The Spy

  CHAPTER XXXIII

  Green be the turf above thee, Friend of my better days; None knew thee but to love thee, None named thee but to praise. --HALLECK.

  While the scenes and events that we have recorded were occurring,Captain Lawton led his small party, by slow and wary marches, from theFour Corners to the front of a body of the enemy; where he sosuccessfully maneuvered, for a short time, as completely to elude alltheir efforts to entrap him, and yet so disguised his own force as toexcite the constant apprehension of an attack from the Americans. Thisforbearing policy, on the side of the partisan, was owing to positiveorders received from his commander. When Dunwoodie left his detachment,the enemy were known to be slowly advancing, and he directed Lawton tohover around them, until his own return, and the arrival of a body offoot, might enable him to intercept their retreat.

  The trooper discharged his duty to the letter but with no little of theimpatience that made part of his character when restrained fromthe attack.

  During these movements, Betty Flanagan guided her little cart withindefatigable zeal among the rocks of Westchester, now discussing withthe sergeant the nature of evil spirits, and now combating with thesurgeon sundry points of practice that were hourly arising between them.But the moment arrived that was to decide the temporary mastery of thefield. A detachment of the eastern militia moved out from theirfastnesses, and approached the enemy.

  The junction between Lawton and his auxiliaries was made at midnight,and an immediate consultation was held between him and the leader of thefoot soldiers. After listening to the statements of the partisan, whorather despised the prowess of his enemy, the commandant of the partydetermined to attack the British, the moment daylight enabled him toreconnoiter their position, without waiting for the aid of Dunwoodie andhis horse. So soon as this decision was made, Lawton retired from thebuilding where the consultation was held, and rejoined his ownsmall command.

  The few troopers who were with the captain had fastened their horses ina spot adjacent to a haystack, and laid their own frames under itsshelter, to catch a few hours' sleep. But Dr. Sitgreaves, SergeantHollister, and Betty Flanagan were congregated at a short distance bythemselves, having spread a few blankets upon the dry surface of a rock.Lawton threw his huge frame by the side of the surgeon, and folding hiscloak about him, leaned his head upon one hand, and appeared deeplyengaged in contemplating the moon as it waded through the heavens. Thesergeant was sitting upright, in respectful deference to the surgeon,and the washerwoman was now raising her head, in order to vindicate someof her favorite maxims, and now composing it to sleep.

  "So, sergeant," continued Sitgreaves, following up a previous position,"if you cut upwards, the blow, by losing the additional momentum of yourweight, will be less destructive, and at the same time effect the truepurpose of war, that of disabling your enemy."

  "Pooh! pooh! sergeant dear," said the washerwoman, raising her head fromthe blanket, "where's the harm of taking a life, jist in the way ofbattle? Is it the rig'lars who'll show favor, and they fighting? AskCaptain Jack there, if the country could get free, and the boys nostrike their might. I wouldn't have them disparage the whisky so much."

  "It is not to be expected that an ignorant female like yourself, Mrs.Flanagan," returned the surgeon, with a calmness that only rendered hiscontempt more stinging to Betty, "can comprehend the distinctions ofsurgical science; neither are you accomplished in the sword exercise; sothat dissertations upon the judicious use of that weapon could avail younothing either in theory or in practice."

  "It's hut little I care, anyway, for such botherment; but fighting isno play, and a body shouldn't be particular how they strike, or who theyhit, so it's the inimy."

  "Are we likely to have a warm day, Captain Lawton?"

  "'Tis more than probable," replied the trooper; "these militia seldomfail of making a bloody field, either by their cowardice or theirignorance, and the real soldier is made to suffer for theirbad conduct."

  "Are you ill, John?" said the surgeon, passing his hand along the arm ofthe captain, until it instinctively settled on his pulse; but thesteady, even beat announced neither bodily nor mental malady.

  "Sick at heart, Archibald, at the folly of our rulers, in believing thatbattles are to be fought and victories won, by fellows who handle amusket as they would a flail; lads who wink when they pull a trigger,and form a line like a hoop pole. The dependence we place on these menspills the best blood of the country."

  The surgeon listened with amazement. It was not the matter, but themanner that surprised him. The trooper had uniformly exhibited, on theeve of battle, an animation, and an eagerness to engage, that wasdirectly at variance with the admirable coolness of his manner at othertimes. But now there was a despondency in the tones of his voice, and alistlessness in his air, that was entirely different. The operatorhesitated a moment, to reflect in what manner he could render thischange of service in furthering his favorite system, and thencontinued,--

  "It would be wise, John, to advise the colonel to keep at long shot; aspent ball will disable--"

  "No!" exclaimed the trooper, impatiently, "let the rascals singe theirwhiskers at the muzzles of the British muskets, if they can be driventhere. But, enough of them. Archibald, do you deem that moon to be aworld like this, containing creatures like ourselves?"

