THE ESCAPE.
Jerry was thoroughly astonished, after I had told my story, because we
had had such plain sailing when there was nothing to start us on a
course for the missing comrade. We had gone out blindly, and by sheer
accident ran upon our man without trouble or delay.
"It heartens a fellow to have things happen this way," my partner said
in a tone of satisfaction. "There's no question but that we're in a
bad box, take it all around, for after the British get settled down in
the city they will most likely look about for such as us, therefore
our work must be done quickly, an' by your hittin' the nail square on
the head it looks as if we might pull through all right."
The future did not look so promising to me. Darius and Bill
undoubtedly knew that they could gain the roof of the "stone house"
during the night; but even then they were far from being free, and I
questioned if it would be possible for us to loiter around the
building after sunset without attracting the attention of the
sentries.
However, it was not for me to throw cold water, because a fellow needs
all his courage when he would do that which lay before us, and it was
well Jerry should feel confident as to the result.
Therefore it was that instead of discussing how we could set about
rendering the necessary aid, I began by questioning as to how the rope
might be procured, and, as a matter of fact, it was by no means a
simple matter to get one of the desired length.
"We've got to buy it, of course," Jerry said quickly, and as if it was
possible for us to make such purchases at any time.
"In the first place we haven't money enough," I suggested, "and
secondly, how many shops will you find open in this city?"
These questions were sufficient to let Jerry understand that it was
not all plain sailing before us, and after some reflection he said:
"Suppose we go back to the smoke-house? There we can talk it over with
the others, an' at the same time get something by way of breakfast."
There was plenty of time at our disposal, since Darius had set ten
o'clock that night as the hour when we could aid him, and I welcomed
my partner's proposition; but instead of going directly to the place
of refuge, I insisted on making a long detour to lessen the chances of
running across Elias Macomber.
That the cur had gone to the encampment hoping to get a permit to see
the prisoners, in order to gloat over their misfortune, I had no
doubt, and if he was successful I felt equally certain he would go to
the jail by the shortest route. In event of failure, however, and I
was positive he would fail, the villain might wander anywhere while
working off his disappointment, therefore it stood us in hand to be
exceeding cautious.
As it proved, however, we had seen the last of that miserable
British-lover, and after Jerry saw him on the street, he passed out of
our lives for many months.
I believed of a verity that we walked at least three miles, cutting
across lots here, or traveling many rods out of our course there,
until it seemed as if we had traversed every lane and obscure passage
to be found in the city. But we arrived safely at last, which repaid
us for all the extra work; we had seen no one who gave any heed to us,
and when we sneaked into the smoke-house from behind the ruins of the
tavern, I felt positive no one saw us.
It can well be supposed that our comrades gave us a hearty welcome,
and when I explained how much had been accomplished, they became quite
as certain of ultimate success as Jerry; but the question of
procuring a rope put the matter in a different light.
We counted every penny belonging to the party, and had less than three
shillings, while the length of rope we needed would cost three or four
times as much.
"It's certain we can't buy one, even though all the shop-keepers in
the city stood ready to wait upon us," I said after we had ascertained
the amount of capital on hand. "Now what is to be done?"
No one answered for many minutes, and then Jim Freeman proposed that
if we couldn't get what we needed in any other way, it would be
admissible to steal the rope, in view of the use to which it would be
put.
Dody Wardwell thought we might go to a shopkeeper who dealt in such
goods, and, telling the story, beg what was needed.
It was my father who solved the riddle.
"I don't believe we are warranted in stealing," he said, "no matter
what might be accomplished, neither do I think it safe to confide in
any stranger whom you should meet; but the begging proposition, if
carried out properly, comes nearer filling the bill than anything
else."
"What do you call doin' it properly?" Jerry asked.
"There must be oystermen in port, either here, at Georgetown, or
Alexander, and the chances are you would know some of them. Go round
the water front, and see what can be found. Then try the other towns,
and I'll guarantee you can strike an acquaintance somewhere. After
that everything is simple, for you may borrow a rope without fear that
information will be lodged against you."
"Come on, Amos!" Jerry cried, springing to his feet in excitement.
"Your father has hit upon the very plan, an' we were thick-headed not
to have thought of it at first!"
There was no time to be lost, more particularly in case we should be
forced to visit the two towns mentioned; but I believe that we would
really be forwarding the business if we delayed long enough to get
something to eat, and my comrades were of the same opinion.
Jim had tried his hand at making bread by mixing flour and water
together, and baking the stuff in an old tin pan over the embers of
the tavern ruins. It was possible to eat the mixture, and that was the
best that could be said, therefore we satisfied our hunger with raw
bacon and imitation bread, which did not require very many minutes.
