CHAPTER XIX
"Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle." _King John._
As Griffith and his companions rushed from the offices of St. Ruth intothe open air, they encountered no one to intercept their flight, orcommunicate the alarm. Warned by the experience of the earlier part ofthe same night, they avoided the points where they knew the sentinelswere posted, though fully prepared to bear down all resistance, and weresoon beyond the probability of immediate detection. They proceeded, forthe distance of half a mile, with rapid strides, and with the sternand sullen silence of men who expected to encounter immediate danger,resolved to breast it with desperate resolution; but, as they plungedinto a copse that clustered around the ruin which has been alreadymentioned, they lessened their exertions to a more deliberate pace, anda short but guarded dialogue ensued "We have had a timely escape," saidGriffith; "I would much rather have endured captivity, than havebeen the cause of introducing confusion and bloodshed in the peacefulresidence of Colonel Howard."
"I would, sir, that you had been of this opinion some hours earlier,"returned the Pilot, with a severity in his tones that even conveyed moremeaning than his words.
"I may have forgotten my duty, sir, in my anxiety to enquire into thecondition of a family in whom I feel a particular interest," returnedGriffith, in a manner in which pride evidently struggled with respect;"but this is not a time for regrets; I apprehend that we follow you onan errand of some moment, where actions would be more acceptable thanany words of apology. What is your pleasure now?"
"I much fear that our project will be defeated," said the Pilot,gloomily; "the alarm will spread with the morning fogs, and there willbe musterings of the yeomen, and consultations of the gentry, that willdrive all thoughts of amusement from their minds. The rumor of a descentwill, at any time, force sleep from the shores of this island, to atleast ten leagues inland."
"Ay, you have probably passed some pleasant nights, with your eyes open,among them, yourself, Master Pilot," said Manual; "they may thank theFrenchman, Thurot, in the old business of '56, and our own daredevil,the bloody Scotchman, as the causes of their quarters being so oftenbeaten up. After all, Thurot, with his fleet, did no more than bullythem a little, and the poor fellow was finally extinguished by a fewsmall cruisers, like a drummer's boy under a grenadier's cap; but honestPaul sang a different tune for his countrymen to dance to, and--"
"I believe you will shortly dance yourself, Manual," interruptedGriffith, quickly, "and in very pleasure that you have escaped anEnglish prison."
"Say, rather, an English gibbet," continued the elated marine; "for hada court-martial or a court-civil discussed the manner of our entranceinto this island, I doubt whether we should have fared better than thedaredevil himself, honest----"
"Pshaw!" exclaimed the impatient Griffith; "enough of this nonsense,Captain Manual: we have other matters to discuss now. What course haveyou determined to pursue, Mr. Gray?"
The Pilot started, like a man aroused from a deep musing, at thisquestion, and after a pause of a moment he spoke in a low tone of voice,as if still under the influence of deep and melancholy feeling:
"The night has already run into the morning watch, but the sun isbackward to show himself in this latitude in the heart of winter.--Imust depart, my friends, to rejoin you some ten hours hence: it will benecessary to look deeper into our scheme before we hazard anything, andno one can do the service but myself: where shall we meet again?"
"I have reason to think that there is an unfrequented ruin at no greatdistance from us," said Griffith; "perhaps we might find both shelterand privacy among its deserted walls."
"The thought is good," returned the Pilot, "and 'twill answer a doublepurpose. Could you find the place where you put the marines in ambush,Captain Manual?"
"Has a dog a nose? and can he follow a clean scent?" exclaimed themarine; "do you think, Signor Pilota, that a general ever puts hisforces in an ambuscade where he can't find them himself? 'Fore God! Iknew well enough where the rascals lay snoring on their knapsacks,some half an hour ago, and I would have given the oldest majority inWashington's army to have had them where a small intimation from myselfcould have brought them in line ready dressed for a charge. I knownot how you fared, gentlemen, but, with me, the sight of twenty suchvagabonds would have been a joyous spectacle; we would have tossed thatCaptain Borroughcliffe and his recruits on the point of our bayonets, asthe devil would pitch----"
"Come, come, Manual," said Griffith, a little angrily, "you constantlyforget our situation and our errand; can you lead your men hitherwithout discovery, before the day dawns?"
