CHAPTER XIV.
THE DOUBLE WARNING.
While his comrades were sleeping in perfect forgetfulness of theirhardships and dangers, the slumbers of Dunwoodie were broken andunquiet. After spending a night of restlessness he arose, unrefreshed,from the rude bed where he had thrown himself in his clothes, andwithout awaking any of the group around him he wandered into the openair in search of relief. In this disturbed state of mind the majorwandered through the orchard, and was stopped in his walk by arrivingat the base of those rocks which had protected the Skinners in theirflight, before he was conscious whither his steps had carried him. Hewas about to turn and retrace his path to his quarters, when he wasstartled by a voice, bidding him--
"Stand or die!"
Dunwoodie turned in amazement, and beheld the figure of a man placedat a distance above him on a shelving rock with a musket levelled athimself. The light was not sufficiently powerful to reach the recessesof that gloomy spot, and a second look was necessary before hediscovered, to his astonishment, that the peddler stood before him.Comprehending in an instant the danger of his situation, anddisdaining to implore mercy or retreat, had the latter been possible,the youth cried firmly:
"If I am to be murdered, fire! I will never become your prisoner."
"No, Major Dunwoodie," said Birch, lowering his musket, "it is neithermy intention to capture nor to slay."
"What then would you have, mysterious being?" said Dunwoodie, hardlyable to persuade himself that the form he saw was not a creature ofthe imagination.
"Your good opinion," answered the peddler, with emotion; "I would wishall good men to judge me with lenity.[89] Major Dunwoodie, danger isnear them you love most--danger within and without--double yourwatchfulness--strengthen your patrols--and be silent. With youropinion of me, should I tell you more, you would suspect an ambush.But remember and guard them you love best."
[Footnote 89: gentleness, kindness.]
The peddler discharged his musket in the air, and threw it at the feetof his astonished auditor. When surprise and the smoke allowedDunwoodie to look again on the rock where he had stood, the spot wasvacant.
The youth was aroused from the stupor which had been created by thisstrange scene, by the trampling of horses, and the sound of bugles. Apatrol was drawn to the spot by the report of the musket, and thealarm had been given to the corps. Without entering into anyexplanation with his men, the major returned quickly to his quarters,followed by many of his officers, and preceded by Sergeant Hollister,went to the place which was supposed to contain the peddler.
"Well, sir," said the major to the sentinel who guarded the door, "Itrust you have your prisoner in safety."
"He is yet asleep," replied the man, "and he makes such a noise, Icould hardly hear the bugles sound the alarm."
"Open the door and bring him forth."
The order was obeyed; but, to the utter amazement of the honestveteran who entered the prison, he found the room in no littledisorder--the coat of the peddler where his body ought to have been,and part of the wardrobe of Betty scattered in disorder on the floor.The washerwoman herself occupied the pallet, in profound mentaloblivion, clad as when last seen, excepting a little black bonnet,which she so constantly wore that it was commonly thought she made itperform the double duty of both day and night cap. The noise of theirentrance, and the exclamations of the party, awoke the woman.
Dunwoodie turned to leave the apartment, and he saw Captain Lawtonstanding with folded arms, contemplating the scene with profoundsilence. Their eyes met, and they walked together for a few minutes inclose conversation, when Dunwoodie returned and dismissed the guard totheir place of rendezvous.[90]
[Footnote 90: place of meeting.]
Dr. Sitgreaves, who had been carousing at the "Hotel Flanagan,"suddenly declared his intention of visiting the Locusts, and inquiringinto the state of the wounded. Lawton was ready for the excursion; andmounting, they were soon on the road, though the surgeon was obligedto submit to a few jokes from the washerwoman before he could get outof hearing.
"Listen!" said Lawton, stopping his horse. He had not done speaking,when a stone fell at his feet and rolled harmlessly across the path.
"A friendly shot, that," cried the trooper; "neither the weapon, norits force, implies much ill-will. Oh! here is the explanation alongwith the mystery." So saying, he tore a piece of paper that had beeningeniously fastened to the small fragment of rock which had thussingularly fallen before him; and opening it, the captain read thefollowing words, written in no very legible hand:
"A musket ball will go farther than a stone, and things more dangerousthan yarbs for wounded men lie hid in the rocks of Winchester. Thehorse may be good, but can he mount a precipice?"
"Thou sayest the truth, strange man," said Lawton, "courage andactivity would avail but little against assassination[91] and theserugged passes." Remounting his horse, he cried aloud, "Thanks, unknownfriend; your caution will be remembered."
[Footnote 91: murder by secret assault.]
A meagre hand was extended for an instant over a rock, in the air, andafterwards nothing further was seen or heard in that quarter, by thesoldiers.
The penetrating looks of the trooper had already discovered anotherpile of rocks, which, jutting forward, nearly obstructed the highwaythat wound directly around the base.
"What the steed cannot mount, the foot of man can overcome," exclaimedthe wary partisan. Throwing himself again from the saddle, and leapinga wall of stone, he began to ascend the hill at a pace which wouldsoon have given him a bird's-eye view of the rocks in question,together with all their crevices. This movement was no sooner madethan Lawton caught a glimpse of the figure of a man stealing rapidlyfrom his approach and disappearing on the opposite side of theprecipice.
"Spur, Sitgreaves--spur!" shouted the trooper, dashing over everyimpediment in pursuit, "and murder the villain as he flies."
The former part of the request was promptly complied with; and a fewmoments brought the surgeon in full view of a man armed with a musket,who was crossing the road, and evidently seeking the protection of thethick wood on its opposite side.
"Stop, my friend--stop until Captain Lawton comes up, if you please,"cried the surgeon, observing him to flee with a rapidity that baffledhis horsemanship. But, as if the invitation contained new terrors, thefootman redoubled his efforts, nor paused even to breathe until he hadreached his goal, when, turning on his heel, he discharged his muskettowards the surgeon, and was out of sight in an instant. To gain thehighway and throw himself in the saddle, detained Lawton but a moment,and he rode to the side of his comrade just as the figure disappeared.
"Which way has he fled?" cried the trooper.
"John," said the surgeon, "am I not a non-combatant?"[92]
[Footnote 92: one not fighting.]
"Whither has the rascal fled?" cried Lawton, impatiently.
"Where you cannot follow--into the wood. But I repeat, John, am I nota non-combatant?"
The disappointed trooper, perceiving that his enemy had escaped him,now turned his eyes, which were flashing with anger, upon his comrade,and gradually his muscles lost their rigid compression, his browrelaxed, and his look changed from its fierce expression to the covertlaughter which so often distinguished his countenance. The surgeon satin dignified composure on his horse, his thin body erect and his headelevated with the indignation of one conscious of having been unjustlytreated.
Their desultory discourse was soon interrupted by their arrival atthe cottage of Mr. Wharton. No one appearing to usher them into anapartment, the captain proceeded to the door of the parlor, wherehe knew visitors were commonly received. On opening it, he pausedfor a moment, in admiration of the scene within. The person ofColonel Wellmere first met his eye, bending towards the figure ofthe blushing Sarah with an earnestness of manner that prevented thenoise of Lawton's entrance from being heard by either party. Certainsignificant signs, which were embraced at a glance by the trooper, atonce made him a
master of their secret, and he and the surgeon retiredas silently as they had advanced.