CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE AMERICANS OVERPOWERED.--SPINKS ASSISTS US TO ESCAPE.--CROSS RIVER.--REACH WASHINGTON'S CAMP.--INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT CHIEF.--MRS. TARLETONFINDS HER BROTHER, COLONEL HALLET, WOUNDED.--MY STAY IN THE CAMP.--ANAFFAIR OF OUTPOSTS.--FAREWELL TO MADELINE.--QUIT THE CAMP, ACCOMPANIEDBY SPINKS.--AFTER MANY ADVENTURES REJOIN THE TENDER.
Madeline and I endeavoured to hurry along Mrs Tarleton, but sheappeared totally insensible to the dangerous position in which she andher niece were placed. Several bullets came whizzing by us, but shekept her head as erect as would the oldest veteran. I had almost todrag her on, and I was very thankful when at length we reached the doorof the building unscathed. I had told Lieutenant Spinks where to findus, should he wish to communicate with the ladies.
In spite of his wound, he had joined in the defence of the place. Notso Caractacus and Sambo. When we entered, I saw two bundles among thepiled-up turnips and potatoes. I gave a kick at them, and out tumbledour two sable attendants.
"Oh, ki, massa, is dat you?" exclaimed the first, springing to his feet."Come along--dis no good place for any wise man. We get across deriver, and away from dese Hesse devils."
"All in good time," I answered. "Do you take care of the ladies while Igo and learn the state of affairs."
It was now the part of Mrs Tarleton and Madeline to press me to stay,and not to expose myself to danger. I promised to obey in the latterpoint, but urged the necessity of ascertaining how matters wereprogressing, that I might judge whether we might safely remain where wewere, or whether it would be better at once to cross the river.Unwillingly they let me go. I managed to climb up to the top of a wall.A glance showed me that a considerable body of men were engaged in theattack, and that they were well provided with field-pieces, which werealready making some impression on the walls. Two of the out-houses werein flames; the roof of the main building had caught fire, and men wereengaged in extinguishing it, while the number of the killed and woundedwas very considerable. I felt convinced that, heroically as thegarrison were defending themselves, they could not long hold out. Withthis conviction I returned to my friends, and urged Mrs Tarleton toallow me to conduct her at once to the boat. While she was stillhesitating, Lieutenant Spinks rushed into the vault, blood streamingfrom his arm. "All is lost!" he exclaimed. "Fly, ladies, fly, or thosevillainous Hessians will be up to us before you can escape. The colonelis making a stout resistance, and may keep them back for some time, buthe ordered me to come on and hasten your flight."
After hearing this, I was determined that there should be no furtherdelay; so, sending the negroes on to the boat, we took the ladies' armsand followed as rapidly as they could walk. Not for a moment would Iallow them to stop and look back.
The boat was in readiness: we stepped in. I urged Spinks to come also,as with his wound he could be of no further use. I had, however, almostto force him on board. Without a moment's delay we shoved off. I putSpinks at the helm, and took an oar. The blacks seized the other two,and there was no necessity to tell them to pull away lustily. We wereonly just in time. The shouts and shrieks and cries increased. Thickflew the bullets--many passing over our heads. The flames grewbrighter; the main building was on fire, and burned furiously. By itsbright glare we could distinguish the dark figures of the combatants--the assailants climbing over the walls on either hand, and the defendersof the place in detached parties, still desperately endeavouring tooppose them. Suddenly trumpets sounded, voices were heard callingloudly, and there was a cessation of firing. We pulled on, however,across the river, for I thought very likely that, if we were discoveredby the victors, we should be fired at, and compelled to return. Theruddy glare was reflected on the broad stream, and the banks werelighted up by the flames of the burning house, so that we had nodifficulty in finding our way across to the right landing-place.
