A TREACHEROUS PLANTER.
It must not be supposed that the whole of the time was spent in scouting
and fighting. Between the armies lay a band of no man's land. Here, as
elsewhere, the people of the country were divided in their opinions, but
generally made very little display of these, whatever they might be. It
is true that, as a rule, non-combatants were but little interfered with;
still, a warm and open display of sympathy with one side or the other
was likely to be attended by the loss of cattle and damage to crops when
the other party got the upper hand. In some other States feeling ran
much higher. In the Carolinas the royalists were most cruelly
persecuted. Their property was destroyed and they were, in many cases,
shot down without mercy; but generally, throughout the colonies, a
considerable latitude of opinion was allowed. This was especially so in
the zone between the armies in the Jerseys. None could tell what the
positions of the armies a week hence might be, and any persecution
inflicted by the one party might lead to retaliation upon a shift of
positions a few weeks later. A general toleration therefore reigned.
Next to Peter Lambton, Harold's greatest friend in the corps was a young
man named Harvey. He was of good family and belonged to New York. Being
a strong loyalist, he had, like many other gentlemen, enlisted for
service under the old flag. He had, naturally, many acquaintances among
the county families, and Harold often accompanied him in his visits to
one or other of them.
During the winter, when things were quiet, the duties of the scouts were
light, and it was the habit among them that one-third should be on
outpost duty at a time, the rest being free to move about as they liked.
The scouts had no fixed order of position. They went out alone or in
twos or threes, as it pleased them, their duty simply being to watch
everything that was going on along the enemy's line of outposts, to
bring the earliest news of any intended movements, and to prevent
dashing parties of the enemy's horsemen from making raids into or behind
the British lines. They were not, of course, expected to check bodies of
cavalry starting on a raid, but simply to obtain information of their
having left their lines and of the direction taken, and then to hurry
back to the British posts, whence a force of cavalry would be sent out
to intercept or check the invaders. Many dashing exploits were performed
by the cavalry on both sides in the way of getting behind their
opponents' quarters, cutting off provision trains, attacking small
posts, and carrying off straggling parties.
One of the houses to which Harold used most frequently to accompany his
friend Harvey was situated nearly halfway between the rival armies, and
was about eight miles from either. The owner--Mr. Jackson--was a man of
considerable wealth, and the house was large and well appointed. He had,
before the troubles began, a fine business as a lawyer in New York; but,
as the outbreak of hostilities put a stop to all business of a legal
kind in that city, he had retired to his country house. Although himself
born in England, he professed to be entirely neutral, but his family
were undisguisedly loyal. It consisted of his wife and two daughters,
girls of seventeen and eighteen years old.
When the English army advanced to the neighborhood of his property Mr.
Jackson was always ready to offer his hospitality to the officers of the
corps which might be stationed near him, and he similarly opened his
house to the Americans when they, in turn, advanced as the British
turned back. Being, as he always made a point of saying, perfectly
neutral in the struggle, he was glad to meet gentlemen, irrespective of
the opinions they held. The line taken by Mr. Jackson was the one which
was very largely pursued among the inhabitants of the country houses and
farms scattered over what was, throughout the war, a debatable land. So
frequent were the changes of the position of the armies that none could
say who might be in possession in a week's time, and it was, therefore,
an absolute necessity for those who wished to live unmolested to abstain
from any stronger show of partisanship.
As is always the case in struggles of this kind, the female population
were more enthusiastic in their partisanship and more pronounced in
their opinions than the men; and although, upon the arrival of a troop
of cavalry or a detachment of foot belonging to the other side, the
master of the house would impartially offer what hospitality he was
capable of, it was not difficult to perceive, by the warmth or coldness
of the female welcome, what were the private sentiments of the family.
Harold was not long in discovering, from the frequency with which Harvey
proposed an excursion to the Jacksons' and from his conduct there, that
Isabelle, the eldest daughter, was the object which mainly attracted
him. The families had long been friends, and Harvey, although now
serving as a simple scout, was of a position equal to her own. The
friends were always cordially received by Mr. Jackson, and Harold was
soon as intimate there as his comrade. They usually left their quarters
a little before dusk and started back late at night. Often as Mr.
Jackson pressed them to stay, they never accepted his invitation.
The scouts, from their activity and ubiquitousness, were the
_bêtes-noirs_ of the Americans, whose most secret plans were constantly
detected and foiled by the sagacity and watchfulness of these men, whose
unerring rifles made frequent gaps in the ranks of the officers. They
therefore spared no pains, whenever there was a chance, of killing or
capturing any of these most troublesome foes, and Harvey and Harold knew
that a report of their presence at the Jacksons' would suffice to bring
a party of horsemen from the American lines. Their visits, therefore,
were always made after dark, and at irregular intervals, and, in spite
of their inclination to the contrary they made a point of returning at
night to their quarters.
