-door, positive that none other than a lobster
back or a Tory could be thus striving to attract our attention.
While one might have counted ten I entirely forgot what had been agreed
upon between Hiram Griffin and me, and my feet were already upon the
rungs of the ladder to descend, when the cob-webs seemed suddenly to
have been blown from my brain, allowing me to realize that despite all
the dangers Hiram had succeeded in gratifying his whim without loss of
liberty.
You may well fancy that I opened the door in a twinkling, for it was
dangerous to have him standing there in the broad light of day, and when
he was come into the room, having closed and barred the door behind him,
I flung my arms around his neck, clinging to him as if he was one lately
returned from the very verge of the grave, as indeed I believe to this
day was the case.
"Why, lad, what has come over you?" he asked in astonishment. "You are
shaking like an old woman with the palsy, and your face is as white as I
have heard it said ghosts' faces are."
"I had brought myself to believe you were taken into custody, Hiram! Job
Lord was so certain the pass would not avail you, that it was almost the
same as if I had seen you in the clutches of the lobster backs. You were
cruel to leave us at such a time, simply to show that you could roam
about the city at will, when the slightest mistake would have caused our
chances for escaping with Silas to fall to the ground."
"Is it in your mind, lad, that I went out simply on a whim? That I am so
light-headed as to take chances in this Tory town for the purpose of
showing that it could be done?" he asked in a tone that was really one
of reproof.
"Why else then did you go?" I cried, now grown angry, having recovered
from my timorousness.
"There came into my mind the idea that it would be a brave act to carry
Job Lord and Seth Jepson back to Cambridge, and so I said to you lads;
but no one believed it might be done. Then I had what has turned out to
be a lucky thought, and said to myself if perchance it would be possible
to get possession of a skiff we could, without much trouble or danger,
take those two curs with us as proof that, aside from releasing Silas,
our coming here had not been without good results."
"But even though you found a boat, Hiram, how might we take passage in
her, hampered by Job Lord and Seth Jepson?" I cried petulantly, for it
excited my anger yet more to have him thus speak of what seemed an
impossibility, from whatever point you viewed it.
"That was the question in my own mind, lad, when the matter first came
to me; but before coming back I settled it."
"Settled it?" I repeated dumbly.
"Aye, and what's more, every arrangement is made. Who, think you, I have
been hob-nobbing with this last half hour?"
"It would be of much the same piece with what you've already done, had
you been so venturesome as to go even to the guard-house near Hill's
wharf," I said angrily, and his laugh was as hearty and full of joy as
if we were already come among our friends, having accomplished all that
had been in our minds.
"You are a great guesser, Luke Wright. It is to the guard-house I have
been, and if by this time those lobster backs do not believe that I am
as simple minded and jolly a Tory as ever set foot in Boston town, then
have I made the mistake of my life."
"You at the guard-house?" I cried, not able even now to understand that
which I myself had guessed at.
"Aye, and it was to have a quiet chat with the officer on duty there,
who chances to be a blooming Britisher, thick-headed as are all of his
kidney, having the rank of sergeant, and believing himself to be the
best soldier that ever came to this benighted colony."
"But why should you go there?" I cried, now grown yet more angry. "Why
take chances which were unnecessary?"
"I am of the mind that it was the best stroke of work I have ever yet
done, for not only is the skiff nearby where we can walk out at our
leisure and step on board her; but that red-faced, beef-eating Britisher
stands ready to help us put our prisoners over the rail."
"What?" I exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Aye, and even more, if you please, lad. The sergeant will send with me
to the Bridewell one of his men, so that I shall have no difficulty in
bringing back that raging rebel whom I count to select on the strength
of General Gage's permit, or order, whichever you choose to call it."
I could no longer speak, so perplexing was that which Hiram had said,
and there came into my mind the belief that he was striving to make a
fool of me by telling a cock-and-bull story whereby, after I had shown
faith in it, he might laugh me to scorn.
"It was like this, lad," he said in a grave tone, clapping both hands on
my shoulders as if it was needed he should hold me where my attention
could not be distracted. "I was minded to try on some such lobster back
as would be found in yonder guard-house, the effect of General Gage's
order allowing Job Lord to select a prisoner. I said to myself that by
striving to make friends with one of the rank and file, I might get
some idea as to how such a yarn as must be put up at the Bridewell would
be taken, and with the pass also in my possession, I allowed that no
officer of less rank than a captain would dare interfere with my
movements. Therefore it was I went to the guard-house."
"What excuse did you make for going there?" I contrived to ask.
