CHAPTER XVIII.
THE ESCAPE.
Jerry was thoroughly astonished, after I had told my story, because wehad had such plain sailing when there was nothing to start us on acourse for the missing comrade. We had gone out blindly, and by sheeraccident ran upon our man without trouble or delay.
"It heartens a fellow to have things happen this way," my partner saidin a tone of satisfaction. "There's no question but that we're in abad box, take it all around, for after the British get settled down inthe city they will most likely look about for such as us, thereforeour work must be done quickly, an' by your hittin' the nail square onthe head it looks as if we might pull through all right."
The future did not look so promising to me. Darius and Billundoubtedly knew that they could gain the roof of the "stone house"during the night; but even then they were far from being free, and Iquestioned if it would be possible for us to loiter around thebuilding after sunset without attracting the attention of thesentries.
However, it was not for me to throw cold water, because a fellow needsall his courage when he would do that which lay before us, and it waswell Jerry should feel confident as to the result.
Therefore it was that instead of discussing how we could set aboutrendering the necessary aid, I began by questioning as to how the ropemight be procured, and, as a matter of fact, it was by no means asimple matter to get one of the desired length.
"We've got to buy it, of course," Jerry said quickly, and as if it waspossible for us to make such purchases at any time.
"In the first place we haven't money enough," I suggested, "andsecondly, how many shops will you find open in this city?"
These questions were sufficient to let Jerry understand that it wasnot all plain sailing before us, and after some reflection he said:
"Suppose we go back to the smoke-house? There we can talk it over withthe others, an' at the same time get something by way of breakfast."
There was plenty of time at our disposal, since Darius had set teno'clock that night as the hour when we could aid him, and I welcomedmy partner's proposition; but instead of going directly to the placeof refuge, I insisted on making a long detour to lessen the chances ofrunning across Elias Macomber.
That the cur had gone to the encampment hoping to get a permit to seethe prisoners, in order to gloat over their misfortune, I had nodoubt, and if he was successful I felt equally certain he would go tothe jail by the shortest route. In event of failure, however, and Iwas positive he would fail, the villain might wander anywhere whileworking off his disappointment, therefore it stood us in hand to beexceeding cautious.
As it proved, however, we had seen the last of that miserableBritish-lover, and after Jerry saw him on the street, he passed out ofour lives for many months.
I believed of a verity that we walked at least three miles, cuttingacross lots here, or traveling many rods out of our course there,until it seemed as if we had traversed every lane and obscure passageto be found in the city. But we arrived safely at last, which repaidus for all the extra work; we had seen no one who gave any heed to us,and when we sneaked into the smoke-house from behind the ruins of thetavern, I felt positive no one saw us.
It can well be supposed that our comrades gave us a hearty welcome,and when I explained how much had been accomplished, they became quiteas certain of ultimate success as Jerry; but the question ofprocuring a rope put the matter in a different light.
We counted every penny belonging to the party, and had less than threeshillings, while the length of rope we needed would cost three or fourtimes as much.
"It's certain we can't buy one, even though all the shop-keepers inthe city stood ready to wait upon us," I said after we had ascertainedthe amount of capital on hand. "Now what is to be done?"
No one answered for many minutes, and then Jim Freeman proposed thatif we couldn't get what we needed in any other way, it would beadmissible to steal the rope, in view of the use to which it would beput.
Dody Wardwell thought we might go to a shopkeeper who dealt in suchgoods, and, telling the story, beg what was needed.
It was my father who solved the riddle.
"I don't believe we are warranted in stealing," he said, "no matterwhat might be accomplished, neither do I think it safe to confide inany stranger whom you should meet; but the begging proposition, ifcarried out properly, comes nearer filling the bill than anythingelse."
"What do you call doin' it properly?" Jerry asked.
"There must be oystermen in port, either here, at Georgetown, orAlexander, and the chances are you would know some of them. Go roundthe water front, and see what can be found. Then try the other towns,and I'll guarantee you can strike an acquaintance somewhere. Afterthat everything is simple, for you may borrow a rope without fear thatinformation will be lodged against you."
"Come on, Amos!" Jerry cried, springing to his feet in excitement."Your father has hit upon the very plan, an' we were thick-headed notto have thought of it at first!"
There was no time to be lost, more particularly in case we should beforced to visit the two towns mentioned; but I believe that we wouldreally be forwarding the business if we delayed long enough to getsomething to eat, and my comrades were of the same opinion.
Jim had tried his hand at making bread by mixing flour and watertogether, and baking the stuff in an old tin pan over the embers ofthe tavern ruins. It was possible to eat the mixture, and that was thebest that could be said, therefore we satisfied our hunger with rawbacon and imitation bread, which did not require very many minutes.
