The Minute Boys of York Town

by James Otis

  CHAPTER VI

  A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE

  While we ate with so much of pleasure I could not but let my thoughts goout to Saul, who was doubtless as hungry as we had been, and gave wordsto my regret that we had not first carried the lad some of the foodwhich we had in such generous abundance; but to my repinings of thiskind little Frenchie put a stop by saying:

  "I have no desire that your cousin shall be in distress because ofhunger, and yet it is in my mind that he should have somewhat more ofpunishment because of having given way to ill temper and put us in sucha plight, than simply standing guard over Horry Sims. He will be themore careful in the future, if he suffers considerably because of whathas been done."

  I was far from desiring that Saul should be punished. The mischief hadbeen wrought, and however bitterly he repented it would not rightmatters. I believed for the time that Pierre was overly harsh, and wouldhave insisted on going straight to the lad with food, but that Irealized how dangerous it might be if we visited the shed in the rear ofMaster Bemis's shop more often than was absolutely necessary.

  Again I consoled myself with the belief that most like Saul had partakenof a hearty breakfast that morning before leaving the plantation,whereas we lads had satisfied our hunger with cold food, and thusarguing with myself desiring to be convinced, I came to the conclusionthat since it was not possible to mend matters save at the expense ofmuch risk, it was well I should get such enjoyment as was possible outof the present moment.

  Not until we had finished the meal did Uncle 'Rasmus have anything ofimportance to say, and then he surprised me beyond the power ofexpression, by proving that he was not counting on being a merefigure-head in this wild plan to regain possession of Saul's mare andSilver Heels.

  "I'se done bin tol', chillun, dat dere's six or seben big French shipslayin' in Lynn Haven bay, whar dey've come to stop de Britishers fromrunnin' away 'fore Gin'ral Washington gets a chance to trounce 'em rightsmart."

  "You've been told that, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I cried in amazement. "Have youbeen toddling around this town after pretending that you were socrippled with aches and pains that you couldn't move out of your chair?"

  "Sure I hasn', honey, sure I hasn'. Yer Uncle 'Rasmus ain' no sich foolas dat; but de still trout wha' lays under de shadder ob de rock catchesa good many more flies what drif down de stream, dan does de fish whatam leapin' an' plungin' to beat de band. Say, wha' you tink when I donetole you Gin'ral Lafayette wid all his army is layin' at Williamsburgdes waitin' fo' a chance to jump down on de back ob Gin'ral Cornwallis?"

  Pierre and I looked at each other questioningly, as if asking whetherthe old negro had suddenly taken leave of his senses, for it seemedimpossible he could have gathered information which was of the greatestimportance to us, while we who had been moving around through theencampment had failed to hear anything of the kind.

  "Have you been dreaming, Uncle 'Rasmus?" little Frenchie asked with asmile. "Surely you couldn't have picked up all that news while beingdenned in here."

  "I did fo' a fac', honey, an' s'posen yer Uncle 'Rasmus kin tell you datGin'ral Washington is a hustlin' fo' to get all his sogers down dis yereway so's to make de Britishers don' gib him de slip? I'se 'lowin',chillun, dat now's de time when de king's men hab done got dereselves ina mighty small box."

  "If you didn't dream it, how did you come to learn all these things?" Iasked impatiently, and the old negro replied as he pattered to and froin front of the fire, adding to the already plentiful supply ofprovisions before us:

  "Don' you 'member Marse Peyton's ole Joe, honey? Course you do, kaseyou've seen him on de plantation more times dan I'se got hairs on disyere gray head. Well, ole Joe is right in dis yere town, waddlin' backan' forth, makin' out as ef he was waitin' on some ob de Britishossifers. Marse Peyton done sent him down here so's he could keep hisears open, an' he's come dis berry day from Williamsburg, where hesneaked off so's to tell Gin'ral Lafayette wha' he done foun' out."

  Again Pierre and I looked at each other in amazement, and I must alsoadd with no little of disappointment. We had been flattering ourselvesthat it might be possible for us to play the spy upon the Britishers,and thereby earn much of credit for our small company of Minute Boys,never for the moment dreaming that there might be others in the villagewho were playing the same part; but surely not allowing that an oldnegro, a slave, might be employed in the same work.