Other visitors were often present at the Jacksons', the sons and
daughters of neighbors, and there was generally music and singing, and
sometimes the young people stood up for a dance.
The scouts wore no regular uniform, although there was a general
similarity in their attire, which was that of an ordinary backwoods
hunter. When off duty they were allowed to dress as they pleased, and at
Mr. Jackson's the two friends were attired in the ordinary dress of
colonists of position. At these little gatherings political subjects
were never discussed, and a stranger spending an evening there would not
have dreamed that the house stood between two hostile armies; that at
any moment a party of horsemen belonging to one side or other might dash
into the courtyard, and that even those laughing and talking pleasantly
together might be of opinions diametrically opposed.
Harvey and Harold were introduced to visitors simply as friends from New
York, and, although the suspicions as to their character and position
might be strong, no one thought of asking questions.
"I do not like that fellow Chermside," Harvey said one night, as he and
his friend were returning to their quarters.
They were mounted; for, although when on duty the scouts worked on foot,
many of them, who were men of property, kept horses which they used when
not engaged. Harvey had two horses, and one of these was always at
Harold's service.
"I am not surprised you don't like him," Harold replied with a laugh,
"and I imagine the dislike is mutual. When two gentlemen are paying
attentions to one young lady they seldom appreciate each other's merits
very cordially."
"I don't think it is entirely that," Harvey laughed. "Isabella and I
understand each other, and I have no fear of his rivalry; but I do not
like him."
"I do not think I like him myself," Harold said more seriously; "and yet
I do not know why I should not. When he has been there alone with us and
the family, he has frequently used expressions showing his strong
leaning toward the loyalists' side."
"I don't put much faith in that," Harvey said. "He knows how strongly
Mr. Jackson and the girls lean toward the Crown, and would say anything
that he thought would please Isabelle. I have spoken to her and she
thinks that he is sincere; in fact, she has rather a good opinion of
him. However, we shall see. It was rather curious that that party of
Morgan's cavalry should have ridden up the other night and searched the
house two hours after we left. You see, we had agreed to sleep there
that night, and only changed our minds after the others had all left,
when we remembered that we were both for duty early next morning. It
might have been a coincidence, of course, but it had an ugly look. I
think Mr. Jackson thought so, too, for he did not ask us to stop
to-night; anyhow, I wish Chermside's plantation was not so near this and
that he did not drop in so often."
A week later they paid another visit. When dinner was over Harold
was chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. Harvey was sitting at the
piano, where the eldest girl was playing, and the younger was
looking out of window.
"We are going to have another fall of snow," she said. "There is not a
star to be seen. Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly.
"What is it, my dear?" Mr. Jackson asked.
"There is a rocket gone up from the woods."
"A rocket!" Mr. Jackson repeated.
"Yes, papa; there are the stars falling now."
"That is a curious thing," Mr. Jackson said, while the others went
to the window. They stood watching for some minutes, but nothing
was to be seen.
"I do not like that rocket," Mr. Jackson said as they left the window.
"It means something. It can only be a signal. People don't let off
rockets for amusement nowadays. Did you meet anyone on the road?"
"No, sir," Harvey said, "not a soul."
"I do not like it," their host repeated. "It means mischief of some sort
or other. I do not wish to seem inhospitable, but my advice to you is,
get on your horses at once and ride to your quarters. You are on duty
to-morrow, and you told me you would pass near here on your way toward
the enemy's lines. You might look in as you go past and hear whether
anything came of it. If I mistake not, we shall have another visit from
Morgan's horse this evening."
Much against their inclination the young men followed Mr.
Jackson's advice.
The next day they, with Peter and Jake, stopped at the house as
they passed.
"I was right," their host said, as the two young men entered. "An hour
after you left twenty of Morgan's horse rode up here. They would not
take my word that we were alone, but searched the house from top to
bottom, and were evidently greatly disappointed at finding no one. I
have been making inquiries this morning and find that all the servants
were in the house at the time my daughter saw the rocket, so I hope that
I have no traitor here. Still, it is clear that someone must be keeping
watch over your movements."
"Have you asked, sir," Harvey said, after a pause, "whether anyone came
after we had arrived?"
"I do not see how anyone could come, but I will ask."
He rang the bell and a negro servant appeared.
