by James Otis
CHAPTER XV
AN AWKWARD CAPTURE
I was thoroughly dazed at having let myself be come upon by the one ladin town who could do me the most mischief. It was literally impossibleto speak for a full minute, and during such time as I remained staringstupidly into the lad's face there ran through my mind like a flash oflightning all it was possible for him to do, not only against myself,but those I had left behind in the cellar of Job Lord's house.
It is true that the Tory cur had then no means of knowing whether othershad come into the town with me; but should he give an alarm and I betaken into custody, as must surely follow, then would that host of ourswho claimed to be such a devoted friend to the Cause, make known thecontents of his cellar in order to have a share in the credit ofcapturing "rebels."
I realized almost as soon as the scoundrel had spoken, that we two mustnot part; that the safety of all our little company depended upon mysilencing him in some way; but how might it be done save at the expenseof killing? Even though his death would have been of benefit to theCause, I could not find it in my heart to do that which seemed much thesame as murder.
"I little expected to find you at large in the streets of this town,"Seth said in what he meant to be a jeering tone, but, with all mysenses on the alert because of the imminence of the danger, I noticedthat he looked uneasily out of the tail of his eye as if having it inmind to give me the slip, and this, as you may suppose, heartened me,although even while I stood gazing at him did I realize that he wassimply casting about in his mind for some means whereby he might takeadvantage of thus meeting with me.
I answered boldly enough, however, and was well pleased to continue theconversation sufficiently long to have an opportunity of deciding uponmy course of action, therefore said:
"Will you tell me how long since I have not had the privilege of walkingthe streets of Boston town, Seth Jepson?"
"That's a question easily answered. You lost the right when you attackedthe king's men off Hog island."
"Well, and what did you lose when you showed yourself not only a traitorto the Cause, but a cur, gaining the confidence of your comrades onlythat you might betray them to a British prison? Can such as you walk thestreets freely while I, who have made no pretense of being other thanwhat your governor calls a rebel, must remain in hiding?"
"It is the duty of every true man, as well as lad, to serve the king,and there can be no such thing as treachery when one works in behalf ofhis lawful sovereign," Seth replied, wincing and raising his arm beforehis face as if thinking I counted on striking him.
"The lawful sovereign of these colonies is whosoever the people shallchoose to be their ruler, and the time is speedily coming, Seth Jepson,when the lobster backs will be driven out of Boston. After that has beendone you will be called upon to settle with the Minute Boys, and Iassure you the debt won't be easily paid."
I was deliberately striving to work myself up into a fury that I mightstrike the cur senseless with a blow, taking the chance of killing him,for as the seconds sped I realized how great was our danger unless histongue could be silenced.
He must have seen something of this in my face, for he wheeled aboutsuddenly, crying at the full strength of his lungs as he attempted toflee:
"Murder! murder!"
He had no time to make further outcry, for as soon as the word wasrepeated I clutched him by the throat from behind, dragging himbackward, and burying my fingers so deeply in his neck that he was liketo be strangled.
It was only when his eyes bulged out and his tongue protruded, as afterthe hangman has finished his work, that I realized I was within an aceof taking a human life. Then I released my hold; kneeling on his breast,I pinned both his arms down to the ground so that he had no opportunityof escaping, or making an attack upon me.
No sooner had I done this, and he began to breathe more freely, than Irealized that by my assault I had increased the danger, for surely, evenat that time of night, those living near about must have heard thatshrill, frantic cry.
To leave him now in condition to follow me, would be the greatest follyof all, and acting upon the impulse of the moment I clutched him by thecollar, dragging the cur to his feet as if he had been of no moreweight than a baby. Then I forced him on before me down Union streettoward the mill pond as I said sharply, yet in a cautious tone, while Iwithdrew my knife from its sheath that he might see I had a weapon:
"I'm not minded you shall send me to a British prison, Seth Jepson, andI swear solemnly that if you raise your voice above a whisper, or failto run at your best pace, I'll thrust this knife into your heart withthe certainty of killing you."
