Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory Ascendency

by John Pendleton Kennedy

  CHAPTER XLVIII.

  AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR NOT UNFAMILIAR TO THE TIME.

  Breakfast was just over when Robinson was seen, from the windows of Mrs.Markham's parlor, pricking along the avenue that conducted to the frontof the mansion; and when he drew up his horse at the door, the familywere already assembled there to greet him. The plight, both of himselfand of his steed, was such as to tell the best part of his story--theyhad travelled far and seen rough service. The rest was supplied by thesergeant himself, who, before he moved from the spot where he haddismounted, gave a narrative of his adventures, which was listened towith great anxiety by the household.

  By the sergeant's reckoning, Mrs. Markham's residence could not be morethan twenty miles from the place where, at daybreak, he had encounteredthe British partisan, whom he had left with a full conviction that theexpedition then on foot was to be directed against the country lyingupon the river. These tidings spread consternation throughout themansion, and the morning was passed in all the confusion which such analarm might be supposed to produce. The fright of the females renderedthem irresolute, and incapable of attending to the most obviousprecautions necessary to meet the emergency.

  In this conjuncture, Robinson felt himself bound to assume the directionof affairs. At his suggestion, the plate and such other valuables aswere likely to attract the cupidity of a licentious soldiery, weresecreted in hiding-places sufficiently secure to defy a hasty search.The family was advised to assume the appearance of as much composure asthey could command; and the last and most emphatic injunction of thesergeant was, to provide an ample and various repast, in the hope thatthe ill-will of the visitants might be conciliated by the display ofgood cheer. All this was accordingly put into a train ofaccomplishment.

  In the midst of these precautions, the fears of the inhabitants of themansion were but too truly realized. It was scarcely noon when the longcolumn of Tarleton's cavalry was descried descending the high hills thatlay in the distance, and, soon afterwards, taking the road that led intothe plantation.

  Whilst the panic produced by this sight was still fresh the sound ofbugles and trumpets showed that the invaders had already turned theirsteps towards the dwelling, and the next view disclosed them deployingfrom a wood and advancing at a full trot. The quick beat of hoofs uponthe soil, and the jangling sounds of sabres shaken against the flanks ofthe horses, struck upon the terrified ear of the proprietress of theestate like the harsh portents of impending ruin; and in the despair andagony of her distress, she retreated hastily to her chamber, whither shesummoned her female domestics, and gave way to a flood of tears. She wasfollowed by Mildred, who, touched by the pervading disquiet of thefamily, participated in the alarm, and found herself overcome by aterror which she had never before experienced in all the scenes whichshe had lately gone through. Obeying the instinct of her present fears,our heroine cowered beside her weeping friend, in the midst of the groupof clamorous servants, and awaited in mute solicitude the coming events.

  The cavalry had turned aside and halted in front of a barn some distancefrom the dwelling-house, and a small party, consisting principally ofofficers attended by a sergeant's guard, were immediately afterwardsseen galloping up to the door. The air of exultation exhibited in theirmovement, their loud jocularity and frequent laughter, resembled theburst of gladsome riot with which a party of fox-hunters are wont toannounce the first springing of their game, and gave evidence of thefeelings of men who set little account upon the annoyance theythreatened to a peaceful and unoffending household.

  When the officers of the party had dismounted and entered the hall, thefirst person they encountered was Sergeant Robinson, who hadthoughtfully posted himself in view of the door; and now, with someawkward and ungainly bows and scraping of his feet across the floor,bade them welcome.

  "What," said Tarleton, who was at the head of the intruders, "have westumbled so soon again upon our shrewd and sensible ox! Wise MasterStephen Foster, well met! So you are the gentleman-usher to your goodfriend, Mrs. Markham! By my faith, the old lady is likely to have thehonors of her house well administered!"

  "Your sarvant, sir," said Horse Shoe, again bowing and scraping his footwith a look of imperturbable gravity. "Mought I ax your honor to stompas lightly upon the floor as you can? My young lady is sick upstairs--and much noise is apt to flurry her narves."

  "Tread daintily, gentlemen," said Tarleton, laughing, "for yourgallantry's sake! A lady's nerves are as delicate as the strings of aharp, and must not be rudely struck. The damsel's page here (pointing toHorse Shoe), puts down his foot like a most considerate elephant--softas a feather, you perceive; and I would by no means have you give soworshipful a master of courtesy cause to complain of you. As yourwisdom," he added, again addressing the sergeant, "has found out, bythis time, that you are in the house of Mrs. Markham, although you_disremembered_ that this morning, I suppose you can tell whether she isat home?"

