"I do not know his handwriting. This may be a forgery," said he. The
colonel was a weather-beaten, stern, wary old man. I have seldom met a
person less likely to be moved by any of the gentler sympathies of our
nature.
"I'll tell you what it is, colonel. I was left for dead, near New York,
by some of your people, and this sea-officer here came up and saved my
life, and that's the reason I came along with him," exclaimed Spinks,
who was excessively indignant at our statement being doubted.
The mention of New York reminded me of the narrow escape I had had of my
life on the day to which Spinks alluded, and I thought I recognised in
the man before me the officer in charge of the party of Hessians who so
nearly finished Simeon and me when General Pigot came up to our rescue.
I asked the colonel if he recollected the circumstance. He smiled
grimly.
"I think I recollect the circumstance," said he; "but what has that to
do with the matter?"
"Simply that you thought I was a rebel then, and you found that you were
mistaken, and in the same way that you will find you are mistaken now if
you molest me."
Scarcely had I ceased speaking when a shriek resounded through the wood.
I knew too well whence it proceeded. I wheeled round my horse, and,
putting my spurs into his side, was in a moment at the spot where I had
left the two ladies and their attendants. I found them surrounded by
Hessian soldiers, some of whom were attempting to catch hold of their
horses' heads and to drag them from their saddles. I drew a sword from
the scabbard of the first man I reached, and before he could look round
I had dashed in among the miscreants, cutting at them right and left. I
felt maddened with rage, and thought not of the consequences. Madeline
saw me coming, and held out her hands to implore my aid. I reached her
just as a soldier had succeeded in catching the bridle of her horse and
had almost dragged her to the ground. With a blow of my sword I sent
the fellow reeling backwards, and placed her in her saddle. Mrs
Tarleton had managed hitherto to elude the soldiers; but in another
instant they would have closed in on her, when Spinks, followed by the
Hessian colonel, galloped up.
The appearance of the latter prevented the soldiers from attacking her.
He ordered them back into their ranks. I pointed to the pale and
terrified ladies, and asked him if this was the way Germans behaved
towards helpless women. He looked ashamed and attempted to apologise.
I saw my advantage and pushed it to the utmost.
"They are anxious to visit a wounded, perhaps a dying, relation, and you
threaten to delay them," said I.
"We cannot allow people to wander about, and perhaps give notice of our
expedition," replied the colonel.
"As to that, colonel, depend on it, every step you take is well known to
General Washington, and if he does not attack you it is because he does
not think it worth while," put in Spinks, in his amusingly independent
manner.
The Hessian officer looked as if he would like to eat him.
"Well, sir," said I, "you have every proof I can give you of the
correctness of my statement. You see what Sir Peter Parker says. Will
you allow my party to proceed?"
The colonel must have seen that we could in reality not do him the
slightest injury by any information we could give as to his movements,
so after some more conversation he ordered his detachment to advance,
while he remained with us. It was with much satisfaction that I saw
them march by, casting no very friendly looks at us.
"Now proceed as fast as you can," said the grim old officer. "My men
are rather unmanageable at times. They might have attempted to revenge
themselves for the way you treated their comrades, though on my word you
were perfectly right."
We thanked the gruff old man for his courtesy. I suspect that he had a
softer heart than he would have wished to appear under his rough
exterior, and, taking his hint, moved on as rapidly as our horses would
carry us to the northward.
I will not repeat the indignant expressions uttered by Mrs Tarleton at
the conduct of the Hessians. I could only blush for my country, and
bitterly regret that such men were employed in that fratricidal warfare.
Madeline expressed her thanks to me, rather by her looks than her
words. She said little, afraid of wounding my feelings, but I suspect
that the behaviour of the Hessians made her abandon any sympathy for the
Tories which she might have entertained. Every now and then we looked
round to see that none of the Hessians were following us. Their march
could be traced by the fields trampled down--cottages unroofed or
burnt--stacks of corn scattered about, and walls and hedges overturned.
It showed the utterly unprotected condition of New Jersey at the time--
that no opposition was offered them in their progress. For my part I
felt that the patriot cause was hopeless, and it was with a secret
feeling of gratification that I pictured to myself the service I might
render to my friends when the royal cause should finally triumph, and
all ranks be compelled to submit. I did not venture to ask Mrs
Tarleton what opinion she had formed from the aspect of affairs, but she
apparently divined my thoughts.
