CHAPTER XVI.
TORY HOSPITALITY.
Although there were no lights to be seen from the outside, the boyssoon learned that the inmates of the dwelling were not asleep, for inresponse to Jacob's vigorous knocking the door was opened after a delayof only a few seconds, and a voice asked:
"What do you want?"
The speaker had brought no light with him, and, shrouded in the densedarkness of the hallway, it was impossible for the boys to distinguisheven the form of their host. As a matter of fact, it was only owing tothe tone of his voice that they understood a man was before them.
"We want shelter till morning; some food if you can give it to uswithout too much trouble, and are willing to pay for all we receive,"Jacob replied promptly.
"Who are you? Where did you come from?"
"I am Jacob Ludwick----"
"Chris, the baker's son, eh?"
"Yes, sir," and Master Ludwick was proud, rather than displeased, thathis identity should be known.
"What are you doing here?"
"We're on our way to Mount Holly."
"Why don't you keep on to the town?"
"We thought it would be safer to wait until morning, because theBritishers may be near there by this time."
Both Seth and Enoch pressed nearer their comrade to warn him againstbeing too free with details regarding himself; but he did notunderstand the movement.
It was as if he believed all the people in the country round aboutPhiladelphia were friends to the cause, and he was perfectly willing togive any information desired.
"How near are your troops?"
"They must be at least ten miles back," Jacob replied, and again hiscomrades pressed closer to him, while this time Seth whispered:
"Be careful what you say!"
"You can come in," the man said after a brief pause, "and I'll see ifit is possible to give you lodgings. Wait here until I get a candle,"he added as the boys entered the hall, and the outer door was closedand barred.
The sound of footsteps told that their host had gone in search of alight, and Seth took advantage of the opportunity to say in a low tone:
"You had no right to answer his questions, Jacob. How do you know butthat he may be a Tory?"
"It isn't likely."
"Why not? There are as many in Jersey as in Pennsylvania, and you havetold him where our troops are."
Jacob made no reply. He now understood how reckless he had been, andwas chagrined at the idea of making a grievous mistake almost beforethey had begun their work.
"There is no reason why you should feel badly about it now," Enochsaid, understanding the cause of his friend's silence. "We can lookout for ourselves, I reckon, and there has been no real harm done eventhough he carried the information you gave him directly to GeneralClinton, for it isn't likely General Dickinson fancies he can keep hiswhereabouts a secret."
"Still I ought to have been more careful," Jacob replied penitently. "Ishould----"
The door at the extreme end of the hall was opened, and the manentered, holding a candle in his hand.
"I will show you to a room where you can remain until morning, andafterward bring you some food. Follow me," and he ascended the stairswhich led out of the hall. "These are troublesome times, and one shouldbe cautious about letting strangers into his house; but I don't fancyyou three boys are disposed to do mischief."
"Indeed we're not," Seth replied. "We simply want a place in which tosleep, and shall go away very early in the morning. Perhaps it is toomuch to ask that you bring the food to our room?"
"Oh, no; I would have invited you into the kitchen, but we havesickness in the house, and it isn't well there should be any noise. Arethe Continentals coming this way?"
"I don't know."
"But you have just left them."
"We have come from where the troops were," Seth replied cautiously.
"And don't belong to the army?"
Seth hesitated sufficiently long for the most obtuse to have understoodthat he was about to equivocate, and then said:
"If we were soldiers we should be in uniform, and wouldn't ask forlodgings."
"Exactly; I see," the man replied with a curious smile, and continuedon up the second flight of stairs into what was evidently the attic ofthe house.
On this floor was a long, narrow passage with doors opening from eitherside; but the host did not pause until arriving at the extreme end,when he ushered them into a small apartment, saying as he did so:
"This is the only room we have empty to-night; but so long as the bedis rest-inviting I suppose it will answer your purpose. I'll bring thefood at once."
Placing the candle on the rude table, the host left the room, and theboys listened until from the sound of his footsteps they knew he hadtraversed the passage, and was descending the stairs.
"He has taken precious good care we shall be well out of the way," Sethsaid thoughtfully as he looked around the apartment, in which was a lowtrundle-bed covered with the coarsest of clothing, a small, rude tableon which the candle had been placed, and one stool.
There were no windows in the room, and the door was formed of heavyplanks, bolted rather than nailed together.