  "I can answer you that she is at home, sir--that is, onless she has wentout sence I saw her, which is not likely, sir."

  "Then, present her Colonel Tarleton's respects, and say that he has cometo offer his duty to her."

  "I suppose by that, you are wishing to see the lady," replied thesergeant; "I'll let her know, sir."

  Robinson retired for a few moments, and when he returned he announced tothe commander that Mrs Markham was not willing to come from her chamber."But whatsomever your honor pleases to ax after, the lady promises youshall have," continued the sergeant.

  "Well, that's a condescension!--a good, comfortable lady! So, gentlemen,you see we are in luck; a broad roof over head--a larder well stored, Ihope--and a cellar not altogether empty, I think I may undertake topromise. Where are your waiting-men, my nimble Ganymede? You are asluggish oaf, fellow, not to see that soldiers must have drink!"

  Alfred and Henry now entered the hall, and the former approachingTarleton, said, with a firm but respectful tone:

  "My mother has before been visited by British troops, and she had solittle then to thank them for, except their departure, that the fear ofmeeting them again has greatly alarmed her. Our family, sir, has noolder man in it than myself--and out of regard to helpless women--"

  "That's enough, my pert lad," interrupted Tarleton; "I have heard ofyour good mother before; she is somewhat over ready in her zeal inbehalf of Marion's ragamuffins: and truly I think she is more squeamishthan she should be at the sight of a soldier, when she could look uponsuch hang-gallows knaves without shuddering. You have another man inyour house, I see (directing his eye towards Henry Lindsay, who hadseated himself in the hall)--and full as old, I take it, as yourself."

  "I wish I were a man of full age," said Henry, looking fearlessly at theBritish officer, and remaining fixed in his chair.

  "Why so, my gay sparrow-hawk?"

  "I would have disputed with you your right to enter this door."

  "These young cocks are all trained to show their game," said the Colonelto one of his companions. "Well, you are a fine fellow, and I should behappy to be better acquainted with you. A little too stiff, perhaps: butyou will learn better as you grow older. You should thank me for makingholiday in your school to-day."

  Here Robinson interposed before Henry could make the saucy reply hemeditated, by announcing that the company would find some cool water anda supply of spirits in the adjoining room. "Besides," he added, "I havetold the house-folks to make ready somewhat in the way of victuals, as Ijudged you mought be a little hungry."

  "Not badly thought of, Mr. Ajax!" said one of the officers, as the partynow crowded into the room.

  "Don't forget Stephen Foster," whispered Robinson, by way of admonitionin regard to his assumed character, as he passed by the chair whereHenry was sitting. "And keep a civil tongue in your head."

  Henry nodded compliance, and then, with Alfred, left the hall, whilstthe sergeant repaired to the refreshment room to offer his officiousattentions to the quests.

  Meanwhile, the ladies still kept to their cham
ber, ever and anon gazingout at the window with a solicitous and unhappy interest, andoccasionally receiving the highly-colored reports of the servants, who,as often as any new subject of wonder or fear occurred to them, wereplying backwards and forwards between the apartment and the head of thestair-case.

  After an interval of half an hour, during which the uncouth din oflaughter, of loud oaths, and of the careless swaggering of the partybelow, rose with a harsh note to the ear of the hostess and hercompanion, these sounds abruptly ceased, and it was evident that thevisitors had quitted the house. It was with an emotion of delight thatMrs. Markham, from the window, beheld Colonel Tarleton and his comradesgalloping towards the main body of his troops that awaited him near thebarn; but, on repairing to the hall, this sudden gleam of satisfactionwas as suddenly clouded, when the matron perceived a sentinel posted atthe front door. As soon as she came within speech of this functionary,he threw up his hand to his brow, as he said: "The colonel commanded meto make his compliments to the ladies, and asks the honor of theircompany at dinner."

  "Colonel Tarleton forgets himself," said Mrs. Markham, with a statelyreserve that showed she had now dismissed her fears; "a brave soldierwould hardly think it a triumph to insult unprotected females."

  "He is here to speak for himself, madam," replied the sentinel, asTarleton at this moment returned to the door.

  The lady of the house, thus taken by surprise, firmly stood her ground,and awaited in silence the accost of the officer. Tarleton was somewhatdisconcerted by this unexpected encounter. He had entered with a hurriedstep, but the moment he was aware of the presence of the dame, he haltedand removed his cap from his head, as he made a low obeisance.

  "I am too happy, madam," he said, "in the persuasion that you haveovercome your unnecessary alarm at this visit; and feel pleased to beafforded an opportunity of making my respects in person."