"Would you do murder?" he asked in a hoarse whisper, and I knew from thetremor of his voice that he was in an agony of fear.
"It will not be murder to kill such as you, and I shall have nohesitation in doing so unless you obey every command promptly."
During such time as we had been speaking the pace was not slackened, andthat the cowardly cur had lost all heart, I understood when he forgedahead at his best speed, as if believing implicitly in the threat I hadmade.
Running swiftly we were soon on the shore of the mill pond, havingarrived without seeing or hearing anything to betoken pursuit, andbelieving it safe to slacken the pace that I might reserve my strengthin case we were come to that pass where I must release the prisoner inorder to save my own skin, I allowed the Tory cur to walk, but took goodcare to keep a firm grip on his collar as I mentally asked myself how itwould be possible to rid myself of the prisoner with due regard tosafety.
I began to realize that I had made an awkward capture; that I had undermy hand one whom I dared not set free, and could not take with me. Itwas a most perplexing situation, and during a few seconds I well nighlost heart because of having thus plunged my comrades into yet greaterdifficulties.
"'WOULD YOU DO MURDER?'"]
Yet what other could I have done? If, when he accosted me, I had turnedto flee, he would have followed, and within two or three minutes a scoreof lobster backs must have been on my trail, when there could be nochance of escape. My only safety lay in holding fast to him, and yet byso doing was I increasing the peril.
He must have fancied I had grown faint-hearted to a certain degree, foras we walked on by the shore of the mill pond, he obeying every motionof mine as does a dog that has been whipped, the scoundrel began towhimper, being fool enough to think that by the use of soft words hecould make his standing good once more.
"You do me wrong, Luke Wright, when you believe I led the Britishers upto Barton's point that night you were embarking for Hog island."
"Who has accused you of doing that?" I cried, giving way to temperbecause he should believe he might make excuses for his treachery.
"You have much the same as said so," he whined. "Because I was forced togo home for ever so short a time, having forgotten to do what my motherbade me, you immediately cried out that I was a traitor."
"How know you that, Seth Jepson, unless it be that you did play usfalse, and how was it you returned in company with the Britishers?"
"I didn't," Seth replied, not speaking as an honest lad would; butrather like a knave who is too thoroughly frightened to be able to tella falsehood that can be believed. "The Britishers were there when I cameup."
"We were but a short distance from the shore when you returned in theircompany, and heard the conversation that was held while you were accusedof having brought them on a false scent," I cried hotly, and thenrealizing that no good could come from thus bandying words when at anymoment we might come upon the patrol, I said sharply, forcing him oncemore into a run:
"You are to hold your tongue from this out, or as I live this knifeshall find its way into your back."
"I will do whatsoever you say, so that you spare my life," he whined,and I could have kicked him for failing to show the spirit of a decentlad.
Not knowing whithersoever I ought to go; but having in mind a clear ideathat I must make my way so far out of the town as to
lessen the dangerof coming upon a squad of lobster backs, I pushed him on until we werecome to Boling Green, and then made a straight cut across Cambridgestreet, heading for Beacon hill at a smart pace until we were 'twixtthere and the rope walk, where it seemed to me we were past the dangerline for the time being.
Then it was I did a mighty deal of thinking. The first plan I formed wasto cross over to the western shore of the town with the poor hope offinding there a skiff in which I might make way to Cambridge with myprisoner, even though in so doing I should be abandoning my comradeswho, if I failed to return before daylight, would be set upon by MasterLord in whatsoever way he purposed to deal with them.
The thought that I would thus be purchasing my own safety, if indeed Iwas lucky enough to come upon a skiff on the shore, at the expense of mycomrades shamed me, and, pulling Seth sharply around to the left, Icontinued at a yet swifter pace down past the powder house, across theCommon, my brain in such a whirl that it seemed I must of necessity goonce more to Cow lane.
