The Minute Boys of York Town

by James Otis

  CHAPTER IX

  SUSPENSE

  Pierre and I flung ourselves down at Uncle 'Rasmus's feet as if by suchclose companionship we could the better dull that deadly pain in ourhearts, or lessen the horrible suspense which was about us like a dark,threatening cloud.

  We had no inclination for conversation, because if we gave words to thefearful thoughts in our minds it was as if we were making of thepossibility a reality. Therefore we lay on the puncheon planksalternating between faint hope and blackest despair, feeling that therewas one chance in mayhap a thousand that something had occurred to callthe lad out of the village, yet at the same time knowing that he must bein the hands of the enemy, otherwise would we have received some tokenfrom him by this time.

  I said to myself again and again that if the red-coated gentry held himin their power a prisoner, he would be treated with some fairconsideration, for these soldiers of the king were not red Indians, andwould not proceed to extremities at least until after the semblance of amilitary trial.

  I could account for the dear lad's absence only that by giving way tohis ill temper he had unwittingly revealed the reason for being in thetown of York, and had been arrested as a spy. That seemed the worst ofthe possibilities, for surely if such was the case they could prove himguilty, and I knew only too well the fate which would be his.

  On looking at the matter more hopefully, I prayed that he might havegotten into a brawl with some of the soldiers, and been carried to theguard-house simply as a disturber of the peace, in which case nothingmore serious than his own distress of mind and discomfort of body wouldoccur.

  It was Horry Sims who broke the long silence, and on hearing the voiceof that Tory cur it was with difficulty I could prevent myself fromleaping upon him, choking from his worthless carcass the last breath oflife, because he was responsible for all our suffering at that moment.

  "It seems to me that now is the time when you can afford to make with mesome kind of a trade," the young villain said, struggling to rise to asitting posture, and before I could utter the words of wrath that arosewithin me, Pierre asked with that soft, mild voice of his, as if theidea of trading with the Tory was agreeable:

  "In what way would you have us bargain, Horry Sims? What have you tooffer?"

  "You must be willing to admit that at some time in the future it will benecessary to set me free," he began, paving the way for that propositionwhich was coming, and little Frenchie said in a friendly tone:

  "Yes, that is true, unless before such time comes you make it necessaryfor us to take your life in order to protect ourselves."

  "Surely you would not kill me in cold blood when I stand ready to obeywhatsoever command you may give?"

  "In that case we should hesitate before taking even such a worthlesslife as yours," Pierre replied, and one might have thought from the toneof his voice that he was saying something which would be pleasing to thelistener.

  "Then if it be true, as you admit, that the time must come when I amallowed to go free, it seems to me you had better make a bargain now,rather than be forced to let me go later and bear all the consequencesof this high-handed proceeding of yours. Surely you must understand thatmy friends, and my father has many nearabout the towns of James andYork, will take revenge because of what you have done to me. Suppose Iagree to hold my peace forever regarding what you have done, and, inaddition, promise to go out and seek diligently for Saul? I can go whereyou dare not; I can receive replies to my questions when those whom youapproached would be dumb, and may promise almost with certainty thatbefore daylight Saul Ogden will be with you, for if the Britishers areholding him my people have influence enough with Lord Cornwallis toeffect his release."

  "You are forgetting, Horry Sims, that we have been forced to allow youto share too many secrets of ours," Pierre said mildly, and the Tory curadded eagerly:

  "You have my word of honor that I will not so much as think of themafter leaving this hovel. Whatsoever I may have heard or seen here islocked in my breast forever, if so be you are minded to treat with me."

  "Such a proposition as you make might be heeded if he who suggested itwas one who had any honor on which we could rely," Pierre said, stillspeaking in a mild tone. "We know as well as you, that instantly youwere allowed to go free your feet would carry you to Lord Cornwallis'sheadquarters, and there, regardless of your so-called word of honor, youwould repeat everything you have heard--most likely very much you haveimagined. I am not willing to have dealings of any kind with a Tory; butit may be that Fitz Hamilton is more foolish, and if he chooses toaccept your bargain I shall hold my peace."

