CHAPTER VII.
ON THE ALERT.
Although fully aware of the fact that by following the suggestions ofthe stranger they were jeopardizing their lives, Jacob and Enoch feltvery proud because of the confidence in them thus apparently displayedby the leaders of the cause.
They had no idea as to the identity of the man with whom they hadtalked, but it seemed positive he was one in whom the Continentalofficers trusted implicitly, otherwise he would not have been selectedfor so dangerous and responsible a position as that of gatheringinformation in the very heart of the British camp.
It was evident, at least to the boys, that he had sufficient authorityto thus attach them to the American army, and both were well content todelay signing their names on the enlistment rolls, because of the factthat they were occupying much more responsible and dangerous posts byremaining in the city.
It was not probable the enemy would be contemplating any importantmovement while the festivities were in progress, yet Jacob and Enochwalked to and fro through the streets of the now almost deserted city,believing their new duties demanded such diligence; but seeing nothingmore formidable than an unusually surly patrol who were out of temperbecause forced to be on duty while their comrades were participating inthe merry-making.
Not until nearly midnight did they return to Enoch's home, and bydaylight next morning both were on the alert once more.
During the forenoon they saw in the market-place, haggling over theprice of a cabbage as if his only thought was to sell his wares to thebest advantage, their acquaintance of the previous day.
Jacob would have entered into conversation with the man but for thefact that Enoch restrained him by saying:
"It is not well to be seen talking with him when it is unnecessary,lest we rouse the suspicions of the Britishers. We have nothing toreport, and he will so understand it when we pass by without speaking."
"But he may have something to say to us."
"If he has we shall soon know it; but unless he makes a sign we hadbetter keep on our way."
The seeming farmer paid no attention to the boys; that he saw themwas evident, but he did not so much as raise his eyes after one quickglance, and Jacob understood that Enoch was wiser than he in suchmatters.
During this day it was as if the enemy was resting from the fatigue ofmerry-making; but few officers were to be seen on the streets untillate in the afternoon, and at the different barracks there was evenless than the ordinary amount of noise.
It was five o'clock when the boys turned from High into Second Streetbelieving their day's work nearly done.
The sidewalk in front of the City Tavern was thronged with officers andcivilians, and Jacob whispered:
"I wonder what is going on there? Some of the crowd appear to beexcited."
"Suppose we pass the place singly, for by so doing we shall have abetter chance to linger. You go ahead, and I'll follow when you arehalfway through the crowd," Enoch suggested, and Jacob acted upon theidea at once.
Before he was well among the throng he heard that which caused him theliveliest surprise.
"So Lafayette's tattered retinue have abandoned their mud-holes, havethey?" a gentleman who had just come up said to a group of officers,and one of the latter replied:
"There appears to be no doubt about it. A Quaker on whom the Frenchmanquartered himself has sent word that he is at Barren Hill, withtwenty-five hundred picked men and five cannon."
"What does it mean? Can it be possible Washington believes for a singleinstant that his rag-tag and bob-tail can stand against General Howe'sforces?"
"It is difficult to say just what the rebel commander believes," one ofthe officers replied with a laugh. "There are times when he behaves asif he thought he could annihilate us, and then suddenly he turns tailas if afraid of his life."
"But if he contemplates any audacious movement, why does he sendLafayette?" the citizen continued. "He is hardly more than a boy, andsurely Washington must have more experienced officers."
"He has no abler soldier than Lafayette, boy though he is. He has hadthe advantage of a thorough military education, and will make betterplay for us than many of the elder men."
"Do you apprehend any difficulty in disposing of him if he continueshis march? I should say he might be advancing on Germantown, if hemakes his first halt at Barren Hill."
The officers were greatly pleased at this question, and the spokesmancontinued, as soon as his mirth had subsided sufficiently to admit ofhis speaking:
"We shall make short work of him if we are allowed to take the field;but I question if General Howe will pay any attention to the movementuntil it has developed further."
Jacob was forced to pass this particular group lest the fact thathe was listening to the conversation should become known; but beforegetting out of the throng he heard all the particulars that could begiven relative to the advance of the "rebels."
