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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16156-h.zip b/16156-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..be5f667 --- /dev/null +++ b/16156-h.zip diff --git a/16156-h/16156-h.htm b/16156-h/16156-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..391b3a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/16156-h/16156-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3059 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Then Marched The Brave, by Harriet T. Comstock. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Then Marched the Brave, by Harriet T. Comstock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Then Marched the Brave + +Author: Harriet T. Comstock + +Illustrator: Anna S. Hicks + +Release Date: June 30, 2005 [EBook #16156] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/cover.png" width="300" height="423" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p></p> + +<p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></p> +<h1>Then Marched the Brave</h1> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>Harriet T. Comstock</h2> + +<p>Author of "When the British Came," "Molly, the Drummer Boy," etc.</p> + +<p><i>Illustrations by Anna S. Hicks</i></p> + +<p>PHILADELPHIA</p> + +<p>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</p> + +<p><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</p> + +<p>MOLLY, THE DRUMMER BOY</p> + +<p>WHEN THE BRITISH CAME</p> + +<p>Fifty cents each</p> + +<p>Copyright, 1904, by Henry Altemus</p> + +<p><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/0134-1a.png" width="305" height="474" alt=""'I CAN SEE NO ONE BUT THE GENERAL,' JANIE SAID." See page 133." title="" /> +<span class="caption">"'I CAN SEE NO ONE BUT THE GENERAL,' JANIE SAID." See page 133.</span> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER I</td><td align='left'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Andy McNeal</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>13</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Stranger in the Night</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>26</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Crowning Of Andy McNeal</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>43</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Through the Cave</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>62</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Suspicion</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>74</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Then Marched the Brave</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>88</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Andy Hears a Strange Talk</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>99</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">At Headquarters</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>118</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHAPTER IX</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Peace</span></td><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>130</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>"'I can see no one but the General,' Janie said"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_1"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Andy was at the oars now"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_34"><b>37</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"'Good day, my pretty lass!'"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_48"><b>51</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Burr ventured a question"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_78"><b>81</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"It took all of Andy's courage to don the female attire"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_110"><b>113</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>ANDY McNEAL</h3> + + +<p>It was in the time when the king's men had things pretty much their own +way, and mystery and plot held full sway, that there lived, in a little +house near McGown Pass on the upper end of Manhattan Island, a widow and +her lame son. She was a tall, gaunt woman of Scotch ancestry, but loyal +to the land that had given her a second home. She was not a woman of +many opinions, but the few that she held were rigid, and not to be +trifled with. With all her might she hated the king, and with equal +intensity loved the cause of freedom. In the depths of her nature there +was a great feeling of shame and disappointment that her only son was a +hopeless cripple, and so could not be offered as a living sacrifice to +the new cause.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>Janie McNeal held it against the good God that she, His faithful +servant, must be denied the glorious opportunity of giving her best and +all, as other mothers were doing, that the land of the free might be +wrested from cruel tyranny.</p> + +<p>To be sure, Andy was but sixteen. That mattered little to Janie; young +as he was, she could have held him in readiness, as did Hannah of old, +until the time claimed him—but his lameness made it impossible. Among +all the deeds of courage, he must stand forever apart!</p> + +<p>Poor Janie could not conceive of a bravery beyond physical strength. In +her disappointment she looked upon pale Andy, and she saw—she hated to +acknowledge it—but she saw only cowardice written upon every line of +the shrinking features! The patient blue eyes avoided her pitying +glance. The sensitive mouth twitched as the boy listened to her +oft-repeated laments. Janie had never seen those eyes grow steely and +keen; she had never seen the lips draw into firm lines, or the slim form +stiffen as the boy listened to the doings of the king's soldiers. When +the neighbors came <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>with thrilling tales of daring done by some loved +one, Janie made some excuse for sending the boy upon an errand or to +bed; the contrast was too bitter.</p> + +<p>And Andy, sensitive and keen from suffering, saw through it all and +shrank, not from fear or cowardice, but unselfish love, away from the +stir and excitement and his mother's sigh of humiliation. He lived his +life much alone; misunderstood, but silently brave. His chance would +come. Andy never once doubted that, and the chance would find him ready.</p> + +<p>And so he waited while the summer of 1776 waxed hotter and hotter, and +the king's men, drunken with success after the battle of Long Island, +pressed their advantage and impudence further, as they waited to see +what the "old fox," meaning Washington, meant to do next. What his +intentions were, no one, not even his own men, seemed to know; he kept +them and himself well out of sight, and the anxious people watched and +wondered and grew restless under the strain.</p> + +<p>Now upon a certain July night Janie McNeal <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>and Andy were sitting at +their humble meal. The door of the cottage stood open, and the song of +evening birds made tender the quiet scene. Suddenly hurried, yet +stealthy, steps startled them. Was it friend or foe?</p> + +<p>"'Tis from a secret path, mother," whispered Andy, catching his crutch. +He knew the way the king's men came and went, and he knew the paths +hidden to all but those who dwelt among them. His trained ear was never +deceived.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a neighbor," he murmured; "he comes down the stream bed."</p> + +<p>Sure enough, a moment later Parson White's wife ran in. Her face was +haggard, and her hands outstretched imploringly. With keen appreciation +of what might be coming, Janie McNeal put her in a chair, and stood +guard over her like a gaunt sentinel.</p> + +<p>"To bed, Andy, child," she commanded; "'tis late and you are pale. To +bed!"</p> + +<p>Andy took the crutch, and, without a word, limped to the tiny room in +the loft above. Boy-like, he was consumed with curiosity. He knew <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>that +the speakers, unless they whispered, could be overheard, so he lay down +upon his hard bed and listened. And poor Margaret White did not whisper. +Once alone with her friend, she poured out her agony and horror.</p> + +<p>"My Sam," she moaned, "he is dead!"</p> + +<p>Janie and the listener above started. For three years Sam White, the +erring son of the good parson, had been a wanderer from his father's +home. How, then, had he died, and where? The news was startling, indeed.</p> + +<p>"Margaret, tell me all!" The firm voice calmed the grief-stricken +mother.</p> + +<p>"He was coming home to get our blessing. He heard his country's call, +when his ears were deaf to all others, and it aroused his better nature. +He would not join the ranks until he had our blessing and forgiveness. +Poor lad! he was coming down the pass last night, not knowing that it +was sentineled by the enemy. He did not answer to the command to halt, +and they shot him! Shot him like a dog, giving him no time for +explanation or prayer. Oh! my boy! my boy!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>Never while he lived would Andy forget that tone of bitter agony.</p> + +<p>"He's dead! My boy for whom I have watched and waited. Dead! ere he +could offer his brave young life on his country's altar. Oh! woe is me, +woe is me!"</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence, then Janie's voice rang out so that Andy +could hear every word.</p> + +<p>"As God hears me, Margaret, I would gladly give my ain useless lad, if +by so doing, yours might be reclaimed from death. Your sorrow is one for +which there is no comfort. To have a son to give; to have him snatched +away before the country claimed him! Aye, woman, your load is, indeed, a +heavy one. To think of Andy alive, and your strong man-child lying dead! +The ways of God are beyond finding out. It grieves me sore, Margaret, +that it does. It seems a useless sacrifice, God forgive me for saying +it!"</p> + +<p>The women were sobbing together. In the room above, Andy hid his head +under the pillow to shut out the sound. Never, in all his lonely <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>life, +had he suffered so keenly. Love, pride, hope, went down before the hard +words. In that time of great deeds, when the brave were marching on to +victory or death, he, poor useless cripple, was a disgrace to the mother +whom he loved.</p> + +<p>Where could he turn for comfort? He limped to the window, to cool his +fevered face. He leaned on the sill and looked up at the stars. They +seemed unfriendly now, and yet he and they had kept many a vigil, and +they had always seemed like comrades in the past. Poor Andy could not +pray; he needed the touch of human sympathy.</p> + +<p>All at once he started. There was one, just one who would understand. +But how could he reach her? The women in the room below barred his exit +that way. A heavy vine clambered over the house, and its sturdy branches +swayed under Andy's window. No one would miss him, and to climb down the +vine was an easy task even for a lame boy.</p> + +<p>Cautiously he began the descent, and in a few minutes was on the ground. +He had managed <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>to carry his crutch under his arm, and now, panting, but +triumphant, he went quickly on. A new courage was rising within him—a +courage that often comes with despair and indifference to consequences. +No matter what happened, he would seek his only friend.</p> + +<p>He took to the stream bed. It was quite dry, and the bushes grew close. +No prowling Britisher would be likely to challenge him there. Ah! if +poor Sam White had been as wise. Andy's face grew paler as he +remembered. For a half-mile he pattered on, then the moon, rising clear +and silvery, showed a little house near by the stream bed and almost +hidden by vines.</p> + +<p>Everything about the house was dark and still. Andy paused and wondered +if he had a right to disturb even his one true friend. Noiselessly, he +drew near, and went around to the back of the house. Something startled +him.</p> + +<p>"Mother!" It was a young, sweet voice, and it came from the shadow of +the little porch.</p> + +<p>"'Tis I, Ruth!" faltered Andy.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>"You, Andy! And why! Have you heard about our Sam!" The girl came out +into the moonshine. She was tall and strong, and her face was very +pretty.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I've heard, Ruth;" then, coming close, Andy poured out his misery +to the girl who had been his lifelong friend and comrade.</p> + +<p>She listened silently, once raising her finger and pointing toward the +house as if to warn him against arousing the others. When he had +finished there was silence. It was not Ruth's way to plunge into reply.</p> + +<p>"Come," she whispered presently, "I am going to tell the bees. Hans +Brickman told me to-night that 'tis no fancy, but a true thing, that the +bees will leave a hive if death come unless they are told by a member of +the family. The bee-folk are overwise, I know, and I mean to take no +chances of their leaving. With the British at hand, honey is not to be +despised. Come."</p> + +<p>Andy followed, wondering, but biding Ruth's time. She was a strange girl +in all her ways.</p> + +<p>Without speaking, the two went through the <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>little garden and paused +before the row of neat hives. Then Ruth bent before the first.</p> + +<p>"Sam's dead!" she whispered, "but do not fear. We need you, so do not +leave the hive." From hive to hive she went, quite seriously repeating +the sentence in soft murmurings. Andy stood and looked, the moonlight +showing him pale and intent. At last the deed was done, and Ruth came +back to him and laid her firm, brown hand upon his shoulder. She was a +trifle taller than he, so she bent to speak.</p> + +<p>"Not even your mother knows you as I do, Andy," she said. "She thinks a +lame leg can cripple a brave soul; but it cannot! Why, even being a girl +could not keep me back if I saw my chance, and I tell you, Andy, your +lameness may serve you well. I have been thinking of that. I do not +believe God ever wastes anything. He can use lame boys and—even girls. +Sam was not wasted. The call made him brave and good. He was coming home +a new creature just because he had heard. When I saw him lying dead, +shot by those lurking cowards, something grew in me here,"—she touched +her breast. "I <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>have not shed one tear, but I loved him as well as the +others. Somehow I knew that since he had been called, it was because he +had a work to do, and since he is gone I mean to be ready to do his +work. Andy, I am as strong as a boy, but—" here her eyes sought his—"I +am a girl for all that, but you and I together, Andy, can do Sam's +work!" The young voice shook with excitement.</p> + +<p>"I, Ruth? Ah! do not shame me." Andy's eyes fell before the shining +face.</p> + +<p>"Shame you, Andy? I shame you—I who have loved you next best to Sam! +Come. Father has gone to bed, there will be time before mother returns. +I want you to see Sam."</p> + +<p>With bated breath the two entered the living-room of the cottage. The +place had been made sacred to the young hero who was so early called to +his rest. Flowers everywhere, and among them Sam lay smiling placidly at +his easily won laurels.</p> + +<p>For the first time Andy gazed upon the face of death. The gentle dignity +and peace of the once wild boy awed and thrilled the onlooker.<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a> He was +dressed in his Continental uniform that was unsoiled by battle's breath, +albeit, an ugly hole in the breast showed where the gallant blood had +flowed forth.</p> + +<p>"It's—it's wonderful!" gasped Andy.</p> + +<p>"But we're not going to let him be wasted, are we Andy?" There was a +cruel break in the girl's voice. "We'll do his work, won't we? We'll +show the Britishers how we can repay, won't we, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," breathed the boy, unable to turn his eyes from the noble, boyish +face, that was lighted by the gleam of the one lamp; "we'll show them!"</p> + +<p>"See, Andy" (Ruth had gone to a corner cup-board and brought forth a +three-cornered cap), "this is Sam's; I found it in the bushes. Mother +says I may have it." She placed it upon Andy's head. "It just fits!" she +exclaimed. "If the time comes, Andy, you shall wear the cap. It will be +proof that I trust you. You will help if you can, won't you? Promise" +Andy."</p> + +<p>"I promise, as God hears me, Ruth."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>In the stillness the vow sounded awesome. The two clasped hands. All +the sting was gone. A great resolve to be ready to dare and die made +Andy strong and happy.</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Ruth."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Andy, lad."</p> + +<p>Out into the still night the boy passed. On the way back he saw Mrs. +White, but he hid beneath a bush until she had gone by. He reached home, +found the door barred, and so painfully reached his room by the aid of +the friendly vine.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT</h3> + + +<p>That was to be a night of experiences—the beginning, the real beginning +of Andy's life; all the rest had been preparation. After reaching his +room, he flung himself wearily upon the bed. How long he slept he could +not know, but he was suddenly aroused by a sharp knock on the outer door +below stairs. He sat up and listened. All was still except the trickling +of a near-by waterfall, which had outlived the dry weather.</p> + +<p>For a moment Andy thought the knock was but part of a troubled dream; he +waited a moment, then, to make sure, limped over to the stairway and +peered down into the room below. A candle stood on the pine table, and, +at a chair near-by, knelt Janie McNeal, bowed in prayer. She had heard +the knock, but not until the <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>lonely prayer was finished would she rise. +That was Janie's way.</p> + +<p>A second knock, louder than the first, sounded, and with it the woman's +solemn "Amen."</p> + +<p>"Be not so hasty, stranger," she muttered, as she withdrew the bar; +"learn to wait for your betters."</p> + +<p>The door swung back, and into the dim light of the bare room stepped a +tall man in Continental dress. His hat was in his hand, and he bowed +before Janie as if she were a queen. Andy drew back. No such stranger +had ever visited them before, and the boy gazed fascinated.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, my good woman," the rich voice said; "much as I dislike +disturbing you, I fear I must crave a few hours' rest and lodging, and +the service of one to row me across the river ere break of day. I have +been told that you have a son."</p> + +<p>Andy quivered.</p> + +<p>"A lodging, sir, is yours and welcome," Janie replied, motioning the +stranger toward a chair and closing the door after him. "I ever <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>keep a +bed in readiness these troubled times. We are loyal to the cause, and I +would serve where I may. I have a son, sir, as you have heard, but, +alas! not one who can be of service. He is a cripple. However, rest; you +look sadly in need of it. I will hasten to a neighbor's a mile away, and +seek the service you desire."</p> + +<p>"I regret to cause such trouble, but the need is urgent. I sympathize +with you in your son's affliction. It must be a sore grief to the lad to +sit apart these stirring times when young blood runs hot, and the +country calls so loudly."</p> + +<p>Soon Janie was setting food before the stranger—good brown bread and +creamy milk. Andy saw the look of suffering on her face as she bustled +about, and he understood. He crept back to bed heavy-hearted. Ruth was +wrong; there was nothing for him to do.</p> + +<p>The hot hours dragged on. Toward morning Andy grew restless, and quietly +arose and dressed. The feeling of bravery awakened within him, and a dim +thought grew and assumed shape in his brain. He could row strong <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>and +well. Few knew of his accomplishment, for his life was lonely and the +exercise and practice had been one of his few diversions.</p> + +<p>He knew a secret path among the rocks, which led to the river, and at +the end of the path was moored his tiny boat, the rough work of his +patient hands. Only Ruth knew of his treasure; often he and she had +glided away from the hamlet to think their thoughts, or dream their +young dreams.</p> + +<p>Now, if he could arouse the stranger before his mother had summoned +another to do the service, he might share the joy of helping, in a small +way, the great cause.</p> + +<p>"The need is urgent," smiled the boy; "in that case a lame fellow might +not be despised."</p> + +<p>He recalled the stranger's face, and his courage grew.</p> + +<p>"Chances are so few!" he muttered; "I must take this one."</p> + +<p>At the first rustling of the birds in the trees, Andy crept down-stairs. +His mother's room and the guest-room both opened from the living-room, +but Janie's door was closed, while the <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>stranger's was ajar. Through it +came the sound of low-spoken words.</p> + +<p>"Accept the thanks of thy servant for all bountiful mercies of the past. +Guide his future steps. Bless our enemies, and make them just. Amen."</p> + +<p>The boy bowed his head, instinctively. Surely he had nothing to fear +from such a man. He went nearer and tapped lightly on the door. Light as +was the touch, the stranger started.</p> + +<p>"Come!" There was a welcome in the word. Andy stepped cautiously inside.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, sir."</p> + +<p>"The same to you, my lad." The keen eyes softened as they fell upon the +rude crutch. "How can I serve you!"</p> + +<p>"Sir, I have come to offer my services to you. I heard you tell my +mother that you needed some one to row you across the river. I am a good +rower."</p> + +<p>The man looked puzzled. "You are the widow's son? Is not the task too +great?"</p> + +<p>"My lameness does not hinder much. I use the crutch mainly to hasten my +steps; I can walk <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>without it. I am very strong in other ways. I think I +am just beginning to find out how strong I am, myself. None know the +woods better than I. I can take you by a short cut to the river, and I +have my own boat moored and ready. It will be a small matter to reach +the opposite shore by sunrise if we start at once." Andy was panting +with excitement. "Pray, sir, let me do this; there are so few chances +for such as I."</p> + +<p>The listener smiled kindly.</p> + +<p>"You are just the guide I need," he said, and Andy knew there was no +flattery in the words. "I must leave it for you to thank your good +mother for her hospitality. I have been ready for an hour. Lead on, my +boy!"</p> + +<p>Silently they stole from the house. The birds twittered as they passed, +for the tall man touched the lower boughs and disturbed the nestlings.</p> + +<p>"Bend low," whispered Andy, "the way leads through small spaces."</p> + +<p>On they went, sometimes creeping under the hanging rocks, always +clinging to the shelter of trees and bushes. They both knew the danger +<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>that might lie near in the form of a British sentinel.</p> + +<p>"The path seems untrodden by foot of man," murmured the stranger, +pausing to draw in a long breath. "You are a wonderful guide."</p> + +<p>"I think no one else knows the way," Andy whispered, proudly; "an Indian +showed it to me when I was a child. He was my good friend, he taught me +also to row, and shoot with both arrow and gun. He said I should know +Indian tricks because of my lameness. They might help where strength +failed. He showed me how to creep noiselessly and find paths. I have +trails all over the woods. There is one that leads right among the +Britishers; and they never know. I do this for sport."</p> + +<p>The stranger looked sharply at the gliding form ahead.</p> + +<p>"Paths such as this all over the woods?" he repeated. "And have you kept +this—this sport secret?"</p> + +<p>"That I have!" laughed Andy. "I tell you now because you are upon your +country's service. I trust you, and I thought perhaps it <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>might help +sometime." The two moved forward for a moment in silence, then Andy +laughed in a half-confused way.</p> + +<p>"A boy gets lonely at times," he said; "he must do something to while +away the—the years. I have practiced and made believe until I am a +pretty good Indian. I make believe that I am guiding the great +Washington. They do say he ever remembers a favor. I should love to +serve him. Had I been like other boys—" the voice broke—"I would have +been as near him as possible by this time!"</p> + +<p>The hand of the stranger was upon the youth's shoulder. Andy turned in +alarm.</p> + +<p>"You have a secret which may save your country much!" breathed the deep +voice; "guard it with your life. But if one comes from Washington +seeking your aid, do whatever he asks, fearlessly."</p> + +<p>"How would I know such an one?" gasped Andy.</p> + +<p>"That will I tell you later." Again the forward tramp.</p> + +<p>"And you have passed, unnoticed, the<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a> British line! 'Tis a joke almost +beyond belief!" chuckled the stranger. "I should like to see my Lord +Howe's face were he to hear this."</p> + +<p>"Oh! be silent, sir!" cautioned the guide, "we come to an open space."</p> + +<p>Once again beneath the heavy boughs, the boy said:</p> + +<p>"I passed the line but yesterday. And I heard that which has troubled +me, sorely, yet I could do nothing. But—" here Andy paused and turned +sharply—"bend down. Should you know Washington were you to see him?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, lad." The two heads were pressed close.</p> + +<p>"Would you bear a message, and try to find him?"</p> + +<p>"Aye."</p> + +<p>"They are planning an attack. I could not hear when or where, for the +men moved past. As they came back, and passed where I was hidden, I +heard them say that they who are near Washington had best be on watch, +poison in the food made no such noise as a gun—but it would serve!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>"You heard that?" almost moaned the listener. "My God! could they plan +such a cowardly thing?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, sir. I am thinking they can. I would warn the General if I could, +but you may be luckier. The men said Lord Howe desired the death of +every rebel."</p> + +<p>"May heaven forgive him!" The words fell sadly from the strong lips.</p> + +<p>"And now," again Andy took the lead, "do not speak as we pass here. It +is the spot where they shot our pastor's boy, only two days ago. I fear +the place. A few rods beyond, we will again strike the thicket, and be +under cover until we reach the river."</p> + +<p>The solemn quiet that precedes a hot summer dawn surrounded the man and +boy. The red band broadened in the east. The birds, fearing neither +friend nor foe, began to challenge the stillness with their glad notes, +and so guide and follower passed the gruesome place where young Sam +White gave up his untried life a few short days ago. The thicket gained, +the two paused for breath.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>"We must not talk in the boat, sir." They had reached the moored boat +now. "Pray tell me how I am to know our General's messenger."</p> + +<p>"By this." The stranger detached a charm from a hidden chain and held it +in his palm so that the clearer light fell upon it. "I command you to +learn its peculiarities well. There must be no blunder."</p> + +<p>It was very quaint. Andy's keen eye took in every detail.</p> + +<p>"I shall know it," he sighed. And the stranger smiled and replaced it. +"And you, sir?" he faltered, for the hour of parting came with a strange +sadness; "may I not know your name? You have made me so proud and happy +because you accepted my poor service."</p> + +<p>"George Washington, and your true friend, Andy McNeal! We are both +serving the same great cause. God keep us both!"</p> + +<p>The General clasped the boy's trembling hand, and Andy looked through +dim eyes into the face of his hero. The hero who for months past had +been the imaginative comrade of lonely hours and dreamy play.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 318px;"> +<img src="images/0135-1a.png" width="318" height="459" alt=""ANDY WAS AT THE OARS NOW."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"ANDY WAS AT THE OARS NOW."</span> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>"We shall meet again—comrade!" Washington was smiling and the mist +passed. "Never fear death, lad, if you are doing your duty; it comes but +once. Row swiftly. Day is breaking. A messenger with a horse awaits me +on the further shore. Head for Point of Cedars."