  "It begins to look as if we were not needed very much in this town ofYork," Pierre said after a brief time of silence, and I could wellunderstand by the tone of his voice how disappointed he was because thussuddenly had we been shown that the American army could well dispensewith our services, since others were engaged in the work we would havetaken up.

  "I'm not so certain, Pierre, but that your skill at reading the meaningof military moments will yet prove of great value," I exclaimed as ahappy thought came into my mind. "It isn't possible old Joe would beable to tell what the British are doing here, with so much exactness asyou who seem to be familiar with such work. There's no good reason whywe shouldn't continue to pick up all the information possible, and if wefind that we have gained more than has Colonel Peyton's negro, then oneof us shall make his way to Williamsburg, after we have Horry Simsstowed snugly away in the loft."

  It appeared, as we understood from Uncle 'Rasmus's story, when he toldit later, that old Joe had by accident seen him sitting at the cabinwindow, and, quite naturally, come in, when explanations followed.

  As both Pierre and I came to realize, instead of grieving over the factthat this slave of Colonel Peyton's was playing the spy in the town ofYork, we should have rejoiced, for here was at least one person whomight be able to aid us in a time of extremity.

  Surely, situated as we lads then were, with a prisoner on our hands,even the assistance of an old slave who was free to move about withinthe encampment as he pleased, might be of great value.

  After we had turned the matter over and over in our minds, discussingwhat seemed much like a new phase of the situation, Uncle 'Rasmusadvised that we did not venture out again until the time had come whenwe could relieve Saul from his duties as jailor by bringing Horry Simsto the cabin.

  The old negro argued, and with much of wisdom it seemed to me, thathaving been through the encampment more than once, seemingly bent oncuriosity, there was no good reason why we should do so again. Hecontended that it would not be wise to show ourselves too often duringone day, and urged that we remain concealed until the time arrived whenwe were to perform our task of the night.

  Following his advice we went into the loft, and, spreading down ablanket on the puncheon floor, stretched ourselves out on the hard bedwith the hope of gaining sleep. We could have disposed ourselves morecomfortably below; but there was a possibility that some of thesoldiers, curious to know who was dwelling in this ramshackle of abuilding, might enter to gratify their curiosity, and it would not bewell if they saw us living there with the old negro; at least, there wasa chance harm might come of it, and we were not inclined to take anysuch risk simply in order to enjoy a trifle more of comfort.

  Hard though our bed was, both us lads fell asleep shortly after we werein a position to invite slumber, and, without heed to the many dangerswhich surrounded us, slept soundly and peacefully until being awakenedby Uncle 'Rasmus who, unable to ascend by the rude ladder, was callingus by name softly from below.

  It was dark when I opened my eyes, aroused by the old negro's voice, sodark that I could not even distinguish the outlines of my comrade, and Iunderstood that now was come the time for the venture of bringing HorrySims to the cabin.

  Pierre was already making his way toward the scuttle when I had come toa full realization of the situation, and I followed him as nearly insilence as was possible, until we had descended to where Uncle 'Rasmusstood awaiting us at the foot of the rude ladder.

  "It's pas' midnight, chillun, an' I'se 'lowin' dat de time hab come foryou to snake dat young Tory up here."

  "Is everything quiet, Uncle '
Rasmus?" Pierre asked, and the old negroreplied:

  "I ain' heard a soun' dis las' hour, 'cept when dem sogers what am onguard raise up dere hootin' to let folks know dey're awake. It's dark asde lan' ob Egypt eber was, an' I'se kind'er reckonin' you kin go down toMarse Bemis's shop widout makin' trubble for yoursefs. 'Member, chillun,ef dese yere red-coats do sneak up on yer, an' fin' out what you'seerbout, take to your laigs. Don' stop to fight, kase it won't be anyuse. Des say to yoursefs dat de Hamilton plantation am a heap betterplace dan dis yere town ob York, an' you get dere, honey, you get dere!"

