The Boy Spies of Philadelphia

by Joanna H. Mathews

  CHAPTER VI.

  RELEASED.

  During five long, weary weeks did Jacob and Enoch remain prisoners, andalthough they lived in momentary expectation of a public flogging, thepunishment was not inflicted.

  Twice more were the boys taken before Colonel Monckton, and on eachoccasion he gave them to understand that unless satisfactory answerswere returned to his questions they would be whipped severely.

  Jacob, who acted as spokesman, refused to obey the command, as hedid on the first occasion, alleging that he could not explain how thefetters came in their possession without rendering a third party liableto suspicion, and claimed he had rather "be flogged until he was nighdead" than cause suffering to an innocent person.

  The British soldier who had allowed Seth to leave the jail unchallengedwas on duty fully half the time the boys were held as prisoners, andnow and then spoke words of cheer, giving them to understand that theywere indebted to Lord Gordon for their escape from a public flogging.

  During the first four or five days of captivity they questioned thesoldier eagerly, and at every opportunity, regarding the possiblerecapture of Seth; but he had no information to give them, and thisfact was decidedly more satisfactory than if he had been able to tellthem of his whereabouts, since it showed that their comrade was yetfree.

  After a week passed there was no longer any doubt but that Seth hadsucceeded in gaining the American lines, and being thus assuredthey had saved his life, the boys could have borne even a publicflogging with a certain degree of equanimity, because of what had beenaccomplished.

  As a matter of course Enoch could have no communication with hismother, for orders had been given that the prisoners should be allowedno visitors.

  He believed, however, she knew all concerning him that could have beentold, through Lord Gordon.

  It was possible for the boys to have a general idea of what was goingon outside, owing to the conversations which they could overhearbetween the soldiers, and it seemed as if the one whom they lookedupon as a friend made it an especial point to converse with his fellowswhere they might overhear all that was said.

  Thus it was they were aware that, on the 24th and 26th of the month,detachments of British troops went out successfully against theContinentals; that on the 30th Abercrombie led his men against Laceynear the Crooked Billet, forcing that officer to flight, killingnearly a hundred soldiers, capturing fifty prisoners, and destroying orbringing away all his baggage and stores.

  It was on the second day after Sir Henry Clinton arrived inPhiladelphia that Jacob and Enoch were released from prison.

  No formalities accompanied this, to them, very desirable change ofcondition.

  Ten days previous they had been assured by Colonel Monckton that therewas sufficient proof to connect them with Seth's escape, and that theirpunishment, unless they confessed, would be exceptionally severe.

  Therefore it was that they were quite as much surprised as delightedwhen, on this particular morning, the cell-doors were opened and theofficer in charge of the prison announced that they were at liberty todepart.

  "You will be closely watched," he said warningly, "and rest assuredthat at the first suspicious action on the part of either, both willbe brought here again. A second arrest will be more serious than thefirst."

  "If I have my way about it there won't be any second arrest," Jacobsaid emphatically, and when the outer door of the jail was openedhe and Enoch darted swiftly through, as if fearing the permission todepart might be reconsidered if they should linger in leaving.

  When the boys arrived at Enoch's home Mrs. Ball was not particularlysurprised to see them nor was it necessary they should make anyexplanations as to the cause of their long absence.

  She had received, at least three times each week, an unsigned lettercontaining full particulars as to their condition, and had knownseveral days previous that they were about to be discharged.

  "Well, Lord--I mean our British friend, is what you might call aright up and down good fellow, even if he is fighting on the wrongside!" Jacob exclaimed when Mrs. Ball explained why she had not beenparticularly anxious regarding her son during his long imprisonment."If all the king's soldiers were like him, I allow there wouldn't bevery much fighting in this country."

  "He has taken a great deal of trouble to do a favor to three boys whohad no claim upon him," Enoch added reflectively.

  "But he believed Seth was innocent, and began the good work by tryingto prevent his brother officers from killing one who was no spy," Mrs.Ball suggested.

  "Yet Seth was not what you might really call innocent, nor, forthat matter, were any of us, because he did carry information to ourfriends, and we stood ready to help him."

  "But you were not spies."

  "No, mother, not exactly; but much as I hate the British, I am bound toadmit they had good cause for punishing us. I think the time has comewhen Jacob and I should join Seth at the first opportunity."

  "You mean that you will enlist?" his mother asked anxiously.

  "It is our duty; but if you should say that you were not willingyet----"

  "I shall say nothing of the kind, my son. You are old enough to decidefor yourselves, and if you think duty calls you it isn't for me to setup my own desires against it. You must remember, however, that youare now looked upon with suspicion by the enemy, and it will not beas simple a matter to gain the Continental camp as it would have beenbefore Seth was arrested."

