CHAPTER XVII.
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
Although the youngest of the party, Enoch was looked upon as leader,probably because the idea was his and because he appeared so certain itcould be carried through to a successful issue.
"We'll keep right at your back, no matter how foolhardy you may be,"Seth whispered as Enoch hesitated.
"I know I can count on you fellows; but the thought has just comeinto my mind that perhaps one or more may be lamed by jumping throughthe hole after it has been made. What is to be done then? It seemsto me important General Dickinson should know we cannot carry out hisorders."
"So it is, and if one is disabled he who is in the best condition mustpush on to the camp. Two shall stay together here, and the third goback if possible."
"Are you ready?" Enoch asked nervously as he raised his weapon.
"As nearly now as we ever shall be," Seth replied, and in anotherinstant there came a resounding crash as tiny particles of plaster rosein the air.
Enoch had struck the first blow, and his club opened a holesufficiently large to admit daylight, thus rendering it possible forthe boys to see each other.
Jacob and Seth followed his example, and only three blows were needed,for the barrier had been torn away to such an extent that there wasample space for all three of them to leap down at the same time.
"It isn't more than fifteen feet," Enoch said as he looked into theapartment below. "Of course there are chances we may come to grief; butwe mustn't stop to think of them. There has been so much noise that theowner of the house cannot fail to know what is being done."
"We'll follow you," Seth replied.
Throwing his club down, Enoch followed, striking the floor with a thudthat must have been heard throughout the building.
"Come on! It's all right!" he shouted.
Seth followed his example.
Jacob dropped his weapon, but hesitated before making the leap. Thedistance looked very great as viewed from above, and the landing-placeparticularly hard.
"Come on!" Seth cried excitedly. "We can't afford to waste time now,for the Tory is bound to know what is being done, and we must be out ofthis room before he gets here!"
Jacob was unquestionably afraid; but the sound of hurried footstepson the stairs told that it must be done quickly, or not at all, and helet himself down by the hands, dropping to his feet from that lessenedheight.
Enoch did not wait to learn if his comrade made the descent in safety;each instant the noise of the footsteps sounded louder, and, holdinghis club ready for immediate use, he threw open the door.
The same man whom they had seen the evening previous was in thehallway, running toward them.
He raised his hand, leveling a pistol full at Enoch's head.
"Get back there, you rebel spawn!" he cried in a rage. "Get back, orI'll fire!"
"Come on, Seth!" Enoch shouted, and he flung his club at the Tory,dropping to the floor instantly he did so.
The weapon was discharged at the same interval of time that its owner'sarm was thrown upward by the club, and the odds were more even.
"Close in on him now!" Enoch cried as he leaped to his feet and dartedforward.
It was as if the boy no longer gave heed to possible danger; the oneidea in his mind was that General Dickinson must be told why his orderwas not obeyed, and he paid no attention to himself, but prayed that atleast one of the party might succeed in leaving the house uninjured.
The infuriated Tory struck out with his fist, hitting the boy such ablow as sent him staggering against the wall; but Seth's prompt actionturned the tide of battle.
As Enoch was forced back he rushed forward with upraised club, bringingit down on the Tory's arm before he could defend himself, while Jacobclosed in with a vain attempt to deal a second blow.
The man retreated, but at the same time succeeded in gaining possessionof the club Enoch had thrown, and appeared a most dangerous antagonistas he stood with his back to the wall near the head of the stairs,awaiting an opportunity to deal a murderous blow.
Enoch was out of the battle only a few seconds. The partition on thatside of the hallway opposite where the Tory was standing had savedhim from a fall, and he at once looked around for something that wouldserve as a weapon.
The pistol which had fallen from the man's grasp was on the floor,and although it would not be effective against a club, might do goodservice at close quarters.
"Jump in on him!" Enoch cried as he rushed toward the man. "It is onlynecessary one of us shall get clear----"
He ceased speaking as he was forced to halt.
The Tory brandished his weapon vigorously, holding open a spacedirectly around him, and it was certain that the first who came withinreach would be permanently disabled.
