CHAPTER XXXIII--A GREAT SURPRISE
"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods--but it is a principle, and patriotism is loyalty to that principle."
--George William Curtis.
There came hoarse shouts from the pursuing troopers as Draytondisappeared from view, and they galloped toward the girl at increasedspeed. There was something so fierce, so martial in their aspect that itstruck terror to the maiden's heart, and she found herself all at onceshaking and quaking with fear.
Dear as freedom is to every pulse, standing up for the first time beforean advancing foe one is apt to find one's courage oozing out at thefingers' ends. And so with Peggy.
The smile died from her lips, and a sort of panic took possession of heras the sunshine caught the sheen of their scabbards and lighted intoglowing color the scarlet of their uniforms. Nearer they came. The girltrembled like a leaf.
"I am a soldier's daughter," she told herself in an effort to regainself-control. "I will die like one."
Almost unconsciously her little hand clutched the pistol that Draytonhad thrust into it, and, as the enemy were nearly upon her, in an agonyof fear Peggy raised the weapon and fired. The foremost dragoon reeledslightly, recovered his balance immediately, and drew rein with hisright arm hanging limply by his side. The others also checked theirhorses as a scream of horror burst from Peggy's lips.
"God forgive me," she cried. "Blood-guiltiness is upon me! I knew notwhat I did."
And with this cry she threw the pistol from her, and dashed at once tothe dragoon's side.
"Thee is hurt," she exclaimed looking up at him wildly. "Forgive me,friend. I meant not to harm thee. Oh, I meant it not!"
"Then why did you fire?" he demanded, regarding her with astonishment.
Peggy wrung her hands in anguish.
"I was afraid. Thee and thy troopers looked so terrible that I was inpanic. I knew not what I did, friend. And thy arm! See how it bleeds!Sir, let me bandage it, I pray thee. I have some skill in such matters."
Her distress was so evident, her contrition so sincere that the scowl onhis face relaxed. Without further word he removed his coat, and let herexamine the injured member while the dragoons gathered about them,eyeing the girl curiously. Her face grew deadly pale at sight of theblood that gushed forth from a wound near the elbow, but controlling heremotion she deftly applied a ligature, using her own kerchief for it.
"You're a fine rebel," was his comment as she completed the self-imposedtask. "Shoot a man so that you can patch him up! 'Tis small wonder thatyou have skill in such matters. Gordon, bring me that pistol. 'Tis thefirst time that Banastre Tarleton hath been wounded in this war, and Iam minded to keep the weapon that did it."
"Is thee Colonel Tarleton?" asked she, her heart sinking.
"Yes," he made answer, a peculiar light coming into his eyes at herinvoluntary shrinking. "And now, my fair rebel with the Quaker speech,will you tell me why one of your sect fires upon an officer of HisMajesty? But perchance you are not a Quakeress?"
"Methought I was in all but politics," she replied. "I have been trainedall my life to believe that courage is displayed, and honor attained bydoing and suffering; but I have sadly departed from the ways of peace,"she added humbly. "I knew not before that my nature had been socorrupted by the war that my fortitude had become ferocity. Yet it mustbe so since I have resorted to violence and the shedding of blood. Andhow shall I tell my mother!"
"Have you despatches?" he asked sternly. "Where were you going when wecaptured you? I suppose that you realize that you are my prisoner?"
"Yes; I know, sir. I bear no despatches," she told him meeting his eyesso frankly that he could not but believe her. "I was trying to get to myhome in Philadelphia. I started three days since, but lost my way. Everyone I asked for guidance gave it, correctly, I doubt not, but what withthe crossroads and swamps, and being unfamiliar with the country I havegone far astray. Now I suppose that I shall never see my mother again!"
"Well, you know that you deserve some punishment for that hurt. And nowwhat about that fellow that was with you? Why did the dastard leave you?Zounds! how can a maiden prefer any of these uncouth rascals when theyexhibit such craven spirit!"
"He was doing his duty, sir," answered Peggy, and her eyes flashed withsuch fire that he laughed, well pleased that he could rouse her.
"His duty, eh? And did duty call him so strongly that he could leave agirl alone to face what might be certain death? We English would call itanother name."
"Then you English would know nothing of true courage," she retorted. "Heis a patriot, and his duty must come before everything else. Thee willfind, if thee has not already found, Colonel Tarleton, that theseuncouth rascals, as thee terms them, are not so wanting in spirit as thywords imply."
"No; 'fore George, they are not," he exclaimed. "And now unravel yourstory to me. Your whole history, while we go on to Camden. 'Tis a goodlydistance, and 'twill serve to make me forget this hurt."