  "Nothing more probable, dear John; we know its size and, reasoning fromanalogy, may easily conjecture its use. Whether or not its inhabitantshave attained to that perfection in the sciences which we have acquired,must depend greatly on the state of its society, and in some measureupon its physical influences."

  "I care nothing about their learning, Archibald; but 'tis a wonderfulpower that can create such worlds, and control them in their wanderings.I know not why, but there is a feeling of melancholy excited within meas I gaze on that body of light, shaded as it is by your fancied sea andland. It seems to be the resting place of departed spirits!"

  "Take a drop, darling," said Betty, raising her head once more, andproffering her own bottle. "'Tis the night damp that chills theblood--and then the talk with the cursed militia is no good for a fierytemper. Take a drop, darling, and ye'll sleep till the morning. I fedRoanoke myself, for I thought ye might need hard riding the morrow."

  "'Tis a glorious heaven to look upon," continued the trooper, in thesame tone, disregarding the offer of Betty, "and 'tis a thousand pitiesthat such worms as men should let their vile passions deface suchgoodly work."

  "You speak the truth, dear John; there is room for all to live and enjoythemselves in peace, if each could be satisfied with his own. Still, warhas its advantages; it particularly promotes the knowledge ofsurgery; and--"

  "There is a star," continued Lawton, still bent on his own ideas,"struggling to glitter through a few driving clouds; perhaps that too isa world, and contains its creatures endowed with reason like ourselves.Think you that they know of war and bloodshed?"

  "If I might be so bold," said Sergeant Hollister, mechanically raisinghis hand to his cap, "'tis mentioned in the good book, that the Lordmade the sun to stand still while Joshua was charging the enemy, inorder, sir, as I suppose, that they might have daylight to turn theirflank, or perhaps make a feint in the rear, or some such maneuver. Now,if the Lord would lend them a hand, fighting cannot be sinful. I haveoften been nonplused, though, to find that they used them chariotsinstead of heavy dragoons, who are, in all comparison, better to break aline of infantry, and who, for the matter of that, could turn such wheelcarriages, and getting into the rear, play the very devil with them,horse and all."

  "It is because you do not understand the construction of those ancientvehicles, Sergeant Hollister, that you judge of them so erroneously,"said the surgeon. "They were armed with sharp weapons that protrudedfrom their wheels, and which broke up the columns of foot, likedismembered particles of matter. I doubt not, if similar instrumentswere affixed to the cart of Mrs. Flanagan, that great confusion might becarried
into the ranks of the enemy thereby, this very day."

  "It's but little that the mare would go, and the rig'lars firing ather," grumbled Betty, from under her blanket. "When we got the plunder,the time we drove them through the Jarseys it was, I had to back thebaste up to the dead; for the divil the foot would she move, fornent thefiring, wid her eyes open. Roanoke and Captain Jack are good enough forthe redcoats, letting alone myself and the mare."

  A long roll of the drums, from the hill occupied by the British,announced that they were on the alert; and a corresponding signal wasimmediately heard from the Americans. The bugle of the Virginians struckup its martial tones; and in a few moments both the hills, the one heldby the royal troops and the other by their enemies, were alive witharmed men. Day had begun to dawn, and preparations were making by bothparties, to give and to receive the attack. In numbers the Americans hadgreatly the advantage; but in discipline and equipment the superioritywas entirely with their enemies. The arrangements for the battle werebrief, and by the time the sun rose the militia moved forward.

  The ground did not admit of the movements of horse; and the only dutythat could be assigned to the dragoons was to watch the moment ofvictory, and endeavor to improve the success to the utmost. Lawton soongot his warriors into the saddle; and leaving them to the charge ofHollister, he rode himself along the line of foot, who, in varieddresses, and imperfectly armed, were formed in a shape that in somedegree resembled a martial array. A scornful smile lowered about the lipof the trooper as he guided Roanoke with a skillful hand through thewindings of their ranks; and when the word was given to march, he turnedthe flank of the regiment, and followed close in the rear. The Americanshad to descend into a little hollow, and rise a hill on its oppositeside, to approach the enemy.

