CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
OLD NOL'S DREAM.--THE CHARON ON SHORE.--AFLOAT AT LAST.--EXPEDITION UPTHE CHESAPEAKE.--SENT ON SHORE.--CAPTURE GUIDES AND HOSTAGES.--VISITHAMPTON.--KINDLY RECEIVED BY MADELINE'S FRIENDS.--HER LIKENESS BUT NOTHERSELF.--WARNED OF APPROACH OF AN ENEMY.--WE RETREAT, AND REGAIN OURSHIP.
With a proud confidence that we were sailing on to victory, and as allhoped and believed to bring the war to a conclusion, the squadronentered the Chesapeake on the evening of the 30th of December.
The Charon, however, did not make a good beginning. The lead was keptgoing, and with a fair and light breeze we were running quietly on.Suddenly, just as eight bells had struck, there was a shock felt--not avery violent one, happily--but the cause we knew too well; the ship wason shore on the Willoughby Shoal. The canvas was furled, and an attemptinstantly made to get her off; but there did not then appear much chanceof our efforts proving successful. We had been toiling away for two orthree hours, and still the ship stuck fast.
"I don't like this here event by no means at all, Tom," I heard NolGrampus observe to Tom Rockets.
Nol, though a sensible fellow in the main, was a thorough old salt, andwith all the usual prejudices of his class.
"To my mind ill-luck has set in against us. I had a dream t'othernight. I thought as how, while we was a-standing on under all sail,thinking ourselves all right and free from danger, far away from land, Isaw a big fish--she was a whopper, depend on that--a-swimming along overthe sea. I looked at her, and she opened her mouth and made right atthe ship. Her upper jaw reached far up above the main-top mast truck,and the lower one, I'd no doubt, dipped far away down below her keel.Well, as I was a-saying, on she came, roaring away like a youngporpoise, and heaving the foam right over our mast-heads. I knew whatwould happen, and so it did. Just as easily as the big shark in PortRoyal harbour would swallow a nigger boy, she made a snap at the shipand bolted us all, masts and spars and hull, and I felt as how we wasall a-being crunched up in her jaws. I woke with a start, which made mealmost jump clean out of my hammock, all over in a cold sweat, and rightglad I was to find that it wasn't true; but, d'ye see, Tom, as to goingto sleep again, I couldn't for the life of me, but lay awake a-kickingup my toes and turning the matter over in my mind. Says I to myself,`There's some harm a-coming to the old barkie of some sort or other, ormy name's not Nol Grampus. When we gets ashore this evening,' says I tomyself, `this is the beginning on it,' and you'll see my words comestrue, Tom."
There was not light enough to allow me to observe Rockets' countenance,but I felt very sure, from the exclamations in which he indulged, thathe was taking in the whole matter with open-mouthed credulity, scarcelyunderstanding that Grampus was only describing his dream, and that hehad fully made up his mind that some dreadful accident was about tohappen to the ship. The scene I have been describing took place duringone of the cessations from labour, while the captain and firstlieutenant and master were considering what means could next be adoptedto get the ship afloat again. I was anxious that Nol's remarks shouldnot be heard by the rest of the crew, for I knew by experience howgreedily such an idea as the one he had expressed--that the ship wasdoomed--might be taken up by the crew, and perhaps produce the veryevent he had predicted. I was about to step forward and interfere, whenthe order was issued to carry out another anchor astern, and Grampus andhis listener had to go about their duty. All night long we were toilingaway, getting out all our anchors, starting the water, even loweringsome of the guns into the boats.
"I told you so; I knew how it would be," I heard Grampus remark just ashe happened to meet Tom, while I was passing. "Ill-luck has come to theship, and ill-luck will stick to her, unless so be we gets a parsonaboard and manages to heave him into the sea. That'll set things torights again, may be."
