CHAPTER X
A RACE FOR LIFE
"What boots the oft-repeated tale of strife, The feast of vultures, and the waste of life?
* * * * *
In either cause, one rage alone possess'd The empire of the alternate victor's breast; And they that smote for freedom or for sway, Deem'd few were slain while more remain to slay."
--_Byron._
Peggy cast a fleeting glance backward, and the rich bloom of hercheeks faded to paleness as she saw what amazing progress the horsemenhad made. Their own horses had been on the road since early morning,and should the beasts of their pursuers be fresher she feared for theresult. With this reflection she cast aside her scruples and, takingthe whip out of its socket, let it fall in a stinging cut. The horsesleaped under the lash, then steadied to a rapid trot. Far behindsounded a faint halloa, but she did not turn her head. The horsesdemanded all her attention. How far away that farmhouse seemed! Couldthey reach it before these lawless wretches overtook them? They must.Again she let the lash fall, and the horses were off in a mad gallop.
In some manner Sally and Fairfax contrived to exchange places, andwith stern set features the youth sat watching the rapid advance ofthe enemy, his musket ready for instant use. There were two guns. Hismother held the other, and the ammunition lay on the seat betweenthem. Not one of the little party voiced the thought that was in theirminds, for each one realized the awful consequences that would followcapture by these desperadoes.
During the latter part of the Revolution there had sprung intoexistence a class of men which might be termed banditti. They weremarauding bands which were restrained from robbery and outrage by nomilitary authority. They infested the woods and preyed upon lonetravelers, or small parties journeying upon the highways, anddesolated solitary farmhouses at will. No outrage was too great forthem to commit. Each state had its quota of these lawless wretcheswhich superadded to the horrors of war.
The state of New Jersey was particularly beset, owing to itsgeographical situation between the two large cities of New York andPhiladelphia. The pines of Monmouth County, in whose boundaries Peggyand her friends now were, afforded a safe hiding-place for numbers ofsuch robbers. They had caves burrowed in the sand-hills near themargin of swamps in the most secluded situations, which were coveredwith brush so as to be undiscoverable. The inhabitants were kept in astate of constant terror by their visitations, for the object of suchvisits was to plunder, burn and murder. The farmers were obliged tocarry their muskets with them even into the fields. After Yorktowntheir depredations ceased for a time, but as the British governmentdelayed peace their atrocities were renewed. It was a mongrel crew ofthis character that was giving chase to the sleigh and its occupants.They were easily recognized by their accouterments.
On! And on! And on! To Peggy the whole landscape was featureless savefor the farmhouse in the far distance. The sand-hills with theirpines, and the salt marshes to the eastward blended together in anindistinguishable white blur. The wind whistled in their teeth, arushing, roaring gale, filled with a salt flavor. Her calash had blownoff, and her hair was flying, but the girl was conscious of but onething which was that the thud of horses' feet was drawing steadilynearer.
"Faster, Peggy," cried Fairfax imploringly. "Faster!" As he spokethere came the report of muskets.
A scream burst from Sally's lips as a bullet fell just short of thesleigh. An answering roar came from Fairfax's gun, and the unequalfight was on. Peggy dared not look around.
"The whip," she gasped hoarsely to Sally, for the lash had droppedfrom her hand and lay in the bed of the sleigh. "The whip."
In an instant Sally had found it, and leaning over the dashboardshe let it fall again and again on the horses. Infuriated at suchtreatment the animals plunged forward madly, and it was all Peggycould do to guide them. The crossroad leading to the farmhouse wasbut half a mile distant now. There were clumps of pines bordering itwhich would afford some protection from the bullets of the enemy.Could they reach it? The road swung to the south abruptly, and thehorses took it on a sheer run. The noble animals were at their highestspeed and doing their utmost, but to Peggy they seemed to move atsnail's pace. The yelling, shouting band of ruffians was undoubtedlycoming closer. It was amazing with what speed they had borne down uponthe sleigh, but they were better horsed. Suddenly the outcries tooka louder note. A shower of bullets fell about the sleigh, and inagonized tones Fairfax called to the others to get under the seats.Peggy did not know whether Sally and Nurse Johnson obeyed the commandor not, but she did not stir. She could not. She was possessed withthe determination to reach the crossroad, with its protecting pines.If they could but reach that road! Sally was sobbing, and Peggy's ownbreath came gaspingly. She leaned forward, and in utter desperationtried to call to the horses, but her cries were lost in a series ofblood-curdling yells from the pursuers.