  I did not give the young Tory time to ask my opinion. While he andPierre had been talking the anger in my heart was nigh to stifling me,for I feared that little Frenchie might be inclined to put faith in thefellow's word, and on the instant I cried in a rage:

  "Trust you, Horry Sims? Not for a single second after you were free tomove about or to speak! There is no oath which you Tories could takethat would bind you as against those who are risking their lives to freethe colonies. I would sooner throttle you this minute, than trust one ofthe fair words you might speak!"

  It must be that Horry Sims had fully believed the time was come when hecould bargain with us to his own advantage, for straightway I ceasedspeaking he flew into a rage, the first real signs of anger he had shownsince we made him prisoner, and began to threaten as to what his peoplewould do with us when my Lord Cornwallis had driven back the forcesunder General Lafayette.

  He continued in this strain mayhap while one could have counted twenty,and then Pierre, quietly laying his hand across the creature's mouth,said with a laugh:

  "You are putting too much dependence upon the future, Master Sims, whenyou reckon time by a victory to be gained by the Britishers. Thisparticular portion of the King's army is in a small hole, from whichthere can be no escape, and within very many days you and your Toryfriends will be striving to curry favor with those whom you now callrebels."

  Horry Sims could make no reply to this remark, for the very good reasonthat Pierre held him dumb, and again we fell into painful silence,picturing in our minds the possible fate of Saul, until little Frenchiesaid in a tone of hopefulness:

  "Why may we not rid ourselves of this fellow entirely? While we hold himhe is a menace, and but for the necessity of keeping watch over the curwe would be at liberty to move around at will."

  "But how _can_ we rid ourselves of him?" I asked impatiently, forgettingfor the instant that this little lad from New Orleans, so gentle and sogirlish in his ways, was full of resources at such a time.

  "It should not be difficult to smuggle him through the lines during thenight, and by carrying the fellow to General Lafayette's army I have nodoubt the officers would hold him fast for us, because of understandingwhat might be the Jerseyman's fate if he was allowed to go free. Youwould only be forced to tell your father the story, Fitz, in order forhim to guard the scoundrel as he would guard something very precious."

  On the instant my heart leaped with joy, for verily did this plan seemto promise both success and relief, and without looking ahead to thepossibilities I said promptly, as if it were in our power to dowhatsoever we pleased:

  "He shall be carried to Williamsburg! Once there I'll answer for it hehas no chance to join his friends who claim to love the king so dearly."

  Then Pierre and I set about discussing the best course to pursue whileleaving the town of York, as if we would set off that very night, whenUncle 'Rasmus put an end to the hoping and planning, at least so far asthe present was concerned, by saying dreamily:

  "I'se 'lowin', chillun, dat you won' fin' it so ter'ble easy to get outob de lines dis yere night. Dere's sumfin in de air dat's trubblin'Marse Cornwallis, an' you can be mighty sure dese yere sogers am keepin'dere eyes wide open."

  Surprised at thus learning that the old negro knew so much of what wasgoing on outside, I asked irritably why he had formed such an opinion.

  "Didn' you tell me yoursef, hone
y? I ain' 'lowin' dat dese yere sogerswould be shovelin' dirt in de night 'less sumfin had come up suddenlike. Des look out ob dis yere winder, an' see de torches all 'roun' us.How you 'low you'se gwine to sneak out ob dis yere cabin wid de youngTory 'tween you, an' get away widout anybody's askin' questions?"

  There was no need for me to do as Uncle 'Rasmus suggested. While Pierreand I had been searching for Saul we had seen signs, as I have alreadyset down, of unusual activity in every direction, and I realized that wecould not hope to make our way through the lines unnoticed while, as itseemed to me, every member of Cornwallis's army was astir.

  "Uncle 'Rasmus is right," Pierre said mournfully, "and I was a fool notto have remembered what we have just seen. There is no sense in ourtalking of leaving town, at least until the Britishers have quieteddown. We must carry the Tory into the loft again, and say to ourselvesthat we are held prisoners in the village of York even as he is in thiscabin."

