Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency

by John Pendleton Kennedy

  CHAPTER XLVII.

  A COUNCIL OF WAR AT MRS. MARKHAM'S. THE SERGEANT SETS FORTH ON ANADVENTURE.

  We return to Mildred Lindsay, who, comfortably sheltered under the roofof Mrs. Markham, had found herself, after the repose of forty-eighthours, almost entirely reinstated in her former strength; her thoughtswere now consequently directed to the resumption of her journey. Thegentle and assiduous attentions of the family whose hospitality sheenjoyed, were, however, not confined to the mere restoration of herhealth. The peculiarity of her condition, thus thrown as she was amongststrangers, in the prosecution of an enterprise, which, though itspurpose was not disclosed to her entertainer, was one manifestly ofgreat peril, and such only as could have been induced by some urgent andimperious necessity, awakened in Mrs. Markham a lively interest towardsMildred's future progress. This interest was increased by the deportmentof our heroine herself, whose mild and graceful courtesy, femininedelicacy, and gentleness of nurture, were so signally contrasted withthe romantic hardihood of her present expedition. General Marion'sletter, also, in the estimation of the hostess, put her under a specialobligation to look after the welfare of her guest. Accordingly, now whenthe third morning of our travellers' sojourn had arrived, and Mildredthought of taking leave of the friendly family, the first announcementof this purpose was met by an almost positive prohibition.

  "You are young, my dear," said the matron, "in your experience of thehorrors of this civil war, and make a sad mistake if you think that yoursex, or any sufficient reason you may have to justify you in going on,will protect you against insult, in case you should be so unfortunate asto meet parties of the enemy."

  "My object, madam," replied Mildred, "is to go into the very heart ofthe enemy's ranks. My business is to see Lord Cornwallis himself. Ishall, therefore, proceed directly to his head-quarters. That being mypurpose, I shall not regret the opportunity to throw myself upon theprotection of the first band of loyal troops I may meet."

  "Into Lord Cornwallis's presence!" said Mrs. Markham, with an expressionof wonder. "You have some very near friend who has suffered in the latebattle--a prisoner, perhaps?" As this question escaped the lips of thelady, who had hitherto purposely forborne to inquire into the privatehistory of Mildred's journey, she shook her head distrustfully, and,after some deliberation, added, "You will pardon me, my child, for whatmay seem to be an idle curiosity--I seek to know nothing that you maydesire to keep secret--but your journey is so full of hazard to one soyoung and helpless as yourself, that I fear you have not wiselyconsidered the evil chances to which you may be exposed."

  "I have spent no thought upon the hazard, madam," replied Mildred."There is no degree of danger that should outweigh my resolution. Youguess truly--I have a friend who is a prisoner, and in sad jeopardy--andmore than that, dear madam, I have persuaded myself that I have power tosave him." A tear started in her eye as she added, "That is all I havethought of."

  "Then may a kind and merciful Heaven shield you! They little know theheart-rending trials of war, who have not felt them as I have. Theserude soldiers, Miss Lindsay--I shudder at the thought of your trustingyour safety to them."

  "My name, madam," replied Mildred, "I am ashamed to tell you, has allits associations on their side--I must trust to its power to bear methrough."

  "Not all, sister," interrupted Henry. "From the beginning up to thisday, I can answer for myself, I have never had a thought that didn'ttake sides against the red-coats."

  A faint smile played upon Mrs. Markham's features, as she turned toHenry and said, "You are a young rebel, and a warm one, I perceive. Suchtroubles as ours require grave advisers."

  "My brother and myself must not be misapprehended," continued Mildred;"I alluded only to my father's influence. I have heard that he enjoyssome consideration in the esteem of Lord Cornwallis, and it is upon thestrength of that I have ventured. Besides, I am well attended by acareful and wise soldier, who rides as my companion and guide--one whowould not quietly see me harmed."

  "Let him be brought into our consultation," said Mrs. Markham. "I wouldnot act without his advice. With your leave, I will send for him."

  Henry and Alfred Markham, immediately upon this hint, went in pursuit ofHorse Shoe.