Some of the gossipers believed Washington intended to make an attackon Philadelphia; others had the idea that he was preparing to retreat,fearing lest Sir Henry Clinton, after taking command of the army,would press him too warmly, and that this movement of Lafayette's butcloaked the design. Not a few thought that the rebels had decided upona vigorous campaign, of which this unaccountable advance was proof, andbefore many moments such belief was shared by the majority.
Once Jacob had passed beyond the excited throng he waited with theutmost impatience for Enoch to join him, and when, after what seemedan exceedingly long time, his comrade came up looking surprised andalarmed, Master Ludwick motioned for him to follow toward the bank ofthe river.
Not until the boys stood where there was no possibility theconversation could be overheard did Jacob speak, and then it was tosay:
"Now we understand why the man who talked with us was so anxious tolearn what might be done by the Britishers. He knew General Lafayettewas about to move, and expected troops would be sent out from here atonce."
"If that is done we shall be of but little service, for the soldierswill march as fast as we can."
"That remains to be seen. The time has come when we can do work thatwill be of importance, and we must not lose the opportunity."
"Then we had best get around by the barracks; we can be of no servicewhile we stand here talking idly."
"It is not idle talk, as you shall see. The thought has come to me thatif the enemy makes any move to-night it is our duty to take the news toGeneral Washington, or General Lafayette, before the Britishers can getvery far on the road."
"I don't understand how it is to be done."
"Are you willing to run a big risk?"
"I am ready to do anything in aid of the cause."
"Then listen. I know where Wharton, the Tory, has two horses stabled,and it will not be hard work to get them out after the groom hasgone away for the night. If anything is done by the Britishers whichour friends should know, we can take them, follow the Schuylkill uptill we come to the bridge, and be at General Lafayette's camp beforedaylight."
"But that would be stealing!" Enoch cried.
"I don't think so, under the circumstances. It will be only an honestact, for we do it to save the lives of our friends."
"That would prevent our coming back to Philadelphia while theBritishers are here, and the stranger said we might be of more servicein this city than we could in the army."
"So we shall if we carry such important news, and it is better for usto leave here on an errand like that than remain idle when the causemay suffer."
"I will do whatever you say is right, Jacob, but do not want to serveour country by becoming a thief."
"That you will not become, I tell you!" Jacob cried impatiently.
"It shall be as you say."
"Very well. Now I will go in one direction and you in another. We'llmeet on High Street near Fourth. If nothing has been seen we mustcontinue to walk around until certain the Britishers do not intend toleave the city."
Having thus mapped out his plan Jacob
started up Walnut Street at hisbest pace, and Enoch went in the opposite direction, feeling ratherdoubtful of such honesty as displayed itself by the theft of twohorses.
Not until eight o'clock in the evening did either of the boys seeanything to denote that the enemy's troops would be moved that night,and then it was as if all the preparations had been made in an instant.
It was Enoch who was standing in front of General Grant's quarters whenthat gentleman came out attended by two of his staff, and the boy heardhim say petulantly:
"We are forced to go on a wild-goose chase, while the more fortunatefellows are enjoying themselves at the play. I expected to see at leasttwo acts of Douglas, and had invited some ladies to accompany me."
"Are we likely to go far?" one of his companions asked.
"To Barren Hill; and on arriving there we shall find our French birdhas flown, although General Howe is so certain of capturing him thathe has invited a large party to take supper with the proposed captiveto-morrow night, while Admiral Howe has given orders to have a frigatemade ready for sailing with Lafayette on board. It would create asensation if we should send the marquis to England as a prisoner!"
"Indeed it would, and I only hope he will give us half a chance tocatch him. How large a force shall we have?"
"Five thousand in my column and two thousand under Grey."
"That will be plenty to do the work, and it isn't impossible wemay succeed in surprising him. Our preparations have been made veryquietly."
"Only those engaged in the service have any idea of what it is proposedto do, and all of us have been sworn to secrecy. I shall----"
The speakers moved on, and Enoch could not distinguish the remainderof the conversation; but he had heard enough to change his mind as tothe honesty of stealing horses, and now thought only of the possibilitythat they might not succeed in such purpose.