  The descent was made with tolerable steadiness, until near the foot ofthe hill, when the royal troops advanced in a beautiful line, with theirflanks protected by the formation of the ground. The appearance of theBritish drew a fire from the militia, which was given with good effect,and for a moment staggered the regulars. But they were rallied by theirofficers, and threw in volley after volley with great steadiness. For ashort time the fire was warm and destructive, until the English advancedwith the bayonet. This assault the militia had not sufficient disciplineto withstand. Their line wavered, then paused, and finally broke intocompanies and fragments of companies, keeping up at the same time ascattering and desultory fire.

  Lawton witnessed these operations in silence, nor did he open his mouthuntil the field was covered with parties of the flying Americans. Then,indeed, he seemed stung with the disgrace thus heaped upon the arms ofhis country. Spurring Roanoke along the side of the hill, he called tothe fugitives in all the strength of his powerful voice. He pointed tothe enemy, and assured his countrymen that they had mistaken the way.There was such a mixture of indifference and irony in his exhortationsthat a few paused in surprise--more joined them, until, roused by theexample of the trooper, and stimulated by their own spirit, theydemanded to be led against their foe once more.

  "Come on, then, my brave friends!" shouted the trooper, turning hishorse's head towards the British line, one flank of which was very nearhim; "come on, and hold your fire until it will scorch their eyebrows."

  The men sprang forward, and followed his example, neither giving norreceiving a fire until they had come within a very short distance of theenemy. An English sergeant, who had been concealed by a rock, enragedwith the audacity of the officer who thus dared their arms, stepped frombehind his cover, and leveled his musket.

  "Fire and you die!" cried Lawton, spurring his charger, which leapedforward at the instant. The action and the tone of his voice shook thenerves of the Englishman, who drew his trigger with an uncertain aim.Roanoke sprang with all his feet from the earth, and, plunging, fellheadlong and lifeless at the feet of his destroyer. Lawton kept hisfeet, standing face to face with his enemy. The latter presented hisbayonet, and made a desperate thrust at the trooper's heart. The steelof their weapons emitted sparks of fire, and the bayonet flew fifty feetin the air. At the next moment its owner lay a quivering corpse.

  "Come on!" shouted the trooper, as a body of English appeared on therock, and threw in a close fire. "Come on!" he repeated, and brandishedhis saber fiercely. Then his gigantic form fell backward, like amajestic pine yielding to the ax; but still, as he slowly fell, hecontinued to wield his saber, and once more the deep tones of his voicewere heard uttering, "Come on!"

  The advancing Americans paused aghast, and, turning, they abandoned thefield to the royal troops.

  It was neither the intention nor the policy of the English commander topursue his success, for he well knew that strong parties of theAmericans would soon arrive; accordingly he only tarried to collect hiswounded, and forming in a square, he commenced his retreat towards theshipping. Within twenty minutes of the fall of Lawton, the ground wasdeserted by both English and Americans. When the inhabitants of thecountry were called upon to enter the field, they were necessarilyattended by such surgical advisers as were furnished by the low state ofthe profession in the interior at that day. Dr. Sitgreaves entertainedquite as profound a contempt for the medical attendants of the militiaas the captain did of the troops themselves. He wandered, therefore,around the field, casting many a glance of disapprobation at the slightoperations that came under his eye; but when, among the flying troops,he found that his comrade and friend was nowhere to be seen, he hastenedback to the spot at which Hollister was posted, to inquire if thetrooper had returned. Of course, the answer was in the negative. Filledwith a thousand uneasy conjectures, the surgeon, without regarding, orindeed without at all reflecting upon any dangers that might lie in hisway, strode over the ground at an enormous rate, to the point where heknew the final struggle had been. Once before, the surgeon had rescuedhis friend from death in a similar situation; and he felt a secret joyin his own conscious skill, as he perceived Betty Flanagan seated on theground, holding in her lap the head of a man whose size and dress heknew could belong only to the trooper. As he approached the spot, thesurgeon became alarmed at the aspect of the washerwoman. Her littleblack bonnet was thrown aside, and her hair, which was already streakedwith gray, hung around her face in disorder.

  "John! dear John!" said the doctor, tenderly, as he bent and laid hishand upon the senseless wrist of the trooper, from which it recoiledwith an intuitive knowledge of his fate. "John! where are you hurt?--canI help you?"

  "Ye talk to the senseless clay," said Betty, rocking her body, andunconsciously playing with the raven ringlets of the trooper's hair;"it's no more will he hear, and it's but little will he mind yeerprobes and yeer med'cines. Och hone," och hone!--and where will be theliberty now? or who will there be to fight the battle, or gain the day?"

