ON THE ALERT.
Although fully aware of the fact that by following the suggestions of
the stranger they were jeopardizing their lives, Jacob and Enoch felt
very proud because of the confidence in them thus apparently displayed
by the leaders of the cause.
They had no idea as to the identity of the man with whom they had
talked, but it seemed positive he was one in whom the Continental
officers trusted implicitly, otherwise he would not have been selected
for so dangerous and responsible a position as that of gathering
information in the very heart of the British camp.
It was evident, at least to the boys, that he had sufficient authority
to thus attach them to the American army, and both were well content to
delay signing their names on the enlistment rolls, because of the fact
that they were occupying much more responsible and dangerous posts by
remaining in the city.
It was not probable the enemy would be contemplating any important
movement while the festivities were in progress, yet Jacob and Enoch
walked to and fro through the streets of the now almost deserted city,
believing their new duties demanded such diligence; but seeing nothing
more formidable than an unusually surly patrol who were out of temper
because forced to be on duty while their comrades were participating in
the merry-making.
Not until nearly midnight did they return to Enoch's home, and by
daylight next morning both were on the alert once more.
During the forenoon they saw in the market-place, haggling over the
price of a cabbage as if his only thought was to sell his wares to the
best advantage, their acquaintance of the previous day.
Jacob would have entered into conversation with the man but for the
fact that Enoch restrained him by saying:
"It is not well to be seen talking with him when it is unnecessary,
lest we rouse the suspicions of the Britishers. We have nothing to
report, and he will so understand it when we pass by without speaking."
"But he may have something to say to us."
"If he has we shall soon know it; but unless he makes a sign we had
better keep on our way."
The seeming farmer paid no attention to the boys; that he saw them
was evident, but he did not so much as raise his eyes after one quick
glance, and Jacob understood that Enoch was wiser than he in such
matters.
During this day it was as if the enemy was resting from the fatigue of
merry-making; but few officers were to be seen on the streets until
late in the afternoon, and at the different barracks there was even
less than the ordinary amount of noise.
It was five o'clock when the boys turned from High into Second Street
believing their day's work nearly done.
The sidewalk in front of the City Tavern was thronged with officers and
civilians, and Jacob whispered:
"I wonder what is going on there? Some of the crowd appear to be
excited."
"Suppose we pass the place singly, for by so doing we shall have a
better chance to linger. You go ahead, and I'll follow when you are
halfway through the crowd," Enoch suggested, and Jacob acted upon the
idea at once.
Before he was well among the throng he heard that which caused him the
liveliest surprise.
"So Lafayette's tattered retinue have abandoned their mud-holes, have
they?" a gentleman who had just come up said to a group of officers,
and one of the latter replied:
"There appears to be no doubt about it. A Quaker on whom the Frenchman
quartered himself has sent word that he is at Barren Hill, with
twenty-five hundred picked men and five cannon."
"What does it mean? Can it be possible Washington believes for a single
instant that his rag-tag and bob-tail can stand against General Howe's
forces?"
"It is difficult to say just what the rebel commander believes," one of
the officers replied with a laugh. "There are times when he behaves as
if he thought he could annihilate us, and then suddenly he turns tail
as if afraid of his life."
"But if he contemplates any audacious movement, why does he send
Lafayette?" the citizen continued. "He is hardly more than a boy, and
surely Washington must have more experienced officers."
"He has no abler soldier than Lafayette, boy though he is. He has had
the advantage of a thorough military education, and will make better
play for us than many of the elder men."
"Do you apprehend any difficulty in disposing of him if he continues
his march? I should say he might be advancing on Germantown, if he
makes his first halt at Barren Hill."
The officers were greatly pleased at this question, and the spokesman
continued, as soon as his mirth had subsided sufficiently to admit of
his speaking:
"We shall make short work of him if we are allowed to take the field;
but I question if General Howe will pay any attention to the movement
until it has developed further."
Jacob was forced to pass this particular group lest the fact that
he was listening to the conversation should become known; but before
getting out of the throng he heard all the particulars that could be
given relative to the advance of the "rebels."
