CHAPTER V
BARFIELD’S CAMP
Not until we were come to that portion of the thicket where the moss had been cut and trampled by the feet of the horses, did we see a fallen and curiously twisted oak-tree which proved beyond a peradventure that we were standing in the very spot where we had left Archie and his prisoner. Then we two lads were forced to the conviction that some dire disaster had befallen our comrade.
We stood gazing at each other as though unable to speak, while one might have counted thirty, and then Gabriel asked, as if he neither knew nor had any idea where duty lay:
“What is to be done?”
Before he could say any more I replied hotly, angered because he had questioned as to the course which should be pursued:
“We must search for Archie, and having learned his whereabouts, do what we may toward his escape, for there can be no doubt but that Seth Hastings, being now his keeper instead of his prisoner, will make it as uncomfortable as possible for the poor fellow!”
“That is what we would do, William Rufus, if we three had come here on our own affairs; but I am asking if we have the right to consider Archie at all in this matter?”
“Why should we not consider him?” I cried passionately.
“For the reason that we shall be untrue to the Cause if, in order to save the life of one, we sacrifice twenty or more, as will be the case if we spend our time searching for poor Archie when we know my brother and his men are riding in this direction depending upon the information which we should give them.”
“But would you leave a comrade to be killed, perhaps, for who can say what Seth Hastings will not do, when it may be possible for you to save him?”
“Hark ye, lad,” and now Gabriel Marion spoke as a man twice his age might have spoken. “All our efforts are to be for the benefit of the Cause, and it is the same as if we had solemnly sworn it. Now tell me, with Archie on one side, and all our people who have rendezvoused at Snow’s Island on the other, which are we to sacrifice? It comes exceedingly near being in our power to say that the troops shall be allowed to tempt death, but at the same time we are not positive any assistance can be given the lad.”
“But, Gabriel!” I cried entreatingly, for it cut me to the heart that he should set our comrade aside as he might an entire stranger. “Are we not bound to do all we may toward aiding one of our company, and you know Archie ventured here only that he might be counted as a member of the Minute Boys? Are we to turn our backs upon him, raising no hand in his behalf?”
“Rufus, you and I have been warm friends since first we could remember, and if you, instead of Archie, had been taken prisoner, and he argued with me as you are doing, I should then say as I say now: Our duty lies in that direction where we may best aid the Cause. The lives of a few boys are not to be compared with those of thirty men. You yourself must admit that the Carolinas can lose us three lads without suffering an irreparable loss, whereas if my brother--and I’m not saying this because he _is_ my brother--and those who are gathered around him should be cut off now, then must all hope of resistance to the king’s forces in this section of the country be abandoned, at least for a certain time.”
“But they may continue on without information from us, and attack the camp with the same result as when they charged down on Major Gainey’s force,” I cried, and Gabriel answered with a tone of reproof in his voice:
“Now, lad, you know full well that your words are empty ones. We have seen the force here, and I ask what in your opinion would be the result if our people charged this camp as they did the one last night?”
As a matter of course I could do no more than hold my peace, for it went without saying that if General Marion and his followers should attempt any such manœuvre as had been executed a few hours previous, the chances were as ten to one they would come to grief. This I was forced to admit to my companion, while yet unwilling to leave Archie to his possible fate without having made some effort to aid him, and after a short pause I said with as much of firmness in my tone as it was possible to command at the moment:
“You shall go back and give the necessary information to our people, and I will do what I may hereabout.”
“I was afraid you might make some such proposition as that, Rufus Randolph.”
“Why were you afraid?” I asked irritably.
“Because it could have no other effect than that of giving Seth Hastings two prisoners instead of one. Recall to memory what we have seen, and then tell me if you believe on your honor that it would be possible for you to effect anything whatsoever toward Archie’s release? The only hope--and it would be one chance in ten--is that Seth Hastings remains with his prisoner somewhere outside of the encampment; but that we both know, whether willing to admit it or not, is in every way improbable. The Tory cur, mindful of his own hide, and desiring above all things to keep our comrade in his clutches, would ride at full speed to the Britishers, to show them whose favor he is unquestionably desirous of gaining, that he had been able to capture a scout and three horses. Verily a deed like that would win him some consideration from Captain Barfield, however much that officer might dislike such a traitor as Seth has shown himself to be. Then again, as a second reason for his seeking the encampment at the earliest possible moment, he would do so for his own safety as well as the proper guarding of the prisoner, because of our being at liberty. However much of a cur that scoundrel may be, you cannot truthfully say he is an idiot.”