Hastening to the rendezvous at full speed, he found Jacob awaiting himand displaying every evidence of agitation and impatience.
"I thought you would never come," he whispered eagerly. "We have notime to lose, for I have seen more than a thousand soldiers in theranks ready for a march."
"And I have heard exactly how many are to go; but we must hurry tothe Tory's stable, for there is no time to lose!" and Enoch urged hiscomrade forward, telling him while they walked so swiftly as to bealmost running that which he had learned.
"No two boys ever had such an opportunity as we've got now!" Jacobsaid triumphantly. "If we can be the first to carry the news to GeneralLafayette, it will be a work that even General Washington would thankus for! We shall find no difficulty in enlisting in any regiment wechoose, and who knows but we'll be made officers?"
"I don't understand how that could be, when we are not even soldiers;a man must have had experience before he can command others."
"Couldn't we soon gain that?"
"We'd better give all our attention to getting the horses. If wesucceed in finding General Lafayette I shall have reward enough, and acommission as colonel wouldn't make me any happier."
"I'd rather be an officer than a private," Jacob replied decidedly,"and we're now in a fair way to wear swords."
The pace at which they were traveling was not well suited for aprolonged conversation, and the boys were panting so heavily thatit was absolutely necessary to remain silent until they were in thevicinity of the Tory's stable.
The building was situated a hundred yards or more from the dwelling,and no one could be seen in the vicinity.
Jacob forced his companion to halt where a clump of bushes hid themfrom view of any one who might pass that way, until they had regainedtheir breath, and then said hurriedly:
"I know the man who takes care of the horses. He boards at the thirdhouse from here, and doesn't often come back in the evening after hisday's work is done. The stable door opens toward Wharton's house, andour greatest danger will be in getting the animals out. I'll go ahead;if you fail to hear anything for five minutes, follow me."
"Go on; don't waste any more time, for if the soldiers set out ahead ofus we shall find it difficult to pass them."
Master Ludwick made his way toward the building as if stealing horseswas a work with which he was thoroughly conversant, and when thespecified time had elapsed Enoch followed.
The fact that a play was being performed at the theater, and alsothat nearly all the male population of the city were congregated inthe business portion of the town discussing this unexpected move onLafayette's part, was of material aid to the boys in their undertaking.
Not a light could be seen in the Tory's home, and it was situated sofar out of the city there was little fear pedestrians would pass atthat hour in the evening.
When Enoch entered the barn he understood by the subdued noise thatMaster Ludwick was bridling a horse, and he whispered:
"Are there two here?"
"Yes; I've got a bridle on one, and if you'll hold him I'll take outthe other. We can't stop to find saddles."
"There's no need of anything of that kind, but I think we should havesomething in the shape of whips, in case we're pursued."
"We can find a stick once we are clear of the city. Have you got holdof the bridle?"
"Yes; I'll take care of this fellow. Get the other quickly, for if anyone should come now we'd be in a bad plight. I had rather be in prisonas a spy than a horse thief."
That Jacob was familiar with the interior of the stable was proved bythe celerity of his movements.
Although Enoch was in that frame of mind when the seconds drag likeminutes, it seemed to him as if he had but just taken charge of thefirst animal before his comrade had the other in the floor.
There was hardly time for one to have counted twenty when MasterLudwick opened the stable door cautiously as he whispered:
"Mount, Enoch, and ride at a walk until we are so far away that thehoof-beats won't be heard in case any of the family should chance to beat home. Remember, we must keep together as long as possible; but if ithappens that we are separated, each must do his best at finding GeneralLafayette's camp!"
"Don't stop to give orders now, but come on!" Enoch replied nervouslyas he mounted, and in another moment the young patriots were ridingslowly up the street.
Neither dared to speak, and the noise of the animals' feet on the hardroad sounded so loud in their ears that it seemed as if any one half amile away must hear it.
Both the boys understood, however, that considerably more noise wouldbe made if they allowed their horses to trot, and, dangerous thoughthe position was, they reined their steeds down to a walk until fullya quarter of a mile had been traversed, when Jacob said grimly:
"It's time to let them out now, and if we are caught it won't bebecause we haven't been cautious enough!"