"He said some one in the house was sick, and most likely we have beenbrought up here for fear we might make a noise," Enoch suggested.
Seth opened the door cautiously, and holding the candle high above hishead, looked out.
A heavy iron socket on either side and a third upon the door itself,with a stout oaken bar lying on the floor of the hallway near by, toldthat this particular apartment could be fastened very securely.
"What is the meaning of all this?" Jacob asked in dismay.
"It looks as if some one had been here who wasn't allowed to comeout except at the pleasure of the master of the house," Enoch replieddoubtfully, and an expression of fear came over Jacob's face.
"I don't think we had better stop in this place," Master Ludwick saiddecidedly. "I was such an idiot as to tell him who we are, and in casethis happens to be a Tory dwelling, we may have trouble."
"It doesn't seem just right to walk out simply because we have seenthat the door can be barred from the outside," Seth replied slowly.
"But you noticed how anxious the man was to learn about our troops?"
"So would anybody be, whether Whig or Tory, knowing that there isprobably an army on either side of him."
"I think we had better leave while we've got the chance," Jacob said insomething very like fear. "There is no need of taking any risks, and Iam certain there must be other vacant rooms in the house besides thisone. Let us go downstairs softly, and, if possible, get out of doorswithout making a noise."
At that instant, as if to show the boys it was too late for them toretreat, the sound of footsteps was heard once more, and a moment laterthe master of the house, or he who acted in that capacity, entered theroom bearing a generous supply of provisions and a jug of water.
"Here is the best I can do for you, lads," he said in a kindly tone,placing his burden on the table. "If you are hungry this won't comeamiss, and in case your appetites are not keen, there will be no harmin allowing the food to remain untouched. Shall I call you in themorning?"
"We would like to leave here by daylight, sir, and will thank you forawakening us in case we oversleep."
Then the host left the room with a cheery "good-night," and the boysgazed at each other until a smile overspread the faces of all.
"I allow we were more scared than hurt," Jacob said in a tone ofrelief. "He has done what we asked, and in a very friendly fashion.If it hadn't been for the bar that can be fitted on the door, I nevershould have thought anything might be wrong."
Seth held up his hand to demand silence, and the three could hear thefootsteps of their host as he went through the passage.
Enoch, who had not tasted of food since noon, and whose appetite waskeen owing to the long ride and yet longer walk, began an attack uponthe vegetables, in which he was soon joined by his comra
des.
A very satisfactory meal did the three make, and as hunger was appeasedtheir suspicions sank at rest, until, when the repast was ended, thereremained no thought in the mind of either that harm could be intended.
"It is time we went to bed if we count on getting any sleep to-night,"Seth said as he began to make his preparations for retiring. "Judgingfrom the looks of the lights, we are within half a mile of Mount Holly,and should be able to get there before many people are stirring. Say,push open that door, will you, Enoch? We must have fresh air in someway and that seems to be the only chance, since there is no window."
Enoch took hold of the latch carelessly, and then with moredetermination, as the door failed to open.
"What is the matter?" Jacob asked, noting the look of fear on hiscomrade's face, and advancing until his hand also was on the latch."Why, it's locked!"
"That was the way it seemed to me," Enoch replied, displayingconsiderably less agitation than did Jacob, and Seth turned sharplyaround to look into the faces of the two at the door.
"Yes, it is locked," Enoch continued quietly as if in reply to Seth'squestion. "We had good reason to be suspicious when we saw that bar onthe outside, and knew there were no windows."
"But what is the meaning of it?" Jacob cried sharply.
"It means that we are in the house of a Tory, who, knowing we havecome from General Dickinson's force, and making a very good guess as toour business, proposes to keep us here until our report will be of butlittle value."
"He wouldn't dare do such a thing," Jacob cried angrily. "When itis known that he has made prisoners of messengers sent from GeneralDickinson the soldiers will tear his house down about his ears."
"It may be he intends to join the Britishers as they come along, inwhich case he wouldn't be the first Tory to leave home rather thansubmit to American rule."
Seth, having ascertained beyond a doubt that they were locked into theroom, was at once plunged in deep thought, and, observing this, Jacobasked quickly, almost angrily:
"What do you think about it? Are you going to stay here without makingany fight to get out?"