"It was simply a matter of business, lad. I told this sergeant how
finely Job Lord and myself had been tricking the rebels by giving up
certain information now and then, and aiding such of them as were of
little importance in General Gage's eyes, in order to establish a
reputation as being true friends to the Cause. It was to him mighty
funny, and it seems that he already has had some traffic with our
friend, Master Lord, having more than once received from his superior
officer orders to aid our double-faced villain whenever it might be
necessary. Therefore he was not surprised, save because of never having
come across me. I explained this last by saying what you know to be
true, which was that I had been in the American camp looking about to
see what I could pick up."
By this time I had come to understand that Hiram was speaking no more
than the truth, and could thoroughly enjoy the story which he was
telling with so much of pleasure.
"I showed the sergeant General Gage's order for one of the Bridewell
prisoners to be delivered, and then told him that we were counting to
set a trap for some rebels who were of importance. That this prisoner
taken at Breed's Hill was to be the cheese with which we should bait it,
all of which amused him hugely. Then, in order to explain why Master
Lord was not the head and front of this trick, I told him Job was not
quite himself to-day; was suffering a little; could not move about
without considerable difficulty, which was also true, and he swallowed
it as a baby swallows fresh milk."
"Yes, but how did you get the skiff?" I cried, now impatient to hear the
result of all this scheming.
"That came in right naturally when I told him about the trap, and that
it must be set on the Roxbury shore. I simply asked him what boat Job
Lord used when he made an excursion among the rebels on General Gage's
business, and he at once pointed out a craft that lay alongside the
wharf, saying it was the property of Master Lord. Well, that seemed to
work in very reasonably, and I told him I reckoned I would bring it down
along shore because it was necessary that what we did be kept secret
even from those who served the king. He quite agreed with me, so the
boat is within five minutes' walk of this house, and our friend, the
sergeant, stands ready to help us leave town, because of the pass we
have, at any time that may best suit our pleasure. Now do you think I
went out to satisfy a whim, Luke Wright?"
"Hiram, you have a longer head than any man I ever met, and save for you
our company of Minute Boys would have played a mighty small part since
their enrollment. But I wonder that you dared attempt to hood-wink the
Britisher."
"I had to do it, lad, for it struck me that we were in about as delicate
a position as any four could possibly get into, and I doubted whether,
unless we could cook up some scheme like the one which has worked so
successfully, it would be possible for us to get away with whole skins."
"But while talking with us lads you allowed it would be an easy matter
to carry the plan through as we had formed it," I said irritably, and he
replied laughingly:
"Aye, true for you, lad; but of what avail would it have been had I set
forth all the dangers of the enterprise as they presented themselves to
my mind? Would it have given you courage had I allowed that there was a
great doubt in my mind whether we might not be taken into the custody
immediately on showing ourselves at the Bridewell?"
"Well," I interrupted, "have you done away with all danger? Is there any
less chance now that you will be detected, simply because of having
convinced some thick-headed sergeant?"
"Aye, lad, it strikes me the danger is very much less, because I count
on going there with a lobster back as guard and assistant. The officer
on duty at the Bridewell will never stop to ask who sent the soldier
with me; but seeing the governor's order, will, unless he is a rank
idiot, conclude that General Gage himself showed me such delicate
attention, and I'm counting that by having a red-coated escort I've
wiped out more than half the chances that the order will be questioned."
The very fact of his having made such a venture frightened me, even
though it was all happily come to an end, and to our advantage, as it
seemed. Once more I trembled with fear, and then, realizing that Archie
and Harvey must be burning with impatience to know why we delayed coming
into the cellar, I said to Hiram that he should remain where he was
while I sent our comrades up that they might hear the wonderful story.
He was perfectly willing to do as I suggested, for it pleased him to
repeat the tale of having tricked the lobster backs, and I wondered not
that he should feel a pride in what had been done, therefore I went into
the cellar, telling the lads that there was one in the room above who
would have speech with them.
"I thought I heard Hiram's voice," Archie said, wheeling about to face
me, for he had understood that I would have him believe a stranger had
come.
"So it was Hiram's voice," I replied, "and you will not be saddened by
that which he has to tell."
"So he had the good luck to get back, did he?" Job Lord asked grimly,
and it must have been a grievous disappointment to the man who had
believed firmly that Hiram could not remain at liberty ten minutes while
on the street.
"Aye, he has come back," I said, "and now there is little question but
that you and Seth will go with us to Cambridge," I replied in a tone of
triumph, for the longer I had time to realize what arrangements my
comrade had made, the stronger was my belief that we would carry the
enterprise through in safety.
The pallor of fear came over Seth Jepson's face at these words; but Job
Lord gave no token of being disturbed in mind, and for the very good
reason, as I afterward came to know, that he did not believe we could
work such a scheme.
"When you show that it is possible to take this lad and me through the
streets of Boston as prisoners, then I will be willing to believe I
stand in danger of seeing the rebel army in Cambridge; but not before.