"Doth it pain thee so much?" she asked tremulously, the soft light ofpity and sorrow springing again to her eyes.
"Oh, yes," he answered grimly. "But now your story, mistress. And leaveout no part of it. I wish to know of all your treasonable doings so asto make your punishment commensurable with your merits."
And Peggy, suppressing that part of her narrative that related to thearmy, told him how she had been taken to New York, of the shipwreck, andabout her efforts to reach her home.
"And so Colonel Owen of the Welsh Fusileers is your cousin," he mused."Methought that I had seen you somewhere, and now I know that it musthave been at his house. Would you like to stay with your cousin and hisdaughter until I decide upon your punishment?"
"Thee did not understand, I fear me," she exclaimed with a startledglance. "I could not stay with them because they were lost at sea. Doesthee not remember that I said they were on the 'Falcon'?"
"True; but you could not see for the fog what happened after you left inthe small boat. They were rescued by another schooner, the 'Rose,' whichI was on myself. We escaped serious injury in the storm, and came acrossthe 'Falcon' just in time to rescue the crew and skipper, and thoseofficers and others who happened to be aboard."
For a short time Peggy was so overcome that she could not speak, but atlast she murmured faintly:
"Oh, I am glad, glad!"
"What sort of girl are you," he asked abruptly, "that you rejoice overtheir rescue? They were unkind to you, by your own telling. Why shouldyou feel joy that they are living?"
"They are my kinspeople," she said. "And sometimes they were kind. Hadit not been for Harriet I would not have been in the little boat. Shemade me enter it when to remain on the 'Falcon' seemed certain death.She knew not that they would be rescued."
"Perhaps not," he remarked dryly. "Although I have never known MistressHarriet Owen to do one act that had not an underlying motive. But Ishould not speak so to one who sees no wrong in others."
"Don't," she uttered the tears springing to her eyes at the sneer. "I dosee wrong; and thee doesn't know how hard I am trying not to feel bittertoward them. I dare not think that 'tis to them I owe not seeing mymother for so long. I--I am not very good," she faltered, "and thee knowsby that wound how I am failing in living up to my teaching."
"I see," he said; and was silent.
Camden, a strong post held by the British in the central northern partof South Carolina, was reached at length. It was at this place thatGeneral Gates met his overwhelming defeat in the August before, and asPeggy viewed its defenses she could not but wonder that he had venturedto attack it. Colonel Tarleton proceeded at once to a large two-storydwelling, the wide verandah of which opened directly upon the mainstreet.
"I will leave you," he began, but Peggy uttered a cry of surprise as agirl's figure came slowly through the open door of the house.
"Harriet! Harriet!" she cried. "Oh, thee didn't tell me that H
arriet washere!"
She sprang lightly from the pony's back, and ran joyfully up the steps,with arms outstretched.
"I thought thee dead," she cried with a little sob. "I knew not untilnow that thou wert alive. Oh, Harriet, Harriet! I am so glad thee lives.And where is Cousin William? And oh!----" she broke off in dismay. "Whathath happened to thee? What is the matter, Harriet?"
For Harriet's wonderful eyes no longer flashed with brilliancy but mether own with a dreary, lustreless gaze. Her marvelous complexion hadlost its transparency, and was dull and sallow. She leaned weakly uponPeggy's shoulder, and as the latter, shocked at the change in the oncespirited Harriet, asked again, "Oh, what is the matter? What hathhappened?" she burst into tears without replying.
"'Tis the Southern fever," spoke Colonel Owen, coming to the door atthis moment. "So you escaped a briny grave, my little cousin? How cameyou here? Was it to seek us that you came? You at least seem to havesuffered no inconvenience from this climate. It hath carried off many ofour soldiers, and Harriet hath pulled through by a miracle. It will taketime, however, to restore her fully to strength. Did you say you came toseek us?"
"Nay," interposed Colonel Tarleton. "The girl is my prisoner, ColonelOwen. I will leave her with you for the present, but will hold youanswerable for her safety. You are to send her to me each day so thatshe may give attention to this wound which I owe to her marksmanship. Sosoon as it shall heal I will decide upon her punishment."
"Well, upon my word, my cousin," exclaimed William Owen as ColonelTarleton, scowling fiercely, went away. "You are improving. I knew notthat Quakers believed in bloodshed. Tell us about it."
And Peggy, drawing Harriet close to her in her strong young arms, toldof her rescue and how she came to be once more with them.
Peggy Owen, Patriot: A Story for Girls Page 35
