Peggy Owen at Yorktown

  CHAPTER XXX--WHAT THE NIGHT BROUGHT

  "'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower Of fleeting life its luster and perfume, And we are weeds without it."

  --"The Task," Cowper.

  "Who is the relief for to-night?" queried Clifford of the guard as heclosed and locked the door of the hut.

  "Samuels, sir," responded the soldier saluting.

  "Tell him that I shall take charge at midnight," commanded Clifford. "Iam going to stand guard myself so as to make sure that naught goesamiss." Then turning to Peggy he added: "I liked not the last remark ofthat captain. It savored too much of mischief."

  But Peggy, knowing that Drayton had uttered it solely for her comfort,made no reply. The afternoon was well on toward its close when theyreached their abode, and the girl went straight to the room which sheand Harriet occupied in common.

  Harriet had just donned a dainty frock of dimity, and was now dustingher chestnut ringlets lightly with powder. She glanced at Peggy over hershoulder.

  "There is to be company for tea, Peggy," she said. "Two officers. Willyou come down?"

  "No," answered Peggy sinking into a chair. "I would rather not,Harriet."

  "Don't you want something to eat, Peggy?" she asked after a quick lookat Peggy's face. "You have eaten naught since breakfast. Or a cup oftea? You will be ill."

  "No, I thank thee, Harriet." The maiden leaned her head upon her handdrearily. The world seemed very dark just then.

  "Tell me about it, my cousin," spoke Harriet abruptly. "'Twill relieveyou to talk, and I like not to see you sit there so miserable."

  And at this unlooked-for sympathy on Harriet's part Peggy broke intosudden, bitter weeping.

  "He is to die," she cried. "There is no escape, Harriet. Thy brotherholds the key, and is to stand guard himself lest aught should go amiss.He is cruel, cruel. Oh, the night is so short in summer! The sunrisecomes so soon! Would that it were winter."

  "Now just how would that help you, Peggy?" demanded Harriet staring ather. "If one is to die I see not how the season could lessen one pang.After all, Peggy, you must admit that John Drayton deserves his fate. Heis a spy. He knew the risk he ran. The sentence is just. 'Tis therecognized procedure in warfare."

  "That doth not make it less hard to bear," cried Peggy with passion."Grant that 'tis just, grant that 'tis the method of procedure inwarfare, and yet when its execution falls upon kinsman or friend thereis not one of us who would not set such method of procedure at naught.Why, when thee----" She paused suddenly.

  "Yes? Go on, Peggy," said her cousin easily. "Or shall I finish for you?You were about to speak, my cousin, of the time when I was a spy. Youare thinking that I was perhaps more guilty than John Drayton, insomuchas he hath but given out information while I planned the captivation ofboth the governor of the Jerseys and the rebel general. And you arethinking, are you not? that you laid yourself under suspicion because ofa promise to me. And you are thinking, my little cousin, of how youstole out like a thief in the night to aid me to make my escape. You arethinking of that long night ride, and of all the trials and difficultiesin which it involved you. You are thinking of these things, are younot?"

  As the girl began to speak Peggy ceased her weeping, pushed back herhair, and presently sat upright regarding her with amazement.

  "Yes," she almost gasped as her cousin paused. "Yes, Harriet; I was invery truth thinking of those things."

  "And you are thinking," continued Harriet placing a jeweled comb in herhair, and gazing into the mirror, turning her head from side to side tonote the effect, "that in spite of all that befell, you took me back toPhiladelphia with you when I was ill, and cared for me until I wasrestored to health. And you are thinking of what you have done forfather, and for Clifford. What a set of ingrates you must consider us,Peggy."

  "Why does thee say these things to me, Harriet?" demanded Peggy. "Howdid thee know what I was thinking? And yet thee, and thy father, and--andClifford too, sometimes, have been most kind to me of late. Why doesthee say them?"

  "Because I should say them were I placed as you are," returned hercousin calmly. "I think I would shout them from the house-top."

  "To what purpose, my cousin? It would not procure John's release. Allthat can be done was done when Clifford let me see him."

