CHAPTER XIII.
THE SKINNERS' REWARD.
The Skinners followed Captain Lawton with alacrity towards thequarters occupied by the troop of that gentleman. They soon arrived ata better sort of farm-house, the very extensive out-buildings of whichwere in tolerable repair, for the times. Lawton excused himself for amoment, and entered his quarters. He soon returned, holding in hishand one of the common stable-lanterns, and led the way towards alarge orchard that surrounded the buildings on three sides. The gangfollowed the trooper in silence. Approaching the captain, the Skinnersaid, "Do you think the colonies will finally get the better of theking?"
"Get the better!" echoed the captain, with impetuosity; then checkinghimself, he continued, "no doubt they will. If the French[84] willgive us arms and money, we can drive out the royal troops in sixmonths."
[Footnote 84: French aid was given the Americans.]
"Well, so I hope we shall soon; and then we shall have a freegovernment, and we, who fight for it, will get our reward."
"Oh!" cried Lawton, "your claims are indisputable; while all thesevile Tories[85] who live at home peaceably, to take care of theirfarms, will be held in the contempt they merit. You have no farm, Isuppose?"
[Footnote 85: Colonists, who favored the British.]
"Not yet; but it will go hard if I do not find one before the peace ismade."
"Right; study your own interests, and you study the interests of yourcountry; press the point of your own services and rail at the Tories,and I'll bet my spurs against a rusty nail that you get to be a countyclerk at least. Men who have nothing, act as if the wealth of theIndies depended on their fidelity; all are not villains like yourself,or we should have been slaves to England years ago."
"How!" shouted the Skinner, starting back, and dropping his musket tothe level of the other's breast; "am I betrayed, and are you myenemy?"
"Miscreant!" shouted Lawton, his sabre ringing in its steel scabbardas he struck the musket of the fellow from his hands; "offer but againto point your gun at me, and I'll cleave you to the middle."
"And you will not pay us, then, Captain Lawton?" said the Skinner,trembling in every joint, for just then he saw a party of mounteddragoons silently encircling his whole party.
"Oh! pay you--yes, you shall have the full measure of your reward.There is the money that Colonel Singleton sent down for the captor ofthe spy," throwing a bag of guineas with disdain at the other's feet."But ground your arms, you rascals, and see that the money is trulytold."[86]
[Footnote 86: counted.]
The intimidated band did as they were ordered, and while they wereeagerly employed in this pleasing avocation, a few of Lawton's menprivately knocked the flints out of their muskets.
"Well," cried the impatient captain, "is it right--have you thepromised reward?"
"There is just the money," said the leader, "and we will now go to ourhomes, with your permission."
"Hold! so much to redeem our promise--now for justice; we pay you fortaking the spy, but we punish you for burning, robbing, and murdering.Seize them, my lads, and give each of them the law of Moses--fortysave one."
This command was given to no unwilling listeners, and in the twinklingof an eye the Skinners were stripped and fastened by the halters ofthe party to as many of the apple trees as were necessary to furnishone to each of the gang. Swords were quickly drawn, and fifty brancheswere cut from the trees like magic; from these were selected a few ofthe most supple of the twigs, and a willing dragoon was soon found towield each of the weapons.
Captain Lawton gave the word, humanely cautioning his men not toexceed the discipline prescribed by the Mosaic law, and the uproarof Babel commenced in the orchard. The flagellation[87] was executedwith great neatness and despatch, and it was distinguished by noirregularity, excepting that none of the disciplinarians began tocount until he had tried his whip by a dozen or more blows, by theway, as they said themselves, of finding out the proper placeto strike. As soon as this summary operation was satisfactorilycompleted, Lawton directed his men to leave the Skinners to replacetheir own clothes and to mount their horses, for they were a partywho had been detached for the purpose of patrolling lower down inthe county.
[Footnote 87: whipping.]
"You see, my friend," said the captain to the leader of the Skinners,after he had prepared himself to depart, "I can cover you to somepurpose when necessary. If we meet often, you will be covered withscars, which, if not honorable, will at least be merited."
The fellow made no reply. He was busy with his musket, and hasteninghis comrades to march; when, everything being ready, they proceededsullenly towards some rocks at no great distance, which were overhungby a deep wood. The moon was just rising, and a troop of dragoonscould easily be distinguished where they had been left. Suddenlyturning, the whole gang levelled their pieces and drew their triggers.The action was noticed, and the snapping of the locks was heard by thesoldiers, who returned their futile attempt with a laugh of derision,the captain crying aloud:
"Ah! rascals, I knew you, and have taken away your flints."
"You should have taken away that in my pouch, too," shouted theleader, firing his gun in the next instant. The bullet grazed the earof Lawton, who laughed as he shook his head, saying: "A miss is asgood as a mile." One of the dragoons had seen the preparations of theSkinner--who had been left alone by the rest of the gang as soon asthey had made their abortive[88] attempt at revenge--and was in theact of plunging his spurs into his horse as the fellow fired. Thedistance to the rocks was but small, yet the speed of the horsecompelled the leader to abandon both money and musket to effect hisescape. The soldier returned with his prizes, and offered them to theacceptance of his captain; but Lawton rejected them, telling the manto retain them himself until the rascal appeared in person to claimhis property.
[Footnote 88: unsuccessful.]
The patrol departed, and the captain slowly returned to his quarterswith an intention of retiring to rest. A figure moving rapidly amongthe trees in the direction of the wood whither the Skinners hadretired caught his eye, and, wheeling on his heel, the cautiouspartisan approached it, and, to his astonishment, saw the washerwomanat that hour of the night, and in such a place.
As the captain entered his quarters the sentinel at the door inquiredif he had met Mrs. Flanagan, and added that she had passed therefilling the air with threats against her tormentors at the "Hotel?"and inquiring for the captain in search of redress. Lawton heard theman in astonishment, appeared struck with a new idea--walked severalyards towards the orchard, and returned again; for several minutes hepaced rapidly to and fro before the door of the house, and hastilyentering it, he threw himself on a bed in his clothes and was soon ina profound sleep.