The farmer in whose charge the horses had been left, brought them out assoon as we appeared. "I would ask you to stay," he said, "but I knownot how soon the enemy may come upon us. You must take a stirrup-cup,though; it will do the hearts of the poor ladies good. They wantsomething to keep up their spirits, I'm sure." I forget the mixturethat was produced. I know that it was very good, though the ladieswould not be prevailed on to do more than taste it. Lieutenant Spinkswould allow us to make only a very short delay to get his wound washedand bound up, declaring all the time that it was of very littleconsequence. "I'm well accustomed to shot-holes by this time, I guess,so never fear," said he. I must say this for him, that he was decidedlya very plucky fellow, and was, I suspect, a fair sample of the men whowon independence for America. The good-natured farmer then ordered alad on horseback to show us the way, and uttered many hearty good wishesfor our safety. "None of the enemy are to the north of us, so I thinkyou may reach the camp without difficulty," he remarked. He asked noquestions about me. I suspect that Caractacus and Sambo had fullyenlightened him.
We pushed on for the remainder of the night, and did not even draw reintill morning dawned. It was wonderful how well the ladies endured thefatigue they were undergoing; not a complaint escaped either of them;indeed, Mrs Tarleton seemed rather to glory in the hardships she wasundergoing.
Instead of striking at once into the country, we kept to the north, soas to make a circuit towards the spot where it was understood GeneralWashington was then encamped. I tried to persuade Spinks to stop andrest, but on he would go, as long as his horse would carry him. Oursteeds, however, at last began to knock up, and we were glad to discovera farm-house among the trees a couple of hundred yards from the road.The inmates received us cordially. Breakfast was instantly placedbefore us, and a room prepared where the ladies might lie down and seekthat rest they so much required. The farmer put Spinks into anarm-chair, and scarcely had he finished his breakfast than he leant backand fell fast asleep. I felt much inclined to follow his example, butour host would not let me. He wanted to hear all about us, and, to dohim justice, he was ready to impart an abundance of information inreturn. Unaccustomed to the sight of uniforms, it never occurred to himthat I was a British officer, and from the far-from-pleasant way hespoke of my countrymen, I felt no inclination to enlighten him. Whatsurprised me most was to hear of the disorganised state of Washington'sarmy--the want of food and clothing from which it was suffering, and theutter insufficiency of all the commissariat arrangements. The wonderwas how, in such a condition, the American forces could withstandGeneral Howe's well-supplied, and well-disciplined troops.
"I'll tell you what it is," observed the farmer; "one has a just cause,and the other hasn't--that's the difference."
I did not tell him that there were two sides to that opinion, and thatsome people might consider the royal cause the just one.
A three hours' rest refreshed all our party as well as our horses, andwe were once more in the saddle. No further incident of importanceoccurred till in the afternoon we came suddenly on an outlying picket ofthe patriot forces.
The main body of Washington's army was at this time encamped at a placecalled White Marsh, about fourteen miles to the north of Philadelphia.We had approached it from the north-east. The officer in command of thepicket came forward, and Mrs Tarleton explained who she was, and herobject in visiting the camp.
"Can you give me any information respecting my brother, Colonel Hallet?"she asked with an anxious voice.
"Colonel Hallet is alive, madam, but he requires more rest than heobtains," answered the officer with a grave look. "I see him often, butI cannot report favourably of him."
I saw that more was implied than was said. While this conversation wasgoing on, I brought my horse close up to that of Miss Carlyon. I couldnot but realise to myself that the moment of our parting had arrived.The thought sent a pang, such as I had never before felt, through myheart. Madeline herself looked grave and sad. Was it the account ofher uncle's state of health which made her so or was it--vain puppy thatI felt myself--because we were about to part--perhaps for ever.
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How distant the prospect appeared, with the numberless vicissitudes of asailor's life intervening, when we might hope to meet again! Could weventure to indulge that hope? Should we ever meet? Should I not ratherbe prepared to part for ever? I would not allow myself to be overcomeby a thought so full of agony.
"Miss Carlyon!" I gasped out, and I drew my breath, while I felt as ifI could not utter another word.