You are putting all your faith in that safeguard and the order from
General Gage, which were stolen from me; but you are like to be in more
danger with, than without them, for the king's officers in this town
know me full well, and your man Griffin cannot pass himself off in my
stead."
Master Lord spoke in a tone of conviction, and this seemed to give Seth
a little courage, for straightway the color came into his face again,
and he looked up at me with a sickly smile, as if to say that he was not
to be taken in by any threats I might make.
It would have pleased me hugely had it been safe to tell the
double-faced scoundrel how thoroughly well Hiram had laid his plans, and
how readily some of the king's people could be made to swallow the story
he told. But I refrained from doing so because it was yet possible
something might occur which would give the man an opportunity to reveal
our plans to those who might thwart them.
While I sat by the bedside leaning over the prisoners in a menacing
attitude, ready to carry out the threats we had made in case they should
attempt to raise an outcry, we could hear shouts of laughter from Archie
and Harvey as Hiram told of tricking the Britisher, and I was of the
opinion that those sounds of mirth went further toward convincing Master
Lord that we were in shape to do as I had said, than any words of mine
could have done, for he began to look seriously disturbed, turning his
head first one way and then the other as if striving to catch a word now
and then to get an inkling of what was being said.
Those in the room above did not return to the cellar for a long time,
as it seemed to me; but when they were come below Hiram went to the
table and began eating heartily, for we had not taken the trouble to put
the food away after our last meal was ended, and said to me in a
business-like tone as he ate hurriedly:
"It is close to sunset, lad, and I count on setting forth about my work
without delay, for it strikes me we had better leave here as near to
nine of the clock as may be. While I am gone you three shall fill your
stomachs, and it won't be a bad idea to share the food with the
prisoners, for they have a reasonably long journey before them."
Although I had been waiting impatiently for this time to come, his words
sent a chill through my heart, and it was as if I had not been prepared
to hear them. The knowledge that we were come to the very moment of
making as desperate a venture as I dare say had ever been made in
Boston, frightened me, and my breath came thick and fast as I asked,
much as though I would delay the fateful moment:
"Would it not be better that you wait until night has fully come?"
"When I have work on hand that isn't as pleasant as it might be, it's a
whim of mine to set about it without delay, and, besides, I'd rather
take my chances at the Bridewell before nine of the clock than
afterward."
"It makes little difference what time you set out, for you'll spend the
remainder of the night, whether you go late or early, in prison," Master
Lord growled, and Hiram made answer with a laugh:
"I shall be back within an hour, my two-faced friend, and my coming will
be the signal for your setting out to visit in Cambridge those over
whose eyes you have pulled the wool this many a day."
"I shall believe in going to Cambridge when I get there, and not
before," Job Lord said surlily; but I could detect a tone of anxiety
such as he had never shown before, which was not to be wondered at, for
Hiram acted and spoke like a man who knows beyond a peradventure that
matters will go exactly as he has arranged.
I followed Griffin up the ladder when, his hurried repast at an end, he
ascended to the room above, and there, while he unbarred the door I
asked tremulously:
"What shall we do in case Master Lord's Tory friends come while you are
gone?"
"Pay no attention to them, lad; that is the only course. If you
remember, Lord said there was no danger of any one's coming until after
sunset, which was much the same as telling us that then he expected
visitors, therefore it is I am pushing matters forward sooner than would
otherwise be the case. Of course there's a chance they may make trouble
for us; but if I am not delayed at the Bridewell, we will be on our road
to Cambridge before they arrive."
"But suppose you, coming back with Silas, having compassed his release
without trouble, find here two or three demanding admittance?"
"Then it will be a case of waiting a short time, and if they persist in
hanging around we must take the chances of a fight. I will knock on the
shutter as has been agreed upon, and if when Silas and I come in there
are others who follow us, we must be ready to do by them as we have by
Job Lord: but I'm hoping we won't be put to that trouble."
Hiram laughed as he spoke these last words, yet I could not believe that
it was from mirth, but rather a desire to hearten me by letting it
appear he had no fear as to the final result, when all the while I knew
there must be in his mind many a question as to whether he could play
his part before the officers of the Bridewell, as he had with the
thick-headed sergeant.
Then he went out with never a word of farewell, and strode off into the
gloom, walking steadily with head upright like the true man he had ever
shown himself to be, and I closed and barred the door while a fervent
but unspoken prayer went up from my heart that it might be permitted him
to pass unscathed through the danger which menaced, because of the
justness of the Cause for which he labored.
Again we three lads sat near the prisoners in what was very like fear. I
know for my part that I was trembling so violently that I failed in
attempting to take up a bit of meat in order to carry out Hiram's
instructions, and I know full well that any one close by might have
heard the beating of my heart.
