CHAPTER XXXII
Allow him not a parting word; Short be the shrift, and sure the cord! --_Rokeby_.
The peddler and his companion soon reached the valley, and after pausingto listen, and hearing no sounds which announced that pursuers wereabroad, they entered the highway. Acquainted with every step that ledthrough the mountains, and possessed of sinews inured to toil, Birch ledthe way, with the lengthened strides that were peculiar to the man andhis profession; his pack alone was wanting to finish the appearance ofhis ordinary business air. At times, when they approached one of thoselittle posts held by the American troops, with which the Highlandsabounded, he would take a circuit to avoid the sentinels, and plungefearlessly into a thicket, or ascend a rugged hill, that to the eyeseemed impassable. But the peddler was familiar with every turn in theirdifficult route, knew where the ravines might be penetrated, or wherethe streams were fordable. In one or two instances, Henry thought thattheir further progress was absolutely at an end, but the ingenuity, orknowledge, of his guide, conquered every difficulty. After walking at agreat rate for three hours, they suddenly diverged from the road, whichinclined to the east, and held their course directly across the hills,in a due south direction. This movement was made, the peddler informedhis companion, in order to avoid the parties who constantly patrolled inthe southern entrance of the Highlands, as well as to shorten thedistance, by traveling in a straight line. After reaching the summit ofa hill, Harvey seated himself by the side of a little run, and opening awallet, that he had slung where his pack was commonly suspended, heinvited his comrade to partake of the coarse fare it contained. Henryhad kept pace with the peddler, more by the excitement natural to hissituation, than by the equality of his physical powers. The idea of ahalt was unpleasant, so long as there existed a possibility of the horsegetting below him in time to intercept their retreat through the neutralground. He therefore stated his apprehensions to his companion, andurged a wish to proceed.
"Follow my example, Captain Wharton," said the peddler, commencing hisfrugal meal. "If the horse have started, it will be more than man can doto head them; and if they have not, work is cut out for them, that willdrive all thoughts of you and me from their brains."
"You said yourself, that two hours' detention was all-important to us,and if we loiter here, of what use will be the advantage that we mayhave already obtained?"
"The time is past, and Major Dunwoodie thinks little of following twomen, when hundreds are waiting for him on the banks of the river."
"Listen!" interrupted Henry, "there are horse at this moment passing thefoot of the hill. I hear them even laughing and talking to each other.Hist! there is the voice of Dunwoodie himself; he calls to his comradein a manner that shows but little uneasiness. One would think that thesituation of his friend would lower his spirits; surely Frances couldnot have given him the letter."
On hearing the first exclamation of the captain, Birch arose from hisseat, and approached cautiously to the brow of the hill, taking care tokeep his body in the shadow of the rocks, so as to be unseen at anydistance, and earnestly reconnoitered the group of passing horsemen. Hecontinued listening, until their quick footsteps were no longer audible,and then quietly returned to his seat, and with incomparable coolnessresumed his meal.
"You have a long walk, and a tiresome one, before you, Captain Wharton;you had better do as I do--you were eager for food at the hut aboveFishkill, but traveling seems to have worn down your appetite."
"I thought myself safe, then, but the information of my sister fills mewith uneasiness, and I cannot eat."
"You have less reason to be troubled now than at any time since thenight before you were taken, when you refused my advice, and an offer tosee you in safety," returned the peddler. "Major Dunwoodie is not a manto laugh and be gay when his friend is in difficulty. Come, then, andeat, for no horse will be in our way, if we can hold our legs for fourhours longer, and the sun keeps behind the hills as long as common."
There was a composure in the peddler's manner that encouraged hiscompanion; and having once determined to submit to Harvey's government,he suffered himself to be persuaded into a tolerable supper, if quantitybe considered without any reference to the quality. After completingtheir repast, the peddler resumed his journey.