"I want but the shortest half-hour that a bad watch ever traveled overto do it in."
"Then follow, and I will appoint a place of secret rendezvous," rejoinedGriffith; "Mr. Gray can learn our situation at the same time."
The Pilot was seen to beckon, through the gloom of the night, for hiscompanions to come forward; when they proceeded, with cautious steps,in quest of the desired shelter. A short search brought them in contactwith a part of the ruinous walls, which spread over a large surface, andwhich, in places, reared their black fragments against the sky, castinga deeper obscurity across the secret recesses of the wood.
"This will do," said Griffith, when they had skirted for some distancethe outline of the crumbling fabric; "bring up your men to this point,where I will meet you, and conduct them to some more secret place, forwhich I shall search during your absence."
"A perfect paradise, after the cable-tiers of the Ariel!" exclaimedManual; "I doubt not but a good spot might be selected among thesetrees for a steady drill,--a thing my soul has pined after for six longmonths."
"Away, away!" cried Griffith; "here is no place for idle parades; if wefind shelter from discovery and capture until you shall be needed in adeadly struggle, 'twill be well."
Manual was slowly retracing his steps to the skirts of the wood, when hesuddenly turned, and asked:
"Shall I post a small picket, a mere corporal's guard, in the openground in front, and make a chain of sentinels to our works?"
"We have no works--we want no sentinels," returned his impatientcommander; "our security is only to be found in secrecy. Lead up yourmen under the cover of the trees, and let those three bright stars beyour landmarks--bring them in a range with the northern corner of thewood----"
"Enough, Mr. Griffith," interrupted Manual; "a column of troops isnot to be steered like a ship, by compass, and bearings anddistances;--trust me, sir, the march shall be conducted with properdiscretion, though in a military manner."
Any reply or expostulation was prevented by the sudden disappearance ofthe marine, whose retreating footsteps were heard for several moments,as he moved at a deliberate pace through the underwood. During thisshort interval, the Pilot stood reclining against the corner of theruins in profound silence; but when the sounds of Manual's march were nolonger audible, he advanced from under the deeper shadows of the wall,and approached his youthful companion.
"We are indebted to the marine for our escape," he said; "I hope we arenot to suffer by his folly."
"He is what Barnstable calls a rectangular man," returned Griffith,"and will have his way in matters of his profession, though a daringcompanion in a hazardous expedition. If we can keep him from exposing usby his silly parade, we shall find him a man who will do his work like asoldier, sir, when need happens."
"'Tis all I ask; until the last moment, he and his command must betorpid; for if we are discovered, any attempt of ours, with some twentybayonets and a half-pike or two, would be useless against the force thatwould be brought to crush us."
"The truth of your opinion is too obvious," returned Griffith; "thesefellows will sleep a week at a time in a gale at sea, but the smell ofthe land wakes them up, and I fear 'twill be hard to keep them closeduring the day."
"It must be done, sir, by the strong hand of force," said the Pilotsternly, "if it cannot be done by admonition; if we had no more than therecruits of that drunk
en martinet to cope with, it would be no hard taskto drive them into the sea; but I learned in my prison that horse areexpected on the shore with the dawn; there is one they call Dillon, whois on the alert to do us mischief."
"The miscreant!" muttered Griffith; "then you also have had communion,sir, with some of the inmates of St. Ruth?"
"It behooves a man who is embarked in a perilous enterprise to seize allopportunities to learn his hazard," said the Pilot, evasively: "if thereport be true, I fear we have but little hopes of succeeding in ourplans."