  When that important and trusty personage arrived in the parlor, aregular conference was opened, which, after a few discourses on thegeneral aspect of affairs--wherein the sergeant showed an abundance ofsoldierly sagacity and knowledge, and a still greater share of warm andfaithful concern for the welfare of the sister and brother whom he hadin ward--resulted in the conclusion that measures should be taken toascertain the state of the country around, in reference to theimpression made by the late movements of Marion and his adversary; and,especially, what character of troops occupied the region over which thesergeant would be required to conduct his charge. This duty the sergeantvery appropriately considered as belonging to himself, and he thereforedetermined forthwith to set out on a reconnoitring expedition. As wepropose to bear him company, we will, for the present, leave the familyin the parlor to the enjoyment of the kind communion that had alreadynursed up a mutual affection between the hostess and her guests.

  The sergeant took his departure alone, notwithstanding the urgentimportunities of Henry and his new companion, Alfred Markham, forpermission to accompany him--a request that was utterly denied by thesturdy and cautious soldier.

  "You are apt to talk too much, Mister Lindsay," he said, in answer tothe petition of the young men, "for such a piece of business as I havein hand: for although, consarning your good sense, and valor both,considering your years, I would not be thought to speak rashly ofthem--but, on the contrary, to give you full praise andrecommendation--yet you know you want experience and use to theseduble-dealings and dodgings that the war puts us to; whereupon, youmought fall to talking when it was best to be silent, and, in case ofour meeting a body, to be letting out somewhat too much, which is athing that discommodes in war more than you would believe. And besidesthis, Master Henry, there might be, mayhap, a scrimmage, a chase, andwhat not--in which consideration you would be only in my way, seeingthat I should be obliged to be thinking of you when all my wits would bewanting for myself. No, no; upon no account is it reasonable that youshould be along. It is your business to sarve as a body-guard to ouryoung lady, who, I say, may God bless and take care of in this world andthe next! And so, Mister Henry, you have my orders to stick to yourpost."

  "Well, sergeant," replied Henry, "I must obey orders, and if you commandme to stay behind, why I cannot choose about it. But, sergeant, let megive you a word of advice. Ride cautiously--keep your eyes to the rightand left, as well as straight before you--and don't let them catch younapping."

  "You studied that speech, Mr. Henry!" said Horse Shoe, laughing. "Tohear you, one mought almost think you had shaved a beard from your chinbefore this. Look out, or your hair will turn grey from too hardthinking! and now, my long-headed fellow-soldier, good bye t'ye!"

  "You are not going without your rifle, Mr. Horse Shoe?" said Henry,calling out to the sergeant, who had already trotted off some twentypaces.

  "That's another consarn for you to ruminate over," replied Horse Shoe,in the same jocular mood. "Mine is a business of legs, not arms,to-day."

  The sergeant was immediately after this upon the highway, moving forwardwith nothing, seemingly, to employ him but cheerful thoughts.

  After riding for an hour upon the road that led towards Camden, he wasenabled to collect from the country people a rumor that some detachmentsof horse were, at this time, traversing the country towards Pedee, butwhether friends or enemies was not known to his informants. In followingup this trail of common report, his vigilance quickened by theuncertainty of the tidings, he arrived about mid-day at a brook which,running between low but sharp hills, was crossed by the road at a pointwhere a bold mass of rock, some twenty feet in height, jutted down witha perpendicular abruptness into the water. Here, as he stopped to surveythe narrow and winding course of the stream, his eye was
attracted bythe projecting crag that thrust its bulk almost into the middle of thechannel; and, for a moment, he indulged the speculation of a soldier, ashe pondered upon the military advantages of such a post, either as apoint from which to reconnoitre an enemy, or as a vantage-ground onwhich to dispute his passage of the ford. It not long afterwards fell tohis lot to turn this observation to some account.

  A mile beyond this spot, and where the road, as it yet crept through thebosom of the hills, was so obscured by forest as to afford not more thanfifty paces of uninterrupted view, his quick ear was struck with soundsresembling the tramp of horses. Upon this conviction, it was but theaction of an instant for him to turn aside into the woods and to take astation which might enable him to investigate the cause of his surmise,without exposing himself to the risk of detection. The noise grewlouder, and what was vague conjecture soon became the certain report ofhis senses. At the nearest turn in the road, whilst protected by ascreen of thicket, he could descry the leading platoons of a column ofhorse advancing at a slow gait; and upon examining his own position hebecame aware that, although the thicket might guard him from presentobservation, it would cease to do so as soon as the squadron shouldapproach nearer to his ground. His thoughts recurred to the rock at theford, and, with a view to avail himself of it, he forthwith commencedhis retreat through the underwood that guarded the road side, as fast asCaptain Peter could get over the ground. It was not long before he wasremoved beyond all risk of being seen by the advancing party, and hethus found himself at liberty to take the road again and retire withoutapprehension.

