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diff --git a/34864-8.txt b/34864-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74293e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/34864-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9589 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Boys of Old Monmouth, by Everett T. Tomlinson + +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: The Boys of Old Monmouth + A Story of Washington's Campaign in New Jersey in 1778 + +Author: Everett T. Tomlinson + +Release Date: January 6, 2011 [EBook #34864] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOYS OF OLD MONMOUTH *** + + + + +Produced by Emmy, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "WHAT ABOUT THE BOY?" (page 13)] + + + + + +THE BOYS OF OLD MONMOUTH + +A Story of Washington's Campaign in New Jersey in 1778 + +BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON + +_Author of "Washington's Young Aids," "Guarding the Border," "The Boys +with Old Hickory," "Ward Hill at Weston," etc., etc._ + +[Illustration: The Riverside Press] + +BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press, +Cambridge + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY EVERETT T. TOMLINSON + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. OLD MONMOUTH 1 + II. TOM INVESTIGATES 15 + III. THE MEETING ON THE RIVER 27 + IV. BENZEOR'S VISITOR 40 + V. THE MESSENGER 53 + VI. IN THE TEN-ACRE LOT 67 + VII. THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 82 + VIII. INDIAN JOHN 96 + IX. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT 112 + X. THE STORY OF THE MISCHIANZA 126 + XI. TO REFUGEE TOWN 141 + XII. BATHSHEBA'S FEAST 156 + XIII. WITH THE REDCOATS 169 + XIV. THE WAY TO CRANBERRY 182 + XV. THE BOAT ON THE BAR 195 + XVI. TED WILSON'S VICTIM 208 + XVII. A FRUITLESS CHASE 221 + XVIII. A RARE BEAST 233 + XIX. THE RELEASE OF BENZEOR 246 + XX. THE FLEET OF BARGES 259 + XXI. THE RIDE WITH THE LIEUTENANT 272 + XXII. A SOLDIER WOMAN 286 + XXIII. AN INTERRUPTED JOURNEY 298 + XXIV. THE ABODE OF INDIAN JOHN 310 + XXV. THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT FIGHT 323 + XXVI. THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH 336 + XXVII. THE RETURN TO BENZEOR'S HOUSE 349 + XXVIII. THE RIDE TO THE MILL 364 + XXIX. AFTER THE BATTLE 377 + XXX. TOM COWARD'S PATIENT 390 + XXXI. AMONG THE PINES 403 + XXXII. CONCLUSION 416 + + + + +THE BOYS OF OLD MONMOUTH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OLD MONMOUTH + + +OLD Monmouth is an expression dear to the heart of every native-born +Jerseyman. The occasional visitor seeking health among its whispering +pines, or relaxation in the sultry summer days along its shore, where +the roll of the breakers and the boundless sweep of the ocean combine to +form one of the most sublime marine views on all the Atlantic seaboard, +may admire the fertile farmlands and prosperous villages as much as the +man to the manor born, but he never speaks of "Old" Monmouth. + +Nor will he fully understand what the purebred Jerseyman means when he +uses the term, for to the stranger the word will smack of length of +days, and of the venerable position which Monmouth holds among the +counties of the State. + +Monmouth is old, it is true, and was among the first of the portions of +New Jersey to be settled by the Woapsiel Lennape, the name which the +Indians first gave to the white people from across the sea, or by the +Schwonnack,--"the salt people,"--as the Delawares afterwards called +them. But the true Jerseyman is not thinking alone of the age of +Monmouth when he uses the word "Old." To him it is a term of affection +also, used it may be as schoolboys or college mates use it when they +address one another as "old fellow," though but a few years may have +passed over their heads. + +The new-comer or the stranger may speak of Fair Monmouth, and think he +is giving all the honor due to the beautiful region, but his failure to +use the proper adjective will at once betray his foreign birth and his +ignorance of the position which the county holds in the affections of +all true Jerseymen. + +Still, Monmouth is old in the sense in which the summer visitor uses the +word. Here and there in the county an antiquated house is standing +to-day, which if it were endowed with the power of speech could tell of +stirring sights it had seen more than a century ago. Redcoats, fleeing +from the wrath of the angry Washington and his Jersey Blues, marched +swiftly past on their way to the Highlands and the refuge of New York. +Fierce contests between neighbors, who had taken opposite sides in the +struggle of the colonies for freedom from the yoke of the mother +country, or step-mother country, as some not inappropriately termed her +in these days, occurred in the presence of these ancient +dwelling-places, and sometimes within their very walls. Many, too, would +be the stories of the deeds of tories, and refugees, and pine robbers +contending with stanch and sturdy whigs. Up the many winding streams, +boat-loads of sailors made their way from the gunboat or privateer +anchored off the shore, to burn the salt works of the hardy pioneers, or +lay waste their lands as they searched for plunder or for forage. + +The forked trees along the shore, in whose branches the lookouts were +concealed as they swept the ocean for miles watching for the appearance +of the hostile boat, were standing until recent years. In their last +days broken, it is true, and almost destroyed by the winter storms and +their weight of long years, still they stood as the few remaining tokens +of that century when our fathers contended for "their lives, their +fortunes, and their sacred honor." At last the pathos and weakness of +old age prevailed, and to-day there remains scarcely a vestige of those +ancient landmarks. + +Perhaps if the boys and girls of New Jersey had been as mindful of those +old trees as the Cambridge lads and lassies have been of the spreading +elm beneath whose branches the noble-hearted Washington assumed the +command of the little American army, some of them might still be +standing; but as it is, the most of them have crumbled and fallen and +disappeared as completely as have the men who sought the shelter of +their branches in the trying times of '78. + +So, too, for many years stood the famous tree from whose limbs the noble +patriot, Captain Huddy, was hanged,--as dastardly a deed as was +committed by either side in that struggle which tried the souls of our +fathers. But the trees are gone, and only a few quaint houses and +venerable landmarks and heirlooms remain of those things which witnessed +the contests, and deeds high or base, of that far-away time. + +The lofty monument on the old battle-ground of Monmouth is surmounted by +the figure of a man whose face is shaded by his hand, as if he were +still striving to obtain a glimpse of the redcoats in the darkness as +they hastened to gain the Highlands and the refuge of the waiting boats +which were to bear them away to the safety of the great city. But it is +itself essentially modern, and only in its brief records, carved by +patriotic hands upon its sides, and in its figure of the granite soldier +standing upon its summit, does its suggestiveness lie. It looks down +upon a thriving village and out upon the lands of thrifty and prosperous +farmers, and there is nothing in all the vision to remind one that the +soil was ever stained by the blood of soldiers clad in uniforms of +scarlet, or of buff and blue. + +And yet, as fierce a struggle as our country ever knew occurred within +the region. Women toiled in the fields while their husbands and sons +fought, or even gave up their lives to drive away their oppressors. Yes, +even in the battles some of the women found places, and Captain Molly +Pitcher was only one among many who had a share in the actual struggle +of the Revolution. Houses were doubly barred at night against the +attacks of prowling bands of refugees or pine robbers, and many times +were defended by the patriotic women themselves. Spies crept in among +them, and evil men who owned no allegiance to either side seized the +opportunity to prey alike upon friend and foe. At times it almost seemed +as if the words spoken many centuries ago were then fulfilled, and that +"a man was set at variance against his father, and the daughter against +her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and that +a man's foes were they of his own household." + +But with all the suffering and bloodshed there were many heroes and +heroines, and even the boys and girls were not without a share in the +struggles of the times which tried men's souls. The houses in which they +dwelt may have disappeared and given place to far more imposing +structures; their very names may no longer be recalled; but, after all, +they displayed many qualities which the world ought not willingly to +permit to die, and the heritage which they have bequeathed to us will +lose nothing of its value if we go back in our thoughts and strive to +comprehend more clearly the price which our fathers paid for the land we +love. + +In the early summer of 1778, while the feelings of the Monmouth people +had been deeply stirred,--and indeed the patriots of the county had +been among the foremost to pass resolutions and be enrolled among the +defenders of the new nation,--there had not as yet come the intense +excitement which followed the advance of General Clinton's army from +Philadelphia. The long winter at Valley Forge had at last come to an +end, and when the British moved out from the city,--for holding it +longer seemed to be useless,--Washington had led his troops into the +town almost as soon as the enemy departed. Nor was that all, for he +quickly decided to follow after the departing general, and overtake and +give him battle before Clinton could lead his men across the Jerseys. + +The American commander knew that his own forces numbered nearly as many +as those the British general had; and as, in spite of the dreadful +sufferings of the winter, his men were in far better condition than they +had ever been before,--thanks to the tireless energy of Baron +Steuben,--he resolved to depart from Philadelphia and follow after the +British. + +Clinton had sent the recently enrolled tories to New York by water, and +as there were some three thousand of these alone, he soon decided that +his troops must go by land. + +Accordingly, the journey was begun, but the Continentals, going a little +farther to the north than the line of Clinton's march, planned to gain a +position in advance of the enemy by the rapidity of their movements, and +then, turning about in their course, fall upon the redcoats face to face +and offer them battle in some advantageous place. + +The baggage wagons of Clinton stretched out in a long line of twelve +miles as they followed after the army, and in other ways the British +leader was somewhat embarrassed. Consequently, when he learned of +Washington's plan, he quickly decided to change the direction of his +march, and, by passing through "Old Monmouth," lead his army to the +Navesink Highlands and there have them all embark for New York. + +Washington had first offered the command of his advance forces to young +Lafayette, but he was somewhat perplexed by the return of General Lee to +his army, and knew not just what to do. + +Lee had been captured a little more than a year before this time, +through his own carelessness, near Morristown, and we may be sure that +Washington was not greatly troubled by the loss. Lee had steadily +opposed him, and was plotting to secure his position for himself. +However, the British general Prescott, whose capture by the Americans +had been effected in a manner not unlike that in which Lee himself had +been taken, had been exchanged, and Lee once more returned to the +American army. + +He was still the same Lee, sensitive, jealous, and suspected of being in +league with Howe, who recently had sailed away for England to explain to +Parliament the causes of his failures in the preceding year. + +Much as he disliked to make the change, Lee's return compelled +Washington to recognize his presence, and after some tactful efforts he +removed Lafayette and gave Lee his position as leader of the advanced +forces. Lee had bitterly opposed the project of following Clinton, and +steadily objected to the march across the Jerseys. + +Washington, however, was firm in his determination, and the march was +soon begun; but the lack of confidence which he felt in General Lee must +have sadly increased the troubles of the great commander, already beset +by perils of so many kinds. Whether he was mistaken in his estimate of +the man, we shall learn in the course of this story. + +Such then was the general condition of affairs as the summer of 1778 +drew on. Those of the people of Old Monmouth who were at home heard +occasional rumors of the advance of the two armies, but few of them had +any thought of the stirring scenes which were to be enacted in their +midst before the summer was ended. + +It was now late in June. The summer had been unusually warm, and the men +and boys, as well as the women, who were at home had labored busily in +the fields, in the hope of an early as well as an abundant harvest. For +those who cared to avail themselves of them, the markets in New York +provided a ready place for the sale of their produce, and not only the +tories, but some of the men whose sympathies as yet had not led them +openly to declare their preferences for either side, or who perhaps +cared more for the prices they were likely to receive in New York for +the results of their labors than they did for liberty or any such +abstract quality, were not averse to loading up the boats, which many of +the farmers near the shore owned, and sailing away for the city. + +Down the lower bay one such boat was swiftly making its way one +afternoon in June, 1778. On board were four men, three of whom +evidently were in middle life, but the fourth was a sturdy lad about +seventeen years of age, and it was plain that he was not in full +sympathy with his companions. He took but little part in the +conversation, and the expression upon his face frequently betrayed the +feelings in his heart. The three men with him apparently did not give +him much thought or attention, and evidently were too well satisfied +with the results of their expedition to waste any time in questioning +the lad as to the cause of his silence. + +"There's the old tree now," said one of the men as they came within +sight of the landmark. "If nothing has gone wrong, we'll soon be in the +Navesink." + +"Yes, and back at work again," grumbled another. "For my part I think +Fenton and Davenport and the rest of the pine robbers have the easiest +time of all. They swoop down upon some whig farmer, and all they have to +do is to take what he has worked out. I don't see why it isn't all fair +enough in war." + +"If it wasn't for that skull of Fagan, with that pipe stuck in its +mouth, nailed up on the tree over there beyond the Court House, I'd go +in myself," said the first speaker. "The grin on it is almost more than +I can bear." + +"That'll do to frighten women and children with," said the third man, +who had been silent for a time. "Fagan got a little too bold, that was +the trouble with him. He carried it a little too far. I happen to know +that there are some men who know enough to put a finger in, and not get +it burned either." + +"Perhaps you've done a little yourself in that line, Benzeor Osburn?" +queried the last speaker. "I've thought sometimes you could tell some +tales if you wanted to." + +"And who knows but I might?" replied Benzeor. "I may be able to keep my +place from being confiscated and sold, the way my brother's was two +years ago, but that may not mean either that I don't know what's to my +own advantage when I see it. You'd do the same, wouldn't you, Jacob +Vannote?" + +"That I would," replied Jacob, "and so would Barzilla Giberson here, +too. All we want is that some good man like you, Benzeor, should tell us +how to do it." + +"I can tell you," said Benzeor quietly. "I've made up my mind that I've +held off just as long as I am going to. I'm going in, and if you have a +mind to join, I'll let you in, too." + +"Tell us about it," said Jacob eagerly. "What about the boy?" he added +in a low voice, glancing toward the fourth member of the party as he +spoke. + +"What? Tom Coward? He's a coward by name as well as by nature. You +haven't anything to fear from him. He's been in my home since he was +five year old. He won't make any trouble." + +Nevertheless, the speaker lowered his voice, and for a long time the +trio conversed eagerly upon the new topic. So intent were they that not +one of them noted the flush upon the lad's face at the brutal reference +to him, nor saw the look of determination which came a little later in +its place. + +Apparently Tom was not giving any attention to the men with him in the +swift sailing boat. He retained his seat near the bow, and seemed to be +interested only in the waves before him. A brisk wind was blowing, and +the waters betrayed the tokens of a coming storm. + +The boat was pitching more and more as it sped on, and Tom watched the +rolling waves, many of them capped with white and rising steadily +higher and higher. The darker hues gave place to a lighter green as they +rose, and the increasing roughness seemed to reflect somewhat the +feelings in his own heart. + +Far away in the distance stretched the long sandy beach of the Hook, +becoming more and more distinct as the boat drew nearer. The gulls were +flying low, and the weird cries of the sea-birds were heard on every +side. + +Suddenly Tom stood upright, and, after gazing intently for a moment at +some object on the shore, turned to his companions and said,-- + +"Some one's up in the tree, and the signal's out, too." + +The men instantly ceased from their conversation, and peered intently at +the tree in the distance. + +Evidently the sight was not altogether pleasing, for with an exclamation +of anger Benzeor Osburn, who was holding the tiller, quickly changed the +course of the boat, and started back in the direction from which they +had come. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TOM INVESTIGATES + + +THERE were many exclamations of impatience heard in the boat as Benzeor +changed her course, and the helmsman himself appeared to be the most +impatient of all. A drizzling rain was now falling and there were many +signs apparent that a stormy night was approaching. + +"I wish I knew just what the warning was for," muttered Benzeor. "Fine +night this, to be prowling around the bay in!" + +"There was no mistake about the sign, though," replied Jacob. "There's +something wrong, or we shouldn't have seen the white flag. That means +there's something going on up the Navesink." + +"All the more reason for going home then!" said Benzeor. "Who was on the +lookout to-day? Does any one know?" + +"Yes, 't was Peter Van Mater," said Tom, who up to this time had taken +no part in the conversation. "He told me yesterday that he was to be in +the tree to-day." + +"What! Little Peter?" demanded Benzeor quickly. + +"Yes," replied Tom. "I saw him out by their cornfield yesterday. He was +there driving away the crows and blackbirds." + +"Little" Peter was so called to distinguish him from his father who bore +the same name; and although his son, a well-grown young fellow of +eighteen, towered more than a half head above "Big" Peter now, the +distinctive names given several years before this time still clung to +them both. + +The Van Mater place joined the Osburn farm, and for years Tom and Little +Peter had been the best of friends. On those rare occasions when a brief +break in the arduous labors on the farms had come, together they had +gone crabbing, or had sailed down to Barnegat, where the sea-fowl +gathered in great flocks when the proper seasons came. + +Tom's heart had gone out to Little Peter as it had not to any other +person. Peter's round face shone with an expression of good nature which +nothing but the mention of a tory or a pine robber seemed to be able to +ruffle. A reference to either of them never failed to arouse the dormant +anger of the lad, and with all the intensity of his quiet and strong +nature he hated both. For the Van Maters, even to the mother and the +girls, were patriots of the strongest kind, and now Big Peter was away +in Washington's army and had left his eldest son and namesake to protect +the family and manage the farm in his absence. + +And Little Peter had accepted the task with an outward assent that +deceived even his own father. Only to Tom had he mentioned his true +feelings, and expressed his determination to buy up his time, so that +he, too, might be enrolled in the patriot army. + +Tom Coward well knew that the words expressed Little Peter's feelings +and desires rather than his purpose, for he was satisfied that nothing +would induce his friend to desert his mother and the children in their +time of need. But he had fully sympathized with Peter in his desire to +buy up his time, and there were special reasons why the words meant much +more to him than they did to his friend. + +About a decade before this time, when one of the numerous "September +gales" was raging along the Jersey shore, a great crowd had assembled on +the beach watching the efforts of a schooner they could see, about a +mile out on the ocean, to weather the storm. All day long the crowd had +remained there, powerless to aid the stricken people on board the +storm-tossed boat, for this was long before the time of the life-saving +crews and their noble work along the coast. + +Late in the afternoon on that eventful day, when the storm had abated +somewhat, although the waves, like moving mountains of water, still came +thundering in upon the beach, a boat had been manned and started forth +to the aid of the people in their peril; but before the brave band could +gain the schooner, she had foundered and gone to the bottom. + +The men who had gone forth to the rescue had been about to return to the +shore, when they thought they saw something floating over the boisterous +waves toward them. When a second glance was obtained they started +swiftly toward the object, and, as they drew near, saw a huge cotton +bale with a woman and a little lad strapped upon it. At last, after some +desperate efforts, the bodies were rescued, but that of the woman was +lifeless and that of the lad was nearly so. + +The rough men had brought both ashore, and, after some labor on the part +of the women in the assembly, the lad had been restored, but the woman +was beyond all earthly aid. Upon some of the clothing of the rescued boy +the name Coward had been found, and "Tom" was improvised, for that would +do as well as any other for the name of a stranger lad whose home and +parents were to be, as the people of Old Monmouth thought, forever +wrapped in mystery. + +Tom Coward had been the sole survivor of the wreck. For days some +portions of the ill-fated schooner and its cargo were washed ashore, but +no clue was ever found as to her name or destination. + +What to do with the rescued lad then became the perplexing problem among +the simple folk of Monmouth, and it was at last solved by "binding him +out" to Benzeor Osburn, which simply meant that Tom was to live with the +man who had taken him until he was twenty-one years of age, and in +return for the home he received he was to give his labor and life until +that eventful day should arrive when he, too, would become a man. + +The lad had gone, for he had no voice in the matter, and all the home he +had ever known had been with Benzeor and his family. Only a faint +recollection of the wreck remained in his mind, but he had heard the +story many times and thought much over it in secret. Often had he +visited the unmarked grave in the churchyard, where he was informed that +all that was mortal of his mother lay resting. But her name and face +were both alike unknown to him. In his dreams, or when he had been +working alone in some of the distant fields, it would almost seem to him +that something of another existence would rise before him, or that he +could almost see the face of a gracious woman bending low over him whom +he could call "mother." + +Who he might be he could not determine. Who he was, was a matter much +more easily settled, for all knew him as the "bound boy" of Benzeor +Osburn; and while some of the country people might occasionally think of +him as the little lad, who years before had been rescued from a sinking +schooner, they seldom referred to it, and the past had been crowded out +by the present. But Tom Coward had not entirely forgotten. + +Benzeor had received him into his home the more readily because, as he +expressed it, "all of his boys had been born girls," and he felt the +need of the aid and presence of a boy about the place. And Benzeor in +his way had not been unkind to the stranger lad, or at least not +intentionally so, but the labor on the farms in those days had been +severe, and he was a man to whom money had been the one thing needful. +He did not spare himself, and certainly he had no thought of sparing +those who were dependent upon him; and, as a natural consequence, +neither the girls nor Tom, and much less the overworked, spiritless +little mother of the family, found much to relieve the monotonous round +of labor on the farm. + +At first, Tom had not complained and had accepted all as a matter of +course, but of late his heart had rebelled against his lot more and +more. It was not that he did not appreciate the rough kindness which was +extended to him, especially by the patient, uncomplaining mother and the +two girls, Sarah and Mercy, who were nearest his own age. But certain +undefined longings kept rising in his soul, he knew not how, and the +increasing eagerness of Benzeor "to make his place pay" had apparently +driven all else from the mind of his foster father. + +Perhaps more than any of these things, his interviews with his friend +Little Peter had stirred his soul, for Peter had longings, too, and, as +has been said, had even declared his intention "to buy up his own time." +That he was a son in his own home, and was surrounded by the love of +father and mother, had not made the purpose in Peter's heart appear in +the least strange or unusual, for the custom was not unknown among those +sturdy forefathers of ours. When they had cared for a boy in his infancy +and helpless years, it was considered as no more than a just return that +the years of early manhood, which would naturally be of value to the +fathers in their labors on the farms, should belong not to the son but +to the father. So whenever a well-grown boy felt that he would like to +start in for himself, it was not unusual for him to offer, or to promise +to pay as soon as he could earn the money, the amount which was +considered as a fair equivalent for the value of his services in the few +years before he became "of age," and could enter upon his own career. + +In those days the obligation of the child to his father was emphasized. +In our own time the obligation of the father to his child is considered +the more important, and all that love and devotion can offer are laid at +the feet of the children. + +Perhaps justice lies somewhere between these two extremes, and no one of +us desires to return to the harsher methods of those earlier years; but +certainly the children who are so fortunate as to be born in these more +fortunate times have some need of recalling the words of one who, long +before the trying days of the Revolution, exhorted all to "honor their +fathers and mothers." + +Be that as it may, Tom Coward thought much and long over his friend +Peter's project, and even went so far at one time as to hint to Benzeor +that he would not be averse to entering into some such arrangement with +him. But Benzeor's indignation, and the grief with which Sarah heard of +the proposal, had silenced him, and he had not referred to the matter +again. + +None the less, however, did it remain in his thoughts, and of late the +suspicion with which he had come to regard many of Benzeor's actions had +increased his feeling of discontent, for Tom's sympathies were all with +the colonies in their struggle. + +Many a time had he and Peter talked over the matter, and the eagerness +of one to serve in the army was fully shared by the other. But Benzeor's +patriotism seemed all to be dormant, and as the troubles increased, his +zeal to make money steadily increased also. At times he would be absent +from home for days together, and more than once Tom had been awakened +in the night by the sound of strange voices heard in conversation with +Benzeor in the room beneath that in which he was sleeping. + +Thoughts of all these things had been in Tom's mind throughout that +voyage to New York, and they, as well as his youthfulness, served to +explain the silence he had maintained since he had set sail. He had +known, however, that Peter was to serve as the lookout that day, and +when he volunteered the information it was the first time he had spoken +aloud for a half hour. + +The rain now was steadily increasing, and the uneasiness of the men on +board the little boat became more marked. They were far from the tree by +this time, and no one appeared to know just what plan to follow. + +"If I was alone, I'd take all the risks," said Benzeor at last. + +"You needn't stop on our account," replied Jacob. "I don't believe +there's much danger in starting up the river, any way, for my part. +Little Peter may not have seen anything to amount to much. If you want +to chance it, go ahead." + +"We don't just know what's ahead of us," said Barzilla uneasily. "It +may be nothing, and then again it may not be. I wish there was some way +of finding out before we risk too much." + +"Why not land farther down the shore and let Tom go up and see?" said +Jacob. "If Little Peter's gone, it will mean the danger's gone, too, and +if he hasn't, why Tom here can find out for us and report; though for my +part I'm not afraid to go up the river as it is. It's too dark for any +one to see us, or it will be soon." + +"That's a good suggestion," said Benzeor quickly, as he brought the boat +about. "We'll land down the shore and let Tom go up for us. You're not +too much of a 'coward' to do that, are you Tom?" + +"I'll go," said Tom quietly, although his cheeks flushed with anger at +Benzeor's antiquated and brutal pun. He had heard it many times, but +never without feeling angry, although he well knew that Benzeor spoke +the words lightly. + +With the change in the course the wind seemed to increase. The spray was +dashed into their faces, and the men were soon drenched. The sail had +been shortened, but the little boat dashed ahead with ever increasing +speed. + +"It's a rough night outside," said Benzeor, when at last he gained the +desired point on the shore. "It's lucky for us we're inside the Hook. +Now then, Tom!" he added. "Bestir yourself, lad, and come back soon." + +Tom leaped ashore and ran swiftly along the beach toward the tree. He +was familiar with its location and knew that he could find it in the +darkest night. The rain beat upon him and the darkness momentarily +increased, but the wind was with him, and in a brief time he recognized +the dim outlines of the tree. + +Then ceasing to run, he began to approach more cautiously. He was not +positive that Peter was there now, for some one might have taken his +place. Certainly caution was the better part in any event. + +He stopped and whistled the half dozen notes which he and Peter used as +a call. He waited a moment, but as no answer was heard he advanced a +little nearer and whistled again. + +"That you, Tom?" came from some one in the tree. + +"Yes," replied Tom. + +In a moment Peter dropped from his position, and began to explain to his +friend the cause of the display of the signal of danger. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE MEETING ON THE RIVER + + +"I'VE been here since noon," began Peter, "but it seems more like a +whole day to me. I've listened to the calls of the sea-birds and heard +the roar of the storm which I knew was coming, till it almost seemed to +me I couldn't bear it any longer. I'm glad you've come, for I've got a +chance to stretch now, and the sound of a voice will help to quiet my +nerves again." + +"I didn't know you had any nerves," replied Tom. "But we can't stand +here in this storm talking about such things. Benzeor sent me over to +find out what you meant by hanging out the white flag. You haven't seen +anything suspicious, have you?" + +"I have that," said Peter eagerly. "I was beginning to think that my +coming here was all a piece of foolishness, when along about four +o'clock--leastwise I should think it was about that time, though I +didn't have any dial anywhere about to mark the time for me--what +should I see but a whaleboat making for the river? You had better +believe I forgot all about the time and everything else but the boat +then, for I didn't know but some more of the Greens were coming up the +Navesink on another trip such as they made the other day." + +Peter referred to an expedition which a band of several hundred tories +from New Jersey, commonly known as the "Greens," had made a few weeks +before this time. They had set forth from New York and had made a visit +to some of their former neighbors and friends, and the tokens of their +affection which they had left behind them had chiefly consisted of the +ashes of burned homes and empty barns. The raid had been a cruel one, +and its object apparently was more for devastation than for plunder, and +many of the good people of Red Bank and Middletown and the adjoining +towns had good cause to remember it so long as they lived. The numbers +of the invaders had rendered them safe from all attacks, and the wanton +destruction they wrought before they returned to New York had been the +chief reason for keeping a watch stationed in the old tree every day +since their visit. And Peter had received strict orders not to depart +from his place of observation, if he saw anything suspicious, until he +was satisfied that all danger was past. And Peter was faithful, that was +well known, or he would not have been selected for the duty that day. + +"Well," resumed Peter, "I watched the boat till it went out of sight up +the river. There were seven men on board of her, six of 'em pulling at +the oars and the seventh steering. No more boats followed her, and I +shouldn't have been suspicious if I hadn't thought I recognized the man +who was steering." + +"Who was he?" + +"He looked to me a good deal like Fenton." + +"What? The pine robber?" + +"Yes, though of course I may have been mistaken. I never saw him but +once and that was when he was a blacksmith over by the Court House +before the war. My father had sent me over there to have one of the +horses shod at his shop. I don't know that I should have remembered him +if it hadn't been for something he did that day. I saw him take a +half-inch bar of iron and bend it almost double with his hands. That +made a great impression upon me, for I didn't believe there was another +man in the colony who could do that." + +"Probably not," replied Tom. "But what made you think this was one of +Fenton's whaleboats?" + +"Nothing but Fenton himself. Of course I've heard of the stories of what +he's been doing since he became a pine robber. His gang is one of the +worst, you know, and the minute I set my two eyes on him I suspected it +was Fenton himself." + +"Why didn't you get word up the river as soon as you saw him?" + +"They've got watchers farther up, and that's their business. Besides, I +didn't care to have him double me up the way he did that iron bar. Then, +my business was to stay here and give the warning to anybody that might +be going up the stream, you see. That's why I waved the flag when I saw +you coming." + +"And they haven't come back yet?" inquired Tom eagerly. + +"No. That's what I'm waiting for. There isn't any fun in hanging out +here in the wet, I can tell you. Just as soon as I can see that +whaleboat coming out into the bay again I'm done." + +"All right, Peter, I'll go right back and report to Benzeor. Maybe he'll +take you on board and carry you home." + +"Not unless I see the whaleboat again," said Peter doggedly as he +prepared to climb to his seat in the tree again. + +Tom hurriedly departed and started to return with his message to the +waiting Benzeor and his men, who he knew would be becoming impatient by +this time. As he ran along the beach the storm smote him full in the +face, but in spite of the driving rain the night was not very dark. The +moon was near the full and gave sufficient light to enable him to see +far out over the tossing waters. He could even discern the outlines of +the little boat far up the shore, and as he ran swiftly forward he was +thinking of the report he was to make to the waiting Benzeor, and his +thoughts were not entirely pleasing. + +Fenton's deeds had become notorious in Old Monmouth. At the head of his +brutal band, composed of men as desperate and reckless as he, he had +pillaged and plundered throughout the county during the preceding year, +and up to this time no one had been found strong enough to put a stop to +his evil deeds. Any unprotected farmhouse was liable to receive one of +his visits, and such a visit was seldom made without profit to the +outlaws, for such in fact they were, and with their ill-gotten gains +they hastened away to store them in their hiding-places among the pines. + +Nor was Fenton's band the only one which had its headquarters in that +lonely and unfrequented region known in Old Monmouth as the "Pines." +West, Disbrow, Fagan, Davenport, and many others of the lawless men, had +engaged in similar occupations, and all had their hiding-places in the +same wild spot, and in a measure protected and aided one another. + +Up to this time Fagan had been the only one to suffer the well-deserved +penalty of his crimes, and in the preceding winter a band of two hundred +of the desperate patriots had assembled and driven the famous, or rather +infamous, outlaw to bay. At last he had been taken, and the infuriated +men, mindful not only of the sufferings of their own families at his +hands, but also of their possible future sufferings as well, had +measured out a stern justice to the man, and with their own hands had +hanged him from the long limb of a tree which stood by the side of the +road which led from Monmouth Court House[1] to Trenton. Afterwards some +of the patriots who had suffered most from his evil deeds had severed +the skull from the body and nailed it to the tree, and then, placing the +pipe between the grinning jaws, had left the uncanny sight as a warning +to all who might be disposed to follow in the footsteps of the outlaw. + +For a few weeks the suffering patriots found relief, but only for a few +weeks. + +Despite the terrible warning, the other bands of pine robbers soon +renewed their labors, and now in the early summer of '78 the region was +suffering more from the marauding bands than ever had been known before. + +It was all a part of the horrors of war. Sometimes, when we read of the +brave deeds which have made famous some of the men who had a share in +the struggle, we are prone to think only of the heroism displayed. And +there was many a true hero in that and in every other war which our +country has waged. We are never to forget that; but there was another +side which has, to a large extent, passed from the memory of the present +generation. The loss of property and of life, the sufferings of the +women and children in the lonely homes, the barbarity and cruelty of +evil men who, freed from the restraint of law in a time when the worst +passions of men were aroused, gave free rein to their avarice and all +that was bad in them, have frequently been ignored or forgotten. The +glory of war or the pride in true heroism cannot entirely atone for the +sufferings that were only too common in the scattered homes or lonely +places. + +And Fenton's band was one of the worst. From their strongholds among the +pines, into which few men had the hardihood to enter, they would set +forth on horseback some dark night, and the tale they might have told +upon their return was ever one of blood and sorrow. People tortured +until in their agony they were compelled to yield up their scanty +savings, raids upon the flocks and herds already becoming far too small +for the necessities of their owners, burning houses, and men and women +deliberately shot by the outlaws, were only a few among the many results +of their raids. + +Not the least of the evils was the knowledge that among the people of +Monmouth there were some who, while they might not openly be known as +members of the bands, still gave the desired information to the leaders +as to the places where possessions were secreted, or of the times when +the patriots were aroused and it was best for the "Barons of the Pines," +as some termed them, to remain in hiding among the tall dark trees. +Professedly, the outlaws acknowledged no allegiance to either side in +the struggle, but somehow it had come to pass that a stanch whig was +liable to suffer far more from their depredations than his tory +neighbor, and as a natural consequence the feeling between neighbors and +those who had been friends was becoming more and more strained and +bitter. + +Thoughts of these things were passing rapidly through Tom's mind as he +ran swiftly on through the storm to rejoin his companions. Fenton? Yes, +he had heard of him too many times not to recognize his name and to feel +well assured that a visit from him in such a night could promise little +good for any of the patriots dwelling near the Navesink. + +"Well, what is it, Tom?" said Benzeor, as the panting lad rejoined them. +"Is it Little Peter on the lookout? He must have seen a ghost to have +warned us to stay out here in the bay in such a night as this. I'm wet +to the skin." + +"It's Fenton," replied Tom huskily, for he had not yet recovered his +breath. "Peter said he saw him and six of his men go up the Navesink +about four o'clock." + +"Fenton?" said Jacob quickly. "Then we're in for a night of it. We don't +want to fall into the hands of that pine robber when our pockets are as +well lined as they are to-night." + +"I'm not so sure about that," replied Benzeor slowly. "There's ten +chances to one that they won't come back before morning, and if they do +they won't be likely to find us in such a storm as this." + +As he spoke a fresh gust swept the rain directly into their faces. The +storm certainly was increasing, and the prospect of spending a night in +the bay was dreary enough to cause the most stout-hearted to hesitate. +And it may have been that other thoughts than that of the storm +influenced Benzeor. + +At any rate he gruffly responded, "You can do as you please, but I'm +going up the Navesink. If you're afraid, you can stay here or start out +across the country on foot. You'll have to speak quick if you go with +me, for I'm off." + +Benzeor turned and grasped the bow of his boat to push her off the +beach upon which she had grounded. Before he had succeeded, however, +Jacob spoke up quickly and said, "We're with you, Benzeor. If you can +stand it, we can." + +"Get aboard then, every one of you!" said Benzeor gruffly. + +Tom and Barzilla quickly took their places in the stern, while Benzeor, +with the aid of Jacob, soon sent the boat out from the shore. + +The sail was soon rigged and shortened, and the little party then +started for the narrow mouth of the Navesink. The boat rolled and +pitched in the storm, but Benzeor had her well in hand, and soon steered +into the more quiet waters of the river. Tom could see the tree as they +passed, and was positive that Peter could also see them, but no hail was +given, and the point was soon left far behind them. + +Then up the narrower waters of the river the boat sped on in her course, +but not a word was spoken by any of those on board. The storm was still +raging and Benzeor's attention was largely occupied in managing his +craft, and the others were busied with thoughts which perhaps they did +not care to express. + +Tom was decidedly anxious. A meeting with Fenton and his band was +something of which he was fearful, and as they sped on his fears +increased each moment. Benzeor's apparent indifference had not deceived +him, and deep in his heart there was a lurking suspicion that perhaps he +might be able to account for it, if he felt so disposed. + +However, he too was silent, and a half hour had passed and as yet no +signs of danger had appeared. Benzeor was steering as close inshore as +the wind permitted, and Tom was beginning to hope that they would +succeed in making their way up the river without being discovered. + +Suddenly Jacob, who was seated in the bow and was keeping a constant +lookout ahead, shouted, "Port! Port your helm, Benzeor! Quick! Quick!" + +Benzeor instantly heeded the warning, but his quick movement barely +served to enable them to pass a boat which loomed up in the darkness. It +was a whaleboat, and with a sinking heart Tom saw that there were six +men rowing, while a seventh was seated in the stern and was serving as +helmsman. + +Instantly Peter's words flashed into his mind, and he knew that they had +barely escaped a collision with the very boat which the lookout had +discovered making its way up the Navesink late in the afternoon. The +party could be none other than that of Fenton and his outlaw band. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Freehold. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BENZEOR'S VISITOR + + +"HOLD on there! Hold on, I say! Stop, or we'll shoot!" + +The words were shouted by some one in the whaleboat, and Benzeor +evidently was about to heed the sharp command. He quickly changed the +course of the boat, and as the shortened sail flapped in the wind as the +little craft came about, the whaleboat came alongside and some one +reached forth with a boat-hook, and the progress was instantly stayed. + +Tom's heart was beating rapidly in his excitement. A wild impulse to +leap into the river seized him, but before he could leave his position +in the bow, two of the other crew clambered on board, and he knew that +an attempt to escape would now be useless. Doubtless the men were armed, +and the darkness was not deep enough to conceal him from their sight. +His only hope now depended upon the actions of the men and the course +which Benzeor should decide to follow. + +The sail was instantly lowered in obedience to the sharp command of the +men who had boarded the boat, and, in great fear, the lad waited for the +purpose of their captors to be declared. He drew back in his position in +the bow, hoping to escape the notice of all on board, as he saw that +Benzeor had arisen from his seat and stood facing the men. + +"Who are you? What ye out in a night like this for? Whose boat is this?" +exclaimed the one who appeared to be the leader. + +"Is that you, Fenton?" replied Benzeor in a low voice. + +"Ho, it's Benzeor Osburn!" exclaimed the man, peering intently into the +face before him as he spoke. "I thought it was strange we didn't find +you in your house. We waited an hour as we agreed to, but when you +didn't put in an appearance, we thought we'd start back. Where ye been, +Benzeor? What's up now?" + +"I'd been back home in time if it hadn't been for the storm and an alarm +we had back in the bay. I think ye'd better go back with me now, Fenton. +I've got some facts that may interest you, and we can't talk them over +here." + +"Who are these men with you?" inquired Fenton suspiciously. + +"Oh, they're all right. I'll vouch for them, every one," replied +Benzeor. "You haven't anything to fear from any of my friends. Come up +to my house and I'll tell ye all about it." + +Fenton hesitated a moment before he replied, and Tom peered intently at +the man of whom he had already heard so many tales. He could see his +great form, although he could not distinguish the features of his face +in the darkness. His deep voice and gruff manner had not tended to allay +the lad's fears, and now Benzeor's words and actions filled his heart +with a new alarm. Was Benzeor about to cast in his lot with Fenton? His +words betrayed the fact of their previous acquaintance, and all the +recent suspicious actions of his foster father came back to him. No one +in the party had yet spoken, except Benzeor and Fenton, but the recent +conversation on board the boat, much of which Tom had overheard, +convinced the troubled lad that no very strong protest would be made +against any proposal that Benzeor might feel disposed to make. + +"I'm rather of the opinion," said Fenton roughly, "that it's about time +you went home with me. I don't know who these fellows on board here are, +and I don't care. You're the one I'm after, Benzeor, and it seems to me +the time's come for you to join us or quit. You've been shilly-shallying +long enough." + +"Hush! Don't speak so loud!" replied Benzeor anxiously. + +Fenton laughed outright at Benzeor's evident alarm, and, turning to his +companions in the whaleboat, said, "I think we'd better take the boat +along with us. We can land this crew anywhere along the shore, or we can +sink 'em in the river, just which you please. It's too much of a storm +for us to be hanging around here on the Navesink." + +"Fenton," said Benzeor, rising and stepping up to the side of the +outlaw, "you'd better do as I say. I've got something to tell ye, and +it's worth hearing, too." + +A low conversation followed between the two men which Tom, with all his +efforts, was not able to hear. The result of it, however, quickly became +apparent when Fenton turned to his companions and said, "It's all right, +boys. You go on without me, and I'll join you to-morrow. I'm going up +to Benzeor's now." + +The boat-hook was quickly withdrawn at his command, and the sound of the +oars of the departing boat soon ceased to be heard. + +The sail of Benzeor's boat was then hoisted again, and once more the +little party, increased now by the addition of Fenton, began to make +their way up the Navesink. Though the rain was steadily falling, the +wind was favoring, and the boat, handled by the skillful Benzeor, held +steadily to its way. The low shores could be seen in the distance on +either side, and an occasional light betrayed the location of some +lonely farmhouse, whose occupants in the confidence begotten of the +storm had ventured to sit up till a later hour than was customary in +those days. + +Not a word was spoken on board the boat, and Fenton had taken a position +near Tom from which he did not move. All were drenched, but a summer +rain was something which none of them minded in such a time as that. + +When an hour had passed, Benzeor ran his boat closer inshore and in a +few moments landed. Then turning to his companions he said, "Come over +to my house to-morrow, Jacob, and I'll give you and Barzilla your +shares of the money." + +"We'll go with you now," replied Jacob, evidently not desiring to put +off the day of reckoning too long, a desire in which Barzilla also +shared. + +"No, I can't fix it up to-night. You can take the bag, though, if you +want to, and bring me my share to-morrow." + +Benzeor's confidence in his fellows served the desired purpose, and +Jacob and Barzilla speedily departed, taking with them the little bag of +gold which had been received as the price of the produce they had taken +to New York. + +"Tom, you look out for the boat," called Benzeor, as he and Fenton +started towards the little house whose outlines could be discerned in +the distance. + +Tom obeyed, and as he worked over the little boat, looking well to all +the details, his thoughts were far more busy than his hands. The changes +which he had noted in Benzeor of late seemed almost to have reached +their climax. Was the man intending now to go with Fenton? All his +recent absences from home came up before the lad's mind, and the strange +visitors he had received there of late were not forgotten. What was it +Benzeor was planning to do? He was not much like the man he had been a +few years before this time, and as Tom thought over all the changes, he +was troubled more and more. + +He knew that Sarah had not been unaware of what was going on, for many a +time had they talked it all over together. Sarah had remained a +steadfast champion of her father, but Tom had not failed to see that she +was none the less troubled by his strange actions. His grasping +disposition had become more and more apparent of late, and while he had +never in the presence of his family referred to anything he had in his +mind to do against the patriots, his very silence in such times was more +threatening than any words he could utter. But Sarah had steadily +refused to believe that her father would desert the cause for which at +the outbreak of the war he had professed the most ardent attachment; +still, it was impossible for her not to discover, what Tom for a long +time had seen, that he was strangely silent of late. + +The change in Benzeor Osburn had been so gradual as to deceive many of +his friends and neighbors. All had known his "closeness," as the country +people termed his love of money, but few of them had thought it would +ever lead him into the position in which the man at that time really +stood. + +Benzeor in '76 had been among the loudest in his expressions of loyalty +to the cause of the colonies, and had been foremost in blaming his own +brother for his "toryism." His brother's property had been confiscated, +but Benzeor's had been left unmolested, so confident had all the whigs +been in the sincerity of his expressions. And at the time Benzeor had +meant what he said, and said what he meant. But never for a moment had +he dreamed that the struggle would be such a long-continued one as it +had proved to be, nor had he thought that patriotism would affect his +own possessions. All that would be done would be to make a strong +protest against the unjust taxation, for Benzeor had hated taxes as he +did few things in this world, and then a compromise would be effected, +which would permit the colonists to go on with their occupations, and +the mother country would soon see that it was not to her own advantage +to drive her rebellious children too far. + +The first shock had come to him when the Continental Congress had +declared the country to be a free and independent nation. That was +going too far, Benzeor thought, and so he freely expressed himself; but +still hoping that a compromise of some kind would be made, and that his +own possessions would not be disturbed, he had uttered no further +protests, though his voice ceased to be heard in favor of the rebellion. + +As further events betrayed the weakness of the patriot cause, and he had +found that patriotism was likely to prove a somewhat expensive virtue, +his feelings had undergone a still more decided change. At first he had +entered into one or two secret projects by which he had succeeded in +enriching his own pockets, and the success had so affected him that as +his patriotism decreased his hopes of gains correspondingly increased; +and soon from deeds for which he tried to justify himself, he had been +gradually drawn into others which even his own seared conscience +proclaimed to be wrong. In some of the latter he had come into contact +with the outlaws of Fenton's class, and his association with them had +soon banished the feeling of disgust he had formerly cherished for them, +until it had even come to pass that Fenton himself was a not unwelcome +guest in his own home. + +At first the visits had been made secretly, and the promises of rich +harvests to be reaped, as the result of their evil deeds, had appealed +to Benzeor more strongly than even he himself was aware. The lawless +times, the constant turmoils, the bitterness between those who had +recently been the warmest of friends, the ease with which raids were +made, and the apparent impossibility of detection, had all combined to +arouse the avaricious Benzeor more and more; and now not very much was +needed to draw him still farther within the toils of Fenton and his +band. + +Not all of these things were apparent to Tom when at last he left the +boat and started towards the house, but he had seen sufficient to make +him suspicious of Benzeor, and he was as perplexed as he was troubled. +All his own feelings had gone out more and more to the patriot cause, +and more than once had he been sadly tempted to depart from his home +without waiting for the formality of buying up his time, and he had even +gone so far as to suggest to Sarah several times what he had it in his +mind to do. Sarah's grief, however, and the confidence which she still +professed to feel in her father, as well as the dislike in his own heart +to do anything which bore any resemblance to stealing,--for so the +troubled lad regarded the taking of time which did not really belong to +him as the bound boy of Benzeor Osburn,--had hitherto held him back. How +long such feelings would continue to sway him Tom could not decide when +at last he lifted the latch and entered the kitchen. + +Benzeor and his guest were seated before the fire which had been started +in the wide and open fireplace, and were drying their wet clothing as +they conversed eagerly together. + +As Tom came in, Benzeor glanced up hastily and said, "You can go to bed, +Tom. You must be wet and tired, and there is a lot of work to be done +to-morrow." Benzeor's voice was not unkind, but Tom did not fail to see +that his presence was not desired. He quickly lighted a candle with a +splinter which he thrust into the fire and held until it was in a flame, +and then went up the low stairway to his room directly over the kitchen +in which the men were seated. + +As he entered the room he noted the gleam which came through the open +space near the rude chimney, and, placing the candle on the low table, +he advanced and peered down at the men. He could see both plainly, and, +after observing them for a moment, he was about to turn away and take +off his dripping clothing, when he suddenly stopped. He had overheard a +word which caused his heart to beat much more rapidly, and in a moment +he was upon his knees striving to hear what more would be said. + +He remained in the same position for an hour, and at last arose only +when Fenton opened the door and went out into the darkness. Then Benzeor +closed and barred the door, and started directly up the stairway. + +Instantly Tom blew out his candle and leaped into bed, all wet and muddy +as he was, and drew the bedclothes close up around his face. + +Benzeor came slowly on and then stopped before the door of Tom's room. +The lad was trembling in his excitement, for he well knew that if the +man should enter and discover that he had not removed his clothing +before going to bed, his suspicions would at once be aroused. And above +all things Benzeor's suspicion at that time was what Tom most desired to +lull. + +There were wild thoughts in Tom's mind of leaping from the bed and, +rushing past the man, making a break for the outside. Perhaps the man +might not enter, however, and, trembling with fear and excitement, Tom +waited. + +It seemed to him that a long time had elapsed, and still no sound +outside the door could be heard. Had Benzeor gone on? The light of his +candle which still shone through the cracks disproved that. What could +he then be doing? + +Tom tried to conjecture what must be going on on the stairway, but the +silence was still unbroken. The minutes were like hours to the +frightened lad. It seemed to him as if the beatings of his heart must be +heard throughout the house. + +His suspense was soon ended--when Benzeor lifted the latch and Tom felt +the light of the candle streaming in full upon his face. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE MESSENGER + + +FOR a moment Tom closed his eyes and waited for the words which he +expected and feared to hear. His body was trembling and all his strength +was required to prevent his teeth from chattering. If Benzeor should +enter the room Tom knew that at once his predicament would be +discovered, and in the present state of his foster father's feelings he +was aware that he could expect no mercy at his hands. + +He heard no footstep, but he felt that the light of the candle was still +shining upon his face and knew that Benzeor had not departed. At last, +unable to bear the suspense longer, he opened his eyes, for he felt that +he must see what was going on in the room. There stood Benzeor in the +doorway holding the candle with one hand, and intently regarding the +apparently sleeping boy before him. + +"I'll be down directly," said Tom drowsily, as if he were just awaking. +"I didn't know it was time to get up. I'll be with you in a minute." + +"It isn't time to get up," replied Benzeor slowly. "I'm just going to +bed. I stopped to see if you were all right. Have you been asleep long?" + +"I--I don't know. Is there anything wrong?" Tom still kept the +bedclothes drawn tightly about his face, and although he was feigning +that he had been sleeping, he was in a state of terror. If Benzeor +should approach the bed he well knew what would follow. + +"No, there's nothing wrong," replied Benzeor. "I just wanted to see if +you were all right. It's been a hard trip, and there's much work to be +done to-morrow." + +Tom closed his eyes and did not continue the conversation, hoping that +the man would feel satisfied and leave him to himself. Nor was he +disappointed, for Benzeor soon withdrew and closed the door behind him. + +Tom could hear him as he stumbled about in the adjoining room, preparing +for bed. Frightened as the lad had been, he had not failed to notice the +expression upon Benzeor's face. It seemed to him that fear and +recklessness were combined there, and that in the recent decision which +the man had made, he had bidden farewell to everything good in his +nature. + +Benzeor had not been without his good qualities. Even then, in spite of +his alarm, Tom recalled his rough kindnesses, and thought how much +better in many ways his foster father had treated him than had some of +the true fathers treated their own sons, for the times were rough and +the one thing which was demanded of all the growing boys was implicit +obedience to their elders. And this obedience had been ofttimes +compelled by no gentle means. The use of the strap upon boys who were as +large as their fathers was not unknown, and no one ever thought of +resenting the harsh treatment. But Benzeor had seldom struck him. Tom +almost wished that he had, for it would make the carrying out of the +project he had already formed much easier. + +Then, too, all the kindness he had received at the hands of Benzeor's +wife and of the girls came back to him. It was true that this had been +largely of a negative character, but in times like these through which +the troubled lad was then passing, even that was not forgotten. He had +toiled early and late, and knew that he had given more than a full +equivalent for the scanty food and rough clothing he had received. But +after all, Benzeor's home had been all the home he had ever known, and +he was not unmindful of the benefits he had received. + +His soul now, however, was in a state of turmoil. The words he had +overheard had proved conclusively that Benzeor was a changed man, and as +Tom thought of the project which Fenton had presented, and into which +his foster father had entered with apparent eagerness, his own +indignation increased. The long waiting was past now, and the time for +action, the time of which he had dreamed and thought so much of late, +had come at last. + +He removed the bed-clothing and sat up on the side of the bed, listening +intently. Benzeor had ceased to move about in his room, and the sounds +which now came indicated clearly that he was asleep. Against the little +window the rain was still beating, and the darkness was so intense in +the room that Tom could not distinguish any object. + +For several minutes he continued in his position, undecided whether he +had better make the attempt to depart from the house by the way of the +stairs, or through the window in his room. If he should select the +former, the stairs would be sure to creak under his feet; and then, too, +there would be the bars which must be drawn from the door. There were +too many possibilities of detection to make that method of departure the +desirable one. + +If he should go through the window, all he would have to do would be to +drop upon the woodpile directly beneath,--a pile which Tom knew was +there, for he himself had drawn and cut the wood only a few days before +this time. He decided to use the window. + +Stepping slowly and carefully, he approached and quietly raised the +sash. As he looked out into the night, the farm buildings could be seen, +and yonder was the road he was to seek. + +Hesitating no longer, the resolute boy crawled through the open window, +and then, clinging for a moment to the sash with his hands, dropped upon +the woodpile below. There was a noise as the wood rolled from under him, +but, quickly rising, he ran to the long lane which led out to the road, +and then stopped to learn whether his departure had been discovered or +not. + +The silence was unbroken. The outlines of the rude little house stood +out in the darkness, the rain was falling steadily, and the heavy clouds +hung low over the earth. Not even the dog had been disturbed, and with a +lighter heart Tom turned and ran down the lane and was soon in the road. + +The mud was now thick and heavy, and he found his progress difficult. +But as he had not far to go, he ran steadily on, and soon came within +sight of Little Peter's house. There was no light to be seen within it, +and he was not at all certain that his friend had returned. + +He approached and stood beneath the window of the boy's room, which, +like his own, was over the kitchen. Then he gave the low whistle which +they both had used as a "call." At first there was no response, and when +he had given it two or three times he concluded that his friend had not +returned from his work as the lookout in the tree by the mouth of the +Navesink. Nothing then remained to be done but to rouse the family, for +Tom was determined, and was well aware that what he planned to do must +be done quickly. + +Approaching the kitchen door he rapped loudly upon it. Twice had he +repeated the summons before a window was raised, and some one looking +out upon him called, "Who's there? Is that you, Peter?" + +"No, it's not Peter. It's Tom Coward, and I want to get in. I've got +something to tell you." + +"I'll be down in a moment," said Peter's mother, for Tom had recognized +the voice as her's. + +Tom soon heard the heavy bars withdrawn, and in a brief time the door +was opened, and then closed and carefully barred behind him. + +"What's wrong, Tom?" inquired the woman anxiously. "Has anything +happened to Peter?" + +"I don't think so," replied Tom. "He was all right when I left him a few +hours ago down by the Hook. But what I want to know now is whether +you've had any word from his father?" + +"Not a word, except that it's reported the army's on the march again. +Why do you ask?" + +"I don't know that I ought to tell you," replied Tom hesitatingly, "but +the truth of the matter is that I happened to hear that he was coming +home." + +"You've heard something more than that, Tom Coward," said the woman now +thoroughly alarmed. "I know you've heard more, or you wouldn't have come +over here at this time of night and in such a storm. What is it? What is +it?" + +Tom perceived that he had gone too far to retreat now, and so he began +his story. He did not go into all the details, for as yet he did not +desire to implicate Benzeor, at least in the eyes of all his neighbors. + +"The way of it is this," began Tom hesitatingly. "I happened to be +to-night where I overheard the talk between two men, and one of 'em was +Fenton, the pine robber." + +Tom could perceive the expression of alarm which swept over the face of +the woman, who was still standing before him. Apparently ignoring it, +however, he went on. "It seems that both of the armies are on the march +across Jersey, and that Washington has halted over by Hopewell. Somehow, +Fenton had got word that your husband was coming home for a day, and +he's fixed up a plan to trap and take him." + +"I haven't heard a word," said the woman slowly. "When was he coming?" + +"To-morrow." + +"And Fenton knows of it?" + +"Yes. And he knows something more, too, or at least he pretends to. I +heard him say that you had some money hidden in an old sock, which you'd +stored away in the garret." + +Tom saw the woman start at his words, and knew then that Fenton's +statement had been correct, although he could not conjecture how the +pine robber had received his information. Little Peter's mother was a +resolute woman, but even the stoutest heart might well be alarmed to +hear that Fenton was aware of such possessions. + +"Have you any idea when Little Peter will come home?" + +"No. It's too bad to keep him out in such a night. And we need him here +now." + +"I'll wait till he comes," said Tom quietly. "There's no danger +to-night, but I want to see him, and I don't think you'll object to my +staying, will you?" + +"No," said the woman eagerly. "Oh, what times these are! My husband has +been in the army more than a year, and the end hasn't come yet. What +will become of us? What shall we do? Tom," she added suddenly, "what was +Fenton going to do with him if he caught him?" + +"Take him and send him to New York. You know there's a reward for every +prisoner taken. But he hasn't got him yet." + +"No, that's so; and what's more he won't either, if it can be prevented. +Have you told Benzeor about it? Hark! There's some one at the door now!" + +The woman was not mistaken, for a low tapping on the kitchen door could +be distinctly heard. For a moment neither spoke, but they could not +conceal their fears from each other. Just then a stronger gust of wind +drove the rain with added force against the windows. The sound of the +storm seemed to increase the fear of those within the house. Perhaps +Fenton himself had even then come; or, as was more probable, Tom +thought, his own departure had been discovered, and Benzeor had come for +him. As between the two, Tom decidedly preferred to meet Fenton at that +time. + +Again the low rapping was heard, and Tom knew that some response must be +made. "I'll open the door. Maybe it's Little Peter come back," he +whispered. + +"No, it isn't Peter. He wouldn't come in that way." + +"I'll find out who it is," replied Tom more resolutely, although his +heart was oppressed by a great fear. His hands were trembling, and he +almost expected that the moment he drew back the bars a rush against the +door would be made. + +"You stand ready to push against the door," he said as he grasped the +bar. Slowly he drew it back, and standing away from the slight opening +called out, "Who's there?" + +No reply was heard, and the wind which swept through the open space +quickly extinguished the candle, leaving them both in total darkness. +For a moment Tom thought they were being attacked, and he instantly +slammed the door back, and shot the bar into its place. + +The rapping upon the door was quickly repeated, and the voice of some +one outside could be heard. "Don't light the candle again," whispered +Tom. "It'll let them see what's inside here. Who's out there?" he called +in louder tones. "Who's there? You'll have to tell who you are, or we +shan't let you in. Who is it?" + +Another rap was the only reply, and Tom was almost decided not to heed +the summons longer, but to leave the callers, whoever they might be, out +there in the storm. + +"I'll go upstairs and look out of the window," whispered Peter's mother; +and, creeping softly out of the room, she soon made her way up the +stairway to the room overhead from which she had replied to Tom's own +summons a few minutes before. + +Tom waited and listened. The rapping was not repeated, and no sound +could be heard outside the door. What could it all mean? Had the +marauders gone around to some of the windows? These were barred by heavy +inside shutters, and no light could be seen to reveal the presence of +any one. The darkness in the room was intense, and Tom almost thought he +could feel it. He was breathing hard in his excitement, but he had not +left his position by the door. + +Soon he heard the sound of the woman returning down the stairway. He +waited breathlessly, and she soon rejoined him. + +"I can't see but one man," she whispered. "He's right there in front of +the door." + +"Is it Benzeor?" + +"I couldn't see. You'd better open the door and let him in. We can +handle one." + +Tom did not feel so positive about that, but bidding her light the +candle, he again drew back the bar. "Come in! Come in! Quick!" he +called. + +Some one pushed past him, and the door was instantly closed and barred +again. + +The candle was not yet lighted, and in the darkness he felt as if some +one were about to grasp him. He could almost feel hands upon him now. He +stepped farther back from the door, and waited in breathless suspense +for the candle to be lighted. + +After several attempts, the woman succeeded in igniting a splinter from +the embers in the ashes on the fireplace, and the beams of the lighted +candle quickly dispelled the darkness. + +"It's Indian John!" said Tom with a great sigh of relief as he saw the +man before him. + +The visitor was a strange appearing being, clad in the leggings and +moccasins of his race, while over his shoulders he wore a faded coat +which once had done duty for some Continental soldier. His dark eyes +burned as if they had caught a reflection from the sputtering candle, +but with a countenance unmoved he gazed quietly at his companions in the +room. + +"Oh, John, what a fright you gave us!" said the woman at last. "What +brings you here on a night like this?" + +The Indian made no reply, save to draw a letter from the pocket of the +dripping, faded coat, and quietly held it forth to the woman. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE TEN-ACRE LOT + + +LITTLE Peter's mother instantly grasped the letter, and seating herself +by the table, and drawing the candle nearer, at once began to read. Tom +watched her eagerly, but she did not speak, and the expression upon her +face did not betray any of the emotions in her heart. + +The Indian still stood motionless in the position he had taken when he +first entered the room, and except for the occasional turning of his +dark eyes from the boy to the woman, so far as appearances went he might +have been a statue. The rain still dashed against the windows, and the +sounds of the wind outside showed that the storm was unabated. The +flickering candle served to intensify the darkness, and the alarm which +Tom had felt had not entirely departed. + +The woman read the letter all through carefully, and then, without a +word of explanation, began to read it again. Tom hardly knew what to +do. He had given her his warning, and whether she would care for his +further services he could not determine. He did not feel like +interrupting her, and yet he feared that his presence now might not be +altogether welcome, for he had no means of knowing what the message was, +or who had sent it. + +His uncertainty was quickly dispelled, however, as the woman laid the +letter upon the table, and turning to him said, "You were right, Tom. +Peter is coming home; but how you found it out, I cannot even guess." + +Tom did not feel at liberty to enlighten her upon the subject beyond +what he had told her already, for he was sadly troubled about Benzeor +and his relations with Fenton. Doubtless Benzeor was implicated, but +matters had not yet gone so far that he felt he was at liberty to betray +his foster father to the neighbors. + +"Yes," resumed the woman, "Peter is coming home, but only for a day or +two." + +"Where is he? What does he say of the army?" inquired Tom. + +"Washington is at Hopewell, as you said, Tom. When he found out that +Clinton really intended to march across Jersey, he detached General +Maxwell's brigade and some of the militia to obstruct and bother the +British, and Peter was in the militia, you know. They were to keep close +to the redcoats, and by their skirmishes keep them from going too fast, +and so give Washington a chance to pass them, and then, when the place +he wanted was found, turn about and fight. When the army crossed the +Delaware at Coryell's Ferry, Washington sent Colonel Morgan with six +hundred of the riflemen to reinforce Maxwell, and with the rest of his +men he set out to march toward Princeton." + +"I thought you said he was at Hopewell now," said Tom. + +"So he is, Peter writes, but Hopewell isn't but a few miles from +Princeton, you know, and he decided to stop there and give his army a +good rest. Peter writes that all the men now think that Clinton is +marching so slowly on purpose, and that his plan is to let the Americans +go on into the lower country and then gain the right of our army by a +quick march and get possession of the higher ground on the right of our +men. Peter writes that that is what all the Continentals think Clinton +is trying to do, and so General Washington has halted at Hopewell. +That's only five miles from Princeton, you see, and he is going to stay +there a few days so that he can give his men a good rest before any +engagement takes place; and he can find out what Clinton's plans are, +too." + +"And while the army is waiting there, Big Peter thinks he'll run up home +for a day, does he?" said Tom. + +"Yes, that's just it. He's sent me word of his coming by Indian John, +here. But you must have been delayed John," she said, turning to the +Indian as she spoke. + +"Heap wet," said the Indian quietly. + +"When does he say he expects to be here?" inquired Tom. + +"To-morrow; no, to-day, for it must be long past midnight now. I +shouldn't be surprised to see him any time." + +"Well I've given you my message, and you'll know what to do now. I think +perhaps I'd better be going back home, that is, unless there's something +you think I can do to help you." + +"No, there's nothing more now, Tom. Little Peter will soon be here, and +with him and Indian John in the house, I don't think we shall have much +to fear. It was good of you to come, Tom. I shall never forget you, and +I know that Peter will not, either. I am sadly troubled, but I think it +will be all right." + +"Good-night, then," said Tom. + +"Good-night, and thank you again for all your trouble and kindness." + +Tom drew back the bar, and, opening the door, passed out into the night, +little dreaming that he had looked upon the face of Little Peter's +mother for the last time. + +As he ran along the lonesome road, he could see that the clouds were +breaking, and in low masses were swept by the wind across the sky. The +rain had almost ceased now, but the air was damp and heavy and strangely +oppressive. Perhaps it was the oppressiveness which affected Tom more +than the excitement through which he had just passed, for the lad was +much depressed as he came nearer to Benzeor's house. All the +conversation he had overheard between the men came back to him, and he +almost wished that he had not left Peter's mother alone with Indian John +and the children. His feeling of obligation to Benzeor had mostly +departed now, and as he recalled the plots of his foster father his +heart was hot within him. He even thought of going over to the Court +House and reporting the matter to Sheriff Forman that very night; but +the hope that Benzeor still might not join Fenton in the evil project +they had formed deterred him, and as he just then obtained a glimpse of +the house which for more than ten years had been the only home he had +ever known, his mind was recalled to his own immediate plans. At least +he had given Peter's mother the warning, and if Fenton's band should +make the proposed visit, in any event she would be prepared to receive +them. + +At first Tom thought he would not return to his room, but would pass the +night in the barn; still the fear that Benzeor might discover his +absence, and be led to suspect its cause, quickly presented itself, and +the troubled lad decided to go back to his accustomed place. + +Carefully he climbed up on the woodpile, and grasping the sill drew +himself up and passed through the open window. He stood for a moment in +the room and listened intently. Not a sound could be heard, and even the +long drawn-out snores with which Benzeor had been wont to proclaim to +the household the fact that he had entered the land of dreams were +silent now. He waited several moments, and as the silence was still +unbroken he proceeded carefully to remove his wet clothing, and climbed +into his high bed. + +For the first time then he realized how thoroughly tired he was. The bed +had never been more grateful to him, and a heavy sigh of relief escaped +his lips. He heard the crowing of the cocks and knew that the morning +could not be far away now. + +Not even the exciting events of the day, or the treacherous project of +Benzeor, or his anxiety for the safety of Little Peter's father, now +availed to keep the wearied lad awake. + +How long he slept he did not know, but it was broad daylight when he +opened his eyes. Some one was pounding upon his door, and with a +confused thought that Fenton was besieging the house, or that Washington +had begun an attack upon Clinton's forces, he quickly sat up in the bed +and listened. + +The summons was repeated, and Tom at once realized where he was and what +was expected of him. There was no mistaking Benzeor's rude method of +proclaiming the presence of the morning, and if he had had any doubts, +they would have been quickly dispelled by the words which followed. + +"Come, Tom, get up! It's high time we were at work again!" + +"I'll be down in a minute," replied Tom as he leaped out of bed and +hastily dressed. + +While he was engaged in that occupation he tried desperately to collect +his thoughts and think of some way out of the troubles which he feared +were sure to come that day. Should he tell Benzeor plainly that he could +no longer remain under his roof? Ought he to tell him what he had +overheard the night before? Had the time come for him to declare himself +and to take the open stand which he had for a long time secretly planned +to do? Thoughts of Sarah and the toiling, careworn little mother of the +household presented themselves before his troubled mind, and the longer +he thought, the more perplexed he became. + +The problem was not solved when he passed down the stairs and went out +of the house to the barrel which stood beneath the corner of the eaves. +He took the rude wooden bowl and filled it with water, and desperately +tried to arrive at some conclusion as he bathed his flushed face. + +The family were already seated at the breakfast-table, and the sounds of +Benzeor's gruff voice could be distinctly heard through the open +windows. The hens with their broods were moving about the yard, and the +dog came and rubbed against his leg as the lad dried his face and hands +on the rough towel that was hanging near the water barrel. The storm had +passed, and the summer sun was shining clear and strong now. + +As he lifted his eyes and looked out over Benzeor's fertile lands, only +a vision of peace and restfulness could be seen on every side. It was +all so different from the storm which was in his own soul that Tom +almost groaned aloud as he turned to enter the kitchen and take his +accustomed place at the table. + +As he entered the room, Benzeor said, "You're late this morning, lad, +but I thought I would let you sleep, you had such a hard day of it +yesterday. But there's no trip to New York this morning, and not likely +to be one again soon." + +Benzeor's manner was not unkind, and as Tom glanced at him he wondered +whether the man was in any wise suspicious of him or not. Apparently he +was not, but without making any reply Tom seated himself and quietly +decided to wait until they were alone before he spoke of what was in his +mind. + +"Tom," said Benzeor after a brief silence, "I want you to go over to the +ten-acre lot to-day. The ground's wet, but the corn there needs hoeing, +and we can't wait." + +The "ten-acre lot" was on the border of Benzeor's possessions, and was +nearly a mile distant from the house. On all sides it was bordered by +woods, and was as lonely a place as could be found in all the region. + +"Are you going, too?" inquired Tom, with an apparent indifference he was +far from feeling. + +"No. I've got to go in another direction to-day. I may not be back at +night either, though I can't say as to that. You'd better take your +dinner, too, Tom, and I'll leave one of the muskets for you. You can +load it up with bird-shot and keep the blackbirds and crows away. +They're raising the mischief this year, and corn's going to be worth +money this fall, if I'm not greatly mistaken." + +Tom made no reply, although his heart was beating a little more rapidly +than usual. Benzeor's absence from home promised little good, and the +words which he had overheard the night before came back now with +redoubled force. Where was Benzeor going? And why did he send him to +work in the distant field, when he was positive that some of the corn +nearer the house was in far greater need of hoeing than that in the +ten-acre lot? + +However, he did not voice his questions, and immediately after the +breakfast was over Benzeor mounted his horse and departed up the road, +going in the opposite direction to that which led to Little Peter's +house. + +Tom went up into the unfinished room in which Benzeor kept his guns and +ammunition, but instead of taking the musket to which the man had +referred, he selected a rifle, and loaded it with a ball instead of the +bird-shot as Benzeor had directed. Just why he did this Tom could not +have explained even to himself, but somehow there was the feeling in his +heart that he might need to be prepared to deal with larger game that +day than the thieving blackbirds or the noisy crows. + +"I've got your dinner all ready, Tom," said Sarah, as the boy came back +with his gun into the kitchen. "Why, you've got the rifle!" she added in +surprise, as she noted the weapon he had in his hands. "There's nothing +wrong, is there?" she said anxiously. + +"I hope not. I don't know. I thought I'd take this gun," replied Tom in +some confusion. + +Sarah said nothing more, but Tom knew from her manner that she was +alarmed. He would have been glad to quiet her fears, but the anxiety in +his own heart rendered him somewhat embarrassed, and without saying +anything more he shouldered his gun, and picking up the little pail, or +"blicky," as the country people termed it, having adopted the Dutch word +whether they themselves were Dutch or not, he set forth on his walk to +the distant ten-acre lot. + +He stopped in the barn long enough to select a hoe, and then with the +added implement resumed his journey across the fields. When he came to +the borders of the woods through which he was to pass, he turned and +looked back at the house. + +Sarah was still standing in the doorway, and as she saw Tom stop she +waved at him the sunbonnet which she was holding in one hand by the +strings. Tom waved his "blicky" by way of a return, and then entered the +woods, which shut out the view of all that lay behind him. + +The birds were flitting about in the trees and filling the air with +their songs. The squirrels darted along the branches, stopping only +occasionally to chatter at the intruder. High over all he could see a +fish-hawk and his mate circling in the air, and Tom knew that their nest +was not far away, and doubtless they were watching him to see that he +did no harm to their little ones, which by this time must be well grown. + +As he came near to a marshy little pond which lay in the centre of an +open place in the woods, he stopped for a moment when he heard the angry +notes of a ground thrush near by. He soon saw that the bird was engaged +in a fierce contest with a water snake which had crawled up the bank and +doubtless had been endeavoring to make his breakfast upon the +fledgelings in the nest he had discovered. + +Tom watched the contest for a moment, and then advanced to the aid of +the bird, which was beating the ground with her wings, and occasionally +darting swiftly at her foe. His approach was instantly seen by the +snake, which quickly abandoned the contest, and, squirming down the +bank, slid into the stagnant water; but Tom could still see the head +which was lifted above the water, and the glittering little eyes were +intently watching his movements, although the rest of the long slimy +body was concealed in the pond. + +"That's just like Benzeor," said Tom aloud, as he dropped his pail, and +picking up a stone threw it savagely at the head he could see a few +yards out from the bank. + +The head instantly disappeared, and Tom turned to watch the bird, which +now was hopping about in the bushes, uttering harsh little notes of +relief. + +"You're all right now, old lady," said Tom. "Go back and tend to your +babies. I only wish I could serve every crawling thing the way I served +your enemy." + +He soon arrived at the end of his journey, and, placing his gun within +easy reach, began his task for the day. Why he had put off his +conversation with Benzeor he could not explain. But the energy with +which he began his work served to afford a measure of relief for his +pent-up feelings, and when the noon hour at last came he had done far +more work than a morning often witnessed. + +Once he had stopped suddenly when he thought he heard the report of a +gun in the distance. The sound had twice been repeated, but it seemed to +be muffled and far away, and as he resumed his labor he tried to +persuade himself that it was only Little Peter firing at the blackbirds +or the thieving crows. + +The reports had made him anxious, however, and when he had stopped for +dinner he had kept his gun near him all the time. The silence served to +increase his feeling of loneliness. On every side stood the forests; and +the great trees, which had never as yet felt the stroke of the axe, were +companions without sympathy. + +With a feeling of desperation Tom soon resumed his labors. The sun +passed over his head and began to sink below the tops of the taller +trees. He had stopped for a moment to wipe his dripping face and gain a +brief rest, when he was startled by the sight of some one emerging from +the forest. + +He gazed for a moment intently at the new-comer, and soon recognized +Sarah. What was the trouble? Her dress had been torn by the bushes, her +hair had become loose and was streaming down her back. But her +disheveled appearance was not the worst, for as Tom dropped his hoe and +ran across the lot to meet her, he saw that her eyes were filled with an +expression of terror, and her face betrayed the wild alarm which seemed +to possess the swiftly running girl. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE PARTING OF THE WAYS + + +"WHAT'S wrong, Sarah? What is it? What is it?" said Tom excitedly, as he +drew near the almost breathless girl. "Has anything happened at the +house?" + +"Oh, Tom!" was all that Sarah at first could say. The reaction from her +excitement and the swift pace at which she had been running had come, +and the frightened girl burst into a flood of tears. + +Tom looked on in helpless amazement. Sarah was usually such a strong and +self-contained girl that her present distress was all the more +perplexing. He looked at her a moment, feeling how utterly unable he was +to comprehend the state of her feelings and how helpless he was to aid +or comfort her. Benzeor might be faced; and even Fenton, in spite of the +fear with which Tom regarded him, might be met; but a weeping girl was +entirely outside the realm of all his previous experiences, and he stood +leaning upon his gun, eager to do something to aid Sarah, and feeling a +deep sympathy for her as he silently watched her. + +Perhaps his silence was the very best aid he could offer, for in a brief +time the resolute Sarah gained control of herself, and lifting her +tear-stained face to that of the troubled lad by her side she said, "Oh +Tom, they've killed Little Peter's mother!" + +"What!" exclaimed Tom in amazement. "Killed her? You can't mean it! Who +killed her?" + +"Yes, they shot her, and have carried off his father, too." + +"I don't understand, Sarah," said Tom more quietly. "Tell me about it." + +"Little Peter came over to our house just a little while ago to leave +the children, and he told us all about it. It seems, he was the lookout +yesterday down by the Hook and didn't get home till it was almost light +this morning. + +"He said he went up to his room and laid down upon his bed, and must +have gone to sleep, but he was waked up by the sound of the voices of +men in the house. He jumped out of bed and listened, and pretty soon he +heard one of them tell his mother that she must hand over the money she +had hidden in a stocking up in the garret, and tell where his father +was. + +"She refused to do either, and then Little Peter hurriedly dressed and +ran down the stairs, but some of the men just grabbed him and held him +fast so that he couldn't do anything to help his mother. He said the men +all had masks on their faces except Fenton, for he thinks it was +Fenton's band that did the work, and he was sure he recognized the +blacksmith." + +"No doubt about that!" exclaimed Tom. "What did they do then?" + +"They held his mother while some of them ran up into the garret, and +pretty soon one of them came back with the stocking. They made quite a +time over that, and Little Peter thought they wouldn't do anything more, +but it seems they didn't find as much money in the stocking as they +expected. Little Peter explained it to me by saying that his mother had +divided it, and had hidden a part in the garden back of the house and +left only a part in the stocking. + +"For a little time they didn't suspect that, but wanted to know where +her husband was. Of course she didn't tell them. How could she, when he +wasn't there? Well, they searched the place high and low. They tore open +the feather beds, and broke down the walls in two or three places, but +they couldn't find Peter. Then they went out into the barns and searched +them, but not a trace of him could they find. They must have been pretty +angry by that time, for when they came back to the house they told her +they knew there must be more money than they had found in the stocking, +and she must tell them where it was. + +"Just then one of the children called out that she knew where it was for +she had seen her mother dig a hole in the ground and put a bag of money +in it. Two of the men then took the child out into the garden and tried +to make her show them the place where the money was, but she must either +have forgotten or else did not know, for the men came back into the +house more angry than before, and told her mother that she must go with +them and show them the place. + +"Of course she refused, and then Fenton raised his gun and told her he'd +give her till he could count five, to tell. She didn't say a word, and +when the blacksmith had counted four he stopped a minute to give her a +chance to speak. He waited, and as she only shook her head the outlaw +pulled the trigger and shot her in the breast." + +"And killed her?" inquired Tom in a low voice. + +"Yes, killed her. The bullet must have struck her heart, for Little +Peter said she fell dead. They threw the body on the bed and then they +turned upon Little Peter. He said he thought his turn had come then, but +at that very minute the guard they had stationed down by the road came +running into the house, and going up to Fenton whispered something in +his ear. + +"Little Peter didn't know what it was, he said, but in a minute Fenton +turned to his men and gave them some directions, and they all stopped +and went out of the house, that is, all except two, who were looking +after Little Peter and the children. + +"In almost no time Little Peter heard some one coming up the lane on +horseback and stop right before the kitchen door. He heard him jump off +from the horse, and after a pause of a minute the men all made a rush +out of the house. Pretty soon they came back, and Little Peter saw that +his own father was a prisoner in their hands. + +"He said his father took on fearfully when he saw his wife dead, and +what the men had been doing, but in a minute they bound him hand and +foot, and put a gag in his mouth, and then he was as helpless as a baby +in their hands. + +"Little Peter said he didn't know what was coming next. He thought +they'd torture him or his father into telling where the money was, or +would set fire to the house; but before they could do anything the guard +came running into the house again and called out that some one was +coming. + +"They only stopped long enough to tie Little Peter to the post of the +very bed on which his mother was lying dead, and then they made a break +out of the house and took their horses and were off down the lane in no +time." + +"How did you hear about it? How did Little Peter get away?" said Tom +slowly. + +"Why, in a few minutes Indian John came into the house, and he set +Little Peter free. 'Twas lucky for him that he did, for Fenton might +have come back, you see." + +"And Little Peter came over to your house with the children, then?" + +"Yes, he brought them all over, and they're at our house now. But, oh +Tom, it's dreadful! dreadful! I'm so afraid they'll come to our place +next, and so I ran out here to get you. Come Tom! Come right away! They +may be there now!" + +Tom hesitated, not knowing just what to do. He was only a boy, and knew +that alone he could do nothing against Fenton and his band. But the +appeal of Sarah and the unprotected condition of the children and her +mother moved him strongly, and his first impulse was to return with the +frightened girl. + +"Sarah," said he abruptly, "where is your father?" + +"Why, you know he went away this morning, and he hasn't come back yet. +He said he might not be back before to-morrow morning. We're all alone, +Tom, and you must come right away. Oh, it's awful!" And Sarah buried her +face in her hands again as she spoke. + +It was almost upon Tom's lips to tell her what he knew of Benzeor. But +the misery of the weeping girl before him was even stronger than the +impression produced by the sad tale she had just related, and he could +not quite bring himself up to the point of telling her what he +suspected,--that her own father had been connected with the attack upon +Little Peter's home. But he had decided now as to the course of action +he must follow. + +"Sarah," said he gently, "there isn't the least danger in the world that +your house will be attacked. I can't tell you how I know, but I know +it's so." + +"But we're all alone, Tom! I don't know what you mean! We're as likely +to be attacked as any one. You must go back with me! We must go right +away, for they may be there now! Poor mother, she was so frightened that +she didn't want me to leave and come over here for you! Come! We must go +right back now!" + +"Sarah, I'm never going into that house again. You can tell your father +that I've slept for the last time under his roof." + +"Not going back with me?" said Sarah aghast, and looking up in surprise +as she spoke. "Not going back?" she repeated, as if she did not fully +understand what Tom had said. + +"No, I'm not going back," said Tom firmly. "You know I've been thinking +a good while of leaving, and after what you've just told me I know the +time has come." + +The color slowly faded from Sarah's face and a different expression came +into her eyes. Even her alarm was apparently forgotten for the moment, +and as Tom looked at her, her eyes seemed to snap and a sneer replaced +the look of sorrow. + +"Tom Coward, you're afraid!" she said; "that's what's the trouble with +you. You're afraid, that's what you are! You'd rather leave mother and +me alone there with the children than run any risks of meeting the +blacksmith! I wouldn't have believed it, but my father was right. You're +a coward by nature as well as by name." + +"Sarah"--began Tom, his face flushing at the words of the angry girl. + +"Don't 'Sarah' me! I know you now! I never could have believed it, +never! But I've heard you with my own ears, and now I know it's true! +You're afraid! You're a coward, that's just what you are! Oh, you're +well named, you are! Very well, sir, it shall be as you say. Perhaps we +shall be better off without you than we would with you, for it would +only make another child for us to look after if you should come back! +I'll go back home and face Fenton and every one of his band myself! I'm +afraid, but I'm no coward!" + +[Illustration: "TOM COWARD, YOU'RE AFRAID!"] + +Turning abruptly away, after giving Tom a glance which he never forgot, +she started resolutely and swiftly back along the pathway which she had +followed in her flight to the ten-acre lot. + +Tom looked after her in helpless amazement. Never before had he heard +such an outburst from the gentle and even-tempered Sarah, who had been +the leading spirit in Benzeor's household. The children had gone to her +with their troubles rather than to their mother, and Sarah had never +failed to have a word of comfort or of help for every one. Even Benzeor +himself had come to depend upon her judgment in many of his affairs, and +she had been as patient and gentle with him as she had been with the +troubled little ones. + +And to Tom she had been the one true friend he had ever known. Somehow +she had always understood him, and from the days of their early +childhood it had always been a matter of pride to him that he was her +acknowledged champion and protector. Many a time, when he was a sturdy +little lad, had he taken her part against the tormenting boys in the +school. For her he had carved quaint and strange looking dolls out of +horse-chestnuts, and the childish Sarah had never failed to receive +them with many expressions of pleasure, and had lavished a wealth of +affection upon them which was almost as pleasing to Tom as to the little +mother herself. For her he had gathered the chestnuts in the autumn and +the bright colored flowers in the springtime; and when, with the passing +of the years, there had come to them both new feelings and new +interests, he still had shared with her all those dimly perceived +ambitions and longings which are ever present in the boyish heart when +it arrives at that position where it can look out upon the time when the +boy is to become a man. + +Perhaps Tom had enjoyed her sympathy and interest the more because of +the loneliness of his own position. But Sarah never by word or act had +caused him to feel that he was only Benzeor Osburn's "bound boy," and +not truly one of the household. + +Tom was thinking of some of these things as he watched the departing +girl, and, forgetting for the moment all the anger and shame which her +last words had aroused, he called aloud after her. + +"Sarah! Sarah!" he shouted. "Wait a minute! Come back! Come back!" + +Sarah apparently did not hear him, or heed him if she heard, and without +once turning her head or looking behind her soon disappeared in the +forest. + +An impulse to follow her seized Tom, and he even ran a few steps after +her, but quickly stopped. How could he explain himself to her without +informing upon Benzeor? And then her sorrow would be harder for him to +bear than her present anger, hard as that was. No; all he could do was +to remain silent for the time, and trust that in the future some +explanation might be made which should set him aright once more in the +estimation of the best friend the homeless boy had ever known. + +The departure of Sarah left him face to face with the perplexing problem +of what he was now to do. To return to Benzeor's house was impossible; +but where should he go? + +Tom stood for several minutes in deep thought. There was no home which +would now be open to him except Little Peter's, and that had been +wrecked by the dreadful deeds of Fenton and his followers. Washington's +army he had heard was at Hopewell, and that was at least forty miles +away. It was to the army he had ultimately hoped to go, and perhaps the +present was the very time to which he had been looking forward so long. + +The longer he thought about it the more strongly was he impressed with +the conviction that his best plan would be to try to make his way to +Hopewell, or to the place to which the army might have moved by this +time. It was true he was without provisions, and he knew of no place in +which he would be likely to obtain any, or in which he might find a +resting-place for a night. Of the long journey he thought but little, +for a walk even of forty miles had no terrors for him. + +Tom decided to start for Washington's army, but first he must stop at +Little Peter's and learn what his friend's plans were to be, and offer +him such aid as it lay within his power to give. + +The decision once made, Tom picked up his rifle, which now he somehow +had come to regard as his own property, and started through the forest +toward the distant road. + +When at last he gained it and started towards Little Peter's home, he +was startled as he saw some one running down the road, and his first +impulse was to conceal himself in the forest and wait for the stranger +to pass; but his fears were relieved when he recognized the long lope of +the runner, and then knew that his old friend Indian John was +approaching. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +INDIAN JOHN + + +INDIAN JOHN had for years been a frequent visitor in the home of +Benzeor, as he had in many of the other homes of the region. He was an +old man now,--how old no one knew, perhaps not even Indian John +himself,--but he had lingered about old Monmouth long after the +Schwonnack had taken possession of the lands and his own tribe had +gradually relinquished their homes and mostly withdrawn from the region. + +For months together he would disappear, and no one would know whither he +had gone, although it was thought that he was on a visit to some of his +kindred, who had withdrawn farther into the interior of the country; but +he would soon return and resume his wandering life. At such times, +Indian John would be restless and uneasy. Perhaps then he realized more +fully the loss of the homes of his ancestors, and his heart would be +filled with thoughts he never uttered. He continued to be friendly with +the settlers, and though he never refused to accept the food which +almost every housewife was willing to give him, he had never been +willing to pass a night under a roof. It was commonly reported that he +used a cave in the woods not far away as his abode, but he never had +welcomed any one there, nor had any one ever seen the aged Indian in the +place. Still the report was believed, and "Indian John's cave" was a +well-known name among the boys of Old Monmouth. + +Between Tom and the lonely warrior there had been a very strong feeling +of sympathy, although not even Tom himself was able to explain it. It +had come about, however, as the result of an accidental meeting between +them a few years previous to this time. Tom had gone down to the shore +one day when a storm had been raging, and the great breakers had been +rolling in upon the beach. + +As the lad had walked on over the sand, he had been surprised to see the +figure of a man in the distance, standing motionless, and evidently +watching the tumult of the angry waters. He had not changed from his +position as Tom approached, and the lad did not know that his presence +was even recognized by the Indian, who seemed to be absorbed in his +reflections as he looked out over the tossing waves. + +Tom had gone on and at last touched the Indian upon the shoulder. Indian +John had then slowly turned his head, and Tom knew that his presence had +been perceived, but for a moment neither had spoken. + +Then the aged warrior, with a gesture toward the ocean, had said, "Boy +no home. Warrior no home. Brothers." + +It was the first time Tom had known that Indian John was aware of his +own early history, and his heart had been deeply touched by the sympathy +of the red man. + +"Boy no home. Warrior no home. Both like waves. Driven here. Driven +there. No rest. No home. Storm there. Storm here," said the Indian +laying his hand upon his bosom as he spoke. + +From that time, although Indian John never referred to his loneliness +again, a strong bond of sympathy had existed between the two, and every +time Tom had seen the old man, he thought of his quiet eloquence in the +presence of that storm which they both had witnessed from the shore. + +And Indian John had been kind and thoughtful to all the white children +of the region. He had made bows for the boys, and taught them their use, +and as their skill had increased, his pride was as marked, although it +had not been as demonstrative, as that of the youthful warriors +themselves. He had taught them how to make and set their traps for the +foxes and the rabbits, and how to catch the eels in the river. +Apparently his happiest hours had been those which he passed with his +young companions. + +Highly as the boys had prized the lessons he had given them, still more +did they prize the marvelous tales which Indian John could tell. To them +he told what the waves were saying when they came rolling in upon the +sandy shore. He knew what the tall trees were whispering when the wind +swept through their branches and brought the leaves into contact with +one another. The hoarse calls of the wild geese, when they passed high +overhead on their long journeys in the spring and autumn, were all known +to Indian John, and the screams of the eagles and the fish-hawks were +all in a language which he clearly understood. + +He knew, also, all the tales his fathers had told him of the first +appearance of the Woapsiel Lennape in Old Monmouth, when, in the spring +of 1524, John de Verrazano, in his good ship The Dolphin, had entered +Sandy Hook, and had soon after written a long letter to King Francis the +First of France, and had given a full account of the marvelous +adventures which had befallen him, and the no less marvelous country he +had discovered. He had heard, also, of the visit, in the summer of 1609, +which Sir Henry Hudson had made in The Half Moon, and how that one of +his crew had fallen as the first victim of the rage of the Indians at +the invasion of their lands. + +The tale which Tom had always enjoyed most, however, was that of the +origin of the troublesome little pests which, in the warm days of the +summer, were the torment of the people, for Jersey mosquitoes were not +unknown in those far-off times of the Revolution. + +It seemed that ages before this time, indeed away back in the days +before John de Verrazano or Henry Hudson had come, or even the memory of +the oldest warriors could run, the Great Spirit had permitted two huge +monsters to appear and prey upon the red men of Monmouth as a penalty +for some crime they had committed, a crime the nature of which Indian +John did not know, or, if he knew, he never explained. + +In size these monsters were larger than any house. They had long slender +legs which held their huge bodies higher in the air than the tallest +trees could have done. They also had immense wings, which, although they +were as fine in texture as the finest silk, were so large and strong +that when the huge monsters used them they created such a breeze that +even the strongest trees of the forest fell before them. + +Their most distinguishing characteristic, however, was an immense +"bill," which was as long as the tallest pine-tree and as sharp and +delicate in its point as that of the smallest needle. With this they +wrought incalculable destruction and suffering among the helpless +people. The largest man served only as a single "bite," and the bodies +of little children seemed only to whet the appetite of these savage +monsters. + +The helpless warriors knew not what to do. They sacrificed, and prayed, +and besought the Great Spirit to free them from their tormentors, but +all was without avail. Their prayers were unanswered, and the Great +Spirit was not appeased. + +No man could describe the destruction wrought by the huge tormentors. +Whole tribes disappeared before them, and it soon came to pass that the +warriors dared not venture forth in search of food for their starving +little ones, who were kept concealed in dens and caves of the earth. +Watchers were stationed to give warning of the approach of the monsters, +for their great bodies cast shadows upon the earth like those of the +low-passing clouds on a summer day, and long before they appeared in the +sky the cry of the watchman sent all within the sound of his voice to +their places of refuge under the ground. Not even then were they always +safe, for the monsters could bore into the ground with their bills, and +often brought to the surface the body of a man, who struggled and kicked +much after the fashion of a frog impaled on the beak of some long-legged +heron. The torments of the people increased. The women neglected their +fields, and the warriors remained in their hiding-places, while the +frightened children cried for food. + +At last, rendered desperate by their sufferings, the warriors of the +entire region banded themselves together, and one day fell upon the +monsters as they were lying asleep in a valley which their immense +bodies almost filled. + +The carnage was frightful to behold. All day long the contest was waged, +and the multitudes of men that fell could not be counted up for numbers. +But at last the red men were victorious, and when the few remaining +warriors left the field of battle, their enemies lay stretched upon the +valley, dead. + +Great was the rejoicing among the people. They came forth from their +hiding-places, and their feastings and songs of victory were continued +for two entire days. The land was freed from its tormentors, and peace +and prosperity would now return, or so at least they thought. + +Great was the astonishment and sorrow of Indian John's forefathers when, +upon the third day, they discovered that their troubles were not ended. +As decay had begun to work upon the dead bodies of the mammoth +mosquitoes, little particles became loosened, and as they were lifted +into the air by the summer wind, each tiny and separate atom became +endowed with life and received a body in shape exactly like that of the +huge monsters themselves, only they were exceedingly small in size. Day +after day clouds of these tiny torments were borne away by the breezes +from the valley of the dead, and, filled with a burning desire to avenge +the death of their parents, they fell upon the unprotected people. + +From these there had been no relief. The camp-fires of the warriors did +not avail, and although the men went valiantly forth to give them +battle, their efforts were all futile, and from that day until the +present time the Jersey mosquito has remained a foe to the red man and +the white, and ever consumed by the one purpose, to avenge the death of +the parents, who had fallen years ago in their battle with the +red-skinned warriors of Old Monmouth. + +To Indian John this story of the origin of the pests of New Jersey had +been eminently satisfactory, and never by word or deed had he shown that +he had the slightest doubt of the accuracy of the tradition which had +come down to him through many generations. Tom at first had received the +account with all the implicit faith of an ardent admirer of Indian John, +and his first rude shock had come when Benzeor had laughed aloud upon +his relating the story with all seriousness one morning at the +breakfast-table. With the passing of the years other doubts as to the +entire reliability of some of Indian John's stories had crept into his +mind. Alas that it should be so with us all! But his strong regard for +the old warrior had never ceased, and Tom's heart was glad that morning +when he recognized the new-comer as his long-time friend. + +"Where have you been, John?" he said, as the Indian approached. + +"See Peter." + +"Have you seen him?" said Tom eagerly. "Where is he? Has he got away?" + +"How?" replied the Indian quickly; and Tom at once perceived from the +expression upon his face that he was aware of some but not of all the +recent events in Peter's home. + +As he related the story which Sarah had told him, Indian John made no +reply, although his eyes seemed to blaze as he listened to Tom's words. +He then explained that he had left the house soon after Tom had departed +on the preceding night, to intercept Big Peter on the road and give to +him the warning which his wife had bidden him to carry. But Peter must +have returned by a different route from that which he had been expected +to use, and as a natural result Indian John had not seen him, the +warning word had not been given, and Big Peter had returned to learn of +the sad death of his wife and to be carried away a prisoner by Fenton +and his brutal band. + +"I don't know just what to do now, John," said Tom. "I want to go and +join the army. You have been there, and perhaps you would like to go +back with me." + +Indian John had been with the soldiers in Washington's army, but he made +no reply to Tom's words, and indeed the lad was not certain that he had +heard, for he stood looking upon the ground and evidently was thinking +deeply. + +"Where Little Peter now?" said the Indian abruptly, looking up at Tom as +he spoke. + +"I don't know. Fenton didn't take him with him, though I don't know why +he didn't." + +"Little Peter home," said the Indian decidedly. "Go see Little Peter." + +Tom hesitated. He, too, had longed to go to his friend, not only to +express his sympathy but also to learn what his plans were to be, for he +knew that Little Peter would not remain in his home now. Indeed, he +could not, if he would, after such a scene as that which he had +witnessed there. But Tom's mind was filled with thoughts of Benzeor, and +a meeting with him certainly was not very desirable at that time. + +"Go see Little Peter," said the Indian again, starting on up the road as +he spoke. + +"All right, I'll go with you," replied Tom, as he joined his companion. + +Little Peter's house was not far away, and he would not lose much time +in going there. It was almost night now, and if his friend should be at +home they might be able to devise some plan by which they could act +together. Besides all that, Tom was more than glad to have an +opportunity to express his sympathy for his friend in his sorrow. + +They soon came within sight of the house, and both stopped when they saw +a little group of people near the garden. Tom knew at once what their +presence meant, for they were near the spot where two of the members of +the family had been buried. He had seen the rude wooden headstones which +marked their graves many times before this. + +The few neighbors who had assembled to perform the last rites for Little +Peter's mother had just returned to the house as Tom and Indian John +approached. Tom at once went to his friend, and the warm grasp of the +hand was all he could give. Not one of the children save Little Peter +was there, and the hurried duties had been hastily performed by kind, +though rough hands. + +The two boys withdrew from the house, and after an awkward silence Tom +said in a low voice, "What are you going to do now?" + +"I'm going to leave the children at Benzeor's house. He has been very +kind, or rather Sarah has, Tom. And then I'm going to start for Refugee +Town; I think father may be there." + +"Refugee Town?" said Tom in surprise. "Do you think that will be safe?" + +Tom well knew the place. It was a spot on the outer beach of the Hook, +where some of the more desperate refugees, tories and negroes, had +assembled. A few huts and tents served as their dwelling-places, and the +men were supposed to be in league with the men on board the boats which +the British had stationed near by, for a part of Howe's fleet was +already anchored there, waiting for the coming of Clinton's men. +Clinton's original plan had been to march across Jersey to New +Brunswick, there embark his men on the Raritan, and sail away for New +York; but the rapid march of Washington had caused him to abandon the +project, and word had been sent for the fleet to be ready for him when +he should arrive at the Highlands. + +Refugee Town had become a familiar name within the past few weeks. + +"No, it isn't safe exactly, but I've got to do something for father. If +he's taken to New York and shut up in the sugar-house I'll go with him; +and if he's still there at the Town I may be able to do something, +though I don't know what," said Little Peter sadly. + +"But there are the children," protested Tom. "What'll become of them?" + +"They're at Benzeor's, and they'll be all right. You'll help look after +them, won't you?" + +"I've left Benzeor's." + +"Left Benzeor's? What for?" + +"I'm going to join the army. It's time I was doing my share." + +Tom gave no other reason. He knew the children would be safe at +Benzeor's, and with what Little Peter then had it in his mind to do it +would perhaps be unwise to tell him all he knew. However, he intended +to tell him all, and that soon. + +"Going to join the army?" repeated Little Peter, as if he did not +comprehend the words. + +"Yes; you know I've been thinking of it a long time, and now that +they're on the march, and coming this way, I've made up my mind that my +turn has come. I didn't know but you would want to go, too, now." + +"I'd like to, but I can't. I've got this other matter on hand. Come into +the house, Tom, and spend the night with me. You can start in the +morning as well as now, and besides it's almost dark. You can't go in +the night." + +Tom hesitated, but finally consented, and with his friend went into the +house which so recently had been the scene of the greatest sorrow which +had ever entered Little Peter's life. + +Indian John followed them, but after his custom refused to remain, +although he promised to return early in the morning. One of the women of +the neighborhood had stayed to look after Little Peter's immediate +wants, but as soon as her duties were done she departed for her own home +with an eagerness she could not entirely conceal. And Tom did not blame +her, for he himself was not without fear when at last Little Peter +closed the doors for the night, and, after having slipped the heavy bars +into their places, the two boys sought their bed in the low room over +the kitchen. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT + + +IT was long before daylight when the boys were stirring on the morning +which followed the events recorded in the preceding chapter. No one had +disturbed them, and with the return of the day their courage was +somewhat revived. Tom, however, had decided to start at once for the +army, which he knew from Indian John's words was not many miles away. He +was thoroughly familiar with all the roads in the county, for he had +ridden over them many times in company with Benzeor, or when he had been +sent on errands to the more remote regions by his foster father, and +consequently had no fears of losing his way. + +Little Peter did not urge his friend to accompany him on his expedition +to Refugee Town, for he was aware of the perils that were likely to +beset him on his journey. He would not listen to any of the protests of +Tom, for he was fully determined to learn what had become of his +father, and even share his experiences if the occasion demanded. And Tom +could not find it in his heart to blame Little Peter, hopeless as he +considered all his efforts likely to be. Perhaps he would do the same +thing if his own father had been carried away by the pine robbers, and +he found himself conjecturing how it was a boy would feel in such +circumstances as those in which his friend had been placed. The feeling +was one of which he knew nothing by experience, and his own loneliness +seemed to press upon him with a heavier weight. + +However, he still said nothing to Little Peter concerning Benzeor's +recent actions, for he was well assured that his friend's younger +brothers and sisters could be in no place where they would so easily +escape all further troubles for the present as in his foster father's +house; and then all of Little Peter's plans would be changed at once if +he knew the part which his neighbor had taken in the tragedy which had +recently occurred. + +"Perhaps Indian John will go with me," said Little Peter. "He'll be a +great help if he'll go." + +"That he will," replied Tom, "and I'm sure he'll be glad to go with +you. I should like to go myself." + +"That's all right, Tom; I know you would, but you couldn't do any good, +and might only get into trouble yourself. Perhaps I'll be with you in a +day or two, if I don't hear anything about my father down by Refugee +Town,--that is, if Benzeor is willing for the children to stay in his +house. I'll have to look after them, you see, for it's likely I'll have +to be father and mother, as well as big brother, now," he added sadly. + +"I know, I know," said Tom; "but I'm hoping you'll have good luck, and +if the army really is coming here, it may be that you'll get some help +from the Continentals if you need it then. Good-by, Peter." + +"Good-by, Tom," replied his friend. + +Tom placed some bread in his pockets, and then started forth on his +journey. Somewhere off towards Hopewell the American army must be, +according to all the reports which had come, and to that place he must +make his way. The time for which he had been waiting at last had come, +and with a lighter heart than he had known for days the lad began his +journey. + +The summer morning was clear and warm. The birds were flitting about in +the trees and filling the air with their songs. In spite of the heat, +there was a delicious freshness in the early morning air, and as he +walked rapidly forward he soon came to feel a sense of exhilaration +which not even the loss and grief of his boy friend could entirely +banish. + +By the time the sun rose red and full in the east, he had placed several +miles between him and Little Peter's home, but with unabated zeal he +steadily pushed onward, resolved to make the best possible use of the +early hours before the more intense heat of the day should come. + +By the middle of the forenoon more than ten miles had been left behind +him, but he was beginning to feel the effects of his exertions. His face +was flushed and streaming with perspiration. The rough road was hot and +dusty, for only a single day had been required to dry out all the +vestiges of the recent storm. He was beginning to feel somewhat tired, +and was about to stop for a brief rest by the roadside, when he saw some +one approaching on horseback. + +He quickly drew back among the trees which grew close to the road, +thereby hoping to escape all notice by the stranger; but his plan was +quickly changed when he discovered, as the horseman came nearer, that he +was clad in the uniform of the Continental army. His relief was greater +when he recognized the man as the son of one of Benzeor's neighbors, who +more than a year before this time had enlisted and had passed the +preceding winter in Valley Forge. + +He quickly resolved to hail the man as he passed, and accordingly +stepped out into the road and waved his arms as a signal for the +horseman to stop. The man quickly heeded, and as he drew the rein and +checked his horse he peered down at the lad by the roadside, and Tom's +fears were instantly relieved when he perceived that he had been +recognized. + +"Why, Tom Coward, what are you doing here? Nothing wrong over home, is +there?" + +"Yes, there is;" and Tom at once proceeded to give young Lieutenant +Gordon an account of all that had occurred in the past three days. + +"That's bad," said the lieutenant slowly, patting his horse's dripping +neck as he spoke. "That's bad. I wish I could take a company and go over +there this minute. I can't, though; it's out of the question. But the +army will be here shortly now, and there may be a chance to give these +pine robbers a dose then. Where are you going now, Tom?" + +"I thought I'd start for the army," replied Tom. "I've no other place to +go to, and I've been waiting to join it a long time." + +The lieutenant smiled at the lad's words as he replied, "That's all +right. You're a well-grown fellow, and I doubt not they'll find a place +somewhere for you in the Jersey militia. There are younger fellows than +you there." + +"So I hear," replied Tom eagerly. "Indian John told me the army was over +by Hopewell, and had halted there, so I thought I'd put straight for +that place." + +"There isn't very much of the militia there now," said the lieutenant. +"They're mostly regulars at Hopewell, and I doubt not have started from +there before this." + +"Where are the militia then?" said Tom quickly. "I've got a rifle here, +and if I'm to join them I want to know where they are." + +"That would be a little difficult to say just at present, my lad," +replied the lieutenant, assuming a more fatherly air than the +difference between their years would seem to warrant. "That would be a +little difficult to say." + +As Tom plainly showed his disappointment, the young officer continued: +"You see it's this way, Tom. It was early in the morning of the 18th +when the last of General Clinton's forces marched out of the city of +Philadelphia. They went by the way of Gloucester Point, about three +miles below Camden, and then the entire force, with Knyphausen and his +Hessians in advance, marched over to Haddonfield and halted there. We +had means up at Valley Forge of finding out what was going on, and +before they were fairly out of Philadelphia some of our scouting parties +and light horse were in the city, and they gathered in about sixty or +seventy prisoners and were back again at the Forge with the men and the +news. By three o'clock that same day General Lee's division had started, +and by five o'clock General Wayne's had gone, too. They lost no time +over there, I can tell you." + +"But I don't understand," said Tom. "Where are the militia, and what are +you doing here?" + +"That's what I'm explaining to you," replied the lieutenant. "Well, at +five o'clock the next morning,--that was the 19th of June, you +know,--Washington had the rest of the army on the march for Coryell's +Ferry; but the roads were so heavy--for we've been having some great +rains this month--that the divisions which had been sent out didn't +cross the Delaware until Saturday morning, and the main body till +Monday. And all this time the British were mighty careful, let me tell +you. They thought Washington was after their baggage-wagons and stores, +you see. Clinton and his main body moved out of Haddonfield on Friday, +but he left Knyphausen and his Dutch butchers, as well as two brigades +of the regulars behind him, while he marched eight miles up to Evesham +and went into camp there. He wanted to keep his train of baggage-wagons +well protected, you see, for the militia were doing all sorts of +mischief. You wanted to know where they were. Well, that's where they +were." + +"They're away down at Haddonfield, then, are they?" + +"No, no. But they'd been sent out to bother the British, you see, and +try to hold them back by skirmishes and a few such gentle deeds. They +were tearing up bridges and firing at the regulars from the woods, and +doing all sorts of things. Why, when Clinton was marching from +Haddonfield to Evesham, General Leslie, who was in command of his +advanced guard, fell in with a party of these very militia I'm telling +you about. Leslie hid some of his men in a rye-field, and they saw +Captain Jonathan Beesley. He was a captain in the Cumberland County +militia, you know, and had been in the army two years,--yes, and he was +one of the best men we ever had, too, let me tell you. Well, Leslie's +men saw Beesley and a couple of his officers reconnoitring in advance of +their companies, and they fired on them. Captain Beesley was wounded, +and of course they took him prisoner and carried him with them into +camp. They tried to get him to own up what Washington's plans were, but +Captain Beesley just stopped them by saying they wouldn't get a word out +of him. And they didn't; but the next day the poor fellow died from his +wounds. They'd taken him into Hinchman Haines's house, you see, and that +was where he died. I understand that they buried him there with the +honors of war, and I understand, too, that they've given permission for +the body to be taken up and placed in the Friends' burying-ground down +at Haddonfield. It may have been done before this, for all that I know. +Captain Beesley was a good man. The redcoats couldn't do too much for +him." + +"But where are the militia now? That's what I want to know." + +"And that's what I'm trying to tell you. This is too hot to be standing +out here in the road. Let's go into the shade. I've got time enough, and +it may be a bit safer there, too." + +The lieutenant led his horse a short distance into the woods, and, +slipping the bridle-rein over his head, he permitted him to graze, while +he himself resumed his story. + +"At four o'clock the next morning,--that was Saturday, the +20th,--Clinton took up the line of march, but he only went seven miles, +as far as Mount Holly, and there he halted till Monday. On Sunday, +Knyphausen joined him, having marched by the way of Moorestown. The next +morning they all marched on to Black Horse and halted again, but at five +o'clock Tuesday morning they were up and at it once more. They divided +their forces there a bit, Leslie going by the way of Bordentown, +Clinton keeping on along the road to Crosswicks, while Grant and the +Dutch butchers brought up the rear and served as a kind of guard for the +baggage-train. All this was only yesterday, the 23d, you see." + +"But where are the militia now?" protested Tom. "They are the ones I +want to join, not the British. You keep telling me about them. What I +want is the other side." + +"Listen, then, and you shall hear. Yesterday General Dickinson, with the +Jersey militia, was right there in Bordentown." + +"What! when the British came up?" + +"Yes, when the British came up, that is, when Leslie's division did. Not +all of the militia were there, though. A good many had been withdrawn +and posted where they could do the most good. There weren't very many +left in Bordentown, but when they found out that Leslie was almost upon +them, they made up their minds in very short order that the climate +there was not the best in the world, so they cleared out and left. But +before they went they left a few slight tokens of their regard. They +pulled up the planks of the bridge there over Crosswicks Creek, and +raised the draw so that Leslie had to find another crossing-place. +Before they did that they tried to fix up the bridge, but they were +fired upon, and I understand that four were killed and quite a large +number were wounded. + +"Clinton, too, wasn't finding his road all covered over with roses +either. About five hundred of our men met him as he came up nearer to +Crosswicks, and they thought they were ready, but they weren't anything +of the kind. They had cut down a lot of trees and stretched them across +the road, but that didn't stop the British. They came on just as if they +didn't mind marching over such little things as trees, and there was a +little skirmish there, and two or three of the redcoats were killed. One +of their officers was shot and they took him up to a house near by, and +left him there. Of course the Americans couldn't stand there long, but +they didn't run very far. + +"Well, the British divisions joined then and started on again. They came +to another bridge and our men had it all fixed so that they could just +let it fall by one or two strokes of an axe. They had one or two little +cannons there, too." + +"Who did? The British?" + +"No, our men. You know Sam Clevenger, don't you? Well, he stood there +on the bridge with his axe in his hands when the British came in sight. +He'd cut the sleepers almost through, and when he saw the redcoats +coming, he lifted his axe, and the third time he struck down went the +bridge and all. Then Clevenger started to run, but the British fired at +him and he fell dead. They'd shot him in the back of the head. Our men +then fired their cannon once or twice, but all they hit was the Friends' +meeting-house. Of course the British didn't mind that, and then our men +pulled back and left. That was only yesterday. I shouldn't be surprised +if the British were over here by Allentown or Imlaystown now, or it may +be both." + +"What! not more than ten or fifteen miles away?" said Tom excitedly. + +"That's what I say. And they'll be nearer, too, before they're farther +off, let me tell you." + +"Why? How? What do you mean?" + +"They'll never go to Brunswick or Amboy, for Washington's right in front +of them, and ready to head them off. They'll just have to come this way +or go back, and that they won't do, for 'Britons never retrograde.' +That's one of their pet words, you know. Isn't that what John Burgoyne +said, too?" + +"I don't know anything about that," said Tom. "Then General Washington +has been using a part of the militia and a part of the regulars to +bother Clinton and keep him from getting to Brunswick or Amboy, has he?" + +"Yes, that's just it." + +"Well, I shan't have very far to go, then, to join them now." + +"Oh, you're not going to join them. You're coming with me. You're just +such a lad as I have been looking for, and you can help me, if I'm not +greatly mistaken." + +As Tom made no reply except to look up in surprise, the young officer at +once began to explain to him the nature of the task to which he had +referred. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE STORY OF THE MISCHIANZA + + +"I'VE been sent out, as a good many others have been, to look up the +bridges over the creeks" (the young officer called them "runs," as many +of the Jerseymen did then, and still do for the matter of that) "and +find out the lay of the land. As I happened to be born in Old Monmouth, +and lived here till I was a man grown, it was naturally thought I'd be +pretty well informed, so you see I was selected for this special work. I +don't know that I object to it, but I'd rather be back with my men." + +"And that's what you've been doing, is it?" said Tom. + +"Yes, I've been in that work ever since the British started out from +Philadelphia. I've kept just a little ahead of the men all the way, and +have gone back every night to report, and then the next day they'd +follow all my plans. You see I've got a map of every road in the county +here," and as he spoke the young lieutenant drew from his pocket a +paper on which had been traced every road and every little stream in the +region, while the places where bridges were to be found were indicated +by red marks. + +"Whew!" he added, throwing back his coat. "Isn't it warm! I don't +believe there's been a summer like this in years. We've had showers and +thunder-storms almost every day. The air now feels as if we'd get +another one pretty soon, too." + +The air was exceedingly sultry, and a strange stillness seemed to be +resting over all. Not a leaf was stirring, and as Tom looked up through +the tops of the trees the bright blue of the sky appeared to be more +intense than ever he had seen it before. Here and there separate masses +of heavy clouds could be seen, which, with the sunlight streaming +through them, glistened almost like silver. He knew the signs well. +There was the appearance of a coming shower. + +"It's too hot to go on," said the young lieutenant. "I'm almost afraid +to take my horse out in such heat. I've got the most of my work for the +day done, though, and I thought that perhaps you might be able to help +me out, Tom. You must know every bridge in this part of the country. +Now you go over this map with me, and tell me if the places are marked +right. I've been gone so long I'm not sure of myself, but you ought to +know. It'll save me a trip in this broiling sun, if you can help me." + +Tom took the map and looked over it carefully. He was thoroughly +familiar with the roads and streams, as the lieutenant had intimated, +and in a brief time he had given him all the information he possessed. + +"There," said the lieutenant at last, folding the paper and restoring it +to his pocket again, "that helps me out. I'd been over most of the way, +and the two or three places you have told me about finishes the whole +thing. I'm ready to go back and report. I think I'll take a bite, +though, before I start, and wait and see what the weather is likely to +be." + +Going to his saddle-bags the young officer brought out the dinner which +he carried with him. "Sometimes I stop at some farmhouse and get +something to eat," he explained, "but it isn't always safe to trust to +that, you see, so I always go provided. I want you to join me, Tom. +It'll seem almost like old times." + +The horse had been tied to one of the trees, and, as the lieutenant +seated himself upon the ground, Tom gladly joined him. He was tired and +hungry, and the piece of bread which he had in his own pocket would +keep, and, as he was aware that he might find further use for it, he was +the more willing to accept the invitation which had been given him. For +a few minutes neither spoke, for they both seemed to be intent upon the +immediate duty. + +As soon, however, as the first pangs of his hunger were relieved Tom +said, "I never understood just why it was that the British left +Philadelphia. They'd been there all winter, and after holding the city +so long I never could understand why it was that they abandoned it +without even a skirmish. What did they do it for?" + +"Why, the way of it was this," replied the lieutenant, taking an +unusually large bite of the bread he was holding in his hand, as he +spoke. "You see, we'd been trying for a long time to get up some kind of +a treaty with France. Ben Franklin, and I don't know who all, had been +over there trying to work it up, and at last the Frenchmen agreed. Our +Congress ratified the treaty on the 4th of last May, and that +completely changed the plans of the redcoats." + +"I don't see just how that could do it," replied Tom, somewhat puzzled. + +"Why it really means a declaration of war by the French against the +British. I don't believe the Frenchmen care very much for us, barring +young Lafayette and a few others of his kind, but they hate the British, +and took this way to get even with them. It's expected that they'll send +a fleet over here, and of course the redcoats have got to be ready to +meet it,--that is, if they can. Well, Philadelphia doesn't amount to +very much any way in war times. It isn't very easy to get into it, so +the British there thought they'd better get out and go over to New York, +which was a good deal more likely to be threatened by the French fleets. +That's the cause of the change, my lad." + +"I should think the redcoats would feel like giving up, now that the +French are going to join us." + +The young officer laughed as he replied: "That's just where you're +mistaken, my young friend. They don't feel that way after they've sent +so many armies over here and have spent so much money in discovering +us, you see. And then, too, they don't object to getting a few taxes and +such like things out of us, either. I've a dim suspicion that the +Frenchmen may have just a bit of a dream that they may get back some of +the country that dropped out of their hands during the French and Indian +war. But, however that may be, we're glad to have their help now, for we +need it badly enough, and will have to let the future take care of +itself." + +"I don't see that any one can blame the British for wanting to hold on +to us. They have spent a lot of money, and lots of their soldiers have +been killed in the wars with the Indians and the Frenchmen." + +"Oh no, we don't blame them," laughed the lieutenant. "We don't blame +them. It's all natural enough for them to want to hold on to us, but how +about ourselves? What about the Stamp Act and the tea tax? What about +all their oppression and the way they've treated us? They seem to forget +that we're men of like passions with themselves. Oh, it's all natural +enough for them to want to keep a good hold on us, but it's just as +natural for us to object to being held on to. And, Tom, such things as +have happened lately, too! Why, this story about Little Peter's mother +is only one of a thousand here in Jersey. I've been pretty much all over +the colony--the state, I mean--and it's the same story everywhere. It's +just plundering, and robbing, and worse. And then to bring over here +those Dutch butchers,--that's the worst of it all! To think of hiring +those butchers! Why, it just makes my blood boil to think of it! And +against us, too, who are their own blood relatives! That's more than +human nature can stand!" + +Tom felt the contagion of the young lieutenant's enthusiasm, but he made +no reply, and his companion continued, "The redcoats had a great time +when they cleared out of Philadelphia. I was there and saw it myself." + +"You were there? I thought you were up at Valley Forge all winter!" + +"So I was, when I wasn't in Philadelphia. I had to go there sometimes, +but I never wore my uniform then. Oh no, I didn't think it was very +becoming to my peculiar style of beauty, so I always left it behind me." + +"What were you, a spy?" + +"That isn't what we call it," replied the young officer, lowering his +voice and glancing quickly about him at Tom's words, "Never mind what I +was, but I was there and that's enough. I'm telling you now about the +time the redcoats had when Sir William Howe gave over the command to Sir +Henry Clinton. His officers got it up as a kind of a farewell, you see. +They called it the Mischianza." + +"What's that? I don't understand." + +"What, the Mischianza? Oh, that's an Italian word, and means a 'mix up' +or a 'medley,' or some such thing; I don't know just what. But I'm +telling you now what it was, and what they did. It commenced with a kind +of a regatta which they'd arranged in three divisions. Up the river in +front came the Ferret galley, and on board were some of the general +officers and their ladies. Then came the Centre galley,--that was called +the Hussar,--and carried both the Howes and Clinton and their suites, +along with a lot of ladies. Behind came the Cornwallis galley, in which +were Knyphausen and some of the British generals, and, of course, a lot +of ladies. + +"Well, sir, they looked fine, I can tell you, for I was in the crowd +which watched the affair from the shore, and I saw every bit of it. On +each quarter of the galleys there were five flatboats, all lined with +green, and having lots of people on board. Then, in front of the +galleys, were three more flatboats, and a band of music was on board of +each, and they could play, too, let me tell you, if they were redcoats. +Six rowed along each flank, and they were all dressed up in bright +colors, and so were the ships and the transport boats, which made a line +all the way down to the city. All the wharves were crowded and the +people were just wild. The boats started out from Knight's wharf--that's +away up in the northern part of the city, you know--and rowed all the +way down to Market wharf. There they rested on their oars, the bands +played 'God save the King,' the people shouted and sang, and I couldn't +help feeling something of the excitement, though I hate the very sight +of a redcoat. + +"Well, they landed at the Old Fort, and the bands were still playing, +and the Roebuck fired seventeen guns and then the Vigilant fired +seventeen more. The grenadiers had been drawn up in a double file on +shore, and the company then marched up between the lines. They had +horsemen there, too, and what with the bright dresses of the ladies and +the bright favors of blue and white ribbons on the breasts of the +managers, who moved in front of the procession, and the uniforms and +all, it was a great sight. I should have thought Lord Howe would almost +have been sorry he was going to leave. + +"The avenue led up to a big lawn, which was all fixed up with arches and +rows of benches, rising one above another, where the ladies were to be +seated; and then they had some tilts and tournaments, something as they +used to have in old England. There were young ladies there, too, lots of +them, and they were all dressed up in Turkish costumes, and such like. + +"Pretty soon the trumpets sounded, and then a band of knights, dressed +in red and white silk, on horses all decked out in the same colors, +advanced. Lord Cathcart was the chief, and he had squires to carry his +lances and others to carry his shield, and two black slaves with silver +clasps on their bare necks and arms held his stirrups. The band then +marched around the square and saluted the ladies, and then the herald, +after a great flourish of trumpets, declared the ladies of the Blended +Rose were ahead of all others. + +"When the challenge had been given the third time, some other heralds +and a trumpeter came in, along with a lot of knights dressed up in black +and orange, and after going through a lot of motions and the bands had +played, the herald proclaimed that the Knights of the Burning Mountain +were prepared to contest the claim of the others. Then the gauntlet was +thrown down and picked up, and the encounter began. + +"After they had met four times, the two leaders, Lord Cathcart and +Captain Watson, advanced and began a contest between themselves. After +they had kept it up a little while, the marshal of the field rushed in +between them, and declared the ladies were all right on either side, and +commanded the men to stop. Then bands filed off in different directions, +playing lively tunes and saluting the ladies as they marched. + +"Then the whole company marched through great arches to the garden, and +then up into the hall, which had been painted up to resemble Sienna +marble. They had a faro table in that room and one great cornucopia all +filled with flowers and fruit, and another one empty. Then they went to +the ballroom, which was all painted in pale blue, and there were +festoons of flowers, and I don't know what all. I never saw anything +like it before. There were eighty-five big mirrors in the room, and they +were all fixed out with ribbons and flowers, and as they sent back the +light from the branches of waxlights, it made the room look bright +enough, I can tell you. On that same floor they had four drawing-rooms, +where they got their refreshments, and these rooms were all decorated +and lighted up, too. + +"They kept up the dancing till ten, and then the fireworks began and the +windows were all thrown open. I remember that the first of the fireworks +was a great bouquet of rockets,--but that was only one, and they kept it +up till twelve o'clock. + +"When midnight came, the great folding doors, which had been all covered +over with flowers so that no one knew they were there, were thrown open, +and there was a great room all decorated and lighted up, most too +wonderful to tell about; and there, too, was a great table, which they +said had twelve hundred dishes on it--just think of that, will you?--and +four hundred and thirty people could sit down to the table at the same +time. + +"They had supper then, and when they had finished that part of the +programme the herald and trumpeters entered and proclaimed the health of +the king and the royal family. Of course all the people there responded, +and then there was a toast for the knights, and the ladies, and lots of +others, and there was a great flourish of trumpets as each toast was +announced. + +"Then they all went back to the ballroom and began to dance again. They +kept it up till four o'clock, and I don't know how much later, for I +left then." + +"And you saw it all?" said Tom slowly. + +"Yes, almost every bit of it; 'twas a great sight, too. The like of it +has never been seen before on this side of the water, and never will be +again, I'm thinking. By the way, Tom, I heard a man there called by your +name. It was Captain Coward, I think--though it may have been colonel or +judge; I don't just recollect." + +"I'm sorry for him." + +"You needn't be. Just show that the name's of no account. But I've got +to start now. I wish I could take you with me, but I can't. I'll see you +soon, though, so good luck to you till we meet again." + +"But it's raining," said Tom quickly, as the patter of the falling +drops could be heard on the leaves. + +"Can't stop for that; I'm due at five o'clock, rain or no rain. Good-by +to you, Tom, and thank you for your help. You've saved me a hard ride in +such a day as this!" + +The young lieutenant was gone, and Tom waited for the shower to pass. +The rain continued only a few minutes, but left the air still more +sultry than it had been before, and walking became much more difficult. + +However, Tom started on as soon as the rain ceased, and kept steadily to +his work until the sun was low in the heavens. His thoughts had been +withdrawn, in a measure, from the camp at Hopewell, and he was thinking +of the description which the young lieutenant had given of the +Mischianza, and the brilliant scene which it must have presented. What +could the poor and desperate Continentals do against men who had feasts +like that? And Captain, or Colonel, Coward, who was he? Tom found +himself thinking of the man, and wondering how he came to have the name. + +He turned the bend in the road and saw a band of soldiers marching +directly toward him, and not far away. Startled by the sight, he +stopped a moment and gazed intently at them, striving to discover +whether they wore red coats or buff; but they were covered with dust and +he could not decide. + +He quickly realized that he must act, and he had just turned about, +prepared to run back in the road, when he heard several shots fired at +the approaching men from the woods by the roadside. + +The band instantly halted and prepared to defend themselves. Without +waiting to watch the contest, he once more turned to run, when he +obtained a glimpse of men behind him, partially concealed among the +trees and standing with their guns raised to their shoulders, and with +their attention fixed upon the advancing soldiers. + +Were the men friends or foes? Tom could not determine; and, trembling +with fear and excitement, he stopped. He was between the opposing bands, +while off on his right it was evident that other men were concealed. +Thoughts of the Mischianza and of the captain with the unfortunate name +were all gone now. He could not advance; he dared not retreat. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +TO REFUGEE TOWN + + +WHEN Little Peter reëntered the lonely house after his friend Tom +departed, the full sense of his own sorrow for the first time swept over +him. Up to this time the necessity of action had prevented him from +fully realizing his loss. The death of his mother, the capture of his +father, the provision he was compelled to make at once for his younger +brothers and sisters, had so absorbed his thoughts that he had had but +little time to dwell upon his own sorrow. + +With the departure of Tom, however, there came the reaction, and for a +few moments the heartbroken lad was almost overcome. The very silence +was oppressive. The only sound he could hear was the loud and regular +ticking of the tall clock which stood in one corner of the kitchen. How +proud his mother had always felt of that ancient timepiece! Many a time +had she told him of its history and the pride with which she had +received it from her own father, when as a young bride she had first +entered the new house which henceforth was to be hers. To Peter, it +almost seemed as if the stately clock had been a member of the family, +and its voice was almost human to him. On the summer afternoons, when he +was a little fellow and his mother had been busied in her household +duties, he had often stretched himself upon the sanded floor, and, +resting his face upon his hands, with eager eyes had gazed up into the +face of the old timepiece and listened to the swing of its long +pendulum, which for him had had a language all its own. + +And now in the light of the early morning the old clock still stood in +the corner and regularly ticked off the passing hours, as if it were +unmindful of all the sad scenes to which it had recently been a witness. +And yet to Peter it almost seemed, too, as if there was a tone of +sadness after all in the monotonous tickings that day. Perhaps the old +clock was striving to express its sympathy for the sorrowing boy, but +not even its sympathy must be permitted to interfere with its duty in +marking the passage of the swiftly flying minutes. + +The few antiquated chairs were standing just as they had stood when his +mother had been there. The brass-rimmed mirror, the one ornament of the +room, which hung over the low mantelpiece, reflected the scene before +it, but in all the picture one figure was wanting and would be +forevermore. Overcome by the full knowledge of his loss, Little Peter +bowed his head upon his hands and leaned low upon the table, and burst +into a flood of tears--the first he had shed since the sad event had +occurred. Indian John was forgotten, the few chores about the place were +ignored, and for a time the heartbroken lad gave way to his sorrow for +the loss of his mother, upon whose face he never was to look again. + +How long he remained in that attitude he did not know, but he was +recalled to the necessities of the present by the sound of footsteps +outside the door. His first thought was that Indian John had returned, +and he hastily rose to greet him; but quickly he perceived that the +new-comer was not his Indian friend, but Barzilla Giberson, one of his +nearest neighbors. If Little Peter had looked carefully into his +neighbor's face, he would doubtless have noticed that the man was +evidently somewhat troubled, and apparently was not overjoyed at the +prospect of an interview; but the lad was too busied with his own +thoughts and sorrows to bestow a critical examination upon a neighbor's +countenance, and Barzilla's evident uneasiness, therefore, was all +passed by unnoticed. + +"Good-morrow to you, Little Peter," said Barzilla. "The women folks +wanted me to come over and say to you that you were welcome to make your +home with them, if you so chose." + +"Thank you, Barzilla," replied Peter. "If I were going to stay here I +should be glad to do that, but I'm going away this morning." + +"Sho! Ye don't say so! Where ye goin', if I may be so bold as to ask?" + +"I'm going to look up my father." + +"Where ye goin' to look him up?" said Barzilla, somewhat uneasily. + +"I'm going down to Refugee Town first. I don't know what I'll do if I +don't find him there." + +"Ye won't find him there," said Barzilla quickly. "In course I don't +know where he is," he hastily added, "but I don't b'lieve ye'll find him +there; and, besides, that's no place for a lad like you to go to alone, +for I take it ye're goin' alone?" + +"Yes, I'm going alone," replied Peter, to whom Barzilla's anxiety was +not apparent. + +"In course it isn't for me to say what ye shall do and what ye shan't, +but I don't believe a trip there will do ye any good. Ye've got to +remember that other folks has suffered, too. Yer marm isn't the only one +that's been shot, and yer pop isn't the only man that's been carried off +by the British." + +"It wasn't the British that carried my father away," said Peter quickly. + +"'Twan't the British? Who was it then, I'd like to know?" + +"'Twas Fenton and his band, that's who it was." + +"Sho! I can't believe that! I reckon ye're mistaken, Peter. It must 'a' +been the redcoats." + +"It was Fenton," repeated Peter decidedly. + +"I can't b'lieve it," said Barzilla, rising as he spoke. "I can't +b'lieve it. However, Peter, we'll look after yer place. The women folks +or I will do the chores for ye, while ye're gone. It's only neighborly, +ye know, and what's friends good for if they can't help in a time like +this?" + +"Thank you," said Peter quietly. "There isn't much to be done, but if +you'll look after what there is, I shall be glad. The children are at +Benzeor's house, you know." + +"So I hear. So I hear. Well, they're in good hands; ye can rest easy +about that. Well, I must be a-goin'. Ye still think ye'd better go down +to Refugee Town, do ye?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, good luck to ye. Good luck to ye. We'll look after the place," +called Barzilla as he departed. + +If Peter had gone to the door, he would have discovered that Barzilla +had not departed to go to his own house, but that after he had entered +the road he had turned quickly and started in the direction in which the +Navesink lay. But as Peter did not rise from his seat, he missed all +that, and, besides, in all probability he would only have been puzzled +by his neighbor's actions and unable to account for the haste with which +he had made the change. + +Peter prepared his breakfast, and then waited for the coming of Indian +John. The minutes passed, but the Indian did not put in an appearance, +and the lad began to suspect that he would not return. At last, when the +sun had appeared, his suspicions passed into certainty, and, resolving +to wait for him no longer, he closed the house and started resolutely +on the path which led down to the bank of the Navesink, where he kept +his little skiff concealed. + +He soon arrived at the familiar place, and, after taking his oars from +their hiding-place on the bank, pushed the little boat out into the +stream and began to row. The heat of the morning soon began to make +itself felt, but Peter did not cease from his labors. He was thinking of +his father and where he might then be. He was hoping that he would be +retained and sent to New York as a prisoner, for Little Peter was well +aware of the value of the reward which was offered for every prisoner +taken; but Fenton, eager as he was for money, was not likely to incur +any unnecessary risk for himself by keeping any one near him who might +prove to be a source of danger. And Little Peter knew that his father, +especially after the recent events, was not likely to be quiet. Of what +might then occur, the lad hardly dared to think. He only knew that what +he was to do must be done quickly, if it was to avail, and he rowed on +and on without once stopping for rest. + +He had covered about half the distance he was to go, when he heard a +hail from down the river. Hastily turning about at the unexpected +summons, he saw a little cat-boat slowly coming up the river, and now +not many yards away. + +"It's Benzeor Osburn," said Peter to himself, as he obtained a glimpse +of the man at the helm. "But who's that with him? It's Jacob Van Note. +Yes, and that's Barzilla Giberson, too. What in the world"-- + +His meditations were interrupted by Benzeor's hail, "Where ye bound this +mornin', Little Peter? There's to be no lookout to-day, is there?" + +"I haven't heard of any," replied Peter, looking at Barzilla and +striving to understand how it was that the man who had so recently left +his house could now be with Benzeor sailing up the Navesink. + +"I came down here after I left you," said Barzilla, as if he felt that +he must reply to the question expressed in Peter's manner, "and I fell +in with Benzeor, so I stopped and came back to tell him all about the +doin's that have been goin' on since he went away. Benzeor's been gone +from home two days and more, ye know." + +"Has he?" replied Peter. "No. I didn't know. Benzeor, the children are +at your house. Sarah said I could leave them there and she'd look after +them. If it isn't all right, I'll take them away as soon as I come +back." + +"It's all right. In course it's all right. Barzilla here has been +tellin' me about your troubles. It's hard, Peter, but then ye know that +lots of people have been served the same way. 'Misery loves company,' ye +know." + +As Peter made no reply, Benzeor quickly began to talk again, too quickly +the lad might have perceived, if he had not been so filled with his own +thoughts that all else seemed to escape his observation. "Barzilla tells +me as how ye're goin' down to Refugee Town to look up yer pop. Is that +so?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I'm tellin' ye it won't do any good. He isn't there--leastwise, +that is, I don't believe he's there. In course I don't know anything +about it, but it stands to reason he isn't. Ye'd better let me take yer +skiff in tow, as I've done with Barzilla's, and come along back with +us." + +"I think I'll go on. If I don't find him there I can report to Captain +Dennis. Perhaps he'll be able to help me a bit, if it's not too late." + +Captain Dennis was in command of the local militia, and he and his men +already had had several skirmishes with the pine robbers. Indeed, the +militia had been enrolled with the very purpose of protecting the +scattered homes from the inroads of the outlaws and refugees. Thus far, +however, their efforts had not met with a very marked success. + +Peter did not observe the scowl which crept over Benzeor's face at the +mention of the name of Captain Dennis. "Have it your own way then," said +the man gruffly. "They say there's no fool like an old fool, but for +downright foolishness give me the young fool every time. I'm tellin' ye +that ye won't find yer pop down at Refugee Town, but ye'll have to find +it out for yerself, I suppose." + +Surprised as Peter was at the abrupt change in Benzeor's manner, his own +purpose was not changed, and without replying he picked up his oars and +began to row again. He could see the men in earnest conversation as he +drew away from them, but it had not yet entered his thoughts that +anything could be wrong with them. He was puzzled to account for +Barzilla's unexpected presence, but his offer to look after his home in +his absence was still fresh in his mind, and left no room for suspicion. + +As for Benzeor, Little Peter knew that he was considered as a strange +man,--"odd," the country people termed it,--and he gave little heed to +him or his words. His one purpose now was to go to Refugee Town. He had +but little fear of meeting the men who had assembled there, although he +knew they were all desperate and reckless. They would not harm him, he +thought, and it was possible that he might find his father there, or +learn of his whereabouts. Just what he would do if he should find him, +he did not know. In any event, he would be with him again, and if he was +to be sent as a prisoner to the sugar-house in New York, or to the +Whitby or the Jersey, at least his captivity might be shared. + +Accordingly, Little Peter rowed steadily forward and in the course of an +hour arrived at the mouth of the Navesink. Then he landed and hauled his +skiff up on the shore, striving to conceal it among the bushes which +grew there. It was only a mile now across the sandy strip to the shore +of the ocean, and the lad began to walk rapidly. Refugee Town was not +far away, and the end of his journey would soon be gained. + +The heat of the sun was now intense. Across the sands he could see +eddies in the heated air, and he felt as if he were breathing the blasts +from an oven. His face was streaming with perspiration, while the touch +of the sand beneath his feet seemed almost as if it would blister them. + +He soon arrived at a place from which he could look out upon the ocean, +and it was with a sigh of relief he felt its first cool breath upon his +face. Refugee Town now was not far away, so he began to run. + +He stopped as he saw two gunboats riding at anchor about a quarter of a +mile out from the shore. What could it all mean? They were British +vessels, their flags disclosed that; but what was their purpose in +casting their anchors there? + +He was upon the beach now, and stopped for a moment to gaze at the +graceful vessels. He thought he could almost make out the figures of the +sailors on the deck. And a little boat was just approaching the larger +of the gunboats. Doubtless it had been ashore and was now returning. + +"How!" + +Peter turned suddenly as he heard the exclamation, and saw Indian John +standing before him. His alarm subsided as he recognized his friend, and +he said reprovingly, "I thought you were going to go with me this +morning, John. Why didn't you?" + +"John been. Go to 'Gee Town. No fader there." + +"What, my father isn't there? Are you sure, John?" + +The Indian made no reply, evidently considering his first words +sufficient. He was gazing intently at the boats in the distance, and +Little Peter almost unconsciously turned and followed his look. At first +he could discover nothing to indicate what had interested his companion; +but he soon saw that the little boat, which he had thought was returning +to the gunboat, was coming to the shore. Startled by the sight, he was +about to inquire of John whether he knew anything concerning the +vessels, when he heard a shout. + +At a distance of a hundred yards up the beach he saw a motley crowd +approaching. Negroes and poorly clad men were among them, and the +appearance of all revealed that they were doubtless from Refugee Town. + +Their own presence was discovered at the same time, and a shout greeted +them. + +"Come!" said Indian John quickly; and in an instant Little Peter obeyed, +and both were running swiftly over the sand along the beach. + +Their flight was greeted by another shout from the men behind them, and +one or two guns were discharged, but the bullets passed harmlessly over +the heads of the fugitives. One glance, however, showed Peter that some +of the men had started in pursuit. + +"They're after us, John!" he said in a low voice to his companion. + +Instantly increasing their efforts, they sped swiftly on in their +flight, but the shouts, which were now redoubled, betrayed that the +pursuit had not been abandoned. On and on ran pursuers and pursued, +while at intervals a gun was discharged and the calls and shouts could +be distinctly heard. + +[Illustration: "THEY'RE AFTER US, JOHN!"] + +For a half mile the flight had continued, and Peter was beginning to +feel that he could go no farther. The hot air of the summer morning, the +burning sand beneath his feet, as well as the weariness arising from his +previous exertions, combined to sap his strength. His breath was coming +in gasps now, and down his face the perspiration was pouring in +streams. He felt that he could go no farther. + +Another glance behind him showed that the men had not abandoned the +pursuit. A half dozen of them were still running swiftly along the +beach, and to Little Peter it seemed as if they were gaining upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BATHSHEBA'S FEAST + + +INDIAN JOHN had been slightly changing the direction in which they were +running, although Little Peter had not perceived the change. At first +they had kept close to the water's edge, and at times the creeping tide +had rolled up to their feet. As his companion had gradually drawn closer +to the higher ridge which extended somewhat farther back from the beach, +Peter had thought nothing of the slight divergence, except that the +Indian was desirous of keeping a little farther from the water. + +Along this ridge in advance of him, Peter saw that thick bushes and +stunted trees were growing, and he thought of the possibility of finding +some hiding-place there; but he was hardly prepared for the change which +Indian John then made. They had just passed a bend in the ridge which +shut out the view of their pursuers, and come to a little gully which +the winter storms had in the course of many years cut deep into the +bank. Here Indian John turned sharply, and, bidding his companion follow +him, turned directly into the woods, which extended from the shore far +back into the adjoining country. + +Little Peter instantly followed, but they had not gone many yards before +they came suddenly upon a wigwam in the midst of the forest. Indian John +stopped, and, after a few hurried words with the Indian who was standing +near and who had silently watched the approaching fugitives, beckoned +for Peter to follow him, and both entered the conical shaped dwelling +and threw themselves upon the ground. + +The lad was so thankful for the respite, and was so nearly exhausted by +his efforts, that for a time he said nothing, being only too glad of an +opportunity to rest. Every moment he expected to hear the voices of +their pursuers, and more than once was on the point of starting forth +from the hut and resuming his flight, so certain was he that the men had +discovered the hiding-place. + +After a time he was positive that he was not deceived. He could hear the +voices of men in conversation with the Indians, and all of his fears +returned. His companion placed his hand upon the arm of the trembling +lad, and Peter waited, listening intently, and fearful every moment that +some one would enter the hut and summon them to come forth. + +The conversation lasted several minutes, and then abruptly ceased. Peter +could not determine whether the strangers had departed or not; but he +waited anxiously and did not speak. + +The moments slowly passed and his suspense increased. It seemed to him +that he must escape from the place in which he was concealed. The very +air was strangely oppressive, and the ignorance as to what was going on +outside the wigwam increased the anxiety of the frightened boy. + +He did not know where he was, nor who were the people whose abode Indian +John had so unceremoniously entered. No voice within or without the hut +could now be heard, and the silence itself added to his alarm. + +He could see that Indian John was seated upon the ground with his head +resting upon his knees. He had not moved nor changed his position since +they had entered. Motionless as a statue he remained seated, as if he +were utterly unmindful of all about him. + +"John!" whispered Little Peter at last. + +The Indian raised his head and looked at his companion, but did not +speak. + +"John, don't you think we'd better start on again?" + +Indian John still made no reply, and his head dropped again upon his +knees. Peter then perceived that his companion intended neither to speak +nor to depart, and that he must wait in silence for him to explain his +purpose, or to act. + +The impatient lad endeavored to possess his soul in patience, but as the +moments passed his anxiety and fear increased. The uncertainty, he +thought, was even more