CHAPTER X

AN ODD BATTLE

It is impossible to say how long we sat there listening for that which we hoped might not be heard. It seemed to me as if we crouched by the open door straining our ears and gazing blindly into the gloom fully two hours, when Archie Gordon, touching me lightly on the shoulder, said in a tone of relief:

“It must be that Gabriel has succeeded in his purpose, else would we have heard some token, and certain I am that not a voice has been raised or a shot fired since he left this room.”

In this last statement I could fully agree with him; but as to whether Gabriel had succeeded in escaping was quite another matter. I felt convinced, even while hoping it might be so, that he could not make his way undetected down through the house, and then past all the sentinels which must be stationed between the building and the highway. Each instant I expected to hear an alarm sounded, believing that during all this while he had been crouching in some hiding-place near the attic chamber.

As the time went by, however, and we knew that not less than an hour had passed, I began to breathe more freely, for now was it certain the dear lad had given the enemy the slip, even though it seemed impossible anything larger than a mouse could have gone out from there undetected.

My fears, allayed in one direction, sprang up in another, and I began to ask myself whether it would be possible for one on foot, in the night, to come upon either party of our friends?

It was beyond the range of possibility that Gabriel had been able to get a horse without attracting attention, therefore must his travelling be done on foot, and without boots to his feet.

Now it was that my companions, seeing some slight thread of hope in this escape of Gabriel’s, were eager to discuss the situation with one another, and all unconsciously we made our way across the room to the window, where, crouched upon the floor, we spoke in softest whispers of what might be done if fortune aided our comrades in every possible way.

Once, while we were thus talking without being able to see each other’s faces, I fancied I heard a cautious footstep near at hand, and warned the lads to remain silent while we listened; but when nothing could be distinguished save the sound of our own breathing, I said to myself that it was only a rat in the wall--that I was growing overly nervous, and to indulge in such fancies might result in my finally becoming timorous.

That which we said to each other was of little or no importance; we simply discussed all the known possibilities of the future, and, when tired of this fruitless occupation, my companions one and all relapsed into silence.

I turned to find Archie Gordon, believing he had taken station directly behind me, but when I spoke it was to learn that Jacob Breen stood thus near. Then I called the lad softly by name, but there was no response, and Jacob whispered sufficiently loud for all to hear:

“Is Archie lying asleep near any of you? I have not heard him speak this past hour.”

Because Archie made no response I became alarmed, and crept around the room here and there, forcing each lad to give me his name as I touched him, until the cold sweat of fear broke out on my forehead, for it seemed as if the lad had been spirited away in some uncanny fashion, or was suddenly come to his death.

“Search for him everywhere!” I whispered hoarsely. “He _must_ be here, and unless some great evil has befallen him, would answer us.”

Then we crept around the room, feeling with our hands every inch of the floor until we were come together in the middle of the apartment with a terror upon us so great that I at least was unable to reason intelligently.

It was Jacob Breen who gave the solution to the riddle, and a wondrous sense of relief was mine at realizing that there was nothing superhuman about this absence of our comrade.

“He has followed Gabriel’s example, saying to himself that if one could leave this building, two might succeed,” Jacob Breen whispered hesitatingly, as if fearing we might make sport because he entertained such an idea.

“It was a brave thing for the lad to do, and now are the chances doubled that our people will get information of what has happened here, for, knowing that Gabriel counted on trying to find General Marion, Archie will set off in the hope of coming upon Captain Horry’s force,” I said, remembering that faint sound which I had heard and attributed to a mouse in the wall.

I believed Jacob was right in his conjecture, and pressing close to the window, I listened once more with that painful intentness which gets upon one’s nerves, so sorely did I fear each instant lest I hear the sound of a shot that would be the death-knell of my friend.

When perhaps another hour had passed, and it seemed certain a second of our party had escaped to carry the tidings, Jared Green said to me:

“If two lads can leave this place without being discovered, why may not all, provided we go one at a time?” and I replied with an irritation born of nervousness:

“Because two have succeeded in accomplishing what seemed to have been the impossible, there is no reason why others may successfully make the same venture.”

