CHAPTER VIII.
THE PRISONER.
Nathan and Evan were enjoying to the utmost this conversation withCaptain Dillard.
It is true they had seen him seldom since the first greeting afterSarah Dillard's ride; but on each occasion he had appeared much as iftrying to show the world that he had espoused respect and admirationfor these two lads.
This was particularly pleasing to the boys, because Captain Dillardwas one who was choice of his associates, and it was often said that"Dillard's friendship was given only to brave men."
Nathan and Evan were proud at being seen with this gallant Carolinianas if they were his bosom friends, and when a messenger came fromColonel McDowells summoning them to an interview with the commander ofthe forces from Burke and Rutherford, they were not well pleased atbeing obliged to part company from the man who among all the troopsthey most admired.
With evident reluctance they rose to their feet, and while walkingtoward Colonel McDowells' quarters, Nathan said:
"I don't think we did any very gallant deed, Evan, when we turned thetables on Ephraim Sowers, or aided Sarah Dillard to remount the colt.Neither have we done anything of which to boast in repeating MajorFerguson's message, or summoning friends of the cause to therendezvous; but yet because of all those adventures have we beenmarked out before the entire camp as lads with whom Captain Dillard ispleased to hold conversation, and even though we had suffered much,such a reward would be sufficient."
"The captain believes we shall come up with the Britishers withintwenty-four hours," Evan said, as if he had not heard his comrade'sremark.
"Ay, and it is said they are only twenty miles away, eager to meetus."
"Then there is like to be battle."
"Ay; how else could it be when both sides are ready to fight?"
"And shall you rejoice at finding yourself standing musket in handbefore the foe?"
"Of a verity I shall! Why not? Would you avoid the encounter if itcould be done honorably?" and halting suddenly, Nathan looked hiscomrade full in the face.
"It is a shameful thing for a lad to say, of that I am well aware,"Evan replied hesitatingly; "but I grow timorous at the thought, andhave great fear lest I shall betray some signs of cowardice."
Nathan laughed long and loud.
"When Captain Charles McDowells' son, he whose grandmother has provenherself on more than one occasion to be as brave as the mostcourageous men, speaks of showing cowardice, there is reason forlaughing."
"But I have never stood in line with soldiers during the heat ofbattle, and fear much lest I should shame my father."
"You never have done so yet, lad, and I will answer for it that he hasno cause to blush in your behalf. Put such idle fancies from yourmind, and when the hour comes that we meet Major Ferguson's force,never fear but that you will be foremost among the friends offreedom."
Evan would have said more regarding this sudden timorousness which hadcome upon him, but for the fact that they were then arrived at ColonelMcDowells' tent, and the subject of the interview for which he hadsummoned them was so startling and unexpected as to drive all otherthoughts from the boy's mind.
"You two, who claim the right to be called soldiers, although neverhaving marched in the ranks until the day we left Watuga, know fullwell that the Britishers are within thirty or forty miles of us atthis moment."
The colonel paused as if for reply, and Evan said:
"We have heard it so spoken among the men, sir."
"You understand, also, that we are like to measure strength with thembefore many hours?"
"Yes, sir."
"While I cast no discredit on your courage, I am free to say that menwho have had more experience in this business will be of greaterservice to us in time of battle than you lads."
"But surely, father, you won't say that we shall not bear our share inthe combat," Evan cried, suddenly forgetting the fears of which he hadmade mention to his comrade.
"It is not my purpose to prevent you from bearing your full share ofdanger, and in fact I now propose to place you in a position moreperilous than, perhaps, would be your regular stations in theregiment. I simply wish to explain why I called upon you for a certainservice, rather than men who may be needed elsewhere."
The boys looked in bewilderment at the colonel, trying in vain tounderstand the meaning of this vague explanation, and after a briefpause he continued:
"It has been proposed that we send out a certain number of men to gainall possible information regarding the strength and disposition of theenemy. To such suggestions I have argued that we could ill afford tospare even two soldiers, and yet I know it is necessary we should havesuch knowledge. Therefore have I said to those who are associated withme in the command, that we would hold those who had already proventhemselves, and send out such as yet had a name to win. The missionis one of extreme danger, and requires most careful work. If you ladsshrink not from the task, I would have you volunteer to set about it,for this is a service to which I would not order any person. Go, ifyou can, of your own free will; but if the undertaking seems toodangerous, no one shall taunt you for having refused."
"Where are we to go, sir?" Evan asked.
