Kitabı oku: «Corporal 'Lige's Recruit: A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga», sayfa 6
CHAPTER VIII. AN INTERRUPTION
Nathan, who had looked upon the men under Colonel Allen much as he had Corporal ’Lige, was literally amazed by this ready submission of the king’s troops, standing silent and motionless by the side of Isaac as the garrison was paraded without arms, and the surrender made in due form.
Some days afterward Isaac learned that the spoils of war at this place were one hundred and twenty iron cannon, fifty swivels, two ten-inch mortars, one howitzer, one cohorn, ten tons musket-balls, three cartloads flints, thirty gun-carriages, a quantity of shells, a large amount of material for boat building, one hundred stand of small arms, ten casks of powder, two brass cannon, thirty barrels of flour and eighteen barrels of pork.
Forty-eight soldiers were surrendered and preparations were at once begun to send these, together with the women and children, to Hartford.
Hardly was the surrender made complete when such of the troops as had been left on the opposite shore under Seth Warner, arrived in a schooner, much to the surprise of all, until it was learned that Captain Herrick, who had been sent to Skenesborough to seize the son of the governor, had succeeded in his mission without bloodshed.
He took not only the young major, but twelve negroes and attendants, seized the schooner owned by the elder Skene, and had come down the lake in the early morning with the hope of aiding in the capture of Ticonderoga.
Isaac had supposed this victory would end the adventure, and was saying to himself that his experience had been rather pleasing than otherwise, so much so in fact that he almost regretted the time was near at hand for him to return home, when he saw, much to his surprise, a portion of the troops being formed in line as if to leave Ticonderoga.
Corporal ’Lige had been assigned to the task of overhauling the goods in the warehouse for the purpose of making out a list of the same, and it was to him that Isaac, followed by Nathan, went for information.
“Forming in line, eh?” the old man asked as, wiping the perspiration from his face, he went outside to have a look around, and instantly he noted the preparations which were making, turned back to his work as if it was of but little concern.
“What is the meaning of that, corporal?” Isaac suggested. “Are we going back without having stayed here a single day?”
“There will be no turnin’ back, lad, until the work is finished, and the fort at Crown Point yet remains to be taken. I allow Seth Warner is goin’ to tackle that job, which won’t be a difficult one, since it is said there are not above a dozen men in the garrison.”
“Suppose you an’ I go with ’em?” Nathan suggested, now no longer eager to demand money for his services; but, fired by what he had seen, and burning to participate in new conquests.
“What do you say, corporal?” Isaac asked, feeling that it was necessary to gain the old man’s permission before he could join in the adventure.
Again Corporal ’Lige went to the door of the warehouse, looking about him with the air of a weather-prophet, after which he replied in a careless tone:
“I don’t reckon it makes any difference whether you lads are here or sailin’ ’round the lake, therefore if Seth Warner gives his permission, you may go so far as I am concerned; but it’ll be only a question of whifflin’ from one point to another, for while the wind holds in this direction I’m allowin’ none of the force will reach Crown Point.”
“The wind is likely to haul ’round after sunset, so let us take our chances,” Nathan whispered, and Isaac was not loth to embark.
Therefore the two started across the parade-ground for the purpose of speaking with the old hunter – Seth Warner – when Captain Herrick, who had just made his report of the night’s work at Skenesborough, halted the boys by saying:
“I reckon you two lads are the ones Colonel Allen would speak with at once? You will find him in the commandant’s quarters.”
“He is most likely thinkin’ of payin’ me for comin’ over last night,” Nathan said as the two turned to obey the command, “and I have made up my mind not to take money for the service.”
Isaac looked at his companion in surprise, and the latter added almost shame-facedly:
“I reckon father was right when he said every one in the colonies should do all he could in this cause, and, besides, it looks to me as if the king’s troops would speedily get the worst of it.”
Young Beman was not unlike many in the neighborhood who in after-days were royalists or patriots as the cause of freedom grew weak or strong.
However, Nathan had no opportunity to refuse a payment of money for his services, for when the lads stood before Colonel Allen, the latter said in a tone of command, and yet with the air of one asking a favor:
“I want to send a messenger to Sudbury. Do you think you can find the place, Isaac Rice?”
“I will show him the way, sir,” Nathan said promptly, and the colonel favored him with a glance of surprise, but took no further heed of his sudden complaisance.
