The Minute Boys of York Town

by James Otis

  CHAPTER VIII

  THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SAUL

  I had no difficulty in going from the American lines to the Hamiltonplantation. I suppose that my Lord Cornwallis's desire to speedilyfortify York Town so he might the better be able to prevent the "rebels"from doing him harm, was the reason why no scouting parties were metwith, and even though I had come upon a dozen red-coats, there waslittle possibility harm would be done me, unless peradventure they hadbeen sent out with special orders to make me prisoner because of myhaving entered the town of York under false pretences.

  However, I did not look forward to anything of that kind, nor was therereason so to do. It did not seem probable any of the king's officerswere aware of what we lads and Uncle 'Rasmus were striving to do, elsehad they made a descent upon us before I acted as messenger for theJerseyman.

  Because of having had no sleep the night previous, and being somewhatwearied with the tramp from the town of York, my eyes were heavy when Iset out for my home; but the thought of seeing my mother once more, ofbeing able to explain to her exactly what we counted on doing, togetherwith the beauty of the morning, when everything around me spoke ofpeace, content and happiness, rather than of war, served to revive myspirits and my body until it was as though I had enjoyed a long periodof repose.

  But for that which hung about my neck like a millstone, meaning ourhaving been forced to make a prisoner of Horry Sims, I would have beenradiantly happy on this morning. As it was, however, I no sooner beganto anticipate the pleasure of meeting my mother, or attempted to enjoythe beauties of nature, than I thought of that cowardly Tory cur lyingin the loft of old Mary's cabin, where one or another of us must keepwatch over him every hour of the day and night, and if so be he shouldsucceed in giving us the slip despite all our vigilance then would webecome fugitives, with all hope of regaining possession of Silver Heelsdashed, and considerably more than an even chance we might findlodgement in the British guard-house.

  Thus it was I journeyed on, one moment buoyant with hope, and the nextcast down by fear of what the future might have in store for us whocalled ourselves Minute Boys, hoping the day might come when we would beable to give good proof that we had a right to such a title.

  The journey came to an end finally, as must all journeys in this worldwhether they bring us to a haven of rest or a sink of iniquity, and thendid I forget all things in the outside world that might give me pain ortrouble, in the pleasure I had with my dear mother, telling what I hadseen in the American camp, repeating the words father had said to me, orstriving to make her believe it would be possible for Saul and me toaccomplish that which we had set before us. At the same time I tried tokeep in the background the dangers which must necessarily beencountered, unless peradventure the Americans made an immediateadvance and were overwhelmingly successful.

  I might have saved my breath so far as striving to hide from the goodwoman who loved me so dearly, the possible dangers in the path we hadchosen. She had pictured them all in her mind, and I am bound to giveher credit for not having magnified them in the lightest degree. Sheviewed the situation as you might expect a soldier's wife would,carefully weighing this possibility and that, until she had come to haveeven a better knowledge of all which threatened than had we ourselves.

  It was, however, when I told her we had been forced to make a prisonerof Horry Sims that she grew white lipped, pressing me suddenly to herarms as if imminent danger threatened, and from that moment it wasnecessary I bring to bear upon her every argument at my command, elsewould she have set her foot down flatly that I should not return to thetown of York.

  I believe of a verity all my attempts at making her more friendly withour scheme which had been marred by the capture of the Tory cur, hadbeen in vain but for the fact that I could plead the shame which wouldcome upon me if I should abandon Pierre, Saul, or even Uncle 'Rasmus,after having done my share toward luring them into a position of peril.

  She realized even better than I that it was my duty, having set out uponthe road with these companions and accompanied them thus far, to bear myfull share of all that might result. As a consequence, instead ofdemanding that I remain with her on the plantation, she held me pressedclosely to her bosom while the tears ran down her cheeks unrestrained,until I was grown so faint-hearted and so grieved because of havinginvoluntarily caused her suffering, that a feeling of timorousness beganto creep over me.

