CHAPTER XV
SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE METGENERAL WASHINGTON BY THE WAY
After the desperate struggle upon Breed's Hill the two armies lay upontheir different eminences, breathlessly regarding each other; they stillheld their arms ready, for they each dreaded what the other might do;but there was no movement to continue the battle upon either side; andso the last hours of daylight wore on.
Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster were with Colonel Prescott almost all thetime since the retreat had ceased. Their hearts were heavy when theylearned of Dr. Warren's death; for where would such another be found ashe? That there were other great men in the colonies, they knew well; butnone were quite so human, so entirely unselfish, so absolutely devotedto the public good as this patriot who still lay upon the hillside, hisface turned to the sky.
They sat upon a settle in the wide hall of the house in which Prescottmade his headquarters, and talked the sad news over in mournfulundertones. Through an open doorway they could see the colonel pacing upand down, his face darkened with anger, his lips pressed tightlytogether.
"The result seems to set heavily upon him," said Nat, at length. "Seehow his hands are clenched; and he has not even brushed the dust of thefight from his clothes."
Ezra looked at the colonel's lowered head and burning eyes.
"I have no doubt," said the young New Englander, "that there is nothingin the world that he would welcome so much as a renewal of theengagement. He had the battle won, but for the lack of powder and thereinforcements that were so delayed and confused."
They continued to talk in low tones for a time; then suddenly ColonelPrescott's tramping ceased. He had paused in the centre of the room, andas the boys' eyes went to him once more, they found that he was lookingtoward them.
"Prentiss," said the colonel, with the manner of one who had finallymade up his mind to something, "ask them to bring me my horse."
Ezra saluted, and went quickly out. A few moments later the clatter ofhoofs sounded upon the pavement, and Prescott, as he snatched up hishat, gestured Nat to follow.
Not only was Colonel Prescott's mount awaiting him, but a little behindit stood the raw-boned black which Nat Brewster had ridden ever sinceleaving Philadelphia the fall before. Beside this again was a hardylooking, flea-bitten gray of visible quality which Ezra had bought of ahorse dealer in the camp to replace the tall bay which, for all he knew,still stood in the barn at the "Indian's Head."
All three mounted, and Prescott headed at once for General Ward'sheadquarters. The sun had but a short time to keep its rim above thewest; indeed, in sheltered places, the shadows had grown long and werethickening into dusk.
The colonel was admitted at once to the general's presence; and the boysremained in an anteroom, which was crowded with officers and persons ofconsequence, all eager to hear the news of what was to be done on themorrow.
General Ward's room was also thronged, and business was being dispatchedhurriedly. The hangings of the doorway were drawn because of the heat ofthe evening, and all that was said and done was plain to those in theanteroom. A light breeze was blowing through the house; and some lights,already burning in tall silver candlesticks, leaped agitatedly, throwingquavering shadows upon the stern faces of the fighting-men gatheredabout.
With one accord, all fell back from the table at which General Ward sat,upon the appearance of Colonel Prescott. As the commander of the forceat the summit of the hill, they at once gave him place.
"General," and Colonel Prescott saluted grimly, "I have come to make myreport upon the engagement fought to-day in the neighborhood ofCharlestown."
He placed a closely written paper upon the table as he spoke, and thenstood back a pace.
General Ward took up the paper and sat running his thumb and forefingeralong its folds; but he did not open it.
"What has happened," said he, "is of course already known to me. All whowitnessed your work to-day join in praising it; it seems the universalopinion that no man could have done more. If you were driven from yourposition----"
Colonel Prescott's hand went up and his flashing eyes swept the room.
"If I lost my position," said he, "it was not because my men and I werenot willing to hold it to the last. It was because of the neglect ofsome whose duty it was to lend me help. Another thing," and he advancedto the table, his hand falling upon it with force, "give me fifteenhundred men to-night, with powder and ball and bayonets, and I will haverecovered Breed's Hill for you by sunrise to-morrow."
A thrill ran through Ezra at these words. There was no doubting but thatthe aroused man meant them and stood ready to carry them out. ButGeneral Ward was too conservative a soldier to harken to any such daringplan.