"Stay where you are!" the man shouted, furious with rage. "I will killevery one, and swear to those who come in search of you that I didso while defending myself against a murderous assault made withoutprovocation!"
"Stand back from that staircase, and there will be no need of defendingyourself! We only ask for an opportunity to leave this house."
"That is what can't be done while I'm alive! Do you suppose I don'tknow why you came? You have been sent ahead to spy out the conditionof his majesty's troops, and shall never go back to make a report. Keepyour distance, I say!"
Jacob had endeavored to creep closer, thinking the Tory was not lookingat him, and barely escaped a murderous blow from the club.
Although Master Ludwick did not accomplish anything himself, he openedthe way for another to do so, and the battle was soon ended.
When the Tory struck at Jacob he put all his strength in the blow,and the impetus, as the weapon swung in the air meeting with noobstruction, caused him to reel and turn partially around.
At that instant, while he was not in a position to defend himself,Enoch flung the pistol as if it had been a rock, and, fortunately, hitthe man full on the head.
He fell like one suddenly stricken dead, and Enoch shouted as he leapedover the prostrate body:
"Come on, boys! Keep your clubs, for there's no telling whom we maymeet downstairs!"
At the same instant he seized his former weapon, and in two or threebounds was in the hall below.
Seth and Jacob followed closely at his heels, and the latter at onceset about unfastening the front door, which was not only locked, butbolted and barred.
The noise of the conflict had alarmed the other inmates of the house,and they came running into the hall with loud screams.
There was no man among them, and the boys breathed more freely.
"Keep back!" Enoch cried sternly as Seth and Jacob worked at thewell-fastened door. "We have fought only for our freedom, of whichthat man would have deprived us, and shall strike even a woman if sheattempts to prevent our leaving!"
"You have killed him!" some one shrieked, and the remainder of thegroup set up a series of the shrillest cries for help.
"He isn't dead!" Enoch shouted at the full strength of his lungs,forced thus to exert himself in order that his words might be heard."He will recover his senses presently; but you are not to go to himyet," he added as two of the women attempted to pass him. "We don'tintend to have another fight if it can be avoided, and it's better helays where he is for awhile. Can't you open the door, boys?"
"There are more locks and bolts here than I ever saw before," Sethreplied nervously. "This house must be a regular castle when it isclosed and properly defended."
A second later, just when Enoch was beginning to fear he would reallybe forced to carry out his threat and strike some of the females toprevent them from going up the stairs, Jacob flung open the barrier.
"Come on!" he cried, leaping into the open air, and his comrades didnot delay following his example.
As they emerged the boys could see, far away to the right, a movingcolumn of redcoats, and understood that the enemy was even then passingin force between this house and the town of Mount Holly.
"It stands us i
n hand to hark back on our trail at the best pacepossible, otherwise we may fall into the Britishers' hands!" Jacobcried, running at full speed in the direction from which they had comeon the night previous.
They surely had good reason to leave that neighborhood far in therear without loss of time, for there was cause to fear that scoutingparties of the enemy might make prisoners of them, and also that theTory, recovering from his wounds, would come in pursuit with a forcesufficiently large to overpower them.
"We should at least have brought pistols," Jacob said ten minuteslater, when they halted at the brow of a hill to regain breath. "Theidea of scouting around where there are plenty of enemies, with nothingbut a bedpost as a weapon."
"We didn't have as much as that when we left camp," Seth replied witha laugh.
"I won't be caught in such a mess again, even if I am obliged to goagainst positive orders," and Master Ludwick was once more allowing hisrage to become the master.
"We are bound to obey orders, no matter what the command may be," Enochsaid earnestly. "But it is foolish to spend time in getting angry, whenwe've such a long road ahead of us. Come on, boys, and now that we haveso much of a start we can afford to walk instead of run; but must nothalt again until we are in camp."
It was destined, however, that the discomfited scouts should not beforced to make a long journey.
After an hour's rapid traveling they were met by a squad of Continentalscouts, and told that General Dickinson's force was bearing down onMount Holly.
"Where is the general now?" Seth asked anxiously.
"Not more than two miles in the rear. Have you seen the enemy?"
"The Britishers are between here and the town."
"Did you see the whole force?"
