by James Otis
CHAPTER XIV
AN UGLY SITUATION
After Morgan had finished telling us what would be our duty in case hegave up his life while trying to get through the lines, then came adiscussion as to how it would be possible for us to procure food.
With Abel Hunt at liberty, roaming around the village seeking us out andmost like counting to denounce us as rebels, it was in the highestdegree dangerous for any member of our company to venture forth from thecabin lest we come upon that fellow whom I doubted not was bent solelyon doing us a harm.
Why he should have turned his attention to such end I cannot well say,save it might be that he fancied it was the best way to curry favor withthe British officers. Neither Saul nor I had done anything to make ofthe fellow an enemy. It is true we did not associate with him, and Iquestion whether that could have rankled in his breast, because he knewfull well that lads of our standing would not stoop to such a thing.
However it might be, certain it was, as I set it down in my own mind,that after we had met him the night before he would leave no stoneunturned to bring us into trouble, and it would not be a difficultmatter for him to learn from some of the Tory citizens of York who yetremained in the village, which of the buildings were owned by myfather.
Having come to know that this cabin belonged to the Hamilton plantation,there was every reason to believe Hunt would watch it closely, thereforefor any one of us three lads to venture out even though we might bestarving, would be much the same as advertising him of our whereabouts.
Certain it was that the Jerseyman could not aid us in this extremity,for he must remain even more closely hidden than we, lest he beprevented from making the desperate attempt he counted on as soon asnight had come.
"I see no other course than for Pierre Laurens to set his wits at workstriving to find some way out of this trouble," I said after we hadtalked together, as you might say at random, without having arrived atany definite conclusion. "Since we came into this village of York Pierrehas shown himself ready of thought and has pulled us out of more thanone hole. If he cannot devise some means to procure food save at theexpense of bringing Abel Hunt down upon us, then will I say it isuseless to attempt it; but that we must either starve, or take the poorchances of trying to follow Master Morgan through the lines, which wouldbe much the same as death."
"But why should we be so certain this cabin is likely to be watched?"Saul asked in a tone of irritation. "Why may we not say to ourselves ingood truth, that after you and Pierre met Abel Hunt--"
"Who is it calls on Abel Hunt?" a familiar voice from the outside cried,causing the blood to run chill in my veins, and almost at the sameinstant the door was burst open, the flimsy barriers we had set againstit being of no avail as opposed to the strength of him who threw all hisstrength upon it.
We sat there like statues, and I dare say fear was written on everyface, even on that of the Jerseyman's, when Abel Hunt in his bullyingway strode into the center of the room and stood there gazing around atus as if to say we were at his mercy, and would obey his lightest wordbecause we dared not do otherwise.
As for myself, I was literally paralyzed with fear. That man who coulddo us more mischief in this town of York than any other, had found outour hiding place, and what was even worse, had seen in our midst, as iftaking council with us, a British soldier, for Master Morgan stillretained so much of his uniform that it might be readilydistinguishable.
My limbs trembled as if I was suffering from an attack of the palsy, andin my great terror I saw no way to counteract this last stroke ofmisfortune. I could bring to mind no act of ours which would tend torelieve us from the danger that menaced, and I might almost fancy thatat his heels he had brought a squad of red-coated soldiers to carry usoff to prison, from which we would emerge only to stand under thegallows.
Involuntarily I glanced toward Pierre, for the little French lad hadever shown himself of such ready wit that in time of great danger all myhopes were centered in him, and again did I have cause for fear. Thelad, keeping his eyes fixed upon Abel Hunt that he might watch his everymovement as a cat watches the movements of a mouse with which she isplaying, was slowly yet surely moving around the room toward the door,and in my folly I said to myself that we were in such desperate straitsthat Pierre Laurens was not only willing, but striving, to give us theslip.
Although knowing him so well, I imagined that he, like me, was well nighovercome with terror, and intent only on saving his own skin withoutgiving heed to whatsoever might come upon his companions.
During a single instant my eyes fell upon the Jerseyman, and I saw whatI fancied was already pictured plainly on my own face, until he, likeme, had a glimpse of Pierre. Then it was as if a wave of satisfactionand approbation passed over his features, whereupon he turned to AbelHunt, who still stood in the center of the room grinning in triumph ateach of us in turn, and began to engage him in conversation.
It seemed to me that the Jerseyman uttered the words of a foolishperson, when he said to the grinning fellow who was burning to humiliateand bring us to our death:
"There is no good reason, Hunt, for such I gather to be your name, whyyou should not sit down. Let us discuss the situation. I admit that youhave caught us foul; but there is no need to hasten affairs, and we mayas well speak of the matter among ourselves while there is yet time, forI am of the belief that it may be mended."