  "What about yourself, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I asked with deep concern."Suppose the Britishers learn of our doings and we run away, you wouldbe in danger, for surely Horry Sims never'd let the chance slip him tomix you up in the row."

  "Don' you gib any heed to your Uncle 'Rasmus, honey. Ef trubble comesyou des look arter yoursefs, an' leabe de ole nigger to crawl out ob dehole de bes' way he kin. Don' stop to talk nor to fight, ef deBritishers pounce on yer; but get back to de plantation. Git dere,honey, git dere!"

  Uncle 'Rasmus's advice, instead of strengthening my courage, wasweakening it. In the darkness, and now when we were about to make thisventure which I knew to be in the highest degree dangerous, I wasgrowing weak-kneed. The attempt to bring Horry Sims across the entirelength of the village, where were Britishers on every hand, seemed anentirely different matter from what it had been when the sun wasshining, and, fearing lest I might show the white feather if we stoodthere many moments, I went out hurriedly into the night, giving littleheed as to whether Pierre followed until I felt the soft pressure of hishand upon my arm.

  "There is no need of great haste, Fitz," he whispered, and I replied ina tremulous voice:

  "Indeed there is, Pierre, else am I like to grow so cowardly as to turntail and make for the Hamilton plantation, regardless of anything savemy own feelings."

  "You will never do anything of the kind, Fitzroy Hamilton, and that youknow as well as I," the little lad whispered with emphasis. "I am notafraid you will turn coward, for it is not cowardly to be afraid whenone makes such a venture as this, providing he keeps his faceresolutely toward the goal."

  I might fill up an hundred pages with an account of my fears andforebodings as Pierre and I went cautiously through the darkness fromold Mary's cabin, to Bemis's shop, and yet not have told anything whichwould interest a stranger, therefore it is that I shall content myselfby simply saying that we crossed the village without having beenmolested, almost without having heard a sound from the enemy.

  As a matter of course it was necessary we pass at this point or thatnear by where soldiers were in camp, or on duty; but the darkness was sointense that by making a slight detour we could avoid being seen, and,judging from what few noises we heard, the encampment was in a state ofalmost complete repose.

  Arriving at the shed door we stood motionless and silent while one mighthave counted twenty, our ears pricked up to catch the lightest soundwhich would tell of the approach of an enemy, after which, hearingnothing, we set about making our way into the rude building and thenceacross the rubbish to where were the two casks which formed Horry Sims'sprison.

  This last was anything rather than a simple matter, if we would movenoiselessly, for in the darkness it was impossible to make out whatobstruction lay in our way, and we were forced to pass our hands overevery inch of the rubbish before daring to advance a single pace.

  Not until we were come to the opening between the casks was a wordspoken, and then came an exclamation from Saul:

  "Thank God you are come! I was beginning to believe you had been madeprisoners, and I would be left to get out of here unaided, which meantbeyond a peradventure that I would speedily find myself in the clutchesof the Britishers."

  "Has Horry attempted to raise any row?" I whispered.

  "Beyond speaking now and then to make threats as to what will surelycome to us in the future, he has behaved himself," and Saul stood erect,stretching his limbs to throw off the cramp which had come upon him. "Ihave given him to understand thoroughly well how necessary it is we holdhim prisoner, and to what lengths we are ready to go, therefore Ibelieve he realizes that it would be taking his life in his hands if hemade any attempt at giving us the slip."

  Then Saul would have asked concerning what we had been doing during theday, and how we counted on making our way to the cabin, but I silencedhim, promising that he should hear of all our movements when it shouldbe possible for us to hold converse without danger of betrayingourselves.

  Once more little Frenchie took upon himself the command of the party byliterally dragging Horry out from the casks, and saying to me when thelad was on his feet beside us:

  "Help me thrust this in his mouth, for it is not safe to take himthrough the streets without being gagged."

  To my surprise I found that this little French lad had, withoutacquainting me with his purpose, made ready for the venture, thus againproving his right to act as our captain.

  He had at some time while in old Mary's cabin made ready a gag of woodcovered with strips torn from a blanket, and this, much against HorrySims's will, we thrust into the fellow's mouth, tying it securely; butpromising that if he followed at his best pace and without making anattempt to get away, he should soon be relieved from what must have beenin the highest degree painful.

