CHAPTER IX
STOLE AWAY
Johnson Hall was a blaze of light with candles in every window, andgreat lanterns flaring from both stone forts which flanked the Hall, andalong the new palisades which Sir John had built recently for hisdefense.
All gates and doors stood wide open, and officers in Continental uniformand in the uniform of the Palatine Regiment, were passing in and outwith a great clanking of swords and spurs.
Everywhere companies of regular infantry from Colonel Dayton's regimentof the New York Line were making camp, and I saw their baggage waggonsdrive up from the town below and go into park to the east of the Hall,where cattle were lying in the new grass.
An officer of the Palatine Regiment carrying a torch came up to JoeScott, where our little company stood at ease along the hedge fence.
"What troops are these, sir?" he inquired, indicating us with a nervousgesture.
And when he was informed:
"Oho!" said he, "there should be material for rangers among yourfarmer-militia. Pick me two men for Colonel Dayton who live by rifle andtrap and who know the wilderness from Albany to the Lakes."
So our captain told off Nick Stoner and me, and we stepped out of theranks into the red torch-glow.
"Thank you, sir," said the Palatine officer to our Captain. And to us:"Follow me, lads."
He was a brisk, handsome and smartly uniformed officer of militia; andhis cheerful demeanor heartened me who had lately witnessed suchhumiliations and disgrace.
We followed him through the stockade gate and into the great house, soperfectly familiar to me in happier days.
Excepting for the noise and confusion of officers coming and going,there was no disorder within; the beautiful furniture stood ranged instately symmetry; the pictures hung on the walls; but I saw no silveranywhere, and all the candlesticks were pewter.
As we came to the library, an officer in the uniform of a colonel of theContinental Line turned from a group of men crowded around the centretable, on which lay a map. Nick Stoner and I saluted his epaulettes.
He came close to us and searched our faces coolly enough, as a farmerinspects an offered horse.
"This is young Nick Stoner, of Fonda's Bush, sir," said the Palatineofficer.
"Oh," said the Colonel drily, "I have heard of the Stoner boys. And whatmay be your name?" he inquired, fastening his piercing eyes on mine.
"John Drogue, sir."
"I have heard of you, also," he remarked, more drily still.
For a full minute, it seemed to me, he scrutinized me from head to footwith a sort of curiosity almost brutal. Then, on his features a finesmile softened what had seemed insolence. With a glance he dismissed thePalatine, motioned us to follow him, and we three entered thedrawing-room across the hall, which was lighted but empty.
"Mr. Drogue," said he, "I am Colonel Dayton; and I have in my personalbaggage a lieutenant's commission for you from our good Governor,procured, I believe, through the solicitation of our mutual and mostexcellent friend, Lord Stirling."
I stood astonished to learn of my preferment, never dreaming nor evenwishing for military rank, but perfectly content to carry the sack of aprivate soldier in this most just of all wars. And as for BillyAlexander remembering to so serve me, I was still more amazed. For LordStirling was already a general officer in His Excellency's new army, andI never expected him to remember me amid the desperate anxieties of hisnew position.
"Mr. Drogue," said Dayton, "you, I believe, are the only example amongthe gentry of Tryon County who has openly embraced the cause of ourthirteen colonies. I do not include the Albany Patroon; I speak only ofthe nobility and gentry of this county.... And it took courage to turnyour back upon your own caste."
"It would have taken more to turn against my own countrymen, sir."
He smiled. "Come, sir, were you not sometime Brent-Meester to SirWilliam?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then you should know the forest, Mr. Drogue."
"I do know it."
"So General Schuyler has informed me."
He clasped his gloved hands behind his back and began to pace to andfro, his absent glances on the window candles. Presently he halted:
"Sir John is fled. Did you know it?" he said abruptly.
I felt the hot shame burn my face to the roots of my hair.
"Broke his parole of honour and gone off," added Dayton. "Where do yousuppose he is making for with his Tories and Highlanders?"
I could scarcely speak, so mortified was I that a gentleman of my ownclass could have so foully conducted. But I made out to say that SirJohn, no doubt, was traveling toward Canada. "Certainly," said theColonel; "but which route?"
"God knows, sir. By the Sacandaga and the Lakes, no doubt."
"Could he go by Saratoga and the top o' the Hudson?"
"It is a pathless wilderness."
"Yes. And still I think the rogue went that way. I have rangers outlooking for signs of him beyond Ballston. Also, I sent half a battaliontoward the Sacandaga. Of course Albany Royalists warned him of mycoming; I couldn't prevent that, nor could Schuyler, no, nor the verydevil himself!
"And here am I at the Hall, and the fox stole away to the Canadas. Andwhat now to do I know not.... Do _you_?"
He shot the question in my face point blank; and I stood dumb for aminute, striving to collect and marshall any ideas that might bear uponso urgent a matter.