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, sir; I shall never fear anything again—after this, I think. +Good-by!" Andy was at the oars now. He handled them like the master that +he was. The old Indian had taught well, and the apt pupil had been +making ready against this day and chance.</p> + +<p>While Andy kept Point of Cedars in view, he saw, also, the noble figure +in the stern. The keen eyes kept smiling in kindly fashion, while the +firm lips kept their accustomed silence. To Andy, the future was as rosy +as the dawn, and he wondered that he had ever been depressed and afraid.</p> + +<p>"Death comes but once!" kept ringing in his thoughts; "it shall find me +doing my duty. God and Washington forever!" The song of the times had +found a resting-place in Andy McNeal's heart at last.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>Point of Cedars was safely reached. The general stepped upon the pebbly +beach. Almost at once, from among the bushes, appeared a young man in +ragged Continental uniform, leading a large, white horse.</p> + +<p>Without a word Washington mounted, nodded his thanks to the messenger, +and a final farewell to Andy, then he, followed by his newer guide, +faded from sight among the forest-trees. Standing bareheaded and alone +upon the shore, Andy watched until the last sound of the hoof-beats died +away, then, with a sigh of hope and memory mingled, he retraced his way.</p> + +<p>Janie McNeal greeted her son at the door-way. "Andy!" she cried, "our +guest is gone!" She quite forgot that Andy, presumably, knew nothing of +the guest. "He desired a lad to row him across the river. I was going to +neighbor Jones's at early dawn to summon James. I should have gone last +night, but I was sore tired. When I arose this morning, the stranger was +gone. God forgive me!</p> + +<p>"The poor gentleman must have thought me a heedless body. I trust he +will not think <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>me in league with the Britishers; there is much of that +sort of thing going on." Janie shook her head dolefully, not heeding +Andy's smile.</p> + +<p>"How do we know," she went on, "but that the gentleman was on the great +Washington's business? He was an overgrand body himself, and had +excellent manners."</p> + +<p>"Mother!" the old hesitating tone crept back unconsciously into Andy's +voice as he faced his mother; "mother, I rowed the stranger across the +river, he is—safely landed. It—was—it—was—Washington himself!"</p> + +<p>"Andy!" Janie flung up her hands, and nearly fell from the step; "think, +lad, of your words. You look and talk clean daft."</p> + +<p>"It—was—Washington!" The boy drew the words out with a delicious +memory.</p> + +<p>"And—you—rowed—him—across! You—my—poor—lame lad! God have mercy +upon me, and forgive me for my doubts!"</p> + +<p>"I can help a little, mother." Andy drew near the quivering figure. "I +know, mother, and I do not wonder, but there is a place for <a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>every one +in these days, and I'm going to be ready."</p> + +<p>Janie drew herself up, and put a trembling hand on the young shoulder. +"Son!" she said, with a sudden but intense pride, "son, get ready, we go +to Sam White's burying, you and I. God be praised! blind as I was, He +has opened my eyes to see my son at last!" This was a great deal for +Janie McNeal to say, but it did its work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE CROWNING OF ANDY McNEAL</h3> + + +<p>Sam White's burial was a very simple affair. In that time of need and +anxiety men were off upon their country's business. Few could stay to +mourn. The pastor himself read the simple service in a voice of pride, +broken by a father's grief. He said that God would not let the sacrifice +pass unheeded. Since Sam had heard the call, and then had been so +suddenly taken away, another would be raised up to do his work; another +who, through Sam, might be touched more than in any other way.</p> + +<p>Andy, standing in the little group about the open grave, at this raised +his eyes, and he found Ruth's wide, tearless gaze fixed upon him. Andy +smiled bravely back at her, for his heart was strong within him.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>After it was over and the few neighbors gone, Andy and Ruth remained to +scatter flowers upon the young hero's bed, and cover up the bareness of +the place.</p> + +<p>"Ruth," said Andy in a whisper, "I think my chance has come!"</p> + +<p>"Your chance, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Aye. I have been thinking that Sam's being taken has aroused me, and +given me courage, just as your father said, and—and last night the +chance began!" Then he told her of much that had occurred. Ruth knelt +among the flowers, her young face glowing.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I shall have some one to watch," she panted, "some one to help +while he works. Oh! Andy, you do not know how I long to help, and be +part of this great time. I go on long walks, and I hear and see so much. +Down on the Bowery I heard a group say the other day that General +Washington was going to burn the town and order the people to flee. One +man said, did he order such a thing, he, for one, would go over to the +British; and, Andy, there was a great shout from the other men! I felt +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>my heart burn, for did our General order <i>me</i> to go, then would I go +whither and where he ordered; nor would I question, so great is my trust +in him. And did he burn all, even my home, yet would I gladly obey, for +I would <i>know</i> he was doing wisely. So greatly do I honor him that I +think, next to God, I trust our General!"</p> + +<p>The young face glowed and quivered, and Andy, with the spirit of +hero-worship growing upon his recent experiences, panted in excitement +as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I, too, would follow, and never question," he said. "Never fear, Ruth; +what the General expects of me, that will I do. Not even death do I +fear—it comes but once!" The boyish voice rang clear.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Ruth started toward the house. "Wait," she said, "I have +something for you." She was back in a moment, bearing Sam's cap. "The +time has come," she faltered, and there were tears in her eyes. "I—I +want to crown you, Andy McNeal." She removed Andy's rough cap and +replaced it with Sam's.</p> + +<p>"I'll keep the old one," she said, "and—and <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>if you should fail to do +bravely, you can have your own!" Then she dashed away the tears. +"Forgive me, Andy McNeal!" she sobbed; "you will never fail. There is +hero blood in your body, I know, and it may be that your lameness will +aid you in accomplishing tasks that a lusty lad could never attempt."</p> + +<p>Andy raised his head proudly and the new crown set not badly on his +boyish curls.</p> + +<p>"I must go," he breathed. "I will come every day unless—you know, +Ruth?"</p> + +<p>The girl nodded, and so they parted silently, Ruth pressing the old hat +to her aching heart, and taking up the woman's part in those troubling +times; the part of the watching, waiting one.</p> + +<p>The days following became filled with one longing for Andy. The longing +for Washington's messenger. Unless he came soon, the boy feared that he +would be too late. During his own recent explorations beyond the lines, +he heard much that warned him that the British were planning something +of grave importance.</p> + +<p>Andy had told his mother and Ruth nothing <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>of Washington's anticipated +messenger. They knew merely that Andy had ferried the great General +across the river—was that not enough? Had they known for what the boy +was eagerly watching, they could not have done their own daily tasks.</p> + +<p>"He has an eager, watchful air," Janie confided to Ruth. "I am thinking +the lad expects the General to pass this way again. Lightning and <i>such</i> +happenings do not strike twice in the same spot."</p> + +<p>Ruth smiled gently. "I do not think Andy walks as lame as he did," she +mused, watching the boy disappearing down a woody path.</p> + +<p>"He is always on the go," Janie broke in. "He practices walking without +his crutch more than I think wise; but one can do little with men-folk!" +Janie tossed her head proudly. Andy was a growing delight to her.</p> + +<p>"It may do him good," Ruth added; "he looks stronger and—and gladder."</p> + +<p>"He has gone beyond me," the mother sighed. "I—I begin to know, lass, +the happy feeling a mother has when her heart aches with <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>loneliness +and—and pride! What ails you, lass?" For Ruth had started and given a +short cry.</p> + +<p>"Why—why—" laughed the girl, "I am thinking my eyes are playing me +false. I was watching Andy up the path, and I saw him as clear as I see +you this minute—and then he was gone!"</p> + +<p>"Do not get flighty, Ruth." Janie came close, however, and peered up the +path. "You and Andy will drive me daft. The path is a straight, clean +one; had Andy been on it, he would still be in sight. I'm thinking he +turned before he came to the brook bed. You did not notice, but your +thoughts kept agoing on."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," nodded Ruth, but Janie knew she was unconvinced.</p> + +<p>On her way home soon after, Ruth began to ponder. Once clear of Janie's +observant eye, the girl turned back through the shrubbery, and ran to +the spot where she had last seen Andy. All was as silent as a breathless +summer day could make it. There was no side-path; no broken bushes.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>"He <i>was</i> here," breathed the girl, "and he disappeared like a flash!"</p> + +<p>Then she knelt down and tried to trace footprints in the mossy earth. +"Ah!" she smiled, for there was a crushed space at the edge of a brambly +cluster of bushes. She quietly drew aside the branches, and a look of +wonder grew in the bright eyes. So cunningly concealed, that even her +native-bred keenness might never have espied it, lay a path, and among +the bushes, Andy's crutch! Should she follow? In the old days Ruth would +not have paused. But these were not play-days; Andy might be upon grave +business. Reverently she drew back, and replaced the disorder she had +caused among the parted leaves. Suddenly a step startled her. She turned +sharply. Up the path came a British soldier, whistling a gay tune and +eyeing her boldly.</p> + +<p>More than once had Ruth encountered these most ungallant gentlemen, and +she was alert at resenting any familiarity, but a fear grew in her heart +now. Andy's path must not be discovered! She must do her part.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>"Good-day, my pretty lass!" The man halted. Under ordinary +circumstances Ruth would have taken to her fleet feet at this, but Andy +might return too soon, and emerge while yet the enemy could discover +him.</p> + +<p>"Berrying?" grinned the fellow; "August is early for berries, is it not? +The man was suspicious, perhaps, and Ruth was on guard.</p> + +<p>"For some kinds," she answered, lightly.</p> + +<p>"What kind are you hunting?"</p> + +<p>"One that you British do not know," she replied; "it's a kind that grows +only in America and thrives upon freedom."</p> + +<p>The soldier leered unpleasantly. "Come, I will help you hunt," he cried; +"if we find a berry I cannot name, you may ask what reward you choose, +and if I succeed then will I take a kiss from your red lips, eh, my +girl?"</p> + +<p>Ruth darted an angry look upward. If they hunted, the cane would be +discovered, and yet if she refused—well, she must act quickly.</p> + +<p>"Is it a bargain?"</p> + +<p>"Yes;" the word came bravely from a trembling courage.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 298px;"> +<img src="images/0136-1a.png" width="298" height="486" alt=""'GOOD DAY, MY PRETTY LASS.'"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"'GOOD DAY, MY PRETTY LASS.'"</span> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>The two knelt and began the search. Ruth pressed the bushes so as to +cover Andy's cane, but as her keen eyes fell upon the spot where it had +been, to her surprise and joy, she saw that it was gone!</p> + +<p>A cry broke from her, for, as she realized that that danger was past, +she saw, near at hand, a plant so rare even to her woodland eyes, that +it was precious. Thanks to her learned father, she knew its name, and +the spray of waxen berries was her salvation.</p> + +<p>"See!" she cried, "you have brought good luck. 'Tis a rare find. Now I +pray you, sir, name the berry I hold in my hand."</p> + +<p>The man was searching the underbrush, and turned half angrily. "What +have you?" he snarled. Ruth knew that Andy was near, but no breath was +heard.</p> + +<p>"Name the berry, sir, or I claim my advantage!" Ruth stood upright with +the spray in her hand.</p> + +<p>"Wintergreen," ventured the fellow, wildly.</p> + +<p>"Wrong!" sneered Ruth, "and there is no second trial."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>"How can you prove me wrong?" jeered the man, coming insolently close; +"who is to decide?"</p> + +<p>"Your head officer, sir," flashed Ruth; "lead on, I will gladly leave it +to him. After he has heard the tale from me—from <i>me</i>, mark—I will +leave it to him. Perhaps there is one gentleman in the king's troops. +Lead on! Why stand staring when your stake is so high!" A dignity and +fearlessness came to the angry girl.</p> + +<p>"Do you lead, or shall I?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I—I beg your pardon!" cringed the fellow, "I will abide by your +decision."</p> + +<p>"Go, then!" cried Ruth, her temper breaking bounds, "and if you are a +sample of my Lord Howe's men, I am thinking our General will have but a +short tussle. Go!"</p> + +<p>The man retraced his steps, sulkily. He had been foraging on his own +account, and had unearthed bigger game than he could manage.</p> + +<p>Ruth watched the man until he passed from sight. As she turned about she +faced Andy sitting among the bushes. She jumped, then laughed nervously.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>"How did you get your cane?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I was not six feet away." Andy's voice was strangely calm. "I hope you +know, Ruth," he faltered, 'that had things turned out differently, I +would have been with you. You know that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Andy." A flush came to the pale face. "I think I feared you would +come more than anything else. But I do not trust that fellow. He will +come back. I know he was suspicious. Choose another way—next time!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, and I'll stop up this trail. Good-by, Ruth. Hurry, I will wait +until you are safe, and this passage made harmless."</p> + +<p>For a few days longer Andy remained near home, not caring to run the +risk of seeking the longer path of which he knew, while the Britisher's +suspicions might still be alert. Once or twice he had met the fellow on +the public highway, and he feared to arouse any further cause for +watchfulness. He had discovered, also, that the man had gone back to the +spot where he had encountered Ruth, but Andy laughed, when he recalled +how cunningly he had hidden the trail. But now the boy could wait <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>no +longer, he must try to get near the lines and listen.</p> + +<p>Taking the longer way, he left his crutch hidden inside a cave-like +opening. He would never again trust the outside. Then in true Indian +fashion he crept along through the rocky passage. He reached the other +end and for an hour or more waited patiently, but only the passing of a +lonely sentinel rewarded him, and he guessed that no news would come +that way.</p> + +<p>He dared not emerge from his shelter, for the day was too bright and +clear, the sentinel would surely spy him, and better no news than to +give away the secret of the passage. Disappointedly he crept back, and +at the other end put his hand cautiously forth to grasp his crutch. Then +he became instantly aware that he was discovered, for his hand was +grasped in a firm, unyielding clutch.</p> + +<p>Andy's heart stood still. He had no doubt but that Ruth's annoyer had +dogged his steps and had captured him. But there was little of the +coward about Andy; he would face the worst. He pushed through the tangle +of leaves, <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>trying to free his hand, but the clasp was like iron. The +captor was not the Britisher, but a man of quite another sort. He was +young, handsome, splendidly formed. As he lay at full length upon the +moss Andy thought he had never seen so tall a man. He wore velvet +knee-breeches, long blue coat, and a wide-brimmed hat, which shielded a +pair of friendly, laughing eyes. One glance and Andy lost all fear.</p> + +<p>"Now that you have come from your hole, you young mole, good-morning to +you, and where have you fared?" The voice was ringing and full of cheer.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, sir," Andy made answer.</p> + +<p>"And where have you fared?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot tell you, sir."</p> + +<p>"You cannot tell me!" the man sighed, impatiently. "Now, do you know, +for a moment I fancied that you were just the lad who could guide me +over your interesting island. What with all this excitement, a peaceful +traveler has no show above-ground. I hoped you might lead me +mole-fashion."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>"I will gladly show you through the pass, sir, as far as the gate a +mile or so below."</p> + +<p>"As far as the gate! Always as far as something! I want to go +beyond—'as far!' What care I for countersigns and passports. I want the +freedom of the island, and a chance to study its rocks and flowers and +very interesting weeds. Boys often know paths unknown to any one +else—except Indians!"</p> + +<p>"But I am a lame boy much dependent upon a crutch."</p> + +<p>"You can dispense with it at times," laughed the stranger. "For a good +two hours you did without it to-day. It and I have been keeping company. +I followed you at a distance, thinking easily to overtake you, when +piff! you were gone, and I and the crutch—for you see I searched the +hole—were alone!"</p> + +<p>For some moments Andy's hand had been free, and now as he looked at the +speaker he saw that he was holding in his open palm the charm which last +he had beheld that glorious morning by the riverside.</p> + +<p>With a glad cry he sprang up. "I am Andy<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a> McNeal!" he said, and he +doffed Sam's hat, which was his only martial possession.</p> + +<p>"And I—am the schoolmaster!"</p> + +<p>The two clasped hands. That was the beginning. Through the following +days the master abode in Janie's house. The good woman asked no +questions. Her curiosity burned and burned, but wisdom held it in check. +Enough that Andy was the companion of this mighty person. Enough that +her humble roof sheltered him, and her able hands served him faithfully. +It was wonderful, and—enough. Ruth, too, throbbed with excitement, but +went her ways calmly as if it were a common enough thing for a splendid +schoolmaster to suddenly undertake Andy's neglected education, and pay +for his lodging and board by instructing the hostess's son.</p> + +<p>This was what was going on. Book in hand the two walked abroad quite +openly. Sometimes it would be rocks or flowers they were bent upon +understanding, at other times the intricacies of the English language +were the paths they followed. Occasionally Ruth would be <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>asked to join +in the walks and talks, but oftener they were alone. There were real +lessons. Andy pondered upon them deeply, and his hungry mind fed upon +the feast. Of course, so fine a master walking abroad with the lame boy, +aroused the notice of the sentinels, but to their questions he answered +so glibly, that there remained nothing to do but ask more. The game +became tiresome.</p> + +<p>The tutor and his pupil kept within bounds, so there was no excuse for +interference. But one day, quite lost in abstraction, the two passed +beyond the gate at the end of the pass, and strolled down the road +patroled by the British. Suddenly a loud "Halt!" made Andy jump. A look +of surprise passed over the master's face as a bayonet was thrust in +front of him.</p> + +<p>The soldier was the one who had accosted Ruth; Andy knew him at once.</p> + +<p>"Dear me! dear me!" cried the master, querulously, "after seeing us pass +to and fro so often, one would not think it necessary to resort to such +rudeness. Pray, good fellow, is not this his Majesty's highway, and free +to all?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>"No," grumbled the sentinel, lowering his weapon; "what's your +business?"</p> + +<p>"Schoolmaster."</p> + +<p>"I do not mean that. I see you prodding around rocks and weeds with your +noses in books, but I want to know what you mean on this road?"</p> + +<p>"I desire to take a walk on it. I have no weapon, I am a peaceful +person. May I pass?"</p> + +<p>"You better turn back. This road is sentineled all the way to camp. +You're too simple to go alone. You are an American?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Born and bred in the colonies."</p> + +<p>"A rebel?"</p> + +<p>"Sir!"</p> + +<p>"A rebel, I say?"</p> + +<p>"I am loyal to the heart's core!" the master replied. "Come, Andy, the +way back is doubtless more pleasant for peaceful folk than the way +before. Conjugate to live, Andy."</p> + +<p>Once beyond sight and hearing of the foe, the master bared his head. +"Loyal we are, and we know to whom! But how long it takes to disarm +their doubts!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THROUGH THE CAVE</h3> + + +<p>That same night, as Andy lay sleeping, a strange sound startled him. In +an instant he was out of bed, and limping toward the window. Again came +the plaintive sound. It was some one mimicking a night-owl, and doing it +very badly, as the boy's true ear detected at once.</p> + +<p>Andy replied, in a much better imitation; then, from out the shrubbery +beneath the window, the master stepped forth in the moonlight. He +beckoned to the boy, and then moved back into the shadow of the trees.</p> + +<p>Always, with Andy, there was the struggle between the quick, alert mind +and will, and the weaker body. However, with trembling fingers, he +dressed as rapidly as possible, gladly remembering that he could reach +the ground by the <a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>vine, thus saving time, and making sure that his +mother would not be disturbed.</p> + +<p>In a few moments he was ready. He dropped his crutch cautiously from the +window, and began to descend himself. The man among the shadows did not +move, though his expectant eyes were on the watch. Andy, keeping well in +the shelter of the shade, reached his friend.</p> + +<p>"That fellow we met to-day was prowling about the house an hour ago," +whispered the master; "he looked boldly into my window. I was awake and +saw his features distinctly, though I fancy he thought me unconscious. I +saw him leave by the stream path. He thinks me safe for to-night, but +they are suspicious, those Britishers, and you and I must get through +the passage to their lines to-night. I believe something is afoot, and +they do not wish to run any chances. Lead on, Andy McNeal; before break +of day I must know all, all that is possible, and be away."</p> + +<p>"Follow!" said Andy, trembling with excitement, but losing no time. Down +upon hands <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>and knees they went, and no creatures of the wood and night +could have been more silent.</p> + +<p>"All's well!" came from a far-off sentry; and the man and boy breathed +quicker. A moment of rest at the opening of the cave-like path where +Andy and the master had first met, then into the narrow gloom toward the +danger line.</p> + +<p>"The way is narrow," whispered Andy, "but it leads out just behind the +British tents."</p> + +<p>"Ah! for Vulcan's hammer!" laughed the master softly; "I'd hew me a +broader path, Andy. The width of me suffers sorely for the cause." Andy +smiled in the darkness. The mirth in the master's voice gave courage.</p> + +<p>"It is broader further on," encouraged the guide.</p> + +<p>"God be praised for that!" groaned the man as he came in contact again +with the rocks.</p> + +<p>The crutch had been left at the entrance, well hidden. Hands and knees +were all that were needed on that journey. Once a slimy creature crawled +across the master's hand, and he uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>"Don't do that again!" breathed Andy, in alarm.</p> + +<p>The minutes seemed endless, and the progress very slow. The darkness was +so intense that it was something of a shock to the master when he +suddenly became aware that he could see the outline of his guide's body. +There was a small opening ahead, and a gleam of moonlight shot in! +Neither spoke. If the British sentry was beyond there was every need of +stillness now.</p> + +<p>"I hear steps!" said Andy in a breath; "listen!"</p> + +<p>The duller ear of the master heard no sound for a moment, then slowly +and alarmingly near, he <i>did</i> catch the sound of the measured tread of a +soldier, and, from the opposite direction evidently, a second man. Near +the opening the two met.</p> + +<p>"Fine night, Martin; everything quiet?"</p> + +<p>"Quiet? Lord, yes! If something does not happen soon, I swear I'll cut +and run. It wouldn't take a great deal to make me quit. The pluck of the +rebels rather tickles me. I've <a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>half a mind to toss my luck among them, +and stand or fall with the colonies."</p> + +<p>"Better change your mind," laughed the other; "something's going to +happen and that pretty quick."</p> + +<p>"Is that hearsay, Norton, or authentic? I've just come into camp. I've +been having a picnic over on Long Island—raiding farms and doing a lot +of dirty work that sickens me. Clean fighting is what I set out to do, +and gad! this kind of thing turns a fellow's stomach. We've been fed on +the talk that these rebels are cowards. Cowards, bah! And as for that +big, silent general of theirs, he—he rather appeals to me!"</p> + +<p>"Don't be white-livered, Martin!" sneered Norton. "You may get some cold +steel from your own countrymen for uttering such sentiments. My +information is all right, it comes from his lordship himself. Washington +is too dangerous to leave longer alone; should he find out—what was +that?"</p> + +<p>The master, less a child of the woods than Andy, in his excitement had +tried to creep <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>closer, and the quick ear of the sentinel had noticed +the sound.</p> + +<p>"It is this accursed spot again!" muttered Norton; "twice lately I could +have sworn I heard breathing among the bushes. I've beaten every inch of +ground, and not a living creature have I found. I'm not squirmish, and a +rebel now and then don't count, but—well, you know I brought that +parson's cub down a bit further back. Lord! how the fellow strutted, and +when I called to him he started like a stuck pig. I cannot forget the +look on his face as—as I fired.</p> + +<p>"I'm agreeing with you, Martin, clean fighting or nothing. I'm not up to +this slaughtering of infants myself. I half expect to see that baby +playing in the moonlight every time a leaf rustles at night." The man +laughed uneasily. "Once I fancied I saw a face—a pale boy-face—shining +in the bushes. Lord, it gave me a turn!"</p> + +<p>"Could there be a secret passage?" asked Martin in a low voice. "A +fellow named Godkin told me an hour ago that he had his eye on a lame +chap and a gawk of a schoolmaster who <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>were always skulking around close +to the ground. He says the boy lives hereabouts and knows the woods like +a snake."</p> + +<p>"No fool rebel could keep such a secret from me. Godkin likes to talk +and swagger. He feels his oats. Come, just to pass the time, let's beat +the bushes."</p> + +<p>"Back out!" breathed Andy. There was no time to be lost. But the +backward movement was most painfully slow. The men tramping in the +bushes, feeling the thing but child-play, laughed and talked loudly.</p> + +<p>"How many men has the old fox!" asked Martin, giving a cut to the bushes +with his gun.</p> + +<p>"Twelve thousand, though he gives out many more."</p> + +<p>"He's got grit," rejoined Martin, "with my lord gripping his throat at +close quarters with double that number at his heels, to stand still and +calm as—as this rock! Gad, I nearly broke my gun! This land produces +more rocks than anything else. I heard Washington is planning to get on +Long Island again."