  "Why take the trouble to carry him into the loft?" I asked fretfully,angry because it had been shown me beyond a shadow of doubt that theplan I leaped at so eagerly was an impossibility.

  "Because when morning comes no one may say how many red-coated soldierswill be here hunting for us. If Saul has been arrested, then are weunder suspicion."

  "And if they come to search for us, there is no more assurance of ourremaining hidden with this Tory in the loft, than if he remained here inthe room."

  "We will take him there nevertheless," Pierre said in a tone so decidedthat I could not have contradicted him even though I had made ready agood argument for so doing, and without delay the little lad from NewOrleans set about acting on his own suggestion.

  It was not a simple task which we had before us, for Horry Sims, boundhand and foot, was as unwieldy as a bundle of merchandise, and, inaddition, he fought as well as he might to prevent us from forcing himup the shaky ladder.

  Not until I had cuffed him soundly, promising a more severe punishmentin case he continued to resist, did the lad give over the uselessstruggle, and after considerable labor Pierre and I contrived to hoisthim to the loft above.

  It was when we had finally succeeded, and were seated on the puncheonplanks near the scuttle resting from our exertions, that Uncle 'Rasmussaid, speaking sufficiently loud for us to hear him while he yetremained in his chair near the window:

  "I'se 'lowin', chillun, dat you bes' stay right whar you are, an' de oleman will keep an eye out here, so's dere won't any ob dese yereBritishers sneak in widout our knowin' it. If de man from Jersey comeserlong, I'se boun' to gib you notice, so try to get your forty winks obsleep while dere's a chance."

  It seemed to me like veriest folly to talk of sleeping while our heartswere so heavy with grief, and danger seemingly closing in around us, yetwhen Pierre acted on Uncle 'Rasmus's advice by throwing himself down onthe puncheon planks by the side of Horry Sims, where he could have duewarning if that young scoundrel attempted any mischief, I followed hisexample. With the Tory between us we two lads lay there on the hard bed,both, I doubt not, thinking with tears in our hearts of Saul's possiblefate, and both within a short time journeying over into Dreamlanddespite all there was in the situation to prop our eyes wide open.

  When next I became conscious of my surroundings it was possible to seethe faint grey light of coming dawn through the narrow apertures whichserved as windows, and I sprang to my feet quickly, almost frightenedbecause I had given myself up to slumber for so long a time.

  Scrambling down the shaky ladder as if time was most precious, I made myway to the room below, where I found Uncle 'Rasmus sitting as when I hadlast seen him, with a blanket drawn over his knees and his eyesfastened upon the moving figures of the soldiers outside.

  "Why did you let us sleep, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I demanded. "We should haveremained awake so that you might have an opportunity to rest."

  "Ole bones don' need so much ob de bed as young ones does, honey, an'I'se no good 'cept to set right here an' watch. Don' you fret 'bout yourUncle 'Rasmus, kase he'll look out for hissef all right."

  "But it seems selfish for us to have slept while you remained awake."

  "Now you'se frettin' 'bout nuffin, chile, when dere's plenty ob realtrubble to take up your min'."

  "What has happened?" I asked anxiously, thinking for the instant thatthe old negro had seen tokens of impending danger.

  "Dere's sumfin goin' on in dis yere town, honey, as is pas' myunderstandin'. Dese yere sogers has been workin' all night, an' dey'restill at it, as ef de ole man from down below was arter 'em."

  "I don't see that we need fret very much if the Britishers have grownfrightened," I said with a laugh, and Uncle 'Rasmus replied:

  "It looks to me, honey, as if dey counted dere was gwine to be a battle'roun' here mighty soon, an' ef anyting ob dat kine does happen, I'seaskin' mysef how we'se comin' out ob it. We'se a good deal like BrerRabbit, when de fox an' de wil' cat was fightin' to see which one wouldhab him for breakfas'. Whicheber way it turned he was boun' to be eatup, an' it kind'er looks to me as ef we'd be in de same fix ef our folksan' de Britishers got to shootin' off dere guns while we was in dis yerecabin."