  "I would not be so sure of that and I were you," observed Harrietquietly.

  "Harriet! What does thee mean?" cried Peggy, her breath coming quickly.

  "Peggy, I told you once that some time I should do something that wouldrepay all your favors, did I not?"

  "Yes." Peggy's eyes questioned her cousin's eagerly.

  "Well, don't you think it's about time that I was fulfilling thatpromise, my cousin? Suppose now, only suppose, that I could effect thiscaptain's escape? Would that please you?"

  "Harriet, tell me. Tell me!" Peggy's arms were about her in a tightembrace. "Thee knows, Harriet."

  "Did it want its captain then?" laughed Harriet teasingly. "Oh, Peggy,Peggy! what a goose you are! Now sit down, and tell me where JohnDrayton is, and what Clifford said and did. Then I will unravel myplan."

  "There are two sentries beside the guard, Harriet," Peggy concludedanxiously, as she related all that had occurred. "They patrol the house,meet and pass each other so that each makes a complete round of the hut.I see not how thee can do anything."

  "Don't be so sure, Mistress Peggy," came from Harriet with such anabrupt change of voice that Peggy was startled.

  "That sounded just like Clifford," she said.

  "Certainly it did." Harriet's eyes were sparkling now. "I can doClifford to the life. I can deceive even father if the light be dim. Iam going to be Captain Williams to-night, Peggy. Clifford is socock-sure of himself that he grows insufferable. 'Twill be rare sport totake him down a peg. Did'st notice how he spoke to father? He needs alesson. And father hath been in service so long that he ought to look upto him."

  "But," objected Peggy with some excitement, "Clifford will be there onguard. Then how can thee represent him?"

  "He will retire early, as he hath already lost much sleep from watchingand following after John Drayton. He will sleep until 'tis time to go tothe watch, and, Peggy, after Clifford hath lost sleep he always sleepsheavily. He will ask father to waken him, and father in turn will ask meto take note of the time for fear that he might doze. Now I have one ofmy brother's uniforms which I brought in this afternoon thinking thatthere might be need of it. I shall don it, after slipping the key of thehut from Cliff's pocket. Then, presto! Captain Williams will go to takecharge of his prisoner. If it be somewhat before midnight 'twill beregarded as the natural zeal of a young officer."

  "But I see not----" began Peggy.

  "If I am the guard with the key in my possession, what doth hinder thedoor from being opened, my cousin? If I choose to go in to speak to theprisoner of what concern is it to any? Is he not in my charge?"

  The girl spoke with such an assumption of her brother's pompous air thatPeggy laughed tremulously.

  "I do believe that thee can do it," she cried. "Harriet, thee iswonderful!"

  "Certainly I can do it," returned Harriet, well pleased with thisadmiration. "I shall go in and speak to the captain; explain that he isto come out when I let him know that the sentries have passed. When theymeet and cross each other there must be a brief time when the front ofthe dwelling hath but the solitary guard. Once out, however, he willhave to rely upon himself. I can do no more."

  "He would not wish thee to, Harriet," spoke Peggy quickly. "He told methat could he but pass the door and the guard he did not fear but thathe could escape."

  "If Clifford goes to bed early the thing can be done," said Harrietgoing to the door. "It all depends upon that. Now, Peggy, I will sendyou up some tea. 'Twill be best for you to remain here; such adistressed damsel should remain in seclusion. I will come back aftertattoo."

  In spite of her cousin's optimistic words Peggy spent t
he time beforeher return with much apprehension. It seemed to her that the night wasmore than half gone ere she appeared. In reality it was but ten o'clock.

  "Father thought he had better not go to bed at first," she said her eyesglowing like stars. "I persuaded him that he ought not to lose hisrest--that while with the army he never knew when he might be called uponfor service which would not admit of repose. Therefore, 'twas the partof wisdom to get it while he could, and I would see that he was arousedin time to call Clifford. Everything hath gone just as we wished, andwhat we have to do must be done quickly. I must be back in time torestore the key to Cliff's pocket, and then to waken father. Help me toundress, Peggy."

  With trembling fingers Peggy unfastened her frock, and soon Harrietstood before her arrayed in the uniform of a British officer.