  "We shall succeed in doing it, never you fear," Enoch replied in a toneof assurance, and thus it was settled that at the earliest possiblemoment he and Jacob would enlist in the American army.

  As the days passed, however, the would-be recruits learned that it wasnot as easy to leave the city unobserved as it previously had been.

  It was well known General Washington was ready for the summer campaign,with his troops better disciplined and better equipped than formerly,and the British officers, understanding that Sir Henry Clinton wasmaking an estimate of their abilities before assuming command of thearmy, were particularly vigilant.

  Neither Jacob nor Enoch had ventured to ask for an interview with LordGordon. They understood it might place him in an awkward position ifthey did so, and that their gratitude could best be shown by treatinghim as an enemy.

  Neither had they seen Seth's mother since their release. It was onlyreasonable to suppose that Lord Gordon, being an inmate of her house,had kept her as well informed as he had Mrs. Ball. Therefore the boyswould be serving her interests as well as their own if they refrainedfrom paying her a visit.

  It was arranged that they should take advantage of the firstopportunity to leave the city, without feeling obliged to give Enoch'smother notice of the fact, and from the hour when they had been allowedto leave the jail they spent their time roaming around the town, hopingto meet some one who might be able to aid them.

  More than once did they discuss the advisability of setting out alonein the direction of Valley Forge, with the hope that they might,before traveling many miles, come upon a detachment of Americans; buteach time the subject was introduced they decided that the chances ofsuccess were against them, owing to the vigilance of the British.

  Twice had they been halted by the patrol, when, without any intentionof setting forth on a journey, they had wandered heedlessly near theoutskirts of the city, and warned each time as to what would be theresult if they were discovered in trying to gain the "rebel" lines.

  During such enforced idleness they heard much of the carnival, or"mischianza," as the officers termed it, which was to be given as atestimonial in honor of General Howe on the eve of his retiring fromthe command of the forces, but had not believed they would be in thecity to see the grand display.

  The boys knew that General Burgoyne, assisted by Major John Andre, hadcharge of the preparations; that a mock tournament was to be a portionof the entertainment, and that it would be held at the country-seat ofMr. Wharton on the Delaware River. They heard that a supper-room wasbeing built for the occas
ion; that mirrors, pictures, and ornamentsdesigned to hold candles, were being borrowed from the wealthycitizens; but yet so great was the desire of both to enroll themselvesas soldiers in the patriot army that neither gave much attention to theproposed entertainment, until the morning of the 18th of May, when theywere still vainly searching for means of escape.

  During that day at least they forgot their desires in the wonderfulscene which was presented.

  As a matter of course Jacob and Enoch saw only such portion of theentertainment as was given in public; but Major Andre himself wrote anentertaining account to his friends in England which is given here asinteresting, inasmuch as it was the first display of the kind ever madein North America.

  "A grand regatta began the entertainment. It consisted of threedivisions. In the first was the Ferret galley, having on board severalgeneral officers and a number of ladies. In the center was the Hussargalley with Sir William and Lord Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, the officersof their suite, and some ladies. The Cornwallis galley brought up therear, having on board General Knyphausen and his suite, three Britishgenerals and a party of ladies. On each quarter of these galleys, andforming their division, were five flatboats, lined with green cloth,and filled with ladies and gentlemen. In front of the whole were threeflat-boats, with a band of music in each. Six barges rowed about eachflank, to keep off the swarm of boats that covered the river fromside to side. The galleys were decked out with a variety of colorsand streamers, and in each flat-boat was displayed the flag of its owndivision.

  "In the stream opposite the center of the city the Fanny, armed ship,magnificently decorated, was placed at anchor, and at some distanceahead lay his majesty's ship Roebuck, with the admiral's flag hoistedat the foretop masthead. The transport ships, extending in a line thewhole length of the town, appeared with colors flying and crowded withspectators, as were also the openings of several wharves on shore,exhibiting the most picturesque and enlivening scene the eye coulddesire. The rendezvous was at Knight's wharf, at the northern extremityof the city. By half-past four the whole company were embarked, and thesignal being made by the Vigilant's manning ship, the three divisionsrowed slowly down, preserving their proper intervals, and keeping timeto the music that led the fleet.

  "Arrived between the Fanny and the Market wharf, a signal was madefrom one of the boats ahead, and the whole lay upon their oars, whilethe music played 'God Save the King,' and three cheers given fromthe vessels were returned from the multitude on shore. By this timethe flood tide became too rapid for the galleys to advance; theywere therefore quitted, and the company disposed of in differentbarges. This alteration broke in upon the order of procession, but wasnecessary to give sufficient time for displaying the entertainmentsthat were prepared on shore.

