James Otis

“ Tell me, Enoch Ball, would you be willing to serve your country in another way than by becoming a soldier?"
"I would do anything in my power."
"Now more than ever is it necessary we should know all that is being done in Philadelphia. Clinton is soon to take command of the British army, and no one can guess what his policy will be. It would not be safe for Seth Graydon to volunteer for such work, because the Britishers would hang him off-hand if he ever fell into their clutches; I'm not certain I could trust Master Ludwick implicitly, but I would like you for a comrade." ”

“ No, we won't have any thanks, or formalities of that kind, my lad," the officer added when Enoch took him by the hand as if he would have kissed it. "I have done only that which seems right; but which to the world will seem wrong. Perhaps some time in the future, when we are no longer supposed to be enemies, you can give free words to your gratitude. Be stout-hearted; move as if you had a right to go and come as you please, and do not lose your courage in event of failure." ”

“ Enoch cried sternly as Seth and Jacob worked at the well-fastened door. "We have fought only for our freedom, of which that man would have deprived us, and shall strike even a woman if she attempts to prevent our leaving!" ”

“ Never you fear for that, lad. A boy who can have such fears won't go far astray. Attached to the staff of General Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental army! Well, if that isn't an honor for a boy hardly more than sixteen years old I don't know what is! And it all came through a Tory Quaker, and the bungling of a spy in his work! ”

“ This is the moment when we shall succeed, or find ourselves in a worse plight than before. Are you ready, Enoch?"
"Go on! I'll keep close behind Seth."
The three boys, trembling with suppressed excitement, hardly daring to breathe, stepped out into the corridor with as much boldness as it was possible to assume. [64]
No one could be seen save the sentry at the outer door, and he stood, musket in hand, more like a statue than a living being. ”

“ The newcomers halted suddenly, and one of them asked in a low tone, speaking to his companion:
"Who have we here? Surely it cannot be that any of the enemy are so far from the city."
"We are friends if you are members of the Continental army," Jacob cried.
"And that is what we are; but why do you take the middle of the road as if to dispute our right to pass?"
"I am the son of Christopher Ludwick, and this fellow with me is Enoch Ball. We have ridden at risk of our lives, having been chased and fired at by a squad of Britishers, to give General Lafayette news of the enemy's movements." ”

“ I allow we shall have hot work to-morrow, boys, and if it so be, Enoch, that you pass anywhere near us, pull up to give the latest news, for you are likely to see a good bit of the engagement. Now, move on, my boy, for you have no right to loiter here when your orders were to return at once."
Seth and Jacob reached up to clasp their comrade's hands, for all knew they might never meet again in this world, but Greene cried sharply:
"None of that, lads; no bidding good-by to each other because we're on the eve of a battle. Say 'Godspeed,' and let Enoch go." ”

“ You remember Lord Gordon told us he was probably the only person in the British army who would believe our statement in face of the proof against poor Seth."
"Lord Gordon is a man, even though he is a Britisher."
"And I hope the time will come when I can do him as great a service as he is willing to do Seth."
Enoch gave words to this desire simply as a mode of expressing his admiration for the kindly-hearted officer who would forget a quarrel of nations to aid a widow and the fatherless. ”

“ Seth said in a cheery tone as he pressed Enoch's hand warmly, and Jacob added:
"You two fellows seem to be having all the luck, even though I am the one who does most of the work."
"You get just as much luck as any of us," Enoch replied, "and perhaps more than Seth did, for he had to walk all the way to Valley Forge, and you rode. Now you have a good opportunity to enlist, and I hope you will do so instead of moping because matters are not exactly to your liking." ”

“ Enoch whispered impatiently. "We shall all find ourselves in the jail or on the pillory unless you are careful."
It was quite time Jacob put a bridle on his tongue; the throng of idlers and soldiers who were [9] amusing themselves by pelting the light-horseman with stale eggs, decaying vegetables, or other filth, had now approached so near the boys that words even less loudly spoken could have been overheard. ”

“ Jacob said triumphantly. "If we can be the first to carry the news to General Lafayette, it will be a work that even General Washington would thank us for! We shall find no difficulty in enlisting in any regiment we choose, and who knows but we'll be made officers?"
"I don't understand how that could be, when we are not even soldiers; a man must have had experience before he can command others." ”

“ If Enoch had feared his mother would reproach him for having taken even a passive part in what might lead to Seth's death, he was mistaken. She spoke only of her sympathy for Mrs. Graydon, and the hope that Lord Gordon would aid the unfortunate boy in some way.
"If I was in Seth's place, mother, should you blame me for having tried to aid the cause?"
"No, my son. You are old enough to know your own mind, and should be at liberty to do that which you think right." ”

“ Your desire to see an officer in the Continental army shall speedily be gratified."
"If this is the way you treat those who would do you a service, it is little wonder you fail to receive much valuable information!" the boy cried angrily.
"Keep your tongue between your teeth, and march on! Any further insolence, and you shall be made to understand that Howe is not the only person who can order floggings administered. Forward, men, and shoot the Tory spawn if he makes any attempt to escape."
Seth recognized the fact that it would be worse than useless to resist, and obeyed sullenly. ”

“ Tell General Washington that his presence here is of the utmost importance, for in my opinion it is absolutely necessary he himself direct the movements. Ride hard, boy; there is not a moment to be lost. ”

“ To anticipate danger is, to my mind, a good bit like inviting it, and the man who expects to be shot has given himself a deal of unnecessary worriment, if it so chances he comes out of the engagement unscratched. If, when we get to work, you are constantly thinking your arrest as a spy is certain to happen, you won't be so keen on the scent of news as you would if the venture was, to your mind nothing more than a pleasant excursion. ”

