TURNING THE TRICK
Archie glanced up at me with a look of fear on his face, as he whispered
in a tremulous voice:
"Don't take any chances!" and, softly making his way to the center of
the room, he took from the floor Harvey's coat, which had been thrown
there when we were minded to gag Seth Jepson. This he gave to me
nervously, and, holding the knife between my teeth, I rolled one end of
it into a wad such as would fit snugly into the mouth of that man who
had counted on delivering us over to the Britishers.
Master Lord opened his jaws without waiting to be bidden, for he must
have seen on my face a determination to put an end to his career of
treachery at the lightest token of making an outcry.
While I was doing this, Harvey, understanding the need of securing both
the prisoners beyond any possibility they could do us a mischief by
raising their voices, tore off the sleeve of his shirt, and Archie
speedily thrust it into Seth Jepson's mouth.
When this had been done there seemed little chance either of the
captives could do more than give utterance to moans; but, lest they
might succeed in loosening their bonds, I whispered to Harvey:
"You must stay here and keep sharp watch over them, while Archie and I
go to the room above."
"To what end?" he asked in surprise, and I replied hurriedly:
"Hiram may return at any moment, and we must be ready to open the door
for him."
Just then the summons was repeated more sharply than before, and I dared
not linger to explain to Harvey what had been agreed upon between Hiram
and myself, therefore, motioning for Archie to follow, I went up the
ladder with all possible speed, yet at the same time taking extra good
care, as may be supposed, not to make so much of noise as could be heard
by those on the outside.
Once on the floor above I halted to whisper in Archie's ear that which
was to be done in case Hiram returned before these unwelcome visitors
had departed, and meanwhile we could hear voices on the outside, as if
those who awaited the opening of the door were discussing among
themselves the cause of Master Lord's delay in giving them entrance.
Involuntarily Archie looked around hurriedly for something which would
serve him as a weapon in case we should be obliged to give battle, and,
thus reminded that we would be at a disadvantage unless having other
than our bare fists with which to strike a blow, I followed his example.
Nothing fitting met my gaze save a three-legged stool which had been
thrown in one corner, the top shattered, and this I seized hastily,
finding it possible to pull out one of the legs without making any noise
worth mentioning.
Archie armed himself with a second leg, and I laid the third up where it
might be come at conveniently in case, by any mischance, one of us
should need a spare weapon.
Verily it seemed as if a kind Providence was watching over us, for no
sooner were we thus prepared to meet Job Lord's Tory friends, if
perchance it became necessary to give them entrance, when we heard loud
voices, as if other visitors had come up, and Archie took me by the hand
to hearten himself as well as me, for now did it seem certain a conflict
was near at hand.
One can the better understand what a long head was Hiram Griffin's, when
I set it down that before leaving the house he had lighted a tallow dip,
leaving it in one corner of the room where the feeble rays of light
could not be seen through the crevices of the shutter, and but for his
forethought in this regard we would have been in darkness, which is the
same as saying we must find ourselves at a great disadvantage in event
of a fight with Master Lord's friends.
Archie and I stood within three paces of the door, still clasping each
other by the hand and striving to hear what was being said on the
outside to the end that we might have some inkling of how many had come,
when two loud, deliberate knocks on the shutter told that Hiram Griffin
was returned.
My heart literally ceased beating for the instant, and it seemed as if I
was in danger of suffocation, so great was my excitement and anxiety.
Hiram had come back from the Bridewell; but had he brought with him
Silas Brownrigg?
Whether he had or no, it was necessary we open the door without delay,
and at the same time stand ready for a rough and tumble fight, because
there was no question but that those who first demanded admittance were
still there, while it was also positive Hiram had decided upon carrying
into execution the plan agreed upon before he set out.
Motioning Archie to take station on one side of the door where he might
be ready to strike a blow at the first opportunity, I whispered in a
tremulous voice:
"Be careful not to miss your aim, and put sufficient of strength into
the blow to bring down your man. Hiram will send the Tories in first, as
a matter of course."
Then, with all the blood in my body seemingly surging into my head, I
opened the door, and on the instant heard Hiram say in an exceedingly
friendly tone:
"Enter, good sirs. Master Lord will return within a short time to
conclude the business concerning which you squabbled the other night."
These words were spoken, no doubt, to warn Archie and me that there
could be no question as to the character of those to whom they were
addressed, and I raised the leg of the stool high above my head,
understanding full well that if we failed of overcoming them at the
onset, our race in Boston town had come to a speedy end.
Unfortunately it so chanced that both Archie and I struck at the man who
was in the lead, and the fellow had no more than got well across the
threshold when he pitched headlong, as an ox falls under the axe of the
butcher.
