CHAPTER XVII
The air was yet chill with the fresh north-wind, that had blown allday, to go down only with the sun, while the misty horizon of theafternoon was now a well-defined fog-bank rolling in from over the sea,and sending a damp breath in advance of its own coming.
"We shall have a nasty night," said Hugh, looking at the smoke-likewall. He and Dorothy were again riding side by side, with the othertwo just ahead, but out of ear-shot, and they were making a shortdetour across the fields, their course taking them past the Jamesonplace.
It was a pretentious-looking house, painted white, with green blinds;and a broad piazza was set back amid the fluted columns that ran up tosupport the upper floor, whose dormer windows jutted out among thebranches of the oak and elm trees. On the piazza, were severalscarlet-coated gentry.
"Enjoying himself, no doubt, with rogues of his own ilk," was JohnDevereux's comment, as he looked over his shoulder at Hugh,--the twonow being quite close to one another.
"There might be a thousand rather than a hundred of the redcoats at theNeck, by the way they seem to be ever turning up about the place," Hughmuttered in reply, without taking the trouble to look toward the house.
"And here come some more," announced Mary, in a tone of disgust, ashalf-a-dozen scarlet coats appeared suddenly in the field before them.
They were riding at a reckless pace which soon brought them abreast ofthe four, who were now taking their way quite soberly. And as theyswept past, the officer in the rear doffed his hat, while he bent hiseyes upon Dorothy's flushed face with an intensity that made HughKnollys say half aloud, "The impudent young dog--what does he mean?"
Mary Broughton sat rigidly in her saddle, turning her head away atsight of the face disclosed by the uplifted hat. But Dorothy smiledshyly into the bright, daring eyes.
A little farther along they came upon three fishermen trudging the sameway as they were bound, one of them being young Bait, whose attempt atsinging had brought upon him Doak's wrath the night before.
"Jameson be givin' a dinner to some o' the redcoats," he said, as theriders overtook him and his companions, one of whom added angrily,--
"An' he best have a care that he don't get his roof burnt over him an'his d----d King's friends."
"Have a care yourself, man," said John Devereux, warningly. "'T is notwise to do aught yet that will give them a handle to use for our ownhurt."
"Aye," muttered the third, "that may do for now. But if Jameson don'tgo with his own sort when they leave the place, it may not be so easyfor him as it has been in the past."
"How long, think ye, Master John, afore the redcoats quit the Neck?"inquired Bait.
"That were a hard matter for any one to say," was the young man'sreply. Then, as he urged his horse forward, he turned to add over hisshoulder, "But take my advice, and avoid any brawling with thesoldiers, for the present, should you run foul of them."
"That will have to be as it may," one of the men answered doggedly,"accordin' as to how they mind their own affairs and let us alone."
"We shall come to have fighting in our streets yet, Jack; you may besure of it," said Hugh Knollys. "Our men can never brook with anypatience the swaggering of these impudent fellows."
The other glanced at him warningly, with a significant motion of thehead toward Dorothy; but the girl did not appear to notice their talk,and was looking dreamingly away into the distance.
Mary Broughton, who was slightly in advance, turned her head; and Hughsaw how her blue eyes were kindling as she exclaimed, "I, for one,should not care if we _did_ come to blows! I'd like to see our menshow the Britishers that they cannot have matters altogether their ownway down here."
"Would you like to take a gun yourself, Mary, and help teach them thislesson?" was Hugh's laughing question.
"Yes," she declared resolutely. "And I am sure I could handle it, too."
"You'll never need to do that, sweetheart, so long as I live to carryout your mind," said Jack, who had been wondering why Hugh looked atDorothy so oddly, and why she was so strangely silent.
When the early evening meal was over that night, the two young men tooktheir way into the town, where a meeting was to be held.
Old Leet rowed them down, they preferring this as being least likely toattract notice; and avoiding the old wharf, they landed on the beach,near the warehouses, thence taking their way cautiously through thefish-flakes that filled the fields, until they reached the streets upin the town. These were deserted, but filled with lurking shadows,being dimly lit by a stray lamp fastened here and there to thebuildings.
They walked slowly toward the town hall, while they talked in low tonesof Jameson, making no doubt but that his attentions and hospitality tothe Britishers would be known and commented upon at the meeting.
When close to the hall a wild clamor broke out from somewhere ahead ofthem; and they hurried forward to learn what it might mean.
It was a street fight between the redcoats and the townspeople; andalthough no powder was being used, strong arms and hard fists weredoing almost as painful work.
The British frigate "Lively" had dropped anchor in the harbor atsunset, and as soon as darkness came, a press-gang had been sent onshore to capture such sturdy fishermen as might be abroad, and impressthem into the service of His Majesty's navy.
Several men had already been taken, and they were resisting mostlustily, while such of their friends as chanced to be in the streetswere coming to their rescue.
But these were few in number, as most of the citizens who were not attheir homes were now gathered in the town hall, awaiting the opening ofthe meeting, which was to be of more than usual importance, as measureswere to be taken with respect to the new tyranny indicated by thepresence of soldiers quartered upon the Neck.
