CHAPTER IV

THE RECRUITS

Even though I was so woefully distressed in mind, yet did I have a hearty appetite for that which Jeremy had brought, and Skinny showed that the fear of death was not so heavy upon him but that he could eat like a glutton, for we two fell upon the food as if we had been famished, eating like friends and enjoying every mouthful.

Meanwhile Jeremy told us of what he had seen around town, which was nothing of great importance either to the Cause or to us while we were thus mired, as you might say, with a prisoner.

After the meal had come to an end, and I am free to confess that we ate more rapidly than lads who are supposed to have had a decent bringing up should eat, we, meaning Jeremy and I, talked of this and that concerning ourselves, but never once speaking of the present situation, or of what the lobster-backs might do to us of Philadelphia in time to come.

It was as if we dared not give words to the thoughts which would come into our minds, and we therefore spoke on indifferent subjects, as if it was a relief to thus put far from us all the dangers that hung so thickly.

Because of knowing that young Chris was engaged in raising recruits for our company of Minute Boys, I had no expectation of seeing him until perhaps another night had come, therefore was my surprise great when within two hours after Jeremy’s arrival we heard the sounds of whispered voices in that passage between the timbers which led to our hiding place.

An instant later young Chris made his appearance, followed by three lads, all of whom I believed I had reason to know were friends to the Cause.

They were Harvey Norris, Sam Elder, and Timothy Bowers; good lads and true as I believed, and yet I would not have had them there at that time.

“Talk about raising a company of Minute Boys,” young Chris exclaimed in a tone of triumph. “Why I could recruit a regiment in four and twenty hours, if it was necessary. Look you here! The first three I came across, and all standing ready to do whatsoever they may for the Cause, knowing that we are like to be called upon for dangerous service--”

“Do they know in what kind of a hobble we are this moment?” Jeremy asked grimly, and Tim Bowers replied as if he was thoroughly well satisfied with the situation:

“Ay, that we do, Jeremy, and if it is a case of holding Skinny Baker prisoner here during the remainder of this year, I promise faithfully not to complain at having to perform my part of guarding him.”

The other lads made much the same talk; but, nevertheless, I was not easy in mind. The first that I had with which to find fault was the coming of so many into our hiding place.

It was not probable that six lads, as we now numbered, could come in and out from beneath the lumber pile without finally attracting the attention of the lobster-backs. Once they were grown curious as to why we crawled among the timbers, the secret of our hiding place would speedily be made known, and if peradventure Skinny Baker remained at that time our prisoner, then was the whole fabric of the Minute Boys of Philadelphia come to the ground.

However, the mischief, if mischief it was, had been done, and it was useless for me to borrow trouble when there was no possibility of avoiding it. Therefore, striving as best I might to put on a pleasant face, I asked young Chris what he had learned in the city.

It appeared from his conversation that he had given no attention to anything whatsoever save the raising of recruits. In fact, he had not even considered it necessary to go home in order to relieve his mother’s anxiety; but, finding these three lads ready to join in that proposition made by Master Dingley, he must needs come back to where Jeremy and I were, in order to acquaint us with what he considered his good fortune, instead of trying to make out, as I believed we should do, whether the British officers who had come upon the spy at the London Coffee-House, were yet minded to search for him.

And there was another element of danger in this work of young Chris’s, which I failed to heed until after it was too late to remedy the matter.

He had, and I am free to confess that I was equally guilty, spoken of our company of Minute Boys in the presence of Skinny Baker, who, unless he was a veritable simple, could understand all that we proposed to do.

More than this, while Sam and his comrades were telling of their willingness to do whatever might be required, the name of Master Dingley was mentioned several times, and thus was it that Skinny Baker could put together all the story of our wanderings during the night previous.

If he should succeed in making his escape, he could tell to the lobster-backs every thing of so-called treason to the king with which we were engaged, and, in addition, he had sealed the doom of Master Dingley if so be he should be captured.

Well, the mischief was done, and now were there greater reasons why Skinny must be held close prisoner, therefore it was I put the matter plainly to these new comrades who were so proud in calling themselves Minute Boys of Philadelphia, asking how we should divide our time, for it was not reasonable more than two need remain on duty at once.

Before we were well into the discussion, for a discussion did ensue owing to young Chris, who claimed that he would take sole charge of the matter, Skinny came to realize more plainly than ever before, that we counted on keeping him there so long as our safety demanded it, and he would have been a simple indeed if he did not understand that such period of time meant during the stay of the lobster-backs in our city.

