Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09]

by In Hostile Red (lit)

  "If you mean rebels, of course there are," said Vivian ; " all of us know that, but they arc in a great minority."

  " I don't mean rebels precisely, at least not self- confessed rebels," replied Belfort.

  " Then whom do you mean ? " said the sprightly Marcel ; " if you mean Sir William, or Vivian there, who has a rebel bullet through his arm, or my chum Melville and myself, who arrived in Philadelphia amidst a leaden shower, or our lamented friend Schwarzfelder, who rode his own horse among the rebels, and a truly gallant sight he was why speak out in the name of justice and the king."

  Belfort flushed with vexation. There was no ade- quate reply that he could make, whatever his thoughts might be. But after some hesitation he said,

  " I am glad that you mentioned Schwarzfelder. Why should he disappear at such a time, literally kidnapped, as that bandit wished to kidnap Sir William?"

  188

  A Rebuke for Waters

  " It seems to me that Soli varzfclder is irrelevant," interrupted Vivian. " At least he has no connection with these rebel disappearances. He was to fight a duel with Melville, and scarcely can you charge that Melville bribed Wildfoot to come here and carry him off, in order to escape the duel, especially when Wildfoot treated Melville with excessive discourtesy, binding him to a table and thrusting an unfeeling gag into his mouth."

  " I don't mean to impeach Melville's courage," said Belfort, hastily. " I spoke merely of the singu- larity of these events."

  Our little party was broken np presently by orders from Sir William which gave us all work to do. It seemed that he was seized with another spasm of energy, and he resumed the search of the city for both Wildfoot and Alloway. He was not at all sure that Wildfoot had succeeded in joining the rebels who made the attack the night before, and fancied he miglrt still bo hidden in the city. So there was a great hunt for him, and my part of it was of an ex- ceedingly unpleasant nature. I was to go to the Desmond house, search it again, and address various penetrating interrogations to the owner thereof.

  I acquitted myself in the best style of which I was capable. I found both John Desmond and his daughter in the house, and, much to my surprise, he answered all my questions quite readily and politely. I thought that his courtesy was due, perhaps, to the presence of his daughter at his elbow, but both search and examination, as before, revealed nothing.

  As I was returning to Sir William's quarters to 189

  In Hostile Red

  report the fruitless task, I met Waters. I would have passed him without notice, but he said,

  " I take it that it was again a fruitless search at Mr. Desmond's house, was it not, sir ? "

  This savored most strongly of impertinence in one of his rank, and I felt anger. I disliked his inces- sant watch of Marcel and me, and in spite of my belief that he either knew or suspected us, caution was swallowed up in wrath.

  "Waters," I said, "your question was impertinent and your tone insolent."

  He did not apologize as he had done before, but held up his head and his bold eyes looked steadily into mine.

  " All the city, sir, is talking of this Wildfoot, and every loyal man wants him captured. The wish is as strong among us of a lower rank as it is among those of a higher."

  I thought that I saw a peculiar significance in his words, and I would have given much to keep down the flush that reddened my face.

  " What do you mean to intimate, Waters ? " I asked.

  " Nothing," he replied. " You are pleased, sir, to dislike me, although I do not know why, and to become angry because I ask you about the search of Mr. Desmond's house, a task which I felt sure was most unwelcome to you."

  His eyes did not flinch as he said these bold words, and manner and words alike confirmed my long felt fear that he knew me to be an impostor. I hesitated a little, uncertain what course to take, and then, turn- ing scornfully from him, marched on with my men. 190

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Great News

  AS neither Marcel nor I was assigned to any duty for the remainder of the day, we thought to while away a portion of the time by strolling about Philadelphia. "We need not make spies of ourselves," said Marcel ; " but I know no military law against the gratification of our own personal curiosity."

  Guided by such worthy motives, we spent some time that was to our amusement and perhaps to our profit also. Barring the presence of the soldiery, Philadelphia showed few evidences that war was encamped upon its threshold. I have seldom wit- nessed a scene of such bustle and animation, and even of gayety too, as the good Quaker City presented. A stranger would have thought there was no war, and that this was merely a great garrison town.

  The presence of fifteen or twenty thousand soldiers was good for trade, and gold clinked with much free- dom and merriment. Though wagon-trains of pro- visions were taken sometimes by the Americans, yet many others came safely into Philadelphia, and the profits were so large that the worthy Pennsylvania farmers could not resist the temptation to take the risks, though most of them would have preferred to sell to the patriots, had the latter possessed some- tiling better than Continental paper to offer them. 191

  In Hostile Red

  " The British boast much of their bayonets," said Marcel ; " but they fight better with their gold."

  " And we have neither," said I.

  "Which merely means," said Marcel, "not that we shall not win, but that we will be longer in the winning."