I was amused at the old man's recipe for averting the doom from theship. It was not, however, new to me, for I had before heard a similarproposal made under like circumstances. Never did a set of men labourand toil more perseveringly than did our crew that night. Still theship stuck fast. It became at last a matter of doubt whether we shouldhave to throw all our guns overboard, and perhaps our provisions andammunition; and if so, all hopes of gaining prize-money or of doinganything in the way of fighting was over for a long time to come.Captain Symonds of course was unwilling to resort to this alternativetill the last. Grog was served out to all hands, and then we set toagain with a will. Hour after hour passed; as yet the weather remainedmoderate, but we could not conceal from ourselves the disagreeable factthat, should it come on to blow, in the position in which we wereplaced, the ship would too probably be knocked to pieces. We were allso busily employed that the hours did not pass so heavily as they wouldotherwise have done. We were in constant movement ourselves, and had tokeep the ship in constant movement to prevent her from forming a bed forherself in the sand. The tide, which was ebbing when we got on shore,at last turned and began to flow. Slow enough it came in to suit ourimpatience. At length dawn appeared. The crokers were of opinion thatthe clouds looked threatening. "If a gale springs up, the old ship willleave her bones here, that's very certain," I heard one or two of themremark. I watched the current as it came sweeping by us; the water wasevidently rising round the ship. Again all the strain we could commandwas put on the hawsers. None but a seaman can understand thesatisfactory sensations we experienced as her vast hulk yielded to ourefforts. We felt that she was gliding off the bank. "She moves, shemoves! hurrah, hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Her speed increased,round went the capstan right merrily. Again and again the men shouted.She was clear of the bank. One after the other the anchors wereweighed, sail was made on the ship, and rapidly we glided up the mightyChesapeake. We proceeded up as high as Newportneuse, and so suddenlyand unexpectedly did we come on the enemy that a considerable number ofmerchantmen were unable to make their escape. As soon as we had broughtup, the boats were lowered, and away we went in chase.
The moment the crews made out who we were, they cut their cables andran, while we in hot speed went after them. Some few gave it up as ahopeless case and hauled down their colours; others ran on shore, andtheir crews set them on fire, or we did so, to prevent any one frombenefiting by them. They were mostly loaded with Virginian tobacco. Noone in the fleet wanted a good supply of the fragrant weed after that.We took or destroyed a dozen or more brigs and schooners. It might havebeen necessary, but it was cruel work, and I did not think it was thebest way to make the planters of Virginia love us the more. Such wasthe way our expedition commenced operations.
Before I proceed I must recommend my readers to look at a map ofVirginia bordering the southern or rather western side of theChesapeake, and examine the scene of the operations which, under thedirections of General Arnold, we were about to commence against therebels. To the east will be found that large estuary of the Atlanticrunning nearly north and south, and known as Chesapeake bay, or gulf, orriver. It forms the eastern boundary of Virginia. Flowing into it fromthe west the river Potomac bounds the State on the north, while a vastmarsh, known by the unattractive name of the Dismal Swamp, separates iton the south from North Carolina. Between the Potomac and the DismalSwamp several other rivers and creeks are to be found. The largest isJames river, with Portsmouth and Gosport near the mouth. Running intoit on the north is Hampton creek, on which stands the town of Hampton,and a little to the north of it again is York river and York Town, whichwas to become the scene of operations of a character most disastrous tothe royal cause. York Town stands on an elbow of York river, between itand James river. Some way up James river is the town of Richmond, thecapital of the State of Virginia. The country was, at the time of whichI am speaking, as densely populated and as well cultivated as any partof the province of North America. The Dismal Swamp is an exception tothe fertility of the surrounding country. It is a vast quagmire,composed of vegetable matter and the decayed roots of trees and plants.On the surface appear in rich luxuriance every species of aquati
cplants, from the delicate green moss to the tall cypress. It covers, Iwas told, an area of a thousand square miles, and is forty miles longand twenty-five broad, having, however, in the centre, a lake of somesize fringed to the very borders with dense masses of trees which extendeven into the water itself. The water is perfectly level with thebanks, and sometimes overflows them. Altogether, from its uninhabitableand impassable character, and the sombre appearance of its vegetableproductions, it well deserves the name given to it.
