The Boy Scouts at the Battle of Saratoga: The Story of General Burgoyne's Defeat

by Herbert Carter

  CHAPTER III. THE SPIKED CANNON.

  "We'll put him in the tent, and make further search in the morning," Irasaid at length.

  The three scouts lifted their prisoner, and, carrying him into the tent,laid him gently on the fir boughs.

  "I would loosen your bonds if it were safe to do so, Master Preston,"Ira said; "but as it is, you will have to make yourself as comfortableas possible under the circumstances."

  "I have been in a worse fix," he replied shortly.

  "You may both lie down and get what sleep you can," the lad then said tohis comrades.

  "You are the one to sleep; we'll take turns watching the prisoner," Latesaid stoutly.

  "No," their leader answered decisively. "You will have a long journeyto-morrow and need the rest, while I can sleep after returning to theencampment."

  They yielded reluctantly, and were soon slumbering soundly. Ten minutespassed, and the courier was so quiet the lone watchman thought he toomust be asleep; but suddenly he tried to raise himself, saying:

  "Look here!"

  "What is it?" Ira asked kindly. "Can I do anything for you?"

  "Yes," the captive answered. "Tell me whether you are really Le Geyt, orsome one who is personating him."

  "What difference does that make to you?"

  "Much. If you are Le Geyt, you are a low, contemptible traitor, and whenI get the chance I'll crush your life out as I would that of a snake."

  "I don't blame you for feeling that way," Ira replied with a slightlaugh. "I should in your place. But what if I am not Le Geyt?"

  The courier struggled until he had raised himself slightly on one elbow,and looked straight at his captor for a moment. Then he continued:

  "If you are some Yankee personating him at General Burgoyne'sheadquarters, I say it is the boldest scheme I ever heard of, and I haveonly the profoundest respect for you. To be outwitted by such a manisn't half as bad as having a sneaking traitor get the best of you."

  "That is where the shoe pinches, is it?" the young scout asked withanother laugh. "Well, I'll let you judge as to my real character by thisnight's work."

  Silence reigned for some time, to be broken again by Master Preston, whosaid, as if he had been thinking over the events of the night:

  "We are not far from the British camp?"

  "What makes you think so?"

  "You were not gone long enough from the encampment during the afternoonto have traveled very far and also caught that string of fish."

  "You are a good reasoner, Master Preston."

  "I believe we haven't been very far from the camp at any time to-night,"the prisoner went on a moment or two later in tones of disgust. "Iwonder I didn't suspect you were leading me in a circle."

  "The circle was too large, and you were not familiar enough with thelocality to see the change in our course," Ira explained. "You can't beblamed, I assure you. The way you have hidden the letters I know youcarry, is proof you are nobody's fool."

  The compliment evidently pleased the prisoner, for he laughed silently,and then remarked significantly:

  "You haven't found them yet, have you?"

  Ira made no answer, and in a few minutes the prisoner was sleepingsoundly notwithstanding his uncomfortable situation.

  The little camp was astir early, for Dan Cushing arrived at dawn fromFort Edward. He looked the prisoner over, heard the story of hiscapture, and then turned to Late.

  "When did you get back?" he asked.

  "Yesterday about noon," his friend replied.

  "Any special news at Ticonderoga?" he next inquired.

  "Nothin', except General St. Clair has over three thousand men," was thereply. "Colonel Seth Warner has come with his regiment from Bennington."

  "And General Schuyler is gettin' reinforcements all the time," Danannounced. "Give him a little more time, an' he'll have ten thousand menat his back, 'nough to drive the red-coats back into Lake Champlain."

  "He must have the needed time before Burgoyne reaches him," Iradeclared.

  "That is what the general told me to tell you," the lad continued. "Hewill leave the road open to Fort Edward until General St. Clair findsout whether he will have to retreat from Ticonderoga. If he does, he isto destroy bridges, and cut down trees across the way to hinder thered-coats as much as possible. I carried that order to him before comin'back, else I'd been here sooner."

  "You're here in time," the leader replied, "though I shall have to sendyou back to the fort in a few hours. I want our prisoner in the custodyof General Schuyler, rather than that of General St. Clair. I shall feelsafer. And all three of you will make none too strong a guard. He mustnot be allowed to escape under any circumstances. Shoot him down shouldhe attempt it. But we'll have breakfast first, and then search him againfor those missing messages."

  In a half-hour they and their prisoner had eaten. Then the latter wasstripped to the skin, and every rag of his clothing examined. Then hisboots and weapons were again inspected, lest some secret cavity had beenoverlooked. But the search was as fruitless as the previous one. It wasevident that the captive enjoyed their discomfiture.

  "It matters little," Ira finally declared. "As long as he is a prisonerhe cannot deliver the letters, and that will answer our purpose. It ispossible, too, that the general may find a way to make him disclosetheir hiding place. At noon you are to begin your journey. Take the westtrail to the river, and keep on to the fort. When you go, I'll start forthe British camp. Until then Dan and I will sleep."

