CHAPTER III.
ELIAS MACOMBER.
Of a verity Elias Macomber did me a good turn when he started thequarrel with Darius Thorpe, for up to this time I had been sadlylacking in patriotism, as may have been learned from that which isalready set down in these pages.
Until this day it had been as if the war did not concern me or mine,save as it affected the price of oysters, and when I saw this lad orthe other who had enlisted, I said to myself that another foolish onehad been found who willingly engaged to go where he might be killed.
Within a very few moments after the fight between Elias Macomber andhis crew of British-lovers had come to an end, I began to view thesituation of affairs as an honest lad should.
The country which protected me in my home--that territory which hadbeen bought, or redeemed, by the blood of brave men, and even of womenand children, from the savage Indians and a merciless king, was indanger, and if I did not rush to its defense how might I expect myheritage of a free land could be preserved to me and those who cameafter me?
Like a picture I saw before me those brave men and women who hadbattled against the forces of nature as they made homes in thewilderness; then struggled against the bloodthirsty Indians to protecttheir little all, and were finally called upon to fight a powerfulnation in order to hold themselves free in the land already redeemedby sweat and blood.
Once that was presented to my mental vision I ceased to regret havingbeen forced to thus set off for the purpose of joining CommodoreBarney's fleet, and rejoiced that my comrades had prevented me fromshowing the white feather when even my loving mother urged me forward.I forgot all the fears which had assailed me, and thought only of whatit might be possible for me to do in order to show myself worthy theland of my birth.
In a word, I had in a few seconds been transformed from a cowardly ladwho would shirk his duty lest, perchance, he receive some bodily hurt,to a boy burning with the desire to do whatsoever lay in his powertoward checking the advance of an enemy who was bent upon carrying onthe war by destroying the property of peaceful settlers.
Unless my comrades read what I have here set down, they will neverknow how near I was on that day at Benedict, to proving myself afalse-hearted American lad.
The afternoon was considerably more than half spent when we left homefor the eighteen-mile sail up the river, and I saw little chance ofour coming upon the fleet before morning, unless we kept the pungyunder sail far into the night, for the breeze, what little we had ofit, came from the westward, and we could not make more than two milesan hour against the current.
Therefore it was that I said to Darius when we were half an hour ormore from port, after Jim Freeman and his friends had weariedthemselves by cutting monkey-shines on the deck in order to provetheir joy at thus having an opportunity to do whatsoever they might indefense of their country:
"With so light a wind we are like to be forced aground when it is sodark that we cannot give the shoals a wide berth, because of notseeing them," and the old man replied, saying that which was in my ownmind:
"It'll be a case of comin' to anchor, lad, after the sun has set, forwe had best make haste slowly rather than jam the pungy up where a daymay be spent in tryin' to float her."
"But suppose the British are close at hand?" I asked, for now I washot with the desire to make certain of keeping so far ahead of theenemy that I could take part in whatsoever might be done by way offighting.
"They will be more helpless than we, after night has come, for we knowthe river fairly well, while they are strangers to it."
If it had not been that we lads were about to take part in the war Imight have refused to accept Darius' advice so readily, for, it mustbe confessed, I am overly headstrong and apt to go contrary when onemakes the least show of driving me; but in the business we were aboutto embark upon, I knew it was safe to follow the old man, since he hadhad long experience in such matters, the telling of which would bemore entertaining than will be the account of our adventures.
It was destined, however, that the Avenger should come to anchor evenbefore the river was shrouded in darkness, for we were not more thanfour miles above our own town of Benedict, when the wind, died awaycompletely, thus forcing us to make fast somewhere, unless we wereminded to drift back to our starting point.
In my ignorance, I would have anchored the pungy in the stream,hoisting a riding light, and turned in feeling that everything wassafe and snug; but to this Darius made decided objection.
"Keep out of the channel," he said emphatically. "We know beyond aperadventure that the enemy is astern of us, and there is no tellin'when he may come--"
"He will wait for wind before goin' very far up the river," Iinterrupted, and thus showed my ignorance of anything concerningwarfare, for the old man replied:
"It wouldn't be strange if he should send a boat in the night to makecertain of the water, and get such other information as might beuseful. This 'ere pungy would be captured by half a dozen men aseasily as if the whole British fleet was close by."
"Are you of the opinion that we should haul in to the bank?" I askedvery humbly, understanding that if we would run safely it might bebetter to give Darius the command.
"Let her drop back beyond the point, an' then sneak in as far amongthe trees as her spars will permit," he said, and this we did, pullingher around by aid of the canoe until we were nicely hidden from allsave by closest scrutiny.
Right glad was I by this time that Jim Freeman and his two friends hadcome aboard, for they were willing lads, who strove to do all theymight in the way of work, and we who belonged on the Avenger had aneasy time of it.