</p> + +<p>"He'll never get there. My Lord Howe—what <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>in thunder!" Norton had +slipped and fallen, and as he lay so, his face was on a level with the +opening in the rocks!</p> + +<p>"Come here!" he gasped. "Got a light! There's a hole here."</p> + +<p>Martin struck a light and peered in. As he did so Andy's white, +horrified face gleamed forth from the shadow. Without a word the head +was withdrawn, and both Andy and the master knew that the man, or both +men, would follow at once.</p> + +<p>"They are big!" moaned Andy, "and they do not know the way as we do. Oh, +hurry!"</p> + +<p>The master feared that the sentinel would fire into the cave, but as the +moment passed, and he did not, he took heart, and crept backward as fast +as he could. Then came the sure sound of the chase. One or both had +entered the passage! They had this advantage; they could come straight +on, while the pursued were going backward, the master, being the bulkier +and more uncertain, barring Andy's smaller body.</p> + +<p>"For our lives!" almost sobbed the boy.</p> + +<p>The oncoming foe once or twice struck a <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>light, but the curving of the +passage hid the prey. However, the sound ahead was enough to guide the +Britishers. Then suddenly the master became wedged, and the leader of +the pursuers came so near that Andy fancied he felt his breath.</p> + +<p>"I don't hear the little scamp!" muttered Norton; "perhaps the passage +divides. Wait until I strike a light." In that instant the master +extricated himself, and with desperate haste the two backed along, while +the light flickered, and then went out, much to the dismay of the foe.</p> + +<p>"Hurry!" commanded Norton; "I hear him again; don't fool with the +light!" The head man and Andy were not a yard apart now, and the +narrowest of the passage was yet to come!</p> + +<p>The master realized this, too. He knew if he were to get wedged again +all would be over, and Andy was the one nearest the enemy! He paused and +Andy came in violent contact with him. The leading Britisher was upon +them! The form behind Andy darted forth an arm of <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>steely muscle, and a +terrific blow fell sure and sudden on the face of the British sentinel!</p> + +<p>"My God!" screamed the fellow, and "The devil!" echoed from his +companion.</p> + +<p>"Now!" whispered the master, "this is our last fling!"</p> + +<p>It was over at last. The entrance was gained. Taking no time to consider +how spent Andy was, the master began to pile rocks at the opening. It +took not overlong, for the mouth of the cave was small.</p> + +<p>"So!" almost laughed the master in his relief, "before my British friend +gets his senses back, the way is barred. Good! Here, Andy, lad, give me +your hand. To the house, and to bed. Ere daybreak I must be well away +from here. They are planning an attack at once, and I know where I can +get the plans, methinks. That fellow saw you, and there is no further +chance for me here."</p> + +<p>"You—you are going?" Andy, leaning on the master and his crutch, was +making good headway. "The man saw only me; surely you can stay in +safety."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>"Andy, do you think the fellow thought you dealt that blow?" The clear +laugh was stifled. "No; we are marked men. But I am on the right course +now. Washington shall soon have the papers he needs."</p> + +<p>"Where do you go?" whispered Andy; "can I not be of use?"</p> + +<p>"Not now, my friend, and if we never meet again, Andy McNeal, remember +whom we have both served well, and that you have made brighter for me +many a weary hour. I care not what the thoughtless may think of me, but +I would have you know that what the future holds of seeming dishonor and +shame, I assumed in truest loyalty.</p> + +<p>"From what I am to do, others shrank. I saw but one way, though, God +knows, my heart was wrung. I reserve nothing. Even what seems my honor I +give to my country and Washington!"</p> + +<p>The master and Andy stood still in the moonlight, and the two young +faces gleamed white and troubled. "Good-night and farewell. Thank your +mother." He was gone.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>Andy painfully and slowly climbed the stairs and entered his bedroom.</p> + +<p>His heart was very heavy. He had seemed on the verge of doing a great +service, and behold, the chance had fled.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>A SUSPICION</h3> + + +<p>September dragged wretchedly. There was no need of stealing among the +bushes for news or amusement.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Andy wisely concluded that to keep to the open, innocent ways +would be the only possible thing that could help the absent master.</p> + +<p>He missed the lessons and the exciting comradeship, too; the contrast +was painful. Janie saw, but questioned not. It was all beyond her. Ruth +was the only relief.</p> + +<p>"Fear not, Andy," she would say. "You must bide your time, and wait +patiently. 'Tis what Washington is doing. Copy your General in this, as +well as other things. One may serve in that way as well as in others. +You should hear the tales Hans Brickman tells of the doings in the +patriot camp. He carries eggs and honey, you know.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>"He says that Washington isn't just fighting or holding in check the +king's men; but his own troops are acting shamefully—threatening to +desert, and begging for money; complaining all day long. Oh! if I were a +soldier I would show them!" The girl flung her strong young arms above +her head, and brought down her clenched fists in a laughably vehement +way.</p> + +<p>"And there sits that great General, never flinching, but writing to +Congress to pay the babies; and calming the tyrants with one breath, and +shaming them into obedience with the next.</p> + +<p>"Hans says he dashes at them sometimes with his sword, and slaps the raw +recruits into shape, telling them that if they run when he orders them +to advance, he'll shoot them himself. There's a man for you!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed there is a man," nodded Andy, and his face grew brighter. "And I +should cry shame to myself because I am so impatient of this lameness +which holds me back."</p> + +<p>"Holds you back! Andy McNeal, that is rank ingratitude. You've been up +to some mighty <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>doings, that I know, or you would not be hungering for +more glory. Oh, I can see a bit ahead of my nose. Time was when you hung +around, not knowing glory because it had not come your way. You've +tasted it, Andy, and your thirst grows. I know a thing or two. You're +getting strong, too, Andy; you're an inch taller than I. Father +mentioned the fact this very morning. You're taking on airs, but +remember, I knew you when you were less a man. Have a care; a woman has +a tongue. I'll be calling you down if you carry things with too high a +hand."</p> + +<p>Andy laughed and stood straighter. Then, very quietly:</p> + +<p>"Andy, what was the master's name?"</p> + +<p>"Ruth, I do not know."</p> + +<p>"Do not, or will not tell?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me why he stayed here?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you, Ruth. Why do you ask?" The girl paused and dropped +her clear eyes.</p> + +<p>"They do say, the whisper has reached my father, that he was a spy, +and—and a dangerous one!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>"They lie!" said Andy, hotly; "he, a spy!" Then the boyish voice fell. +The last, sad talk under the stars came clearly back, and in the shock +of the memory the boy trembled.</p> + +<p>Ruth watched him closely. "I'm not over-curious," she faltered, "but I +fear for you. If he—if he were a spy you were seen with him far too +often for your good. Father even feared for me."</p> + +<p>"Ruth" (Andy's voice had a new tone), "I can believe no dishonor of the +master, and I am proud that I walked with him and was his friend!"</p> + +<p>"Aye" (Ruth looked doubtful), "but a spy is not a good thing, Andy, no +matter what shape it takes."</p> + +<p>Old, rigid training held them both, but Andy must defend his friend, +though the honest soul of Ruth shone from her eyes, and challenged him.</p> + +<p>"It is as a thing is used," he began, lamely, but seeing his way dimly.</p> + +<p>"Father does not preach that," Ruth broke in.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>"No; nor would I preach it," sighed Andy.</p> + +<p>"But you would act it?" Ruth flashed.</p> + +<p>"I do—not know. I cannot think the master was aught but honest. If he +were—were—" Andy could not use the hard word—"if he were finding +things out, you may be sure, Ruth, it was not for his own uplifting. If +he gave what other men would call—would call their honor—it was +because he held not even <i>that</i> from his country. I can—see—how—that +could—be!"</p> + +<p>Ruth raised her eyes. "Could you, Andy?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I could give it as I could my life. I would take no recompense, I +would just give, and do anything. Ruth, suppose you knew a truth +about—about—well, about me; a truth that, if it were known, would be +the death of me. Would you tell, or—or would you save me?"</p> + +<p>It was a rigid moment for the stern little maid. Her eyes fell, then +were raised again.</p> + +<p>"I—do—not—know," she panted, "but a lie is a lie, and I should expect +to be punished."</p> + +<p>"So should I for any dishonorable thing,"<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a> agreed Andy. "That is just +it, but it would be my willingness to do it, and then to suffer, that +makes the difference."</p> + +<p>The two were standing near the end of the Pass at a small gate, and as +Andy ceased speaking a sound smote their ears that turned them pale. It +was the sound of many horsemen galloping wildly onward.</p> + +<p>"The king's men landed at Kip's Bay this morning," gasped Andy, +clutching the gate, "and they do say that Douglass's men are not strong +enough to defend the point."</p> + +<p>It was Putnam's five brigades; the boy and girl only knew they were +patriot troops. They had been ordered by Washington to make for +Manhattanville before retreat was cut off.</p> + +<p>Young Aaron Burr was acting as guide. The master had once pointed him +out to Andy, and the boy remembered the face well. Boldly and fearlessly +he was riding, and Andy's voice broke into a cheer as he recognized the +noble face. The leaders halted. There were several roads ahead; which +was safest and quickest? Burr ventured a question.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>"Which way leads most directly to Manhattanville?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Keep close to the river, and make for Kingsbridge, Colonel," Andy +answered. "That road is not so carefully watched; it is rougher but +safer."</p> + +<p>Burr gave him a smile, then galloped ahead. The last weary stragglers +were barely out of sight, when again the sound of on-coming horsemen +broke the stillness.</p> + +<p>"These are king's men!" groaned Ruth, who had stood rigidly silent until +now. "Ah! Andy, and the others so little in advance!"</p> + +<p>Constantly blowing their bugles and shouting derisively after the +fleeing patriots, my Lord Howe's men advanced.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a rare fox-hunt!" laughed one.</p> + +<p>"But the fox and his mates are out of sight, my lord," cried another.</p> + +<p>"For the moment. The ways divide a few rods beyond. Did the rebels pass +this way?" asked an officer noticing Andy and Ruth.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 301px;"> +<img src="images/0137-1a.png" width="301" height="473" alt=""BURR VENTURED A QUESTION."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"BURR VENTURED A QUESTION."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, sir!" answered Ruth, promptly, and for a moment Andy sickened at +what he feared <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>she was about to do. It was too late, though, for him to +interfere.</p> + +<p>"Which road did they take?"</p> + +<p>The instant's pause seemed an eternity to Andy. Then calmly and with +clear, uplifted eyes:</p> + +<p>"The main road, sir, it being the safer and shorter!" Andy felt a +moment's dizziness. Then a rough voice startled him:</p> + +<p>"I know that boy, my lord; he was the one in the secret passage, about +which I told you. I shall not soon forget him."</p> + +<p>"I thought you said your companion in the cave was dealt a stunning +blow; surely this lad could have done no such thing," answered the +Captain.</p> + +<p>"I could swear to him, your lordship, though I saw him but for a moment +as Martin went down, and the light went out. Hi! there, Martin, come +here," he called. A man galloped up, a man with a dark bruise upon his +forehead and eye.</p> + +<p>"Martin, do you know that boy?" Martin looked, and in the clear light he +saw and knew<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a> Andy at once; but something staggered him, and he +stammered and shook.</p> + +<p>"Did you strike this soldier?" asked the Captain impatiently of Andy.</p> + +<p>"No, sir!" The words came sharply.</p> + +<p>"You do not recognize him?" asked the officer of Martin.</p> + +<p>"He—is—the—same!" Martin blurted. "We are losing time, my lord."</p> + +<p>"There is no way to settle the thing here; we are losing time, and your +story of that night in the cave is too important to overlook, Norton. If +this is the boy we must deal with him later. The young scamp probably +knows the roads well. Lead on, you rascal, but if you play any tricks +and mislead us, my men shall pin you to a tree."</p> + +<p>Ruth gave one despairing cry:</p> + +<p>"He is lame," she panted. "For shame! How can he lead a mounted troop?"</p> + +<p>"We'll go slowly. The game's nearly up, my girl," laughed Norton, "and a +prick of the bayonet"—he suited the word with an action, and prodded +Andy on the arm—"will <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>hurry the lamest patriot. Lead on, +cave-crawler!"</p> + +<p>Andy gave one look at Ruth. A look of bravery, appreciation, and mute +thanks for her part of the work.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Ruth," he called back. "Tell mother I'll lead them +straight enough and be home in an hour. Good-by."</p> + +<p>By a winding way leading from the main road they went; through +Apthorpe's place they cantered at their ease, and so came to the highway +a mile beyond.</p> + +<p>"There may be a shorter cut, my lord," suggested Norton; then he paused. +"Does your lordship observe there are no marks on the road that bespeak +the recent passing of a regiment? This should mean the young rebel's +death!"</p> + +<p>"He's a spy in the old fox's hire!" shouted another.</p> + +<p>"String him up, along with the schoolmaster down at the Beekman place +to-morrow morning!" roared a third. All was wild commotion in a moment. +But in that moment Andy took his chances and made for the thicket, and +the hidden <a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>path over which he and Washington went that day that now +seemed so long ago. A man leaned from a horse and tried to clutch him, +lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. Confusion covered Andy's +dash.</p> + +<p>"He's gone!" yelled the man who had fallen.</p> + +<p>"Which way?" shouted several in response.</p> + +<p>Which way? Aye, that was the query. Which way!</p> + +<p>Andy made for the dry bed of the stream. No rustling leaves must betray +him. Not in flight was his safety now, but in silent hiding until +darkness should come. Down into the muddy pool of the once rushing +brook, rolled the boy. In the distance he heard:</p> + +<p>"No trail here, my lord!" and he smiled grimly.</p> + +<p>"Well, a lost lame rebel is of less account than the regiments ahead," +shouted the Captain. "Bad luck to the young devil. Cut cross country and +try the river road!"</p> + +<p>"They have an hour to the good!" thought Andy, as he remembered the +weary patriots and young Aaron Burr. Soon all was quiet, and <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>with the +palpitating silence a new thought grew in Andy's brain. "Better string +him up to-morrow with the schoolmaster!" Whom did they mean!</p> + +<p>"Schoolmaster! Spy!" The two words struck dully on the aching brain. +Suppose! Andy sat up and gazed wildly into the dense underbrush. "Could +it be?" But no; the idea was too horrible.</p> + +<p>The long shadows began to creep among the rocks they loved so well. +Still Andy sat staring into the awful possibility that the words +conjured up.</p> + +<p>"Schoolmaster! Spy!" He could stand it no longer. Cautiously he crept up +the bank. Through all the excitement he had clung to his crutch. It must +serve him well now. He set out determinedly toward the highway. Come +what might, he must reach the Beekman place as soon as possible, and he +hoped that the road was safe, owing to interest being centered +elsewhere. In this hope he was right. Below and above him, excitement +ran rife, but the highway seemed to belong to him alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE</h3> + + +<p>A terrible storm was coming up, after the sultry day. Andy's whole being +centered upon the thought that he must reach the Beekman Place; and the +coming storm might delay him. Only so far did it affect him. He felt no +hunger; it troubled him a little that his mother and Ruth would worry +about him, but nothing mattered so much as the solving of the doubt that +was causing his heart and brain to throb.</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, his lameness decreased as his excitement waxed +greater, or it seemed to, and he considered it less. The birds stopped +twittering their vesper songs, and huddled fearfully in their shelters. +A peal of thunder was followed quickly by another. The rocks took up the +echo and prolonged the sound. Between, <a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>the flashes of lightning, the +darkness could almost be felt, so tangible and dense it seemed. Once +Andy fell and struck his head. The blow made him giddy, but the rain +dashing in his face steadied him, and he plodded on. Then a glare in the +distance attracted him. It was in the direction toward which he was +going.</p> + +<p>"A fire!" he muttered. "All the more reason for hoping they will not +notice me." The town might burn, what matter, if only the way were free +to the Beekman place.</p> + +<p>It was still dark when he reached his destination, worn and haggard. +Over toward the greenhouse people were stirring about, and Andy rightly +guessed that the prisoner, whoever he might be, was there. No luckier +place could have been chosen, so far as Andy was concerned. It was +surrounded by shrubbery through which he could creep right up to the +building, providing, of course, that the sentinels did not see him. But +the sentinels were relaxing their watch. The hours of the troublesome +spy were nearly ended, and there could be little danger of any further +trouble on his account.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>Andy crept along, keeping to the bushes. The storm was nearly over, and +no lightning could betray his motions now.</p> + +<p>Once the glass house was reached, Andy looked eagerly in. There was a +pile of rubbish in one corner, and a man was sitting upon a rude bench +near it; between him and Andy, however, were two men with their backs to +the boy, and they quite hid the face of the man upon the bench. The two +were listening, and the third man was speaking. Andy was too far away to +hear, but, gaining courage, he crept around to the other side of the +house, and so came close to the group within. Something in the attitude +of the man upon the bench had caused the boy's heart to leap madly, then +almost stop. He raised his eyes slowly—one look was enough!</p> + +<p>Sorrow and ill-treatment had done their work, but the dear face was the +same! Dauntless, undying courage shone upon the uplifted face.</p> + +<p>It was the master! The errand, whatever it had been, was over. Success +or failure? Andy could not tell from the calm features. Spy or <a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>hero! +What mattered? There sat the beloved friend, deserted and forlorn—still +unconquered though the fetters bound him close.</p> + +<p>"I would send, if your kindness will permit, these letters. They will +make lighter the sorrow of them I love."</p> + +<p>Andy bowed his head and clutched at his throat to stifle the rising cry. +A broken pane of glass near-by permitted him to hear clearly every word.</p> + +<p>One man on guard had a low, brutal face, the other, Andy noticed, had a +more humane look.</p> + +<p>"Have you the letters written?" asked the coarse fellow.</p> + +<p>"I have." The master drew them from his breast and handed them to the +speaker.</p> + +<p>"One is to Washington," laughed the man. "Gad, you must take us for raw +recruits."</p> + +<p>"I shall be beyond harming you soon. That letter refers to personal +matters, I swear." There was superb dignity in the voice. "I would have +his excellency know that I regret nothing. I would do all over again, +did the <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>need arise. Washington would see that my comrades understand +that."</p> + +<p>The man with the letters gave vent to a brutal oath. Then the quieter +man spoke for the first.</p> + +<p>"If we read the letters and find them harmless, I am for forwarding +them. To whom are the others addressed?"</p> + +<p>"One to my family, the other—to the woman I was to have married!" The +master, for the first time, bowed his head, as if his burden were too +heavy.</p> + +<p>"I think we may carry out your request if the contents are what you +imply."</p> + +<p>"And make a hero of this spy!" snarled the rougher man. "Every word may +have a double meaning, Colonel. We have the papers he so carefully hid, +but these letters may contain the same information, slyly concealed." He +tore the letters across twice, and flung the pieces on the floor. "Death +and oblivion to all rebel spies!" he hissed.</p> + +<p>The master never flinched, but his pale face grew paler. "Is there +anything else we can do <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>for you?" asked the milder voice, "something +safer than forwarding letters?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to have the right generally granted a dying man, of +seeing a minister. One lives a few miles above here. I am sure he would +come."</p> + +<p>"And hear what you dare not write," sneered the torturer. "You are not +the sort to need a death-bed scene; besides, there isn't going to be any +death-bed. I dare say the parson would be glad enough to carry your +so-called confession to Washington. Bah! you are crude in your last +moments."</p> + +<p>"Come," impatiently spoke the fellow's companion, "I have no stomach for +your jests and brutality." Then, turning to the master, he said: "We +will leave you for a few hours. It seems the only thing we can do for +you. Try to rest."</p> + +<p>Down the greenhouse the two went. The master was alone! He bowed his +splendid head, and perhaps tasted, for the first time, the dregs of +desolation.</p> + +<p>Andy, lying low among the bushes, saw that <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>the master's feet were +bound. The sight wrung the boy's soul. Perhaps he had wildly hoped that +escape were possible, but one glance showed him that the fetters were +cruelly strong. What could he do? Near and far he heard the measured +tread of sentinels at their posts. He wondered that he had ever gained +his present position unnoticed. It was doubtful now that he could make +his own escape, for a gray dawn was breaking in the east. But the +thought of his own danger troubled the boy little. He was thinking of a +peculiar whirring sound that he and the master had once practiced +together. A sound like an insect. "'Twould be a good signal," the +teacher had said. Would he remember it?</p> + +<p>Andy pressed close to the broken glass, and chirruped distinctly. The +master started and raised his eyes. Was he dreaming! Again Andy +ventured. Then a smile flitted across the master's face.</p> + +<p>"Andy!" he breathed.</p> + +<p>"Here, close to you!"</p> + +<p>Slowly, without a suspicious start, the man <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>turned in the boy's +direction; and the two brave comrades smiled at each other over the gulf +of pain and grief.</p> + +<p>"I will try to sleep!" This aloud, to regale the ear of any possible +listener other than Andy. With difficulty the master stretched, as best +he could, his fettered limbs upon the floor, taking heed to lie as close +to Andy as possible.</p> + +<p>Silence. Then the man tossed and talked aloud in troubled fashion.</p> + +<p>Andy, meantime, with a daring that might risk all, put his hand in the +broken pane and drew the bits of paper of the torn letters to him.</p> + +<p>"Tell Washington," moaned the voice of the master in a half sleepy +whisper, "I regret nothing. Am proud to die and to have given <i>all</i>."</p> + +<p>"I have the letters!" breathed Andy. "If I live Washington shall have +them and know all."</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" came from the man upon the floor. "You are a true friend, +Andy McNeal."</p> + +<p>"Good-by," groaned Andy. "Some one is coming!" The cold perspiration +covered the boy's body, for steps were drawing near.</p><p><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></p> + +<p>"There could hardly be any one outside," said a loud, rough voice. +"Still we must take no chances. The poor devil has reason to toss in his +sleep and talk. I doubt if he were doing anything else."</p> + +<p>The need was desperate. Andy crawled like a snake through the grasses. +Escape seemed impossible. He passed the two searchers in the friendly +gloom, and breathed freer. This was a lucky move, for the two men +examined thoroughly the spot where Andy had been. They discovered the +broken glass, and one remarked that the weeds had been crushed.</p> + +<p>"Some animal has been prowling about, there are no footprints," said the +other.</p> + +<p>Andy's Indian training was serving him well. In a few minutes the two +passed on. "We'll walk around the place. Daybreak is near. The dangerous +spy's time is short."</p> + +<p>Andy made the most of that time. Stealing cautiously in and out of the +shrubbery, he worked his way out of sight of the greenhouse. The chill +of the morning made him shiver. How many hours he had passed without +food <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>or drink he did not consider; but his heart seemed dead within +him.</p> + +<p>Painfully he came at last to the shelter of the woods. Then he sat down +upon a fallen tree, clutching the scraps of paper against his throbbing +breast. In imagination he seemed to see the master being led forth to +die. See! the east was rosy. Now, even now, the brave soul was marching +on undaunted and undismayed. Andy could see nothing in the brilliancy of +that lovely morning light, but the uplifted face of the man he loved. A +pride and joy came to the boy. That hero was his friend! The world might +call him a spy—but he, Andy McNeal, knew that he had given all for the +country's cause, and regretted nothing, even in the face of a dishonored +death.</p> + +<p>"And Washington shall know!" breathed Andy. "As soon as I can reach +headquarters, the General shall have these!" Fiercely he pressed the +papers. Then he arose. He was stiff and deadly weary.</p> + +<p>"I will go to Ruth!" he sighed. "I must have food and rest. I dare not +go to mother.<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a> My plight is too sad. I will save her the sight." +Bedraggled and blood-stained—for the fall of the night before had left +its mark—Andy went on, looking, as indeed he was, a soldier of the +cause.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>ANDY HEARS A STRANGE TALE</h3> + + +<p>Andy made but poor time to the minister's house. It was well on toward +noon when the shouts of the children at play cheered his heart. He had +been obliged to rest many times, and once he had fallen asleep and slept +longer than he knew.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the cottage he saw Ruth kneeling by Sam's grave. It was +one of the girl's daily duties of love to bring fresh flowers and cover +the mound with the bloom. Glad enough was Andy to see her alone, and in +this quiet spot. He went more rapidly; the sight of Ruth gave him new +strength. He had no intention of frightening her, he made no attempt to +walk quietly, but indeed a look at his haggard face would have caused +alarm in any case.</p> + +<p>"Ruth!" The girl looked up, stared, but <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>made no cry. She rubbed her +eyes feebly as if awakening from sleep, then she grew deadly pale.</p> + +<p>"Andy McNeal!" she whispered. "Whatever has happened?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you." He sank down wearily, and took the cap from his head.