  Fortunately, however, I succeeded in calling back some portion of thecourage which had fled before my mother's tears, and realized that if Iwould do my full duty, as a boy of Virginia should toward the comradeswith whom he had bound himself, it was necessary I leave home withoutdelay, for verily I believe had I remained there until the next morningI could not have summoned up spirit enough to venture into that town ofYork where the king's soldiers, like a pack of ravening wolves, weredenned up after having committed upon a defenceless people all theinjury within their power.

  Of the parting with my mother that noon I cannot speak, even at thislate day, so painful was it. I can see now her pale face as she stood onthe veranda watching me walk away, doing my best not to look back uponthat mournful picture, and yet turning my head again and again despiteall efforts to the contrary.

  Unkind though it may sound for me to say so, I must confess to a feelingof actual relief when a turn of the road shut out from my view the houseand the dear, mournful figure on the threshold.

  Once that had been blotted from my vision by distance I quickened mypace, and with every yard traversed on the road to York did my couragerevive, until when I had arrived where it was necessary to put on anappearance of idle curiosity and total disregard as to the wasting oftime, I felt almost as if I could work out alone and unaided this planwhich we had formed to outwit the officer who represented the king.

  It must seem strange to have one claim that at such a time, when my LordCornwallis's army was penned up so thoroughly by the French fleet to theseaward and Lafayette's forces to the landward, that a lad like me couldwander at will inside the encampment.

  Soldiers not familiar with what was done in Virginia at that day, mightsay it would be an absolute impossibility for even a lad like myself topass through the lines unchallenged, because Lord Cornwallis knew wellthat a great number of us in Virginia were those whom he called rebels,and I was of sufficient age and intelligence to carry information to theAmericans.

  Yet it is true that on this day I saw idlers from plantations on boththe York and the James rivers lounging around the British outer works,or passing the sentinels here and there along the line of entrenchmentsfacing landward, without being challenged, or without hindrance in anyform, and I, as a matter of course, followed these curious ones whowould with their own eyes measure the strength of the king as it wasdisplayed in Virginia.

  Like them I entered the village with no one to say me nay. Because itdid not seem prudent to go directly to old Mary's cabin, I wanderedaround through the village, gaping at this or that, and once feasting myeyes with a view of Silver Heels as she stood at the stable lineknee-deep in sweet straw, munching her hay as contentedly as if she hadbeen in her own box on the Hamilton plantation.

  Then I went my way to old Mary's cabin, seeing the black, wrinkled faceof Uncle 'Rasmus at the window while I was yet some distance away.

  Hearing my footsteps he looked up with a smile of pleasure and ofwelcome, and I understood there was naught to hinder my entering,therefore flung the door boldly open and walked in to find myself in theembrace of the old man, who petted and fondled me as if I had been downinto the very jaws of death, and was come back only through my own braveexertions.

  It had ever been Uncle 'Rasmus's way to treat me as if I was a child,and heretofore it had given me great annoyance that he should stroke mycheeks lovingly, and croon about his "bressed baby," or "brabe littleman"; but now that I was in the enemy's country where I might come togrief at any moment, these evidences of affection were welcome, nay, Icraved them so ardently as to remain really nestling in his arms
untilthe old man tired of treating as a baby the lad who counted to callhimself a Minute Boy of York Town.

  Then it was I asked concerning my comrades, and Uncle 'Rasmus repliedthat Pierre was in the loft above, doing his share of guard duty, andSaul had gone away shortly after breakfast, bent on seeking out his marethat he might feast his eyes upon her even as I had upon my own SilverHeels.

  Just for an instant there came into my mind the fear that my cousin wasforgetting himself by leaving little Frenchie so long on duty; but itwas only a passing thought, and I gave no further heed to his absence asI went up the ladder into the bare room festooned with cobwebs andlighted by a single square aperture at either end, through which thebreeze came without check.

  Horry Sims, miserable Tory that he was, appeared to be having much thebest of this imprisonment. Knowing that he could not escape save bymaking his way down through the scuttle, and desiring to spare him allthe pain that might be prudent, our lads had left him unfettered andungagged.

  He was sitting on the blanket which he had rolled up to form a cushion,with his back against the side of the house near the chimney, andappeared to be taking solid comfort, although one might see by theexpression on his face that the close confinement and the fear as towhat might finally happen, was telling upon him.