Some of the gossipers believed Washington intended to make an attack
on Philadelphia; others had the idea that he was preparing to retreat,
fearing lest Sir Henry Clinton, after taking command of the army,
would press him too warmly, and that this movement of Lafayette's but
cloaked the design. Not a few thought that the rebels had decided upon
a vigorous campaign, of which this unaccountable advance was proof, and
before many moments such belief was shared by the majority.
Once Jacob had passed beyond the excited throng he waited with the
utmost impatience for Enoch to join him, and when, after what seemed
an exceedingly long time, his comrade came up looking surprised and
alarmed, Master Ludwick motioned for him to follow toward the bank of
the river.
Not until the boys stood where there was no possibility the
conversation could be overheard did Jacob speak, and then it was to
say:
"Now we understand why the man who talked with us was so anxious to
learn what might be done by the Britishers. He knew General Lafayette
was about to move, and expected troops would be sent out from here at
once."
"If that is done we shall be of but little service, for the soldiers
will march as fast as we can."
"That remains to be seen. The time has come when we can do work that
will be of importance, and we must not lose the opportunity."
"Then we had best get around by the barracks; we can be of no service
while we stand here talking idly."
"It is not idle talk, as you shall see. The thought has come to me that
if the enemy makes any move to-night it is our duty to take the news to
General Washington, or General Lafayette, before the Britishers can get
very far on the road."
"I don't understand how it is to be done."
"Are you willing to run a big risk?"
"I am ready to do anything in aid of the cause."
"Then listen. I know where Wharton, the Tory, has two horses stabled,
and it will not be hard work to get them out after the groom has
gone away for the night. If anything is done by the Britishers which
our friends should know, we can take them, follow the Schuylkill up
till we come to the bridge, and be at General Lafayette's camp before
daylight."
"But that would be stealing!" Enoch cried.
"I don't think so, under the circumstances. It will be only an honest
act, for we do it to save the lives of our friends."
"That would prevent our coming back to Philadelphia while the
Britishers are here, and the stranger said we might be of more service
in this city than we could in the army."
"So we shall if we carry such important news, and it is better for us
to leave here on an errand like that than remain idle when the cause
may suffer."
"I will do whatever you say is right, Jacob, but do not want to serve
our country by becoming a thief."
"That you will not become, I tell you!" Jacob cried impatiently.
"It shall be as you say."
"Very well. Now I will go in one direction and you in another. We'll
meet on High Street near Fourth. If nothing has been seen we must
continue to walk around until certain the Britishers do not intend to
leave the city."
Having thus mapped out his plan Jacob started up Walnut Street at his
best pace, and Enoch went in the opposite direction, feeling rather
doubtful of such honesty as displayed itself by the theft of two
horses.
Not until eight o'clock in the evening did either of the boys see
anything to denote that the enemy's troops would be moved that night,
and then it was as if all the preparations had been made in an instant.
It was Enoch who was standing in front of General Grant's quarters when
that gentleman came out attended by two of his staff, and the boy heard
him say petulantly:
"We are forced to go on a wild-goose chase, while the more fortunate
fellows are enjoying themselves at the play. I expected to see at least
two acts of Douglas, and had invited some ladies to accompany me."
"Are we likely to go far?" one of his companions asked.
"To Barren Hill; and on arriving there we shall find our French bird
has flown, although General Howe is so certain of capturing him that
he has invited a large party to take supper with the proposed captive
to-morrow night, while Admiral Howe has given orders to have a frigate
made ready for sailing with Lafayette on board. It would create a
sensation if we should send the marquis to England as a prisoner!"
"Indeed it would, and I only hope he will give us half a chance to
catch him. How large a force shall we have?"
"Five thousand in my column and two thousand under Grey."
"That will be plenty to do the work, and it isn't impossible we
may succeed in surprising him. Our preparations have been made very
quietly."
"Only those engaged in the service have any idea of what it is proposed
to do, and all of us have been sworn to secrecy. I shall----"
The speakers moved on, and Enoch could not distinguish the remainder
of the conversation; but he had heard enough to change his mind as to
the honesty of stealing horses, and now thought only of the possibility
that they might not succeed in such purpose.
