I lay quite still until my pulses went down and my breath became longer. I was fearful that the sentinel would attempt some movement, but a cauti- ous look reassured me. He could not leave his covert behind the log for other shelter without my seeing him. It was true that I could not leave the tree, but I did not feel much trouble because of that. I had no desire to shoot him, while he, with- out doubt, would fire at me, if the chance came to him, thinking me to be a British officer.
The tree grew on ground that was lower than
the spot from which I had seen the sentinel. In
my present crouching position he was invisible to
me, and I raised myself carefully to my full height
213
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in order that I might see him again. But even by standing on my toes I could see only the fur tip of his cap. I could assure myself that he was still there, but what he was preparing I knew not, nor could I ascertain. Yet I doubted not that his muscles were ready strung to throw his rifle to the shoulder and send a bullet into me the moment I stepped from behind the tree. The unhappy part of my situation lay in the fact that he would fire before I could make explanations, which would be a most uncomfortable thing for me, and in all likelihood would make explanations unnecessary, considering the deadly precision of these Virginia sharpshooters. Confound them ! why should they be so vigilant concerning me, when there was a British army near by that stood in much greater need of their watching? But it was not worth while to work myself into a stew because I had got into a fix. The thing to do was to get out of it.
After some deliberation, I concluded that I would hail my friend 'who was yet an enemy, or at least in the position of one. I was afraid to shout to him, for most likely, with his forest cunning, he would think it a mere device to entrap him into an unwary action that would cost his life. These wilderness men are not to be deluded in that manner. How- ever, there might be others lurking near, perhaps British and Americans both, and either one or the other would take me for an enemy and shoot me.
But at last I called in a loud whisper to the sentinel. I said that I was a friend, though I 2U
The Silent Sentinel
came in the guise of an enemy. The whisper was shrill and penetrating, and I was confident that it reached him, for the distance was not great. But he made no sign. If he heard me lie trusted me not. I think there are times when we can be- come^ too cunning, too suspicious. This I felt with a great conviction to be one of such times.
As a second experiment, I decided that I would expose my hat or a portion of my uniform, in the hope that it would draw his fire. Then I could rush upon him and shout my explanations at him before he could reload his gun and shoot a second bullet at me. But this attempt was as dire a fail- ure as the whispering. He was too wary to be caught by such a trick, with which he had doubtless been familiar for years.
I almost swore in my vexation at being stopped in such a manner. But vexation soon gave way to deepening alarm. I could not retreat from the tree without exposing myself to his fire, and there I was, a prisoner. As I lay against the tree-trunk, shelter- ing myself from the sharpshooter, a bullet fired by some one else might cut my life short at any moment. I waited some minutes, and again I raised myself up and took a peep" . There he was, crouched behind his log, and still waiting for me. He seemed scarce to have moved. I knew the illimitable patience of these forest-bred men, the hours that they could spend waiting for their prey, immovable like wooden images. I repeat that I had seen them at work at Saratoga, and I knew their capabilities. I liked not the prospect, and I had good reason for it. 215
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The old chill, the old depression, which was born part of the night and part of my situation, came upon me. I could do naught while my grim sen- tinel lay in the path. I knew of no device that would tempt him to action, to movement. I wearied my brain in the endeavor to think of some way to form a treaty with him or to tell him who and what I was. At last another plan suggested itself, I tore off a piece of the white facing of my uniform, and, putting it on the end of my gun- barrel, thrust it out as a sign of amity. I waved it about for full five minutes, but the watcher heeded not ; perchance he thought this too was a trick to draw him from cover, and he would have none of it. Again I cursed excessive caution and suspicion, but that did me no good, save to serve as some slight relief to my feelings.
A strong wind sprang up, and the woods moved with it. The clouds came again before the moon, and the color of trees and earth faded to an ashen gray. The light became dimmer, and I felt cold, to the bones. Fear resumed sway over me, and dry- lipped, I cursed my folly with bitter curses.
But the shadows before the moon suggested one last plan to me, a plan full of danger in the presence of the watchful sentinel, but like to bring matters to a head. I unbuckled my sword and laid it upon the ground behind the tree. I also removed every- thing else of my equipment or uniform that might make a noise as I moved, and then crept from be- hind the tree. I had heard how Indians could steal through the grass with less noise than a lizard would 216
The Silent Sentinel
make, and I hud a belief that I could imitate them, at least to some extent.
I felt in front of me with my hands, lest I should place the weight of my body upon some stick that would snap with a sharp report. But there was only the soft grass, and the faint rustle it made could not reach the ears of the sentinel, no matter how keen of hearing or attentive he might be. All the time I kept my eyes upon the log behind which he lay. Each moment I trembled lest I should see a gun-barrel thrust over the log and pointed at me. Then it was my purpose to spring quickly aside, rush upon him, and cry out who I was.