  On the contrary, Pierre was the one of that couple who appeared to begetting the worst of the business. He was sitting on the bare puncheonsnear by the scuttle, with his knees in his arms, looking as weary as alad well could look, and I pitied the little fellow, remembering whatdelights had been mine during what had been much the same as a vacation,when I journeyed to the American lines and from there to the plantation.

  "Finding it hard work, are you?" I asked, crouching on the floor besidehim, and the dear little fellow, with that bright smile of his,shrugging his shoulders as if it was a matter of indifference, saidcheerily:

  "It is not as lively here as I have known it in New Orleans, and thereis but little with which to occupy one's attention; but when Saul hascome back I count on going down to the river bank and having a swim, ifso be his majesty's red-coated servants do not forbid such sport."

  "There is no reason why you should not go now, lad. Surely I can wellafford to take your place after having wandered around the country tomy heart's content."

  "It is not fair that you should do guard duty after having just returnedfrom a long tramp," he replied with a bright, winning smile. "How manyhours did you sleep last night?"

  I confess I had not realized that I might stand in need of slumber, andwould have put the lad off with an evasive reply; but he persisted withhis question until I was forced to admit that since leaving the town ofYork to carry the Jerseyman's message, I had not closed my eyes in rest,whereupon he insisted I go to the floor below, and seek the repose whichhe claimed I so sorely needed.

  "Saul is certain to come back within a short time," he said, "and thenit will be for him to take my place here. You are to sleep now, to theend that if work of any kind be demanded of us this night, you will bein condition to perform your share of it."

  There was no gainsaying a lad like Pierre Laurens; it would have beenmuch like resisting the entreaties of a girl friend, to set one's faceagainst that which he desired, and I meekly obeyed him, leaving in theloft the prisoner who looked fairly well contented with the situation,and the jailor who appeared to be suffering from confinement.

  On the floor below Uncle 'Rasmus had already made up such a bed ofblankets as was possible, he having heard the conversation in the loft.Straightway I had stretched myself out on that poor apology for a couch,my eyes were closed in slumber, and I remained hour after hour inblissful unconsciousness of the world of war and of hate around me,until I was brought back to this earth and all the disagreeablerealities by the pressure of Uncle 'Rasmus's hand upon my cheek.

  "What is it? What's wanted?" I cried, springing up and striving to brushthe slumber from my eyes, the cobwebs of sleep being so thick in mybrain that for the instant I did not realize where I was.

  Then I noted with no little of apprehension that the night had come.Already was the room so dark that save for the flickering of a few pineknots in the fireplace, one could not distinguish surrounding objects,and on fully recovering my senses I asked:

  "Did Pierre Laurens go out for a swim as he counted on doing?"

  "De po' little French boy am held right here, honey, kase he couldn'tleabe dat scoundrel ob a Tory."

  "But where's Saul?" I cried. "Hasn't Saul come in since he left thismorning?"

  "It's des dat what's aworryin' ob me, honey chile. Saul Ogden done lefhere arter we got trou breakfas', an' 'lowed he'd loaf 'roun' de town acouple ob hours. I done heard him tell de little French boy dat he'sgwine fo' to be back here arter he'd seen his mare, an' yet he ain'shown up sence. I tell you what it is, honey, I'se gettin' pow'fulskeered 'bout dat cousin ob yourn. It can't be he'd stay all dis yeretime, knowin' he was boun' to habe an eye out on dat Tory cur, so'sPierre could get a sniff ob fresh air."

  For an instant I stood irresolute, looking about me as I tried to guesswhat could have prevented Saul from keeping his word. During those fewseconds it did not come into my mind that aught of evil might havehappened; I only questioned what friend he could have met who thusdelayed him, or what pleasure he found which would keep him away.

  Then like a flash of light came the thought that neither friend norpleasure could have prevented Saul from returning to his duty, and Iunderstood that one of two things must have happened: He had either beenarrested on some charge or another by the red-coated soldiers, or hadthrough his ill temper got into a brawl, when he had been so grievouslywounded that it was impossible for him to come back unaided.