"You'll mend nothing with me, you renegade Britisher!" Abel Huntsnarled. "I looked to find a nest of rebels here; but didn't count theywould be harboring a traitor such as you give token of being."
"Why should you call me a traitor?" the Jerseyman asked calmly and muchto my astonishment, yet even at that moment when I was both terrifiedand perplexed I noted that he gave more heed to Pierre Laurens, than tothe man with whom he was talking.
"Why should I not give you the name of traitor?" Abel growled. "Youstill wear part of the king's uniform, and it must be you have turnedagainst him, else why do I find you consorting with rebels?"
"It may be I am striving to lead them from the error of their ways,"Master Morgan said with a smile, and then it was I saw Uncle 'Rasmuspulling his chair forward, at the same time shaking his fist at HorrySims in token that he should remain in the corner.
"Don't think to blind my eyes!" Hunt screamed. "Don't fancy that softwords will butter any parsnips with me! I've got you all under my thumbnow, and count on keeping you there!"
"All of which you know to be a lie," the Jerseyman said, still speakingquietly but fixing the fellow with his eye as if to hold closely hisattention.
As a matter of course these words were amply sufficient to arouse Huntto the highest pitch of anger, and on the instant he seemed to give noheed to any save the one who had insulted him.
"You shall live to repent those words, and die regretting them," hesnarled.
"Why don't you cause me now, single-handed, to regret them?" Morganasked threateningly, rising to his feet as he spoke as if expecting anattack, and Abel Hunt literally shrieked in his anger:
"Because there is no need why I should spend my strength on one who laysso near the gallows as do you. I count on turning you over to thoseofficers of the king who will deal out such justice as you have earned,instead of spending my time flogging a traitor who deserves more thehalter."
Now it was, when it seemed to me as if Master Morgan was trying toprovoke a rough-and-tumble fight, that I began, thick-head though I was,to have an inkling that some plan, which had been concerted without theaid of words, was on foot, for as soon as Abel gave way to anger old'Rasmus moved his chair yet further forward until it stood as abarricade in front of the door, while Pierre held in his hands by oneleg a stool, handling it as if it were a weapon.
"If you have aught against me, and are not a coward, you will try it outnow and here, instead of hiding yourself behind the skirts of the king'ssoldiers!" the Jerseyman cried as if he no longer held control over histemper, and at the same time he advanced a step toward Hunt as if tograpple with him.
The cowardly fellow fell back before Morgan; but dared not take his eyesfrom the Jerseyman because of fearing that a blow might be delivered.Back, back, slowly, pace by pace he retreated, Morgan advancing withclenched fist, and then against Uncle 'Rasmus's chair the fellow came atfull force, half toppling over.
Then it was that I understood all the scheme; understood why Uncle'Rasmus had moved where he did, and why the Jerseyman strove to provokeHunt to anger, for Pierre raised the stool which he had been swinging toand fro in his hands, and brought it down upon the scoundrel's head withsuch force that he was nigh knocked to the floor.
If little Frenchie had been able to get in a direct blow, I have nodoubt it would have settled matters on the instant, for I could see evenin the gloom that the lad was putting all his strength to the effort,and counted on taking human life if by so doing he could the betterrelieve us from the difficulty into which we had fallen.
As it was, unfortunately, Pierre's arm glanced across the back of Uncle'Rasmus's chair, and the blow was robbed of half its force. It wassufficient, however, to partially daze Abel Hunt, and before he couldrecover either his senses or his footing Morgan was upon him like awild-cat, clutching both hands around the fellow's throat to prevent anyoutcry, while the two came down upon the puncheon planks with a thudthat shook the building.
On the instant, and without giving any heed to the struggling men, Uncle'Rasmus sprang with the agility of a boy to the corner where Horry Simsstood as if ready to leap forward to Abel Hunt's aid, and there the oldnegro, with his cane upraised, held the Tory lad where he neither daredlift a hand or open his mouth.
At the same instant little Frenchie sprang toward the door, replacingand mending so far as possible the barriers which had been torn away,and otherwise doing what he might to put it in such shape that it wouldresist, at least for a short time, the efforts of any who might try toenter.
Meanwhile Saul and I stood as if dazed, looking down upon the floorwhere Master Morgan and Abel Hunt were struggling most desperately,rolling here and there with such swiftness of movement that had we beenarmed with the best of weapons it would have been impossible for us tohave struck a blow in defence of the Jerseyman, save at great risk ofhitting him instead of our enemy.