  In Horse Shoe's reckoning, it was a matter of great importance that heshould obtain the most accurate information regarding the troop that hehad just encountered; and his present purpose was, accordingly, to posthimself in a secure position upon the rock and there maintain a closewatch upon the party as they rode beneath it. The brook was gained, theford passed, and the sergeant, after riding a short circuit towards therear of the little promontory, dismounted from his horse, which hesecured in the depths of the wood, and then clambered to the top of theprecipice, where he had barely time to conceal himself amongst the cragsand the thick shrubbery that shot up above them, before the headmostfiles of the cavalry appeared descending the opposite hill.

  As the column came gradually into his view upon the road which wounddown into the valley, it disclosed a troop of some twenty men, whosegreen uniform sufficiently indicated the presence of a part ofTarleton's command. He heard them call a halt upon the bank, and after afew moments' rest, he saw them ride into the stream, and pass in filesaround the base of the rock.

  The passage of the brook occupied some time; for the thirsty horses weresuccessively given a slack rein as they entered the ford, and wereallowed to drink. This delay separated the platoons, and those who firstpassed over had advanced a considerable distance before the stragglersof the rear had quitted the stream. For some minutes that stir and noiseprevailed which, in a military party, generally attends the attempt torestore order amongst confused or broken ranks. The frequent commands ofofficers summoning the loiterers and chiding their delay, were givenfrom front to rear in loud tones, and the swift gallop of those who hadlingered in the stream, as they obeyed the order and hastened forward totheir places, sent forth a quick and spirited evidence of bustle, thatbroke sharply upon the silence of the surrounding forest. Theseindications of activity unfortunately pricked with a sudden astonishmentthe ear of one who has heretofore figured, not without renown, in thishistory--the lusty and faithful Captain Peter; who, not sufficientlyalive to the distinction between friend and foe, now began to snuff, andpaw the ground, and then with a long and clear note of recognition, toexpress his feelings of good fellowship towards the unseen strangers.Another moment, and the gay and thoughtless steed reared, plunged brokehis bridle, and bounded through the woods, with a frolicsome speed thatbrought him into the midst of the troop, where he wheeled up and tookhis place, like a disciplined charger, on the flank of one of theplatoons.

  This incident caused the officer in command of the party to come againto a halt, and to despatch a portion of his men to seek the owner of thehorse. An eager search commenced, which was almost immediatelyterminated by the wary sergeant presenting himself to the view of thetroop, on a prominent and exposed point of the rock, where he seemed tobe busily and unconcernedly engaged with his jack-knife, in strippingthe bark from the roots of a sassafras tree that grew out of one of thefissures of the cliff. Apparently, he gave no attention to the clamoraround him, nor seemed to show a wish to conceal himself from notice.

  "Who in the devil are you--and what are you about?" exclaimed theleading soldier, as he mounted the rock and came up immediately behindRobinson, who was still fixed with one knee upon the ground, plying hislabor at the root of the tree.

  "Good day, friend," said Robinson, looking up over his shoulder, "Goodday! From your looks you belong to the army, and, if that's true,perhaps you mought be able to tell me how far it is from here to theriver?"

  "Get up on your feet," said the other, "and follow me quickly! I willtake you to one who will oil the joints of your tongue for you, and putyou to studying your catechism. Quick, fellow, move your heavy carcass,or, I promise you, I will prick your fat sides with my sword point."

  "Anywhere you wish, sir, if you will only give me time to gather up thishere bark," said the sergeant, who, hereupon, heedless of theobjurgation of the trooper, deliberately untied the handkerchief fromhis neck, and spreading it out upon the ground, threw into it the piecesof bark he had been cutting, and then, taking it in his hand, rose andwalked after the soldier.

  He was conducted to the troop, who were waiting in the road the returnof the men that had been despatched on this piece of service.

  "Quick, quick, move yourselves! we have no time to lose," cried out theofficer in command of the detachment, as Horse Shoe and his guide camein view: and then, after an interval of silence, during which thesergeant walked heavily to the spot where the troop waited for him, headded with an impatient abruptness, "Make few words of it, sir. Yourname, where from, and where are you going?"