  Then we began again to make our way over the rubbish, this time withgreater noise than when Pierre and I had entered, because we could notdirect the young Tory's footsteps as cautiously as our own, and morethan once before we had come to the door did we dislodge a bit of timberor a fragment of wood, causing such a disturbance as must have beenheard by any who might have been within an hundred paces of the shed.

  At each time such a thing occurred we halted, silent and motionless,striving to learn whether any of the enemy had been aroused by thenoise, and, hearing nothing that betokened danger, kept on until anothermis-step forced us to a halt once more. Thus we continued, traversing adistance of no more than fifteen or eighteen feet, but which seemed tome a full mile, until we were come to the door and had crept out intothe darkness, when I breathed a fervent prayer of thanksgiving, forsurely it seemed as if we had already overcome the greater portion ofthe difficulties that lay in our way.

  Saul and Pierre were leading the Tory cur, one on either side of him,and I set off in advance as if believing I was the only lad of the threewho could pilot us in safety.

  "WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST WARNING I FOUND MYSELF IN THECLUTCHES OF A MAN."]

  Because we had succeeded in getting out of the shed without makingsufficient of noise to bring the guard down upon us, did I fancy we weremuch the same as free to do as we pleased, and set off at a reasonablyrapid pace around the corner of the shop, when suddenly and without theslightest warning I found myself in the clutches of a man, my throatheld so tightly in his grasp that I could not give the faintest alarm tomy comrades.

  That a British sentinel who had dogged our footsteps held me prisoner, Ihad no doubt, and my heart sank like lead in my breast, for to my mindnow was come the end of all things for me in this world. Because ofhaving been taken while prowling around the village in the night, therecould be no question but that I would be considered and punished as aspy.

  I strove in vain to give some warning to my comrades so they might maketheir escape even though I was doomed; but he who held me seeminglyunderstood that which was in my mind, for he forced me onward lestPierre and Saul should over-run us, and thus for mayhap a distance of anhundred yards we advanced, I, a prisoner, forced to lead my comradesinto what I felt certain was a shameful death.

  Because the night was so black they could not see that there were twopersons in advance of them instead of one, therefore did they followblindly, and all unconscious of the sickly, deathly terror in my heart,until we were come to the rise of the land on our way toward the PigeonQuarter, where the outlines of him who held me, and my own body, weremarked against the lighter sky.

  Then I heard a muffled exclamati
on from Pierre, whereupon my captorsuddenly wheeled me about until we were facing the two lads and theirprisoner, when he whispered softly, yet sharply:

  "Continue on as you were going, and as you value your lives make nooutcry or delay!"

  Having thus spoken, one can well fancy that I was nigh to beingparalyzed with mingled astonishment and bewilderment, because the tonewas friendly and the words indicated that he would aid us. He releasedhis grasp on my throat, and involuntarily I stretched out my hands, whenthey came in contact with my captor, and by the sense of touch Iunderstood that he wore a uniform.

  "You are a British soldier!" I stammered, terror once more taking firmhold upon me.

  "Ay, that I am for the time being; but now move on if you would continuethat which you have begun, else are you like to fall into the hands ofother soldiers in this encampment who will have less care for yoursafety."

  I wish it might be possible for me to set down in words, so that he whoreads could understand, the frame of mind into which I was plunged bythis remark. When he first seized me I had no doubt but that I had begunmy journey on the road which leads to the gallows, and on learning thathe was a British soldier my fears were not lessened, yet was hisbehavior and his words so unaccountable, taking into consideration whohe appeared to be, that I became numbed, like one who has received ablow which deprives him of a portion of his senses.

  How my comrades were affected I had no means of knowing; but understoodthat they were obeying the commands of this man who had captured us,because they continued on close at my heels, and from the stranger'smovements now and then I knew he was making certain they did notattempt to deviate from the straight course which led to old Mary'scabin.

  Never did a journey seem so long, or a way so strange, as that overwhich I walked like one in a dream in the darkness, surrounded on everyhand by the enemy, and knowing as I did that the king's officers setlittle value on the life of those whom they call rebels.