I did succeed, after mayhap a full minute had passed, in gathering mywits sufficiently to seize upon a stick of firewood which was lying atone side of the fireplace, and then I went toward the combatants,watching the opportunity to strike a blow in Master Morgan's defence. Sogreat was the rage within my heart, that I sincerely hoped I might bringthe oaken stick down upon Abel Hunt's head with such force as to killhim on the instant.
At almost the precise moment when the Jerseyman leaped upon Abel Hunt,the British cannon were discharged, and from then on until long afterthe struggle had come to an end, was the firing kept up on both sideswith such violence and volume of sound that however much of adisturbance we might have made in the cabin, or however near theBritishers had approached to the building, no token of our movementscould have been heard. Otherwise certain it is to me that we would havebrought the enemy down upon us, for the tumult inside old Mary's cabinwas indeed great.
How long the struggle between the two men continued I had no means ofknowing. My blood was, as one would say, so boiling in my veins that Isaw nothing but red before me, and was conscious of but the one desireto kill the scoundrel who without reason had sought to hunt us down.
Therefore it was I could not have told whether I sprang here and therein the effort to strike a deadly blow, five minutes or half an hour,and something very like disappointment came over me when Master Morganconcluded the fight without aid from any of us.
His grip upon Abel Hunt's throat was so firm that the fellow's eyes wereliterally starting from their sockets when he had been choked intoinsensibility, and his tongue hung out of his mouth seemingly a finger'slength.
The Jerseyman although victor, had not come out of the fight unharmed.He was bleeding from a cut on the face. His shirt had been torn from hisbody until he was near naked, and so severe had been his exertions thatwhen Hunt finally sank back upon the puncheons like one dead MasterMorgan could only with difficulty move to his knees, panting, and withthe perspiration running down his face in tiny streams.
How long Saul and I stood gaping open-mouthed at the apparently dead manand nearly exhausted spy I dare not venture to say. Neither of usthought we had any part to play now that the battle was at an end; butnot so with Pierre Laurens. He, dear lad, ever on watch and ever readyto take advantage of the first opportunity, understood that Abel Hunthad only been choked into unconsciousness, and that it was necessary weset about so fettering him that the battle could not be continued whenhis senses returned.
Pierre seized upon the blanket which had fallen from Uncle 'Rasmus'sknees when he set about making his way toward the door to offer his bodyas a living barricade, and tore it into strips until he had an apologyfor a rope sufficient to have tied two men, and began dextrously bindingHunt's feet and arms.
His action caused me to bestir myself, and I began to fashion a gag forthe fellow's mouth, knowing full well that we could not frighten himinto silence as we had frightened Horry Sims.
The Jerseyman recovered from his exertions before little Frenchie and Ihad finished our task, and then he took from my hand the stout billet ofwood which I was wrapping with strips torn from the blanket, as he said:
"I am not minded to have the blood of this fellow on my head, yetperhaps it would be better for all concerned if we shut off his wind forso long a time that it could never be recovered again, for he is like tobe a millstone around your neck, lad, and may yet succeed in working hispurpose. Killing one in cold blood, even though it be for the Cause, ismore than I am willing to undertake."
"But he must be gagged," I cried, thinking that Master Morgan wasgrowing soft-hearted and might waste too much time in mourning over hisvictim.
"Let not your heart be troubled as to that, lad," the Jerseyman saidgrimly. "To thrust this gag into the fellow's mouth just now would beindeed the same as cutting his throat. We must wait until he is wellnigh conscious of his surroundings, and then bind it in place sosecurely that he cannot work loose from it."
Then it was, while Morgan knelt by Abel Hunt's side awaiting the propermoment to deprive him of all power of speech, that I realized what wehad done. I speedily understood that this victory of ours was the sameas a disaster, for how could we, unable to procure food or water save atgreat risk, care for two prisoners, and at the same time the thoughtcame into my mind like a red light of warning, that the companionship ofAbel Hunt would embolden Horry Sims, and mayhap make of him somethingmore than the coward he had thus far shown himself.
Even though we should be able to feed these prisoners, yet must we holdthem here in the midst of the British camp where the least accidentwould bring the soldiers in upon us, and it did not at that moment seemto me possible we could keep the two fellows in the loft any length oftime without in some way betraying the secret.
"What about the Tory lad?" Master Morgan asked while he yet awaited theproper time for thrusting the gag into Hunt's mouth.
