CHAPTER V.
SAM LAYS HIS PLANS.
Half an hour later Sam Hardwicke entered General Jackson's privateoffice, and was received with some little surprise upon thecommander's part.
"Why, you're the young man who reported in command of some youngrecruits, are you not?" he asked.
Sam replied that he was.
"I didn't understand it so," replied Jackson, "when Walker recommendedyou for this service. However, it is all the better so, because _I_know your devotion, and Tandy has assured me of your competence. Sitdown, our talk is likely to be a long one."
When Sam was comfortably seated, with his hat "hung up on the floor,"as Tandy Walker would have said, the general resumed.
"You understand of course," he said, "that whatever I say to you, mustbe kept a profound secret, now and hereafter, whether you go on theexpedition I have in mind or not."
"You may depend upon my discretion, sir. I think I know how to besilent."
"Do you? Then you have learned a good lesson well. Take care that younever forget it. Let me tell you in the outset that the task I wantyou to undertake is a difficult and perhaps a dangerous one. It willrequire patience, pluck, intelligence and _tact_. Tandy Walker tellsme that you have these qualities, and he ought to know, perhaps, but Ishall find out for myself before we have done talking. I shall tellyou what the circumstances are and what I wish to have done. Then youmust decide whether or not you wish to undertake it; and if you do,you must take what time you wish for consideration, and then tell mewhat your plans are for its accomplishment. I shall then be able tojudge whether or not you are likely to succeed. You understand me ofcourse?"
"Perfectly, I think," replied Sam.
"Very well then. You know that a good many of the worst of theseCreeks escaped to Florida, Peter McQueen among them. I could notpursue them beyond the border, because Florida is Spanish territory,and Spain is, or at least professes to be, friendly to the UnitedStates, and neutral in our war with the British. Now, however, I havegood authority for believing that the Spanish Governor at Pensacola istreacherously aiding not only the Indians but the British also. Aforce of British, I hear, has landed there, and friendly Indians tellme that they are arming the runaway Creeks, meaning to use themagainst us. The Indians tell big stories, so big that I can place noreliance upon them, and what I want is accurate information aboutaffairs at Pensacola. If there is a British force there, it means tomake an attack on Mobile or New Orleans. I must know the exact facts,whatever they are, so that I may take proper precautions. I must knowthe size of the force, the number of their ships, and on what termsthey have been received by the Spaniards. If they are made welcome atPensacola, and permitted by the Spaniards to make that a convenientbase of operations against us, the government may see fit to authorizeme to break up the hornet's nest before the swarm gets too big to behandled safely. However, that is another matter. What I want ispositive information of the exact facts, whatever they are. Thedifficulties in the way are great. We are at peace with Spain, andmust do no hostile act upon her soil. I cannot even send an armedscouting party to get the information I need. If you go, you must gounarmed, and even then you may be arrested and dealt hardly with. Itwill require the utmost discretion as well as courage, to accomplishthe task, and I have no wish that you should undertake it if youhesitate to do so."
"I do not hesitate, sir," replied Sam, "if, after hearing my plan, youthink me competent for the business."
"Very well then," replied the general, "when will you be ready to layyour plan before me?"
"I am ready now, sir," said Sam, "so far at least as the general planis concerned; little things will have to be dealt with as theyarise."
"Certainly. What is your plan in outline?"
"To go to Florida on a trapping and fishing excursion. I am not asoldier yet, and may go, if I like, peacefully into the territory of afriendly nation. I can take some of my boys with me, and camp by thewater side. I can easily go into Pensacola and find out what is goingon there. I shouldn't wish to be a spy, general, but this is scarcelythat, I think. The enemy has been received by a power professing to befriendly. That power has given us no notice of hostility, and untilthat is done I see no impropriety in going into his territory forinformation not about his affairs at all, unless he is provingtreacherous, which would entitle us to do that, but about those of ourenemy, whom he should regard as an invader, however he may regard himin fact."
"You've read some law, I see," said the general.
"No sir," replied Sam, blushing to think how he had been expounding tothe general, a nice point which that officer must understand muchbetter than he did. "No sir, I have read no law except a book or twoon the laws of nations, which my father said every gentleman shouldbe familiar with."
"A very wise and excellent father he must be," replied Jackson, "if Imay judge of him by the training he has given his son."
"Thank you, sir, in his name," answered Sam, rising and making hisbest bow.
"To come back to the business in hand," resumed Jackson. "You'll needa boat and some camp equipments."
"A boat, yes, but as for camp equipments, I can make out without themvery well. I've camped a good deal and I know how to manage."
"Very well, then, you'll be all the lighter. How many of your boyswill you need?"
"Two or three,--partly to make a show of a camp, but more because itmay be necessary to send some of them back with news. My brother Tomand my black boy, with one or two others will be enough."
"Very well. Now you must be off as soon as possible. I shall march toMobile in a day or two, and organize for defence there. Send your newsthere. You had better march directly from this place, so that yourarrival will excite no suspicion. I will provide you with a map of thecountry. Have you a compass?"
"Yes sir, I brought one with me from home."
"There are boats enough to be had among the fishermen, I suppose, buthow to provide you with one is the most serious problem I have tosolve in this matter. My army chest is empty, and my personal purse isequally so."
"I can manage all that, sir, if I may take an axe or two and an adzefrom the shop here."
"How?"
"By digging out a canoe. I've done it before, and know how to handlethe tools."
"You certainly do not lack the sort of resources which a commanderneeds in such a country as this, where he must first create his armyand then arm and feed it without money. You'll make a general yet, Ifancy."
"At present I am not even a private," replied Sam, "though the boyscall me Captain Sam."
"Do they? Then Captain Sam it shall be, and I wish you a successfulcampaign before Pensacola, Captain. Get your forces into marchingorder at once. Take all of your boys, unless some of them havealready enlisted,--it won't do to take actual soldiers with you, asyours must be a citizen's camp,--and march as early as you can. I'llsee that you are properly provided with the tools you need."