  "John!" repeated the surgeon, still unwilling to believe the evidence ofhis unerring senses. "Dear John, speak to me; say what you will, thatyou do but speak. Oh, God! he is dead; would that I had died with him!"

  "There is but little use in living and fighting now," said Betty. "Bothhim and the baste! see, there is the poor cratur, and here is themaster! I fed the horse with my own hands, the day; and the last malethat _he_ ate was of my own cooking. Och hone! och hone!--that CaptainJack should live to be killed by the rig'lars!"

  "John! my dear John!" said the surgeon, with convulsive sobs, "thy hourhas come, and many a more prudent man survives thee; but none better,nor braver. O John, thou wert to me a kind friend, and very dear; it isunphilosophical to grieve; but for thee I must weep, in bitternessof heart."

  The doctor buried his face in his hands, and for several minutes satyielding to an ungovernable burst of sorrow; while the washerwoman gavevent to her grief in words, moving her body in a kind of writhing, andplaying with different parts of her favorite's dress with her fingers.

  "And who'll there be to encourage the boys now?" she said. "O CaptainJack! ye was the sowl of the troop, and it was but little we knowed ofthe danger, and ye fighting. Och! he was no maly-
mouthed, that quarreledwid a widowed woman for the matter of a burn in the mate, or the want ofa breakfast. Taste a drop, darling, and it may be, 'twill revive ye.Och! and he'll niver taste ag'in; here's the doctor, honey, him ye usedto blarney wid, waping as if the poor sowl would die for ye. Och! he'sgone, he's gone; and the liberty is gone with him."

  A thundering sound of horses' feet came rolling along the road which lednear the place where Lawton lay, and directly the whole body ofVirginians appeared, with Dunwoodie at their head. The news of thecaptain's fate had reached him, for the instant that he saw the body hehalted the squadron, and, dismounting, approached the spot. Thecountenance of Lawton was not in the least distorted, but the angryfrown which had lowered over his brow during the battle was fixed evenin death. His frame was composed, and stretched as in sleep. Dunwoodietook hold of his hand, and gazed a moment in silence; his own dark eyekindled, and the paleness which had overspread his features wassucceeded by a spot of deep red in either cheek.

  "With his own sword will I avenge him!" he cried, endeavoring to takethe weapon from the hand of Lawton; but the grasp resisted his utmoststrength. "It shall be buried with him. Sitgreaves, take care of ourfriend, while I revenge his death."

  The major hastened back to his charger, and led the way in pursuit ofthe enemy.

  While Dunwoodie had been thus engaged, the body of Lawton lay in openview of the whole squadron. He was a universal favorite, and the sightinflamed the men to the utmost: neither officers nor soldiers possessedthat coolness which is necessary to insure success in militaryoperations; they spurred after their enemies, burning for vengeance.

  The English were formed in a hollow square, which contained theirwounded, who were far from numerous, and were marching steadily across avery uneven country as the dragoons approached. The horse charged incolumn, and were led by Dunwoodie, who, burning with revenge, thought toride through their ranks, and scatter them at a blow. But the enemy knewtheir own strength too well, and, standing firm, they received thecharge on the points of their bayonets. The horses of the Virginiansrecoiled, and the rear rank of the foot throwing in a close fire, themajor, with a few men, fell. The English continued their retreat themoment they were extricated from their assailants; and Dunwoodie, whowas severely, but not dangerously wounded, recalled his men from furtherattempts, which must be fruitless.

  A sad duty remained to be fulfilled. The dragoons retired slowly throughthe hills, conveying their wounded commander, and the body of Lawton.The latter they interred under the ramparts of one of the Highlandforts, and the former they consigned to the tender care of hisafflicted bride.

  Many weeks were gone before the major was restored to sufficientstrength to be removed. During those weeks, how often did he bless themoment that gave him a right to the services of his beautiful nurse! Shehung around his couch with fond attention, administered with her ownhands every prescription of the indefatigable Sitgreaves, and grew eachhour in the affections and esteem of her husband. An order fromWashington soon sent the troops into winter quarters, and permission wasgiven to Dunwoodie to repair to his own plantation, with the rank oflieutenant colonel, in order to complete the restoration of his health.Captain Singleton made one of the party; and the whole family retiredfrom the active scenes of the war, to the ease and plenty of the major'sown estate. Before leaving Fishkill, however, letters were conveyed tothem, through an unknown hand, acquainting them with Henry's safety andgood health; and also that Colonel Wellmere had left the continent forhis native island, lowered in the estimation of every honest man in theroyal army.

  It was a happy winter for Dunwoodie, and smiles once more began to playaround the lovely mouth of Frances.