"We are forced to hold him, as a matter of course. The question in mymind as you spoke was how we might care for two prisoners, while weourselves are in much the same situation, save than we are at liberty tomove about inside this cabin?"
"There are many things, lad, which seem impossible while they are yet inthe future; but when the moment for action comes the way is made plain,and we succeed where failure appeared certain."
Not understanding fully the meaning of what the Jerseyman said, I didnot extract much of comfort from his words; but stood looking down uponAbel Hunt who was now beginning to breathe heavily like one who snoresin his sleep, until Pierre aroused me by saying:
"We shall be forced to put both prisoners into the loft, as a matter ofcourse, and may as well get Horry Sims there now, for stowing Abel Huntaway will be considerable of a task."
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p; Despite the roar of great guns from the outside the Tory lad heard whatlittle Frenchie said, and straightway set about begging us not to put agag in his mouth, vowing by this and by that which he held most sacred,that he would make no outcry.
At first it seemed to me absolutely necessary for our own safety that wedeprive him of the power to raise an alarm; but Pierre, who had alreadythought over all the possibilities of the situation, said:
"We will put Abel Hunt one side of the scuttle, and Horry Sims theother. Whoever is on guard must sit by the side of the Tory lad, and ifso be he gives any token of crying out, then shall the gag go in andremain there."
"Do you count on making the same bargain with Abel Hunt?" I askedscornfully, for my blood was yet so heated that I could have no feelingof tenderness or of mercy toward those two who had forced us toencounter such peril.
"He must take his dose," little Frenchie said from between his clenchedteeth, and I was really pleased, even while standing there facing death,to see that the French lad's anger could be aroused.
Without loss of time we drove Horry Sims up the ladder, and when he wasin the loft Pierre and I fettered him securely with strips of blanket,threatening him with the gag if he moved a hand's breadth in eitherdirection.
Then we went to the floor below, ready to do our share in hoisting intohis attic-prison the scoundrel who would have denounced us as spies.
The Jerseyman had already put the gag in Hunt's mouth, and when we camedown he was telling the fellow what he might expect if any resistancewas offered.
"Here is a pistol with mayhap a dozen charges of powder and ball,"Master Morgan said as he drew from his ragged trousers a weapon and asmall package which I knew contained ammunition. "Whichever of you ladsstands guard over the prisoner, and close watch must be kept night andday if you would preserve your lives, will have by him every moment thispistol ready loaded and primed. At the first sign of an attempt toescape, or to give an alarm, which you see Abel Hunt display, put theweapon to his head and blow his brains out regardless of everything,even though there might be a squad of soldiers standing beneath thescuttle, for his life must be as of no value if you would hope to comeout from this British nest with whole skins."
Then looking at Hunt, who perforce lay there motionless and silent, theJerseyman repeated to him very much the same as he had said to us,assuring the fellow over and over again that if the Britishers shouldcome to his aid, or if it was discovered either through his exertions orby accident that he lay there a prisoner, we lads were bound to kill himbecause of what he could tell to our disadvantage.
I have seen a wild-cat held helpless in a trap, and there was much ofhis look about Abel Hunt's face as he glared at Pierre and me, unable tostir even a finger, while Master Morgan was threatening.
It seemed as though the fellow must have realized that we would have nocompunction about taking his life in cold blood if so be he stoodbetween us and liberty, yet was he like the wild-cat, ready and willingto struggle to the very last even though the odds were so heavy againsthim, and when we strove to carry him into the loft he did his best toprevent it, although both hands and feet were bound securely.
It was not until we had made a rope of the second blanket, thusdepriving ourselves of even the apology for a bed, and tied it aroundhis body, hoisting him as we would a bale of cotton, that it waspossible to get the fellow through the scuttle.
With two of us pulling from above and the others shoving him up frombelow, we finally succeeded in landing him on the puncheon planks,rolling the fellow over until he was at such a distance from the openingin the floor that he could not well spy upon those who were below.
All the while, fortunately for us, the cannonading continued, thereforewe were at liberty to work as we would regardless of making a noise, andwell it was, for had we stood in danger from eavesdroppers, then mustall of us have been in the guard-house within five minutes after thefight between Master Morgan and Abel Hunt began.
It was with a sense of greatest relief that I stood near the edge of thescuttle wiping the perspiration from my face when finally we had got thescoundrelly cur where we wanted him, and then the satisfaction whichshould have been mine because of having thus far succeeded in holdingour own, was entirely wiped out by thoughts of the future. Strive as Imight, I could not prevent my mind from going ahead of time andpicturing what must finally be our fate.
