CHAPTER X.
CONCILIATORY BILLS.
That Seth was proud of being an officer in the Continental army bothJacob and Enoch understood during the first hour spent in his company.The fact was clearly apparent in his manner of showing them aroundthe encampment, explaining the location of the different troops, theroutine of a soldier's life, and displaying his proficiency in themanual of arms.
"I never had an idea that there was so much to be learned before afellow could make any show as a soldier," he said when, the exhibitiondrill being ended, he led the two boys to his quarters. "It seemed tome only necessary to stand in line, or be able to load a musket; butthat is a very small portion of the work."
"I suppose you know it all by this time," Jacob said in an envious tone.
"Indeed I don't. I have only just begun to learn; but if I'm not a goodsoldier within a year, it will be because peace is declared too soon,or I have been wounded or killed. The members of our company are welltrained, and seem willing to help me along."
"If I couldn't find out all there was for a private to know in a week,I'd give up trying," Master Ludwick declared emphatically.
"Then you may as well never try."
"I'm not certain that I shall."
"What?" and Seth looked thoroughly astonished. "I thought your greatestdesire was to enlist?"
"I've changed my mind about that since last night."
"Since last night? Why, after what you two have done it seems asif the only thing left was to enlist. You surely can't go back toPhiladelphia----"
"That isn't so certain. Enoch is going with Greene, the spy, and if Ican give father the slip I shall travel in his company."
As a matter of course Seth was eager to understand what Master Ludwickmeant, and in the fewest possible words Enoch explained the propositionthat had been made to him.
"I suppose of course it's your duty to go if you can be of anyservice," Seth said slowly; "but I have counted so much on having youand Jacob for comrades that it will be a big disappointment. It is toobad for you not to be members of the army now when it seems as if theend of the struggle was close at hand."
"What has happened to make you think anything of that kind is near?"Enoch asked in surprise. "Philadelphia is still in the possessionof the British; General Washington has not moved from these hiswinter-quarters, and at the very beginning of the campaign GeneralLafayette has been forced to retreat."
"But the alliance will make a great difference. Now that we are to havethe assistance of the French troops----"
"What do you mean?" and both Enoch and Jacob looked bewildered.
"Haven't you heard that the French king has acknowledged theindependence of the United States, and declares that he will befriendus?"
"I knew last winter it was hoped such might be the case, but don'tunderstand that anything has been effected toward that end as yet."
"Then General Howe has succeeded in keeping the news from our peoplebetter than I supposed possible. You should have been in camp herefrom the third to the seventh of this month, and then you would haveunderstood what hopes every one is building upon the alliance. It wasannounced to the army on the third, and on the seventh the soldierscelebrated the good news."
"I wish our friends in Philadelphia could know of it," Enoch said, halfto himself.
"They will know before a great while, that you may depend upon. It isrumored here that war is to be declared between France and England,and that what are called 'conciliatory bills' have been offered inParliament."
"What do you mean by conciliatory bills?" Enoch asked in perplexity.
"As it has been explained to me, the British government will make peacewith the colonies----"
"That is what the king will try to do," a voice cried, and, lookingup, the boys saw Greene, the spy, who had approached near enoughto overhear a portion of the conversation without having been seen."Nothing short of our independence will, I hope, please our leaders.The bills you speak of are merely deceptionary measures, so GeneralWashington says. The king will give us a little more liberty thanwe have had; but doesn't propose to allow us to become a nation byourselves. You don't seem to be aware of how well we are progressing,Enoch, my boy. The French king has declared himself our friend; thereis no question but that war will soon be proclaimed between France andEngland, and what more particularly concerns you is, that the Britishare making preparations to evacuate Philadelphia."
Enoch and Jacob looked at the speaker in surprise which bordered onbewilderment.
"Do you mean that General Howe will march out of the city when there isno necessity of his doing so?"
"He will unquestionably march out very shortly; but there is goodreason for the move. He has accomplished nothing by remaining there,and fears he may find himself in trouble. Four days before the carnivalHowe issued an order for the heavy baggage of the army to be preparedfor embarkation at the shortest notice, and for the soldiers to lightentheir personal luggage. If that doesn't mean that the Britishers aregetting ready for some kind of a move I'm very much mistaken. Thereis yet more news for you, boys. It is evidently a fact that peacecommissioners have been appointed by the king, and are now on their wayto this country."