"Hurricane Hurry!" said a low voice within me, "what are you about? Actlike a man!" However, I did not feel a bit the wiser. "Miss Carlyon,"I began again, "I have almost completed the duty I was sent on. You andyour aunt will soon be within the lines of General Washington's camp."
She looked very grave, and I thought pained. I continued: "I must nowreturn with all speed to my ship, though--though--" I could not for thelife of me find words to express what I wanted to say.
"Mr Hurry must be aware how deep an obligation he has conferred upon myaunt, and we should have been glad if we could have avoided making hisduty irksome," said Miss Carlyon in a low, deep voice, while the colourcame into her cheeks for an instant and then fled, leaving her palerthan before.
I was certain her voice trembled as she uttered the last words.
"Irksome!" I exclaimed. "Oh, Miss Carlyon, how could you for a momentthink so? It has been the most delightful duty I ever performed. Dutydid I call it? It has been unspeakable joy and happiness to me, almostfrom the time you came on board my vessel, to feel that I was of serviceto you; that you were under my care and protection. Day after day thatfeeling increased, till it has grown into a part of my being. It wouldbe my delight to feel that I could spend my life in the same way. Whyshould I conceal it? You may not care for me--you will return to yourown people, and perhaps scarcely ever cast a thought on the rough sailorwho is tossing about on the wild ocean; but he never, never can forgetthe days of intense happiness he has passed in your society, in watchingyour every look, in serving you with a true and faithful love--in--"
The temper of the Hurrys was breaking forth with a vengeance.
"Oh no, no; do not say those words!" she exclaimed; "I do--I do regardyou with--with--deeper feeling than I ought. Can you ask me to saymore? But oh, Mr Hurry, this dreadful war!"
"Madeline, the war will end; the time will come when you may be mine!"I exclaimed vehemently. "Will you--will you then consent?"
"Mr Hurry, I will," she answered calmly. "If you come and claim me,you will find me true. Some women never love more than once. Yet Iwill not bind you. You have your profession to occupy you. Your familymay disdain a rebel's child with her property confiscated. You maywander to all parts of the world: you will see numberless women--manyvery far superior to me--you may--"
I interrupted her with a vehement exclamation of denial as to thepossibility of anything she suggested occurring. I need not repeat allI said--all the vows I uttered. I did not believe that mortal powercould make me break them.
We had remained somewhat behind the rest of the party while MrsTarleton was speaking to the officer of the picket, and LieutenantSpinks was gaining information as to the road we were to take to reachhead-quarters. It was now time to move on. Anxious as I was not topart from Madeline till the last moment, I felt that, as an officer ofthe Royalist party, I ought to offer to remain in the outskirts of thecamp; but to my great satisfaction Mrs Tarleton at once overruled myobjections.
"Our friends will wish to thank you for the great service you haverendered us, and you will require a few hours' rest at least before youcommence your return journey," she observed.
Madeline's look I thought said, "Do not go yet;" so I agreed to theproposal. The marks of recent strife were sadly evident along the roadover which we passed, in the blackened remains of houses, woods cutdown, and fences destroyed.
We passed through several other pickets till we finally came to where aconsiderable body of troops were encamped within intrenchments, and withsome rugged hills in front. Among the troops was a corps of fine, tall,active-looking young men, whose uniforms and accoutrements were in themost perfect order. Accustomed as I had been to see the ill-clothed,various-sized, undisciplined militia, I was particularly struck by theirappearance.
"Those are General Washington's guards," observed Mrs Tarleton. "Hehas much need of such men; for, though prizing the lives of those underhim, he is sadly careless of his own. He himself is, I do not doubt,not far-off."