  As we advanced the situation became yet more strange and terrifying, ifindeed that could be possible, for suddenly I came to understand thatthis stranger who had taken us in custody seemed familiar with thecourse we should pursue, for instead of lagging ever so slightly tolearn in which direction we would go, he led us straight as an arrowmight be driven, toward our destination, and, having come to the cabindoor, pushed it open and himself entered, leaving us to follow or toflee as might be our inclination.

  I am free to confess that when he thus left me at liberty there was butone thought in my mind, and that to seek my own safety in flight,regardless of my comrades, or of the old negro whose life might be indanger if I thus deserted him. I was cowardly enough for an instant tothink only of myself, to look forward only to the possibility of savingmy own skin; but, fortunately, even before I could have turned to fleelike a poltroon, I realized that it was my duty as a lad of Virginia,even though I had seemingly thrown aside the name of Minute Boy, toremain with my comrades whom I had thus counselled into peril.

  Even at that supreme moment, when as I believed death stood facing me,there came into my heart a feeling of shame that I should have eventhought of doing such a dastardly thing as to seek my own safety bydeserting my comrades, and I went into the cabin, following thefootsteps of our captor, hoping that no one, not even that red-coatedsoldier, might suspect what had been in my mind a few seconds before.

  Pierre and Saul must have understood that they could do no less thanenter this place of shelter, for it was the only one open to them in thetown of York, even though we were led by an enemy, and so thrust HorrySims forward on my heels until Uncle 'Rasmus closed the door behind us.

  I stood there enveloped in a darkness so dense that one might, as issaid, almost feel it, wondering what strange turn of affairs had come,and why it was that this British soldier should be so harmless--why heshould have allowed us to come into the cabin when most like he countedon taking us to the nearest guard-house.

  We remained there in silence, and, so far as I was concerned, in mostabject terror, while one might have counted ten, and then the stranger,throwing himself down on the floor at one side of the fireplace in whicha few half-dead coals yet glimmered faintly, as if he was a welcomevisitor, said in a low whisper, yet in a tone which carried distinctlythrough the room:

  "You lads are from the Hamilton plantation?"

  No one made reply. I was yet too much confused to have answered such asimple question, and, as Pierre afterward told me, he refrained fromspeaking because of not understanding whether it would be safe to admitthe truth.

  "You need have no fear in speaking plainly before me," the mancontinued. "I am wearing a British uniform, and mayhap am putting mylife in jeopardy and doing a grievous injury to the Cause by interferingin this matter while you have a prisoner who may be able later to carryto headquarters information of what you have done this night. I beg youto trust me for the time being, and tell me who is this lad that youhave brought from yonder hiding place gagged lest he make an outcry?"

  I was yet too thoroughly bewildered to make an intelligent reply; butfortunately little Frenchie had begun to get his wits together, and mostlike to suspect at least a portion of the truth, for he answeredpromptly, not only giving the young Tory's name, but explaining why wethus held him.

  To my alarm he went so far as to tell the whole story, even though morethan once I clutched him by the arm to prevent his laying bare all oursecrets; but he threw me off with friendly violence, and continued untilthe red-coated man who lay by the fireplace had full knowledge, not onlyof what we had done, but of what we would do.

  Then Pierre was come to an end of his story, and so seemingly eager washe to give all the details to this stranger, who by his costume was anenemy and by the tones of his voice a friend, that he spent no littletime in the telling of it, while I was nearly beside myself with griefand rage because we had thus put ourselves wholly within the man'spower.

  It would have been better, so I said to myself with bitterness, if weheld our peace. In case he charged us with being spies, as I counted heintended to do, let him prove what we were, rather than that we shouldgive him all the evidence, making his way plain if he would hang us, andI cried out to Pierre, my voice trembling with anger:

  "Now that you have doomed us, lad, tell me in what better position youstand than if we had held our peace? Of what advantage can it be to usto proclaim ourselves spies in intent if not in deed, to this soldier ofthe king?"