Henry followed in blind submission to his will. For two hours more theystruggled with the difficult and dangerous passes of the Highlands,without road, or any other guide than the moon, which was traveling theheavens, now wading through flying clouds, and now shining brightly. Atlength they arrived at a point where the mountains sank into rough andunequal hillocks, and passed at once from the barren sterility of theprecipices, to the imperfect culture of the neutral ground.
The peddler now became more guarded in the manner in which theyproceeded, and took divers precautions to prevent meeting any movingparts of the Americans. With the stationary posts he was too familiar torender it probable he might fall upon any of them unawares. He woundamong the hills and vales, now keeping the highways and now avoidingthem, with a precision that seemed instinctive. There was nothingelastic in his tread, but he glided over the ground with enormousstrides, and a body bent forward, without appearing to use exertion, orknow weariness.
The moon had set, and a faint streak of light was beginning to showitself in the east. Captain Wharton ventured to express a sense offatigue, and to inquire if they were not yet arrived at a part of thecountry where it might be safe to apply at some of the farmhouses foradmission.
"See here," said the peddler, pointing to a hill, at a short distance inthe rear, "do you not see a man walking on the point of that rock? Turn,so as to bring the daylight in the range--now, see, he moves, and seemsto be looking earnestly at something to the eastward. That is a royalsentinel; two hundred of the rig'lar troops lay on that hill, no doubtsleeping on their arms."
"Then," cried Henry, "let us join them, and our danger is ended."
"Softly, softly, Captain Wharton," said the peddler, dryly, "you've oncebeen in the midst of three hundred of them, but there was a man whocould take you out; see you not yon dark body, on the side of theopposite hill, just above the cornstalks? There are the--the rebels(since that is the word for us loyal subjects), waiting only for day, tosee who will be master of the ground."
"Nay, then," exclaimed the fiery youth, "I will join the troops of myprince, and share their fortune, be it good or be it bad."
"You forget that you fight with a halter round your neck; no, no--I havepromised one whom I must not disappoint, to carry you safe in; andunless you forget what I have already done, and what I have risked foryou, Captain Wharton, you will turn and follow me to Harlem."
To this appeal the youth felt unwillingly obliged to submit; and theycontinued their course towards the city. It was not long before theygained the banks of the Hudson. After searching for a short time underthe shore, the peddler discovered a skiff, that appeared to be an oldacquaintance; and entering it with his companion he landed him on thesouth side of the Croton. Here Birch declared they were in safety; forthe royal troops held the continentals at bay, and the former were outin too great strength for the light parties of the latter to trustthemselves below that river, on the immediate banks of the Hudson.
Throughout the whole of this arduous flight, the peddler had manifesteda coolness and presence of mind that nothing appeared to disturb. Allhis faculties seemed to be of more than usual perfection, and theinfirmities of nature to have no dominion over him. Henry had followedhim like a child in leading strings, and he now reaped his reward, as hefelt a bound of pleasure at his heart, on hearing that he was relievedfrom apprehension, and permitted to banish every doubt of security.
A steep and laborious ascent brought them from the level of thetidewaters to the high lands that form, in this part of the river, theeastern banks of the Hudson. Retiring a little from the highway, underthe shelter of a thicket of cedars, the peddler threw his form on a flatrock, and announ
ced to his companion that the hour for rest andrefreshment was at length arrived. The day was now opened, and objectscould be seen in the distance, with distinctness. Beneath them lay theHudson, stretching to the south in a straight line, as far as the eyecould reach. To the north, the broken fragments of the Highlands threwupwards their lofty heads, above masses of fog that hung over the water,and by which the course of the river could be traced into the bosom ofhills whose conical summits were grouping togather, one behind another,in that disorder which might be supposed to have succeeded theirgigantic, but fruitless, efforts to stop the progress of the flood.Emerging from these confused piles, the river, as if rejoicing at itsrelease from the struggle, expanded into a wide bay, which wasornamented by a few fertile and low points that jutted humbly into itsbroad basin. On the opposite, or western shore, the rocks of Jersey weregathered into an array that has obtained for them the name of the"Palisades," elevating themselves for many hundred feet, as if toprotect the rich country in their rear from the inroads of theconqueror; but, disdaining such an enemy, the river swept proudly bytheir feet, and held its undeviating way to the ocean. A ray of therising sun darted upon the slight cloud that hung over the placid river,and at once the whole scene was in motion, changing and assuming newforms, and exhibiting fresh objects in each successive moment. At thedaily rising of this great curtain of nature, at the present time,scores of white sails and sluggish vessels are seen thickening on thewater, with that air of life which denotes the neighborhood to themetropolis of a great and flourishing empire; but to Henry and thepeddler it displayed only the square yards and lofty masts of a vesselof war, riding a few miles below them. Before the fog had begun to move,the tall spars were seen above it, and from one of them a long pennantwas feebly borne abroad in the current of night air, that still quiveredalong the river; but as the smoke arose, the black hull, the crowded andcomplicated mass of rigging, and the heavy yards and booms, spreadingtheir arms afar, were successively brought into view.