  I stood silent and motionless gazing at the old man with my mouth wideopen like a simple, as this possibility of a new danger came upon me. Asa matter of course I had believed there would be a battle between thetwo armies; but that we might be held in the cabin exposed to shot andbombs from both friend and foe, was something to cause the blood to runcold in one's veins.

  It was well for me that just at the instant came a change in thesituation, else might I have given proof of the timorousness which wasin my heart. I was yet looking stupidly at Uncle 'Rasmus when the doorsuddenly opened. As I turned to see who was the intruder an exclamationof joy and relief burst from my lips, for it was none other than Morgan,and I made sure that now was come the moment when we would have someinformation concerning Saul.

  "Yes, I have been working all night in the trenches as if my greatestdesire in life was to hold the Americans in check," he said as he sankdown on the floor like one on the verge of exhaustion, when he saw thatI was taking note of the stains of toil upon him.

  "What about Saul?" I cried, forgetting that we had had no opportunity ofwarning this friendly spy that our comrade had disappeared.

  "Saul? Is he not with you?"

  "He went out from this house yesterday morning, and has not returned.Pierre and I were searching for him when we came across you. I thenmight have made trouble for all of us, but for little Frenchie, who wasquick-witted enough to see that you feared lest we might speak to you."

  "Your comrade has disappeared?" Morgan said musingly, and seeminglyforgetting his weariness of body he rose to his feet like one whosuddenly remembers that the time for action has come.

  "We thought you might know somewhat concerning him," I added stupidly,for by the surprise, and even the fear, exhibited by this man I mighthave known beyond a peradventure that he was all ignorant of what hadoccurred.

  "Is there a possibility he might have gone home simply to pleasehimself?" Morgan asked after a brief pause, and I replied emphatically,knowing full well that whatever might be the faults of my cousin, hewould not leave us in ignorance concerning his whereabouts if he had setoff solely for pleasure:

  "It is positive he would not have gone away of his own accord withouthaving told us."

  "Then it stands me in hand to find out what has become of the lad. If bychance he has been taken under suspicion of being a spy, then is myshrift like to be short, for within the past twelve hours it has becomewell nigh impossible for any one to make his way through the lines."

  "What has caused such sudden caution?" Pierre asked as he descended theladder, having been awakened most like by the sound of our voices.

  "Word has been brought in that Lafayette's army is being reinforced bymen from the North. It was said last night that another fleet hasappeared off the Capes; that there is like to be fighting both on thesea and on the land, and General Cornwallis has come t
o understandbetter than ever before the necessity of keeping his situation a secret.In other words he has locked the stable door after the horse has beenstolen, for there is nothing new we could carry to our people eventhough it were possible for us to go and come at will."

  "Do you think a battle may be near at hand?" I asked, and Morgan repliedconfidently:

  "I am not well skilled in war; but would be dumb indeed if I did notunderstand that before a battle between the two armies can take place,this village will be besieged. Cornwallis is preparing for suchpossibility, else why is he fortifying this unimportant point socarefully. It cannot be carried by direct assault, therefore are we liketo be shut up in here until the Britishers are starved into subjection,unless, perchance, the fleet which has just come off the Capes proves tobe English, and succeeds in driving the French away."

  "Is there any reason why Fitz and I should not show ourselves around thevillage this morning?" Pierre asked suddenly, as if some new thought hadcome into his mind, and Morgan replied:

  "You may do as you will, lad, so that you are careful not to arousesuspicion, and above all, give no heed to me if we come within sight ofeach other. If it should be that Saul has been taken as a spy, I amthinking you lads will speedily find your way into the guard-house, andit matters not whether you are taken while on the outside, or here inthe cabin."