The horses, impatient at having been restrained, darted forward swiftlywhen the reins were loosened, and Enoch cried in delight:
"They are in the proper trim for rapid traveling, and we should be ableto keep ahead of foot soldiers, for, of course, we are in advance ofthem."
"I don't believe the Britishers have started yet, and it's almostcertain there is no enemy between us and the American force. We've justthe same as won our swords already!"
"Never mind the swords if we----"
Enoch ceased speaking very suddenly as a voice, coming apparently fromthe thicket that bordered the road, cried sternly:
"Halt! Halt or I fire!"
Instead of making any reply Jacob struck his horse with both heels,darting ahead of Enoch for the time being, and in another instant thecommand rang out:
"Fire! Then see that they do not escape!"
"They're mounted men!" Enoch cried in fear as he bent over the neck ofthe horse, involuntarily glancing back just as a broad sheet of flamelighted up the trees a short distance in the rear, and he heard thewhistling of bullets over his head almost at the same instant that thereports of the weapons rang out.
"Are you hurt, Jake?" he cried anxiously.
"Not so much as a sc
ratch; but this isn't the time to talk. Thosefellows have horses, and it's a question how long these can hold out.Wharton never was known to keep very good stock, so father says."
Enoch was not exactly in that frame of mind where he could bestspeculate upon the faults or merits of the Tory's horses; but he wasthoroughly aware that he and his comrade would soon have a very goodidea of the abilities of these two animals as compared with those inthe rear.
Glancing back hurriedly the boy saw a group of horsemen in sharppursuit, and he decided there could not be less than half a dozen, allof whom were in uniform.
The thought came into his mind that this party had been posted on theroad to prevent any one from carrying information to the enemy, andnow, when it was too late, he remembered that he and Jacob had twicebefore been turned back by a patrol at this very point.
"We should have remembered it," he said to himself. "It would not havebeen much out of our way if we had ridden across the field, and then weshouldn't be pressing our horses at their best speed when the journeyhas but just begun."
It was too late now to indulge in regrets. The pursuers were makingevery effort to end the chase quickly, and there was good reason tobelieve the weapons would again be used, when a chance shot might endthe chase by crippling one of the animals even if it failed to hit ahuman target.
Enoch was not urging the steed he rode to its best pace, but contentedhimself with holding the advantage he had over the enemy; while Jacobhad used his heels as spurs to such effect that his horse was far inadvance.
During half an hour the race was continued, and then the animals showedsigns of fatigue. Now it was necessary for Enoch to urge his on, whileJacob's, less fresh because of the first great burst of speed, wasslowly falling to the rear.
"I won't run away from you," Enoch said encouragingly. "Their horsesmust be as tired as ours; but if they've got better wind, I'll be byyour side when we're overtaken."
"No, no, you mustn't do that!" Jacob cried sharply. "If only one canget through the work will be done, and I deserve to be overhauledbecause I sent this beast ahead at such a furious rate when we firststarted. Do your best to give them the slip, and pay no attention tome; but when you see Seth again tell him I tried to do as much for thecause as he did."
"I shall stay by you," Enoch said decidedly as he reined in his horse."They are getting no nearer, and--Look out!"
The warning cry had hardly been uttered when the reports of muskets orpistols rang out once more; but this time the whistling of the bulletscould not be heard.
"They have lost ground!" Enoch cried joyfully. "Don't punish your horseso much, but slacken the pace a bit till he gets his wind. We'll bestthem yet."
Again and again the weapons were discharged, but the boys no longerbent their heads, for they were out of range, and the race waswell-nigh won.
Five minutes later the pursuers were lost to view in the distance, andJacob cried in a tone of relief:
"We've outridden them at last; but if they had held on five minuteslonger, it would have been all over, so far as I'm concerned, for Idon't believe this beast could have held a trot half a mile more."
"Let him walk awhile, and we'll keep a good lookout in case they shouldmake another try for us. Do you know the roads hereabouts?"
"Yes; all of them. If it was daylight you could see my home from thenext hill. There is no short cut hereabouts that they can take to getahead of us, and we're certain to go through all right!"