“ Griffith left the tent.
General Washington remained motionless as if in deep thought, until Enoch began to fancy he had [291] fallen asleep, and was startled when the commander said sharply:
"Are you awake, my boy?"
"I am, sir," and Enoch rose to his feet.
"You have shown yourself to be a lad of keen perception, quick to understand what others might fail to believe of importance. The communication which you heard made was of a confidential nature. It is never to be repeated!" ”

“ Go, my lad, go quickly!"
Enoch ran downstairs, and stopped with his hand on the latch of the door to say to Mrs. Graydon:
"Won't you please keep the house locked, and make some excuse for not letting anybody in? The time has come when we can repay Lord Gordon for the assistance he rendered Seth, and you must do your share by keeping him out of sight."
"No person shall enter without first battering down the door," Mrs. Graydon replied with an air of determination, and Enoch darted out of the house, running up the alley at full speed. ”

“ Greene said sharply. "You, a man, have simply done a soldier's duty; the boy, not even a member of the army, has taken his life in his hands since he left this camp, with the chance of a felon's doom if he was captured, and I tell you what it is, Jim Downing, you never stood any nearer death on the field of battle than that lad did last night when he was recognized by the Quaker. ”

“ That Seth was proud of being an officer in the Continental army both Jacob and Enoch understood during the first hour spent in his company. The fact was clearly apparent in his manner of showing them around the encampment, explaining the location of the different troops, the routine of a soldier's life, and displaying his proficiency in the manual of arms.
"I never had an idea that there was so much to be learned before a fellow could make any show as a soldier," he said when, the exhibition drill being ended, he led the two boys to his quarters. ”

“ Don't fret because you won't have a musket in your hands. The man in the ranks knows precious little of what's being done, except directly in front of him. I'd give a full year of my life if I could be in your place during the next forty-eight hours."
"I wish you might be there, and I could join Seth and Enoch."
"Never you mind them; they'll give a good account of themselves, I'll warrant. Now that Master Ludwick has got over his disappointment at not receiving a commission when he wasn't fit even to be a private, he'll fight as gallantly as an older man. ”

“ During the morning the one thought ever in his [312] mind was the possibility of treachery by General Lee; but now that officer was in the rear, having in a measure redeemed himself, Enoch felt confident, so unbounded was his belief in the commander-in-chief, that the time must come, and soon, when the tide of battle would turn in their favor.
It was terrible in the extreme to ride amid the wounded men, who implored him to give them aid, when his duty demanded that he keep on regardless of their agony. ”

“ Enoch was so overwhelmed by the honor thus conferred upon him as to be hardly aware of what he did during the next few moments.
When Greene touched him on the arm to signify that the interview was at an end and they should depart, he followed like one in a dream wherever the spy led him, until the latter said, laying his hand heavily upon the boy's shoulder:
"Haven't you a word of comment, lad, upon the honor you have received? Let me tell you there are few men in the Continental army who wouldn't be bristling with pride in your place." ”

“ We'll skirt around to the right, and slip in to Letitia Street as quietly and modestly as the Tories will behave from this time out."
"Wait a few moments. Let us enjoy this sight while we can, Mr. Greene," and Enoch gazed intently at the retreating forces.
"To-morrow there will be a brave spectacle, lad, when the last boatload of redcoats has pushed off, and we can stand on the bank and cheer and hoot to our heart's content without fear of being clapped into a guardhouse. It's when every mother's son of 'em leaves Pennsylvania soil that the city will be a comfortable abiding place." ”

“ A soldier shoved carelessly into the cell a jar of water and two loaves of bread, after which the door was closed again.
"It doesn't look as if we should hurt ourselves by eating too much," Jacob said with an effort to appear light-hearted; "but it is a good deal more than many friends of the cause in this very city will have set before them to-day. Come, Enoch, let's dispose of our rations in order to be ready for the next supply when it is brought." ”

“ Nothing short of our independence will, I hope, please our leaders. The bills you speak of are merely deceptionary measures, so General Washington says. The king will give us a little more liberty than we have had; but doesn't propose to allow us to become a nation by ourselves. You don't seem to be aware of how well we are progressing, Enoch, my boy. The French king has declared himself our friend; there is no question but that war will soon be proclaimed between France and England, and what more particularly concerns you is, that the British are making preparations to evacuate Philadelphia. ”

“ Seth asked. "We're prisoners; came into this trap of our own free will, and one is no more to blame than another. It strikes me our best plan is to be at least friendly among ourselves, for ill-temper won't weaken the door, or show us the way out."
"I am not angry, nor haven't been," Enoch replied. "When Jacob was so foolish I simply answered his questions, that is all."
Master Ludwick made no reply. ”

“ Our only course is to walk boldly on, as if we had good reasons for being abroad at this hour."
That they had been observed even in the darkness was apparent as the officer commanding the patrol stepped quickly toward them, and the boys involuntarily halted.
"Who are you, and what are you doing abroad at midnight?"
"I live in Germantown," Jacob replied, not thinking it wise to mention his own name, for Ludwick the baker was well known to the enemy, "and am visiting my friend, Enoch Ball, who lives on Letitia Street. ”

“ The royal troops soon followed, and Lee, instead of making a bold stand in his advantageous position on the eminence, renewed his retreat toward Freehold meeting-house. This produced a panic among the American troops, and they fled in great confusion in the wooded and broken country, many of them perishing as they pressed over the narrow causeway to cross the broad morass. Others, struck down by the heat, were trampled to death in the sand. At first both parties kept up a rambling cannonade; soon nothing was heard but a few musket-shots and the loud shouts of the pursuers. ”