Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency

by John Pendleton Kennedy

  CHAPTER XVI.

  TORY TROOPERS, A DARK ROAD AND A FRAY.

  "By the whiskers of the Grand Turk, I have got the four points on you,bully Buff! High, low, jack and the game!" exclaimed Peppercorn.

  "You have luck enough to worry out the nine lives of a cat. That's anend to Backbiter, the best horse 'twixt Pedee and the Savannah. So,blast me, if I play any more with you! There, send the cards to hell!"roared out Hugh Habershaw, rising and throwing the pack into the fire.

  It was just at the closing in of night, when a party ofruffianly-looking men were assembled beneath a spreading chestnut, thatthrew forth its aged arms over a small gravelly hillock, in the depthsof the forest that skirted the northern bank of the Pacolet, within ashort distance of Grindall's ford. The spot had all the qualities of asecret fastness. It was guarded on one side by the small river, and onthe other by a complicated screen of underwood, consisting principallyof those luxuriantly plaited vines which give so distinct a character tothe southern woodland. The shrubbery, immediately along the bank of theriver, was sufficiently open to enable a horseman to ride through itdown to the road which, at about two hundred paces off, led into theford.

  The group who now occupied this spot consisted of some ten or twelve menunder the command of Hugh Habershaw. Their appearance was half rusticand half military; some efforts at soldierly costume were visible in thedecoration of an occasional buck-tail set in the caps of several of theparty, and, here and there, a piece of yellow cloth forming a band forthe hat. Some wore long and ungainly deer-skin pantaloons and moccasinsof the same material; and two or three were indued with coats of coarsehomespun, awkwardly garnished with the trimmings of a British uniform.All were armed, but in the same irregular fashion. There were rifles tobe seen stacked against the trunk of the tree; most of the men woreswords, which were of different lengths and sizes; and some of the ganghad a horseman's pistol bestowed conspicuously about their persons.Their horses were attached to the drooping ends of the boughs of theseveral trees that hemmed in the circle, and were ready for service atthe first call. A small fire of brushwood had been kindled near the footof the chestnut, and its blaze was sufficiently strong to throw a brightglare over the motley and ill-looking crew who were assembled near it.They might well have been taken for a bivouac of banditti of the mostundisciplined and savage class. A small party were broiling venison atthe fire: the greater number, however, were stretched out upon theground in idleness, waiting for some expected summons to action. The twoI have first noticed, were seated on the butt-end of a fallen trunk,immediately within the light of the fire, and were engaged with a packof dirty cards, at the then popular game of "all fours."

  These two personages were altogether different in exterior from eachother. The first of them, known only by the sobriquet of Peppercorn, wasa tall, well-proportioned and active man, neatly dressed in the uniformof a British dragoon. His countenance indicated more intelligence thanbelonged to his companions, and his manners had the flexible, bold, andcareless port that generally distinguishes a man who has served much inthe army, and become familiar with the varieties of character affordedby such a career. The second was Hugh Habershaw, the captain of thegang. He was a bluff, red-visaged, corpulent man, with a face of gross,unmitigated sensuality. A pale blood-shot eye, which was expressionless,except in a sinister glance, occasioned by a partial squint, a smallupturned nose, a mouth with thin and compressed lips inclining downwardsat the corners, a double chin, bristling with a wiry and almost whitebeard, a low forehead, a bald crown, and meagre, reddish whiskers, werethe ill-favored traits of his physiognomy. The figure of this person wasas uncouth as his countenance. He was rather below the middle height,and appeared still shorter by the stoop of his massive round shoulders,by the ample bulk of his chest, and by the rotundity of hiscorporation. In consideration of his rank, as the leader of thisvagabond squadron, he aimed at more military ornament in his dress thanhis comrades. A greasy cocked hat, decorated after the fashion describedby Grumio, "with the humor of forty fancies pricked in it for afeather," was perched somewhat superciliously upon his poll, and hisbody was invested in an old and much abused cloth coat of London brown,as it was then called, to the ample shoulders of which had been attachedtwo long, narrow, and threadbare epaulets of tarnished silver lace. Abroad buckskin belt was girded, by the help of a large brass buckle,around his middle, on the outside of his coat, and it served as well tosuspend a rusty sabre, as to furnish support to a hunting knife, whichwas thrust into it in front. His nether person was rendered conspicuousby a pair of dingy small-clothes, and long black boots. Close at thefeet of this redoubtable commander lay a fat, surly bull-dog, whosesnarlish temper seemed to have been fostered and promoted by theperemptory perverseness with which his master claimed for him all theprivileges and indulgencies of a pampered favorite.