"As near to Major Ferguson's encampment as may be necessary in orderto learn exactly the number and disposition of his men."
"When are we to start?"
"As soon as may be. There is no time for delay, since we must pushforward steadily, and not allow it to be believed that we shrink fromthe battle."
"Then it would be best Evan and I did not spend any further time inasking questions," Nathan interrupted. "We will be off at once."
"And you have no hesitation about the matter, young Shelby?" ColonelMcDowells asked as he gazed at the boys sharply.
"Both Evan and I are ready to do all that may be in our power, andeven though the task was one which we shrank from, both of us have toomuch pride to allow that fact to become known. However, this doesn'tseem as dangerous as when we set out about making our escape from theDillard plantation, and there is no reason why we should falter. Myonly fear is lest we may not be sufficiently well versed in militarymatters to bring such information as is required."
"Keep your eyes and ears open, remembering everything which is seenand heard, and I doubt not but that you can perform the mission aswell as the ablest soldier among us. It is necessary you exercisegreat prudence, however, for should Major Ferguson detect you inloitering around his encampment, he would be justified in hanging youas spies with but scant ceremony."
"Have you any further orders, sir?" Evan asked nervously, for thisreminder of the peril they were about to incur was not pleasing.
"None," and the colonel rose to his feet as he held out both hands tothe boys.
A fervent hand-clasp was the only token of parting, and the lads wentdirectly from this interview to prepare themselves for the journey.
Captain Dillard came up as they were refilling the powder horns, andcounting out an additional store of bullets.
"So the colonel has sent his son rather than risk the life of one ofthe men," he said half to himself, and Evan looked up with a smile ashe replied:
"When favors are to be bestowed, captain, it is right the fathershould remember first his son."
"And this is a favor with a vengeance," Dillard muttered, after which,realizing he had been imprudent in thus voicing his apprehensions, hewhistled a cheery tune as if there was no reason why he or any otherin the encampment should be gloomy.
In less than ten minutes the boys had made their preparations for thescout, and were debating as to the best course to be pursued.
"Make straight for Cherokee Ford, lads, and trust to luck for all theremainder. I do not mean that you are to go blindly ahead withouttaking due precautions; but it seldom pays at such times to map out anelaborate plan, for much depends upon accident."
Then the captain turned abruptly away, most likely to avoid aleave-taking, and the two boys marched side by side out of theencampment, the
men following them with their eyes but speaking noword, for each understood upon what a perilous venture they wereembarked.
It was nightfall, and the young scouts were unfamiliar with thecountry over which it would be necessary to travel.
They knew, however, that a well-defined trail led from the Cowpens toCherokee Ford, and along this they advanced at a smart pace, for itseemed necessary the journey should be performed during the hours ofdarkness.
Neither felt inclined for conversation. The silence of the men as theyleft the encampment struck them much like predictions of evil, andthey were weighted down by a sense of danger in the air everywherearound them.
At near midnight they made the first halt, and up to that time notmore than half a dozen words had been exchanged.
Now it was as if the nearness of the foe revived their courage ratherthan depressed them, and they discussed the situation as calmly asthey might have spoken of the most ordinary affair.
"We must have been five hours on the march, and covered no less thanseventeen or eighteen miles," Nathan suggested.
"Surely we are that far from the encampment, and it stands us in handto have an eye out for redcoats, because they or the Tories willlikely be scouting nearabout their halting place."
"And by going blindly ahead we may come upon them sooner than would bepleasant," Nathan added with a laugh. "Now it is my proposition thatwe tarry here until daybreak, rather than run our noses into trouble."
"Father said we were to perform the mission as quickly as might be."
"True; but yet he did not propose that we discover the foe by runninginto their very midst."
"We are yet a good dozen miles from Cherokee Ford, and by waiting hereuntil daybreak will be forced to spend three or four hours before wecan hope to see the main body."
"If it is your belief that we should push on yet further, I am ready,"Nathan replied in a tone of content, and thus it was decided thatthey should not make camp until having arrived at least six milesnearer the supposed location of the Britishers.
After fifteen minutes had been spent in resting the lads set forwardagain, and, as nearly as they could judge, it was two o'clock in themorning when Evan announced that he was ready to make a lengthy halt.
Creeping into the thicket a few yards from the trail where they couldremain concealed from view, and yet be enabled to see any who mightpass, the boys set about gaining such repose as might be possible.
One slept while the other watched, and every half-hour they changedpositions, so that by daybreak each had had his share of slumber.