  "Captain Williams, at your service, madam," she said, bowing low, acocked beaver held gallantly over her heart. Peggy was amazed at thetransformation. Every mannerism of Clifford was reproduced with suchfaithful exactitude that were it not for her wonderful eyes andbrilliant complexion she could pass easily for her brother.

  "I did not know that thee was so like him," murmured Peggy. "But thineeyes, Harriet. Clifford hath never such eyes as thine."

  "'Tis lucky that 'tis dark," answered Harriet reassuringly. "They willnot be noticed in the dark. Besides, the guard will be so thankful forrelief that 'twill be a small matter to him what my eyes are like. Come,my cousin."

  With a stride that was in keeping with the character she had assumedHarriet went swiftly down-stairs to the lower story of the dwellingfollowed by the trembling Peggy, and soon they were outside in the freshair of the night.

  It was dark, as the girl had said. Only the stars kept watch in the sky,and objects were but dimly perceivable. The noises of the great campwere for the most part stilled. The rows and rows of tents lyingsouthward and eastward of the village gleamed white and ghostlikethrough the clear obscurity. The glimmer of the dying embers of manycamp-fires shone ruddily in the distance, while an occasional sentinelcould be descried keeping his monotonous vigil. Silently and quicklywent the two girls toward the hut where Drayton was. Presently Harrietstopped under the mulberry tree.

  "Wait here," she whispered. Peggy, in a quick gush of tenderness, threwher arms about her.

  "If aught should happen to thee," she murmured apprehensively.

  "For shame, Mistress Peggy," chided Harriet shaking with merriment. "Isthis thy Quaker teaching? Such conduct is most unseemly. Fie, fie!"Unloosening Peggy's clasp she walked boldly toward the hut.

  In an intensity of anxiety and expectation Peggy waited. On the stillair of the summer night Harriet's voice sounded sharply incisive as shespoke curtly to the guard, and hearing it Peggy knew that had she notbeen in the secret she could not have told it from Clifford's.

  "A bit early, aren't you, sir?" came the voice of the guard.

  "I think not, Samuels," replied the pseudo Captain Williams in hisloftiest manner, and with a sly chuckle the guard saluted and walkedaway.

  A candle was burning dimly in the hut, and by its feeble rays Peggycould discern the outlines of her cousin as she took her place on guard.The sentries passed and repassed. Presently Harriet rose, coollyunlocked the door and passed inside. Peggy waited breathlessly. After afew moments her cousin reappeared, and again assumed the watchfulposition at the door. At length the moment for which they waited came.The sentries passed to the side where they crossed on the return rounds.Harriet swung open the door, and a form darted quickly out. The intrepidmaiden closed the door noiselessly, and by the time the sentinel hadreappeared was sitting stiffly erect, on guard once more.

  Soon Peggy felt her hand caught softly.

  "John," she breathed.

  "Peggy," he answered in so low a tone that she could scarcelydistinguish the words. "How did you manage it? I thought your cousin mymost implacable enemy."

  "'Twas Harriet," she told him. "She wears Clifford's uniform."

  "Harriet!" Drayton's whisper expressed the most intense astonishment."Harriet!" And even as he spoke the name she stood beside them.

  "Come," she said. They glided after her, pausing only when they hadreached a safe distance from the hut.

  "We must not stop to talk," said the English girl in peremptory tones."Captain Drayton, you will have to depend upon yourself now."

  "Gladly," he responded having recovered from his amazement by this time."How can I thank you, Mistress Harriet? I----"

  "You owe me no thanks," she interrupted coldly. "I did it for Peggy. Wecannot stay longer. We must get back with the key before Clifford wakes.Go!"

  "Yet none the less do I thank you," spoke the youth huskily. "'Twouldhave been a shameful death. I thank you both. Good-bye!" He said nomore, but disappeared into the darkness.

  With anxiety the girls returned to the house. All was as quiet as whenthey left. Without incident the key was restored to Clifford's pocket,and, donning her own attire, Harriet went to rouse Colonel Owen. For itwas near midnight.