"It is very sad to behold all this," she remarked, pointing to the
devastated country. "But, Mr Hurry, do not be mistaken. Those who
come to conquer us little know the amount of endurance possessed by the
Anglo-Saxon race, if they fancy that we are about to succumb because
they have laid waste our fields, cut down our fruit-trees, and burned
our villages, or because our undisciplined troops have in some instances
been compelled to retreat before them. I tell you, Mr Hurry, we shall
be victorious in the end."
Soon after this we came to a spot where three roads branched off before
us. We hesitated which to take, and not a person was to be seen to
inquire our way. That to the right led, it appeared to me, in the
direction we wished to proceed. We took it, and shortly began to ascend
a steep hill among trees, now richly tinted with the varied hues of
autumn, though many of the leaves had already fallen, and thickly
strewed the ground. Never had my eye rested on such gorgeous colouring
as that wooded height presented. Madeline and I could not refrain from
reining up our horses, and turning round to enjoy the superb view which
lay spread out before us over the country across which we had lately
passed. At our feet was a broad valley, with a succession of undulating
hills beyond, and fields and orchards and cottages sprinkled about.
There were to be seen groves of the delicate straw-tinted beech, and the
ruddy maple, with its shades of brightest yellow and green, and oak
forests of a dark copper hue, as if changed into metal by an enchanter's
wand, and in the hollows, dark patches of the sombre cypress of North
America, which delights to grow in the stagnant marsh; nor was the
graceful birch with its white stem, or the willow, wanting to add
variety to the woodland scene. To our right the majestic stream of the
broad Delaware wound round from the north-west towards the city of
Philadelphia, now the head-quarters of General Howe's victorious army.
While we were looking across the valley at the wood into which the
Hessian troops had passed, we saw several men appear at the outskirts.
After looking about them, it seemed to us, they descended rapidly the
hill. Others followed, and it appeared as if the main body were making
a retrograde movement, and perhaps might march along the very road we
were taking. At all events I was anxious not to expose my charges to
any fresh insults, and therefore once more put the party in movement.
Spinks volunteered to ride back to ascertain in what direction the
Hessians were about to march. He promised not to expose himself
unnecessarily, and to overtake us speedily, so I saw no objection to his
proposal.
We rode on as fast as the horses could go, without risk of falling over
the very rough and ill-formed road. It was late in the day, and still
Spinks had not overtaken us. I began to feel anxious about him, for I
knew that, should he fall into the hands of the Hessians, he would have
very little mercy to expect from them. After what had occurred they
would probably look upon him as a spy, and hang him without ceremony. I
thought of sending back one of the servants who had charge of the
baggage-horses, to try and learn something about him, but Caractacus,
the negro in question, positively refused to go.
"If Massa Spinks dead, Cractus no make him live again," he argued. "If
he live, he come back of his self."
There was no controverting this opinion, so we continued our journey.
We at last came to a cottage, in which was an old woman almost deaf and
blind. After much interrogation, I found that her two sons had gone to
the wars with General Washington, and that a daughter-in-law who lived
with her was away to get some provisions, and, what was of importance to
us, that we were on the road we had wished to take. We had still a
league to go before reaching the house at which Mrs Tarleton wished to
rest before crossing the river. Spinks knew of it, so we hoped that he
would rejoin us there. There was something very genuine about that poor
fellow. I had done him a service, and he wished to do me one, so I
could not help taking a liking to him. Both Mrs Tarleton and her niece
had become somewhat anxious about our friend. The shades of evening
grew rapidly denser, for the twilight in that latitude is short, and
still he did not appear. We could not, however, stop for him, and it
became at last so dark that we could scarcely find the entrance to the
house at which we were to stop. It seemed a long, low building,
surrounded by a courtyard and walls, with several out-houses and gardens
and orchards outside. I made out an entrenchment in front, with a
wooden bridge over a moat, and then a stone wall with some massive
gates. After ringing for some time they were opened, and several armed
men appeared on either side. As we rode on to the hall door there
appeared a blaze of light inside, and a tall, dignified old gentleman
came down the steps to assist the ladies to dismount.
"I am glad to welcome you and your niece to my house under any
circumstances, Mrs Tarleton," said he, as he led them up the steps.
"But you find us somewhat in marshal array just now, and I am afraid may
be put to some inconvenience. The enemy's troops have crossed the
river, and it has been considered necessary to fortify this post."
