In Hostile Red
him until he made Mary Desmond the issue between us. Somehow I could not pass that by, although she might never be anything to either him or me. Even in that moment when the quarrel was hot upon me, I wondered at the hold this Tory girl had taken upon my mind, a girl whom I had seen but two or three times, and from whom I had received nothing but haughtiness.
" So be it, then," said Catron, impatiently, " but I trust that both of you will permit me to say what I think of you."
" Certainly ! Tell us ! " I said.
" Then I think you are both confounded fools to push a quarrel and cut each other up with pistol bullets or sword blades when you might dwell to- gether in peace and friendship. Moreover, you have disturbed the game."
"We can go on with the cards," I suggested, " and Lieutenant Belfort and I will settle our affairs later."
" Of course," replied Catron. " You cannot fight at night, and we will meet here to-morrow in the afternoon to arrange for this business that you and Belfort seem bent on transacting. Meanwhile we will make the most of the night's remainder."
A few moments later we were absorbed in the cards, and the subject of the duel seemed to be banished from the minds of all, save those most concerned.
" What do you think of it? " I asked Marcel, when I was first able to speak to him, unheard by others.
" It is unfortunate, on the whole, though you are not to blame," he replied, pursing up his lips. " If you
The Quarrel
were to run him through with your sword, his inquis- itive tongue would be silenced and his suspicious eyes shut forever. And yet I would not wish you to do that."
" Nor I," I said with deep conviction.
The gray in the east soon grew, and the world slid into the daylight. I looked at my comrades, and they were all haggard, their features drawn and great black streaks showing under their eyes. I shoved my gold into my pockets and said that we must go.
"And all the rest of us, too," said Moore. " Heavens I suppose that Sir William should have some active duty for us to-day ! What would he think that we had been doing? "
His query was certainly pertinent, and the little gathering hastily dissolved, Marcel bidding his new- found cousin an affectionate good-night or rather good-morning.
As Marcel and I were about to pass out of the room, Waters appeared before us with a hot glass of mixed » |» irits in either hand.
"Better drink these before you go," he said. "They will freshen you."
The presence of this man with his evil eyes and significant glance coming upon us like an apparition was startling and decidedly unpleasant. I disliked him almost as much as I did Belfort, and in my soul I feared him more. I saw that self-same look of smirking satisfaction on his face, and I trembled not only with anger, but because I feared that the man possessed our secret and was playing with us for his own malicious sport. However we accepted his in- vitation and drank. 99
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" When do you fight Lieutenant Belfort ?" he asked, looking me straight in the eye as I handed back to him the empty glass.
" Is it any business of yours? " I said, flushing with anger.
"No, but I wondered why you and Lieutenant Belfort were so eager to quarrel," he replied, his eyes showing no fear of me.
" What damned impertinence is this ! " broke out Marcel. " How dare you, a servant, speak in such a manner ? "
" I beg your pardon, sir, I spoke hastily, I meant no harm," said the man, suddenly becoming humble, as if frightened by Marcel's heat.
" Then see that hereafter your actions conform better with your intentions," continued Marcel, as we passed out.
" That man is more to be feared than Belfort," I said a little later, speaking the thought that was in my mind.
"Yes, I think so, too," replied Marcel. "Con- found him ! Those eyes of his look me through, and I have the fancy that he is all the time laughing at us."
But Marcel's ill humor and suspicion lasted less than half a hour, and he was cheerfully humming a love song when he finally jumped into bed.
100.
CHAPTER EIGHT A File of Prisoners
WK rose at noon the next «lny, and aft T the fashion of those times strolK-d toward the centre of the city to meet our friends and hear whatever news might chance to be going. Twenty- four hours earlier I would have escaped from Philadelphia if possible, but now I felt that my engagement with Bel fort held me there. It was singular how circumstances combined to prevent our flight. " Our flight," I said, and yet I did not know that Marcel would go with me even if 1 fled. " J/// flight,'' I should say, and that, too, was impossible until I met Belfort. Then ? Suppose I should slay him!
We met Vivian and Moore looking as fresh as if they had slept all the preceding night instead of playing cards, which, though perhaps not surprising iu an Irishman, is somewhat beyond the power of most other people. A few moments later we met Belfort also, and he and I saluted gravely as became men who were to meet in another fashion soon.
"Come and see the American prisoners," said Moore. " The light cavalry took more than twenty yesterday, and they are just passing down the street to the prison, where I suspect that they will get better fare, bad as it is, than they have had for a long time."
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The prisoners filed past, a lean and ragged band, and my heart was filled with sympathy.
" What a deuced shame that we should have to fight them ! " said Moore. " Why could n't they go back to their farms like peaceable men and obey King George like the loyal subjects they ought to be ? That would end the trouble at once, and how simple ! What a logician I am ! "
" But the Irish don't obey King George," I said, "and they are his subjects too."
" That 's different," rejoined Moore, quickly. " The Irish don't obey anybody, and never will."