“Look here,” he said in a tone between a whine and a sniffle, “you fellows can’t hold me a prisoner very long. You are bound to get into trouble for what you have done already, and every hour you keep me here only makes it worse.”

“Oh, we can’t keep you, eh?” young Chris cried jeeringly. “Well, you will find, my fine buck, that we can hold you as long as we choose, and the way matters look at present, that will be quite a spell. In fact, I see no chance of your getting out of here until your friends, the lobster-backs, have left the city.”

“The British troops left the city!” Skinny cried in alarm. “Why you must be crazy to think of such a thing! They are like to be here this many a year, for when the king has whipped you rebels as you need to be whipped, then will a force of his troops remain here to see that you don’t do further mischief.”

Skinny’s anger had led him to give way to his temper, and the last words he spoke were very much in the nature of a threat, causing young Chris to leap upon the prisoner as if he was minded to do him bodily harm.

“Do you dare threaten us, and tell about what is to be done to rebels?” he cried, giving voice so loudly that I leaped forward, clapping my hand over his mouth, for certain it was if any had been passing the lumber pile just then they would have heard the outcry.

“You must remember where you are, Chris Ludwig!” I cried, and now it was my turn to show anger. “Are you minded to betray to any who may be near at hand our hiding place, when you know what would be the result if we were taken prisoners? Where is the harm if Skinny makes threats? That is all he can do, and, to tell the truth, I have a better liking for the cur when he shows some bit of spirit, rather than whining like a baby as he has done since we first captured him.”

Young Chris struggled to throw off my grasp, as if it was still his intent to strike the prisoner, and then it was that Jeremy took a hand in what was rapidly becoming a scrimmage, by laying hold of the lad’s arm and literally dragging him back to the further end of the cave-like hiding place, saying in a tone which could not be misunderstood:

“If so be you are minded to play the fool, young Chris, then has it come time for me to get out of your company, and leave this Minute Boy association which has hardly yet been formed, for I have no desire to show myself on the scaffold, as is like to be the case if you continue in this hot-headed manner!”

But for the fact that Jeremy was not given to making vain threats, I believe young Chris would have insisted upon pummeling Skinny because of what he had said. But he knew full well that this comrade of ours did not indulge in idle words, and therefore it was he held his peace, although with very ill grace, and now was added another to the many troubles I had come upon since we first met Master Dingley.

It was Tim Bowers who attempted to straighten out matters, understanding that young Chris’s ill temper might bring us all into trouble, and he said in a matter-of-fact tone:

“If so be we are to form ourselves into a company of Minute Boys, and if also we are to do such things as are like to bring our necks within a British halter, then it seems to me wise we should decide which one shall be our leader. Let us choose a captain now, since there are six of us who are disposed to make up the company, and agree solemnly that each and every one will obey instantly any command he may give.”

There was nothing more than good sense in this remark, and I had it in mind to say that Jeremy Hapgood should be chosen captain of the Minute Boys, when the lad himself spoke up:

“It is Richard Salter who shall act as captain of this company, according to my way of thinking. He it was who first had the wit to aid Master Dingley, and I believe he has sufficient of good sense to pull us through any difficulties we may get into, if so be we do as Tim has proposed and obey his every order without stopping to question.”

“But I don’t want to be captain; there are others here who can do it better--you yourself, for instance, Jeremy Hapgood.”

Now I would not undertake to say young Chris had it in mind that he should be the commander of our company; but certain it is I noted an expression of dissatisfaction on his face, and if so be I could have trusted the lad to help us out of a tight place I would have suggested, for the sake of keeping harmony, that he be chosen leader. That much, however, I dared not do, and before it was possible for me to speak, Tim Bowers said quickly:

“I am ready to serve under Richard Salter, and to do whatsoever he may command.”

So also spoke Jeremy, Sam and Harvey, young Chris holding his peace. I protested, but it was of no avail.

All save Chris were determined I should take upon myself the leadership of the company, and although I shrank from such a responsibility, it seemed better I assume it than to throw the honor, for indeed it was an honor, aside that Master Ludwig might take it up, because I knew if the lad was allowed his head a sufficient length of time, he would bring us all into direst trouble.

