CHAPTER XIV
IN WHICH NATHAN FEIGNS SLUMBER TO SAVE HIS LIFE
"Unhand me, you ruffians!" cried the prisoner, as he continued toresist. "I protest against this brutal treatment. I protest against sounjust a sentence. I am not a spy. I am a non-combatant, and entitled tofreedom. I was sent to this country on a legal and private matter by myemployers, the firm of Sharswood & Feeman--"
Just then one of the soldiers, losing patience, struck the man a blowbetween the eyes that felled him to the floor. He was too stunned tomake any further resistance or appeal, and his captors flung him intothe room and slammed the door.
"Lad, that--that ain't the lawyer chap you spoke of?" inquired Barnabas,as he observed Nathan's agitation.
"The very same!" Nathan cried, excitedly "Noah Waxpenny, of London, whocame to the Indian Queen that night!"
"The man who wanted information of your father and Major Langdon?"Godfrey asked, incredulously.
"Yes, that's the one," exclaimed Nathan. "I'm sure he can clear up themystery. I must speak to him right away."
The lad was too excited to know what he was doing, and before hisfriends could check him he made a rush for the door of the inner room.But the officer in command of the fort--an ill-featured sergeant--gavehim a push that sent him reeling back.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded. "And you?" he added, turning toBarnabas and Godfrey, and regarding them with angry suspicion.
Barnabas briefly explained, and the sergeant was somewhat mollified whenhe learned that the strangers were fugitives from Wyoming.
"It's all right," he grumbled, "but you had no call to interfere withmy duty. Do you know that spy yonder?" The lad here spoke the name hegives himself--Noah Waxpenny.
"Spy?" exclaimed Barnabas.
"Yes, man; I said spy. I've just given him a trial, and to-morrowmorning he hangs."
"What proof have you of his guilt?"
"Plenty," declared the sergeant. "Didn't he come riding by here a bitago on his way up the river? And didn't we find a paper on him with thewritten name of Major Gerald Langdon, an officer in the British army?There were two other names, but the first one was enough. It's plain asdaylight that the man was sent out to spy the frontier forts along here.I've found him guilty, and I'm going to hang him."
"You'll repent it, if you do," said Barnabas, quickly. "You'd betterhold the man, an' report on his case. There ain't enough evidence tohang him, an' what's more, you haven't got the authority."
"Man, I have got the authority," thundered Sergeant Murdock, who was ahard-headed and obstinate Scotchman, very set in his ways, and with anexaggerated idea of his powers. "I'm in charge of this fort, and what Isay is military law. The spy hangs at daybreak, and I'll report the caseafterward--"
"Sir, you surely won't hang this prisoner?" interrupted Nathan. "He isnot a spy, and I can prove it. Let me ask you one question. Was RichardStanbury's name on that paper?"
"Yes," growled the sergeant, in a tone of sudden suspicion.
"Well, Captain Richard Stanbury is my father," said Nathan, "and he isan officer in Washington's army."
"Then you're the lad the spy was bound up the river to look for,according to the yarn he tells," exclaimed the sergeant. "There'ssomething wrong here. I'm thinking I'll have to put you underarrest--aye, and your companions, too."
"Nonsense!" muttered Barnabas. "This foolery has gone far enough. Don'tyou know me any more, Murdock? Have you forgot Barnabas Otter, who wasa private in your own company right here at Fort Hunter, afterBraddock's defeat? Twenty years is a long time, but you ain't changedmuch--"
"Man, I'm glad to see you," cried the sergeant, his grizzled facebreaking into a smile. "Aye, I recognize your features now. And can youvouch for this lad?"
"With my life," declared Barnabas. "An' what's more, I kin vouch thatthe man in there ain't a spy."
"You'll have to prove it to my satisfaction," said the sergeant,stiffly.