But the threatening muzzle did not appear. I grew proud of my skill in being able thus to steal upon one of these rangers, who know the forest and all its tricks as the merchant knows his wares. Perchance I could learn to equal them or to sur- pass them at their own chosen pursuits. I even stopped to laugh inwardly at the surprise and cha- grin this man would show when I sprang over the log and dropped down beside him, and he never suspecting, until then, that I was near. Of a truth, I thought, and this timr with a better grace, there could be an excess of caution and suspicion.
When I had traversed about half the intervening space, I lay flat upon my face and listened, but with- out taking my eyes off the particular portion of the log over which I feared the gun-muzzle would appear. But the watcher made no movement, nor could I hear a sound, save that of the rising wind playing its dirge through the woods. Clearly I was 217
In Hostile Red
doing my work well. Bringing my muscles and nerves back to the acutest tension, I crept on.
I must have been aided by luck as much as by skill, perhaps more, and I made acknowledgment of it to myself, for never once did I make a false move- ment with hand or foot. No twigs, no dry sticks, the breaking of which would serve as an alarm, came in my way. All was as smooth and easy as a silk-covered couch. Fortune seemed to look kindly upon me.
In two more minutes I had reached the log, and only its foot or two of diameter lay between me and the sentinel. Complete success had attended my efforts so far. It only remained for me to do one thing now, but that was the most dangerous of all. I lay quite still for a moment or two, drawing easy breaths. Then I drew in a long one, inhaling all the air my lungs would hold. Stretching every muscle to its utmost tension, and crying out, " I 'm a friend ! I 'm a friend ! " I sprang in one quick bound over the log.
I alighted almost upon the ranger as he crouched against the fallen trunk, the green of his hunting? shirt blending with the grass, and the gray of his fur cap showing but faintly against the bark of the tree. As I alighted by his side he moved not. His rifle, which was clutched in both his hands, remained unraised. His head still rested against the tree- trunk, though his eyes were wide open.
I put my hand upon him, and sprang back with a cry of affright that I could not check.
The sentinel was dead and cold. 218<
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CHAPTER NINETEEN A Ride for the Cause
WHEN I discovered that I had stalked a dead man as the hunter stalks the living deer, I was seized with a cold chill, and an icy sweat formed upon my brow. My muscles, after so much tension, re- laxed as if I had received some sudden and mortal blow, and I fell into a great tremble.
But this did not last long. I trust that I am not a coward, and I quickly regained possession of my limbs and my faculties. Then I turned to the examina- tion of the dead man. He had been shot through the head, and I judged that he had been dead a good two hours. A stray ball must have found him as he lay there watching for the enemy and with his rifle ready. I thought I could still trace the look of the watcher, the eager attention upon his features.
I left him as he was, on duty in death as well as in life, and hurried through the grass, still hoping to reach the Americans in the valley beyond, in time.
A second thought caused me to stop. I knew that in the rush and hurry of the fight our horses must have broken from the men, and perchance might yet be wandering about the woods. If I could secure one, it would save much strength and time. 219
In Hostile Red
I began to look through the woods, for I had little fear of interruptions now, as I believed that every- body except the dead and myself had left the pass. My forethought and perseverance were not without reward, for presently I found one of the horses, saddled and bridled, and grazing peacefully among the trees. He must have been lonely, for he whin- nied when he saw me, and made no effort to- escape.
I sprang into the saddle, and was soon riding rapidly into the farther valley. The slope was not so steep as that up which I had come with the British, and the woods and the underbrush grew more scan- tily. There was sufficient light for me to see that I would soon be on cleared ground, where I could make good speed and perchance find the object of my search quickly.
There was increase to my joy when my horse's foot rang loud and clear, and, looking down, I saw that I had blundered into a good road. It led straight away down the valley, and, with a quicken- ing gait, we followed it, my good horse and I.
The night brightened somewhat, as if to keep pace with the improvement of my fortune. I could see fields around me, and sometimes caught glimpses of houses surrounded by their shade-trees. From one of these houses a dog came forth and howled at me in most melancholy tune, but I heeded him not. I rode gayly on, and was even in high enough mood to break forth into a jovial song, had I thought it wise. Such was my glee at the thought that I had left the British, had cast off my false character, and was now about to rcassume my old self, the only self that was
IRA)
A Ride for the Cause
natural to me, and take my place among the men with whom I belonged.
It was shortly after this that my horse neighed and halted, and, had not my hand been firm on the reins, he would have turned and looked behind him. I urged him forward again, but in a few moments he repeated the same suspicious movement. This caused me to reflect, and I came to the conclusion that some one was behind us, or my horse would not have acted in such fashion. I pulled him to a stand-still, and, bending back, lu-ard witli much distinctness the sound of hoof-beats. Nor was it that only; the hoof-beats were rapid, and could be made only by a horse approaching with great speed. Even in the brief space that I listened, the hoof- beats of the galloping horse became much more distinct, and it was evident to me that if I did not put my horse to his own best speed, or turn aside into the fields, 1 would be overtaken. But I had no mind either to follow the difficult route through the fields or to flee from a single horseman. My loaded pistol and my sword weiv in my belt ; and, while I did not wish to slay or wound any one, it did not seem becoming in me to take to flight.