“But a third has every chance of having equal fortune,” the lad persisted, and I said with as much of authority as it was possible to assume:

“The venture must not be tried again, for the next one who went out might be captured or killed, when the lives of all would be forfeited. Gabriel left me in command, and I charge you to remain where you are.”

“It will make little difference whether we are captured now, or in the morning, for surely you don’t count that we shall be able to remain here undetected until the Britishers have left?” Jacob persisted, whereat I cried irritably:

“I am counting upon nothing save that we shall hold our lives as long as may be. There is just the shadow of a chance the redcoats may go away without knowing we are here, and I claim there is no possibility whatsoever that even two more could escape.”

I question if very many of the lads would have been willing to make the venture, even though Gabriel and Archie had apparently succeeded; but Jacob himself had sufficient courage to set off, and that he was disgruntled because I positively commanded him to remain could be readily understood by his silence.

I was not minded any others should put their lives in jeopardy, and therefore it was that instead of remaining near the window where all had gathered, I took station at the door, as I should have done in the first place, thus making certain no more of our party could give us the slip.

Even though I had been so positive in stating that all must remain, I doubted the wisdom of the command as soon as the lads gave evidence of being willing to obey me, and began to ask myself whether it might not be better some few escape with their lives than that all be made prisoners, for there was indeed little hope of being undiscovered after sunrise. While pondering over this, and saying that by such a course I was making myself wholly responsible for whatsoever of evil might come, my eyes grew heavy with slumber.

Now, as I look back upon that night, it seems indeed strange that I should have had any desire for sleep when death appeared to be so near at hand, and yet the truth is that I finally lost consciousness.

I may possibly have slept two hours--it could not have been much longer--when I was literally brought to my feet by the crackling of musketry and cries of anger or surprise from the outside. So great was the din on the instant that all my comrades were aroused at the same time, and instinctively we made our way to the window, clustering there without realizing that it might be possible for the sentinels on guard to see us.

“What is it?” Jared Green asked, and he made no effort to speak cautiously. “What has happened?”

It was a question none could answer, for although it was possible to hear the men running to and fro, shouting frantically, as it seemed to me, with now and then a hoarse cry from the room beneath us, we could see nothing distinctly, yet knew beyond a peradventure that some serious disturbance had broken out.

So great was the noise from below that I ventured to raise the window, and, craning my neck to look over the eaves of the building, I gazed down on what seemed to be a perfect mob of men running to and fro aimlessly, while from the distance came the sharp crack of musketry and the trampling of horses’ feet.

“It is our people!” Jacob Breen cried shrilly, clapping me on the back with such force that I was nigh to being hurled headlong from the window. “It is our people! Gabriel or Archie have succeeded in finding one force or another, and an attack is being made!”

As the confusion increased, the reports of musketry sounding nearer, I said to myself that the lad was right, and found it most difficult to prevent giving way to senseless demonstrations of joy.

I wish it might be possible to describe the scene as we saw it thus outlined faintly in the gloom. We could not distinguish individual forms; there were beneath the window so many in the throng that it was before our eyes as a dark, writhing mass with now and then a trooper trying to force a horse among the frantic men. And here, there, and everywhere shouts of command, cries for this man or that, with over all screams of pain as the missiles, which were being poured in by that unseen force, took effect.

It is not to be supposed that this scene of confusion was continued many seconds. We saw the dark mass separate into something like military formation. The meaningless cries died away as the first shock of surprise passed off and the instinct of the soldier came uppermost.

It may not have been more than two minutes before horses were brought for the officers who had been feasting in the room beneath us, and the men were forming in platoons; but during all this while came the thunder of horses’ feet and the crackling of musketry, the cries of command and the groans and shrieks of agony.

It never entered my mind that we lads were in position to strike a blow just then. There could be no question but that our people were making an attack, and I remained there overhanging the eaves of the building, watching with all my heart in my eyes as I said that now was come our deliverance, yet not a finger did I raise toward helping myself.

The first fire from our people was deadly in effect, as could be seen by the huddled masses lying here and there upon the ground when the troopers formed in line, but yet it was not sufficient to win a victory, for the surprise had not been so complete as to create a stampede.

“It is to be a battle here in the night!” I said, forcing my way back from the window with difficulty, because all the lads were pressing close upon me. “It is to be a battle, and if Archie or Gabriel failed to meet those who are making the attack, then are they ignorant of the great odds against them!”