"Can that be possible?" Enoch asked, and Seth nodded his headtriumphantly as he replied:
"You should have been here at Valley Forge to learn the news, not inthe city where the Britishers suppress everything that isn't pleasing.There can be no question about the commissioners, as Mr. Greene says,for it is reported in the army that Washington wrote to Congressregarding the conciliatory bills and the fact that the commissionersare coming to this country, saying in the letter: 'Nothing short ofindependence, it appears to me, will do. A peace on any other termswould, if I may be allowed the expression, be a peace of war.' You cansee we are progressing famously, and that the time is come when theking realizes how nearly we have gained our independence."
"Then if I go to the city with Mr. Greene I may be fortunate enough tosee the Britishers marching out?"
"Who can say but that you will be the first to bring the news to thisarmy that the capital of our country is no longer in possession of theenemy?" the spy added in a triumphant tone. "Now, I fancy, Master Ball,you will have no hesitation about doing as I wish?"
"I am ready to go whenever you say the word."
"Then it is time we were making a move. General Dickinson wants to havea word with you before we go, and I propose to set out as soon as yourinterview is ended."
"What about my going too?" Jacob asked eagerly. "Surely I have beenable to do as much as Enoch--perhaps more, for he is willing to confessthat but for me he would never have known where to get horses for lastnight's ride."
"That matter is already settled, Master Ludwick," Greene replied withjust a suspicion of a smile. "I committed to your father's care thehorse Enoch rode, for it would have cost me too much time to haveturned him over to the quartermaster in due form, and then promisedthat I would not countenance your leaving camp."
"So my father had an idea I would want to go?"
"Yes, when he learned I was to take Enoch."
"He may think he can keep me here; but I doubt it," Master Ludwicksaid sharply. "It will be necessary for him to watch me very closely,because it doesn't appear to be such a hard matter to give him theslip."
"You may think differently after making the attempt. Do you fancy themen here are allowed to roam about at will?"
"I reckon I shouldn't have much trouble in getting away if I triedhard."
"You will soon learn to the contrary, if you make the attempt. At allevents I am bound by my promise not to allow you to accompany Enochand I. Seth, if you want to send any word to your mother we may have anopportunity of speaking with her before many days."
"If Enoch sees her he knows what I would say. I am more than contented,for I am happy at being a soldier at last, and hope before thiscampaign ends I shall have done that which will prove I am true to thecause."
Greene was not d
isposed to make any further delay.
His instructions were to be in Philadelphia before the followingmorning, and since at least half of the journey must be made on foot,there was no more than sufficient time remaining to accomplish hispurpose.
Seth and Jacob accompanied Enoch to General Dickinson's quarters, andwaited outside until his interview with the commander of the New Jerseymilitia was at an end.
"What did he say to you?" Master Ludwick asked when Enoch finallyemerged from the building.
"Nothing of much importance that I am at liberty to repeat," Enochreplied guardedly. "He thanked you and I for what we did lastnight----"
"I should think it was about time somebody thanked us," Jacob grumbled.
"Surely General Lafayette spoke very kindly."
"Yes; but that is all he did do."
"Well, General Dickinson didn't say very much more, and surely ournight's work wasn't so dangerous after all."
"Weren't we chased and fired at?"
"Yes; but not hit."
"Then I suppose if we had been killed they would have thought we haddone something wonderful," Jacob grumbled.
Enoch did not care to enter into any argument with his friendconcerning a matter which, in his opinion, had already been fullydiscussed, and put an end to the conversation by extending his hands tohis comrades as he said:
"Good-by, fellows! If nothing happens to me, and the Britishers doleave Philadelphia, you'll see me precious soon after they have gone."
"Try mighty hard to be the first to bring us the news," Seth said in acheery tone as he pressed Enoch's hand warmly, and Jacob added:
"You two fellows seem to be having all the luck, even though I am theone who does most of the work."
"You get just as much luck as any of us," Enoch replied, "and perhapsmore than Seth did, for he had to walk all the way to Valley Forge, andyou rode. Now you have a good opportunity to enlist, and I hope youwill do so instead of moping because matters are not exactly to yourliking."
Then Master Ball, motioning to Greene that he was ready for the journey,set off down the path which led to the main road.