Jim and both the other fellows were eager to go with Jerry and me; butthey would not be able to forward matters, and it seemed like takingtoo many risks to make our party so large, therefore we decided thatthey must stay in the smoke-house as before, a decision which was notto their liking, although neither of the lads made any protest.
Then Jerry and I set out, after listening to such advice as my fatherhad to give, and began the search on the Eastern Branch.
There were but few vessels in port; the greater number of those thatremained when the enemy entered the Potomac had run up the river ashigh as possible lest they be destroyed, and we did not find an oysterpungy until we were well over toward Georgetown.
It was then near noon, and Jerry and I decided that if the captain ofthe boat before us looked like an honest seaman, we would take thechances of telling him so much of our story as might be necessary,rather than run the risk of not finding another craft of the kind.
There were no sign of life on deck; but as we went over the rail thecompanion-way hatch was opened a few inches, and some one cried:
"What's wanted? This vessel is hauled up for repairs, an' there'snobody here but me--the keeper."
"Will you let us come below for a short time?" I asked, and the hatchwas closed very suddenly as the voice cried emphatically:
"No; my orders are to allow no company here."
"Let me have a try at the old idiot," Jerry said in a low tone as hewent toward the companion-way, and the voice from below replied, thusshowing that he could hear very well even though the hatch was closed:
"The 'old idiot' don't want any truck with boys, so keep off or I'llmake it hot for you!"
"Listen to me, shipmate, and then perhaps you'll sing a differenttune," I said, going close to the companion-way where it might not benecessary to raise my voice. "We are a couple of oystermen fromBenedict, in trouble, and are looking for some one to lend a hand."
"Tell me your names?"
I gave the desired information, and added:
"We owned the pungy Avenger, which was burned at Pig Point when theenemy came up the river."
The hatch was opened in a twinkling, and when we descended to thecuddy I was both surprised and overjoyed by seeing Robert Hanaford, anoysterman from St. Leonard's bay.
"Shut that hatch," he said nervously, and Jerry did as he was bidden."I got caught in the river, like a fool, an' am now expectin' thebloomin' Britishers will burn the c
raft when they fall short of likeamusement in the city. Tell me how you happened to be here?"
I told him so much of our story as seemed necessary, and when I wascome to the retreat from Bladensburg, he said grumpily:
"I reckon you two lads an' Darius Thorpe are bigger fools than I am.It was accident that brought me into this scrape, whereas you got intoa muss with your eyes wide open. Where's Darius?"
"The Britishers are holding him prisoner, and count on sending himdown to the fleet, I suppose."
"He'll rot there, unless he offers to serve the king, in which case,seein's how the enemy needs good sailors, they'll give him a show thata dog wouldn't welcome."
"Did you ever run across Bill Jepson from Baltimore?" I asked atrandom, not knowing exactly how to lead up to the request for a rope.
"Ay, that I have, lad. Bill an' me run on this same pungy more'n twoyears. I've heard it said that one of the king's press gangs gatheredhim in."
Then I told the captain how we had helped Bill to desert, and wound upthe story by sayin:
"Bill is a prisoner with Darius, and will be hung when the Britisherslearn who he is. There's a show to help both the sailors out of thescrape; but we're needing six or eight fathom of good manilla rope,an' haven't got the money with which to buy it."
"How do you count on usin' it?" and Captain Hanaford leaned forwardin a manner which told that he was thoroughly excited.
Then I told him all we had accomplished that morning, and explainedwhat Darius proposed we should do, whereupon he cried heartily:
"Take anything I've got, lads, an' if it so be I can lend a hand,count on me to the finish. I'll risk even the pungy to help asailorman out of a hole, an' a good deal more'n that when it comes tobein' Bill Jepson who's in trouble!"
Now that we were assured of getting what was needed, there was no needof great haste, and I told the captain the remainder of our story,even to describing where father and the lads were hiding.
"Whether you get Bill an' Darius out of jail or not, you'll be wantin'to go down the river, lad, so why don't you bring all hands aboard?I've known your father this many a day, an' would like to do him agood turn. We'd be a little crowded, I reckon; but some of youyoungsters can bunk in the hold, an' if the Britishers don't burn thepungy, she'll be a sight better than a smoke-house."
"What about provisions, captain?" Jerry asked.
"I've got enough an' to spare, unless we're held here a couple ofweeks. I didn't count on doin' any fightin' in this 'ere war; but whenit comes to lendin' shipmates an' neighbors a hand, you'll find thatBob Hanaford is willin' to go down to his last cent."
I realized what a blessing it would be if we could get father on boardthe pungy, where he would have a comfortable bunk to lie in, and suchnursing as Captain Hanaford might give when we lads were absent; buthow to get him down to the boat was a puzzle.
