Corporal 'Lige's Recruit: A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga

by James Otis

  CHAPTER VIII.

  AN INTERRUPTION.

  Nathan, who had looked upon the men under Colonel Allen much as he hadCorporal 'Lige, was literally amazed by this ready submission of theking's troops, standing silent and motionless by the side of Isaac asthe garrison was paraded without arms, and the surrender made in dueform.

  Some days afterward Isaac learned that the spoils of war at this placewere one hundred and twenty iron cannon, fifty swivels, two ten-inchmortars, one howitzer, one cohorn, ten tons musket-balls, threecartloads flints, thirty gun-carriages, a quantity of shells, a largeamount of material for boat building, one hundred stand of small arms,ten casks of powder, two brass cannon, thirty barrels of flour andeighteen barrels of pork.

  Forty-eight soldiers were surrendered and preparations were at oncebegun to send these, together with the women and children, to Hartford.

  Hardly was the surrender made complete when such of the troops as hadbeen left on the opposite shore under Seth Warner, arrived in aschooner, much to the surprise of all, until it was learned that CaptainHerrick, who had been sent to Skenesborough to seize the son of thegovernor, had succeeded in his mission without bloodshed.

  He took not only the young major, but twelve negroes and attendants,seized the schooner owned by the elder Skene, and had come down the lakein the early morning with the hope of aiding in the capture ofTiconderoga.

  Isaac had supposed this victory would end the adventure, and was sayingto himself that his experience had been rather pleasing than otherwise,so much so in fact that he almost regretted the time was near at handfor him to return home, when he saw, much to his surprise, a portion ofthe troops being formed in line as if to leave Ticonderoga.

  Corporal 'Lige had been assigned to the task of overhauling the goods inthe warehouse for the purpose of making out a list of the same, and itwas to him that Isaac, followed by Nathan, went for information.

  "Forming in line, eh?" the old man asked as, wiping the perspirationfrom his face, he went outside to have a look around, and instantly henoted the preparations which were making, turned back to his work as ifit was of but little concern.

  "What is the meaning of that, corporal?" Isaac suggested. "Are we goingback without having stayed here a single day?"

  "There will be no turnin' back, lad, until the work is finished, and thefort at Crown Point yet remains to be taken. I allow Seth Warner isgoin' to tackle that job, which won't be a difficult one, since it issaid there are not above a dozen men in the garrison."

  "Suppose you an' I go with 'em?" Nathan suggested, now no longer eagerto demand money for his services; but, fired by what he had seen, andburning to participate in new conquests.

  "What do you say, corporal?" Isaac asked, feeling that it was necessaryto gain the old man's permission before he could join in the adventure.

  Again Corporal 'Lige went to the door of the warehouse, looking abouthim with the air of a weather-prophet, after which he replied in acareless tone:

  "I don't reckon it makes any difference whether you lads are here orsailin' 'round the lake, therefore if Seth Warner gives his permission,you may go so far as I am concerned; but it'll be only a question ofwhifflin' from one point to another, for while the wind holds in thisdirection I'm allowin' none of the force will reach Crown Point."

  "The wind is likely to haul 'round after sunset, so let us take ourchances," Nathan whispered, and Isaac was not loth to embark.

  Therefore the two started across the parade-ground for the purpose ofspeaking with the old hunter--Seth Warner--when Captain Herrick, who hadjust made his report of the night's work at Skenesborough, halted theboys by saying:

  "I reckon you two lads are the ones Colonel Allen would speak with atonce? You will find him in the commandant's quarters."

  "He is most likely thinkin' of payin' me for comin' over last night,"Nathan said as the two turned to obey the command, "and I have made upmy mind not to take money for the service."

  Isaac looked at his companion in surprise, and the latter added almostshame-facedly:

  "I reckon father was right when he said every one in the colonies shoulddo all he could in this cause, and, besides, it looks to me as if theking's troops would speedily get the worst of it."

  Young Beman was not unlike many in the neighborhood who in after-dayswere royalists or patriots as the cause of freedom grew weak or strong.

  However, Nathan had no opportunity to refuse a payment of money for hisservices, for when the lads stood before Colonel Allen, the latter saidin a tone of command, and yet with the air of one asking a favor:

  "I want to send a messenger to Sudbury. Do you think you can find theplace, Isaac Rice?"

  "I will show him the way, sir," Nathan said promptly, and the colonelfavored him with a glance of surprise, but took no further heed of hissudden complaisance.

