Prisoners of Hope: A Tale of Colonial Virginia

by Mary Johnston

  CHAPTER XXIII

  THE QUESTION

  "We know all but two things, but those are the most important of all,"said the Governor, tapping his jeweled fingers against the table.

  "It is much to be regretted," said the Surveyor-General, "that thepresence of the young lady was so soon discovered. Otherwise--"

  "Otherwise we might have had further information on more than onesubject," said the Governor dryly.

  "We must make the best of what we have," continued Carrington calmly."After all, it is enough."

  The Governor rose and began to pace the floor, his head thoughtfullybent, his unwounded hand tugging at the curls of his periwig. "It is notenough," he said at length, pausing before the great table around whichthe company were seated. "Thanks to the gallant daughter of the gallantVerneys,"--a bow and smile to Patricia, sitting enthroned in the greatchair in their midst,--"we know much, but it is not enough. These rogueshave set a day upon which to rise; they have appointed a place to whichthey are to resort. That day may be to-morrow, that place any point inany one of a dozen counties."

  "I apprehend that the cockatrice was to be hatched near by," said SirCharles.

  "It is the likeliest thing," answered the Governor, "seeing that theirringleader belongs to this plantation. But we do not know. And theremay not be time to reach the planters, to give them warning, to arrestthese d--d traitors, scattered as they are from the James toRappahannock, and from Henricus to the Chesapeake. It might be best toassemble the trainbands at this cursed spot if it can be found, and toawait their coming in force. But to know neither time nor place--tostart a hue and cry and have the storm burst before it reaches tenplantations--to guard one point and see fire rise at another a dozenleagues away--impossible! Gentlemen, we must come at the heart of thismatter!"

  "It is most advisable," said Colonel Verney gravely. "Examine theprisoners again," suggested Sir Charles.

  "One of them is no wiser than we. You are certain as to this, MistressPatricia?"

  "Yes, your Excellency."

  "Humph! one does not know; three are dead; there remain, then, thatshaven and branded runaway and the two convicts."

  "You will learn naught from the runaway, your Excellency!" called outthe overseer from where he stood at a respectful distance from thecompany. "He's one of them crazy fanatics that wild horses couldn't drawtruth from. No Indian torture stake could make him speak if he didn'twant to,--nor keep him from it if he did."

  "I know that kind," said the Governor, with a short laugh, "and we willnot waste time upon him, but will try if the convict--he who seems tohave been their leader--be not more amenable. Bring him in, Woodson."

  When the overseer had gone, a silence fell upon the company gathered inthe master's room. The Governor paced to and fro, perplexity in hisface; the Colonel knit his grizzled brows and studied the floor; Dr.Anthony Nash brought the writing materials displayed upon the table,closer to him, and held a quill ready poised for dipping into the inkhorn, while the Surveyor-General with a carefully composed countenancetoyed with a pink which he took from the bowl of flowers before him. SirCharles leaned back in his seat and looked at Patricia who, seatedbetween him and her father, stared before her with hard, bright eyes.Her lips were like a scarlet flower against the absolute pallor of herface; her hair was a crown of pale gold. In the great chair, her whitearms resting upon the dark wood, her feet upon a carved footstool, shelooked a queen, and the knot of brilliantly dressed gentlemen herattendant council.

  The door opened and the two overseers appeared with Landless, whoadvanced and stood, silent and collected, before the ring of hostilefaces.

  "What is your name, sirrah?" said the Governor, throwing himself intohis chair and frowning heavily.

  "Godfrey Landless."

  "I am told that you are son to one Warham Landless, a so-called colonelin the rebel army and hand in glove with the usurper himself."

  "I am the son of Colonel Warham Landless of the forces of theCommonwealth, and friend to his Highness the Lord Protector."

  "Humph! And did you fight in these same forces yourself?"

  "At Worcester, yes."

  "Humph! the son of a traitor and rebel--traitor and rebel yourself--andconvict to boot! A pretty record! On what day was this rising tooccur?"

  No answer. The Governor repeated the question. "On what day was thisprecious mine to be sprung? And to what place were you to resort?"

  Landless remaining silent, the Governor's face began to flush and theveins in his forehead to swell. "Have you lost your tongue?" he saidfiercely. "If so, we will find a way to recover it."

  "I shall not answer those questions," said Landless firmly.

  "It is your one chance for life," said the Governor sternly. "Answer metruly, and you may escape the gallows. Refuse, and you hang, so surelyas I sit here."

  "I shall not answer them."

  "Sink me if I ever knew a Roundhead so careless of his own interests,"drawled Sir Charles. The Governor whispered to the master of theplantation, then turned again to the prisoner.

  "I give you one more chance," he said harshly. "When is this day? Whereis this place?"

  "I shall not tell you."

  "We will see about that," said his Excellency with compressed lips."Verney, send your daughter from the room. Woodson, you understand thisgear, having been in the Indies. This man is to tell us all that heknows of this business. Call in a trustworthy slave or two to help you."