When the first grey light of dawn appeared they set out for the finaland most perilous stage of the journey, advancing cautiously, haltingto listen at every unfamiliar sound, and oftentimes making a detourthrough the thicket when there was a sharp bend in the trail whichmight have led them suddenly upon a scouting party of the foe.
By such method their progress was exceedingly slow, and by sunrisethey had advanced no more than three miles.
Now if the information brought to the American encampment was correct,they were close upon the Britishers, and might at any moment expect tosee a scarlet coat through the foliage.
"We must take some chances in order to push ahead more rapidly, or weshall not be able to return before to-morrow morning," Nathanwhispered impatiently, after they had literally crawled through thethicket half an hour more, and the words were hardly uttered when thesounds of footsteps upon the beaten path a short distance in advanceof them, caused both to suddenly seek a hiding-place.
It is well the lads were on the alert, for within a few seconds fourBritishers came down the trail in a leisurely fashion, as if out forno other purpose than that of a stroll, and Evan gripped Nathan's armhard as he saw in the rear of these men none other than EphraimSowers.
The young Tory was walking slowly, as if displeased with himself forhaving ventured away from the camp, while the Britishers were in thebest of spirits, laughing and chatting merrily without paying anyattention to their gloomy-visaged companion.
It was when he arrived at a point directly opposite the hidden scoutsthat Ephraim stopped, leaned his musket against a rock, and seatedhimself upon a fallen tree-trunk, as he said petulantly:
"I am tired of this wandering around when we are like to come upon aparty of rebels at any minute."
"Then why do you follow? No person prevents you from returning to thecamp," one of the soldiers said with a laugh.
"I am minded to go back alone, and you know full well the orders werethat no man should stray very far from the mountain."
"Then you are not disobeying, since I'll go bail there's little of theman about you."
"How dare you speak in that way when Major Ferguson is nearby tooverhear the words?" and now Ephraim displayed anger.
"Don't pride yourself, lad, on being the especial pet of the major. Heis not given to much affection for cowards, even though they be spies,and I am willing to wager considerable that no member of the commandwould be reproved for speaking harshly to such as you."
During this brief conversation the soldiers had continued to advance,while Ephraim remained sitting upon the log, and when the last remarkwas made the redcoats were hidden from view by the foliage.
The young Tory kicked idly at the earth in front of him, looked up anddown the trail as if in search of something entertaining, and thenleaned lazily back against a convenient bush.
The footsteps of the soldiers sounded fainter and fainter in thedistance, telling that the men were continuing to advance, untilfinally all was silent.
The two lads were within forty feet of the boy who would have done thecause of freedom such grievous wrong, and each instant those who mightlend him a helping hand were drawing further away.
Nathan glanced at Evan with a question in his eye, and the latterunderstood it as well as if he had spoken.
"It might be done," he whispered cautiously; "but we should notneglect the work which was set us."
"It is not safe to advance while these men are between us and MajorFerguson's force, therefore unless we make him prisoner it isnecessary to remain idle."
"What could be done with him?"
"I'll venture to say he might be frightened into telling all we wouldknow."
Nathan hesitated an instant. They had been sent out solely to gainsome knowledge of the enemy's force and disposition. To take this boya prisoner, even though he was their bitterest foe, seemed to bedeviating from the course Colonel McDowells had marked out, but yet,as Nathan said, they must remain idle there until these four menshould return. Therefore it would not be such a woeful waste of time.
"If we can do it without giving the alarm, I am ready," Evanwhispered, and instead of replying, Nathan began creeping cautiouslyin the direction of the Tory, who sat with his back turned towardthem.
Many a time had these two lads crept quietly upon a flock of wildturkeys without alarming the shy birds, and to go through the samemaneuvers when a dull boy like Ephraim Sowers was the game to bestalked did not prove difficult.
Side by side they advanced with hardly so much as disturbing a singletwig, and had gained the cover of a bush within three feet of himbefore he so much as changed his position.
Then he started to his feet, and the two in hiding crouched yet closerto the ground, fearing lest he had grown suspicious; but it was merelyto change his position, and after looking up and down the trail,muttering threats against the soldiers because they continued theirstroll when it was not to his liking, he reseated himself withouthaving so much as touched his musket.
Nathan and Evan crept within three feet of the Tory.--Page 193.]
It was possible the redcoats might even now be retracing their steps,and whatever the lads counted on doing must be done without loss oftime.
Nathan pressed Evan's hand in token that he was ready for the venture,and the latter nodded his head.
