ELIAS SHENDLE’S PLAN
Master Bartlett was not the only member of our party eager to learn the
meaning of what we had seen. As for myself, I was far too bewildered
to reply when Master Morley asked me where we first saw the enemy; but
stood staring in open-mouthed astonishment as if he could see me, or I
him, while the darkness seemed all the more intense because of those
blinding flashes which had dazzled our eyes.
“How was it done?” Master Bartlett demanded, as he came up to where
Stephen Morley and I stood, fifteen or twenty paces from the entrance
to the cave.
“It wasn’t a bad kind of an idea, eh?” Master Morley cried, as he
indulged in a hearty laugh, “and the joke of it is that you came near
getting scared as badly as did those precious sneaks, who won’t stop
running till they are with their fellow brutes. I’d give quite a little
to hear what kind of a story they’ll tell.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad plan for you to tell your story,” Master Bartlett
said, sharply. “I’ve seen some good tricks in my day, but this one
goes ahead of any that’s ever been worked in the valley.”
“It was planned by Elias Shendle,” Stephen Morley said, as soon as it
was possible for him to control his mirth, “and I reckon we’d better
tell the yarn where he can hear it, because the lad is entitled to all
the credit for this night’s work.”
Then we went into the cave, without making any effort to learn how many
of the enemy had remained near by because of not having life enough
left to run away, and, to my great surprise, I saw that Elias Shendle
and Sam Rogers were on guard.
“Have you so far got the best of your wounds that you can take part in
a fight?” I asked, in astonishment, and the lad replied, grimly:
“A fellow can do considerable when it is necessary in order to save his
own life. Stephen Morley wanted to creep outside just after dark, that
he might take a hand when you opened the battle, and there was no good
reason why Sam Rogers and I couldn’t look to this part of the business,
especially while the women were ready to load the guns.”
“But I’m itching to know how you managed to send those balls of fire
wherever one of John Butler’s wolves broke cover,” Master Bartlett
cried, impatiently, and Elias replied, in a matter-of-fact tone:
“There isn’t anything so very sharp about that trick, although I heard
Master Morley speaking to you as if it was something great. We had a
fair supply of powder, and during the afternoon, when there was nothing
else to be done, I made fifteen or twenty balls about the size of a
wren’s egg, wrapping them in leaves stuck together with a little mud.
We knew you would be behind the Indians, therefore I had a handful of
powder ready just at the entrance, so it could be flashed off when the
fight began, to give you a chance to see exactly where the curs were
hidden.”
“Yes, yes, I understood that part of it,” Master Bartlett interrupted;
“but what about the flying fire?”
“Mistress Morley kept a brand ready, and I had put a fuse into the
small balls of powder. When the fight was well started, I crept part
way between the boulders; there I could have an idea of where the red
sneaks were stationed, and as she lighted the fuse, I threw the ball
in that direction, allowing that it would flash before striking the
ground. It stirred them up a bit, I reckon.”
“You’ve got a big head on your shoulders, Elias Shendle,” Master
Bartlett said, emphatically, “and have done more toward driving John
Butler’s murderers out of this valley than could have been effected by
the killing of threescore. We can now count on having time and to spare
for the journey to the river, because you won’t see one of those curs
around here again until there are Tories enough with him to do the
biggest part of the fighting.”
“I’m looking to see the renegade Butler himself over this way within
four and twenty hours,” Stephen Morley said in a tone of conviction.
“It stands to reason that, after hearing the story his sneaks are
likely to tell, he’ll want to know what’s afoot.”
“Ay, but by that time we’ll be at the river, getting Jonathan Ogden’s
Minute Boys ready for service,” Master Bartlett cried. “Let us get what
sleep we may ’twixt now and daylight, for all hands of us must make an
early start in order to reach Eben Towle’s tunnel ahead of the scouts
who may come down the river.”
Before obeying this suggestion, which was really a command, I asked
Elias if he thought it would be possible for him to make the journey on
foot, and then learned that it had already been agreed Mistress Morley
should lend him her aid during the tramp.