  I wheeled about suddenly, like one bereft of his senses, and clamberedup the shaky ladder as if my very life depended on my gaining the loftwithin the shortest possible space of time. There, where by reaching outhis hand he could touch that Tory sneak whom I longed to crush beneathmy heel because he was causing us so much trouble, having the same asthrust himself into our keeping as a prisoner, sat little Frenchie,patient but nervous, as I could guess by his movements.

  "Where is Saul?" I demanded fiercely, as if through some carelessness orinadvertence of Pierre my cousin had come to grief, and the little ladreplied mournfully, having lost so much of his spirit during the wearytime of waiting that he could seemingly neither shrug his shoulders norwave his hands:

  "I wish I knew, Fitz; but certain it is something serious must havehappened to the boy, else he would have been back, as he agreed upon,within two hours from the time of leaving."

  "Why did you not waken me that I might go out in search?" I demandedangrily, as if still believing he was at fault.

  "It seemed to me necessary you should regain all your strength, that youmight be able to meet the disaster which I feel is near upon us. Therehave been times when I was tempted to call for Uncle 'Rasmus, insistinghe send you out at once; but I was checked by the thought that you hadalready endured much of labor and should be allowed the slumber whichwas needed."

  "Nothing could be necessary at such a time as this, save that I went outin search of my cousin!" I cried, almost beside myself with grief andapprehension, for there was no longer any doubt in my mind but that Saulwas either a prisoner in the hands of the red-coated soldiers, or elselay somewhere in the village wounded grievously, perhaps unto death.

  "Now that you have come I will search throughout this entire town," andPierre sprang to his feet as if to descend the ladder, whereupon Icaught him frantically by the coat, for at that instant a horrible dreadseized upon me, lest I be left alone with that Tory villain and have somuch of temptation that it would be impossible to keep my hands fromhim.

  "Why should we not both go?" I cried. "Why is it necessary one stay herewhen Uncle 'Rasmus may stand guard at the foot of the ladder?"

  "Now you are talking wildly. Suppose we both went out, and Horry Sims,hearing footsteps, should go to one of the windows and cry fo
r help? Howwould it be possible for Uncle 'Rasmus, old and crippled as he is, toprevent the mischief?"

  "Then we will gag the Tory scoundrel and truss him up so he can neithermove hand nor foot!" I cried. "Is he to stand in the way of oursearching for Saul? Is he, after having done us whatsoever mischief layin his power, to hold us back when perhaps the dear lad is needing us sosorely?"

  "Don't gag me! Don't gag me!" Horry cried frantically. "I promise tomake no sound, nor so much as lift a finger, if you will leave me free;but to have that gag in my mouth all night, would be murder."

  "And so it would," Pierre added emphatically. "I believe both of usought to go in search of Saul; but this fellow, Tory though he be,should not be forced to endure so much of suffering as would be his ifyou left him gagged and bound."

  "What then will you do with him?" I asked, speaking more like a mad manthan a lad who counted it would be possible for him to prove that hemight be of service to the Cause through playing the part of Minute Boy."Surely we can't hoist Uncle 'Rasmus up here into the loft."

  "No; but we can take Horry Sims downstairs," Pierre replied quietly, andI cried in alarm:

  "Take him to the lower floor where any one who passes may see him?"

  "There is no need to leave him in public view," Pierre replied. "We canbind him securely in one corner of the room at Uncle 'Rasmus's feet,where the old negro can readily prevent him from making any outcry."

  "But suppose one of the soldiers takes it into his head to enter?"

  "That has not happened thus far, and we must take the chances that nonewill be so curious. Better that than put this fellow to torture."

  Just then I believe of a verity it would have gladdened my heart tohave seen Horry Sims suffering all the torments a human being cansuffer; but fortunately, the little French lad had more good sense inhis tiny body than had I in my lank carcass even though I towered headand shoulders above him, and he literally forced me to fall into his wayof thinking, by bluntly declaring that he would not step outside thecabin door unless I displayed more of humanity.