  Such were the unattractive exterior and circumstances of the man whoassumed control over the band of ruffians now assembled.

  "I wish you and the cards had been broiled on the devil's gridironbefore I ever saw you!" continued Habershaw, after he had consigned thepack to the flames. "That such a noble beast as Backbiter should bewhipped out of my hand by the turn of a rascally card! Hark'ee, you impof Satan, you have the knack of winning! your luck, or somethingelse--you understand me--something else, would win the shirt off my backif I was such a fool as to play longer with you. I suspect you are alight-fingered Jack--a light-fingered Jack--d'ye hear that, MasterPeppercorn?"

  "How now, Bully!" cried Peppercorn; "are you turning boy in your olddays, that you must fall to whining because you have lost a turn atplay? Is every man a rogue since you have set up the trade? For shame!If I were as hot a fool as you, I would give you steel in your guts. Butcome, noble Captain, there's my hand. This is no time for us to becatching quarrels; we have other business cut out. As to Backbiter, therat-tailed and spavined bone-setter, curse me if I would have him as agift: a noble beast! ha, ha, ha! Take him back, man, take him back! hewasn't worth the cards that won him."

  "Silence, you tailor's bastard! Would you breed a mutiny in the camp?Look around you: do you expect me to preserve discipline amongst thesewild wood-scourers, with your loud haw-haws to my very teeth? You maketoo free, Peppercorn; you make too free! It wouldn't take much to makeme strike; damn me, there's fighting blood in me, and you know it. WhenI am at the head of my men, you must know your distance, sir. Sufficeit, I don't approve of this familiarity to the commander of a squad. Butit is no matter: I let it pass this time. And, hark in your ear, as youunderrate Backbiter, you are a fool, Peppercorn, and know no more of thepoints of a good horse than you do of the ten commandments. Why, blastyou, just to punish you, I'll hold you to the word of a gentleman, andtake him back. Now there's an end of it, and let's have no moretalking."

  "Right, noble Captain!" ejaculated Peppercorn, with a free andswaggering laugh, "right! I will uphold the discipline of the valiantHugh Habershaw of the Tiger against all the babblers the world over. Bythe God of war, I marvel that Cruger hasn't forced upon you one of hiscommissions, before this; the army would be proud of such a master oftactics."

  "The time will come, Peppercorn; the time will come, and then I'll teachthem the elements of military construction. Mark that word, Peppercorn,there's meaning in it."

  "Huzza for Captain Tiger of Habershaw--Habershaw of Tiger, I mean!"cried Peppercorn. "Here's Tiger Habershaw, my boys! Drink to that." Andsaying these words, the dragoon snatched up a leathern canteen from theground, and, pouring out some spirits into the cup, drank them off.

  The rest of the crew sprang from the grass, and followed the example setthem by their comrade, roaring out the pledge until the woods rang withtheir vociferation.

  "Peace! you rapscallions!" screamed the captain. "Have you so littlenotion where you are, that you bellow like bulls? Is this yourdiscipline, when you should be as silent as cats in a kitchen,hellhound! And you, you coarse-throated devil, Beauty," he said as hekicked his dog, that had contributed to the chorus with a lo
udsympathetic howl, "you must be breaking the laws of service guard withyour infernal roar, like the other fools of the pack. Be still, puppy!"

  The clamor upon this rebuke ceased, and the bull-dog crouched again athis master's feet.

  "Isn't it time that we were at the ford? Oughtn't our friends to be nearat hand?" inquired Peppercorn.