By this time little clouds had begun to gather in the sky, so that thenight was darker than it had been when I set out, and as we came to theend of Hog alley I believed it safe to stop there an instant in order toregain my breath, for now both captive and captor were breathingheavily.
Here, as we crouched within the shadow of an outhouse, Seth began hiswhining once more; but I cut him short with an extra twist in the collarof his shirt, at the same time warning him in a whisper that my knifewould find its place in his back if he dared speak one word, howevercautiously.
Now was come the time when I must decide upon what should be done, and,despite the danger, in my perplexity I decided to take the chances ofregaining Master Lord's dwelling, saying to myself that the only hoperemaining was to get Seth into that place of refuge which was at thesame time our prison. Once there Hiram Griffin could decide whether wewould not be warranted in turning our backs upon the mission which hadbrought us to Boston town, and make every effort to gain Cambridge withthe prisoner.
It was a wondrous relief to have settled upon some plan, however poorand desperate, and without further loss of time I pushed Seth on oncemore, vowing that we should not slacken pace, unless it might be toavoid the patrol, until having come to Cow lane.
Down through the alley, across Newbury street; through the gardensthere to Short street, and thence on to Blind lane; past the New SouthChurch, and down Summer street, finally coming to our destination.
Even as I set this down it seems wondrous strange that we could havecome thus far, and for a certain distance through a settled portion ofthe town, without having seen or heard anything of life. Yet such wasindeed the case, else I had not been here to tell this poor story of ourMinute Boys of Boston, for had we been captured while I held Seth Jepsonin my power, then was the end speedily come for me, because every Toryin town would have seen to it that such charges were brought to my dooras would lead to the gallows.
It was when we were come to the rear of Master Lord's house, I stillclutching the Tory cur firmly by the collar, that my heart misgave me.How would it be possible for me to send him down through that narrowtunnel without his making an outcry, and should the plan succeed, howwere we to keep him in hiding where we ourselves were prisoners?
However, I had come so far on the way that there was no turning back.The plan must be carried out as it had been hastily made, whetherfoolish or no, and if peradventure it brought us all to grief then Iought not be so severely censured, because there was naught else to bedone, as it then appeared to me.
When having, as I have said, come to the rear of Master Lord's house andI had knelt down to raise the turf, which was much like unto a lid, SethJepson's small remnant of courage fled, and I could feel the scoundrelsink beneath my hand as if his life had suddenly taken flight.
Now I dared not even whisper; but, holding the knife in my teeth, andwith a strength which was born of desperation, I thrust the Tory villainin head foremost as if he was no more than a log of wood, pushing on hislegs until he was entirely within the tunnel and I despairing of beingable to force him further because he was as limp as any rag, whensuddenly it was as if the scoundrel shot forward. You may be certain Ifollowed as quickly as possible, fearing lest he, on gaining the floorof the cellar, should set up an outcry which would alarm ourdouble-faced host.
When I had succeeded in making my way through the tunnel an odd picturepresented itself, and one which will ever remain vivid in my memory.
The lantern was burning sufficiently bright to illumine the room. I sawHiram holding Seth Jepson by both shoulders as he stared into his facein wonder and perplexity, while Archie and Harvey, each with their handson their knees, stooped that they might look up at what must have seemeda ghastly visitor, for probably the idea of that Tory cur coming intotheir hiding-place was the last thought that would have entered theirminds.
At the same instant I realized how it was that Seth had so suddenly shotforward when I was striving to push him through the tunnel. Hiram,hearing the slight noise, and thinking I was stuck fast in the narrowpassage, seized him by the shoulders, dragging him through and out pastthe screen of casks until smitten with fear and amazement.
It may well be fancied that I did not stand still many seconds to takein the scene. It was pictured upon my mind like a flash of light, andthen I pressed my knife against Seth's breast, whispering in his ear:
"Remember, we will kill you like the cur you are, if you so much aswhisper!"
"Are you so tired of life that for the sake of revenge you bring thisfellow here?" Hiram asked softly; but with a world of anger in his tone,and I, realizing that there must be no more conversation than wasabsolutely necessary, told him in the fewest possible words why I hadbeen so rash, adding feverishly:
"I could not stop to let down the turf over the tunnel, and it must belooked after."