“At that settlement you will find one Captain Remember Baker; tell him what has been done at this point, and say it is my wish he join me here without delay. Select the lightest boat you can find for crossing the lake, and make all haste.”
Then the colonel turned away, intent upon the work of preparing a list of the garrison which had surrendered, and some of his officers entering for further instructions prevented the boys from making any inquiries concerning the mission.
On leaving the quarters, Nathan, eager to serve this new commander of the fort with all possible celerity, would have hastened at once to the shore in order to set out, but that Isaac insisted upon giving Corporal ’Lige due information as to their proposed movements, much to the displeasure of young Beman, who claimed that the old soldier was of no account when the colonel had given orders.
“Well, this one is,” Isaac said stoutly. “He’s a good friend of mine, and I wouldn’t think of leavin’ without first tellin’ him, no matter whose orders I was obeying.”
“Well, I s’pose you must have your own way, but the time will come when you won’t think so much of that pig-headed old man as you do now.”
To this ill-natured remark the lad did not reply, but on presenting himself to Corporal ’Lige and explaining what he was about to do, the latter, still busy with his work of taking account of the stores, made very much the same remark as had Nathan.
“Don’t consider, lad, that you are to report to me when ordered on duty. Be careful of yourself; do not run into danger needlessly, and get you gone without delay, for Colonel Allen is a man who doesn’t take kindly to loiterers.”
Nathan showed himself to be one who could perform a task promptly and in good order when it suited his pleasure so to do.
He it was who selected the boat in which they were to cross the lake; borrowed a musket from one of the men that he might not be forced to make the journey weaponless, and succeeding in begging such an amount of provisions as would serve them for dinner.
While these few preparations were being made, Warner, with a detachment of twenty five men from Colonel Allen’s regiment, put off on his journey to Crown Point, and after watching them a moment Nathan Beman said in a tone of one who is satisfied with himself:
“It’s jest as well we didn’t have a chance to go with that crowd, for they won’t get anywhere near there until the wind changes, and it seems as though whoever is in charge of the job, ought to know it.”
“I suppose the plan is to take the fort by surprise, as was this one, and unless our people get there soon, it will be a failure, because the news of what has been done here must fly over the country quickly.”
“While the wind blows this way, and so strong, no one will get up the lake, therefore the garrison won’t learn of the surrender of Ticonderoga unless some one goes across the country. However, we needn’t bother, seein’s our work is all cut an’ dried, and we had better not waste too much time here.”
Isaac was beginning to entertain a very friendly feeling toward this lad now that he had changed his views so entirely regarding the value of his services, and, as a matter of course, Nathan could be a most pleasing traveling companion when it suited his purpose, as it did at present.
The journey to Sudbury proved to be a longer one than was anticipated.
A strong wind which blew directly down the lake, carried the boys fully two miles below the point at which they should have landed, and Nathan was much averse to following back along the shore in order to gain the trail which led to Sudbury.
“It will be just that much useless labor,” he said emphatically, “and I am not given to walking more than may be necessary.”
“But there’s a chance of going astray if we strike across from here,” Isaac suggested, for, as has already been shown, he knew little of woodcraft, and this traveling blindly around a section of the country where there was every reason to believe enemies might be found was not to his liking.
“I’d be a mighty poor sort of a guide if I couldn’t go across from here without straying from the course so much as a dozen yards,” Master Beman said decidedly. “To walk up the shore two miles or more only for the purpose of striking the trail, is foolishness.”
“But the thicket is so dense here,” Isaac suggested timidly, almost fearing to venture an opinion lest he should provoke the mirth of his companion. “It will be harder to make our way through than to go around.”
Nathan made no reply.
He bestowed upon Corporal ’Lige’s recruit a glance as of pity, and then, without further words, plunged into the underbrush.
Master Rice could do no less than follow.
Before the boys had traveled half an hour on the direct course to Sudbury, it is more than probable young Beman repented of having attempted to make a “short cut,” for the advance was indeed difficult.
At times it was really painful to force one’s way through the tangled foliage, while now and again the boys found themselves floundering over swampy land; but Nathan made no complaint because he was responsible for having taken such a course, and Isaac hardly dared protest lest his companion should be angered.
“I still maintain that it was better to come this way than travel two miles in vain,” Nathan said as he threw himself upon the ground, and Corporal ’Lige’s recruit ventured to suggest mildly:
“I’d rather walk three miles on the shore than one here, where a fellow is obliged to fight his way through.”