That we could hold these two Tories securely for a day, mayhap eight andforty hours, I had little doubt; but it was the same as a proven fact inmy mind that within a short time must the Britishers learn all thesecret, and lay us under the most terrible of all military charges.
It was as if Master Morgan understood that if we were given much timefor thought there was fear of our growing timorous, for no sooner had wedisposed of Abel Hunt than he called for all to come to the floor belowwhere he could have speech with us, saying at the same time that theprisoners could effect nothing toward their release, even though it werepossible for them to cry out, because while the cannon were roaring andone could hear the crackle of musketry from seemingly every point, thestrongest lunged man who ever lived could not have made his voice heardan hundred paces away.
"It has come time for me to take leave of you, lads," the Jerseyman saidmuch to my surprise, and I interrupted him by crying out, for it was tomy mind as if the moment he departed we were standing in even moreimminent danger of death than we did at that instant.
"I thought you were not counting to make the venture until midnight," Icried.
"That was in my mind, lad, when matters were quiet here within theentrenchments; but from the sounds of conflict it would seem as if theBritishers had all they could attend to without looking after a man hereor there. I count on making my way very near the outer works, where Ishall await an opportunity of slipping through the lines."
"Think you it will be possible to do so?" Pierre asked thoughtfully,and the Jerseyman replied without a tremor in his voice:
"I am of the mind, lad, that the odds are strongly against it, and yetmust the venture be made. I have the hope that if death comes to me youmay have knowledge regarding it, so that that which I have failed in maybe carried on by one of you. It is not a time to think of takingprecautions to save our own lives; but rather to try how we may sosacrifice them that by our dying we shall have benefitted the Cause."
Even while he was speaking in such a strain as to bring tears to theeyes of us all, little Frenchie, ever realizing what should be done, wasunbarring the door, and when he had finished the task the Jerseyman wentout without so much as turning to look at us. Never a word did he speak,but went quickly into the open air as if eager to rid himself of ourcompany.
Only those who have been in a like situation can understand our feelingsat this moment when we were left alone, and knew that the man who stoodour friend, had gone most like to his death.
We remained silent and motionless, not daring to gaze at each other,much like a band of mourners who have gathered around the lifeless bodyof a dear friend, and so we would have stood there until all the courageoozed out from our hearts, had it not been for dear little Frenchie,himself quite as brave a man and as good a patriot as the one who hadjust left us.
Regardless of the sorrow in his own heart, and of the forebodings whichI knew must be his, he put on a cheerful face, saying as he rightedUncle 'Rasmus's chair which had been overturned during the struggle:
"There is no good reason why we should stand around here like a companyof sore-heads, for there is work in abundance to be done. We must havefood, and now would seem to be the time to procure it, when theBritishers have all on their hands to which they can attend."
"For my part I have no desire for food," I cried, almost irritatedbecause he had brought up the matter at such a time, when it was as ifwe had taken leave of an old friend. "It seems to me as if I shouldnever be hungry again."
"But yet you will be, Fitz Hamilton, and that before this night-fall.Even though we were inclined to starve ourselves,
thinking it mightbenefit the Cause, we have two prisoners to look after, and now that wehave no longer reason to fear a meeting with Abel Hunt, what prevents usfrom going through the encampment?"
"It seems to me that at such a time the Britishers would beover-cautious, and insist on knowing why we lads roamed around insteadof offering our services to those in the entrenchments," Saul saidgloomily, and I was much of his mind; but when little Frenchie has onceset out on a road it is most difficult to turn him back, and now inanswer to our suggestions, he insisted that we must make an effort toprocure provisions whatever short of actual death might stand in theway.
I am willing now, as I was then, to confess freely that I was afraid tostep outside old Mary's cabin for any purpose whatsoever. The strugglewith Abel Hunt, and the departure of the Jerseyman when it seemedcertain he had gone out only to be killed, had brought to the surfaceall my cowardice; but when I said as much in plain words, littleFrenchie laughed me to scorn, declaring he knew me better than I knewmyself, and that it needed only for me to stand face to face withimminent danger in order to give token of bravery.
"Then surely now should be the time when I showed myself a hero," Ireplied with a laugh that had in it little of mirth, "for verily are weface to face with as many dangers as the most gluttonous swash-bucklercould desire."
"Come with me and we will find more," Pierre said with a laugh as heopened the door, and for the life of me I could not have refused tofollow the lad, even my knees bent beneath me as I crossed thethreshold.