difficult to be borne than was the pursuit +itself, for action of some kind was then possible, while this waiting in +silence was almost unbearable. Not a sound could now be heard. The very +birds were silent under the burning heat of the noontime, and the +grating notes of the crickets had ceased. + +At last it seemed to him he could bear it no longer, and he was about to +arise and go forth from the hut, regardless of consequences, when some +one entered and spoke a few words in an unknown tongue to Indian John. + +"Come," said the Indian gently, standing erect as he spoke; and Little +Peter at once followed him out into the open air. + +He glanced quickly about him, but no one was to be seen except three +Indians, one of whom was a man, and the others, two women. Little Peter +instantly recognized them as Moluss, or "Charlie" Moluss, as many of the +whites called him, and his wife and her sister. + +The two women were busily engaged in preparing the contents of a small +iron vessel, which was hanging from a stick supported by two forked +branches, driven into the ground, and beneath which a brisk fire was +burning. + +One of the women was feeding the fire, while the other was stirring the +contents of the hanging pot. A savory odor greeted Little Peter's +nostrils, and as soon as he perceived that he was in no immediate danger +he realized that he was hungry; and, with the passing of his alarm, +there came an eager interest in the occupation of the two women before +him. + +Little Peter had seen the trio many times before this. They had their +home with others of their tribe in a little settlement several miles +back in the interior. This settlement was commonly known as Edgepelick, +or Edge Pillock, and to it the Indians had gradually withdrawn after +they had disposed of their lands, for the good people of Old Monmouth +were as scrupulous as their New England cousins in not taking the lands +from the dusky owners without giving a so-called equivalent for them. + +It is true that this "equivalent" sometimes was a barrel of cider, or a +piece of bright-colored cloth; but perhaps the Indians thought that was +better than nothing, and as their lands were certain to be taken from +them, even such an equivalent as that which was offered was not to be +despised, and so they had submitted to the unequal exchange. At all +events, the exchanges had been made, and in the summer of 1778, many of +the Indian families were dwelling in Edge Pillock, and there continued +to reside until the year 1802, when the men who had driven such shrewd +bargains with them caused them all to be removed to Oneida Lake, in the +neighboring State of New York. + +Charlie Moluss, with his wife and her sister, had been frequent visitors +in Little Peter's home, and he knew them almost as well as he did Indian +John. Somehow, they had not been content to abide continuously in Edge +Pillock, and at least twice each year came down to the shore, where they +erected a wigwam, and while Moluss fished and gathered oysters and +clams, the women made baskets and sold them among the scattered homes of +the settlers. Doubtless this, then, was their annual visit, thought +Little Peter, and their abiding place had been known to Indian John, who +had sought its shelter as a place of refuge from their pursuers. And +Little Peter was quite content, at least for the present, and his +feeling of relief was not diminished by the savory odor which now arose +from the iron vessel. + +Charlie Moluss's wife was a strikingly handsome Indian woman, and was +known as Bathsheba, which the irreverent settlers had shortened into +"Bath," as they had her sister's name into "Suke." + +Bathsheba was considered as an Indian queen, and the respect which the +Indians showed her was, to a certain extent, shared by the white people, +especially by the Quakers. She was regarded as a highly intelligent +woman, and the most prominent people of the region were always glad to +welcome her to their homes. + +Little Peter thought of all these things as he seated himself upon the +ground beside the two men, who were, apparently, as deeply interested in +the occupation of the women as was he, himself. The work went steadily +on, and, while Peter found that his hunger was increasing, he +nevertheless listened to what Indian John told him of Moluss's success +in turning their pursuers back to their camp at Refugee Town. Some of +them had followed the fugitives as far as the wigwam, but had turned +away after the Indian had professed his inability to give them the +information they desired, and, doubtless, before this time, were safely +back in "'Gee Town," as Indian John termed their little settlement by +the Hook. + +Just why they had been pursued Indian John could not explain, but he had +connected it in some way with the appearance of the boat off the shore, +and Little Peter was not inclined to differ from his conclusion. He was +satisfied now that his father was not to be found in Refugee Town, and +he had decided to go farther down the shore to the place where he +thought he would be likely to find Captain Dennis, or some of the local +militia who had been stationed near to protect the salt works and +strive to hold back the pine robbers, many of whom had their places of +concealment not far away. + +Just at present, however, the thought of his dinner was uppermost in his +mind. He eagerly watched Bathsheba and her sister in their work, and, +from their movements, he concluded that his waiting time was soon to +end. One of the women entered the wigwam and brought out several small +wooden bowls. Into these she dipped some of the steaming contents of the +iron vessel, placing each bowl upon the ground when it had been filled. + +A word from Bathsheba caused Moluss to arise, and, approaching the fire, +he took one of the bowls in both hands and then seated himself upon the +ground and proceeded to blow with his breath upon the soup, preparatory +to drinking it. + +His example was speedily followed by Indian John and Little Peter, who +took their bowls and seated themselves beside Moluss on the ground. An +expression of deep satisfaction was manifest upon the faces of the two +men, while the women, apparently proud of their success in the culinary +art, looked on with evident pleasure. Little Peter also raised the bowl +in his hands and blew upon it. + +"Good!" said Moluss, taking a long draught. "Good hop! Hop good!" + +"Good!" muttered Indian John, following his friend's example. "Good hop! +Good hop!" + +"What?" said Little Peter suddenly, placing his bowl again on the ground +before him as he spoke. "What was that you said, John?" + +"Good! Good hop," replied the Indian, with evident satisfaction. + +"You don't mean to say that hop-toads are in this soup, do you?" + +"Um!" replied Indian John, with a grunt of pleasure. "Good! Little +hop-hop! John like um! Good hop! John like um little hop-hop!" And, +suiting the action to the word, he proceeded to take a deeper draught of +the savory mixture. + +All of Little Peter's hunger, however, had disappeared. He quickly arose +from his seat, and, with an expression of disgust upon his face, which +he could not entirely repress, prepared to pass the group and go into +the forest. + +A loud laugh greeted his action, and as he passed Moluss, the Indian +held forth his bowl, and said, "Peter like um hop-hop? Good! Moluss like +um hop-hop! John like um hop-hop! Squaw like um hop-hop! All like um +hop-hop! All like um hop-hop! Peter like um, too?" + +Little Peter was not to be tempted, and the broad grin upon the faces of +the women, as well as the loud laugh of the men which followed him as he +turned into the forest, did not tend to overcome his feeling of disgust. +How was it possible that they could be willing to eat such filthy +creatures as hop-toads? Little Peter was all in ignorance of some of the +dainty viands which, under high-sounding names, are served up in our +modern restaurants, and so, as a matter of course, could draw no +comparison between the tastes of the rude, uncivilized savages and those +of the more highly cultivated men of our own times. Perhaps he would not +have compared them if he had been possessed of the prophet's foresight. +He knew, however, that his own hunger had disappeared, and as he walked +on he found many excuses for his uncivilized friends. They were welcome +to their own customs, but they must not expect him to join them in their +feasts. + +He had gone so far from the wigwam by this time that he thought the +repast, which had so highly delighted his friends, would be ended by +the time he could walk back. Accordingly, he reversed his steps, but as +he walked on his own pressing problem returned in full force. + +His father was not to be found in Refugee Town, of that he felt certain; +for, while Indian John had not said much, he knew him so well that he +was satisfied he had known whereof he had spoken. + +Where, then, could he be? It was currently reported that Fenton's band +had a place in the lower part of the county, to which they carried their +booty and from which they started forth on their raids. It was just +possible that his father had been taken there by the outlaws in their +flight, but he would not long be retained there. Fenton knew what +American prisoners were worth in the New York market, and, doubtless, he +would find some means by which he could send him there. And the pine +robber would act soon, too, for with the approach of the armies, there +would be many opportunities for his own special work, and he would not +long be hampered by the presence of a single prisoner, whose value would +be slight compared with that of the plunder he might secure. + +Little Peter decided that what he was to do he must do quickly. He +would start at once for the place where Captain Dennis's men were said +to be, and place the entire matter in their hands. The captain was a man +whose bravery was well known in Old Monmouth, and he was ever ready to +aid the scattered settlers. + +Captain Dennis would surely help him, too, Peter thought, and, with his +heart somewhat lightened, he began to walk more rapidly. He would return +to the wigwam and inform Indian John of his decision. If John would go +with him, he would be glad of his aid, but, whether he went or not, the +lad felt that his own problem was, in a measure, already solved. + +"Little Peter, is that you?" + +The startled lad looked up quickly at the unexpected summons, and saw, +standing directly in his pathway, nine men. Each had a musket in his +hands, but they wore no uniforms, and for a moment Little Peter could +not determine whether they were friends or foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WITH THE REDCOATS + + +THE fear in Tom Coward's heart, when he discovered that he was between +the lines of the soldiers, made him almost desperate. The men before him +already had raised their guns, and at any moment he expected to hear +their report. When he had glanced behind him he had seen that the men +there were also prepared to shoot, and he was in a position where he was +likely to receive the discharges of both sides. + +Along by the side of the road was a deep ditch, which had been worn by +the spring floods. Just at present there was no water in it, and Tom +instantly threw himself upon the ground, and, still grasping his gun, +rolled toward the place. As he slipped over the side he heard the +discharge of the guns, and his heart almost stood still in his terror. +The bullets, however, had all gone over his head, and the lad was +unharmed, although he was so frightened that even the thoughts of his +own personal safety were almost driven from his mind. + +Shouts and calls followed the discharge of the guns, and then there was +a rush of men past the place in which he was lying. From the direction +from which the men had come, Tom concluded that those who were behind +him had fled, and that the others were in swift pursuit of them. He did +not dare to raise his head, nor try to obtain a glimpse of the +combatants, but lay still in his hiding-place, hoping that in the +excitement his presence would not be discovered. The shouts continued, +but as they sounded farther and farther away, the trembling lad +concluded that pursuers and pursued must have turned the bend in the +road. If they kept on, he would soon be able to crawl forth from the +ditch, he thought, and in the woods would find some place in which he +might remain until all the immediate danger had passed. + +Still, he did not yet dare to leave his hiding-place, and, as the +moments passed, his own fears and anxiety were not allayed. His face and +hands were covered with the mud which had clung to them when he had slid +into the ditch. The mosquitoes gathered about him, and, do what he +would, he could not drive off the tormenting little pests. The +sultriness which had followed the brief storm was almost unbearable, and +Tom felt as if he could not have selected a worse place in which to +conceal himself. There had not been much of any "selecting" about it, he +grimly thought, for he had crawled into the first shelter that presented +itself. A place in the muddy ditch was to be preferred to one in the +middle of the road, and between two contending bands of soldiers. Here +the bullets were not likely to find him, at least for the present, and +his only hope depended upon the possibility of his presence not having +been heeded. Perhaps the soldiers in either band had been so intent upon +watching what the others would do, that a frightened lad between their +lines would not be discovered. + +This hope was not strong enough to induce him to leave his shelter, and +he decided to remain in the ditch until he was satisfied that all danger +was past. The moments dragged on, and the silence which had followed the +brief contest was unbroken. The heat was becoming more and more intense, +and Tom felt that he could not remain much longer in his present +position. Still, he waited and listened, but the sound of the cawing +crows was all that he could hear. He counted off the minutes, and when +what he judged must be an hour had passed, he concluded to remain there +no longer. The men had not been heard in all that time, and doubtless +must have disappeared from the immediate vicinity. + +The sight of the men had shown Tom that he was nearer the army than he +had supposed. For a moment the thought of his former eager desire to +join it came into his mind, and when he contrasted his feelings then +with those he now had, his present position seemed almost ludicrous. +Bespattered with mud, hiding in a ditch by the roadside, in constant +fear of the return of the men, he certainly did not present the +appearance of a very brave young soldier. Even Tom smiled as he thought +of all this, but he was wiser than he had been a few days before this +time, and the sound of guns was not exactly like that of which he had +dreamed. + +Tom Coward was not lacking in bravery, however, but the position in +which he had found himself certainly was a trying one, and perhaps the +boldest of us might have done no better had we been caught in his +predicament. + +The time had now come, he thought, when it must be safe for him to +venture out upon the road again, and, grasping his gun, he prepared to +climb out of the ditch, when he suddenly paused as he thought he heard +the sound of voices once more. + +Yes, there could be no mistake about it; the men were approaching from +the direction in which both bands had disappeared. + +He crouched lower and waited for them to pass. If they were foes, it +certainly would be wiser, as well as safer, for him not to attract their +attention; and if they were friends he was hardly in a condition to +present himself before them. + +The men were coming nearer, and were almost opposite his hiding-place +now. The lad's excitement returned, and he leaned harder against the +muddy bank. It seemed to him as if the loud beatings of his heart would +betray him. + +The band had halted, and were within a few feet of the ditch. What could +it mean? Had his hiding-place been discovered? He crouched still lower, +and did not once look up. He clutched his gun in his hands as if he +thought he could lean upon that. The suspense was intense, and almost +unbearable. + +"Hello! Here's some one in the ditch!" + +Tom's heart sank, and, as he glanced hastily upward, he saw a redcoated +soldier peering down at him. The end had come, and all his efforts to +conceal himself had been in vain. + +"The fellow's alive," exclaimed the soldier in surprise. "Come up out of +that and give an account of yourself!" + +Tom obeyed, and, crawling up the bank, stood facing the men. There were +thirty-five or forty of them, and, as he saw that they were clad in the +British uniform, he realized that he was in the presence of the enemy. +The suspense, at least, was ended now, and, as he glanced at the +soldiers, in spite of the fact that he was well aware of his danger, +much of his alarm had disappeared, for Tom Coward was not unlike others +in being stronger to face the actual condition than the uncertainty +which is connected with the approach of perils. + +The men glanced curiously at him a moment and then burst into a loud +laugh. The troubled boy at first could not discover the cause of their +merriment, but as he glanced at his hands and saw that they were covered +with the mud which was not yet dry, he realized that doubtless his face +and clothing were in the same condition. And Tom's appearance was not +very prepossessing at that moment. His hat was gone, his face was so +completely covered with mud that any one would have had difficulty in +deciding whether he was white or black, and his bearing was far from +being bold. + +The laughter of the men continued until an officer approached and said, +"Who are you? What were you hiding for?" + +Tom hesitated a moment, and then replied, "I was trying to keep out of +the way of your bullets." + +Again the soldiers laughed, and the officer said, "You didn't differ +very much from the other fellows in the band, although they took to the +woods and you to the ditch." + +"What band?" + +"Why, those men of Dickinson's we've just driven away. You don't mean to +say that you didn't belong to them?" + +"I didn't belong to any band," said Tom slowly. "I was just coming +across the country, and when I stepped out into the road I found I was +right between you and the other fellows. I crawled into the ditch, for I +was afraid that both of you would hit me." + +"Quite right, my lad, quite right. But how does it happen that you carry +a rifle? The most of the Yankees are glad enough to get muskets, and +here you are traveling round the country with a rifle. I'm afraid your +story won't do, my lad. We'll have to take you along with us, and let +you tell your story to the colonel." + +Tom perceived that any further protest on his part would be useless, +and, as the word to advance was at once given, he obediently took his +place in the ranks and marched on with the men. + +The heat was so intense that they were compelled to halt frequently for +rests. A few of the men evidently were Hessians, and their high +jack-boots, their heavy fur hats, as well as the short broadswords they +carried, in addition to the short guns or carbines which were slung over +their shoulders, seemed sadly out of place under the burning heat of the +summer day. Tom did not know how the British officers had protested +against the customs of their allies, so unsuitable in the country in +which they were fighting; but the men from Hesse were obstinate, and, +firmly believing that the equipment which had been good enough for them +in the old country would certainly be good enough in the new, clung to +the uncomfortable garments and unwieldy arms, unmindful alike of the +jeers of their comrades in arms and the danger they incurred by the use +of them. + +In the course of two hours the band arrived at a little camp in command +of a man whom the leader addressed as Colonel Simcoe. Tom was at once +summoned by him and taken into the presence of the colonel, or +lieutenant-colonel, as he then really was. + +"What have you here?" inquired the colonel, glancing at Tom as he spoke. + +"We picked this fellow out of a ditch back here. We had a little brush +with a band of Dickinson's men, but they didn't wait for us. We chased +them a mile or two up the road; but the day was so warm, and as the +rebels took to the woods, we soon gave it up and came back. We found +this fellow on our return. He claims he doesn't belong to the rebels; +but as we found that he carried a rifle, we thought best to bring him +into camp with us. We didn't know but he might be able to give you some +of the information you wanted just now." + +"You did right, lieutenant. I'll talk with him later. Now tell me what +you learned. Did you hear anything more about Washington? How are the +roads and the bridges?" + +"The rebels have been tearing up the bridges, and Dickinson has a good +many of the militia scattered along in the woods. I rather suspect they +are planning to serve us as the countrymen served Lord Percy up at +Lexington." + +"I fancy we shall be able to put a stop to that, though your report is +much like that which I have found out myself. Did you hear anything more +of Washington?" + +"I couldn't get a word out of anybody. I don't believe he's moved from +the position he held yesterday, though." + +For several minutes the men conversed, and when at last the younger +officer departed, Colonel Simcoe turned to Tom and said, "Now, my lad, +I'll listen to your story." + +"I haven't any story," replied Tom. "I was coming through the woods back +here, and when I stepped out into the road I found myself right between +the two bands, and as I was afraid I'd be caught by the fire of both of +them, I crawled into the ditch to be out of the way. That's why I'm +covered with this dirt," he added apologetically. + +"You don't need any one to confirm your words as to that," said the +colonel, smiling slightly, as he spoke, at Tom's appearance. "Now what I +want to know is who you are and what you were doing with a rifle? Few +people here carry rifles, I find." + +Tom hesitated a moment, not knowing just what to say in reply to the +question. The colonel was watching him intently, and the lad felt that +he must say something. "I live back here," he said at last. "I've lived +in Old Monmouth all my life. I'd started out from home to go to--to--to +some of my friends, and, as I told you, I got caught between the lines." + +"How about the rifle?" + +"My father had the other guns and I had to take that. The last thing he +told me was to take a gun and scare the blackbirds and crows from the +ten-acre lot." + +"Is your father a loyalist?" + +"Yes." + +"That's good; and now if you can answer my questions, perhaps I'll be +inclined to let you go. You say you've lived here all your life. Do you +know all the roads and bridges? Could you find your way anywhere in the +county?" + +"Yes, sir; I think I could." + +"Tell me about the bridges. Have many of them been torn up?" + +Tom did not know, but he thought of his meeting with young Lieutenant +Gordon that morning, and boldly answered, "Yes, sir." + +"How does it happen that your good father and the other loyalists permit +that?" + +"My father's not at home, and there are too many of the pa--of the +rebels." + +"I thought you told me your father sent you out with your gun," said the +colonel quickly. "How is that? How could he send you if he wasn't at +home?" + +"He sent me before he left," replied Tom, his voice trembling in spite +of his efforts to control it. + +"Do you know where Washington is?" inquired the colonel abruptly. + +"I hear he's up by Hopewell. I don't know." Tom might have added that he +would be glad to learn, but his wish was not expressed. + +"That's right. He _is_ at Hopewell. Is there any talk about his plans? +Have you heard of any rumors among the rebels as to what he plans to +do?" + +"Yes, sir. I hear he is planning to fall on Clinton's baggage train." + +"Sir Henry Clinton, you mean, I suppose," said the colonel sharply. "Do +you think you could find your way from here to Cranberry?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you know every road?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well, then, I shall expect you to go with a party to-night and +show them the way." + +"But," protested Tom, "I thought you said I could go if I answered your +questions." + +"You'll have to stay now. Your father's a good loyalist, you say, and +he'll not object to his son's remaining here for a day or two and +serving as a guide. I'll see that you have some supper and are ready to +start before it's dark." + +Tom left the colonel's presence, and with a heavy heart turned to look +about the little camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE WAY TO CRANBERRY + + +IT was late in the evening when Tom started from Colonel Simcoe's camp +in company with the lieutenant, whose name he had learned was Ward, and +the band of six men. A hearty supper had greatly refreshed the weary +lad, and although he was aware that his companions were not without +suspicions of him, he still had hopes that he would be able to convince +them of his knowledge of the country roads, and then could leave them. +His efforts to convince the colonel that he was merely a country lad, +who had taken no part in the hostilities, had not been without a measure +of success, and if they met with no mishap on the road, doubtless they +would be willing for him to depart. + +As to leading the little band into Cranberry, Tom had not the slightest +objection to that, for it would be going directly toward the place where +Washington's army lay, and every step was one nearer the men whom he was +most eager to join. + +The entire party were mounted, and a horse was also provided for Tom. To +be sure, the steed was not a remarkable one, yet, as the lad looked him +over before he mounted, he was satisfied that riding would be much +easier than walking, and of walking Tom had had sufficient, he thought, +on that hot June morning. + +"Now, my lad," said Lieutenant Ward, as the party prepared to move, "if +you do well by us this night, I have two half joes for you in my pocket. +On the other hand, if you fail us, or try to lead us into any trap, you +shall have a good taste of the lead my men carry, or know how it feels +to dance at one end of a rope with your feet a good yard from the +ground. You hear what I'm saying, don't you?" + +"Yes, sir," Tom replied. "I can lead you straight to Cranberry, but of +course I can't tell what men we shall meet on the way. All I know is +that General Dickinson has men out, just as you have." + +"Never mind your 'General' Dickinson. I only wish we might have the good +fortune to meet the rebel himself. You show us the way and we'll look +after any of his men we may fall in with. All we want of you is to show +us the way. They won't be likely to be out on the road in the night." + +Tom by no means felt so positive concerning that as the lieutenant did, +but the word to start was then given, and mounting his horse he departed +from the camp with the men. + +The moon was now full and hung low in the heavens like a great ball of +fire. The frogs in the swamps were croaking loudly as the men rode past. +The air of the summer night was almost motionless, and the heat of the +day had only slightly decreased with the coming of the darkness. In all +his life in Jersey, Tom had never known a hotter "spell"--as the natives +termed it--than they had experienced during the past few days. A Hessian +was riding beside him, and Tom could not understand how it was that he +still insisted upon wearing the heavy fur hat in such weather. + +So intensely warm was the night that the band were compelled to halt at +frequent intervals to rest their dripping steeds. The occasional breeze +was like the hot breath from an oven, and, in spite of the fact that he +was riding, Tom's face was wet with perspiration. The progress was +necessarily slow, but the lad soon came to Doctor's Creek, and as they +found the bridge across that stream intact, the lieutenant was pleased +and warmly praised the young guide. + +The Assanpink Creek was crossed not long afterwards, and as the bridge +across that also was still standing, the elation of the leader was +visibly increased and he ordered the men to halt for another rest. Some +without removing their clothing waded into the stream, which was narrow +and shallow where they were, and led their horses in after them. The +heaving sides of the poor beasts were wet with sweat and foam, and the +men themselves seemed to be but little better. Tom thought he had never +suffered more from the heat. + +After a rest of a half hour the men resumed their journey. Thus far no +one had been met on the road, and the confidence of the band was +steadily increasing, in spite of the fact that they were approaching the +region in which the American army was supposed to be. + +Five miles farther on they came to Rocky Branch and the bridge over this +stream was as strong and safe as those they had left behind them. + +"The half joes are likely to be yours, my boy," said the lieutenant. + +Tom made no reply, for he was thinking that something beside safe +bridges might be discovered before they arrived at their destination. +Only one more stream remained to be crossed, and then they would be in +Cranberry. Just where they were then to go, or what was to be done, Tom +did not know. Not a word had been spoken to him concerning the object of +the expedition, and all that he was expected to do was to lead the band +to Cranberry. + +"How much farther have we to go, my boy?" inquired the leader. + +"That depends upon the place you've started for," replied Tom. "We shall +be in Cranberry after we've gone about ten miles farther, but it covers +a good many miles. The township is a big one." + +"We'll decide that after we get there. Have we any more streams to +cross?" + +"Yes. The Millstone river isn't very far away now." + +The rests had become so frequent that morning could not be far away, Tom +thought. With the appearance of the sun their dangers were likely to be +increased, but he made no mention of the fears in his heart, and the +band soon started on again. + +When they arrived at the Millstone, the first break in the success of +the expedition was found, for the bridge was down. This plainly showed +that the Americans were not far distant now, and as the lieutenant drew +rein on his horse, he said,-- + +"This means that Sir Henry will find difficulty in getting his baggage +train across here. Do you know whether the stream can be forded?" + +"Yes," replied Tom, pointing as he spoke to a place a little farther +down the stream. "We can wade our horses across there." + +"But can the baggage wagons be driven through?" + +"That I cannot say. I think not." + +"We'll soon find out," said the lieutenant, leading the way to the ford. + +The men all followed him, but as the water came well up to their horses' +flanks, it was at once evident that Clinton would find great difficulty +in getting his baggage train across. The party halted near the bank +after they had crossed the stream, and the lieutenant had an earnest +conversation with one of his men. + +Tom could not hear their words, but he had no doubt that they were +discussing the possibilities of Clinton's march by the way they had +come that night. + +"We'll go on a bit farther," said the lieutenant at last, and the men +obediently mounted and followed their leader. + +The gray of the dawn had just appeared in the east, and the air was +filled with the songs of the birds. They were now in the township of +Cranberry, and the end of their journey could not be far away, Tom +thought, although he did not know what that end was to be. Thus far they +had come without trouble, but with the coming of the morning, and their +proximity to the American army, their difficulties were likely soon to +be increased. + +The men were silent as they rode slowly forward, and were keeping a +constant watch on every side. The sun by this time had made its +appearance, and the day gave promise of being even warmer than the +preceding one. Before them they could see two rude little houses on +opposite sides of the road and at the end of lanes which led back from +the roadside. The one on the left Tom instantly recognized as the abode +of a Quaker named Nathan Brown, or "Friend Nathan," as his neighbors +called him. Many a time had Tom been there, and even then he recalled +many of the quaint expressions of the gentle man who had steadily +opposed all the hostilities, in accordance with his creed which forbade +even the resistance to tyrants. + +As the lieutenant saw the two houses he drew the rein on his horse, and +the party halted. + +"It's time we had some breakfast," he said. "I am wondering whether we +can't find something here in these houses. Do you know anything about +them, my lad?" + +"I know the man that lives in the house on the left. He is a Quaker," +replied Tom. + +"All the better for us. I think I'll let you go up to his house, and +I'll send a man up to the other. The rest of us had better stay here and +keep watch, for there may be some prowling rebels around here, for all +that we may know." + +"I'll go," said Tom quickly. "But I can leave you then, can't I? We're +in Cranberry now and all you wanted of me was to lead you there." + +"Yes, if you wish," replied the lieutenant. "You've done well, but you'd +do better still to go back with us. The rebels are not far away, and you +may get into trouble. You must do as you like, though," he added. +"You've earned your pay," and he drew the two half joes from his pocket +and handed them to Tom. + +The lad received the money, no small amount to him, and, after thanking +the lieutenant, started quickly up the lane which led to Nathan's house. +As he glanced behind him, he perceived that one of the men had started +towards the other house, while all the others had dismounted and were +still in the road, although they evidently were keeping a careful watch. + +When Tom drew near the house he saw the Quaker standing in the doorway. +His broad-brimmed hat and the peaceful expression upon his face were in +marked contrast to the warlike men he had just left behind him in the +road. + +"How now?" said Nathan, as he perceived who the approaching man was. +"Thee travels early, Friend Thomas; I trust all is well at thy house." + +Tom quickly dismounted, and in a few words explained how it was that he +happened to be there, and what the purpose of his visit was. + +"Thee doesn't say so!" said Nathan in surprise. "And the redcoats even +now are at my door and seek refreshment?" + +"They are out in the road. They want some breakfast, and I think they'll +pay you for it." + +"Friend Thomas, I think I can trust thee. I have known thee since thou +wert a little lad. Ah, these are sad times for men of peace! The sons of +Belial are on all sides. Verily, these days are days of wrath." + +Tom was puzzled by Nathan's manner and made no reply. The man turned +quickly into the house and soon returned with a well-filled stocking in +his hands. Tom instantly surmised what the stocking contained, for he +was well aware of the banking purposes to which that article of clothing +was turned in many of the homes. + +"Come with me, Friend Thomas," said Nathan, grasping a hoe as he spoke +and leading the way into his garden. There he dug a hole, and, placing +his "bank" within it, covered it again with the earth. + +"But Nathan," protested Tom, "if these men search your place for money +they'll find this spot, and it'll show at once you've hidden something +there. The earth is all fresh and moist here, and it's dry all around +it." + +"Yea, thou speakest truly, Friend Thomas, but I have a thought by which +I may yet outwit these men of war. Tarry here till I return." + +The Quaker instantly turned and again entered the house. In a moment he +appeared, bearing a large bowl in each hand. One contained water, which +he poured over the place where his money was concealed, and the other +was filled with corn. He quickly scattered the corn over the wet ground, +and then, turning towards the barn, called, "Chick! Chick! Chick! Come, +chick! Come, chick!" + +Instantly there was a fluttering within the barns, the doors to which +were wide open, and the hens came running from every direction. + +Nathan's face took on a meaning smile as he watched his flock hastening +toward him for their breakfast, and then, turning to Tom, he said, "Is +it plain to thee, Friend Thomas, that it is still possible for a man of +peace to outwit these sons of Belial? Now go and tell thy companions +that such food as I have shall be set before them." + +Tom laughed at the trick of the Quaker, and then ran back to his horse, +and, mounting, started towards his recent companions, whom he could see +still waiting in the road. Doubtless they were becoming impatient by +this time, and, without waiting to go all the way back to the road, he +stopped at a distance and called to them, beckoning with his hand for +them to come, as he shouted. + +As soon as he perceived that the lieutenant heard him, he turned about +and once more rode back to Nathan's house. He then dismounted and tied +his horse to a post which stood near to the kitchen door. + +As he glanced up he saw that the leader was riding alone up the lane and +now was near the house. Just then he heard the sound of a horse behind +him, and, turning quickly about, saw young Lieutenant Gordon dash past +him on horseback. + +Amazed by the sudden and unexpected appearance of his friend, he stood +still and watched him as he rode swiftly up the lane directly toward the +approaching men. Gordon was leaning low on his horse's neck, and Tom +could see that he was grasping a pistol in his right hand. + +Before the startled lad could fairly realize what was occurring, he saw +the young lieutenant raise his weapon and aim it at the approaching +horseman. He waited for the report, but none came. Again Gordon raised +his pistol, and once more it flashed without a report. + +His heart almost stopped when he perceived that the other members of the +band had now entered the lane and were riding towards their leader, +although as yet they were far behind him. The young lieutenant had also +discovered them, and, instantly turning his horse about, dashed back up +the lane, with the British lieutenant in swift pursuit. + +Unmindful of Tom, they swept past him, and Gordon turned the corner of +the barn. Twice around the barn the men raced their horses, and then +Gordon turned his horse into the open doorway and dashed through to the +other side. + +After him followed the leader of the British band in desperate pursuit, +and then, as Tom glanced up, he saw his recent companions come shouting +and hallooing into the yard which was between the barn and Friend +Nathan's little house. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BOAT ON THE BAR + + +WHEN Little Peter discovered the presence of the men before him, his +first impulse had been to turn and make a dash into the woods; but the +call which he heard quickly changed all that. As one after another of +the band appeared, he recognized some of them as men who had been +enrolled in the local militia, and his alarm for a moment subsided. + +The one who had addressed him he remembered as a young man not much +older than himself, who had all the summer been away from his home, +busied with his friends and neighbors in protecting the salt works along +the shore, and striving to hold back the outlaws from their raids in the +county. + +The salt works were of especial value at this time, as some of them were +owned by the government and aided in increasing the scanty revenues of +the poverty-stricken country. Several of them already had been burned by +tories or bands of sailors, who had landed from some of the gunboats +which had come to anchor off the shore for the purpose of inflicting +such damage as lay within their power upon the adjacent region. + +"What are you doing here, Peter?" repeated the lad who had first spoken. + +As Little Peter now recognized the men before him as friends, he quickly +related to them the story of the sad misfortunes which had come upon his +home; and the many expressions of anger and sympathy which his words +called forth were not unwelcome, we may be assured, to the troubled boy. + +When his brief story was told, the young man who had hailed him said, +"We're on an errand that may fit into your feelings a bit. We're short +one man, too. Don't you want to join us?" + +"What are you trying to do?" + +"We've just had word that a boat is aground off here on the bar, and +we're going to see if we can't get her. We've got a whaleboat down here +on the shore, and we're going to put out in her and see if we can't pull +the other boat off and bring her in with us." + +"But there are a couple of gunboats not more than three quarters of a +mile out," protested Peter. "You can't do anything while they are +there." + +"We can try," said the man who was acting as the leader. "We're one man +short, as Lyman here has just said, and if you feel inclined to join us +we shall be glad to have you." + +Little Peter hesitated. It was not alone the danger of the enterprise +which troubled him. He was thinking of his father and his own purpose to +discover whether he had been sent to New York or not. + +When he explained the cause of his perplexity, the leader said, "That's +all right, Peter. We're going down to Tom's River just as soon as we've +taken this boat out here. You see, our watch told us the boat is loaded +with supplies, and, if we can get her, we're going to do a double deed, +for we'll keep the others from having them, and we'll make good use of +the stuff ourselves. Now, if you'll go along with us, you'll make +another oar for us, and we'll be all the more likely to succeed. Then +you can go with us down to Tom's River, and poor company will be better +than none in times like these." + +"I'll go," said Little Peter quickly, and the march was at once +resumed. + +As they approached the wigwam, where Peter had left his Indian friends, +he stopped for a moment to explain to Indian John the cause of the +change in his plans. + +John listened quietly until the lad had finished, and then said, "Me see +um again." + +Little Peter did not understand just what the Indian meant by his words, +but he did not wait to inquire, for his friends were already in advance +of him, and he hastened to rejoin them. + +No one spoke as they silently walked on to the shore, but when they had +gained the bluff, Lyman suddenly said, "There! Look there, will you? The +word was all right. The boat's aground out there on the bar." + +Little Peter instantly recognized the boat as the one which he had seen +approaching from the gunboats, and for which the band of men from +Refugee Town had evidently been waiting. Doubtless they had mistaken him +and Indian John for members of the neighboring militia, and the cause of +their pursuit was now explained. + +The men did not hesitate now, but going to a place a little farther up +the shore, they hastily removed a pile of brush and drew forth the long +whaleboat which they had concealed beneath it. The boat was not heavy, +and, lifting it in their arms, they bore it down to the water's edge. + +Then grasping its sides, they ran with it into the water, and, at the +word from the leader, scrambled on board. In a moment they were all +seated, the long oars were drawn forth, and the men gave way with a +will. + +Little Peter was in the bow, next to his friend Lyman. The excitement +now for a time banished from his mind the thoughts of his sorrow, and +even the search for his father was for the moment forgotten. + +About three-quarters of a mile out at sea were the two gunboats riding +at anchor, and resting as gracefully upon the water as if they had been +birds. Directly before them was the supply boat, about a quarter of a +mile from the shore, and not more than that distance in advance. They +could see that four men were on board, and they were still striving +desperately to push her off from the bar on which she had grounded. + +Not a word was spoken on the whaleboat now, and the men were all rowing +with long and steady strokes. The ocean was unusually calm, but every +lift of the heavy groundswell disclosed to them more clearly the +outlines of the boat they were seeking. Their purpose had not yet been +discovered by the men on the other boat, or if it had been discovered no +token was displayed. It was more than possible that they were regarded +as friends coming to the aid of the unlucky boat. + +In this manner several minutes passed, the whaleboat, meanwhile, making +rapid progress over the water, driven forward by the efforts of the +determined men. The long, sandy shore stretched away in the distance, +the masses of clouds in the sky seemed to be lined with silver as the +rays of the sun shone through them, and not a sound could be heard +except the heavy breathing of the men and the regular clicks of the oars +in the row-locks. + +In spite of the peacefulness of the scene, however, all the men in the +whaleboat fully realized the desperate nature of their undertaking, and +the likelihood that in a moment everything might be changed. Still, +there were no evidences of action on the gunboats, and the men on the +grounded boat betrayed no signs of alarm. + +"There are some men on the shore up yonder," said the leader, as he saw +a group standing on the beach directly opposite the boat they were +seeking. "They don't seem to be able to help them," he added. "I don't +believe we've anything to fear from them. Give way, men! Give way!" + +The band responded with a will, and the whaleboat darted forward with +increasing speed. The other boat lay only a few yards away, and the end +had almost come. The excitement on board was intense now, and, although +no one spoke, the expression on every face betrayed the feelings of the +men. They could see that the others were watching them, but still they +manifested no alarm at the approach of the whaleboat. + +As the latter ran in alongside, and the men quickly backed water, one of +the sailors on the stranded boat--for such their uniforms disclosed them +to be--called out, "You're just in time, men! We thought we'd never get +this tub off the bar. The tide's coming in, but we're stuck fast." + +"That's just what we came for," replied the leader, as he threw a rope +to the other boat. "Now make fast and we'll yank you off before you know +it." + +One of the sailors caught the rope and made it fast, but evidently a +change came over his feelings then, for, glancing suspiciously at the +men before him, the one who had acted as the leader said, "You're from +Refugee Town, aren't you? You're strangers to me, but I take it for +granted you're all right!" + +"No, sir; we're militia from Old Monmouth. We've come out here to get +you and your boat, too. Here, none of that!" he quickly added, as he saw +the men turn to grasp their guns. "We'll send you to the bottom before +you can tell your names if you try any of your games on us." + +At his command the men in the whaleboat quickly covered the others with +their guns. For a moment the silence was unbroken. The advantage for the +present was very decidedly with the attacking party. Not only did they +outnumber the others, but they were also in a condition to act, and act +quickly. The situation, however, could not long remain as it was. The +gunboats were not more than a half mile away, and, doubtless, assistance +would be sent as soon as the predicament of the men should be +discovered. + +Then, too, there were the men on the shore to be reckoned with. +Apparently, they had no boat with which they could come to the rescue +of the luckless sailors, but they might soon obtain one, for Refugee +Town was not far away. Why they had not already gone there was not +apparent. Perhaps they were trusting to the aid of the rising tide and +the efforts of the men. + +"Pass over your guns!" said the leader on the whaleboat. + +The men obeyed, and silently picked up and handed their guns to the +attacking party. + +"Now we'll see what can be done," said the leader, after he had +deposited the weapons on the bottom of the whaleboat. "These fellows are +harmless now, and we'll take our oars and see if we can't pull them off +from the bar." + +His men grasped their oars and began to row. The rope tightened, the +boat started a little, but still stuck fast to the bottom. Again the men +pulled desperately, but with all their efforts they could not move the +grounded boat. + +"I'm afraid we'll have to cast overboard a part of the load," said the +leader, when the third effort proved as futile as its predecessors. + +He arose from his seat and grasped the rope to pull the whaleboat +nearer, when the four men before him suddenly united in a loud shout, +and, leaping from their seats, together grasped some other guns which +had been concealed beneath the sailcloth, and, turning about before +their captors could recover from their surprise, stood aiming their +weapons directly at their faces. + +"It's our turn," laughed one of the men. "You'll hand over your own guns +now!" + +No one in the whaleboat moved from his position. The leader still stood, +leaning over the side and grasping the rope with his hands. Every one +had been so startled by the unexpected summons that he seemed almost +incapable of action. + +"Come, be quick about it!" said the sailor, as the men still did not +move. + +A faint sound of a shout now could be heard from the shore, and the +movements of the men there, as they ran about the beach, betrayed the +fact that they were aware that something was wrong. In the distance, +Little Peter could see that two barges filled with men were starting +forth from the gunboats. The situation was becoming rapidly worse, +critical as it then was. + +"Their guns aren't loaded, men!" called the leader suddenly. "They can't +harm us." + +Still his men did not respond. For an instant no one moved, while their +fear was plainly evident from the expressions upon their faces. No one +knew whether the leader's words were true or not, and in breathless +suspense they waited, fearing every moment to hear the reports of the +guns in the other boat. + +As the men did not fire, the leader quickly shouted again, "They're not +loaded, I tell you! They can't hurt us! Don't pay any attention to +them!" + +His words instantly served to arouse his companions, for they now knew +that if the guns had been loaded they would have been discharged before +this. + +The sight of the barges which had started forth from the gunboats, and +the increasing confusion of the men on the shore, combined to render the +attacking party desperate now. Whatever they were to do they must do +quickly. + +The leader called to his companions to cover the others with their guns, +and, drawing the whaleboat close up, said: "The boat's loaded with guns +and powder! That's just what we want. Now you take your oars and push +while my men row," he added, speaking to the sailors. "The first one of +you that draws back will get a dose of lead. Now! Quick! Do as I tell +you!" + +The men sullenly laid down the empty guns, and, picking up their oars, +began to push against the sandy bottom. The men in the whaleboat were +rowing desperately, and soon could feel that the other boat had started. + +It was not yet free, however, and the leader called again to the +sailors, "Harder, men, harder! You aren't half pushing. That's right! +Harder yet! Harder, I say! We'll be out of this in a minute. Give way, +men! You aren't asleep, are you? Pull! Pull!" + +In his eagerness, the leader laid down his gun, and, hastily grasping an +oar, began to pull with his companions. Slowly the grounded boat +responded to their efforts. Inch by inch it slipped from the bar, but +was not yet free. + +Meanwhile, the confusion on the shore was increasing. The men were +running up and down the beach, waving their arms and shouting. The two +barges were coming swiftly from the gunboats, and if the loaded boat was +not soon dragged from the bar, it would once more be in the possession +of the enemy. + +They were still working desperately. The perspiration stood out in great +drops upon their faces. They braced their feet against the seats in +front of them and put forth all their strength. The moments seemed like +hours to the struggling men, but the loaded boat was slow to respond to +their efforts. It was steadily yielding, however, and at last they saw +the boat slide from the bar and rest easily upon the open water. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TED WILSON'S VICTIM + + +A SHOUT arose from the eager crew as they perceived the success which +had crowned their desperate efforts, but an answering shout from the men +in the two approaching barges quickly recalled them to the necessity for +further and immediate action. Why it was that the guns of the gunboats +had remained silent they could not understand, but there was no time now +for investigations. It was sufficient that they had not been molested +thus far; and as the leader at once gave the command for them to resume +their labors with their oars, the men at once responded and gave way +together, the supply boat still being towed. + +The whaleboat had been built for speed, and was long, narrow, and light. +Had it not been for the laden supply boat, which as yet they were not +willing to abandon, they would easily and speedily have drawn away from +the pursuing barges. As it was, they swept forward swiftly, and +apparently were almost holding their own in the race. + +For several minutes the desperate efforts of the men continued. The +heavy clouds had gathered in the sky, and the blaze of the sun had +disappeared. The air was sultry and oppressive, and the unusual calm +which rested over the waters indicated that the storm which had been +threatening was fast approaching. No one glanced at the heavens, +however, the set and streaming faces indicating that the immediate task +in hand was sufficient of itself to occupy all their thoughts. + +On and on rowed the men, and on and on swept the pursuing barges. Less +than a quarter of a mile lay between them, and, heavily laden as the +supply boat was, it materially decreased the speed which otherwise the +whaleboat might have made. The moments passed, but the efforts were not +relaxed. Together, the long oars struck the water, and the bodies of the +men swayed back and forth as if they were controlled by a common +impulse. The distance between the boats was not materially changed, +although if any change was to be seen it was in favor of the barges. + +"This will never do," said the leader at last, letting his oar go, and +rising in his seat as he spoke. "Here, you men," he added, grasping his +gun and facing the prisoners in the other boat as he spoke, "it's time +for you to work your passage. Take those oars and pull your prettiest! +Four oars are better than one, and I can do more with a gun than I can +by pulling. Take your oars, every one of you, and the first one to drop +will be fired on!" + +The four men in the supply boat sullenly obeyed, and the increased +impulse of their efforts at once became manifest. The leader stood in +the stern of the whaleboat facing the prisoners, and watchful of their +every movement. His words of encouragement served to inspire his +companions, and for a time it appeared as if they were gaining upon +their pursuers. + +Still, the distance between them did not materially increase, and such +efforts as the men were then making could not be long maintained. +Indeed, signs of distress were already becoming apparent, and Little +Peter felt every time he drew in his oar as if he had not strength +enough left to pull another stroke. His face betrayed the pain he was +suffering, but his condition was not much worse than that of some of +the other men with him in the boat. + +The exciting contest could not be continued much longer, and as the +leader glanced about the boat he almost decided to cut the rope which +held the supply boat, and, leaving that behind, seek safety in flight. + +He had drawn his knife from his pocket, and was standing ready to free +them from their heavy load, when the rain began to fall. In a moment the +wind swept down upon them, and the storm was at hand. + +Prom the first of the pursuing barges came a shot, but no damage was +done, and the leader muttered, "That's all right. It's a farewell salute +you're giving us. You might as well say good-by to us, for I take it +you'll never see us again." + +The waves were now rising, and the rain was falling in torrents. Between +them and the shore it almost seemed as if a cloud intervened, so heavy +was the downpour. The voice of the leader could hardly be heard by his +men. The deep-toned thunder sounded almost continuously, and the darting +lightning appeared to be all about them. In escaping from one peril they +had encountered another. + +The barges could now no longer be seen, and, with the passing of the +fear of pursuit, the men gave all their attention to their efforts to +keep the whaleboat out of the trough of the rolling waves. Still, the +supply boat was not cut loose, for the determined men were resolved to +hold to that so long as it lay within their power to do so. + +For a half hour the shower continued, and although much water was +shipped, and the men were compelled to bail the boats, they behaved +well. When at last the storm had passed and the low mutterings of the +thunder sounded far out to sea, they all looked keenly behind them to +discover the whereabouts of their pursuers. + +Neither of the barges was to be seen. Doubtless, with the approach of +the shower, they had both put back to the gunboats for safety. The +whaleboat had weathered the storm, and the supply boat was still safely +in tow. + +Drenched though the men were, new strength seemed to come with the +knowledge that they were no longer being pursued, and then, relieved of +their fear, they continued on their way down the shore. + +They frequently stopped for rest and to scan the waters behind them, +but no boat could anywhere be seen. Nor was any one to be discerned upon +the beach. Doubtless the men from Refugee Town had fled for safety and +shelter, or, as the leader grimly said, "They were afraid of being wet, +for water was something to which all the men assembled there were +strongly opposed." + +For mile after mile they held steadily to their course, even their +excitement apparently having mostly disappeared. The supply boat +contained guns and ammunition, and if there was anything of which the +militia stood in need, it was of that very commodity. + +At first it was thought that they would put in at the entrance to Shark +River, but it was soon decided to continue on their way until they +should come to Manasquan Inlet, and then go up the river to a place +where some of their friends were to be found. To gain Tom's River they +would be compelled to keep on to Barnegat Inlet, and then retrace their +way up Barnegat Bay, to the place where the river entered; and as that +would require a voyage of thirty miles more, no one regretted the change +in the plan. + +They were all nearly worn out by their exertions, and no one knew what +British vessel might be met before they could gain the shelter of Tom's +River. + +Little Peter, in spite of his eagerness to go on to the place where he +hoped to learn something concerning his father, was so weary from the +work of the day, and as he had not tasted food since early that morning, +he rejoiced with the others when at last the boats turned into Manasquan +Inlet and began to make their way up the little stream. + +The sun was now low in the western sky, and the night would soon be upon +them. The shadows already were lengthening when the two boats passed out +of the inlet into the waters of the river. The leader, however, had not +yet given the word to rest on their oars, and Little Peter did not know +where they were to pass the night. + +The whaleboat kept steadily on in its course, and the wearied men were +still pulling at the oars. The river was becoming narrower now, and more +than one was hoping that the word would soon be given for them to land. + +Suddenly, the leader called to his men, and, standing erect, pointed +excitedly to a place on the shore not far in advance of them. His +companions quickly looked in that direction and saw on the little point +of land, around which the river swept in its course, two men standing +in the water. But what was it they were doing? One of them was holding +the other and frequently forcing his head beneath the surface of the +river. He would hold him in that position for a moment and then lift him +upon his feet again, and shake him, much as a dog might have done with a +rabbit. Apparently neither had observed the approaching boats, nor had +either uttered a sound which the men in the whaleboat could hear. + +"The fellow's drowning him!" said the leader excitedly. "He's drowning +him. Give way, men, and we'll lend a hand." + +The men, no less excited than their leader, instantly responded, and the +boats dashed rapidly forward. The eyes of all were fixed upon the two +men before them, and the leader shouted and called; but apparently, +unmindful of their approach, the strange actions continued. The larger +of the two men again and again forced the head of his companion under +the water, and then would lift him up and repeat the shaking. So +thoroughly intent was he upon his strange occupation, that he did not +once heed the hail, or even glance toward the whaleboat. + +Nearer and nearer swept the boats, and finally, when they were almost +upon him, the man ceased his efforts and glanced coolly up at the +approaching men, still, however, retaining his grasp on his victim, who +apparently was helpless in his hands. + +A startled exclamation escaped Little Peter's lips when he saw that the +smaller of the men was none other than his own neighbor, Benzeor Osburn. +"Help him! Help him!" he said excitedly to the leader. "It's Benzeor! +It's Benzeor Osburn! He's my neighbor! He's being drowned! He'll be +killed!" + +"Be still!" said the leader roughly. "It's Ted Wilson that's got him. +Ted knows what he's doing. What's the trouble, Ted? What's gone wrong?" +he added quickly, addressing the man who still held Benzeor tightly in +his grasp. + +The huge man slowly turned his head as he heard himself addressed, and +Little Peter thought he never before had seen such an expression of rage +upon any human countenance. His great muscular arms were bare, and his +entire body seemed to express the marvelous strength he possessed. +Benzeor was not struggling, and indeed there seemed to be but little +hope of protecting himself from the powerful man whose prisoner he was. + +Little Peter could see that, although Benzeor was almost breathless, he +had recognized him, but he made no effort to speak and scarcely glanced +at the men before him. + +"What's wrong, Ted?" repeated the leader. "What's the matter with the +man?" + +"The matter isn't with the man, it's with me," said Ted slowly, speaking +in a deep, gruff voice, which betrayed the strong feeling under which he +labored. + +"You're not going to drown him, are you?" + +"Naw--though the snake deserves it. Drownin' is too good for such as +he!" + +Ted had not moved from his position, and still was standing up to his +waist in the water. + +"Tell us about it. Maybe we can help you a bit." + +"Naw, ye can't help any. It's my business. I don't mind tellin' ye how +it came about, though. This forenoon I sold some corn and stuff up here +at the mill, and got my pay in coin, too. Well, this fellow was there +and he saw me get paid off, and I half suspected the reptile from the +way he looked at me when he saw me take the money. Here you!" he +quickly added, as Benzeor struggled slightly. "Ye want some more, do ye? +Well, I'll give ye all ye want and all ye need, too," and again he +thrust the helpless Benzeor's head beneath the water. + +"Let him up. You'll drown him!" said the leader, when Ted had held his +victim several seconds under the water. + +"It's no more than he deserves," replied the huge man, nevertheless +lifting his victim and shaking him again. "Now will ye keep still?" + +As Benzeor was unable to reply, Ted again turned to the men in the boat +and said, "Well, I took that money home and gave it to Sallie. She's my +wife, ye know, and I always gives her what money I get, not that it's +ever very much, though. I didn't ferget the eyes o' this fellow, +however, and I told Sallie,--she's my wife, ye know, and as likely a +woman as there is in Old Monmouth, if I do say it as ought not to,--I +told her to keep a good lookout for the pine robbers, fer I had a kind +of a suspicion this here reptile might know where they was, and might +get word to 'em, too. + +"I took my axe and went off down into my swamp-lot to cut some wood, and +left Sallie up in the house. Sallie's my wife, ye know. I felt uneasy +like all the time, but I worked on for three hours or more, but I kept +a-gettin' uneasier and uneasier, and, finally, I just couldn't stand it +any longer and put straight fer the house. + +"'Twas mighty lucky I did, too, I'm tellin' you, fer when I came in +sight o' the house,--ye can see it up there now," and Ted pointed to his +home, a short distance up the bank, giving the unfortunate Benzeor an +additional shake as he did so,--"I see somethin' was wrong. There was +three or four men a-standin' out by the big maple in front o' my house, +and the minit I looked I see what they was up to. Somebody was a hangin' +from a bedcord they'd threw over a limb o' that very maple-tree. + +"Mebbe ye know how I felt when I see it was my Sallie; she's my wife, ye +know. They was a-drawin' her up and then lettin' her down, and I knew +then they was tryin' to make her own up where that money was. I had my +axe in my hands, and when I see what they was up to, I didn't wait very +long, I'm tellin' ye. I cut Sallie loose,--she wasn't very much hurt; +she's my wife, ye know,--and then I took after the rascals. They +scattered in every direction, but this vermin started for the river and +I after him." + +"You got him, I see." + +"Did I get him? Let him answer for hisself." + +And the angry Ted again shook the helpless Benzeor until the men +wondered that his trembling limbs still held together. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +A FRUITLESS CHASE + + +THE surprise of Tom Coward was not diminished as the novel race +continued. Twice through the open doors of the barn dashed the two +riders, their horses' hoofs slipping on the rough floor and almost +throwing the men from their seats. Both continued to maintain their +positions, however, and would no sooner disappear from Tom's sight than +they would be seen coming around the corner of the barn again, the young +American lieutenant still in advance and the British officer in close +pursuit. + +Friend Nathan was standing in the doorway of his house, and, in spite of +his peaceful professions, there was an eager expression upon his face +which betrayed the fact that he was not an uninterested observer of the +strange contest. Tom had not moved from his position, and his excitement +had almost deprived him of the power of speech. + +Again through the open doorways of the barn the riders had urged their +swiftly running horses, but as yet their relative positions had remained +unchanged. The British officer was leaning forward on his horse's neck +and endeavoring to grasp the bridle of the young lieutenant's horse, but +the quick movements of the latter had prevented him, and the mad race +continued. + +As Lieutenant Gordon dashed around the corner of the barn, and for the +fourth time prepared to enter the open door, Tom saw that the other +members of the band were just entering the yard. The excited lad could +not longer remain silent. His friend was beset by new perils and must be +warned. + +"Look out! Look out!" shouted Tom. + +Young Gordon looked up and for the first time beheld the increase in the +number of his enemies. Without hesitating a moment, he turned his horse +toward the low fence and cleared it at a bound. Then, directly across +the open lot toward the woods in the distance he urged his trusty steed, +and almost before the men in the yard perceived what had occurred, he +had placed a considerable distance between him and the barn. + +The confusion, however, lasted but a moment, for, with a shout, several +of the men urged their horses forward, and, leaping the low fence, +renewed the pursuit. Those who did not follow raised their guns and +discharged them at the fleeing officer; but either his movements were +too swift, or their excitement prevented them from taking careful aim, +for the bullets went wide of their mark, and in a very brief time the +young lieutenant disappeared within the woods, and soon after his +pursuers followed him. + +"Thee didn't seem to catch him," said Nathan blandly to the men who +remained in the yard. + +"They'll get him. They'll get him," replied the leader. "They'll soon +run him down, never you fear. But he's a bold fellow, there's no mistake +about that. What did you call out to him for?" he added, turning sharply +to Tom. + +"Did I call out to him?" replied Tom. "I don't just know what I did, I +was so excited. I thought you had him." + +"So I would, if it hadn't been for the barn floor." + +Tom thought the barn floor was perhaps as much of a disadvantage to the +pursued as to the pursuer, but he discreetly held his peace and said no +more. + +"Now, old man, you can get us some breakfast. My men will be back here +in no time with the young rebel, and will have all the better appetite +because of their morning's work. You can feed us all, can't you?" said +the officer. + +"I have spoken to Rachel. Doubtless she will do her best for thee." + +The men at once proceeded to place their horses in the barn and serve +them freely from the Quaker's store. Then they entered the house and +seated themselves at the table which Rachel had spread for them, +although they first stationed one of their companions as guard. + +For a time no one spoke, so busied were they in their occupation, and +Tom Coward was not one whit behind any of them. He was tired and hungry, +and the breakfast was doubly welcome to him. Rachel moved quietly about +the room, her drab dress and broad white collar being in marked contrast +to the brilliant uniforms of her self-invited guests. + +"Old man," said the officer at last, "I wish you'd tell me how it +happened that that young rebel was here on your place. You weren't +sheltering him, were you?" + +"Nay," replied Nathan. "In times like these, Friends are not prone to +shelter any soldiers. Our guests are only those who come without any +bidding of ours." + +"Ha! ha!" laughed the officer. "I fancy you mean that as a reproach for +us. Well, we'll pay you for our breakfast, never you fear about that. +Your scruples don't carry you so far that you object to receiving a +return in good yellow or white metal, do they?" + +"The laborer is ever worthy of his hire. I shall be thankful for any +equivalent it may seem good unto thee to bestow upon me." + +"That's right, that's right. Trust a broad brim for that every time. I'm +not complaining, old man, I'm not complaining. You don't happen to know +just where the rebel army is at present, do you?" + +"It is reported that Washington is on the march for this very place. +Even now he may be approaching." + +"Do you know that?" inquired the officer in a lower tone. + +"Nay. I know nothing of their movements. It is all of the current report +I am speaking to thee. I fear me that a man of peace is likely to suffer +double ills between the two armies, for it is also reported that the +British and their Hessian companions are also likely to march through +this very region." + +If the officer had glanced at the old Quaker he would have discovered +that there was a very keen expression upon his face as he ventured the +last supposition. But as he did not look up it was all lost upon him, +and perhaps if he had seen it, he would not have understood its meaning, +since his host was ostensibly a man of peace. + +"I'm not so sure of that," said the officer quietly. "We've come to look +over the land and report to Colonel Simcoe. What makes you think the +rebels are near here, and are likely to march this way?" + +"I will tell thee truly. The young man whom your companions are pursuing +slept last night in my barn. He informed me frankly that Washington was +to pass this way"-- + +"And fall on our army?" broke in the officer eagerly. + +"That is the natural inference for thee to draw. It's a sad day for the +Friends. They are ground between the upper and the nether millstones, +for I understood thee to say that the British also were to come +hither." + +"You can understand what you please," replied the leader gruffly. +"You've given me the information I most desire and Colonel Simcoe would +be glad to reward you for it, but being, as you are, a man of peace, of +course you wouldn't be willing to take anything from a man whose +occupation is blood letting. Hello! here's the guard!" he added, rising +abruptly from the table as he spoke. "What's wrong?" + +"Nothing," replied the guard, "except that our men are returning from +the woods." + +"And did they catch the young rebel?" + +"No, or at least he's not with them now." + +All hurriedly left the table and rushed out into the yard, Tom also +going with them. The men could be seen returning across the lot, but it +was at once evident that the young lieutenant was not with them. + +"What's the trouble? How was it that you let the slippery little rebel +get away from you?" demanded the leader, as the soldiers once more +entered the yard. + +"Simply because he could ride faster than we could," replied one of the +band in a surly tone. "His horse was fresh and ours had been out all +night." + +The officer was angry, but, after a few sharp words to his men, he bade +them enter the kitchen and get their breakfast. + +"Did thee find him?" inquired Nathan. + +"No, we didn't find him. I'd chase him right into camp if it wasn't that +I must hurry back to the colonel with the word you've given me. You're +sure about what you told me?" + +"What did I tell thee?" inquired Nathan blandly. + +"About the march of the rebels," replied the officer angrily. "I half +believe you're in league with them yourself, in spite of all your +whining words. If I thought you were I'd leave your body for the crows +to pick." + +"And is that the method which seemeth to thee to prove thou art right, +and that I am no man of peace?" + +"Oh, never mind, old man, never mind my words. Perhaps I'm a little too +hard with you. This young rebel's getting away from us has put me out of +temper. What I want to know is whether you believe what you said about +the rebels coming through Cranberry." + +"I have given thee the words as they were given me. I am not in the +councils of the 'rebels,' as it seemeth good to thee to call them, and +cannot say more. It is for thee to judge, not me, who am a man of peace +and not familiar with the ways of warlike men." + +By this time the men had finished their breakfast, and a hurried +consultation followed. The decision at which they arrived was soon +apparent when the leader approached Nathan, and, holding forth some +silver in his hand, said, "There, take that for the breakfast you've +given us." + +"I thank thee," replied Nathan, accepting the money. + +"Are you going back with us, lad?" said the officer, turning to Tom as +he spoke. + +"No. You said all you wanted of me was to point out the way to +Cranberry." + +"So I did, but if this old man speaks the truth,--and I'm inclined to +think he does,--you'll be better off with us than you will be to stay +behind when the rebels are coming. You'll have a good horse to ride, +too; you must not forget that." + +"I think I'll stay. I'm not afraid of the rebels, and can find my way +all right." Tom's heart was beating rapidly, and the fear that +permission for him to remain would not be granted was uppermost in his +thoughts. + +"Have it your own way, lad, have it your own way. I only spoke what I +thought was for your own best good." + +He gave a few orders to his men, and in a brief time the band departed, +riding swiftly up the road and soon disappearing from sight. + +"This was not a bad morning's work, Friend Thomas," said Nathan, when at +last the men were gone, jingling the silver in his pocket as he spoke. + +"It was a good deal better than I ever expected to have," replied Tom. + +Neither of them realized, however, the full consequences, for Nathan's +words, in addition to what the officer had already discovered, caused +him to return in all haste with the information he had received to +Colonel Simcoe. That officer, upon receiving the word, which was +corroborated by other discoveries he had made, at once reported to Sir +Henry Clinton, and an immediate change in the plans of the British was +made. The advance to the Raritan was speedily abandoned, the route to +the Highlands was at once chosen, and it was decided that the army +should march by the way of Monmouth Court House. The battle of Monmouth, +which soon followed, thus became possible, and that, with all its +consequences to the struggling patriots, turned upon the information +which Colonel Simcoe had received, and which he speedily carried to his +commander. + +Upon such slight events do those which we sometimes call the greater +ones turn. Perhaps as we grow older and wiser we shall come to perceive +more clearly the true relation which the so-called little things of life +bear to the greater ones. A very wise man once declared that "he who was +faithful in the little affairs of life was very greatly faithful." In +any event, we have partially learned the lesson that it is a test of +true greatness to be able to do little things well, and that the very +best evidence of a man's being able to do the greater things is that he +is willing to do the smaller ones, as they come to him, faithfully and +honestly. + +However, neither Nathan nor Tom was moralizing after this fashion when +they entered the house after watching the departure of the British +soldiers. Tom then related all his recent experiences to Nathan, not +omitting the story of Benzeor's misdeeds. + +The old Quaker listened attentively, and it was apparent from his +frequent expressions of anger that his interest in the success of the +Continentals was not entirely banished by his peaceful professions. + +"What thee needs now, friend Thomas," he said, when at last the lad's +story was ended, "is a good rest. Rachel has a bed ready for thee." + +Tom followed his friend to the room upstairs, and soon stretched himself +upon the bed. How grateful it seemed to the weary lad! For a moment he +gazed at the four high posts, but soon everything was forgotten and he +was asleep. + +How long he slept he did not know, but he was awakened by Nathan, who +called to him and said, "Friend Thomas, there is some one below who +desires to see thee." + +Tom leaped from the bed and followed the Quaker down the stairs, +wondering who it was that wished to see him. There were confused +thoughts in his mind of the British officer and Benzeor, but he was not +in the least prepared for the sight upon which he looked when he entered +the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A RARE BEAST + + +IT is necessary now for us to turn and follow some of the movements of +that army which Tom Coward was so eager to join. + +Sir Henry Clinton fully understood that he had little to gain from an +engagement with Washington's army at this time. The Americans were not +holding any position which he desired to gain, their stores and +equipments were of slight value, and if Washington should be defeated, +the result would be that his men would simply be scattered in the +surrounding region, where they would still be free to carry on their +straggling methods of warfare, and harass the British by falling upon +their baggage trains and shooting at the men as they marched along the +country roads. + +On the other hand, Clinton's stores were numerous and of no little +value. The loss of them would be a serious blow to the redcoats, while +the possession of them by the Continentals would put new life into the +cause of the poorly equipped patriots. And above all of these things, +the danger which now threatened from the approach of a French fleet led +the British commander to hasten forward to the defense of New York, +which he feared was likely to be the first place to be attacked by the +allies of the colonies. + +The very motives which caused Sir Henry to wish to avoid an engagement +were those which appealed most strongly to Washington to enter into one. +He had but little to lose and much to gain. A defeat for the British +would mean a weakening of the defense of New York, and the long train of +baggage wagons was a most tempting prize. The possession of those stores +would replenish the scanty supplies of the Americans; and, as we know, +Washington had eagerly pushed his army forward, hoping to gain a +position in advance of the British and fall upon them in some +advantageous position which he himself could select. + +The main body had advanced as far as Hopewell, as we have already +learned in the course of this story, but there had halted for a brief +time. The weather had been unusually trying, and as a consequence the +men were suffering intensely. Even the "oldest inhabitants" had never +known such a summer. The thermometer had climbed well up into the +nineties and then had stayed there. The frequent thunder showers +apparently did not cool the air and afforded no relief, as the +sultriness seemed to be increased by each one. The roads had become +heavy and well-nigh impassable in places, and when at last the men had +marched to the plains of Hopewell, Washington wisely halted to give them +their much needed rest. + +Another matter led the great commander to remain there for a time. He +had now gained a position which offered him a considerable advantage, +and he wished to call a council of his officers to consult concerning +his further movements. + +Accordingly, the second of the councils since the army had departed from +Philadelphia was then called, and the one question in the mind of the +commander was this: "Will it be advisable to hazard a general +engagement?" + +General Charles Lee, who was second in command, and was by some even +then suspected of being in secret league with Howe, was present, and his +voice was soon heard. Lee was a Welshman, brilliant in certain ways, +and had seen much service in the armies of Europe. Many had preferred +him to Washington as the commander-in-chief of the American armies, and +Lee himself was not averse to the idea. He affected to regard Washington +with contempt, looking upon him as a man who lacked military training +and of but little ability. His jealousy already had been the cause of +many serious troubles, and at the present time, in spite of the fact +that he had been exchanged for the British general Prescott, captured in +a manner not unlike that in which Lee himself had been taken in a +previous winter at Morristown, he apparently was unmindful of all the +regard bestowed upon him, and was not unwilling to see Washington make +some mistakes which would bring upon the leader the anger of his +fellows, and perhaps open the way for Lee to gain his position. This +view of the case is certainly to be preferred to that which marked him +simply as a traitor and in league with the enemy, although in all +likelihood both, in a measure, were correct. Probably Washington +understood the man thoroughly at the time, and we may be certain that +his troubles were not decreased by his knowledge. + +Lee was possessed of a strikingly ugly face, and his plain features were +the cause of many rude jests among the soldiers who were opposed to him. +But whatever his lacks in personal beauty or moral character may have +been, he at least had a most persuasive tongue. His eager and impulsive +manner, his commonly accredited ability, and his foreign training, which +had great influence among many of his ruder and unpolished companions, +caused some of the men about him to become ready listeners to what he +had to say. + +In the council which Washington called at Hopewell, Lee exerted himself +to the utmost to oppose the proposition to enter into an engagement with +the advancing British. So persuasive were his words that the majority of +the officers voted with him that it would not be advisable to detach +more than fifteen hundred men from the main body to harass the enemy on +their flank and rear, while the remainder of the army should preserve +their present position relative to the British, and be governed by +circumstances. + +Just what Lee's motive was is not fully apparent. Whether he wished to +avoid a battle or simply desired to cause Washington to fail in taking +advantage of the favorable opportunity, which Lee himself must have seen +had presented itself, is not clearly known. It may have been a +combination of both wishes. + +General Wayne bitterly opposed the proposition of Lee, and generals such +as Greene, Lafayette, Steuben, and others, expressed themselves as being +decidedly of the opinion that, at the very least, twenty-five hundred +men should be detached from the main body and sent forward to carry out +Washington's plan. + +Lee's motion, however, prevailed; but while Washington seemingly +consented to the decision of the council, we can now see, as we look +backward, that his own purpose was not changed. Perhaps he was +strengthened in his opinion by the words of General Wayne and General +Greene, spoken after the breaking up of the assembly, for we know that +they then expressed themselves very freely to their leader. + +Apparently yielding to the expressed wishes of the majority, Washington +dispatched General Scott with fifteen hundred men "to gall the enemy's +left flank and rear," as he expressed it in the letters he wrote that +day to General Dickinson and the president of the Continental Congress; +and on the following day advanced with his army to Kingston, and halted +there on the very day when Tom Coward arrived at the house of Friend +Nathan Brown in Cranberry. + +As Tom came down the stairs and entered the room below, his surprise was +great when he saw young Lieutenant Gordon standing before him. +"Where--where did you come from?" said the astonished boy. "I thought +they chased you out into the woods!" + +"So they did. So they did," laughed the young officer; "but that doesn't +mean that I was bound to stay there, does it? I had spent the night with +Friend Nathan here, and I had such a good time I almost decided to come +back for another. And then, too, I left a lad here whose face haunted +me, he looked so scared and white." + +"I was scared," said Tom, "for I thought they'd got you. How in the +world did you ever manage to get away from them?" + +"Oh, I've learned by experience," replied the lieutenant, laughing. +"This was about the closest call I ever had, and once there, when my +horse slipped on the barn floor, I thought I was done for; but it's all +come out right, you see. When I once got into the woods I knew I was +all right, and I didn't have to go very far, either. About noon I +thought I'd venture back and see what had become of Friend Nathan and +Tom Coward, for I didn't believe those redcoats would stay here very +long after they found out that our army is over here by Kingston." + +"Kingston?" said Tom quickly. "Kingston? Why, that's only ten miles from +here!" + +"Correct, my son; correct. They'll be nearer yet, very soon." + +Tom was excited in a moment, and eagerly began to ask many questions. +The young lieutenant replied to them all, and then said to the Quaker, +who had remained silent during the conversation, "And now, Friend +Nathan, you feel sure that those redcoats will carry the word back to +Clinton that we've turned out of our way to meet them, do you?" + +"Verily, I do," replied Nathan. "It was for the very purpose of learning +the plans of Washington that they dared to venture as far as this. I +endeavored to learn from the soldier what effect he thought his report +would have upon the British leader, but he did not speak in many words. +Doubtless he considered them valueless to a man of peace. But thy +surmise is correct, I doubt not." + +"Then the sooner we put out of this the better, Tom; that is, if you're +still of the same mind you were day before yesterday." + +"I'm ready to go," replied Tom eagerly. + +The thought of the American army being only ten miles away aroused all +his enthusiasm once more. He knew nothing of camp life, and the +hardships were not in his thoughts. He knew that he had no place to +which he could go, and now that he had left Benzeor's home he felt like +an outcast. Besides, he had dreamed of joining the army, and, now that +at last the longed-for day had arrived, all his curiosity and eagerness +returned in full measure. + +"But I haven't any horse and you're mounted," he added. "I don't see how +I can go with you. You can't wait for me to trudge along on foot." + +"That is something of a poser," replied the lieutenant. "No, it's a fact +I can't waste much time on the road with such news as I have to carry +back to camp. Perhaps my horse will carry double part of the way." + +"I have a beast I might let thee have," said Nathan. + +"That's the way to talk!" said the lieutenant eagerly. "Where is this +horse of yours?" + +"It is out in the back lot in the woods. My heart was filled with fears +of the war men, and I dared not to leave any of my property within their +sight." + +As Nathan still hesitated, the lieutenant said quickly, "Hurry up, +Nathan! Get your horse and let us start. We've no time to lose." + +"Thou knowest that I am a man of peace," said the Quaker slowly. "It is +not for me to waste my property in this wicked war." + +"That's the way the wind blows, is it?" laughed the lieutenant. "Well, I +don't know that I can promise you very much, but I'll do what I can for +you after I get back to camp. But I'll tell you what, Nathan, you'll not +be the loser to give up the horse to us, and with a good grace, too. +Both of the armies are likely to pass this way, and you won't have much +left on your place, I can tell you. Now, if you give it up you may get +something for it, and then, too, you'll have the credit of doing +something for your country." + +"What did the war men give thee, Friend Thomas? Did I not hear thee say +that the war men rewarded thee for thy services?" + +"Yes," said Tom quickly, drawing the two half joes forth from his pocket +as he spoke. "Here they are. You can have them and welcome." + +"The beast is not what would be considered a valuable one, Friend +Thomas, and yet he is still capable of rendering some service to me. I +will take one of thy half joes and leave the other with thee. Then thou +canst see that I am suitably repaid after thou hast joined thy comrades +in the war." + +The young lieutenant slyly winked at Tom as the lad handed the man one +of his half joes, and then said, "Hurry up, Nathan! We've got to start +soon, and ought to be off now. We'll do the best we can for you, as we +said. You're going to give us something to eat, aren't you, before we +go?" + +"It shall be according to thy desire. Rachel, if thou hast some milk and +a small portion of corn bread, set it before these guests whilst I am +gone for my beast." + +The old man departed, and his wife carried out his request. The +lieutenant and Tom at once seated themselves at the table and hastily +ate the food she set before them, for neither knew when another +opportunity might be found. In the ten miles which lay between them and +the army of Washington many adventures might be awaiting them, and it +was only the part of wisdom to make the most of the present. + +"I have thy beast for thee," said Nathan, soon afterwards entering the +room. "He is not what might be called by thee a swift beast, but he is +still possessed of some excellent qualities. Thou hast promised to see +that I am further rewarded for my gift." + +Tom and the lieutenant hastened out of the room to examine Nathan's +"gift," and, as they saw the horse which he had tied to the post, they +both stopped in surprise and the lieutenant broke into a loud laugh. + +"Oh, Friend Nathan," said he, adopting the Quaker's style of speech, +"thou art a friend indeed! Dost thou call that thing a 'beast'? Thou +hast cheated the lad woefully. A good half joe for that scarecrow? Thou +oughtest to reward Thomas for riding him, for I am of the opinion that I +shall be compelled to carry him into camp in two pieces if he mounts +that 'razorback.' Oh, Nathan, Nathan! Who would have believed it of +thee?" + +The horse was old and gaunt. A spavin was apparent in one leg, while on +another was a great ringbone. One eye betrayed its blindness, and, +altogether, the poor animal presented a most woe-begone and helpless +appearance. + +"He hath not beauty, as I told thee," said Nathan soberly. "But he is of +value to me, and thou hast promised to see that I am suitably rewarded." + +"Oh, Tom! Tom!" laughed the lieutenant. "What a sight you'll be on the +back of that bunch of bones! There's no help for it, though. Come on and +we'll see what the poor 'beast' can do!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE RELEASE OF BENZEOR + + +BENZEOR'S plight was a sad one, but as he gazed about him in his +helplessness the only face upon which he could discover any traces of +sympathy or compassion was that of Little Peter. The lad had had no +suspicion of his neighbor, and was ignorant, as we know, of the part +which Benzeor had taken in the attack on his father's house. Even now it +was difficult for him to believe that Ted had spoken truly. He must have +been mistaken, Peter thought, as he recalled the kindness of Sarah and +Benzeor's wife in permitting the children to find a shelter in their +home. + +Perhaps the perplexed lad's face betrayed his feelings, for just at that +moment Benzeor looked up and said,-- + +"There! That boy knows me!" and he pointed at Little Peter as he spoke. +"He knows all about me, for he's a neighbor of mine. I tell you there's +been a mistake. I'm not the man you're"-- + +Benzeor's words were suddenly interrupted by Ted, who thrust his head +again under the water, and when he lifted him out once more the prisoner +was sputtering and gasping for breath. + +"Made a mistake, did I?" exclaimed the angry giant. "Well, mebbe I did, +but I reckon the biggest one was in not keepin' you under the river all +the time. Runnin' round here prowlin' on defenseless women folks and +tryin' to steal what little money they've got left! Drownin' 's too good +for such as you!" And, unable to restrain himself, the angry man again +shook his helpless victim till it seemed as if the little breath Benzeor +retained must be driven from his body. + +"I--I--I'm telling you the truth," gasped Benzeor when he had recovered +sufficiently to be able to speak again. "Won't you help me? Won't you +save me from this--this--man?" he pleaded, turning to the men in the +whaleboat. "That--that boy there knows me, and he'll tell you I--I--I'm +all right. Won't you, Little Peter? Please! Please, tell them!" + +"Do you know him?" said the leader to Little Peter. + +"Yes," replied the lad quietly. + +"Ye don't know any good of him, do ye?" said Ted, interrupting, and +tightening his grasp upon the collar of his victim as he spoke. + +"He is a neighbor of mine, as he said. I never knew any bad of him. And +his wife and girl are taking care of the children. I know that." Little +Peter was perplexed, and his suspicions had been aroused by the +discovery of his neighbor in his present predicament, but the +recollection of Sarah's kindness moved him to refer to their recent +actions, in the hope that he might aid her father. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" laughed Ted. "Then his wife takes care of her children, +does she? She must be a wonderful woman to do that. Well, let her take +care of her brats, and I'll take care of her man, and good care, too!" + +As Ted acted as if he were about to renew his attentions, the leader +hastily said, "The lad doesn't mean this fellow's children, but his own +little brothers and sisters," and in a few words he related the story of +the attack on Little Peter's home, and the sad loss which had occurred +there. + +"Ye don't say so!" said Ted, bestowing a glance of sympathy upon the +boy. "That's bad! It is indeed! And ye say this fellow has taken yer +little brothers and sisters into his place?" + +"Yes," said Peter eagerly. + +"Well, all I can say is that I'd about as soon put a hawk to look after +chickens, if it was my doin's." + +"Yes," said Benzeor quickly, striving to take advantage of the +impression which Little Peter's words had momentarily created. "Yes, the +children are all at my house, and being well looked after, too. That +doesn't look very much, does it, as if I was a bad man? I tell you +there's been a mistake! There's been a mistake! I didn't have anything +to do with the attack on this man's place. Help me! Help me!" he hastily +cried out, as Ted acted as if he were about to repeat his former +actions. + +"Hold on a minute, Ted. Perhaps the man's got something more to say," +said the leader. + +"I am a-holdin' on. Can't ye see that?" replied Ted grimly, once more +tightening his grasp upon the unfortunate Benzeor's collar. + +"I have got something to say. Something you want to hear, too," said +Benzeor eagerly, and appealing to the leader in the whaleboat as he +spoke. + +"Say it," said Ted gruffly. + +"The British are going to make an attack on the ship down in the bay." + +"What's that you say?" said the leader quickly. "Do you mean on the +Washington?" + +"Yes, yes, that's just what I mean. There are a couple of gunboats off +the shore here now, and they're going to land some men and get her back +again." + +"There are two boats off the shore, Ted. I happen to know that, for this +very craft we've got along with us we took from them this afternoon," +said the leader. And he briefly related the story of the capture. + +"There, ye see I'm right!" said Benzeor, eager to follow up the +impression his words and those of the leader had created. "Now if you'll +help me out of the clutches of"-- + +"Keep still, you!" interrupted Ted angrily. "It'll be time enough for +you to talk when I let go on ye. I reckon nobody is a-goin' to take you +out o' my clutches till I get good and ready to let ye go. Now then, +stand up straight and speak yer piece like a little man! How did ye +happen to know the British was a-goin' to make an attack on the +Washington?" + +"I heard one of the men up by your house say so." + +"I thought ye didn't have anything to do with that attack on poor +Sallie! She's my wife, I'd have ye know. I thought you was a-sayin' you +wasn't there, and all the time I see ye, and chased ye right out o' my +yard, clear down to the river! And now ye say ye heard one of the men +there tell about the plan the British have on deck to get the Washington +back again!" + +"I didn't say I wasn't there," pleaded Benzeor. "All I said was that I +didn't have anything to do with it, and I didn't." + +"Ye"--began Ted, all his anger instantly returning. + +"Hold on, Ted! Hold on! Let's hear what the man has to say," exclaimed +the leader. + +"I'll hold on, never ye fret yerself about that!" replied Ted, still +retaining a firm grasp on his victim, but nevertheless abandoning the +action he had evidently had in mind. + +"I was there, I'm not denying that," pleaded Benzeor; "but I didn't have +a gun in my hands, and I didn't touch the rope either. I fell in with +the men and they made me go with them. I just couldn't help myself. And +it was while I was there I heard 'em talking about the plan to take the +Love--I mean the Washington," he hastily added. "They're going to take +her in the morning." + +"You mean they're going to try to take her," said the leader. + +"Yes, that's what I mean; they're going to try to take her." + +"The reptile may be tellin' the truth," said Ted soberly. "I had some o' +the best o' the Washington's cargo myself. Ye know they brought about +all that was aboard o' her up to Manasquan, and sold it here, or +leastwise Marshal John Stokes sold it for 'em. I happen to know about +that, and the vermin here may be tellin' the truth. Sometimes he does it +by mistake, I suppose." + +A few weeks prior to this time the British ship Love and Unity ran +ashore near Tom's River. There were those among the people of the region +who wagged their heads and winked slyly whenever they referred to the +misfortune of the vessel, for it was a prevailing impression there that +the pilot had not been especially favorable to the British, and more by +design than by accident had grounded the vessel near the shore. + +Be that as it may, the militia had quickly rallied, and as most of the +men were as much at home upon the water as they were upon the land, they +seized the unfortunate Love and Unity, and brought her safely into port +as a prize. + +The cargo was considered a very valuable one, consisting, as it did, +chiefly of sugar and various liquors highly prized by the men of those +days, and, after being duly advertised, was sold by John Stokes at +Manasquan. + +The Love and Unity was renamed the Washington, and at this time was +lying at anchor near the mouth of Tom's River, within the shelter of +Barnegat Bay. As most of the men in the whaleboat, as well as the mighty +Ted himself, were familiar with these facts, the words of Benzeor +naturally created a far deeper impression than they might otherwise have +done. + +"I'll tell ye what," said Ted suddenly, turning Benzeor about so that he +could look directly into his face as he spoke, "ye seem so well posted +I've half a mind to let ye go." + +"I'm telling you just exactly what I heard," said Benzeor, his hope of +escape instantly increasing. "That's what I heard the men say." + +"And it was in the mornin' when they was goin' to come?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I'm a-goin' to let you off. Hold on a minit," he added as Benzeor +strove to free himself. "I haven't finished yet. I'm thinkin' of lettin' +ye go on one condition." + +"What's that?" said Benzeor eagerly. + +"I'm comin' to that pretty quick. I'm pretty comfortable here, so to +speak, and don't appear to be in such a hurry as you." As the two men +were still standing in the water, and Benzeor's teeth were chattering +from cold or fear, the words of the huge man were perhaps not fully +appreciated by his prisoner. "Ye appear to be so happy over yer +information--though fer my part I don't see what ye held it back till +this time fer--that I'm a-goin' to give ye a treat. I'm a-goin' to let +ye go, yes, I am; ye needn't be scart about that. Ye're goin', and I'll +tell ye where ye're goin', too. Ye're goin, to join the crew o' this +whaleboat and go down and help them defend the Washington against her +enemies. That's the condition I'm placin' on ye, and that's what I'm +goin' to do with ye." + +And the powerful man picked Benzeor up in his arms and placed him in +the whaleboat next to Peter, who, we may be sure, had not been an +uninterested observer of all that had occurred. + +"There ye be," said Ted, breaking forth into a loud laugh as he saw the +dripping Benzeor hastily take his seat and glance apprehensively toward +him. "Now, then," he added, turning to the leader, and still remaining +in the water, which came well up to his shoulders as he placed his hand +on the side of the supply boat, "if ye want me to, I'll take charge o' +yer prize. You'll be puttin' straight fer Tom's River, I doubt not, and +ye won't want to be bothered by an extra craft. I'll hide her in a good +place up the shore, and likely enough I may come down to the bay myself +in the night. Ye'll be settin' up a-waitin' fer me, won't ye?" he added, +speaking to Benzeor. + +As that individual made no reply, Ted again began to converse with the +leader of the band, and in a few minutes all the details were arranged. +The captured boat was to be left in his charge, and soon the whaleboat +started down the river toward the ocean. + +The sun had now disappeared from sight, but the approach of night was +all the more favorable for the plans of the men. When once they were +out on the ocean, they hoisted a sail and sped rapidly down the coast. + +A sail of a little more than twenty miles brought them to Barnegat +Inlet, and as they entered the bay it was decided to make use of the +oars again. It was almost midnight when at last they saw the Washington +at anchor in Tom's River, and their hail was quickly answered. + +Little Peter was so thoroughly wearied by the labors of the long day +that he was rejoiced to be told that he could turn in for the night. +Benzeor was to have a hammock near him, and, tired as the lad was, he +eagerly began to ply the man with questions when they had withdrawn from +their fellows. + +"Benzeor, I came down here to find out about father. I suppose you know +he was taken by Fenton's gang and that my mother was shot?" + +"I heard about it." + +"It was terrible, Benzeor. I don't know what I should have done if Sarah +hadn't taken the children. 'Twas good of her, and of you, too, for you +know all about it, I see. I shan't forget it very soon." + +As Benzeor made no reply, Peter continued: "I don't know just what to +do to find out about father. The pine robbers have their quarters down +here, I'm told, and I thought I'd tell Captain Dennis about it and +perhaps he would send out a party to search for him. I didn't know just +what to make of your being here at first, but I see you have had trouble +with them, too. That was mean of Ted to treat you as he did when you +said the pine robbers made you go with them. Was it Fenton's band that +got hold of you?" + +"Yes; that is, I don't think so. I'm not just sure who they were." + +"Couldn't have been Fenton then, for you know him when you see him, I'm +sure. Benzeor, don't you think I'd better report the capture of my +father to Captain Dennis and ask him if he won't send out a searching +party?" + +"No," said Benzeor slowly. "I don't think that will do any good." + +"Why not? What else can I do?" + +"Why, the fact is," said Benzeor, "I heard those men talking about your +father, too." + +"Did you?" said Peter eagerly, sitting up in his hammock as he spoke. He +could not see his companion's face in the darkness, and perhaps it was +as well for the troubled lad that he could not, for he would have seen +little to comfort him expressed upon it. + +"Yes, I heard 'em. There's no use in your reporting it to Captain Dennis +or to any one else." + +"Why not? Why not? They haven't shot him, have they?" + +"No. He's been sent to New York." + +Peter said no more. The thick darkness seemed like that within his own +soul. All his efforts had been worse than useless, and the troubled boy +knew not what next to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FLEET OF BARGES + + +THE present visit was by no means the first which Little Peter had made +to Barnegat Bay and the vicinity of Tom's River. Before the outbreaking +of the war he had occasionally gone there with Webberly West, the most +noted hunter of deer and wolves in all the region. Great had been the +pride of Little Peter when he had returned home with his first deer, +some four or five years before this time; and, as he lay in his hammock +that night, again and again his thoughts wandered from his present +difficulties to the days when he had tramped through the region with the +venerable hunter Webberly. + +The old man had died just before the war began, but many of his quaint +expressions and kindly acts remained in Little Peter's memory. He it was +who had taught him how to dig the pits and cover them over with brush, +and place the tempting pieces of meat as a decoy for the prowling +wolves. Little Peter could never forget the first time success had +crowned his efforts, and he had looked down upon the eyes of the wolf +which had fallen into the pit. He could feel the thrill of that +excitement even now. + +And Webberly had taught him also how to catch the great snapping turtles +which abounded in the streams. Sometimes turtles were taken which +weighed fully thirty pounds each. What savage creatures they were! and +yet the old hunter had handled them as if he had known no fear. A +constant war was waged upon these creatures by the settlers for two +reasons, one of which was that they were highly valued as an article of +food. The captive would be thrown into a barrel and for a few days fed +upon the refuse from the tables, to which perhaps at times more +substantial food would be added, and then when the turtles had gained +the proper degree of plumpness, a feast would be made to which friends +and neighbors were not infrequently invited. The eggs of the turtles +also were highly valued; and so plentiful were they in the warm sand +along the shore that a bushel-basket was frequently filled with them +after a brief search. It was true the foxes were as eager as the men to +dig out and devour the turtles' eggs, but the supply appeared to be +almost inexhaustible and there were more than enough for all. + +Another reason which prompted the settlers to prey upon the huge turtles +was the fact that their ducks suffered from the savage creatures. A +turtle would seize a duck in his claws and tear and devour the bird in +an incredibly short time. Naturally, the owners of the ducks objected to +the methods of the turtles, and a constant warfare was the result. + +Peter had occasionally gone down to Barnegat with Indian John also. The +Indian always seemed to know just where the clams could be found in +greatest abundance, and he knew as well just how they ought to be +cooked. He would dig a hole in the sand and then fill it with wood, to +which he would set fire. Then the clams would be poured into the place +and covered over with seaweed and brush. When a sufficient time had +passed, the brush and seaweed would be raked out, and the cooked clams +were considered as a great luxury. This custom of the Indians was +bequeathed to the whites, and their method of cooking the clams remains +in some portions of the land until this day. + +Between the thoughts of his own troubles and his recollections of former +visits to the place in which he then was, not much sleep came to Little +Peter that night. The knowledge that his father had been sent to New +York--for the troubled lad did not think of doubting Benzeor's +words--and the prospect of an attack upon the Washington on the +following morning were both sources of deep anxiety to the sadly +troubled boy. Only four men were on board when the whaleboat had +returned; and while the addition of the ten men she brought, or eleven +if Benzeor was to be included in the list of the Washington's defenders, +materially increased her strength, still, the prospect of a strong +defense was not very bright, and if the truth was known Little Peter was +not the only one on board who passed a sleepless night. + +In addition to all this, the lad was sorely troubled as to his own +future movements. With his father a prisoner in New York and the +children quartered for the present at Benzeor's, Little Peter could not +determine what was best for him to do. To go to the city and seek to aid +his father there would be worse than useless now; nor was he able to +provide for his younger brothers and sisters. The problem had not been +solved when at last he fell into a troubled sleep, from which he was +awakened by the sound of men moving about on deck. + +Hastily arising, and noting that Benzeor already was astir, he soon made +his way up to his companions. The sun was well up in the eastern sky, +and the men were preparing for such a defense as might be made against +any attempt to retake the boat. + +Little Peter found that the most of the men did not believe that any +such attempt would be made; and the suspicion with which they regarded +Benzeor increased the feeling of sympathy which the lad felt for him, +for to him it seemed as if his neighbor had been most unjustly treated, +not only by the powerful Ted, but by the men of the whaleboat as well. +He thought he had abundant cause for believing in Benzeor's honesty, for +had he not received his own little brothers and sisters into his home? +Surely, a man who would do that could not be bad, and his indignation +against his recent companions increased as he noticed their +ill-concealed dislike for his neighbor. + +The men all had breakfast on board; and while a constant watch was +maintained, nothing as yet had been seen to arouse their suspicion that +an attack was likely to be made. Even Little Peter was beginning to +think that either Benzeor had been mistaken or that the British had +changed their plans, and that nothing would be done that morning. He was +about to approach the leader and explain to him the necessity for his +own departure, when he was startled by a cry from the watch. + +Looking out over the bay, Little Peter could see a number of barges +approaching. Startled by the sight, he counted the boats until he could +distinctly make out eight of them. Doubtless there were eight or ten men +in each boat, and altogether there must be at least seventy in the +approaching party. + +The excitement on board the Washington at once became intense. The men +stood together on the deck watching the little fleet on the bay. The +only means by which they could defend themselves were their muskets, and +it was soon discovered that these would not avail much against the +enemy, for with the aid of a glass it was discovered that in the bow of +one of the approaching boats a small cannon had been mounted. + +A hurried consultation was held by the men on board, to which neither +Little Peter nor Benzeor was invited; the former because he was +considered too young to be of much account, and the latter because no +one trusted him. + +"They'll get this craft now," said Benzeor, approaching the place where +the lad was standing. "Perhaps these fellows will believe me another +time." + +There was a tone of exultation in Benzeor's voice that startled Little +Peter, and turning quickly about he said, "You did speak truly, Benzeor. +I wish I were out of this. We stand no chance at all." + +"You needn't be alarmed. There won't be any fighting done. You took my +part yesterday, and I'll not see you suffer now. I'll fix you out all +right." + +"You'll fix me out? I don't see what you can do. We ought to leave the +ship this minute. I don't see what we're waiting for." Little Peter +spoke anxiously and was at no pains to conceal the alarm he felt. + +"I hope they won't run," said Benzeor quietly. His air of confidence was +confusing; but as yet Little Peter was not suspicious of his neighbor. + +"They don't act as if they were going to," said the lad quickly, as the +assembly of the men broke up and all began to rush about the deck. + +"Come, my lad! come!" said the leader. "Lend a hand here! And you, too," +he added to Benzeor; "bestir yourself." + +Benzeor's face fell, but he was in no position to refuse to obey. Such +defenses as the Washington possessed were rolled together behind the +rail, and it was at once evident that the men were not planning to give +up the ship without a struggle. + +The long whaleboat was placed in readiness to receive them, in case +flight became necessary, and then the men waited for the approach of the +attacking party. + +The boats came steadily on, keeping well together. Little Peter found +himself sharing in the excitement, but as the outlines of the men became +more distinct his fears increased. What could be done against so many, +for it was now seen that there were more men in the barges than at first +had been estimated. The boats were spread out in a semicircle, but they +were all converging toward the Washington, and plainly would begin the +attack together. There were more of those small cannon also than at +first had been seen; and as the boats came nearer and nearer, it was +discovered that a man was standing near each and ready to fire at the +word of command. + +The faces of the men on board the Washington were all pale now, and not +a word had been spoken for several minutes. Each man was intent upon the +movements of the men in the barges, and did not turn away from the sight +before him. Benzeor was the sole exception, and Little Peter could not +understand the meaning of the half exultant smile upon his face. For +himself, he was too badly frightened to speak, and the evident fear +manifested by his companions did not tend to allay his own. + +The waters in the mouth of the river spread out almost as smooth as +glass. The rays of the morning sun were reflected from the surface of +the water and made it sparkle like silver. The occasional call of some +seabird or the flight of the low flying gulls were all that broke in +upon the silence, but no one heeded them. It was that slow moving but +steadily approaching fleet of barges that held the attention of all. + +Little Peter wondered why the command to shoot was not given, for the +boats were all within range now. His own hands were trembling in his +excitement, but he was eager to act. At one moment he longed to leap +overboard and try to swim to the shore, and then again he would feel as +if he must do something to check the approach of those men in the +barges. + +Not a word had yet been spoken, however. The oars of the approaching men +could now be distinctly seen as they rose and fell together. Steadily on +and on came the little fleet, and now could not be more than two hundred +yards away. Why did not the men on board do something? He felt that the +time for action had come, but all were standing silent and motionless, +apparently fascinated by the sight before them. The smile on Benzeor's +face was almost mocking, and Little Peter saw him look from the fleet to +the men on board, almost as if he were exulting in their predicament. +What could it all mean? Why was not something done? Surely the time for +action had come, but still no one spoke. + +A hail now came from the approaching fleet, and the man who evidently +was in command stood up in his place. He was still too far away for his +words to be heard, and again the barges, which had halted for a moment, +resumed their approach and with an increased speed. + +"Men," suddenly called the leader of those on board the Washington, in a +low voice, "we must get out of this! We're outnumbered seven or eight to +one, and it would be just murder for us to stay here. Man the whaleboat, +and we'll put out for the shore." + +The hopelessness of any defense was so apparent that the men instantly +responded and made a rush for the whaleboat, which had been made ready +for just such an emergency. In a moment the men were on board and had +grasped their oars preparatory to starting for the shore, when Little +Peter suddenly noticed that Benzeor was not with them. + +"Hold on! Hold on a minute!" he called. "Benzeor isn't here!" + +The leader, who had remained on deck to be the last to leave, turned +quickly at the words and discovered Benzeor striving to conceal himself +among the defenses which had been piled together against the rail. + +"Here, you!" he shouted. "Come out of that and get aboard! Be quick +about it! I'll wing you if you don't," he added, raising his gun as he +spoke, noticing that his call was not likely to be heeded. + +Benzeor quickly responded, and sullenly took his place on board the +whaleboat; but the men were all too intent upon their escape to bestow +much attention upon him. + +In a moment the leader leaped on board and gave the order to give way. +The long whaleboat darted swiftly forward as the men began to pull +desperately at their oars. They needed no encouragement now, for, with +their departure from the Washington, their only hope of safety lay in a +quick passage to the shore, which lay about a hundred yards away. + +A shout from the men in the barges greeted the appearance of the +whaleboat as it shot out into sight, but the hail was not heeded. One of +the small cannon was discharged, and from one of the barges came a +volley; but only one man was hit, and the whaleboat rapidly increased +its speed. + +The shore was near now, and the desperate men were putting forth all +their strength. The barges did not pursue, for the sailors were intent +upon gaining the ship first of all. In a few moments the whaleboat +grounded, and the men leaped out and started quickly for the woods which +grew close to the shore. + +Little Peter was in the rear, and as he turned back to see what would be +done by the other party, he was astonished to see Benzeor turn quickly +and start at full speed for the whaleboat again. In a moment he had +leaped on board, and, seizing one of the oars, with a strong push sent +the boat far out upon the river. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE RIDE WITH THE LIEUTENANT + + +TOM COWARD followed young Lieutenant Gordon as he led the way to the +post to which Friend Nathan had tied the steed, and then stopped and for +a moment gazed ruefully at the beast. His friend's good-natured laugh +broke forth again as he beheld Tom's evident hesitancy about mounting to +the back of the animal; and surely to a boy who had been accustomed to +ride the colts in Benzeor's pastures without saddle or bridle, and dash +about the lots in sheer delight at the antics and efforts of the +unbroken steeds to dislodge their rider, there was not much to inspire +or impress him in the sight of the broken-winded beast which Nathan had +provided. Even the horse himself appeared to be conscious of his +degradation, and stood motionless and with hanging head, as if he, too, +would protest against any warlike efforts on his part. + +"I've only one request to make, Nathan," said the lieutenant. "I'm sure +you will not object to it, but I think I'd better make it before we +start." + +"What is thy request?" said the Quaker. + +"If General Washington once sees that horse, he'll want it for himself. +You'll not object, will you, to his use of it?" + +"Nay. I think not that George Washington will care for this beast of +mine," protested Nathan soberly, and apparently not suspecting that the +young officer was poking fun at him. "Still, he may be able to make him +of some use. Thee will not forget to see that I am suitably rewarded?" + +"Never fear as to that, though I doubt not my friend Tom here will be of +the opinion that you ought to pay him handsomely for the pain he will +suffer after he has ridden your beast a few miles. That is, if the horse +can go as far as that." + +"Thy heart may rest easy as to that. He may limp when he first starts, +but as soon as his joints are warmed he will do thy service." + +"We'll warm his joints, then," laughed the lieutenant. "You might be +warming him up now, Tom," he added, turning to his companion, "while I'm +getting my horse ready. He's in the barn, and I'll join you in a minute +or two." + +In a brief time the officer returned, but his steed was showing the +evidences of his recent hard work, and Nathan's eyes twinkled with +satisfaction at the sight, for his own horse, perhaps, might not then be +at such a disadvantage, and the prospect of a "suitable" reward became +more promising. + +The young men quickly mounted, and, after thanking their host in a +substantial manner for his hospitality, started down the long lane which +led to the road beyond. Tom's horse limped painfully and caused no +little delight to young Gordon, who again and again laughed aloud and +offered all manner of suggestions to the lad concerning the impression +he would create when the army should discover his approach. + +At times Tom thought of dismounting and, turning the horse loose in the +road, strive to make his own way on foot; but the creaking joints of the +poor beast seemed to find relief with action, and the young riders had +not gone far on their way before, to the surprise of both, Nathan's +steed was proving his ability to keep up with the lieutenant's horse, +which evidently had been overridden and was in no condition for a hard +ride. + +But, with the discovery of the service which Tom's horse might render, +all the disposition to regard their journey lightly departed from the +riders, and the serious nature of their undertaking rendered both of +them silent. The American army could not be far distant now, but between +them and it all the dangers had not disappeared. The visit of the +British band at the home of Nathan Brown had indicated that other +parties might be in the region on similar errands; but Tom was not +thinking of these possibilities so much as was the young officer who was +riding by his side. + +Tom's meditations were mostly concerning the American army. For months +his strongest desire had been to join it, and now that the time had come +when his desires were likely to be satisfied, he discovered that much of +his eagerness was gone. Not that he had any thought of turning back, but +the proximity of the two armies clearly indicated that a meeting between +the forces was not improbable, and Tom's thoughts were largely of that. +The glamour was all gone now, and the serious nature of his undertaking +was uppermost in his mind. The silence also of his companion did not +tend to allay his fears, but the lad did not refer to them, and was +doing his utmost to make his horse keep up the pace at which he was +going. + +"Whew! This is a warm morning! Let's give our horses a drink and a +rest," said the lieutenant at last, as he turned into a little brook +that crossed the road. + +Tom followed his example, and the dripping horses thrust their heads +deep into the water. The sun had now appeared and the beams fell full on +their faces. The air was motionless, and even at that early hour was in +places quivering under the heat of the summer sun. The very birds were +silent, while high overhead the heavens were like brass. On the horizon +masses of dark clouds were piled, and a low, deep rumble startled both +the young riders. + +"Was that a cannon, or was it thunder?" inquired Tom quickly. + +"Thunder. We may hear the cannon before long, though." + +"Why don't we start on, then? The sooner we gain the army the better. We +don't want to be caught in here between them." Tom spoke anxiously, and +his fear was as apparent in the expression upon his face as in his +words. + +"We've got to give our horses a bit of a rest. Mine has been going hard +all night, and yours won't be able to go far in such heat as this. We'll +have to be careful of their strength, or we shall be worse off than we +are now." + +"Have you been out all night? What have you been doing?" + +"Finding out what Clinton is up to. When I was talking with Nathan I +knew all the time more about it than he did." + +"Did you find out?" said Tom eagerly. "What are the redcoats doing now?" + +"Pretty much the same thing they've been doing right along. They're +making a change in the direction they're going, unless I'm greatly +mistaken. And then, too, they've done something else which doesn't +promise very well." + +"What's that?" + +"They've drawn all their stronger forces into the rear guard and sent on +the Hessians with the baggage train in front, for one thing." + +"Why do you suppose they have done that?" + +"Oh, they've an idea, I fancy, that we're going to try to take their +supplies. They'll find out, though, that we're after men more than we +are after their baggage wagons. However, that explains the change in +the direction of their march, if I'm not greatly mistaken. They've put +the Hessians in front and the best men behind." + +"I wish they had left the Dutch butchers there!" said Tom impulsively. +"I hate the Hessians. I hate the very name and sight of them! Think of +it! A lot of men just hired to come over here and shoot and kill and +steal! I wish they had been left where they were, that is, if General +Washington is ready for them!" + +"I think you'll find him ready when the time comes," remarked the +lieutenant quietly. "But about the Hessians. I don't like them any +better than you do, but somehow I can't bring myself to feel about it as +some of the men do. I can't see that they're to be blamed for being +brought over here, or even being engaged in such work as they're doing; +and I know more about that than you do, too. The ones who are the worst +are not those who have come over here, but those who have sent them. +Just think of a petty little prince, or king, being able to hire out a +lot of his own subjects to pay off his own debts with! These men feel +just the same as you or I would, I have thought. They have wives and +mothers and children, and yet they have to leave them all and come over +here and be marks for our bullets, whether they want to be or not. They +just haven't anything to say about it. They're told to come and come +they must, though there won't be so many to go back as came over, I'm +thinking. At least, I'm going to do all I can to thin out their ranks, +though I feel sorry for the poor fellows all of the time." + +This was a new way of looking at the hated "Dutch butchers," at least it +was entirely new to Tom Coward. He had heard only the expressions of +rage among the colonists which their coming had aroused, and their +strange words and brutal acts had never received much mercy in the +judgment which he had heard passed upon them by his acquaintances. + +The anger of the patriots, perhaps, was but natural; but the employment +of the Hessians has not furnished the only instance in history where the +first and most apparent view has not always been the most correct one. +Indeed, it frequently happens that the troubles between men, to say +nothing of boys, arises from a misunderstanding; and it is the part of +wisdom, as well as of justice, to look below the surface and try to +discover the true conditions. + +"Then the British are to be blamed, if what you say is true," said Tom, +after a brief silence. "They are the ones at the bottom of it all." + +"Yes, the British are the ones who are most to be blamed. But even +there, Tom, if I'm correctly informed, it's the leaders and not the +people. The way I understand it is that the rank and file of the common +people in England are opposed to this war, and would put a stop to it in +a moment if they could." + +"If they could?" repeated Tom. "I don't understand what you mean." + +"Just what I say. The very best people in England have, from the very +beginning of this war, been opposed to the taxes, the use of the +Indians, and the hiring of these Hessians. It's the king and Lord North +and a few others of the pig-headed fellows who are doing it all. Tom, my +father and my mother both came from England. As far back as I can +remember they have told me stories of our old home and of the friends we +have over there. Why, do you know it's been the dream of my life to go +over there some day, and meet some of my cousins and see the place +where my father and mother were born." + +"I didn't know you were a tory," said Tom slowly. + +"Tory? I haven't a drop of tory blood in my veins, and hope I never +shall have." + +"But--but--you talk like one." + +"Is it tory talk for me to say I don't blame the Hessians for coming +over here, but those who hired them and sent them? Is it tory talk for +me to say I love to think of the place where my father and mother were +born, and that I should be glad to look into the faces of those who bear +the same name I do, and who have some of the same kind of blood in their +veins? Is it tory talk for me to say that I'm proud of what Old England +has done, or rather of many things she has done, from the days of +William the Conqueror until now? And that belongs to me as much as it +does to them, for my own grandfather was one of the bravest men in the +whole British army! This war is like one between brothers, and it's all +the more wicked on that account. And it's worse yet, because the most of +the Englishmen are not in favor of it at all." + +"I don't just see why you don't fight with the redcoats, instead of +against them, then." + +"Because this is my home and this is my country, and because the king +and his court aren't fit to govern cannibals, to say nothing of men. No, +sir, it's just because I do believe in all I've said that I'm fighting +for my country and shall till the war is ended--which I hope will be +soon!" + +"And would you shoot a redcoat or a Dutch butcher?" + +"Every time! It was a sad thing that the war had to come, but as come it +did, it would be sadder still not to do everything in our power now to +carry it through. I'm sorry for the Hessians, but I'd shoot every one of +them if I could do it. I'm sorry for the redcoats, and I know they are +not to be blamed, or at least some of them are not, but I'd mow them +down now, every one of them, as I'd cut the grass in haying-time. Fight? +Why, my lad, I'm in this war from the crown of my head to the sole of my +foot! And I wouldn't stop till the redcoats cry 'enough,' or we drive +them right into the Atlantic ocean, the way Parson Tennent used to tell +about the pigs in Gadara being chased by the devils right into the sea. +Not that I think the ones who are doing the chasing are in any way +connected with the swine drivers in the parson's story," he added, +laughing lightly as he spoke. "But we must be going. Our horses are +rested now, and we'll be running into a thunder-storm before we see the +Continentals, if we don't look out." + +The ride was quickly resumed, but Tom Coward was silent and sadly +puzzled to account for his friend's words. Apparently, he was +enthusiastic in his devotion to the cause of the patriots, but he had +never heard any one talk in that manner before. His friends and +neighbors were all hard and bitter, and the bitterness seemed to +increase as the war continued. But here was his friend, fighting with +all the devotion of his heart, and yet not blaming the very men he was +trying hard to conquer for the part they were taking in the war. + +It seemed to him all strange, and while he was deeply impressed by many +of the words of the enthusiastic young lieutenant, his own feelings were +of a very decidedly different character. For a half hour they rode +forward as swiftly as their steeds could carry them, but the heavy +clouds had meanwhile been climbing higher in the heavens, and the +mutterings of the thunder had now become deeper and heavier. + +"We'll put into that barn ahead there, and wait for the storm to pass," +said the lieutenant, pointing as he spoke to a rude barn by the +roadside. + +As the rain was now falling, Tom was glad to follow the advice, and in a +few moments they approached the open door. They had not dismounted when +a strangely clad being stepped forth from the barn and shouted:-- + +"Halt, will yez? I'll be after havin' yez give an account of yerselves, +that I will." + +Tom glanced up in fear and surprise, and the sight before him did not +tend to allay his alarm. The soldier presented a gun, but was its bearer +a man or woman? A long petticoat certainly looked like the garb of a +woman, but the soldier also was clad in an artilleryman's coat, while a +cocked hat and feathers crowned the head of the strange being. + +Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a voice that was gruff and deep, the +strangely clad soldier bore but slight resemblance to a woman, though +the dress certainly seemed to proclaim the sex of the speaker. + +The rain was now falling in torrents and Tom was drenched in a moment; +but in the brief silence which followed the demand of the soldier, he +could not determine what course his companion would decide to follow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A SOLDIER WOMAN + + +"WHY, Molly, you aren't going to keep us out here in the rain, are you?" + +Tom looked up in surprise as he heard the young lieutenant's words; and +while his fears were somewhat relieved by the assurance that his +companion evidently had recognized the peculiar being before them, his +confusion was not diminished by the reply which the strangely clad woman +quickly made. + +"Sure, and it's me bye! It's me beautiful bye! Come in, me darlint! What +for should ye be standin' out there in the storm?" + +The two dripping young soldiers speedily accepted the invitation, and +entered the barn, leading their horses with them. To their surprise they +now discovered that several men were also in the building, and that +other horses were stalled in the barn. + +The appearance of Tom's horse was greeted by a shout of delight, and the +person whom Lieutenant Gordon had addressed as "Molly" approached, and, +after critically examining the poor beast for a moment, said:-- + +"And where in the world did ye be after findin' that? It's a pity, it is +indade, to be after compellin' such poor bastes as that to be fightin' +the Dootch butchers! Sure, and it's the surgeon the poor thing is after +needin'." + +Molly's hair was of a bright red color, her face was covered with +freckles, which were like great blotches upon the skin, and her eyes +were so faded as to be almost colorless; but her expression was so +evidently one of good nature that Tom was compelled to join in the laugh +which her words raised among the half dozen men who quickly assembled to +pass judgment upon the steed which had been led into the barn. + +"Oh, that's something we bought back here to carry my friend as far as +the army." + +"It's lucky, it is, that ye haven't very far to go, thin," laughed +Molly. + +"Perhaps you're right, Molly," replied the lieutenant. "How far back is +the army now?" + +"About a mile, I'm thinkin'." + +"What? What's that you say? Only a mile from here?" + +"That's what I'm tellin' yez. The army's been marchin' in the night; but +this rain will be after compellin' it to halt right in--in Gooseberry, +as I'm told they call it." + +"Cranberry," laughed the lieutenant. + +"Cranberry or Gooseberry is all one and the same thing to me. Now, me +bye, ye'll be after wantin' some breakfast, I'm thinkin'. Jest say the +word and I'll be fixin' ye out, and have a bit left over for yer poor +baste, which doesn't look as if he'd been livin' any too high of late." + +"No, no, Molly," protested the lieutenant quickly, and, as Tom thought, +with an eagerness he could not understand. "We're not hungry, for we had +some breakfast before we started this morning. We did indeed," he added, +as he noted the woman's apparent unbelief. "We're not hungry, but it's +kind of you to think of us, and we thank you just the same as if you had +fed us." + +In the course of the conversation between the young lieutenant and the +men in the barn, Tom learned that the main body of the army was now less +than a mile away. The little band had been one of the advance parties, +and the storm had compelled them to seek the shelter of the barn by the +roadside. + +Meanwhile, the rain continued to fall, and long after the thunder ceased +the storm showed no signs of abating. The water almost covered the road +and penetrated the roof of the barn, which was far from being in a good +state of repair. The heavy downpour, however, did not seem to cool the +air, and the men and horses were in a sad plight. Just why they should +have sought the shelter, which virtually was no shelter at all, Tom +could not understand; but he asked no questions, and busied himself in +listening to the conversation of the men, and watching the intrepid +Molly, who to all appearances was not aware of the fact that she was not +as much of a true soldier as any of the men. + +After a half hour had passed the lieutenant approached the boy, who was +standing before the open door, looking out upon the storm. + +"Who is she? What is she?" inquired Tom, indicating by a glance of his +eyes the strange woman whom his friend had addressed as "Molly." + +"She? Oh, she's the wife of one of the cannoneers. She's been in the +army for a long time. She's from New Jersey, too, I understand, though +her husband's home is in Pennsylvania." + +"I didn't know there were women in the army." + +"Oh yes, there have always been some. Why, even on that expedition of +Arnold's to Quebec there were several women who marched all the way with +their husbands, and they say they stood the long tramps and the cold +better than a good many of the men did." + +"Why did you call this woman 'Molly'? Is that her name?" + +"Oh, in the army, or at least in this army, the women have been the ones +to bring us water on the warm days, and so we call each one Molly +'Pitcher.' They've been kept busy during this hot spell, too. This +woman's name I believe is really Molly, though,--Molly McCauley. Then +you didn't expect to see women with their husbands in the army?" laughed +the lieutenant, as he noticed that Tom was regarding Mistress McCauley +curiously. + +"No, I didn't. I don't think I like it." + +"You'll find all sorts and kinds of people in the ranks. Some of the +women have been worth more than the men. There was one up at Fort +Clinton. She was very much such a looking woman as Captain Molly here, +only she was a good deal more careless. They used to call her 'Dirty +Kate,' because she wasn't always very neat in her personal appearance. +But she was brave as a lion, and such a fighter! Why, she fired the last +cannon at the British, as they came scrambling over the ramparts, which +happened to be about the same time our men were leaving. Well, Kate's +husband was a cannoneer, just as Molly's here is, and he was holding the +match in his hand ready to fire the gun when he saw the redcoats coming, +and the sight suddenly reminded him that he had some work to do outside +the fort which demanded his immediate attention. Well, Kate just picked +up the match her husband had dropped, touched off the cannon, and then +scampered away after the men. She was a brave woman, and so is Captain +Molly, here. She'd do as well as Kate did, if she had the chance, and +perhaps she will before the end comes. I shouldn't want to have her +fight me, I can tell you!"[2] + +Tom turned and looked again at the woman. She stood talking with her +husband now, and her strange garb served to intensify her peculiarities. +Her great size and evident strength were plainly to be seen, but her +face beamed with good nature, and her enjoyment of the life she was +living was indicated by her every word and action. + +Tom thought of Sarah, and the contrast between her gentleness and the +rough appearance and masculine manners of Captain Molly aroused within +him a feeling which was not altogether in favor of the soldier woman. It +is true that the name of Sarah is unknown to-day, while that of Captain +Molly Pitcher is recorded in all our school histories; but, after all, +notoriety may not be the most valuable quality in life, and while the +names of many men and women who lived quiet, faithful, honest lives may +have been forgotten by their descendants, they may not have been of the +less value to the world because of that fact. A good name is sometimes +better than a notorious one, and an honest man, though he may be soon +forgotten, may be greater than a dishonest man whose name is frequently +mentioned. Few of us would desire to be like Benedict Arnold, although +his name is a very familiar one to all. + +"I don't see any use in staying here," said Tom at last. "It's wet +inside the barn, and it can't be much worse outside. Why don't we start +on?" + +Now that he was so near to the American army, the lad was eager to go +forward. All his dreams and visions of the forces which were fighting +against the redcoats came back to him, and his impatience to proceed +increased each moment. Perhaps the sight and presence of Captain Molly, +as well as the account the young lieutenant had given of her, had +created a still greater desire in Tom's heart to quit the place; but, be +that as it may, he was ready to go, and apparently his companion shared +in his feeling. + +"If you think your horse will stand up for a mile, we might do as you +say," replied the lieutenant. "I think we'll be going on," he added, +turning to the men as he spoke. "I've some important information to give +the general, and as I don't see any signs of the rain stopping, I think +we ought not to delay longer. We can't be much worse off than we are +now." + +"Sure, and ye'll not be after goin' out in such a storm as this!" +protested Molly. "It would be a shame to take that poor baste out into +the rain now. He has all he can do to stand up in the barn, to say +nothin' of havin' to be carryin' a load. It's the last drop that'll be +after breakin' of his back, yez know." + +The men all laughed at the woman's words, but the lieutenant was not to +be deterred, and accordingly the horses were brought forth and the two +men speedily mounted. Tom's horse was limping painfully when he started, +and as the lad glanced backward he could see Captain Molly standing in +the doorway, her hands resting upon her hips, and her broad, freckled +face beaming with delight over the sorry spectacle he was well aware +that he presented. + +A feeling of disgust arose in his heart as he watched her. Surely she +must be lacking in all the qualities which he had most honored in the +women he knew. Coarseness was in place of delicacy, boldness instead of +modesty, and her entire bearing was such that Tom never afterwards could +hear her name mentioned without expressing his disgust. Not even the +bravery of the deed which Captain Molly Pitcher did not many hours after +this time, and which Tom Coward himself witnessed, entirely banished the +prejudice which he entertained against the coarse, good-natured, manly, +unwomanly woman. + +The storm had ceased when, after a short ride, Tom and his companion +first came within sight of the American army. All the long pent-up hopes +of the lad were now about to be fulfilled, and for the first time in his +life he was to look upon the men whose names and deeds had long been +familiar to him. His eagerness brought a smile to his companion's face, +but while he watched the lad he did not speak. + +Molly Pitcher had spoken truly, and the American army had halted after a +brief march from Kingston in the preceding night, and now were compelled +to remain during the entire day in Cranberry. Only the advance corps had +moved forward, and at that time were holding a position on the road to +Monmouth Court House and within five miles of the rear of the British. + +In spite of his own excitement, and that which was apparent among the +men in the camp when Tom and the lieutenant entered, the lad's first +feeling was one of keen disappointment. Were these the men of whom he +had heard so much and from whom so much was expected? Mud-stained, worn +by their recent exertions, plainly showing the effects of the intense +heat, many of them without uniforms, some hatless and coatless, to the +vision of Tom Coward they presented far more the appearance of a mob +than of the orderly and well-trained soldiers he had expected to see. + +The young lieutenant had left him as soon as they entered the camp, +leading the two horses away with him,--a fact over which Tom did not +long lament, we may be sure. An hour passed before the young officer +returned, for he was to make a report of all that he had learned, and +Tom's hopes were not strengthened as he watched the men about him during +his companion's absence. + +Lieutenant Gordon noticed the expression upon Tom's face when he +rejoined him, but, attributing it to the fear which he supposed the lad +felt, he did not refer to it, and in the labors which soon followed no +opportunity to explain was given by either. + +General Dickinson, with the New Jersey militia, was not with the main +body, as we already know, and Tom found that he could not be assigned to +them. Through the lieutenant's influence, he was to be retained with the +main body, and to assist in serving as a guide for the army, an office +which Tom was well fitted to hold, although it was not just in accord +with the plans he had formed in his own mind. + +Reports came into the camp during the day which clearly indicated that +the advance corps was too far away to be properly supported at once in +the present condition of the roads. But on Saturday morning Lafayette, +with his troops, was ordered to file off by his left towards +Englishtown, and in the same day the main body, under General +Washington, marched out from Cranberry and encamped within three miles +of the place. + +This brought the two opposing armies now within eight miles of each +other, while General Lee's forces, five thousand strong, without +Morgan's dragoons or the New Jersey militia, were three miles nearer the +British. + +Such was the condition of affairs on that night of Saturday, June 27 +(1778), and Tom Coward, as well as many of the men in Washington's army, +slept but little, with the knowledge that on the morrow the long delayed +battle would doubtless be begun. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] In many of our histories the "Captain Molly" of Monmouth has been +confounded with "Dirty Kate" of Fort Clinton. They were, however, two +women,--not one. Lossing, in the first edition of his _Field Book of the +American Revolution_, referred to them as if they were identical, but +the correction was to have been made for his second edition, and was in +type, but through an oversight was omitted. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +AN INTERRUPTED JOURNEY + + +THE surprise of Little Peter at the unexpected action of Benzeor was +increased when the escaping man seated himself in the whaleboat and +quickly began to row the long craft back toward the Washington. + +"Hurrah for the redcoats! Hurrah for King George! Hurrah for the +British!" shouted Benzeor defiantly. + +This boldness was as surprising to Peter as the sudden departure had +been; but, as he glanced toward the Washington and saw that the +attacking party had already boarded her, and then realized that he +himself had been left alone by his recent companions, he was quickly +recalled to the necessity of action on his own part. Without waiting to +observe the further movements of Benzeor or the British, he instantly +turned and entered the woods; but a quarter of an hour had elapsed +before he overtook the men, whom he found resting by the side of the +road which led past the home of Ted Wilson. + +To this house the entire party now made their way, and as Ted listened +to the story of Benzeor's perfidy, his anger broke forth afresh. + +"I never ought to have let the rascal go!" exclaimed Ted excitedly. "I +had him right there in the river, and if you hadn't interfered with me +I'd have fixed him so that he never would have betrayed any one again. +Now the rascal's where he can keep up his evil doings." + +"He's shown where he stands, any way. That's some comfort," said one of +the men. + +"It may comfort you, but it doesn't me," replied Ted. "I'm a peaceable +man, I am, and I never cared much about whether it was to be the King of +England or the Continental Congress that ruled over me. I don't see as +it would make very much difference to me, for my part. But when that +rascal hangs my Sallie up on the limb of a tree,--Sallie's my wife, ye +know,--why, then Benzeor Osburn has jest got to look out for himself." + +Ted's anger was so evident that Little Peter almost had a feeling of +sympathy for Benzeor, angry as he himself was at the treachery his +neighbor had displayed. + +"Are you going to follow him up, Ted?" inquired the leader. + +"Am I goin' to follow him? That's just what I'm going to do! I'm goin' +to send Sallie and the babies over to your house, and I'm just goin' to +leave my place here,--they can't steal that, any way,--and follow up +Benzeor Osburn till I find him. I don't care if he runs clear to the +other side of the Alleghany Mountains,--I've heard as how there was some +mountains by that name away out west somewhere,--why, Benzeor'll wake up +some fine mornin' and find himself a-shakin' hands with me. Yes, sir, +this land o' ours may put up with the Hessians, but it isn't big enough +to hold such a fellow as Benzeor! Hangin' Sallies! I'll put a stop to +his fine work! Sallie's my wife, ye know!" + +"Remember us to him when you meet him, Ted," said the leader. "You can +charge him for the loss of the Washington, too!" + +"His door will be free of all chalk scores when I'm done with him," said +Ted savagely. "That's goin' to be my work, clearin' the land of pine +robbers, just as I once cleared it of pine stumps!" + +"We must start on now," said the leader. "Take your wife and children up +to my house, Ted. The women can fight together against the pine robbers, +if they come there." + +"They won't come there," replied Ted. "There'll be fewer of 'em when +I've done my duty. There'll be no more hangin' Sallies. Sallie's my +wife, ye know." + +"I suspected as much from your words," said the leader. "Are you going +with us?" he added, turning, as he spoke, to Little Peter. + +"No," replied the lad. + +"What are you going to do now? You can't get your father out of the New +York prisons. You'd better come with us." + +"I can't. I've other work to do." + +"Have it your own way, my lad, though I think you're making a mistake +not to come with us." + +The band soon departed, leaving Little Peter and the huge Ted behind +them. There was slight likelihood that the men who had captured the +Washington would venture on shore to pursue the fugitives, and the +knowledge of this fact had made all the parties feel comparatively safe. + +"What are you goin' to do now?" said Ted, when he and Little Peter were +left alone. + +"I'm going straight to Benzeor's house. After what I have just seen, I'm +afraid to leave the children there another minute. I never would have +thought Benzeor was a traitor, never! But he is, there's no doubt about +it now! I don't know what will become of them. I don't know where to +turn, or what to do." + +Little Peter then went on to relate the story of the sad loss which had +occurred in his home, Ted listening meanwhile with intense interest. + +"It's Benzeor's work!" he said excitedly when the lad at last stopped. +"Yes, sir! You mark my words, Benzeor Osburn was at the bottom of it +all. You'll have to go in with me and help rid the land of him! The +rascal! Goin' round hangin' Sallies and shootin' mothers!" + +"I've all I want to do to look after my little brothers and sisters," +said Little Peter quietly. "I don't know what I can do with them, but I +can't leave them at Benzeor's!" + +"No more you can't," said Ted. "I'll tell you what to do with 'em. Jest +bring 'em all down here and leave 'em with Sallie over at the captain's. +I think they'll be safe enough there." + +"Thank you; but it's most too far to bring them, I'm afraid. It's a good +twenty miles from here, and we haven't a horse left." + +"I wish I could let ye have one, but all of mine are gone too, except +one little mule; and you'd have to turn him round and make him go +backward if you wanted to go anywhere, he's such an obstinate little +beast. I'll tell you what I'll do, Peter! Just as soon as I've taken +Sallie--she's my wife, ye know--and the babies over to the captain's, +I'll go with ye and help ye out. That's what I'll do for ye." + +"Thank you again," replied Peter, "but I don't think you had better do +it. You may be needed around here, and I don't know yet what I shall +do." + +"Maybe you're right, Peter, maybe you're right. Well, have it your own +way. When are you goin' to start?" + +"Right away." + +Little Peter at once bade his friend good-by and started forth on his +long walk. He had appreciated the offer of the mighty Ted, but there +were many reasons why he wished to be alone, for a time at least. +Benzeor's treachery was still so fresh in his mind that he knew not what +to do, and the excitement attending the escape from the Washington had +not yet disappeared. Then, too, he did not know what the angry giant +might be moved to do. Ordinarily good-natured and easy-going as the +powerful man was, when once his wrath was aroused there would be no +limits to what it might lead him into. And Little Peter's heart was too +heavy, under the burden of his recent sorrows and present perplexities, +to permit the lad to be drawn aside from the task which had presented +itself to him. + +He had gone about half the way down the long lane which led from Ted's +house to the road, when he heard some one calling to him. Looking +quickly behind him, he discovered Ted himself running rapidly down the +path toward him. + +Startled by the sight and fearful that some new danger had appeared, he +stopped, and then turned back to meet the man. + +"What is it? What is it?" he called. + +Ted stopped as the lad called, and, shaking one of his great fists in +the air, replied, "Hangin' Sallies! Hangin' Sallies!" + +"What? Have they tried it again?" + +"No! Once was enough, I should think, when Sallie's my wife, ye know! I +just wanted to remind ye what the password was. It's 'Hangin' Sallies,' +that's what it is! Ye won't forget it, will ye?" + +"No," replied Peter soberly. "I'll try to keep it in mind." + +"That's right! See that ye do! Hangin' Sallies, that's the word. I jest +wanted to remind ye of it, that was all. Hangin' Sallies! Hangin' +Sallies!" + +Little Peter resumed his journey, but, until he passed around the bend +in the road, whenever he looked behind him he could see the mighty Ted +standing in the lane, and shaking his fist in the air if he perceived +that the lad beheld him. + +What a strange man Ted was, thought Little Peter as he walked on. He had +known him for years, as had most of the people in Old Monmouth. His +feats in the country wrestling matches had made him famous, and +marvelous were the tales told concerning his almost superhuman strength. +It had been related that Ted one time had lifted a great ox bodily from +the ground, and Little Peter had believed the report. And yet, with it +all, Ted had always seemed to him like a boy. Kind-hearted, ever willing +to grant a favor or do anything within his power for another, he had +never before seen him when his wrath was kindled. "Hanging Sallies!" +Perhaps Ted's feelings were only natural when he had discovered the +pine robbers in their cruel act. Benzeor would not be likely to escape +from his hands so easily, if the angry man once held him in his grasp +again. + +But Sallie Wilson was still alive, and the lad thought Ted's position +was far better than his own. His mother shot by the pine robbers, his +father sent away a prisoner, perhaps to die of starvation in those +dreadful prison ships of which so many stories already had been told, +and his younger brothers and sisters homeless and helpless, and all +looking to him as their sole support. What could he do? Surely no one in +Old Monmouth had suffered more than he, although Old Monmouth itself had +known more of the evils of war than almost any other portion of our land +in all that fearful struggle of the American Revolution. + +"How?" + +Little Peter's meditations were suddenly interrupted by Indian John, who +stepped forth into the road and greeted him with his customary +salutation. + +"Where did you come from, John? I thought you were up in Moluss's +wigwam." + +"Moluss gone, Bath gone, John gone, too. Come to help friend. Find +fader?" he suddenly added, peering keenly, as he spoke, into Little +Peter's face. + +"No; my father has been sent to New York." + +"Bad. What boy do now?" + +"I'm going back to Benzeor's to look after the children." + +The Indian's eyes betrayed the question he might have asked, but did +not. Indian John soon induced his companion to abandon the road and +follow him through the forests. Many a mile was saved in this manner, +and, under the burning heat of the sun, the shade of the great trees was +most grateful to the sadly troubled lad. There was something in the +presence of the majestic trees which seemed to appeal to Little Peter. +He was alone and yet not alone with such companions. Indian John also +seemed to share in his feelings, and seldom spoke. For mile after mile +they continued on their journey, and the shadows were lengthening when +at last they stepped forth into the road, which Peter recognized, and +then knew that Benzeor's house was not far away. The long journey would +soon be ended now, and fresh hope came to the weary lad, as he thought +that he would see the children again. + +What he should do with them, however, was a problem still unsolved, and +the solution apparently was no nearer than when he had set forth on his +journey from the home of Ted Wilson. With all of the anger which had +come with the discovery of Benzeor's treachery, Little Peter could not +bring himself to believe that either Sarah or her mother had any +knowledge of his evil deeds. His confidence in them was still unbroken, +and his sole hope was that they might be able to suggest some plan by +which the children could be cared for. As for leaving them at Benzeor's, +that was impossible; and as the lad thought again of the discovery of +his neighbor's crimes, he quickened his pace, and he and his companion +began to walk more rapidly along the hot and dusty road. Not more than +two miles remained between them and the end of their journey, and, in +his eagerness, Little Peter almost forgot his weariness and constantly +urged the Indian by his side to increase their speed. + +They had been in the road but a few minutes when they heard the sound of +horsemen approaching from behind them. All unsuspicious of danger, +Little Peter and Indian John halted, waiting for the men to pass. There +were five of them in the band, and all were riding swiftly. Their horses +were dripping, and with almost every step flung the foam from their +mouths. Surely something must be wrong, to induce men to ride like that +upon such a warm day, thought Little Peter; but his surmises were +quickly driven from his mind when he recognized Fenton and Benzeor in +advance of the band. + +Startled by the unexpected sight, he hardly knew what to do. The men +were too near for him to hope to escape their notice now; and, even +while he hesitated, he saw Benzeor quickly draw the rein on the horse he +was riding and leap to the ground. + +"Get him! Shoot him! Stop that boy!" shouted Benzeor. + +Indian John had been keenly watching the approaching band, and as he +heard the shout of the angry man, he touched Peter upon the arm, and +said, "Come." + +Little Peter instantly responded, and followed his companion as he +started swiftly across the open lot toward the woods which lay beyond +it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE ABODE OF INDIAN JOHN + + +THE pursuit of Little Peter and Indian John was not long continued, nor +was a single gun discharged; a fact for which the frightened lad was +unable to account at the time, although on the following morning the +cause for it was made clear. + +Wearied though the lad was by his long journey, the shout of Benzeor had +provided an impulse sufficiently strong to compel him to keep up with +his companion, who was running swiftly toward the shelter of the woods +which were not far away. + +In a brief time the breathless fugitives gained its shelter, and then +for the first time turned and glanced behind them. The men had turned +back and now could be seen still standing by the roadside, near the +place where Peter and the Indian had started across the lot. What they +were doing could not be discovered; but, without waiting for further +investigations, the flight was at once resumed, and, keeping well +together, the lad and his companion ran swiftly forward, and soon the +distance between them and the pine robbers had been still further +increased. + +The sunlight had now departed from the forest, and the dusk had settled +over all. The air was close and oppressive, and Peter's dripping face +betrayed the force of his recent exertions and the excitement under +which he was laboring. Already the night birds had made their +appearance, and here and there among the branches of the lofty trees the +bats could be seen darting about in quest of their evening meal. The +very silence served to increase the feeling of utter loneliness which +swept over the weary, heartbroken lad, and for a moment it almost seemed +to him as if any further efforts on his part were as useless as they +were difficult. Benzeor's anger promised little good for the children +who had been left in his home, and fears for his little brothers and +sisters were mingled in Little Peter's mind with the consciousness of +his own weariness and the thought of his own forlorn condition. + +Difficult as the problem doubtless was, he knew he must not give way to +it, and when Indian John indicated in a few moments that the time had +come when they must go on, the lad resolutely again turned to follow +him, although he had not the slightest conception of the plan which was +in his companion's mind. + +Carefully they walked on through the increasing gloom, and within a half +hour Little Peter heard the sounds of a running brook in the distance. +He instantly recognized the locality, for many a time had he and Tom in +the springtime followed the course of the "run," as the people of Old +Monmouth called the stream, and the strings of fish which they had +brought home with them had borne ample witness to the success which had +crowned their efforts. + +But none of these things were in Little Peter's mind as he followed +Indian John, who had now turned and was proceeding along the bank and +making his way up the stream. As they walked on, the sound of a +waterfall began to be more and more distinctly heard, and soon they came +out into a place from which, in the deepening gloom, the falling waters +could be seen. Into the basin which had been formed by the sharp fall of +the stream, a tall, large tree had fallen years before this time. Its +broken roots had torn up the earth, and now stood like a barrier on the +bank, and Indian John led the way directly toward this spot. + +As they approached, Peter discovered a hole in the rocks, but he was not +prepared for the action of his companion; for, without a word, the +Indian dropped upon his hands and knees and crawled into the entrance +and speedily disappeared from sight. + +Hesitating only a moment, Little Peter soon followed his companion, and +after crawling along on his hands and knees for a number of yards, +suddenly beheld a large, open space directly before him. Indian John had +provided a light by this time, for he had been willing to follow the +customs of his more civilized neighbors to the extent of making use of +candles, and as Peter arose and glanced about him, he knew at once that +he was in the cave which it was reported was the abode of the red man. + +Frequently as the lad had passed the very place into which he had +crawled that night, it had never occurred to him that it was anything +more than a hole in the rocks that formed the bank of the "run," and his +surprise was therefore the greater at the sight before him. The spot was +considerably above the bed of the stream, and consequently was +comparatively dry. Straw and dry leaves lay scattered about over the +floor, and the sheltered place apparently was safe from all approach or +danger. + +Indian John at once indicated to his companion that he was to pass the +night there, and the weary lad was glad to accept the invitation, and +soon stretched himself upon the bed of straw. The light of the candle +was extinguished, and the Indian then speedily followed the example of +Peter. The sounds of the running brook came faintly to the ears of the +troubled lad, but that was all he could hear. The darkness was intense, +and for a time the fear of other occupants of various kinds prevented +Peter from sleeping, but at last even that was forgotten in the +dreamless sleep that followed. + +When he awoke, Little Peter at first could not determine where he was, +but as the outlines of the cave were seen in the dim light which +penetrated it, the experiences of the preceding day were recalled, and +he quickly arose. Indian John was not in the cave, however, and as the +lad now was aware that the morning had come, he hastily crawled through +the passageway that led to the bank. + +As he regained the bank, he saw that his companion was busily engaged in +roasting some birds he had shot. The sight was a welcome one, for Peter +was now aware of the fact that he was decidedly hungry, and, following +his companion's advice, he departed in search of some berries to add to +the morning meal. In the course of a half hour he returned with his hat +well filled, and, after bathing his hands and face in the cool waters of +the brook, prepared at once to join his companion. + +For a few minutes neither spoke, but the rapid manner in which the +roasted birds disappeared showed that conversation was not uppermost in +their minds. + +At last, when several of the birds had been eaten, and many of the +berries had disappeared, Indian John turned to his companion and said, +"Boy want 'hop-hop' now? Plenty 'hop-hop.' Make um good." + +"No, no," replied Peter quickly. "The birds are enough. Where did you +get them, John?" + +"Shoot um. Plenty birds; plenty 'hop-hop.'" + +"You must have been up early this morning, John. I didn't hear you." + +The Indian made no reply and remained silent for several minutes. Then, +turning abruptly and looking keenly at Peter, he said, "What boy do +now?" + +"I don't know," replied Little Peter disconsolately. + +The words brought him face to face again with the problem that must be +solved. The fresh cool air of the morning, the silence of the forest, +and, above all, the enjoyment of the breakfast which John had provided, +made him at first wish that he might remain there and forget all the +troubles that were so near. But Peter was not a selfish lad, and knew +that the motherless children must be provided for. + +"I was going to Benzeor's," he said after a time, "but I don't know what +to do now. I can't understand what he meant by coming back here in broad +daylight after what has happened. He knows that I know all about it, and +that was the reason why he wanted to catch me last night. I can't go up +to his house now, and yet I don't dare leave the children there, +either." + +"Boy go," said Indian John quietly. + +"But I can't go, John. How can I? There were four men with Benzeor, and +you heard what he said. It wouldn't be safe for me to go there now. I +don't know what to do." + +"Boy go; Benzeor no there." + +"Benzeor not there? How do you know? What makes you think that, John?" + +"John been there." + +"When? This morning?" + +The Indian nodded his head, and then said, "Man no there. Girl there. +Two, t'ree little Peters there. Boy go. All safe." + +"You don't mean it?" said Peter eagerly, and standing erect as he spoke. +"Come on, then, John; we'll start this minute." + +"Boy go; Indian no go." + +"Why not? I thought you were going with me." + +"John no go. John no home, no papoose, no notin'. All white man now. All +gone. Indian no stay. Boy go." + +"All right, John; I won't urge you. But if you're right, and Benzeor +isn't at home, you needn't be afraid." + +The Indian's eyes snapped at the words, but he made no reply, and Little +Peter was too eager to start now to realize the force of his own words. +As he departed, he saw his recent companion standing on the bank of the +brook in an attitude as if he were listening to sounds far off in the +forest. Perhaps if the lad had realized that it was the last time he +would ever behold the face of Indian John, he would have lingered +longer; but, as it was, his desire to go to Benzeor's house and learn of +the present condition of the children banished all other thoughts from +his mind, and in a few moments he had started toward the road. + +He retraced his way across the open lot, and as he came within sight of +the road he suddenly stopped, as he saw a mounted man there. Apparently +the man was alone, and what was strange was the fact that he apparently +was not moving. + +Little Peter waited several minutes, but as the man still retained his +position, and no one joined him, he resolved to proceed. Approaching +cautiously, and ready to run at the first appearance of danger, his +surprise was increased as he beheld the strange manner in which the +horseman was seated on his beast. Instead of sitting with his face +toward the head of his steed, his position was exactly reversed, and to +all appearances he either was going in a direction opposite to that of +his horse or else was riding backward. + +Puzzled to account for the strange attitude, Peter also noticed as he +approached that the beast on which the man was mounted was a mule and +had stopped in the middle of the road. In a moment he recognized the man +as Ted Wilson, and with a shout he ran forward. + +"Why, my lad, what are you doing here?" exclaimed Ted, as he beheld the +approaching boy. + +"It's more to the point to ask what you are doing here. What are you +sitting on that mule that way for? What have you stopped for? Why don't +you go ahead?" + +"There are several good reasons," replied Ted blandly. "In the first +place, if the mule won't go, I can't go. Then, if he stops, I have to +stop, too. As to the reason for my being here, why, I'm looking for +Benzeor." + +"I don't know where you expect to find him," laughed Peter--forgetting +his own anxiety for the moment in the ludicrous sight before him. + +"Well, I got to thinking of it yesterday after you left me; and when I'd +taken Sallie and the babies up to the captain's,--Sallie's my wife, ye +know,--I jest made up my mind as how I'd got to look after Benzeor afore +he did any more damage. Goin' around the country hangin' Sallies! The +rascal! Old Monmouth never'll be safe till Benzeor Osburn has been +'tended to. And if I'm not the man to do it, I don't know who is. So +Jeshurun and I decided to start out last night, and we've been travelin' +ever since." + +"Jeshurun? I don't see anybody with you," said Peter, glancing quickly +about him as he spoke. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Ted. "Ye're lookin' too far afield, young man. This +here fellow's Jeshurun. Whoa, Jesh! Whoa!" he suddenly added, as the +mule darted to one side and turned several circles in the road before +his rider could stop him. + +"Yes, sir; this is Jeshurun, and a more onery little beast never lived. +I told ye about him yesterday, and how he'd suddenly take it into his +head to go backwards for a bit. That's the reason I ride him this way +part of the time. He thinks I want to go the other way, ye see, and +that's how I come it over him by jest sittin' the wrong way, too. +Besides, a good twist of his tail is worth more than a bridle sometimes. +Instead of controllin' him with a bridle, as any decent beast would be +glad to have me do, I just have to steer him by twistin' his tail, +same's I use the rudder in my boat, ye see. Whoa there, Jesh! Whoa +there! What's the matter with ye, anyhow? Whoa! Whoa!" + +These last remarks of Ted were caused by a sudden movement on the part +of Jeshurun, whose heels were thrown into the air, while with his teeth +he almost literally bit the dust. The mule was small and the feet of his +rider almost touched the ground, and the antics of the pair caused Peter +to laugh aloud. + +"Where did you get that name for him?" he inquired when quiet was +restored. + +"Oh, it came to him jest natural like. Two years ago when I bought him, +and was a-leadin' him home, I got him into the yard and then he just +began to make his heels fly like a pair o' drumsticks. It's likely there +was some noise made by him or me, I don't jest know which, and the first +thing I knew, Sallie--she's my wife, ye know--and a whole lot o' folks +came a-runnin' out o' the house to see what all the rumpus was about. +They was havin' meetin' in the house, though I didn't know anything +about that, or I wouldn't have argued with the mule as I was doin', o' +course. Well, sir, if you'd believe it, the parson had been a-preachin' +about somebody in the Old Testament. His text was: 'But Jeshurun waxed +fat and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art +covered with fatness.' Yes, sir; those were his very words. Well, when +Sallie--she's my wife, ye know--set eyes on this here beast, she said +Jeshurun should be his name, and Jeshurun it's been ever since. Whoa +there! Whoa, I say! What ye up to now?" + +Perhaps Jeshurun objected to the story, for he suddenly whirled about +and started swiftly up the road. In vain Ted tried to restrain him, but +after his attempts failed, he turned and shouted, "I'll see you farther +on! Jesh'll get tired o' this." + +As Jeshurun and his rider disappeared in a cloud of dust, Little Peter +quickly recovered from his surprise and started briskly after them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT FIGHT + + +THE morning of Sunday, June 28, 1778, dawned clear and warm. Not a cloud +could be seen in the sky, and the air was motionless, save in occasional +places where it quivered under the burning heat of the summer sun. By +eight o'clock the thermometer already had indicated ninety-six degrees, +and before the day was done it had risen considerably above a hundred. + +The British forces had now arrived within ten or twelve miles of the +Heights of Middletown, and if once they should succeed in gaining that +position, all attempts on the part of the Americans to attack them would +be worse than useless, for it was now as well known by Washington as it +was by Clinton that British vessels were lying at anchor off Sandy Hook, +ready and waiting to receive the advancing army and its stores on board, +and transport all in safety to New York. + +Clinton, as we already know, still believed that the Americans were +seeking only to capture his stores and train of baggage wagons, and, +therefore, wisely had placed them in the care of General Knyphausen and +the Hessian soldiers, in advance of the place of danger, as he supposed, +and also of the place where the brave leader himself took his stand with +his men. All of the British grenadiers, light infantry, and chasseurs of +the line were encamped in the strong position that Clinton had selected +in the parting of the road which led from Monmouth Court House to +Middletown, the right wing extending about a mile and a half beyond the +court house itself, while the left lay stretched for three miles along +the road from Allentown. Thick woods afforded strong protection to the +flanks, while a swamp extended toward the rear and the left, and woods +also covered their front. The British general had chosen his place +wisely, and there he waited until that eventful Sunday morning. + +General Washington was well aware of all that was going on, and had +determined to attack the British the moment they moved from the position +they then occupied. Late on Saturday night, the commander had given +orders for General Maxwell to send out parties of observation, who were +to watch the British and report instantly any signs they might discover +of an attempt to retreat during the night, and to keep up a constant +communication with himself. General orders had also been given Lee to be +prepared to attack Clinton's forces the moment they should depart from +their camping-place. + +General Lee's treachery or incompetency, or both, are well known to-day, +and the only cause of surprise is that General Washington should have +given him such discretionary orders. The great commander must have been +fully aware of Lee's true feelings, for already he had suffered much +from his jealousy and his traitorous designs; but perhaps the rest of +the army did not know what Washington himself well knew, and on the eve +of battle he chose the lesser of the two evils, and thought he would +suffer less by permitting Lee to continue to act, than he would from the +misunderstanding and confusion that might arise if he dealt with the man +at that time as he justly deserved. At all events, his orders were +somewhat general, and the fact that he had not given specific commands +is all that remains to-day to be quoted in favor of the guilty Lee. + +It was about five o'clock in the morning when a messenger arrived in +Washington's camp from General Dickinson--who, with the New Jersey +militia, was nearest the enemy's lines--with the information that the +front of the British line had begun its march toward the Heights of +Middletown. Instantly Washington's army was put in motion, and one of +his aids was sent in all haste to inform General Lee of the movement of +the British, and to urge him forward to attack them at once unless some +very strong obstacle should be found, and to assure him that the main +body of the American army would be rushed forward to his support. + +I am very certain that if my readers could somehow have been privileged +to witness the march of Washington's soldiers, they would not have been +greatly impressed by the sight. Many of them were without uniforms, and +their flushed and streaming faces under the burning heat, while they +bore an expression of determination, after all would not have been very +prepossessing in their appearance. Numbers of the Continentals had +either cast aside their coats or rolled them up and strapped them across +their backs, so that entire ranks appeared to be marching to battle in +their shirt-sleeves. However, although their personal bearing was not +made more forceful by the absence of coats, their personal comfort was +decidedly improved; and, as we shall soon see, their work in the battle +was not hindered by their lack of bright colored uniforms. + +Meanwhile, the advanced corps under General Lee had moved from +Englishtown, and was now advancing toward the British. The redcoats were +also in motion, and the left wing had marched more than a mile beyond +Monmouth Court House when it discovered that the American columns had +out-flanked it on the north. Lee's forces had marched along the main +road, successfully crossing the deep ravines and causeways. They had +halted frequently to receive reports from the scouts and the men in +advance as to the movements of the British, but these reports apparently +were somewhat contradictory and created some confusion among the +American ranks. + +One of these halts had been made near the "new church," which was so +called to distinguish it from the smaller structure, which until 1752 +had stood upon the same site. This "new church" was of wood, its sides +covered with shingles, and painted white. There such famous preachers as +Whitefield, the missionary Brainerd, Tennent, and others had given their +messages of peace, but it can be safely asserted that in all its long +history the "old" church or the "new" had never seen such a "service" as +that which was held there on that Sunday morning in June, 1778. Before +the day was done bullet marks and the effect of cannon shot were +apparent on its walls, and while the roof and even the steeple were said +to have been covered with people on that day, who had assembled to watch +the battle, probably no other congregation in all our land had ever been +gathered by such summons, or had taken their seats on the roof of the +building instead of in the accustomed place within the walls. + +Young General Lafayette, who had command of Lee's right, soon passed the +Court House, and was advancing upon the other end of the British line on +the south at the same time when the left wing was folding about +Cornwallis on the north; and General Wayne, who was in command of the +American centre, was also pressing strongly forward. Apparently, all +things were favoring the rugged Continentals, and had it not been for +Lee's cowardice or treachery, or both, they would have won the battle +there and then, before Washington could come with the aid of his +advancing troops. + +Some slight minor engagements had already occurred, though not one of +them was of much importance; but now General Wayne discovered that most +of the British forces before him had descended from the high ground they +had occupied and were advancing along the same route, over the plains of +Monmouth, which the Hessians had followed when they departed earlier in +the morning. + +Instantly the impetuous Wayne sent a messenger to General Lee requesting +permission for his own "troops to be pressed on." No such permission was +given, however, until it was discovered that a band of eight or nine +hundred of the redcoats had halted, and, turning about, appeared to be +inviting an attack. General Wayne was then ordered to take about four +hundred men and advance. + +Despite the smallness of the number, Wayne eagerly obeyed, when the +Queen's light dragoons were sent back by Clinton to check the movement. + +So excited was the little band of Americans that they instantly formed, +and drove the horsemen back upon a body of foot soldiers who had been +sent to their aid. A much larger body of troops were soon discovered to +be moving upon General Wayne's right, but he immediately opened fire +upon them with the two pieces of artillery he possessed, sent back for +reinforcements, and gallantly prepared for the battle. + +During this time General Lee apparently was trying to cut off the force +with which Wayne was engaged by making a detour and falling upon the +line of Clinton's march between the rear of the main body and that +detachment. + +This action of Lee's, together with those which three of the others of +the divisions of the American forces were making at the same time, led +Clinton to suppose that his baggage train was what the Americans were +striving to gain. As we already know, this, all the time, had been his +understanding of the purpose of Washington, and now the action and +movements of the various bodies of troops strengthened his suspicion. + +The first thing the British commander did was to send the Queen's light +dragoons against Wayne. Then he sent a detachment from the men in +advance to strengthen his own right, and next he arranged for the main +body, of which Lord Cornwallis was in command, to form on the plain and +prepare to attack General Lee and the various divisions which were under +him at the time. + +General Wayne and his brave men were now fighting desperately, and to +all appearances success was about to crown his efforts, when he was +dumfounded by an order he received from Lee to make only a feigned +attack, and not to press too hard against the redcoats in front of him. + +Wayne did not know what to make of the order. He was chagrined and angry +to receive such a word at a time when all things seemed to favor his +determined band. It is said that he made use of some very forceful +language, and even expressed his opinion of his superior officer in no +very complimentary terms; but he was too good a soldier not to obey; +and, although he could not understand what Lee meant by giving him such +directions at such a time, he held back his men, hoping all the time +that Lee himself would come up and grasp the victory which almost seemed +to be in his hand. + +General Lee had been watching the movements of the British, and +perceived what Clinton was trying to do by the actions to which we +already have referred. Instead of meeting them boldly, and permitting +his soldiers, who were all now eager for the battle, to advance, he at +once prepared to withdraw them from the field. + +Young Lafayette had just discovered a body of British cavalry advancing +toward Lee's right, and, quickly riding up to his commander, he begged +for permission to advance and gain their rear, and so cut them off from +the main body. + +"Sir," replied Lee, "you do not know British soldiers. We cannot stand +against them. We shall certainly be driven back at first, and we must be +cautious." + +"It may be so, general," said Lafayette quietly, "but British soldiers +have been beaten, and they may be again. At any rate I am disposed to +make the trial." + +Reluctantly Lee yielded, so far as to permit the brave young marquis to +wheel his column by the right and make an attempt to gain the left of +the British, but at the same time he ordered three regiments to be +withdrawn from Wayne's command, thereby weakening him for reasons which +neither Wayne nor any one of his men ever understood. + +General Lee then rode off to reconnoitre, as he afterwards declared, and +to his astonishment discovered another large body of British soldiers +marching back on the Middletown road toward the Court House. If there +was one thing more than another which Lee apparently disliked at that +time, it was the sight and presence of men clad in scarlet coats, and he +instantly gave orders for the several corps in his division to retreat, +or to make a "retrograde movement," as he afterwards explained it. + +His friends claimed for him, and, indeed, Lee afterwards claimed for +himself, that he had only ordered the right to fall back, and had +commanded the left, under Scott and Maxwell, to advance, and his order +was misunderstood; and that when Maxwell's men perceived the retreat of +their comrades on the left, they thought all was ended and they must +save themselves. But, at all events, proof of the truthfulness of his +statement was wanting, and all his men were soon retreating toward the +"new meeting-house," on the roof and steeple of which were assembled the +people of the congregation. + +Few of the men beside Lee himself knew why the retreat was made. The +soldiers were angry and were giving vent to their feelings in terms +which had not been carefully selected. General Wayne's men were the only +ones who had even fired a shot, and the anger of Wayne himself was +steadily increasing. Every soldier felt as if he were being robbed of +success, which by right belonged to him and to his country. + +Between the "meeting-house" and the parsonage, General Washington, all +unaware of Lee's disgraceful actions and the retreat of the advanced +division, met a fifer, who appeared to be in great haste to leave the +region. + +Reining in his horse, the great commander ordered the fleeing man to +halt, and then said sternly:-- + +"Who are you? Do you belong to the army? Why are you running in this +fashion?" + +"I am a soldier," replied the trembling man, "but all the Continentals +are running, too." + +"It isn't true! It can't be true! I'll have you whipped if you dare to +mention such a thing to another living man!" cried the astonished +commander. + +Nevertheless, he put the spurs to his horse, and in a few minutes +discovered two or three other men, who apparently were in as great +haste to depart as the fifer had been. + +Instantly the trembling men halted at his sharp command, and again the +excited general demanded an explanation of their actions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH + + +EVIDENTLY, the reply which General Washington received from the men, who +were as greatly frightened by the bearing of the commander as they had +been by the sight of the redcoats, did not convince him that they had +spoken truly. He had not heard any firing, except that of a few cannon a +considerable time before this, and he could not believe that the picked +men under Lee's command had ingloriously retreated without making even +an attempt to stand against the forces of Sir Henry Clinton. + +This second report, however, caused Washington to send forward two of +his trusty officers, whom he ordered to ride swiftly in the direction of +the Court House, and, after they should have discovered the true +condition of affairs, to report instantly to him. + +As the two brave men quickly obeyed and started their horses into a run, +they met on the bridge the members of a regiment in a disorderly +retreat. A little farther on another regiment was discovered, and soon +still another appeared in sight. + +Colonel Ogden, who was in command of the last, in a towering passion +declared, in reply to the question of the officers, that Lee's men were +indeed retreating and that "they were flying from a shadow." + +Still hoping that they would find that a stand had been made farther +back, the two officers pushed eagerly forward and soon met General +Maxwell and his men. That gallant officer was also in a state of great +anger, and not only confirmed the report that Lee was retreating, but +also added some words of his own, expressing his opinion of that officer +and of the movement in words that would have caused the cheeks of the +treacherous general to tingle, if he had chanced to hear them. + +Still hoping against hope, the two aids pressed forward and soon met +General Lee himself. His face at all times was decidedly plain, and +indeed, as we know, he had the reputation of having the "ugliest face in +America;" but at this time a scowl rested upon it which doubtless did +not tend to increase his beauty, and he sullenly refused to reply to the +questions of the men. + +The two officers did not long delay to talk to him, but still urged +their horses swiftly forward, although the straggling, disorderly troops +now almost filled the road, and their worst fears were confirmed each +moment. + +At last, in the post of danger and nearest to the pursuing British, the +two officers discovered General Wayne and his men. "Mad Anthony" was +certainly "mad" at that time, and while he assured the aids that the +retreat was genuine and general, at the same time he declared that it +was absolutely needless. He also declared that "Lee had drawn off his +best men at the very time when he was facing a body of British far +superior to himself in numbers, but that even then the redcoats could be +beaten if a stand were made against them." + +There was no time for an extended conversation, but, doubtless, the two +officers understood what the exceedingly vigorous language of Mad +Anthony Wayne was intended to convey, and after receiving the +suggestions he sent by them to General Washington, and assured now that +they had discovered the worst, they put spurs to their horses and rode +swiftly back to give the information they had received to the great +commander. + +Meanwhile, General Washington himself had not been idle, we may be well +assured. Riding swiftly forward, he met band after band of the +retreating, disorderly Continentals, and heard many expressions of anger +and disgust, very like to that which had already greeted the two +officers he had sent forward. + +At last, in the rear of the retreating column, he met General Wayne and +his angry men. Hastily summoning Mad Anthony and two or three of his +officers, the great leader told them that he "should depend upon them +that day to give the enemy a check," and quickly directed General Wayne +to form his men, and, with their two pieces of artillery, strive to stop +the progress of the redcoats. + +It was just at this moment that General Lee himself rode up, and the +scene which followed was one which those who witnessed it never forgot. +There is no more sublime sight in all this world than the towering +passion of a great man. Not pettiness, not irritability, but the just +and righteous anger of a noble, large-hearted man in the presence of +wickedness. + +General Washington probably never before in all his life had been so +angry as he was at that time. Thoughts of the cause of the country he +loved, the lives of thousands of brave and devoted patriots, the sight +of angry, desperate men all about him, the disappointment at the loss of +what he had confidently counted upon, the loss also of that for which so +many noble men had been sacrificing and toiling through many weary days +and on their long marches, rushed upon him like a flood. And before him +stood the guilty man who alone was to be blamed for it all. Small wonder +is it that Washington was almost beside himself with rage and sorrow. + +The name of Benedict Arnold is one that is hated to-day by every +American schoolboy, for, after all, most boys can be trusted to hate +evil in whatever form it presents itself. But the treachery of Benedict +Arnold had at least the merit of being unmasked and comparatively open, +for he took his stand boldly on the side of the redcoats, whom he at one +time had fought with a bravery none can ever forget. But the memory of +Charles Lee has not even that redeeming quality, for his actions on the +field of Monmouth can only be explained on the ground of treachery or +cowardice, and a coward is not very greatly to be preferred to a +traitor. If both Lee and Arnold had fallen in battle, how much better +it would have been for them and their friends, for "a good name is to be +preferred above great riches," and they left neither. Perhaps the +strange desire which Lee later expressed in his will, that his "body +should not be interred in any church or churchyard, or within a mile of +any Presbyterian or Baptist church," was not entirely out of keeping +with the man himself. + +The conversation between Washington and Lee at the time they met on the +retreat at Monmouth has been variously reported; but doubtless the fact +that those who heard it were as excited as the generals themselves may +in part account for the differences in the reports which have come down +to us. We may be sure the conversation was not extended to the length +which some have said it was, or that it savored largely of the +high-flown expressions which have been quoted. + +One of the men who was present is reported to have said that Washington +in his sternest manner looked at Lee, and demanded, "What is the meaning +of all this, sir?" + +Dismayed by the terrible appearance of the commander-in-chief, and +mortified that he should be so addressed in the presence of his +soldiers, the crestfallen general could only stammer, "Sir? sir?" + +Again the enraged commander demanded the meaning of the retreat, and Lee +attempted to explain. His orders, he said, had been misunderstood, his +officers had not obeyed his commands, he had not thought it wise to +attempt to make a stand against the British with his detachment; but the +angry Washington would not stay to listen to the lame attempts at +explanation, and muttering something about a "poltroon," he hastened +back to the high ground between the meeting-house and the bridge, where +he quickly formed the regiments which were waiting there. + +Apparently thinking better of his words, he then rode back to General +Lee and inquired whether he still desired to retain the command on that +height or not. "If you will," he added, "I will return to the main body +and have it formed on the next height." + +As Lee accepted the offer, Washington said: "I expect you will take +proper means for checking the enemy." + +"Your orders shall be obeyed," replied Lee, "and I shall not be the +first to leave the ground." + +Meanwhile, the British general Clinton had also been busy. He had +ordered back many of the troops which the Hessian general Knyphausen +commanded, and was making vigorous attempts to compel the Americans to +keep up the retreat, which Lee had ordered with such disastrous results. + +The forces under Mad Anthony had rallied at the call of their leader, +and were bravely holding their position near the parsonage. The British +grenadiers climbed over the fence which crossed the lot in front of +Wayne, but were quickly driven back by the angry Continentals. + +Again the determined British advanced, and again were driven back. Then +their brave leader, Colonel Monckton, placing himself at their head, and +calling upon his men to follow him, led the charge. But Mad Anthony and +his men were waiting for them, and under their terrible fire the brave +colonel and many of his men went down as the grass falls before the +scythe of the mower. Desperate was the struggle then for the body of the +fallen leader. Hand to hand, clubbing their muskets, using their +bayonets any way, every way, the men fought on; but the band of sturdy +Americans held both the body and the place, and as the British fell back +it was not to attack Mad Anthony's men again during that day. + +Sir Henry Clinton then moved the main body of his troops against the +left of the Americans, where General (Lord) Stirling was in command, but +the batteries were so well handled that there also the redcoats were +repulsed. + +Then they turned toward the American right; but that sturdy blacksmith +from Rhode Island, Nathanael Greene, was there, and no better success +crowned their desperate and determined efforts. And Mad Anthony and his +men had rushed to the assistance of their comrades. When his men +perceived the nature of the work which was expected of them, they +prepared for the action after their own peculiar manner. As we already +know, many of them had cast aside their coats when they entered the +battle, but now some of them stopped and deliberately rolled up their +shirt sleeves. A shout greeted the men, when their action was perceived, +and in a moment their companions had followed their example. Then, with +cheers and calls, the unsoldierly appearing soldiers rushed into the +fray, and so vigorous was their work that soon the redcoats were +compelled to retreat behind the defile, where the first stand had been +made in the beginning of the battle. + +There they felt secure. On either side lay heavy swamps and thick woods, +while in front of them was a narrow pass, through which the Americans +must go if they continued the attack. + +And that was just what General Washington determined to do. Carefully he +arranged for divisions to move upon the right and upon the left, while +the artillery was to be brought up and pour its terrible fire directly +into the front of the position the British had taken. + +The men responded with a will, but before the detachments could gain the +desired position the night had come, and darkness spread over the field, +wrapping friend and foe alike within its folds. Although the eager +Americans could not then advance, they resolved to pass the night in the +positions they then held, which were very near to the lines of the +British, and renew the attack as soon as the light of the morning came. + +Guards were established, and then the entire army prepared for the +night. The exhausted men threw themselves upon the ground, many of them +lying at full length with their arms spread wide and their faces resting +directly upon the sand. Seldom have men been more completely worn out +than were those hardy soldiers on that day of the battle of Monmouth. +Many had fallen, and when their friends examined their bodies for the +marks of the fatal bullets not a scratch could be found. + +The beams of the summer sun had accomplished what, in many instances, +the bullets of the enemy had failed to do. All day long the sun had hung +in the heavens like a great red ball of fire. Steadily the heat had +risen higher and higher, until it had arrived at a point which even the +"oldest inhabitants" could not exaggerate in their stories. The tongues +of some of the men had swelled so that speech became impossible. The +poor Hessians, condemned to wear their heavy fur hats, left many a +lifeless body behind them which the heat had conquered before the +desperate Americans could accomplish the same result. + +For hours that night not a sign of life appeared in the American camp. +Motionless as logs the exhausted soldiers lay stretched upon the ground, +and the sounds of their deep breathing were all that could be heard. +They had not stopped even to bury their dead, so little life did the +living men apparently retain. + +Great was the astonishment in the American camp when the first faint +streaks of the dawn appeared on the following morning, and it was +discovered that not a soldier remained in the British camp. Sir Henry +Clinton had permitted his weary men to rest until ten o'clock, and then, +in silence, preparations were made to join the forces of General +Knyphausen, who, meanwhile, had marched on and gone into camp at Nut +Swamp, near the Heights of Middletown. + +The British soldiers hastily had collected their wounded, leaving only +forty of the poor fellows behind them, and then under the light of the +moon began their march to the position which Knyphausen was holding. So +wearied were the American soldiers, so heavy was their slumber, and so +silent were all the movements of Clinton's men, that their departure was +not discovered before the morning came, and by that time the redcoats +were with the Hessians and safe from all danger of an attack. + +General Washington considered a further pursuit as "impracticable and +fruitless," and greatly to the chagrin of his army no attempt was made +to push forward. The great battle of Monmouth had been fought. The +soldiers hastily prepared to bury their dead, and so hurried were their +movements that one man afterwards declared he had seen the bodies of +thirteen men cast into one shallow pit which had been dug in the sand. +Yet the Continentals were neither brutal nor indifferent. A British army +was near them, and desperate haste was considered necessary. + +The results of the battle, its effect upon the redcoats and buffcoats, +and those who wore no coats at all, and the parts which Tom Coward and +certain other of our acquaintances had taken in the struggle, we must +reserve for another chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE RETURN TO BENZEOR'S HOUSE + + +THERE were several motives in the mind of Little Peter which made him +eager to overtake Ted and the fat and kicking Jeshurun, not the least of +which was the sense of protection he felt in the presence of the +powerful man. Boyish as Ted was in many ways, his great size and +wonderful physical strength made him a companion to be desired in the +midst of such dangers as the troubled lad was compelled to face in those +sad times in Old Monmouth. + +Accordingly, Little Peter ran eagerly forward, hoping to overtake Ted +before he should arrive at Benzeor's house, which now was not more than +two miles away. Long before he came within sight of the place, he +discovered Ted and his steed in advance of him, and from their +motionless attitude he quickly concluded that Jeshurun had been seized +with another attack of obstinacy. + +His surmise proved to be correct, and as he came nearer he beheld Ted +seated by the roadside holding Jeshurun's bridle in his hand, and +apparently waiting patiently for the time when the little beast should +decide to continue his journey. + +"I'm glad to see you, lad," remarked Ted, as Little Peter approached. "I +left you rather suddenly back there, but when Jesh makes up his mind to +start, it's time for me to go, too, and I can't always stop to say +good-by to my friends. It's easier than walkin', though, but I wish I +knew some way to fix the little rascal. I've been thinkin' as how, if +Jeshurun kicked when he waxed fat, it might be that if he waxed thin, +the kickin' would go, too, along with the fatness. I say, Little Peter, +I want to ask ye a question." + +"All right, Ted, go ahead," replied Little Peter, as he fanned his +dripping face with his hat and took a seat beside his companion. + +"In your opinion," said Ted soberly, "is the oyster a wild animal, or a +tame one?" + +"What?" + +"Is the oyster a wild animal or a tame one? Maybe you don't think he's +an animal at all, only just an insect; but my opinion is that he's an +animal, and what I'd like to know is whether he's wild or tame." + +"He isn't savage, anyway," remarked Little Peter demurely. + +"I'm not talkin' about whether he's savage or not, but whether he's wild +or tame. That's been a-botherin' me a good bit, and I just can't find +any answer. Whoa! Whoa there, Jesh! What's the matter with ye? If ye +want to start on, I'm your man." These last remarks were directed at the +mule, which had begun to display some of the qualities of the famous +character for whom he had been named; but his owner's words served to +calm him, and Jeshurun soon stood in such an abject attitude that, to +one who was not familiar with his ways, wickedness and kicking would +never have been suspected of him. + +"Maybe the oyster's a bird more than he is an insect," said Little +Peter. "When his shell is spread out it looks something like wings." + +"No, he isn't a bird, he's a animal," said Ted, "and what I want to know +is whether he's a tame or a wild one." + +"What do you want to know for?" + +"Why, the way of it is this: Some time ago I planted an oyster-bed off +the mouth of the river, and the first thing I knew my neighbors was +a-helpin' themselves to it. When I said I didn't like that very much, +and those oysters was mine, all the men did was to laugh. Yes, sir, jest +laughed," repeated Ted, as if he felt aggrieved at the levity of his +neighbors. "Then, they went on to tell me that I couldn't plant oysters, +same as I did 'taties and things in my garden. Oysters was wild things +and belonged to anybody that found them, jest the same as turtles and +clams and wild geese did. I've been a-puzzlin' my head a good deal over +it, and I can't make it out. I planted them oysters for Sallie,--she's +my wife, ye know,--and as long as she had all she wanted of 'em, I +didn't care how much the neighbors helped themselves; but when it comes +to sayin' that them oysters I planted don't belong to me, but any one +can go and take all he wants, jest as if they was clams, or +gooseberries, or--or--or--saltwater, I don't know what to do about it. +What do you think, Little Peter?" he added anxiously. + +"I don't know; I never thought of it before." + +Absurd as the question appears to us, it was far from being so to the +people of Old Monmouth in the times of which we are writing. So warm +had the discussion become that it was soon after carried into the +courts, and in 1808 a case was tried before the supreme court, but no +definite decision was gained. In 1821 another famous trial was held, and +finally in 1858 the supreme court decided that oysters were both tame +and wild. Where they had grown naturally and without being planted, they +were to be considered as wild and the property of any one who chose to +take them; but where they had been planted, and there was no natural +growth, the oysters were "tame" and the property of the one who had made +the bed. Even after that decision there was trouble for a long time in +Old Monmouth over the question, although to-day it is generally accepted +that a man may own oysters as he does other animals. + +"I'm sorry ye can't help me," said Ted. + +"So am I, but I'm not thinking of oysters just now. I want to go up to +Benzeor Osburn's more than anything else." + +"I'm with ye. We're so near, maybe Jeshurun will be willing to go, if he +doesn't have to carry me on his back. I'll try him and see." + +To the surprise of both, Jeshurun appeared to be willing to resume the +journey and obediently followed Ted, who led him by the bridle rein +which he slipped over the mule's head. + +In this wise they all walked on, but as they came nearer to the end of +their journey, conversation ceased. Little Peter was thinking of the +children and trying to devise some plan by which he might care for them. +What his companion's thoughts were did not appear, but the expression +upon his face had undergone a change, and from the occasional word he +dropped, which sounded very like "Hangin' Sallies," the lad thought he +knew what was going on in Ted's mind. What would occur if Benzeor should +be found at his home, Little Peter could not determine; but he felt +assured from Ted's manner that this time his neighbor would not escape +so easily as he had when the angry man had given him his involuntary +bath in the waters of the Shrewsbury River. + +However, there was a deal of comfort for the lad in the company of his +powerful friend; and as Benzeor's little house now appeared in the +distance, he was more and more rejoiced that he was not compelled to +approach it alone. If Indian John's words were correct, Benzeor was not +there now; but it was more than possible that John had been mistaken, +or that the man had returned since his visit in the early morning. + +These possibilities were sufficiently strong to increase Little Peter's +excitement, and when they turned into the lane which led up to the house +his heart was beating rapidly and his breathing was hard and fast. As he +glanced toward the place, he suddenly discovered some children playing +in the yard and instantly recognized two of them as his own little +brothers. + +The children, then, were safe; and with a sigh of relief he turned to +his companion and said, "There are my little brothers! They're all +right, and so far it looks better." + +"Hangin' Sallies!" muttered Ted; and Little Peter said no more, as he +perceived that his companion's rage over the treatment his wife had +received had returned with increased force. + +Suddenly out from the barn beyond the house started two men on +horseback, riding directly down the lane toward them. Startled and +perplexed by the sight, both Little Peter and Ted stopped and waited for +the men to approach. If the lad had been alone he would instantly have +turned and fled without waiting to see who the strangers were; but +Ted's presence restrained him, and although he was thoroughly alarmed, +he waited with his companion. + +As the horsemen came nearer he discovered that they were Barzilla +Giberson and Jacob Vannote, the two men who had been with Tom and +Benzeor on their voyage to New York just before Tom's departure from his +foster-father's home. Quickly recalling what Tom had reported of their +conversation at that time, the sight of them now did not tend to allay +his fears; but Ted's presence was a source of comfort, and, although he +was trembling in his excitement, he did not speak. + +Barzilla instantly stopped his horse as he recognized Little Peter, and, +leaning forward on his horse's neck as he spoke, said, "Where's +Benzeor?" + +"I don't know," replied Little Peter. "Isn't he here?" + +"No, he isn't here. He came back last night, but he's gone again, and +the women folks pretend they don't know where he is. It's lucky for +him." + +"What do you want of him?" + +"You and he both will know more about that after we've found him," +replied Barzilla, as he touched his horse with his spurs, and both men +rode swiftly down the lane and soon disappeared from sight up the road. + +Little Peter told his companion of his suspicions as they resumed their +walk, and Ted quickly stopped, and, shaking his fist in the direction in +which the horsemen had disappeared, said, "Hangin' Sallies! Maybe I'd +better take after them, if I don't find Benzeor." + +"No, no, Ted. Come on, we're almost here now." + +They soon entered the yard, and as the children discovered the presence +of their brother they ran eagerly to him and threw themselves into his +arms. + +"I want to go home. I want to go home. May we go home now?" said one of +them. + +Little Peter's eyes filled with tears as he lifted the child in his arms +and said, "No, I'm afraid not. We haven't any home now." + +"But I want to go home," persisted the little fellow pleadingly. "I +don't want to stay here any longer. I want to go home." + +"Hasn't Benzeor been good to you?" + +"Yes, but he isn't here. I want to go home. I want to go home." + +Little Peter glanced up and saw that Ted's face was moving strangely, +and that the tears were streaming from his eyes. The powerful man had a +heart as tender as a woman's, and the piteous pleadings of the homeless, +motherless little lad were more than he could endure. + +"Here, Little Peter!" said Ted hastily. "You go in the house, and I'll +look after the babies while you're gone. Here, my lads and lassies all! +Come take a ride on the back of Jeshurun." + +In a moment the grief of the little ones was forgotten, and, laughing in +their delight, they were lifted upon the back of Jeshurun, who to all +appearances had suddenly become as mild and gentle as a lamb. + +Little Peter glanced back at the laughing group as he started toward the +house, and then looking up beheld Sarah standing in the doorway. Her +face was red with weeping and she evidently was in great distress. + +"Why, Sarah!" exclaimed Little Peter. "What's the trouble? What is it?" + +"My father! My father!" sobbed Sarah, burying her face in her hands. + +"What's happened to him? Is he killed? Is he dead?" + +"No, no. It's worse than that." + +"Worse than that? What do you mean?" + +"Oh, Little Peter, don't _you_ know?" exclaimed the girl, looking up +again as she spoke. + +Peter made no reply. He did not know just what it was to which Sarah +referred, and although he had his own suspicions, he did not feel that +he could refer to them in the presence of the troubled girl. + +"Have you seen Tom?" said Sarah suddenly. + +"No. He's in the army, I think, and I haven't been near that." + +"You wouldn't have to go very far. They say they're both near here, and +that there either has been a battle or there will be one soon. I wish +Tom was here. If you see him, won't you tell him to come back just as +soon as he can?" + +"Yes, if I see him. I don't know that I shall very soon, though. I don't +know what to do, Sarah. I came to see about the children." + +"They're all right. They seem to be now, don't they?" she said, as a +burst of laughter came from the noisy group. "Perhaps you don't want to +leave them here now, though," she added, her eyes filling with tears +once more as she spoke. "I wish you would leave them. It isn't much we +can do for you, but we want to do what we can." + +There was an intensity in Sarah's manner which Little Peter could not +understand. He was in ignorance of all that Sarah knew, and perhaps if +he had known his reply might have been somewhat different. + +"It's good of you, Sarah. I don't know what to do or where to go." + +"You can stay here, too." + +"No, no. I can't do that," he said hastily; and then fearing that he had +said too much, added, "I'll leave the children for a little while. +They'll be safe here till after the battle you tell about." + +"I wish you would, Peter. You couldn't please us better. Who's that man +with you?" she added, apparently for the first time becoming aware of +Ted's presence. + +"A man to see your father," said Little Peter evasively. "Is he home?" + +"No, no," and Sarah shuddered as she spoke. "He came last night, but he +didn't stay long. He went away again, and I don't know when he'll come +again. It'll be a long time. I hope"-- + +What Sarah hoped for she did not explain, and Little Peter said, "I +want to talk with Ted before I say anything more. He's the man out there +with the children. I'll be back in a minute." + +Many minutes passed, however, before the lad returned. He called to Ted +and for a long time they talked together. Ted was decidedly averse to +the plan of leaving the children in Benzeor's home, and freely offered +to take them with him to the place where he had left Sallie and his own +little ones, also venturing to refer several times to the fact that +Sallie was his wife. + +Pleased as Little Peter would have been to accept the offer, Sarah's +pleadings could not be forgotten, and as he felt that the children would +be safe where they then were, he declined the kind offer of Ted. + +"I'll tell you what, my lad," said Ted at last. "If the armies are as +near here as the girl says they are, the thing for you and me to do is +to go over there. They may need us, too. The most I've done so far has +been to look out for that stuff the men brought up the Shrewsbury in the +supply boat. That's all in good hands now, and I'm free to go. Jesh will +be glad to go, too." + +"But you can't leave Sallie and the babies." + +"Yes, I can, too. Sallie's my wife, ye know, and when I took her over to +the Dennises I told her I might not be back for a week or two. She won't +be disappointed, and Jesh will be tickled to pieces to join the army. +Jest look at his ears now. When his ears is that way, I always know +Jeshurun wants to fight the Dutch butchers." + +"We've no other place to go to, or at least I haven't," said Little +Peter thoughtfully. "Well, we'll do as you say. I'll go and tell Sarah." + +"I'm so glad you'll leave the children," said Sarah eagerly, when Little +Peter reported the decision which had been made. "It isn't much we can +do, as I told you, but we do want to do everything we can for you." + +"It's good of you to take them." + +"It's good of you to leave them. There's one thing, though, I must tell +you. We haven't much to eat in the house. There's some meal over at the +mill, and father would have gone for it if he'd been home to-day. But he +isn't here and I don't know what we'll do." + +"You'd like to have me go over there and get it, before we start," said +the boy. "Have you got your horses yet?" + +"Yes, there are two in the barn, and you can take the heavy wagon. It's +kind of you to do it, Little Peter, but it won't take you long, and you +don't know how much it will help us just now." + +"I'll go right away." + +Little Peter turned and explained to Ted the cause of the delay. At +first, Ted insisted upon going with him, but as the lad explained that +only two hours would be required for the journey, he persuaded him to +remain. + +In a few minutes the two horses had been led forth from the barn, and +hitched to the wagon ("geared" was what Ted called the task), and then +Little Peter mounted the seat, grasped the reins in his hands, and +turned down the lane, on what proved to be the most eventful ride in all +his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE RIDE TO THE MILL + + +THE early morning had not yet gone when Little Peter started on his +journey to the mill. He knew the place well, for many a time had he gone +there for his father. It was an antiquated structure beside a pond, +which had been formed by a dam built across the very brook near which he +and Indian John had passed the preceding night. + +The work at the mill had been somewhat interrupted since the outbreak of +the war, but the increasing necessities of the people of Old Monmouth +had led the miller to resume his labors, and Sarah had informed Little +Peter that he would surely find him in his accustomed place. + +At times, the road led through the woods, and the boy could almost touch +the bushes that grew close to the sandy roadway on either side. His view +was somewhat obstructed by these,--and that fact, together with the +unbroken stillness that rested over all, combined to make Little Peter +watchful, and somewhat fearful as well. + +The sunlight flickered through the treetops and cast fantastic shadows +on the ground. The horses did not increase their speed above a slow +trot, for the heat was oppressive and the sandy road was heavy; and, +eager as Little Peter was to be back again at Benzeor's house, he had +not the heart to urge on the toiling beasts. The mill was not more than +three miles from the place from which he had started, and at the pace at +which the horses were then going the lad thought he would be back in +less than two hours. + +He had covered about half of the way to the mill when his horses, with a +sudden snort of fear, darted to one side of the roadway. Little Peter +quickly drew the reins tight, and stood up to discover the cause of the +alarm. + +Two men stepped from the bushes into the road, and as they grasped the +horses by their bits the lad at once recognized them as Barzilla +Giberson and Jacob Vannote. + +"We thought you were Benzeor," exclaimed Barzilla, as he discovered who +the driver was. + +"I've got his horses," replied Little Peter. + +"So I see. What are you doing with them?" + +"Going to the mill. You know the children are at Benzeor's house, and +Sarah wanted me to go for some meal. She said there was none in the +house and her father wasn't likely to be home in time to get it, so I +came for it." + +"Where's your father?" + +"He's been sent to New York." + +"So I've heard. Little Peter, do you know who made the attack on your +house?" + +"It was Fenton's gang, I'm sure." + +"So am I, and I ought to know, for I was there myself." + +"You there?" exclaimed Little Peter. He did not refer to the suspicions +he had entertained concerning the very men who then stood before him; +but he had never expected them to declare their actions so boldly. The +alarm which he had felt, when the two men had suddenly presented +themselves in the road, was greatly increased now, and for a moment he +glanced quickly about as if he were seeking some avenue of escape. + +"Yes, we were there," resumed Barzilla, apparently ignoring the lad's +alarm. "I didn't know but you knew it, and I've felt mean enough about +it, too. We didn't have anything to do with what happened there," he +hastily added; "but the truth is, we thought it was about time some kind +of a stop was put to the doings of the pine robbers,--so Jacob, here, +and I pretended to go in with them. Of course we didn't like the work, +but we hoped we could learn enough about their plans to trap them. And +we've almost succeeded. We've been as busy as you have, my lad, and +pretty soon we hope the murderers of your mother will be run to cover." + +Little Peter had never thought of the scheme which Barzilla mentioned, +and at first he did not know whether to believe him or not. Certainly +appearances were against him, but he was in no position to dispute the +statement. + +"Is that what Benzeor was doing, too?" he inquired. + +"Benzeor? Benzeor Osburn? Don't you know what he had to do"-- + +"Hold on, Barzilla," interrupted Jacob. "Little Peter doesn't know about +him, or he wouldn't let the children stay there." + +"Why? What do you mean? Aren't the children safe there?" said Peter +quickly. + +"Safe? They couldn't be safer if they were in China, or some other +heathing land," said Barzilla. "Even Benzeor's horses are safe. There +isn't such a team as that left in Old Monmouth," he added, "and if his +beasts aren't touched, I don't think you need to worry very much about +the young ones." + +"I don't understand," said Little Peter. + +"You don't need to," said Jacob quickly, "You've got enough to worry +about, my boy, without bothering your head over Barzilla's words. He +talks too much, anyway. You just go on and get the meal for Sarah; +that's all you need to think about now." + +"Yes, but Little Peter ought to know a bit more," said Barzilla +doggedly. "The truth is that we've run some of Fenton's gang into these +very woods. There are several of us scouring the region, and it's only +fair to tell you that you may run across some of 'em if you keep on. For +my part I advise you to turn back and not go to the mill at all. It +isn't safe." + +"Nobody'll touch him. Let him go on," said Jacob. "The children will +have to be fed, and he might as well get the meal. He's safe enough." + +"He can do as he pleases," muttered Barzilla. + +Little Peter was perplexed, for the actions and words of the men were +sadly confusing. Tom had reported to him some of their previous +conversations, and his own suspicions, as we know, had been aroused. If +Barzilla spoke truly now, he was in no slight danger himself, while the +very decided difference of opinion between the two men tended to +increase his confusion. + +"I'm goin' to tell you some more," said Jacob. "Last night some of +Fenton's gang went over to Mr. Farr's. You know the old man, don't you?" + +"You mean Thomas Farr, the old man who lives with his wife and daughter +over on the road to Imlaystown?" + +"That's the very man. Well, Lew Fenton and some of his gang went over +there about midnight, and attacked the house. There wasn't any one in it +but the old man and his wife and their daughter, and you know she's old +enough to have arrived at years of discretion, to put it mildly. The old +people barricaded the doors with logs of wood just as soon as they +discovered who the men were. + +"The pine robbers tried to break the door down with some fence rails, +but when that failed, they fired a volley of bullets right through the +door. One ball broke the leg of the old man, but still they wouldn't let +the pine robbers in. Then the villains went around to the back door and +succeeded in smashing that in. They stuck a bayonet into the old man, +who was helpless on the floor, and then they murdered his wife right +before his eyes. One of the men struck the daughter with the butt of his +gun, but, although she was pretty badly hurt, she managed to get out of +the house. + +"Fenton's gang didn't wait to plunder the place, but, as they were +afraid she'd raise an alarm, they all cleared out. 