We had not ridden a hundred yards when we saw before us a group ofmounted officers in handsome uniforms, with plumes nodding and armsglittering. I had somehow or other pictured to myself the rebelgenerals as a dingy-looking set, like the Covenanters of old, orCromwell's Invincibles, and I could scarcely persuade myself that thoseI saw were officers of the enemy's army. Among them rode one whom theeye would not fail to single out from the rest--tall, handsome, andgraceful--the noble expression of his countenance showed that he had theright to command. I was struck, too, with the way in which he managedhis horse, and sat on his saddle. He was an enemy and a rebel; but forthe life of me I could not help pulling off my hat and bowing low, when,as he saw Mrs Tarleton, he rode forward to greet her. I guessed hecould be no other than the renowned chief General Washington. Among theofficers were Generals Sullivan, Wayne, and Woodford; Lord Stirling, agallant Scotchman, who in spite of his rank had joined the patriots; thenoble Frenchman, the Marquis Lafayette, and his veteran German friendthe Baron De Kalb; as also Generals Irvine, Reed, and other nativeofficers. Their appearance was very military, but I had no eye foranyone but the commander-in-chief. He bowed to Madeline, and took MrsTarleton's hand in a most kind and courteous manner, while his voice ashe spoke was gentle and melodious.
"I gladly welcome you to our camp, madam, deeply as I mourn the causewhich has brought you here. Your gallant brother is still with us. Oneof my aides-de-camp will conduct you to his quarters. You will, I fear,find Colonel Hallet much changed. He should long ago have retired fromactive duty, but his patriotism overcame all suggestions of prudence. Iwould that all who advocate the independence of our country were likehim!"
Mrs Tarleton made a brief answer. She was anxious to hurry to herbrother. A short conversation, however, first ensued between her andthe general, which I did not overhear; then, calling me up, sheintroduced me formally and explained who I was. General Washingtonreceived me in the frankest manner.
"I am happy to welcome one who has been of so much service to those Ihighly esteem, and Mr Hurry may be assured that he will find none butfriends as long as he thinks fit to remain in this camp."
I made a suitable reply, regretting that duty must summon me so speedilyaway.
"Perhaps you will have reason to alter your intention," said MrsTarleton with marked emphasis. "I will make you known to Lord Stirlingand other friends; they may have more success than I have had in provingto you which is the right side of the question."
Madeline looked at me, and I thought she seemed to say, "Oh, I wish theymay succeed!"
General Washington simply remarked, "At all events, Mr Hurry is welcomehere as long as he stays with us. I hope to have the pleasure of hiscompany at dinner to-day."
Several of the other officers came forward and spoke to me very kindly,and by the general's directions a junior aide-de-camp attached himselfto me, while another accompanied Mrs Tarleton and her niece to ColonelHallet's quarters.
As they rode away I could do no more than take a hurried and formalfarewell of them both--I dared scarcely hope that I should be able tosee them again. Lieutenant Spinks had several friends in the camp, withone of whom he intended to take up his quarters. He promised to callfor me if I persisted in my resolution to commence our return journey onthe following day. I found Captain Douglas, the officer in whose chargeI was placed, a very pleasing, gentlemanly man. To avoid giving anycause of suspicion, I refrained from moving about without first askinghim if I could walk in that direction, and I thus soon gained his goodopinion, as he fully appreciated the motive of my
conduct.
As the dinner-hour approached he took me to his tent, where I might getrid of the dust of my journey. It was pitched close to a farm-houseoccupied by the general. A barn attached to the farm-house, and hastilyfitted up, served as a dining-hall and council-chamber. Here a numberof officers, mostly generals and colonels, were assembled. I, amidshipman, felt very small among them; and certainly the attentionwhich was paid me by so many great people was well calculated to turn myhead. However, I was wide awake enough to know that all is not goldthat glitters. From what I had previously heard, and from what I sawwhen passing through the camp, I could not help discovering that theAmerican forces were in many respects in a very bad condition, ill-fedand worse clothed. Whole corps were in a very ragged state, and somewere almost shoeless, and entirely stockingless. This in the summer wasbad enough, but with winter coming on, it was enough to disorganise thewhole army.