"Nay, then, let us take the advantage of the darkness to regain theschooner; the coasts of England swarm with hostile cruisers, and a richtrade is flowing into the bosom of this island from the four quarters ofthe world; we shall not seek long for a foe worthy to contend with, norfor the opportunities to cut up the Englishman in his sinews of war--hiswealth."
"Griffith," returned the Pilot, in his still, low tones, that seemed tobelong to a man who never knew ambition, nor felt human passion, "I growsick of this struggle between merit and privileged rank. It is in vainthat I scour the waters which the King of England boastingly calls hisown, and capture his vessels in the very mouths of his harbors, if myreward is to consist only of isolated promises, and hollow professions:but your proposition is useless to me; I have at length obtained aship of a size sufficient to convey my person to the shores of honest,plain-dealing America; and I would enter the hall of Congress, on myreturn, attended by a few of the legislators of this learned isle, whothink they possess the exclusive privilege to be wise, and virtuous, andgreat."
"Such a retinue might doubtless be grateful both to your own feelingsand those who would receive you," said Griffith, modestly; "but wouldit effect the great purposes of our struggle? or is it an exploit, whenachieved, worth the hazard you incur?"
Griffith felt the hand of the Pilot on his own, pressing it with aconvulsive grasp, as he replied, in a voice, if possible, even moredesperately calm than his former tones:
"There is a glory in it, young man; if it be purchased with danger, itshall be rewarded by fame! It is true, I wear your republican livery,and call the Americans my brothers; but it is because you combat inbehalf of human nature. Were your cause less holy, I would not shedthe meanest drop that flows in English veins to serve it; but now, ithallows every exploit that is undertaken in its favor, and the names ofall who contend for it shall belong to posterity. Is there no merit inteaching these proud islanders that the arm of liberty can pluck themfrom the very empire of their corruption and oppression?"
"Then let me go and ascertain what we most wish to know; you have beenseen there, and might attract--"
"You little know me," interrupted the Pilot; "the deed is my own. IfI succeed, I shall claim the honor, and it is proper that I incur thehazard; if I fail, it will be buried in oblivion, like fifty othersof my schemes, which, had I power to back me, would have thrown thiskingdom in consternation, from the lookouts on the boldest of itsheadlands, to those on the turrets of Windsor Castle. But I was bornwithout nobility of twenty generations to corrupt my blood and deaden mysoul, and am not trusted by the degenerate wretches who rule the Frenchmarine."
"'Tis said that ships of two decks are building from our own oak,"said Griffith, "and you have only to present yourself in America, to beemployed most honorably."
"Ay! the republics cannot doubt the man who has supported their flag,without lowering it an inch, in so many bloody conflicts! I do go there,Griffith, but my way lies on this path; my pretended friends have boundmy hands often, but my enemies, never--neither shall they now. Ten hourswill determine all I wish to know, and with you I trust the safety ofthe party till my return: be vigilant, but be prudent"
"If you should not appear at the appointed hour," exclaimed Griffith,as he beheld the Pilot turning to depart, "where am I to seek, and howserve you?"
"Seek me not, but return to your vessel; my earliest years were passedon this coast,--and I can leave the island, should it be necessary, asI entered it, aided by this disguise and my own knowledge: in such anevent, look to your charge, and forget me entirely."
Griffith could distinguish the silent wave of his hand when the Pilotconcluded, and the next instant he was left alone. For several minutesthe young man continued where he had been standing, musing on thesingular endowments and restless enterprise of the being with whomchance had thus unexpectedly brought him in contact, and with whose fateand fortune his own prospects had, by the intervention of unlooked-forcircumstances, become intimately connected. When the reflections excitedby recent occurrences had passed away, he entered within the sweepingcircle of the ruinous walls, and, after a very cursory survey of thestate of the dilapidated building, he was satisfied that it containedenough secret places to conceal his men, until the return of the Pilotshould warn them that the hour had come when they must attempt theseizure of the devoted sportsmen, or darkness should again facilitatetheir return to the Ariel. It was now about the commencement of thatperiod of deep night which seamen distinguish as the morning watch,and Griffith ventured to the edge of the little wood, to listen if anysounds or tumult indicated that they were pursued. On reaching a pointwhere his eye could faintly distinguish distant objects, the young manpaused, and bestowed a close and wary investigation on the surroundingscene.
