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

by Herbert Carter

  CHAPTER XII. THE REAL IRA.

  "Excuse me, lieutenant," he said looking at the leader of the littleparty. "I think I left my knife here, and as it is a valuable one, Icame back for it."

  There was no question but that he had heard Ira's remark, and it wasequally evident he knew who the young scout really was. He must alsohave understood how dangerous was his position, yet he spoke as calmlyas if he had suddenly happened upon a party of friends, rather thanenemies.

  While Late and Joe stood motionless in bewilderment, Ira showed himselffully a match, both in coolness and politeness, for the spy.

  "We have seen nothing of the weapon, Master Turnbull," he replied, "butperhaps it is here. Come in, and we'll help you find it."

  "Thank you, lieutenant," the fellow replied as he entered and advancedto the corner where he had been sleeping. "It should be here," hecontinued, stooping down to look for it. "Yes, I have it," he cried amoment later, and came forward holding a beautiful dagger in his hand.Passing it to Ira, he asked in a tone of pride:

  "Did you ever see anything finer than that?"

  The scout gazed at it admiringly. The scabbard was of fine leather,curiously embroidered with threads of gold. The hilt was silver, and onit the letters "A. T." were engraved within a wreath of myrtle leavesand flowers; the blade was of finest steel.

  "A gift from my lady-love," the owner explained with a laugh. "Do youwonder I valued the toy enough to come back after it? I carry it in apocket in my waistcoat, as an extra weapon for a special time of need.Somehow it slipped from its hiding-place last night, and I did notdiscover it until I was a half-mile down the trail. Return it to me,please, and I will rejoin my companions."

  "The weapon you may have," Ira replied, passing it back to Turnbull;"but I must insist that you stay to breakfast with us."

  With a shrug of his shoulders the spy replied:

  "I suppose I must, if you insist upon it, lieutenant," and he quietlyseated himself upon a short log which served as stool and awaited thepleasure of his hosts.

  "Late, take your rifle and keep watch against the return of the Indianor Tories, while the rest of us eat," the young scout commanded.

  "You need not trouble yourself to do that," Master Turnbull explained."I told my friends to go on, and I would overtake them. It will be anhour or two before they think it worth while to turn back for thepurpose of hunting for me."

  "I do not doubt your word, sir," was the reply; "but we will run no riskof either surprise or capture."

  "Exercising your usual caution, lieutenant----but I will not speak theother name, for it may be you do not care to have even your comradesknow it. Had I been as careful, however, I would not now be in yourpower."

  "Why in the world didn't you run away as soon as you caught sight ofus?" Joe asked bluntly.

  "Because I preferred to be captured rather than lose my knife," the spyexplained with a smile. "That may seem queer now; but you willunderstand it later on in life."

  "When I get a sweetheart, I s'pose you mean," the lad replied, with agrin. "Well, it's lucky for us you've got one," and he turned hisattention to the food.

  When he had finished the meal he changed places with Latham, while Irasat with his eyes fixed upon the prisoner.

  "The more I think the matter over," Master Turnbull said after a briefsilence, "the surer I am, lieutenant, that you have adopted my trade."

  "I have sowed no seed of discord against General Burgoyne," Ira repliedin a meaning tone.

  "No, but you would have done it had such a step been possible, ornecessary to your purpose. You know the old saying that 'Everything isfair in love and war?'" was the smiling reply.

  "Yes, I presume so," Ira said slowly; "but it comes a trifle harder toadmit it in this case, than in some others."

  "I understand," the man replied with a show of sympathy; "but you havethis to console you, that every charge made against the general wasfalse."

  "That is something I readily acknowledge," the lad said with a laugh;"but you are a dangerous fellow to be at liberty, Master Turnbull, and Ishall be doing the Cause great service if I see that you are put whereit is no longer possible to do any harm."

  "I might have known you would take that view of it," the spy saidgloomily, "and yet I have a proposition to make."

  "What is it?"

  "I said you had taken up my trade," he began, "for I venture to guessyou have been up country as Ira Le Geyt. You steered clear of ColonelSt. Leger's headquarters, knowing there were those near-by who wouldrecognize you."