"There, Captain Wharton," said the peddler, "there is a safe restingplace for you; America has no arm that can reach you, if you gain thedeck of that ship. She is sent up to cover the foragers, and support thetroops; the rig'lar officers are fond of the sound of cannon from theirshipping."
Without condescending to reply to the sarcasm conveyed in this speech,or perhaps not noticing it, Henry joyfully acquiesced in the proposal,and it was accordingly arranged between them, that, as soon as they wererefreshed, he should endeavor to get on board the vessel.
While busily occupied in the very indispensable operation of breakingtheir fast, our adventurers were startled with the sound of distantfirearms. At first a few scattering shots were fired, which weresucceeded by a long and animated roll of musketry, and then quick andheavy volleys followed each other.
"Your prophecy is made good," cried the English officer, springing uponhis feet. "Our troops and the rebels are at it! I would give six months'pay to see the charge."
"Umph!" returned his companion, without ceasing his meal, "they do verywell to look at from a distance; I can't say but the company of thisbacon, cold as it is, is more to my taste, just now, than a hot firefrom the continentals."
"The discharges are heavy for so small a force; but the fire seemsirregular."
"The scattering guns are from the Connecticut militia," said Harvey,raising his head to listen; "they rattle it off finely, and are no foolsat a mark. The volleys are the rig'lars, who, you know, fire by word--aslong as they can."
"I like not the warmth of what you call a scattering fire," exclaimedthe captain, moving about with uneasiness; "it is more like the roll ofa drum than skirmishers' shooting."
"No, no; I said not skrimmagers," returned the other, raising himselfupon a knee, and ceasing to eat; "so long as they stand, they are toogood for the best troops in the royal army. Each man does his work as iffighting by the job; and then, they think while they fight, and don'tsend bullets to the clouds, that were meant to kill men on earth."
"You talk and look, sir, as if you wished them success," said Henry,sternly.
"I wish success to the good cause only, Captain Wharton. I thought youknew me too well, to be uncertain which party I favored."
"Oh! you are reputed loyal, Mr. Birch. But the volleys have ceased!"
Both now listened intently for a little while, during which theirregular reports became less brisk, and suddenly heavy and repeatedvolleys followed.
"They've been at the bayonet," said the peddler; "the rig'lars havetried the bayonet, and the rebels are driven."
"Aye, Mr. Birch, the bayonet is the thing for the British soldier, afterall. They delight in the bayonet!"
"Well, to my notion," said the peddler, "there's but little delight tobe taken in any such fearful weapon. I dare say the militia are of mymind, for half of them don't carry the ugly things. Lord! Lord! captain,I wish you'd go with me once into the rebel camp, and hear what lies themen will tell about Bunker Hill and Burg'yne; you'd think they loved thebayonet as much as they do their dinners."
There was a chuckle, and an air of affected innocency about hiscompanion, that rather annoyed Henry, and he did not deign to reply.
