John T. McIntyre

“ And it was that same evening, just at twilight, that George was pacing along Maiden Lane near to William Street, his hands behind him and his head bent. He still frequently rode and walked in that neighborhood; always did he grow thoughtful when there, and always upon the same subject. That Herbert Camp had been recognized by no one but himself that night at Corbie’s tavern was evident, as no search had been made for him; but George was puzzled to know if he and his sister had come off unhurt in the rain of pistol shots that followed the dash from the tavern. ”

“ Once outside the city proper, the rider struck across the meadows, knowing that Bayard’s woods were no great distance from Washington’s headquarters. Entering a path that skirted the wood, he pushed along until he saw the glow of lights through a growth of heavy trees.
“That will be the tavern,” said George. “For none but a public house would have so many candles burning.”
Quietly he rode forward; suddenly his horse snorted and reared; only a good seat and a firm hand saved the young New Englander from a fall. ”

“ Though George, owing to his position, could not see the deserter and his companion, their voices were so pitched that he had no difficulty in hearing their conversation.
“The cause of the colonies attracted me,” he caught from young Camp. “It was the romance of it, no doubt; and partly it was the spirit of rebellion that every young man feels against the powers that be. But when my uncle made it so plain to me that it was against my interest to continue as a colonial officer, why, I did not hesitate an instant.” ”

“ There was a wide fireplace, the clean-swept hearth of which showed no indication of a fire having been lighted in it for some time.
When George had bidden the others good-night he closed the door and placed his candle upon the table. The light danced grotesquely upon the walls, dimly illuminating the quaint figures upon the tapestry and the old paintings that hung here and there. The young man drew the curtains at the windows so that the flare of the lightning would not disturb him ”

“ The officer favored her with no very friendly look.
“Perhaps if your inn had not been respected for so long, mistress,” said he, “things would be in a better way for us all. As for these,” and he pointed to George and Herbert Camp, “perhaps common thieves would be far less dangerous to the public good.”
“How dare you hint that I would harbor such!” stormed Mistress Trout. “How dare you, sir! Oh, things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, when honest people must submit to insult from a parcel of upstarts!” ”

“ The smith nodded. “Faith,” spoke he, “they’re fair pisonous with the venom that’s in them; and hereabouts they do be as thick as the gnats in the swamps.”
“But the army being in possession prevents them being at all dangerous,” said George.
The other shook his head. “The army can do nothing against such as these,” said he. “You might as well put that horse of yours, there, to catching a mole. Sorra the sound do they make, and never a sight of themselves do they give any one.” ”

“ George felt the table shake; the big man had twitched spasmodically, and his knees had knocked against its legs. Young Prentiss flashed him a searching look; but in no other way did the bully manifest interest.
“Your money is your own to do what you please with,” said Herbert Camp to his uncle, but for all his effort, there was a certain waver in his voice and tones. “And you would not have me sink my principle to get it, I know.”
“To be sure not, nephew,” said the old gentleman. “But be assured of this: My money will never go to any one who upholds the rebel cause. ”

“ TELLS HOW A FIRE WAS KINDLED ON A HILLSIDE
Upon all sides were lighted windows; and through each of them could be seen groups of Hessians feasting or dancing; the sounds of singing and laughter came from every quarter. Through the day, George Prentiss’ quick eye had noted the increasing lack of military deportment among the mercenaries; and now that night had come, things had grown worse.
“The fire, when I light it, will be allowed to burn,” thought the young fellow, grimly, as he pushed his way through the snow. ”

“ Prentiss,” said Peggy, “should not be difficult to amuse. He is so interesting himself. I feel sure that wherever he is, something will happen; one is not likely to be dull.”
“Ha, ha! do you hear that, lad?” Merchant Camp chuckled delightedly. “That’s saying something of you, surely.”
“I don’t deserve it, though,” answered George, and his eyes met the girl’s straightforward look unsmilingly.
“Never say that,” cried the honest old uncle. “Leave others to speak ill of you, my boy.”
“Apparently,” said George, his eyes still meeting those of Peggy, “they are only too ready to do that.” ”

“ George dismounted and gave his horse to the hostler.
“I hope,” said he politely to the woman, “that I am not putting you about; but I’d like a snack of something, if I’m not too late.”
“Oh, indeed,” said Mistress Trout, “traffic hereabouts is not so great that we have all the victuals bespoke.” Then turning to the hostler, who was yawning behind his hand, she cried sharply: “Well, and are you going to see to the gentleman’s horse, blockhead? Or do you mean to fall asleep as you stand?”
“A man must have sleep some time,” growled Job, as he took the nag by the bridle. ”