“Perhaps you know this country better than I do, and would take the lead?”
“Not so. You left Ticonderoga as guide, and it would not be seemly in me, who am a stranger here as well as a lad unaccustomed to this sort of warfare which is now being conducted, to do other than follow your lead; but – ”
The remark which was intended to soothe the irritation in the guide’s breast was not concluded, for Isaac was interrupted by the sudden and unexpected appearance of three men, who came upon the boys as if from an ambush.
“Hullo!” Master Beman cried carelessly as if something in the way of a salutation was expected from him.
Instead of replying to this hail the two lads were seized roughly, and without a word the strangers, taking possession of the musket, began searching the messengers’ clothing as if expecting something of value or importance would be found.
“Look here! What are you about?” Nathan cried angrily, while Isaac submitted in silence, for he understood that these three might be enemies to the cause. “What do you mean by handling me in this shape?”
“Better keep your tongue between your teeth, young Beman,” one of the men said in a surly tone. “When we ask for information there’ll be time enough for you to wag it so freely.”
Surprised at having been thus recognized, and heedless of the warning, Nathan continued:
“Who are you? I never saw you before! What right have you to handle me in this fashion?”
“The right of any of his majesty’s subjects, for in these times it is well to overhaul every rebel one runs across.”
“I’m no rebel!” Nathan cried, now exhibiting signs of alarm.
“Your father is, which amounts to the same thing,” the man replied, as, after having satisfied himself the lad had nothing concealed about his person, he rose to his feet. “Why are you abroad to-day?”
“How long since is it that a lad may not move about as he wishes?”
“Since rebellion first showed its head in these colonies. Now, answer my question, or it will be the worse for you!”
Isaac, thoroughly alarmed, had made no resistance either by word or movement when the stranger searched him, and although ignorant, as he had often said, of warfare, he understood now full well that they were fallen into the hands of enemies, who would not hesitate at the taking of human life in order to compass their ends.
Therefore he remained stretched upon the ground as when the men first came upon them, so terrified that it was almost impossible either to move or speak.
Young Beman was frightened, but not to such an extent as to prevent him from displaying anger, and instead of replying to the question he attempted to rise to his feet.
A blow delivered with unnecessary force sent him headlong to the ground again, and his captor said warningly:
“Have a care what you are about, Nathan Beman, for we are not disposed either to bandy words or waste much time on such as you, who, having professed friendship for those in the fort, was ready to betray them.”
Now, Nathan’s fears were as great as Isaac’s; but he made one more effort at asserting himself, and began by telling a lie.
“What have I done at the fort? I am but just come from my father’s house.”
“Take that for the falsehood, and this for believing us to be fools, who can be deceived by such as you,” the man replied as he viciously kicked the boy twice. “You have but just come from Ticonderoga, and must have been sent by the rebels who captured the fort.”
“What reason have you for saying that?” Nathan asked in a more subdued tone.
“First, the fact of your being here, and secondly because your comrade spoke, while we were within hearing, of your having been sent from Ticonderoga.”
Nathan shot an angry glance toward Isaac as if Corporal ’Lige’s recruit alone was to blame for this unpleasant interruption to the journey; but he ventured no reply lest further chastisement might follow.
“Tell me to whom you are sent, and have a care in the replying, for we are not minded to waste much time upon such as you.”
Nathan was beginning to understand that he was wholly in the power of an enemy, whom he could not readily deceive, and also believed that it might be painful for him if the answer was delayed.
He was not so devoted to the cause as to be willing to suffer in its behalf, and, therefore, said surlily:
“We were going to Captain Remember Baker at Sudbury.”
“Who sent you?”
“Colonel Allen.”
“Where is the message you are carrying?”
“He gave us none save by word of mouth.”
“Repeat it, and be careful lest you make the mistake of telling another lie.”
“There is nothing in it of importance or interest to you. It was simply that Captain Baker should come at once to Ticonderoga.”
“Then the fort was taken last night?”
“I thought you knew that?” Nathan cried in surprise, now understanding that he had divulged what it was most important should have been kept a profound secret until Crown Point had been captured.
“We heard that the rebels were marching toward the fort; but could not get there in time to warn the commandant.”
“Why was it you made prisoners of two boys if you were not knowing to all that has taken place?” Nathan asked, his curiosity getting the better of his fears.
