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"It is the courier, George Preston!" said Dan in a whisper as the canoe swept around the bend. _Page 269_
The Boy Scouts At the Battle of Saratoga
The Story of General Burgoyne's Defeat
By HERBERT CARTER Author of "The Boy Scouts Through the Big Timber." "The Boy Scouts In the Blue Ridge." "The Boy Scouts' First Camp Fire." "The Boy Scouts In the Rockies." "The Boy Scouts On the Trail."
Copyright, 1909 By A. L. BURT COMPANY
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE I. The Camp in the Woods. 1 II. The Missing Messages. 17 III. The Spiked Cannon. 38 IV. The Dam Across the Creek. 55 V. The Suspicious Tory. 75 VI. The Bend of the Walloomsac. 90 VII. Clipping the Left Wing. 109 VIII. The Night on the Road. 128 IX. Unfurling the Flag. 148 X. Clipping the Right Wing. 173 XI. The Old Hut. 190 XII. The Real Ira. 209 XIII. The Midnight Fire. 227 XIV. The Drawn Battle. 240 XV. The Chance Meeting. 255 XVI. The Bitter and the Sweet. 270
The Boy Scouts At the Battle of Saratoga
CHAPTER I. THE CAMP IN THE WOODS.
The sunset had brought to a close the hottest day of the season (June,1777). With the fading of the light a cool breeze came in from LakeChamplain, sweeping across the big promontory, near the foot of which asingle tent was pitched. As the wind rustled in the tree tops above thecanvas shelter, its occupants arose from the rude beds of fir boughs,and sought the outer air. This act revealed their number andcharacter--three lads, not far from eighteen years of age, whose ruggedfaces, brawny muscles and rude clothing suggested, as was the fact, thatthey had been bred to a frontier life.
"I say, Dan," the tallest of the group remarked as he yawned andstretched himself to his full height, "ain't it 'bout time that fellerwe are waitin' for hove in sight?"
"He's got an hour longer, Late," the boy answered, "an' may show up inthat time. General Schuyler,[1] when he tole me to find you an' Joe an'come up here, said: 'Pitch your tent on that big point to the left ofthe Narrows, an' wait three days for the feller I've sent to watchBurgoyne's fleet that's comin' down to attack Fort Ticonderoga. He'lljine ye by that time, an' tell ye what to do.' That's plain 'nough evenfor your thick head to understand, an' as we ain't been here three daystill it's pitch dark, I say thar's an hour for him yet."
"It's queer the general didn't tell you who it was," commented the thirdlad, who had been spoken of as "Joe." "I wonder you didn't ask him."
"You've said that six or seven times already," Dan retorted somewhatsharply, "an' I've told ye as often that it wasn't my style. I alwaysleave it for the general to tell me what he thinks I orter know, an'leave unsaid what he'd rather keep to himself. Whosomever this felleris, he'll be likely to explain, an' I can wait without worryin' overit."
"That's 'cause your habit for askin' questions wasn't ever fullydeveloped," Late broke in with a chuckle. "But we shan't have to waitlong 'fore we at least see the feller, for, if I'm not mistook, thar hecomes now down the lake," and he pointed to a dark object which wasapproaching.
"He's in a canoe, an' a youngster like ourselves," Dan added a momentlater.
"I don't know how you make that out," Late cried. "I can only see thatit's a boat of some kind."
"That's 'cause your eyesight was never fully developed," Dan retortedwith a grin. "I can see him well enough. But since he's a-comin' webetter get to hustlin' an' have supper ready. If he's traveled far he'llbe hungry, an' we may make a good impression by showin' we are liberalproviders. I'll start the fire, an' Joe can get the water, while you,Late, bring up those fish we caught this mornin'."
For the next half hour the campers were too busy with their preparationsto give more than an occasional glance up the lake at the approachingboat. But what they saw confirmed Dan's words. The newcomer was a lad ofabout their own age, and was able to handle a canoe with the grace andskill of an Indian.