The feast to which I had been invited was, considering the state ofaffairs I have described, a very grand one. Everyone was in goodspirits, and laughed and talked with the greatest freedom. I couldscarcely believe that these were the men who had lately been engaged ina deadly strife, and might any moment be called out to give battle to awell-disciplined and fierce enemy. The provisions were somewhat coarse,and probably not cooked by the most experienced of artists; but I hadbeen accustomed to meet with much worse at sea, so that I did not thinkmuch about the matter. Toasts were drunk, healths were pledged, and Iwas frequently invited to take wine by the officers present, althoughsome looked at me, I thought with eyes rather askance, as if they didnot quite approve of an officer of the opposite cause being at large inthe camp.
The party, however, did not sit long after dinner, and when it broke up,Douglas took me with him to his tent. "Come, we will have a cup ofcoffee together before you turn in," said he, as we sat down; "I have aFrench servant who understands cooking it better than any man I evermet. You shall have at the same time a pipe of the true Virginia weed.No one produces better than does our general on his estate; and this hegave to me as being some of the very best he ever saw."
I found my friend's encomiums were fully justified by the excellence ofthe tobacco; nor was his coffee to be despised. Several officers lookedin occasionally, and we had a very pleasant evening. They were,however, at last hurriedly summoned off, and I threw myself down on thecamp bedstead my host had prepared for my use.
Weary as I was I could not sleep. Something I was certain was goingforward. More than once my ear caught the not very distant rattle ofmusketry and the roar of cannon, and I could not help fearing that thecamp itself might be the object of attack, and that Mrs Tarleton andMadeline might be involved in the confusion which must ensue, andperhaps exposed to greater danger than any they had yet escaped. Iconsidered how I could find means of being of service to them.Unhappily I did not know my way to Colonel Hallet's quarters, and shouldthe necessity I apprehended arrive, I was not likely to find anybody toguide me to them.
Douglas had gone out; I felt that I ought not to leave the tent till hisreturn as I might very naturally, by wandering about, have therebyexposed myself to the suspicion of some sinister motive; so I lay still,eagerly listening that I might make a guess at the way things were goingby the sounds which reached my ears. Now and then there was a roll of adrum--now a bugle sounded--then the distant report of a field-piece, andnext, a whole volley of musketry. I sat up with my arm resting on mypillow, ready to spring to my feet at a moment's notice. I felt verysad. I could not bear the thought of not seeing Madeline again; andeven should I see her, I knew that I must be prepared to part from herfor an indefinite period--for many long years perhaps. How changedmight she and I be by that time!
"It will not do to indulge in these thoughts," I exclaimed, passing thepalm of my hand to my brow; "they will unman me, or make me turntraitor. Traitor! ay, that's the word. I must throw no false glossover it. Deserter--a wretch, false to his flag! No, no; she herselfwould despise me. These men now in arms around me have never swornallegiance to their sovereign; they have been forced into rebellion byill-treatment and injustice, by numberless insults. I should have nosuch excuse. If I unite myself to them it will be for my owngratification alone. No, no, I'll not do it."
I must confess that many such discussions as this I had in my own mindat this period, but I resisted the tempter in whatever form he came.The firing ceased; still I listened, expecting it to recommence. Atlength Douglas returned:--
"An affair of outpost!" he remarked carelessly. "You were disturbed bythe firing. Howe's army is somewhat near at hand. He wishes to draw usinto the lower ground, but General Washington knows the strength of ourposition, and the advantage it gives us, too well to be tempted out ofit. The enemy has retired; you may rest in quiet for the remainder ofthe night."
By daylight all the camp was astir. Lieutenant Spinks soon made hisappearance. He looked pale, but said that his wound did not hurt him,and that he should be able to accompany me if I was ready to commenceour return journey. I had no excuse to offer to myself for delay, butevery reason for getting back to my vessel. I however frankly toldCaptain Douglas that I wished to bid farewell to the ladies I hadescorted to the camp. I have an idea that he suspected how mattersstood.
"We will ride to Colonel Hallet's quarters directly after breakfast," heanswered promptly. "By that time they may be ready to receive you."
Spinks promised in the interval to get the horses and servants preparedfor the journey.