I eased my grasp on the bridle-rein and took my pistol in my hand. Then, twisting myself round in my saddle, and watching for the appearance of my pursuer, if pursuer it were, I allowed my horse to fall into a walk.
I knew I would not have long to wait, for in the still night the hoof-beats were now ringing on the road. Whoever it was, he rode fast and upon a 221
In Hostile Red
matter of moment. Presently the figure of the flying horse and rider appeared dimly. Then they grew more distinct. The rider was leaning upon his horse's neck, and as they rushed down upon us I saw that it w as a woman. Great was my surprise at the sight.
My first impulse was to rein aside, but when the woman came within twenty feet of me she raised her face a little, and then I saw that it was Mary Des- mond, the Tory. Even in that faint light I could see that her face was strained and anxious, and I was struck with a great wonderment.
I turned my horse into the middle of the road, and she was compelled to rein her own back so suddenly that he nearly fell upon his haunches.
" Out of my way ! " she cried. " Why do you stop me ? "
" I think you will admit, Miss Desmond," I said, "that the meeting is rather unusual, and that sur- prise, if nothing else, might justify my stopping you."
" Why is it strange that I am here ? " she de- manded, in a high tone. " Why is it more strange than your presence here at this time ? "
" I am riding forward to join a detachment of the American army which I believe is encamped not much farther on," I said.
In reassuming my proper American character I had forgotten that I still wore the British garb.
"Why are you doing that?" she asked, quickly and keenly.
" I wish to take them a message," I replied.
"Who are you, and what are you?" she asked, abruptly, turning upon me a look before which my 222
A Ride for the Cause
eyes fell, " you whose garb is English and speech American."
"Whatever I am at other times," I replied, "to- night I am your servant only."
"Then," she replied, in a voice that thrilled me, "come with me. I ride to warn the Americans that they are threatened with destruction."
" Yon!" I exclaimed, my surprise growing. " You warn them I You, the most bitter of Tories, as bitter as only a woman can be ! "
She laughed a laugh that was half of triumph, half of scorn.
" I have deceived you too, as I have deceived all the others," she said. " But I should not boast. The part was not difficult, and I despised it. Come ! we will waste no more time. Ride with me to the American army, if you are what you have just boasted yourself to be."
Her voice was that of command, and I had no mind to disobey it.
" Come," I cried, " I will prove my words."
" I know the way," she replied. " I will be the guide."
We galloped away side by side. Many thoughts were flying through my head. I understood the whole story at once, or thought I did, which yielded not less of satisfaction to me. She was not the Tory she had seemed to be, any more than I was the Briton whose uniform I had taken. Why she had assumed such a rdle it was not hard to guess. Well, I was glad of it. My spirits mounted to a wonderful degree, past my ability to account for 223
In Hostile Red
such a flight. But I bothered myself little about it. Another time would serve better for such matters.
The hoof-beats rang on the flinty road, and our horses stretched out their necks as our pace grew swifter and we fled on through the night.
" How far do we ride ? " I asked.
" The American encampment is four miles be- yond," she said. " The British force is coming down on the right. Pray God we may get there iu time!"
" Amen ! " said I. " But, if we do not, it will not be for lack of haste."
We passed a cottage close by the roadside. The clatter of our horses' hoofs aroused its owner, for in those troublous times men slept lightly. A night- capped head was thrust out of a window, and I even noted the look of wonderment on the man's face ; but we swept by, and the man and his cottage were soon lost in the darkness behind us.
" It will take something more than that to stop us to-night," I cried, in the exuberance of my spirits.<
br />
Miss Desmond's face was bent low over her horse's neck, and she answered me not ; but she raised her head and gave me a look that showed the courage a true woman sometimes has.
We were upon level ground now, and I thought it wise to check our speed, for Miss Desmond had ridden far and fast, and her horse was panting.
" We will not spare the horse," she said. " The lives of the patriots are more precious."
" But by sparing the former we have more chance of saving the latter," I said ; and to that argument 224
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only would she yield. The advantage of it was soon seen, for when we increased our speed again the ! tones lengthened their stride and their breath came easier.
" Have you heard the sound of arms ? " she asked. " Surely if any attack had been made we could hear it, even as far as this, in the night."
" I have heard nothing," I replied, " save the noise made by the galloping of our own horses. We are not yet too late."
" No, and we will not be too late at any time," she said, with sudden energy. " We cannot we must not be too late ! "
" How strong is the American force ? " I asked.
"Strong enough to save itself, if only warned in time," she replied.
We came to a shallow brook which trickled peace- fully across the road. Our horses dashed into it, and their flying hoofs sent the water up in showers. But almost before the drops could fall back into their native clement we were gone, and our horses' hoofs were again ringing over the stony road.
Before us stretched a strip of forest, through the centre of which the road ran. In a few moments we were among the trees. The boughs overhung the way and shut out half of the moon's light. Beyond, we could see the open country again, but before we reached it a horseman spurred from the wood and cried to us to halt, flourishing his naked sword be- fore him.
Altsheler, Joseph - [Novel 09] Page 17
