CHAPTER X.
A HOT CHASE.
The two lads were well content with the assurance given by ColonelMcDowells, even though each would have been forced to admit, in eventof close questioning, that, while eager to bear a full share of allthe dangers, the prospect of taking part in a pitched battle broughtwith it a certain degree of nervous apprehension.
It was known because of what Ephraim Sowers had told, and could havebeen well understood even though the Tory lad had not chosen topurchase safety by revealing the secrets of those whom he claimed asfriends, that Major Ferguson's force was intrenched after such fashionas was possible, and, in addition, the position was rendered yetstronger by being on the mountain, up which the "rebels" must climb inorder to make an attack.
Another advantage which the Britishers had, was in point of weaponsand ammunition. They were thoroughly well equipped with the bestquality of arms, with powder and ball in abundance, while the friendsof liberty had but a scanty supply of either.
Despite such facts, however, not a man among those who had sworn torelieve the colonies from the yoke of the oppressor counted the odds.The only thought was that at last the Britishers were where a battlecould not be avoided, and the mountain men were determined that theconflict should result in a victory for the "rebels."
The troop did not begin the march as soon as Colonel McDowells hadproposed, however.
Although the colonists were few in numbers and with scanty outfit,there was much to be done by way of preparation for the unequalstruggle, and when an hour had elapsed they were yet in camp, butnearly ready to set out.
During such time Nathan and Evan had nothing to do save watch themovements of those around them, without being able to take any part inthe work, and although both were in need of repose, it was impossibleto rest at a time when they were laboring under the mental excitementcaused by the knowledge of what was before them.
Now and then one or another of the men would question the ladsregarding their reconnoissance of Major Ferguson's camp, when EphraimSowers was captured, and in the course of such conversations the twoboys soon learned where their prisoner had been taken.
One of the squad which had been charged with conveying the young Torybeyond reach of those who would have hanged him without loss of time,returned to camp in order to accompany his comrades on the march whichit was believed would be ended by a battle, and displayed no littlecuriosity as to how Ephraim had been captured.
"To hear the young villain talk, one would think a dozen men couldn'toverpower him. He declared that his reluctance to shed the blood offormer playmates saved you lads from death."
"It would seem that he has recovered somewhat from his fears," Nathanreplied with a hearty laugh. "When I last saw him he was playing thepart of coward to perfection."
"He insists that you took advantage of his former friendship, andwhile calling for assistance, basely fell upon him when he was givingthe aid you begged for."
To Nathan there was something extremely comical in such a story astold by Ephraim Sowers, who never displayed the slightest semblanceof courage save when there was no possible chance he could come to anyharm.
Evan's anger was aroused, however, and without delay he not onlyexplained how they had captured the Tory, but gave additional detailsconcerning the incident at Captain Dillard's house, when Ephraimsuddenly found the tables turned upon him.
"He could not have attempted to do a more deadly wrong than when hegave information which he fully believed would result in the death orcapture of Colonel Clark's force at Greene's Springs," Evan said inconclusion, "and while Nathan and I have given our word that he shallbe held safe from personal harm, I hope careful watch will be keptupon him. Insignificant though the lad is, he may be able to do usvery much injury."
"Joseph Abbott has been detailed to guard him," the trooper saidthoughtfully, "and perhaps a more steady man should have beenassigned to the work. Abbott means well; but is inclined to becareless, although it's certain he understands how necessary it is theTory be held safely this night."
"Yes, and for many a long day to come," Nathan added gravely. "Untilthe Britishers have been driven from the Carolinas, Ephraim must beheld close prisoner, because it is in his power to give them allneedful information as to our probable movements. There can be noquestion but that his father aids in the work, and while it is notgenerally understood that such is the case, much harm can be done."
The trooper felt confident that Abbott could be relied upon fortwenty-four hours at least, because he would remain at his own home,and surely there he should be able to make certain the prisoner didnot escape.
Then the conversation turned upon the probable battle, and this was ofsuch vital interest to the boys that, for the moment, they almostforgot such a lad as Ephraim Sowers ever had an existence.