  Our conversation was diverted from this topic by my observance of a peculiar circumstance. Often I would see four or five men, gathered at a street corner or in front of a doorway, talking with an appearance of great earnestness. Whenever Marcel and I, who were in full uniform, and thus were known to be British officers as far as we could be seen, approached, they would lower their tone or cease to talk. This had not happened on any day before, and was not what we would have expected from citizens who had grown used to the presence of the British army. I asked Marcel to take note of it.

  " Something unusual that they do not wish to tell us of has happened," he said. " I propose that we find out what it is."

  " How ? " I said.

  " I know no better way than to ask," he replied. " Suppose we seize the very next opportunity, and interrogate our Quaker friends concerning the cause of their strange and mysterious behavior."

  Presently we saw four men engaged in one of these discussions. Three appeared to be citizens of Philadelphia, or at least we so judged from the smartness of their dress ; the fourth had the heavy, unkempt look of a countryman. We approached ; 192

  Great News

  on the instant they became silent, and there was a look of embarrassment upon their faces.

  " Friends," said Marcel, in his courtly manner, " we wish not to interrupt your most pleasant dis- course, but we would ask what news of importance yon have, if there be no harm in the telling of it."

  " It rained last night,' said the countryman, " and it is good for the spring planting."

  "Yet one might have news more interesting, though not perhaps more important, than that," re- plied Marcel ; " for it has rained before, and the crops have been planted and reaped likewise be- fore."

  " Even so," said the countryman, " but its impor- tance increases when there arc twenty thousand red- coats in Philadelphia to be fed."

  " But is that the whole burden of ybur news ? " asked Marcel. '* Ve have seen others talk together as you four talk together, and we do not think it accords with nature for all Philad elphia to be agog because it rained the night before."

  " Some heads hold strange opinions," said the countryman, curtly ; " but why should I be held to account for them ? "

  So saying, he walked off with his companions.

  " You can't draw blood from a turnip," said Mar- cel, " nor the truth from a man who has decided not to tell it."

  "Not since the torture-chamber was abolished," I said, " and I would even guess that this country- man is no very warm friend to the British, from the insolent tone that he adopted towards us.
" 13 193

  In Hostile Red

  " And I would guess also that his news, whatever it may be, is something that will not be to the taste of the British, or he would tell it to us," said Marcel.

  But we were not daunted by one repulse, and we decided to try elsewhere. From another little group to which we addressed ourselves we received treat- ment perhaps not quite so discourteous, but as un- productive of the desired result. All this we took as further proof that there was in reality something of importance afoot. At last we went into a little eating-house where strong liquors also were sold.

  " Perhaps if we moisten their throats for them," said Marcel, " they may become less secretive. It is a cure I have rarely known to fail."

  There were eight or ten men in this place, some citizens of the town and some countrymen.

  "What news? " I asked of one who leaned against the counter. " There seems to be a stir about the town, and we ask its cause."

  " You are British officers," he replied. " The British hold this town. You should know more than we."

  "But this town has a population of such high intelligence," I said, thinking to flatter him, " thatn it learns many things before we do."

  " If you admit that," he said, " then I can tell you something."

  " Ah ! what is it? " I asked, showing eagerness.

  " Perhaps you may not like to hear it," he said, " but Sir William Howe was nearly carried off last night by Wildfoot."

  194

  Great News

  Then all of them laughed in sneering fashion.

  " I was afraid you would not like ray news," said the man, pretending of a sudden to be very humble ; " but you would not be satisfied until I told it, and so I had to tell it."

  " We must even try elsewhere," said Marcel.

  Marcel was a jester, but, like most other jesters, he did not like a jest put upon himself. So we left the eating-house, and as we went out we saw the man Waters coming towards us. As I have often said, I did not like this fellow, and moreover I feared we had reason to dread him, but I thought he could tell us what we wished to know, as he had such a prying temper.

  He saluted us with much politeness, and stopped when I beckoned to him. The men in the eating- house had all come to the door.

  " Good-morning, Waters,'' I said. " Can you tell us what interests the people of this city so much, the news that we have been seeking in vain to learn? Here are gentlemen who have something that they would cherish and keep to themselves like a lady's favor."

  " It would scarce be proper for me, who am but an orderly, to announce weighty matters to your honors," said the man, with a most aggravating look of humility. The loungers who had come to the door laughed.

  " We will overlook that," said Marcel, who kept his temper marvellously well. " But tell us, is not the town really in a stir as it seems to be ? "

  " It is, your honors," said Waters, " and it has cause for it." 195

  In Hostile Red

  The loungers laughed again ; but I did not mind it now, as I was eager to hear what Waters had to say.

  " Let us have this mighty secret," I said.

  "I fear your honors will not like it," replied Waters.

  "Never mind about that," I said, impatiently. " I do not believe that it amounts to anything at all."

  " It is only that the King of France has joined the Americans and declared war on the English," said Waters.

  For a moment I could scarce restrain a shout of joy. There had been talk for some time about a French alliance, but we had been disappointed so often that we had given up hope of it. Now the news had come with the suddenness of a thunder- clap. I believe that Marcel felt as I did, but it was of high importance that we should keep our countenances.