The last day of the year 1780 had now arrived. Captain Symonds sent forme and informed me that I had had the honour of being selected for someimportant duty, and that he could fully rely on my carrying it out withmy usual zeal, energy, and discretion. I bowed, and replied that I wasalways anxious to do my duty; but my heart, I confess, did beat ratherquickly and anxiously in consequence of the possibility I at once saw ofrealising the hopes I had so long entertained, I need not, however,again revert to that subject.
"Some intelligent pilots are required to conduct the men-of-war andtransports up James river, as also some guides are wanted for the armywhen they land," said my captain. "Now you see, Mr Hurry, as theywon't come simply because they are wanted, you are to go on shore andcatch them. Captain Hawthorne of the 80th Regiment, with twodetachments, one from the Queen's Rangers and one of his own men, willaccompany you. You will have altogether fully three hundred men. Withtheir courage and discipline they will be a match for a thousand or twothousand rebels, and I expect that you will carry out your instructionswith credit to yourself and advantage to the service."
I bowed, and the captain continued: "It is believed that the enemy havesecured some of their vessels in Hampton creek. You are to find outwhere they are, and, if you can, take possession of them and bring themaway. If not, burn or destroy them; at all events, acquaint yourselfsufficiently with the country to enable you to lead an expedition up thecreek to capture them. With regard to the inhabitants, you are to treatthem with civility and in a conciliatory manner. If necessary, ofcourse you will coerce them, but as much as possible show them that wecome as friends rather than as foes."
Having assured the captain that I fully comprehended my directions, andwould endeavour to carry them out to the full, I took my departure, toprepare for the expedition.
I had a hundred picked men with me, including Nol Grampus and TomRockets, whom I kept by me as my bodyguard. We got the soldiers all onshore by seven o'clock in the evening at Newportneuse, where I joinedthem with the blue-jackets. Meeting with no opposition, we were underthe impression that our landing was unnoticed. Forming on the shore webegan our march at about eight o'clock in good military order, theRangers in front, the seamen in the centre, and the 80th in the rear,with advanced and flanking parties from the Rangers. I felt that wewere in an enemy's country, that any moment we might be attacked, andthat such precautions as we were taking were in no way derogatory tothose who would desire to be considered brave men. Others, as willafterwards be seen, held a different opinion and suffered accordingly.Captain Hawthorne, however, fully agreed with me in the wisdom ofadopting the precautions I proposed. We advanced in perfect silence,feeling our way, for we were ignorant of where the path we werefollowing would lead us. Road, properly so-called, there was none.After proceeding half a mile or so through a tolerably open country wereached a thick wood, extending so far before us on either side that itwas in vain to hope to pass round it. Whether or not it was full oflurking enemies we could not tell. There was nothing to be done but topenetrate through it. There was something solemn and rather depressingin the deep silence of that gloomy forest, with the tall gaunt treestowering above our heads and shutting out the sky itself from view. Insome places it was so dark that we could scarcely discover our way, andas we marched on we went stumbling into holes and over fallen trunks oftrees and branches, and more than once I found myself up to my middle inthe rotten stem of some ancient monarch of the forest long recumbent onthe ground. Some of the men declared that the wood was full ofrattle-snakes, and that they heard them rattling away their tails asthey went gliding and wriggling along over the ground, rather surprisedat having their haunts invaded by the tramping of so many hundred feet.Others asserted that there were ghosts and hobgoblins and evil spiritsof all sorts infesting the locality; indeed, I suspect that there wasscarcely a man among them who would not more willingly have met a wholearmy of mortal enemies rather than have remained much longer in thatmelancholy solitude. Every moment I expected to hear the sharp crack ofthe enemy's rifles and to see the wood lighted up with the flashes, forI could scarcely suppose that they would allow us to pass through aplace, where, without much risk to themselves, they might so easilymolest us and probably escape scot-free. On we marched, or ratherstumbled and groped our way, till at length we emerged from the woodinto the clear light which the starry sky and pure atmosphere affordedus. We were now among fields and fences, which gave us intimation thatsome human habitations were not far-off. In a short time we saw beforeus a good-sized mansion standing in the middle of a farm, with variousout-houses. Our first care was to draw up our men closely round it.Hawthorne and I, with about twenty followers, then approached the frontdoor and knocked humbly for admission. Soon we heard the voice of anegro inquiring who was there.