The fury of the gale had sensibly abated, but a steady current of seaair was rushing through the naked branches of the oaks, lending a drearyand mournful sound to the gloom of the dim prospect. At the distanceof a short half mile, the confused outline of the pile of St. Ruth roseproudly against the streak of light which was gradually increasing abovethe ocean, and there were moments when the young seaman even fancied hecould discern the bright caps that topped the waves of his own disturbedelement. The long, dull roar of the surf, as it tumbled heavily on thebeach or dashed with unbroken violence against the hard boundary ofrocks, was borne along by the blasts distinctly to his ears. It was atime and a situation to cause the young seaman to ponder deeply on thechanges and chances of his hazardous profession. Only a few short hourshad passed since he was striving with his utmost skill, and with all hiscollected energy, to guide the enormous fabric, in which so many of hiscomrades were now quietly sleeping on the broad ocean, from that veryshore on which he now stood in cool indifference to the danger. Therecollection of home, America, his youthful and enduring passion, andthe character and charms of his mistress, blended in a sort of wild andfeverish confusion, which was not, however, without its pleasures, inthe ardent fancy of the young man; and he was slowly approaching, stepby step, toward the Abbey, when the sound of footsteps, proceedingevidently from the measured tread of disciplined men, reached his ears.He was instantly recalled to his recollection by this noise, whichincreased as the party deliberately approached; and in a few momentshe was able to distinguish a line of men, marching in order towards theedge of the wood, from which he had himself so recently issued. Retiringrapidly under the deeper shadow of the trees, he waited until it wasapparent the party intended to enter under its cover also, when heventured to speak.
"Who comes? and on what errand?" he cried, "A skulker, and to burrowlike a rabbit, or jump from hole to hole, like a wharf-rat!" saidManual, sulkily; "here have I been marching, within half musket shotof the enemy, without daring to pull a trigger even on their outposts,because our muzzles are plugged with that universal extinguisher ofgunpowder, called prudence. 'Fore God! Mr. Griffith, I hope you maynever feel the temptation to do an evil deed, which I felt just now, tothrow a volley of small shot into that dog-kennel of a place, if it wereonly to break its windows and let in the night air upon the sleepingsot, who is dozing away the fumes of some as good, old south-side--harkye, Mr. Griffith, one word in your ear."
A short conference took place between he two officers, apart from themen, at the close of which, as they rejoined the party, Manual mightbe heard urging his plans on the reluctant ears of Griffith in thefollowing words:
"I could carry the old dungeon without waking one of t
he snorers; andconsider, sir, we might get a stock of as rich cordial from its cellarsas ever oiled the throat of a gentleman!"
"'Tis idle, 'tis idle," said Griffith impatiently; "we are not robbersof hen-roosts, nor wine-gaugers, to be prying into the vaults of theEnglish gentry, Captain Manual; but honorable men, employed in thesacred cause of liberty and our country. Lead your party into the ruin,and let them seek their rest; we may have work for them with the dawn."
"Evil was the hour when I quitted the line of the army, to place asoldier under the orders of an awkward squad of tarry jackets!" mutteredManual, as he proceeded to execute an order that was delivered with anair of authority that he knew must be obeyed. "As pretty an opportunityfor a surprise and a forage thrown away, as ever crossed the path of apartisan! but, by all the rights of man! I'll have an encampment in someorder. Here, you sergeant, detail a corporal and three men for a picket,and station them ii the skirts of this wood. We shall have a sentinel inadvance of our position, and things shall be conducted with some air ofdiscipline."
