Kitabı oku: «Corporal 'Lige's Recruit: A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga», sayfa 5
CHAPTER VII. TICONDEROGA
It was not necessary Farmer Beman should urge Corporal ’Lige to make haste in this matter which had been intrusted to him, for the old soldier understood full well how necessary it was that means of transportation for the troops should be at hand when the men arrived, and had good reason to believe that such task as was assigned him could not be readily performed.
He even showed himself more eager in the work than the farmer, for when the latter would have delayed in order to eat the noonday meal, the old man positively refused as he said:
“We can have dinner after Ticonderoga has been taken, but until then there must be no thought of rest. Although as I understand, detachments are to be sent to Skenesborough and Panton, it is not positive they can get boats from there to this point in time, and we must act as if believing the matter of transportation depended wholly upon ourselves.”
Had Nathan been there to witness the old man’s activity after some special work had been set for him, he might have changed his opinion about the corporal’s being an “imitation soldier.”
He walked here and there, tiring his companions almost to the verge of exhaustion, and yet apparently as fresh as when he began; but when the sun set he had only seventeen boats drawn up on the shore at that point where it was supposed the troops would halt, and Isaac believed there were absolutely no more within the radius of a dozen miles.
“I allow you’ve done your best, corporal,” Farmer Beman said as the three stood looking ruefully at the small number of boats, many of which would be loaded to the water’s edge with half a dozen men, “and it now stands us in hand to get supper, considerin’ we missed our dinner so completely.”
“There must be no time wasted. Let Isaac run up to the house for such provisions as your wife can spare, and we’ll set out in some other direction, for every craft that we add to this ’ere lot is jest so much gained.”
“You may set out in as many directions as you choose; but you will not find another boat this night,” Farmer Beman said decidedly, and with what was very like a show of ill-temper. “I’ve guided you to every place I know of, and if you are so headstrong as to keep on when there’s little show of accomplishing anything, you must go alone.”
“And that’s exactly what I shall do,” the corporal said emphatically. “Even though I knew nothing would be accomplished I should keep on workin’ until the force arrived, ’cause it isn’t for me to set down and say my task is finished.”
“If that’s your idea of soldierin’, then I’m mighty glad I haven’t enlisted,” and the farmer went deliberately to his home, convinced, as was his son, that the old corporal was not as well skilled in warfare as he would have it appear.
Even Isaac was disposed to protest against his teacher’s decision, and urged that it was little less than folly to think of adding to the fleet, for Farmer Beman had declared positively there were no more boats in the vicinity.
To this the corporal replied with some warmth, and there might have been a serious undermining of friendship had not Nathan arrived just at that moment.
“Well, is that all you’ve done this afternoon?” he asked sharply, and the corporal turned on him fiercely.
“Do you know of other boats?”
“Seems to me there’s more’n a hundred ’round here.”
“Where are they?”
Nathan began a list, mentioning this neighbor or that, and as often seeing among the collection the craft to which he referred, until finally he was forced to admit that to the best of his knowledge there were no more.
“I thought you knew of more than a hundred?” Corporal ’Lige cried fiercely.
“That’s what I reckoned myself; but when I come to figger ’em up they wasn’t there.”
“You come with us, an’ it may be we’ll find another.”
“What? After I’ve walked down to Castleton an’ back to-day, I go with you out rowin’? It’ll take more’n six shillings to hire me to do anything like that this night; besides you haven’t got time before the troops get here.”
“How near are they?” Corporal ’Lige asked in alarm.
“Well, they ought’er be showin’ up by this time, for I wasn’t five minutes ahead of ’em, and – there they are now!”
Nathan pointed to a group of men who had just come into the clearing from amid the thicket, and as the old man looked up one of the party motioned for him to approach.
Although Nathan had announced that he was nearly exhausted from his ardent labors, his weariness was not so great as his curiosity, and he followed the corporal and Isaac.
It was Colonel Arnold, Colonel Easton and the two representatives of the Connecticut Assembly, who had thus come into view, and the former, after explaining to Corporal ’Lige that the troops had been halted in the thicket lest they might be seen from the fort even in the gloom, asked concerning the means of transportation.
Chagrined though he was at his inability to do more, the corporal was forced to admit that he had hardly a sufficient number of boats to take over seventy-five or eighty of the men; but this the colonel did not at the time believe to be of great importance, for it seemed positive Captain Herrick from Skenesborough, and Captain Douglas from Panton, must before midnight send craft enough to transfer the entire force.