"Did anyone come to the house yesterday, Caesar, after these gentleman
came--any beggar or peddler, or anyone of that sort?"
"No, sir; no one came except Massa Chermside. He get off his horse and
ask if you, hab any visitors. I said that Massa Harvey and Massa Wilson
were here. He say he call again another night when the family alone, and
rode off."
"Just what I expected, sir," Harvey said, when the servant left the
room. "I have always doubted that fellow's honesty."
"Oh, nonsense!" Mr. Jackson replied. "You must be mad, Harvey.
Chermside's father was an old friend of mine, and I have known the young
fellow since he was a child. I should as soon suspect one of my own
daughters of being capable of such an act of gross treachery as laying a
plot to bring the American cavalry down upon guests of mine. The idea is
preposterous. Bless me, how amused the girls will be at your suspecting
their old playfellow!"
"I hope I may be mistaken, sir," Harvey said, "but Harold's opinion of
him agrees with mine; and, in talking it over last night, we both put
our finger on him as the man who fired the rocket. Well, now, we must be
pushing on. We are bound for the ford where Morgan's horse must have
come over, and shall hear from our fellows there whether they rode
straight here after crossing, as, if so, there can be no doubt whatever
that the rocket was a signal."
Upon arriving at the ford they found that Morgan's horse had only
crossed an hour before the time at which they arrived at Mr. Jackson's.
One of the scouts had instantly taken word to the nearest cavalry
outpost, but the enemy had recrossed the river before these had arrived
on the spot.
After three days on duty at the front, the party returned to their
lines, and the next time that the young men rode out to their friends
they took with them Jake and Peter, to whom they related the
circumstances.
The scouts proceeded on foot and separated from the others a mile before
reaching the house, having arranged that Peter should scout round it,
while Jake should proceed to the plantation of Mr. Chermside and keep a
sharp lookout there.
They had arranged with Mr. Jackson that no mention of the rocket should
be made to anyone, however intimate with the family.
"I am glad to see you again," the host said, as they entered the room
where the family were assembled, "although I own that these two raids of
Morgan's horse have made me uneasy. The girls have been immensely amused
at your suspicions of young Chermside."
"How could you think such a thing?" Isabelle said. "He was here on the
following evening, and was as indignant as we were at the thought of
treachery being at work. He quite agreed with us that the coming of the
Yankees could hardly have been accidental."
"You said nothing about the rocket, I hope?" Harvey asked.
"No, we kept quite silent about that, as you made such a point of it;
but it seemed ridiculous with him. But I shall be in a fright, now,
every time you come."
"We have brought two of our men with us," Harvey said, "and they are
scouting round, so we shall hear if another rocket goes up; and, even if
the person who let it up suspects that the last was seen,--as he might
do from our having left so suddenly,--and tries some other plan to warn
the enemy, we can trust our men to fire a shot and so give us warning in
time. We have told the groom not to take the saddles off the horses, as
we may stop but a short time."
At eight o'clock a disturbance was heard outside, and Jake entered the
room, dragging with him by main force the young planter.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mr. Jackson asked, as they rose from
their seats in surprise.
"Me tell you, sar," Jake answered. "Me had orders from Massa Harold to
watch outside ob de house ob dis feller and see what going on dere.
About half an hour after me got dere a nigger come along running from
dis direction. Dat no business of Jake's, so he stood in de trees and
let him pass. He go into de house; five minutes afterward dis feller he
come out and he walk away. Jake follow him bery quiet to see what him
after. He walk more dan a mile, den he get on to de oder side of dat big
hill; den me see him stop, and Jake tink it time to interfere, so he ran
up and catch him. He had put dis ting against a stump of a tree, and had
him pistol in him hand, and was on de point of firing it close to dis
ting, so as to light him."
As Jake spoke he held out a rocket. Several times while Jake had been
speaking the planter had tried to interrupt him, but each time Jake, who
had not released his hold of him, gave him so violent a shake that he
was fain to be silent.
"This is a scandalous indignity," he exclaimed furiously when Jake
finished. "What do you mean, sir," he demanded of Harvey, "by setting
this nigger to watch my abode? I will have satisfaction for this
treatment."
"It seems, sir," Mr. Jackson said, signing to Harvey to be silent,
"that you have been detected in a gross act of treachery. My friends
have suspected you of it, but I indignantly denied it. Could we
believe, I and my family, that you, whom we have known as a child,
would betray our guests to the Americans? Loyalists and republicans are
alike welcome here. I do not ask my friends their opinions. My house is
neutral ground, and I did not think that anyone who used it would have
had the treachery to turn it into a trap; still less did I imagine you
would do so. These gentlemen would be perfectly within their right did
they take you out and hang you from the nearest tree; but, for my sake,
I trust that they will not do so; but should the American cavalry ever
again visit this house under circumstances which may lead it to be
supposed that they have been brought here to capture my guests, I shall
let them punish you as you deserve. No word of mine will be raised in
your favor. Now, sir, go, and never again enter this house, where the
loathing and contempt that I feel for you will, I know, be shared by
the ladies of my family."
