CHAPTER VIII.
THE PURSUIT.--BIRCH'S ESCAPE.
The gathering mists of the evening had begun to darken the valley, asthe detachment of Lawton made its reappearance at its southernextremity. The march of the troops was slow and their line extended,for the benefit of ease. In the front rode the captain, side by sidewith his senior subaltern,[59] apparently engaged in close conference,while the rear was brought up by a young cornet, humming an air, andthinking of the sweets of a straw bed after the fatigues of a hardday's duty.
[Footnote 59: that is, here, first lieutenant.]
"Well, Tom, a slanderous propensity[60] is incurable--but," stretchinghis body forward in the direction he was gazing, as if to aid him indistinguishing objects through the darkness, "what animal is movingthrough the field on our right?"
[Footnote 60: inclination.]
"'Tis a man," said Mason, looking intently at the suspicious object.
"By his hump 'tis a dromedary!" added the captain, eying it keenly.Wheeling his horse suddenly from the highway, he exclaimed, "HarveyBirch!--take him, dead or alive!"
A dozen of the men, with the lieutenant at their head, followed theimpetuous Lawton, and their speed threatened the pursued with a suddentermination of the race.
Birch prudently kept his position on the rock, where he had beenseen by the passing glance of Henry Wharton, until evening hadbegun to shroud the surrounding objects in darkness. It was withdifficulty that he had curbed his impatience until the obscurity ofnight should render his moving free from danger. He had not, however,completed a fourth of his way to his own residence, when his quickear distinguished the tread of the approaching horse. Trusting to theincreasing darkness, he determined to persevere. By crouching, andmoving quickly along the surface of the ground, he hoped to escapeunseen. Captain Lawton was too much engrossed in conversation tosuffer his eyes to indulge in their usual wandering; and the peddler,perceiving by the voices that the enemy he most feared had passed,yielded to his impatience, and stood erect, in order to make greaterprogress. The moment his body rose above the shadow of the ground itwas seen, and the chase commenced. For a single instant Birch washelpless, his blood curdling in his veins at the imminence[61] of thedanger, and his legs refusing their natural and necessary office.But it was only for a minute; casting his pack where he stood, andinstinctively tightening the belt he wore, the peddler betook himselfto flight. He knew that by bringing himself in line with his pursuersand the wood, his form would be lost to sight. This he soon effected,and he was straining every nerve to gain the wood itself, when severalhorsemen rode by him but a short distance on his left, and cut him offfrom this place of refuge. The peddler threw himself on the ground asthey came near him, and was passed unseen. But delay now became toodangerous for him to remain in that position. He accordingly rose,and still keeping in the shadow of the wood, along the skirts of whichhe heard voices crying to each other to be watchful, he ran withincredible speed in a parallel line, but in an opposite direction,to the march of the dragoons.
[Footnote 61: threatening nature.]
At this instant the voice of Lawton rang through the valley, shouting:
"Harvey Birch!--take him, dead or alive!"
Fifty pistols lighted the scene, and the bullets whistled in everydirection around the head of the devoted peddler.
A feeling of despair seized his heart, and in the bitterness of thatmoment he exclaimed:
"Hunted like a beast of the forest!"
These considerations, with the approaching footsteps of his pursuers,roused him to new exertions. A fragment of wall, that had withstoodthe ravages made by the war in the adjoining fences of wood,fortunately crossed his path. He hardly had time to throw hisexhausted limbs over this barrier before twenty of his enemies reachedits opposite side. Their horses refused to take the leap in the dark,and amid the confusion Birch was enabled to gain a sight of the baseof the hill, on whose summit was a place of perfect safety. The heartof the peddler now beat high with hope, when the voice of CaptainLawton again rang in his ears, shouting to his men to make room. Theorder was obeyed, and the fearless trooper rode at the wall at the topof his horse's speed, plunged the rowels in his charger, and flew overthe obstacle in safety.
The triumphant hurrah of the men, and the thundering tread of thehorse, too plainly assured the peddler of the emergency[62] of hisdanger. He was nearly exhausted, and his fate no longer seemeddoubtful.
[Footnote 62: It was a danger demanding immediate action.]
"Stop, or die!" was uttered above his head, and in fearful proximityto his ears.
Harvey stole a glance over his shoulder, and saw, within a bound ofhim, the man he most dreaded. By the light of the stars he beheld theuplifted arm and the threatening sabre. Fear, exhaustion, and despairseized his heart, and the intended victim fell at the feet of thedragoon. The horse of Lawton struck the prostrate peddler, and bothsteed and rider came violently to the earth.
As quick as thought Birch was on his feet again, with the sword of thediscomfited dragoon in his hand. All the wrongs of the peddler shoneon his brain with a dazzling brightness. For a moment the demon withinhim prevailed, and Birch brandished the powerful weapon in the air; inthe next it fell harmless on the reviving but helpless trooper. Thepeddler vanished up the side of the friendly rock.
"Help Captain Lawton, there!" cried Mason, as he rode up, followed bya dozen of his men; "and some of you dismount with me and searchthese rocks; the villain lies here concealed."
"Hold!" roared the discomfited captain, raising himself withdifficulty on his feet; "if one of you dismount, he dies. Tom, my goodfellow, you will help me to straddle Roanoke again."
The astonished subaltern complied in silence, while the wonderingdragoons remained as fixed in their saddles as if they composed a partof the animals they rode.
Lawton and Mason rode on in silence, the latter ruminating[63] on thewonderful change produced in his commander by his fall, when theyarrived opposite to the gate before the residence of Mr. Wharton. Thetroop continued its march, but the captain and his lieutenantdismounted, and, followed by the servant of the former, they proceededslowly to the door of the cottage.
[Footnote 63: thinking quietly.]
A few words from Mason explained the nature and manner of hiscaptain's hurts, and Miss Peyton cheerfully accorded the requiredaccommodations. While the room intended for the trooper was gettingready, and the doctor was giving certain portentous[64] orders, thecaptain was invited to rest himself in the parlor.
[Footnote 64: foreshadowing something serious.]