“With her to lean upon when it comes to climbing over fallen trees,
I’ll get on all right,” he said, cheerily. “Sam Rogers believes he can
walk alone, so you need have no fear concerning us two, Jonathan Ogden.”
Stephen Morley stood guard while all the rest of the party slept, and
as soon as the first gray light of coming day appeared in the sky we
set off to make a change of quarters.
The two cripples were sent away first, with the children and Mistress
Morley, Giles March leading them. Then, each man and woman loaded to
the utmost of his or her strength, the remainder of us followed as best
we might, fearing no interruption so we arrived at the river within
three or four hours, and it can well be fancied that we made all speed,
heeding neither the difficulties of the way nor fatigue.
Before he left Master Bartlett tramped twice far up the mountainside,
so that it might look as if we had fled in that direction, and when the
last person departed from that which had been to us a veritable cave
of refuge, there was nothing remaining save the beds of leaves and the
charred embers of the fire.
Those of us who were in the rear soon overtook the crippled lads, and
then one and another lent a hand, until they contrived to cover the
ground at about the same rate of speed we would have been able to do
without them; but I could see full well by the lines of pain of Elias
Shendle’s face, and by his labored breathing, that he was making the
effort of his life.
Much as I pitied the dear lad, I could not advise him to go more
slowly, for the lives of all might depend on the last one being within
Eben Towle’s tunnel in a certain time, and all that remained was to
give him such assistance as might be possible.
Then came the time when we crept cautiously out from the thicket to
approach the ruins, each moving swiftly with due regard to leaving a
trail, and watching jealously the opposite bank of the river lest there
be spectators.
It seemed as if we gained cover without having been seen, and once the
crippled lads and the children were safe, Master Bartlett and Stephen
Morley spent a full hour trying to hide the trail which, despite our
best efforts, had been left behind.
Esther Hinchman had a soft word of greeting for me when we were
arrived, which caused me to forget all fatigue, discomfort, or fears
for the future, and then we set about making more habitable this place
of defence and abode.
Esther, Oscar, and Daniel had worked like beavers doing what they might
to make it homelike, and but for the absence of light, I would have
said that we could ask for nothing better. As a matter of course the
place was dark; but Esther tried to cheer the other women by showing a
small store of candles, which had been found among the packages made up
by Eben Towle, and promising that, whenever it should be thought safe,
the tunnel could be illumined as well as any house.
Then, while we lay upon the ground, resting from the fatigue of the
tramp, we speculated as to where the man might be who had dug out this
place, which we believed would serve us well.
Giles felt quite certain he was with us when we marched from Forty Fort
to give battle to John Butler’s force, and if such had been the case,
then was it certain the poor man would never need a hiding-place in
this world, for unless he was among the slain, then would we have found
him there. He had no family, as we knew full well, therefore it seemed
certain that we alone, of all who were left alive in the valley, had
knowledge of the tunnel.
I will not undertake to say how much of provisions we found as he had
left them. Considerable was spoiled because of having been stored away
so long; but sufficient yet remained to keep us alive many days, and,
in addition, we had the supplies brought from the cave.
“We are in good shape to begin our work,” Master Bartlett said when the
situation had been discussed to a finish, “and it is now for us to pay
off the scores John Butler has run up.”
“How will we set about it?” Elias Shendle asked, eagerly, as if
counting that he could do his full share of work with the best of us.
“That can’t well be figured out till we know what may be doing at Forty
Fort,” Master Bartlett replied. “I have had it in mind that we would
hold together as Minute Boys, even though some of us are a bit old to
be counted in that class, and it will go hard if we don’t do some work
that will tell, not only to those whose homes are here in the valley,
but in the struggle against the king.”
“Who will go to Forty Fort to learn what may be doing there?” Daniel
Hinchman asked, and I knew he was burning with the desire to do that
portion of the work.
“You, if it so be Jonathan Ogden is willing.”
“Why speak in that way?” I asked, perhaps a little petulantly, for it
was not to my liking that they hold longer to the pretence of my being
captain.
