Harriet T. Comstock

“ A warrior maid is she, dauntless on the field of battle, and braver than any other whom I know. Can I hope that in the narrow limit of a home her free spirit would find space enough?”
There were tears in Deborah’s eyes as she listened.
“In a chest in the attic,” she whispered softly, “is a tattered suit, an old drum, and an army discharge. I know a maid, who, when her blood runs hotly, goes and kneels beside that chest. When she sees the drum, her hearts throbs until it almost chokes her. ”

“ All that he had in life to look forward to, lay near—if it existed at all. For during the time which lay between his leaving Boston and now as he sat beside the Delaware river in New Jersey, Shirtliffe had not seen, or heard of Morley. But even with the memory of disappointment and bitter suffering to keep him company on this Christmas eve, Robert was proud to think that he had been one of the three thousand men who had remained with their glorious leader. For never was general loved by his soldiers, more than was Washington. ”

“ Just then, down the street came a straggling company of men and boys headed by a drum and fife. As they drew near Mason stood straighter and taking from the wall a rusty gun, staggered to the door. Mrs. Lane drew Debby back.
“Come on, Mason,” called the men; “if they don’t want you in Plymouth, you’ll soon be wanted out yonder. There’s plenty of room in Boston for men like you and us.” ”

“ The men laughed loudly.
“Bring your drum, Deb, and come along,” called one. “You need not part with the old man. You’re as good as a lad any day, and a better fighter I swear than your daddy. Come on and drum us to victory.”
Debby stooped and picked up a stone, then flung it into the crowd. An oath came from the man hit and in the excitement Mason, with bowed head joined the yelling rabble.
“Shame on thee, lass!” cried Mrs. Lane laying firm hands on the sobbing girl, “who would ever think thy mother was a lady? The town hath done well to try and save thy soul and body. ”

“ The voice drove the blood from Shirtliffe’s heart. After all this time, there in the lonely Jersey woods, he was to meet again the boy who had shot at him, and killed old Mason in New England.
“’Tis I,” he faltered, as the oncomer bore down upon him.
“You!” Morley dropped the gun he had leveled at the foe and gazed in amazement at the face so wondrously like his own; “you! here! My God! are you a ghost to haunt me so? What do you want?”
“I want to get back to my people.”
“Back to your people, you rebel fool!” Morley laughed the old scornful laugh; “your people are behind you! ”

“ Suppose he should faint and be found unconscious by either friend or foe! The thought made him dizzy. He must hide. If he were conscious when Morley returned he could come out to meet him, if not—well in that case he were better out of sight. Painfully and slowly he clambered up the embankment and crouched behind a rock hidden among underbrush.
Then he drew forth his hand to examine the wound. One look, and he lay as dead to sight and hearing as the man by the roadside below. ”

“ How Robert appreciated this considerate act, no one but himself could know. To meet the surgeon as seldom as he now did, was torture untold. He knew that he must speak, but day after day he put off the painful task. At the close of 61the second week, one day, Doctor Bell came in to make his accustomed call; he saw at a glance that Shirtliffe had reached the uttermost bound of endurance and with a courtesy for which his memory should be enshrined, he took the boy’s thin feverish fingers and said simply:
“Your bravery and courage must win the respect of all. ”

“ Molly.
“It was no great thing to clamber to the ground below.”
18“Robert Shirtliffe is my name, gaby, and I arrest you in the name of King George the Third as a traitor to your country and for trying to corrupt the mind of one Mistress Deborah Mason, a young and innocent maid!”
“My God!” gasped Jack, and sank upon the Autumn leaves at his feet.
Then such a peal of laughter rent the air that the birds stirred in their nests.
“Oh! you coward!” panted Debby. “A gallant soldier you would make. Any Tom, Dick or Harry could arrest and carry you off like a sack of meal. ”