Marcel suddenly pulled my arm, and when I looked around at him his face was pale. The fourth man in the line of prisoners was gazing intently at us, and his eyes expressed two emotions, first recog- nition and then deep, bitter hatred. All soldiers detest traitors, and this man was one of the four whom Sergeant Pritchard had commanded. He knew us well, as we stood there in the gay uniforms of the enemy, and while he could not divine what we intended when we rode away in our borrowed plumage, he could believe but one thing now. His lips moved as if he were about to speak and denounce us ; but I shook my head, gave him the most signifi- cant look I could, and then putting my hand on Marcel's shoulder to indicate clearly that I was speaking to him, said in a loud voice,
" Captain Montague, look at the fourth man in the line ; does he not look wonderfully like one of the villains who chased us into the city ? "
Thank heaven the man Alloway was his name 102
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was as quick as a flash. He heard me call Marcel Montague, and everything else may have been obscure to him, but he knew that we were not there under our right names, and that that probably meant some- thing else other than treason. He dropped his head, looked no more at us, and walked on as impassive as the rest.
Two others had seen and taken notice, the two whom we dreaded most. They were Belfort and the scoundrel Waters, whom I now for the first time saw standing behind us, his red head towering above those around him. He seemed to have made it his special business to follow Marcel and me and to spy upon our doings. That hateful look of cunning was in his eyes, while Belfort's blazed with triumph. But both quickly dismissed all unusual expression, and Belfort was silent until the last man in the file had passed. Then he said,
" I propose that we go to the prison and talk to those men. They are broken down and starving, and would gladly tell their woes to those who bring them food. We may acquire wonderful information concerning Mr. Washington and his army."
" It would be but a useless annoyance of pris- oners," I said, seeing the drift of his mind.
" Not so," he replied. " It is a worthy object and is in the service of t
he king. I can easily get the necessary permission from the commandant of the prison."
Unluckily enough, Moore was greatly taken with the idea, and Vivian too liked it. They were all for talking with the prisoners, and Marcel and I were 101
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compelled to yield. We could have refused to go, but that, I felt sure, would be our undoing. I pre- ferred that the questions Belfort wished to ask should be asked in our presence.
Belfort called Waters and sent him to the com- mandant with a request for the necessary permission, and we proceeded with our stroll until his return.
" This man Belfort is bound to catch us, if not by one method then by another," whispered Marcel to me. " You should not have looked with such ad- miring eyes upon the lady whom he has chosen for his own."
" But she has not chosen him, so far as you know," I replied, " and Mr. Belfort is not to be the master of my inclinations."
" Oil, well, don't pick a quarrel with me about it," he replied, with a wry face and then a smile. He did not seem to feel any apprehension, and I wondered if fear for the future was ever a quality that entered into his mental constitution. I had begun to believe that it did not, and that he was not to be held accountable for it.
Belfort burst suddenly into smiles and began to bow with great energy. Miss Desmond was ap- proaching, and with her was Miss Rankin, a Tory's daughter. Miss Desmond was very simply dressed in light gray, and wore a single pink rose in her corsage. Her bearing was full of dignity, and she looked very beautiful, but, as always, cold and distant. We began to speak of the usual topics, for in our little pent-up city news soon became common ; but at that moment Waters arrived with the necessary permission. 104
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" The prisoners are sulky, sir," said Waters, with a respectful bow to Belfurt, " and are not disposed to talk to anybody, but the commandant says that you may try."
I wondered if he had some sort of an understand- ing with Belfort. It did not seem wholly unlikely.
" At any rate it will be a novelty to talk to them," said Belfort, " and to see the inside of a prison, knowing that you can leave it whenever you wish. But I think that at least one of them will talk."
It was impossible for Marcel or me to mistake the significance of his last sentence or his intentions. Nothing else could account for this sudden desire to visit the prisoners, which looked to an ordinary ob- server like the freak of some one who had more time than occupation. Yet I could sec purpose, de- termined purpose, in it.
" We are going to ask some American prisoners, just taken, why they are so foolish and wicked as to fight against the king," said Belfort, looking at Miss Desmond. " Will you not, Miss Desmond, and you, Miss Rankin, go with us and hear what they have to say ? I assure you that it will be both interesting and instructive."
The man's effrontery amazed me, but I fathomed the depth of his malice and his proposed method. His defeat the night before had lulled his suspicions, but the look and manner of the prisoners had caused them to flame afresh. Now he hoped to expose us in the presence of our friends, and above all in the presence of Miss Desmond. Fortune seemed at last to have put all the chances in his favor. 105
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"Oh, do let's go!" spoke up Miss Rankin, a young woman whose mind was not too important. " I have never been in a prison, and I should like to see how they live there."
" Believe me it is not a joyous sight, Miss Ran- kin," I said, hoping to keep the ladies away.
" Are you fully acquainted with it ? " asked Bel' fort, in a low voice.
"Not as well, perhaps, as some others ought to be," I said in the same tone.
'Come, Miss Desmond, will you not go?" re- peated Bclfort. " It will be a valuable experience, one worth remembering."