The two rose to their feet, standing motionless a single instant, andthen, darting forward with a sudden sp
ring, they landed directly uponthe unsuspecting Tory.
Nathan had counted upon covering the spy's mouth with his hand; butmissed the aim, and Ephraim was enabled to utter one shrill cry, afterwhich he was powerless to do more than breathe.
"Work quickly now, for the soldiers may have heard that, and we arelike to be prisoners ourselves instead of capturing this sneak,"Nathan whispered. "We must tie his hands again, and contrive somethingfor a gag quickly."
As deftly, and yet more rapidly than on that night when Sarah Dillardrode the unbroken colt, Evan bound the prisoner, and from the timethey first leaped upon him until Ephraim's hands were tied and hismouth choked by a portion of his own garments, no more than threeminutes had passed.
"Take his musket, for it must appear as if he had gone back to thecamp, and see to it that you wipe out all traces of a struggle, whileI carry him into the thicket."
Then the boy lifted Ephraim to his shoulder as if he had been no morethan a package of bulky merchandise, and while Evan carried out theinstructions to the best of his ability, the spy was taken an hundredyards or more into the thicket.
Here Nathan halted until his comrade joined him, when the twocontinued the flight until they were fully half a mile from the trail,and all this while Ephraim Sowers was unable to give vent to his angeror his fears.
"That was a neat job, and one that need not interfere with thepurpose of our journey," Nathan said in a tone of exultation, as hewiped the perspiration from his face and sat down where he could lookfull at the discomfited Tory. "By this means we have made certain ofcoming face to face with Ephraim Sowers again, for I misdoubt if hewould have been found in the battle unless peradventure the Britisherswere getting much the best of it."
"Now that we have got the sneak, what is to be done with him?"
"Tie him up here until we have concluded our work, and then carry himback to the men of Colonel Clarke's command, who have a score tosettle because of his efforts to deliver them over to their butchers."
The expression in Ephraim's eyes gave good token of the terror whichwas in his heart, and in furtherance of the plan he had latelyconceived Nathan took the gag from the boy's mouth.
"Those men would murder me!" Ephraim screamed as soon as his mouth wasfreed from the gag.
"Ay, so it appears to me, else will they be more forgiving than I canwell believe," Nathan replied calmly, as if in his mind the spy wasalready doomed.
"Would you take me, who has never done you any wrong, to where I shallbe killed?" he whined.
"How much wrong would you have done had we not set upon you the nightthe force at Greene's Spring were to be massacred?" Evan askedsternly. "When we were again captured was it in your mind to treat usas friends?"
"I would not have killed you."
"Then you lied in order to frighten us."
"I did want to make you weaken, but had no thought of doing you awrong."
"Such a controversy is useless, and we have not the time to spend uponit," Nathan interrupted. "Colonel Clarke's men are doubtless eager tomeet with this Tory who devoted so much of his time to them, and if itso be we are forced to continue on in order to gain informationconcerning the Britishers, we can do no other than deliver him up tothem."
"What is it you want to know?" Ephraim asked, a ray of hope cominginto his eyes.
"We are sent to learn concerning the British forces. How many thereare, where they are encamped, and such other matters as may benecessary for the guidance of those who direct the attack."
"Is there to be a battle?" Ephraim asked eagerly.
"Not before we have had time to deliver you over to those who willthank us for so doing."
The gleam of hope died away very suddenly, and the spy, knowing fullwell what would likely be his fate, did he fall into the hands of themen who would have been killed or captured had his plans not failed,now gave evidence of the liveliest terror.
"If you will save my life, I swear to tell you all I know about MajorFerguson's forces, and none can give the information better, for Ihave been with them every hour since you were allowed to leaveDillard's plantation."
"It might be that we could take advantage of the offer, if it waspossible to believe a single word you uttered," Nathan said, as ifdebating whether to accept the proposition or not.
"I swear to you that every word shall be true, and if you hold meprisoner it will be easy to know whether I have told the truth ornot," Ephraim pleaded. "Promise that if I give all the informationneeded you will save my life, and you shall have such a description ofthe camp as could not be gotten by scouting around it for a week."
"Shall we accept the offer, Evan?" Nathan asked, as if it was amatter of indifference to him, and Ephraim cried imploringly:
"Give me one chance! Don't turn me over to those who have good reasonfor murdering me! I will answer every question truly, and you shallkeep me prisoner until it has been proven that all I said wascorrect."