At a nod from Harold Jake released his hold of the captive, who, without
a word, turned and left the room.
Not a word was spoken for a minute or two after he had left. The
youngest girl was the first to speak.
"The wretch!" she exclaimed. "To think that Herbert Chermside should
turn out such a mean traitor! Papa, I would have let them hang him at
once. It would have served him right. Now he may do us all harm."
"I do not know that you are not right, Ada," Mr. Jackson replied
gravely. "I am far from saying that I acted wisely. Young Chermside has
many friends among the Americans, and it is possible that he may work us
harm. However, my position as a neutral is well established. Officers on
both sides have at times been welcomed here, and his report, therefore,
that our friends here are often with us can do us no harm. Henceforth he
must be regarded as an enemy, and there will always be danger in these
visits. So long as the American outposts are within an hour's ride he
can have the road watched; and, although he is not likely to venture
upon signaling with rockets, he may send or take word on horseback. A
bonfire, too, might be lit at the other side of the hill to call them
over. Altogether you will never be safe from home except when you have a
strong body of your own troops between this and the river."
"I am glad to say," Harvey said, "that in consequence of the news of
Morgan's raids on this side a body of 200 infantry and a troop of
cavalry are to move to-morrow and take up their position by the ford, so
we shall be safe from any surprise from that direction."
"I am very glad to hear it," Mr. Jackson said. "It will relieve me of a
great anxiety. But pray be watchful when you are in this neighborhood.
You have made a bitter enemy, and, after what he has proved himself
capable of, we cannot doubt that he would hesitate at nothing. I
understand," he went on with a smile toward his eldest daughter, "what
is at the bottom of his conduct, and, as I have long suspected his hopes
in that quarter, I am not surprised that he is somewhat hostile to you.
Still, I never for a moment deemed him capable of this."
The next day Mr. Jackson learned that his neighbor had left his
plantation, and had told his servants that he was not likely to return
for some time.
Shortly after this a series of bad luck attended the doings of the
British scouts. Several parties were killed or captured by the enemy,
and they were constantly baffled by false reports, while the Americans
appeared to forestall all their movements. It was only when enterprises
were set on foot and carried out by small bodies that they were ever
successful, anything like combined action by the orders of the officers
constantly turning out ill.
"There must be a traitor somewhere," Peter said upon the return of a
party from an attempt which, although it promised well, had been
frustrated, to carry off a number of cattle from one of the American
depots. "It aint possible that this can be all sheer bad luck. It aint
no one in our company, I'll be bound. We aint had any new recruits
lately, and there aint a man among us whom I could not answer for. There
must be a black sheep in Gregory's or Vincent's corps. The enemy seem up
to every move, and, between us, we have lost more than thirty men in the
last few weeks. There aint no doubt about it--there's a traitor
somewhere and he must be a clever one, and he must have pals with him,
or he couldn't send news of what we are doing so quickly. It beats me
altogether, and the men are all furious."
"I've been talking with some of our men," Peter said a few days
afterward, "and we agree that we are bound to get to the bottom of this
matter. We're sartin sure that the traitor don't belong to us. What we
propose is this, that the hull of us shall go up together, without
saying a word to a soul, and scatter ourselves along the river at all
the points where a chap going with a message to the enemy would be
likely to cross. The night we go out we'll get the three captains all to
give orders to their men for an expedition, so that whoever it is that
sends messages from here would be sure to send over word to the Yankees;
and it'll be hard if we don't ketch him. What do you say?"
"I think the plan is a very good one," Harold answered. "If you like, I
will go with my father and ask Gregory and Vincent to send their men."
Captain Wilson at once went to these officers. They were as much
irritated and puzzled as were their men by the failures which had taken
place, and agreed that, next evening, an order should be issued for the
men of the three corps to act in combination, and to allow it to leak
out that they intended to surprise an American post situated near the
river, twenty-one miles distant. Captain Wilson's scouts, instead of
going with the others, were to act on their own account.
On the day arranged, as soon as it became dark, the forty scouts quietly
left their quarters in small parties and made their way toward the
river, striking it at the point where a messenger would be likely to
cross upon his way to give warning to the American post of the attack
intended to be made upon it. They took post along the river, at a
distance of fifty or sixty yards apart, and silently awaited the result.