"Supposin' you free Darius an' Bill to-night, what'll you do with'em?" the owner of the pungy asked, and I replied mournfully:
"We hadn't got as far as that in our plans. Of course they must betaken out of the city."
"An' the British fleet is loafin' down in the river somewhere 'twixthere an' the bay," the captain added.
"Ay, but if we can get hold of a boat, it shouldn't be such a hard jobto slip by the vessels on a dark night."
"Would you leave your father behind?"
"Certainly not; he must go with us."
"Then you ought'er have him down here on the river before beginnin'work. I'll tell you how it might be fixed, lad. Allowin' that thereain't any more burnin' of houses to-night, I could help him throughthe streets, if it so be he can make any fist at walkin'. The otherlads would set out on their own hook, an' it should be we'd cometogether on this 'ere craft, unless the Britishers are overhaulin'everybody that's aboard. I don't know how things may be runnin', for Ihaven't been outside this cuddy since the fires began."
I told him that Jerry and I had not been interfered with on thestreets, and I believed he could go where he pleased, provided it wasnot too near the encampments.
"Then I'll try it, lads, an' start for your hidin' place within anhour. Can you give me the bearin's?"
The captain was reasonably familiar with that portion of the city, andthere was no doubt in my mind but that he could find the smoke-housewithout any difficulty.
Then we overhauled his spare rope in the hold, selecting a length ofhalf-inch manilla which had been used no more than enough to make itpliable, and carried it to the cuddy.
It would not be safe to lug the rope through the streets in thedaytime, lest some over officious person should insist on knowing whatwe proposed to do with it. We would be forced to take a long walk inorder to fetch it; but that was of little consequence compared withthe additional security such a plan seemed to afford.
Then we separated, Captain Hanaford agreeing to be at the smoke-housewithin an hour, and when Jerry and I went over the side of the pungyit was with lighter hearts than when we came on board.
It is true that the most dangerous portion of the undertaking was yetto be performed; but everything had turned so favorably for us sincewe set out in search of Darius, that we could not but feel a wonderfuldegree of courage regarding the remainder of the task.
Jerry was so well pleased that he would have talked about what we wereto do even on the street; but I insisted that we should hold our peaceuntil it was impossible any one could overhear us, and in silence wemade our way toward the place of refuge.
It is needless for me to attempt to describe the joy of our comradeswhen we told them of the friend we had met, and the plans which hadbeen laid.
My father showed plainly by his face the relief of mind because of thepossibility that he might have different quarters.
"I haven't grumbled, because I knew you lads had about all you couldstagger under," he said when we told him that Captain Hanaford wasbent on trying to get him aboard the pungy. "I can't stay in thisplace very much longer, without taking big chances of going under, forthe wound needs careful attention; but if I can be with Bob Hanafordeverything will come around shipshape, because he knows by experiencewhat a gunshot hurt is like."
"Do you think it will be possible to keep on your feet for such a longdistance?" I asked anxiously, because until this moment I supposed myfather was getting on as comfortably as a man in his condition couldreasonably expect.
"I'll manage that part of it, lad; the knowledge of what is to begained will keep me up."
Well, there is no good reason why I should try to set down all we saidwhile waiting for the owner of the pungy, and when he finally arrived,having had little or no difficulty in finding the smoke-house, it wasas if a great and beneficial change was immediately apparent.
The captain's first act was to rebandage my father's wound, Jerrygetting him a supply of fresh water from the well at the ruins of thetavern, and when that was done he set about making arrangements forour moving, taking upon himself the entire direction of affairs, muchto my relief.
His first act was to explain to Jim, Dody and Josiah the location ofthe pungy, sending them off at once, with explicit directions as tothe streets through which they should pass. The lads were to go intothe cuddy without loitering on deck, and keep the hatch closed andbolted until his arrival.
Jerry and I were to stay in the smoke-house until it was time to beginwork in behalf of Darius and Bill, while the captain and my fatherwere to set out as soon as it was sufficiently dark to screen themfrom view of the curious ones.
Jim and his friends started without delay, welcoming any change afterbeing shut in from the open air so long, and when they were gone thecaptain announced that he would bring the rope to the jail shortlybefore ten o'clock.
"I ain't sayin' but that you two lads could work the thing as wellwithout me; but I'm achin' to have a hand in settin' them two oldshell-backs free. You'll find that I won't be in the way, even if Idon't do any good."
It was a big relief to know that we were to have his assistance, and Is
o gave him to understand.
After father had been made as comfortable as was possible under thecircumstances, we lounged around waiting for the night to come; butnever saying another word concerning what we hoped to do.