“ AND NOW WE COME TO MOLLY. Footsore, weary, and hungry, a boy beating upon a drum, entered the headquarters of the bedraggled army entrenched on Prospect Hill.
“What do you want?” asked a man on duty.
“I wish to join the army and fight the foe. I can drum.”
“I hear that you can. Stop the clatter, wait until your accomplishment is needed.” The boy put the drum gladly down.
“What’s your name?”
“Robert Shirtliffe, sir.”
“Age?”
“I’ll be eighteen soon.”
“You look much younger. Where do you come from?”
“Plymouth.” ”

“ Lane like a slave; she, proud, free Debby Mason!
“I won’t go with you!” she shrieked, “I’ll go with father! He loves me, and, and beside I promised mother!”
Just then the man upon the floor stirred and roused; after many exertions he sat up. One look at his little daughter and Mrs. Lane steadied him.
“Good morning!” he smiled foolishly; “I’m afraid I’ve taken a drop too much again. Debby, child, don’t take on so, I’m going away so that I won’t disgrace you any more. There’s going to be trouble sure as you live, and I’m going to fight. If I come back, lass, I’ll be a man.” ”

“ The man approaching was an officer and had come to thank the boy who had ridden so nobly and so well to bear the welcome news; but ere he reached the crouching pair upon the ground a volley of distant firing rent the still air. Again, and again it came.
The men listened until the truth broke upon them. The rumor was indeed true, the siege was over, the new general had come in time to save them!
Shirtliffe never received the thanks of the approaching officer, the universal cry of “Washington” from those hundreds of weary, ill-fed men was return enough for all that he had dared and done. ”

“ Once the home was neat and cosy, and dimly an old story,—a story never finished, floated through the girl’s mind.
“Some day, child, when thou art older,” it was the mother who had spoken, “I will tell thee of my home. Perhaps we’ll write a letter, they may like to see thee, little lass. Try to be a lady, dear, then they will not be ashamed of thee.” Things grew confused as Debby tried to think, but there was one night that was ever clear. It was the last night of the clean happy life. “Be a lady, Debby child, and whatever happens stay with father like a good maid. ”

“ The battle of Lexington has made every man brave. Thousands of men joined the army at once and rushed on to Boston. They’ll drive every Britisher into the 19harbor!” Jack’s voice shook with excitement, “Yes; every King’s dog of them shall die. But”—his eagerness waned—“there has been another battle since. The report of our men winning at Bunker Hill was wrong. But it was a glorious fight. On, on came the British with bayonets pointed, not one of our men flinched; when they came near enough they gave them volley upon volley. I tell you, Deb, every rusty gun spoke true that day!” ”

“ There seemed no doubt in Plymouth but that Bill Mason was doomed, and where her father went, Debby wanted to go too, consequently no threat could touch her.
At the hard words Mrs. Lane grew more rigid. “For thy mother’s sake I have sought to save thee,” she said, “I have even tried to trace her family for I believe they were of better stock than thy vagabond father, but I fear me, lass, that thou 13art an evil hearted wench. Neither hell fire or earthly love can move thee. Mistress Knowles hath told me that over and again thou art seen with Jack Martin; thou art a shameless one!” ”

“ There were tears in the boy’s eyes.
“Never mind, Molly, you’ll get your chance. The new country will have to claim much good blood before it wins. The British have us fast and tight in here now. If General Washington doesn’t come soon God help us all!”
“Go on about Mason,” Robert interrupted, “news doesn’t reach down our way.”
“Well, Mason and his men waited by the bridge, but the British didn’t come. So they separated and agreed to gather when the drum should announce danger.” ”

“ The eager men listened breathlessly. The glaring red torch lights showed their faces pinched and wan. What was it Washington wanted them to do? Every man was ready to do it!
“We have but five thousand in camp,” the calm voice went on, “we must leave to-night, make a circuit to the east, pass the enemy’s flank, and make an attack upon the detachment in Princeton before Cornwallis can return to help them.”
A mighty cheer went up. Robert from his place wedged in among the excited patriots, glowed and thrilled as he heard the daring plan. This was a general worth following.
A man to be loved! ”