"I can't prove anything," replied Barnabas, "because it's a good bit ofa mystery. But the plain facts of the matter, as far as we know, arethese: That man in yonder, Noah Waxpenny, was sent over here fromEngland on legal business--sent over to find Richard Stanbury an' alsothis Major Langdon. Whether there's any connection betwixt the two isnot for me to say. But this much is certain; your prisoner ain't a spy.An' you admit yourself that the fellow was comin' up the river tosearch for Captain Stanbury's son here. He must have learned that theCaptain was dead or a prisoner, an' that the lad had gone to Wyoming--"
"And he expected to meet me among the returning fugitives," interruptedNathan. "I'm sure that's the way of it."
"What does he want with you?" demanded Sergeant Murdock.
"I can't tell you any more than Barnabas has told you," replied Nathan."It's a legal and private matter--I am certain of that much. But if youwill let me see Noah Waxpenny he may be able and willing to explain themystery. Please let me speak to him at once, won't you, sir?"
"No, I won't," snapped the sergeant. "I don't want another rumpus aroundhere. You haven't proved the man's innocence and the sentence of deathstill stands. And then there was a third name on that paper--"
"Let me see it, Murdock," interrupted Barnabas.
"I've no objection," replied the sergeant, after a brief hesitation. Heand Barnabas withdrew privately to one corner of the room, and as thelatter examined the paper that was put into his hands he started visiblyand his eyes opened wide with astonishment. For some minutes he and thesergeant conversed earnestly in whispered tones, and then they cameforward again.
"Lad," said Barnabas, "my old comrade has agreed to let us see theprisoner in the morning. We must have patience till then."
"Aye, you can see him in the morning," corroborated Sergeant Murdock,"but unless the interview clears up the mystery and proves the spy'sinnocence he hangs before breakfast. I'm a man of my word and you cancount on what I say."
Darkness was now coming on rapidly, and while the sergeant went into anadjoining room to fetch a candle Nathan found an opportunity of drawingBarnabas aside.
"You saw the paper?" he whispered. "Did it contain any clue?"
"None at all, lad."
"And whose was the third name?"
"I'll tell you again," Barnabas answered, evasively. "Have patience tillmorning, and I'm thinking all will turn out right. Meanwhile let thematter drop and don't speak. Hush! here comes Murdock back."
That was a long evening for Nathan. It taxed his patience sorely tothink that he could not see the prisoner until morning--to know that theman locked up in the little guard-room could reveal, among othersecrets, why Major Langdon had made such desperate efforts to get thepapers that were buried under Captain Stanbury's cabin at Wyoming.Godfrey was almost equally curious, but Barnabas had forbidden both ladsto allude to the matter openly, and the circumstances were such thatprivate speech between the three was impossible.
The capture and examination of Mr. Noah Waxpenny had delayed supper, andafter the meal was over Sergeant Murdock unbent and became quitefriendly. He showed his guests around the interior of the fort,pointing out the strong features of the stockade, and exhibiting withpride the stores of lead and powder, casks of fresh and salt beef, andbarrels of flour.
"I've got only a dozen men here," he said, "and that's as big a garrisonas the fort has had for ten years past. But I'm expecting reinforcementsup from Harris's Ferry any time now, and the settlers are threatening tocome in on account of the rumor that Butler's force will be marchingdown the river from Wyoming."
The rest of the evening was spent on the grassy knoll at one side of theenclosure, where Nathan and Godfrey related their adventures at Wyomingto an interested audience, and Barnabas and the sergeant discussed oldtimes between whiffs of their pipes. At intervals Noah Waxpenny could beheard groaning dismally, or tramping up and down the narrow limits ofhis cell.
At ten o'clock Sergeant Murdock went his round, posting one sentryinside the stockade gate and another at the rear of the fort, where as
mall window opened from the guard-room. A third was put on duty in themiddle room of the block-house, with instructions to watch theprisoner's door.
From the left of this middle room opened the big room where the privatesslept, and on the right were the guard-room and the officers' quarters.To the latter's apartment, which contained a number of straw palletsspread on the floor, the sergeant led his guests. "All fixed, are you?"he said. "Good night, then, comrades." He blew out the candle, turnedover, and was soon snoring loudly.