“We took the chance that you could give us the desired information, because it was not reasonable old Beman’s son should be in this section unless on business of his father’s, and in these times one can well guess what that business might be. Therefore, having heard you floundering through the thicket, we drew near to listen to such conversation as you might indulge in.”
“Are you going to waste time explaining our purpose to that young cub, Jason Wentworth?” one of the men asked impatiently, and he who had been addressed replied with a laugh:
“We are not in as much haste now as we were half an hour ago, Ezra Jones. Captain Baker will not get the message, and while the wind holds in this quarter I’m allowing the rebels won’t reach Crown Point before we do.”
“They will if we loiter here all day. Truss up the lads, so they can do no mischief, and let us be off.”
“Would you leave them here in the thicket, Ezra Jones?”
“Why not?”
“They might starve to death, and while I’m willing to serve the king in all things, it is not my intent to be thus barbarous.”
“They can make themselves heard if any one passes by on the trail,” the third man replied very carelessly, and Ezra added quickly:
“Ay! I had not thought of that. They must be gagged, or, what may be better for us, shot offhand.”
“Are you willing to kill two boys in cold blood, Ezra Jones?”
There was no reply to this question, and Jason Wentworth turned round to the other man.
“Matthew White, will you take it upon yourself to do what is little less than murder?”
“No; carry them further into the thicket, where they cannot be heard from the trail, and there tie them up.”
“It were better we shot them at once, than leave them to starve,” Jason Wentworth said much as if speaking to himself, and during this conversation the feelings of the two lads can be faintly imagined.
The question of their death by bullet or starvation was being discussed in such a business-like manner, as if there was no alternative, that the boys were literally paralyzed with fear.
It seemed to Isaac Rice as if the three men remained silent fully five minutes before Jason Wentworth spoke again, and then it was with the air of one who has decided some vexed question.
“I’m not willing to play the part of a savage,” he said, speaking slowly in order to give his words due weight. “Neither do I propose that they shall carry the message. We’ll take them with us.”
“And thus we shall be caused much delay,” Ezra Jones muttered.
“If they are wise we will travel as rapidly as when alone, and in case of a refusal to obey orders they can be shot, or left to starve, as easily half an hour hence as now. Besides, there will be much work at the oars ’twixt here and Crown Point, and they can do a little more than their share of it.”
Perhaps it was this last suggestion which caused the other two men to agree to the proposition.
At all events, no further objection was made, and Master Wentworth took it upon himself to direct the march of the prisoners.
“You are to keep half a dozen paces in advance, and take good care there is no loitering, or any attempt at giving us the slip,” he said to the boys, who yet lay upon the ground. “I do not propose that you shall be starved to death; but at the same time I would put a musket-ball into one or both of you without compunction, rather than suffer delay or escape. Now get on your feet, and move lively, for only by obedience can you save your lives.”
There was no disposition on the part of Colonel Allen’s messengers to run counter to the command which had been given.
Each knew full well that two of their three captors were in favor of leaving them to a most cruel death, which could be escaped only by prompt acquiescence to all the orders given.
Therefore it was they leaped to their feet quickly, and set forward at a sharp pace, when Jason Wentworth pointed out the direction to be pursued.
At this moment it was Isaac who suffered most in mind, for he knew full well that Corporal ’Lige would condemn him for not having the courage to face death rather than give information to the enemy.
Even though it was Nathan who had divulged what should have been kept a secret, the raw recruit knew in his own heart he had agreed that the information should be given, because of having made no protest.
If Seth Warner failed in his purpose, it would be owing in a certain degree to what had been told these men, and Isaac, who had hoped to win renown, if not glory, by enlisting, could charge himself with what was worse than a blunder.
On the other hand Nathan was not sore in mind because of the possibility that Crown Point might still be held by the king’s troops; but he had sufficient sense to understand that if he had retraced his steps along the shore to the trail, as Isaac proposed, this capture might not have been made.
Therefore, but in a different fashion, was his mental trouble as great as that of his comrade.
To the chagrin of both the boys they came upon the trail leading from the lake to Sudbury, after not more than two or three minutes’ traveling, and thus knew that if their halt had been delayed a very short time it might have been possible to have given these enemies the slip.
Once on the trail word was given to halt, and the three men held a brief consultation as to the course they should pursue.