"Some gentlemen who wish to see your master on important business," Ianswered.
"Ki! at this hour! Come again to-morrow, den; massa no see nobodyto-night."
"It is business which cannot be put off," said I. "Open, Sambo, yourascal, or I shall be apt to break your head or your shins rather beforelong if you are not quick about it."
Still Sambo seemed to have his suspicions that all was not right, andvery soon we heard somebody else come to the door and a discussioncommence as to who we could be. Again I knocked and began to losepatience.
"Open, friend!" I exclaimed; "we are not robbers, nor are we officersof the law, but we have a matter in which we want your assistance, butcannot delay."
Soft words often have an effect when rough ones would fail. The boltswere withdrawn, and, the door opening, a gentleman in a dressing-gownand slippers, his wig off, his waistcoat unbuttoned, and his wholeappearance showing that he had made himself comfortable for the evening,stood, candle in hand, before us. He held up the light and peeredbefore him into the darkness to ascertain who we could be. When his eyefell on our uniforms and the red-coats of the soldiers his countenanceassumed a most ridiculously scared appearance, and with a groan ofterror he let the candlestick fall from his hands. The expiring flame,as the candle reached the ground, showed me a female arm stretched out.It hauled him through a doorway, and the door was slammed and bolted inour faces. Directly afterwards we heard a window thrown up, and a voiceexclaimed--
"Fly, Ebenezer, love! fly and hide thyself, or these red-coated villainswill be the death of thee!"
We stood very quietly waiting the result. I knew pretty well what itwould be. In two minutes a voice was heard outside the window--
"Oh, mercy, mercy! Bridget, let me in again, let me in!" it said. "Thehouse is surrounded by armed men, and thy unhappy husband is trulycaught in the snares of the enemy."
We had no time to spare, so I thought it best to catch our friend andsee what we could make of him. I accordingly knocked at the door anddesired to be admitted.
"Oh, mercy, mercy! oh dear, oh dear!" was the only answer I got.
"Well, my friends, I can wait no longer," I exclaimed, in a voice whichshowed that I would not be trifled with. "I have something tocommunicate to you, and if you come out peaceably it will save trouble,and be better for all parties. You have my word that no harm whateveris intended you."
There was some discussion inside. I knocked pretty loudly two or threetimes with the hilt of my sword. The hint was taken, and at length thedoor was slowly and cautiously opened, and the worthy farmer and hisportly dame stood before us. I asked him his name.
"Ruggles," he answered, looking as if he did not love me c
ertainly,"Ebenezer Ruggles, and that's my wife Bridget. And now, stranger, whatis it you want of us?"
"Why, my friend, all I want you to do is to guide a party of hisMajesty's troops and blue-jackets by the nearest and best road to thetown of Hampton, and to give me such other information as I mayreasonably require," I replied, somewhat sternly. "I have lost sometime already, so put on your hat and great coat and come along."
"What! you are going to carry my husband off, are you? He'll not go; Itell you that he shan't!" exclaimed Mrs Bridget, walking up in front ofhim, like a turkey hen defending her young. "Whatever you want to knowI'll tell you, but you shan't take away my good man from me. He'd catchhis death of cold, I know he would. Here, Jeremiah! Boaz! Timothy!Luke! Sarah! Martha! Jane! come and stop your dear father from beingshot, murdered, drowned, hung up as a Tory! Oh, dear, oh, dear! Idon't know what will happen to him."
As she spoke, a number of children streamed in from an inner room, thesmaller ones in their night-gowns, and all more or less in _deshabille_,as if they had been hurriedly summoned out of their beds. They lookedat me, and the soldiers and sailors behind me, and then threw themselvesshrieking and crying round their father's neck. As I knew that weshould take very good care of the poor man, I could not stand this scenevery long, and had at last to tell him that he must put an end to it, orthat I must order the soldiers to separate him from his children and tocarry him off by force.
"Oh, you cruel, hard-hearted slave of a tyrant!" exclaimed their mother,advancing boldly towards me; "you will not take him away--you will not--you dare not! You'll have his life to answer for if you do."