  "At that settlement you will find one Captain Remember Baker; tell himwhat has been done at this point, and say it is my wish he join me herewithout delay. Select the lightest boat you can find for crossing thelake, and make all haste."

  Then the colonel turned away, intent upon the work of preparing a listof the garrison which had surrendered, and some of his officers enteringfor further instructions prevented the boys from making any inquiriesconcerning the mission.

  On leaving the quarters, Nathan, eager to serve this new commander ofthe fort with all possible celerity, would have hastened at once to theshore in order to set out, but that Isaac insisted upon giving Corporal'Lige due information as to their proposed movements, much to thedispleasure of young Beman, who claimed that the old soldier was of noaccount when the colonel had given orders.

  "Well, this one is," Isaac said stoutly. "He's a good friend of mine,and I wouldn't think of leavin' without first tellin' him, no matterwhose orders I was obeying."

  "Well, I s'pose you must have your own way, but the time will come whenyou won't think so much of that pig-headed old man as you do now."

  To this ill-natured remark the lad did not reply, but on presentinghimself to Corporal 'Lige and explaining what he was about to do, thelatter, still busy with his work of taking account of the stores, madevery much the same remark as had Nathan.

  "Don't consider, lad, that you are to report to me when ordered on duty.Be careful of yourself; do not run into danger needlessly, and get yougone without delay, for Colonel Allen is a man who doesn't take kindlyto loiterers."

  Nathan showed himself to be one who could perform a task promptly and ingood order when it suited his pleasure so to do.

  He it was who selected the boat in which they were to cross the lake;borrowed a musket from one of the men that he might not be forced tomake the journey weaponless, and succeeding in begging such an amount ofprovisions as would serve them for dinner.

  While these few preparations were being made, Warner, with a detachmentof twenty five men from Colonel Allen's regiment, put off on his journeyto Crown Point, and after watching them a moment Nathan Beman said in atone of one who is satisfied with himself:

  "It's jest as well we didn't have a chance to go with that crowd, forthey won't get anywhere near there until the wind changes, and it seemsas though whoever is in charge of the job, ought to know it."

  "I suppose the plan is to take the fort by surprise, as was this one,and unless our people get there soon, it will be a failure, because thenews of what has been done here must fly over the country quickly."

  "While the wind blows this way, and so strong, no one will get up thelake, therefore the garrison won't learn of the surrender of Ticonderogaunless some one goes across the country. However, we needn't bother,seein's our work is all cut an' dried, and we had better not waste toomuch time here."

  Isaac was beginning to entertain a very friendly feeling toward this ladnow that he had changed his views so entirely regarding the value of hisservices, and, as a matter of course, Nathan could be a most pleasingtraveling companion when it suited his purpose, as it did at present.

  The journey to
Sudbury proved to be a longer one than was anticipated.

  A strong wind which blew directly down the lake, carried the boys fullytwo miles below the point at which they should have landed, and Nathanwas much averse to following back along the shore in order to gain thetrail which led to Sudbury.

  "It will be just that much useless labor," he said emphatically, "and Iam not given to walking more than may be necessary."

  "But there's a chance of going astray if we strike across from here,"Isaac suggested, for, as has already been shown, he knew little ofwoodcraft, and this traveling blindly around a section of the countrywhere there was every reason to believe enemies might be found was notto his liking.

  "I'd be a mighty poor sort of a guide if I couldn't go across from herewithout straying from the course so much as a dozen yards," Master Bemansaid decidedly. "To walk up the shore two miles or more only for thepurpose of striking the trail, is foolishness."

  "But the thicket is so dense here," Isaac suggested timidly, almostfearing to venture an opinion lest he should provoke the mirth of hiscompanion. "It will be harder to make our way through than to goaround."

  Nathan made no reply.

  He bestowed upon Corporal 'Lige's recruit a glance as of pity, and then,without further words, plunged into the underbrush.

  Master Rice could do no less than follow.

  Before the boys had traveled half an hour on the direct course toSudbury, it is more than probable young Beman repented of havingattempted to make a "short cut," for the advance was indeed difficult.

  At times it was really painful to force one's way through the tangledfoliage, while now and again the boys found themselves floundering overswampy land; but Nathan made no complaint because he was responsible forhaving taken such a course, and Isaac hardly dared protest lest hiscompanion should be angered.

  "I still maintain that it was better to come this way than travel twomiles in vain," Nathan said as he threw himself upon the ground, andCorporal 'Lige's recruit ventured to suggest mildly:

  "I'd rather walk three miles on the shore than one here, where a fellowis obliged to fight his way through."