It was necessary now to speak at the full strength of one’s lungs in order that the words should be heard, for the Britishers had in turn opened fire, and the detonations of the weapons literally caused the air to quiver.

My cheeks redden with shame even at this late day, when I set down the fact that it was Jacob Breen who recalled me to a sense of duty--that I had failed of understanding what part we might play in this battle.

“The time has come when we should take a hand,” the lad said suddenly. “I know of no reason why we must skulk here like cowards!”

His words thrilled me, causing every nerve to quiver, and on the instant I seemed to see as if it were pictured before my eyes, the course which we should pursue. Without hesitating, and, I hope, speaking as if the thought had been in my mind before Jacob suggested it, I said sharply:

“See to it that you have your weapons ready, and follow me in double file. We will go down this front staircase and out of the house by the back way, so that it will be possible to fall upon the enemy in the rear, and they be made to suppose that reinforcements have come up from the opposite direction.”

Now every lad was on fire; the possibility of striking a blow after we had been penned up like rats in a trap was most welcome, and we gave no thought to the danger, or the chance that we might find ourselves in the midst of the redcoats instead of in their rear.

I ran at full speed, regardless of encountering any one in the passageway, after making certain the Minute Boys were following, and when we had traversed the entire length of the building without meeting any one, and came out into the open on that side nearest the slave quarters, it appeared as if the attacking force was making its way up the lane leading from the road. The Britishers were wheeled about in that direction, and, save for a few skulkers here and there, nothing prevented our making such a demonstration as must be effective.

I led the way round the building until we were at the westerly corner of the front, and there, where we might be screened in case a volley was suddenly poured upon us, said to my comrades:

“Let us discharge our weapons at the same instant in order to make it appear that our force is very large, and that done, each lad is to step back within the shelter of the house while he reloads.”

There was no delay in carrying such a plan into execution, nor was it possible for us to miscalculate the aim, since the Britishers were hardly more than twenty yards away, standing in so large a body that we would have fired wild indeed had any of our missiles failed of effect.

Even though we were attacking the enemies of our country, it was not a pleasing thought to me that we were doing our best to take the lives of human beings. But surely it would be a survival of the fittest, and from our point of view the “fittest” were those who had nearest their hearts a love for the Carolinas.

That which gave us greatest pleasure was a cry which came from the rear rank when our bullets took effect, for then we could hear half a dozen of the nearest shout:

“They have outflanked us! The rebels are in the rear!”

I fancied that those of our people who were in front also heard this cry, hoping they understood who was thus creating a diversion, for it seemed to me their fire was redoubled, and I believed I heard cries of encouragement and of joy.

“Waste no time in reloading, lads,” I whispered, myself setting the example by charging my weapon, and before the Britishers had really come to understand that there was without doubt a foe behind them, we let go a second volley.

Then in the darkness, while the smoke from our weapons hung heavy before our eyes, I could see that line of Britishers waver, seemingly to have grown weak in the middle, and an instant later came that which caused me to cry aloud in fear and astonishment.

A heavy volley, which must have been made up of at least thirty guns, rang out midway between where we were standing and the main road upon the right flank of the foe.

“Who can be there?” Jacob Breen cried as if in alarm, and I cheered vigorously, for on the instant came the thought that it was the other squad of our “ragged regiment,” either that led by Captain Horry, or General Marion, who had thus come upon the scene of conflict.

Now it was that the enemy, fired upon from three widely diverging points, began to suppose they were attacked by an overwhelming force, and that the men were growing uncomfortable in mind we understood by the cries of command for them to stand firm, or to close up the ranks, which were heard now and then from the officers.

This was as much as telling us that we needed to make but one more desperate attack and the day would be ours. From the front came the huzzas of our people as they charged down upon the line; from the right wing a second and third volley mingled with shouts of triumph, and then it was we Minute Boys added our voices to the din as we fired.

I care not how brave soldiers may be, how reckless they have grown of life, there are none who, in such a position as our enemy was then placed, could hold their ground. In the darkness, attacked by what they believed to be a heavy force from every direction, fired upon from the rear by a seemingly large number, and their right flank pressed by a superior body, there was nothing left but to retreat, for the boldest general who ever commanded an army would have had good reason for believing that to remain longer in that position was to invite annihilation.

