CEDAR SWAMP.
Nat Ernshaw had not a very definite idea of what was to be done when
he organized his brigade. His intention was patriotic,--to assist his
country in retaining her independence,--but, how it was to be done
was not particularly clear at the outset. To wage war against the
bands of armed tories, which were constantly being formed; to take as
prisoners any straggling British, and to attack and cut to pieces all
troops, hostile to the great cause, whom he should chance to meet;
these were the objects contemplated when working to form the brigade.
His signal success in the outset had been inspiriting to his men as
well as to himself, and they were now willing to obey his orders,
with a confidence which an untried leader never inspires.
One of the great objects sought for was accomplished in the defeat
of the dragoons; his men were able to mount and arm themselves
well. Feeling not the least compunction in spoiling those who had
come to spoil them, the arms and equipments of the conquered foe
were quickly appropriated by the conquerors; and, having buried the
fallen, the whole party held a consultation. It was decided to be
unsafe to disband, and that it would be better to fall back to Cedar
Swamp. From thence, the troop could send out scouts, who might learn
whatever was going on, and bring intelligence of any place where
their services would be of use.
Although the prisoners were a burden, still, there was a
disinclination to let them go. Accordingly, it was decided that they
also should be carried to the Swamp, as they might be at some future
time, serviceable for exchange. By morning the troop was plunging
into the hidden recesses of Cedar Swamp.
One might search in vain for a better place of rendezvous, surrounded
on the outside by a swamp which it was almost impossible for a
footman to pass, much less a horseman. There was, within, a cordon
of thickly interwoven bushes and stunted trees; then another ring
of swamp, and, finally, in the center, a spot of solid ground, some
fifteen acres in extent, studded here and there with tall trees. One
track there was, winding and intricate, along which the Americans
found their way under the careful guidanceship of John Vale. It
differed not in its appearance from the adjoining swamp; but, under
the wet, miry earth, at the depth of six or eight inches, there was
solid footing.
As it was uncertain how long they would remain in this place, and as
the swamp would always be their place of refuge, on which to fall
back, it had been determined to construct a few huts, sufficient
for the accommodation of the whole brigade and their prisoners.
Brawny arms were bent to the task; and, long before nightfall eight
small cabins were to be seen, lifting their humble roofs which were
rendered quite impervious to inclement weather. Several of the men
had been dispatched to their homes to procure provisions, and make
arrangements with their families, by which supplies could be obtained
during their stay in the Swamp.
* * * * *
Five days have passed. During that time Captain Preston has been
quartered at the house of Mr. Tappan. It was a heavy thing for the
old patriot to bear this, being compelled to furnish food and drink
to the enemies of his country, but, no murmur was allowed to escape
his lips; he knew too well what might be the consequences of an
unguarded expression, to allow himself or family to give vent to the
feelings which were struggling for utterance.
Understanding his restless disposition, one would suppose that
Preston’s hours would hang heavily on his mind, yet, that was far
from being the case. The tory, Turner, all concealment as to his
principles, having been thrown aside, was frequently with the captain
holding secret conferences. To what these conferences referred, the
reader will learn by a further perusal of our story. The last two
days, also, the captain had been absent during the afternoon--had
his steps been marked, it would have been found that he rode in the
direction of Mrs. Vale’s. Reginald seemed to have taken a sudden
fancy for his cousin.
This relationship had not thus far been referred to. On the part of
Mrs. Vale and her daughter it was never suspected--how could it be,
when the name of Preston was totally unfamiliar to her ears? The
visits of the captain had been a source of uneasiness to the two.
For, although he seemed to have stopped by accident, yet a mother’s
heart is not the thing to be deceived by a smooth speech, and a
well-coined lie. She trembled as she thought of the dangers which the
presence of the unwelcome visitor foreboded.
With an unusually warm smile upon his face, Reginald rode up to the
house this afternoon. He stated, that, being in want of something to
occupy his time, he thought he would ride over and inquire how Miss
Catherine’s pet was progressing.
The cut which Lion, the dog, had received was severe, and the noble
animal was consequently an object on which he might exercise his
commiseration.
Captain Preston was received with a cool welcome. Mrs. Vale was
polite--freezingly so; and Catherine, while she did not manifest
decided displeasure, did not seem to be overjoyed at his presence.
The gallant captain had not created a very good impression in his
three visits.
With a pertinacity, by no means pleasant to the uninvited guest, the
widow kept her seat, nor once offered to leave the room, while Kate
seemed deaf to the hints which were thrown out concerning the state
of the garden, the agreeableness of the weather, and the propriety
of exercise. The nimble fingers plied the needle most rapidly, while
answering the numerous questions of Reginald. As he did not think it
best to commence an offensive warfare upon women, the chances of any
private conference with his fair cousin, seemed, to Preston, to be
small indeed; so small, that the thought of incontinently beating a
retreat, more than once crossed the Briton’s mind, but was as often
dismissed; he could not--he _would_ not give it up _so_!
At length, insensibly as it were, Mrs. Vale was drawn into
conversation. The young man had an insinuating manner that was hard
to resist, and he taxed his conversational powers to entertain these,
to him, simple folk, quite as much as he had ever done to rivet the
attention of some wealthy belle, in the days when he flirted in the
London _salons_, and was an honored guest at the table of the richest
and most _distingué_ families of the aristocracy. So much did the
widow forget herself, that she actually asked the visitor to remain
for tea, when she saw him preparing to leave about half an hour
before the regular time for that meal. Gratifying as it would, no
doubt, have been to the young man, he was, nevertheless, compelled to
decline--he had an engagement which it was necessary for him to meet;
he did not, however, state this as an excuse, but simply declared his
inability to remain.
When Preston had departed, the impression he left behind was rather
favorable than otherwise. Kate’s heart told her he was one to be
feared rather than respected, and that these visits boded no good.
On the contrary, the mother’s first suspicions seemed allayed, and
she expressed a fear that she had hastily formed a bad opinion of the
honest young man, as Captain Preston appeared to be. He promised her
dwelling protection from all foraging parties belonging to their line.
As a general rule, it is wisest not hastily to change first-formed
opinions. Mrs. Vale saw into the true character of Reginald almost
the moment he crossed her threshold, but suffered her vision to be
obscured by the curtain of plausible conversation and insinuating
manners, of the shrewd man of the world. She was not the first mother
who had been flattered into silence in the same manner!