One was in favor of going directly to the shore, where it appeared they believed a boat could be found; but the others insisted on keeping within the thicket until they were arrived a mile or more above the fort, lest, being seen, pursuit should be made by those who had captured Ticonderoga.
This last proposition prevailed, although there were many chances they might not find a boat further up the lake; but Jason Wentworth persisted it would be better if they make the journey entirely on foot, than take the risk of being captured before word could be carried to Crown Point.
On being commanded to push forward once more the boys obeyed readily, if not willingly, and during the hour which elapsed before they gained the desired point, Nathan and Isaac had ample opportunity for conversation, since their captors did not seem to be averse to their talking one with the other.
“Of course, we shall be held prisoners by the king’s troops once we are arrived at Crown Point,” Isaac ventured to say after they had traveled steadily, although slowly, onward for nearly half an hour, and young Beman replied in a petulant tone:
“That goes without saying, and it shows what a fool I’ve been in running around with those who would oppose the king’s will. If father is eager to ruin himself, that’s no reason I should be a fool, and I’d better have listened to mother.”
“Why speak of what has been done?” Corporal ’Lige’s recruit asked in what he intended should be a soothing tone. “I am not acquainted with the country as you are, neither am I so brave; but yet it seems as if we should be on the alert for a chance to escape.”
“Now you talk like a fool! How may we escape with these three men on watch, all of whom are willing to shoot us at the first chance we give them. I’m not minded to have a bullet put through my body; but would rather trust to the king’s troops, in the hope that after a time we may be set free.”
“Yet if we could give these men the slip?”
“You may be certain we shan’t have a chance.”
“Yet, suppose we did?”
“Why will you be so weak-headed, Isaac Rice? If this is really war between the king and the colonies, the lives of boys like us count for but little, especially since two of these men are eager to be rid of us.”
Isaac understood that it was useless just at this time to make any attempt at arousing his companion from the petulant despondency into which he had fallen, wherefore wisely kept silent; but at the same time was firmly resolved to be on the lookout for any opportunity of gaining his freedom.
His timorousness had fled before the thought that there might yet be a chance, he knew not how, of preventing the information of the fall of Ticonderoga from being carried to Crown Point.
The boy had in his heart just then what is commonly called courage, and his will was good, at whatever cost to himself, to repair the mischief which had been done.
He had hoped to animate his companion to the same pitch, but the failure to do this did not discourage him, and while obeying strictly the orders given, he was keenly aware of everything which might be of benefit.
He heard the men discussing what they would do in case of a failure to find a boat near by where they gained the shore, and learned that in such an event one of them would return to the landing-place to get the craft of which they knew, with the idea that a single oarsman would not be molested while pulling leisurely up stream as if bent on business of his own.
He also understood that it was the purpose of his captors, after warning the garrison at Crown Point, to muster a force of Loyalists from the immediate vicinity, and march into Sudbury with the idea of taking Captain Baker and his men prisoners before a second messenger should be sent from Ticonderoga.
There seemed little hope that such information could avail him, and yet he was in a certain degree elated because of having gained it.
On arriving at the shore of the lake, where the men had thought it possible a boat might be found, no craft of any kind was to be seen.
The wind still held strongly from the north, and Jason Wentworth announced in a tone of satisfaction:
“The rebels won’t get very far on their journey toward Crown Point this day, and I am mistaken if the wind doesn’t freshen after sunset.”
“It will be precious hard work for us to make our way against such a breeze,” Ezra Jones grumbled.
“Ay; but we can do it with four oars out, and even though we pull at them twenty-four hours, the labor should count as nothing so that we arrive in good time.”
“But the garrison there is weak?”
“They should be able to hold out until assistance can arrive. We can muster fifty men for them within two hours; but standing here talking isn’t doing the work, and it’s important we set off without unnecessary delay. Ezra, you go down the shore, and Matthew up, each searching for a boat, and when one has been found pull to this point, where I will stay with the prisoners.”
“Is it to your mind that I shall take the craft from opposite the fort, running the risk of being overhauled?”
“Better that than remain here wasting time in talk.”
Matthew White was of the opinion that it would be wisest to make the journey afoot rather than take the risk of being overhauled by the “rebels;” but to this Master Wentworth would not listen, and, he evidently being the leader of the party, carried his point.
The two men set out, and immediately after their departure Jason Wentworth ordered his prisoners back into the underbrush a short distance from the shore, where he stood guard over them, and at the same time could keep close watch for the return of his companions.