Therefore it was only natural, as I have said, the king’s soldiers should fall back without loss of time, and that their officers believed the rebels, as they were pleased to call us, had gathered in overwhelming numbers, was shown by the fact that instead of retreating into the building, where they might make a more successful stand, the whole force was drawn back to seek what cover could be found in the rear of the negro quarters.

It was while this manœuvre was being effected that the main body of General Marion’s force charged down upon them, and this was sufficient to scatter their ranks in confusion. We lads closed in behind the horsemen to make the greatest show possible, and then it was we saw coming up from where the right flank of the enemy had been stationed, a party of thirty or forty, the greater portion of whom were negroes, all eager to participate in the victory.

So hotly did the “ragged regiment” press them, that instead of making a stand behind the slave quarters, the Britishers changed their line of retreat in order to gain the road, and such of our people as were mounted joined in the pursuit, for it was necessary to keep them on the run.

“There is no need for us who are on foot to do further battle,” I heard a voice from out the darkness say when our troopers, driving the redcoats before them, had gained the highway. “It is best we remain here, where, in case the king’s men come to their senses, we can hold a shelter for our people.”

Then it was that, coming up to the speaker, I saw Master Sinclair, and in my astonishment at finding him there asked him from whence he came.

“I have been yonder, near the grape arbors, and it strikes me I was of considerable assistance in this little affair. The negroes handled their muskets and stood their ground better than I had believed possible.”

“But where did you come _from_, and how did it chance that you abandoned your home, leaving everything at the mercy of the enemy?” I cried, so curious for a solution of what had been a mystery that I could wait no longer for an answer.

“Word was brought yesterday morning by one of the field-hands that the redcoats were coming in large numbers, and I beat a retreat into the swamp with family, overseers, and slaves, there to wait until the enemy should have passed, for my Lord Clinton has announced his intention of sending me to the prison-ships as soon as I am taken. Hearing the noise of the battle, it was only natural that such of my company as could bear arms should be pressed into service, and it seems as if we were fortunate in selecting the time and position.”

Before I could ask any more questions two horsemen came riding up the lane from the direction in which our people had followed the foe, and I shouted to the Minute Boys to stand firm, fearing lest by some odd chance the Britishers had doubled back on us, when a dear, familiar voice rang out:

“It is I, William Rufus! It is I, Gabriel!” and added to these welcome words were others which set my pulses throbbing with gratitude to the good God, for it was Archie Gordon who shouted laughingly:

“Ay, close up, lads, and stand ready to receive your commander!”

In a twinkling they were with us, and as we stood there among the dead and wounded of the enemy, we listened to the stories told in fragments of how they had succeeded in getting away, when humanity should have prompted us first to minister to the needs of those whom we had crippled.

Gabriel’s story seemed pitifully weak as compared with what we had imagined it might be. Creeping down the stairs in the darkness, he had made his way past the rooms filled with British officers, who had feasted so deeply as to give no heed to anything going on around them, and, having departed from the building by the rear door, he walked boldly toward the road, seeing only two men on guard, who gave no heed to him, most like because he had come from the house, therefore they believed he was one of their number. Then he had to travel no more than two miles before coming to the general’s halting-place by the side of the road, where he awaited some report from us. The rest we already knew.

Archie’s story was not unlike that of our leader’s. As he laughingly said, the most difficult portion of his task was to escape from us, for once he was on the stairs the way was as clear as it had been for Gabriel, and when the lads had come to an end of their tales I understood that but for my timorousness we might all have gotten away without hindrance.

“Ay, so you might, lad,” Gabriel said when I had given words to my thoughts; “but in case of having done so, you would not have been here to pour in a fire upon the enemy’s rear, and, therefore, might the battle have been prolonged until it would have been our need to retreat.”

There was no little gratification in the thought that even though I had shown myself more timorous than one in command of a company of Minute Boys should be, such failure to display courage, if so be you choose to call it, had been an advantage rather than otherwise.

