William R. Eyster

“ Not in all that land of fair women could be found a more truly lovable woman than Catherine Vale.
Catherine and her mother were conversing earnestly together.
[10]
“It is not for me, Kate, to judge of the heart of a man; to say that this one is to be trusted, and that one not, without an acquaintance of longer standing than that between myself and young Ernshaw. Without having heard that he was vicious, it has often been told me that he was of unsettled disposition; that he is known to the neighbors as ‘Wild Nat.’ Such a name would never have been given a man of reliable and good character.” ”

“ The Americans stepped from the shade of the woods and stood in a line, waiting for the commands of their captain. As Ernshaw appeared, the crack of a pistol was heard, and a bullet whistled by close to his head.
“Missed! by the infernal!” shouted a voice, easily recognized as that of the tory Turner. He plunged into the gloom of the woods, unappalled by the dozen bullets that followed.
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“The tory, Turner!” remarked one of the men; “let us pursue him. His capture is of more importance than all else we have done.”
“Not so,” replied Ernshaw; “let no man go in pursuit. ”

“ I defy you!” now shouted John, who rose to his utmost height and looked as if one word more would precipitate him upon the treacherous scoundrel.
“Yes! because I am unarmed, I suppose,” the tory whispered.
“A coward and traitor always seeks for some excuse for his baseness!” said Vale.
“He is a spy, for he calls me traitor. Soldiers, you are armed—will you take him, or shall he be allowed to escape? I have reason to fear he is not alone on these premises. ”

“ When the sun had finally disappeared and the twilight had settled over all like a friendly cloak, thirty-two men were gathered on the banks of Cedar Creek: among the number were Nathaniel Ernshaw and John Vale. The majority of the company were young men, none of them over thirty,—all broad-shouldered, deep-chested, bronzed with exposure to the weather, and as spirited as the winds which played over their hills and valleys. ”

“ Vale. You speak truly, when you say the case is desperate; but that it is hopeless, I deny. While there remains a thousand swords and a thousand stout arms to wield them—while there are a thousand brave hearts that pant for liberty, and liberty only, the cause of American Independence will not be given up without a last grand struggle. We must be successful; and, though our lives are given to establish the nationality of the colonies, the sacrifice must not be grudged.”
“Nathaniel Ernshaw, you speak like a patriot, and you must feel like one. ”

“ Catherine had a foreboding of evil to come from that rejection. She saw the black cloud, for now she read the heart of the man clearly, truthfully.
Turner now was with the English. To him Reginald naturally turned as a fit instrument to work out his will. At his command, Timothy made his appearance. Soon they were busied with the details of a plan, which even the traitor tory hesitated at first to engage in. But a man who can betray his country for gold will not hesitate long, even where a maiden’s honor is pitted against the base courage of the unscrupulous villain. ”

“ Catherine Vale, with her fair face, golden hair, and loving eyes; Lion, huge as he was, looking pleasant as he gazed up into the face of his mistress.
Tenderly taking the hand of his companion, Ernshaw, after a momentary silence, said:
“There is something, Kate, of which I have long wished to speak, but the distracted state of the country prevented my doing so. For years—almost from the hour of our first acquaintance—no true man could say that his head sat firmly upon his shoulders. Life has been, at the most, held on slender tenure, and hearthstones have been desecrated on short notice. ”

“ As a rebel, you were deserving of death by the rope, and being captured acting as a spy, you will most certainly receive your deserts.”
Vale kept silent for a moment, as though desirous of hearing the British officer to an end; but finding that some reply was expected, he answered: “As for being a rebel, you and I differ as to what is the true meaning of the word; but this much I can say: I did not enter Charleston as a spy, but on my own private and peculiar business, which could neither be deferred, nor delegated to another. ”

“ One might search in vain for a better place of rendezvous, surrounded on the outside by a swamp which it was almost impossible for a footman to pass, much less a horseman. There was, within, a cordon of thickly interwoven bushes and stunted trees; then another ring of swamp, and, finally, in the center, a spot of solid ground, some fifteen acres in extent, studded here and there with tall trees. One track there was, winding and intricate, along which the Americans found their way under the careful guidanceship of John Vale. ”