  "Black Jack will give us notice," replied Habershaw. "Depend upon him. Ihave thought of everything like a man that knows his business. I havesent that rascal up the road, with orders to feel the enemy; and I'llundertake he'll clink it back when he once lays eyes on them, as fast asfour legs will carry him. But it is always well to be beforehand,Peppercorn. Learn that from me: I never in my campaigns knowed any harmdone by being too early. So, Master Orderly, call the roll."

  "Ready, sir; always ready when you command," answered Peppercorn. "ShallI call the ragamuffins by their nicknames, or will you have them handledlike christians."

  "On secret service," said Habershaw, "it is always best to use them totheir nicknames."

  "As when they go horse-stealing, or house-burning, or throat-cutting,"interrupted Peppercorn.

  "Order, sir, no indecencies! do you hear? Go on with your roll, if youhave got it by heart. Be musical, dog!"

  "Faith will I, most consummate captain! It is just to my hand: I'll singyou like a bagpipe. I have learnt the rollcall handsomely, and can gothrough it as if it were a song."

  "Begin then: the time is coming when we must move. I think I hear BlackJack's horse breaking through the bushes now."

  "Attention, you devil's babies, the whole of you!" shouted Peppercorn."Horse and gun, every mother's imp of you!"

  In a moment the idlers sprang to their weapons and mounted their horses.

  "Answer to your names," said the orderly; "and see that you do itdiscreetly. Pimple!"

  "Here," answered one of the disorderly crew, with a laugh.

  "Silence in the ranks!" cried Habershaw, "or, by the blood of yourbodies, I'll make my whinger acquainted with your hearts!"

  "Long Shanks."

  "Here! if you mean me," said another.

  "Good! Black Jack."

  "On patrole," said the captain.

  "Red Mug."

  "At the book," answered the man in the ranks; and here rose anotherlaugh.

  "Red Mug! do you mind me?" said Habershaw, in a threatening tone, as hiseye squinted fiercely towards the person addressed.

  "Platter Breech."

  "I'll stand out against the nickname," said the person intended to bedesignated, whilst the whole squad began to give symptoms of a mutiny ofmerriment. "I'll be d----d if I will have it, and that's as good as if Iswore to it. I am not going to be cajoled at by the whole company."

  "Silence! Blood and butter, you villains!" roared the captain. "Don'tyou see that you're in line? How often have I told you that it's againstdiscipline to chirp above a whisper when you are drawn out? Take carethat I hav'n't to remind you of that again! Andy Clopper, you will keepthe denomination I have set upon you. Platter Breech is a goodsoldier-like name, and you shall die in it, if I bid you. Go on,Orderly--proceed!"

  "Marrow Bone."

  "Here!"

  "Fire Nose."

  "Fire Nose yourself, Mister Disorderly!" replied another refractorymember, sullenly from the ranks.

  "Well, let him pass. That's a cross-grained devil," said the captain,aside to Peppercorn. "I'll bring that chap into order yet, the d----dmutineering back hanger! Pass him."

  "Screech Owl."

  "Here!"

  "That's a decent, good-natured Screech Owl," said Peppercorn. "ClapperClaw! Bow Legs!"

  "Both here."

  "They are all here, most comfortable Captain, all good fellows and true,and as ready to follow you into the belly of an earthquake as go tosupper, it is all the same to them."

  "Let them follow where I lead, Peppercorn; that is all I ask, saidHabershaw significantly.

  "You have forgot one name on your roll, Mister Orderly," said he who hadbeen written down by the name of Fire Nose.

  "Whose was that?"

  "You forgot Captain Moonface Bragger--captain of the squad."