Several hours passed and no sound broke the stillness of the woods. An
hour before dawn Peter Lambton heard a slight crack, as that of a
breaking twig. It was some distance back in the woods, but it seemed to
him, by the direction, that the man who caused it would strike the river
between himself and Jake, who was stationed next to him. He noiselessly
stole along toward the point. Another slight sound afforded him a sure
indication of the direction in which the man, whoever he might be, was
approaching. He hastened his steps, and a minute later a negro issued
from the wood close to him. He stood for an instant on the river bank
and was about to plunge in, when Peter threw his arms around him.
Although taken by surprise, the negro struggled desperately and would
have freed himself from the grip of the old scout had not Jake run up
instantly to his comrade's assistance. In a minute the negro was bound
and two shots were then fired, the concerted signal by which it would be
known along the line that a capture had been effected. In a few minutes
the whole body was assembled. The negro, who refused to answer any
questions, was carried far back into the woods and a fire was lighted.
"Now, nigger," Peter said, taking, as captor, the lead in the matter,
"jest tell us right away where you was going and who sent you."
The negro was silent.
"Now, look ye here, darky, you're in the hands of men who are no
jokers. Ef you tell us at once who put ye on to this trick no harm will
happen to you; but ef ye don't we'll jest burn the skin off your body,
bit by bit."
Still the negro was silent.
"Half a dozen of yez," Peter said, "as have got iron ramrods shove them
into the fire. We'll soon find this nigger's tongue."
Not a word was spoken until the ramrods were heated red-hot.
"Now," Peter said, "two of yez clap your ramrods against this
darky's flanks."
The negro struggled as the men approached him, and gave a terrific yell
as the hot iron was applied to his sides.
"I will tell you, sars--oh! have mercy upon me and I will tell you
eberything!"
"I thought," Peter said grimly, "that you'd find a tongue soon enough.
Now, then, who sent you?"
"My massa," the negro answered.
"And who is your master?"
The negro was again silent, but as, at a nod from Peter, the men again
raised the ramrods, he blurted out:
"Massa Chermside."
The name was known to many of the scouts, and a cry of anger broke
from them.
"I thought as much," Harvey said. "I suspected that scoundrel was at the
bottom of it all along. Where is he?" he asked the negro.
"Me not know, sar."
"You mean you won't say," Peter said. "Try the vartue of them
ramrods again."
"No, no!" the negro screamed. "Me swear me do not know where him be. You
may burn me to death if you will, but I could not tell you."
"I think he is speaking the truth," Harvey said. "Wait a minute. Have
you done this before?" he asked the negro.
"Yes, sar. Eight or ten times me swim de river at night."
"With messages to the Americans?"
"Yes, sar; messages to American officers."
"Have you any written message--any letter?"
"No, sar, me never take no letter. Me only carry dis." And he took out
from his hair a tiny ball of paper smaller than a pea.
It was smoothed out, and upon it, were the words, "General Washington."
"Where I go, sar, I show dem dis, and dey know den dat de message can be
believed."
"But how do you get the message? How do you see your master?"
"Master's orders were dat me and two oders were to meet him ebery night,
after it got dark, at a tree a mile from de place where de soldiers are.
Sometimes he no come. When he come he gibs each of us a piece of money
and tell us to carry a message across the river. We start by different
ways, swim across de water in different places, take de message, and
come back to de plantation."
"A pretty business!" Peter said. "Now you must come back with us to the
post and tell your story to the commanding officer. Then we must see if
we can't lay hands on this rascally master of yours."
Upon the news being told, the general in command sent a party out, who,
after searching the house and out-buildings of the plantation in vain,
set fire to them and burned them to the ground. The negroes were all
carried away and employed to labor for the army. The town and all the
surrounding villages were searched, but no trace could be obtained of
the missing man. One of the men of Gregory's corps of scouts
disappeared. He had recently joined, but his appearance, as a man with
beard and whiskers, in no way agreed with that of the planter. He might,
however, have been disguised, and his disappearance was in itself no
proof against him, for the scouts were under no great discipline, and
when tired of the service often left without giving notice of their
intention of doing so. It was, moreover, possible that he might have
fallen by an enemy's bullet.
The strongest proof in favor of the deserter being Chermside was that,
henceforth, the scouts were again as successful as before, often
surprising the enemy successfully.
