Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09] Read online

  "Then, Captain Montague," I said, "there is naught for us to do but continue our flight to Phila- delphia and escape within the lines of hit Britannic Majesty's most devoted army."

  " It is even so, Lieutenant Melville," returned 21

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  Marcel. " How does his Grace the Duke of Penn- sylvania like to be pursued thus over his own do- main by these wicked rebels?"

  " He likes it not at all," I replied.

  " But he must even endure it," said Marcel, grin- ning in spite of our predicament.

  We had gained somewhat upon our pursuers, but we could hear the big man encouraging the others and urging them to greater speed. It was our good fortune that the country was not obstructed by hedges or fences, and it seemed that we might escape, for our horses evidently were the fresher.

  I looked back and saw the big man fifteen or twenty feet ahead of his companions. He was mak- ing great efforts to reload his pistol, but was keeping a watchful eye upon us at the same time. It was plain to me that he was filled with the ardor of the chase and would not relinquish it as long as it seemed possible to overtake us. Presently he adjusted the charge in his pistol and raised the weapon. I saw that it was aimed at me, and just as he pulled the trigger I made my horse swerve. Nevertheless I felt a smart in my left arm and uttered a short cry.

  " Are you hurt ? " asked Marcel, apprehensively.

  "No," I replied, "not much. I think his bullet took a piece of my skin, but no more."

  For all that, a fine trickle of blood that came down my left sleeve and stained my hand made me feel uneasy.

  We urged our horses to greater efforts, and the spirited animals responded. We had curved about considerably in the course of our flight, but I had a

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  good idea of the country, and I know that we were now galloping directly towards Philadelphia, I trusted that if our pursuers were aware of this fact they would abandon the chase, which threatened soon to take them inside the British lines. But many minutes passed, and they showed no signs of stopping.

  " We have our pistols," said Marcel. " We might use them."

  " We cannot fire on our own countrymen," I replied.

  " No," he replied, " but we can fire over their heads, and it may reduce the infernal eagerness they show in their pursuit. A bullet properly directed discourages overmuch enthusiasm."

  We twisted about in our saddles and discharged our wcajwns as Marcel had suggested. But, unfor- tunately for us, our countrymen were brave and not at all afraid of our pistols. They came on as fast ns ever, while our movement had checked our flight somewhat and caused us to lose ground perceptibly. We began to grow discouraged.

  But in this moment of depression we saw a smudge of red across a valley, and Marcel uttered a little shout of joy.

  " A rescue ! A rescue, most noble duke ! " he cried. " See, the liritish troops are coming ! "

  Through the valley a body of British cavalry were galloping. There were at least fifty men in the party, and evidently they had seen us before we saw them, for many of them held their sabres in their hands, and presently they raised a great shout 23

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  Our American pursuers, seeing that they were out- numbered, turned about and took to their heels with considerable precipitation. The next moment we galloped into the middle of the British troop, and then, a curious faintness overcoming me, I slid to the ground.

  Marcel, having thrown himself from his horse, was beside me in a moment, and lifted me to my feet.

  " A little water, please, as soon as you can," he said to a fine stalwart officer who had also dis- mounted and come to my aid. "The lieutenant was wounded in a brush we had with those con- founded rebels, and I fear his strength is exhausted."

  " Then here is something much better for him than water," said the officer, sympathetically.

  He held a canteen to my mouth, and I took a draught of as fine whiskey as I have ever tasted. It put life back into me and I was able to stand upon my feet without assistance.

  A half-dozen of the British had remained with the officer who gave me the whiskey, but the others had continued the pursuit. This man, who wore the uniform of a captain, was apparently about thirty- five, and of prepossessing appearance. He looked at us inquiringly, and Marcel, who guessed the nature of his unspoken question, said,

  " My friend here, who is so unfortunate as to be wounded, is Lieutenant Arthur Melville, and I am Captain Charles Montague. We landed but lately in New York, and we undertook to come across the country to Philadelphia, for we have letters to Sir 24

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  William Howe, and we wished to see active service as soon as possible."

  " You seem to have had an adventure, at any rate," said the officer.

  " Why, it was nothing much, only a trifle," re- plied Marcel, airily. " If the fellows had not been HO numerous, I think we could have given a hand- some account of them. Melville here, before he got his wound, popped one of them off his horse with a bullet through hid head, and I think I gave another a reminder in the shoulder which he will not forget very soon. But it was lucky you came when you did, gentlemen, for they were most persistent scoun- drels, and I verily believe they would have over- taken us."

  " It is a pleasure to have been in time to render you assistance," said the officer. " My name is Blake, Geoffrey Blake, and I am a captain in the Guards. I am something of a surgeon, and if Lieutenant Melville will permit me I will examine his arm and discover the nature of his wound."

  The hurt proved to be very slight, but I readily saw how much the manner of our entry into the British lines was in favor of our plan. We had come up full tilt, pursued by the Americans, and an American bullet had grazed my arm. The chase, after all, was a fortunate accident, for it created a vast prepossession in favor of our assumed identity.