Jim took it upon himself to get supper, and he had brought with himsuch a tempting store of provisions, all of which he turned over tothe party, that our meal that night was a veritable feast. I had neverbut once before had such an appetizing repast, and that one exceptionwas when oysters were scarce, and a Baltimore dealer gave us a dinnerat the hotel in addition to the regular price of the cargo.
When our hunger had been satisfied, and the cuddy put to rights, welads would have spent the time spinning yarns, or in some other suchamusement; but Darius put his foot down strongly against it.
"Remember that you are liable to be made prisoners of war at anymoment," he said gravely. "Wise men do not hide themselves and theirvessel, an' then talk and laugh that strangers may know where they arehidden."
"Do you really expect to see Britishers on the river this night?" JimFreeman asked with a laugh, and, much to my surprise, the old man saidemphatically:
"I surely do, if all we heard at Benedict be true, an' I have littledoubt of it. The enemy count on destroyin' Commodore Barney's fleet,an' know that it can be found up this stream. It will be strange,'cordin' to what I know of such business, if the admiral does not sendout spies before shovin' any armed vessels up here."
It can well be supposed that such talk as this insured silence amongus; we had hardly begun to understand that we might be very near aBritish prison unless every precaution was taken; but the old man'swords, and manner of speaking them, brought us to a betterrealization of the situation.
We almost held our breath, fancying the enemy might be close aboard,until Darius, talking in a whisper, said:
"I'm countin' on seein' or hearin' the Britishers 'twixt now an'mornin', an' it strikes me that we might do a good stroke of work forJoshua Barney, by lookin' after a prisoner or two. It wouldn't be noways strange if we could nab 'em, pervidin' they put themselves in afair position to be taken."
I was dumfounded by such a proposition, and it is not impossible thatmy knees began to shake as I thought of attempting such a thing. ThenI suddenly remembered that we had no weapons aboard, except an oldmusket which we used to shoot into a flock of ducks now and then, andI said with a laugh:
"Do you expect that the Britishers will surrender if we simply invitethem? Our one musket wouldn't make much of a showin' against aboat-load of men."
"All that has been in my mind, lad,
an' I reckon it won't be hard toput ourselves in right good shape. If any British spies count oncomin' up the river, it wouldn't be till after dark, an' we've got noright to expect they'd be around this way much before midnight. NowI'll paddle back to the village, an' see if I can't scare up two orthree muskets. It won't take me more'n an hour for the whole job."
Darius said this as if asking advice; but I could make no reply, andmy companions held their peace, therefore, after waiting a few momentswithout hearing any comment, the old man set about carrying his planinto execution.
Noiselessly he hauled the canoe alongside, went over the rail intoher, and took up the paddle, as I stood near the bow waiting for hiscommand to cast off the painter.
"Keep quiet, whatever happens, an' don't fuss if I'm kept quite aspell, for if there's anythin' to be learned, I shall make mightylittle account of time. Cast off, lad, an' be certain that nothin'goes up or down the river without your seeing it."
I obeyed the command, and in an instant the canoe glided into theobscurity of the shadows cast by the overhanging trees.
With the disappearance of Darius there came upon me the full sense ofmy responsibility, for I was the one to whom the others would look inevent of trouble, and I knew full well how poorly fitted I was byexperience to be in command of the pungy.
The knowledge of my own short-comings at least served one good turn,since it made me more than usually cautious, and without delay I setabout preparations for obeying the command given by Darius.
All my companions were on deck, and calling them aft to the cuddycompanion-way, I said in a whisper:
"You heard the words of Darius. Now I propose the work shall be donein this fashion: All hands will remain on duty, not in a group, butstationed equal distances apart at the rail, each one to watch andlisten to the best of his ability. No fellow shall speak with hisneighbor, nor can he move about lest the sound of footsteps on thedeck give an alarm."
Then I took up my station near the stern, and in the gloom I could seethe forms of my companions while they ranged themselves as I hadsuggested, neither of them making more noise than so many mice.
From that moment not a sound could be heard from the deck of theAvenger. That which Darius said had aroused us all to the danger, andeven though we had only a crew of lads, I felt confident no blunderwould be charged against us.
It was dreary work waiting there in the darkness, listening intentlyfor the lightest unusual noise, and believing that an enemy was, orsoon would be, close at hand. The gurgling of the water in an eddy;the leap of a fish, or a bit of drift-wood striking against the sideof the pungy, sounded in our ears loud as thunder, and we heard theordinary night rustlings of the forest as if it was something strangeto our ears.
Then came that which caused us to bend far out over the rail, tryingto pierce the gloom with our eyes, for the measured stroke of oarscould be heard, and it was a positive relief to me, even though itbetokened the coming of strangers.