Hastening to the rendezvous at full speed, he found Jacob awaiting him
and displaying every evidence of agitation and impatience.
"I thought you would never come," he whispered eagerly. "We have no
time to lose, for I have seen more than a thousand soldiers in the
ranks ready for a march."
"And I have heard exactly how many are to go; but we must hurry to
the Tory's stable, for there is no time to lose!" and Enoch urged his
comrade forward, telling him while they walked so swiftly as to be
almost running that which he had learned.
"No two boys ever had such an opportunity as we've got now!" Jacob
said triumphantly. "If we can be the first to carry the news to General
Lafayette, it will be a work that even General Washington would thank
us for! We shall find no difficulty in enlisting in any regiment we
choose, and who knows but we'll be made officers?"
"I don't understand how that could be, when we are not even soldiers;
a man must have had experience before he can command others."
"Couldn't we soon gain that?"
"We'd better give all our attention to getting the horses. If we
succeed in finding General Lafayette I shall have reward enough, and a
commission as colonel wouldn't make me any happier."
"I'd rather be an officer than a private," Jacob replied decidedly,
"and we're now in a fair way to wear swords."
The pace at which they were traveling was not well suited for a
prolonged conversation, and the boys were panting so heavily that
it was absolutely necessary to remain silent until they were in the
vicinity of the Tory's stable.
The building was situated a hundred yards or more from the dwelling,
and no one could be seen in the vicinity.
Jacob forced his companion to halt where a clump of bushes hid them
from view of any one who might pass that way, until they had regained
their breath, and then said hurriedly:
"I know the man who takes care of the horses. He boards at the third
house from here, and doesn't often come back in the evening after his
day's work is done. The stable door opens toward Wharton's house, and
our greatest danger will be in getting the animals out. I'll go ahead;
if you fail to hear anything for five minutes, follow me."
"Go on; don't waste any more time, for if the soldiers set out ahead of
us we shall find it difficult to pass them."
Master Ludwick made his way toward the building as if stealing horses
was a work with which he was thoroughly conversant, and when the
specified time had elapsed Enoch followed.
The fact that a play was being performed at the theater, and also
that nearly all the male population of the city were congregated in
the business portion of the town discussing this unexpected move on
Lafayette's part, was of material aid to the boys in their undertaking.
Not a light could be seen in the Tory's home, and it was situated so
far out of the city there was little fear pedestrians would pass at
that hour in the evening.
When Enoch entered the barn he understood by the subdued noise that
Master Ludwick was bridling a horse, and he whispered:
"Are there two here?"
"Yes; I've got a bridle on one, and if you'll hold him I'll take out
the other. We can't stop to find saddles."
"There's no need of anything of that kind, but I think we should have
something in the shape of whips, in case we're pursued."
"We can find a stick once we are clear of the city. Have you got hold
of the bridle?"
"Yes; I'll take care of this fellow. Get the other quickly, for if any
one should come now we'd be in a bad plight. I had rather be in prison
as a spy than a horse thief."
That Jacob was familiar with the interior of the stable was proved by
the celerity of his movements.
Although Enoch was in that frame of mind when the seconds drag like
minutes, it seemed to him as if he had but just taken charge of the
first animal before his comrade had the other in the floor.
There was hardly time for one to have counted twenty when Master
Ludwick opened the stable door cautiously as he whispered:
"Mount, Enoch, and ride at a walk until we are so far away that the
hoof-beats won't be heard in case any of the family should chance to be
at home. Remember, we must keep together as long as possible; but if it
happens that we are separated, each must do his best at finding General
Lafayette's camp!"
"Don't stop to give orders now, but come on!" Enoch replied nervously
as he mounted, and in another moment the young patriots were riding
slowly up the street.
Neither dared to speak, and the noise of the animals' feet on the hard
road sounded so loud in their ears that it seemed as if any one half a
mile away must hear it.
Both the boys understood, however, that considerably more noise would
be made if they allowed their horses to trot, and, dangerous though
the position was, they reined their steeds down to a walk until fully
a quarter of a mile had been traversed, when Jacob said grimly:
"It's time to let them out now, and if we are caught it won't be
because we haven't been cautious enough!"