While we lads were thus conversing, Master Sinclair had taken charge of his dwelling once more. The negroes were sent to call up the women from the swamp, and soon it was the same hospitable mansion I had known in the past, for its inmates were busied in ministering to the wants of the wounded enemy as much as to the needs of welcome friends.

We lads did a fair share of the nursing, and were yet at work on the gruesome task when the day had come. Verily had our victory been of moment, as we could see now.

Nearly all the horses belonging to the British troopers yet remained stabled where they were first left, and of stores we had as much as they brought with them, which was by no means inconsiderable. The only thing to mar our triumph at that moment was the fact that the pursuers were not yet returned, and who could say that the redcoats had not turned upon them, making prisoners of every gallant patriot?

“We have much to be thankful for. It is little less than ingratitude to look forward into the future for trouble,” Master Sinclair said when I put into words the thoughts which were in my mind concerning our people. “Unless Francis Marion has changed since last I saw him, he will not lead his followers into a place from which they cannot extricate themselves. Therefore, now that the wounded are in better hands than ours, let us enjoy ourselves at breakfast, for I am of the belief that it will not be my privilege to entertain many more guests in this house for some time to come.”

“Why do you speak in that sad strain, Master Sinclair?” Gabriel asked, and the planter replied with a feeble attempt at a smile:

“Now indeed am I doing exactly what I warned you lads against--looking ahead for trouble. In my case, however, I have better reason for doing so than you, for from advices from Charleston and Georgetown, dated no later than the day before yesterday, I know beyond a peradventure that the enemy in this section of the country is so strong that it will be folly for us to attempt to stand before them. My Lord Clinton has ordered Tarleton to scour the Carolinas with his legion, and entrap or kill the ‘Swamp Fox.’”

“Who may that be, sir?” Gabriel asked.

“None other than your brother, my lad, so-named because he has his rendezvous in the swamps. The British commander-in-chief thinks himself witty to bestow upon Marion the name of ‘Swamp Fox,’ and I venture to say that he will be longer riding down such a fox, than any he ever coursed in the old country.”

I had not yet gathered in the full meaning of Master Sinclair’s words when came the summons to breakfast, and right pleasant was it to sit down once more at a well-appointed table, for I had not enjoyed such an opportunity since Charleston capitulated.

We were yet eating when the thud of horses’ feet outside caused us to start up eagerly. Then we saw coming through the avenue of trees our “Swamp Fox,” Captain Horry at his side, followed by those brave hearts who were ready to sacrifice even life itself for their country.

It is not needed I should make any attempt at describing the happiness which was ours that morning when we were Master Sinclair’s guests!

We had better reason for feasting and excesses than those who had lately occupied this hospitable mansion in the absence of its owner, and yet we were temperate, for never one among us did more than satisfy his hunger. I had counted on hearing General Marion tell of the chase, and in what condition he left the redcoats; but to my surprise, no sooner was the meal finished than the captain, the commander, Master Sinclair, and mayhap half a dozen of the troopers, went to an adjoining apartment as if to hold a secret council.

“Now what may be going on?” Archie Gordon cried merrily. “It would seem to me that we could afford to spend this day in merrymaking, after having read the king a third reasonably strong lesson, yet it looks as if another campaign was being planned.”

“But one far different from those we have participated in, lad,” Gabriel said gravely, and I, not minded that he should make a kill-joy of himself at such a time, cried reproachfully:

[Illustration: “THEN WE SAW COMING THROUGH THE AVENUE OF TREES OUR ‘SWAMP FOX.’”]

“Is it well that the commander of the Minute Boys of South Carolina should wear a long face at the very moment when he has most reason to smile?”

“It is true we have reason for rejoicing,” Gabriel replied with the same sombre look upon his face, “but it may be well for us not to spend overly much time in such manner. Have you already forgotten what Master Sinclair said regarding his advices from Charleston and Georgetown?”

“The words are yet in my mind,” I replied laughingly, “as is also the memory of Major Gainey’s and Captain Barfield’s commands, which gave us but little trouble although General Marion rode with no more than forty men. Now, when he has a legion at his back, what can Tarleton hope to do?”

“You must remember that Tarleton has all the British army behind him,” Gabriel replied, and then he was interrupted by the return of those who had gone into council.