“Because you were chosen as the leader, and I hold to it that you boys
shall do the work.”
“When you and Stephen Morley are here it is veriest folly to speak of
me, or any other member of our company, being in command,” I cried, and
Master Bartlett replied, quietly:
“All that may be true, lad, and you still remain the captain. Stephen
Morley is a member of the Continental army, and must leave us soon. I
am not in shape to be called a soldier, else had I enlisted long since;
but there is no reason why I should not stay with the Minute Boys so
long as pleases me, and, not having made an agreement to serve in the
ranks, will be able to leave at any time without taking the chances of
being called a deserter.”
At this point Daniel Hinchman began moving around as if at work, and
Elias Shendle asked what he was doing.
“Getting ready to set out for Forty Fort,” he replied. “There is no
good reason why I should idle away the time here.”
“It would be folly to make any attempt at crossing the river until
after night has come,” I said, and Master Bartlett added:
“With the chance that the story, which the curs whom we frightened are
sure to tell, will bring a large force of the enemy this way, it is
not well that we show ourselves more than may be absolutely necessary
during the hours of daylight. Stay where you are, Daniel Hinchman,
until night has come, and then you may go out through the entrance
which lets on to the river. Stephen Morley and I count on having a look
around from now till dark, after which it shall be your turn.”
I was considerably surprised and very much disgruntled because the old
man was, seemingly, shutting me out from any of the work; but did not
think it well to complain just then, lest it should appear as if I was
trying to assume command of the party while the older men were present.
Half an hour later Stephen Morley and Master Bartlett crept out through
the ruins of the house, after cautioning the remainder of us against
straying from the tunnel until their return, and we were left to pass
the time as best we might.
The majority of the party gave themselves up to slumber, and were wise
in thus taking advantage of the opportunity; but my thoughts strayed so
far into the future, while I speculated on what it might be possible
for us lads to do by way of driving the enemy from the valley, that I
could not have closed my eyes in rest however hard I might try.
Therefore it was that, some time later, when I saw Esther Hinchman
moving about as if searching for something, I joined her, asking what
she would do.
“I was only trying to get a better idea of this queer place where we
appear to be so secure,” she replied, and it pleased me well to go with
her up and down the length of the tunnel, prying here and there to find
more of Eben Towle’s hoardings, until we were come to that end which
gave toward the river.
Here Master Bartlett had thrown up a barricade of half-burned logs and
such other materials as he could come at handily. The entrance was not
closed so thoroughly but that we could catch a glimpse of the river
through the bushes which grew outside.
“It seems good to see the sun shining, even though we cannot feel its
warmth,” she said, musingly, and I laughed softly, for verily had she
had enough of the sun’s heat and to spare while coming down from the
cave, because then we were like to have roasted.
“If it please God, you shall soon be able to sit in the glare of the
sun whenever it may be your fancy to do so,” I said, feeling at the
time strong enough to fight John Butler’s wolves single-handed, so her
life was at stake, and before it was possible to reply, even had she
been so minded, there suddenly came into view on the river a veritable
fleet of canoes, heading as if to make land near the ruins of Eben
Towle’s house.
I should say, speaking well within bounds, that there were no less than
sixteen boats, all filled to the utmost of their capacity with Indians
and white men, and it was not needed that we should question as to why
they had come.
These were John Butler’s Tories and red wolves, sent to learn the
secret of the cave on the mountain where so many of their companions
had met their fate, and I really trembled with what was very like fear
as I thought of what must have been the result had we not found another
hiding-place just as we did.
Each canoe carried five or more passengers, and when that large force
stood in front of the cave we could not have hoped to hold it many
hours, however desperate may have been our resistance.
Now, however, they had come in vain, and when the terror aroused by
what might have happened had passed away, I laughed aloud as I saw in
fancy the slow, cautious advance up the mountainside, the stealthy
approach, and the rush upon the cave where remained no living being.
Nearer and nearer the fleet approached the shore, and, laying her
finger on her lips, Esther glided noiselessly away from me to warn, as
I fancied, our comrades against the lightest sound lest the secret of
our hiding-place be betrayed.