Now I could not in reason make any further protest, and Gabriel insisted, for his arguments were unanswerable, that unless I was willing to take the chance of working irreparable injury to the Cause, it was necessary to turn my back upon the brave little lad who would have risked every danger in order to aid one of us.
My heart was sore indeed as we set off up the stream, on foot, of course, since we had lost the horses, and the only ray of light which came to my mind in all that distressing situation, was that most probably General Marion would be willing to make an attack upon such an overwhelming number rather than quietly leave one of his recruits in their hands.
“In such a warfare as we of the Carolinas must carry on now in order to hold even a footing in our native State,” Gabriel said, “it stands to reason that for a time at least whenever we make a movement, the odds will be heavy against us. Therefore it is I have somewhat of an idea that Captain Barfield’s camp will not remain undisturbed to-night. Neither Captain Horry nor General Marion is inclined to count the odds when there is an opportunity to strike a telling blow, and that information which we can give regarding the number of the force behind us may have weight with those two officers. In which case, unless we are cut down at the outset, you and I may yet be able to raise a hand in behalf of Archie Gordon.”
Although there was little hope in my mind just then that our people would do other than give the encampment a wide berth, Gabriel’s words soothed somewhat the pain in my heart, and from that moment, until we joined our friends, we ceased to speak of the possibilities, but gave every attention to making the utmost speed, for it was important we should come up with our party as soon as might be.
It yet lacked two hours of sunset when we caught a glimpse of those who were scouting in the advance of the troop, and five minutes later we were telling our story to the commander, giving it in the minutest details, even to the mysterious behavior of Seth Hastings.
To my surprise General Marion gave little heed to that portion of the story which related to the disaster at Camden. I had feared when he learned that most of our troops in the Carolinas had been cut down and dispersed, his first thought would be to secure the safety of those who had joined him; but he brushed the matter aside as if of no consequence as compared with the information we gave concerning the location of the camp. Even the size of the force under Captain Barfield was to him of secondary importance.
Then, our report having come to an end, he said quietly, as if reading the thoughts of all who were concerned in the capture of Archie:
“At the time you met the traitor he probably knew that in the immediate vicinity were a greater or less number of Barfield’s force, and counted that while holding you in conversation they would come up and capture all three. He did not make any objection to being gagged, because of knowing there were so many redcoats around him that he could not long remain undiscovered, and hoped to be able to bag you as well as Archie.”
“But the puzzle of it is that we heard no sound betokening a struggle while we crept up to get a view of the encampment,” Gabriel interrupted.
“And that is not strange, lad,” the general replied. “Most like the redcoats took your comrade entirely by surprise, and thus had no difficulty in preventing him from making an outcry. They had every reason to work quietly, more particularly after Seth Hastings had told them of you. The only mystifying part of the entire story is, that you succeeded in making your escape. How far away is the encampment?”
“Three or four miles,” Gabriel replied.
Then it was that General Marion gave word for his “ragged regiment” to dismount, and while the men fed their horses with such corn as had been brought by the party, the commander and Captain Horry stepped aside, evidently for a consultation, whereupon I whispered to Gabriel:
“They are deciding as to whether an attack shall be made upon the encampment,” and he replied with a smile:
“I venture to say, William Rufus, that the question between them is as to _how_ it shall be made, for if I mistake not, their countenances, while we were making our report, told that an attack had been decided upon without words.”
There was no opportunity for us to discuss the matter just then, for the Marshall boys and old Peter came up, having felt obliged to remain at a distance while we were in conversation with the commander, and insisted on hearing from our lips the strange story.
Gabriel took it upon himself to describe the adventure, and as if thinking one or the other of the listeners might find fault because we had turned our backs upon Archie in his time of danger, the dear lad explained at great length how difficult it had been for him to persuade me to rejoin the general’s force.
“We’s gwine to have that young Archie out ob de sogers’ han’s ’fore mornin’,” old Peter exclaimed in a tone of conviction, and Edward Marshall laughingly asked him why he was so positive, repeating again that which we had told him as to the number of men under Barfield’s command.
“Marse Marion is in de head ob dis yere army,” was all the negro thought it necessary to say, and I, who should have known the general better than he, could have kicked myself for doubting when an old servant had such implicit confidence in the bravery and daring of his master.