  I would almost sooner agree to set the young Tory free, than venture outin a blind search for Saul without having this little French comradewith me, and therefore it was I bore my part in disposing of theprisoner as Pierre had suggested.

  We bundled him down through the scuttle as if he had been a bale ofmerchandise rather than flesh and blood, and then I warrant you butlittle time was spent in binding his hands and feet so securely that,unaided, he could not get free.

  How Uncle 'Rasmus may have viewed being left in the cabin to act thedouble part of jailor and helpless invalid, I know not. He had heard, asa matter of course, all our conversation in the loft above, and when wecame down with Horry Sims and began to tie his feet, the old negroshoved his chair into one corner, saying as he did so that we should putthe fellow where he could have him under his hand. Then, seatinghimself, with a blanket over his knee which might also serve to coverHorry in case visitors entered, he was ready to do his share of thework.

  I was not satisfied to leave the two alone, unless Uncle 'Rasmus wasarmed, and would have set out in search of some weapon, although I knewnot where to procure one, but that Pierre said with something almostapproaching impatience in his tone:

  "Are you so blind, Fitz Hamilton, that you can't see whether Uncle'Rasmus is armed or not? With that cane of his I dare venture to say hecould strike a man dead with one blow; while that is in his hand andHorry lying at his feet, the Tory is completely at the old man's mercy."

  All this was true, as I should have seen before Pierre spoke, and whenwe had the miserable cur of a prisoner disposed of in a corner of theroom where the old negro could, if need arose, cover him with theblanket which was supposed to be needed by himself as an invalid, itappeared to me we need not fear going about in the village while thecabin was unguarded save by Uncle 'Rasmus.

  It would not have been like the little French lad to linger many secondsafter our preparation had been completed, and immediately he satisfiedhimself that matters had been arranged to the best of our ability, heopened the door, going out into the night as he motioned for me tofollow.

  It must have been that news had come into the town of York during theafternoon concerning a threatened advance of the Americans, for eventhough it was night the Britishers were working at their fortifications,having torches of pine knots stuck up here and there, and it seemed asif every man of that army of seven thousand was using either the pick orthe shovel, or directing the movements of those who worked with theirhands.

  "Can it be that our French general is advancing?" Pierre whisperedgleefully to me, and because I wished it might be so, it was in my mindalmost a certainty that the Americans were closing in on this town ofYork, with the intent of giving battle to our enemies.

  We at once turned our steps toward the quarters of the Rangers, forthere was good reason to believe that Saul, on leaving the cabin in themorning, would have gone there first in the hope of getting a glimpse ofhis mare, and as we came upon a group of soldiers who were at work uponone of the redoubts I barely smothered an exclamation of delight, forthere I saw Morgan, the Jerseyman, his coat off, shoveling dirt as ifhis one desire on earth was to prevent the Americans from entering York.

  So thick is my head that I would have gone directly toward him, thinkingonly to tell of Saul's disappearance and ask his advice concerning whatwe had best do; but as I stepped forward Pierre clutched me firmly bythe arm, and at the same instant I saw a warning look in Morgan's eyesas he recognized us.

  Fortunate it was that I had sense enough to obey instantly both the lookand the grasp on my arm, otherwise had I betrayed him to his death, andus lads to a prison.

  I was faint with the sickness of fear on realizing what might have beenbrought about by my stupidity; but Pierre led me straightaway in thedirection we had been pursuing, and before the dear lad could speak Isaid, noting that we were beyond ear-shot of any of the king's soldiers:

  "Forgive me, lad, forgive me! I came near to doing that which couldnever have been undone, and remembering the terrible danger I was liketo have placed you and Morgan in, it maybe that in the future I shallwalk and act more as a thinking boy should."

  "No harm has been done, Fitz," and little Frenchie caressed my coatsleeve as if it was he instead of me who had so nearly wrecked threelives. "So long as you didn't speak to Morgan, and no one could havenoticed that you recognized him, it is as if we hadn't seen the man."

  It was ever little Frenchie's way to do what he might to soothe thefeelings of one who had gone wrong, and flinging my arm above his neckregardless of whosoever might see, I hugged him to my side as if he hadbeen a sister.

