THE HARRYING OF THE TORY
I was soon riding southward, the bearer of the message from General
Washington to the Council of Safety, sitting at Annapolis; and as I
rode, the people hailed me for my news, and gave me food and drink, so
I could hurry on.
At last I reached the borders of Maryland, and again rode under the
old oak from which I had torn the proclamation. It was only a few
weeks before, and I wondered what had been the fate of Charles Gordon.
So, as I rode through the Head of Elk late that afternoon and came to
the ferry there, I asked the boatman what they had done with him.
"Forfeiture has been decreed," he answered, "and the new High Sheriff
and James Rodolph have gone to-day with a posse and many men to root
the traitor out."
"How long ago did they start?"
"About an hour."
"What road did they take?"
"The river road. They expect to reach there about nine o'clock.
Jupiter! I'd like to be there and see the flames reddening the sky. It
will be a grand sight." He looked longingly through the forest toward
the Braes.
"Something else will be dyed crimson, if I know that Tory right."
"That there will be, sir; it will be a lovely scrimmage;" and he
sighed at the lost opportunity.
The boat grounded on the south bank, and I mounted Toby.
"A pleasant ride, sir."
"Thanks; good-night."
"Toby," said I, as I patted his neck, "you have travelled many a mile
to-day, old fellow; but you will have to cover the ground to-night as
you never covered it before. They have an hour's start, and we have a
longer distance to go; so double your legs under you, my boy, and go."
Toby rising to the occasion, and the spirit of old Ranter proving
true, he broke into the long even gallop that makes the miles pass
swiftly. It was a race against time, against James Rodolph and his
crew. I knew if once they gained the Braes, black death would stalk
among the ruins, for Charles Gordon would never surrender.
The night fell rapidly as we raced along and the miles flew by.
As Toby and I drew near Bohemia Manor, where the road joined the one
on which the posse was marching, I reined him in and rode more
cautiously. It was well that I did so, for as I approached I heard
the low murmur of men's voices and saw their figures in the dim light
as they were marching by.
I brought Toby to a halt. The road was cut off that way, so I wheeled
him around to ride back a short distance to where the road skirted the
open fields of Bohemia Manor. As Toby plunged forward in answer to my
spur, I heard a cry and then a shot came whistling by. But I left them
behind, and coming to the open fields, I put Toby at the fence and
raced across the open country, through the lower fields to the Braes,
Toby taking the fences in his stride.
Then I dashed once more across the green lawn of the Braes and drew my
sword hilt across the shutter.
There was a stir in the room above me; the shutter was cautiously
opened and I was covered by the muzzle of a pistol.
"Who are you?" demanded a voice which I knew to be Charles Gordon's.
"James Frisby of Fairlee," I replied. "I have ridden to warn you, Mr.
Gordon. You have only a few minutes to escape in; James Rodolph, with
a hundred men behind him, will be here in ten minutes."
"Thank you, lad, for the information. I will give them a warm
reception."
"But you cannot hold the Braes against a hundred men; they will burn
you out, and then Mistress Jean."
"Hum; that is so, lad. Ride round to the rear of the house."
I did so, and a moment later, they came out on the little porch. The
old gentleman had buckled on his sword, and there were pistols in his
belt. And she, ah! she never looked more bewitching. Her beautiful
hair flowed wild about her shoulders, over the light dark mantle in
which she was wrapped. By the flicker of the candle, I saw that a
bright flush mantled her cheek, as she spoke rapidly.
"Father, there is an English vessel a few miles down the bay. Call the
slaves and escape to it."
"But I cannot take you there."
"I will carry her through the lines," I cried, "and see her safe in
the hands of her aunt in Kent."
They hesitated, but the noise in front of the house told of the
approaching mob, and there was no time for parley. So, true to my
race, I acted quickly, and stooping from my saddle I caught her up
gently and placed her on Toby before me.
"It is the only chance, lad. See that you carry her safely."
"I will carry her through or die," I replied with deep conviction. At
the touch of the spur Toby sprang forward under his double burden.
"The creek," she cried.
"Yes; but we can swim it."
Indeed it was our only way, as the mob blocked the other roads of
escape, so we rode boldly in and swam for the other side. The creek
was several hundred yards wide, but Toby bore us bravely until we
reached the southern shore, then he plunged forward, threw himself up
the bank, and we were out of immediate danger.
There we halted for a moment under the shadow of a great tree and
looked back across the water.
We heard the sound of many voices, the howling of the mob, and through
the trunks of the trees flickered the glare of the torches. Suddenly
shots rang out, a cry of dismay and rage followed, and then the flash
of guns and a rattling volley crashed around the house.
"By Jove, he is fighting it out!" But the slender figure on my arm
trembled, and I saw that her face was white through the darkness.
"He will escape, Mistress Jean," I said reassuringly; "trust an old
Highlander for that." And I saw that her eyes were bright and tense,
watching the scene across the water.
"There he goes," she exclaimed joyfully; and there, gliding swiftly
through the waters, where the shadow of the trees made the darkness
more intense, was a long low boat rowed by stalwart slaves. The sound
of the oars was drowned by the clamour of the mob.
"If he passes the neck," I exclaimed, "he will be safe;" for the creek
narrowed at its mouth until it was but a hundred yards wide.
"Ride quick to the point," she said.
So Toby plunged forward again at the pressure of my knees, and though
he still went gallantly on, I could tell that the strain and the toil
of the long march from the north, and his dash from the Head of Elk,
were beginning to tell on him.
At last we reached the mouth of the creek, and I brought Toby to a
halt under the shadow of a clump of trees, where we could see and yet
not be seen. I glanced for a moment out over the waters of the bay,
and I saw, several miles to the southward, the gleam of a light as it
fell on the waves; I knew it was the English man-of-war.
But Mistress Jean's eyes were eagerly searching the waters of the
creek, and she was straining her ears to catch the sound of the oars.
Then we were rewarded. For at that moment we heard the long sweep of
the oars in the water, and out from the mouth of the creek came the
boat, the brawny negroes bending to their task.
The commanding figure of the old Tory stood in the stern, looking back
up the creek whence they came. Unconsciously my glance followed his,
and I saw that the sky was crimson, and high above the tree-tops the
flames licked the skies.
"The Braes!" I exclaimed, and Mistress Jean was about to call out,
when there came the sound of galloping hoofs on the other side. A
horseman dashed into view, and rode into the water up to the
saddle-girths. There was a flash, and the crack of a pistol broke the
stillness of the night; then with a gesture of rage, the horseman rose
in his stirrups and hurled the pistol far over the water; we heard the
splash as it fell.
Then the figure in the boat raised his clenched hand and shook it at
the horseman and the flames.
"You fired too quick, Mr. Rodolph," said the ferryman.
"Yes, damn him, he has escaped." He turned his horse and rode into the
darkness, while a soft voice whispered in my ear,--
"Thank God."