“ If Captain Morgan succeeded in doing his duty, he is doubtless in custody now, if not dead. Of course I speak of the young man; I have no fears of the old woman and her daughter.”
“Captain Morgan did his duty to the best of his ability; but I am sorry to say that John Vale is not only not in custody, but that, on the contrary, it is Morgan and his command—that is, those of them that are still alive—who are the prisoners.”
“You can not mean to say that a troop of dragoons has been defeated by a squad of these half-mounted, half-armed rebels?” ”

“ But here, as before, you shall not succeed. If needs be, I can die; but, sir, dread the avenging of that death! Whether I go from here alive or not, I tell you I hate and defy you!”
Maddened with anger, Reginald strode forward as though about to strike her. With a quick spring Kate reached the table, and seizing a heavy pitcher, she collectedly waited for him to attempt his worst. This action served to restrain Preston. His arm had not yet recovered from the wound received at the hands of John Vale, and was supported in a sling. ”

“ Two soldiers stepped forward to seize him. Two pistols flashed in their faces, and the men fell back, wounded and stunned.
In an instant a half-dozen men were on the patriot, and, bearing him to the floor, secured him after a struggle which proved how great was the strength and will of the young boy.
In the melee, Turner escaped; and when John arose to his feet, with his arms bound behind him, his eyes sought in vain for the traitor. ”

“ A moment more and the four were in the midst of the patriot brigade.
Forty hands were stretched out toward Nathaniel and Vale, and forty lips clamored forth congratulations.
“I accept your congratulations,” said Nat, “but this is no time for words. Hard behind me rides a large force of British dragoons. They may outnumber us by ten or a dozen men, but we can easily crush them at a blow. What say ye, men? Shall we fight or retreat?” ”

“ At the first glance she did not recognize him, for he was clad in a long cloak, while his hat was drawn down over his eyes; but, when he threw back his cloak, and removed his hat, she exclaimed, in the agony of her surprise, “Captain Preston!”
“Yes, I am he,” said Reginald, taking a seat. “Reginald [71] Preston, at your service, Miss Vale; one who has loved you does now, and always will.”
Perhaps there was something of mockery in his tone as the officer spoke of love; for, at his words, Catherine grew pale, and visibly trembled—her courage, for the moment, gone. ”

“ Catherine and her mother were sitting sewing, when the door was rudely flung open, disclosing the red-coated soldiers who stood at the threshold.
With calmness Mrs. Vale arose, and advanced a step toward them, saying, as she did, “What do you want, sirs?”
The men replied by entering the room first; then, one of them said: “To search the house to see if there be any rebels laid away within it.”
“One of you will be sufficient, then; you will find nothing within its walls which it is not right that an honest woman should have.” ”

“ Hardly half an hour had elapsed, when the sound of a horse, coming at a full gallop along the road, was heard. The traveler, whoever he was, reined in at the widow’s door. Dismounting, he tied his horse to a tree. To the surprise of Mrs. Vale, who had answered the knock, the person was none other than Nat Ernshaw. She greeted him kindly:
“Come in, Nathaniel; come in. We have seen no one who could give us any news for over a week; and, as you seem to have come from Charleston, you can tell us what is going on.” ”

“ The crowd kept growing larger and larger, until the space in front of the bar was quite filled with men, young and old—all drinking, talking, and smoking. Fagan stood at one end of the bar, occasionally assisting his red-haired and masculine Hebe, but keeping a watchful eye in his head to see that his property was neither injured nor improperly confiscated. As he had, several times, subjected Vale to a close scrutiny, the rebel had thought it best to endeavor to allay any lurking suspicion which the tavern-keeper might have, and so he staggered up to the bar and called for a glass of beer. ”

“ With a brain all awhirl with wonder and doubt, Kate surveyed the tory. Involuntarily she turned her panting, trembling horse to one side, and drew near to the man as he lay there; the life-blood gurgling forth at every quick pant, the pallid countenance upturned to her with a wistful look. She saw the lips move, and bent down in her saddle.
“Will you listen to a dying man?” ”

“ Ernshaw had ridden close up to John, and the fair young girl stretched out her hand to her brother. Lifting her from her place, he seated her in front of his saddle, and printed a kiss with all a brother’s affection upon her cheek. “This street is no place for explanations,” said Hunt. “We must be far away before morning comes. We have many miles to ride before we can say we are in safety.” ”