"I can never complain of any inconvenience in our noble cause," said
Mrs Tarleton.
I knew well that not only would she cheerfully bear any inconvenience,
but would glory in any suffering or hardship she might be called on to
endure on account of it.
The public rooms, as we passed along, were, I perceived, filled with a
number of persons, some in military uniforms, and others in the dresses
of civilians. I was formally introduced, and though at first I was
received with some restraint, in a little time the manner of the host
and his numerous guests became as cordial as if I was an old friend,
instead of belonging to the party of their enemies. There were no
ladies or any females left of the family. They had all been sent off to
another house some way into the interior, to which it was believed the
enemy were not likely to penetrate.
From what I could learn, it was not at all improbable that the house,
which commanded a reach of the river, might be attacked before long, and
I was therefore very anxious to get my friends across it, and once more
on their journey towards head-quarters. Mrs Tarleton, however, seemed
to think that she might wait safely till the next morning, and, as no
news of the British troops had been brought in, I hoped that the delay
would not bring them into any danger. Supper was over, and the officers
of the little garrison not on guard had retired to their rooms. I had
one allotted to me, looking out on the river, which shone with a silvery
hue from the light of an almost full moon, while the swill of the
stream, as it rushed by, had a pleasing and soothing effect. I could
hear, ever and anon, the distant bark of a dog, the tramp and challenge
of the sentries, and the voices of some of the men of a militia regiment
quartered in the out-houses and in some hastily-constructed huts within
the courtyard.
My mind was occupied with too many thoughts to allow me to sleep. After
several attempts I gave it up. My companions in the room were much in
the same condition, and as they rose and resumed their outer clothing, I
did the same. They proposed making the round of the works, and I asked
leave to accompany them. Scarcely had we reached the front door when
voices were heard, and the clatter of a horse's hoofs in the courtyard.
"A scout has come in, and will bring us news of the enemy," observed one
of the officers. "Let us hear what he has to report."
In another second the light of the lamp in the hall fell on the
countenance of the newcomer, and I recognised my friend Lieutenant
Spinks. His dress was bespattered with mud from head to foot; his horse
shook in every limb as he dismounted; his head was bare, his countenance
was pale as death, and through a rent in his coat I saw the blood oozing
slowly out.
"They are coming!" he exclaimed. "The rascally Hessians! I have been
watching them all the evening to ascertain which way they were taking.
I got too close at last, and was discovered by one of their pickets,
just as they were getting under arms. They are going to make a
night-attack on this place. Of that I am certain."
The senior officer in the house, Colonel Barlow, now came down, and
Spinks made him a full report of his adventures. He had run a great
risk of being taken, and I was truly glad that he had escaped. There
seemed to be no doubt that the Hessian troops were advancing to attack
the house. The officers assembled were unanimous in the opinion that
they could defend it. Every one was instantly on foot. Loop-holes had
been cut in all the walls. They were at once occupied by men. Some
light field-pieces defended the front of the house--the weakest point;
some men were stationed on the roof; the bridge over the moat was drawn
in, and, indeed, every preparation was made to stand a siege.
In the midst of the preparations Mrs Tarleton appeared in the hall
among the officers collected there. Her countenance was as calm, and
her voice, when she spoke, as firm as if nothing unusual was occurring.
"You will be able to hold this fort against those wretched mercenaries,
I hope, Colonel Barlow?"
The colonel replied that he had no doubt about it.
"Then we will remain and see the result," she answered. "I cannot bear
the thought of running away when so many of my countrymen are exposed to
danger."
"While such are the sentiments of our women, our cause is sure to
triumph, madam," said the colonel. "Still it is my duty to try and
persuade you not to expose yourself and niece. The fortune of war is
always uncertain. Independent of the risk you run from the shot of the
enemy, we may be overcome, and then your fate would be a sad one. It
will be wise in you if you will consent to leave us at once. A boat is
being made ready to ferry you across the river, and on the other side
the country is occupied by patriot troops."
Still Mrs Tarleton would not consent to go. She knew that her presence
would encourage the garrison to resist to the utmost. I would very much
rather for her sake, and especially for that of her niece, that she had
gone at once to a place of safety. As, however, I must, at all events,
be a non-combatant, I felt that I could remain by their side and aid
their escape. The better to be able to do this, I set off at once to
examine the situation of the place, and to see that the boat was in
perfect readiness to cross the river. Caractacus and his companion, I
found, were both accustomed to pull an oar. There was a horse-boat also
at hand, and as there would probably be time before the attack
commenced, I got Colonel Barlow to allow the horses and baggage to be
conveyed across at once, and left at a farm-house of which he told me,
at a short distance from the banks. I directed Caractacus and Sambo, as
soon as they had performed this duty, to return at once, so as to be
ready for any emergency.