There was not a trooper in the company who did not feel positive that as soon as night had come we would be struggling with the enemy, and it stands to reason that I could not fail of being convinced when every one around me took it as a matter of course that an attack would be made. Therefore did I consult with my companions--meaning those of us who called ourselves Minute Boys of South Carolina--as to what should be our course of action when we charged the encampment.
“We must ride together, doing whatsoever we may to aid in the general attack, and at the same time giving the greater portion of our attention to seeking out the prisoner and his keeper,” Edward Marshall said decidedly, and Gabriel replied with a laugh which had in it nothing of mirth:
“You two lads may be able to take part in the charge; but Rufus and I have no longer horses, therefore must we follow on foot, and I am questioning whether, if the work be cut out as sharply as it was last night, we shall be able to arrive very early in the encounter.”
Now, strange as it may seem, until this moment I had not thought of how sadly Gabriel and I would be handicapped in the coming battle, for I believed of a verity there would be a battle, because it was not reasonable to suppose so many men could be put to flight by so small a number as ours, and straightway my hopes, which had been growing, faded away almost to despair, for at that time it seemed as if nothing could be done toward effecting Archie’s release unless I myself had a hand in the matter.
It was while I was thus mentally raging against fortune because our little party did not have with them led horses which might be pressed into service, that I chanced to remember, as if my memory was going back to seek out all of mischief and all of ill luck it could find, that Gabriel had unwittingly revealed to Seth Hastings the number of our force, and immediately I reminded the lad of his slip of tongue, suggesting that, perhaps, if General Marion knew how much of information the enemy might have concerning us, he would be less eager to take the chances of making an attack.
The blood left Gabriel’s face as he remembered, on thus being reminded, those unfortunate words, and he said with a tremor as of fear:
“In playing the braggart with such as Seth Hastings I may have compassed the death of these brave fellows! Come quickly, Rufus, and let me confess my fault!”
Then, running at full speed as if every second was precious, he went to where the general and Captain Horry were in consultation, breaking in upon them with a hurried recital of what he had said to Seth.
If I had expected to see Francis Marion give way to anger because his brother had been so injudicious, then was I grievously mistaken, for instead of displaying any impatience, the general said in a quiet tone to Captain Horry:
“As everything has turned, we have good reason to believe that victory will not be gained as easily in Barfield’s camp as at Gainey’s. The enemy must know that these lads were sent out as scouts, and with the knowledge of our strength it is not to be supposed we can make much of a fist at frightening them.”
“It will not displease me overly much if they stand up against us for awhile,” Captain Horry replied, as one would who speaks of matters which are going entirely to his liking. “We cannot get any especial credit for such work as last night’s; but if we can hold our own, or more, against an enemy as strong as we shall encounter this night, then much of the fear which the weak-kneed of our people are suffering because of the disaster at Camden will be overcome.”
It was on my tongue’s end to suggest that twenty could hardly hope to stand up very long against four hundred; but, fortunately, the words were not spoken, and thus I did not again prove myself a simple.
If you ask me whether I felt any fear regarding the coming attack, when we were to be outnumbered twenty to one, I must say “no,” and this not because I can be counted a lad of wondrous bravery, but simply for the reason that the desire to release Archie Gordon was so great there was no room in my mind for any other thought. To make this attack was but a means of gaining the end I so ardently desired.
Our people made no other preparation than that of resting and feeding themselves and their horses until an hour after sunset, and one would have said we were a party of idlers who cared only to pass the time as comfortably as might be; but when the commander and Captain Horry began saddling their horses, the bustle and excitement were decidedly of a warlike nature.
Old Peter proposed to carry me, during the short march, behind him on the saddle, and one of the troopers who bestrode a heavy beast afforded like service to Gabriel. Therefore we were not forced to lag in the rear during this march, which was made at a slow trot until having arrived at a point which Gabriel and I believed was not more than a mile from the encampment.
Then it was that we were halted, and our commander said, speaking in a low tone and yet so clearly that all could hear him:
“You already understand what may be expected when we strike the enemy. You know quite as well as I how important to the cause it is that we should come off victorious in whatsoever attempt is made just at this time. If you would save your own lives you must fight as you never did before, and if you would free your country, there must be in your hearts no fear of death.”
It was not so much the words, as the tone in which they were spoken, that thrilled me. Every nerve in my body was aquiver with excitement as I, in obedience to Captain Horry’s gesture, slipped off from old Peter’s horse and made ready to follow as best I might in the mad charge so soon to be made.