"The risk would be too great," said he. "We must not waste our strength.To-day we have lost above four hundred men. If Howe were to order anadvance we could scarcely hope to hold him in check."
"He has lost three times as many as we," returned Prescott; "and we needhave no fear of his attacking us again, just yet."
Then some one else broke in, and the conversation in a moment becamealmost general. Plans were suggested and debated; the raising of men,money and ammunition engrossed every one.
When Colonel Prescott was leaving, General Ward arose, shook his handwarmly and thanked him for his services in the name of the colonies.Coming with him to the door of the anteroom his eyes fell upon Ezra andNat, and his face lighted up.
"Here are the very lads," said he. "I had all but forgotten that Irequired the service of some ready riders, and at once."
The two boys stood forward and saluted.
"There is a dispatch, all ready," said General Ward to Prescott, "forthe Congress at Philadelphia, giving a brief account of to-day'sengagement. If you can spare these lads, and if they are not too wearywith their work of to-day," with a smile at the two, "there are nonethat I would rather send upon the mission."
Prescott turned and looked at Ezra and Nat; their eager looks caused asmile to appear upon his stern face.
"They will carry the dispatch," he said, briefly.
"I shall require it to go to-night," said the general to the lads.
He was a thoughtful man; knowing that they had been in the thick of thefight, he hesitated about burdening them with this long journey withouttheir having had a chance to rest.
"Our horses are at the door," said Ezra, promptly. "We are ready to goat once."
So they remained after Colonel Prescott had departed. Soon the dispatchof the colonial commander was placed in Ezra's hands; their instructionswere brief; then they mounted and rode swiftly away upon their journeythrough the deepening dusk.
"We should sleep at Framingham to-night," said Ezra.
"We made the complete journey once in seven days," answered Nat. "Andthis time we should not be behind that."
A farmhouse was their first halt; and the good people were eager to doall they could for them when they heard who they were. It was the samethrough all of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Innkeepers gave them theirbest attention; hostlers looked to their horses with unexampledsolicitude; the townspeople gathered about them burning to hear the newsfrom the lips of the lads who had been in the battle.
They reached New York, where they attracted great attention, crowdsthronging the streets to watch their progress; then they crossed theHudson and began pushing their way across the level Jerseys. They hadgone a half day's ride over the sandy roads; it was a little past noonwhen they came to a fine, old, tree-shaded house, with broad fields,green with the spring's planting, beautiful orchards and a generallyprosperous look.
"Now this," spoke Nat, good-humoredly, "is a likely sort of place fortwo wayfarers to alight and beseech entertainment. The people who livehere could provide good food and in plenty, if appearances go foranything."
They dismounted at the open gate and tied their horses to the fence. Asmall dog, hearing their footsteps upon the path, ran toward them with agreat ado of barking; this brough
t forward a very small boy, who stoodbefore them, his freckled face turned up inquiringly.
"Do you want my father?" asked he.
Ezra smiled down at the child.
"Perhaps so," said he. "Is this your father's place?"
The boy swept a small hand to all four points of the compass.
"All of it," answered he. Then confidentially, "And he's going to getmore."
"Good for him," laughed Nat, "and so now run off and ask him if he cansee two riders who are on their way to Philadelphia."
The child pursed up his mouth.
"He is engaged," spoke he, wisely. "Some gentlemen stopped a while ago.They are having dinner, and one of them is a general."
The young continentals looked at one another.
"What's his name?" inquired Ezra.
"General Wash'ton," answered the child promptly.
Again the lads' eyes sought each other in mute question; and a thrillran through them both. They recalled the tall, athletic Virginian whohad sat his horse so well in Philadelphia's streets; they remembered thecalm, handsome face, so highly bred and yet so powerful; they recalledthe outspoken admiration of the citizens, the great esteem of his fellowmembers of the First Congress.
"Can it be," said Ezra, "that Washington of Virginia has been chosencommander-in-chief by the Continental Congress!"
"If he has," replied Nat Brewster, all excitement, "they have doneexcellently for the colonies. There is no nobler man in all America; andfrom all accounts, he is a born soldier."