I for one was too nervous regarding the possible outcome to care aboutholding converse even with friends, for there was in my mind a veryvivid realization of what would be the result in case we failed whiletrying to get the sailors from the roof of the "stone house," or ifthey were discovered when getting through the scuttle.
It seemed very much like death for all hands concerned if theslightest slip was made, and when a fellow believes he stands near aviolent end he is not given to speech.
The moments dragged so heavily that it seemed to me the night wouldnever come. Once during this painful time of waiting Jerry spoke ofthe possibility that Jim and his friends might lose their way, or betaken in charge as suspicious persons; but I could not arouse myselfto feel any anxiety concerning them. My thoughts were with those twoold sailors in jail, and the part which the British sentries mightplay while we were trying to effect their release.
Finally, after it was as if we had spent a full day in thesmoke-house, the sun went down, and it was yet quite light whenCaptain Hanaford announced that he and my father might safely make thestart.
"We've got to steer a roundabout course," he said, "an' I reckon it'llbe plain sailin' from now till dark. Stay where you are, lads, an'don't so much as poke your nose out till half-after-nine."
"How shall we be able to tell the time?" I asked, rather for the sakeof saying something, than because I wanted information.
"You will hear the sentinels at the encampment often enough to giveyou a fair idee. Get there as near as possible to the hour set, an'you'll find me close at hand."
Then he went out, my father leaning heavily on his arm, and Jerry andI faced each other in the gloom, heeding not the fact that we had hadnothing to eat during nearly eight and forty hours, save the chips ofham and the unsavory mess prepared by Jim; thinking only of what wewere to do, and the many chances against success.
It was Jerry who broke a long silence by saying with an attempt atcheerfulness:
"I don't know of any reason why we should moon 'round here like acouple of chumps. It won't help matters any, an' surely it don'timprove my courage."
Then I forced myself to take part in conversation, speaking of this orthat trouble or adventure in the past; but never once of what might bebefore us in the future, and thus the time passed until we believed wewere warranted in setting forth.
With all due regard to prudence, we went by the most direct course tothe "stone house," never seeing a Britisher on our way, and it musthave been at least a quarter-hour before the time set, when we werecome to where it was possible to have a good view of the roof of thejail.
The night was dark, with heavy, ominous looking clouds hanging low inthe sky; but yet we could have distinguished the form of a man on thetop of the building.
We were half hidden by the clump of bushes in the garden of thedwelling where I had been screened from view of Elias Macomber, whenwe saw a man approaching leisurely, and looking from side to side insearch of some one.
I recognized Captain Hanaford, and stepped out to meet him, asking howhe and father had managed to get along.
"He pulled through all right, lad, an' was lyin' in my bunk happy as acricket when I left."
"But you've forgotten the rope!" I exclaimed, and the captain openedhis coat to show me the line wound around his waist in such a fashionthat one might have come close upon him without suspecting that hecarried anything.
He stepped behind the bush to unwind it, and while he was thus engagedI distinctly saw the form of a man emerge from the scuttle-hatch onthe roof of the jail.
"They're coming out!" I whispered excitedly, and then glancedhurriedly around to learn where the sentries were stationed.
To my surprise I could not see a single person, save the soldier whoappeared at the corner once in every two or three minutes as he pacedhis beat at the end of the building. It seemed extraordinary thatthere should be no others in sight; but such was the fact, and surelywe had no reason to complain because the enemy was careless.
A few hours later I understood the reason for this seeming neglect ofthe prisoners.
My comrades were ready for the work on hand immediately I gave thealarm, and swiftly the three of us crossed over, I wondering if itwould be possible for us to throw the rope to the roof where thesailors could catch it.
As soon as the line was made fast a man slipped downquickly followed by another.]
As we neared the building I saw that Darius had already madearrangements for getting one end of the rope into his possession.
A bit of cloth was swinging to and fro at the corner of the jail whenI arrived, and taking hold of it curiously, I saw that it was madefast to a string formed of two or three strands of yarn.
The old sailor had unraveled their socks in order to procure thatwhich would enable them to haul up the rope.
There was no need of word or signal. Captain Hanaford made fast oneend of the half-inch manilla, gave the yarn-twine a jerk in token thatall was ready, and then we payed out on the rope to make certain itwent up without kinks.
In less than three minutes a man slipped down the line at a rate ofspeed that must have heated his hands in great shape, and he washardly more than on the ground before the second prisoner followed.
We had effected the escape, and it now remained to get under cover inthe shortest possible space of time.
"It won't do to run; but you can keep close at my heels," the captainsaid as he set off at a walk which fully equaled running, and wefollowed very closely, I literally holding my breath as I tried torealize that the task which had seemed so formidable a few momentsprevious, had been accomplished with the greatest ease.