"I don't believe we should accomplish very much, however hard we mightfight, unless we can devise some better plan of operations than that ofattempting to batter the door down," Seth replied quietly. "And as towhat I think about it, I have already said. Of course the man who ownsthe house is a Tory who counts on helping the Britishers by preventingus to return with the report to General Dickinson."
"And you are willing to stay here quietly?"
"I can't say I am willing."
"But you don't seem likely to do anything toward helping yourself andus," and now Master Ludwick displayed unmistakable signs of temper."I'll show that old Tory what it means to play such a trick on membersof the army!"
He was so enraged that he failed to realize how useless would be hisefforts; but seizing the stool, began to batter upon the heavy doorwith all his strength, continuing at this vain work until he wasabsolutely exhausted.
Then he threw himself upon the bed, still literally beside himself withrage, and Enoch said soothingly:
"There's no use flying into a passion, Jacob, for that won't help us inany way."
"I have let that miserable Tory know we understand how he has trickedus."
"Yes, and put him on his guard. Until you did that he might havesupposed we were ignorant that the door was locked, and would haverested contentedly. Now he understands exactly how we are feeling, andwill be on the alert to prevent an escape."
"It is not necessary for him to watch out very sharp, for we can'taccomplish anything more than I have done already."
"And that is simply to dent the door, and splinter the stool."
"Well, what better can _you_ do?" and Jacob leaped to his feet as ifready for a pitched battle.
"That's what I can't say. Very likely I shall do no more--I certainlycan't do any less."
"Now look here, fellows, what's the sense of quarreling?" Seth asked."We're prisoners; came into this trap of our own free will, and one isno more to blame than another. It strikes me our best plan is to be atleast friendly among ourselves, for ill-temper won't weaken the door,or show us the way out."
"I am not angry, nor haven't been," Enoch replied. "When Jacob was sofoolish I simply answered his questions, that is all."
Master Ludwick made no reply. He realized that, although his companionswere careful not to accuse him, there was more reason why he should beblamed than either of his comrades, since he it was who had suppliedthe master of the house with such information as was desired.
Jacob was not willing to confess he had been careless, and seemedangry because his comrades refrained from mentioning the fact. Hethrew himself once more upon the bed in a sulky fashion, while Sethand Enoch, the latter holding the candle, walked slowly around theapartment, examining every portion of the walls.
"It doesn't seem as if we could work our way out of here," Seth saidwhen the examination was concluded, and nothing had met their gaze butthe unbroken partitions of heavy boards.
"This room must be directly at the end of the house," Enoch said halfto himself.
"I reckon there can be no question about that."
"Do you suppose it would be possible to cut our way through withknives? I have a stout one in my pocket."
"We might, in time, if no one molested us, but it is terrible to thinkwe might be forced to remain here so long."
"It is evident we shan't get out very soon," Enoch said after a pause."I propose that we try to get some sleep. I was awake nearly alllast night, and have had a hard day's work. We won't gain anything bytearing around just now, and a night's rest may put us in better shapefor thinking."
"It doesn't seem as if there was anything else to do," Seth replied,and immediately laid down on the bed by the side of Jacob, Enochfollowing his example.
Despite the gravity of their situation, all three of the boys weresoon wrapped in the unconsciousness of slumber, nor did they awakenuntil the closing of the door brought them to a sitting posture verysuddenly.
"Some one has been in here!" Jacob exclaimed as he leaped to his feet,and seized the latch.
The door was fastened as securely as before.
The darkness was profound, and for some moments the boys were at a lossto understand it until Enoch said with a mirthless laugh:
"The candle has burned up, that's all. We should have blown it outbefore we went to sleep."
"How much good would that have done us?" Seth asked grimly. "We havegot neither flint nor steel with which to light it again."
"I thought last night that we were about as bad off as possible; butthis being forced to remain in darkness seems to make matters worse."
Groping around to learn the reason for the visit, Enoch ascertainedthat a supply of food and water had been left on the table, and hesaid, as he mentioned this fact to his comrades:
"Here is evidence that we are to be kept prisoners until it is nolonger possible to gain any information concerning the movements ofthe Britishers. It must be morning, even though it's dark, for I don'tthink the Tory would have paid us a second visit during the night."
Jacob appeared to have recovered from the fit of ill-temper which hadassailed him, and now said as he examined the supply of provisions:
"If it is morning we may as well have breakfast. I wish one of us hada watch so we could have some idea of time, for we shan't see daylightwhile we are cooped up here."
