Chapter 19
Narrative Continued
I’m all alone now, on my way to Harper's Ferry, after some unexpected incidents. Stevenson and I were ambushed by a group of ruffians, and though now I am safe it was a bit unexpected. Perhaps they were horse thieves, I don’t know. I thought it was pure foolishness on their part to be out at all with the number of soldiers in the area, but perhaps it was an opportunity too good to be refused, the idea that all those men and their horses were about, and the treasure that that represented. More than all the petty thieving available in a year to some of these men, I suppose. But as I say it was foolishness, as someone from either side could have mistaken them for hostile and shot first in protection. Oh well, these men were out tonight with the intention to do harm, or at least to cause mischief.
It has been a damp and windy night, and Stevenson and I were just discussing the possibility of another rest. I don’t mind wind by itself, nor rain neither, but once they are together it is hard to feel comfortable no matter how one is dressed. Although it is spring, the possibility of frost is in the air at all times, and the wind blows the cold rain on your cheeks, up your sleeves, and almost through the seams of your coat. At the time we were passing down a lane with some trees partially sheltering us from the constant drip of rain, and talking about where and when to stop. So maybe we were not paying attention as we ought to have been, when suddenly five men on horseback approached us with pistols at the ready. The lane was wooded, and they seemed to have been lying in wait behind some trees.
I was fumbling for a weapon, my hands damp and numb as I got into my coat pocket, when six more men on horse approached from the rear. Stevenson got a shot off that missed, but one of the men who had come in from behind stopped him from any further action.
“Stop moving, old man,” he shouted as he rammed the rifle butt at Stevenson’s back. Although I was still breathless from their attack, I was a little amused at this, as Stevenson, who is usually so prepared, was caught short for once, and had no rebuttal either. He hates reference to be made about his age, although he’s not old yet, he knows he’s not young anymore either. The man was short, still young, and hatless with a grubby coat on his shoulders that he wore open.
The rest of the crowd circled closer, another gesturing at me to put my hands up. This I did obviously, so my movements could be seen in the dim light. The rest of the group was waiting for his orders, as the short man seemed to be orchestrating the group. “Joseph, you see if that one has any weapons,” he nodded toward me as he spoke. Joseph, a little older than the short one, came over to me and felt my pockets, keeping my pistol, and patting me around lightly to see if I had anything else hidden on me. “Thompson, you get between them to make sure they can’t hide nothing.”
“Here’s his gun.” Joseph showed it towards the short man.
“You hang onto it for now. If they have enough money maybe they can have it back when we leave.” For a short man, he had a menacing look about him. His coat might have been grubby but it was a quality piece of goods to begin with. Clearly thieving had its benefits. The rest of the group, eleven in all, seemed an ill-matched lot. Some were older, most looked a little underfed and tired. Well, it had been a late night for us as well, though they had the advantage of surprising us.
A small idea was fermenting in my brain, and I was waiting for the right time to bring it forward. I try to be a man who thinks on his feet when the occasion calls for it. Stevenson seemed embarrassed at being caught out like this, and avoided making eye contact with me, even though we were only a few feet away from each other. Thompson, who had gotten between us, was on a somewhat skittish horse that had a hard time staying still, but I did not have anything to hide or pass to Stevenson for us to make a fast move. In fact I preferred waiting to see how these events would unfold.
“Would you two gentleman mind telling us what brings you this way?” The short one began. He turned to me for his answer, his fair hair glinting in the faint light.
“I am certain that you are not the law in this area, so I am not bound to answer your question. In fact I think the same question should be asked of you and your fine group this evening… Mister…” I gestured a little with my head, and slowly lowered my hands.
“I am John Pickens, and you’re right, we are not the law in this area.” He stopped a little as he lit a small cigar. He exhaled and gestured around the circle of trees we were in. “We are just out to see what the night might bring us.” A faint smile crossed his face which was shiny from the mist. “We sometimes find interesting things going on, and these things make us richer.”
“Well, I do not see how two gentlemen from Washington can be all that interesting,” I told him. “But I do think we can see a way toward making you richer.”
Stevenson suddenly looked at me, a question in his eyes. He is smarter than he seems to a lot of people, in fact it is the easiest thing in the world to seem stupider than you are.
“I was thinking you would make us rich one way or another,” Pickens said. “The usual way is for you to empty your pockets for us.”
I gave a small chuckle and nodded at him. “That would make you richer for certain. But if I can hire you and your group to do some work for us, I can pay you even more when the job is completed. What do you say to that?”
His eyes narrowed with interest. “I don’t care for daily work; I have a job that satisfies my needs. But I could do an odd job for you, I reckon, as long as I were paid adequately. These friends of mine can decide whether they want to join in or not.”
“Oh this is highly irregular work I am offering you.” I started slowly, since the idea was still forming itself in my head. “You see, my friend Stevenson here and I are being chased by two men, opposed to the Southern cause. We think they are following us, and hoping to bring us to justice for some trumped-up charge back in Washington. I’ll give you each ten dollars each to go with Stevenson and ambush them. When you bring them back to me, preferably dead, I will give you twenty more.” I smiled slowly as I brought out the offer, hoping that it was riches untold to them.
“Am I right in thinking this is cash you are carrying about you right now?” Pickens asked.
I gave a quick look to Stevenson to make sure he kept his mouth shut. He knows that I am wealthy, but I never let on how much I might carry on me at any given time. “I could pay the ten dollars now to anyone who will go with Stevenson to find these men. The rest of the money I will have to get a hold of in Richmond, or perhaps Harper’s Ferry. It might take a day but the money is there.”
After that offer, it was quick negotiating with these opportunists. I gave them the money, and not one of them backed down from the offer. Stevenson took over in getting them all their orders and they took off, with the promise to meet me next day in Harper’s Ferry. Stevenson and I had a quick word in private before they took off, and he left me hopeful that this business of Mister Blackwood can be taken care of. I am not sure whether I am going to pay them or not when the time comes, though it might not hurt to have some compatriots in this area should the need arise. We shall see.
So now I am headed that way, hoping that the ambush means no one is following me, and taking the time I want to rest and get thoroughly dry and comfortable before I continue on. Stevenson may have been a bit of an ill-mannered brute at times, but he kept the loneliness away. Now by myself, my mind wanders to things I’d rather not think on.