The firing now became desultory, occasionally intermingled with heavyvolleys. Both of the fugitives were standing, listening with muchanxiety, when a man, armed with a musket, was seen stealing towardsthem, under the shelter of the cedar bushes, that partially covered thehill. Henry first observed this suspicious-looking stranger, andinstantly pointed him out to his companion. Birch started, and certainlymade an indication of sudden flight; but recollecting himself, he stood,in sullen silence, until the stranger was within a few yards of them.
"'Tis friends," said the fellow, clubbing his gun, but apparently afraidto venture nearer.
"You had better retire," said Birch; "here are rig'lars at hand. We arenot near Dunwoodie's horse now, and you will not find me an easyprize to-day."
"Damn Major Dunwoodie and his horse!" cried the leader of the Skinners(for it was he); "God bless King George! and a speedy end to therebellion, say I. If you would show me the safe way in to the refugees,Mr. Birch, I'll pay you well, and ever after stand your friend, inthe bargain."
"The road is as open to you as to me," said Birch, turning from him inill-concealed disgust. "If you want to find the refugees, you know wellwhere they lay."
"Aye, but I'm a little doubtful of going in upon them by myself; now,you are well known to them all, and it will be no detriment to you justto let me go in with you."
Henry here interfered, and after holding a short dialogue with thefellow, he entered into a compact with him, that, on condition ofsurrendering his arms, he might join the party. The man compliedinstantly, and Birch received his gun with eagerness; nor did he lay itupon his shoulder to renew their march, before he had carefully examinedthe priming, and ascertained, to his satisfaction, that it contained agood, dry, ball cartridge.
As soon as this engagement was completed, they commenced their journeyanew. By following the bank of the river, Birch led the way free fromobservation, until they reached the point opposite to the frigate, when,by making a signal, a boat was induced to approach. Some time was spent,and much precaution used, before the seamen would trust themselvesashore; but Henry having finally succeeded in making the officer whocommanded the party credit his assertions, he was able to rejoin hiscompanions in arms in safety. Before taking leave of Birch, the captainhanded him his purse, which was tolerably well supplied for the times;the peddler received it, and, watching an opportunity, he conveyed it,unnoticed by the Skinner, to a part of his dress that was ingeniouslycontrived to hold such treasures.
The boat pulled from the shore, and Birch turned on his heel, drawinghis breath, like one relieved, and shot up the hills with the stridesfor which he was famous. The Skinner followed, and each party pursuedthe common course, casting frequent and suspicious glances at the other,and both maintaining a most impenetrable silence.
Wagons were moving along the r
iver road, and occasional parties of horsewere seen escorting the fruits of the inroad towards the city. As thepeddler had views of his own, he rather avoided falling in with any ofthese patrols, than sought their protection. But, after traveling a fewmiles on the immediate banks of the river, during which, notwithstandingthe repeated efforts of the Skinner to establish something likesociability, he maintained a most determined silence, keeping a firmhold of the gun, and always maintaining a jealous watchfulness of hisassociate, the peddler suddenly struck into the highway, with anintention of crossing the hills towards Harlem. At the moment he gainedthe path, a body of horse came over a little eminence, and was upon himbefore he perceived them. It was too late to retreat, and after taking aview of the materials that composed this party, Birch rejoiced in therencounter, as a probable means of relieving him from his unwelcomecompanion. There were some eighteen or twenty men, mounted and equippedas dragoons, though neither their appearance nor manners denoted muchdiscipline. At their head rode a heavy, middle-aged man, whose featuresexpressed as much of animal courage, and as little of reason, as couldbe desired for such an occupation. He wore the dress of an officer, butthere was none of that neatness in his attire, nor grace in hismovements, that was usually found about the gentlemen who bore the royalcommission. His limbs were firm, and not pliable, and he sat his horsewith strength and confidence, but his bridle hand would have beenridiculed by the meanest rider amongst the Virginians. As he expected,this leader instantly hailed the peddler, in a voice by no means moreconciliating than his appearance.