"Come, come, madam," said I, "we must end this business at once. Yourhusband must accompany me at all events. No harm will happen to him, sodon't be alarmed. Now, sir, put on your hat and accompany me."
I had a strong suspicion that she wished to gain time, and had perhapssent off some one to try and bring down the enemy on us.
Again there was a furious chorus of hugging and shrieking and crying andkissing.
"Don't go--you shan't go--Papa, you mustn't go--we won't let you go--hard-hearted, cruel tyrants!"
Such were the phrases which reached my ears, but Ebenezer Ruggles sawthat I was in earnest, and, signing to his wife, she brought him a thickpair of shoes, a great coat, a stick and his hat, and then, in spite ofthe renewed cries of his children, he signified, in a manly, fearlessway, that if we compelled him he would accompany us without resistance.I accordingly took him by the arm, and succeeded at last in separatinghim from his wife and children, and leading him out of the house. Evenafter we had got some distance off we heard the cries of poor DameBridget and her disconsolate brood. Ebenezer bore the trial very well.
"Now, friend Ruggles," said I, "you must understand that, if you guideus right and play us no tricks, we will restore you safe to your wifeand family, but if you lead us into any difficulty I shall be under thedisagreeable necessity of shooting you through the head."
"Oh! if that's the case, then, I must tell you that you have come twomiles out of the road to Hampton," quoth Mr Ruggles. "If you had goneon, you would have run your noses against a pretty strong force of ourStates' army, who would have made mince-meat of you, I guess."
"They must have been pretty strong to impede the progress of a thousandmen," said I. "However, lead us by the best road and you shall be wellrewarded."
"That's reasonable," said Ruggles; and forthwith turning round, away hetrudged alongside me at the rate of nearly four miles an hour. He ledus back right through the dark wood and into the open country, and atlast we reached a fine broad open road. Along that we marched at agreat rate. We soon, however, came to a house. We instantly surroundedit, and, very much to the surprise and alarm of the inhabitants, madethem prisoners. I rather think that our friend Ruggles was not sorry tohave a companion in his misfortunes. We soon had several. Every housewe came to we surrounded, and had to capture the inhabitants, that theymight not escape to give the alarm through the country. I cannotdescribe all the scenes that occurred. Some were rather amusing, as weknew that we were not going to injure the poor people. Others werepainful, from the dreadful alarm into which both men and women were putwhen we appeared at their doors. Still greater was it when they foundthat they had to accompany us on our march.
The night was drawing on, and there were as yet no signs of the town forwhich we were bound. Every moment, of course, increased the probabilityof our being attacked, for, notwithstanding all our precautions, wescarcely hoped to have prevented some of the people getting off, whomight give notice of our advance. I began to suspect that Mr Ruggleswas playing us false. I told him so. He assured me that we were closeupon Hampton. I cocked my pistol to his ear, to remind him what wouldbe the consequence should he be playing us false. He stood firm, and myconfidence in him was restored. In five minutes he asked me to halt mypeople, and assured me we were close upon the town. Just then theadvanced guard fell back, and reported that they had suddenly foundthemselves at the entrance of a town. We accordingly formed our forceinto three divisions. One party went round to the other side, oneremained where we then were, and a third, which I led, entered the town.Having made a rapid survey of the place, Captain Hawthorne and I placeda strong body of men at each end of the principal streets, and theoutskirts of the town being at the same time strictly watched, we feltnow that no one could escape or enter the place without our knowledge.These arrangements being made, we commenced a series of visits to theabodes of all the principal inhabitants. So silently had we proceededthat many of them were not aware that the town was in our hands, andtheir dismay may be more easily conceived than described when they foundarmed men knocking at their doors, and in some instances breaking themopen. One of the first houses we visited was that of an oldishgentleman--the richest merchant, we were told, in the town. We knockedat first gently, and then louder and louder, till we heard some onecoming along the passage, and a negro voice inquired who was there andwhat was wanted. The usual answer, "Your master--business ofimportance--quick--quick!" made the poor black without furtherconsideration open the door, when in we rushed, and he, stepping back,tumbled head over heels, and upset two or three of the first men who gotin. Amid shouts of laughter from us, and shrieks and cries from a wholeposse of negroes who ran out from their own dormitories, we hurried upto the principal staircase. The hubbub, as well it might, roused themaster of the house and his better half from their drowsy slumbers--sowe concluded--for a gruff voice in tones irate began scolding away fromthe top of the stairs at the blacks, demanding why they made so terrifica noise--joined in occasionally by other far sharper notes.