  "I can conceive no sufficient reason, Colonel Tarleton, why adefenceless house like mine should provoke the visit of such a host ofarmed men."

  "Your house, madam, has some fame upon this border for goodentertainment. It fell in my way, and you will excuse me for the freedomof saying, that I boast myself too much of a cavalier to pass it byunmarked by some token of my regard. Besides, I may add without meaningto be rude, our necessities in the article of forage, madam, are quiteas great as General Marion's, who, I understand, does not scruplesometimes to take his contribution from you."

  "I should more readily excuse your visit," replied the lady, "if youwould time it when General Marion was levying his contribution. Youmight then adjust your right to the share you claim. This house isyours, sir; and it is not fit that I should remain to debate with youyour claim to dispose of whatever you may find in it."

  "Why, what a musty and wrinkled piece of insolence is here!" mutteredthe angry soldier, clenching his teeth under this rebuke as the matronwithdrew. "Well, let the crones rail and the maidens weep their fill!the border is mine, and merrily will I hold it, and blithely will Ilight up the river, too, before I leave it! Curse on these free-spokenwomen! Who says they are defenceless with that supple weapon that Godhas given them? What ho, you bag of chaff--booby--Foster--I say! Lookyou; have you all the provisions in the house set out upon thetables--and don't spare your peach brandy, which we have alreadytasted--you have more of it. So let us have the best; I shall feast witha good will to-day, and I will do it plentifully, or your ears shall becropped."

  "Everything in the kitchen, sir, is going on at a gallop," said HorseShoe; "and as for the drinkables, your honor shall command the house tothe last jug."

  "Then bestir yourself, for I am in no mood to tarry."

  In a brief lapse of time an abundant board was spread, and the leadersof the corps, consisting of some twenty or thirty officers of all ranks,were gathered around it. A scene of uproar succeeded that resounded tothe roof with the unfeeling and licentious mirth of those engaged in thecarouse.

  When they had eaten and drunk their fill, the greater portion of theguests were assembled at the front door. From this position there wasto be seen, at no great distance, a small inclosure of not above tenfeet square, constructed with a dark paling, above which a venerablewillow drooped its branches. Towards this inclosure some five or six ofthe revellers repaired, to gratify an idle and, at present, a maudlincuriosity. When they arrived here, they leaned across the paling to readthe inscription upon a stone that seemed but recently to have beenplaced there. It was a simple memorial of the death of Colonel Markham,of the Carolina militia, which was recorded to have taken place buteighteen months before on the Savannah river in an engagement with thetroops under General Prevost. To this was added, in the spirit of thetimes and in accordance with the sentiments of the Whig leaders in thewar of independence, a bitter expression of censure upon the barbarousdisposition of the enemy, couched in homely but earnest phrase, andspeaking the hate of the survivors in the same sentence that commendedthe virtues of the dead.

  It was an unpropitious moment for such a tablet to meet the eye of thosewho gazed upon it; and when it was read aloud by the captain of a troop,whose natural temper, rendered savage by the rudeness of the war, wasalso at this moment exasperated almost to intoxication by the freedom ofthe table, he vented his curses in loud and coarse rage against thememory of him to whom the stone was dedicated. This fire of passionspread through the group around the tomb, and each man responded to thefirst execration by others still deeper and more fierce. Proclaiming theinscription to be an insult, they made an attack upon the paling, whichwas instantly demolished, and, seizing upon the largest stones at hand,they assailed the tablet with such effect as soon to break it in pieces;and then, with a useless malice, applied themselves to obliterating theinscription upon the fragments. Whilst engrossed with the perpetrationof this sacrilege, their attention was suddenly aroused by the nearreport of a pistol, the ball of which, it was discovered, had struckinto the trunk of the willow.

  "I will kill some of the scoundrels, if I die for it!" was theexclamation heard immediately after the shot, and Alfred Markham wasseen struggling with an officer who had seized him. The young man hadbeen observed and followed, as he madly rushed from a wing of themansion towards the burial-place, and arrested at the moment that hewas levelling a second pistol.

  "Henry, shoot him down!" he screamed to his companion, who was nowapproaching armed with his carbine.

  "Let me go, sir! I will not see my father's tomb disturbed by ruffians."

  "Loose your hands!" cried Henry, directing his passionate defiance tothe individual who wrestled with Alfred, "loose your hands, I say, or Iwill fire upon you!"

  "Fire at the drunken villains around my father's grave!" shouted Alfred.