"Colonel," said I, "unless the British hold Champlain, Sir John wouldscarcely risk a flight in that direction. No. He would prefer to plungeinto the wilderness and travel by Oswegatchi."
"Do you so believe, Mr. Drogue?"
I considered a moment more; then:
"Yet, if Guy Johnson's Indians have come down toward the Sacandaga toprotect him--knowing that he had meant to flee----"
I looked at Dayton, then turned to Nick.
"What think you, Nick?" I demanded.
"By God," he blurted out, "I am of that mind too! Only a madman wouldattempt the wilderness by Oswegatchi; and I wager that Sir John isalready beyond the Sacandaga and making for the Canadas on the oldMohawk war-trail!"
Colonel Dayton laid one hand on my shoulder:
"Mr. Drogue," said he, "we have militia and partizans more thansufficient in Tryon. What we need are more regulars, too; but most ofall, and in this crisis, we need rangers. God alone knows what is comingupon Tryon County from the North,--what evil is breeding there,--whatsinister forces are gathering to overwhelm these defencelesssettlements.
"We have scarcely a fort on this frontier, scarcely a block house. Everytown and village and hamlet north of Albany is unprotected; every lonelysettler is now at the mercy of this unknown and monstrous menace whichis gathering like a thundercloud in the North.
"Regular regiments require time to muster; the militia have yet to provetheir worth; partizans, minute men, alarm companies--the value of allthese remains a question still. Damn it, I want rangers! I want them_now_!"
He began to stride about the room again in his perplexity, but presentlycame back to where we stood.
"How many rifles in your company from Fonda's Bush?" he demanded.
I blushed to tell him, and further confessed what had occurred that veryevening in the open fields before Johnstown.
"Well," said he coolly, "it is well to be rid of vermin. Now you shouldpick your men in safety, Mr. Drogue. And if none will volunteer--such ashave families or are not fit material for rangers--you are authorized togo out into the wilderness and recruit any forest-running fellow you canpersuade."
He drove one gloved hand into the palm of the other to emphasize what hesaid:
"I want real rangers, not militia! I want young men who laugh at anyface old Death can pull at them! I want strong men, keen men, tough men,rough men.
"I want men who fear God, if that may be, or who fear the devil, if thatmay be; but who fear nothing else on earth!"
He shot a look at Nick, "--like that boy there!" he exclaimed--"or I amno judge of men!
And like yourself, Mr. Drogue, when once they bloodyou! Come, sir; can you find a few such men for me, and take fullcharge?"
"Yes, sir."
"A pledge!" he exclaimed, beating his gloved palms. "And when you cancollect a dozen--the first full dozen--I want you to stop the Iroquoistrail at the Sacandaga. That's where you shall chiefly operate--alongthe Sacandaga and the mountains northward! That's where I expecttrouble. There lies this accursed war-trail; and along it there is liketo be a very bloody business!"
He turned aside and stood smiting his hands softly together, hispreoccupied eyes regarding the candles.
"A very bloody business," he repeated absently to himself. "Only rangerscan aid us now.... Help us a little in this dreadful crisis.... Until wecan recruit--build forts----"
An officer appeared at the open door and saluted.
"Well, sir," inquired Dayton sharply.
"Lady Johnson is not to be discovered in the town, sir."
"What? Has Lady Johnson run away also? Does the poor, deluded womanimagine that any man in my command would offer insult to her?"
"It is reported, sir, that Lady Johnson said some very bitter thingsconcerning us. It is further reported that Lady Johnson is gone in agreat rage to the hunting lodge of the late Sir William, as there werealready family servants there at last accounts."
"Where's this place?" demanded Dayton, turning to me.
"The summer house on the Vlaie, sir."
"Very well. Take what men you can collect and go there instantly, Mr.Drogue, and place that foolish woman under arrest!"
A most painful colour burnt my face, but I saluted in silence.
"The little fool," muttered Dayton, "to think we meant to insult her!"And to me: "Let her remain there, Mr. Drogue, if she so desires. Onlyguard well the house. I shall march a battalion of my regiment thitherin the morning, and later I shall order a company of ColonelLivingston's regiment to Fish House. And then we shall see what we shallsee," he added grimly to the officer in the doorway, who smiled inreturn.
There ensued a silence through which, very far away, we heard the musicof another regiment marching into the town, which lay below us under thecalm, high stars.
"That's Livingston, now!" said Colonel Dayton, briskly; and went out ina hurry, his sword and spurs ringing loudly in the hall. And a momentlater we heard him ride away at a gallop, and the loud clatter ofhorsemen at his heels.
I pulled a bit of jerked venison from my sack and bit into it. NickStoner filled his mouth with cold johnnycake.
And so, munching our supper, we left the Hall, headed for the DrownedLands to make prisoner an unhappy girl who had gone off in a rage toSummer House Point.