At length, however, the potatoes were baked, the fish broiled, and thecorn-cakes done to a turn. Then Late spoke:
"We are ready, an' he's nearly here. Let's go down to the shore to meethim."
His comrades followed him without a word. Clambering down the steep bankto the water's edge, they waited in silence the arrival of the voyager.He could see them standing there, and, though several rods away, pausedin his paddling long enough to raise one hand and wave it above hishead. They returned the salutation; but refrained from the cheer alllonged to give. They were not sure of being alone in the forest, and,with that caution which comes to all accustomed to a frontier life, madeno noise that might attract the attention of an enemy.
Two minutes later the canoe touched the beach, and its occupant leapedout. For an instant he stood there, running a keen eye over the threelads whom he knew would be his associates in the hazardous work ofreporting the movements of a hostile army. They, in their turn, gazedcritically at the one who was for a time to be their leader.
He saw three youths, rough, uncultured, and yet as stout of heart as thegreat trees among which they had lived, as keen as the steel of theknives that graced their belts. They, on their part, beheld a lad atrifle older than themselves, taller by an inch than Late, and asstalwart in frame as he, yet a lad whose studious face suggested theschool; whose air of refinement seemed more in keeping with the townthan the woods; and whose every movement told of one accustomed tocommand.
The brightening of his and their faces told that he and they had alikebeen pleased with what they saw; then, before the stranger could speak,the waiting lads picked up the canoe, and started toward the camp withit. The newcomer added his own strength to the burden, and almostnoiselessly they ascended the promontory, dropping the boat aside thetent.
"I am here at last," the unknown lad now said in a low and pleasantvoice. "Have you waited long for me?"
"Three days, lackin' a few minutes," Dan replied, acting as spokesmanfor the party.
"Then you were here at the earliest moment suggested by the general,"the first speaker said heartily. "I like that. It shows that he hasgiven me assistants who can be relied upon for promptness. The silencein which you met me proves that you can be discreet. The supper you haveready bespeaks your hospitality. They are all traits Iappreciate--especially the last, after my pull of thirty miles. Let useat and get acquainted."
Sitting on the trunk of a fallen tree near the fire, which now was nomore than a bed of coals, h
e began to eat with that relish which longexercise in the open air always imparts.
At once the entire party was engaged in the same agreeable task. As theyate their conversation was, during a time, of little importance; butwhen the keen hunger of the leader had been somewhat appeased, he pausedlong enough between mouthfuls to say:
"I have your names, comrades; but which is which I do not yet know. Iwonder if I can pick you out," and again he ran his keen eye quicklyfrom one to the other. Late laughed.
"My knife 'gainst yours that you can't tell who I am on the firstguess," he said.
"It would hardly be a fair wager," was the reply, "for my knife is worthmore than yours. But I'll venture a guess without a bet. You are LathamWentworth."
"You've seen me somewhere 'fore now," the crestfallen youth cried whenthe laughter of his companions had subsided.
"No; but you gave yourself away when you made the bet. I have been toldthat you are always ready to wager anything you possess, from the shoeson your feet to the cap on your head."
"I reckon that's so," he admitted, joining in the laugh at his expense.
"What is it the good book says 'bout 'their works do follow them'?"asked Dan at this point. "I guess that is true of the livin' as well asthe dead, Late."
"A remark that proves you are Daniel Cushing," was the comment of thenewcomer. "You see I am nearly as well acquainted with you, as withWentworth."
"It looks as if the general, or somebody, had sized us up 'bout right toyou," young Cushing said curtly.
"There's no chance for me to hide it, so I'll admit I'm Joseph Fisher,at your service," that young man cried laughingly. "I'm quick to say it,too, for fear you'll show up some of my failin's. But you haven't toldus your own name, an' the general didn't, either. I think we orter knowthat."
"If you had put your last sentences first, your confession of youridentity would hardly have been necessary," was the significant answer.