A frugal and somewhat hurried meal over, I set out with Captain Douglas.A ride of upwards of a mile over exceedingly rugged ground brought usto a hamlet of log huts. I remarked on the way the inaccessible natureof the ground, and saw the wisdom of Washington in holding it. I madeno remark in reference to this, but we talked freely on various topicsnot immediately connected with the war. My heart beat quick as mycompanion pointed out a long low hut, and remarked--
"There lies poor Hallet, and I fear that he will never leave the placealive."
The walls of the building consisted of long rough trunks of trees piledone on the other, the ends fitting at the angles together, and a scoopmade in the lower log to admit the convex part of the upper one. Notthat I remarked this at the time; all my thoughts were occupied withwhat was to occur. Douglas went to the door. It was opened by asoldier. After a minute's delay he beckoned to me to follow him. In asmall roughly-boarded room sat Mrs Tarleton and her niece. They rose,and the former took me cordially by the hand--
"Again I must thank you for enabling me to reach my poor brother in timeto find him alive," she said in a mournful voice.
I of course expressed my satisfaction of being of use, and looked to seewhat Madeline would say. I had taken her hand. She forgot to withdrawit.
"Indeed, indeed we are grateful," she uttered in a low voice.
She could not trust herself to say more. I would have given much tohave been alone with her, but I saw no chance of this. Perhaps it wasbetter as it was. What she herself wished I could not tell. MrsTarleton showed no intention of leaving the room. I longed to say agreat deal, but I felt tongue-tied. Captain Douglas had but little timeto spare. He looked at his watch. I saw that I could no longer delay.I bade farewell to Mrs Tarleton. Madeline came to the door of the hut.I took her hand--it trembled in mine:--
"Oh! Mr Hurry," she said in a low, faltering voice, "I will never,never forget you."
Douglas had thrown himself on his horse. I leaped on mine and had tofollow him at a gallop. Madeline was still standing at the door of thehut when a rocky height hid it from my view. Spinks was in readinessfor a start with Caractacus and Sambo. We soon left the camp of theAmerican army far behind, and pushed on for the Delaware. We crossed itsome way up, for the British forces were now in possession of both banksfor a considerable distance above Philadelphia. That city remainedentirely in their hands. An attack had, however, I found from Spinks,been planned by the American generals to re-take it, but
had beenabandoned by Washington on account of the great loss of life it wouldhave entailed.
In spite, however, of the general want of success of the patriots in thesouth, their spirits were raised, and their determination increased, tohold out by news of the surrender of General Burgoyne and his entirearmy to General Gates at Saratoga, as well as of the evacuation ofTiconderoga, and several forts on the Hudson, and the abandonment of amarauding expedition up that river from New York. We succeeded incrossing the Delaware without impediment; but we had no littledifficulty, at times, to avoid falling in with the troops of thecontending parties. Once or twice we had to gallop very hard to get outof their way. As Spinks observed, "It would be very disagreeable to behung up as spies before we had time to explain who we were." In spiteof his weakness, he, poor fellow, bore up manfully, and I was trulysorry to part from him. At length we came in sight of Little Egg River,and, to my very great satisfaction, I caught a glimpse of the tender,directly opposite Mr Plowden's house. I rode up to the door to restorehim his horses, and to return him my thanks for their loan. He mostkindly pressed me to remain a day with him, but I was anxious to be onboard my vessel and once more at sea. Three cheers greeted me as I gotalongside. Not a man had deserted, and Grampus gave me a favourableaccount of the behaviour of all hands. The tide and wind were fair forus. The anchor was hove up and sail was made. It was fortunate that Ihad not delayed. Scarcely were we under weigh when, through my glass, Isaw a considerable body of troops with some light artillery march downto the beach. I doubted much whether Mr Plowden could have protectedme. One or two shots came flying after us to make us heave-to, but thewind freshened. The little vessel glided swiftly on, till once more shebounded freely over the blue ocean. As I inhaled the fresh sea air Ifelt happier than I had done for many a day. I trimmed sails and stoodaway to the northward to rejoin the admiral off Newport.