It was fated, however, that they were to drop him from their thoughtsfor some time to come, and soon there was more reason than ever beforeto fear his power of working mischief.
Word had been passed for the horses to be saddled preparatory tobeginning the march toward King's Mountain, and Nathan and Evan wereattending to the steeds which had been provided for them, when asudden commotion on the outskirts of the encampment caused everymember of the troop to look about him in alarm.
The sound of voices in loud, angry conversation could be heard; but itwas not possible for the lads to distinguish any words save these:
"He should have been hanged! It was little less than a crime to allowhim to live!"
"Of whom are they speaking?" Evan asked in surprise.
"It can be none other than Ephraim, and yet I had supposed he would beforgotten, until after the battle."
"The men must have learned more of his doings, for certain it is thatno one has given him a thought during the last half-hour."
A moment later it became evident that whatever had caused this lastoutburst against the Tory spy was of considerable importance, for thecries of anger were redoubled as a full third of the little armyceased their work of preparation to gather around the officers'quarters.
"Something has gone wrong!" Nathan exclaimed as the confusionincreased. "When the command has been given for us to saddle, the menwould not spend valuable time crying out against such as EphraimSowers. Can it be possible he has escaped?"
"That is an idle proposition, for Joseph Abbott could not have been socareless," Evan replied; but there was a sudden tremor of his voicewhich told that he was not as confident as the words implied.
The boys no longer gave any heed to their steed; but pressed on towardthe throng which was surging around the officers' quarters, until itwas possible to hear yet more of that which the excited men said.
"Abbott was the last man in the Carolinas who should have been trustedwith such a duty!"
"If we had hanged the villain it would not now be possible for him todo us so much mischief!"
"Now that the Britishers are certain to be warned of our movements,there is little hope of taking them by surprise!"
These and similar remarks gave the eager, perturbed boys a fair ideaof what had occurred; but yet Nathan would not credit that whichappeared to be a fact until having more definite assurance that theyoung Tory was in a condition to work wrong to the patriots of theCarolinas.
"What has happened?" he asked of a man who was insisting that theofficers were guilty of a great crime when they prevented the men fromhanging the prisoner.
"Happened?" the man repeated angrily. "That young Tory whose neckshould have been stretched an hour ago, has given Joseph Abbott theslip, an' is most likely on his way to King's Mountain in order toinform Major Ferguson of what we would have done this night!"
"Ephraim escaped?" Evan repeated in dismay, and immediately there cameto him the knowledge of all it might be possible for the Tories toeffect.
It was certain that once Major Ferguson had been warned of theproposed attack, it would be so guarded against that a heavy loss oflife on the part of the Americans must inevitabl
y be the result, andprudence would dictate that the movement be abandoned.
Insignificant though Ephraim Sowers was, he now had it in his power tosave the king's troops from severe loss, and could, most likely,thwart the patriots at the very moment when they might strike such ablow as would free the Carolinas from the invaders.
The escape of the Tory was the most disastrous happening that couldhave been brought about by the enemies of the colonies, and theknowledge that it was possible only by sheer carelessness on the partof a true friend to the Cause, served to aggravate the offense whichhad been committed.
Here and there a man swore to hang Joseph Abbott if he dared to showhimself in this section of the country again, and the more hot-headeddemanded that Colonel Campbell and Colonel McDowells should suffer insome way because of having interposed to save the prisoner's lifewhen there were troopers standing by ready to execute him.
During ten minutes or more the tumult was great; all discipline hadbeen lost sight of, and there seemed every danger much mischief wouldbe done by those justly angry men who believed themselves thusprevented from breaking the rule of the king in the Carolinas at thevery moment when it might have been successfully accomplished.
During this time Nathan and Evan had been forcing their way towardthat point where Colonel McDowells and Colonel Campbell were facingthe angry soldiers, believing for the moment that an attack was aboutto be made upon them, and then it was Evan's father spoke for thefirst time since the lads had come within earshot.
"I am ashamed that men of the Carolinas will thus cry out for thedeath of a boy, how ever much injury he may have done, or can yet dous. We war against the representatives of the king, not withchildren."
"It was he who would have compassed our death!" one of Colonel Clark'smen shouted vindictively.