“You two lads shall not be handicapped by arriving too late,” General Marion said as if conferring upon us some great favor. “We will wait here ten minutes while you are advancing, and if it so be no obstacles are found in your way, you should be ready to join us in the attack.”
His was a thoughtfulness which touched me deeply, for it is not often that a man eager to win renown as a champion of his country’s cause, overburdened by that desire, stops to realize the sorrow a lad may feel because he is not allowed an opportunity of showing whether he can do full duty as a soldier. I vowed then, while I pressed forward by the side of Gabriel, who was advancing at his best pace, that however sorely fortune might buffet me, so long as Francis Marion remained at liberty to march against the enemy, so long would I follow him while I might.
Although Gabriel pushed forward rapidly, we were by no means careless. Not minded to lose our opportunity by coming across any of the enemy who might overpower us before the work began, we took due heed to everything around, and within the time set were hidden among the bushes less than forty yards from the nearest camp-fire belonging to the redcoats, our muskets charged, the ammunition where it could be got at most readily. Our ears were strained to catch the faintest sound which would tell us of the approach of those gallant men whose coming we awaited with breathless expectancy; I speculating, without thought of fear, however, as to how long our small number might stand before so great a force.
Then, far in the distance, I heard the muffled footfalls of the horses, and whispered to Gabriel:
“They are coming!”
“Ay, lad,” he said cautiously. “Now we will rise to our feet and be ready to join them as they come on, for I am not minded to bring up the rear at such a time.”
It was as if he had hardly more than spoken when there came a mighty trampling noise, as though on the instant all our people had spurred their horses forward, and I saw by the gleam of those fires in front of me men rising up quickly here and there, showing they had been awaiting some such warning, until it seemed to me a full regiment was waiting to oppose us.
After that there was no time for me to take in the details of this or that portion of the encampment, for Gabriel and I were running immediately behind the leaders, he having seized the tail of Captain Horry’s horse and I clinging to the general’s stirrup, until we were in the very midst of the enemy; muskets spitting fire; bullets whistling here and there; and with the pungent odor of burning powder filling one’s nostrils until the fever of battle was overpowering--until one was become as a machine, and yet a machine formed with the deadly purpose of taking human life.
I remember dimly that Peter, while I was loading and discharging my weapon with careful aim as rapidly as possible, rode up and insisted that I take his horse, claiming he could fight better on foot, and indeed the old fellow was doing his full share of the desperate work.
I refused the offer, giving no reason, but knowing that my aim would be better on the ground than in the saddle, and then came the knowledge that Gabriel Marion was pressing as closely to my side as he might, whereupon, when I moved as if to give him more room, he said grimly:
“Let us stand together, lad, for if it so be we get a glimpse of our comrade, or of that churlish Seth Hastings, it is needed that we act in concert.”
One more picture of that battle in the night still dwells in my memory, and it was presented when the Marshall boys, halting their horses by the side of Gabriel, leaped hurriedly to the ground and began firing at the redcoats as coolly as if engaged in a trial of skill, whereupon I said:
“Why do you not keep in the saddle that you may follow our people?” and Edward replied with a laugh which had in it no tremor of fear:
“Are we not Minute Boys of South Carolina as well as you, and shall we separate at the very moment when there is opportunity of showing what our company may do?”
However dire had been the danger, I must have laughed at that moment, when he spoke of us four boys as representing the company which we hoped would some day win renown, and yet the lad was right in telling us to stand together, for, without in any way thinking to take praise to myself, we did on that night make such a name for the company yet to be formed as brought to us more recruits than we had anticipated even in our wildest dreams.
I know not how it may be with others, but as for me, once the fumes of powder are in my nostrils, and the angry buzzing of bullets sounds in my ears, I lose consciousness, so to speak, even as I did on this night when I loaded and discharged my weapon until the barrel of the musket was hot, so that it burned my hands. I was wondering what must be the result when the gun was no longer in condition for use, but was interrupted in my speculations by a wild cry from Gabriel, as he seized my arm and rushed forward in what seemed to be the very thick of the fray, where were horses and men in one confused tangle.
“See! Yonder is Seth Hastings dragging Archie to cover!”
Then for the first time did my heart sink within me, because the cur of whom he spoke, with our comrade in his power, was on the other side of the encampment. Between them and us were both friend and foe, and it seemed absolutely certain we must plunge straight into death if any attempt to reach them was made.