  "Perhaps you know this country better than I do, and would take thelead?"

  "Not so. You left Ticonderoga as guide, and it would not be seemly inme, who am a stranger here as well as a lad unaccustomed to this sort ofwarfare which is now being conducted, to do other than follow your lead;but----"

  The remark which was intended to soothe the irritation in the guide'sbreast was not concluded, for Isaac was interrupted by the sudden andunexpected appearance of three men, who came upon the boys as if from anambush.

  "Hullo!" Master Beman cried carelessly as if something in the way of asalutation was expected from him.

  Instead of replying to this hail the two lads were seized roughly, andwithout a word the strangers, taking possession of the musket, begansearching the messengers' clothing as if expecting something of value orimportance would be found.

  "Look here! What are you about?" Nathan cried angrily, while Isaacsubmitted in silence, for he understood that these three might beenemies to the cause. "What do you mean by handling me in this shape?"

  "Better keep your tongue between your teeth, young Beman," one of themen said in a surly tone. "When we ask for information there'll be timeenough for you to wag it so freely."

  Surprised at having been thus recognized, and heedless of the warning,Nathan continued:

  "Who are you? I never saw you before! What right have you to handle mein this fashion?"

  "The right of any of his majesty's subjects, for in these times it iswell to overhaul every rebel one runs across."

  "I'm no rebel!" Nathan cried, now exhibiting signs of alarm.

  "Your father is, which amounts to the same thing," the man replied, as,after having satisfied himself the lad had nothing concealed about hisperson, he rose to his feet. "Why are you abroad to-day?"

  "How long since is it that a lad may not move about as he wishes?"

  "Since rebellion first showed its head in these colonies. Now, answer myquestion, or it will be the worse for you!"

  Isaac, thoroughly alarmed, had made no resistance either by word ormovement when the stranger searched him, and although ignorant, as hehad often said, of warfare, he understood now full well that they werefallen into the hands of enemies, who would not hesitate at the takingof human life in order to compass their ends.

  Therefore he remained stretched upon the ground as when the men firstcame upon them, so terrified that it was almost impossible either tomove or speak.

  Young Beman was frightened, but not to such an extent as to prevent himfrom displaying anger, and instead of replying to the question heattempted to rise to his feet.

  A blow delivered with unnecessary force sent him headlong to the groundagain, and his captor said warningly:

  "Have a care what you are about, Nathan Beman, for we are not disposedeither to bandy words or waste much time on such as you, who, havingprofessed friendship for those in the fort, was ready to betray them."

  Now, Nathan's fears were as great as Isaac's; but he made one moreeffort at asserting himself, and began by telling a lie.

  "What have I done at the fort? I am but just come from my father'shouse."

  "Take that for the falsehood, and this for believing us to be fools, whocan be deceived by such as you," the man replied as he viciously kickedthe boy twice. "You have but just come from Ticonderoga, and must havebeen sent by the rebels who captured the fort."

  "What reason have you for saying that?" Nathan asked in a more subduedtone.

  "First, the fact of your being here, and secondly because your comradespoke, while we were within hearing, of your having been sent fromTiconderoga."

  Nathan shot an angry glance toward Isaac as if Corporal 'Lige's recruitalone was to blame for this unpleasant interruption to the journey; buthe ventured no reply lest further chastisement might follow.

  "Tell me to whom you are sent, and have a care in the replying, for weare not minded to waste much time upon such as you."

  Nathan was beginning to understand that he was wholly in the power of anenemy, whom he could not readily deceive, and also believed that itmight be painful for him if the answer was delayed.

  He was not so devoted to the cause as to be willing to suffer in itsbehalf, and, therefore, said surlily:

  "We were going to Captain Remember Baker at Sudbury."

  "Who sent you?"

  "Colonel Allen."

  "Where is the message you are carrying?"

  "He gave us none save by word of mouth."

  "Repeat it, and be careful lest you make the mistake of telling anotherlie."

  "There is nothing in it of importance or interest to you. It was simplythat Captain Baker should come at once to Ticonderoga."

  "Then the fort was taken last night?"

  "I thought you knew that?" Nathan cried in surprise, now understandingthat he had divulged what it was most important should have been kept aprofound secret until Crown Point had been captured.

  "We heard that the rebels were marching toward the fort; but could notget there in time to warn the commandant."

  "Why was it you made prisoners of two boys if you were not knowing toall that has taken place?" Nathan asked, his curiosity getting thebetter of his fears.