</p> + +<p>"My heart has been filled with horror," Ruth went on, giving Andy time +to catch his breath. "I dared not tell any one what really happened. +They think you merely went as guide. I never expected to see you alive +again. I am not sure that I do now!" She smiled pitifully, and came near +Andy to chafe his cold hands.</p> + +<p>"I'm alive," the boy faltered. "But, oh! Ruth, I have lived years." Then +brokenly, and with aching heart, he told the story of the past hours. +Ruth never took her eyes from his face, but her color came and went as +she listened. The tale was ended at last, ended with all the tragic +detail and the showing of the scraps of paper. Then Ruth stood up.</p> + +<p>"Andy," she said, in her prompt fashion, "the house is empty. Mother has +gone to your <a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>home, father will be away until to-morrow. The children +are easily managed. Now I want you to go in the upper room after you +have eaten. I want you to rest all day and then—then I have something +to tell you and—there is more to do."</p> + +<p>"Yes; these," sighed Andy, looking at the papers. "I should start at +once with these."</p> + +<p>"'Twould be folly. There are awful doings afoot, Andy McNeal. It is no +time for a mid-day walk to Harlem Heights. You must do as I say. Come in +now; you are starved and utterly spent."</p> + +<p>Andy followed gladly. It was the course, the only course, of wisdom.</p> + +<p>He ate ravenously, and drank a quart of rich milk. Ruth was busied in +the room above, and when the meal was finished Andy joined her.</p> + +<p>"Now," she smiled, "everything is ready." He found a pail of hot water, +and some of the minister's clothing lay on a chair. "They'll have to do, +Andy, until I can wash and dry yours," said Ruth.</p> + +<p>"What matters?" answered Andy. "If I sleep I shall not mind the rest."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>"I know. You must only obey now, Andy. Remember I love to do my share!" +Tears stood in her brave eyes, and Andy understood.</p> + +<p>Andy fell asleep almost at once. The hot bath took the pain from his +sore body, the clean, worn linen was cool and soothing, and the droning +of the bees in the near-by hives hushed sorrow and weariness into deep +oblivion.</p> + +<p>And while he dreamed of peaceful walks with the master under sunny +skies, and smiled in the dreaming, Ruth had summoned Janie, and the +mother sat waiting patiently the awakening. There was much to tell and +more to do. But Andy dreamed on.</p> + +<p>Four o'clock! The tall clock in the living-room spoke loudly. Andy +stirred and muttered something, then slept again.</p> + +<p>Five o'clock! The boy sat up on the narrow bed and stared into his +mother's face.</p> + +<p>Janie never flinched, though his pallor and the cut on his forehead made +her heart ache.</p> + +<p>"Mother, I must get to Washington at once. I—I have a message."</p> + +<p>"Yes, son."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>"I do not fear death. It comes but once!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Andy, lad. But I'm thinking you'll not be meeting death just now. +It looks like you were singled out to live and act for all my old +misgivings. God forgive me."</p> + +<p>She bowed her head and it rested on Andy's shoulder. Stern Janie had +never done such a thing before, and even at the moment Andy was touched +and moved. He smoothed the hair away from the pale face, and gently, +lovingly kissed his mother.</p> + +<p>"There are strange happenings, Andy," she sighed.</p> + +<p>"There are, indeed," he agreed.</p> + +<p>"But things about which you know nothing, lad, and—and I must tell you +before you go. Get up; dress, son. Ruth and I have made decent your own +clothing. I can talk better while you move about. I cannot bear your +eyes, my lad." Andy arose at once and began his dressing, keeping his +face turned from his mother, but her own was rigidly set toward the +window.</p> + +<p>"Your father has come back, Andy!"</p> + +<p>A strange pause, then:</p> + +<p><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>"My father!" Andy had dropped into a chair. The sentence had deprived +him of strength to stand. He knew his mother never wasted words, or made +rash statements. His father had come back! And Andy did not know that +his father was alive. In fact, knew nothing of him, and that struck him +for the first time with stunning force. Janie's back was straight and +firm.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your father. I kept it all from you. I meant to tell you some day, +Andy, but time passed and you asked no questions, and I—I thought +everything was past and gone forever. But he has come back."</p> + +<p>"Where is he?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"At home. He has been hurt, and is feverish and ill. He was doing +sentinel duty for—for the British, and he received a terrible blow from +some one in a cave. I cannot tell what is best to do, Andy, and I must +look to you for help."</p> + +<p>Somehow Andy had gotten to his feet, and staggered across the little +room to his mother. Almost roughly he seized her hand, while the <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>awful +truth unfolded itself from the dense darkness of the past.</p> + +<p>"Say that again!" he commanded. Janie looked at him in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Say what!" she asked.</p> + +<p>"That about the blow, and—and the cave!"</p> + +<p>Janie repeated it, wondering why that detail should so interest Andy.</p> + +<p>"You see," she continued, not heeding his horrified look, "I married +your father when I was very young. I look older than I be, lad. He +brought me nothing but trouble. He was above me in station. He belonged +to his majesty's regiment stationed here, and when the regiment was +recalled he went—back! Little he cared for the girl he left or the baby +that bore his name! I managed, and neighbors helped me to forget, +and—and I could not tell you Andy. I hoped I never would be obliged +to."</p> + +<p>"Go on!" Andy still held his mother's hand, but with infinite gentleness +now. Tears stood in Janie's eyes, and the human need for sympathy met an +answering thrill in the heart of the son.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>"He—he saw you yesterday at the pass, Andy, when they made you guide +them after the troops, and your face frightened him. He says you look so +like his mother, that it is just terrible. She has recently died, and +her memory and the thought that his son might be alive and here, gave +him a bad turn. He asked your name, and as I kept my own name after he +deserted me, he guessed the truth, and as soon as he could break away +from the others he came to me—and—that is all, Andy. But what shall I +do?"</p> + +<p>Andy tried to think. Tried to bring events into orderly line and +coherence, but the more he tried the more detached he felt, and as if +the whole matter was one with which he had nothing to do.</p> + +<p>"I was so young, Andy, lad, only seventeen!" When had Janie ever pleaded +before?</p> + +<p>"Yes," murmured Andy. "I am nearly seventeen now. Seventeen years are +long—sometimes. But, of course, you were very young."</p> + +<p>"And I had no one to guide me, Andy. I was <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>alone. I have always been +alone, and it has been hard." A sob rose to the trembling lips. Andy +looked at his mother, and, oddly enough through all the bewilderment, +thought that she had a beauty he had never noticed before.</p> + +<p>"You were handsome, too," he whispered. Janie started.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied. "I suppose I was, then. Your voice is like his. It +always was, Andy. That was one reason that at times I could not bear it. +Oh, Andy! it is no easy matter to be a lonely woman!" The cry smote the +listener, and his growing manhood reached out to her.</p> + +<p>"Mother, you are not alone. You have me. I will come back to you, stand +by you, and we will see what is best to do. I must go on my errand, and +I think you ought to go to—to father!" The word nearly choked him.</p> + +<p>"But suppose anything should happen to you?" Janie clung to the hand of +this new, strange, but well-loved son, "whatever shall I do?</p> + +<p>"I think I shall come back to you. I think I am needed, and it seems +clear to me that I shall <a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>come back." Andy smiled into the troubled +face, and tried to rouse himself into action.</p> + +<p>"If you should fall into the hands of the British," whispered Janie, +"tell them you are the son of Lieutenant Theodore Martin; it may help +you, son."</p> + +<p>"Your name is my name!" Andy proudly broke in. "I never shall seek favor +through any other. If they take me, they take Andy McNeal, and if I come +back I shall come bearing that name, until my mother bids me take +another!"</p> + +<p>Janie bowed her head. It had been her first, only weak attitude toward +her country.</p> + +<p>"You are right," she quivered. "But I fear for you."</p> + +<p>Presently his mother left him. He and she had work to do, and it must be +done apart. A few minutes after she was gone, Ruth came up bearing a +tray of food. She was limping painfully, and Andy, sitting by the window +lost in thought, got to his feet in alarm. "You are hurt!" he cried. A +smile spread over the girl's pale face.</p> + +<p>"I'm a depraved sinner!" she said, setting the <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>tray on a stand and +dropping into a chair. "After the war is over I shall repent and take up +godly ways. For the present I am a lost soul, and given over to Satan. +Andy, the lie I told yesterday about the river road was the beginning of +my downfall. How easily we glide downhill."</p> + +<p>"'Twas the only thing to do, Ruth," nodded Andy. "I think such a lie +grows innocent from the start. It was the object, Ruth. What else could +you have done? It puzzles me sore to try and explain. I just leave the +lie to God. He will understand."</p> + +<p>"I have left it there, Andy, and from the joy and gladness I have felt, +I believe there was nothing else to do. But this lameness, oh, Andy!"</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"Just as the lie did, Andy. This is a bodily lie."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand, Ruth."</p> + +<p>"Eat, and I will explain." Andy began mechanically. He must be ready for +his task in any case. Food was the first step.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>"I have been reading the Bible to the children, Andy. They wanted the +story of David. As I read it seemed as if you were like David. When he +went to meet Goliath, how impossible his victory seemed, but the hand +that swung the sling was strong enough to win the day. Andy," Ruth bent +toward him, her face glowing, "you are strong enough to win against your +Goliath!"</p> + +<p>"Mine?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; all the king's men! You will get to Washington before another day +is passed. But—you must let me help you."</p> + +<p>Andy set the cup of milk down and stared at the earnest face.</p> + +<p>"I'm very dull," he said. "I only know that I must go. I do not see, +now, that you can help."</p> + +<p>"You must not think of going abroad as Andy McNeal," the girl explained. +"They are watching for you. Janie says that more than one Britisher has +been to her door."</p> + +<p>"Do you know—" Andy began.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Ruth, "but he is well hidden. It is you they are after. +Then, too, I know <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>what the British expect to do. Hans Brickman found +out and he is almost frightened to death with his secret. He thinks the +British will see his secret written all over him, and he is afraid to go +into camp—the patriot camp, you know. He has honey and butter to sell, +and he sells to friend or foe. I've told him I will go with him +to-night."</p> + +<p>"What secret?" asked Andy, keen to the main point.</p> + +<p>"The British war-ships are going up the river!" Ruth was whispering in +Andy's ear, not daring to trust her voice even in the little room. +"Father says the General does not expect this move, but they are getting +ready down by the Battery. Father says the forts cannot stand a river +attack."</p> + +<p>"But Washington <i>must</i> know this. He never is taken off guard." Andy +spoke proudly and with assurance.</p> + +<p>"Well, any way," said Ruth, "he is preparing for a land attack. It is +common talk."</p> + +<p>"Just a blind!" Andy broke in. But his face was troubled. "However, I +must get these <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>papers to him, and if I can I will speak to him. It can +do no harm."</p> + +<p>"But you cannot go as you are, Andy."</p> + +<p>"How then?"</p> + +<p>"Why," Ruth went to the door and dragged in a bundle, "in these!" She +held up one of her own dresses, a big sunbonnet, and a neat white apron.</p> + +<p>"Ruth!" Andy flushed hotly.</p> + +<p>"I have sprained my ankle," Ruth explained with an assumed whimper, "and +poor Hans is about distracted. He is afraid to go peddling alone with +his secret writ large in both Dutch and English on his foolish face. I +have told him I will go lame or no lame. Fortunately he is hard of +hearing and stupid as an owl in broad daylight. You might be less like +me than you are, and Hans would not know. We have much to be thankful +for, Andy."</p> + +<p>"Ruth, I cannot!"</p> + +<p>"Andy, you shall!" They looked into each other's eyes and then because +they were young and brave, they smiled; smiled above the danger and +heartache.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/0138-1a.png" width="300" height="491" alt=""IT TOOK ALL OF ANDY'S COURAGE TO DON THE FEMALE ATTIRE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"IT TOOK ALL OF ANDY'S COURAGE TO DON THE FEMALE ATTIRE."</span> +</div> + +<p><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>"What a girl you are!" laughed Andy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are few like me," sighed the girl. "Born to trouble as the +sparks fly upward."</p> + +<p>"Born to deliver others from trouble, I verily believe," added Andy.</p> + +<p>"Not a moment to spare!" commanded Ruth. "You have eaten a noble meal. I +must go to my room to suffer now. When Hans bawls from the wagon, be +ready, and remember the eggs are a shilling more to his majesty's men +than to Washington's."</p> + +<p>It took all Andy's courage to don the female attire. He had never done +so hard a thing, yet he knew that Ruth was right. If he hoped to reach +the patriot camp he must not attempt it as Andy McNeal. "Next best +then," he thought, "is to go as Ruth White. God bless Ruth!"</p> + +<p>"Hi!" rose shrilly on the soft evening air, "hi! we starts now!"</p> + +<p>It was Hans bellowing from the wagon. Andy plunged into the bonnet, +whose big, flapping frill almost hid his face. He took his crutch—its +aid <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>was not to be despised now—and hobbled down-stairs.</p> + +<p>"Washington is in the Morris Mansion!" Ruth whispered as he passed her +door.</p> + +<p>Under his sunbonnet Andy turned scarlet, but he did not turn toward +Ruth.</p> + +<p>"There goes our Ruthie to sell eggs," called little Margaret White from +over her bowl of milk in the kitchen. "Does your leg hurt awful, +Ruthie?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. White at the table did not turn, but she said:</p> + +<p>"Take heed, Margaret, your milk is spilling. Ruth is all right." As in +very truth she was.</p> + +<p>"We be late, already," called Hans from his wagon. "Can you get up, +miss?"</p> + +<p>Andy mounted slowly, and crouched behind Hans among the baskets and +pails. The Dutch boy had but recently come over from Long Island to live +with the parson. After the battle of Long Island he had fled to what he +thought were more peaceful pastures for employment; but he had his +doubts. Dangers pursued Hans, and he was sore distressed. It was +necessary <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>for him to sell the products of the little farm, and, really, +the danger of the parson's daughter going along to straighten matters +out, was no great matter. Peddlers, unless suspected, were allowed to +pass the lines, and their wares paid for with more or less honesty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>AT HEADQUARTERS</h3> + + +<p>"Your excellency, dar am a lame girl, an a fool Dutchman outside. De +girl done say, she's got to delibber de eggs to yourself, sah!"</p> + +<p>"Eggs!" The tall, anxious man at the table turned sharply. He was +writing to Congress, and the interruption annoyed him.</p> + +<p>"Yas, sah." The colored man bowed humbly. "I'se been tellin' dem we has +eggs nouf, but the Dutchman he deaf as a stun wall, an' de girl am dat +sot, dat your own self couldn't be sotter, sah. She done say her folks +'prived demselfs of food an' drink, sah, to save dese eggs fur your +excellency, an' she goes on tu say, sah, dat she done been habbin' de +debbil's own time gettin' past de lines wid de eggs. She's been 'sulted +by de British and odder hard things. She won't go, sah, till I done tell +you all dis rubbish."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>"Bring her in," quietly said the listener.</p> + +<p>Washington never slighted the humble, and, besides, messages were sent +in odd ways. It was always better to be willing to listen. The black man +departed, muttering, and presently returned, showing the lame girl in +with no very good grace.</p> + +<p>"Dat am de General!" he explained, shutting the heavy door after the +limping figure.</p> + +<p>There was no need of explanation. The eyes under the drooping frill grew +joyous at the sight of the honored face. The heart under the coarse +cotton frock beat high with pride, and—yes, shame, for how was the boy +to make himself known?</p> + +<p>"Pray be seated," the deep voice was saying. "You are weary and you have +taken chances of danger to reach me with your gift."</p> + +<p>Andy sank into the nearest chair.</p> + +<p>"I appreciate your devotion and unselfishness, but I would advise no +future attempts to pass the British lines for such a thing."</p> + +<p>"There were other reasons, sir," said Andy. Washington came nearer.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>"I fancied so," he said, "and they are?"</p> + +<p>Andy drew the basket of eggs to him, and unwrapped several, handing the +papers to Washington. The General took them, crossed to the window, and +for a few moments pieced the bits together carefully. Then he read. Andy +watched him, remembering that other face in the greenhouse on the +never-to-be-forgotten night.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get these?" he said suddenly. Andy stood up leaning upon +his crutch.</p> + +<p>"A messenger, in time of danger, must come as he may, sir," he said, +bravely. Then tearing off the bonnet he added:</p> + +<p>"Andy McNeal, at your service, sir!" Washington's face never betrayed +him, but a glad look came to the overweary eyes. He extended his hand, +and grasped Andy's.</p> + +<p>"I remember!" he said. "You have been true to your trust. And now for +the story."</p> + +<p>Sitting in the stately room of the mansion, opposite the great General, +Andy McNeal told his story. Try as he might, his voice would break, but +he thought no shame of his weakness, <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>for the keen eyes looking into his +own were often dim.</p> + +<p>"I asked a great thing of Nathan Hale," said the General at last, "but +he gave it willingly. Andy McNeal, you have been a faithful friend to as +great a hero as the Revolution will ever know. Many offer their lives. +He offered his honor. Willing was he to die, and to die dishonored by +the many. Some day his country will understand."</p> + +<p>"And, sir, do you know the British are bringing their ships up the +river?"</p> + +<p>Washington's eyes gleamed. "I have sent men to Frog's Point," he smiled. +"They will meet a welcome when they land. Thank you. And now farewell. +Take heed as you return. You are safer without a guard."</p> + +<p>"Is there no work for me to do? Is there no place in the ranks for such +as I?"</p> + +<p>The tremendous question broke from Andy's lips. To go back into idleness +was his one dread. He longed to follow; to be the humblest, but most +patriotic, of the many. Washington understood.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>"I must leave here directly," he answered. "Ere another week passes I +shall be gone. Where future battles are to be fought, remains to be +seen, but always, my first object is to guard the Hudson. I need +faithful hearts here. I shall not forget you, Andy McNeal, nor your +service. If I can use you, be ready. I shall know where to find you. You +are sure to be more useful here than elsewhere. You know your woods as +few others do, and I know I can depend upon your courage and +faithfulness. Again farewell."</p> + +<p>Andy arose, drew on the disguising headgear, not even thinking of it, so +full was his heart, and so he departed to face whatever lay before.</p> + +<p>The immediate thing that faced Andy McNeal was the meeting with his own +father. It took all the courage he possessed to do this, and yet he knew +that he could not begin to live again until the new complications had +been grappled with and readjusted.</p> + +<p>After dark of the same day upon which Andy had seen Washington, he +reached his mother's little house. Hans and he had had <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>several +encounters with the British, but a thickheaded, deaf Dutchman, and a +young, frightened lame girl, with a hideous bonnet, served only for a +moment's idle sport for the king's gallant men. And after annoying +delays they were allowed to pass with a warning to come soon with more +food, or their houses would be burned over their heads.</p> + +<p>Andy paused outside the cottage. He heard his mother moving about, and +the indistinct voice of a man from the guest-room beyond.</p> + +<p>"The vine again!" thought Andy. But the ascent in the gown was +difficult. "A maid's progress is bitter hard!" smiled he, and he thought +tenderly of Ruth.</p> + +<p>The little loft-room seemed oddly changed to Andy. He looked about. +Everything was the same, and yet—</p> + +<p>"It is that voice below-stairs," muttered he. "It alters everything." A +feeling of hatred crept in Andy's heart against this man who had +suddenly assumed so close a relationship to him.</p> + +<p>"What will mother do?" he questioned as he changed his clothing, and put +on the decent Sunday-suit <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>that was hanging from the pegs. "What will +she do?" And in his heart Andy knew what she would do, what, at least, +she would want to do. He had seen it shining back of the trouble in her +eyes when she first spoke to him. The want had brought the look of +beauty with it, and had banished the marks of the lonely years.</p> + +<p>"But a Britisher!" moaned the boy, smoothing his hair, "a Britisher for +Janie and Andy McNeal! I might forgive him for all else—for mother's +sake, but not that, not that!"</p> + +<p>"Andy, lad, is it you?" Andy started. His mother was coming up the +stairs!</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother." She stood before him now. The coarse cotton gown that was +familiar to Andy's boyhood was gone. A dull, bluish linen with white +cuffs and collar had replaced it, and above the becoming dress shone the +face of a new Janie.</p> + +<p>A jealous pang struck Andy's heart, and he shivered in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard you, lad. You are safe?"</p> + +<p>"Quite safe, mother."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>"But sair tired?" she dropped into the Scotch unconsciously.</p> + +<p>"Not overtired. I did my errand well."</p> + +<p>"And now, Andy, what next?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. Since I cannot follow and fight, I must bide at home and wait. +Does any one come here for help from the patriot army we must be ready, +mother."</p> + +<p>"Aye, surely, lad. You know where my heart lies!"</p> + +<p>"But, mother, the—the person below. He is—a deserter if he is found +here. What then? And surely not even he must keep us from doing our +duty."</p> + +<p>"Lad" (Janie came close), "I cannot hope to have you understand. When +love comes your way, Andy, it will plead for me. All these years—I have +been a starved and forsaken woman, and it has changed me. We all go +astray, Andy, and—and your father. Oh! call him that, son, for my sake. +Your father has dealt sorely with me and you, but he has come back. He +was hunting us long before he found us. He wants to mend the past. Andy, +as we <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>hope for mercy from the good God, let us be merciful."</p> + +<p>"But a Britisher, mother. An enemy to our cause. Oh, mother!"</p> + +<p>"Andy, lad, come!" She put out her hand pleadingly, and Andy followed. +There was a candle burning in the guest-room, and by its modest gleam +sat the man who, when Andy had seen him last, was proclaiming his own +son to be the rebel who had presumably struck one of the king's men in +the cave. Very pale was the man now, and the bruise on the forehead +shone plain even in the dim light. He looked up at Andy in a curious, +interested way, and half extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"You do not care to take the hand of a Britisher, I see." The white face +relaxed in a faint smile. Andy went nearer.</p> + +<p>"For my mother's sake I can take my—my father's hand, though it all +seems mighty queer."</p> + +<p>"I want you to know," said the man, "that I would not have told my head +officer who you were that day, but I was so alarmed at the likeness <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>you +bore my mother that I was unaware of what I was doing. It was horrible +to realize as I was beginning to do then, that I was probably speaking +to my own—son."</p> + +<p>"It was more horrible to think that my own father had been struck by a +blow dealt in my defense. You must have thought that, too."</p> + +<p>"No, I did not. Who struck that blow?"</p> + +<p>"Nathan Hale."</p> + +<p>The man started. "And he?"</p> + +<p>"Died the death of a spy two days ago."</p> + +<p>"Andy!" It was Janie who cried out. "Was our dear schoolmaster, Nathan +Hale, the spy?"</p> + +<p>"Nathan Hale, the patriot!" corrected Andy, and his eyes dimmed.</p> + +<p>"Oh! how you have suffered, lad."</p> + +<p>"Aye." Andy sank into a chair.</p> + +<p>His father was looking at him keenly; and a growing expression of +admiration was dawning in the searching eyes. Here was a son of whom he +might yet be proud.</p> + +<p>"Andy," he said, "I can imagine your feeling toward me. I do not say I +do not deserve it. But your mother is willing to forgive the <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>past, if +you are willing to give me a trial." The thin lips twitched. Martin was +a proud man, and his humble diet seemed never to be coming to an end. +The hard young face opposite appeared more unrelenting than Janie's had +seemed.</p> + +<p>"What is best for mother is best for me," said Andy. "I am almost a man. +When the war is over I shall try to do a man's part in the world. Each +one of us has his life."</p> + +<p>Martin again became serious. "I have money, Andy; I can help you, and +give you a fair start."</p> + +<p>"Your money will make mother's life easier. It has been a hard life."</p> + +<p>"There, there, Andy, lad! Do not be bitter, son."</p> + +<p>"Not bitter, mother. But I cannot forget. Not just at first."</p> + +<p>"I can educate you, Andy," Martin added. "You might take that help from +a stranger, and repay it later on."</p> + +<p>A hungry look came into the boy's eyes. The teaching of the master had +awakened an appetite that would not sleep. "I did without for many +<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>years," he replied. But Martin had seen the gleam, and was proud.</p> + +<p>"In a day or so, Andy," he went on, "I must ask a favor of you. I want +you to guide me to the patriot headquarters." The boy started. "I came +half-heartedly to fight against the colonies. It is my desire to throw +my lot in with theirs now. You may be able to do me a favor with your +General. He will know you. If I come back you may be able to respect +your father. If not—your mother has a good son, and Parson White will +see that what belongs to you two will be yours."</p> + +<p>"Father!" Andy arose, and this time stretched forth his hand gladly. +"Father, I will try to be a good son to you, too!"</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" sobbed Janie, kneeling by the chair, and drawing Andy +within the circle of her new hopes.</p> + +<p>The old clock ticked and ticked contentedly. The hissing of the kettle +on the fire recalled Janie to her happy tasks, and Martin and his son +wondered what the future would bring.