"Hey! my gentlemen, which way so fast?" he cried, "Has Washington sentyou down as spies?"
"I am an innocent peddler," returned Harvey meekly, "and am goingbelow, to lay in a fresh stock of goods."
"And how do you expect to get below, my innocent peddler? Do you thinkwe hold the forts at King's Bridge to cover such peddling rascals asyou, in your goings in and comings out?"
"I believe I hold a pass that will carry me through," said the peddler,handing him a paper, with an air of indifference.
The officer, for such he was, read it, and cast a look of surprise andcuriosity at Harvey, when he had done.
Then turning to one or two of his men, who had officiously stopped theway, he cried,--
"Why do you detain the man? Give way, and let him pass in peace. Butwhom have we here? Your name is not mentioned in the pass!"
"No, sir," said the Skinner, lifting his hat with humility. "I have beena poor, deluded man, who has been serving in the rebel army; but, thankGod, I've lived to see the error of my ways, and am now come to makereparation, by enlisting under the Lord's anointed."
"Umph! a deserter--a Skinner, I'll swear, wanting to turn Cowboy! In thelast brush I had with the scoundrels, I could hardly tell my own menfrom the enemy. We are not over well supplied with coats, and as forcountenances, the rascals change sides so often, that you may as wellcount their faces for nothing; but trudge on, we will contrive to makeuse of you, sooner or later."
Ungracious as was this reception, if you could judge of the Skinner'sfeelings from his manner, it nevertheless delighted him. He moved withalacrity towards the city, and really was so happy to escape the brutallooks and frightful manner of his interrogator, as to lose sight of allother considerations. But the man who performed the functions of orderlyin the irregular troop, rode up to the side of his commander, andcommenced a close and apparently a confidential discourse with hisprincipal. They spoke in whispers, and cast frequent and searchingglances at the Skinner, until the fellow began to think himself anobject of more than common attention. His satisfaction at thisdistinction was somewhat heightened, at observing a smile on the face ofthe captain, which, although it might be thought grim, certainly denotedsatisfaction. This pantomime occupied the time they were passing ahollow, and concluded as they rose another hill. Here the captain andhis sergeant both dismounted, and ordered the party to halt. The twopartisans each took a pistol from his holster, a movement that excitedno suspicion or alarm, as it was a precaution always observed, andbeckoned to the peddler and the Skinner to follow. A short walk broughtthem to a spot where the hill overhung the river, the ground fallingnearly perpendicularly to the shore. On the brow of the eminence stood adeserted and dilapidated barn. Many boards of its covering were tornfrom their places, and its wide doors were lying, the one in front ofthe building, and the other halfway down the precipice, whither the windhad cast it. Entering this desolate spot, the refugee officer verycoolly took from his pocket a short pipe, which, from long use, hadacquired not only the hue but the gloss of ebony, a tobacco box, and asmall roll of leather, that contained steel, flint, and tinder. Withthis apparatus, he soon furnished his mouth with a companion that habithad long rendered necessary to reflection. So soon as a large column ofsmoke arose from this arrangement, the captain significantly held fortha hand towards his assistant. A small cord was produced from the pocketof the sergeant, and handed to the other. The refugee threw out vastpuffs of smoke, until nearly all of his head was obscured, and lookedaround the building with an inquisitive eye. At length he removed thepipe, and inhaling a draft of pure air, returned it to its domicile, andproceeded at once to business. A heavy piece of timber lay across thegirths of the barn, but a little way from the southern door, whichopened directly upon a full view of the river, as it stretched far awaytowards the bay of New York. Over this beam the refugee threw one end ofthe rope, and, regaining it, joined the two parts in his hand. A smalland weak barrel, that wanted a head, the staves of which were loose, andat one end standing apart, was left on the floor, probably as useless.The sergeant, in obedience to a look from his officer, placed it beneaththe beam. All of these arrangements were made with composure, and theynow seemed completed to the officer's perfect satisfaction.