A SHOWER OF BULLETS FELL ABOUT THE SLEIGH.]
Fairfax was making a gallant defense, but the odds were greatlyagainst him. It was a miracle that he was not hit by some of thebullets that were falling about them. His own aim had been morefortunate, and three ruffians had toppled from their saddles. Still,it could be but a question of time ere the greater number would bevictorious, and that the robbers were aware of this was apparent intheir shouts of triumph.
Presently the leader of the band, who was astride a big bay, spurredhis horse forward.
"Halt!" he cried. "Halt, young man!" The youth's reply was a shot, andthe bay went down.
A howl of rage arose from the marauders, and they tore down the roadlike so many demons. Just as the sleigh reached the crossroad twoof them dashed past to the heads of the horses, and with shouts ofexultation reached out to grasp the bits. And then, from out of thethickets of pines, little jets of smoke puffed forth and the tworascals tumbled to the ground. Before the occupants of the sleighcould realize what had happened a body of twenty or thirty troopersrode from among the trees, and made a dash for the enemy. Fairfaxuttered a whoop of joy.
"The Jersey Dragoons!" he cried.
At sight of them the bandits turned to flee, but the dragoons wereafter them on the run, shouting, yelling, and with pistol-ballsflying. All became in an instant a scene of the most lively confusion.Volley after volley the troopers poured into the fleeing ruffians, andhere and there men and horses dropped.
The air reeked with the smell of gunpowder, and many riderless horses,snorting with fear and pain, galloped with flying reins up and downthe road. The ground was strewn with dead and dying, and the snowwas trampled and bloody. The onset of the dragoons was pitiless,incessant, furious; no quarter being given. The state wanted thesewretches extirpated, and whenever an encounter took place the conflictwas sure to be a sanguinary one. Soon the shattered ranks of theruffian band scattered for the sand-hills, and the captain, knowingthat the bandits would have the advantage once the hills were reached,sounded the recall. Reluctantly, his men gave up the chase.
As the dragoons charged the bandits Fairfax had taken the lines fromPeggy, and driven beyond range of the bullets, then stopped to watchthe assault. Their escape had been so narrow that none of them couldrealize that their safety was assured. Peggy and Sally were white andshaken, and Nurse Johnson retained her composure with difficulty. Nowas the troopers came up to them they welcomed them with deepgratitude.
"'Twas a close call," was the captain's comment to Fairfax. "You weredoing nobly, sir, but the odds were hopeless."
"Had you not come, captain, I dare not think of the result," saidFairfax with emotion. "There was but one more round of ammunition leftwhen you appeared with your men, though I knew not of it. Mother herewas doing the loading, and she did not tell me."
"I am glad that we happened along," said the officer. "The highwaysare not safe these days. Our state troops are doing what we can towardmaking them so, but good men are scarce and robbers many. 'Twas themerest accident that we chose that spot for our midday meal. We wereright in
the midst of it when you were seen with those miscreants inpursuit."
"But," spoke the youth with some bewilderment, "my uncle wrote thattheir depredations had ceased since Yorktown."
"And so they did for a time, but the respite was short. What withthese robbers, and the raids of the refugees Jerseymen scarce knowwhich way to turn. The state is in truth sorely tried. Where does youruncle live, and for what place are you bound?"
"Thomas Ashley is my uncle. He lives at Freehold, which should notbe many miles distant," answered Fairfax. "We came to make our homethere. That is, my mother and I did. These two young ladies arevisitors."
"Their welcome, while a warm one, is not much to their liking, I'llwarrant," said the officer with a light laugh, and a quick glance atthe pale faces of the maidens. "Well, you will have no more troublefrom this on. This stretch of the turnpike is the most dangerous inthe county, and once past it one is safe from molestation. Good-bye!A safe journey to you. I think we shall finish that dinner now."
He would not listen to their thanks, but saluting, wheeled, and rodeback to the conflict ground where some troopers were attending to thewounded. Fairfax spoke to the horses, and silently the journey whichhad had such a tragic interruption was resumed.
Peggy Owen and Liberty Page 12