While the two young men paused on a street corner overlooking thecombatants, hesitating as to what might be the best thing for them todo, the light from a house over the way shone down upon one figure, asthough singling it out from the others.
It was that of a swarthy, strongly built young fellow, taller than mostof those about him, and with a bright, resolute face. Hatless, and inhis shirt-sleeves, he was raining heavy blows upon such of the enemy assought to lay hands on him.
"'T is Jem Mugford!" exclaimed Hugh. "See, Jack, what a gallant fighthe is making for himself!"
Mugford was well known in the town, and was already, despite his youth,the captain of a merchant vessel. He had been but recently married;and Jack and Hugh recalled the sunny morning when they saw him, lookingso handsome and happy, alongside the pretty girl he had just taken forhis wife.
They both, moved by the same impulse, now made a dash toward him; butthe surging crowd--of friends and foes alike--came between in a way tofrustrate their intention. Then, while they were still struggling toreach him, there went up a loud, angry shout bristling with vigorousoaths: "They've got Jem! They've got him an' carried him off! Squael'em, squael 'em!"[1]
[1] "Rock them!" i.e. "Throw rocks at them!"
The cries and tumult were deafening; and the dark mass rolled slowlydown the street, leaving the young men almost alone.
"'T is an outrage!" exclaimed Hugh Knollys, panting from his unavailingexertions. "We need all of us to carry guns to guard against suchdastardly work. What will his poor wife do, and her father, now thatthey'll not have Jem to look to for support and defence?"
"I take it she will not lack for good defenders," answered Jack, hisvoice trembling with anger, "not so long as you and I live in the town,to say naught of his other friends. With the enemy in our harbor, andamongst us in the very town, the quicker we arm the better, say I. Letus go first to see Mistress Mugford, and then we'll go to the hall."
But Hugh held back, for he had a wholesome dread of women's tears andhysterics.
"There will be plenty to tell her the bad news, poor soul," he said;"and women, too, who will know best how to console and comfort her."
Jack saw the force of this, and did
not press the matter; so they tooktheir way to the town hall, which was already crowded, although itstightly shuttered windows gave no sign of the life within. The doorwas strongly barred, and only opened to the new-comers after they hadsatisfied the sentinel on guard of their right to be admitted.
Gray heads and brown were there, the old and the young, representingthe best blood of the town. And there was a generous sprinkling ofweather-beaten and stout-hearted sailors and fishermen, who listenedsilently, with grave faces and eager eyes, to all that was said.
The talk was for the most part a review of matters considered at formermeetings, to the effect that Parliament, being a body wherein no memberrepresented the colonies, had yet undertaken the making of lawsaffecting not only the property, but the liberty and lives of HisMajesty's American subjects--it was argued that such right did notexist, nor any authority to annul or in any manner alter the charter ofthe Province, nor to interfere with its councillors, justices,sheriffs, or jurors.
The matter of the British soldiers being quartered upon the Neck wasalso taken up, and with it the outrage committed that very evening bythe press-gang; and in view of these attacks upon the peace of the townit was deemed wise to push forward at once the measures alreadyagitated looking to protection and safety.
The fort was to be repaired, and put in condition for proper defence.The militia consisted at this time of a regiment of seven companies ofactive, well-disciplined men, but under the command of officerscommissioned by Governor Gage or his predecessors. It was deemedexpedient that these should no longer act, but that they should bereplaced by others chosen by vote of the town. And every citizenshould possess himself of a firearm and bayonet, both in good order,and should be equipped with thirty rounds of cartridges and ball, aswell as a pouch and knapsack.
It was also resolved that effectual measures be taken for thesilencing, or expulsion from the community, of those "ministerial toolsand Jacobites," who persisted in opposing the action of the variouscommittees, or else held themselves aloof from taking part in themeasures needful to protect the rights of the Province and people.
These men who thus spoke and conferred with each other were animpressive embodiment of the spirit which actuated the entirecommunity. Their looks and words were glowing with prayerfulearnestness, their manner full of dignity and solemnity.
The memory of these,--of their lofty ideality of aspiration, of thepurity of their principles and motives, their love of country andintegrity of purpose,--all this is a sacred treasure for the old town,and one still potent with patriotic influence.
Theirs was not the courage that shows forth in bravado, and whichdelights, from mere exuberance of spirit, in defying peril for its ownsake. Rather was it the true, deeper courage of devotion,--the couragethat sacrificed self for others, and which for principle and what wasdeemed simple duty was ready to endure all things. It was the devotionthat would accept all results, would meet death, if needs be, or wearlife away in slow suffering.
Such courage was the solid material, not the flash and glitter thatpleases and bewilders, and then is as unremembered as is the pebble achild tosses into the sea, and having watched the ripple it makes,never thinks of again.
All this has become the priceless jewel of our national history for alltime, the salt that gives savor to our country's life. The keynote ofit was this,--these men truly loved their country, and were its loyal,steadfast friends. And are we not told from the highest of all highsources that "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay downhis life for his friends"?
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