"Your demand is a fair one," the lad replied, "and though it was myfirst thought to withhold my real name, you shall know it, but you mustnever call me by it, nor use it between yourselves when I am absent. Itis not, in fact, to be spoken aloud. You will understand later why Imake this strange request."
With these words he drew from the bosom of his hunting-shirt an ironcross, which evidently was attached to a chain about his neck. Takinghold of the top above the horizontal bar, he gave it a vigorous twist.It came off, showing that the lower portion was hollow, and contained atiny paper. This he took out, and passed to Daniel Cushing, who satnearest him.
"Read, and then pass it on," he directed.
The parchment was so small, that only a few words could have beenwritten on it. These Dan slowly spelled out, and then exclaimed:
"I understand, sir. It shall be as you say, an' you'll find that DanCushing never yet broke his word."
He handed the paper to Late, who, after a little effort, mastered itscontents, and then cried:
"I never dreamed of such a thing, sir. You are right. 'Twon't do towhisper the name even to each other, lest the woods hear us. But 'twillbe a pleasure to serve under you, sir."
Joe now had his opportunity to peruse the writing, and, being a betterreader than his companions, quickly gathered the meaning of the brieflines. Running over to the leader, he seized his hand and shook itvigorously.
"I deem it an honor to serve under you," he declared, "an' you'll find Ican keep a secret, if I am always eager to solve one. But what are we tocall you?"
"For the present I am to be known to you, as I shall be to the British,as Ira Le Geyt," was the smiling reply.
"The Tory!"
"The spy!"
"The renegade!"
These three exclamations escaped the lips of the hearers in sheeramazement.
"Tory, spy, and renegade," was the quiet reply. "Do you fear that Ican't play the part?"
"Not that, sir," Dan answered hastily. "It's the danger you run. 'Sposesome one happens into the camp who knows the real Ira, or what if hehappened to show up? You'd be in a tight place."
"General Schuyler has the real Ira where he can't make any trouble," wasthe reply, "and I have the young Tory's entire outfit in yondercanoe--rifle, clothes, commission as a scout in Burgoyne's army, and, asyou have seen, his iron cross, the token by which he was to come and goamong the Indians. Some say that in form and feature we are not unlike.I hope, therefore, to pass myself off for him. Of course there is arisk, but I am willing to take that for the sake of the Cause."
The last declaration was made modestly, almost reverently, and a fewmoments of silence followed. Then the lad went on:
"This reveals my plan, and shows why I need you. As a trusted scout atthe British headquarters, I hope to learn enough about the commander'smovements to keep our officers between here and Fort Stanwix fullyposted. But some other must carry the news. That is to be your work. Atregular appointed places just outside the British lines, one or more ofyou will always be in waiting. To you I will come with everything ourmen should know. I hope, too, we may be able to delay, if not thwartaltogether, many of the red-coats' plans."
"Will they soon be here?" Joe asked.
"Some time to-morrow," Ira (as we shall now call him) replied. "I havekept just ahead of the fleet since it started down the St. Lawrence. Atnoon it was becalmed thirty miles up the lake. But a breeze sprang up,as you know, at sundown, and it must be under way again. The Britishwill come slowly; but by daylight we ought to see the first vessels fromthis headland."
"I don't s'pose you know how many there are?" questioned Dan.
"Vessels? yes," was the answer. "There are sixty-one in all, frigates,schooners, sloops, and transports. But the number of the troops I havenot yet got at clearly enough to make a report. That will be our task asthey land. We'll stay here to-night, and early in the morning move campto the place I have chosen as our rendezvous while the enemy is in thislocality. Then we will return here, or to some other place where we canwatch the landing."
For some time longer they discussed the exciting situation, and thensought their rude beds within the tent.
Nothing disturbed their slumbers during the night hours; but with thefirst light of the morning all were astir. Ira had been the first toawake, and, rising, he hurried away to the edge of the promontory andlooked up the lake. The next instant he wheeled about, and went back tothe camp rapidly.
"Quick!" he cried in a low tone. "The fleet is not over five miles away,and we must be on the move. It won't do to stop here even long enough toget breakfast."