"Very true, and it is right that he be deprived of his liberty; butmore than that would have been a stain upon your honor such as couldnever be rubbed out."
"If he had been held prisoner we should have remained silent," anothersoldier cried. "Now he is turned lose to carry Major Ferguson suchinformation as will put to naught all our efforts."
"Is Abbott here to say how the lad escaped?" Colonel Campbell asked.
"His wife came with the news that her husband has gone on the trail ofthe viper."
"Then who shall say that such mischief has been done?" ColonelMcDowells cried, his voice taking on a more hopeful ring. "To hearsuch bewailing as you men are indulging in, one would say there is noremedy left us. It is probably true the Tory has escaped; but hecannot have very much of a start, since no more than three hours arepassed since he was led from this camp. There are twenty-eight milesbetween us and King's Mountain. We are ready to set out at once. Willyou admit that such horses as are owned by you may not cover thatdistance before a boy can do so on foot? Shame upon you for thusshowing the white feather when there is a possibility of repairing themischief!"
Some of the throng stepped back a few paces as if regretting that theyhad been so loud spoken; but the greater number remained in front ofthe two officers in a defiant and angry attitude.
"Where is Evan McDowells?" the colonel cried, raising his voice thatthe question might be heard throughout the encampment, and he had nosooner spoken than Evan and Nathan forced their way through the crowduntil standing directly before the officer, who added to theinsubordinate men, "My son and Nathan Shelby--the same lads whocaptured the Tory--shall go out in search of him. Half a dozen morewill be sent in as many different directions, and instead of standinghere indulging in vain words, we may repair the mischief. This,however, I demand, and will consider him my personal enemy whodisobeys what is a positive command: When the spy is retaken, see toit, each and every one, that his life be held sacred! These boys gavehim an assurance, in return for certain information, that he shouldnot come to harm, and I will never allow such pledge to be broken."
"We shall only be safe when he is dead!" a trooper cried in a surlytone.
"And you are willing, Angus McLeod, to admit that you are afraid of aboy!"
"Ay, Colonel McDowells, of such a boy as is that young Tory. While helives we know full well all our doings will be carried to the king'sofficers."
"How may that be now that we have come to know him for what he is? Amonth ago it was different, because you allowed him in and around yourencampment; but to-day, with full knowledge of his character, how canhe do you harm? When he is taken, as I feel certain he must be withina short time, turn him over to me; I will be personally responsiblethat he no longer has the power to work us an injury."
Then turning from the discontented men as if he had done with them,the colonel said to Evan and Nathan:
"Lads, now has come the time when you may perform such a service forthe Carolinas as, perhaps, is not within the power of any other. I donot hold that you are more skillful or keen on the trail than yourcompanions; but there is in my mind the belief that you will succeedwhere older searchers may fail. Set out immediately; spare not yourhorses, nor yourselves, until Ephraim Sowers is once more yourprisoner."
"But in event of our being so fortunate as to come upon him, sir, weshall be deprived of taking part in the battle," Evan said mournfully,and his father replied quickly, but in a whisper:
"There will be no battle if he escapes to carry information to MajorFerguson."
"There will be in case we shall make him prisoner within a few hours."
"In that event you may leave him with Abbott, whom, I dare venture tosay, will not give way to carelessness again, or in the custody of anywhom you know to be true. We shall ride the direct trail to King'sMountain, and you should be able to overtake us if the work beperformed quickly."
There was no thought in the mind of either lad that such an order asthe colonel had given could be slighted, and while it would havegrieved them to the heart had an engagement come off while they wereabsent from the troop, neither hesitated.
As they turned to leave, Colonel Campbell gave orders to several ofthe men that they ride at once in pursuit of the late prisoner, andNathan whispered to his comrade while they walked as quickly as thethrong would permit toward where their horses had been left:
"I am not positive, Evan, how we might carry ourselves in the midst ofa battle. While neither of us would admit to being cowardly, it ispossible we showed a certain amount of fear when brought face to facewith the king's troops. Now we have one more opportunity of provingourselves equal to the part of men, without chance of displaying thewhite feather."