'Twas mighty lucky +for them that they did, for there was a lot of us near by. You see we'd +seen Benzeor"-- + +"Hold on, Jacob. That's enough. Now, Peter, you see what's going on, and +it's my opinion that some of Fenton's gang, and maybe Fenton himself, +are in these very woods. That's why I advised ye not to go on. Now you +can do jest as ye like, for you've got pretty much the whole story." + +"I think you'll be all right," said Jacob. "It's only a little way up to +the mill, and the children need that meal. I should go if I was in your +place, and if I didn't have to keep watch here, I'd go with ye myself." + +"I'll go," said Little Peter quietly. + +"Good luck to ye, then," said Barzilla. "We'll see you here when you +come back." + +Little Peter picked up the reins and at once started, leaving the two +men behind him, who remained standing in the road, and watched him until +he disappeared from sight. The lad's feelings, however, had undergone a +very decided change. He was convinced that the story concerning the aged +Thomas Farr was true, and he was also persuaded that his suspicions of +Jacob and Barzilla were unjust. + +Every tree now might be the hiding-place of Fenton, or some of his band. +Each moment he expected to see some one step forth into the road before +him and stop his horses. The very silence in the woods served to +increase his alarm. He quickened the speed of the horses, and soon they +were wet with foam, as they toiled on through the heavy sand. The cry of +a bird, or the chattering of a squirrel, caused the excited lad to +glance fearfully in the direction from which the sound came. To his +excited imagination the woods were filled with his enemies, and more +than once a fallen tree or a broken branch took on the outlines of a +man. + +It was with a feeling of intense relief that at last he saw the +crumbling old mill before him. The sound of the water, as it dropped +from the dam to the bed of the brook below, was like music in his ears; +and when he discovered the miller himself standing in the doorway, he +again increased the speed of his horses, and soon halted before the +mill. + +"I've come for Benzeor Osburn's grist," he said, as he leaped from his +seat to the ground. + +"They must be pretty hungry over there, from the looks of your horses." + +"They are. Has any one been here this morning?" + +"Not a soul. There's no work now, with all this fighting going on. Have +you heard anything from the soldiers?" + +"Not much, only that both the armies must be near here now." + +There was nothing, however, in the presence of the old mill to indicate +that war's rude alarms were to be heard anywhere in the region. The +monotonous sound of the falling water, the dull hum of the big wheel, +the little garden which the miller had planted near his log house close +by, the dog lying asleep on the doorsill, the little urchins playing in +the waters of the brook, the hens fluttering in the roadway and covering +themselves with dust,--all seemed to declare that only peace and quiet +were to be found in the region. + +And yet, only a few miles away two great armies had assembled, and, on +the morrow the summer air would resound with the booming of cannon, and +many a buffcoat and redcoat would be left lying side by side upon the +plains of Old Monmouth, never again to be mindful of the struggle, or +hear or heed the calls of their officers as they led the men into +battle. + +At that very time, if the words of Barzilla Giberson were true, the +woods, which extended between the mill and the main road, concealed some +of the hated pine robbers, as well as outraged patriots who were +searching for their enemies. + +The wagon was soon loaded, the miller's share of the grist having first +been set aside, and Little Peter climbed up on the seat and grasped the +reins, as he prepared to start again. + +"You'd better be careful," said Little Peter. "I'm told some of the +pine robbers are hiding in these woods." + +"I'm not afraid," laughed the miller. "I never harmed them and they +won't harm me." + +The lad related the story of the attack upon the house of Thomas Farr, +but still the miller to all appearances was not deeply impressed. + +"I haven't any money and they've nothing to gain by disturbing me. I +grind my grists just the same, whether it's a king or Congress that +rules over me, and I don't care much, for my part, which it is. I don't +bother my head about such things. All I want is good water and plenty of +corn, and I'm happy all the day long." + +Little Peter had given his warning, so he said no more, but bidding the +miller good-day, he spoke to his horses and at once departed. + +His load was heavier now than when he had come, and consequently he was +compelled to let his horses walk. Even then the sweltering beasts +labored heavily under the intense heat, and he was compelled to stop +frequently and permit them to rest in some cool and shady spot. + +His own fears had not departed, however, but every turn of the heavy +wheels brought him nearer to the main road, and once there he thought he +would be safe. Already one of the three miles had been left behind him, +and he was about to start on, after the brief rest he had given the +horses, when he was startled by the sound of something breaking through +the bushes that lined the road in front of him. + +Tremblingly he waited a moment, gazing with frightened face at the place +in the road where the man, or animal, or whatever it was, would first +appear. His suspense was not relieved when a horse and rider broke +through the bushes and stopped only a few yards in advance of him. + +Little Peter's face was deadly pale when he instantly recognized the man +as none other than Lewis Fenton himself. He noted the great size, the +broad shoulders, the powerful arms, for the pine robber was riding +without a coat, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled back, disclosing the +great bunches of muscles; but more than all else the brutal face +terrified him. + +Before he could speak or move, Fenton leaped to the ground, and leaving +his horse by the roadside approached the wagon. + +"How now, young man? Give an account of yourself. Where you going? Who +are you? As I live, if it isn't Little Peter Van Mater!" he added in +evident astonishment. + +As he spoke, he grasped the frightened lad by the shoulder and dragged +him to the ground. Then the brutal, cowardly man struck him two savage +blows. The sight of the woods and even of the pine robber faded from +Little Peter's eyes, and the unconscious boy dropped heavily upon the +sand. Even then Fenton was not satisfied, for again and again he kicked +the body, apparently not yet convinced that life was extinct. + +But Little Peter suffered no pain. With sightless eyes, his +blood-stained face looked up at the blue sky above the treetops, but +neither the passing clouds nor the further actions of the brutal pine +robber were heeded by the lad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +AFTER THE BATTLE + + +TOM COWARD, as we know, had been selected to serve as one of the guides +of the American army. The roads were not so numerous as to cause any +fear of serious trouble from confusion; but boys and young men from the +region were nevertheless assigned to this duty, and in some instances +were said to have been so greatly excited as to have failed in finding +the way themselves. To this cause some assigned the failure of Morgan's +dragoons to enter the battle; but doubtless there were other causes as +well which prevented that terrible band of riflemen from having a share +in the struggle. + +Tom had been reserved to move with the troops that were under the +command of General Washington himself, and that followed the division +which General Lee had failed to lead into battle. Frightened as the lad +was, he still noted keenly all that was occurring about him, and had +been as highly excited as any over the interview which took place +between Washington and Lee when the latter was retreating. The +impressions he there received were those which the people of Old +Monmouth ever after retained concerning Charles Lee, for he was +remembered, not for his experiences abroad or for his successes in the +south, but as the man who had been the traitor in the battle. + +When the engagement began, Tom's duties as guide were ended, but as no +one gave him any instructions, he was driven from one band of men to +another, and while he still retained the rifle which he had taken when +he had departed from Benzeor's house, he had not made any use of it. + +For a time he remained within sight of the young lieutenant, and they +were together when in the early part of the battle Captain Molly had +done the deed which has caused her name to be remembered until this day. +Molly had marched with her husband, and as the advanced batteries opened +fire upon each other the intrepid woman had been running back and forth +between the men and a little spring, which was near by, bringing water +to her husband and his companions. Her task was no light one in the heat +of that day. + +As she had started to return from one of her visits to the spring, she +turned just in time to see her husband fall as he was advancing to his +post, for he was a cannoneer, as we already know. Molly hastily ran to +his assistance, but she at once perceived that he was dead. She heard an +officer order the cannon to be moved from its position, but instantly +controlling her grief, she declared her purpose to take her husband's +place. Amidst the cheers of the men she did so, and so bravely and well +did she perform the duty, that after the battle was ended General Greene +himself presented her to the great commander and related the story of +her bravery. Washington added his words of praise and bestowed upon her +a lieutenant's commission. The men received the news with loud cheers, +and then themselves bestowed upon "Molly Pitcher" the title of "Captain +Molly," and as Captain Molly she was known thereafter. + +Another story, told afterwards by the Frenchmen, reflected great credit +upon General Clinton, and perhaps in a measure atoned for the action of +that commander in wantonly burning so many of the houses in Old +Monmouth. An American officer with about twenty of his men advanced +under the English batteries to observe their position. The redcoats +opened fire, and the officer's aid-de-camp fell at his side. The men, +who were dragoons, instantly turned and fled,--that is, all save the +officer, who, although he was directly under the fire of the cannon, +calmly dismounted and advanced to discover whether the fallen man was +dead or not, or whether the wound had been mortal. Quickly discovering +that the man was dead, the American officer, visibly weeping, turned and +remounted his horse and slowly rejoined his comrades. The officer was +the young Marquis de Lafayette, and his white charger had been +recognized by General Clinton, who himself ordered his men not to fire, +and doubtless thereby saved the life of the brave young nobleman. It was +long cherished as the one deed of mercy in the midst of a campaign and +battle which left its marks of suffering and sorrow on every side. + +An instance of the other side of the British commander's character came +to Tom's attention not long afterwards, when he heard of the misfortune +of an old lady seventy years of age, in whose house General Clinton made +his headquarters. The British officer, noticing that his hostess had +caused all of her better furniture and valuables to be removed, informed +her that she need have had no fears for the safety of her possessions, +for he himself would protect her and them, and urged her to have them +brought back again. As the old lady expressed her fears and objected, he +repeated his assurances so strongly that she yielded and sent a man with +a wagon to the place in which they had been concealed. + +When the wagon-load arrived in front of her door, she in person applied +to the British commander for a guard; but the permission was refused +and, not even giving her a change of dress for herself or her aged +husband, the goods were at once confiscated, and the old lady was +compelled to give up her bedroom and sleep with the negro women upon the +floor of the kitchen. + +Among the congregation which had assembled at the "new church" to watch +the battle was one man who, instead of joining his friends upon the roof +or steeple, took his seat upon one of the gravestones. Not long +afterwards, a cannon-ball came speeding in that direction, and struck +the unfortunate man. + +The congregation upon the roof did not wait for the customary +benediction to be pronounced, we may be sure, and while the most of them +hastily dispersed, a few remained to carry the wounded man into the +"meeting-house," where he died within a few minutes, and the stains of +his blood remained for many years upon the floor. It was within six feet +of the west end of this same "new church" that the body of the +unfortunate British Colonel Monckton, over which the contending forces +had such a desperate struggle, was buried. + +Within the vicinity of Monmouth Court House many houses and farm +buildings were set on fire and burned by the redcoats, some of whom +openly declared that there was no hope of conquering the rebels until +"they had burned every house and killed every man, woman, and child." +Just how they expected to conquer _after_ they had burned the buildings +and slain the people is not clear to us to-day; but doubtless the +expression and the purpose alike were born of the fury of the battle, +and was only one among many of the results of war, which even in its +mildest forms appeals to all that is bad in men. And as the campaign in +Old Monmouth presented none of the milder forms of war, such deeds, +terrible as they were, were not unnatural. + +Nor were they all confined to one side, for the men in buff and blue +were as much aroused as the men in scarlet, and, while naturally the +anecdotes and incidents of the battle are largely those of the cruel +deeds of the redcoats, doubtless if all things had been recorded, we +should have found that many of those brave ancestors of ours were not +entirely guiltless of similar deeds. + +An unusual story was that of Captain Cook of the Virginia Corps, who was +shot through the lungs. He was carried into a room in a near-by house +and ordered by the surgeon not to speak. A brother officer came into the +room and tenderly asked of the wounded man whether anything could be +done for him. Captain Cook, in spite of his sufferings, was mindful of +the surgeon's words and made no reply. Mistaking the cause of the +silence, his friend departed from the house and reported to Washington +that Captain Cook was dead, and then the commander ordered a coffin to +be placed under the window of the room in which the brave captain was +supposed to be lying dead. But Captain Cook was not dead, nor did he +die until many years afterwards, and lived to visit several times the +good people in Old Monmouth, who had tenderly ministered to his wants +until he was able to rejoin the army. + +After the battle, many of the dead were found beneath the shade of +trees, or beside the little streams to which they had crawled for +shelter or for water; and many of these had perished, not from wounds, +but from their labors in the intense heat of the day. Several houses at +Monmouth Court House were filled with the wounded after the battle, and +every room in the Court House itself was likewise filled. The suffering +soldiers lay upon the straw which had been scattered over the floors, +and the groans and cries of the wounded and the moanings of the dying +resounded together. The faces of many were so blackened that their +dearest friends did not recognize them, and as fast as they died their +bodies were taken and buried in pits, which were only slightly covered +by the sand. + +A similar service was rendered for the enemy's dead, and among them was +found a sergeant of dragoons whose immense body had been a familiar +sight to both armies, for the man was said to have been the tallest +soldier ever seen in all the struggle of the Revolution, and to have +measured seven feet and four inches in height. + +So, side by side, or in neighboring graves, the nameless bodies of +friends and foes were left for their last long sleep. The roar of the +cannon, the shouts of the men, the calls of the officers, the bitter +feelings of the awful war were never to disturb or arouse them again. +They had done their part, and done it well; but the land for which they +struggled could never mark their resting-places, nor perhaps recall the +names of all. But the heroes whose names we praise would never have been +honored except for the part the faithful and brave, but nameless and +forgotten, heroes took. In honoring the one class, let us never forget +to pay a tribute of honor and of praise to the unknown and forgotten +heroes of Old Monmouth. + +The loss of the Americans in the battle had been three hundred and +sixty-two. That of the British, while it was reported to have been four +hundred and sixteen, was doubtless much greater, for the Americans +buried no less than two hundred and forty-five of the redcoats, and had +no means of knowing how many had been carried away. Washington himself +believed the loss to have been as great as twelve hundred. + +Who were the victors on the plains of Old Monmouth? What were the +effects of the campaign upon the fortunes of the struggling States? Most +American writers have claimed that the victory belonged to the +Continentals because they had driven the British from the field, while +many British writers have claimed that it was a drawn battle. + +Certainly, Washington must have felt bitterly disappointed, for he had +hoped to defeat the enemy and capture their baggage and stores. His +failure to do so was not due to the British, but to the treachery of +Charles Lee. Had Lee carried out the orders given him, there can be +little doubt to-day that the battle of Monmouth would have aided in +putting an end to the war long before peace came. + +We are not concerned by what might have been the result, however, but by +what was the result. Clinton succeeded in withdrawing his troops and +saving his baggage train, and with both soon after embarked (June 30) +upon the ships which Lord Howe had been keeping in waiting off Sandy +Hook, and thereby gained the safety of New York. But his men were +greatly disheartened, and came to regard the despised "rebels" in an +entirely new light. Indeed, within a week more than two thousand +deserted, the most of whom were Hessians, and the confidence of those +who remained was sadly broken. While it is a current saying that +"nothing succeeds like success," it is also evident that nothing fails +like failure, and this was as true in those trying days of the +Revolution as it is to-day, and General Clinton soon found it to be so. + +Upon the Americans, the moral effect of the campaign and battle was more +needed than the material effect. Valley Forge was passed now, +Philadelphia had been abandoned by the British, and the Americans had +found upon the plains of Old Monmouth, as they had at Trenton and +Princeton, that their men were not inferior to their enemies, while +their officers were among the best the world had known. The opponents +and enemies of Washington, and they were many at the time both within +and without Congress, were compelled to be silent, and the great +commander was free to face his difficulties and dangers, which were not +ended after the battle of Monmouth. That campaign had served chiefly to +place behind him one more of his problems, but, as we shall see, many +yet remained to try the soul of the noblest American of them all. + +Meanwhile, what had become of the lad Tom Coward? Alarmed by the battle, +not daring to fight and yet not knowing where to withdraw, although his +fear had not been strong enough to lead to such a result, he was driven +about by the movements of the men, and in one of the lulls which came in +the conflict, he found himself almost alone. He was near a barn which +stood beyond the borders of the battlefield, and was just about to turn +the corner when he stumbled over the body of a fallen man. + +As he glanced down, he was almost overcome when he discovered that the +soldier was his friend, the young lieutenant. A hurried examination +revealed that he was still living, though he was badly wounded in the +throat. The lad lifted the head of the suffering man, but a groan caused +him to desist. Almost overcome by grief and fear, he turned to seek for +aid. + +[Illustration: HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SOLDIER WAS HIS FRIEND] + +As he looked quickly about him, he perceived a man in the distance on +the border of the woods away from the battle-ground. Instantly he +turned and ran toward him, and to his surprise discovered that the man +was none other than Friend Nathan Brown. + +"Come, Nathan! come! Be quick! Lieutenant Gordon's over here by the +barn. He's terribly wounded and may die any moment. Come and help me +with him!" + +The Quaker instantly responded, and without explaining how it had +happened that he should be discovered so near a scene to which in spirit +as well as in practice he was strongly opposed, ran by the side of the +eager lad to the place where the wounded man had fallen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +TOM COWARD'S PATIENT + + +THE place where young Lieutenant Gordon was lying was in the rear of the +barn which belonged to the parsonage of the "new church." After the +bullet had hit him, he had managed to crawl to that secluded place, but +the sounds of the battle, which was still being waged in the vicinity, +were not long heard by the wounded officer, for he had soon become +unconscious, and the roar of the cannon and the shouts of the men were +all unheeded and unheard. + +"Is he dead?" said Nathan in a low voice, as he looked down upon the +unconscious man. + +"No! no!" replied Tom hastily; "or at least he wasn't a minute ago. No, +he's still alive," he added after a hurried examination. "We must carry +him away from this place." + +"I see no place for thy friend. These sons of Belial are not likely to +permit thee to depart unnoticed." + +Friend Nathan was trembling, and his face betrayed his alarm. And there +was much to frighten him. Clouds of smoke could be seen not far away, +and the loud shouts of men and the reports of their guns could be +distinctly heard. The struggle near the meeting-house was one of the +most severe in all the battle, and the danger of which the frightened +Nathan spoke was not unreal. But Tom's fears had departed now, and +although he never fully understood the cause of the change in his +feelings, the sight of his suffering friend and his determination to aid +him had banished all thoughts concerning his own personal safety. + +At a distance of a half mile, Tom could see a little farmhouse, and he +hastily decided that the young lieutenant must be carried there. The +building was on the border of the plain and on the side opposite to the +place where the struggle was going on. + +There would be danger in the attempt to carry him across the field, but +thinking only of his friend, Tom said hastily, "We must carry him to +that farmhouse yonder, Nathan. I don't know who lives there, but whoever +does won't refuse to receive a wounded man, I know. You take hold of his +feet, and I'll lift the head and shoulders, and we'll get him there +somehow. Come, Nathan, we mustn't delay a minute." + +"Have it thine own way, Friend Thomas," replied Nathan, as he stooped +and grasped the legs of the wounded officer. + +Tom gently lifted the head of the young lieutenant at the same time, and +carefully across the field the two men began to move with their burden. +Their progress necessarily was slow, and the lad's fears were not +allayed by the evident alarm of his companion. Nathan repeatedly glanced +behind him, and several times Tom was compelled to speak sharply to +recall the frightened man to their present task. The shouts and reports +of the guns were increasing, and Tom's strongest desire was to avoid +attracting the attention of any of the combatants. + +They had safely passed beyond the orchard, and he was just beginning to +hope that their efforts would be successful, when suddenly Nathan's hat +was lifted from his head and the sound of a whistling musket-ball was +heard as it passed above them. + +For a moment, the startled Nathan looked down at his hat, and as he +perceived the hole in it which the bullet had made, he instantly +dropped his burden, and turning sharply about, started in a swift run +across the field. + +"Come back, Nathan! Come back! Don't leave me here!" pleaded Tom; but +Nathan did not heed the call. + +His pace was a marvelous one for a man of his years, and as he bent low +over the ground, as if to avoid other bullets which might be coming +toward him, and sped swiftly forward, under other circumstances Tom +might have felt inclined to laugh at the ludicrous sight the fleeing man +of peace presented. But as it was he felt much more inclined to cry than +to laugh, and, as he realized his own helplessness, he knew not what to +do. If he had been alone he might have followed Nathan and gained a +place of safety, but, as he glanced down upon the suffering man, who now +lay stretched upon the ground, his whole soul rebelled against the +thought of deserting his friend in a time like that. + +What could he do? The desperate lad looked about him hoping to discover +some one whom he might summon to his aid. In the distance he could see +the bands of struggling soldiers, and their shouts and shots could be +clearly heard. But they were all intent upon their own contest, and +there was no one who would hear or heed him if he should call. + +He could not abandon his friend--that much at least was certain; and at +last he determined to do his utmost to carry the helpless, wounded man +himself. Placing his arms beneath the shoulders of the unconscious +lieutenant, and striving to rest the head against his own body, he +started slowly on, dragging the man with him. His progress was +necessarily slow, and he was compelled to stop frequently, both for his +own sake and that of his friend. Still, on and on he persistently made +his way. The intense heat of the day, his constant fear that life would +depart from the body he was dragging forward, the sound of the battle +behind him, all combined to increase his troubles; but not for a moment +did he think of abandoning his efforts for his friend. + +Proceeding slowly, stopping at frequent intervals and then resuming his +efforts, he steadily drew nearer to the farmhouse he had perceived in +the distance. How much time had been consumed he could not determine. +The minutes seemed like hours to the struggling lad. His own danger was +all forgotten for the time, and the one purpose in his mind was to +carry Lieutenant Gordon to some place of safety, where it should be +possible to do something for the relief of the desperately wounded man. + +At last, only one more lot remained to be crossed, and with renewed hope +Tom was about to lift his burden, which he had dropped for one of his +brief rests, when he suddenly discovered a man running toward him. +Startled and alarmed by the sight he quickly perceived that the +approaching man was Friend Nathan, who, hatless and with a dripping +face, was soon by his side. + +"Thou hast put me to shame, Friend Thomas," said Nathan soberly. "Thou +art a better man than I, as well as a braver. I know not why it was, but +when my hat was lifted from my head, and I perceived that hole the +bullet had made, I lost my self-control. My teaching has been that of +peace and I am poorly prepared for the contests of war. I will give thee +no cause to complain now." + +"Take hold, then," said Tom quickly. "We must get the lieutenant out of +this heat, or there'll be no hope for him." + +Nathan eagerly responded, and tenderly lifting the wounded man they +proceeded across the lot. + +When they halted for their first rest, Nathan said, "I have a word to +say to thee, Friend Thomas. What did Washington say to thee when he +heard thy demand for a recompense for the beast I let thee have?" + +"Say? He didn't say anything, because I didn't say anything to him. You +don't suppose he hadn't anything more to do than to talk with a boy like +me about your old, broken-winded razor-back, do you? I don't even know +what has become of the beast. I know I'm glad I don't have to ride it +any more." + +"'Tis well, Friend Thomas," replied Nathan, although Tom thought he +discovered a trace of disappointment in the expression upon his face. +"'Tis well, and I would not have it otherwise. I have been humiliated by +my weakness in deserting thee, a mere lad, at such a time as this. I +would like also to restore to you the half-joe you paid me for my +beast." And as Nathan spoke, he drew the coin from his pocket and held +it forth for Tom to take. + +"I don't want your money," said the lad quickly. "Take hold of the +lieutenant again, and this time we'll not stop before we come to the +house." + +Once more they tenderly took up their burden, and slowly advancing, soon +approached the house. In the doorway a man and a young woman, evidently +his daughter, were standing, watching the movements of the approaching +men with a curiosity which the noise of the battle in the distance could +not entirely dispel. + +Tom's heart was lighter when he recognized the man as Jonathan Cook and +the young woman as his daughter Mary. + +"We've brought this man here," said Tom quickly, "to find a +resting-place for him. It's Lieutenant Gordon, and he's terribly +wounded. Will you let us put him in one of your beds?" + +"We will that," said Mr. Cook. "We've got one poor fellow here now, and +will do all we can for another, too. Take him right in here," he added, +leading the way to a bedroom adjoining the living-room on the ground +floor. + +Tom and Nathan eagerly followed him, and in a brief time had placed the +suffering man on the high bed. Although the lad was almost exhausted by +his efforts, with Nathan's aid he soon removed the clothing of the +young officer, and then Mary came and bathed his bleeding face, and with +many expressions of sympathy listened to the story the weary boy had to +tell. + +"I don't suppose it's been wise or safe for us to stay here," said Mary, +"but we just couldn't leave the old place until we had to. We've been +keeping watch all day long, and if the redcoats come this way we shall +have to go. It's been a good thing we've stayed, though, for Captain +Nealey is upstairs and he's almost as badly wounded as this poor man is. +Oh, it's horrible, horrible!" + +But intense as Mary's feelings were, they did not prevent her from +bestowing a very tender care upon the unconscious young lieutenant, and +as soon as Tom was satisfied that his friend was receiving better +nursing than he could give, the lad went out of the room. + +He discovered Nathan bathing his face and hands near the water-barrel, +which stood beneath the corner of the eaves, and after he had followed +his example, he began to be sensible of his own feeling of exhaustion. + +"Now, Friend Thomas, thee must lie down and get some sleep," said +Nathan. "I will assist Mary in her care of thy friend, and I insist +that my words he obeyed. The heavy task has been thine, and my own +cowardice has added to thy burdens, so that now it is thy turn to rest." + +The tired lad was easily persuaded, and after again going into the room +in which the unconscious lieutenant was lying, he followed Mr. Cook up +the stairs to a room above, and soon threw himself heavily upon the bed +and fell into a deep sleep. + +It was dark when he awoke, and at first it was almost impossible for him +to recall the events of the day. They soon returned, however, and +hastily arising, he made his way down the stairs and entered the +living-room, where he discovered Nathan seated in one of the large +wooden chairs. The moonlight came in through the open windows, and as +Nathan perceived the lad, he said,-- + +"And did sleep come to thee, Friend Thomas?" + +"Yes. I'm rested now. How's the lieutenant?" + +"There has been no change. Mary comes every hour and bathes his face in +cool water from the well, but he does not open his eyes." + +"Is the battle ended? I don't hear any guns." + +"I know not. Since sunset all has been quiet, and it is now midnight." + +"I'll watch now, and you go upstairs and get some sleep." + +"Nay. I ought not to rest after my cowardice." + +"Never mind that. You will do all the more if you rest awhile now." + +Nathan was soon persuaded, and Tom took his place as watch. He could +hear the troubled breathing of the suffering man, but it was the only +sound to be heard. Outside the house all was silent, and as the slow +hours passed, the only break which came was the occasional visit of Mary +to bathe the face of the sufferer. + +At daybreak, Mr. Cook brought the news of the retreat of the British, +and great was the rejoicing in the old farmhouse when it was learned +that at least the Americans had not suffered defeat in the battle of the +preceding day. + +Lieutenant Gordon was still living, although no signs of improvement in +his condition could be discovered. Tom speedily decided that, as he was +not enrolled in the army, there was nothing to prevent him from +remaining and caring for his friend. Nathan also declared that he would +return to his aid as soon as he had gone home and explained to Rachel +the necessity for a further absence, and the lad did not protest, for he +thought he understood the motive which prompted the action. + +During the day, Mr. Cook brought the reports of the battle, the hundred +prisoners taken, the number of the dead and wounded, and the measures +which were being taken in the scattered farmhouses and the old +Court-House for the care of the sufferers. + +Tom did not leave the house. His one thought now was of his wounded +friend, and all that loving hearts and gentle hands could do was +bestowed upon the suffering soldier, who as yet had not shown that he +was aware of what was going on about him. + +The long day passed and the dreary night followed, but still Tom and +Mary cared for the sufferer. Captain Nealey was said to be improving +rapidly, but no change as yet had come in the condition of the young +lieutenant. + +It was the morning of the second day, and in the early light Tom had +gone out to the water-barrel again to bathe his face and hands. His +heart was heavy, for apparently Lieutenant Gordon was worse, and all +the efforts of the lad and Mary had produced no improvement in his +condition. + +As Tom started to enter the house he halted upon the doorstep and looked +up the road. A heavy farm wagon drawn by two horses was approaching, and +as it came nearer the lad suddenly started as he thought he recognized +the team. Surely those were Benzeor Osburn's horses. A moment later his +suspicions were confirmed, and he knew that the lumbering wagon was his +foster-father's. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +AMONG THE PINES + + +TOM'S surprise was still further increased when he recognized one of the +men on the seat as Little Peter, and by his side a sergeant, who was +driving. It was Little Peter's condition, however, which quickly drew +all of Tom's attention, for the lad was carrying one arm in a sling, +one of his eyes was discolored, and the marks of suffering were plainly +to be seen on his face. + +Tom quickly ran out into the road, and as his friend recognized him, at +a word from him the horses stopped, and the two boys looked at each +other for a moment as if each was trying to understand how it was that +they both were there. + +"What's the matter? Were you in the battle?" said Tom, who was the first +to speak. + +"No, that is, I wasn't in the battle by the Court-House. I met Fenton +three days ago up by the old mill, and these are a few tokens of his +regard which he left with me," said Little Peter, slightly moving his +wounded arm as he spoke. + +As Tom still looked blankly at him, the lad continued, "I suppose Fenton +thought he left me dead, and it's likely I should have died if Barzilla +Giberson and Jacob Vannote hadn't found me. They took me up and carried +me over to Benzeor's, though I didn't know anything about it at the +time. Sarah and her mother took such good care of me that I'm all right +now, or at least I'm a good deal better." + +"You don't look as if you ought to be here," replied Tom. "You say +Barzilla and Jacob found you and took you over to Benzeor's? I don't +understand." + +"They're all right; I understand just how it is now." + +"What, Benzeor all right?" + +"No, Barzilla and Jacob. I know all about Benzeor, too," he added in a +low voice. + +"Where is he?" + +"He hasn't been seen or heard from in four days. I don't think he'll +come home again very soon. Tom, Sarah wanted me to tell you, if I saw +you, that you were to come home just as soon as you could. I think she +wants to explain something to you," he added, noting Tom's expression of +surprise. "Since she's found out about Benzeor she feels all broken up, +and wants you to come home." + +"Then she knows about Benzeor, does she?" inquired Tom thoughtfully. + +"Yes, and so do I. You'll go, won't you?" + +"I can't now; perhaps I will after a while," and Tom went on to explain +the circumstances which seemed to make his return to Benzeor's +impossible for a time. + +"But how does it happen that you are here so early in the morning, and +with Benzeor's team? You're almost the last person I expected to see." + +"Oh, the way of it is like this. Barzilla and Jacob and some of the +Whigs have been on the track of Fenton for several days now. We've got +word that he's down in the pines, about two miles below Blue Ball. +Several parties are out after him, for they've made up their minds to +rid Old Monmouth of the outlaw, if such a thing can be done. Well, +Barzilla came up to Benzeor's yesterday, and when he found I was all +right again, he suggested that Ted and I report the matter to some of +the officers in the American army, and get a detachment to go down +there, so that's what we've done, you see." + +"No, I don't see," replied Tom, looking about for the detachment of +soldiers of which Little Peter had spoken. "Ted? Ted who?" + +"Ted Wilson, if you please," said that worthy, suddenly rising from +beneath the straw with which the wagon-box was apparently filled. "I'm +the Ted what Little Peter means. Yes, sir, I'm on the lookout for those +fellows that go around hangin' Sallies. She's my wife, ye know." + +Startled as Tom was by the unexpected appearance of the mighty Ted, he +nevertheless was compelled to laugh, as the huge man stood before him +striving to shake himself free from the bits of straw which covered his +face, and shaking his fist at imaginary Fentons, who went about engaged +in the detestable occupation of "hanging Sallies." + +"We saw General Lee yesterday, but he had so much trouble of his own +that he couldn't listen much to ours," explained Little Peter, "but he +managed to give us a sergeant and two men. The sergeant here is driving, +and the men are with Ted under the straw." + +Tom's first thought was to inquire concerning the trouble of General +Lee, which Little Peter referred to, but Ted interrupted his question by +declaring, "Yes, sir, I've got two companions in my misery, cooped up +here under the straw. I don't see why they don't let us sit up straight +like men; but no, they must cover us all over with straw, and then put +two or three barrels in the wagon-box too. 'Tisn't my way o' doin' +things, for I'd take Jesh and go straight down to the pines and hang +Fenton on the first tree I found. That's the way I'd do it. But I +suppose I'll have to obey orders." + +"That's what you will," said the sergeant, who had been manifesting +signs of impatience for several minutes. "We mustn't stand here in the +road talking all day. Lie down, Ted, and we'll cover you up again." + +Reluctantly the huge man consented, and was soon hidden from sight by +the straw which was thrown over him. The barrels were again arranged to +present the appearance of an ordinary load, and then the sergeant, +picking up the reins which were lying loose in his hands, spoke to the +horses and started down the road. + +Little Peter turned and watched Tom, who had remained by the roadside, +gazing eagerly after the departing wagon, and when at last he could see +him no longer, once more gave all his thought to the dangerous +expedition on which he had started with his companions. + +Benzeor's horses were in much better condition than those of his +neighbors, for reasons that are apparent now to all our readers, and +they maintained so steady a pace that by noontime the party had entered +within the borders of the pines. + +The road here became rough and heavy, and the progress, as a +consequence, was correspondingly slow. The tall stately trees, the +whisperings of the wind, the silence of the great forest, and above all, +the knowledge that they had entered upon the most dangerous portion of +their journey, made all the men in the wagon anxious and watchful. Not a +word was spoken now, even Ted having ceased to complain of his narrow +quarters, and having no remarks to make concerning the outlaws, whose +disposition led them to go about the country attacking defenseless men +and "hanging Sallies." + +Every tree might conceal an enemy, and at any moment the discharge of a +gun might indicate that their presence had been discovered. The +habitations of men had been left behind them soon after they had entered +the sombre forests, and the few rude little shanties near the border, +occupied by negroes and people whose reputation in Old Monmouth was not +of the best, had all been passed. The vegetation was scanty, and long +barren stretches of sand could be seen on every side. The sunlight only +penetrated the gloom in places, and its presence served to increase the +dark and sombre appearance of the unbroken forest. + +Little Peter maintained a careful watch upon one side as they advanced, +and the sergeant watched the other, but they seldom spoke now, and then +only in whispers. The full sense of the danger of entering a region, +known to be used by the pine robbers as their headquarters, was +appreciated as it had not been when they started. They had no means of +knowing how many men Fenton might have with him, and hard as the outlaws +were against the defenseless people of Old Monmouth, doubtless they +would display the honor which it is said thieves maintain toward one +another, and if others should be within hailing distance when Fenton was +attacked they would all quickly rally to his assistance. + +And the resistance which Fenton himself would be likely to make was not +forgotten. The vision of him, as he suddenly appeared to Little Peter on +that lonely road to the old mill a few days previous to this time, came +up before the lad now. His big and burly frame, his bared and powerful +arms, the brutal and merciless expression upon his evil face, were all +seen again, and the lad shuddered as he recalled his experiences with +him. + +"What's wrong?" whispered the sergeant quickly. "See anything?" + +"Not yet." + +Little Peter had not been in the region since the breaking out of the +war, although before that time he and Tom had made frequent visits +there. Still, he recognized the locality, and knew the place to which +Barzilla had reported that Fenton had gone. It was a rude log house, +built of the pine-trees, and could not be more than two miles in advance +of them. + +The horses were toiling now as they dragged the heavy wagon through the +deep sand. Fish-hawks had their nests in the tops of the lofty trees, +and occasionally Peter obtained a glimpse of the great birds as they +sailed in the air far above him. A brown rabbit now and then came forth +from his burrow, and after eying the intruders a moment, would go +bounding away into the thickets, or else dart swiftly back into his +underground home. The note of a wood-thrush now and again broke in upon +the stillness with its clear, sweet whistle, and the watchful men would +glance quickly about them, almost thinking that the sound was the call +of the pine robbers to one another. + +Little Peter's fear and the pain he was suffering from his recent +encounter with Fenton made his face pale, and as the sergeant again +turned to him and marked his appearance, he said, "'T was too bad, my +lad, that you had to come." + +"I knew the way. I had to come and show you." + +"Yes, yes. I know it, but it's hard, for all that." + +"We're almost there now. The place can't be more than a quarter of a +mile farther on." + +The sergeant did not reply, but turned quickly at the words, and peered +keenly into the forest before him. No one could be seen, and the tall +trees guarded well their secret. The toiling horses were pulling +steadily on their load, and they, at least, felt no alarm; but Little +Peter and his companion were anxious now, and were keeping their eyes +steadily fixed upon the road before them. + +"There! That's the place!" whispered the lad excitedly, as he obtained a +glimpse of a little clearing not far in advance of them. + +The sergeant did not reply, but he tightened his grasp upon the reins, +and glanced down at the gun which he had placed within easy reach. +Little Peter's excitement had become intense, and he was peering eagerly +ahead of him, while his breathing was quick and hard. They would soon +know what the result of the expedition was to be. + +The heavy wagon came out into the clearing, and drew near to the one +small house, which was standing within it. The house was of logs, and +corresponded exactly to the description which Barzilla had given of it. +As yet, no human being had been seen, and the sergeant was just about to +declare that the place was not inhabited when the door was suddenly +opened and a man stepped forth to view. Evidently he had heard the +sounds of the approaching wagon, and had come out to investigate. + +He was a tall, broad-shouldered, powerful-appearing man. He was clad in +a pair of rough trousers and high boots, which looked as if they might +have belonged to some Hessian dragoon at one time, and the red flannel +shirt which partially covered his chest could not entirely conceal the +great bunches of muscle there. In one hand he grasped a pistol, and the +expression upon his face might well have caused a man with a much +stouter heart than Little Peter had to tremble. + +The sergeant glanced inquiringly at the lad by his side, and Little +Peter nodded his head in reply to the unspoken question. The man was +Fenton himself,--the one who had robbed the widows and the fatherless, +had made the midnight attacks upon the defenseless people of Old +Monmouth, had hanged trembling women from the limbs of trees, and +tortured his helpless victims into revealing the places where their +scanty savings had been concealed. He had been the leader of bands as +desperate and wicked as himself, and the suffering and woe which the +good people of the surrounding region had experienced at his hands can +never be told. And now the man himself stood waiting for the wagon, in +which were Little Peter, himself a victim of the pine robbers' cruelty, +and his companions, to approach. + +"Hold on!" called Fenton. "You're movin' too fast. What ye doin' here?" + +The sergeant stopped his horses, and as Fenton approached and stood near +the wheel, he said, "We've come down here to look for a man we want to +find." + +"I reckon I'll do as well as any other. Look at me! Ye're not goin' any +farther, ye might as well understand that now as any time. Got a bottle +with ye?" + +The sergeant drew forth a bottle of brandy and handed it to the outlaw. +Fenton took it, and raised one foot upon the hub of the wheel. As he +lifted the bottle to his lips, his eyes fell upon Little Peter, who had +been endeavoring to conceal himself behind his companion. + +Instantly recognizing the lad, he shouted, "You here? You? I thought I +left ye dead up by the mill the other day! You rascal! One whipping +wasn't enough, was it? I'll give ye what ye deserve now!" + +Fenton reached back with one hand to grasp the pistol he had thrust into +his pocket when he had taken the bottle. Quickly the sergeant kicked the +foot of Ted Wilson under the straw, and instantly the men arose, and +before Fenton could act, had brought their guns to their shoulders and +the reports rang out together. + +The pine robber pitched heavily forward, and lay dead upon the sand. Oh, +it was horrible, awful! A sensation of sickness, of faintness, swept +over Little Peter as he looked down upon the face of the dead outlaw. + +"What's that? What's that?" said Ted quickly. + +It was the sound of a gun not far away. It might be the answer of other +bands of pine robbers to the volley which had just been fired; and +hurriedly throwing the body of Fenton into the wagon, the sergeant +turned his horses about and started swiftly back up the road. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CONCLUSION + + +IN spite of the heavy sand the horses were driven swiftly, until their +heaving sides and dripping flanks compelled their driver to give them a +much-needed rest. Ted Wilson and one of the soldiers then leaped lightly +to the ground and ran into the woods on either side of the road to +ascertain whether they were pursued or not. + +As the silence of the great forest was unbroken they speedily returned, +and the flight was resumed. No one was concealed beneath the straw in +the wagon-box now, and every one stood waiting and ready to share in the +defense which at any moment might become necessary. + +On past the tall pine-trees, on through the heavy sandy road, rushed the +returning party, and at last, when they obtained a glimpse of the open +country, they breathed a sigh of relief as they realized that the danger +of immediate pursuit was gone. It was not until nearly a year after +this time that they learned that the gun they had heard had been +discharged by De Bow, the desperate leader of another band of outlaws as +evil in every way as those whom the detested Fenton had himself led. + +It was near the close of the day when the party, of which Little Peter +was a member, drove up to Monmouth Court-House. Carelessly, almost +brutally, the sergeant and one of his companions seized the body of the +dead outlaw, and flinging it from the wagon into one of the trenches the +soldiers had made, shouted, "Here's a cordial for your tories and wood +robbers!" + +Little Peter had no share in the rejoicing which followed when it was +known that the pine robber was no more. It was true, he knew Fenton had +richly deserved his fate, and that no more would the defenseless people +of Old Monmouth suffer from the evil deeds of his marauding band. He, +too, had known something of Fenton's wickedness, for he was motherless, +homeless, and almost fatherless because of him, and his own body for +many days bore the traces of his meeting with him on his return from the +mill; but in spite of all that, his heart was sick whenever he thought +of the dead face he had seen looking up at him from the wagon-box, and +the brutal rejoicings of the men who had shot him near his abode among +the pines. + +On the following day Tom Coward returned to Benzeor's house for a brief +visit, reporting a very decided improvement in the condition of young +Lieutenant Gordon. A long interview between Tom and Sarah followed, and +as the troubled girl explained to the lad what she had learned +concerning the evil deeds of her own father, and begged him to return +and aid her in caring for the family in the presence of such dangers and +perplexities, Tom could not find it in his heart to refuse. The kindness +bestowed upon him in the home, and the obligations to repay as best he +could the care he himself had received there, were too strong to be +ignored, and greatly to the joy of Sarah and her mother he yielded to +their urgent pleas. He had not yet enlisted in the army, and so was free +to decide the question for himself. + +He was aided in making the decision by the fact that Little Peter was +also to remain. His own home had been destroyed, and as there was no +place to which he could take his little brothers and sisters, there was +every reason why he should accept the invitation and increase the +defenses of the household. + +It was not considered probable that Benzeor would return, nor was it +known what had become of the man, who had gradually and yet steadily +been drawn into the power of the pine robbers, until at last he was +considered by them all as one of themselves, and indeed he was. Neither +the boys nor Sarah knew then whither he had gone. Tom thought he might +have been killed in the battle, and it was not until more than a year +had passed that word came from the missing Benzeor; but where he had +been and what he had been doing do not belong to this story. + +On the day following the great battle of Monmouth, General Lee had, to a +certain extent, recovered from his chagrin at the public rebuke General +Washington had administered to him, and in his arrogance, and as a +relief to his feeling of mortification, he wrote a childish letter to +the commander, demanding an apology for the words he had spoken in the +presence of the soldiers. + +Washington's reply to Lee's letter was as follows:-- + +"SIR,--I received your letter, expressed, as I conceive, in terms highly +improper. I am not conscious of making use of any very singular +expressions, at the time of meeting you, as you intimate. What I +recollect to have said was dictated by duty and warranted by the +occasion. As soon as circumstances will permit, you shall have an +opportunity of justifying yourself to the army, to Congress, to America, +and to the world in general; or of convincing them that you were guilty +of a breach of orders, and of misbehavior before the enemy on the 28th +instant, in not attacking them as you had been directed, and in making +an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat." + +Lee's reply to this letter, as impudent as it was childish, certainly +did not tend to elevate him in the estimation of the men of his own +time, or of ours. His letter was as follows: "You cannot afford me +greater pleasure than in giving me the opportunity of showing to America +the sufficiency of her respective servants. I trust that temporary power +of office, and the tinsel dignity attending it, will not be able, by all +the mists they can raise, to obfuscate the bright rays of truth." + +Washington's reply to this insulting letter was to arrest Lee. The +traitor was at once court-martialed and charged with disobedience of +orders, misbehavior on the field, making a disgraceful retreat, and also +with gross disrespect to his commander-in-chief. The trial lasted more +than a month, and the result was that Lee was suspended for the term of +one year. If strict justice had been measured out to the man, doubtless +he would not have escaped with so light a sentence; but Washington was +merciful, and although Lee did not appreciate the kindness shown him, he +owed his life to the man whose heart and mind were so much greater than +his own. + +General Washington did not long delay in Old Monmouth after the battle. +The British army had gained New York, and so the American commander +moved to the Hudson, and on the 20th of July went into camp at White +Plains, having left some of the militia to look well to the needs of the +country in which the great battle had been fought. + +And Monmouth was a great battle. Not only did the men struggle with a +determination such as has been seldom displayed, but the results of the +engagement itself were also marked and strong. While the two armies, +after Washington had gone to the Hudson and Clinton to New York, +occupied much the same relative positions as in the latter part of '76, +the motives which controlled each were exactly reversed. The Americans +now became the aggressors, and the British were compelled to defend +themselves. + +All this was intensified by the action of France. Benjamin Franklin had +succeeded in arranging a treaty between that land and ours. France was +to send a fleet of sixteen war vessels under D'Estaing to our shores, +and also an army of four thousand men. It was the coming of this fleet +which, as we know, caused the British to depart from Philadelphia and +hasten to the defense of New York, which place they thought would be +first attacked. The march of the redcoats and Hessians across New Jersey +gave Washington an opportunity to pursue them, and while he failed in +accomplishing all that he hoped, and much that he might have done had it +not been for the treacherous actions of Lee, still he virtually had won +a victory. He compelled the British to retreat with great losses, he +strengthened his own position, he silenced his enemies in Congress, and, +above all, he aroused a new feeling of hope and determination in the +hearts of the struggling Americans. + +The British very promptly declared war against France, and then coolly +invited the Americans to join them, promising all that the colonists had +asked three years before this time. The offer had come too late, +however, for now the colonies had become States, and independence had +been declared, and independence the new nation would have. So the war +was continued, but the part which the new allies took and the further +struggles of the determined Americans belong to another story. + +It only remains to refer briefly to the experiences of our friends, +whose fortunes we have followed in the course of this book. + +Lieutenant Gordon at last recovered from his wound. Tom Coward divided +his time between caring for his friend and the labor on Benzeor's farm. +In the former task he was aided by Friend Nathan Brown until such a time +as the young lieutenant could be removed to his own home. + +Friend Nathan had been unable to remain away from the battle of +Monmouth, and while both his feelings and professions had prevented him +from entering into the struggle, still his interest had been so intense +that he had started from his home to the scene of the struggle. There he +met Tom, and the part he then took in caring for the wounded young +officer we already know. + +Neither Tom nor Little Peter was idle. There was much work to be done on +both farms, and the lads aided each other. The crop on the ten-acre lot +was successfully grown and harvested, and the immediate problem of food +in Benzeor's household was in a measure solved. + +Indian John was never seen by our boys again. Whether he had been slain +by the British or the pine robbers, or had departed from the homes of +his ancestors for a region into which the redcoats and buffcoats did not +enter, was never known. Both Tom and Little Peter were inclined to the +latter conclusion, however, and their opinion was strengthened by the +fact that "Charlie" Moluss, and his wife Bathsheba, and her sister +"Suke" were never seen or heard from again. + +Several times the boys made their way into Indian John's cave by the +brook, but they never discovered any signs of their friend. He had +forever disappeared, but his stories concerning the origin of the Jersey +mosquitoes, his interpretations of the roar of the ocean and the calls +of the sea-birds, and above all the assistance he had rendered Little +Peter in the trying days of '78 were never forgotten. + +Weeks had passed before Little Peter positively learned that Benzeor's +statement concerning his father had been correct, but at last he +received definite information that he was a prisoner in New York. What +that meant to the troubled lad, few of us to-day can understand. The +sufferings on board the prison-ships and in the prison-houses of New +York almost baffle description; but we may be sure of one thing, and +that is that Little Peter did not sit idly down, nor rest content to +leave his father where he was without making some efforts in his behalf. +But that, too, belongs to another record. + +Barzilla Giberson and Jacob Vannote after the death of Fenton did not +find it necessary to play a double part. They believed that their +efforts to run the pine robbers to cover had been successful, and that +now they could boldly and openly take their stand on the side of the +patriots. And take that stand they did, and their services in the New +Jersey militia are known in all the region of Old Monmouth. + +Ted Wilson, with Jeshurun "waxen fatter" and consequently still more +inclined to kick, returned to his home after the death of Fenton. He +found Sallie and the babies safe at the Dennises, but all of the mighty +Ted's former indifference as to his rulers had departed. The taste of +the struggle he had had seemed only to whet his appetite for more, and +not many days had passed before Ted and Jeshurun once more started forth +in quest of service and adventure. + +Sarah Osburn labored faithfully and cheerfully for the welfare of her +enlarged household, and the boys did not fail to appreciate her +kindness. Tom thought he understood the motive which prompted much of +her care for Little Peter's younger brothers and sisters, but throughout +the long absence of Benzeor he never directly or indirectly referred to +it. + +There was a brief lull in the outrages and attacks of the pine robbers +after the death of Fenton, but it was very brief. Stephen Burke (or +Stephen Emmons as he was sometimes called), Stephen West, Ezekiel +Williams, Jonathan West, Richard Bird, Davenport, De Bow, and others +were yet living, and as each was the leader of a band as desperate as +himself, and as all were as reckless and brave as Fenton had been, in a +brief time the suffering people of Old Monmouth found that their +troubles were by no means ended. + +Redcoat and buffcoat were again to contend within their borders, +salt-works and houses were to be burned, gunboats were to anchor off her +shore and their crews were to engage in conflicts with the patriots; +whigs and tories were not yet reconciled, the pine robbers were not yet +subdued. Five long and terrible years of the struggle of the Revolution +were yet to come, and the sands of Old Monmouth were again and again to +be dyed by the blood of fallen men. + +The waves which came creeping, crawling up the long sandy shore, the +tall pine-trees whose tops whispered together as they bent beneath the +summer winds and winter storms, the fertile plains and noble forests of +oak and chestnut, were unchanged; but the struggling men and women of +Old Monmouth were yet to endure the bitter hardships and fierce +contests, which the closing days of the Revolution brought to them in +greater numbers than to almost any other people of our land. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Page 260, "Webberley" changed to "Webberly" (And Webberly had taught) + +Page 404, "did't" changed to "didn't" (didn't know anything) + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Boys of Old Monmouth, by Everett T. 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