"That boy of Ludwick's has got something in him if he would only giveit a fair chance to come out," the spy said when they were a shortdistance away. "The trouble with him is that he made up his mind he haddone a wonderful thing in bringing information of the enemy's movementslast night, and counted so surely on being given a commission as areward that it has unfitted him for ordinary duties."
"Jacob means well at heart."
"I believe you, lad--that is to say, he did up to last night, but thatlittle affair seems to have spoiled him entirely."
"He will soon get over it, and by the time we come back, if we ever do,he will be in a fair way to become as good a soldier as Seth appears tobe."
"Don't make the mistake, lad, of questioning whether we are ever comingback. I grant you the work we're on is dangerous; but the chances ofour being captured are not as great as the possibility of our beingkilled if we were going into battle. To anticipate danger is, to mymind, a good bit like inviting it, and the man who expects to be shothas given himself a deal of unnecessary worriment, if it so chances hecomes out of the engagement unscratched. If, when we get to work, youare constantly thinking your arrest as a spy is certain to happen, youwon't be so keen on the scent of news as you would if the venture was,to your mind nothing more than a pleasant excursion."
"I suppose you think I am frightened. Well, I am: but that won'tinterfere with my doing all you require."
"I don't believe it will, lad. You have got the right kind of pluck,and I am counting on your distinguishing yourself between now and thetime the Britishers leave Philadelphia. Here are our horses, and thistime you are riding a nag belonging to the Colonies; not one you havebeen obliged to impress."
"I thought we would be forced to walk!"
"We shall ride as far as it is safe to do so, and stop at the farmwhere I am supposed to be working. The man who owns it is a truefriend to the cause, and through him I am enabled to do very much morethan would otherwise be possible, for he supplies me with all thevegetables I can sell. It isn't such a bad idea for him either, forhe gets the money at the same time he is serving his country, and themarket-stoppers never trouble me."
"What do you intend I shall do in town?"
"First of all, simply go home, providing we arrive there so early inthe morning that you can get in without being seen. If your motherreports that the Britishers have been looking for you, leave townimmediately, and make your way back to the farm without giving any heedto me. In such case I shall be deprived of your services, for we cannotkeep you here if you are under suspicion. Should it chance, however, asI anticipate, that you are not known to have done more than aid SethGraydon's escape, you will simply loiter around the city as you havebeen doing, meeting me in the market-place when you have anything toreport, and, in case of important news, such as you learned last night,make your way to the farm at the earliest possible moment."
"You spoke to Seth of the chance that I might see his mother?"
"Yes, there is no reason why you should not go there, if matters are asI suppose. In fact, Enoch, you will do exactly as you have been doing,and with the assurance that I shall be on the alert in case any dangerthreatens."
Greene spoke of the duties to be performed in such a matter-of-facttone, treating the business as if it was nothing out of the ordinary,that long before they arrived at the place where the horses were to beleft all sense of peril which had hung over Enoch was dispelled, and hefelt confident of being able to successfully perform the work requiredof him.
Not until nightfall was the first stage of the journey ended, whenthe two partook of an appetizing meal, rested an hour, and then settheir faces cityward, each carrying on his back a small assortment ofvegetables.
"We shall be there a good while before morning," Enoch suggested whenthe long tramp was begun.
"I count on arriving shortly after midnight."
"But you can't go to the market-place until sunrise."
"Neither do I want to do so, my boy. I shall have an excuse forloitering around town, and you may rest assured I don't waste my timeduring the hours of apparent idleness."
"I should think the Britishers would be suspicious of your getting intotown at midnight."
"Bless you, lad, I've done the same thing for the past three months,and been stopped by the patrol so many times that now they all know me.It no longer excites surprise because I am so particularly attentiveto my business. My explanation is that I get a better price for themarketing if I am first upon the ground."
As the journey progressed the miles seemed to Enoch to have doubled inlength, and the burden on his back increased tenfold in weight; but hetoiled manfully forward, repressing, so far as possible, every evidenceof fatigue lest the spy should think him one easily discouraged.
As they neared their destination there was less inclination forconversation, and when half an hour had passed in silence Greene saidin a cheery tone:
"Your friend Seth, with all his marching and counter-marching,shouldering and carrying arms, isn't forced to work as hard as you havebeen doing this night, lad."
"But I am not grumbling."