  "The landing place was at the Old Fort, a little to the southwardof the town, fronting the building prepared for the reception of thecompany, about four hundred yards from the water by a gentle ascent. Assoon as the general's barge was seen to push from the shore a salute ofseventeen guns was fired from the Roebuck, and, after some interval, bythe same number from the Vigilant. The company, as they disembarked,arranged themselves into a line of procession, and advanced throughan avenue formed by two files of grenadiers, and a line of light-horsesupporting each file. This avenue led to a square lawn of two hundredand fifty yards on each side, lined with troops, and properly preparedfor the exhibition of a tilt and tournament, according to the customsand ordinances of ancient chivalry. We proceeded through the center ofthe square.

  "The music, consisting of all the bands of the army, moved in front.The managers, with favors of white and blue ribbon in their breasts,followed next in order. The general, admiral, and the rest of thecompany, succeeded promiscuously.

  "In front appeared the building, bounding the view through a vistaformed by two triumphal arches erected at proper intervals in a linewith the landing-place. Two pavilions, with rows of benches risingone above the other, and serving as the wings of the first triumphalarch, received the ladies, while the gentlemen arranged themselves inconvenient order on each side. On the front seat of each pavilion wereplaced seven of the principal young ladies of the country, dressed inTurkish habits and wearing in their turbans the favors with which theymeant to reward the several knights who were to contend in their honor.These arrangements were scarce made when the sound of trumpets wereheard in the distance, and a band of knights, dressed in ancient habitsof white and red silk, and mounted on gray horses richly caparisonedin trappings of the same colors, entered the lists, attended by theiresquires on foot, in suitable apparel."

  Major Andre continues his letter with a long and detailed account ofthe tournament which followed, and thus concludes:

  "The company were regaled with tea, lemonade, and other cooling liquorswhen they entered the house. On the same floor with the ballroom werefour drawing-rooms with sideboards of refreshment. Dancing continueduntil ten o'clock, when the windows were thrown open, and the displayof fireworks began. At twelve o'clock supper was announced, and largefolding-doors, hitherto artfully concealed, being suddenly thrownopen, discovered a magnificent saloon with three alcoves on each sidewhich served as sideboards. Fifty-six large pier glasses, ornamentedwith green silk artificial flowers and ribbons; one hundred brancheswith three lights in each, trimmed in the same manner as the mirrors;eighteen lusters, each with twenty-four lights, suspended from theceiling, and ornamented as the branches; three hundred wax tapersdisposed along the supper-table; four hundred and thirty covers, twelvehundred dishes, twenty-four black slaves in oriental dresses, withsilver collars and bracelets, ranged in two lines, and bending to theground as the general and admiral approached the saloon. Then came thedrinking of healths and the toasts, and after supper the dancing wascontinued until four o'clock."

  It was while the citizens as well as the soldiery were gathered onthe riverside, watching the imposing spectacle, that Jacob and Enoch,instead of following the example of those around them and crowdingas near to the water's edge as possible, were standing on a slightelevation some distance from the Penny-Pot House landing, when theywere accosted by a rough-looking fellow, who, to judge from his dress,was a farm laborer.

  "I allow you two lads have allers lived here in Philadelphia, eh?" hebegan, as if more for the purpose of making an acquaintance than togain information.

  "You surely can't take us for Britishers?" Jacob said laughingly.

  "That is not your misfortune," the man replied. "You can be as loyal tothe king in the colonies as if you had been born in London."

  "And if we _had_ been born there we might consider it our duty to beloyal to him; but inasmuch as we are Philadelphia boys the case isdifferent," Jacob replied boldly, despite Enoch's warning glance.

  "It is safer to keep the matter a secret if you count on beingdisloyal," the man said with a grin.

  "That is impossible in our case, for two who have been in prison fiveweeks would be distrusted if they suddenly conceived a love for theking."

  "So General Howe believes you are dangerous characters, eh? It seemsas if he was afraid of the boys quite a considerable, for I have heardtell how he had old Chris Ludwick's son locked up."

  "So he did, and I happen to be that son."

  "You?" the man exclaimed with a pretense of surprise. "And who is thiswith you?"

  "It is Enoch Ball. But hark you, friend, I don't understand that youhave got any right to ask questions, and perhaps I have given you allthe information necessary."

  Jacob spoke sharply, for there came into his mind the thought that thisstranger was displaying altogether too much interest in what did notconcern him personally.