Jim and both the other fellows were eager to go with Jerry and me; but
they would not be able to forward matters, and it seemed like taking
too many risks to make our party so large, therefore we decided that
they must stay in the smoke-house as before, a decision which was not
to their liking, although neither of the lads made any protest.
Then Jerry and I set out, after listening to such advice as my father
had to give, and began the search on the Eastern Branch.
There were but few vessels in port; the greater number of those that
remained when the enemy entered the Potomac had run up the river as
high as possible lest they be destroyed, and we did not find an oyster
pungy until we were well over toward Georgetown.
It was then near noon, and Jerry and I decided that if the captain of
the boat before us looked like an honest seaman, we would take the
chances of telling him so much of our story as might be necessary,
rather than run the risk of not finding another craft of the kind.
There were no sign of life on deck; but as we went over the rail the
companion-way hatch was opened a few inches, and some one cried:
"What's wanted? This vessel is hauled up for repairs, an' there's
nobody here but me--the keeper."
"Will you let us come below for a short time?" I asked, and the hatch
was closed very suddenly as the voice cried emphatically:
"No; my orders are to allow no company here."
"Let me have a try at the old idiot," Jerry said in a low tone as he
went toward the companion-way, and the voice from below replied, thus
showing that he could hear very well even though the hatch was closed:
"The 'old idiot' don't want any truck with boys, so keep off or I'll
make it hot for you!"
"Listen to me, shipmate, and then perhaps you'll sing a different
tune," I said, going close to the companion-way where it might not be
necessary to raise my voice. "We are a couple of oystermen from
Benedict, in trouble, and are looking for some one to lend a hand."
"Tell me your names?"
I gave the desired information, and added:
"We owned the pungy Avenger, which was burned at Pig Point when the
enemy came up the river."
The hatch was opened in a twinkling, and when we descended to the
cuddy I was both surprised and overjoyed by seeing Robert Hanaford, an
oysterman from St. Leonard's bay.
"Shut that hatch," he said nervously, and Jerry did as he was bidden.
"I got caught in the river, like a fool, an' am now expectin' the
bloomin' Britishers will burn the craft when they fall short of like
amusement in the city. Tell me how you happened to be here?"
I told him so much of our story as seemed necessary, and when I was
come to the retreat from Bladensburg, he said grumpily:
"I reckon you two lads an' Darius Thorpe are bigger fools than I am.
It was accident that brought me into this scrape, whereas you got into
a muss with your eyes wide open. Where's Darius?"
"The Britishers are holding him prisoner, and count on sending him
down to the fleet, I suppose."
"He'll rot there, unless he offers to serve the king, in which case,
seein's how the enemy needs good sailors, they'll give him a show that
a dog wouldn't welcome."
"Did you ever run across Bill Jepson from Baltimore?" I asked at
random, not knowing exactly how to lead up to the request for a rope.
"Ay, that I have, lad. Bill an' me run on this same pungy more'n two
years. I've heard it said that one of the king's press gangs gathered
him in."
Then I told the captain how we had helped Bill to desert, and wound up
the story by sayin:
"Bill is a prisoner with Darius, and will be hung when the Britishers
learn who he is. There's a show to help both the sailors out of the
scrape; but we're needing six or eight fathom of good manilla rope,
an' haven't got the money with which to buy it."
"How do you count on usin' it?" and Captain Hanaford leaned forward
in a manner which told that he was thoroughly excited.
Then I told him all we had accomplished that morning, and explained
what Darius proposed we should do, whereupon he cried heartily:
"Take anything I've got, lads, an' if it so be I can lend a hand,
count on me to the finish. I'll risk even the pungy to help a
sailorman out of a hole, an' a good deal more'n that when it comes to
bein' Bill Jepson who's in trouble!"
Now that we were assured of getting what was needed, there was no need
of great haste, and I told the captain the remainder of our story,
even to describing where father and the lads were hiding.
"Whether you get Bill an' Darius out of jail or not, you'll be wantin'
to go down the river, lad, so why don't you bring all hands aboard?
I've known your father this many a day, an' would like to do him a
good turn. We'd be a little crowded, I reckon; but some of you
youngsters can bunk in the hold, an' if the Britishers don't burn the
pungy, she'll be a sight better than a smoke-house."
"What about provisions, captain?" Jerry asked.
"I've got enough an' to spare, unless we're held here a couple of
weeks. I didn't count on doin' any fightin' in this 'ere war; but when
it comes to lendin' shipmates an' neighbors a hand, you'll find that
Bob Hanaford is willin' to go down to his last cent."
I realized what a blessing it would be if we could get father on board
the pungy, where he would have a comfortable bunk to lie in, and such
nursing as Captain Hanaford might give when we lads were absent; but
how to get him down to the boat was a puzzle.
