CHAPTER X
THE HARRYING OF THE TORY
I was soon riding southward, the bearer of the message from GeneralWashington to the Council of Safety, sitting at Annapolis; and as Irode, the people hailed me for my news, and gave me food and drink, soI could hurry on.
At last I reached the borders of Maryland, and again rode under theold oak from which I had torn the proclamation. It was only a fewweeks before, and I wondered what had been the fate of Charles Gordon.
So, as I rode through the Head of Elk late that afternoon and came tothe ferry there, I asked the boatman what they had done with him.
"Forfeiture has been decreed," he answered, "and the new High Sheriffand James Rodolph have gone to-day with a posse and many men to rootthe traitor out."
"How long ago did they start?"
"About an hour."
"What road did they take?"
"The river road. They expect to reach there about nine o'clock.Jupiter! I'd like to be there and see the flames reddening the sky. Itwill be a grand sight." He looked longingly through the forest towardthe Braes.
"Something else will be dyed crimson, if I know that Tory right."
"That there will be, sir; it will be a lovely scrimmage;" and hesighed at the lost opportunity.
The boat grounded on the south bank, and I mounted Toby.
"A pleasant ride, sir."
"Thanks; good-night."
"Toby," said I, as I patted his neck, "you have travelled many a mileto-day, old fellow; but you will have to cover the ground to-night asyou never covered it before. They have an hour's start, and we have alonger distance to go; so double your legs under you, my boy, and go."
Toby rising to the occasion, and the spirit of old Ranter provingtrue, he broke into the long even gallop that makes the miles passswiftly. It was a race against time, against James Rodolph and hiscrew. I knew if once they gained the Braes, black death would stalkamong the ruins, for Charles Gordon would never surrender.
The night fell rapidly as we raced along and the miles flew by.
As Toby and I drew near Bohemia Manor, where the road joined the oneon which the posse was marching, I reined him in and rode morecautiously. It was well that I did so, for as I approached I heardthe low murmur of men's voices and saw their figures in the dim lightas they were marching by.
I brought Toby to a halt. The road was cut off that way, so I wheeledhim around to ride back a short distance to where the road skirted theopen fields of Bohemia Manor. As Toby plunged forward in answer to myspur, I heard a cry and then a shot came whistling by. But I left thembehind, and coming to the open fields, I put Toby at the fence andraced across the open country, through the lower fields to the Braes,Toby taking the fences in his stride.
Then I dashed once more across the green lawn of the Braes and drew mysword hilt across the shutter.
There was a stir in the room above me; the shutter was cautiouslyopened and I was covered by the muzzle of a pistol.
"Who are you?" demanded a voice which I knew to be Charles Gordon's.
"James Frisby of Fairlee," I replied. "I have ridden to warn you, Mr.Gordon. You have only a few minutes to escape in; James Rodolph, witha hundred men behind him, will be here in ten minutes."
"Thank you, lad, for the information. I will give them a warmreception."
"But you cannot hold the Braes against a hundred men; they will burnyou out, and then Mistress Jean."
"Hum; that is so, lad. Ride round to the rear of the house."
I did so, and a moment later, they came out on the little porch. Theold gentleman had buckled on his sword, and there were pistols in hisbelt. And she, ah! she never looked more bewitching. Her beautifulhair flowed wild about her shoulders, over the light dark mantle inwhich she was wrapped. By the flicker of the candle, I saw that abright flush mantled her cheek, as she spoke rapidly.
"Father, there is an English vessel a few miles down the bay. Call theslaves and escape to it."
"But I cannot take you there."
"I will carry her through the lines," I cried, "and see her safe inthe hands of her aunt in Kent."
They hesitated, but the noise in front of the house told of theapproaching mob, and there was no time for parley. So, true to myrace, I acted quickly, and stooping from my saddle I caught her upgently and placed her on Toby before me.
"It is the only chance, lad. See that you carry her safely."
"I will carry her through or die," I replied with deep conviction. Atthe touch of the spur Toby sprang forward under his double burden.
"The creek," she cried.
"Yes; but we can swim it."
Indeed it was our only way, as the mob blocked the other roads ofescape, so we rode boldly in and swam for the other side. The creekwas several hundred yards wide, but Toby bore us bravely until wereached the southern shore, then he plunged forward, threw himself upthe bank, and we were out of immediate danger.
There we halted for a moment under the shadow of a great tree andlooked back across the water.
We heard the sound of many voices, the howling of the mob, and throughthe trunks of the trees flickered the glare of the torches. Suddenlyshots rang out, a cry of dismay and rage followed, and then the flashof guns and a rattling volley crashed around the house.
"By Jove, he is fighting it out!" But the slender figure on my armtrembled, and I saw that her face was white through the darkness.
"He will escape, Mistress Jean," I said reassuringly; "trust an oldHighlander for that." And I saw that her eyes were bright and tense,watching the scene across the water.
"There he goes," she exclaimed joyfully; and there, gliding swiftlythrough the waters, where the shadow of the trees made the darknessmore intense, was a long low boat rowed by stalwart slaves. The soundof the oars was drowned by the clamour of the mob.
"If he passes the neck," I exclaimed, "he will be safe;" for the creeknarrowed at its mouth until it was but a hundred yards wide.
"Ride quick to the point," she said.
So Toby plunged forward again at the pressure of my knees, and thoughhe still went gallantly on, I could tell that the strain and the toilof the long march from the north, and his dash from the Head of Elk,were beginning to tell on him.
At last we reached the mouth of the creek, and I brought Toby to ahalt under the shadow of a clump of trees, where we could see and yetnot be seen. I glanced for a moment out over the waters of the bay,and I saw, several miles to the southward, the gleam of a light as itfell on the waves; I knew it was the English man-of-war.
But Mistress Jean's eyes were eagerly searching the waters of thecreek, and she was straining her ears to catch the sound of the oars.Then we were rewarded. For at that moment we heard the long sweep ofthe oars in the water, and out from the mouth of the creek came theboat, the brawny negroes bending to their task.
The commanding figure of the old Tory stood in the stern, looking backup the creek whence they came. Unconsciously my glance followed his,and I saw that the sky was crimson, and high above the tree-tops theflames licked the skies.
"The Braes!" I exclaimed, and Mistress Jean was about to call out,when there came the sound of galloping hoofs on the other side. Ahorseman dashed into view, and rode into the water up to thesaddle-girths. There was a flash, and the crack of a pistol broke thestillness of the night; then with a gesture of rage, the horseman rosein his stirrups and hurled the pistol far over the water; we heard thesplash as it fell.
Then the figure in the boat raised his clenched hand and shook it atthe horseman and the flames.
"You fired too quick, Mr. Rodolph," said the ferryman.
"Yes, damn him, he has escaped." He turned his horse and rode into thedarkness, while a soft voice whispered in my ear,--
"Thank God."