Now that the ford nearest Mr. Jackson's was strongly guarded, the young
men had no apprehension of any surprise, although such an event was just
possible, as the cavalry on both sides often made great circuits in
their raids upon each other's country. That Chermside was somewhere in
the neighborhood they believed; having, indeed, strong reason for doing
so, as a rifle was one evening fired at them from the wood as they rode
over, the ball passing between their heads. Pursuit, at the time, was
impossible. But the next day a number of scouts searched the woods
without success. Soon after they heard that Chermside had joined the
Americans and obtained a commission in a body of their irregular horse.
Harvey was now formally engaged to Isabelle Jackson, and it was settled
that the wedding should take place in the early spring at New York. When
not on duty he naturally spent a good deal of his time there, and Harold
was frequently with him. Since he had been fired at in the woods
Isabelle had been in the highest state of nervous anxiety lest her
lover's enemy should again try to assassinate him, and she begged Harold
always to come over with him, if possible, as the thought of his riding
alone through the wood filled her with anxiety.
Although he had no order to do so, Jake, whenever he saw Harold and his
friend canter off toward the Jacksons, shouldered his rifle and went out
after them to the house, where, so long as they stayed, he scouted round
and round with the utmost vigilance. Very often Harold was ignorant of
his presence there; but when, after his return, he found, by questioning
him, how he had been employed, he remonstrated with him on such
excessive precaution.
"Can't be too cautious, massa," Jake said. "You see dat fellow come one
of dese days."
Jake's presentiment turned out correct. One evening when, with several
friends, the young men were at Mr. Jackson's the sound of the report of
a rifle was heard at a short distance.
"That must be Jake's rifle!" Harold exclaimed.
"Quick, Harvey, to your horse!"
It was too late. As they reached the door a strong party of American
cavalry dashed up to it.
"Surround the house!" an officer shouted. "Do not let a soul escape!"
The young men ran upstairs again.
"We are caught," Harvey said. "Escape is cut off. The Yankee cavalry are
all round the house. Good-by, Isabelle. We shall meet one of these days
again, dear." The girl threw herself into his arms.
"Be calm, love!" he said. "Do not let this scoundrel have the
satisfaction of triumphing over you."
A moment later Chermside, accompanied by several soldiers,
entered the room.
"I am sorry to disturb so pleasant a party," he said in a sneering
voice, "but if Americans choose to entertain the enemies of their
country they must expect these little disagreeables."
Mr. Jackson abruptly turned his back upon him, and no one else spoke,
although he was personally well known to all.
"These are the two men," he said to the soldiers--"two of the most
notorious scouts and spies on the frontier. We will take them to
headquarters, where a short shrift and two strong ropes will be
their lot."
"The less the word spy is in the mouth of such a pitiful traitor as
yourself the better, I should say," Harvey said quietly; and, walking
forward with Harold, he placed himself in the hands of the soldiers.
No one else spoke. Isabelle had fainted when she heard the threat of
execution against her lover. Ada stood before her with a look of
such anger and contempt on her young face that Chermside fairly
winced under it.
"To horse!" he said sullenly, and, turning, followed his men and
prisoners downstairs.
The troop, Harold saw, numbered some 200 sabers. They had with them a
number of riderless horses, whose accouterments showed that they
belonged to an English regiment; most of the men, too, had sacks of
plunder upon their horses. They had evidently made a successful raid,
and had probably attacked a post and surprised and driven off the
horses of a squadron of cavalry, and were now on their return toward
their lines.
"This is an awkward business, Harold," Harvey said as, in the midst
of their captors, they galloped off from the Jacksons'. "Of course
it's all nonsense about our being hung. Still, I have no wish to see
the inside of a prison, where we may pass years before we are
exchanged. Once handed over to the authorities we shall be safe; but
I shall not feel that we are out of danger so long as we are in this
scoundrel's hands. Fortunately there are officers of superior rank to
himself with the squadron, otherwise I have no doubt at all that he
would hang us at once."
Such was indeed the case, and Chermside was, at that moment, fuming
intensely at the chance which had thrown his rival in his hands at a
time when he was powerless to carry out his vengeance. He had, indeed,
ventured to suggest that it would be less trouble to hang the prisoners
at once, but the major in command had so strongly rebuked him for the
suggestion that he had at once been silenced.
"I blush that I should have heard such words from the mouth of an
American officer. It is by such deeds, sir, that our cause is too often
disgraced. We are soldiers fighting for the independence of our
country--not lawless marauders. Had these men been taken in their
civilian dress over on our side of the river they would have been tried
and hung as spies; but they were on neutral ground, and, in fact, in the
rear of their own posts. There is no shadow of defense for such an
accusation. Should I ever hear a similar suggestion I shall at once
report your conduct to General Washington, who will know how to deal
with you."