"Supposin' you free Darius an' Bill to-night, what'll you do with
'em?" the owner of the pungy asked, and I replied mournfully:
"We hadn't got as far as that in our plans. Of course they must be
taken out of the city."
"An' the British fleet is loafin' down in the river somewhere 'twixt
here an' the bay," the captain added.
"Ay, but if we can get hold of a boat, it shouldn't be such a hard job
to slip by the vessels on a dark night."
"Would you leave your father behind?"
"Certainly not; he must go with us."
"Then you ought'er have him down here on the river before beginnin'
work. I'll tell you how it might be fixed, lad. Allowin' that there
ain't any more burnin' of houses to-night, I could help him through
the streets, if it so be he can make any fist at walkin'. The other
lads would set out on their own hook, an' it should be we'd come
together on this 'ere craft, unless the Britishers are overhaulin'
everybody that's aboard. I don't know how things may be runnin', for I
haven't been outside this cuddy since the fires began."
I told him that Jerry and I had not been interfered with on the
streets, and I believed he could go where he pleased, provided it was
not too near the encampments.
"Then I'll try it, lads, an' start for your hidin' place within an
hour. Can you give me the bearin's?"
The captain was reasonably familiar with that portion of the city, and
there was no doubt in my mind but that he could find the smoke-house
without any difficulty.
Then we overhauled his spare rope in the hold, selecting a length of
half-inch manilla which had been used no more than enough to make it
pliable, and carried it to the cuddy.
It would not be safe to lug the rope through the streets in the
daytime, lest some over officious person should insist on knowing what
we proposed to do with it. We would be forced to take a long walk in
order to fetch it; but that was of little consequence compared with
the additional security such a plan seemed to afford.
Then we separated, Captain Hanaford agreeing to be at the smoke-house
within an hour, and when Jerry and I went over the side of the pungy
it was with lighter hearts than when we came on board.
It is true that the most dangerous portion of the undertaking was yet
to be performed; but everything had turned so favorably for us since
we set out in search of Darius, that we could not but feel a wonderful
degree of courage regarding the remainder of the task.
Jerry was so well pleased that he would have talked about what we were
to do even on the street; but I insisted that we should hold our peace
until it was impossible any one could overhear us, and in silence we
made our way toward the place of refuge.
It is needless for me to attempt to describe the joy of our comrades
when we told them of the friend we had met, and the plans which had
been laid.
My father showed plainly by his face the relief of mind because of the
possibility that he might have different quarters.
"I haven't grumbled, because I knew you lads had about all you could
stagger under," he said when we told him that Captain Hanaford was
bent on trying to get him aboard the pungy. "I can't stay in this
place very much longer, without taking big chances of going under, for
the wound needs careful attention; but if I can be with Bob Hanaford
everything will come around shipshape, because he knows by experience
what a gunshot hurt is like."
"Do you think it will be possible to keep on your feet for such a long
distance?" I asked anxiously, because until this moment I supposed my
father was getting on as comfortably as a man in his condition could
reasonably expect.
"I'll manage that part of it, lad; the knowledge of what is to be
gained will keep me up."
Well, there is no good reason why I should try to set down all we said
while waiting for the owner of the pungy, and when he finally arrived,
having had little or no difficulty in finding the smoke-house, it was
as if a great and beneficial change was immediately apparent.
The captain's first act was to rebandage my father's wound, Jerry
getting him a supply of fresh water from the well at the ruins of the
tavern, and when that was done he set about making arrangements for
our moving, taking upon himself the entire direction of affairs, much
to my relief.
His first act was to explain to Jim, Dody and Josiah the location of
the pungy, sending them off at once, with explicit directions as to
the streets through which they should pass. The lads were to go into
the cuddy without loitering on deck, and keep the hatch closed and
bolted until his arrival.
Jerry and I were to stay in the smoke-house until it was time to begin
work in behalf of Darius and Bill, while the captain and my father
were to set out as soon as it was sufficiently dark to screen them
from view of the curious ones.
Jim and his friends started without delay, welcoming any change after
being shut in from the open air so long, and when they were gone the
captain announced that he would bring the rope to the jail shortly
before ten o'clock.
"I ain't sayin' but that you two lads could work the thing as well
without me; but I'm achin' to have a hand in settin' them two old
shell-backs free. You'll find that I won't be in the way, even if I
don't do any good."
It was a big relief to know that we were to have his assistance, and I
so gave him to understand.
After father had been made as comfortable as was possible under the
circumstances, we lounged around waiting for the night to come; but
never saying another word concerning what we hoped to do.