I felt certain an enemy's boat was approaching, because had any oneliving on the river been coming up at that time of night, paddleswould have been used instead of oars. I knew of no one nearaboutBenedict who would have rowed a boat against the current when shecould have been handled so much more readily the other way.
Nearer and nearer came the splashing of water, as if more than oneoarsman was at work, and when it seemed as if the boat must be closeupon us, I heard a low voice, but could not distinguish the words.
Immediately the noise of the oars ceased, and then came the words, notloud, but clear enough for us who were listening so intently to hearwith reasonable distinctness:
"On which side of the river were we to pick the man up?"
"The left, sir; the same side as the village."
The Avenger was lying near the right bank of the river, such positionhaving been taken because of the trees, and not through good judgment.
"One of you men get ashore, and see what can be found. If this is theplace agreed upon, and he said he would be about three miles abovethe village, there should be a road running on a line with the river."
There was no question in my mind but that the speakers were Britishersfrom one of the fleets, and that some of our people had agreed to playthe traitor by giving information, or piloting the boat. But, if suchwas the case, where was Darius? He had not had time to reach Benedictbefore this boat came past there, and might already be a prisoner onhis way to the nearest English vessel.
Even though he had gained the village while the strangers were yetbelow it, then was his danger the greater, for he might unwittinglycome directly upon them when he returned. Whichever way I looked atthe matter I saw cause for grave fear, and the perspiration came outin big drops on my forehead, for without him we would be in a badpredicament.
While these thoughts were running through my mind I gave due attentionto what might be going on at the opposite side of the river, for I wasconvinced that the boat was nearly in a straight line across fromwhere we lay.
I could hear such noises as told that one of the crew was scramblingashore amid the underbrush, and I heard a man cough; but after thatall was still until at least fifteen minutes were passed, when therewas a faint sound of voices from a distance, and then the rustling ofthe foliage as if one or more was forcing a passage through the tangleof vines.
"Hello!" came in a hoarse whisper from the boat, and some one ashorereplied:
"It's all right, sir."
From what could be heard I knew that a man, or men, were making theirway to the boat from the highway, and then, when it seemed as if he orthey were aboard, the voice which had given the command, said ingreeting:
"So you're come at last, Macomber. I had begun to believe we weremistaken as to the rendezvous."
"I was delayed in the village, for your orders were that I must getaway without its being known, and there are many inquisitive ones inBenedict."
My heart gave a great bound. So it was Elias Macomber who was playingtraitor, for even though he was born in England, the United States washis home by adoption, and to our people he was bound in honor.
If Darius could only get weapons so that we might capture the boat'screw, what joy would be mine to carry the base hound to CommodoreBarney as a prisoner!
Elias was speaking in a low tone and rapidly to some one--whom I hadno doubt was a British officer--, and I could only catch a word hereand there; but it was enough to let me know that he was reporting allhe had heard concerning the movements of the flotilla.
"At Nottingham yesterday," I heard. "Thirteen barges an' pungies, withthe schooner Scorpion. Five hundred men all told. Well armed, an'knowin' how to use their weapons."
It was by such fragments of conversation as set down above that I knewElias Macomber was giving all the information in his power to theenemy, and I resolved that some day he should pay the penalty of thecrime, even though I was forced to pursue him single-handed.
When all the story had been told the officer asked:
"Can you give us a place on the river where we may lay by during theday? I am minded to have a look at the boats before going back to makereport."
I bent forward eagerly to hear the reply:
"At a mill, five miles above here, you will find a friend by name ofEssek Harland. He can give you all that may be needed."
"You shall go with us to make certain he takes us in."
"Very well, sir; but in that case I cannot get back home beforemorning."
"You should be able to pull eight miles with a current in a few hours,and I will pay for the hire of a boat."
"Very well, sir," Macomber replied in a tone of content, and I laughedinwardly with joy, for he would be our prisoner to a certainty if hecame down the river alone.
Then the word was given for the oarsmen to resume their work, and weheard the light splashing of water as the boat was pulled up-stream.
After that all was silent once more, and Jerry came tip-toeing aft towhisper in my ear:
"Do you think Darius ma
naged to give them the slip, or did theycapture him?"
"It seems to me that the officer would have told Elias if he had takena prisoner," I replied, and such fact gave me great satisfaction. "Atall events he must be here soon if nothing has happened to hisdisadvantage."
Even as I spoke the canoe came out of the shadow, gliding lightly andnoiselessly as thistledown, and we knew that Darius was safe, for thetime being at least.
"Did you run across the boat when you went down?" I asked in a whisperas he came over the rail, and he stood silent as if with surprise.