A little later the slow and regular breathing of Godfrey and Barnabastold that they, too, were slumbering. Nathan envied them, for try as hewould he could not induce the least symptom of drowsiness. For a longtime he lay with wide-open eyes and active brain, thinking of thepromised interview in the morning and listening to the occasionalfootsteps from the adjoining guard-room, where Noah Waxpenny seemedalso to be possessed by the demon of wakefulness.
When the lad finally did fall asleep from sheer weariness his rest wasdisturbed by hideous dreams. From one of these he suddenly awoke,relieved to find himself safe in the fort instead of battling withblood-thirsty savages out on the river.
As he listened to the regular breathing of his companions he fancied heheard a low groan from outside, and almost immediately a rustling noiseat the open door of the room fell on his ear. Closer and closer came thesoft and stealthy sound, and the next instant, to the lad's unspeakablehorror, the dark figure of a man kneeling on all fours rose at his veryside, and a hand was passed gently over his body.
Nathan's heart almost stopped beating, but by a tremendous effort hechoked back the cry that was on his lips. For, at that moment, his eyesbeing partially accustomed to the gloom, he saw that the man held aglittering knife between his teeth; and he realized that at the firstshout for help the blade would be plunged into his breast.
He was terribly frightened, but by exerting all his will power hesucceeded in doing what was best under the circumstances. He feignedsleep, and lay perfectly motionless. Not a muscle quivered, though coldsweat started on his face and hands. All he could think about was thatglittering knife. It did not occur to him to wonder who the man was, orwhat he wanted.
The unknown intruder was deceived by the ruse. With both hands helightly and deliberately pressed every part of the lad's clothing fromhis throat to his feet. Twice he went over him, and then a whisperedcurse testified to his disappointment at not finding what he wanted.Next, he took the knife from between his teeth with one hand, and as helifted it high to strike, he turned a little toward a window in the sidewall, dimly revealing a scarred and wrinkled face with but one eye.
Nathan uttered a shrill cry, and grabbed the descending wrist with bothhands. A desperate jerk lifted him upright, and he heard the knifeclatter to the floor. He held tight for a second or two, and then a blowon the face broke his grip and hurled him back.
He sprang quickly to his feet, crying out in chorus with his companions,who were now awake and stumbling blindly over the floor. He saw a darkfigure, followed by another, rush into the yard. Then the men at theother end of the block-house woke up with noisy clamor, and amid all thedin, a musket-shot rang loud and clear.
"What's wrong?" demanded Sergeant Murdock. "Speak, somebody!"
"Simon Glass was here," cried Nathan. "He tried to kill me. He just ranout! Don't let him get away!"
The name of the Tory ruffian was familiar to all, and the angry andexcited men swarmed from both sides into the middle-room. A privateappeared on the scene with a lighted lantern, and by the yellow glarethe door of the guard-room was discovered to be wide open.
"The spy has escaped," roared the sergeant. "This is Glass's doing! Iwish I'd hung the man last night!"
"Glass didn't come here for that," declared Barnabas. "Waxpenny musthave opened the door an' run fur it when he heard the row in yonder; an'where's the sentry?"
Just then a clamor rose from several of the men who had hastenedoutside. Led by Sergeant Murdock, the rest of the party ran into theyard, and at one side of the door they found the prostrate body of thesentry who had been posted in the middle-room. The man was breathingfaintly, and his swollen and purple face showed that he had been nearlystrangled to death by a pair of muscular hands.
With shouts of vengeance the crowd scattered in different directions,but a cry from Barnabas brought them together again at the partly-opengate of the stockade. Here lay the second sentry stone dead, with a longknife buried in his ribs.
"If Simon Glass don't die for this may I never shoulder a musket again!"roared the infuriated sergeant. "It was a sharp trick he played. He musthave come here a bit ago, persuaded the sentry to admit him, and thenstabbed the poor fellow to the heart. Next he enticed the other sentryto the yard, and settled him, too. And after the lad here discovered himin the room both he and the spy darted out the gate."