“ The men standing around, seeing that the fainting spell was over, turned to join the excited groups and discuss Robert’s wonderful news. Sick men had become strong, weak hearts, brave, and over the entire camp a joyful atmosphere of expectant waiting pervaded everything.
Seeing themselves comparatively alone, Shirtliffe motioned the new volunteer nearer. ”

“ He had heard of the daredevil boy Morley from others in camp, this was his first encounter. “You could hardly get your news from yon dead Britisher,” he said, “perhaps you will be kind enough to explain yourself and your new uniform.”
“Oh! the uniform is all right.” Robert gave a dry laugh, “it got me inside the American lines, As for him”—the boy gave an agonized glance at the dead man, “he is no Britisher. Look under his coat and see what uniform he wears.” ”

“ Jack half moaned, “they are behind entrenchments at Prospect Hill. They have been there all Summer, but Deb, George Washington has been made General of the army, and he’s coming to get our men out!”
“George Washington?” cried Debby, “why Mrs. Lane says he is the worst man she knows. I heard her tell Mistress Knowles.”
Jack laughed, “Wait, lass, he’ll drive the British before him. ”

“ That would mean sure death, and in Robert’s breast lay a secret which would give life and hope to the suffering army of men in General Lee’s command.
“You shiver like a girl, Morley,” laughed Harding, as a nervous tremor went over Shirtliffe’s body; “the men in your regiment have talked of your nerve: it can not all have oozed out of this little hole. There, I’ll wrap it in my handkerchief until you get to the surgeon. Better go on slowly, we’ll overtake you. You look fit to faint.” ”

“ Something like a sob mingled with the drum beats.
March British sentinels at your posts!
Behind those gleaming camp fires is a weak foe indeed. See the morn breaks, the handful of men, forgetting the boy, have already departed to rejoin their comrades, only the faithful drummer remains!
Sleep well, oh! my Lord Cornwallis your last peaceful sleep for many a weary night. The old fox has caught even you napping and is now well on the way to intercept the force which you are so confidently expecting.
51
Molly. ”

“ The fight was fierce, but short; in an hour a thousand of the foe were begging for mercy; the others had fled toward Bordentown at the first alarm.
48So Washington gathered his forces in Trenton and the British fell back to Princeton. Cornwallis then took command determining that the “old fox,” meaning Washington, should not find him napping and get away, he, the great Cornwallis meant to put an end forever to the exploits of this daring rebel! And indeed it seemed likely that he might be successful for sickness and cold were enfeebling the patriot army day by day. ”

“ As he bent over his painful task, for one moment his strength faltered, and he almost wished that he had gone back to New England, with the other men whose term of enlistment had expired, and whose faint hearts had not been loyal enough to again pledge themselves for further service. ”

“ You’ll probably be ordered to New York, Washington needs more troops. You look strong.”
The boy drew himself up painfully. “I am strong,” he murmured, “and I’m not afraid of work.”
No further investigation was made. The country too sorely needed men, and so Robert Shirtliffe became a drummer in the 23American army, an enemy to his King, a traitor to the old order of things. When he first went among the soldiers, he shrank from the unusual scene.
“Hello! Molly,” called one, noticing his hesitation, “where’s your mother?” ”

“ Again the wild laugh, his laugh, made him shiver. The horse too, took fright and dashed ahead forgetting its weariness.
“He is nearing Dorchester Heights! Hear me! hear me! We are saved, we are saved! Ha! ha! ha!” ”

“ His life. There was no time to ask or answer questions now. It was his life or the young Englishman’s. He must protect himself and report to Washington if it were possible. He was young, and with all the misery life was sweet.
55“Fight with you?” again the maddening laugh, “fight a traitor? Surrender, or I promise you my aim will be truer this time.” Morley raised his gun, but Robert was as quick, and the two weapons pointed at the same instant.
A flash! a sharp report—and then, silence! When Shirtliffe came to himself he was lying on his side across a fallen log. ”