I for one was too nervous regarding the possible outcome to care about
holding converse even with friends, for there was in my mind a very
vivid realization of what would be the result in case we failed while
trying to get the sailors from the roof of the "stone house," or if
they were discovered when getting through the scuttle.
It seemed very much like death for all hands concerned if the
slightest slip was made, and when a fellow believes he stands near a
violent end he is not given to speech.
The moments dragged so heavily that it seemed to me the night would
never come. Once during this painful time of waiting Jerry spoke of
the possibility that Jim and his friends might lose their way, or be
taken in charge as suspicious persons; but I could not arouse myself
to feel any anxiety concerning them. My thoughts were with those two
old sailors in jail, and the part which the British sentries might
play while we were trying to effect their release.
Finally, after it was as if we had spent a full day in the
smoke-house, the sun went down, and it was yet quite light when
Captain Hanaford announced that he and my father might safely make the
start.
"We've got to steer a roundabout course," he said, "an' I reckon it'll
be plain sailin' from now till dark. Stay where you are, lads, an'
don't so much as poke your nose out till half-after-nine."
"How shall we be able to tell the time?" I asked, rather for the sake
of saying something, than because I wanted information.
"You will hear the sentinels at the encampment often enough to give
you a fair idee. Get there as near as possible to the hour set, an'
you'll find me close at hand."
Then he went out, my father leaning heavily on his arm, and Jerry and
I faced each other in the gloom, heeding not the fact that we had had
nothing to eat during nearly eight and forty hours, save the chips of
ham and the unsavory mess prepared by Jim; thinking only of what we
were to do, and the many chances against success.
It was Jerry who broke a long silence by saying with an attempt at
cheerfulness:
"I don't know of any reason why we should moon 'round here like a
couple of chumps. It won't help matters any, an' surely it don't
improve my courage."
Then I forced myself to take part in conversation, speaking of this or
that trouble or adventure in the past; but never once of what might be
before us in the future, and thus the time passed until we believed we
were warranted in setting forth.
With all due regard to prudence, we went by the most direct course to
the "stone house," never seeing a Britisher on our way, and it must
have been at least a quarter-hour before the time set, when we were
come to where it was possible to have a good view of the roof of the
jail.
The night was dark, with heavy, ominous looking clouds hanging low in
the sky; but yet we could have distinguished the form of a man on the
top of the building.
We were half hidden by the clump of bushes in the garden of the
dwelling where I had been screened from view of Elias Macomber, when
we saw a man approaching leisurely, and looking from side to side in
search of some one.
I recognized Captain Hanaford, and stepped out to meet him, asking how
he and father had managed to get along.
"He pulled through all right, lad, an' was lyin' in my bunk happy as a
cricket when I left."
"But you've forgotten the rope!" I exclaimed, and the captain opened
his coat to show me the line wound around his waist in such a fashion
that one might have come close upon him without suspecting that he
carried anything.
He stepped behind the bush to unwind it, and while he was thus engaged
I distinctly saw the form of a man emerge from the scuttle-hatch on
the roof of the jail.
"They're coming out!" I whispered excitedly, and then glanced
hurriedly around to learn where the sentries were stationed.
To my surprise I could not see a single person, save the soldier who
appeared at the corner once in every two or three minutes as he paced
his beat at the end of the building. It seemed extraordinary that
there should be no others in sight; but such was the fact, and surely
we had no reason to complain because the enemy was careless.
A few hours later I understood the reason for this seeming neglect of
the prisoners.
My comrades were ready for the work on hand immediately I gave the
alarm, and swiftly the three of us crossed over, I wondering if it
would be possible for us to throw the rope to the roof where the
sailors could catch it.
[Illustration: As soon as the line was made fast a man slipped down
quickly followed by another.]
As we neared the building I saw that Darius had already made
arrangements for getting one end of the rope into his possession.
A bit of cloth was swinging to and fro at the corner of the jail when
I arrived, and taking hold of it curiously, I saw that it was made
fast to a string formed of two or three strands of yarn.
The old sailor had unraveled their socks in order to procure that
which would enable them to haul up the rope.
There was no need of word or signal. Captain Hanaford made fast one
end of the half-inch manilla, gave the yarn-twine a jerk in token that
all was ready, and then we payed out on the rope to make certain it
went up without kinks.
In less than three minutes a man slipped down the line at a rate of
speed that must have heated his hands in great shape, and he was
hardly more than on the ground before the second prisoner followed.
We had effected the escape, and it now remained to get under cover in
the shortest possible space of time.
"It won't do to run; but you can keep close at my heels," the captain
said as he set off at a walk which fully equaled running, and we
followed very closely, I literally holding my breath as I tried to
realize that the task which had seemed so formidable a few moments
previous, had been accomplished with the greatest ease.