"But where's the third sentry?" cried Barnabas, "an' who fired thatshot--Hark! some one's calling now!"
Indeed, the shouting had been going on at intervals since the firstalarm, but owing to the noise and excitement the man had not been ableto make himself heard. The sounds came from the rear of the block-house,and thither the whole party ran in haste, to find Private Mickleyprancing up and down on one of the lookout platforms.
"Where've you been?" he yelled, hoarsely. "Why didn't you come sooner?I've been keeping watch on the ruffian, but now he's gone--escaped inthat big canoe."
"Escaped!" cried Barnabas. "Why didn't you stop him?"
"Man, explain yourself," roared the sergeant. "Quick! find your tongue!"
"Ain't I telling you?" sputtered the angry soldier. "Give me a chance.When I heard the first yell I run round to the front just as a littleman dashed out the door. He was making for the gate, but when he seen mehe changed his mind and cut for the rear. I fired at him and missed, andjust then out pops the spy. Before I could lift my empty gun he was pastme and out the gate. So I let him go, and went for the other. I gotround here in time to see him scramble over the stockade. I reckon hedidn't know the drop that was below him, for when I looked over theplatform he was lying stunned in the bushes down yonder. I kept watchinghim and singing out for help, and all at once up he gets, staggers likea drunken man to the canoe, and goes a-paddling down stream with allhis might. I'm thinking his one leg was broke."
"How long ago was this," thundered the sergeant.
"Not two minutes, sir."
"Then he ain't far off," cried Barnabas. "Have you another boat handy?"
"There's a little canoe in the creek above the bluff, with two paddlesin it," replied Sergeant Murdock.
That quickly Barnabas was off, calling to the lads to follow him. Nathanand Godfrey were at his heels as he scaled the stockade at the upper endand plunged down the sloping bank to the creek. They found the canoe atonce and jumped in, and a moment later the light craft had swung fromthe creek's mouth to the river. The lads were paddling, and Barnabascrouched amidships just in front of them.
"Murdock, we're goin' to get the assassin," he shouted.
"Good luck to you!" the sergeant called back. "I wish I was as sure ofoverhauling the spy."
The canoe was quickly past the fort, gliding like a duck on the swiftcurrent, and now the other craft was dimly sighted about a hundred yardsdown stream.
"I knew he couldn't be far," muttered Barnabas. "Paddle hard, lads. Hecan't do much with that heavy boat. This is going to be the last ofSimon Glass, or else the last of me."
"We have no weapons," exclaimed Nathan.
"Neither has he, lad, or he would a-fired at the sentry who tried tostop him."
"I hope he won't take the shore when he sees we're after him," saidGodfrey.
"He's too badly hurt to do that," replied Barnabas. "No; we're goin' toget him. I feel it in my bones. He'll pay with his life for venturin'this far after them papers. When he lay in ambush that night he musthave heard us speak of stopping at the forts, an' I reckon he trampedall this distance alone."
During part of the above con
versation a bend of the river had concealedthe fugitive from view, and now, as the pursuers swung around, the twocanoes were seen to be less than forty yards apart. Glass was close toshore, struggling desperately to drive his heavy and unwieldy craft,while with scarcely any effort Nathan and Godfrey urged their lighterboat forward.
The distance rapidly decreased to twenty yards--fifteen--ten. Now theruffian's scarred face could be seen by the moonlight that was breakingthrough the clouds, as he looked back at quick intervals. And shortlyahead of him was the line of noisy rapids, white with dashing foam andspray, black with outcropping bowlders and ledges.
"We'll hardly ketch him this side the falls," muttered Barnabas. "Itain't an easy passage. Watch sharp for the rocks, an' don't--"
Just then Simon Glass dropped his paddle and twisted himself around inthe stern. "I won't be taken alive!" he yelled, "and I'll kill one ofyou first." With that he drew a big pistol, leveled it at Barnabas, andfired.