Hiram went noiselessly behind the screen of casks, while I stooddirectly in front of Seth with my knife ready for use if he shouldattempt to speak; but such precaution was unnecessary. The scoundrel wasso thoroughly frightened as to be incapable of either speech or action,and when Hiram had come back into the room he sank upon the floor ofearth an inert mass.
Can you fancy our mental condition as we four stood looking mutely intoeach other's faces, with Seth Jepson sprawled out between us? It isdifficult for me, even at this time, to understand all the fearsomenessof that moment.
Master Lord might at any moment come down to make sure those whom hebelieved he was deceiving yet retained confidence in him, and once hedid so there would be a desperate struggle, in which we must take ahuman life, or perchance lose our own.
For the first time since I had known him, did I see Hiram Griffin indoubt. He stood there gazing alternately at each of us, and I could wellunderstand that he was striving fiercely to see some way out of thistangle which seemed positive must bring us to the prison, or worse, andmeanwhile Seth lay there among us showing no other sign of life than asuccession of short, quick sobs.
How long we remained there in painful doubt and perplexity I will notundertake to say; but I do know that my heart was beating like a triphammer, and I strained my ears to hear those sounds which would betokena visit from Master Lord.
The suspense was finally ended by Hiram who, without giving anyintimation of his purpose, began tearing his shirt into strips, andhaving thus formed what would serve in place of rope, he set aboutbinding Seth's hands and feet so deftly that while the lad was trussedup like a chicken ready for the roasting, there was little fear of hissuffering from the tightness of his bonds.
While this was being done Seth made no resistance; but gazed at us withterror in his eyes, and I believe the scoundrel was firmly convinced wehad brought him there to his death.
Then Hiram, kneeling by the Tory's side, whispered softly in his ear, Ibending over to catch the words:
"Our own lives depend upon keeping you silent, therefore can it beunderstood that we would kill you rather than suffer death ourselves.Wit
hin a short time there will come into this room a man who is devotedto the Cause, so he says; but who must not know that you are here. Iquestion much whether we can depend upon your solemn promise; but yetrather than put you to the torture of being gagged during four andtwenty hours, I am inclined to take the chances, promising faithfullythat at the first outcry from you, and whatsoever may be the danger tomyself, I will take your life."
"You may believe me, and I promise to do whatsoever you say," Sethwhispered, the tears of fear rolling down his cheeks.
Then Hiram lifted him in his arms as if he had been no more than a baby,and carrying him behind the screen of casks, laid the scoundrel down inthe tunnel, where, I fancied, because of the time Griffin remainedabsent, the threat was repeated.
After returning he motioned us lads to the far corner of the cellar, andthere, crouching with our heads close together, we began discussing thesituation, which was now become doubly dangerous because of theprisoner.
As a beginning, and in order that Archie and Harvey might understand thebetter why I had brought the Tory with me, Hiram insisted upon mytelling once more the story of what had happened since I crept outthrough the tunnel, and this I did, speaking cautiously, as you can wellfancy, for if peradventure Master Lord had heard the hum of ourconversation he would have made it his business to learn what we weretalking about.
"I'm free to admit that you could not have done otherwise, lad, and yetit has put us in a mighty small box."
And Archie asked in a mournful tone:
"Is there no other way left open than for us to turn our backs uponSilas, setting off this very moment in the hope of being able to gainCambridge?"
"We can wait here another four and twenty hours, mayhap, although thechances are much against it," Hiram replied grimly.
"But if Job Lord should learn that he is here--" Harvey began, andGriffin interrupted him by saying sharply:
"If he does, it is a case of our taking another prisoner, unless it sohappens that the man fights desperately, forcing us to end the struggleby the shedding of blood."