  Ira's reply was a smile.

  "I venture more," the speaker continued. "It is that you have been theIra Le Geyt who for weeks has been a close adviser of General Burgoyne.How you have brought it about, lieutenant, I don't know. Where the realIra is I cannot say. But, if the disasters that have befallen my generalare due to you, the injury you have done the king is greater than any Ihave worked against the colonies."

  "Thank you," the scout replied. "That is no mean compliment, coming fromone who has been so uniformly successful in his work as yourself."

  "I see we understand each other," the spy added. "Your work has offsetmine. Why not continue to let it do so?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Let me go now, and I give my word of honor that I will in no way betrayyou, either to the men I have just left, or to the general. In otherwords, you may go on in your work unmolested by me, if you allow me tocontinue mine."

  "You can afford to make such an offer," Ira said with a smile. "I haveyou where I can put an end to all your work. More than that even, foronce I deliver you into the hands of our commander, your life is notworth a farthing. What gain have I personally in releasing you? I cancontinue the work I am doing more successfully with you in our hands,than at liberty."

  "Do not be so sure of that," the spy returned quickly.

  "I will run the risk anyway," the scout answered decisively. "You mustgo with us," and ten minutes later the three lads and their prisonerwere moving rapidly down the trail.

  Not until they were twenty-five miles below the old hut, did the littleparty go into camp. A rude shack was the only shelter, and in this theprisoner and two of the scouts were soon sleeping. It fell to Late's lotto stand the first watch. His time of guard duty had nearly expired whenhe heard the spy moving restlessly. Going quickly to his side, the ladfound Turnbull sitting upright.

  "What is the trouble?" he demanded.

  "I want to have a talk with you," the man said in a low tone. "Can't Icome outside? I don't want to awaken your comrades."

  Wondering what the fellow had in mind; but believing himself capable ofcaring for him, Late said:

  "All right! Come on! But understand that if you attempt to run away I'lllet daylight through you."

  Master Turnbull made no reply to the threat; but, rising, followed Lateinto the open air. It was starlight, not very dark, and quite warm.Sitting on a rock, a rod or two from the shack, the prisoner began tofan himself with his hat.

  "My!" he cried. "I'm glad to get into the fresh air. It was so hot inthere, I couldn't sleep."

  "Nevertheless, you'll go back faster than you came out, if you don'thurry up an' tell me what's on your mind," Late growled, beginning togrow suspicious of the fellow.

  "I want to get away," he said, coming immediately to the subject inhand.

  "Of course you do," the lad retorted. "I should if I was in your place,"and he changed the position of his gun as token that he was not to betrifled with.

  The captive noted the movement, but was not disconcerted by it. "I canmake it an object for you to go to sleep, and let me steal away," hecontinued.

  "Will you give me that dagger?" Late asked, although, as he afterwardexplained to his companions, "I was mad enough inside to bite therascal's head off. To think the fool thought he could bribe me."

  "No, I couldn't do that," the prisoner replied; "but I'll give youthis," and he drew a purse from his pock
et, shaking it so that Latecould hear the clink of the gold.

  "How much is that?" the lad asked, with well-feigned eagerness.

  "See, they are all sovereigns," Master Turnbull said, opening the purseand dropping the coins into his hat one by one. "Ten," he added. "Moremoney than you are ever likely to have again, and it's all yours ifyou'll only be careless enough to let me get away."

  "Careless 'nough to let you get away," the young scout repeated in avoice loud enough to awaken his comrades. "I'll show you I'm not to bebought, you old fool, at any price," and he advanced angrily toward thespy with gun upraised, as if to strike him down.

  But before he could do so Turnbull leaped to his feet and made a dashfor the nearest tree, evidently hoping to get that between himself andhis guard, and so effect his escape. But he was not quick enough.Bringing his rifle to his shoulder, Late fired, and the fugitive fellheadlong to the ground. In another moment all three lads were bendingover what appeared to be a lifeless body.

  "Get a torch," Ira cried, thrusting his hand beneath the unconsciousman's shirt.

  When Joe came with a light, he added:

  "He is not dead. His heart still beats. Help me, Late, and we'll takehim to the shack."