  "I don't allow you have," the man replied, glancing furtively around,as if to make certain there were no eavesdroppers near. "If you areChris Ludwick's son, you was jailed by the Britishers for helping oneSeth Graydon, said to be a spy, escape from prison."

  The man spoke in such a meaning tone there was no longer any doubt butthat his questions meant something mor
e than idle curiosity, and bothJacob and Enoch turned upon him suddenly.

  "What do you know about Seth Graydon?" the latter asked sharply.

  "You will learn fully as much if you don't make such a noise," thestranger replied in a low tone. "I can't say that I know anythingparticular about Seth, except that he wanted me, in case I happenedto run across Jacob Ludwick and Enoch Ball, to give them his bestcompliments."

  "Where is he?" Jacob asked eagerly.

  "I allow you can make a pretty good guess, so there's no need of mygoing into particulars, especially round here, where the chances are itmight lead a fellow into trouble."

  "Where did you come from?"

  "It is best not to ask too many questions, Jacob Ludwick. The leastthat is said in this 'ere city is the soonest mended. If it shouldhappen, though, that you knew anything which might be important foryour friends to know, now is the time to repeat it, and I'll take careit reaches the proper quarter."

  "Then you are----"

  "I work on a farm up the Schuylkill with a Quaker by the name ofParker, and am down here to see the brave doings of the king'sofficers."

  "Do you know where we can join any portion of the American army?"

  "For what purpose?"

  "We count on enlisting as soon as we are able to leave the city; butthe Britishers have kept a close watch on us since we were let out ofjail, and thus far it has been impossible to get away."

  "Take my advice, and stay where you are a spell longer. It won't bemany days before there'll be a change around here, and after thatperhaps you won't be so closely watched. If you should happen to hearanything that would benefit your friends, and want to sent them word,you might find me somewhere near about the Blue Anchor, almost anyforenoon, when I have disposed of my produce."

  There was no necessity for the man to make further explanations; theboys understood that in his assumed character of a farm laborer hewas acting the spy, and by bringing in produce to sell would have notrouble in entering or leaving the city.

  It was just such an acquaintance as Jacob had been particularly anxiousto make; but he was disappointed and perplexed because the propositionthat he and Enoch enlist was not received with favor.

  "It isn't likely we could learn very much that would interest you,"Master Ludwick said after a brief pause, "for since our arrest we havebut little chance of hearing any British secrets."

  "You are not hindered from roaming around the town as you wish?"

  "Oh, no; we are prevented, however, from going very far into thecountry, and have been stopped several times by the patrol."

  "Then spend your time observing the movements of the troops, and takeparticular notice if any activity prevails among the soldiers to-morrownight. You can be of more service here during the next two weeks thanyou could in the ranks."

  "But you are in town every day, and can see quite as much as we."

  "I only remain here long enough to sell my wares and to drink a pint ofbeer at the Blue Anchor. It would seem strange if a farmer was overfondof watching the soldiers. There are several in town who, during suchtime as we are haggling over the price of vegetables, manage to letme know what they have seen, and when it was made known that we wantedto increase the number of our friends here, Seth Graydon told GeneralDickinson you would be willing to do all in your power."

  "Seth was right. We are more than willing; but hardly know how to setabout it."

  "There's but little more to do than loiter around the city listening tothe general gossip, and observing the movements of the troops. You boyscertainly are bright enough to know by general appearances if any greatforce is making preparations to leave, and even though you have beenunder arrest for aiding a boy whom the Britishers called a spy, I don'tthink you would be interfered with if you exercised proper caution. Itis especially necessary that our friends are all on the alert duringthe next forty-eight hours, and I shall come into town very earlyto-morrow morning, and again in the afternoon, so that you will havetwo chances to report anything you may have learned."

  "Is there reason to believe the British will make a move within thattime?"

  "They certainly will, if, as is probable, the Tories between here andValley Forge bring in information of what is being done."

  "Is General Washington to make an attack?" Jacob asked eagerly.

  "Hardly that; but some of his forces will move toward this cityvery shortly, and it becomes highly important he should have earlyinformation of what the enemy may do when they learn of it. We havetalked here as long as is safe, for, although people seem intent uponthe brave show General Howe's officers are making, there may be somewhose business it is to pay attention to their neighbors."

  The stranger lounged away as if following with his eyes the spectacleupon the water, and when he was gone Jacob said in an exultant tone:

  "It seems that we can be of some service to the cause even if we do notenlist."

  "Yes, and Seth did us a good turn when he said we were ready to performour share in the work."

  "Yet since we met this stranger, Enoch, we have agreed to becomespies--there is no other name for it--and if we should now be put underarrest by the Britishers, there would be good cause for dealing out tous that punishment which Seth escaped."