“ It was by no means a safe business, this carrying messages from Charleston to a band of rebels; and once caught at it, there was little doubt in the mind of Hunt but that the boy, young as he was, would be speedily strung up as a warning to all who, in the future, might feel inclined to attempt to become post-riders with news for an enemy.
Young Simon Hunt threw the saddle upon the back of the good roan, and having partaken of a substantial breakfast, was ready to start full an hour before sunrise. ”

“ Is not the cause of freedom hopeless? Have not our countrymen been beaten at all points? Is there a chance of success left to hang a single hope on? What good, then, will it do for John to risk his life for the sake of continuing a little longer a struggle which must soon end disastrously? ”

“ Every one of the waiting enemies were startled—the captain of the troop calling out, “Here comes one of them at last. Into the woods after him, half a dozen of you, but don’t use fire-arms unless it is absolutely necessary. It will give the alarm.”
Instantly seven of the privates threw themselves from their steeds for the pursuit; but they had scarcely touched the ground when a command, given in a quick, clear-ringing voice, riveted them to their places. “Hold! Not one step or you are dead men. Surrender to Nat Ernshaw’s Carolina Brigade, or your lives shall be the forfeit!” ”

“ How in the Carolinas a partisan warfare was waged; how Marion and Sumpter and many other brave-hearted commanders made themselves a terror to the British and tories, how the spirit of freedom could never be quenched, but continued to be made manifest in the midst of the most trying circumstances and the most perilous positions—all this is well-known to the student of American history. ”

“ In the afternoon, Fagan took Preston’s agent to see the house.
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It was a little stone structure, which looked as though it might have been a hundred years old. Standing almost alone, near the edge of town—massive, strong, its walls impenetrable to sound—a more desirable place could not be found. The windows were closed with shutters, and the building appeared deserted; but when the Irishman knocked at the door, it was opened by a grim-looking old negress, who surlily surveyed the party, and seemed more inclined to slam the door in their faces than to ask them to enter. ”

“ Preston continued:
“To tell the truth to you, however mortifying it may be to me, I am ashamed of myself, and acknowledge that the way in which I acted was reprehensible in the extreme. No man ever gained any thing by getting into a passion, especially with a woman. Having made this apology, I can return to the calm and dispassionate discussion of the subject before us.”
The captain spoke in an easy, self-assured manner. Kate was herself again, and she answered in a tone calm but clear and stern: “Mr. Preston, there is nothing to be discussed between us. ”

“ A big, rough-looking man was saying something in an angry tone to some one concealed from the eyes of Vale by the crowd. Curiosity impelled the young man to take his stand upon a bench in order that he might get a glimpse of the man who was being berated. What was his surprise to recognize the cat-like countenance of Timothy Turner. ”

“ Turner, are we indebted to your presence at this rather unseasonable hour?” queried Sir Henry in a tone which implied severity of feeling.
“Why, to come to the point without waste of words, a young man by the name of Vale, a deep-dyed rebel, has been apprehended within the limits of the city, dressed in disguise, and there being some difficulty to decide what should be done with him, I made bold to come to you to state the case, and ask your commands with regard to him.” ”

“ Remember, though, that I am fighting, as is my duty, for my country, and if I die, that I die in a good cause.”
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“You know, John, that I love you and would do any thing to shield you from harm or danger; but I rejoice to see you going. The nation has need of such as you—those with strong arms and brave hearts. Go, and may our Heavenly Father guard and bless you.”
John kissed her and his sister, then left the house, turning to the stable. He soon led out his gallant steed. Mounting, he led the way to Nat Ernshaw’s. ”

“ We will strike such a blow as will make these scoundrels, who would make a profit on the blood of their countrymen, at least a deal more cautious how they attempt to carry on their trade within reach of the strong arms of American freemen. Look well to your arms, boys; nerve your hearts for a determined struggle, and to-night we will strike again for liberty.”
During the day there was a bustle among the men of the brigade, that told the British prisoners, confined within the recesses of the swamp, that something of more than ordinary importance was about to take place. ”