His companions needed no other warning. Springing up they aided inemptying the canoe of its contents, after which the light craft wascarried some distance into the forest, and hidden in a dense thicket.Returning to the camp they speedily took down the tent, packed it andall their belongings into four bundles, and, shouldering these, hastenedoff toward the west under the guidance of their chief.
With the directness of one who knew where he was going, he led them to anarrow ravine a mile away. Entering this, he descended to a small brook,which with a noisy murmur ran through it. Along the bank he traveleduntil the ground was so wet and soft that walking became difficult. Itwas clear they were now on the edge of a great swamp. Beneath a hugemaple he paused.
"Mark this tree," he said in a low voice to his followers, "and for tworeasons: We must here enter the stream in order to reach the place wherewe shall make our camp. See, between those two limbs is a small cavity.Every day after I enter the British lines one of you must come here andlook into the hole. When it is impossible for me to visit you at therendezvous, I shall put my messages in there."
While speaking he had pulled off his boots. His companions removedtheirs, and in single file they began the descent of the brook. Denserand denser grew the underbrush, until with great difficulty they forcedtheir way between the branches which overhung the tiny stream. For aquarter of a mile they struggled through the tangle, and then itabruptly ended at the edge of a small pond, near the middle of
which wasa tiny island. Here Ira spoke again:
"Do you see that big hemlock on the island nearly opposite us?" and asthe lads nodded assent, he went on, "Keep a straight line for that, andyou'll find the water shallow enough for wading."
He continued the journey, and a minute later all had gained the island,where they found the ground firm and dry, while the trees were large andfar enough apart to let in the bright sunshine. A carpet of thick grassadded to the beauty of the spot, while a sparkling spring gurgled at thefoot of a great bowlder.
"This is fine!" exclaimed Joe, dropping the pack from his shoulders."How did you find it?"
"No one would think of looking for us here," Late said contentedly, "an'that trail down the brook hides every trace of our steps. A dog couldn'tfollow us."
"Wood an' water right at hand, an' fish in the pond," added Dan with aquick glance around him. "Sure ye didn't make it to order, Ira?"
The lad leader laughed.
"I fancy some people would say I found it by chance. I prefer, however,to believe that I was led to it, and to a dozen other places betweenhere and the Hudson fully as good, by the same kind Providence that iswatching over our Cause, and will eventually give us the victory."
"'Twon't hurt us to think so," young Cushing replied cheerily.
Then the little party fell to making camp. In a short time the tent waspitched, beds of fir made, and breakfast cooked. Quickly breaking theirfast, they began the return to the lake.
In a half hour they reached it, to find the advance vessels of theBritish fleet at anchor in the large bay just above the promontory wherethey had first camped. Two boats, loaded with soldiers, soon cameashore.
From their hiding-place the lads watched these men, only to learn thattheir object was to select and arrange a camping ground. Hardly wastheir task finished when the work of landing the men was begun.
Soon it was proceeding so rapidly, and at so many different places, thatthe young scouts were obliged to divide forces in order to count thetroops. Four stations were, therefore, selected, covering the entirebay, and from these the lads kept account of the constantly increasingnumbers.
It was not until late on the afternoon of the second day that they wereable to come together again to compare notes. Then a little mentalreckoning enabled Ira to say:
"We are now ready for my first report. I shall never send writtenmessages to our officers unless I am forced to do so. There will then benothing to fall into the enemy's hands should you be captured. Late, youare to go to Fort Ticonderoga, and say to General St. Clair[2] thatGeneral Burgoyne has landed and is now encamped near the greatpromontory at the foot of the lake. He has with him eight thousandBritish and Hessian troops, four hundred Indians, and forty cannon.Should he give you any message for me, put it in the big maple. Dan, goto Fort Edward and deliver precisely the same message to GeneralSchuyler. Both of you are to return to our island camp as soon aspossible. Joe will be there when you arrive. I shall stay thereto-night, and early in the morning will enter the British camp."