CHAPTER XXIII.
WASHINGTON'S LAST MEETING WITH THE SPY.
It was at the close of a stormy day in September that a largeassemblage of officers was collected near the door of a building thatwas situated in the heart of the American troops, who held theJerseys. The age, the dress, and the dignity of deportment of most ofthese warriors indicated them to be of high rank, but to one inparticular was paid a deference[132] and obedience that announced himto be of the highest. His dress was plain, but it bore the usualmilitary distinctions of command. He was mounted on a noble steed of adeep bay, and a group of young men, in gayer attire, evidently awaitedhis pleasure and did his bidding. Many a hat was lifted as its owneraddressed this officer, and when he spoke, a profound attention,exceeding the respect of mere professional etiquette,[133] wasexhibited on every countenance. At length the general raised his ownhat and bowed gravely to all around him. The salute was returned, andthe party dispersed, leaving the officer without a single attendantexcept his body servants and one aid-de-camp. Dismounting, he steppedback a few paces, and for a moment viewed the condition of his horsewith the eye of one who well understood the animal; then, casting abrief but expressive glance at his aid, he retired into the building,followed by that gentleman.
[Footnote 132: respect.]
[Footnote 133: forms required by good breeding.]
On entering the apartment that was apparently fitted for hisreception, he took a seat, and continued for a long time in athoughtful attitude, like one in the habit of communing much withhimself. During this silence, the aid-de-camp stood in expectation oforders. At length the general raised his eyes, and spoke in those low,placid tones that seemed natural to him:
"Has the man I wished to see arrived, sir?"
"He waits the pleasure of your excellency."
"I will receive him here, and alone, if you please."
The aid bowed and withdrew. In a few minutes the door again opened,and a figure, gliding into the apartment, stood modestly at a distancefrom the general, without speaking. His entrance was unheard by theofficer, who sat gazing at the fire, still absorbed in his ownmeditations. Several minutes passed, when he spoke to himself in anundertone:
"To-morrow we must raise the curtain, and expose our plans. May Heavenprosper them!"
"Harvey Birch," he said, turning to the stranger, "the time hasarrived when our connection must cease; henceforth and forever we mustbe strangers."
The peddler dropped the folds of the great-coat that concealed hisfeatures, and gazed for a moment earnestly at the face of the speaker;then, dropping his head upon his bosom, he said, meekly:
"If it be your excellency's pleasure."
"It is necessary. Since I have filled the station which I now hold, ithas become my duty to know many men who, like yourself, have been myinstruments in procuring intelligence. You have I trusted more thanall; I early saw in you a regard to truth and principle that, I ampleased to say, has never deceived me. You alone know my secret agentsin the city, and on your fidelity depend, not only their fortunes, buttheir lives."
He paused, as if to reflect in order that full justice might be doneto the peddler, and then continued:
"I believe you are one of the very few that I have employed who haveacted faithfully to our cause; and, while you have passed as a spy ofthe enemy, have never given intelligence that you were not permittedto divulge. To me, and to me only of all the world, you seem to haveacted with strong attachment to the liberties of America."
During this address, Harvey gradually raised his head from his bosom,until it reached the highest point of elevation; a faint tingegathered in his cheeks, and, as the officer concluded, it was diffusedover his whole countenance in a deep glow, while he stood, proudlyswelling with his emotions, but with eyes that modestly sought thefeet of the speaker.
"It is now my duty to pay you for these services; hitherto you havepostponed receiving your reward, and the debt has become a heavyone. I wish not to undervalue your dangers; here are a hundreddoubloons;[134] you will remember the poverty of our country, andattribute to it the smallness of your pay."
[Footnote 134: a former Spanish coin, worth about $8.]
The peddler raised his eyes to the countenance of the speaker; but, asthe other held forth the money, he moved back, as if refusing the bag.
"It is not much for your services and risks, I acknowledge," continuedthe general, "but it is all that I have to offer; at the end of thecampaign it may be in my power to increase it."
"Does your excellency think that I have exposed my life and blasted mycharacter for money?"
"If not for money, what then?"
"What has brought your excellency into the field? For what do youdaily and hourly expose your precious life to battle and the halter?What is there about me to mourn, when such men as you risk their allfor our country? No, no, no--not a dollar of your gold will I touch;poor America has need of it all."
The bag dropped from the hand of the officer, and fell at the feet ofthe peddler, where it lay neglected during the remainder of theinterview. The officer looked steadily at the face of his companion,and continued:
"You will soon be old; the prime of your days is already past; whathave you to subsist on?"
"These!" said the peddler, stretching forth his hands, that alreadywere embrowned with toil.
"But those may fail you; take enough to secure a support to your age.Remember your risks and care. I have told you that the characters ofmen who are much esteemed in life depend on your secrecy; what pledgecan I give them of your fidelity?"
"Tell them," said Birch, advancing and unconsciously resting one footon the bag--"tell them that I would not take the gold!"
The composed features of the officer relaxed into a smile ofbenevolence, and he grasped the hand of the peddler firmly.
"Now, indeed, I know you; and although the same reasons which havehitherto compelled me to expose your valuable life will still exist,and may prevent my openly asserting your character, in private I canalways be your friend. Fail not to apply to me when in want orsuffering, and so long as God giveth to me, so long will I freelyshare with a man who feels so nobly and acts so well. If sickness orwant should ever assail you, and peace once more smile upon ourefforts, seek the gate of him whom you have so often met as Harper,and he will not blush to acknowledge you in his true character."
"It is little that I need in this life," said Harvey; "so long as Godgives me health and honest industry, I can never want in this country;but to know that your excellency is my friend, is a blessing that Iprize more than all the gold of England's treasury."
The officer stood for a few moments in the attitude of intensethought. He then drew to him the desk, and wrote a few lines on apiece of paper, and gave it to the peddler.
"That Providence destines this country to some great and glorious fateI must believe, while I witness the patriotism that pervades thebosoms of her lowliest citizens," he said. "It must be dreadful to amind like yours to descend into the grave branded as a foe to liberty;but you already know the lives that would be sacrificed, should yourreal character be revealed. It is impossible to do you justice now,but I fearlessly entrust you with this certificate; should we nevermeet again, it may be serviceable to your children."
"Children!" exclaimed the peddler. "Can I give to a family the infamyof my name?"
The officer gazed at the strong emotion he exhibited with pain, and hemade a slight movement towards the gold; but it was arrested by theexpression of his companion's face. Harvey saw the intention, andshook his head, as he continued more mildly:
"It is, indeed, a treasure that your excellency gives me; it is safe,too. There are men living who could say that my life was nothing tome, compared to your secrets. The paper that I told you was lost Iswallowed when taken last by the Virginians. It was the only time Iever deceived your excellency, and it shall be the last. Yes, this is,indeed, a treasure to me. Perhaps," he continued, with a melancholysmile, "it may be known aft
er my death who was my friend; but if itshould not, there are none to grieve for me."
"Remember," said the officer, with strong emotion, "that in me youwill always have a secret friend; but openly I cannot know you."
"I know it, I know it," said Birch; "I knew it when I took theservice. 'Tis probably the last time that I shall ever see yourexcellency. May God pour down his choicest blessings on your head!" Hepaused, and moved towards the door. The officer followed him with eyesthat expressed deep interest. Once more the peddler turned, and seemedto gaze on the placid but commanding features of the general withregret and reverence, and then, bowing low, withdrew.
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