Griffith heard this order with great inward disgust; but as heanticipated the return of the Pilot before the light could arriveto render his weak exposure of their situation apparent, he forboreexercising his power to alter the arrangement. Manual had, therefore,the satisfaction of seeing his little party quartered, as he thought, inmilitary manner, before he retired with Griffith and his men into one ofthe vaulted apartments of the ruin, which, by its open and broken doors,invited their entrance. Here the marines disposed themselves to rest,while the two officers succeeded in passing the tedious hours, withoutlosing their characters for watchfulness by conversing with each other,or, at whiles, suffering their thoughts to roam in the very differentfields which fancy would exhibit to men of such differing characters.In this manner hour after hour passed, in listless quiet or sullenexpectation, until the day had gradually advanced, and it becamedangerous to keep the sentinels and picket in a situation where theywere liable to be seen by any straggler who might be passing near thewood. Manual remonstrated against any alteration, as being entirelyunmilitary, for he was apt to carry his notions of tactics to extremeswhenever he came in collision with a sea officer: but in this instancehis superior was firm, and the only concession the captain could obtainwas the permission to place a solitary sentinel within a few feet ofthe vault, though under the cover of the crumbling walls of the buildingitself. With this slight deviation in their arrangements, the uneasyparty remained for several hours longer, impatiently awaiting the periodwhen they should be required to move.
The guns first fired from the Alacrity had been distinctly audible andwere pronounced by Griffith, whose practised ear detected the metal ofthe piece that was used, as not proceeding from the schooner. When therapid though distant rumbling of the spirited cannonade became audible,it was with difficulty that Griffith could restrain either his ownfeelings or the conduct of his companions within those bounds thatprudence and their situation required. The last gun was, however, fired,and not a man had left the vault, and conjectures as to the result ofthe fight succeeded to those which had been made on the character ofthe combatants during the action. Some of the marines would raise theirheads from the fragments which served them as the pillows on which theywere seeking disturbed and stolen slumbers, and after listening to thecannon would again compose themselves to sleep, like men who felt noconcern in a contest in which they did not participate. Others, morealive to events and less drowsy, lavishly expended their rude jokeson those who were engaged in the struggle, or listened with a curiousinterest to mark the progress of the battle, by the uncertain index ofits noise. When the fight had been some time concluded, Manual indulgedhis ill-humor more at length:
"There has been a party of pleasure within a league of us, Mr.Griffith," he said, "at which, but for our present subterraneousquarters, we might have been guests, and thus laid some claim to thehonor of sharing in the victory. But it is not too late to push theparty on as far as the cliffs, where we shall be in sight of thevessels, and we may possibly establish a claim to our share of theprize-money."
"There is but little wealth to be gleaned from the capture of aking's cutter," returned Griffith; "and there would be less honor wereBarnstable encumbered with our additional and useless numbers."
"Useless!" repeated Manual; "there is much good service to be got outof twenty-three well-drilled and well-chosen marines: look at thosefellows, Mr. Griffith, and then tell me if you think them an encumbrancein the hour of need."
Griffith smiled, and glanced his eye over the sleeping group,--forwhen the firing had ceased the whole party had again sought theirrepose,--and he could not help admiring the athletic and sinewy limbsthat lay scattered around the gloomy vault, in every posture that easeor whim dictated. From the stout frames of the men, his glance wasdirected to the stack of firearms, from whose glittering tubes andpolished bayonets strong rays of light were reflected, even in that darkapartment. Manual followed the direction of his eyes, and watched theexpression of his countenance with inward exultation; but he had theforbearance to await his reply before he manifested his feeling moreopenly.
"I know them to be true men," said Griffith, "when needed, but--hark!what says he?"
"Who goes there? what noise is that?" repeated the sentinel who wasplaced at the entrance of the vault.
Manual and Griffith sprang at the same instant from their places ofrest, and stood, unwilling to create the slightest sounds, listeningwith the most intense anxiety to catch the next indications of thecause of their guardian's alarm. A short stillness, like that of death,succeeded, during which Griffith whispered:
"'Tis the Pilot! his hour has been long passed."