The horses, impatient at having been restrained, darted forward swiftly
when the reins were loosened, and Enoch cried in delight:
"They are in the proper trim for rapid traveling, and we should be able
to keep ahead of foot soldiers, for, of course, we are in advance of
them."
"I don't believe the Britishers have started yet, and it's almost
certain there is no enemy between us and the American force. We've just
the same as won our swords already!"
"Never mind the swords if we----"
Enoch ceased speaking very suddenly as a voice, coming apparently from
the thicket that bordered the road, cried sternly:
"Halt! Halt or I fire!"
Instead of making any reply Jacob struck his horse with both heels,
darting ahead of Enoch for the time being, and in another instant the
command rang out:
"Fire! Then see that they do not escape!"
"They're mounted men!" Enoch cried in fear as he bent over the neck of
the horse, involuntarily glancing back just as a broad sheet of flame
lighted up the trees a short distance in the rear, and he heard the
whistling of bullets over his head almost at the same instant that the
reports of the weapons rang out.
"Are you hurt, Jake?" he cried anxiously.
"Not so much as a scratch; but this isn't the time to talk. Those
fellows have horses, and it's a question how long these can hold out.
Wharton never was known to keep very good stock, so father says."
Enoch was not exactly in that frame of mind where he could best
speculate upon the faults or merits of the Tory's horses; but he was
thoroughly aware that he and his comrade would soon have a very good
idea of the abilities of these two animals as compared with those in
the rear.
Glancing back hurriedly the boy saw a group of horsemen in sharp
pursuit, and he decided there could not be less than half a dozen, all
of whom were in uniform.
The thought came into his mind that this party had been posted on the
road to prevent any one from carrying information to the enemy, and
now, when it was too late, he remembered that he and Jacob had twice
before been turned back by a patrol at this very point.
"We should have remembered it," he said to himself. "It would not have
been much out of our way if we had ridden across the field, and then we
shouldn't be pressing our horses at their best speed when the journey
has but just begun."
It was too late now to indulge in regrets. The pursuers were making
every effort to end the chase quickly, and there was good reason to
believe the weapons would again be used, when a chance shot might end
the chase by crippling one of the animals even if it failed to hit a
human target.
Enoch was not urging the steed he rode to its best pace, but contented
himself with holding the advantage he had over the enemy; while Jacob
had used his heels as spurs to such effect that his horse was far in
advance.
During half an hour the race was continued, and then the animals showed
signs of fatigue. Now it was necessary for Enoch to urge his on, while
Jacob's, less fresh because of the first great burst of speed, was
slowly falling to the rear.
"I won't run away from you," Enoch said encouragingly. "Their horses
must be as tired as ours; but if they've got better wind, I'll be by
your side when we're overtaken."
"No, no, you mustn't do that!" Jacob cried sharply. "If only one can
get through the work will be done, and I deserve to be overhauled
because I sent this beast ahead at such a furious rate when we first
started. Do your best to give them the slip, and pay no attention to
me; but when you see Seth again tell him I tried to do as much for the
cause as he did."
"I shall stay by you," Enoch said decidedly as he reined in his horse.
"They are getting no nearer, and--Look out!"
The warning cry had hardly been uttered when the reports of muskets or
pistols rang out once more; but this time the whistling of the bullets
could not be heard.
"They have lost ground!" Enoch cried joyfully. "Don't punish your horse
so much, but slacken the pace a bit till he gets his wind. We'll best
them yet."
Again and again the weapons were discharged, but the boys no longer
bent their heads, for they were out of range, and the race was
well-nigh won.
Five minutes later the pursuers were lost to view in the distance, and
Jacob cried in a tone of relief:
"We've outridden them at last; but if they had held on five minutes
longer, it would have been all over, so far as I'm concerned, for I
don't believe this beast could have held a trot half a mile more."
"Let him walk awhile, and we'll keep a good lookout in case they should
make another try for us. Do you know the roads hereabouts?"
"Yes; all of them. If it was daylight you could see my home from the
next hill. There is no short cut hereabouts that they can take to get
ahead of us, and we're certain to go through all right!"