  "Gideon Blake!" shouted Habershaw, with a voice choked by anger, untilit resembled the growl of a mastiff, whilst, at the same time, he drewhis sword half out of the scabbard. "Howsever, it is very well," hesaid, restraining his wrath and permitting the blade to drop back intoits sheath. "Another time, sir. I have marked you, you limb of atraitor. May all the devils ride over me if I don't drive a bulletthrough your brain if you ever unfringe my discipline again! Yes, youfoul-mouthed half-whig, I have had my suspicions of you before to-day.So look to yourself. A fine state of things when skunks like you can besetting up a mutiny in the service! Take care of yourself, sir, you knowme. Now, my lads, to business. Remember the orders I issued at theDogwood Spring, this morning. This Whig officer must be taken dead oralive, and don't be chicken-hearted about it. Give him the lead--givehim the lead! As to the lusty fellow that rides with him--big HorseShoe--have a care of him; that's a dog that bites without barking. Butbe on the watch that they don't escape you again. Since we missed themat the spring they have cost us a hard ride to head them here, so letthem pay for it. See that they are well into the ford before you showyourselves. Wait for orders from me, and if I fall by the fortune ofwar, take your orders from Peppercorn. If by chance we should miss themat the river, push for Christie's; Wat has taken care that they shallmake for that, to-night. If any of you, by mistake, you understand me,take them prisoners, bring them back to this spot. Now you have heard myorders, that's enough. Keep silent and ready. Mind your discipline.Black Jack is long coming, Orderly; these fellows must travel slow."

  "I hear him now," replied Peppercorn.

  In the next moment the scout referred to galloped into the circle. Hisreport was hastily made. It announced that the travellers were movingleisurely towards the ford, and that not many minutes could elapsebefore their arrival. Upon this intelligence Habershaw immediatelymarched his troop to the road and posted them in the cover of theunderwood that skirted the river, at the crossing-place. Here theyremained like wild beasts aware of the approach of their prey, andwaiting the moment to spring upon them when it might be done with theleast chance of successful resistance.

  Meantime Butler and Robinson advanced at a wearied pace. The twilighthad so far faded as to be only discernible on the western sky. The starswere twinkling through the leaves of the forest, and the light of thefire-fly spangled the wilderness. The road might be descried, in themost open parts of the wood, for some fifty paces ahead; but where theshrubbery was more dense, it was lost in utter darkness. Our travellers,like most wayfarers towards the end of the day, rode silently along,seldom exchanging a word, and anxiously computing the distance whichthey had yet to traverse before they reached their appointed place ofrepose. A sense of danger, and the necessity for vigilance, on thepresent occasion, made them the more silent.

  "I thought I heard a wild sort of yell just now--people laughing a greatway off," said Robinson, "but there's such a hooting of owls and pipingof frogs that I mought have been mistaken. Halt, Major. Let melisten--there it is again."

  "It is the crying of a panther, sergeant; more than a mile from us, bymy ear."

  "It is mightily like the scream of drunken men," replied the sergeant;"and there, too! I thought I heard the clatter of a hoof."

  The travellers again reined up and listened.

  "It is more like a deer stalking through the bushes, Galbraith."

  "No," exclaimed the sergeant, "that's the gallop of a horse making downthe road ahead of us, as sure as you are alive; I heard the shoe strikea stone. You must have hearn it too."

  "I wouldn't be sure," answered Butler.

  "Look to your pistols, Major, and prime afresh."

  "We seem to have ridden a great way," said Butler, as he concluded theinspection of his pistols and now held one of them ready in his hand."Can we have lost ourselves? Should we not hav
e reached the Pacoletbefore this?"

  "I have seen no road that could take us astray," replied Robinson, "and,by what we were told just before sundown, I should guess that wecouldn't be far off the ford. We hav'n't then quite three miles toChristie's. Well, courage, major! supper and bed were never spoiled bythe trouble of getting to them."

  "Wat Adair, I think, directed us to Christie's?" said Butler.

  "He did; and I had a mind to propose to you, since we caught him in atrick this morning, to make for some other house, if such a thing waspossible, or else to spend the night in the woods."

  "Perhaps it would be wise, sergeant; and if you think so still, I willbe ruled by you."

  "If we once got by the river-side where our horses mought have water, Ialmost think I should advise a halt there. Although I have made oneobservation, Major Butler--that running water is lean fare for a hungryman. Howsever, it won't hurt us, and if you say the word we will stopthere."

  "Then, sergeant, I do say the word."

  "Isn't that the glimmering of a light yonder in the bushes?" inquiredHorse Shoe, as he turned his gaze in the direction of the bivouac, "oris it these here lightning bugs that keep so busy shooting about?"