"Didn't you see a boat?" Jerry asked impatiently, and the old manreplied:
"I met with nothing either goin' or comin' an' I've brought back twomuskets with a mighty small lot of powder an' ball; but it's better'nnothin'. What do you mean by a boat?"
Then we told him what we had heard, and when I mentioned the name ofthe traitor, he brought his hand down on his leg with a resoundingthwack that might have been heard some distance away, as he saidincautiously loud:
"We'll have that snake, lads, if we don't do anythin' more, an' heshall have a chance to see how the commodore looks when the Britisherscome up the river!"
"Then it is for you to take command of the Avenger, Darius. The boathas not been gone from here above ten minutes, therefore it is likelyto be some time before the traitor comes down stream."
"We won't wait here for him, lads. There's breeze enough stirrin' nowto send the pungy against the current, an' we'll push ahead."
Sheltered by the trees as the vessel had been, we were ignorant of thefact that a night breeze was springing up, until the Avenger swung outinto the stream, and then we found it as Darius had said.
The little craft could make about two miles an hour against thecurrent, which, as I reckoned, was about what the boat could do with acouple of men at the oars, and I suggested to the old man that therewas danger we might over-run our game.
He gave heed by sending all hands, save me, into the bow as lookouts,and steered a zig-zag course, which reduced our speed a full third.
"I don't believe I've ever heard of this Essek Harland you tellabout," the old man said to me in a whisper, and, understanding thathe desired all the information I could give concerning the miller, Ireplied:
"He's of much the same kidney as Elias Macomber, except that he wasborn in this country. A mean native of North Carolina, who starves hisslaves, and makes them work twice as many hours as they should. Heruns the mill, and it is said that all those who carry grist to himkeep a sharp watch lest he take out too much toll. If he hides theBritishers, or gives them any information, it will be because they payhim, for he will do any mean thing for money."
"Have you ever heard it said whether he was for or against the war?"
"No, and I haven't heard his name spoken for a year or more. It wouldmake little difference with him which side he was on, if the oppositeparty offered money they could buy him."
Then we fell silent again during half an hour or more, when Dariussaid:
"You shall tell me when we are within a mile of the mill; it won't besafe to run any nearer unless we have overhauled that snake of aMacomber."
I was so well acquainted with the river as to know every crook andturn for at least ten miles above Benedict, and when it seemed certainthe pungy had run three miles or more, I kept a sharp look-out on thebanks in order to comply with the old man's request.
It was just when I believed we were close upon the spot where theAvenger should be stopped, that Jerry came tip-toeing aft, waving hisarms to attract our attention.
"Macomber has hove in sight!" Darius whispered. "Take the tiller, an'head her for his canoe!"
As he spoke he darted into the cuddy, returning a few seconds laterwith two muskets, and these he carried with him well forward.
I strained my eyes in vain for a view of the canoe, which should becoming right fast, with a favoring current, and had not yet made herout when Darius hailed:
"In the boat there! Whereabouts are our people?"
The old man had disguised his voice, and the traitor must havebelieved that we were a party of British coming to join those whom hehad piloted, for he paddled alongside fearlessly, as he replied:
"Up the river half a mile or so."
"Can you show us the way?"
"Ay, that I can; but it will delay me in--"
He ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that moment Jerryincautiously came toward the port rail, and even though the night wasdark, it was possible to see that he was neither a British soldier norsailor.
Quickly he seized the paddle to shove off; but Darius thrust themuzzle of a musket in his very face, as he cried sharply:
"Pass up your painter, or I'll shoot! Quick, or your life is gone inanother second!"
Elias Macomber was a coward, as we knew full well, but I neverbelieved he would give in quite as readily as he did. He passed up thepainter as meekly as any cooing dove, and when Darius ordered him tocome over the rail, he made all haste to obey the command.
When we gathered around the cur, however, for all of us were so eagerthat we could not keep out of sight any longer, and he saw who hadcaptured him, he let go a cry of anger that was like unto the whoof ofa bear, as he struck out with both fists savagely.
He would have showed better sense had he taken matters with a bit moregrace, for before he could land a blow on either of us, Darius flooredhim with the butt-end of the musket, and during a minute or two helaid like one dead.
"You struck too hard!" I cried in alarm, for even though the man was atraitor, it seemed terrible to take a human life.
"Not a bit of it," the old sailor said quietly as he set about lashingthe fellow's arms and legs. "He ain't the kind that can be killed soeasily. Get off the hatch, for we must have him out of sight beforecoming up to the mill."
"Pass up your painter, or I'll shoot!" Cried Darius.Page 56.]
Five minutes later our prisoner was snugly stowed aft, near the cabinbulkhead, and we had brought the pungy to anchor lest she over-run theport we counted on making.