"I fail to understand the meaning of so many words," Evan repliedpetulantly. "To me the only thing certain is, that we may not followwhere much honor is to be won."
"If it should so chance that we come upon Ephraim Sowers, when othersfailed of finding him, we will gain more credit than if we rode in thefront ranks of those whom I hope will charge Major Ferguson's forcebefore to-morrow night. Let us give over repining at what cannot bechanged, and set ourselves about the task of running that miserableTory down!"
Evan was not disposed to look at the matter in such a light, althoughnever for a moment did he dream of disobeying his father's commands.To him this setting off on a blind search for the young spy was simplyshutting themselves out from all chance of riding with the men of theCarolinas when they charged the enemy, and it seemed for the moment asif no greater misfortune could befall them.
However, he made no protest against whatever his comrade suggested,although confident that with a start in his favor of even one hour, itwould be impossible for them to overtake Ephraim Sowers, moreparticularly since half a dozen men were to join in the hunt, andwithout loss of time the two lads made ready for the search.
There was no thought of making provisions for any lengthy absence; thework, to be of any avail, must be done before midnight, and if at thattime the Tory was yet at liberty, then might the searchers return totheir comrades, for it would be good proof Ephraim had succeeded ineluding them so far as to be able to give Major Ferguson informationof what wa
s afoot.
Therefore the only care was to make certain their supply of ammunitionwould be sufficient for a spirited attack or resistance, after whichthey rode through the encampment, and half a mile beyond were haltedby Mrs. Abbott, who was returning slowly to her home.
"Are you young gentlemen setting out in search of the Tory?" she askedwhen the two lads halted in response to her signal.
"We are, and many others will ride on the same errand."
"The soldiers were so angry with Joseph that I had no opportunity torepeat all the message he sent. It was not through the fault of myhusband that the prisoner escaped; he was left bound by the hands aswhen brought to our house, while we made ready a room in which hecould be safely kept, and by some means managed to free himself."
"We have no time for such unimportant particulars," Nathaninterrupted. "The main fact is that he is free, and we are among thosecharged with the search for him."
"Joseph set out on the same errand within five minutes after hisescape was discovered, and he bade me say to whosoever might come,that the trail led over the hills to the westward. You will have nodifficulty in following it, and should come up with my husband beforeriding very far."
"We thank you for the information, and would ride ahead if you areable to direct us to your home," Nathan replied.
Mrs. Abbott, who appeared to be in deepest distress because theprisoner intrusted to her husband's keeping had made his escape, gavethe boys ample directions for finding the house and as the two roderapidly forward Nathan said in a hopeful tone:
"There is yet a chance, Evan, that we shall succeed where the othersfailed, thanks to our having met Abbott's wife. If the trail iswell-defined, we shall be able to ride it down, capture the spy, andreturn to the encampment before our people have set out.
"That is what we should do, but whether we can or not is quiteanother matter," Evan replied gloomily. "It is a pity we promised theTory our protection, otherwise he would have been beyond all power forharm long ere this."
"And would you like to remember that we captured a lad who was onceour friend, for others to hang in cold blood?"
"Almost anything would be better than that we were shut out fromfollowing those with whom we should ride this night."
"I am counting that we will yet bear them company," Nathan repliedcheerily. "Even a Tory cannot make his way across the country withoutleaving a trail, and now that we know where it may be taken up, therest ought to be easy."
"Unless he has suddenly lost his senses, we cannot follow him onhorseback. If I was trying to escape from mounted men, it would not bedifficult to strike such a course as should be impossible for them tofollow."
"That he did not do so at the start is positive, else Abbott wouldnever have sent such word by his wife," Nathan replied, heeding notthe petulance of his comrade. "If we hold to it that Ephraim Sowershas made his escape, then is he the same as free, but I shall continueto claim we have fair chance of overtaking him, until we know beyond aperadventure that he cannot be found. Every second is of value to usnow, and we'll waste no more time in idle talk."
With this remark, which Evan might well have construed as a rebuke,Nathan struck his horse sharply with the spurs, and the two quicklyleft Mrs. Abbott far in the rear.