Therefore it was that the leaders of the party appeared well satisfied, and the corporal must have come to the conclusion that he had fretted himself without reasonable cause.
“You will remain in charge of the fleet,” Colonel Allen said to the old soldier, “with the boy to act as your lieutenant, and you may detail two men as oarsmen in each boat. We will set out as soon as the remainder of the craft arrives.”
Then it was that Nathan believed he saw an opportunity to add to his earnings of the day, and made the proposition that if the further sum of four shillings be paid him he would aid in ferrying the troops across, providing the work could be finished before midnight; but if it should be delayed until morning he desired to be paid twice that amount.
No one seemed disposed to take advantage of this very generous offer; now that his particular portion of the work had been done, it was very much as if every one save Isaac ignored him.
“That’s jest the way with these people from down ’round Bennington. They get all they can for the least money, an’ then throw you off. I ought to have held out for more’n six shillings when I took that Master Phelps, as you call him, over to the fort.”
“But you got paid very well,” Isaac suggested.
“Yes, so far as it went; but if I’d thought of all that’s going on I would have put up my price, or held out half-hired till the business was over.”
Now for the first time since their meeting did Corporal ’Lige’s pupil speak sharply to this friend.
“You should be ashamed to demand money for such work as you have done this day,” he said stoutly. “Whatever resistance be made to the king is for the benefit of all the colonies, and if each one insisted on being paid, as you’ve done, his majesty might work his will, for there would be none to say him nay.”
Young Beman was both surprised and injured by this outburst.
“That’s what I call pretty tough, after all I’ve done for you!” he cried sharply. “If it hadn’t been for me you wouldn’t have got over here and had a chance of staying all night in our house.”
“I didn’t have a chance without paying for it, as I understand Master Phelps is to settle with your father for our accommodations.”
“Yes, an’ just before I come away mother told me she thought as likely as not father’d be such a fool as to refuse to take a cent; but I ain’t goin’ to quarrel with you, even if I have been defrauded of what is my right. Come up to the house an’ get some supper, won’t you?”
“You mean that I shall partake of the food after I have helped you do the chores?”
“Well, yes, something like that. Of course you don’t expect to get your supper for nothing.”
“No; I’d rather go without than do more work now after tramping around all the afternoon. There’ll be something in the way of rations found in camp, an’ I’ll take my chances there.”
Young Beman turned away quickly as if angry with this new friend, and observing the movement Corporal ’Lige asked Isaac:
“What’s the trouble with yon skinflint? Haven’t been quarrelin’, eh?”
“I think I have seen enough of a lad who must be paid for all he does at such a time,” and having said this Isaac went in search of his supper, not minded to make further explanations.
Weary though he was, the lad was soon forced to aid the corporal in getting the boats’ crews together, and after it was fully dark those selected to act as oarsmen were marched to the water’s edge, that they might be in readiness when their services were required.
After this there was nothing to be done save await the coming of the expected craft.
The men were not allowed to build fires lest the lights should be seen by those in the fort, and so cautious was the leader that even loud talking was forbidden, therefore the men could do little else than spend the time in sleeping, a fact by no means disagreeable to the majority after their march of the day.
On the shore of the lake the oarsmen followed the example of their comrades in the woods, until all save the corporal and Isaac were wrapped in the unconsciousness of slumber.
The old soldier, considering himself responsible for the safety of the fleet, would neither lie down nor allow his young lieutenant to do so, and they paced to and fro on the sand keeping sharp lookout for the expected boats, but without avail.
Midnight came, and yet no word from either of the two detachments which had been sent in search of means of transportation.
Colonel Allen and Colonel Arnold, growing impatient because of the long delay, came to the shore, and Corporal ’Lige stood stiff as the barrel of his own musket when he saluted.
“How many can be taken in the boats you have here?” Colonel Arnold asked.
“Somewhere about eighty, sir, and if it so be you give the word we can ferry the whole party across in three trips.”
“That would never do,” Colonel Arnold replied decidedly. “We must go in a body or give up all hope of surprising the garrison.”
In this Colonel Allen was agreed, and the two officers remained near at hand, now pacing to and fro, and again listening intently for those sounds which would tell of the hoped-for arrival, until it lacked no more than two hours of daybreak, when they were joined by Master Phelps and Colonel Easton, the latter saying sufficiently loud for Isaac to distinguish the words:
“Unless such a move is made as may be possible with the means at our disposal, the plan of capturing the fort has come to naught, for it isn’t reasonable to suppose our party can remain in this vicinity throughout to-morrow without some intimation being given the commandant by those who live in the vicinity.”