The words were hardly spoken, when the clashing of steel in fierceand sudden contact was heard, and at the next instant the body of thesentinel fell heavily along the stone steps that led to the open air,and rolled lifelessly to their feet, with the bayonet that had causedhis death projecting from a deep wound in his breast.
"Away, away! sleepers away!" shouted Griffith.
"To arms!" cried Manual in a voice of thunder.
The alarmed marines, suddenly aroused from their slumbers at thesethrilling cries, sprang on their feet in a confused cluster, and atthat fatal moment a body of living fire darted into the vault, whichre-echoed with the reports of twenty muskets. The uproar, the smoke,and the groans which escaped from many of his party, could not restrainGriffith another instant: his pistol was fired through the cloudwhich concealed the entrance of the vault, and he followed the leadenmessenger, trailing a half-pike, and shouting to his men:
"Come on! follow, my lads; they are nothing but soldiers."
Even while he spoke, the ardent young seaman was rushing up the narrowpassage; but as he gained the open space, his foot struck the writhingbody of the victim of his shot, and he was precipitated headlong into agroup of armed men.
"Fire! Manual, fire!" shouted the infuriated prisoner; "fire, while youhave them in a cluster."
"Ay, fire, Mr. Manual," said Borroughcliffe, with great coolness, "andshoot your own officer: hold him up, boys! hold him up in front; thesafest place is nighest to him."
"Fire!" repeated Griffith, making desperate efforts to release himselffrom the grasp of five or six men; "fire, and disregard me."
"If he do, he deserves to be hung," said Borroughcliffe; "such finefellows are not sufficiently plenty to be shot at like wild beasts inchains. Take him from before the mouth of the vault, boys, and spreadyourselves to your duty."
At the time Griffith issued from the cover, Manual was mechanicallyemployed in placing his men in order; and the marines, accustomed todo everything in concert and array, lost the moment to advance. Thesoldiers of Borroughcliffe reloaded their muskets, and fell back behinddifferent portions of the wall, where they could command the entranceto the vault with their fire, without much exposure to themselves. Thisdisposition was very coolly reconnoitered by Manual in person, throughsome of the crevices in the wall, and he hesit
ated to advance againstthe force he beheld while so advantageously posted. In this situationseveral shots were fired by either party, without effect, untilBorroughcliffe, perceiving the inefficacy of that mode of attack,summoned the garrison of the vault to a parley.
"Surrender to the forces of his majesty, King George the Third," hecried, "and I promise you quarter."
"Will you release your prisoner, and give us free passage to ourvessels?" asked Manual; "the garrison to march out with all the honorsof war, and officers to retain their side-arms?"
"Inadmissible," returned Borroughcliffe, with great gravity; "the honorof his majesty's arms, and the welfare of the realm, forbid such atreaty: but I offer you safe quarters and honorable treatment."
"Officers to retain their side-arms, your prisoner to be released, andthe whole party to return to America, on parole, not to serve untilexchanged?"
"Not granted," said Borroughcliffe. "The most that I can yield is a goodpotation of the generous south-side; and if you are the man I take youfor, you will know how to prize such an offer."
"In what capacity do you summon us to yield? as men entitled to thebenefit of the laws of arms, or as rebels to your king?"
"Ye are rebels all, gentlemen," returned the deliberate Borroughcliffe,"and as such ye must yield; though so far as good treatment and goodfare goes, you are sure of it while in my power; in all other respectsyou lie at the mercy of his most gracious majesty."
"Then let his majesty show his gracious face, and come and take us, forI'll be----"
The asseveration of the marine was interrupted by Griffith, whose bloodhad sensibly cooled, and whose generous feelings were awakened in behalfof his comrades, now that his own fate seemed decided.
"Hold, Manual," he cried, "make no rash oaths: Captain Borroughcliffe,I am Edward Griffith, a lieutenant in the navy of the United AmericanStates, and I pledge you my honor to a parole----"
"Release him," said Borroughcliffe.