Her eyes wandered over us, but I could not read the expression in them. They dwelt for a moment on Waters, as if wondering why a man of his condi- tion was with us ; and then she said that she would go, a flush of interest showing in her face. So we walked together toward the city prison, Belfort and Vivian escorting Miss Desmond, while the others devoted themselves to Miss Rankiu. Marcel and I dropped a little behind.
" Phil," I said, " the gauntlet is nicely prepared for us."
"But we may run it," he replied cheerfully. "There's always a chance."
We were soon at the prison, and the commandant made no difficulties. In truth, Belfort seemed to have much influence with him, and five minutes later we were in the presence of the new prisoners, all of whom sat in one room where the dirt and cobwebs had gathered against the low ceiling, and 106
A File of Prisoners
where the light came dimly in at the narrow and iron-barred window. It was a gloomy place and its influence was visible at once upon us all. Even Miss Rankin ceased her chatter. The prisoners had just taken their fond, and were making them- selves as comfortable as they could, some upon two old wooden benches against the stone wall and some upon the floor. It suddenly occurred to me that they would send us here before they hung us, and the idea was not cheerful.
I wondered what the prisoners thought of us and our presence there, but they showed no curiosity. The man Alloway was sitting on the floor in a slouching attitude and took no notice.
" Here sit up, you ! " exclaimed Waters, talcing him roughly by the shoulders and jerking him up. " Do you not see that there are ladies present ? "
" I can't imagine that they have come to this place for bright company," said Alloway, grimly.
Then Belfort began to talk to one of the men, purposely delaying his examination of Alloway as if he would linger over a choice morsel. I paid little attention to his questions, which seemed to elicit no satisfactory answer, but kept my eyes on Miss Des- mond. Could a woman, young and beautiful, a Tory even, be without sympathy in the presence of her unfortunate countrymen, locked thus in a prison for no crime save fighting in defence of their own land, if that can be called a crime? Could she have so little heart? I did not believe it. In spite of her coldness and pride there was some charm about her which had drawn me to her, and I would 107
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not believe that a woman without heart could in- fluence me so. Therefore I watched her closely, and at last I saw the light appear in the impassive eyes. When the others were not looking, she bent over the youngest of the prisoners and slipped something in his hand. I saw the flash of the golden guinea and the look of deep human feeling, and I knew that my lady had a heart. But she said nothing either to the prisoners or to us, and I believed that in her Tory soul she still condemned while for the moment she pitied.
I wished to speak to the man Alloway, to give him some hint, while Bel fort was examining the others but I could find no opportunity. Always Belfort was watching me out of the corner of his eye, and Waters had the gaze of both eyes, full and square, upon me and Marcel. It was impossible for either of us to speak to Alloway without being seen or heard.
"Suppose we try this hulking fellow here, colonel," said Belfort to the commandant, pointing to Alloway.
" Would you like to ask him some questions, Cap- tain Montague ? " said Belfort, politely, to Marcel.
" No," replied Marcel, " it is no part of a British officer's duty."
Belfort flushed at the reply, and so did the com- mandant, who was an accessory to this proceeding. I saw that Marcel had made a new enemy.
"Come, my man, won't you give us some informa- tion ? " said Belfort to Alloway.
Alloway's face settled into a defiant frown, but hit eyes met mine once, and the swift look he gave 108
A F/7e of Prisoners
me was full of curiosity. Nor did I read any threat there.
" We are all friends of yours ; that is, all of us want to be your friends," said IJelfort
"Is that so? Then do your people have a habit of locking up in prison those of whom you think most ? " returned Alloway, ironically.
" While we arc all friends/' resumed Belfort, " some of us are perhaps better
friends than others, or better acquaintances. Are you sure there are not several of us whom you knew before to-day?"
" Why, what a strange examination, Lieutenant Belfort!" exclaimed Miss Desmond. Others, too, were looking at him in surprise. Belfort reddened, but it was not in him to be daunted.
" I asked for an excellent reason," he said politely to the commandant. " When these pris- oners were passing through the street, this man seemed to recognize one of us and I wished to know which it was."
" What of that ? " asked the commandant.
" It may lead to something else that I have in mhid," rcplird Belfort, with tenacity.
" Proceed then," said the commandant, wondcringly.
" Do you not know some one of us?" asked Bel- fort of Alloway. His face showed the eagerness with which he put the question.
" Yes," replied Alloway.
Perhaps I had no right to expect anything else, but the answer came like a thunderbolt, and my heart fell. Alloway would betray us, and after all there wa no reason why ho should not.
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In Hostile Red
Belfort's eyes flashed with triumph, and his hopes overran his caution.
"Who is it? who is it?" he cried. "Is it not he ? " and he pointed his finger straight at me.
Alloway examined me critically, and then said, " No, I never saw him before in my life. There 's the man I meant ! " He pointed at Moore and continued : " He was a prisoner with us for a while after White Plains, and I was one of the escort that took him to the British lines when we exchanged him and others."
Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09] Page 8