What was evidently a conversation between the officers followed; but it was conducted in so low a tone that Isaac could not hear the words, and he remained near at hand expecting to receive the order to launch the boats, until Colonel Easton called him by name.
“You know where is situated the home of the lad who guided Master Phelps into the fort?”
“Oh, yes, sir; it is but a short distance from here.”
“Go you there, and bring the boy.”
“I question if he will come, sir, unless I make explanation of why he is wanted, or promise that he shall be paid for thus disturbing himself. He seems to have no thought save of money.”
“Yet, his father is with us in this matter, I am told, so far as opinion goes.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then go and rouse the lad; if he refuses to come, say to the father that Colonel Allen requires the services of the boy, and if he answers not what we make as a request, I will send a detachment to enforce a demand.”
Isaac obeyed promptly, not finding it a simple matter to make his way across the field in the darkness; but finally succeeding after one or two tumbles, each of which left their marks in the shape of a scratch or contusion, and with the first knock at the door he heard Farmer Beman’s voice asking as to who was there.
“It is Isaac Rice, sir, and Colonel Easton has sent me to say that Colonel Allen desires the attendance of Nathan at once.”
“What does he want him for?” the shrill voice of Mrs. Beman cried, and Isaac replied truthfully that he did not know, since no explanation had been made him.
Then could be heard the farmer, his wife, and son in what was evidently an altercation, until no less than five minutes had passed, at the end of which time young Nathan appeared in the doorway fully clad, as he asked impatiently:
“How much are they willing to give me for coming out in the night like this?”
“I think it would be well if you depended upon their generosity, otherwise it is in Colonel Allen’s power to force you to do as he asks,” Isaac replied curtly, and from the inside Farmer Beman shouted:
“Get you gone, boy, and do their bidding. If I again hear you demanding money for such services, your jacket shall be tanned with the stoutest hickory switch I can get hereabouts.”
One would have said young Beman was the most abused lad in the province of New York, as he followed Isaac down to the shore, alternately bewailing his ill-fortune because he had not given Captain Delaplace information of the coming of such a body of men, trusting to that officer’s generosity for a greater sum of money than was given him by Colonel Allen, and vehemently protesting he would not stir one step from the encampment without being well paid for his services. Colonel Easton, overhearing this threat, stepped directly in front of the grumbling lad and called for Corporal ’Lige, much to the surprise of both the boys, saying when the old soldier arrived:
“Corporal, it is Colonel Allen’s wish that this lad remain near him after we have landed on the other side, to show the way into the fort. He is not disposed to do so willingly, it seems, and it shall be your duty to see that the order be obeyed. If he attempts to escape, shoot him down; but give him gentle treatment so long as he complies with your requests.”
“I’ll take care of him, sir, that you may depend on,” the corporal said grimly, and from that instant Nathan Beman remained silent regarding his desire to be paid for acting the part of guide.
Because of having received this order the corporal was forced to relinquish his position as commodore of the fleet, and thus it was that he and his pupil were among the few who entered Ticonderoga early that morning.
Within five minutes after Nathan had apparently been subdued, word was passed for as many of the Green Mountain Boys as could be conveyed in the boats to embark at once, and almost at the same moment Colonel Easton, turning to the old man, said:
“It is your duty, Corporal ’Lige, to take passage in the same craft that carries our leader, for the lad of whom you have charge must be kept where Colonel Allen can speak to him at an instant’s notice.”
Had the men been allowed to follow their inclinations, the frail boats which formed the fleet would have been swamped even before they pushed off from the shore, for every member of the troop was eager to be with the first division, and it was only after considerable difficulty in the way of restraining the men that the different craft were properly and safely loaded.
When the corporal and the lad who was thus virtually held prisoner entered the boat where was Colonel Allen, Isaac followed as if it was his right so to do.
He could not fancy any position of affairs where he would be debarred from remaining with the man who had taken him “under his wing,” and it so chanced that in the excitement of embarking he passed aboard unheeded by who might have checked him.
The darkness of night was just giving way to the gray light of dawn when the little fleet put off from the shore, and without being really aware he did so, Isaac counted the number of those who were thus afloat.