  The noon-day sun, therefore, looked down upon a deserted island. Thethree boys with their prisoner had gone over to the western shore of thelittle pond, and from there struck through the forest towards the Hudsonriver; while Ira re-crossed to the brook, and, descending that to thelarger stream, retraced his steps to the point where the latter met theHubbardtown trail. From this point he began his journey back to thelake. He took such a roundabout route as a precautionary step. Should hemeet any one who knew him, it would be supposed he was returning to theencampment directly from Master Graham's house.

  On his arrival he found General Burgoyne too busy with his arrangementsfor breaking camp on the morrow to give him more than a passing notice.

  Greeting him pleasantly, the officer remarked:

  "I trust that you made a safe journey, Master Le Geyt."

  "I did, and left Master Preston in good hands," he replied, an answerwhich satisfied the unsuspecting commander.

  By easy stages the army crept down toward Ticonderoga until only SugarLoaf Mountain[3] stood between it and the fortress. Here a halt wascalled that the engineering corps might examine the hill with a view toplacing a half-dozen cannon on its summit.

  With some anxiety Ira went over to the officer who was watching his menas they clambered up the steep sides, measuring distances, and selectingthe surest footing.

  "It is a difficult place to carry guns, captain," he said, as he stoodby the officer's side. "The enemy have always regarded such a feat asbeing impossible."

  "It may be for them, but not for us," the Britisher replied loftily."Before night I shall have my cannon yonder on that level spot you seebelow the big tree. From there it will be an easy task to run them overon the south side."

  "The fort will then be at your mercy," the young scout suggested.

  "Yes," the captain replied with much satisfaction. "As soon as I havethe guns in place, the general will throw his army about the fortress,and it will have to surrender, or be blown to pieces. The cannon isn'tyet made that can throw a shot six hundred feet straight up in the airto harm us."

  "That is so," the lad admitted, and turned away with a heavy heart.

  From his tent door he could watch the work of the engineers. A derrickwas made of a tree some distance up the precipitous side; a pair ofhorses was attached to one end of the rope, and a gun drawn up to alevel spot which had been cleared away a few feet below the tree. Thenthe tackling was carried to another improvised derrick fart
her up thehill, and again the horses swung the cannon toward the summit. It was aslow task, often beset with unexpected hindrance; but within two hoursthe first gun was lying on the level spot which the captain of the corpshad designated.

  "If one cannon may be put there, six can be made to follow," mutteredIra as he saw the end of the task. "It is only a question of time. Theofficer was right; before night he will have his battery where it can beput in place. I must get word to General St. Clair, and let him and hismen slip away before they are surrounded."

  The opportunity came to him unexpectedly. About dusk General Burgoynesent for him.

  "Master Le Geyt," he said, when the young scout was in his presence, "Iwant you to go below the fort and keep watch over the road the enemywould take if they should attempt to retreat to-night. Select as manymen with you as may be needed, and in case you discover any suspiciousmovement, report promptly to General Fraser. He has his division readyfor immediate pursuit the moment we know the Yankees are trying toescape us. Before another night I shall have a force where they cannotleave the fort however great their desire."

  Concealing the exultation he felt at this order, the lad repliedpromptly:

  "I will make arrangements to leave camp at once, general, and shall needbut one other man, provided we may have horses. There are two routes bywhich the Yankees can leave the fort; my comrade can watch one, while Ilook after the other, and the first to detect any movement of the enemywill report at once to General Fraser."

  "Very well. Go to Colonel Baume; he will furnish you with horses andman, and you can be off by the time it is fairly dark."

  "Yes, sir," and the lad hurried away.

  Twenty minutes later he rode out of the lines, accompanied by a stolidHessian whom he had chosen as his attendant. They went down the southroad until arriving at another running westward. Here he stationed hiscomrade, saying to him in his own tongue:

  "Stay here until I return, unless the Yankees come along in full force,in which case you are to ride to camp as fast as your horse will go, andtell your colonel. Do you understand?"

  He grunted an assent, and Ira rode off to the east, saying to himself:"You'll see no Yankee force to-night, my good fellow."

  A mile further on he came to a farm-house, up to which he rode boldly,and dismounted. Three rapid knocks on the door brought an immediateresponse.

  "I'll join you in a moment," a voice said, and soon a stalwart formstepped from the darkness within into the darkness without. Approachingthe horseman, he peered into his face an instant, and then exclaimed:

  "Ho, Ira! It is you! Well, what is up?"

  "I must go into the fort to-night," the rider explained in low tones. "Iwill leave my horse here. What is the password?"

  The man placed his lips to the lad's ear, and whispered the informationhe desired.

  "All right," he replied. "I will be back in a few hours."

  He then gave the reins of his steed into the farmer's hands, and,passing around the house, crossed an open field to the nearest thicket,into which he plunged. When he emerged from the timber he was near thefortress. Boldly approaching the sentinel, he replied to the challengeby giving the password, and in a few minutes was in the presence ofGeneral St. Clair.

  The officer's greeting was a warm one. Grasping the newcomer by thehand, he exclaimed:

  "I am glad to see you----" here he hesitated a moment, and then went onwith a grimace, as though the name was a disagreeable one to him--"Ira;but I fear your coming means bad news for me. What is it?"