"We didn't stop for such a critical examination," Seth replied grimly."Just at that time we were doing our best to escape from the house ofa Tory, where we'd been kept prisoners over night, and----"
"Was it a big building on the right-hand side of the road, with fourpoplar trees in front?" one of the men asked.
"Yes, and the door is painted green."
"I know the house well. A rank Tory by the name of Plummer lives there,and I only hope we may be given orders to pay him a visit. I've hadsome dealings with that fellow myself."
Seth would have questioned the soldier as to what "dealings" he hadhad, but for the fact that Enoch whispered:
"We mustn't wait here to talk; the general will expect us to come tohim as soon as possible."
Then, asking for and receiving more explicit directions as to whereGeneral Dickinson would be found, the boys hurried forward, and, halfan hour later, were detailing their experiences to the commander.
"Not very successful on your first scout, eh?" he said with a smilewhen the story was finished.
"We have at least learned where the Britishers are," Seth repliedgrimly, "and, what is more, know that the man Plummer is not a friendof the cause."
"I think it will be a good idea to call on him when we have time. Weshall bivouac here tonight, for the sun will set in less than an hour,and you boys are excused from further duty to-day. Early to-morrowmorning Master Ball will report to me personally."
"I suppose that means I am to be sent back to the main army," Enochsaid just a trifle petulantly when they were so far away from GeneralDickinson that he could not overhear the remark. "I had begun to hopeI might be allowed to stay with you fellows."
"It is better to be an aid on the commander-in-chief's staff thanrunning around the country with the risk of being caught again aswe were last night," Jacob replied, and once more he was showingunmistakable signs of envy.
"I had rather be with you, and have a chance to earn the sword you arealways talking about. Just think how I shall feel if I am sent ridingback and forth over the country when a battle is going on."
Seth put an end to the conversation by insisting that they find acomfortable place in which to spend the night, and after he had seen toit that his horse was not suffering from lack of care, Enoch was readyand willing to take advantage of the opportunity to sleep.
The troops were awakened an hour before daylight next morning, andas the boys obeyed the summons to "turn out," they heard the moreexperienced soldiers talking about the fight which was imminent.
"Is there to be a battle?" Enoch asked of a veteran.
"Hardly that yet awhile, lad; but we've been sent down here to harassthe enemy, an' this 'ere early call looks as if we was about to beginour work. I reckon we can count mighty sartin on swappin' shots withthe Britishers before nightfall."
"And I am to go back just when it is possible I might do something!"Enoch exclaimed to his comrades, "You will have a chance to distinguishyourselves, while all I can do is to ride where there is no danger."
"Wait till you've seen as much service as I have, lad, an' then you'llbless your lucky stars that you're to be out of the scrimmage. It'swell enough to talk 'bout the glory to be won on a battlefield whilethere's no enemy near; but when you see fifteen thousand or more aginyour five or six hundred, the glory don't seem so great."
Master Ludwick looked as if he agreed perfectly with this remark of theveteran's.
Enoch knew he was not warranted in standing there pouring forthhis complaints when he had been ordered to report at headquarters,and after such a toilet as it was possible to make, he went to thegeneral's camp.
It seemed to his comrades that he had but just left them when hereturned looking unusually glum.
"What's the matter?" Jacob asked. "Ain't you going?"
"That's just the trouble; I _am_ going, and with no time to spare. It'ssimply a case of carrying this letter, a job that could be done as wellby any girl who can ride."
"Don't make so certain of that, my son," the veteran said with anadmonitory shake of the head. "There's plenty of danger in scurryin''round the country now, when the redcoats are scouting in everydirection, and if you are overhauled there's none to help you out.Every man's duty is important in times like these, even though he maynever so much as smell burning powder."
Enoch was silenced by this remark, and, after a hurried good-by to hiscomrades, set off in search of his horse.
General Dickinson ordered him to ride to Valley Forge, and knowingthe general direction after crossing the river, he hastened on withoutremembering Greene had told him the army had moved.
The result of this carelessness was that he found the winter campdeserted, and was forced to ride further in search of information.