  Then Master Morgan opened the door as if to go out, and I would havedetained him by clutching nervously at his arm, but he shook me off ashe said:

  "I must strive to learn somewhat of the situation, because just now agrain, or two more of knowledge may save our lives. To-night, if notbefore, and in case the three of us are allowed to remain at liberty, Iwill try to have speech with you again."

  He was gone before I could make further protest, and after closing thedoor I turned to face Pierre and Uncle 'Rasmus.

  "Our company of Minute Boys seems to be of great assistance to theCause," I said bitterly, for with Morgan's words there had come into myheart the certainty that death stood very near. "Instead of showing thatwe could play the part of men, we have simply come into this town ofYork and put a halter around the neck of that honest man from Jersey,for had we remained at home without dreaming of accomplishing theimpossible in the way of winning glory, he would have deserted from theBritish army in order to carry the information to General Lafayette, andthus be out of danger."

  "One would suppose to hear you talk, Fitz Hamilton, that the end hadcome--that we were doomed beyond possibility of escape."

  "And how else can you picture it?" I asked angrily. "With Saul arrestedas a spy we are certain of sharing the same fate; even though you mayaccount for his absence in some other way, it seems positive we are tobe shut up here with the enemy while our friends are striving to killall within the entrenchments. If that does not warrant my belief that weare standing very close to death, I would like to know how much moreproof may be needed."

  "We are yet alive," Pierre said softly and with a shrug of theshoulders, "and as yet at liberty so far as this cabin is concerned. Ifail to understand why we may not yet prove ourselves worthy of beingcalled Minute Boys, and succeed in doing something which shall win forus credit, if not honor, from those who are struggling against theking."

  It angered me that that little French lad should be hopeful at a timewhen clouds of danger pressed so thickly and so closely about us, and Iturned away from him impatiently, looking out of the window where couldbe seen the laborers in the trenches, squads of men marching here andthere, and officers visiting this scene of activity and that; but allworking with one common aim, which was the oppression of our people.

  Whether Pierre was as unconcerned as he would have it appear, I cannotsay; but if he had put on a mask then was he playing his part well, forhe went here and there with a smiling face as he made ready our smallstore of food for the morning meal, and actually spoke in a cheery tonewhen he announced that our provisions were well nigh exhausted.

  "I allow that we can satisfy our hunger this noon, if indeed we have anydesire to eat at that time; but we will go supperless to bed, unlesssome means for provisioning the cabin can be devised."

  I could not believe we had eaten all that store of provisions which webrought from the Hamilton plantation until I went to the cupboard andthere saw that Pierre had spoken truly, even within bounds, for if weate our fill on this morning the noonday meal would be slight indeed.

  When I turned from this dismal inspection Pierre was carrying up theladder to the loft a plentiful supply of cold boiled ham and friedhominy, seemingly a larger portion than he had set aside for our ownbreakfast, and I asked angrily if he counted on giving that Tory sneakmore than we ourselves could indulge in, whereupon he said gravely:

  "If any go hungry it must not be the prisoner. We are holding him here,and it is for our honor that he be not allowed to suffer."

  "It is for our own safety that he be kept on short allowance," I cried."How do you allow we can add to our store now that it is no longerpossible, according to Morgan's story, for us to make our way throughthe lines?"

  "It makes no difference how we can add to the store, or whether we spendthis day without breaking our fast, the Tory prisoner is to be fed, andI shall see to it that so long as we have a morsel in the cupboard solong shall the greater portion of it be his."

  I had never heard Pierre Laurens speak so decidedly, and with such anassumption of authority, as at this time, and surprise silenced me thatthe little lad should have taken it upon himself to say this thing,should, or that thing should not be, when, without having actually doneso in words, I claimed to be the leader of the company.

  Pierre took care to feed Horry Sims before he served out any food forUncle 'Rasmus and me, and when we sat on the floor near the windowbreaking our fast, my heart smote me as I took note that he had givenboth to the old negro and me a portion twice as large as that which hereserved for himself.