“ To storm the American works would have been the quicker and more spectacular way; but hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives must pay for it; and this crafty tactician was not [251] given to wasting his force. So he drew off his men and they encamped out of musket shot for the night.
But it was no night of rest for George Prentiss and his fellow riders. Through the darkness they tore, never heeding life nor limb; the length and breadth of Manhattan was crossed, and the dispatches they bore set troops in motion all over the island. ”

“ George stood back and awaited the soldier’s return; and as he waited he could not help wondering at his odd experience in New York.
“I have been on shore but a bare hour—scarcely that long—and I have met with nothing but affronts and rebuffs,” he said to the young ensign who sat in a window overlooking Broadway. “I can’t understand the attitude of the colonists here. At Boston, one has but to be a patriot to meet with consideration. [46] But in New York, apparently, it makes little difference what your sympathies; you have but to be a stranger to be marked for insolence.” ”

“ To the very last, Lord Sterling encouraged them by presence and word and deed; and when all was lost he gave up his sword to the Hessian general De Heister.
Then came the moments that meant much to the colonies; mad with victory, the British massed before the American redoubts; within musket shot they poised for the charge that would end the fight. Washington prepared for a desperate defense of Brooklyn; his cannon played upon the massed columns fiercely, and seeing that he was resolved to hold his position at all hazards, Clinton gave orders that his eager troops be held in check. ”

“ A rattling volley of thunder rolled along the sky; then a dash of lightning lit up all outdoors and showed them Crown Street running torrents of water.
“Of late,” said young Prentiss, “I have seen but little of either of you.”
“We’ve been with Greene,” answered Major Hyde. “Indeed, within the week that we invited you to share our quarters in Wall Street, we were forced to give it up and transfer to a barn of a place beyond Brooklyn.”
“Not fit for beasts to live in, let alone gentlemen,” said the dragoon officer. ”

“ Ladies in carriages and upon horseback drove and cantered up and down the paved ways; groups of citizens and scores of militia officers stood here and there; companies of raw troops were being put sternly through the manual by hard-faced sergeants.
As George walked across the Parade he gained not a little attention, for the dispatch bag which hung across his arm, the broad shoulder belt supporting a steel hilted hanger, the pistol butt which showed beneath his coat, gave him a particularly businesslike appearance. ”

“ The deeds of the Hessians brought horror to all who heard of them, but to none did the measure seem so full as to George Prentiss. When some fresh enormity reached his ears, there always flashed upon him a picture of a stately manor house in the possession of these lawless ruffians; he saw, also, a white-faced girl and a helpless old man, and none to lift a hand in their defense.
“Should you ever cross the Jerseys, lad,” old Camp had said, “don’t fail to hunt us out. The Elms, we call the place, and it’s less than a dozen miles out of the town of Trenton.” ”

“ Then that city had been besieged by an army of farmers and mechanics; and Breed’s Hill had witnessed its desperate defeat, though we commonly now speak of the fight as the battle of Bunker Hill. And, finally, the British had run from Boston to their ships under the pitiless cannonading of Washington’s batteries.
New York was trembling and expectant. [19] Any day might witness the arrival of a British fleet; and in the meantime the colonists were preparing its defenses. George Prentiss was thinking of these things, his eyes once more fixed upon the frigates afar off. ”

“ It was Peggy Camp.
“A man wearing a uniform for the first time,” said George tartly, and with a sweep of the eyes that took in the other’s immaculate costume, “should show a little respect for a soldier of the general’s known service. At least that is the belief generally held in Boston.” ”

“ Clinton, having comfortably breakfasted, now brought forward his artillery; the guns thundered the awaited signal. At once De Heister knew that the American left had been turned; and he hurled his Hessians under Count Donop upon the Flatbush pass. Sullivan also caught the sound of Clinton’s guns; they were in his rear, and the truth struck home instantly.
“Fall back!” he cried.
As the German troops pressed forward, no one remained to resist them; down the opposite side of the hill rushed the Americans, hoping to escape being surrounded. ”

“ What is your wish, young man?”
“I’ll have some one take my horse, mistress,” replied George, “and I desire him rubbed and given a good feed of clean grain.”
The woman turned toward the barn and called shrilly:
“Job!”
She had repeated the cry several times before there was any response; then a man came out of the barn, rubbing his eyes and shuffling his feet.
“You’ve been asleep again,” charged the woman. “You are the most idle, good-for-nothing rascal in Harlem, I really believe.”
The man blinked ill-humoredly. “Fair words, Mistress Trout,” spoke he. “They go farther than the other sort.” ”