After some difficulty he learned that General Washington's force hadbeen put in motion immediately after Generals Maxwell and Dickinsonleft with orders to harass the enemy, and had intended to cross atCoryell's Ferry.
It was not until the morning of the 23d that he entered the Americancamp at Hopewell, and delivered the written message to the commander.
General Washington, who was riding away from the encampment, receivedthe document without remark, and after reading it turned to one of hisstaff as if such a person as Enoch had never existed.
There was no opportunity for the boy to explain why he had beendelayed, and he fell back to the rear of the officers, regretting morethan ever that he was not a regularly enlisted private, serving in thesame company with Seth and Jacob.
"I ain't fit to do such work as this, and never should have tried," hemuttered to himself. "Here I am of about as much service as a secondtail would be to a dog, and shall only bungle the next thing I amcalled upon to do, if indeed General Washington is willing to trust mewith anything else."
"Hello, lad! You're looking uncommonly glum this morning, even thoughyou _are_ riding when the rest of us are obliged to foot it, and carryour own trunks in the bargain."
A cry of glad surprise burst from Enoch's lips as he saw, on turning,Greene the spy.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, reining in his horse and leapingto the ground.
"Trying to do my duty, though it ain't no ways pleasant while theweather is so scorching hot."
/> "I didn't know you were in the ranks with the others."
"Why not? I'm only a private, even though I did work 'roundPhiladelphia during the winter, and haven't succeeded in being given aplace on the staff of the commander-in-chief."
"That's exactly what was troubling me when you spoke," Enoch cried. "Iam not fit for such a place, and it's lucky I'm not really an aid. Ican't even ride from one town to another without making a mistake."
Then Enoch, glad of an opportunity to free his mind, told Greene of allthat had happened to him, and the latter said cheerily when the storywas finished:
"I don't understand you've got any good cause to complain. That youwent to Valley Forge was Dickinson's mistake, even though I did tellyou the army had moved."
"But General Washington didn't even ask me why I was so long gettinghere, and most likely thinks I'm a regular fool."
"I'll guarantee it hasn't so much as come into his mind, or you maybe positive he'd said something. I allow you'll hear from it beforenight."
"Is the army to remain in camp?"
"It seems that way; but it don't stand to reason we shall be idle verylong. Colonel Daniel Morgan and six hundred of his command were sentyesterday to reinforce Maxwell, which looks like business, and I allowwe shall all be headed for the Britishers before we're many hoursolder. You say Dickinson was getting ready for business when you left?"
"That is what I heard. We were called an hour before daylight, and themen were not in line when I came away."
"There's no question but that Maxwell and Dickinson will pepper Clintonin good shape before his force gets very far on their way, and wheneverything is to General Washington's liking we shall fall upon them."
"But what am I to do in the meanwhile, Mr. Greene?"
"Stay where you are, and mess with me, if it so happens that you're notsent for to come to headquarters."
"But I want to be in the ranks where I'll have a chance to help in thefighting."
"My boy," and now Greene was very grave, "don't fret; you'll have allof such work you could wish for, whether acting as aid or making a poorshow as a private. It is your duty to take things as they come, withoutfinding fault. Let's get back to camp and see that your horse is fed,for there's no knowing how soon you may call on him for a spell of hardwork."
General Washington and his staff had disappeared in the distance, andEnoch acted upon the spy's advice at once.
The horse was given a generous breakfast, and while he was eating itthe boy sat down by the side of the spy to hear what the latter hadbeen doing since the two parted at General Arnold's headquarters.
"It isn't much of a story, lad. My work in Philadelphia being finished,I came back here to rejoin my company, but found they had left camp,therefore am forced to hang on with the others until we overtakeGeneral Dickinson, which I'm hoping we shall do before the battle----"
"Is this the boy who brought a message from Dickinson?" an officerasked as he came toward the two rapidly.
"It is," Greene replied.
"He is wanted at headquarters immediately."
The officer turned on his heel, having discharged his duty, and the spysaid triumphantly to Enoch:
"What did I tell you, lad? It seems you haven't been forgotten yet. Goon, and I'll wait here in order to see you before you leave us again,for I allow your work as aid isn't finished."