When she returned all the lads were with her, and we watched our
enemies as they came ashore, drew the canoes high out of the water, and
then disappeared beyond our line of vision toward the forest.
There was not one in all that small army who showed signs of joy at
taking part in such an expedition. Every face was grave, while many
had an anxious look, and it was not difficult to believe they had been
ordered to perform the duty, rather than having volunteered, for,
according to such a story as the frightened savages must have told,
they were about to have an encounter with those who dealt in magic.
During a full half-hour we could hear them moving around just over our
heads, as if loath to set out on the final stage of their journey, and
then the sounds died away until silence reigned as before the renegades
and curs showed themselves.
Even then we in the tunnel did not dare to speak lest some of the party
had remained behind to act as sentinels, and were sitting there silent
and motionless, when those sounds were heard which told that Master
Bartlett and Stephen Morley were entering the hiding-place by way of
the ruins.
Then we knew all the ruffians had departed, and straightway our tongues
were loosened, as we asked of the men what they had seen, at the same
time explaining how it was we knew of what had been going on.
“I reckon you are as wise as we,” Master Bartlett replied, “for we
were obliged to remain at a distance. They have gone to take the cave,
and it is safe guessing that not one of them will dare to remain in the
woods after dark, even though it can be seen only a party of fugitives
were concealed there. Stephen Morley and I believe it will be possible
to deal out such a dose that they won’t be eager to visit this side of
the river any oftener than may be absolutely necessary, therefore if
you lads who can move about are minded to come with us, the work of the
Minute Boys can be begun ’twixt now and sunset.”
Never one of us waited to hear what the old man’s plan might be; but
all eagerly set about making ready for the excursion, and ten minutes
had not passed before the male members of the party, save only Elias
Shendle and Sam Rogers, were in the open air, seeking cover in the
nearest thicket.
Master Bartlett led us up-stream, once we were within the shelter of
the woods, until having left the tunnel nearly a mile behind, and then
halted where it was possible to have a full view of the river.
“What is the plan?” Daniel Hinchman asked eagerly when we were come to
a halt.
“There isn’t any, lad,” Master Bartlett replied, with a laugh. “It only
came to Stephen Morley and me that we might begin to square accounts
with those curs at once. They will, of course, go up-stream, at least
as far as Forty Fort, after finding that the cave is empty, and I’m
reckoning that we won’t see them this way until nearly dark. We’ll
scatter along the bank twenty paces or so apart, keeping under cover,
of course, and when they show up, open fire. They won’t have the heart
to come ashore in search of us; but in case they should, we are to
strike out for the cave, going as nearly as may be over their trail.
That’s all we had decided upon, and if things don’t go as we have
figured, it will be a case of each for himself, with the understanding
that no one is to go near the tunnel until it is certain he will not be
seen by the enemy.”
It would have pleased me better had the old man decided to meet the
curs in open fight, for this striking a blow in the darkness, with the
odds all in our favor, smacked too much of the same style of fighting
which John Butler called warfare; but it was not for me to find fault
when we might make reprisals in some slight degree for the massacre of
our people.
We took our stations according to the instructions given by Master
Bartlett, and, ready to kill, but not accounting it other than a
just punishment, awaited the coming of those who had laid waste our
beautiful valley.
Not until half an hour after sunset did the foremost of the canoes come
in sight, and the men were paddling wearily as if after a hard day’s
march.
It had been understood that the signal for us to begin work would be
the report of Master Bartlett’s musket, and we waited eagerly for that,
each fellow with his musket levelled and resting on a branch or stump
that he might send the bullet more truly.
The sights of my weapon covered a big savage, whose head-dress of
feathers told that he was more vain than his brothers, else he would
not have worn that ornament while on the war-path, and I had no doubt
of bringing him down, for the boats were well within the range of our
muskets.
Then, when five or six of the foremost canoes were directly opposite
where we had taken our stations, Master Bartlett fired, and one of
the curs who had been paddling fell over the side of the frail craft
in such a manner that it filled on the instant, leaving its occupants
floundering in the river.