  "My name, captain--if your honor is a captain, and if I miscall you, Iax your honor's pardon: my name is--is--Stephen Foster, Steve mostcommonly."

  "Well, whence do you come?"

  "From Virginny."

  "Fool! why do you stop?"

  "You axed, I think, where I was going? I was going to get on my horsethat's broke his bridle, which I see you have cotched for me: and thenback to my young mistress, sir, that was taken sick over here at agentlewoman's house on Pedee. She thought a little sassafras tea mighthelp her along, and I was sent out to try and get a few scrapings of thebark to take to her. I suppose I must have rode out of my way a matterof some eight or ten miles to find it, though I told her that I thoughta little balm out of the garden would have done just as well. But womenare women, sir, and a sick woman in particular."

  "This fellow is more knave than fool, I take it, cornet," said theofficer to a companion near him.

  "His horse seems to have been trained to other duties than gatheringherbs for ladies of delicate stomachs," replied the other.

  "My horse," interrupted the sergeant, "would have broken clean off if ithadn't a been for your honor: they say he belonged to a muster inVerginny, and I was warned that he was apt to get rampagious when therewas anything like a set of sodgers nigh him, and that is about thereason, I expect, why he took it into his head to fall into yourcompany."

  "Get on your beast," said the officer impatiently, "you must go with us.If upon further acquaintance I form a better opinion of you, you may goabout your business."

  "I am somewhat in a hurry to get back to the lady."

  "Silence! Mount your horse, fall to the rear. Gilbert, attend to thisfellow, he musn't leave us," said the officer, as he delivered HorseShoe into the charge of one of the leaders of a platoon, and then putspurs to his steed and moved to the head of the column.

  It was in the afterno
on when this incident occurred; and Robinson foundhimself, during the remainder of the day, compelled to follow the troopthrough a series of by-ways across the country, in a direction of whichhe was wholly ignorant,--being also in the same degree unacquainted withthe object of the march. When the day closed they arrived at afarm-house, where it seemed to be their purpose to pass the night; andhere the sergeant, towards whom no unnecessary rigor had been exercised,was freely allowed to participate in the cheer provided for the party.This rest was of short duration; for, before the coming of the allottedbed-hour, a courier arrived, bringing a despatch to the leader of thedetachment, which produced an instant order to saddle and resume themarch.

  Once more upon the road, the sergeant became aware, as well as he wasable to determine in the dark, that the party during the night wereretracing their steps, and returning upon the same route which they hadbefore travelled.

  A half hour before the dawn found the troop ascending a long hill, thesummit of which, as Robinson perceived from the rustling of the bladesin the morning wind, was covered by a field of standing corn; and he wasenabled to descry, moving athwart the starlit sky, the figures of men onhorseback approaching the column. The customary challenge was given; amomentary halt ensued, and he could hear the patrole--for such theydescribed themselves,--informing the officer of the detachment thatColonel Tarleton was close at hand expecting their arrival. Thisintelligence induced an increase of speed which, after a short interval,brought the night-worn squadron into the presence of nearly a wholeregiment of cavalry.

  The troops, thus encountered, were stationed upon the high-road where itcrossed an open and uncultivated plain, the nearer extremity of whichwas bordered by the cornfield of which I have spoken. It was apparentthat the regiment had passed the night at this place, as a number ofhorses were yet attached to the fence that guarded the field, and werefeeding on the blades of corn that had been gathered and thrown beforethem. The greater part, however, were now drawn up in column of march,as if but recently arrayed to prepare for the toil of the coming day.

  Robinson was conducted along the flank of the column, and thence to aspot in the neighborhood, where a party of officers assembled by asylvan tent, constructed of the boughs of trees, showed him that he wasat the head-quarters of the commander of the corps. This tent waspitched upon a piece of high ground that afforded a view of the distanthorizon in the east, where a faint streak of daylight lay like thetraces of a far-off town in flames, against which the forms of men andhorses were relieved, in bold profile, as they now moved about in theearly preparations for their march.

  A single faggot gleamed within the tent, and, by its ray, Horse Shoe wasenabled to discern the well known figure of Tarleton, as he conferredwith a company of officers around him. After the sergeant had waited afew moments, he was ordered into the presence of the group within:

  "You were found yesterday," said Tarleton, "in suspiciouscircumstances--what is your name, fellow?"