“ When you live in a lonely place, my lad, and have desperate enemies with revenge in their hearts again’ you, you must take care. And when wife and childer are depending upon the man for the bite and the sup, he thinks twice before he puts himself in danger.”
“But how is one to know that there is real danger?” said George. “It may be that it has no existence save in the mind of the person who dreads it.” ”

“ George looked into the candid face of the speaker inquiringly.
“He’s not of the sort I take you to be,” explained the sailor. “Old Camp there,” pointing to the stout old gentleman with the oaken staff, “is said to be the most rabid Tory in all New York. But I’ve heard that questioned. Merchant Dana is a milder mannered man, to be sure; but those that know claim he’s more to be feared than his partner.”
George looked toward the two merchants, who were now pacing the wharf. There was no abatement in old Camp’s anger; and Mr. Dana, halting along beside him, still strove to calm him. ”

“ This time he found himself face to face with George Prentiss, who had leaped from the deck of the shallop at the girl’s first cry.
“What, sailor,” cried the young man, placing one hand against the tar’s broad chest, “a fair and fit lad like yourself is surely not going to grapple with an old man.”
“That he’s an old un is not my fault,” growled the other; “so get out of the way, my hearty, before I hurt you.” ”

“ The old Tory had also said that there still remained a few days more to effect the change he desired.
“And it would seem,” thought the young New Englander, indignantly, “that he’ll get his wish. This young man spoke of principle yesterday; it seems that he’s thought better of it to-day. Sixty thousand pounds has been too great a lure to resist; his greed was greater than his patriotism.”
However, despite his indignation, he went calmly on with his meal; and while he ate, Herbert Camp continued in the same attitude, apparently thinking deeply. ”

“ No more desperate fighters than the five companies which Sterling retained were in the American army; they flew at the stalwart grenadiers like game-cocks; repeatedly they were broken, but each time they rallied and renewed the fight. Once, indeed, they crushed the solid formation of Cornwallis, and started the grenadiers on the run; but as fate would have it, bodies of British reinforcements came up, and the brave fellows were forced to retreat. ”

“ George had not been a guest at the inn more than a day or two when he noticed that the sound of music was almost constant at headquarters. The landlord, a Tory, made a wry face when George mentioned the matter.
“Rahl is a madman for melody,” said he. “No matter what else is toward, his concerts must not be interfered with; he’ll sit for [286] hours before the fire, beating time with his fingers. The best fed men in his army are the musicians. As for me, I wish they’d choke themselves with their own bugles and fifes; one can’t get a wink of sleep at times for their blowing and braying.” ”

“ You look so much alike that it’s really uncanny.”
The heavy-browed Herbert, who proved a most companionable fellow, said to Ben, aside:
“They look alike, but it is not possible that Ezra is as great a fellow as George. It would be expecting too much.”
But Ben waved the notion aside at once.
“There is no greater chap than Ezra Prentiss in the army,” said he. “And after you’ve come to know him, you’ll say so yourself.”
“No, no,” said old Mr. Camp to something which Ezra had just remarked. “Howe is at New York; I’ll go back there; that is the place for me.” ”

“ But without stopping to ask their leave, he seized upon the persons of his most outspoken opponents; then he stared the troops out of countenance and defied the frigates. Finally he stripped the British batteries of their guns, began to recruit an army, and build forts and redoubts to guard all the approaches to the city. While this man, Mr. Dana,” and the staff rang upon the stones, “has my unqualified disapproval, I cannot refuse him my admiration. He understands his duty and he does it.” ”

“ Nothing is known of the expedition that sailed from Boston under Sir Henry Clinton before the evacuation. It’s a formidable force, capable of striking a crippling blow; and then the army under Howe must be hovering somewhere within easy sailing distance. To meet this and the forces which the ministers at London must now be fitting out against us, General Washington must greatly increase his force.”
“Night and day he’s at it,” said Ben Cooper, in high admiration; “you never saw such a man to work. But the recruits come in like snails. They somehow seem to dread to leave their own states. ”

“ There was another figure—a burly, towering figure that possessed an atmosphere at once cautious and threatening. The huge shoulders were bent, the head was drawn down, the step was careful, the whole manner one of secrecy and observation. That this person was following the boy seemed beyond doubt; and the girl choked back a little cry as she realized it.
Apparently under the impression that the entire party was wrapped in the robes and tucked away in the sleighs, the horses were given rein and started away amid a great jingling of bells. ”