  Before I could say more, and the hot words of anger were slipping frommy mouth so rapidly that I might have continued casting reproaches uponlittle Frenchie until many moments had passed, the stranger interruptedme by asking calmly:

  "Now that you have brought your prisoner here to this cabin, what areyou counting on doing with him?"

  Again Pierre unbosomed his very heart, and explained that we would carryHorry Sims into the loft, one of us standing guard over him all thetime, while the others went about the work which they had setthemselves.

  "It may be well to continue as if nothing had occurred," the man saidthoughtfully. "I have no doubt but that you are burning to know why Ihave done this thing to-night, and yet explanations may not be madewhile that Tory lad can overhear, although it is true I have alreadysaid and done far too much in his presence. Let him understand that ifan hour ago you counted on holding him close prisoner, now are youdoubly intent on doing so, for he has at least a portion of my secret,and there are others in this town of York besides myself who wouldcompass his death, rather than that he should whisper the lightest wordof what he has heard or seen."

  Now it was I began to get a glimmer of light through my head; my tiredlimbs ceased to tremble, and my heart beat less furiously as I set aboutaiding Pierre force Horry Sims up the rude ladder.

  The Tory must have been quite as terrified as I had been a few secondsbefore, for he obeyed all our whispered commands, striving to find hereand there a foothold on the shaky cross-pieces, and otherwise makingevery effort to ascend rapidly.

 
When we were in the loft and had led our prisoner to where the blanketwas spread over the puncheon planks, little Frenchie took the gag fromhis mouth, saying as he did so:

  "Even though you would have spied upon us, Horry Sims, I am sorry wewere forced to give you the pain of wearing this ornament; but our ownlives are of more concern than your suffering, therefore was it anecessity. Now if so be you are minded to give up all hope of makingyour escape, and do what you may toward remaining hidden from yourred-coated friends who would lend assistance if they knew of yourplight, we promise to treat you fairly, and with more of tenderness thanyou deserve."

  "Are you counting on leaving him to guard himself?" I asked in surprise,believing from Pierre's words that such was his intention, and thelittle lad replied promptly:

  "I cannot say that it will be possible for him to do very much guardingof himself. Certain I am that there is only one way of escape from thisloft, since the holes which serve as windows are too small to admit ofhis crawling through, for I myself tried that experiment this afternoon.If he leaves here it can only be through the scuttle, and with all of uson the floor below, I question whether he would make much headway."

  "But he can raise his voice to give an alarm," I answered, and Pierrereplied softly, turning toward the young Tory so that there might be noquestion of his hearing the words:

  "If he should dare to speak above a whisper, then I promise you, FitzHamilton, that this gag goes into his mouth not to be removed until thehour comes when we no longer fear his tongue."

  It seemed to me reckless to leave the Tory sneak alone in the loft, eventhough we would be on the floor below; but there had been so manyhappenings within the past four and twenty hours which had aroused in meneedless fear, that I was ashamed to give words to what was in my mind,lest Pierre begin to believe I was grown cowardly, and when the littlelad moved toward the scuttle, I caught him by the arm as I whispered inhis ear:

  "What would you do? You have told the man below all you can, and now arewe to follow him meekly, in case it is his intent to drag us off to theguard-house as spies?"

  "I believe, if he gives us the name of spies, it will be a case of thepot calling the kettle black," Pierre said cheerily. "Are you sothick-headed, Fitz Hamilton, that you cannot understand somewhat of thisstranger's purpose? Surely if he was what his uniform gives token, wewould not have been treated so gently when he first came upon us; but,instead, the alarm must have been given, and a squad of Britisherssummoned to take us away. From the instant he failed to call the guard Ibegan to suspect what he might be, therefore followed willingly hisdirections."

  "And I followed in fear and trembling," I replied shamefacedly, "for Ihad no doubt but that he was leading me to the gallows."

  "Then have you suffered needlessly, as do all who fail of taking heed toeverything which goes on around them, judging one incident from itsconnection with another," little Frenchie said with a low, soft laugh,and then, taking my hand in his as if he was the father and I a baby, heled me to the scuttle, going down the ladder in advance cautiously, muchas though believing it would be necessary to aid my faltering steps.