"I am well aware of that, my boy, and proud of the fact, for it showsI wasn't mistaken in my estimate of you. I know you are tired, though,for I am, and I have been over this road in the same fashion nigh on toa hundred times. It is the hardest kind of hard work; but there's a bigsatisfaction in doing it, for we know that it insures our safety whenwe are among the Britishers."
"Suppose you should meet any of the enemy who had seen me when I was injail with Jacob? Wouldn't it cast suspicion on you?"
"Not a bit of it, lad, for I am ready in case that happens, and itwouldn't be strange if something of the kind should occur. Here is thestory: You found it necessary to go to work in order to help supportyour mother, because in these days I don't fancy she has as manyscholars, either in French
or dancing, as a month ago, when times evenwith the enemy were more prosperous. I have hired you to help me bringin my goods."
"But doesn't it seem strange that you shouldn't come in with a wagon?"
"Not a bit of it, and for this reason: The Americans might seize myhorse, and pay for it with an order on Congress, or the British mightdo the same thing and give me English gold. In either case I should bethe loser, if I was really what I represent myself, for horses can'tbe purchased readily even though one is willing to pay a big price,and that fact is well known. Only those farmers living near the town,and who are assured of General Howe's protection because of theirTory sentiments, venture with their beasts where it is so easy to losethem."
It was half an hour past midnight when they had arrived opposite theCarpenter mansion, and there, to Enoch's alarm, they were halted by apatrol.
"It's only me, cap'n," Greene said when the command to halt was given.
"You still believe in the luck of being first at the market-place,Daniel," the sergeant in command of the squad said with a laugh.
"And it is luck, cap'n. I haven't missed of sellin' all I've brought asingle day since you Britishers come here."
"And you think that wouldn't be the case if some one got in ahead ofyou?"
"It mightn't be."
"But there are plenty who don't arrive until daylight, and yet sell alltheir wares."
"I allow that's a fact, cap'n dear; but who gets the best price? Theearly bird like me what can afford to haggle for an extra sixpence, orthem as have only time enough to sell out and get home before dark?"
"There may be some truth in that, my man; you appear to be a rare onefor driving bargains. But who is this with you?"
"A city-bred lad what has found out at last that he's got a livin' toearn. He's the son of the Widow Ball on Letitia Street--she's an oldcustomer of mine. I sold her enough potatoes for winter early in thefall, and got the money before I brought 'em in."
"You are not wise in your choice of an assistant, Daniel," the sergeantsaid in an admonitory tone. "Young Ball isn't looked upon as an honestlad."
"What do you mean by that?" and the alleged farmer gave evidence ofthe liveliest alarm. "His mother told me he wouldn't take a pin's worththat didn't belong to him."
"All of which may be true; but certain it is that he has been suspectedof having an affection for the rebels, and it isn't many days since hecame out of jail, where he was held on suspicion of having aided a spyto escape."
"Oh, is that all you've got agin him? I allowed from the way you beganit was something serious."
"And don't you call acting the rebel a serious matter?"
"Not in a boy like him, cap'n. It's a way all young chaps have. Theythink it's a sign of smartness to side with the under dog in the fight;but after a few hard knocks that is thumped out of 'em, an' this one isas loyal to the king as I am."
"It won't do any harm to keep your eye on him, at all events, Daniel,for if he should indulge in more disagreeable practices he might getnot only himself, but you, into trouble."
"I reckon hard work will take all that out of him, and after he'stramped in here a dozen times he'll be glad to stay at home instead ofcavorting 'round with the rebels, though I should be the last to sayanything agin 'em."
"What do you mean by that?" the sergeant asked sternly.
"Why, ain't they doing me a mighty good turn, cap'n? If it wasn't forthem all you Britishers wouldn't be here, and I should have to takeless than half-price for my truck, and trust the biggest part out atthat."
"Oh, I see," the sergeant replied laughingly as he ordered his mento move on. "It's the pounds, shillings and pence that touch you moredeeply than anything else. Good-night to you, Daniel. Don't charge morethan three prices for your truck, and see to it that your assistantbehaves himself."
"It is evident there has been no very great hue and cry over you andJacob since yesterday afternoon," Greene said in a whisper as thepatrol passed on in advance, "otherwise the sergeant would have knownit. There's nothing now to prevent our carrying out the plan as I hadallowed. Keep your eyes open, lad, and don't stay in the house a singleminute after daylight."