Even as this was done I could see that the second man attempted to leap
backward, a cry of fear escaping his lips, and my heart grew cold, for
it needed not any one should tell me that if he succeeded in giving us
the slip the lobster backs would soon learn what kind of a trick we had
striven to play.
I might have understood, however, that Hiram Griffin stood in readiness
to guard against any such danger, and even as the fear came into my
heart he had leaped upon the shoulders of the fellow who strove to turn
back, the weight of his body sending both himself and his captive into
the room.
A fourth figure leaped nimbly in and aided me in closing the door,
therefore I understood that the game at the Bridewell had been played
without an error, for it could be none other than Silas Brownrigg who
followed Hiram so closely.
There was no time for greetings or rejoicing; but I did delay
sufficiently long to ask in a low tone:
"Were there only two?"
"No more," Silas cried quickly as he leaped to aid Hiram, who was
struggling with the fellow he had thrust into the room, and verily the
Tory was putting up a stout fight.
"Gag him!" Hiram cried even while the two were rolling here and there so
rapidly that it was with difficulty we could, in that faint light,
distinguish friend from foe, and Archie sacrificed a sleeve of his
shirt, rolling it into a wad as he stood ready to thrust it into the
Tory's mouth at the first opportunity.
The fellow whom Archie and I had stricken down was sprawled out on the
floor upon his face, like one dead, and I knew we had nothing to fear
from him for some time to come, even if the life yet remained in his
body, therefore I took a hand in the battle Hiram was waging so
desperately.
With us three lads to lend a hand, the struggle was soon brought to an
end, and when we had bound and gagged the stranger so securely that he
could not have made the slightest sound had his life depended on it, I
turned to Silas, crushing his hands in mine as I cried, giving no heed
to the possibility that there might be more enemies on the outside:
"We have got you, lad, from out the lion's jaws! How was it done?"
"I am yet bewildered," Silas replied as if in a maze. "Hiram had with
him a lobster back, who walked with us to the corner of the lane, and
therefore we had no opportunity for conversation."
"You can do your tongue wagging when we are clear of this blooming
town," Hiram cried sharply. "Stories will keep; but there's no telling
how soon the wind may shift against us, for we are sailing mightily
close-hauled. What about this lover of the king's?" and he stooped over
the man whose head had received Archie's blow as well as mine.
There was little need to spend much time in the examination. It was
certain he yet breathed; but more than that could not be said, and Hiram
cried as he rose to his feet:
"Now then, lads, move lively, for we must be under way within the next
five minutes, or take the chances of stopping here longer than will be
pleasant."
"Are any of the lobster backs suspicious?" I asked in a fever of fear,
and he replied in a grim tone:
"The lieutenant at the Bridewell failed to understand why Job Lord did
not come in person for the prisoner, and save that he feared to set awry
some plan of General Gage's, he would have held me there till word could
be sent to headquarters. There's no telling how soon he may get word to
those who will come to find out if everything is as it should be."
Even while speaking Hiram was descending the ladder, at the foot of
which Harvey stood white-faced, with staring eyes, for he had no means
of knowing how the battle was going, and I could understand full well in
what a turmoil must have been his mind.
"It's all right, lad," Hiram said reassuringly as he laid his hand on
Harvey's shoulder. "Pull yourself together, for we must make a quick
flitting. Best carry Seth up stairs, so he may have company while we are
gone."
"I thought it was agreed he would go with us," I cried hotly, not of the
mind to lose one of our prisoners even though we yet stood in so much of
danger.
"We can't take the chances of two, as matters stand now, and Job Lord is
the more valuable to our friends in Cambridge," Hiram said, speaking
hurriedly as he began to cast off the bonds from the man's feet. "The
lobster back who went with me to the Bridewell knows I was given but
one, and he is to aid us in embarking, therefore to have two would cause
a suspicion to enter even his thick head."
Hiram had Master Lord in shape for walking by this time; but the fellow
flatly refused to rise from the bed, declaring that his limbs were so
cramped he had no control over them.
"It will be well that you get them into shape in short order, for we
count on taking you with us, or leaving you here dead, and there is
little time in which to make a choice," Hiram said in a tone which gave
proof that his were no idle words. "Carry the boy up the ladder, and
leave him on the floor," he added to me, and this Harvey and I did with
all speed, while Archie and Silas stood by to lend our leader a hand if
so be he might need it.
I had no opportunity of hearing whether Master Lord made further protest
against doing as he had been commanded; but it seemed to me that Harvey
and I had no sooner laid Seth Jepson by the side of the Tory who had
been so severely injured, than Hiram appeared at the top of the ladder
with the double-faced scoundrel by his side.
"Do you know where the ship-yard that is owned by a man named Edes may
be located?" Hiram asked immediately he had come up into the room, and
we lads soon gave him to understand that the place was familiar to us.