"Is, massa, we come back and fight de Hessians; oh, ki, berry likely,"
exclaimed the negro, giving a poke with his elbow at his sable
companion's ribs.
The other grinned, as if he considered the bare possibility of his doing
such a thing a very good joke. I saw that I could not very well depend
on them.
"No, I don't want you to fight, only to help the ladies escape; you
understand me? I promise you a dollar each if I find you at the boat
when I come down."
The negroes understood this sort of reasoning better than any argument I
had used, and promised obedience. Had Mrs Tarleton, however, known
beforehand of the arrangements I had made, I believe she would have
countermanded them, so confident was she on all occasions of the success
of her party. When any defeat had occurred, she evidently looked on it
as an exception to the general rule, or rather as a means to the
victorious termination of the strife.
By the time I had made all the arrangements I had described it was past
midnight. Some of the gentlemen retired again to their beds, but I with
others sat up. My position was rather a curious one. Here was I, a
guest in an enemy's camp, with the prospect of an engagement, and unable
to side with either party. Certainly, however, I could not have been
treated more kindly or courteously than I was by the Americans on that
occasion. A party of a dozen or more of us were sitting smoking and
chatting in the large plank-lined dining-hall, by the light of a huge
fire, when a sergeant of militia entered with the announcement that
several scouts had come in, reporting that the enemy were advancing, and
were not more than a couple of miles off. In less than an hour, then,
we might expect an attack. I have never felt more anxious than I did on
that occasion. Immediately all within the house were on the alert; the
walls were manned; the wooden bridge hauled up, the guns loaded and run
out, and every preparation was made to repel the assault. Being myself
very doubtful of the result, I looked about for a place where the ladies
might remain in comparative safety. The most secure spot was a root
house, where stores of vegetables are kept during the winter. There, at
least, no shot could reach my friends, and as it was on the side nearest
the river, they might more easily escape thence to the boat. Having
found a piece of matting, I carried it, with some chairs and cloaks, to
the place, and then returned to beg Mrs Tarleton to take shelter there.
She laughed at my proposal.
"What! do you think that the women of America are accustomed to skulk
from their enemies when their presence may avail to encourage their
friends, and they may be of use to the wounded?" she answered, looking
at the same time towards Madeline, in the expectation that she would
utter her sentiments.
"Perhaps, dear aunt, we might be of more use out of the way of danger,
in some place where, should any of our friends be wounded, they might be
brought to us," remarked her niece, "especially as Mr Hurry has so
considerately prepared a refuge for us."
Still nothing Madeline or I could say could move Mrs Tarleton from her
purpose. At length Colonel Barlow came to our aid, and so strongly
urged the point that she appeared inclined to give in. We were standing
at the moment in the centre of the dining-hall. Our conversation was
interrupted by the loud report of musketry--the pattering of the bullets
against the roof and sides of the house--the louder roar of the
field-pieces--the cries and shouts of the men within the building, and
of their unseen assailants. The colonel and his officers hurried off
instantly to the defences. Madeline trembled; even Mrs Tarleton turned
pale. Several shots found their way into the room where we were. The
shouts of the assailants grew louder; the bullets fell thicker and
thicker. A bright glare burst forth. One of the out-houses had caught
fire. Two wounded men were brought in and placed on the ground. Mrs
Tarleton and her niece knelt down by their sides. I assisted.
Madeline, I observed, had ceased to tremble while employed in her work
of mercy. One poor fellow soon ceased to breathe; he had been shot
through the lungs. The other groaned heavily; the haemorrhage was
internal. I soon saw that their efforts to aid him were of little
avail. He quickly joined his companion in another world. For a minute
or more there was a cessation of the attack: then it began again with
greater fury than before, and the bullets came pattering against the
walls like hail, many finding their way into the room. I seized Mrs
Tarleton's hand, exclaiming--
"Come, madam! no woman should remain thus unnecessarily exposed."
Madeline took her other hand, and together we led her through the garden
to the place I had prepared for their reception.