"If he finds Seth in the passage--"
"Aye, if he simply finds the tunnel are we done for, unless it bepossible to overcome him. We can count that that young Tory cur is sofrightened he will not venture to make any outcry during the next fiveor six hours; but after that I am not so certain. Once his limbs becomecramped, and he is suffering pain, there's no knowing what the cowardmight be brought to do. This much is true, however: when Job Lord visitsus each one must be on the alert, ready to spring upon him in case hissuspicions are aroused. At the first word or movement of his, betokeningthe belief that we are keeping something from him, an attack must bemade. Don't wait each for the other; but let the first who sees aught ofdanger jump upon the double-faced villain, and the rest will bear ahand."
And this was the only plan we were able to form, although I dare ventureto say the four of us remained crouching in the corner discussing thesituation from every point of view, a full hour.
It had simply come to this, that we were to make another prisoner,perhaps, thus adding to the danger that already surrounded us, and afterthat had been done the chances for saving our own necks were no better.
It seemed to me as if I lived a whole life-time during the remainder ofthat night, hoping Job Lord would come to put an end to the suspense,and at the same time fearing he might do so.
Then, when the trap-door was finally opened I leaped up in surprise, asif there had never been a thought in my mind that he would come, and,being on my feet, must perforce do something to explain the suddenmovement, as well as hide the fear which I realized was written on myface.
After we had finished whispering in the corner Hiram proposed that welay down on the bed, taking the dummy apart now it was of no furtheruse, and there we were stretched out at full length when the raising ofthe trap-door brought me to a standing posture.
Luckily I had wit enough to continue on toward the fire-place as if benton doing something in the way of cooking, and had begun to rattle thepans before Master Lord descended the ladder. Not until then did it cometo my mind that in the event of any trouble arising from this visit, Iwas in a good position to deal out to Seth Jepson that which hedeserved.
"Getting hungry, eh?" Master Lord asked in an oily tone as he seatedhimself on one of the stools by the table, and Hiram stretched himselflazily as he replied:
"It must be late in the morning, and we are inclined for a bit to eat,although we haven't earned it."
"That's right, make yourselves as comfortable as possible, and don'tworry about earning your food, because it is as free as the wind thatblows. You'll earn all you get here, and much more, when the time forreal work comes."
"Is that like to be soon?" Archie asked.
"As matters are moving, I believe you will find enough to keep you busyafter getting back to Cambridge."
"I would we might start this very day!" Hiram exclaimed in so earnest atone that I knew full well the words had come from his heart, withoutany thought of speaking for the sake of keeping up the pretense offriendship with Job Lord.
"So do I, lad, for your sake, because it must be dull work here; butremember that such a task as you have set yourselves is not to beperformed in a minute, and you can well afford to wait many a long dayif finally you are successful."
"What o'clock is it?" Hiram asked.
"Seven in the morning, and a dull day with a misty rain falling."
"Just the kind of weather for a visit to the Bridewell, if so be matterswere right there," Hiram said quickly.
"Even though it were the worst tempest that ever raged, you could donothing there while so many Britishers are on guard," Master Lord criedin a decisive tone, as if to put an end to any such conversation; butHiram was not disposed to let the matter drop.
"It was in your mind that some of the lobster backs might be drawn offwhile General Gage is pushing his outposts on the Neck. How can you saythat such may not have been done this very morning?"
"I shan't need many hours in which to settle that question, for it isin my mind to go there now, hoping I may be so fortunate as to getspeech with your comrade."
At this moment I was cutting up the leg of lamb, putting the slices intoa frying-pan as if intending to warm them, and Master Lord eyed mecuriously, most like thinking I was an awkward lad at such work. Hissteady gaze annoyed me because I feared each instant he might discoverthat the position of the casks had been changed, and in my nervousness Iwent toward the table in order to place there the frying-pan, intendingto give over my attempt at playing the cook.
While doing so, naturally my gaze was fixed upon the face of this manwhom we knew to be an enemy while he professed to be a friend, and I sawan expression of surprise suddenly come over it as his eyes were fixedupon the screen to the tunnel.