"Then lead the way, stepping out lively, for I am not minded to linger
here many minutes," he said sharply, turning to seize Master Lord by the
collar.
"But what about these fellows?" I asked, pointing to Seth and the two
men. "Are they to be left helpless and gagged?"
"There is no other way out of it, and I dare venture to say they would
not have any heart-ache to leave us in even a worse plight."
"But the wretches will starve to death!" I cried in horror, and Hiram
replied grimly:
"I would leave them to such a fate rather than miss taking Job Lord to
those whom he has deceived so long; but there is little danger, though I
won't say but they'll be mighty uncomfortable for a time. 'Twixt now and
morning one or more of this scoundrel's friends will come to concoct yet
further harm to the Cause, and, if we leave the door unlocked, they'll
be released sooner than is deserved."
Archie would have lingered to make Seth a bit more comfortable by
loosening the gag ever so little; but Hiram literally drove him toward
the door as he cried in an angry tone, which I dare say was assumed to
cover his nervousness:
"Look after yourself, lad, and give over being soft-hearted about such
curs. We've got no easy job before us, and are needing every moment of
time." Then to Master Lord he added, "If you are minded to make any
noise as we walk through the streets, remember what I have threatened to
do, and understand that it's my belief I'd be doing a good deed to put
you out of the world!"
It seemed to me there was little need for such caution. The traitor was
yet gagged, and strive as he might could not have done other than moan
ever so softly.
We left the house which had been our prison, in haste, as if already the
pursuers were at our heels, and when we stepped into the open air I
recalled that which Hiram had said regarding the lobster back who was to
aid us in embarking, therefore whispered to our leader as we went at a
swift pace in the direction of the ship-yard:
"Is there not danger the Britisher who went with you to the Bridewell
will come to understand that you have made a change of prisoners?"
"That is one of the chances we are taking, lad. I strove to keep him
from having a fair look at Silas, and hope the effort was successful. If
not, it will be a case of fighting another battle with all the odds
against us, for the guard-house is so near at hand that we could not
make much of a disturbance without being overheard by those on duty.
Push forward, and do not try to find fresh cause for fear, since we have
all of danger before us that I care to think about."
Acting in accordance with Hiram's instructions, we lads pressed closely
around Job Lord for the double purpose of hiding him from view as much
as possible while at the same time we forced him to a rapid pace, and in
silence, save for the heavy breathing of the prisoner caused by the gag,
and the sound of our footsteps, we advanced unchallenged to where the
skiff was found.
But for the fact that I believed death lurked very closely in our rear,
I could have found something comical in the fact that we were being
aided in our flight by one of the king's men, who believed he was having
a finger in the pie to be baked for the "rebels," and even though I
trembled with fear and anxiety, it was impossible to check a smile when
I saw the thick-headed Britisher waiting patiently by the water's edge
for us to come up.
In order that we might get away the more quickly, he had the skiff
afloat, holding her by the painter, and as we approached Hiram thrust
Job Lord on board in advance, following so closely as to screen him from
view. If the lobster back had previously had any suspicions, he might
have noted something strange in the manner of our clustering around the
prisoner even after we had taken our places in the boat; but the dull
fellow believed he was aiding in what would work injury to those whom he
had come across the ocean to kill, and gave heed to nothing save his own
part in the enterprise.
As I think of the matter now, it seems almost like a fairy tale, this
story of being aided to escape by one of the king's men, with a squad of
soldiers at the guard-house nearby ready to lend a hand in case we
needed it; but such was the case, and had it not been so I believe of a
verity we had never gone out of Boston town alive, for if the tables had
been turned, Master Lord and his friends would have seen to it that we
were hanged on one pretext or another.
Whatever the dangers we had encountered, or however narrow the escape,
we were free at last, for even though one of the guard-boats overhauled
us, the pass signed by General Gage himself would have been enough to
insure safe conduct, and when the skiff had been pulled by Harvey and
Silas so far from the shore that we could see behind us nothing save the
lights that twinkled here and there, it was with difficulty I repressed
a shout of triumph.
As it was I could not hold my peace; but, leaning toward Hiram as he sat
by Master Lord's side in the stern-sheets, said gleefully:
"We have come out from among the Britishers without a scratch, and in
addition to releasing one of our own who was in prison, are taking to
Cambridge a spy who might have worked the Cause fatal harm, therefore
who shall say that the Minute Boys, if so be you still count yourself
one, have not shown themselves able to do the work of men?"
"I sure do count myself one of the Minute Boys, lad, and shall do so
till our little muss with the king has come to an end, leaving us
colonists on the top of the heap. But say, Luke Wright, this last trick
over which we have the right to do a good bit of crowing, has been a
close shave. Unless everything had worked according to our desires, we
would have been undone, and I'm thinking the shadow of the gallows was
dark over us in that hour when I set off for the Bridewell."