  "Whence did you get such a report as that?" I asked, affecting to treat it with contempt and unbelief.

  " From the people of the city," replied Waters.

  " Where did they get it ? " asked Marcel.

  "I think it was brought in from the American army," replied the man, "and if your honor will pardon me for saying it, there is no doubt whatever about its truth."

  " King George will now have two enemies to fight instead of one, and he has not whipped the first," said one of the loungers. 196

  Great News

  " Fear not that his armies will not be equal to the emergency," said I, thinking it needful to preserve my character as a British officer.

  " Then they will have to do something more than feast and dance in this city," said the bold fellow. The others murmured their approval and applause, and Marcel and I, bidding them to beware how they talked treason, strolled on.

  " I 'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news," said Waters, humbly.

  "-King Louis and the Americans are responsible for the news, not you," said Marcel. " Still, we thank you for narrating it to us."

  His tone was that of curt dismissal, and Waters, accepting it, left us. Marcel and I looked at each other, and Marcel said :

  " If we were able, half-armed, untrained, and un- aided, to take one British army at Saratoga, what ought we not to do now with King Louis's regulars to help us, and King Louis's arsenals to arm us ? "

  " The alliance suggests many things," I said, " and one in particular to you and me."

  " What is that ? " asked Marcel.

  " That we leave Philadelphia at once, or at least as soon as we can find an opportunity," I replied, " and rejoin our army. This should portend great events, perhaps a decisive campaign, and if that be true we ought to share it with our comrades."

  "Without denying the truth of what you say,"

  replied Marcel, " we nevertheless cannot leave the

  city to-day, so we might as well enjoy the leisure the

  gods have allotted to us. The counting-house of our

  197

  In Hostile Red

  rich patriot, old John Desmond, is on this street. Perhaps he has not heard the news, and if we were the first to tell it to him he might forgive our appar- ent British character, though I fear it would be but small recommendation to his handsome Tory daugh- ter."

  We entered the counting-house, where Mr. Des- mond still contrived to earn fair profits despite the British occupation. Our British uniforms procured for us a certain amount of respect and deference from the clerks and attendants, but the stern old man, who would not bend to Sir William Howe himself, only glowered at us when we came into his presence.

  " I fear I can give you but little time to-day, gen- tlemen," he said, with asperity, " though I acknow- ledge the honor of your visit."

  "We are not in search of a loan," said Marcel, lightly, " but came merely to ask you if you had any further particulars of the great news which must be so pleasing to you, though I admit that it is less welcome to us."

  "The news? the great news? I have no news, either great or small," said Mr. Desmond, not depart- ing from his curt and stiff manner.

  "Haven't you heard it?" said Marcel, with af- fected surprise. "All the people in the city are talking about it, and we poor Britons expect to begin hard service again immediately."

  "Your meaning is still strange to me," said Mr. Desmond.

  " It 's the French alliance that I mean," said 198

  Great News

  Marcel. "We have received positive news this morning that King Louis of France and Mr. Wash- ington of America, in virtue of a formal treaty to that effect, propose to chastise our master, poor King George."

  I had watched Mr. Desmond's face closely, that I might see how he took the news. But not a feature changed. Perhaps lie was sorry that he had yielded to his feelings at the recent banquet, and was now undergoing penance. But, whatever the cause, he asked merely, in a quiet voice,

  " Then you know that the King of France has es- poused the American cause and will help General Washington with his armies and fleets ? "

  "Undoubtedly," replied Marcel.

  "Then this will be interesting news for my daugh- ter, though she will not li
ke it," he said. He opened the door of an inner room, called, and Miss Desmond came forth.

  She looked inquiringly at us, and then spoke with much courtesy. We returned the compliments of the day in a manner that we thought befitting high- born Britons and conquerors in the presence of sym- pathetic beauty. I took pride to myself too, because my affair with Belfort had ended as she wished. It seemed to give me a claim upon her. But I observed with some chagrin that neither our manners nor our appearance seemed to make much impression upon Miss Desmond.

  " Daughter," said Mr. Desmond, in the same ex- pressionless tone that he had used throughout the in- terview, " these young gentlemen have been kind 190

  In Hostile Red

  enough to bring us the news that France and the colo- nies have signed a formal treaty of alliance for offensive and defensive purposes. The information reached Philadelphia but this morning. I thought it would interest you."

  I watched her face closely, as I had watched that of her father, expecting to see joy o n the father's, sorrow on the daughter's. But they could not have been freer from the appearance of emotion if they had planned it all before.

  "This will complicate the struggle, I should think," she said, dryly, "and it will increase your chances, Captain Montague and Lieutenant Melville, to win the epaulets of a colonel."

  " We had expected," I said, " that Miss Desmond, a sincere friend of our cause, would express sorrow at this coalition which is like to prove so dangerous to us."