The small boy disappeared into the house while they were speaking; butthe small dog remained, sniffing suspiciously and occasionally growlingfor them to keep their distance. And while they were smiling at theself-importance of the little beast, there came a full-toned voicesaying:
"I had not thought, Mr. Clark, to see so fine a farm in the Jerseys. Itis splendid. And as I come from Virginia, where the plantations approachthe extent of principalities, I may say that I am a judge."
There were footsteps upon the wide verandah which ran about the house;and turning in the direction of the sound, the boys saw a party ofgentlemen. Nat's eyes instantly sought out the speaker, and at a glancehe recognized the tall, strong frame and the lofty face.
And almost at the same moment the eyes of the great Virginian caughtsight of the boy.
"Hah!" cried he, taking a step forward, "here is some one I think Iknow, Mr. Clark."
"They are strangers to me, general," spoke the rich farmer, staring atthe boys. "Travelers perhaps, young gentlemen?" addressing them.
"On our way to Philadelphia," said Ezra, as Nat stepped upon theverandah and grasped the cordially extended hand of Washington.
Nat had done Washington a splendid service just outside of Philadelphiasome ten months before, and as the Virginian seldom forgot a face, andnever a service, his hand grasp was warm and firm.
NAT GRASPED THE HAND OF WASHINGTON]
"I am glad to see you. And so," with a look at Ezra, "you are on yourway to Philadelphia?"
"Yes, general."
Washington smiled a little.
"Why," said he, "my new title seems to run before me like a forest fire.But," inquiringly, "may I ask from what direction you travel?"
"We left Cambridge in Massachusetts some five days ago," replied Nat.
An eager light came into the eyes of the commander-in-chief.
"What news?" asked he.
"A battle has been fought," said Nat.
Instantly the lad was encircled by a ring of anxious faces.
"And the result?" Washington's voice was entirely without excitement.
"The British were victorious."
A sort of groan went up from the little party of gentlemen. And it washere that Ezra Prentiss spoke eagerly.
"We are bearing General Ward's report of the fight to Congress. Andthough the British did drive us back, we twice repulsed them. We wouldhave done so the third time had not our powder run out. As it stands,they lost a thousand men and do not dare advance beyond the ground theywon."
The gloom which settled upon the face of Washington at Nat Brewster'swords vanished at those of Ezra Prentiss.
"The militia?" he asked, his hand upon the boy's shoulder. "How did theyhold themselves under fire?"
"Bravely," returned Ezra. "As long as they could fire back they showedfear of neither cannon-shot nor musketry."
"That is all I wish to know," exclaimed the commander-in-chief. "Thecause of liberty is safe."
The others then burst in with anxious and excited questions. Even duringthe dinner which the bountiful Mr. Clark sat the boys down to in a long,shaded room did not stop this flow of interrogations. Both were forcedto answer as best they could between mouthfuls, but they did so withenthusiasm, for they were as full of the matter as their questioners.
General Washington sat alone upon the verandah while the boys ate; hiseyes were fixed upon the broad, fertile fields and his expression wasrapt. Perhaps he saw the future, when he should retreat with a shatteredarmy across the Jerseys, the wolf-pack of the enemy close behind him.And behind them again, the countryside in ruins!
But when the lads came out he arose.
"Mr. Clark," said he, "you have been kind, and I thank you. And now, ifyou will have them bring out our horses, we will be on our way towardNew York."
The farmer sent some of his people to do as asked; then the generalturned to the boys.
"I am about to send a messenger back to Philadelphia with somesuggestions to Congress which this news of yours has called forth," saidhe, "and if you are so inclined, the message of General Ward shall besent by him."
The boys hesitated a moment.
"General," said Ezra, finally, "there is nothing that would please usbetter than to ride with you back to Cambridge, but----"
Washington smiled.
"If it would please you," said he, "then you shall do it. As yourofficer, I direct you to turn over your dispatches to this gentleman,"indicating a young man who stood seemingly ready to depart.
Promptly Ezra drew out General Ward's dispatch and handed it to therider. In a few moments they saw him dashing away through the dust tothe southward; and in a very few more they were heading north toward thetheatre of war at the side of General Washington.