"The blacks are not to blame, old gentleman," exclaimed Hawthorne,springing up the stairs. "How do you do! We call upon you at rather anunseasonable hour, I own, but our stay in the place is short you willunderstand. We will have a little conversation together on publicaffairs, and then I must trouble you for the keys of your stores, or anorder for the delivery of such provisions as we may require, for which Iam directed to offer you payment."
The old gentleman, not comprehending who we were, was almost struck downat first on hearing this address, but, after a time, recovering himself,he begged leave to slip on some more clothes, and promised that he wouldthen come down into his sitting-room and speak to us.
We heard him and the sharp-voiced lady discussing matters up-stairs.
More than once Hawthorne had to sing out--
"We are in a hurry, sir--we are in a hurry," before his better halfwould let him appear.
I left Hawthorne and him to settle matters while I with my men proceededto other houses. We had given strict orders that no violence whateverwas to be used towards any of the inhabitants, and I fully believe thatthe lieutenants and midshipmen under us did their best to repressanything of the sort. Still it was necessary to keep a watch on allparties. Of course I was obeying the orders I had received in what Idid, and had no choice; but, at the same time, I mu
st own that I feltexcessive repugnance in thus having to disturb and frighten out of theirsenses the inhabitants of a quiet town, who had in no way done anythingto offend us. I resolved, however, to make amends to them by everymeans in my power, by treating them with the utmost delicacy andkindness. We had already seized on a dozen or more of the principalpeople, and marched them off to the square in the centre of the town,where they were kept under a strong guard as hostages for the goodbehaviour of the rest, and as a guarantee for our safety while weremained in the place. Not slight was the alarm and agitation when theywere told that the instant any attempt was made, either by any of theirfellow-townsmen or by any of the enemy's troops outside, to re-take theplace, their lives would be forfeited, while a pistol was kept presentedat the head of each of them to carry this threat into execution.Having, in my rounds, visited the square, and comforted our prisoners asmuch as I could venture to do, I again went on with my domiciliaryvisits. At the next house at which I stopped the door was instantlyopened by the black servant.
"Oh, massa officer! oh, massa officer! you frighten de poor young ladiestill all die!" he exclaimed as we entered the hall. "Oh, ki! oh, ki!dey kick and squeal on de sofa like little pigs going to have dey throatcut. Oh, ki! oh, ki! what shall we do?"
"Where are the ladies?" I asked. "I will try what I can do to banishtheir alarm."
"Dis way, den, sare--dis way," said the negro, ushering me in a greathurry into a large and handsomely-furnished room, lighted by severalcandles. There were several sofas. On two of them lay two ladies,apparently in hysterics, while several other ladies and femaleattendants, black and brown, were bending over them and applyingrestoratives.
"There, sir! that is what you and your people have done!" exclaimed anelderly and rather portly lady, turning round and advancing towards mewhile she pointed at the younger females, whom I took to be herdaughters, on the sofa.
Some of my men were following me. When the ladies saw them theyshrieked louder than ever, so I ordered them all to go outside the housewith the exception of Tom Rockets, and then addressed myself to the ladywho had thus spoken to me--
"I regret excessively the cruel necessity thus imposed on me, madam,"said I, "but accept the honour of an officer and a gentleman that noharm shall be done to any member of your family. Let me entreat theyoung ladies to calm their fears. My people are under perfect command,as you may have seen by the way they obeyed my orders, so that you needbe under no apprehension either from them."
"I'll trust you, sir; I'll trust you," said the lady, frankly puttingout her hand. "There is something in your countenance and manner whichassures me that you speak the truth."