  "We took the chance that you could give us the desired information,because it was not reasonable old Beman's son should be in this sectionunless on business of his father's, and in these times one can wellguess what that business might be. Therefore, having heard youfloundering through the thicket, we drew near to listen to suchconversation as you might indulge in."

  "Are you going to waste time explaining our purpose to that young cub,Jason Wentworth?" one of the men asked impatiently, and he who had beenaddressed replied with a laugh:

  "We are not in as much haste now as we were half an hour ago, EzraJones. Captain Baker will not get the message, and while the wind holdsin this quarte
r I'm allowing the rebels won't reach Crown Point beforewe do."

  "They will if we loiter here all day. Truss up the lads, so they can dono mischief, and let us be off."

  "Would you leave them here in the thicket, Ezra Jones?"

  "Why not?"

  "They might starve to death, and while I'm willing to serve the king inall things, it is not my intent to be thus barbarous."

  "They can make themselves heard if any one passes by on the trail," thethird man replied very carelessly, and Ezra added quickly:

  "Ay! I had not thought of that. They must be gagged, or, what may bebetter for us, shot offhand."

  "Are you willing to kill two boys in cold blood, Ezra Jones?"

  There was no reply to this question, and Jason Wentworth turned round tothe other man.

  "Matthew White, will you take it upon yourself to do what is little lessthan murder?"

  "No; carry them further into the thicket, where they cannot be heardfrom the trail, and there tie them up."

  "It were better we shot them at once, than leave them to starve," JasonWentworth said much as if speaking to himself, and during thisconversation the feelings of the two lads can be faintly imagined.

  The question of their death by bullet or starvation was being discussedin such a business-like manner, as if there was no alternative, that theboys were literally paralyzed with fear.

  It seemed to Isaac Rice as if the three men remained silent fully fiveminutes before Jason Wentworth spoke again, and then it was with the airof one who has decided some vexed question.

  "I'm not willing to play the part of a savage," he said, speaking slowlyin order to give his words due weight. "Neither do I propose that theyshall carry the message. We'll take them with us."

  "And thus we shall be caused much delay," Ezra Jones muttered.

  "If they are wise we will travel as rapidly as when alone, and in caseof a refusal to obey orders they can be shot, or left to starve, aseasily half an hour hence as now. Besides, there will be much work atthe oars 'twixt here and Crown Point, and they can do a little more thantheir share of it."

  Perhaps it was this last suggestion which caused the other two men toagree to the proposition.

  At all events, no further objection was made, and Master Wentworth tookit upon himself to direct the march of the prisoners.

  "You are to keep half a dozen paces in advance, and take good care thereis no loitering, or any attempt at giving us the slip," he said to theboys, who yet lay upon the ground. "I do not propose that you shall bestarved to death; but at the same time I would put a musket-ball intoone or both of you without compunction, rather than suffer delay orescape. Now get on your feet, and move lively, for only by obedience canyou save your lives."

  There was no disposition on the part of Colonel Allen's messengers torun counter to the command which had been given.

  Each knew full well that two of their three captors were in favor ofleaving them to a most cruel death, which could be escaped only byprompt acquiescence to all the orders given.

  Therefore it was they leaped to their feet quickly, and set forward at asharp pace, when Jason Wentworth pointed out the direction to bepursued.

  At this moment it was Isaac who suffered most in mind, for he knew fullwell that Corporal 'Lige would condemn him for not having the courage toface death rather than give information to the enemy.

  Even though it was Nathan who had divulged what should have been kept asecret, the raw recruit knew in his own heart he had agreed that theinformation should be given, because of having made no protest.

  If Seth Warner failed in his purpose, it would be owing in a certaindegree to what had been told these men, and Isaac, who had hoped to winrenown, if not glory, by enlisting, could charge himself with what wasworse than a blunder.

  On the other hand Nathan was not sore in mind because of the possibilitythat Crown Point might still be held by the king's troops; but he hadsufficient sense to understand that if he had retraced his steps alongthe shore to the trail, as Isaac proposed, this capture might not havebeen made.

  Therefore, but in a different fashion, was his mental trouble as greatas that of his comrade.

  To the chagrin of both the boys they came upon the trail leading fromthe lake to Sudbury, after not more than two or three minutes'traveling, and thus knew that if their halt had been delayed a veryshort time it might have been possible to have given these enemies theslip.

  Once on the trail word was given to halt, and the three men held a briefconsultation as to the course they should pursue.

  One was in favor of going directly to the shore, where it appeared theybelieved a boat could be found; but the others insisted on keepingwithin the thicket until they were arrived a mile or more above thefort, lest, being seen, pursuit should be made by those who had capturedTiconderoga.