  The lad was ready to sacrifice his own need to our pleasure, and I wouldhave forced upon him some portion of the provisions which he had givenme, but that he resolutely refused to take it, saying he was not hungry;that the news brought by Morgan had driven all thoughts of food from hismind, and such other excuses which I knew had been invented simply toforce me to take more than my share.

  Fortunately for my peace of mind even at this late day, I refused to eatmore than did he, and the keenness of my anger was not yet dulled when Icarried the remainder of the portion allotted me to the cupboard, sayingin what I intended should be a jovial tone:

  "The knowledge that your stomach is set against food has weakened myappetite, and perhaps it will be as well, for we have the more when thetime comes for serving dinner."

  The old negro insisted that both Pierre and I should go through the townto put ourselves in the way of learning whether any further informationhad come in from the outside, and declaring that he would take care ofHorry Sims providing we brought him down on the floor once more.

  I would have refused to act upon this suggestion; but it seemed toplease Pierre, and he at once set about getting the Tory cur where Uncle'Rasmus could overlook him, therefore was I forced to lend a hand.

  "Am I to be left here trussed up like a chicken ready for the roasting?"Horry Sims asked angrily when we had put him once more in the corner ofthe room without taking undue care as to the handling.

  "Your stomach is full; except for your liberty are you better off thaneither Pierre or I, and you may lie there thanking your stars thatmatters are no worse for you," I cried, whereupon little Frenchie, as iffearing I might abuse the prisoner of which he was so careful, openedthe door and literally thrust me out.

  When we were come near to my Lord Cornwallis's headquarters, I notedwith surprise that a goodly number of the soldiers, together with alarge sprinkling of officers, were pressing on toward the water's edge,and it was no more than natural Pierre and I should follow the throng,excited as we were by seeing the privates throw down shovel or pickwithout permission, to chase at the he
els of their superiors.

  Before we were come to the dock it was possible to hear from thedistance a dull boom, as if many miles away a heavy cannon had beendischarged, and then there came another and another, and I heard thosered-coated men nearest me say gleefully:

  "Admiral Graves is stirring up the frog-eaters! We may count it ascertain that these two rivers will no longer be blockaded by Frenchmen."

  Then I remembered what Morgan had said, and understood that the fightingfor the possession of this town of York had already begun on the sea;that the British fleet had come down to drive away the vessels undercommand of Count De Grasse. Once more I grew timorous with understandingthat if the Englishmen should be victorious in this naval battle which Idoubted not was close at hand, then would it be possible for them toland troops on the river of York or of James at their pleasure, untilour forces at Williamsburg were outnumbered ten or twenty to one.

  The same thought was evidently in Pierre's mind, and he also must havebeen fearing that the English sailors might prove superior to the Frenchseamen, for he said in a whisper, drawing me closely to him by clutchingtightly at my arm:

  "My Lord Cornwallis must be mighty uneasy just about this time, forunless the British fleet can drive away the French vessels, then is heleft to the mercy of our people who are coming down from the North tojoin General Lafayette."

  "Ay; but if so be the English succeed, then is General Lafayette's forceat their mercy."

  "Ay, lad, and it may be a toss-up. At all events, I have it in mind thatwhatsoever is going on at sea just now decides the fate of this portionof the king's troops. Even though the Frenchmen do no more than holdtheir own, and prevent the Britishers from driving them out ofChesapeake Bay, then must the day speedily come when my Lord Cornwalliswill be crying for quarter."

  "With all the fortifications that have been thrown up around this townof York, it strikes me he may hold out many a long hour before beingforced to show the white flag," I said bitterly, and the little Frenchlad added cheerily:

  "You forget that your people, under the command of my countryman, canwork as well if not better with pick and shovel, than have thosered-coated servants of the king, and I make no doubt but that there willbe as strong lines of entrenchments opposing my Lord Cornwallis, as hehas thrown up for his protection."

  "And in the meantime we shall be between the two, or what is the samething, exposed to the fire of our own people, and taking our chances ofa stray ball from the redoubt here near the point," I said as my heartshriveled once more under the influence of fear.