  Gently they carried him to the shelter, and made careful search for thewound.

  "There it is on the back of his head," Joe cried, holding the torch sothat his companions might see.

  "The bullet has not shattered the bones," Ira said a moment later. "Itwas a glancing shot. He is only stunned. Bring some water, Late."

  They bathed the prisoner's temples; forced liquid between his lips;washed and bandaged the wound. When this had been done the man openedhis eyes, and, looking up into their faces, smiled faintly.

  "I didn't make it," he said feebly.

  "Hardly," Late replied. "I'm sorry I had to do it; but you shouldn'thave tried to run away."

  "I'm not blaming you," he answered. "You're of the right stuff even ifyou are a rebel. But I ought to have known as much. Your leader don'tselect any other kind of men to help him."

  After a short time he sank into a troubled sleep, and, leaving Joe towatch him, Ira and Late also laid down. A few hours later the formerchanged places with the watcher, and thus the night passed. At dawn thewounded man showed signs of fever, and was unable to walk.

  "What shall we do?" Late asked.

  "Make a litter and carry him," Ira replied. "He must be taken wherehe'll have better care than we can give him here."

  Late and Joe hurried off to get material for a stretcher; but a momentlater the latter came hurriedly back.

  "We have found a canoe that was hidden in a thicket on the river bank,"he cried. "Late is putting it into the water, and will then come to helpyou carry Master Turnbull. I would take hold, but don't believe my rightarm is strong enough yet."

  "It isn't," his comrade said with decision; "but you can carry our gunsand other traps."

  Late returned speedily, and slowly he and Ira carried the prisoner tothe stream. Fortunately the boat was large enough to carry them all, andembarking, they sailed rapidly down the current, escaping only by a fewminutes five horsemen who rode along the river bank in search of them.

  One of the riders leaped from his animal and examined the ground nearthe river carefully.

  "What do you make out, captain?" one of his companions asked.

  "The fellows found a canoe in those bushes, and, putting the wounded manin it, have gone down the stream," he replied.

  "How long ago?"

  "They are not a mile away."

  "Then we can head them off," his comrade cried. "The river makes a benda few miles below. By riding straight across the neck we should be ableto cut them off."

  "Easily," was the reply, and when the captain had remounted his horse,all hastened back to the trail. Gaining it, they put spurs to theirsteeds and galloped off in pursuit of their prey. Three hours later theywere near the river again.

  "We must be ahead of the rebels," the former spokesman said.

  "I am sure of it, Hiram," the eldest of the party replied.

  "There they come," Captain Brant cried five minutes later, pointing tothe bow of a canoe which was just coming into view. "We'll hitch ourhorses and be ready for them."

  Dismounting, they secured the animals behind a clump of trees, and thencrept cautiously along to the edge of the river, concealing themselvesbehind some rocks.

  Ignorant of the ambuscade, the occupants of the light craft paddledrapidly on. They had made good progress, and in another hour wouldarrive at a settlement where they could secure the aid the wounded manneeded. For some reason, however, which they could not themselvesexplain, they hugged the south bank, and the river at that point wasquite wide.

  Suddenly one of the hidden horses broke its halter and ran wildlythrough the woods, startling the other animals until they neighedloudly.

  "There must be a squad of horsemen over there," Ira cried. "Quick! pullunder cover of the right bank until we can look about us!"

  Late obeyed hurriedly, and the canoe was turned toward the shore.

  Crack! Crack! Crack! came the reports of three rifles, and the bulletsstruck the water behind, ahead, and below the craft.

  Then she glided under the cover of the overhanging trees, but as shedisappeared two more shots were fired from the ambush, a ball struck theprisoner, who had raised himself to learn the cause of the firing, inthe breast, killing him instantly.

  "He is dead!" Joe exclaimed, catching the spy in his arms as he sankslowly back into the bow of the boat.

  These words were heard on the opposite shore, and immediately old DavidDaggett leaped upon the rock behind which he had been concealed.Swinging his hat above his head, he shouted:

  "Hurrah! We've killed one of them! We've killed one of them!"