  "I thought I saw the light you speak of, Galbraith; but it hasdisappeared."

  "It is there again, major; and I hear the rushing of the river--we arenear the ford. Perhaps this light comes from some cabin on the bank."

  "God send that it should turn out so, Galbraith! for I am very weary."

  "There is some devilment going on in these woods, major. I saw a figurepass in front of the light through the bushes. I would be willing toswear it was a man on horseback. Perhaps we have, by chance, fallen onsome Tory muster; or, what's not so likely, they may be friends. I thinkI will ride forward and challenge."

  "Better pass unobserved, if you can, sergeant," interrupted Butler. "Itwill not do for us to run the risk of being separated. Here we are atthe river; let us cross, and ride some distance; then, if any one followus, we shall be more certain of his design."

  They now cautiously advanced into the river, which, though rapid, wasshallow; and having reached the middle of the stream, they halted toallow their horses water.

  "Captain Peter is as thirsty as a man in a fever," said Horse Shoe. "Hedrinks as if he was laying in for a week. Now, major, since we are herein the river, look up the stream. Don't you see, from the image in thewater, that there's a fire on the bank? And there, by my soul! there aremen on horseback. Look towards the light. Spur, and out on the otherside! Quick--quick--they are upon us!"

  At the same instant that Horse Shoe spoke, a bullet whistled close byhis ear; and, in the next, six or eight men galloped into the river,from different points. This was succeeded by a sharp report of fire-armsfrom both parties, and the vigorous charge of Robinson, followed byButler, through the array of the assailants. They gained the oppositebank, and now directed all their efforts to outrun their pursuers; butin the very crisis of their escape, Butler's horse, bounding under theprick of the spur, staggered a few paces from the river and fell dead. Abullet had lodged in a vital part, and the energy of the brave steed wasspent in the effort to bear his master through the stream. Butler fellbeneath the stricken animal, from whence he was unable to extricatehimself. The sergeant, seeing his comrade's condition, sprang from hishorse and ran to his assistance, and, in the same interval, the ruffianfollowers gained the spot and surrounded their prisoners. An ineffectualstruggle ensued over the prostrate horse and rider, in which Robinsonbore down more than one of his adversaries, but was obliged, at last, toyield to the overwhelming power that pressed upon him.

  "Bury your swords in both of them to the hilts!" shouted Habershaw; "Idon't want to have that work to do to-morrow."

  "Stand off!" cried Gideon Blake, as two or three of the gang sprangforward to execute their captain's order; "stand off! the man is on hisback, and he shall not be murdered in cold blood;" and the speaker tooka position near Butler, prepared to make good his resolve. The spiritof Blake had its desired effect, and the same assailants now turned uponRobinson.

  "Hold!" cried Peppercorn, throwing up his sword and warding off theblows that were aimed by these men at the body of the sergeant. "Hold,you knaves! this is my prisoner. I will deal with him to my liking.Would a dozen of you strike one man when he has surrendered? Back, yecowards; leave him to me. How now, old Horse Shoe; are you caught, withyour gay master here? Come, come, we know you both. So yield with a goodgrace, lest, peradventure, I might happen to blow out your brains."

  "Silence, fellows! You carrion crows!" roared Habershaw. "Remember thediscipline I taught you. No disorder, nor confusion, but take theprisoners, since you hav'n't the heart to strike; take them to therendezvous. And do it quietly--do you hear? Secure the baggage; andabout it quickly, you hounds!"

  Butler was now lifted from the ground, and, with his companion, wastaken into the custody of Blake and one or two of his companions, whoseemed to share in his desire to prevent the shedding of blood. Theprisoners were each mounted behind one of the troopers, and in thiscondition conducted across the river. The saddle and other equipmentswere stripped from the major's dead steed; and Robinson's horse, CaptainPeter, was burdened with the load of two wounded men, whose own horseshad escaped from them in the fray. In this guise the band offreebooters, with their prisoners and spoils, slowly and confusedly madetheir way to the appointed place of re-assembling. In a few moments theywere ranged beneath the chestnut, waiting for orders from theirself-important and vain commander.