I could only bow to this pretty compliment--I hope it was deserved.These words had great effect in calming the agitation of the youngladies, and in a few minutes they were able to dismiss the negro girlsand the scent bottles and the plates of burnt feathers, and to sit upand enter into conversation. The room was still too dark to enable meto see much of their countenances, but I thought their voices soundedvery pleasant and sweet, and I pictured them to myself as very charmingyoung ladies.
"The hour is somewhat unusual for tea," observed the lady of the house,"but I doubt not after your long march you will find it refreshing."
I thanked the lady very much, and assured her that I should particularlyenjoy a cup of tea. She accordingly gave the order to an attendantslave, and in a short time a whole troop of black girls came in with urnand teacups and candles, and in a twinkling a table was spread, and allthe party drew round it.
As I was approaching the tea-table, I started and stood like onetransfixed, for there appeared before me, with the light of a candlefalling full on her countenance, a young lady the very image of MadelineCarlyon. "It must be her," I thought; and yet my heart told me that itcould not be, for she did not appear to recognise me. The young lady,however, saw my confusion, and looked up with an inquiring glance at mycountenance. Women have, I suspect, very sharp eyes in discoveringwhere anything connected with the heart of the opposite sex isconcerned, and are generally equally clever in concealing what ispassing in their own. She kept looking at me, and I looked at her for aminute or more without speaking. More than once I made a move towardsher as if the lady I saw before me must be Madeline, and then theexpression of her countenance showed me I was mistaken.
At last I was aware that I was making myself somewhat remarkable or, assome of my friends would have said, very ridiculous; so, trying toovercome my agitation, I drew my chair to the table and sat down. Iwatched the young lady, and observed that she still cast an inquiringglance at me, as much as to say, "For whom do you take me?" On thestrength of this I thought I would venture to inquire if she was in anyway related to Madeline. Just as I was going to speak, a cup of tea washanded to me. I first emptied half the contents of the sugar-bason intoit, then said I took very little sugar, and asked for a spoonful. ThenI threw off the tea as if it were a doctor's dose, and passed my cup forsome more. At last I mustered courage to look across the table and tosay, "I beg pardon--I fear that I must have appeared very rude, but yourresemblance to a young lady whom I know is so very striking that Ishould suppose you to be her sister if I was not aware that she hasnone."
"Then you must be Mr Hurry!" she said quickly. "I am considered verylike my cousin, Madeline Carlyon. She has spoken to me about you--ofyour kindness and generosity--oh, how very fortunate!"
The countenances of all the party were turned towards me, and theylooked at me with an expression of interest and pleasure. The elderlady got up and, taking my hand, exclaimed--
"We welcome you indeed most cordially, Mr Hurry. Our kinswomen havespoken most warmly of you, and we consider ourselves most happy inhaving met you, though you come in the guise of an enemy."
I had not said all this time who I was, it must be understood. It mademy heart bump away very hard when I found the manner in which Madelinehad spoken of me to her relatives. I made as suitable a reply as Icould to all the complimentary things which were said to me; and then,as soon as I could, I inquired in a trembling voice where MadelineCarlyon then was, and how she was. I felt very sure that my secret wasout, and that there was no use in disguising my sentiments.
"She is now residing with her father not very far away from here. Theywere, however, to stay with some friends in the neighbourhood, and weare not quite certain where they may be at this present moment,"answered the elder lady. "We will, depend on it, take care to let herknow that we have seen you, and she will rejoice to hear of thecourteous way in which you treated us, even when you were unaware who wewere."
I expressed my thanks, and then remarked that even then I did not knowtheir names.
"Langton is my name," said the lady. "These are my daughters, and thatyoung lady is my niece, and the other is her sister. They are Carlyons.Grace is indeed very like her cousin, and some curious mistakes haveoccurred in consequence."
I need not repeat more of our conversation. In a few minutes I feltperfectly at home, and I must own had almost forgotten the errand onwhich I had come to the place. Tea was over, and I was about to ask forpaper and a pen to write to Madeline when the sound of a bugle recalledme to the stern reality of my duties. I started up. I longed to send amessage to Madeline--yet what could I say? I felt that all reserve mustbe thrown to the winds. I took Mrs Langton's hand: "Tell her--tell herthat I am true," I exclaimed. "Oh, that this dreadful war were broughtto an end!"
