James Otis

“ Our commander remained by himself, midway between the front rank and the building, as if expecting that which occurred before we had been in position five minutes.
Then it was that David Edwards, the governor's secretary, appeared at one of the windows, and cried warningly:
"In the name of his excellency, Governor William Tryon, I bid ye disperse! Those who remain do so under the pain and penalty of being adjudged in rebellion against his most gracious majesty."
"We are in rebellion against tyranny and injustice," Master Hamilton replied in a loud voice which had in it no tone of menace. ”

“ It is not for one like me to make any pretense at trying to fashion a scholar's story out of the poor efforts of Sidney Hubbard, and myself, Clare Butler, to second the brave work of those noble men who, by enduring countless hardships and sparing not their own blood, finally rid the Carolinas of those leeches who claimed to be the king's servants—Governor William Tryon, Edmund Fanning and others of like brood. ”

“ How much do you harm Tryon by killing Sandy Wells? The governor cares nothing about such as he, and would gladly reward the man who, by committing murder almost in the encampment of the Regulators, should give the king's minions power over us! Turn the tax-collector over to us. We will take him to General Hamilton, who is bound to see that he be held a prisoner, and to-morrow, if Tryon and Fanning play us false, we shall have one on whom to retaliate. ”

“ We two lads looked at each other in silence as our horses came to a standstill, and not until perhaps a minute had passed did we speak.
"The Regulators did well to listen to such knaves as Edwards and Fanning!" Sidney said angrily. "We should have released the prisoners when it was in our power. Now the poor men will remain in jail until the brute Tryon gets tired of holding them."
"It is childish to cry over spilled milk!" I replied, angry because my comrade was inclined to give way to repinings when they could be of no avail. "It is our duty to get speech with Master Hamilton without delay." ”

“ The vast throng were inflamed by anger. They shouted threats against the soldiers, who were evidently alarmed by the demonstration, and had General Hamilton given the signal to make an attack, I believe of a verity that every man, whether armed or not, would have joined the fray.
At seeing us ride up the citizens shouted yet more loudly; but when we halted, they turned about to learn the reason of our delay in giving Tryon a lesson, and Master Hamilton cried out to them, speaking so loudly that every word must have been heard by those who yet remained in the court-room. ”

“ Gentlemen, it is our duty to prevent the people of upper Carolina from beginning a conflict with the king's troops. We must not permit ourselves to commit any act of violence against the governor until after due deliberation, for all which we do now is the same as if we moved against the king. By Master Husband's advice, we shall ride into town, and do our best to prevent a conflict which would cost the lives of hundreds of our friends and neighbors. I beseech you that, however great the provocation, all this company keep well together in military formation, and obey every order to the letter. ”

“ If Masters Husband and William Hunter were set free, as indeed could be the only just verdict of the judges, and if Fanning was convicted of having extorted money from the people without even the color of the law to sustain him, then would our colony be peaceful; but I question if one among all those horsemen who awaited the signal to disperse quietly or to ride to their deaths, believed that justice would triumph. ”

“ Master Howell cried exultantly. "If the scoundrels had turned their attention to crippling the animals, our chances would have been slim. Huzza for the Regulation!"
Then we four who had ridden out from the shadow of death gave voice to our triumph, and from the rear came a yell of rage, telling us that it yet remained to shake off the pursuers who were bent on taking us, dead or alive.
"Keep your horses well in hand," Master Hunter cried. "There's a long race ahead of us, and we must not wind the beasts." ”

“ I replied indignantly. "To my mind it is no evidence of cowardice to count well the situation and strength of the enemy."
"But you went farther, and was near to questioning whether Tryon's force might not worst us, simply because of its size."
"And why might I not question it? A full thousand of his men are citizens of the Carolinas, and should be our equals in both riding and fighting."
"So they would were the cause the same; but they fight on the side of oppression, while we are striving to do that which shall be of benefit to every person in the American colonies." ”

“ Master Hunter replied gravely. "The weak-kneed among us will profess to believe in his promises, and the Regulation will be reduced to less than an hundred. He may work his will until again are the people so oppressed that alleged rebellion becomes necessary if we would save ourselves from prison."
It was not a cheerful ending to our long journey; but there was nothing more that we could do, save make the people of Brunswick understand yet more thoroughly the situation of affairs in those countries where Fanning and Frohock held the courts of law in their hands. ”

“ Sandy cried, yet on his knees.
"You would be more of a man if you took your orders from a different source," the general said sharply, and then motioned for us to lead him away.
"You lads have saved my life," Sandy began when we three were walking toward the lean-to Sidney and I had built, "and if I can ever do anything in return, you shall understand that I know how to be grateful."
"We've done nothing for which we expect to be rewarded," Sidney replied with a gesture of impatience. "You can't fancy that we bear you any very good-will, therefore what we did was for the good of the colony." ”