  "I had no time to find my messengers," he began, "so came myself. Theengineers of Burgoyne have succeeded in hoisting six of their bestcannon up the north side of Sugar Loaf Mountain. To-morrow morning theywill be run across to the south edge, and the fort will be at theirmercy. You must retreat to-night."

  "If I do, it means leaving my cannon and stores for the enemy," thegeneral growled, more to himself than to his visitor. "Tell me how theydid it? I thought such a plan impossible."

  Rapidly the young scout described the methods used to accomplish thefeat, and added:

  "I also have another item of news. General Fraser's division is inreadiness to pursue you, if you attempt to leave the fortification. Ihave been sent here to see that you do not get away," and he and theofficer laughed. "The general has orders to put his troops in your rearin the morning."

  "Hum! hum!" the commander muttered. "That does look as though I mustmove quickly, if I am to save my men for future fighting," and herelapsed into deep thought.

  In silence Ira waited. At length the general spoke.

  "If I could have until to-morrow night, I believe it might be possibleto slip away with men, guns, stores, everything. Is there any way bywhich the movements of the red-coats could be delayed, say fortwenty-four hours?"

  It was a full minute before the lad replied: Then he said slowly: "Ifthose cannon on the mountain were disabled, they would have to spendanother day hoisting up a second battery, and in all probability GeneralFraser would not be sent to your rear until the guns were in position."

  "Exactly," broke in the officer eagerly, "if those guns can be spikedto-night, I am likely to secure the delay I need. Now the question is,can it be done? Are those cannon under guard?"

  "I think not," his visitor replied. "The British camp is so close to thefoot of the hill, and as you are not supposed to know that the guns areon its summit, they have not deemed such a precaution necessary."

  "It is worth trying," the commander said half to himself. "If I can onlyfind a man who is willing to undertake the job," and again he relapsedinto deep thought.

  "I will undertake it, general."

  "You?"

  "Yes. I believe I can do it without much risk. Once I climbed that hillfrom this side, just for the pleasure of saying I had accomplished thefeat. I am sure I can do it again. Give me the implements needed; saynothing to any one, and I will make the attempt. Two cries of anight-hawk from the south edge of the mountain, twice repeated, will betoken that I have succeeded. Three cries, unrepeated, is that I havefailed. There will be time for you to slip away with your men if I amobliged to report a failure."

  During several minutes they discussed the matter, General St. Clairoffering to send others to perform the task, and the lad insisting thathe be allowed to try it. In the end the officer yielded, and, with ahammer and files in his pockets, the young scout left the fortress.

  There was no difficulty in gaining the steep side of the mountain. Itwas there the hazardous work began. For some moments Ira studied therocks as best he could in the darkness. Finally he gave an exclamationof delight. He was certain he had hit upon the place where he began hisascent several months previous.

  Up the cliff, using hands and feet in every crevice he could find,grasping narrow ledge, or projecting root as he came to them, stoppingto rest at intervals, he clambered slowly on. A half-hour passed, andthen the toiler's efforts were rewarded. He gained a ledge from which hefound safe footing to the summit.

  Drawing a deep breath of relief, he sped noiselessly to the oppositeside. Finding the guns unguarded, he commenced the work which hebelieved meant so much to his friends in the fort. Wrapping a bit ofcloth about a file, and placing his folded handkerchief over the top todeaden the sound, he drove it into the touch-hole of the nearest cannon.

  The task accomplished, he listened attentively. There was no token thathis work had attracted the attention of any one in the British camp sixhundred feet below. Congratulating himself on such supposed fact, hemoved on to the next gun, and set firmly a second file. Again helistened, but could hear nothing.

  "The sound does not reach the camp," he said to himself, and as rapidlyas possible disabled the other four cannon. Straightening up from thelabor, he found himself face to face with the captain of the engineercorps, who demanded:

  "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

  Rejoicing that he had not yet been recognized, Ira, with quick wit,replied:

  "I am watching the guns
."

  "I was not aware we posted any guard here to-night," the officer saidsharply. "Unless you can give a better reason for being here I shall runyou through," and there could be heard a certain rustling which toldthat he was drawing his sword from its scabbard.

  "The general sent me," the lad replied, not thinking it worth while toexplain what general.

  "Oh!" the officer stammered. "I--I didn't think a sentinel was necessaryhere. I received no orders to that effect."

  "That is nothing to me," was the cool reply.

  This answer appeared to anger the engineer.

  "I am sure I heard a hammering up here," he declared.

  "Very likely. I was pounding on the guns. A man must do something tokeep himself awake."

  The answer apparently satisfied the officer, for he turned to retracehis steps down the mountain side. After going a few paces, however, hepaused to say:

  "You may tell the general that I came up here myself to see if the gunswere all right."

  "That is fair," the young scout agreed, wondering if the officer hadrecognized him.

  He stood motionless until every sound of footsteps had died away. Thenhe hurried across the summit and gave utterance to the cries which toldthe listening Yankee general that he had succeeded in his undertaking.

  But that gratified officer little fancied that the lad was even thenmentally asking if it was safe for him to return to the British camp.