  "I am called Stephen Foster by name," replied the sergeant, "being astranger in these parts. At home I'm a kind of a gardener to a gentlemanin Virginia; and it isn't long since I set out with his daughter to comehere into Carolina. She fell sick by the way, and yesterday, whilst Iwas hunting up a little physic for her in the woods, a gang of yourpeople came across me and fotch me here--and that's about all that Ihave got to say."

  A series of questions followed, by which the sergeant was compelled togive some further account of himself, which he contrived to do with anaddress that left his questioners but little the wiser as to his realcharacter; and which strongly impressed them with the conviction thatthe man they had to deal with was but a simple and rude clown.

  "You say you don't know the name of the person at whose house youstopped?" inquired the commander.

  "I disremember," replied Horse Shoe; "being, as I said, a stranger inthe parts, and not liking to make too free with axing after people'snames."

  "A precious lout, this, you have brought me, Lieutenant Munroe," saidTarleton, addressing the officer who had hitherto had the custody of thesergeant. "You don't _disremember_ the part of Virginia you lived in?"he added, pursuing his examination.

  "They have given it the name of Amherst," replied Horse Shoe.

  "And the father of Miss Lindsay, you say, resided there?"

  "Sartainly, sir."

  "There is a gentleman of that name somewhere in Virginia," saidTarleton, apart to one of his attendants, "and known as a friend to ourcause, I think."

  "I have heard of the family," replied the person addressed.

  "What has brought the lady to Carolina?"

  "Consarning some business of a friend, as I have been told," answeredHorse Shoe.

  "It is a strange errand for such a time, and a marvellous shrewdconductor she has chosen! I can make nothing out of this fellow. Youmight have saved yourself the trouble of taking charge of such a clod,lieutenant."

  "My orders," replied the lieutenant, "were to arrest all suspiciouspersons; and I had two reasons to suspect this man. First, he was foundupon a spot that couldn't have been better chosen for a look-out if hehad been sent to reconnoitre us; and second, his horse showed somemilitary training."

  "But the booby himself was stupid enough," rejoined the commander, "tocarry his passport in his face."

  "I have a paper, sir, to that purpose," said Horse Shoe, putting hishands into his pockets, "it signifies, I was told,--for I can't read ofmy own accord--that I mought pass free without molestification from thesodgers of the king--this is it, I believe, sir."

  "_To three suppers at the Rising Sun, four and six pence_," saidTarleton, reading. "Tush, this is a tavern bill!"

  "Ha, ha, so it is," exclaimed Robinson. "Well, I have been keeping thatthere paper for a week past, thinking it was my certificate--and, like afool, I have gone and tore up the t'other."

  "We are wasting time, gentlemen," said the commander. "Turn this fellowloose, and let him go his ways. But hark you, did you hear of a fightlately on Pedee, between some of our people and Marion--three days ago?"

  "They talked of such a thing on the river," replied Horse Shoe.

  "Well, and what was said?"

  "Nothing in particular that I can bear in mind."

  "Like all the rest we have tried to get out of him! You don't even knowwhich party got the better?"

  "Oh, I have hearn that, sir."

  "What did you hear? speak out!"

  "Shall I give you the circumlocutory account of the matter?" asked HorseShoe, "or did you wish me to go into the particulars?"

  "Any account, so that it be short."

  "Then I have hearn that Marion gave the t'other side a bit of abeating."

  "Aye, aye, so I suppose! Another tale of this Jack the Giant Killer! Andwhat has become of Marion?"

  "That's onbeknownst to me," replied Horse Shoe.

  "Do you remember the fool we met at the Waxhaws last May?" asked one ofthe officers present, of another. "This fellow might pass for a fullbrother in blood--only I think this clown has the less wit of the two."

  "As heavy a lump, certainly," replied the officer. "This, you say, isthe first time you have been in Carolina?"

  "To my knowledge," replied the sergeant.

  "It is broad day, gentlemen," said Tarleton; "we have been squanderingprecious time upon an empty simpleton. Give him his beast and let him begone. Sirrah, you are free to depart. But, look you, if I hear anyreports along the road of your having seen me, or a word about mycoming, I'll ferret you out and have you trussed upon a stake twentyfeet long."

  "Thank your honor," said Horse Shoe, as he left the tent. "I nevertroubles my head with things out of my line."

  Then seeking his horse he leisurely rode back by the way he had come;and as soon as he found himself beyond the outposts of the corps, heurged Captain Peter to as much speed as the late arduous duties of thegood beast left him power to exert.