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>PEACE</h3> + + +<p>"Only the cane now, Andy. The days of crutches are over!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ruth, the country, the dear free country and I can nearly go alone +now." Andy stood up proudly and beamed upon the pretty girl standing by +his mother.</p> + +<p>"I declare!" he laughed, "you look but little older than Ruth, mother!"</p> + +<p>"Box his ears well, lass," said Janie, mightily pleased. "He struts, +does Andy, and you and I must take him down."</p> + +<p>"Come," Andy broke in, "we must start now. Wrap up well, girls," he +laughed again, "'tis bitter cold, and the way is long."</p> + +<p>"No cold can reach me!" cried Janie, pulling her hood well over her +happy face. "Warm hearts make glowing bodies. To think, lad, he will be +with us to-night!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>The door of the little house was drawn to and locked. All within was +beautiful and ready for the patriot who that night would return full of +honors for the part he had played during the last two years.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He will be with us, mother," echoed Andy. He looked at Ruth. He +had learned to understand his mother now, and Ruth had shown him the +way.</p> + +<p>"It was no light matter," said the girl, keeping step with Andy over the +crisp snow, "for you—your father to be a patriot. He was not only a +patriot but a deserter from the king's army. In every battle he had to +face that."</p> + +<p>"Yes," broke in Janie, "and when he went with Wayne to storm Stony +Point, he was nearly captured, as you will remember. And the British +yelled at him, 'Don't shoot that deserter, lead's too good for him. +We'll try an Indian trick on him!'"</p> + +<p>Andy's face grew grave. "He's a brave man," he whispered, and drew +Janie's arm within his own. And so the little party came to Fraunce's +Tavern, and bided near the room in <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>which Washington and his officers +were dining before the General departed for Annapolis, where he was to +lay down his commission, for the war was over, and peace had come to the +young country.</p> + +<p>"Andy," said Janie, closing the door of the small room which had been +reserved for them, "'twas great luck that my host's wife and I are +friends. Think of us having this to ourselves, and the great General +right in the next room. Ruth, lass, there is a communicating door, as +true as I live! Andy, draw away the sofa."</p> + +<p>"Mother, you would not be an eavesdropper?"</p> + +<p>"God forbid! Ruthie, is there a keyhole?"</p> + +<p>"No keyhole, but a good generous crack in the panel! Hurry, Andy, with +the sofa, the thing weighs a ton. Push!"</p> + +<p>"Ruth! We cannot spy upon the General." Andy tried to look severe.</p> + +<p>"I can!" laughed the girl, mounting the sofa, and applying her eye to +the crack. "I'm afraid the Revolution has demoralized me, but I must see +the thing through. Andy, they look—they <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>look magnificent!" Ruth was +quivering on her perch. Janie flung prudence and dignity to the winds, +and climbed to Ruth's side, and, being taller, gained a portion of the +crack above the girl's head.</p> + +<p>"I can see no one but the General!" she said. "The crack is over-narrow +for such doings!"</p> + +<p>"There is no one but Washington!" breathed Andy, and he lifted his head +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are others," whispered Ruth, misunderstanding, "and if you +run your eye up and down the crack quickly, you can catch a sight of +them. The crack is wider in some parts."</p> + +<p>"Heaven save us, lass!" (Ruth's head had come in violent contact with +Janie's chin). "You have loosened my teeth!"</p> + +<p>"They are going to drink a toast!" said Ruth, not heeding the accident, +but thrilling with excitement. "Andy, 'tis no wrong we are doing. The +General's voice can be heard distinctly, and I vow there are a dozen +heads at every window opening on the porch. The crack is fine down here. +I can see everything!"</p> + +<p>Andy stood still.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>"He is raising his glass!" said Ruth near the floor.</p> + +<p>"With my heart full of love and gratitude I now take leave of you all. +Most devoutly wishing that your latter days may be as prosperous and +happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."</p> + +<p>"His eyes are full of tears!" almost sobbed Ruth, and the eyes of them +in the little room were dim. Glasses clinked together, then the full +voice went on:</p> + +<p>"I cannot come to each one of you and take my leave, but I shall be +obliged if you will come and take my hand." They needed no second +bidding those comrades, tried and true. One by one, feeling no shame in +their manly show of sorrow, they grasped their General's faithful hand +and parted from him with bowed heads.</p> + +<p>"They are going out!" panted Janie. "Now, Andy, for the hall. We must +meet him at the door."</p> + +<p>As he came from the banquet room, Washington and his officers met the +three. He knew Andy at a glance, and then recognized Janie.<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a> He took +them by the hand, and bowed in courtly fashion.</p> + +<p>"Patriots all!" he smiled. "You well deserve your hard-earned peace."</p> + +<p>They joined the throngs which followed Washington to the river. They +stood upon the Battery until the barge which bore the gallant figure +away faded from sight. So lost were they in admiration that for a moment +none of them noticed a tall figure approaching dressed in Continental +uniform. Then Janie saw him. Her face flushed like a girl's.</p> + +<p>"Andy!" she whispered, pulling her son's sleeve, "see, here is your—"</p> + +<p>"Father!" greeted Andy, and stretched out a welcoming hand.</p> + +<p>Back to the lonely pass the four went, Janie and Martin on ahead.</p> + +<p>"And now," questioned Ruth in a soft whisper, "what comes next, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"I am to study. Ah! Ruth, how I shall study! I mean to learn all that I +can and carry the best to them who call me."</p> + +<p>"You really mean to be a minister?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>"That I do, God willing!" answered Andy, reverently.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a hard life, Andy."</p> + +<p>"For that I love it."</p> + +<p>"Have you thought where you would like to go?"</p> + +<p>"Just where the most urgent call comes. Ruth, the life is hard—"</p> + +<p>"I know the life, Andy, and love it!"</p> + +<p>"Could you—could you, Ruth?"</p> + +<p>"Keep on living it? Yes, dear. Who so well fitted as I?"</p> + +<p>They paused on the snowy path, and looked into each other's brave eyes.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if any life is really hard, dear Ruth, where—"</p> + +<p>"Love lifts the burden? I think not, Andy. Love bears the weight. We +take the glory. It is a wonderful thing."</p> + +<p>The red glow of the winter sunset seemed to warm the snow-covered earth, +and in the still beauty the two followed Janie and Martin.</p> + +<h4>THE END</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Then Marched the Brave, by Harriet T. 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Comstock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Then Marched the Brave + +Author: Harriet T. Comstock + +Illustrator: Anna S. Hicks + +Release Date: June 30, 2005 [EBook #16156] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: _Frontispiece--"'I CAN SEE NO ONE BUT THE GENERAL,' +JANIE SAID." + +_See page 133._] + + + + +Then Marched the Brave + +By + +Harriet T. Comstock + +Author of "When the British Came," "Molly, the Drummer Boy," etc. + +_Illustrations by Anna S. Hicks_ + +PHILADELPHIA +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + +BY THE SAME AUTHOR + +MOLLY, THE DRUMMER BOY + +WHEN THE BRITISH CAME + +Fifty cents each + +Copyright, 1904, by Henry Altemus + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I +ANDY McNEAL + +CHAPTER II +A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT + +CHAPTER III +THE CROWNING OF ANDY McNEAL + +CHAPTER IV +THROUGH THE CAVE + +CHAPTER V +A SUSPICION + +CHAPTER VI +THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE + +CHAPTER VII +ANDY HEARS A STRANGE TALK + +CHAPTER VIII +AT HEADQUARTERS + +CHAPTER IX +PEACE + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"'I can see no one but the General,' Janie said" +"Andy was at the oars now" +"'Good day, my pretty lass!'" +"Burr ventured a question" +"It took all of Andy's courage to don the female attire" + + + + + +THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ANDY McNEAL + + +It was in the time when the king's men had things pretty much their own +way, and mystery and plot held full sway, that there lived, in a little +house near McGown Pass on the upper end of Manhattan Island, a widow and +her lame son. She was a tall, gaunt woman of Scotch ancestry, but loyal +to the land that had given her a second home. She was not a woman of +many opinions, but the few that she held were rigid, and not to be +trifled with. With all her might she hated the king, and with equal +intensity loved the cause of freedom. In the depths of her nature there +was a great feeling of shame and disappointment that her only son was a +hopeless cripple, and so could not be offered as a living sacrifice to +the new cause. + +Janie McNeal held it against the good God that she, His faithful +servant, must be denied the glorious opportunity of giving her best and +all, as other mothers were doing, that the land of the free might be +wrested from cruel tyranny. + +To be sure, Andy was but sixteen. That mattered little to Janie; young +as he was, she could have held him in readiness, as did Hannah of old, +until the time claimed him--but his lameness made it impossible. Among +all the deeds of courage, he must stand forever apart! + +Poor Janie could not conceive of a bravery beyond physical strength. In +her disappointment she looked upon pale Andy, and she saw--she hated to +acknowledge it--but she saw only cowardice written upon every line of +the shrinking features! The patient blue eyes avoided her pitying +glance. The sensitive mouth twitched as the boy listened to her +oft-repeated laments. Janie had never seen those eyes grow steely and +keen; she had never seen the lips draw into firm lines, or the slim form +stiffen as the boy listened to the doings of the king's soldiers. When +the neighbors came with thrilling tales of daring done by some loved +one, Janie made some excuse for sending the boy upon an errand or to +bed; the contrast was too bitter. + +And Andy, sensitive and keen from suffering, saw through it all and +shrank, not from fear or cowardice, but unselfish love, away from the +stir and excitement and his mother's sigh of humiliation. He lived his +life much alone; misunderstood, but silently brave. His chance would +come. Andy never once doubted that, and the chance would find him ready. + +And so he waited while the summer of 1776 waxed hotter and hotter, and +the king's men, drunken with success after the battle of Long Island, +pressed their advantage and impudence further, as they waited to see +what the "old fox," meaning Washington, meant to do next. What his +intentions were, no one, not even his own men, seemed to know; he kept +them and himself well out of sight, and the anxious people watched and +wondered and grew restless under the strain. + +Now upon a certain July night Janie McNeal and Andy were sitting at +their humble meal. The door of the cottage stood open, and the song of +evening birds made tender the quiet scene. Suddenly hurried, yet +stealthy, steps startled them. Was it friend or foe? + +"'Tis from a secret path, mother," whispered Andy, catching his crutch. +He knew the way the king's men came and went, and he knew the paths +hidden to all but those who dwelt among them. His trained ear was never +deceived. + +"'Tis a neighbor," he murmured; "he comes down the stream bed." + +Sure enough, a moment later Parson White's wife ran in. Her face was +haggard, and her hands outstretched imploringly. With keen appreciation +of what might be coming, Janie McNeal put her in a chair, and stood +guard over her like a gaunt sentinel. + +"To bed, Andy, child," she commanded; "'tis late and you are pale. To +bed!" + +Andy took the crutch, and, without a word, limped to the tiny room in +the loft above. Boy-like, he was consumed with curiosity. He knew that +the speakers, unless they whispered, could be overheard, so he lay down +upon his hard bed and listened. And poor Margaret White did not whisper. +Once alone with her friend, she poured out her agony and horror. + +"My Sam," she moaned, "he is dead!" + +Janie and the listener above started. For three years Sam White, the +erring son of the good parson, had been a wanderer from his father's +home. How, then, had he died, and where? The news was startling, indeed. + +"Margaret, tell me all!" The firm voice calmed the grief-stricken +mother. + +"He was coming home to get our blessing. He heard his country's call, +when his ears were deaf to all others, and it aroused his better nature. +He would not join the ranks until he had our blessing and forgiveness. +Poor lad! he was coming down the pass last night, not knowing that it +was sentineled by the enemy. He did not answer to the command to halt, +and they shot him! Shot him like a dog, giving him no time for +explanation or prayer. Oh! my boy! my boy!" + +Never while he lived would Andy forget that tone of bitter agony. + +"He's dead! My boy for whom I have watched and waited. Dead! ere he +could offer his brave young life on his country's altar. Oh! woe is me, +woe is me!" + +For a moment there was silence, then Janie's voice rang out so that Andy +could hear every word. + +"As God hears me, Margaret, I would gladly give my ain useless lad, if +by so doing, yours might be reclaimed from death. Your sorrow is one for +which there is no comfort. To have a son to give; to have him snatched +away before the country claimed him! Aye, woman, your load is, indeed, a +heavy one. To think of Andy alive, and your strong man-child lying dead! +The ways of God are beyond finding out. It grieves me sore, Margaret, +that it does. It seems a useless sacrifice, God forgive me for saying +it!" + +The women were sobbing together. In the room above, Andy hid his head +under the pillow to shut out the sound. Never, in all his lonely life, +had he suffered so keenly. Love, pride, hope, went down before the hard +words. In that time of great deeds, when the brave were marching on to +victory or death, he, poor useless cripple, was a disgrace to the mother +whom he loved. + +Where could he turn for comfort? He limped to the window, to cool his +fevered face. He leaned on the sill and looked up at the stars. They +seemed unfriendly now, and yet he and they had kept many a vigil, and +they had always seemed like comrades in the past. Poor Andy could not +pray; he needed the touch of human sympathy. + +All at once he started. There was one, just one who would understand. +But how could he reach her? The women in the room below barred his exit +that way. A heavy vine clambered over the house, and its sturdy branches +swayed under Andy's window. No one would miss him, and to climb down the +vine was an easy task even for a lame boy. + +Cautiously he began the descent, and in a few minutes was on the ground. +He had managed to carry his crutch under his arm, and now, panting, but +triumphant, he went quickly on. A new courage was rising within him--a +courage that often comes with despair and indifference to consequences. +No matter what happened, he would seek his only friend. + +He took to the stream bed. It was quite dry, and the bushes grew close. +No prowling Britisher would be likely to challenge him there. Ah! if +poor Sam White had been as wise. Andy's face grew paler as he +remembered. For a half-mile he pattered on, then the moon, rising clear +and silvery, showed a little house near by the stream bed and almost +hidden by vines. + +Everything about the house was dark and still. Andy paused and wondered +if he had a right to disturb even his one true friend. Noiselessly, he +drew near, and went around to the back of the house. Something startled +him. + +"Mother!" It was a young, sweet voice, and it came from the shadow of +the little porch. + +"'Tis I, Ruth!" faltered Andy. + +"You, Andy! And why! Have you heard about our Sam!" The girl came out +into the moonshine. She was tall and strong, and her face was very +pretty. + +"Yes; I've heard, Ruth;" then, coming close, Andy poured out his misery +to the girl who had been his lifelong friend and comrade. + +She listened silently, once raising her finger and pointing toward the +house as if to warn him against arousing the others. When he had +finished there was silence. It was not Ruth's way to plunge into reply. + +"Come," she whispered presently, "I am going to tell the bees. Hans +Brickman told me to-night that 'tis no fancy, but a true thing, that the +bees will leave a hive if death come unless they are told by a member of +the family. The bee-folk are overwise, I know, and I mean to take no +chances of their leaving. With the British at hand, honey is not to be +despised. Come." + +Andy followed, wondering, but biding Ruth's time. She was a strange girl +in all her ways. + +Without speaking, the two went through the little garden and paused +before the row of neat hives. Then Ruth bent before the first. + +"Sam's dead!" she whispered, "but do not fear. We need you, so do not +leave the hive." From hive to hive she went, quite seriously repeating +the sentence in soft murmurings. Andy stood and looked, the moonlight +showing him pale and intent. At last the deed was done, and Ruth came +back to him and laid her firm, brown hand upon his shoulder. She was a +trifle taller than he, so she bent to speak. + +"Not even your mother knows you as I do, Andy," she said. "She thinks a +lame leg can cripple a brave soul; but it cannot! Why, even being a girl +could not keep me back if I saw my chance, and I tell you, Andy, your +lameness may serve you well. I have been thinking of that. I do not +believe God ever wastes anything. He can use lame boys and--even girls. +Sam was not wasted. The call made him brave and good. He was coming home +a new creature just because he had heard. When I saw him lying dead, +shot by those lurking cowards, something grew in me here,"--she touched +her breast. "I have not shed one tear, but I loved him as well as the +others. Somehow I knew that since he had been called, it was because he +had a work to do, and since he is gone I mean to be ready to do his +work. Andy, I am as strong as a boy, but--" here her eyes sought his--"I +am a girl for all that, but you and I together, Andy, can do Sam's +work!" The young voice shook with excitement. + +"I, Ruth? Ah! do not shame me." Andy's eyes fell before the shining +face. + +"Shame you, Andy? I shame you--I who have loved you next best to Sam! +Come. Father has gone to bed, there will be time before mother returns. +I want you to see Sam." + +With bated breath the two entered the living-room of the cottage. The +place had been made sacred to the young hero who was so early called to +his rest. Flowers everywhere, and among them Sam lay smiling placidly at +his easily won laurels. + +For the first time Andy gazed upon the face of death. The gentle dignity +and peace of the once wild boy awed and thrilled the onlooker. He was +dressed in his Continental uniform that was unsoiled by battle's breath, +albeit, an ugly hole in the breast showed where the gallant blood had +flowed forth. + +"It's--it's wonderful!" gasped Andy. + +"But we're not going to let him be wasted, are we Andy?" There was a +cruel break in the girl's voice. "We'll do his work, won't we? We'll +show the Britishers how we can repay, won't we, Andy?" + +"Yes," breathed the boy, unable to turn his eyes from the noble, boyish +face, that was lighted by the gleam of the one lamp; "we'll show them!" + +"See, Andy" (Ruth had gone to a corner cup-board and brought forth a +three-cornered cap), "this is Sam's; I found it in the bushes. Mother +says I may have it." She placed it upon Andy's head. "It just fits!" she +exclaimed. "If the time comes, Andy, you shall wear the cap. It will be +proof that I trust you. You will help if you can, won't you? Promise" +Andy." + +"I promise, as God hears me, Ruth." + +In the stillness the vow sounded awesome. The two clasped hands. All +the sting was gone. A great resolve to be ready to dare and die made +Andy strong and happy. + +"Good-by, Ruth." + +"Good-by, Andy, lad." + +Out into the still night the boy passed. On the way back he saw Mrs. +White, but he hid beneath a bush until she had gone by. He reached home, +found the door barred, and so painfully reached his room by the aid of +the friendly vine. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT + + +That was to be a night of experiences--the beginning, the real beginning +of Andy's life; all the rest had been preparation. After reaching his +room, he flung himself wearily upon the bed. How long he slept he could +not know, but he was suddenly aroused by a sharp knock on the outer door +below stairs. He sat up and listened. All was still except the trickling +of a near-by waterfall, which had outlived the dry weather. + +For a moment Andy thought the knock was but part of a troubled dream; he +waited a moment, then, to make sure, limped over to the stairway and +peered down into the room below. A candle stood on the pine table, and, +at a chair near-by, knelt Janie McNeal, bowed in prayer. She had heard +the knock, but not until the lonely prayer was finished would she rise. +That was Janie's way. + +A second knock, louder than the first, sounded, and with it the woman's +solemn "Amen." + +"Be not so hasty, stranger," she muttered, as she withdrew the bar; +"learn to wait for your betters." + +The door swung back, and into the dim light of the bare room stepped a +tall man in Continental dress. His hat was in his hand, and he bowed +before Janie as if she were a queen. Andy drew back. No such stranger +had ever visited them before, and the boy gazed fascinated. + +"Pardon me, my good woman," the rich voice said; "much as I dislike +disturbing you, I fear I must crave a few hours' rest and lodging, and +the service of one to row me across the river ere break of day. I have +been told that you have a son." + +Andy quivered. + +"A lodging, sir, is yours and welcome," Janie replied, motioning the +stranger toward a chair and closing the door after him. "I ever keep a +bed in readiness these troubled times. We are loyal to the cause, and I +would serve where I may. I have a son, sir, as you have heard, but, +alas! not one who can be of service. He is a cripple. However, rest; you +look sadly in need of it. I will hasten to a neighbor's a mile away, and +seek the service you desire." + +"I regret to cause such trouble, but the need is urgent. I sympathize +with you in your son's affliction. It must be a sore grief to the lad to +sit apart these stirring times when young blood runs hot, and the +country calls so loudly." + +Soon Janie was setting food before the stranger--good brown bread and +creamy milk. Andy saw the look of suffering on her face as she bustled +about, and he understood. He crept back to bed heavy-hearted. Ruth was +wrong; there was nothing for him to do. + +The hot hours dragged on. Toward morning Andy grew restless, and quietly +arose and dressed. The feeling of bravery awakened within him, and a dim +thought grew and assumed shape in his brain. He could row strong and +well. Few knew of his accomplishment, for his life was lonely and the +exercise and practice had been one of his few diversions. + +He knew a secret path among the rocks, which led to the river, and at +the end of the path was moored his tiny boat, the rough work of his +patient hands. Only Ruth knew of his treasure; often he and she had +glided away from the hamlet to think their thoughts, or dream their +young dreams. + +Now, if he could arouse the stranger before his mother had summoned +another to do the service, he might share the joy of helping, in a small +way, the great cause. + +"The need is urgent," smiled the boy; "in that case a lame fellow might +not be despised." + +He recalled the stranger's face, and his courage grew. + +"Chances are so few!" he muttered; "I must take this one." + +At the first rustling of the birds in the trees, Andy crept down-stairs. +His mother's room and the guest-room both opened from the living-room, +but Janie's door was closed, while the stranger's was ajar. Through it +came the sound of low-spoken words. + +"Accept the thanks of thy servant for all bountiful mercies of the past. +Guide his future steps. Bless our enemies, and make them just. Amen." + +The boy bowed his head, instinctively. Surely he had nothing to fear +from such a man. He went nearer and tapped lightly on the door. Light as +was the touch, the stranger started. + +"Come!" There was a welcome in the word. Andy stepped cautiously inside. + +"Good-morning, sir." + +"The same to you, my lad." The keen eyes softened as they fell upon the +rude crutch. "How can I serve you!" + +"Sir, I have come to offer my services to you. I heard you tell my +mother that you needed some one to row you across the river. I am a good +rower." + +The man looked puzzled. "You are the widow's son? Is not the task too +great?" + +"My lameness does not hinder much. I use the crutch mainly to hasten my +steps; I can walk without it. I am very strong in other ways. I think I +am just beginning to find out how strong I am, myself. None know the +woods better than I. I can take you by a short cut to the river, and I +have my own boat moored and ready. It will be a small matter to reach +the opposite shore by sunrise if we start at once." Andy was panting +with excitement. "Pray, sir, let me do this; there are so few chances +for such as I." + +The listener smiled kindly. + +"You are just the guide I need," he said, and Andy knew there was no +flattery in the words. "I must leave it for you to thank your good +mother for her hospitality. I have been ready for an hour. Lead on, my +boy!" + +Silently they stole from the house. The birds twittered as they passed, +for the tall man touched the lower boughs and disturbed the nestlings. + +"Bend low," whispered Andy, "the way leads through small spaces." + +On they went, sometimes creeping under the hanging rocks, always +clinging to the shelter of trees and bushes. They both knew the danger +that might lie near in the form of a British sentinel. + +"The path seems untrodden by foot of man," murmured the stranger, +pausing to draw in a long breath. "You are a wonderful guide." + +"I think no one else knows the way," Andy whispered, proudly; "an Indian +showed it to me when I was a child. He was my good friend, he taught me +also to row, and shoot with both arrow and gun. He said I should know +Indian tricks because of my lameness. They might help where strength +failed. He showed me how to creep noiselessly and find paths. I have +trails all over the woods. There is one that leads right among the +Britishers; and they never know. I do this for sport." + +The stranger looked sharply at the gliding form ahead. + +"Paths such as this all over the woods?" he repeated. "And have you kept +this--this sport secret?" + +"That I have!" laughed Andy. "I tell you now because you are upon your +country's service. I trust you, and I thought perhaps it might help +sometime." The two moved forward for a moment in silence, then Andy +laughed in a half-confused way. + +"A boy gets lonely at times," he said; "he must do something to while +away the--the years. I have practiced and made believe until I am a +pretty good Indian. I make believe that I am guiding the great +Washington. They do say he ever remembers a favor. I should love to +serve him. Had I been like other boys--" the voice broke--"I would have +been as near him as possible by this time!" + +The hand of the stranger was upon the youth's shoulder. Andy turned in +alarm. + +"You have a secret which may save your country much!" breathed the deep +voice; "guard it with your life. But if one comes from Washington +seeking your aid, do whatever he asks, fearlessly." + +"How would I know such an one?" gasped Andy. + +"That will I tell you later." Again the forward tramp. + +"And you have passed, unnoticed, the British line! 