"Been playing house-wife by setting things to rights?" he asked in anodd tone, as he rose to his feet and started with an assumption ofcarelessness toward the casks.
My heart leaped into my mouth fit to choke me. The moment had come wheneverything which we had done would be discovered, for he could not failto see Seth if he stepped behind the screen, or of knowing what we haddone when he looked at the contents of the casks.
It was my place, because of what we had agreed, to have leaped upon himon the instant, trusting that the others would follow my example, andyet so stupefied was I, whether through fear, or astonishment becausethe secret could not have been kept longer, that there was no movementon my part until Hiram Griffin, who had been sitting on the edge of thebed, bounded forward like a cat, alighting on the shoulders of ourtreacherous host and bearing him, as a matter of course, to the floor.
Job Lord was possessed of greater strength than one might have fanciedfrom his build, and although all three of us lads sprang on the instantto Hiram's aid, for I recovered from my stupefaction as quickly as I hadfallen into it, he succeeded in turning Griffin completely over, gaininga hold upon his throat in such manner as threaten
ed to put a speedy endto the struggling.
Hiram was not one who would lose his head at such a time, andstraightway the two floundered about, first one on top and then theother, to such an extent that we who were anxiously striving for anopportunity to take part in the fight failed of so doing. MeanwhileHiram's eyes were protruding as had Seth's, until I believed he would bestrangled to death before we could get a hold of the traitor.
Finally, and after what seemed to me a full ten minutes, I contrived toseize Job Lord by the arm, and as I pulled at the limb Archie was ableto get a hold on his throat, thus, as can well be imagined, bringing thefight to an end.
We lads had not done our part any too soon, for by the time Master Lordwas forced to let go his grip, Hiram appeared to be nigh unto death, andindeed such a sorry spectacle did he present that I would have let go myhold of Job Lord in order to give him to drink, but that he criedhoarsely, divining what was in my mind:
"Keep him fast, lad, keep him fast! I'll get my breath in a second," andthen he struggled to his feet.
During all this time we had been fighting in silence, no one venturingto raise his voice; but now when he saw himself helpless and at ourmercy Job Lord let out such a yell as might have been heard a fullquarter-mile away, while from behind the casks Seth set up a whimperingcry, which was caused by fear rather than any desire to raise an alarm.
Even though we were in the cellar with a heavy flooring of planks aboveus, there could be no question but that Job Lord would succeed inalarming some of the neighbors unless his wind was shut off, and I sawArchie dig his fingers into the fellow's throat with a grip that musthave caused intense pain, but yet I am bound to give the traitor creditfor struggling to raise his voice again.
By this time Hiram had so far recovered as to take up the coat which hadbeen used for the head of the dummy, and thrown on the floor when it wasno longer of service, saying as he came forward:
"Let him open his mouth once more and I'll shove a clapper in that willput an end to any such noise."
Until now Job Lord's face, what with the choking and with anger, hadbeen darkened, so to speak; there had been on it an expression ofintense hatred, and a desire to do bodily harm, but when Hiram came upwith that which would serve as a gag, he grew pale, while his lipsquivered as if suddenly and for the first time realizing how completelyhe was in our power.
"I'm no such fool as not to know when I am whipped," and I am willing togive him credit for speaking firmly, even though he must have believedhis very life was trembling in the balance. "There is no need to gag me,because I promise to hold my peace."
"Meaning that you will do so until some one knocks at the outer door,and then we shall hear from you again," Hiram cried hoarsely.
"I'm not ready to say I wouldn't take advantage of any chance to callfor help; but just now I'd give a lot to know how it was you imposedupon our friends to such an extent that they were willing to send youhither?"
I looked at the man in amazement, wondering what he meant, when Hiramcried in a voice thick with anger:
"Do you mean to keep up the pretense that you are serving the Causerather than the king?"
"There are people in plenty, both at Cambridge and in this town, whohave had so much information and assistance from me that they can swearwith all truth that there is none more devoted to the Cause than I."