  "It was an early and rather rude welcome that the rebels gave us," said Marcel, as we were examin- ing the wounded arm, " but I fancy that we will yet find an opportunity for revenge."

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  " No doubt of it ! No doubt of it ! " said Captain Blake. "We have not been able to bring on a general battle for some time, but their skirmishers swarm like flies around us, and nothing is safe beyond the sight of our army. It was very bold of you, gentlemen, to undertake a journey from New York to Philadelphia across a rebel -infested country."

  "We thought we might have a skirmish with the rebels," said Marcel, lightly, "and we had no great objection to such an encounter : did we, eh, Melville?"

  " Oh, no, not at all, so long as Captain Blake and his gallant men were at hand to rescue us," I replied.

  Captain Blake bowed and regarded us with a look of great favor. I saw that we were fast estab- lishing our reputation with our new British friends as men of dashing courage and good nature. Pres- ently the troopers who had pursued the Americans returned and reported that they had been unable to catch them.

  " They disappeared in the woods over there," said a lieutenant, " and we can discover no further traces of them. And they carried all their spoil with them, too ; not a chicken, not a turkey, could we retake."

  "Let them go," replied Captain Blake. "At least we have saved our friends here from capture."

  " Which the aforesaid friends consider to be not the least among your achievements," said Marcel.

  Captain Blake laughed good-humoredly, and then we rode into Philadelphia, Marcel and I bearing ourselves like conquering heroes and guesta of honor. 26

  CHAPTER Two Feeling the Way

  WE made a fine cavalcade when we rode through the streets of Philadel- phia. As we had stopped at the out- posts in order to comply with the usiril formalities, a rumor of our adventures pre- cede *1 us, and, since it is not the habit of rumor to diminish the importance of things, it made notable heroes of Marcel and me. Some part of it came to our ears as we proceeded, and we found that between us we had slain at least eight rebels and had pursued a hundred others a matter of not
less than ten miles.

  " I fear, captain," said Marcel to Blake, " that we have achieved such a reputation for valorous con- duct that we will never be able to prove the tenth part of it."

  " Trust me, gentlemen, for thinking better of you than that," replied Captain Blake, who seemed to have taken a fine fancy for us. " I doubt not that both of you will be winning honors on Moody battle- fields."

  "If so," said Marcel, "we trust that General Blake will be there to see it"

  Captain Blake, who, like most men, was not in- accessible to flattery, seemed charmed at the high promotion Marcel had conferred so readily upon him, and certain was I that we would have a fast friend in him.

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  "I am going to take you immediately to Sir William himself," said the captain, "as you have letters of introduction to him, and I doubt not that he will place you on his own personal staff, where you will secure fine opportunities for conspicuous service."

  " I would like to see service first at a well-loaded table," whispered Marcel to me. " I was hungry before I reached Philadelphia, and the sight of all these smug and comfortable people in the streets sharpens the pangs of famine."

  And in truth the people we saw were a well-fed lot, with fat cheeks and double chins, very unlike our own lean and hungry fellows, who had to fight on empty stomachs.

  We arrived in a short time at the quarters of Sir William Howe, a two-story brick house that had once been a private residence, and I was somewhat astonished at the luxury and display I witnessed there. There were as many articles for ease and adornment as ever I had seen in the mansions of our most wealthy citizens, and seeing it all I did not wonder why this general should have been called "The Sluggard." It contrasted strongly with the simplicity of our own commander-in-chiefa hut, and I, who had not slept under a roof in a year, felt oppressed, as if the air were too heavy for my lungs. But it was not so with Marcel, who loved his ease and basked in rich colors.

  "We have made a happy change, Chester," he said to me as we waited for Sir William. " This in truth looks to be a most comfortable place, and if we 28

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  do nut find much enjoyment here it will be because we are men of small resources."

  I was thinking of the great risks we were incur- ring, and made no answer. He did not notice it. He sighed in the most contented fashion, and said it was the first moment of real enjoyment he had experienced in six months. But his lazy pleasure was soon interrupted by the entrance of Sir William Howe himself. The British commander was a swart, thick man, whose plump face and figure indicated a love of good eating. His expression was indolent, and on the whole good-natured. He received us with kindness. It was evident that some one had blown our trumpet for us already : I guessed that it was Blake.

  " I am delighted to see you, gentlemen," he said. "It was in truth a daring deed to ride from New York to Philadelphia, as the rebels infest the country between. It is fortunate that Lieutenant Melville escaped with so slight a wound. I should like to hear more about your adventures, gentlemen."

  Then Marcel with an air of great modesty told a most remarkable story of our encounter, how we had driven the rebels back once, and had knocked two of them off their horses, but at last under stress of numbers were compelled to retreat. I took careful note of everything he said, because if the time came for me to tell the tale alone, as most like it would, mine must not vary from Marcel's in any particular. Sir William seemed to be much pleased with the story.