  Patricia uttered a low cry, and the Surveyor-General crushed the flowerbetween his fingers and turned upon the Governor. "Your Excellency! Iprotest! This that you would do is not lawful! Surely such harshmeasures are not needed."

  The Governor's fury exploded. "Not needful!" he exclaimed in a highvoice. "Not needful, when upon these questions hang the fortunes of theColony! when if we fail, to-morrow may usher in a blacker forty-four!And not lawful! I am the law in this. State, Major Carrington; I am theKing's representative, and this is my prerogative! and I say that byfair means or foul this information must be gained. This is no time toprate of humanity. We are to show humanity to ourselves; we are to stampout this lit fuse. Or does Major Carrington wish it to burn on?"

  "No," said Carrington coldly. "I spoke hastily. You are right, ofcourse, and I will interfere no further."

  An hour later Patricia stood before the hall window looking out upon thedazzling water and the green velvet of the marshes with wide, unseeingeyes. Her hands were clenched at her sides and upon each cheek burned acrimson spot. Beside her crouched Betty Carrington who, upon the firstrumor of trouble at Verney Manor, had ridden over from Rosemead. Theirstrained ears caught no sound from the room opposite other than theoccasional sound of the Governor's voice, raised in interrogation. Therecame no answering voice. Patricia stood motionless, with eyes that neverwandered from the rich scene without, and with lips pressed together,but Betty hid her face in the other's skirts and shivered. The door ofthe master's room opened and both started violently. The overseer strodedown the hall and had laid his hand upon the latch of the door leadingto the offices, when his mistress called him to her. "Do they know? Hasthe man told?" she asked with an effort.

  Woodson shook his head. "He's as dumb as an oyster. Might as well try toget anything from an Indian. They're going to try t' other--Trail."

  He left the hall, but was back in five minutes' time with the forger.They entered the master's room, and Patricia, seized by a suddenimpulse, followed them, leaving Betty trembling in the window seat.

  Unnoted by all but one of the company, she slipt to a seat in the shadowof her father's burly shoulders. He was leaning forward, talking to theGovernor, who sat very erect, his features fixed in an expression ofdogged determination. The Surveyor-General sat well behind the table,and upon the polished wood before him lay a little heap of torn petalsand broken stems. At the far end of the room and leaning heavily againstthe wall was the prisoner whose examination was just finished.

  Sir Charles had seen the entrance of the lady o
f the manor, and he nowrose from his seat and came to her. "Not a syllable," he whispered inanswer to the question in her eyes. "Roundhead obstinacy! But I thinkthat this fellow will prove more malleable."

  His prediction was verified. Ten minutes later the Governor rose to hisfeet triumphant. "So!" he said, drawing a long breath. "We are, I think,gentlemen, at the very core at last. The time, day after to-morrow; theplace, Poplar Spring in this county. And now to work! Those of thesed--d Oliverians whom we can reach must be arrested at once. Swiftmessengers must be sent to all plantations far and near. The trainbandsmust be called out. Time presses, gentlemen!"

  "And these men?" said the Colonel.

  "Must go to Jamestown gaol, where the one shall hang as surely as myname is William Berkeley. For the other--"

  "Your Excellency has promised me my life," said Trail cringingly, butwith an inscrutable something that was not fear in his sinister greeneyes.

  "An escort must be gotten together," said the Colonel, "and the day isfar advanced. I advise keeping them here until the morning."

  "See that you keep them straitly then," said the Governor.

  "Trust me for that, your Excellency," said the overseer grimly.

  "Then to work, gentlemen," cried the Governor, "for there is much to doand but little time to do it in. Major Carrington, you with Mr. Peytonwill ride with me to Jamestown. Colonel Verney, you will know whatmeasures to take for the safety of your shire. Woodson, have the horsesbrought around at once."

  The Council broke up in haste and confusion, and its members, talkingeagerly, streamed into the hall. Carrington was the last in line, and hepaused before Landless. The under overseer and the slave Regulus were ata little distance replacing the cords about Trail's arms. TheSurveyor-General cast a quick glance towards the door, saw that the lastretreating figure was that of Mr. Peyton, and approached his lips closeto Landless's ear.

  "You are a brave man," he said in a low and troubled voice. "From mysoul I honor you! I would have saved you, would save you now if I could.But I am cruelly placed."

  "I have no hope for this life--and no fear," said Landless calmly.

  Carrington paused irresolute, and a flush rose to his face. "I wouldlike to hear you say that you do not blame me," he said at last with aneffort.

  "I do not blame you," said Landless.

  Woodson appeared in the doorway. "The Governor is waiting, MajorCarrington."

  "If I can do ought to help you, I will," said Carrington hastily, andleft the room. A moment later came the jingling of reins and the soundof rapid hoofs quickening into the planter's pace as the Governor andthe Surveyor-General whirled away.