  "They shall have it," returned Henry, eagerly, "if it is the last shot Iever make." And with these words the youth levelled his piece at thesame group which had before escaped Alfred's aim, but, luckily, thecarbine snapped and missed fire. In the next instant Horse Shoe's broadhand was laid upon Henry's shoulder, as he exclaimed, "Why, MasterHenry, have you lost your wits? Do you want to bring perdition andcombustion both, down upon the heads of the whole house?"

  "Galbraith Robinson, stand back!" ejaculated Henry. "I am not in thehumor to be baulked."

  "Hush--for God's sake, hush!--foolish boy," returned Robinson with realanger. "You are as fierce as a young panther--I am ashamed of you!"

  By this time the whole company were assembled around the two young men,and the violent outbreak of wrath from those at whom the shot was aimed,as well as from others present, rose to a pitch which the authority ofTarleton in vain sought to control. Already, in this paroxysm of rage,one of the party, whose motions had escaped notice in the confusion ofthe scene, had hurried to the kitchen fire, where he had snatched up aburning brand, and hurled it into the midst of some combustibles in anarrow apartment on the ground floor.

  The clamor had drawn Mrs. Markham and Mildred to the chamber window, andwhilst they looked down with a frightened gaze upon the confused scene
below, it was some moments before they became aware of the participationof Henry and Alfred in this sudden and angry broil. Mildred was thefirst to discern the two young men as they were dragged violentlyacross the open space in front of the mansion by the crowd, and to hearthe threats with which this movement was accompanied.

  "Merciful Heaven!" she exclaimed, "they have laid hands upon Henry andAlfred--they will kill my brother, my dear brother!" Almost frantic atthe danger that threatened Henry and his companion, she fledprecipitately down the stair-case, and in a moment stood confronted withColonel Tarleton and his soldiers.

  "Never fear, sister," cried out Henry, who was already brought into thehall, as he saw Mildred descending the stairs. "Don't be alarmed foreither Alfred or me. We are ready to confess what we did and why we didit--and Colonel Tarleton, if he is a true man, will not dare to say wedid wrong."

  "I charge you, Colonel Tarleton," said Mildred with a firm but excitedvoice, "as the soldier of a Christian nation, to save the people of thishouse from an inhuman and most wicked outrage. I implore you as anofficer who would be esteemed valiant--and as a gentleman who would flyfrom dishonor--to rescue your name from the disgrace of this barbarousviolence. For the sake of mercy--spare us--spare us!"

  As she uttered this last ejaculation her spirit yielded to the vehemenceof her feelings, and she flung herself upon her knee at the feet of thecommander. "Oh, sir, do not let harm fall upon my brother. I know notwhat he has done, but he is thoughtless and rash."

  "Mildred," said Henry, immediately rushing to his sister, and liftingher from the floor, "why should you kneel before him, or any man here?This is no place for you--get back to your room." Then turning toTarleton, he continued, "Alfred Markham and I tried to shoot down yourmen, because we saw them breaking the tomb. If it was to do over againour hands are ready."

  "They have insulted the memory of my father," exclaimed Alfred,"trampled upon his grave, and broken the stone that covers him--I aimedto kill the drunken coward who did it. That I say, sir, to your face."

  Tarleton, for a space, seemed to be bewildered by the scene. He lookedaround him, as if hesitating what course to pursue, and once or twicemade an effort to obtain silence in the hall; but the tumult of manyvoices in angry contention still continued. At last he presented hishand to Mildred, and with a courteous action conducted her to a chair,then begged her to calm her fears, as he promised her that no evilshould befal either of the young men whose indiscreet tempers hadoccasioned the present uproar.

  "In God's name! have they fired the dwelling?" he exclaimed, as at thismoment a volume of smoke rolled into the hall. "What ho, there! O'Neal,McPherson. Look where this smoke comes from, and instantly extinguishthe fire! Stir yourselves, gentlemen. By my hilt, if any follower ofmine has been so wild as to put a torch to this house, I will hang himup to the ridge-pole of the roof! Look to it--every man! Quick,quick--there is danger that the flames may get ahead."

  In an instant nearly every soldier in the hall departed in obedience tothis order.

  "I beg, madam," Tarleton continued, "that you will dismiss your alarm,and rest upon my pledge that no inmate of this house shall be harmed. Iconjecture that I have the honor to speak to Miss Lindsay--I have beeninformed that that lady has lately found shelter under this roof."

  "It is my name, sir--and as the daughter of a friend to your quarrel,let me conjure you to see that this house is safe; I cannot speak withyou until I am assured of that."