'Tis a joke almost +beyond belief!" chuckled the stranger. "I should like to see my Lord +Howe's face were he to hear this." + +"Oh! be silent, sir!" cautioned the guide, "we come to an open space." + +Once again beneath the heavy boughs, the boy said: + +"I passed the line but yesterday. And I heard that which has troubled +me, sorely, yet I could do nothing. But--" here Andy paused and turned +sharply--"bend down. Should you know Washington were you to see him?" + +"Aye, lad." The two heads were pressed close. + +"Would you bear a message, and try to find him?" + +"Aye." + +"They are planning an attack. I could not hear when or where, for the +men moved past. As they came back, and passed where I was hidden, I +heard them say that they who are near Washington had best be on watch, +poison in the food made no such noise as a gun--but it would serve!" + +"You heard that?" almost moaned the listener. "My God! could they plan +such a cowardly thing?" + +"Aye, sir. I am thinking they can. I would warn the General if I could, +but you may be luckier. The men said Lord Howe desired the death of +every rebel." + +"May heaven forgive him!" The words fell sadly from the strong lips. + +"And now," again Andy took the lead, "do not speak as we pass here. It +is the spot where they shot our pastor's boy, only two days ago. I fear +the place. A few rods beyond, we will again strike the thicket, and be +under cover until we reach the river." + +The solemn quiet that precedes a hot summer dawn surrounded the man and +boy. The red band broadened in the east. The birds, fearing neither +friend nor foe, began to challenge the stillness with their glad notes, +and so guide and follower passed the gruesome place where young Sam +White gave up his untried life a few short days ago. The thicket gained, +the two paused for breath. + +"We must not talk in the boat, sir." They had reached the moored boat +now. "Pray tell me how I am to know our General's messenger." + +"By this." The stranger detached a charm from a hidden chain and held it +in his palm so that the clearer light fell upon it. "I command you to +learn its peculiarities well. There must be no blunder." + +It was very quaint. Andy's keen eye took in every detail. + +"I shall know it," he sighed. And the stranger smiled and replaced it. +"And you, sir?" he faltered, for the hour of parting came with a strange +sadness; "may I not know your name? You have made me so proud and happy +because you accepted my poor service." + +"George Washington, and your true friend, Andy McNeal! We are both +serving the same great cause. God keep us both!" + +The General clasped the boy's trembling hand, and Andy looked through +dim eyes into the face of his hero. The hero who for months past had +been the imaginative comrade of lonely hours and dreamy play. + +[Illustration: "ANDY WAS AT THE OARS NOW."] + +"We shall meet again--comrade!" Washington was smiling and the mist +passed. "Never fear death, lad, if you are doing your duty; it comes but +once. Row swiftly. Day is breaking. A messenger with a horse awaits me +on the further shore. Head for Point of Cedars." + +"Good-by, sir; I shall never fear anything again--after this, I think. +Good-by!" Andy was at the oars now. He handled them like the master that +he was. The old Indian had taught well, and the apt pupil had been +making ready against this day and chance. + +While Andy kept Point of Cedars in view, he saw, also, the noble figure +in the stern. The keen eyes kept smiling in kindly fashion, while the +firm lips kept their accustomed silence. To Andy, the future was as rosy +as the dawn, and he wondered that he had ever been depressed and afraid. + +"Death comes but once!" kept ringing in his thoughts; "it shall find me +doing my duty. God and Washington forever!" The song of the times had +found a resting-place in Andy McNeal's heart at last. + +Point of Cedars was safely reached. The general stepped upon the pebbly +beach. Almost at once, from among the bushes, appeared a young man in +ragged Continental uniform, leading a large, white horse. + +Without a word Washington mounted, nodded his thanks to the messenger, +and a final farewell to Andy, then he, followed by his newer guide, +faded from sight among the forest-trees. Standing bareheaded and alone +upon the shore, Andy watched until the last sound of the hoof-beats died +away, then, with a sigh of hope and memory mingled, he retraced his way. + +Janie McNeal greeted her son at the door-way. "Andy!" she cried, "our +guest is gone!" She quite forgot that Andy, presumably, knew nothing of +the guest. "He desired a lad to row him across the river. I was going to +neighbor Jones's at early dawn to summon James. I should have gone last +night, but I was sore tired. When I arose this morning, the stranger was +gone. God forgive me! + +"The poor gentleman must have thought me a heedless body. I trust he +will not think me in league with the Britishers; there is much of that +sort of thing going on." Janie shook her head dolefully, not heeding +Andy's smile. + +"How do we know," she went on, "but that the gentleman was on the great +Washington's business? He was an overgrand body himself, and had +excellent manners." + +"Mother!" the old hesitating tone crept back unconsciously into Andy's +voice as he faced his mother; "mother, I rowed the stranger across the +river, he is--safely landed. It--was--it--was--Washington himself!" + +"Andy!" Janie flung up her hands, and nearly fell from the step; "think, +lad, of your words. You look and talk clean daft." + +"It--was--Washington!" The boy drew the words out with a delicious +memory. + +"And--you--rowed--him--across! You--my--poor--lame lad! God have mercy +upon me, and forgive me for my doubts!" + +"I can help a little, mother." Andy drew near the quivering figure. "I +know, mother, and I do not wonder, but there is a place for every one +in these days, and I'm going to be ready." + +Janie drew herself up, and put a trembling hand on the young shoulder. +"Son!" she said, with a sudden but intense pride, "son, get ready, we go +to Sam White's burying, you and I. God be praised! blind as I was, He +has opened my eyes to see my son at last!" This was a great deal for +Janie McNeal to say, but it did its work. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CROWNING OF ANDY MCNEAL + + +Sam White's burial was a very simple affair. In that time of need and +anxiety men were off upon their country's business. Few could stay to +mourn. The pastor himself read the simple service in a voice of pride, +broken by a father's grief. He said that God would not let the sacrifice +pass unheeded. Since Sam had heard the call, and then had been so +suddenly taken away, another would be raised up to do his work; another +who, through Sam, might be touched more than in any other way. + +Andy, standing in the little group about the open grave, at this raised +his eyes, and he found Ruth's wide, tearless gaze fixed upon him. Andy +smiled bravely back at her, for his heart was strong within him. + +After it was over and the few neighbors gone, Andy and Ruth remained to +scatter flowers upon the young hero's bed, and cover up the bareness of +the place. + +"Ruth," said Andy in a whisper, "I think my chance has come!" + +"Your chance, Andy?" + +"Aye. I have been thinking that Sam's being taken has aroused me, and +given me courage, just as your father said, and--and last night the +chance began!" Then he told her of much that had occurred. Ruth knelt +among the flowers, her young face glowing. + +"Oh! I shall have some one to watch," she panted, "some one to help +while he works. Oh! Andy, you do not know how I long to help, and be +part of this great time. I go on long walks, and I hear and see so much. +Down on the Bowery I heard a group say the other day that General +Washington was going to burn the town and order the people to flee. One +man said, did he order such a thing, he, for one, would go over to the +British; and, Andy, there was a great shout from the other men! I felt +my heart burn, for did our General order _me_ to go, then would I go +whither and where he ordered; nor would I question, so great is my trust +in him. And did he burn all, even my home, yet would I gladly obey, for +I would _know_ he was doing wisely. So greatly do I honor him that I +think, next to God, I trust our General!" + +The young face glowed and quivered, and Andy, with the spirit of +hero-worship growing upon his recent experiences, panted in excitement +as she spoke. + +"I, too, would follow, and never question," he said. "Never fear, Ruth; +what the General expects of me, that will I do. Not even death do I +fear--it comes but once!" The boyish voice rang clear. + +Suddenly, Ruth started toward the house. "Wait," she said, "I have +something for you." She was back in a moment, bearing Sam's cap. "The +time has come," she faltered, and there were tears in her eyes. "I--I +want to crown you, Andy McNeal." She removed Andy's rough cap and +replaced it with Sam's. + +"I'll keep the old one," she said, "and--and if you should fail to do +bravely, you can have your own!" Then she dashed away the tears. +"Forgive me, Andy McNeal!" she sobbed; "you will never fail. There is +hero blood in your body, I know, and it may be that your lameness will +aid you in accomplishing tasks that a lusty lad could never attempt." + +Andy raised his head proudly and the new crown set not badly on his +boyish curls. + +"I must go," he breathed. "I will come every day unless--you know, +Ruth?" + +The girl nodded, and so they parted silently, Ruth pressing the old hat +to her aching heart, and taking up the woman's part in those troubling +times; the part of the watching, waiting one. + +The days following became filled with one longing for Andy. The longing +for Washington's messenger. Unless he came soon, the boy feared that he +would be too late. During his own recent explorations beyond the lines, +he heard much that warned him that the British were planning something +of grave importance. + +Andy had told his mother and Ruth nothing of Washington's anticipated +messenger. They knew merely that Andy had ferried the great General +across the river--was that not enough? Had they known for what the boy +was eagerly watching, they could not have done their own daily tasks. + +"He has an eager, watchful air," Janie confided to Ruth. "I am thinking +the lad expects the General to pass this way again. Lightning and _such_ +happenings do not strike twice in the same spot." + +Ruth smiled gently. "I do not think Andy walks as lame as he did," she +mused, watching the boy disappearing down a woody path. + +"He is always on the go," Janie broke in. "He practices walking without +his crutch more than I think wise; but one can do little with men-folk!" +Janie tossed her head proudly. Andy was a growing delight to her. + +"It may do him good," Ruth added; "he looks stronger and--and gladder." + +"He has gone beyond me," the mother sighed. "I--I begin to know, lass, +the happy feeling a mother has when her heart aches with loneliness +and--and pride! What ails you, lass?" For Ruth had started and given a +short cry. + +"Why--why--" laughed the girl, "I am thinking my eyes are playing me +false. I was watching Andy up the path, and I saw him as clear as I see +you this minute--and then he was gone!" + +"Do not get flighty, Ruth." Janie came close, however, and peered up the +path. "You and Andy will drive me daft. The path is a straight, clean +one; had Andy been on it, he would still be in sight. I'm thinking he +turned before he came to the brook bed. You did not notice, but your +thoughts kept agoing on." + +"Perhaps," nodded Ruth, but Janie knew she was unconvinced. + +On her way home soon after, Ruth began to ponder. Once clear of Janie's +observant eye, the girl turned back through the shrubbery, and ran to +the spot where she had last seen Andy. All was as silent as a breathless +summer day could make it. There was no side-path; no broken bushes. + +"He _was_ here," breathed the girl, "and he disappeared like a flash!" + +Then she knelt down and tried to trace footprints in the mossy earth. +"Ah!" she smiled, for there was a crushed space at the edge of a brambly +cluster of bushes. She quietly drew aside the branches, and a look of +wonder grew in the bright eyes. So cunningly concealed, that even her +native-bred keenness might never have espied it, lay a path, and among +the bushes, Andy's crutch! Should she follow? In the old days Ruth would +not have paused. But these were not play-days; Andy might be upon grave +business. Reverently she drew back, and replaced the disorder she had +caused among the parted leaves. Suddenly a step startled her. She turned +sharply. Up the path came a British soldier, whistling a gay tune and +eyeing her boldly. + +More than once had Ruth encountered these most ungallant gentlemen, and +she was alert at resenting any familiarity, but a fear grew in her heart +now. Andy's path must not be discovered! She must do her part. + +"Good-day, my pretty lass!" The man halted. Under ordinary +circumstances Ruth would have taken to her fleet feet at this, but Andy +might return too soon, and emerge while yet the enemy could discover +him. + +"Berrying?" grinned the fellow; "August is early for berries, is it not? +The man was suspicious, perhaps, and Ruth was on guard. + +"For some kinds," she answered, lightly. + +"What kind are you hunting?" + +"One that you British do not know," she replied; "it's a kind that grows +only in America and thrives upon freedom." + +The soldier leered unpleasantly. "Come, I will help you hunt," he cried; +"if we find a berry I cannot name, you may ask what reward you choose, +and if I succeed then will I take a kiss from your red lips, eh, my +girl?" + +Ruth darted an angry look upward. If they hunted, the cane would be +discovered, and yet if she refused--well, she must act quickly. + +"Is it a bargain?" + +"Yes;" the word came bravely from a trembling courage. + +[Illustration: "'GOOD DAY, MY PRETTY LASS.'"] + +The two knelt and began the search. Ruth pressed the bushes so as to +cover Andy's cane, but as her keen eyes fell upon the spot where it had +been, to her surprise and joy, she saw that it was gone! + +A cry broke from her, for, as she realized that that danger was past, +she saw, near at hand, a plant so rare even to her woodland eyes, that +it was precious. Thanks to her learned father, she knew its name, and +the spray of waxen berries was her salvation. + +"See!" she cried, "you have brought good luck. 'Tis a rare find. Now I +pray you, sir, name the berry I hold in my hand." + +The man was searching the underbrush, and turned half angrily. "What +have you?" he snarled. Ruth knew that Andy was near, but no breath was +heard. + +"Name the berry, sir, or I claim my advantage!" Ruth stood upright with +the spray in her hand. + +"Wintergreen," ventured the fellow, wildly. + +"Wrong!" sneered Ruth, "and there is no second trial." + +"How can you prove me wrong?" jeered the man, coming insolently close; +"who is to decide?" + +"Your head officer, sir," flashed Ruth; "lead on, I will gladly leave it +to him. After he has heard the tale from me--from _me_, mark--I will +leave it to him. Perhaps there is one gentleman in the king's troops. +Lead on! Why stand staring when your stake is so high!" A dignity and +fearlessness came to the angry girl. + +"Do you lead, or shall I?" she asked. + +"I--I beg your pardon!" cringed the fellow, "I will abide by your +decision." + +"Go, then!" cried Ruth, her temper breaking bounds, "and if you are a +sample of my Lord Howe's men, I am thinking our General will have but a +short tussle. Go!" + +The man retraced his steps, sulkily. He had been foraging on his own +account, and had unearthed bigger game than he could manage. + +Ruth watched the man until he passed from sight. As she turned about she +faced Andy sitting among the bushes. She jumped, then laughed nervously. + +"How did you get your cane?" she asked. + +"I was not six feet away." Andy's voice was strangely calm. "I hope you +know, Ruth," he faltered, 'that had things turned out differently, I +would have been with you. You know that?" + +"Yes, Andy." A flush came to the pale face. "I think I feared you would +come more than anything else. But I do not trust that fellow. He will +come back. I know he was suspicious. Choose another way--next time!" + +"Aye, and I'll stop up this trail. Good-by, Ruth. Hurry, I will wait +until you are safe, and this passage made harmless." + +For a few days longer Andy remained near home, not caring to run the +risk of seeking the longer path of which he knew, while the Britisher's +suspicions might still be alert. Once or twice he had met the fellow on +the public highway, and he feared to arouse any further cause for +watchfulness. He had discovered, also, that the man had gone back to the +spot where he had encountered Ruth, but Andy laughed, when he recalled +how cunningly he had hidden the trail. But now the boy could wait no +longer, he must try to get near the lines and listen. + +Taking the longer way, he left his crutch hidden inside a cave-like +opening. He would never again trust the outside. Then in true Indian +fashion he crept along through the rocky passage. He reached the other +end and for an hour or more waited patiently, but only the passing of a +lonely sentinel rewarded him, and he guessed that no news would come +that way. + +He dared not emerge from his shelter, for the day was too bright and +clear, the sentinel would surely spy him, and better no news than to +give away the secret of the passage. Disappointedly he crept back, and +at the other end put his hand cautiously forth to grasp his crutch. Then +he became instantly aware that he was discovered, for his hand was +grasped in a firm, unyielding clutch. + +Andy's heart stood still. He had no doubt but that Ruth's annoyer had +dogged his steps and had captured him. But there was little of the +coward about Andy; he would face the worst. He pushed through the tangle +of leaves, trying to free his hand, but the clasp was like iron. The +captor was not the Britisher, but a man of quite another sort. He was +young, handsome, splendidly formed. As he lay at full length upon the +moss Andy thought he had never seen so tall a man. He wore velvet +knee-breeches, long blue coat, and a wide-brimmed hat, which shielded a +pair of friendly, laughing eyes. One glance and Andy lost all fear. + +"Now that you have come from your hole, you young mole, good-morning to +you, and where have you fared?" The voice was ringing and full of cheer. + +"Good-morning, sir," Andy made answer. + +"And where have you fared?" + +"That I cannot tell you, sir." + +"You cannot tell me!" the man sighed, impatiently. "Now, do you know, +for a moment I fancied that you were just the lad who could guide me +over your interesting island. What with all this excitement, a peaceful +traveler has no show above-ground. I hoped you might lead me +mole-fashion." + +"I will gladly show you through the pass, sir, as far as the gate a +mile or so below." + +"As far as the gate! Always as far as something! I want to go +beyond--'as far!' What care I for countersigns and passports. I want the +freedom of the island, and a chance to study its rocks and flowers and +very interesting weeds. Boys often know paths unknown to any one +else--except Indians!" + +"But I am a lame boy much dependent upon a crutch." + +"You can dispense with it at times," laughed the stranger. "For a good +two hours you did without it to-day. It and I have been keeping company. +I followed you at a distance, thinking easily to overtake you, when +piff! you were gone, and I and the crutch--for you see I searched the +hole--were alone!" + +For some moments Andy's hand had been free, and now as he looked at the +speaker he saw that he was holding in his open palm the charm which last +he had beheld that glorious morning by the riverside. + +With a glad cry he sprang up. "I am Andy McNeal!" he said, and he +doffed Sam's hat, which was his only martial possession. + +"And I--am the schoolmaster!" + +The two clasped hands. That was the beginning. Through the following +days the master abode in Janie's house. The good woman asked no +questions. Her curiosity burned and burned, but wisdom held it in check. +Enough that Andy was the companion of this mighty person. Enough that +her humble roof sheltered him, and her able hands served him faithfully. +It was wonderful, and--enough. Ruth, too, throbbed with excitement, but +went her ways calmly as if it were a common enough thing for a splendid +schoolmaster to suddenly undertake Andy's neglected education, and pay +for his lodging and board by instructing the hostess's son. + +This was what was going on. Book in hand the two walked abroad quite +openly. Sometimes it would be rocks or flowers they were bent upon +understanding, at other times the intricacies of the English language +were the paths they followed. Occasionally Ruth would be asked to join +in the walks and talks, but oftener they were alone. There were real +lessons. Andy pondered upon them deeply, and his hungry mind fed upon +the feast. Of course, so fine a master walking abroad with the lame boy, +aroused the notice of the sentinels, but to their questions he answered +so glibly, that there remained nothing to do but ask more. The game +became tiresome. + +The tutor and his pupil kept within bounds, so there was no excuse for +interference. But one day, quite lost in abstraction, the two passed +beyond the gate at the end of the pass, and strolled down the road +patroled by the British. Suddenly a loud "Halt!" made Andy jump. A look +of surprise passed over the master's face as a bayonet was thrust in +front of him. + +The soldier was the one who had accosted Ruth; Andy knew him at once. + +"Dear me! dear me!" cried the master, querulously, "after seeing us pass +to and fro so often, one would not think it necessary to resort to such +rudeness. Pray, good fellow, is not this his Majesty's highway, and free +to all?" + +"No," grumbled the sentinel, lowering his weapon; "what's your +business?" + +"Schoolmaster." + +"I do not mean that. I see you prodding around rocks and weeds with your +noses in books, but I want to know what you mean on this road?" + +"I desire to take a walk on it. I have no weapon, I am a peaceful +person. May I pass?" + +"You better turn back. This road is sentineled all the way to camp. +You're too simple to go alone. You are an American?" + +"Certainly. Born and bred in the colonies." + +"A rebel?" + +"Sir!" + +"A rebel, I say?" + +"I am loyal to the heart's core!" the master replied. "Come, Andy, the +way back is doubtless more pleasant for peaceful folk than the way +before. Conjugate to live, Andy." + +Once beyond sight and hearing of the foe, the master bared his head. +"Loyal we are, and we know to whom! But how long it takes to disarm +their doubts!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THROUGH THE CAVE + + +That same night, as Andy lay sleeping, a strange sound startled him. In +an instant he was out of bed, and limping toward the window. Again came +the plaintive sound. It was some one mimicking a night-owl, and doing it +very badly, as the boy's true ear detected at once. + +Andy replied, in a much better imitation; then, from out the shrubbery +beneath the window, the master stepped forth in the moonlight. He +beckoned to the boy, and then moved back into the shadow of the trees. + +Always, with Andy, there was the struggle between the quick, alert mind +and will, and the weaker body. However, with trembling fingers, he +dressed as rapidly as possible, gladly remembering that he could reach +the ground by the vine, thus saving time, and making sure that his +mother would not be disturbed. + +In a few moments he was ready. He dropped his crutch cautiously from the +window, and began to descend himself. The man among the shadows did not +move, though his expectant eyes were on the watch. Andy, keeping well in +the shelter of the shade, reached his friend. + +"That fellow we met to-day was prowling about the house an hour ago," +whispered the master; "he looked boldly into my window. I was awake and +saw his features distinctly, though I fancy he thought me unconscious. I +saw him leave by the stream path. He thinks me safe for to-night, but +they are suspicious, those Britishers, and you and I must get through +the passage to their lines to-night. I believe something is afoot, and +they do not wish to run any chances. Lead on, Andy McNeal; before break +of day I must know all, all that is possible, and be away." + +"Follow!" said Andy, trembling with excitement, but losing no time. Down +upon hands and knees they went, and no creatures of the wood and night +could have been more silent. + +"All's well!" came from a far-off sentry; and the man and boy breathed +quicker. A moment of rest at the opening of the cave-like path where +Andy and the master had first met, then into the narrow gloom toward the +danger line. + +"The way is narrow," whispered Andy, "but it leads out just behind the +British tents." + +"Ah! for Vulcan's hammer!" laughed the master softly; "I'd hew me a +broader path, Andy. The width of me suffers sorely for the cause." Andy +smiled in the darkness. The mirth in the master's voice gave courage. + +"It is broader further on," encouraged the guide. + +"God be praised for that!" groaned the man as he came in contact again +with the rocks. + +The crutch had been left at the entrance, well hidden. Hands and knees +were all that were needed on that journey. Once a slimy creature crawled +across the master's hand, and he uttered an exclamation. + +"Don't do that again!" breathed Andy, in alarm. + +The minutes seemed endless, and the progress very slow. The darkness was +so intense that it was something of a shock to the master when he +suddenly became aware that he could see the outline of his guide's body. +There was a small opening ahead, and a gleam of moonlight shot in! +Neither spoke. If the British sentry was beyond there was every need of +stillness now. + +"I hear steps!" said Andy in a breath; "listen!" + +The duller ear of the master heard no sound for a moment, then slowly +and alarmingly near, he _did_ catch the sound of the measured tread of a +soldier, and, from the opposite direction evidently, a second man. Near +the opening the two met. + +"Fine night, Martin; everything quiet?" + +"Quiet? Lord, yes! If something does not happen soon, I swear I'll cut +and run. It wouldn't take a great deal to make me quit. The pluck of the +rebels rather tickles me. I've half a mind to toss my luck among them, +and stand or fall with the colonies." + +"Better change your mind," laughed the other; "something's going to +happen and that pretty quick." + +"Is that hearsay, Norton, or authentic? I've just come into camp. I've +been having a picnic over on Long Island--raiding farms and doing a lot +of dirty work that sickens me. Clean fighting is what I set out to do, +and gad! this kind of thing turns a fellow's stomach. We've been fed on +the talk that these rebels are cowards. Cowards, bah! And as for that +big, silent general of theirs, he--he rather appeals to me!" + +"Don't be white-livered, Martin!" sneered Norton. "You may get some cold +steel from your own countrymen for uttering such sentiments. My +information is all right, it comes from his lordship himself. Washington +is too dangerous to leave longer alone; should he find out--what was +that?" + +The master, less a child of the woods than Andy, in his excitement had +tried to creep closer, and the quick ear of the sentinel had noticed +the sound. + +"It is this accursed spot again!" muttered Norton; "twice lately I could +have sworn I heard breathing among the bushes. I've beaten every inch of +ground, and not a living creature have I found. I'm not squirmish, and a +rebel now and then don't count, but--well, you know I brought that +parson's cub down a bit further back. Lord! how the fellow strutted, and +when I called to him he started like a stuck pig. I cannot forget the +look on his face as--as I fired. + +"I'm agreeing with you, Martin, clean fighting or nothing. I'm not up to +this slaughtering of infants myself. I half expect to see that baby +playing in the moonlight every time a leaf rustles at night." The man +laughed uneasily. "Once I fancied I saw a face--a pale boy-face--shining +in the bushes. Lord, it gave me a turn!" + +"Could there be a secret passage?" asked Martin in a low voice. "A +fellow named Godkin told me an hour ago that he had his eye on a lame +chap and a gawk of a schoolmaster who were always skulking around close +to the ground. He says the boy lives hereabouts and knows the woods like +a snake." + +"No fool rebel could keep such a secret from me. Godkin likes to talk +and swagger. He feels his oats. Come, just to pass the time, let's beat +the bushes." + +"Back out!" breathed Andy. There was no time to be lost. But the +backward movement was most painfully slow. The men tramping in the +bushes, feeling the thing but child-play, laughed and talked loudly. + +"How many men has the old fox!" asked Martin, giving a cut to the bushes +with his gun. + +"Twelve thousand, though he gives out many more." + +"He's got grit," rejoined Martin, "with my lord gripping his throat at +close quarters with double that number at his heels, to stand still and +calm as--as this rock! Gad, I nearly broke my gun! This land produces +more rocks than anything else. I heard Washington is planning to get on +Long Island again." + +"He'll never get there. My Lord Howe--what in thunder!" Norton had +slipped and fallen, and as he lay so, his face was on a level with the +opening in the rocks! + +"Come here!" he gasped. "Got a light! There's a hole here." + +Martin struck a light and peered in. As he did so Andy's white, +horrified face gleamed forth from the shadow. Without a word the head +was withdrawn, and both Andy and the master knew that the man, or both +men, would follow at once. + +"They are big!" moaned Andy, "and they do not know the way as we do. Oh, +hurry!" + +The master feared that the sentinel would fire into the cave, but as the +moment passed, and he did not, he took heart, and crept backward as fast +as he could. Then came the sure sound of the chase. One or both had +entered the passage! They had this advantage; they could come straight +on, while the pursued were going backward, the master, being the bulkier +and more uncertain, barring Andy's smaller body. + +"For our lives!" almost sobbed the boy. + +The oncoming foe once or twice struck a light, but the curving of the +passage hid the prey. However, the sound ahead was enough to guide the +Britishers. Then suddenly the master became wedged, and the leader of +the pursuers came so near that Andy fancied he felt his breath. + +"I don't hear the little scamp!" muttered Norton; "perhaps the passage +divides. Wait until I strike a light." In that instant the master +extricated himself, and with desperate haste the two backed along, while +the light flickered, and then went out, much to the dismay of the foe. + +"Hurry!" commanded Norton; "I hear him again; don't fool with the +light!" The head man and Andy were not a yard apart now, and the +narrowest of the passage was yet to come! + +The master realized this, too. He knew if he were to get wedged again +all would be over, and Andy was the one nearest the enemy! He paused and +Andy came in violent contact with him. The leading Britisher was upon +them! The form behind Andy darted forth an arm of steely muscle, and a +terrific blow fell sure and sudden on the face of the British sentinel! + +"My God!" screamed the fellow, and "The devil!" echoed from his +companion. + +"Now!" whispered the master, "this is our last fling!" + +It was over at last. The entrance was gained. Taking no time to consider +how spent Andy was, the master began to pile rocks at the opening. It +took not overlong, for the mouth of the cave was small. + +"So!" almost laughed the master in his relief, "before my British friend +gets his senses back, the way is barred. Good! Here, Andy, lad, give me +your hand. To the house, and to bed. Ere daybreak I must be well away +from here. They are planning an attack at once, and I know where I can +get the plans, methinks. That fellow saw you, and there is no further +chance for me here." + +"You--you are going?" Andy, leaning on the master and his crutch, was +making good headway. "The man saw only me; surely you can stay in +safety." + +"Andy, do you think the fellow thought you dealt that blow?" The clear +laugh was stifled. "No; we are marked men. But I am on the right course +now. Washington shall soon have the papers he needs." + +"Where do you go?" whispered Andy; "can I not be of use?" + +"Not now, my friend, and if we never meet again, Andy McNeal, remember +whom we have both served well, and that you have made brighter for me +many a weary hour. I care not what the thoughtless may think of me, but +I would have you know that what the future holds of seeming dishonor and +shame, I assumed in truest loyalty. + +"From what I am to do, others shrank. I saw but one way, though, God +knows, my heart was wrung. I reserve nothing. Even what seems my honor I +give to my country and Washington!" + +The master and Andy stood still in the moonlight, and the two young +faces gleamed white and troubled. "Good-night and farewell. Thank your +mother." He was gone. + +Andy painfully and slowly climbed the stairs and entered his bedroom. + +His heart was very heavy. He had seemed on the verge of doing a great +service, and behold, the chance had fled. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A SUSPICION + + +September dragged wretchedly. There was no need of stealing among the +bushes for news or amusement. + +Indeed, Andy wisely concluded that to keep to the open, innocent ways +would be the only possible thing that could help the absent master. + +He missed the lessons and the exciting comradeship, too; the contrast +was painful. Janie saw, but questioned not. It was all beyond her. Ruth +was the only relief. + +"Fear not, Andy," she would say. "You must bide your time, and wait +patiently. 'Tis what Washington is doing. Copy your General in this, as +well as other things. One may serve in that way as well as in others. +You should hear the tales Hans Brickman tells of the doings in the +patriot camp. He carries eggs and honey, you know. + +"He says that Washington isn't just fighting or holding in check the +king's men; but his own troops are acting shamefully--threatening to +desert, and begging for money; complaining all day long. Oh! if I were a +soldier I would show them!" The girl flung her strong young arms above +her head, and brought down her clenched fists in a laughably vehement +way. + +"And there sits that great General, never flinching, but writing to +Congress to pay the babies; and calming the tyrants with one breath, and +shaming them into obedience with the next. + +"Hans says he dashes at them sometimes with his sword, and slaps the raw +recruits into shape, telling them that if they run when he orders them +to advance, he'll shoot them himself. There's a man for you!" + +"Indeed there is a man," nodded Andy, and his face grew brighter. "And I +should cry shame to myself because I am so impatient of this lameness +which holds me back." + +"Holds you back! Andy McNeal, that is rank ingratitude. You've been up +to some mighty doings, that I know, or you would not be hungering for +more glory. Oh, I can see a bit ahead of my nose. Time was when you hung +around, not knowing glory because it had not come your way. You've +tasted it, Andy, and your thirst grows. I know a thing or two. You're +getting strong, too, Andy; you're an inch taller than I. Father +mentioned the fact this very morning. You're taking on airs, but +remember, I knew you when you were less a man. Have a care; a woman has +a tongue. I'll be calling you down if you carry things with too high a +hand." + +Andy laughed and stood straighter. Then, very quietly: + +"Andy, what was the master's name?" + +"Ruth, I do not know." + +"Do not, or will not tell?" + +"I do not know." + +"Can you tell me why he stayed here?" + +"I cannot tell you, Ruth. Why do you ask?" The girl paused and dropped +her clear eyes. + +"They do say, the whisper has reached my father, that he was a spy, +and--and a dangerous one!" + +"They lie!" said Andy, hotly; "he, a spy!" Then the boyish voice fell. +The last, sad talk under the stars came clearly back, and in the shock +of the memory the boy trembled. + +Ruth watched him closely. "I'm not over-curious," she faltered, "but I +fear for you. If he--if he were a spy you were seen with him far too +often for your good. Father even feared for me." + +"Ruth" (Andy's voice had a new tone), "I can believe no dishonor of the +master, and I am proud that I walked with him and was his friend!" + +"Aye" (Ruth looked doubtful), "but a spy is not a good thing, Andy, no +matter what shape it takes." + +Old, rigid training held them both, but Andy must defend his friend, +though the honest soul of Ruth shone from her eyes, and challenged him. + +"It is as a thing is used," he began, lamely, but seeing his way dimly. + +"Father does not preach that," Ruth broke in. + +"No; nor would I preach it," sighed Andy. + +"But you would act it?" Ruth flashed. + +"I do--not know. I cannot think the master was aught but honest. If he +were--were--" Andy could not use the hard word--"if he were finding +things out, you may be sure, Ruth, it was not for his own uplifting. If +he gave what other men would call--would call their honor--it was +because he held not even _that_ from his country. I can--see--how--that +could--be!" + +Ruth raised her eyes. "Could you, Andy?" she said. + +"Yes. I could give it as I could my life. I would take no recompense, I +would just give, and do anything. Ruth, suppose you knew a truth +about--about--well, about me; a truth that, if it were known, would be +the death of me. Would you tell, or--or would you save me?" + +It was a rigid moment for the stern little maid. Her eyes fell, then +were raised again. + +"I--do--not--know," she panted, "but a lie is a lie, and I should expect +to be punished." + +"So should I for any dishonorable thing," agreed Andy. "That is just +it, but it would be my willingness to do it, and then to suffer, that +makes the difference." + +The two were standing near the end of the Pass at a small gate, and as +Andy ceased speaking a sound smote their ears that turned them pale. It +was the sound of many horsemen galloping wildly onward. + +"The king's men landed at Kip's Bay this morning," gasped Andy, +clutching the gate, "and they do say that Douglass's men are not strong +enough to defend the point." + +It was Putnam's five brigades; the boy and girl only knew they were +patriot troops. They had been ordered by Washington to make for +Manhattanville before retreat was cut off. + +Young Aaron Burr was acting as guide. The master had once pointed him +out to Andy, and the boy remembered the face well. Boldly and fearlessly +he was riding, and Andy's voice broke into a cheer as he recognized the +noble face. The leaders halted. There were several roads ahead; which +was safest and quickest? Burr ventured a question. + +"Which way leads most directly to Manhattanville?" he said. + +"Keep close to the river, and make for Kingsbridge, Colonel," Andy +answered. "That road is not so carefully watched; it is rougher but +safer." + +Burr gave him a smile, then galloped ahead. The last weary stragglers +were barely out of sight, when again the sound of on-coming horsemen +broke the stillness. + +"These are king's men!" groaned Ruth, who had stood rigidly silent until +now. "Ah! Andy, and the others so little in advance!" + +Constantly blowing their bugles and shouting derisively after the +fleeing patriots, my Lord Howe's men advanced. + +"'Tis a rare fox-hunt!" laughed one. + +"But the fox and his mates are out of sight, my lord," cried another. + +"For the moment. The ways divide a few rods beyond. Did the rebels pass +this way?" asked an officer noticing Andy and Ruth. + +[Illustration: "BURR VENTURED A QUESTION."] + +"Yes, sir!" answered Ruth, promptly, and for a moment Andy sickened at +what he feared she was about to do. It was too late, though, for him to +interfere. + +"Which road did they take?" + +The instant's pause seemed an eternity to Andy. Then calmly and with +clear, uplifted eyes: + +"The main road, sir, it being the safer and shorter!" Andy felt a +moment's dizziness. Then a rough voice startled him: + +"I know that boy, my lord; he was the one in the secret passage, about +which I told you. I shall not soon forget him." + +"I thought you said your companion in the cave was dealt a stunning +blow; surely this lad could have done no such thing," answered the +Captain. + +"I could swear to him, your lordship, though I saw him but for a moment +as Martin went down, and the light went out. Hi! there, Martin, come +here," he called. A man galloped up, a man with a dark bruise upon his +forehead and eye. + +"Martin, do you know that boy?" Martin looked, and in the clear light he +saw and knew Andy at once; but something staggered him, and he +stammered and shook. + +"Did you strike this soldier?" asked the Captain impatiently of Andy. + +"No, sir!" The words came sharply. + +"You do not recognize him?" asked the officer of Martin. + +"He--is--the--same!" Martin blurted. "We are losing time, my lord." + +"There is no way to settle the thing here; we are losing time, and your +story of that night in the cave is too important to overlook, Norton. If +this is the boy we must deal with him later. The young scamp probably +knows the roads well. Lead on, you rascal, but if you play any tricks +and mislead us, my men shall pin you to a tree." + +Ruth gave one despairing cry: + +"He is lame," she panted. "For shame! How can he lead a mounted troop?" + +"We'll go slowly. The game's nearly up, my girl," laughed Norton, "and a +prick of the bayonet"--he suited the word with an action, and prodded +Andy on the arm--"will hurry the lamest patriot. Lead on, +cave-crawler!" + +Andy gave one look at Ruth. A look of bravery, appreciation, and mute +thanks for her part of the work. + +"It's all right, Ruth," he called back. "Tell mother I'll lead them +straight enough and be home in an hour. Good-by." + +By a winding way leading from the main road they went; through +Apthorpe's place they cantered at their ease, and so came to the highway +a mile beyond. + +"There may be a shorter cut, my lord," suggested Norton; then he paused. +"Does your lordship observe there are no marks on the road that bespeak +the recent passing of a regiment? This should mean the young rebel's +death!" + +"He's a spy in the old fox's hire!" shouted another. + +"String him up, along with the schoolmaster down at the Beekman place +to-morrow morning!" roared a third. All was wild commotion in a moment. +But in that moment Andy took his chances and made for the thicket, and +the hidden path over which he and Washington went that day that now +seemed so long ago. A man leaned from a horse and tried to clutch him, +lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. Confusion covered Andy's +dash. + +"He's gone!" yelled the man who had fallen. + +"Which way?" shouted several in response. + +Which way? Aye, that was the query. Which way! + +Andy made for the dry bed of the stream. No rustling leaves must betray +him. Not in flight was his safety now, but in silent hiding until +darkness should come. Down into the muddy pool of the once rushing +brook, rolled the boy. In the distance he heard: + +"No trail here, my lord!" and he smiled grimly. + +"Well, a lost lame rebel is of less account than the regiments ahead," +shouted the Captain. "Bad luck to the young devil. Cut cross country and +try the river road!" + +"They have an hour to the good!" thought Andy, as he remembered the +weary patriots and young Aaron Burr. Soon all was quiet, and with the +palpitating silence a new thought grew in Andy's brain. "Better string +him up to-morrow with the schoolmaster!" Whom did they mean! + +"Schoolmaster! Spy!" The two words struck dully on the aching brain. +Suppose! Andy sat up and gazed wildly into the dense underbrush. "Could +it be?" But no; the idea was too horrible. + +The long shadows began to creep among the rocks they loved so well. +Still Andy sat staring into the awful possibility that the words +conjured up. + +"Schoolmaster! Spy!" He could stand it no longer. Cautiously he crept up +the bank. Through all the excitement he had clung to his crutch. It must +serve him well now. He set out determinedly toward the highway. Come +what might, he must reach the Beekman place as soon as possible, and he +hoped that the road was safe, owing to interest being centered +elsewhere. In this hope he was right. Below and above him, excitement +ran rife, but the highway seemed to belong to him alone. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THEN MARCHED THE BRAVE + + +A terrible storm was coming up, after the sultry day. Andy's whole being +centered upon the thought that he must reach the Beekman Place; and the +coming storm might delay him. Only so far did it affect him. He felt no +hunger; it troubled him a little that his mother and Ruth would worry +about him, but nothing mattered so much as the solving of the doubt that +was causing his heart and brain to throb. + +Strangely enough, his lameness decreased as his excitement waxed +greater, or it seemed to, and he considered it less. The birds stopped +twittering their vesper songs, and huddled fearfully in their shelters. +A peal of thunder was followed quickly by another. The rocks took up the +echo and prolonged the sound. Between, the flashes of lightning, the +darkness could almost be felt, so tangible and dense it seemed. Once +Andy fell and struck his head. The blow made him giddy, but the rain +dashing in his face steadied him, and he plodded on. Then a glare in the +distance attracted him. It was in the direction toward which he was +going. + +"A fire!" he muttered. "All the more reason for hoping they will not +notice me." The town might burn, what matter, if only the way were free +to the Beekman place. + +It was still dark when he reached his destination, worn and haggard. +Over toward the greenhouse people were stirring about, and Andy rightly +guessed that the prisoner, whoever he might be, was there. No luckier +place could have been chosen, so far as Andy was concerned. It was +surrounded by shrubbery through which he could creep right up to the +building, providing, of course, that the sentinels did not see him. But +the sentinels were relaxing their watch. The hours of the troublesome +spy were nearly ended, and there could be little danger of any further +trouble on his account. + +Andy crept along, keeping to the bushes. The storm was nearly over, and +no lightning could betray his motions now. + +Once the glass house was reached, Andy looked eagerly in. There was a +pile of rubbish in one corner, and a man was sitting upon a rude bench +near it; between him and Andy, however, were two men with their backs to +the boy, and they quite hid the face of the man upon the bench. The two +were listening, and the third man was speaking. Andy was too far away to +hear, but, gaining courage, he crept around to the other side of the +house, and so came close to the group within. Something in the attitude +of the man upon the bench had caused the boy's heart to leap madly, then +almost stop. He raised his eyes slowly--one look was enough! + +Sorrow and ill-treatment had done their work, but the dear face was the +same! Dauntless, undying courage shone upon the uplifted face. + +It was the master! The errand, whatever it had been, was over. Success +or failure? Andy could not tell from the calm features. Spy or hero! +What mattered? There sat the beloved friend, deserted and forlorn--still +unconquered though the fetters bound him close. + +"I would send, if your kindness will permit, these letters. They will +make lighter the sorrow of them I love." + +Andy bowed his head and clutched at his throat to stifle the rising cry. +A broken pane of glass near-by permitted him to hear clearly every word. + +One man on guard had a low, brutal face, the other, Andy noticed, had a +more humane look. + +"Have you the letters written?" asked the coarse fellow. + +"I have." The master drew them from his breast and handed them to the +speaker. + +"One is to Washington," laughed the man. "Gad, you must take us for raw +recruits." + +"I shall be beyond harming you soon. That letter refers to personal +matters, I swear." There was superb dignity in the voice. "I would have +his excellency know that I regret nothing. I would do all over again, +did the need arise. Washington would see that my comrades understand +that." + +The man with the letters gave vent to a brutal oath. Then the quieter +man spoke for the first. + +"If we read the letters and find them harmless, I am for forwarding +them. To whom are the others addressed?" + +"One to my family, the other--to the woman I was to have married!" The +master, for the first time, bowed his head, as if his burden were too +heavy. + +"I think we may carry out your request if the contents are what you +imply." + +"And make a hero of this spy!" snarled the rougher man. "Every word may +have a double meaning, Colonel. We have the papers he so carefully hid, +but these letters may contain the same information, slyly concealed." He +tore the letters across twice, and flung the pieces on the floor. "Death +and oblivion to all rebel spies!" he hissed. + +The master never flinched, but his pale face grew paler. "Is there +anything else we can do for you?" asked the milder voice, "something +safer than forwarding letters?" + +"I should like to have the right generally granted a dying man, of +seeing a minister. One lives a few miles above here. I am sure he would +come." + +"And hear what you dare not write," sneered the torturer. "You are not +the sort to need a death-bed scene; besides, there isn't going to be any +death-bed. I dare say the parson would be glad enough to carry your +so-called confession to Washington. Bah! you are crude in your last +moments." + +"Come," impatiently spoke the fellow's companion, "I have no stomach for +your jests and brutality." Then, turning to the master, he said: "We +will leave you for a few hours. It seems the only thing we can do for +you. Try to rest." + +Down the greenhouse the two went. The master was alone! He bowed his +splendid head, and perhaps tasted, for the first time, the dregs of +desolation. + +Andy, lying low among the bushes, saw that the master's feet were +bound. The sight wrung the boy's soul. Perhaps he had wildly hoped that +escape were possible, but one glance showed him that the fetters were +cruelly strong. What could he do? Near and far he heard the measured +tread of sentinels at their posts. He wondered that he had ever gained +his present position unnoticed. It was doubtful now that he could make +his own escape, for a gray dawn was breaking in the east. But the +thought of his own danger troubled the boy little. He was thinking of a +peculiar whirring sound that he and the master had once practiced +together. A sound like an insect. "'Twould be a good signal," the +teacher had said. Would he remember it? + +Andy pressed close to the broken glass, and chirruped distinctly. The +master started and raised his eyes. Was he dreaming! Again Andy +ventured. Then a smile flitted across the master's face. + +"Andy!" he breathed. + +"Here, close to you!" + +Slowly, without a suspicious start, the man turned in the boy's +direction; and the two brave comrades smiled at each other over the gulf +of pain and grief. + +"I will try to sleep!" This aloud, to regale the ear of any possible +listener other than Andy. With difficulty the master stretched, as best +he could, his fettered limbs upon the floor, taking heed to lie as close +to Andy as possible. + +Silence. Then the man tossed and talked aloud in troubled fashion. + +Andy, meantime, with a daring that might risk all, put his hand in the +broken pane and drew the bits of paper of the torn letters to him. + +"Tell Washington," moaned the voice of the master in a half sleepy +whisper, "I regret nothing. Am proud to die and to have given _all_." + +"I have the letters!" breathed Andy. "If I live Washington shall have +them and know all." + +"Thank God!" came from the man upon the floor. "You are a true friend, +Andy McNeal." + +"Good-by," groaned Andy. "Some one is coming!" The cold perspiration +covered the boy's body, for steps were drawing near. + +"There could hardly be any one outside," said a loud, rough voice. +"Still we must take no chances. The poor devil has reason to toss in his +sleep and talk. I doubt if he were doing anything else." + +The need was desperate. Andy crawled like a snake through the grasses. +Escape seemed impossible. He passed the two searchers in the friendly +gloom, and breathed freer. This was a lucky move, for the two men +examined thoroughly the spot where Andy had been. They discovered the +broken glass, and one remarked that the weeds had been crushed. + +"Some animal has been prowling about, there are no footprints," said the +other. + +Andy's Indian training was serving him well. In a few minutes the two +passed on. "We'll walk around the place. Daybreak is near. The dangerous +spy's time is short." + +Andy made the most of that time. Stealing cautiously in and out of the +shrubbery, he worked his way out of sight of the greenhouse. The chill +of the morning made him shiver. How many hours he had passed without +food or drink he did not consider; but his heart seemed dead within +him. + +Painfully he came at last to the shelter of the woods. Then he sat down +upon a fallen tree, clutching the scraps of paper against his throbbing +breast. In imagination he seemed to see the master being led forth to +die. See! the east was rosy. Now, even now, the brave soul was marching +on undaunted and undismayed. Andy could see nothing in the brilliancy of +that lovely morning light, but the uplifted face of the man he loved. A +pride and joy came to the boy. That hero was his friend! The world might +call him a spy--but he, Andy McNeal, knew that he had given all for the +country's cause, and regretted nothing, even in the face of a dishonored +death. + +"And Washington shall know!" breathed Andy. "As soon as I can reach +headquarters, the General shall have these!" Fiercely he pressed the +papers. Then he arose. He was stiff and deadly weary. + +"I will go to Ruth!" he sighed. "I must have food and rest. I dare not +go to mother. My plight is too sad. I will save her the sight." +Bedraggled and blood-stained--for the fall of the night before had left +its mark--Andy went on, looking, as indeed he was, a soldier of the +cause. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +ANDY HEARS A STRANGE TALE + + +Andy made but poor time to the minister's house. It was well on toward +noon when the shouts of the children at play cheered his heart. He had +been obliged to rest many times, and once he had fallen asleep and slept +longer than he knew. + +As he drew near the cottage he saw Ruth kneeling by Sam's grave. It was +one of the girl's daily duties of love to bring fresh flowers and cover +the mound with the bloom. Glad enough was Andy to see her alone, and in +this quiet spot. He went more rapidly; the sight of Ruth gave him new +strength. He had no intention of frightening her, he made no attempt to +walk quietly, but indeed a look at his haggard face would have caused +alarm in any case. + +"Ruth!" The girl looked up, stared, but made no cry. She rubbed her +eyes feebly as if awakening from sleep, then she grew deadly pale. + +"Andy McNeal!" she whispered. "Whatever has happened?" + +"I will tell you." He sank down wearily, and took the cap from his head. + +"My heart has been filled with horror," Ruth went on, giving Andy time +to catch his breath. "I dared not tell any one what really happened. +They think you merely went as guide. I never expected to see you alive +again. I am not sure that I do now!" She smiled pitifully, and came near +Andy to chafe his cold hands. + +"I'm alive," the boy faltered. "But, oh! Ruth, I have lived years." Then +brokenly, and with aching heart, he told the story of the past hours. +Ruth never took her eyes from his face, but her color came and went as +she listened. The tale was ended at last, ended with all the tragic +detail and the showing of the scraps of paper. Then Ruth stood up. + +"Andy," she said, in her prompt fashion, "the house is empty. Mother has +gone to your home, father will be away until to-morrow. The children +are easily managed. Now I want you to go in the upper room after you +have eaten. I want you to rest all day and then--then I have something +to tell you and--there is more to do." + +"Yes; these," sighed Andy, looking at the papers. "I should start at +once with these." + +"'Twould be folly. There are awful doings afoot, Andy McNeal. It is no +time for a mid-day walk to Harlem Heights. You must do as I say. Come in +now; you are starved and utterly spent." + +Andy followed gladly. It was the course, the only course, of wisdom. + +He ate ravenously, and drank a quart of rich milk. Ruth was busied in +the room above, and when the meal was finished Andy joined her. + +"Now," she smiled, "everything is ready." He found a pail of hot water, +and some of the minister's clothing lay on a chair. "They'll have to do, +Andy, until I can wash and dry yours," said Ruth. + +"What matters?" answered Andy. "If I sleep I shall not mind the rest." + +"I know. You must only obey now, Andy. Remember I love to do my share!" +Tears stood in her brave eyes, and Andy understood. + +Andy fell asleep almost at once. The hot bath took the pain from his +sore body, the clean, worn linen was cool and soothing, and the droning +of the bees in the near-by hives hushed sorrow and weariness into deep +oblivion. + +And while he dreamed of peaceful walks with the master under sunny +skies, and smiled in the dreaming, Ruth had summoned Janie, and the +mother sat waiting patiently the awakening. There was much to tell and +more to do. But Andy dreamed on. + +Four o'clock! The tall clock in the living-room spoke loudly. Andy +stirred and muttered something, then slept again. + +Five o'clock! The boy sat up on the narrow bed and stared into his +mother's face. + +Janie never flinched, though his pallor and the cut on his forehead made +her heart ache. + +"Mother, I must get to Washington at once. I--I have a message." + +"Yes, son." + +"I do not fear death. It comes but once!" + +"Yes, Andy, lad. But I'm thinking you'll not be meeting death just now. +It looks like you were singled out to live and act for all my old +misgivings. God forgive me." + +She bowed her head and it rested on Andy's shoulder. Stern Janie had +never done such a thing before, and even at the moment Andy was touched +and moved. He smoothed the hair away from the pale face, and gently, +lovingly kissed his mother. + +"There are strange happenings, Andy," she sighed. + +"There are, indeed," he agreed. + +"But things about which you know nothing, lad, and--and I must tell you +before you go. Get up; dress, son. Ruth and I have made decent your own +clothing. I can talk better while you move about. I cannot bear your +eyes, my lad." Andy arose at once and began his dressing, keeping his +face turned from his mother, but her own was rigidly set toward the +window. + +"Your father has come back, Andy!" + +A strange pause, then: + +"My father!" Andy had dropped into a chair. The sentence had deprived +him of strength to stand. He knew his mother never wasted words, or made +rash statements. His father had come back! And Andy did not know that +his father was alive. In fact, knew nothing of him, and that struck him +for the first time with stunning force. Janie's back was straight and +firm. + +"Yes, your father. I kept it all from you. I meant to tell you some day, +Andy, but time passed and you asked no questions, and I--I thought +everything was past and gone forever. But he has come back." + +"Where is he?" asked Andy. + +"At home. He has been hurt, and is feverish and ill. He was doing +sentinel duty for--for the British, and he received a terrible blow from +some one in a cave. I cannot tell what is best to do, Andy, and I must +look to you for help." + +Somehow Andy had gotten to his feet, and staggered across the little +room to his mother. Almost roughly he seized her hand, while the awful +truth unfolded itself from the dense darkness of the past. + +"Say that again!" he commanded. Janie looked at him in amazement. + +"Say what!" she asked. + +"That about the blow, and--and the cave!" + +Janie repeated it, wondering why that detail should so interest Andy. + +"You see," she continued, not heeding his horrified look, "I married +your father when I was very young. I look older than I be, lad. He +brought me nothing but trouble. He was above me in station. He belonged +to his majesty's regiment stationed here, and when the regiment was +recalled he went--back! Little he cared for the girl he left or the baby +that bore his name! I managed, and neighbors helped me to forget, +and--and I could not tell you Andy. I hoped I never would be obliged +to." + +"Go on!" Andy still held his mother's hand, but with infinite gentleness +now. Tears stood in Janie's eyes, and the human need for sympathy met an +answering thrill in the heart of the son. + +"He--he saw you yesterday at the pass, Andy, when they made you guide +them after the troops, and your face frightened him. He says you look so +like his mother, that it is just terrible. She has recently died, and +her memory and the thought that his son might be alive and here, gave +him a bad turn. He asked your name, and as I kept my own name after he +deserted me, he guessed the truth, and as soon as he could break away +from the others he came to me--and--that is all, Andy. But what shall I +do?" + +Andy tried to think. Tried to bring events into orderly line and +coherence, but the more he tried the more detached he felt, and as if +the whole matter was one with which he had nothing to do. + +"I was so young, Andy, lad, only seventeen!" When had Janie ever pleaded +before? + +"Yes," murmured Andy. "I am nearly seventeen now. Seventeen years are +long--sometimes. But, of course, you were very young." + +"And I had no one to guide me, Andy. I was alone. I have always been +alone, and it has been hard." A sob rose to the trembling lips. Andy +looked at his mother, and, oddly enough through all the bewilderment, +thought that she had a beauty he had never noticed before. + +"You were handsome, too," he whispered. Janie started. + +"Yes," she replied. "I suppose I was, then. Your voice is like his. It +always was, Andy. That was one reason that at times I could not bear it. +Oh, Andy! it is no easy matter to be a lonely woman!" The cry smote the +listener, and his growing manhood reached out to her. + +"Mother, you are not alone. You have me. I will come back to you, stand +by you, and we will see what is best to do. I must go on my errand, and +I think you ought to go to--to father!" The word nearly choked him. + +"But suppose anything should happen to you?" Janie clung to the hand of +this new, strange, but well-loved son, "whatever shall I do? + +"I think I shall come back to you. I think I am needed, and it seems +clear to me that I shall come back." Andy smiled into the troubled +face, and tried to rouse himself into action. + +"If you should fall into the hands of the British," whispered Janie, +"tell them you are the son of Lieutenant Theodore Martin; it may help +you, son." + +"Your name is my name!" Andy proudly broke in. "I never shall seek favor +through any other. If they take me, they take Andy McNeal, and if I come +back I shall come bearing that name, until my mother bids me take +another!" + +Janie bowed her head. It had been her first, only weak attitude toward +her country. + +"You are right," she quivered. "But I fear for you." + +Presently his mother left him. He and she had work to do, and it must be +done apart. A few minutes after she was gone, Ruth came up bearing a +tray of food. She was limping painfully, and Andy, sitting by the window +lost in thought, got to his feet in alarm. "You are hurt!" he cried. A +smile spread over the girl's pale face. + +"I'm a depraved sinner!" she said, setting the tray on a stand and +dropping into a chair. "After the war is over I shall repent and take up +godly ways. For the present I am a lost soul, and given over to Satan. +Andy, the lie I told yesterday about the river road was the beginning of +my downfall. How easily we glide downhill." + +"'Twas the only thing to do, Ruth," nodded Andy. "I think such a lie +grows innocent from the start. It was the object, Ruth. What else could +you have done? It puzzles me sore to try and explain. I just leave the +lie to God. He will understand." + +"I have left it there, Andy, and from the joy and gladness I have felt, +I believe there was nothing else to do. But this lameness, oh, Andy!" + +"How did it happen?" + +"Just as the lie did, Andy. This is a bodily lie." + +"I do not understand, Ruth." + +"Eat, and I will explain." Andy began mechanically. He must be ready for +his task in any case. Food was the first step. + +"I have been reading the Bible to the children, Andy. They wanted the +story of David. As I read it seemed as if you were like David. When he +went to meet Goliath, how impossible his victory seemed, but the hand +that swung the sling was strong enough to win the day. Andy," Ruth bent +toward him, her face glowing, "you are strong enough to win against your +Goliath!" + +"Mine?" + +"Yes; all the king's men! You will get to Washington before another day +is passed. But--you must let me help you." + +Andy set the cup of milk down and stared at the earnest face. + +"I'm very dull," he said. "I only know that I must go. I do not see, +now, that you can help." + +"You must not think of going abroad as Andy McNeal," the girl explained. +"They are watching for you. Janie says that more than one Britisher has +been to her door." + +"Do you know--" Andy began. + +"Yes," nodded Ruth, "but he is well hidden. It is you they are after. +Then, too, I know what the British expect to do. Hans Brickman found +out and he is almost frightened to death with his secret. He thinks the +British will see his secret written all over him, and he is afraid to go +into camp--the patriot camp, you know. He has honey and butter to sell, +and he sells to friend or foe. I've told him I will go with him +to-night." + +"What secret?" asked Andy, keen to the main point. + +"The British war-ships are going up the river!" Ruth was whispering in +Andy's ear, not daring to trust her voice even in the little room. +"Father says the General does not expect this move, but they are getting +ready down by the Battery. Father says the forts cannot stand a river +attack." + +"But Washington _must_ know this. He never is taken off guard." Andy +spoke proudly and with assurance. + +"Well, any way," said Ruth, "he is preparing for a land attack. It is +common talk." + +"Just a blind!" Andy broke in. But his face was troubled. "However, I +must get these papers to him, and if I can I will speak to him. It can +do no harm." + +"But you cannot go as you are, Andy." + +"How then?" + +"Why," Ruth went to the door and dragged in a bundle, "in these!" She +held up one of her own dresses, a big sunbonnet, and a neat white apron. + +"Ruth!" Andy flushed hotly. + +"I have sprained my ankle," Ruth explained with an assumed whimper, "and +poor Hans is about distracted. He is afraid to go peddling alone with +his secret writ large in both Dutch and English on his foolish face. I +have told him I will go lame or no lame. Fortunately he is hard of +hearing and stupid as an owl in broad daylight. You might be less like +me than you are, and Hans would not know. We have much to be thankful +for, Andy." + +"Ruth, I cannot!" + +"Andy, you shall!" They looked into each other's eyes and then because +they were young and brave, they smiled; smiled above the danger and +heartache. + +[Illustration: "IT TOOK ALL OF ANDY'S COURAGE TO DON THE FEMALE +ATTIRE."] + +"What a girl you are!" laughed Andy. + +"Yes, there are few like me," sighed the girl. "Born to trouble as the +sparks fly upward." + +"Born to deliver others from trouble, I verily believe," added Andy. + +"Not a moment to spare!" commanded Ruth. "You have eaten a noble meal. I +must go to my room to suffer now. When Hans bawls from the wagon, be +ready, and remember the eggs are a shilling more to his majesty's men +than to Washington's." + +It took all Andy's courage to don the female attire. He had never done +so hard a thing, yet he knew that Ruth was right. If he hoped to reach +the patriot camp he must not attempt it as Andy McNeal. "Next best +then," he thought, "is to go as Ruth White. God bless Ruth!" + +"Hi!" rose shrilly on the soft evening air, "hi! we starts now!" + +It was Hans bellowing from the wagon. Andy plunged into the bonnet, +whose big, flapping frill almost hid his face. He took his crutch--its +aid was not to be despised now--and hobbled down-stairs. + +"Washington is in the Morris Mansion!" Ruth whispered as he passed her +door. + +Under his sunbonnet Andy turned scarlet, but he did not turn toward +Ruth. + +"There goes our Ruthie to sell eggs," called little Margaret White from +over her bowl of milk in the kitchen. "Does your leg hurt awful, +Ruthie?" + +Mrs. White at the table did not turn, but she said: + +"Take heed, Margaret, your milk is spilling. Ruth is all right." As in +very truth she was. + +"We be late, already," called Hans from his wagon. "Can you get up, +miss?" + +Andy mounted slowly, and crouched behind Hans among the baskets and +pails. The Dutch boy had but recently come over from Long Island to live +with the parson. After the battle of Long Island he had fled to what he +thought were more peaceful pastures for employment; but he had his +doubts. Dangers pursued Hans, and he was sore distressed. It was +necessary for him to sell the products of the little farm, and, really, +the danger of the parson's daughter going along to straighten matters +out, was no great matter. Peddlers, unless suspected, were allowed to +pass the lines, and their wares paid for with more or less honesty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AT HEADQUARTERS + + +"Your excellency, dar am a lame girl, an a fool Dutchman outside. De +girl done say, she's got to delibber de eggs to yourself, sah!" + +"Eggs!" The tall, anxious man at the table turned sharply. He was +writing to Congress, and the interruption annoyed him. + +"Yas, sah." The colored man bowed humbly. "I'se been tellin' dem we has +eggs nouf, but the Dutchman he deaf as a stun wall, an' de girl am dat +sot, dat your own self couldn't be sotter, sah. She done say her folks +'prived demselfs of food an' drink, sah, to save dese eggs fur your +excellency, an' she goes on tu say, sah, dat she done been habbin' de +debbil's own time gettin' past de lines wid de eggs. She's been 'sulted +by de British and odder hard things. She won't go, sah, till I done tell +you all dis rubbish." + +"Bring her in," quietly said the listener. + +Washington never slighted the humble, and, besides, messages were sent +in odd ways. It was always better to be willing to listen. The black man +departed, muttering, and presently returned, showing the lame girl in +with no very good grace. + +"Dat am de General!" he explained, shutting the heavy door after the +limping figure. + +There was no need of explanation. The eyes under the drooping frill grew +joyous at the sight of the honored face. The heart under the coarse +cotton frock beat high with pride, and--yes, shame, for how was the boy +to make himself known? + +"Pray be seated," the deep voice was saying. "You are weary and you have +taken chances of danger to reach me with your gift." + +Andy sank into the nearest chair. + +"I appreciate your devotion and unselfishness, but I would advise no +future attempts to pass the British lines for such a thing." + +"There were other reasons, sir," said Andy. Washington came nearer. + +"I fancied so," he said, "and they are?" + +Andy drew the basket of eggs to him, and unwrapped several, handing the +papers to Washington. The General took them, crossed to the window, and +for a few moments pieced the bits together carefully. Then he read. Andy +watched him, remembering that other face in the greenhouse on the +never-to-be-forgotten night. + +"Where did you get these?" he said suddenly. Andy stood up leaning upon +his crutch. + +"A messenger, in time of danger, must come as he may, sir," he said, +bravely. Then tearing off the bonnet he added: + +"Andy McNeal, at your service, sir!" Washington's face never betrayed +him, but a glad look came to the overweary eyes. He extended his hand, +and grasped Andy's. + +"I remember!" he said. "You have been true to your trust. And now for +the story." + +Sitting in the stately room of the mansion, opposite the great General, +Andy McNeal told his story. Try as he might, his voice would break, but +he thought no shame of his weakness, for the keen eyes looking into his +own were often dim. + +"I asked a great thing of Nathan Hale," said the General at last, "but +he gave it willingly. Andy McNeal, you have been a faithful friend to as +great a hero as the Revolution will ever know. Many offer their lives. +He offered his honor. Willing was he to die, and to die dishonored by +the many. Some day his country will understand." + +"And, sir, do you know the British are bringing their ships up the +river?" + +Washington's eyes gleamed. "I have sent men to Frog's Point," he smiled. +"They will meet a welcome when they land. Thank you. And now farewell. +Take heed as you return. You are safer without a guard." + +"Is there no work for me to do? Is there no place in the ranks for such +as I?" + +The tremendous question broke from Andy's lips. To go back into idleness +was his one dread. He longed to follow; to be the humblest, but most +patriotic, of the many. Washington understood. + +"I must leave here directly," he answered. "Ere another week passes I +shall be gone. Where future battles are to be fought, remains to be +seen, but always, my first object is to guard the Hudson. I need +faithful hearts here. I shall not forget you, Andy McNeal, nor your +service. If I can use you, be ready. I shall know where to find you. You +are sure to be more useful here than elsewhere. You know your woods as +few others do, and I know I can depend upon your courage and +faithfulness. Again farewell." + +Andy arose, drew on the disguising headgear, not even thinking of it, so +full was his heart, and so he departed to face whatever lay before. + +The immediate thing that faced Andy McNeal was the meeting with his own +father. It took all the courage he possessed to do this, and yet he knew +that he could not begin to live again until the new complications had +been grappled with and readjusted. + +After dark of the same day upon which Andy had seen Washington, he +reached his mother's little house. Hans and he had had several +encounters with the British, but a thickheaded, deaf Dutchman, and a +young, frightened lame girl, with a hideous bonnet, served only for a +moment's idle sport for the king's gallant men. And after annoying +delays they were allowed to pass with a warning to come soon with more +food, or their houses would be burned over their heads. + +Andy paused outside the cottage. He heard his mother moving about, and +the indistinct voice of a man from the guest-room beyond. + +"The vine again!" thought Andy. But the ascent in the gown was +difficult. "A maid's progress is bitter hard!" smiled he, and he thought +tenderly of Ruth. + +The little loft-room seemed oddly changed to Andy. He looked about. +Everything was the same, and yet-- + +"It is that voice below-stairs," muttered he. "It alters everything." A +feeling of hatred crept in Andy's heart against this man who had +suddenly assumed so close a relationship to him. + +"What will mother do?" he questioned as he changed his clothing, and put +on the decent Sunday-suit that was hanging from the pegs. "What will +she do?" And in his heart Andy knew what she would do, what, at least, +she would want to do. He had seen it shining back of the trouble in her +eyes when she first spoke to him. The want had brought the look of +beauty with it, and had banished the marks of the lonely years. + +"But a Britisher!" moaned the boy, smoothing his hair, "a Britisher for +Janie and Andy McNeal! I might forgive him for all else--for mother's +sake, but not that, not that!" + +"Andy, lad, is it you?" Andy started. His mother was coming up the +stairs! + +"Yes, mother." She stood before him now. The coarse cotton gown that was +familiar to Andy's boyhood was gone. A dull, bluish linen with white +cuffs and collar had replaced it, and above the becoming dress shone the +face of a new Janie. + +A jealous pang struck Andy's heart, and he shivered in spite of himself. + +"I thought I heard you, lad. You are safe?" + +"Quite safe, mother." + +"But sair tired?" she dropped into the Scotch unconsciously. + +"Not overtired. I did my errand well." + +"And now, Andy, what next?" + +"Nothing. Since I cannot follow and fight, I must bide at home and wait. +Does any one come here for help from the patriot army we must be ready, +mother." + +"Aye, surely, lad. You know where my heart lies!" + +"But, mother, the--the person below. He is--a deserter if he is found +here. What then? And surely not even he must keep us from doing our +duty." + +"Lad" (Janie came close), "I cannot hope to have you understand. When +love comes your way, Andy, it will plead for me. All these years--I have +been a starved and forsaken woman, and it has changed me. We all go +astray, Andy, and--and your father. Oh! call him that, son, for my sake. +Your father has dealt sorely with me and you, but he has come back. He +was hunting us long before he found us. He wants to mend the past. Andy, +as we hope for mercy from the good God, let us be merciful." + +"But a Britisher, mother. An enemy to our cause. Oh, mother!" + +"Andy, lad, come!" She put out her hand pleadingly, and Andy followed. +There was a candle burning in the guest-room, and by its modest gleam +sat the man who, when Andy had seen him last, was proclaiming his own +son to be the rebel who had presumably struck one of the king's men in +the cave. Very pale was the man now, and the bruise on the forehead +shone plain even in the dim light. He looked up at Andy in a curious, +interested way, and half extended his hand. + +"You do not care to take the hand of a Britisher, I see." The white face +relaxed in a faint smile. Andy went nearer. + +"For my mother's sake I can take my--my father's hand, though it all +seems mighty queer." + +"I want you to know," said the man, "that I would not have told my head +officer who you were that day, but I was so alarmed at the likeness you +bore my mother that I was unaware of what I was doing. It was horrible +to realize as I was beginning to do then, that I was probably speaking +to my own--son." + +"It was more horrible to think that my own father had been struck by a +blow dealt in my defense. You must have thought that, too." + +"No, I did not. Who struck that blow?" + +"Nathan Hale." + +The man started. "And he?" + +"Died the death of a spy two days ago." + +"Andy!" It was Janie who cried out. "Was our dear schoolmaster, Nathan +Hale, the spy?" + +"Nathan Hale, the patriot!" corrected Andy, and his eyes dimmed. + +"Oh! how you have suffered, lad." + +"Aye." Andy sank into a chair. + +His father was looking at him keenly; and a growing expression of +admiration was dawning in the searching eyes. Here was a son of whom he +might yet be proud. + +"Andy," he said, "I can imagine your feeling toward me. I do not say I +do not deserve it. But your mother is willing to forgive the past, if +you are willing to give me a trial." The thin lips twitched. Martin was +a proud man, and his humble diet seemed never to be coming to an end. +The hard young face opposite appeared more unrelenting than Janie's had +seemed. + +"What is best for mother is best for me," said Andy. "I am almost a man. +When the war is over I shall try to do a man's part in the world. Each +one of us has his life." + +Martin again became serious. "I have money, Andy; I can help you, and +give you a fair start." + +"Your money will make mother's life easier. It has been a hard life." + +"There, there, Andy, lad! Do not be bitter, son." + +"Not bitter, mother. But I cannot forget. Not just at first." + +"I can educate you, Andy," Martin added. "You might take that help from +a stranger, and repay it later on." + +A hungry look came into the boy's eyes. The teaching of the master had +awakened an appetite that would not sleep. "I did without for many +years," he replied. But Martin had seen the gleam, and was proud. + +"In a day or so, Andy," he went on, "I must ask a favor of you. I want +you to guide me to the patriot headquarters." The boy started. "I came +half-heartedly to fight against the colonies. It is my desire to throw +my lot in with theirs now. You may be able to do me a favor with your +General. He will know you. If I come back you may be able to respect +your father. If not--your mother has a good son, and Parson White will +see that what belongs to you two will be yours." + +"Father!" Andy arose, and this time stretched forth his hand gladly. +"Father, I will try to be a good son to you, too!" + +"Thank God!" sobbed Janie, kneeling by the chair, and drawing Andy +within the circle of her new hopes. + +The old clock ticked and ticked contentedly. The hissing of the kettle +on the fire recalled Janie to her happy tasks, and Martin and his son +wondered what the future would bring. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PEACE + + +"Only the cane now, Andy. The days of crutches are over!" + +"Yes, Ruth, the country, the dear free country and I can nearly go alone +now." Andy stood up proudly and beamed upon the pretty girl standing by +his mother. + +"I declare!" he laughed, "you look but little older than Ruth, mother!" + +"Box his ears well, lass," said Janie, mightily pleased. "He struts, +does Andy, and you and I must take him down." + +"Come," Andy broke in, "we must start now. Wrap up well, girls," he +laughed again, "'tis bitter cold, and the way is long." + +"No cold can reach me!" cried Janie, pulling her hood well over her +happy face. "Warm hearts make glowing bodies. To think, lad, he will be +with us to-night!" + +The door of the little house was drawn to and locked. All within was +beautiful and ready for the patriot who that night would return full of +honors for the part he had played during the last two years. + +"Yes. He will be with us, mother," echoed Andy. He looked at Ruth. He +had learned to understand his mother now, and Ruth had shown him the +way. + +"It was no light matter," said the girl, keeping step with Andy over the +crisp snow, "for you--your father to be a patriot. He was not only a +patriot but a deserter from the king's army. In every battle he had to +face that." + +"Yes," broke in Janie, "and when he went with Wayne to storm Stony +Point, he was nearly captured, as you will remember. And the British +yelled at him, 'Don't shoot that deserter, lead's too good for him. +We'll try an Indian trick on him!'" + +Andy's face grew grave. "He's a brave man," he whispered, and drew +Janie's arm within his own. And so the little party came to Fraunce's +Tavern, and bided near the room in which Washington and his officers +were dining before the General departed for Annapolis, where he was to +lay down his commission, for the war was over, and peace had come to the +young country. + +"Andy," said Janie, closing the door of the small room which had been +reserved for them, "'twas great luck that my host's wife and I are +friends. Think of us having this to ourselves, and the great General +right in the next room. Ruth, lass, there is a communicating door, as +true as I live! Andy, draw away the sofa." + +"Mother, you would not be an eavesdropper?" + +"God forbid! Ruthie, is there a keyhole?" + +"No keyhole, but a good generous crack in the panel! Hurry, Andy, with +the sofa, the thing weighs a ton. Push!" + +"Ruth! We cannot spy upon the General." Andy tried to look severe. + +"I can!" laughed the girl, mounting the sofa, and applying her eye to +the crack. "I'm afraid the Revolution has demoralized me, but I must see +the thing through. Andy, they look--they look magnificent!" Ruth was +quivering on her perch. Janie flung prudence and dignity to the winds, +and climbed to Ruth's side, and, being taller, gained a portion of the +crack above the girl's head. + +"I can see no one but the General!" she said. "The crack is over-narrow +for such doings!" + +"There is no one but Washington!" breathed Andy, and he lifted his head +proudly. + +"Yes, there are others," whispered Ruth, misunderstanding, "and if you +run your eye up and down the crack quickly, you can catch a sight of +them. The crack is wider in some parts." + +"Heaven save us, lass!" (Ruth's head had come in violent contact with +Janie's chin). "You have loosened my teeth!" + +"They are going to drink a toast!" said Ruth, not heeding the accident, +but thrilling with excitement. "Andy, 'tis no wrong we are doing. The +General's voice can be heard distinctly, and I vow there are a dozen +heads at every window opening on the porch. The crack is fine down here. +I can see everything!" + +Andy stood still. + +"He is raising his glass!" said Ruth near the floor. + +"With my heart full of love and gratitude I now take leave of you all. +Most devoutly wishing that your latter days may be as prosperous and +happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." + +"His eyes are full of tears!" almost sobbed Ruth, and the eyes of them +in the little room were dim. Glasses clinked together, then the full +voice went on: + +"I cannot come to each one of you and take my leave, but I shall be +obliged if you will come and take my hand." They needed no second +bidding those comrades, tried and true. One by one, feeling no shame in +their manly show of sorrow, they grasped their General's faithful hand +and parted from him with bowed heads. + +"They are going out!" panted Janie. "Now, Andy, for the hall. We must +meet him at the door." + +As he came from the banquet room, Washington and his officers met the +three. He knew Andy at a glance, and then recognized Janie. He took +them by the hand, and bowed in courtly fashion. + +"Patriots all!" he smiled. "You well deserve your hard-earned peace." + +They joined the throngs which followed Washington to the river. They +stood upon the Battery until the barge which bore the gallant figure +away faded from sight. So lost were they in admiration that for a moment +none of them noticed a tall figure approaching dressed in Continental +uniform. Then Janie saw him. Her face flushed like a girl's. + +"Andy!" she whispered, pulling her son's sleeve, "see, here is your--" + +"Father!" greeted Andy, and stretched out a welcoming hand. + +Back to the lonely pass the four went, Janie and Martin on ahead. + +"And now," questioned Ruth in a soft whisper, "what comes next, Andy?" + +"I am to study. Ah! Ruth, how I shall study! I mean to learn all that I +can and carry the best to them who call me." + +"You really mean to be a minister?" + +"That I do, God willing!" answered Andy, reverently. + +"'Tis a hard life, Andy." + +"For that I love it." + +"Have you thought where you would like to go?" + +"Just where the most urgent call comes. Ruth, the life is hard--" + +"I know the life, Andy, and love it!" + +"Could you--could you, Ruth?" + +"Keep on living it? Yes, dear. Who so well fitted as I?" + +They paused on the snowy path, and looked into each other's brave eyes. + +"I wonder if any life is really hard, dear Ruth, where--" + +"Love lifts the burden? I think not, Andy. Love bears the weight. We +take the glory. It is a wonderful thing." + +The red glow of the winter sunset seemed to warm the snow-covered earth, +and in the still beauty the two followed Janie and Martin. + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Then Marched the Brave, by Harriet T. 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