"Tell me what happened there?"
"It isn't much of a story, for the plan worked as if it had been
greased, though I'm free to confess that I had but little hope of
pulling through when I left you. My heart was thumping fit to burst when
I called for the officer on duty, holding my head high as if General
Gage had been my brother. The lieutenant who gave me a hearing was by no
means the dullard you might have expected him to be, and eyed me in a
way that wasn't comforting. Of course I had to explain that Master Lord
wasn't quite in condition to venture out, and that I was helping him in
setting a trap for the rebels. While you might have counted twenty I
felt certain he was minded to send to headquarters to learn if the order
was all right, and I made bold to urge that a delay of half an hour
would set all our plans awry, which you'll agree was nothing more than
solemn truth."
"Then he allowed you to take Silas?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes, after considerable humming and hawing; but I'm of the belief that
if the lobster back hadn't been with me it would have been a different
matter. The lieutenant couldn't fail of being impressed by the fact that
I had come with one of his own kidney as escort, and from this out I
shall have a kindly feeling for a red coat, even though I fail to love
the one that wears it."
"And now we'll give the officer at the battery the surprise of his life,
when we show him Job Lord as prisoner after he sent us to him with such
recommendations as to his loyalty," I cried with a laugh, whereupon
Hiram replied gravely:
"If I have my way, we'll give the battery a wide berth, lad, and for two
reasons. The first is that I'm not minded to be delayed on the journey
to Cambridge, and who can say that the lieutenant wouldn't insist on
taking charge of our prisoner, which would be depriving us of the credit
we deserve. The second reason is more serious. Because the officer at
the battery vouched so strongly for Job Lord, it is barely possible that
he may be as great a traitor as our captive, and I'll give him no chance
to set his partner free."
"Of course you'll have your way, so far as leading us lads is
concerned," I said quickly. "Surely you have earned the right an hundred
times over, even though we were disposed to contest it, which we are
not. How do you count on getting to Cambridge?"
"We'll pull up the creek as far as is possible to take the skiff, giving
our battery as wide a berth as we give those fortifications manned by
the Britishers, and, once forced to abandon the craft, set off on the
highway, stopping for nothing this side of Cambridge, for the sooner Job
Lord's treachery is made known to our people there, the more easy in
mind I'll be concerning his being held securely."
* * * * *
And now because of the fact that within the past hour it has been
whispered around the encampment that we of the American army are about
to strike another blow against the Britishers, and preparations are
being made for the march, I must bring this poor yarn of mine to a
speedy close lest I find myself unable to finish it.
As Hiram had said so we did, and before another day was come we were in
the American encampment, telling to General Ward all we had learned.
There is little need to say that Job Lord was cared for securely, and
Hiram believes that after this movement which seems to be on foot, has
been made, the double-faced villain will be hanged for his crimes, more
especially since it is now known how much of harm he succeeded in
working to the Cause while professing to be devoted to it.
Our people have learned to a certainty that this same Master Lord had
been paid regularly by General Gage for his services as traitor; but we
can only guess as to why he wanted to hold us prisoners in his house,
and at the same time get possession of Silas, for it seems positive the
lad was the prisoner whom he counted on taking when he presented the
order which Hiram used to such good effect.
My father believes it was Job Lord's aim to hold us lads as a bait to
entice some of our prominent people into making a try at succoring us,
and thus succeed in delivering to General Gage one or more of the
American officers. Hiram declares that if we had made thorough search of
the villain's house, it is likely we might have found that which would
give us a clue to the whole plot as he had schemed it.
I am of the mind that we remained in the building on Cow lane quite as
long as was safe, and it makes little difference what he counted on
doing, since we blocked his game and at the same time brought him to
grief.
Archie is confident that the day must come when, by getting hold of Seth
Jepson once more, as all of us lads believe will be our good fortune, we
shall be able to learn no little of Master Lord's villainy which as yet
is a secret between himself and his Tory cronies. It is certain that if
we ever get the treacherous little traitor in our hands again, he can be
made to turn himself inside out, because of being so cowardly that in
order to save himself from punishment he will not hesitate to betray his
friends.
When we have discovered what Job Lord would have done with us had his
career not been cut so short, then shall we most likely learn the cause
of what was much the same as a fight between himself and his visitors
when we were prisoners in the cellar; but I have very little curiosity
regarding this last matter, now that we have come to be members of the
army, holding as honorable a position as if we were men grown.
Yes, after the venture into Boston town, and the taking of Job Lord as
prisoner, it was allowed that we had the right to be regularly enrolled,
and to-day, when we are making ready to give the king another slap in
the face, there is no company of soldiers in the encampment who are
seemingly held in higher esteem by our commanders, than the Minute Boys
of Boston.
THE END