  At this juncture, Mrs. Markham was observed at the head of the firstflight of stairs, pale with affright, wringing her hands, and utteringloud ejaculations of terror and grief as she made her way down to thehall:

  "Oh, sir," she said, as she approached the commander, "we are harmlesswomen, and have done nothing to call down this vengeance upon us. Takewhat you will--but spare my roof and save my family! God will reward youeven for that act of humanity to a desolate widow."

  Before Tarleton could reply to the matron, a party of officers camehastily into his presence, at the head of whom was Captain O'Neal, whoreported that the fire was extinguished.

  "One of the mess, to-day," he said, "heated with drink and roused by thefoolish temper of these hot-headed boys, threw a blazing billet into acloset. Luckily, we reached the spot before any great harm was done. Thechaps should be switched, and taught better manners. It was a sillyaffair and might have made mischief."

  "See that the offender be arrested," replied Tarleton, "I will takemeasures to curb this license. These meddling youngsters, too--however,I can't blame them, they had provocation, I confess--and this war givesan edge to all the metal of the country. Instead of pop-guns now everybaby has his powder and ball--dismiss the boys. To your post, captain,and order every man to join his company. Now, madam," he added in a toneof conciliation to Mrs. Markham, as soon as the hall was cleared, "I amsure you will not accuse me of incivility. My people have withdrawn--thefire is extinguished--these inconsiderate lads at liberty: have Ianswered your wish?"

  "You have won the gratitude of a mother," replied the dame, "and therespect of an enemy. I am bound to say to you, in return, that Icheerfully surrender to you whatever you may choose to take from myestate for the supply of your soldiers. Alfred, my son, give me yourarm, and help me to my chamber--I am feeble and faint. I must ask yourpermission to withdraw," she continued, as she courtesied to Tarleton,and ascended the stairs.

  "And I, too, must take my leave," said Tarleton. "But before I go I mayclaim the privilege of a word with Miss Lindsay. You spoke of yourfather, madam? and, especially, as a friend of our arms. I have beentold he lives in Virginia, Philip Lindsay, the proprietor of a seatcalled 'The Dove Cote,' a royalist too--am I right?"

  "So, my father is known, sir."

  "That name has stood you in stead to-day, madam. And this is yourbrother? I should think he is hardly of your father's mind in regard toour quarrel. This way, my thoughtless young gallant! It was a wild,bold, and very conceited thing of you to be challenging my unrulydragoons--and would have been no less so, if you had had twenty score oftall fellows at your back. But it is past now, and you need notapologize for it--it showed mettle at least, and we never quarrel with aman for that. May I inquire, Miss Lindsay, in what direction youtravel? for I learn you are but a sojourner here. It may be in my powerto insure your safe-conduct."

  "I seek your general, Lord Cornwallis, on matters of private concern,"replied Mildred, "and if I might venture to ask it of Colonel Tarleton,his service in affording me an unquestioned passage, would be a favorthat I should gratefully acknowledge."

  "The obligation will be on my side, madam. It will be a pleasure to meto believe that I can serve a lady, much more the daughter of anhonorable subject of the king. Permit me, without further parley, fortime presses at this moment, to say that I will leave an escort behindme under the command of a trusty officer, who will wait your pleasure toconduct you, by the safest and easiest journey to head-quarters. Yourcommands, madam, shall in all respects regulate his motions. Mycommunications with his lordship shall announce your coming. Now, MissLindsay, with my best wishes for your safety and success, I take myleave; and, as a parting request, I venture to hope you will do me thejustice to say, that Tarleton is not such a graceless sinner as hisenemies have sometimes been pleased to represent him."

  These last words were accompanied by a laugh, and a somewhat bluffcourtesy, as the speaker swayed his rigid and ungainly figure into asuccession of awkward bows by which he retreated to the door.

  "I shall be happy on all occasions," replied Mildred, whilst the soldierwas thus strenuously playing off the graces of a gallant, "to do justiceto the kindness which I have experienced at Colonel Tarleton's hands."

  "There, Mildred," said Henry, when Tarleton had disappeared, "you seethings have gone very pat for us. That comes of letting these fellowssee who they have to deal with. A little powder and ball is a goodletter of recommendation to the best of their gang. If my carbine hadn'tmissed fire to-day, Tarleton would have been short by one b
ottle-holder,at least, when he set out to steal liquor from the country cupboards."

  "It has ended well, brother," replied Mildred, "but it does not becomeyou to boast of what you have done. It was a rash and dangerous deed,and had nearly brought ruin upon this friendly family."

  "Tut, sister! you are only a woman. You wouldn't have found the colonelso civil if we hadn't taught him to look after his men."