"I wonder what has become of Jake," Harold said to his comrade. "I trust
he was not shot down."
"Not he," Harvey said. "He made off after firing his rifle, you may be
sure, when he saw that there was nothing to be done. The fellow can run
like a hare, and I have no doubt that, by this time, he has either got
back to the village and given the alarm there or has made for the ford.
There are 100 cavalry there now as well as the infantry. Jake will be
there in an hour from the time he started. The dragoons will be in the
saddle five minutes later, and it is just possible they may cut off our
retreat before we have crossed the river. Peter is on duty there, and,
if he happens to be at the post when Jake arrives, he will hurry up with
all the scouts he can collect."
Jake had taken flight as Harvey supposed. He had, after firing his
rifle, taken to the wood, and had remained near the house long enough to
see which way the cavalry rode when they started. Then he made for the
post at the ford at the top of his speed. It was less than an hour from
starting when he arrived there, and three minutes later the cavalry
trumpets were blowing "To horse!" After giving his message to the
officer in command Jake went into the village, where the sounds of the
trumpet brought all the soldiers into the street.
"Hullo, Jake! is that you?" a familiar voice asked. "What the tarnal
is up now?"
Jake hastily related what had taken place.
"Tarnation!" Peter exclaimed. "This is a bad job. They're making, no
doubt, for Finchley's Ford, fifteen mile down the river. With an hour's
start they're sure to be there before us."
"What are you going to do, Peter? Are you thinking of running wid
de cavalry?"
"Thinking of running to the moon!" the scout said contemptuously. "You
can run well, I don't deny, Jake, but you couldn't run fifteen mile with
the dragoons; and, if you could, you'd get there too late. Yer bellows
are going pretty fast already. Now don't stand staring there, but hurry
through the camp and get all our boys together. Tell them to meet by the
water side. Get Gregory and Vincent's men as well as our own. There's
twenty or thirty altogether in the place."
Without asking a question Jake ran off to carry out the orders, and, in
a few minutes, twenty-four men were collected together on the bank.
"Now, you fellows," Peter said, "we've got to rescue these two chaps out
of the hands of the Yankees. Them who don't want to jine--and mind you
the venture is a risky one--had better say so at once and stop behind."
No one moved.
"What I propose is this: we'll take the ferryboat, which aint no good
to no one, seeing as how the Yankees are on one side of the river and
we the other, and we'll drop down the stream about ten mile. Then we'll
land on their side of the river and strike inland, hiding the boat
under the bushes somewhere. They'll halt for the night when they're
safe across the river. There's five or six hundred of their infantry
camped on the ford. There's two hundred on our side, but the Yankees'll
ride through in the dark and get across before the redcoats are awake.
Now, I propose that, after we've landed, we make a sweep round until we
get near the Yanks' camp. Then the rest'll wait and two or three of
us'll go in and see if we can't get the young fellows out of wherever
they've put 'em. Then we'll jine you and make a running fight of it
back to the boat."
The others assented. The boat was amply large enough for all, and,
pulling her out into the stream, they dropped down, keeping under
shelter of the trees on the British side. Half an hour after they had
started they heard the faint sound of distant musketry.
"There," Peter said, "the Yanks are riding through the British camp,
close to the ford."
A few more shots were heard, and then all was silent. The stream was
swift, for it was swollen by recent rains, and at three in the morning
the boat touched the bank about a mile above the ford. The party
disembarked noiselessly and, fastening the boat to a tree, moved along
toward the camp.
When they were within four or five hundred yards of the village Peter
chose Jake and two others of his band, and, telling the rest to remain
where they were, ready for action, he struck inland. He made a _détour_
and came in at the back of the camp.
Here there were no sentries, as the only danger to be apprehended was
upon the side of the river. Peter therefore entered boldly. In front of
the principal house a sentry was walking up and down, and he, in the
free-and-easy manner usual in the American army, gladly entered into
conversation with the newcomers.
"All pretty quiet about here?" Peter asked. "We're from the West, and
have jest come down to do a little fighting with the Britishers. I
reckon they aint far off now?"
"They are just across the river," the sentry said. "Have you come far?"
"We've made something like two hundred mile this week, and mean to have
a day or two's rest before we begin. We've done some Injun fighting, my
mates and me, in our time, and we says to ourselves it was about time we
burned a little powder against the redcoats. Things seem quiet enough
about here. Nothing doing, eh?"
"Not much," the sentry said; "just skirmishes. Some of our cavalry came
across through the redcoats late to-night. I hear they have got a
quantity of plunder and some fine horses, and they have brought in a
couple of the British scouts."