  This last proposition prevailed, although there were many chances theymight not find a boat further up the lake; but Jason Wentworth persistedit would be better if they make the journey entirely on foot, than takethe risk of being captured before word could be carried to Crown Point.

  On being commanded to push forward once more the boys obeyed readily, ifnot willingly, and during the hour which elapsed before they gained thedesired point, Nathan and Isaac had ample opportunity for conversation,since their captors did not seem to be averse to their talking one withthe other.

  "Of course, we shall be held prisoners by the king's troops once we arearrived at Crown Point," Isaac ventured to say after they had traveledsteadily, although slowly, onward for nearly half an hour, and youngBeman replied in a petulant tone:

  "That goes without saying, and it shows what a fool I've been in runningaround with those who would oppose the king's will. If father is eagerto ruin himself, that's no reason I should be a fool, and I'd betterhave listened to mother."

  "Why speak of what has been done?" Corporal 'Lige's recruit asked inwhat he intended should be a soothing tone. "I am not acquainted withthe country as you are, neither am I so brave; but yet it seems as if weshould be on the alert for a chance to escape."

  "Now you talk like a fool! How may we escape with these three men onwatch, all of whom are willing to shoot us at the first chance we givethem. I'm not minded to have a bullet put through my body; but wouldrather trust to the king's troops, in the hope that after a time we maybe set free."

  "Yet if we could give these men the slip?"

  "You may be certain we shan't have a chance."

  "Yet, suppose we did?"

  "Why will you be so weak-headed, Isaac Rice? If this is really warbetween the king and the colonies, the lives of boys like us count forbut little, especially since two of these men are eager to be rid ofus."

  Isaac understood that it was useless just at this time to make anyattempt at arousing his companion from the petulant despondency intowhich he had fallen, wherefore wisely kept silent; but at the same timewas firmly resolved to be on the lookout for any opportunity of gaininghis freedom.

  His timorousness had fled before the thought that there might yet be achance, he knew not how, of preventing the information of the fall ofTiconderoga from being carried to Crown Point.

  The boy had in his heart just then what is commonly called courage, andhis will was good, at whatever cost to himself, to repair the mischiefwhich had been done.

  He had hoped to animate his companion to the same pitch, but the failureto do this did not discourage him, and while obeying strictly the ordersgiven, he was keenly aware of everything which might be of benefit.

  He heard the men discussing what they would do in case of a failure tofind a boat near by where they gained the shore, and learned that insuch an event one of them would return to the landing-place to get thecraft of which they knew, with the idea that a single oarsman would notbe molested while pulling leisurely up stream as if bent on business ofhis own.

  He also understood that it was the purpose of his captors, after warningthe garrison at Crown Point, to muster a force of Loyal
ists from theimmediate vicinity, and march into Sudbury with the idea of takingCaptain Baker and his men prisoners before a second messenger should besent from Ticonderoga.

  There seemed little hope that such information could avail him, and yethe was in a certain degree elated because of having gained it.

  On arriving at the shore of the lake, where the men had thought itpossible a boat might be found, no craft of any kind was to be seen.

  The wind still held strongly from the north, and Jason Wentworthannounced in a tone of satisfaction:

  "The rebels won't get very far on their journey toward Crown Point thisday, and I am mistaken if the wind doesn't freshen after sunset."

  "It will be precious hard work for us to make our way against such abreeze," Ezra Jones grumbled.

  "Ay; but we can do it with four oars out, and even though we pull atthem twenty-four hours, the labor should count as nothing so that wearrive in good time."

  "But the garrison there is weak?"

  "They should be able to hold out until assistance can arrive. We canmuster fifty men for them within two hours; but standing here talkingisn't doing the work, and it's important we set off without unnecessarydelay. Ezra, you go down the shore, and Matthew up, each searching for aboat, and when one has been found pull to this point, where I will staywith the prisoners."

  "Is it to your mind that I shall take the craft from opposite the fort,running the risk of being overhauled?"

  "Better that than remain here wasting time in talk."

  Matthew White was of the opinion that it would be wisest to make thejourney afoot rather than take the risk of being overhauled by the"rebels;" but to this Master Wentworth would not listen, and, heevidently being the leader of the party, carried his point.

  The two men set out, and immediately after their departure JasonWentworth ordered his prisoners back into the underbrush a shortdistance from the shore, where he stood guard over them, and at the sametime could keep close watch for the return of his companions.