“ I said sharply. "It will be well so long as you obey orders; but once I see any show of running away, my bullet will make a target of your carcass."
"How could I run away while on every hand are those who would murder me?" he asked with a whine. "If the people see me I am undone."
"The governor's troops have come to conduct you to the town, and surely you may trust them!" I cried.
Sandy shook his head doubtfully; he was in that frame of mind where he trusted no one, and his terror was so great as to excite pity. ”

“ Sidney replied in a cautious tone. "To do so would be going directly away from Maddock's Mill!"
"Our destination is Brunswick," Master Howell said, as if that was sufficient explanation.
"Brunswick!" I repeated in astonishment. "Surely you are not counting on trying to continue the journey after all that has happened?"
"Of a verity we are," Master Hunter said emphatically. "It is not in our minds to ride back with the story that we allowed ourselves to be frightened by six men after two lads have shown themselves so brave and so quick-witted. ”

“ It is in my mind that yonder riot has been begun by orders of Tryon or Fanning, that they may have some excuse for filling the jail before morning, as well as to cast discredit upon the Regulation. You lads have shown yourselves quick-witted, and I have no doubt that you will be able to hold your own in case Tryon and his crew are provoking a brawl. Cross the river at once; mingle with those who are taking part in the disturbance, and learn all you can regarding the beginning of the trouble. ”

“ I replied. "At such a time as this it needs but a spark to set all these men aflame, for after the many wrongs committed in the king's name they are like to so much tinder, and our forming into ranks will arouse them at once."
"If Sandy Wells can stir up the visitors to the point of murder, it stands our officers in hand to go slowly and with exceeding caution," Sidney said in so grave a tone that I looked at him in surprise. ”

“ The sudden change in the situation of affairs was truly surprising. When we two lads first crossed the river we found the streets literally choked with men, women and children who counted on remaining there with the hope of gaining admittance to the court-house as soon as the day dawned; but now it was as if the earth had opened and swallowed all these people.
We did not meet with twenty as we went toward the ford; they had wisely crossed the river, and, once on the opposite side, the Regulators would keep them quiet. ”

“ We were yet drawn up in line, gazing at the town as if trying to decide whether we would go forward or back, when Master David Edwards, Governor Tryon's secretary, rode up opposite us, halted an instant to view the scene properly, and then began fording the stream.
"Whether yonder royalist will try to frighten or cajole us, he is setting about the business in proper fashion," Sidney whispered approvingly. "He can't be accused of wasting time." ”

“ Now it was that I believed a fight would be begun in a twinkling, and my rifle was raised, ready to do my share, when we heard the trampling of horses' hoofs in the distance.
"There is some treachery afoot," Master Howell said in a low tone. "These fellows have kept us in conversation until the remainder of the party can come up. It would be useless to oppose an overwhelming force." ”

“ General Hamilton shouted, and after some delay Master Edwards replied:
"That is the man."
"Send him forward, lad, and let those brave gentlemen take the fellow without delay to his excellency, who will be in distress of mind until after having assured himself that he is in the land of the living." ”

“ When it was reported in Hillsborough that Sandy Wells had been murdered, Tryon and Fanning saw an opportunity of setting us down before the world at large as murderers and knaves who should, in justice to a law-abiding community, be committed to jail.
When they learned that we had kept our hands clean, that we had done our best to preserve the peace, it might well be expected some other plan to ruin us would be tried, and General Hamilton was far too wise a man to neglect any opportunity for additional defense. ”

“ To begin, Sidney Hubbard is my first cousin, his mother and mine being sisters. We lived, in 1768, on the Alamance, near where, later, was fought what may rightly be termed the first battle in the struggle of the colonies for independence. Our fathers were humble farmers, with a scanty store of this world's goods, and continually ground down by those whom the king had set in authority over us, chief among which may be reckoned the Irishman Tryon, and Fanning, who was born on Long Island, if I remember rightly. ”

“ Unless we might hold the governor of the colony as our prisoner, rebellion would avail us little, save that we should retain possession of upper Carolina until such time as he could send an overwhelming force against us.
There was not a man in the ranks of the Regulators who did not realize that Tryon had outwitted us, and that our only hope lay in remaining together year after year until the other colonies should be willing to join us in the struggle for liberty. 235
And in the meantime, while holding out against the king, how might we gain means of subsistence? ”

“ Fanning and Tryon can never overlook the fact that we have refused to pay the tax; but I'm thinking it won't trouble them greatly if Master Wells suffers a little discomfort."
Sandy began to bluster, threatening us with the direst vengeance of his master and himself; but Sidney soon cut the flow of words short by saying sternly:
"You will mount your horse, Master Wells, and also do well to remember that a silent tongue oftentimes stands a man as friend." ”

“ My wrongs are not less than yours, and now is the time when we of the Carolinas must prove ourselves men, or expect to remain under the yoke forever."
"You may be set down as a traitor to the king if we make this house our castle," Master Hunter suggested; but stout Master William Payne was not to be frightened.
"I can't say that I have any quarrel with the king himself; but against his representatives in the Carolinas my hand shall never be lowered. I aroused you only that you may be prepared in case an attack is made." ”