Griffith advanced between the two parties, and spoke so as to be heardby both:
"I propose to descend to the vault, and ascertain the loss and presentstrength of Captain Manual's party: if the latter be not greater than Iapprehend, I shall advise him to a surrender on the usual conditions ofcivilized nations."
"Go," said the soldier; "but stay; is he a half-and-half--anamphibious--pshaw! I mean a marine?"
"He is, sir, a captain in that corps----"
"The very man," interrupted Borroughcliffe; "I thought I recollected theliquid sounds of his voice. It will be well to speak to him of the goodfare of St. Ruth; and you may add, that I know my man: I shall besiege,instead of storming him, with the certainty of a surrender when hiscanteen is empty. The vault he is in holds no such beverage as thecellars of the Abbey."
Griffith smiled, in spite of the occasion and his vexation; and makinga slight inclination of his head he passed into the vault, giving noticeto his friends, by his voice, in order to apprise them who approached.
He found six of the marines, including the sentinel, lying dead on theragged pavement, and four others wounded, but stifling their groans, bythe order of their commander, that they might not inform the enemy ofhis weakness. With the remainder of his command Manual had entrenchedhimself behind the fragment of a wall that intersected the vault, and,regardless of the dismaying objects before him, maintained as bold afront, and as momentous an air, as if the fate of a walled town dependedon his resolution and ingenuity.
"You see, Mr. Griffith," he cried, when the young sailor approachedthis gloomy but really formidable arrangement, "that nothing short ofartillery can dislodge me: as for that drinking Englishman above, lethim send down his men by platoons of eight or ten, and I'll pile them upon those steps, four and five deep."
"But artillery can and will be brought, if it should be necessary," saidGriffith; "and there is not the least chance of your eventual escape: itmay be possible for you to destroy a few of the enemy, but you are toohumane to wish to do it unnecessarily."
"No doubt," returned Manual with a grim smile; "and yet methinks I couldfind present pleasure in shooting seven of them--yes, just seven, whichis one more than they have struck off my roster."
"Remember your own wounded," added Griffith; "they suffer for want ofaid, while you protract a useless defence."
A few smothered groans from the sufferers seconded this appeal, andManual yielded, though with a very ill grace, to the necessity of thecase.
"Go, then, and tell him that we will surrender as prisoners of war,"he said, "on the conditions that he grants me my side-arms, and thatsuitable care shall be taken of the sick--be particular to call themsick--for some lucky accident may yet occur before the compact isratified, and I would not have him learn our loss."
Griffith, without waiting for a second bidding, hastened toBorroughcliffe with his intelligence.
"His side-arms!" repeated the soldier, when the other had done; "whatare they, I pray thee--a marlinespike! For if his equipments be nobetter than thine own, my worthy prisoner, there is little need toquarrel about their ownership."
"Had I but ten of my meanest men, armed with such half-pikes, andCaptain Borroughcliffe and his party were put at deadly strife with us,"retorted Griffith, "he might find occasion to value our weapons morehighly."
"Four such fiery gentlemen as yourself would have routed my command,"returned Borroughcliffe, with undisturbed composure. "I trembled for myranks when I saw you coming out of the smoke like a blazing comet frombehind a cloud! and I shall never think of somersets without returninginward thanks to their inventor. But our treaty is made; let yourcomrades come forth and pile their arms."
Griffith communicated the result to the captain of marines, when thelatter led the remnant of his party out of his sunken fortress into theopen air.
The men, who had manifested throughout the whole business that coolsubordination and unyielding front, mixed with the dauntless spirit thatto this day distinguishes the corps of which they were members, followedtheir commander in sullen silence, and stacked their arms with asmuch regularity and precision as if they had been ordered to relievethemselves after a march. When this necessary preliminary had beenobserved, Borroughcliffe unmasked his forces, and our adventurers foundthemselves once more in the power of the enemy, and under circumstanceswhich rendered the prospect of a speedy release from their captivitynearly hopeless.