  Owing to the unusual activity all around us we were able to go at willthroughout the village, seemingly arousing no suspicions, for hardly aman noticed us, and we searched every foot of the encampment save, as amatter of course, the guard-houses or the buildings occupied byBritishers, until having satisfied ourselves that Saul was not lying insome out-of-the-way place unable to move because of wounds.

  "It must be that the Britishers have made him a prisoner," Pierre saidthoughtfully as we wandered down to the river bank where we couldconverse without fear of being overheard. "If he had provoked a quarrelwith any of the soldiers, or the lads who came from the plantations, weshould have found him ere this. We may set it down as a fact that he isheld in one of the guard-houses."

  "Then what is to be done?" I cried impatiently, and to my surprisePierre replied calmly:

  "Nothing; at least, nothing now. Of ourselves we cannot hope to findhim; but must wait until we have speech with Morgan. He is the one ofall others in this town of York who can help us."

  "And we are shut out from him by the fear that we may betray anacquaintance," I said bitterly, whereupon Pierre added, speaking in asoothing tone:

  "It is only for a few hours, lad. There is no question but that he willseek us out when the opportunity comes, to learn if you succeeded inyour mission, or if any w
ord was sent to him, and we must wait."

  "But in the meanwhile Saul is lying in one of these wretched places aprisoner, even as is Horry Sims in old Mary's cabin," I cried bitterly.

  "True, Fitz, and we will hope that it is the worst which has befallenhim; but how are matters to be mended by us who are much the same asprisoners ourselves? To go about making inquiries of any we chance tomeet, would be the same as begging that we be arrested on whatsoevercharge he lies under. It is what may be called the fortune of war, andyou, and Saul, and I must show ourselves as Minute Boys should, byaccepting whatever comes with the knowledge that we are aiding theCause."

  "Valuable aid we have given the Cause by coming into this town andlooking at two horses which were stolen!" I cried savagely, and Pierreadded, again caressing my arm:

  "Don't forget that you succeeded in carrying a message which Morgancould not have delivered save at the cost of destroying his usefulnessas a spy."

  "And yet that had nothing to do with Saul's arrest, if so be he is aprisoner."

  "Now you are unreasonable. Let us go back to the cabin and there waituntil the Jerseyman comes. Whether the time be long or short, we byfretting and fuming cannot cut off a single minute. If remaining idleseems hard, remember, Fitz Hamilton, that by going ahead blindly we maymake matters worse than they are now."

  Of course I realized that all Pierre had said was true. No fellow couldlisten to the little lad when he was talking so earnestly andimploringly, without understanding how much of sound sense was in thattiny body of his, and for at least the tenth time since we set out fromthe Hamilton plantation counting to call ourselves Minute Boys, did Iresolve that in the future I would never make protest at any command hemight give, but would fall in readily and cheerfully with everysuggestion of his.

  He led me back to old Mary's cabin much as a nurse leads a petulantchild, and when we neared the door I was like to have forgotten Saul'spossible plight as the fear came over me that here might we have metwith fresh disaster.

  It was a wondrous relief to enter the rude cabin and find Uncle 'Rasmusstill seated in his invalid's chair, with Horry Sims lying at his feet,and in my joy and relief I clasped both the old negro's wrinkled handsso tightly that he cried out with pain.

  There was little need he should ask whether we had been successful inour search, because we had returned as we departed; but I could notrefrain from acquainting him with our ill fortune by saying in asorrowful tone:

  "We have neither heard nor seen anything of the dear lad, and it must bethat the Britishers are holding him prisoner."

  "De Lawd's will be done, honey! De Lawd's will be done! Ef dat po' chileSaul hab fell inter de han's ob de Britishers, we'se boun' to set heresorrowin' widout liftin' a han' to help him."

  "Uncle 'Rasmus is saying much the same as I did, Fitz dear," Pierreinterrupted. "It is the fortune of war, and whatsoever comes to us whilewe are striving to play our part, must be borne. There is no reason whywe should not hope for the best, at least until the Jerseyman comes, asI feel positive he will at the first opportunity."