Beside the officers, there were eighty-three, including himself and Nathan, and it was no longer reasonable to expect that those who had been sent to Skenesborough and Panton would arrive in time to be of assistance.
“Will they try to take the fort with so few?” he asked in a whisper of Corporal ’Lige, and the latter added emphatically:
“If all that is told of Colonel Allen be true, he wouldn’t hesitate to make an attempt single-handed.”
“But surely we cannot hope to do much, for fifty men behind a fort should be a much larger force than ours.”
“Savin’ and exceptin’ these men be surprised, as our leader counts them in Fort Ticonderoga will be,” the corporal replied, and then placed his finger on his lips that the lad should cease talking, for the order had been passed from boat to boat just before the fleet left the shore that no conversation be indulged in.
Nathan, sulky because of having been put in charge of the man whom he disliked, gave no apparent attention to anything.
In almost perfect silence the journey by water was made, and brought to an end just as the day was breaking, when, in obedience to signals rather than words, the men disembarked and were formed in three ranks close to the water’s edge.
Then it was that Colonel Allen advanced to where the men might hear when he spoke in the tone of ordinary conversation, and said with a calmness which in itself was impressive:
“There are but few of us here to undertake the work which was cut out; but yet each of you should be a match for any two whom we may meet. Should we delay until all the force can be ferried across, there will be no longer opportunity to surprise the garrison; therefore we must act for our comrades as well as ourselves, remembering that should we falter we cast shame on them also. Now, lads, it is my purpose to march into the fort, and I only ask that you follow where I lead.”
The officers stepped forward quickly to make certain there should be no cheering, and wheeling about with true military precision Colonel Allen started forward, Colonel Arnold by his side, and Corporal ’Lige with Nathan and Isaac directly in the rear.
Behind them came eighty of the Green Mountain Boys.
There was no command given.
Each of the men copied the movements of the leader, and noiselessly but rapidly they made their way up the heights toward the sallyport, Isaac’s face paling as he went, for he believed of a surety now was come the time when he should hear the clash of arms and find himself in the midst of combatants, each striving to take the other’s life.
On passing an angle at the rear of the fortification the entrance of a trench or covert-way was come upon and here they surprised a sentinel half asleep, leaning against the earthwork.
Awakened thus suddenly, and seeing what he might naturally suppose to be the advance guard of a large force directly upon him, he took hasty aim at Colonel Allen and pulled the trigger.
Involuntarily Isaac closed his eyes, believing their leader must be killed at such short range, but the weapon hung fire and the sentinel took to his heels through this trench, the attacking party following at full speed.
The fugitive led the way to the parade-ground within the barracks, where was found another sentinel, and he made a thrust with his bayonet at Colonel Easton, who was side by side with the leaders; but had hardly raised his weapon before a blow from the flat of Colonel Allen’s sword sent him headlong to the ground.
At this the men, unable longer to control themselves, gave vent to a tremendous shout, and without orders separated into two divisions, each bent on gaining possession of the barrack ranges.
As bees swarm out of their hives, so did the startled redcoats rush from the buildings, and it seemed to Isaac as if instantly each man appeared he was disarmed by one of the Green Mountain Boys, who, as fast as he secured a captive, marched him to the center of the parade-ground in order that he might not block up the entrance of the barracks.
Now was come the moment when Nathan’s services were required.
It was no longer possible to keep silence, for the shouts of the men must have aroused every one within the inclosure, and turning quickly, Colonel Allen cried in a loud voice:
“Get you before me with that lad, corporal and let him lead the way to the commandant’s quarters.”
Nathan did not require urging.
He understood that this man had come with serious purpose, and knew full well it might be dangerous for him to hang back.
Darting ahead as swiftly as the corporal would allow, he conducted Colonel Allen to the door of Captain Delaplace’s dwelling, and the leader gave three resounding knocks with the hilt of his sword, as he shouted:
“Surrender this fort, commandant! Surrender at once in order to save the lives of your men!”
The door was quickly opened in response to this demand, and a half-clad man, over whose shoulder could be seen the frightened face of a woman, appeared in the doorway.
Before he could speak Colonel Allen cried:
“I order you instantly to surrender, sir!”
“By whose authority do you make such demand?” the captain cried with dignity.
“In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!”
These words sounded in Isaac’s ears like the thunder of cannon, and even while he questioned to himself if it were possible this handful of men had really captured the fortress, Ticonderoga was surrendered.