Again the bugle sounded; Tom Rockets put his head in at the door. Hehad been carried off to be tended on by the slaves below.
"We must be off, sir," said he; "the red-coats are forming outside, andfrom what I can make out there is likely to be a scrimmage."
I shook the ladies warmly by the hand. In vain I endeavoured to getthem to tell me where they believed Madeline Carlyon then was. Onespoke, then another; mentioning the names of different places, which ofcourse I did not know, nor could I conceive by their descriptions inwhat direction they w
ere to be found. Several shots were heard; againthe bugle sounded. I dared not remain another moment. I tore myselfaway, still ignorant of a point I would have given much to ascertain,and rushed out. My own men had formed outside the house; the otherdifferent parties who had been carrying on the examination of the townwere hurrying into the square from all quarters. Some of them broughtus the information that our advanced guard was attacked.
"Then the hostages must answer for it," said Captain Hawthorne.
The no-little-alarmed old gentlemen we had in our power entreated thatthey might be allowed to try and stop the attack. We, of course, wereglad enough of this, and we let them go to the front in charge of astrong body of our men. In a short time they returned, well contentedto find that the attack had been made merely by a hundred volunteers orso, who on finding our strength had retreated. We knew, however, thatthey would not go far-off, and felt the unpleasant assurance that weshould, in all probability, be continually harassed during the whole ofour march back, and perhaps even have to fight our way through a crowdof active enemies.
Under these circumstances Hawthorne and I agreed that we should, withouta moment's delay, commence our march. It was now about two o'clock inthe morning. We had performed the service we had come on, and gainedall the information we required. We had ascertained that thesurrounding country would supply us amply with provisions; that thevessels which had taken refuge in the creek could not be cut out withouta strong force, and that the people were, if not actually in armsagainst us, far from favourable to the royal cause, as Arnold had led usto suppose they would be. We had also distributed large numbers of hisaddress. Discharging some of the more elderly of our prisoners, webegan our march, carrying with us the younger men and those whom we hadpicked up on the way. We soon found that our retreat was to be anythingbut pleasant. Scarcely had we got clear of the town when the crack ofrifles showed us that an enemy was in our rear. Our road led us throughnumerous woods more or less dense. We had got to about the centre ofthe first, when on either flank bright jets of flame were seen dartingout like the flashes of fire-flies from among the trees. I could almosthave fancied that they were fire-flies had not the flashes beenaccompanied by sharp reports, and had we not felt the bullets whizzingabout our ears. By proceeding, however, in the careful way in which wemade our advance, we kept the enemy at bay, and they saw that we werenot a force to be trifled with. It would have been useless barbarity tohave punished our prisoners for what they could not help, but we toldthem that we should hold them responsible if any serious attack was madeon us. Still it was somewhat provoking to have our men hit withoutbeing able to go in pursuit of our nimble adversaries, for, of course,they were off and away the instant we made a movement towards them.Thus we proceeded as rapidly as the nature of the ground would allow.Whenever we reached the habitation of one of our prisoners, we thankedhim for the assistance he had afforded us, and allowed him to remain, onhis undertaking not only not to act against us that day, but to do hisbest to prevent his countrymen from attacking us. This was veryjudicious; for although, I believe, fresh skirmishers came on, the oldones gradually withdrew, and thus we never had, at a time, any verylarge force with which to contend. Several of our men had been wounded,but none had been killed that we were aware of. However, when, at seveno'clock in the morning, we reached the place of debarkation, we foundthat, exclusive of the wounded, one seaman and six soldiers weremissing. What had become of them we could not tell, but as they werenot seen to fall, it is more than probable that they deserted to theenemy. When I returned on board the Charon, Captain Symonds was pleasedto say that the general was highly satisfied with the way the expeditionhad been conducted. Whatever may be thought of General Arnold, I mayhere remark that he was a first-rate soldier and a clever man, as wasproved by all the expeditions he planned and the exploits he performed.
Thus ended the year 1780. Who could then tell the important events thefollowing one was to bring forth?
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