  Late seized his rifle and fired at the old man, muttering as he did so:"I'll fix you, you old Tory!"

  His bullet, however, struck, not the old, but the younger Tory, Hiram LeGeyt, who at that moment had sprung up to pull his father-in-law downbehind the barricade.

  The occupants of the canoe could not tell whether he was killed, or onlywounded. But they heard Captain Brant's voice directing two negroes tocarry their master into the woods where he would be out of range of theflying bullets. Then Ira, without exposing himself, called to theIndian:

  "Captain Brant, one of your shots struck our prisoner, who was onlyslightly wounded, in the breast, killing him instantly. We will leavehis body, and everything that belongs to him, in the canoe. You may takepossession of the craft at any time. We will not disturb you."

  Then he and his comrades, after securing the boat to the nearest tree,leaped ashore and entered the forest. Before they were out of hearing,however, the reply of the Mohawk chief could be heard:

  "Thanks, lads! I'll care for him as soon as I can leave my friend here,who is, I fear mortally wounded."

  "That hardly sounds like the bloodiest chieftain in the valley,[7] doesit?" Ira said, as he and his companions hastened along. "Even he seemsto appreciate a thoughtful act."

  When opposite the next settlement, they called to a lad who was fishingin the river, and he, coming across in a boat, ferried them over. Therethey passed the night, and on the following morning hastened on down thevalley.

  As they advanced Joe referred to the change in the commanders of theContinental forces, asking:

  "Will you report to this General Gates, Ira, the same as you did toGeneral Schuyler?"

  "Certainly," he answered. "He is now in General Schuyler's place, andshould be treated precisely as was our former leader."

  "But Late and I don't know him," he objected.

  "Neither do I," was the reply. "But it will be easy to fix all that. Youwill find General Schuyler, even though he has been relieved of command,in the camp, doing all he can for the Cause which is dearer to him thanlife."

  "It isn't many men who would do that," Late interrupted. "Do youremember how it was with Colonel Stark? When he
thought he had beenmisused, he surrendered his commission and went back to his farm in NewHampshire."

  "But he responded to the call from Bennington," Ira replied, "and,recognizing his mistake, will now go back to the regular army."

  "But our general don't make such mistakes," cried Joe in tones ofadmiration. "He's large enough to overlook any personal slight, for thegood of the Cause. Some day the people of the colonies will know thetruth, and count him one of their heroes."

  "Thank you!" Ira said with glistening eyes. "May we all live to see yourprophecy come true!"

  At sunset they were in the vicinity of Bemis Heights, and had nodifficulty in locating the British camp.

  "Well, lads, we'll part here," Ira said. "You will find Dan with ourarmy, and after you have reported to the general, he will show you theplace I have chosen as our rendezvous on this side the Hudson."

  "But is it safe now for you to enter the British lines?" Late askedanxiously. "What if David Daggett should show up there within a fewhours?"

  "He'll hardly arrive as soon as that," was the quiet reply, "thoughdoubtless he will appear later. Meantime I have the opportunity toreport to General Burgoyne, and learn the present condition of hisforces. It will probably be the last work I shall do as Ira Le Geyt,"and he left them.

  Before they gained the entrenchments of the Continentals, the two boysmet Dan Cushing.

  "Where is Ira?" was his first question.

  "Gone into the British encampment," they explained.

  "He ought not have gone there!" Dan cried.

  "Why not?"

  "'Cause General Gates has let the real Ira go; an' also set free thatcourier, George Preston," was the startling announcement. "GeneralSchuyler, soon as he heard of it, sent me to meet you an' stop Ira.Those fellers will make straight for Burgoyne's headquarters, an' getthar 'fore our Ira does. It means they'll hang him soon as he shows up."

  For some moments his hearers stood as though stupefied, and then Lategasped:

  "What can be done?"

  "I'll tell you what I'm goin' to do," Dan said stoutly. "I shall followIra into the British lines, if necessary, to save him, or hang withhim," and he walked away toward the enemy's encampment.

  There was need for him, or some other friend, to take such an heroicstep, for before he had gained the nearest British picket post, theyoung scout was in General Burgoyne's tent, face to face with the realIra Le Geyt.