"We are not filling our stomachs as Hiram commanded," Archie cried,
striving to appear light-hearted as he rose to his feet and set about
arranging the provisions on the table so they might look more palatable.
"Everything must be in readiness for a quick start when he comes back,
and eating is the first of the duties to be performed."
"You'll have plenty of time to eat 'twixt now and his return," Master
Lord growled. "The next person who enters this house will be one of his
majesty's officers, come to learn how General Gage's order passed from
my possession into that of the rebels'."
We made no reply to this remark, not being in a mood to bandy words
with the villain, for all our thoughts and hearts had gone out with
Hiram, while in fancy we could see him meeting with suspicion when he
was come to the Bridewell, and finally clapped into a cell without
having been so near Silas as to have speech with him.
I had no desire for food, and doubtless my comrades felt much the same;
but yet we ate because of having been told so to do, and forced the meat
down our throats when it was like to choke us.
Seth Jepson was not as averse to filling his stomach as were we, and ate
greedily when Harvey fed him, while Master Lord positively refused to
accept a mouthful of anything save water, of which he drank eagerly at
short intervals, thus telling me that there was, despite all his brave
words, a fear in his heart which parched his tongue.
Now because it was past sunset, when, according to what Job Lord had
said some time before, there might be danger of Tory visitors, we took
all precautions to prevent our prisoners from crying out. In fact,
Archie proposed that we gag them then and there; but I, believing Hiram,
even though he succeeded in all his purpose, would be long delayed, had
no heart to cause them suffering which might be avoided. I proposed that
we pull the bed out from the wall so that he could sit with bare knife
by the side of Seth, while I looked after the man who had deceived our
people so many days, and once more we promised to take their worthless
lives without compunction if they raised their voices ever so slightly.
The time passed slowly, wearingly, painfully on, and there we sat by the
side of the prisoners ready to take their lives if need be, while Harvey
paced to and fro, or ascended the ladder to the upper room only to
descend, until the noise of his footsteps well nigh drove me to
distraction, and I cried out that unless he remained quiet I should lose
my senses.
"You lost them when you embarked in such an enterprise as this of making
me prisoner," Job Lord snarled. "But what could be expected of three
boys, led on by a crazy man? I would have set your comrade free, and
sent you on your way in safety; but that you must needs upset all my
plans."
"The setting of Silas free and sending us back to our friends was not a
part of your plan, Job Lord," I said in a low tone, fearing lest even
then some one might be approaching the house; but determined to thrash
the matter out with the double-faced villain, if for no other purpose
than to occupy the time which was dragging so painfully.
"How else could it be, since I failed to deliver you up to the British?"
he asked with an air of innocence. "Had I been so minded, you would have
been made prisoners within an hour after coming into this house, and the
fact that you were not taken into custody shows that I was playing
honestly with you."
"Which proves that you had some plan in mind which could be made to work
more of harm to the Cause if we were held here," I said, and then there
came into my mind Hiram's words when he was telling the story of the
British sergeant, and I added sharply, as if having discovered all his
scheming, "We were to be held here as bait in a trap for some of our
people whom you hoped to catch, and who would be more of value to
General Gage than we three lads."
He turned his eyes toward me quickly, as a deep flush overspread his
face, and I knew full well that I had hit the mark while repeating much
the same as Hiram had invented for the benefit of the sergeant.
I continued to dwell upon the matter, hoping he might be provoked into
telling me for what purpose he counted on taking from the Bridewell one
of our people who had been captured at Breed's hill; but the scoundrel
was sharp enough to hold his peace regardless of what I said, never
letting out a word that could serve as an inkling to that portion of the
plan.
As I sat there by his side, my ears strained to catch the first sound
which should tell of Tory visitors or of Hiram's return, I believed I
knew it was Silas Brownrigg whom he would have selected from among the
prisoners, and that he had been trying to keep us quiet, not daring to
bring the lad down from the Bridewell until the last moment lest we
should insist on leaving Boston immediately afterward.
Once such a thought came into my mind, I repeated it to him, catching
again a glimpse of the dark flush which told, to my mind at least, that
the blow had struck home.
Archie must have been in much the same frame of mind as was I before
beginning this conversation with Job Lord, for now he cried out sharply,
as if the sound of my voice jarred upon his quivering nerves:
"In the name of all that's good, Luke Wright, hold your peace! We can't
better ourselves by bandying words with such as Master Lord, and it may
be some one from the outside will hear you."
Even as he spoke there came to our ears distinctly three smart raps on
the outer door, and I leaned over Master Lord with my knife upraised,
for I knew that now was come our time of greatest peril.