  " That will bear retelling," he said. " I must hare 29

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  you two, Captain Montague and Lieutenant Melville, at our dinner to-morrow. I am to have a company here composed of my most distinguished officers and of some of our loyal friends of Philadelphia. I shall be glad for you to come, gentlemen ; and do you look your best, for there will be beauty at the banquet."

  Of course we accepted the invitation with great alacrity, but a shade came over Marcel's face. The general observed it with keen eye.

  " What is it that you find displeasing, Captain Montague ? " he asked.

  Marcel hesitated, and seemed to be in a state of perplexity.

  " I fear it would anger you, general, if I were to name the cause," he replied.

  "Speak out! Tell me what it is. Would you rather not come ? If so, have no hesitation in de- claring it," said Sir William.

  But the general did not appear at all pleased at the possibility of his invitation to dinner being de- clined by a junior officer. At which I did not won- der, for it would have savored much of disparage- ment, not to say impertinence.

  " It is not that, general," replied Marcel, making a most graceful genuflection. " We have already de- rived acute pleasure in anticipation from the banquet to which you have so graciously invited us. But, general, it is the truth that we have groat need of one now. General, it pains me to have to say it in your presence, but we are starving. We have not eaten for a day. Perhaps we could have contained 30

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  ourselves, if you had not spoken of a feast, but that was too much for our endurance."

  The genenil burst into a fit of great and hearty laughter. Marcel's sly impertinence, for such it was, seemed to please him.

  " Starving, eh ? " he exclaimed. " Then I must see that my heroes who fought the rebels so well do not perish of hunger. Britain has not yet come to such a pass that she must deny food to her soldiers. Vivian will care for you."

  He called an aide of about our own age and bade him take us to the officers' mess and give us the best that was to be found. This Vivian was a talkative and agreeable young personage. We had to tell our entire story again to him, which perhaps was not u bad thing, as it was a kind of rehearsal and served to fasten the matter in our minds. I was narrator this time, and I am confident that I followed Marcel's story so well that if the two tales had been written out a reader could have found no difference in them. It is so easy to lie sometimes.

  " You are caught between luncheon and dinner," said Vivian, " but I think the cook can knock up enough for you to stay the pangs of starvation."

  " I trust he may," said Marcel, devoutly, "or else he will be responsible for our deaths, ami that would be too heavy a weight for a regimental cook to bear."

  It was evident that the cook had faced such emer-

  gencies before, as he was nobly equal to it, and we

  did not restrain the expression of our gratitude when

  we were seated at a table in the mess-room, with an

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  imposing meat pie, an abundance of bread and vege- tables, and a flagon of wine before us.

  " We can do better than this when we are warned," said Vivian.

  " This is ample and most comforting," I replied ; and that was about the first true tiling said by either Marcel or me since we had entered Philadelphia.

  There was in this mess-room the same touch of luxury and adornment, though more restrained, that we had noticed at the headquarters of the general. It was evident that his Britannic Majesty's officers lived well in the good city of Philadelphia.

  "Oh, why did we not come sooner?" exclaimed Marcel, with a double meaning that I alone understood.

  " The rebels seem to have hurried you along fast enough," said Vivian, with a laugh.

  " We hope to reverse the case soon," replied Mar- cel, "and become the pursuers ourselves. Mean- while I take great comfort in demolishing this pie."

  The news of our adventure had been spread very generally about headquarters, as several officers came in while we ate. They were rather a friendly lot, and some of them I liked. Blake, our first British friend, was among them.

  " I wonder the rebels had the courage to pursue you," said a very callow youth named Graves.

  " Don't the rebels fight well ? " asked Marcel.

  " Oh, no, not at all," returned Graves, supercili- ously. " They take to flight at the first glimpse of a British unifor
m."

  " Then why don't you go out and show yourself,

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  Graves ? " asked Vivian ; " for they say that bauds of the rebels do come alarmingly close to Philadelphia."

  There was a general laugh, and Graves turned al- most as red as his coat.

  "There is no doubt," said an older officer, named Catron, " as to our ability to crush these rebels if we could get them into a corner. But they are most cursedly sly."

  " However," said I, for I was determined to de- fund my countrymen despite our situation, " the rebels are the weaker, and it is the business of the weaker party to avoid being pushed into a corner. And according to all the accounts that have come to England, they seem to show much skill in this particular."

  " Tt is true," replied Catron, "but I must persist in calling it most unhandsome behavior on their part. They don't give us a chance to win any laurels, ami they won't let us go home. We are kept in a con- dition of waiting and uncertainty which is the most unpleasant of all things."

  "Well, all that will speedily come to an end," said Marcel, " for my friend Melville has arrived, and I tell you in strict confidence, gentlemen, that Melville is the fiercest warrior since Marlborough. I doubt not that the rebels, having heard of his arrival, are even now fleeing into the wilderness across the Al- leghany Mountains, that they may forever be beyond the reach of his mighty arm."