"Come," he said coolly to the Skinner, who, admiring the preparations,had stood a silent spectator of their progress. He obeyed; and it wasnot until he found his neckcloth removed, and hat thrown aside, that hetook the alarm. But he had so often resorted to a similar expedient toextort information, or plunder, that he by no means felt the terror anunpracticed man would have suffered, at these ominous movements. Therope was adjusted to his neck with the same coolness that formed thecharacteristic of the whole movement, and a fragment of board being laidupon the barrel, he was ordered to mount.
"But it may fall," said the Skinner, for the first time beginning totremble. "I will tell you anything--even how to surprise our party atthe Pond, without all this trouble, and it is commanded by myown brother."
"I want no information," returned his executioner (for such he nowseemed really to be), throwing the rope repeatedly over the beam, firstdrawing it tight so as to annoy the Skinner a little, and then castingthe end from him, beyond the reach of anyone.
"This is joking too far," cried the Skinner, in a tone of remonstrance,and raising himself on his toes, with the vain hope of releasing himselffrom the cord, by slipping his head through the noose. But the cautionand experience of the refugee officer had guarded against this escape.
"What have you done with the horse you stole from me, rascal?" mutteredthe officer of the Cowboys, throwing out columns of smoke while hewaited for a reply.
"He broke down in the chase," replied the Skinner quickly; "but I cantell you where one is to be found that is worth him and his sire."
"Liar! I will help myself when I am in need; you had better call uponGod for aid, as your hour is short." On concluding this consolingadvice, he struck the barrel a violent blow with his heavy foot, and theslender staves flew in every direction, leaving the Skinner whirling inthe air. As his hands were unconfined, he threw them upwards, and heldhimself suspended by main strength.
"Come, captain," he said, coaxingly, a little huskiness creeping intohis voice, and his knees beginning to shake with tremor, "end the joke;'tis enough to make a laugh, and my arms begin to tire--I can't hold onmuch longer."
"Harkee, Mr. Peddler," said the refugee, in a voice that would not bedenied, "I want not
your company. Through that door lies yourroad--march! offer to touch that dog, and you'll swing in his place,though twenty Sir Henrys wanted your services." So saying, he retired tothe road with the sergeant, as the peddler precipitately retreateddown the bank.
Birch went no farther than a bush that opportunely offered itself as ascreen to his person, while he yielded to an unconquerable desire towitness the termination of this extraordinary scene.
Left alone, the Skinner began to throw fearful glances around, to espythe hiding places of his tormentors. For the first time the horrid ideaseemed to shoot through his brain that something serious was intended bythe Cowboy. He called entreatingly to be released, and made rapid andincoherent promises of important information, mingled with affectedpleasantry at their conceit, which he would hardly admit to himselfcould mean anything so dreadful as it seemed. But as he heard the treadof the horses moving on their course, and in vain looked around forhuman aid, violent trembling seized his limbs, and his eyes began tostart from his head with terror. He made a desperate effort to reach thebeam; but, too much exhausted with his previous exertions, he caught therope in his teeth, in a vain effort to sever the cord, and fell to thewhole length of his arms. Here his cries were turned into shrieks.
"Help! cut the rope! captain!--Birch! good peddler! Down with theCongress!--sergeant! for God's sake, help! Hurrah for the king!--O God!O God!--mercy, mercy--mercy!"
As his voice became suppressed, one of his hands endeavored to make itsway between the rope and his neck, and partially succeeded; but theother fell quivering by his side. A convulsive shuddering passed overhis whole frame, and he hung a hideous corpse.
Birch continued gazing on this scene with a kind of infatuation. At itsclose he placed his hands to his ears, and rushed towards the highway.Still the cries for mercy rang through his brain, and it was many weeksbefore his memory ceased to dwell on the horrid event. The Cowboys rodesteadily on their route, as if nothing had occurred; and the body wasleft swinging in the wind, until chance directed the wandering footstepsof some lonely straggler to the place.