"And what have they done with 'em?" Peter asked. "Strung 'em up,
I suppose."
"No, no; we aint fighting Indians now; we don't hang our prisoners. No,
they are safe under guard over there in the cavalry camp, and will be
taken to headquarters to-morrow."
"Waal," Peter said, stretching himself, "I feel mighty tired and shall
jest look for a soft place for an hour's sleep before morning."
So saying he sauntered away, and the sentry resumed his walk.
Peter and his three companions now moved off toward the spot where, as
the sentry had indicated, the cavalry were encamped. They were not in
tents, but were sleeping wrapped up in their blankets. Two tents had
been erected, lent probably by the infantry on the spot. One was much
larger than the other, and sentries were placed before each. They had
some difficulty in making their way, for the night was dark, and the
cavalry had picketed their horses without order or regularity. In their
search they had to use great caution to avoid stumbling over the
sleeping men, but at last they saw the tents faintly against the sky.
They crawled cautiously up. There were two sentries on the smaller tent.
"Now, Jake," Peter whispered, "you're the blackest and so had better do
the trick. Don't cut a hole in the tent, for they'd be safe to hear the
canvas tear. Crawl under. It's been put up in haste and aint likely to
be pinned down very tight. They're safe to be bound, and when you've cut
the cords and given them time to get the use of their feet, then crawl
along and jine us."
Jake did as he was instructed. One of the sentries was pacing up and
down before the entrance, the other making a circuit round the tent. The
circle was a somewhat large one to avoid stumbling over the tent ropes.
Jake, watching his opportunity, had no difficulty in crawling up and
squeezing himself under the canvas before the sentry returned.
"Hush!" he whispered, as he let the canvas fall behind him. "It's Jake."
Both the captives were fast asleep. Jake, feeling about in the darkness,
found them, one after the other, and, putting his hands on their mouths
to prevent them making an exclamation, he woke them, and soon cut the
cords with which they were bound hand and foot. Then in whispers he told
them what had happened. They chafed their limbs to produce circulation,
for they had been tightly tied, and then, one by one, they crawled out
of the tent.
Harvey went first and was safely across before the sentry returned.
Harold followed; but, as he went, in his hurry he struck a tent rope.
"What's that?" the sentry in front asked sharply. "Bill, was that you?"
"No," his comrade replied. "Something's up. Look into the tent."
And, so saying, he ran round behind, while the sentry in front rushed
into the tent and, kicking about with his feet, soon found that it
was empty.
Jake, on hearing the exclamation, at once crawled from the tent; but, as
he did so, the sentry, running round, saw him and leveled his rifle.
Before he could fire a shot was heard and the man fell dead.
Jake started to his feet and joined his friends. The other sentry also
discharged his rifle, and the whole camp awoke and sprang to their feet.
The horses, alarmed at the sudden tumult, plunged and kicked; men
shouted and swore, everyone asking what was the matter. Then loud cries
were heard that the sentry was shot and the prisoners had escaped.
Running closely together and knocking down all who stood in their way,
the fugitives hurried in the darkness until at the edge of the camp, and
then started at full speed.
The trumpets were now sounding to horse, and several shots were fired
after them. Many of the horses had not been unsaddled, and mounted men
at once dashed off. Several had seen the little party rush away, and the
horsemen were speedily on their track. The six men ran at the top of
their speed and were soon close to their hidden friends.
"This way! this way! I see them!" shouted a voice, which Harold and
Harvey recognized as that of their enemy, who, a minute later, galloped
up with half a dozen troopers. It was not until he was within a few
yards that his figure was clearly discernible; then Peter Lambton's
rifle flashed out, and the planter fell from his horse with a bullet in
his brain.
Jake and the other two men also fired, and the horsemen, astonished at
their number, reined in their horses to await the coming up of more of
their comrades.
In another minute the fugitives were with their friends, and, at a rapid
trot, the whole ran up the river bank toward the spot where they had
hidden their boat.
The country was covered with brushwood and forest and, as the cavalry,
now swollen to a considerable force, advanced, they were greeted by so
heavy a fire that, astonished at this strong force of foes upon their
side of the river, and not knowing how numerous they might be, they
halted and waited for the infantry to come up. Long before the enemy
were prepared to advance against the unknown foe the scouts reached
their boat and crossed safely to the other side.
Shortly after this adventure Mr. Jackson and his family moved for the
winter to New York, where, soon after their arrival, the wedding
between Harvey and Isabella took place, the former retiring from the
corps of scouts.