I had the satisfaction of seeing the red brute at whom I aimed fall
backward, and while reloading had a full view of all that took place.
Not one of our party had missed his target; two of the canoes had been
overset by the struggles of those who were wounded, and such of the
boats as yet floated were headed for the opposite bank in desperate
haste.
It would have done me real good to give voice to the feelings of
triumph which were mine when I saw those sneaks in such a panic of
fear; but I held my peace, and stood ready for a shot at the next
canoe, when I came to understand that all was not going as the old man
had counted on.
Giles March, who had been stationed next below me, came up hurriedly,
as he whispered:
“Master Bartlett gave the signal too soon; he should have waited till
the last of the fleet was passing. Those in the rear are coming ashore
on this side of the river, and we are like to have a warm time unless
we can gain the cave, in which case we may find ourselves regularly
besieged.”
He had no more than ceased speaking when all the party came up, for
my station was the one toward the north, and Master Bartlett said
hurriedly:
“Three canoes have been hauled up on this shore; the others are putting
straight across the river. Is it in your minds, lads, that we keep
together, or separate, in the retreat?”
“If but three boat-loads have landed, let us stand our ground like men;
there will be time enough to take to the mountain when we see too large
a force coming across the river to have a share in the scrimmage,” I
said, quickly, eager for a pitched battle.
“Jonathan Ogden is right,” Stephen Morley said without hesitation.
“Thus far only about fifteen men have come ashore, and we can make the
odds more nearly even when they first show themselves.”
No one made a protest, and we took our stations, each for himself, but
within easy distance of the others, and all where they could be hidden
from view of those who were coming up.
It was to be a battle in the night; but we who stood for the right
could see as well in the darkness as those butcher’s curs, and had
more of a heart for the fight, it was reasonable to suppose.
“Fire whenever you see anything moving; but try not to waste a shot,”
Master Bartlett whispered loud enough for all to hear, and then came
those sounds, faintly yet distinctly, which betokened the advance of
the enemy.
“Now has come the time when we begin to tell John Butler that he has
yet to reckon with the Minute Boys, before he can take possession of
this valley,” Giles March, who stood next me, whispered, and before I
could make reply the report of a musket broke the stillness.
Another report, and another, but yet I could see no signs of the enemy,
strain my eyes as I might, and in my impatience I moved forward two or
three paces, when a bullet came singing past my head.
The savages had been doing all the firing, as I soon believed, and it
caused me no little shame when I realized that they were gaining the
advantage which should have been ours.
“Can you see anything?” Giles March whispered as he came to where I
had sheltered myself behind a big oak-tree, and I replied, as a better
understanding of the situation came into my mind like a flash:
“They outwitted us by sending part of their force straight toward us,
while the remainder sneaked up the river bank, counting that we would
not be looking for danger from such direction. Face about, lad, and
let us give them a bit of their own music.”
Now instead of searching with our eyes to the south, we slipped from
tree-trunk to tree-trunk until we were within perhaps thirty paces of
the stream, and then we had targets in plenty before us.
No less than five--two savages and three white men, as I made out--were
coming warily up from the water looking for us, and heeding not the
possibility that we might have made a change of front even as they had
done.
Crouching on one knee I fired, bringing down my game, and an instant
later Giles March had winged another. The remaining three hunted cover
in a twinkling, and when we had reloaded our weapons, I shouted to the
others of our company:
“They are coming up from the river! Have an eye out in that direction!”
“Get together, lads!” I heard Master Bartlett cry, doing so lest
Giles and I should shoot our own comrades, and as soon as might be
thereafter, each fellow moving as rapidly as possible, we were united
once more.
I did not understand why the old man had made this move, until he
whispered in my ear:
“It is likely that the noise of the firing will bring others from the
opposite side, and it is in my mind that we had better circle around
them.”
“To the end that we may take refuge in the cave once more?” I asked,
and he replied with what was very like a chuckle of satisfaction:
“It may be we could come at the canoes while they are searching here
for us, in which case all hands might have a look at Forty Fort before
morning.”