Seth was in as despondent a mood as a boy well can be, when he arosefrom the bed to act upon his companion's suggestion; but each wascareful not to let the others understand how hopeless seemed thesituation in this first moment of awakening.
Neither of the prisoners ate with much relish, and the meal was quicklyfinished.
Then each gave himself up to his own gloomy reflections, and afterremaining silent nearly half an hour, Enoch said sharply:
"Look here, boys, it doesn't seem possible that we can get out of thisplace un
aided; but at the same time we shall all feel better if we aredoing something, instead of mooning like this. Now let's decide upon aplan and go to work."
"I am willing to begin any job, however hopeless it seems, rather thanremain idle," Seth replied promptly. "Do you still think there is achance of cutting our way through the end of the house?"
"No; that now seems to me less likely than a good many other plans. Whynot try to raise some of the flooring?"
"But suppose you succeed?" Jacob asked. "You wouldn't be out of thehouse."
"True, and we should still be inside if we were in the hallway; yetI had a good deal rather be there than locked up here. I'm willing toattempt anything. There is little hope of our succeeding; but at thesame time it is better to make some effort."
"One plan is as good as another," Seth said after a brief pause. "Tellus what you want to do, Enoch, and Jacob and I will assist to the bestof our ability."
"We all have knives, and plenty of time. Now, suppose we cut throughone of the boards of the floor, at a sufficient distance from the endto avoid striking the joist, and we should be able to pull it up onceit has been separated."
"But that is a job on which only one can work."
"We will make two divisions. I'll work near the wall, while one of youbegin three feet away from me," Enoch said as he went toward the sideof the room. "I can feel the nails here, and will allow that the joistextends two or three inches beyond them. Hunt for the second row ofnails, and set about cutting. It is lucky we've all got knives."
Five minutes later Enoch and Seth were busily engaged in the task,while Jacob stood ready to "spell" the first who should grow weary.
The boards were planed, and, as nearly as could be judged, were ofordinary thickness.
"It is pine wood, that's one satisfaction," Enoch said cheerily, "andit shouldn't take long to lift one piece. Then we shall have somethingto serve as a lever, if we want to rip out more of the flooring."
"That part of it is true enough; but even when we have taken up as muchas necessary, we are about the same distance from the open air," Jacobadded. "What is your plan if we succeed in this work?"
"I am willing, if you fellows will back me, to break through theplastering, for of course we shall come upon the ceiling of the roombelow, and then jump down, ready to fight our way out."
"We shan't be able to do a great deal of fighting without weapons."
"By pulling the bed apart we can get what will answer as clubs, andunless there are a number of men in the house we ought to accomplishsomething."
"It is a bold scheme," Seth replied; "but I am not certain there isn'ta fair chance for success in it."
"Unless the man of the house is well supplied with weapons, in whichcase our clubs would amount to very little."
"We'll do the best we can, and not discuss as to how we may be stopped.It was agreed when we began that this was to be done only for thepurpose of helping pass the time."
Enoch's cheerfulness had a beneficial effect upon his companions, andduring the next hour Jacob refrained from suggesting difficulties whichmight be encountered.
Then came the time when one end of the board was severed, it havingbeen literally whittled apart.
It was Enoch who first accomplished his portion of the task, and Sethhad so nearly finished that by bending this particular piece downwardit was readily broken off.
Reaching through into the aperture, and exploring by sense of touch,Enoch announced that there was probably nothing between them and theapartment below save narrow strips of inch-thick lumber and plaster.
"By taking up one more board we shall have space enough, and I think itwill be best to use this piece to pry the other out."
Owing to the woodwork at the side of the room this plan was found to beimpracticable, and once more Enoch went to work with his knife.
Not until another hour had passed was the task finished, and then,regardless of the noise, the boys pried the board from its place.
When this had been done they waited in silence several moments, toascertain if an alarm had been given, and, hearing nothing, Enoch setabout dismantling the bed in order to get possession of the posts asweapons.
This was neither a difficult nor a lengthy task, and when he had giveneach of his comrades a stout oaken timber, from three to four feet inlength, he exclaimed:
"Now we are ready, boys! Once we begin there must be no delay. Punch ahole through the ceiling, and then we'll drop down regardless of whatmay happen, fighting our best when we are once where anything of thatkind is possible."