After turning the matter over in my mind while one might have counted twenty, I decided upon such a course of action as would carry us through, I hoped, with safety until the morning. To this end I said to my comrades, striving the while not to put on any show of authority:

“There is no reason why all of us remain here throughout the night, and a good reason why those of us who can, should go home. Therefore it is I appoint Jeremy Hapgood and Timothy Bowers to take charge of Skinny Baker from now until morning. The rest of us are to crawl out one by one, taking due care not to be seen by the lobster-backs, and make such arrangements at home as will permit of our using the time as best we can for the benefit of the Cause. Again, it has been agreed with Master Dingley that one of us would remain nearabout the London Coffee-House. Because it must be a lad whom he has already seen, I propose that young Chris perform this duty. It shall be his business to loiter nearabout that place from to-morrow morning until nightfall, picking up whatever he may from the conversation of the lobster-backs, and keeping constantly on watch for Master Dingley, or whoever he may send in his stead.”

It was perhaps unwise; in fact, at the moment I made such a selection, I knew that we were taking more than a few risks in giving to young Chris the post of duty at the Coffee-House. The most difficult task the lad found in life was to hold his tongue, even when his elders were speaking, and there was real danger he might, feeling unduly important because of being chosen for the post, act or talk in such a suspicious manner as to give the Britishers cause for looking after him sharply.

“When am I to come back here?” young Chris asked as he made his preparations to depart, and I verily believe he counted on beginning his work immediately, although there was no possibility Master Dingley would send anyone into the city before to-morrow at the earliest.

“You will come here only when you are sent for, or after having received some word from the spy.”

“But he may not show himself for a week,” young Chris said in a tone of dissatisfaction, and I replied sharply, for inasmuch as I had been chosen captain I intended to exercise the authority, mildly if I might, harshly if it became necessary:

“Then you will remain on duty there a week, unless we need you here. There is one thing positive: We must not come in and out of this hiding place oftener than may be absolutely necessary. For us to run to and fro at will is, as you yourself can see, most dangerous.”

To this young Chris made no reply; but straightway crept out between the timbers and was gone, while Jeremy and I sat looking at each other questioningly, for there was in his mind much the same as that which had come into mine, concerning the possibility that young Chris’s zeal and desire to show himself of importance might bring us to grief.

“I couldn’t have done differently,” I said in reply to the question I saw in Jeremy’s eyes. “He was angry, or, I will say at least disgruntled, because you lads chose me for your captain, and it seems to me in the highest degree important we keep him feeling fairly good natured. I do not believe young Chris would deliberately work us a harm if things went wrong; but I am afraid he might allow certain tokens of ill temper to escape him now and then, which would prove disastrous. Therefore did it seem to me best that we take the chances of putting him at the coffee-house where he can, by his ill temper, do us a bad turn, with the hope that matters may go as we would have them.”

Anyone with half an eye could see that Skinny Baker was decidedly pleased because we were having so much trouble among ourselves, and he was ill advised enough to say in a sneering tone:

“Before you lads get through with this business, you will understand to your cost that it is a dangerous matter, not only to take innocent lads prisoners without rhyme or reason, but also to plot against his majesty.”

I had always thought Tim Bowers a mild mannered lad; but at this moment he showed himself quite the contrary, for, moving toward Skinny in a threatening manner, he said sharply:

“If I am to have a hand in the guarding of a Tory cur like you, young Baker, bear this well in mind: That I will take no such words whatsoever from anyone. It may be cowardly to strike a prisoner, as I have heard said; but if you make further talk about plotting against his majesty, then will I give you such a drubbing as to make you wish there never had been a king in England who insisted in sticking his nose into our affairs.”

I made no attempt to interfere. Tim was to be on guard during the night, and he should handle Skinny as best it pleased him.

I was burning to get home that I might talk with my mother about what we had done, and consult her regarding future movements. Therefore it was I said that I would go, and come back again before daylight. At the same time I suggested that the other two lads creep out from the hiding place, one in advance of the other, as soon as night had come.

“Be careful in leaving here, and doubly cautious when you come back,” I added. “According to my way of thinking, Sam Elder, it would be a good idea for you, to-morrow, to remain near where young Chris is on duty. There is a possibility you may be able to prevent him from the shame of doing that which would work to our harm.”

“I’ll be there,” was the prompt reply, “and although it is not in my mind to agree that I or any other lad can keep young Chris straight, you may count it as certain I will do my best.”

Then it was that I shook Jeremy by the hand as if reckoning on being absent a long time. There was so much of danger surrounding us, and the lad had ever been a good friend of mine, that no one might say whether we two could come together again free, or if by chance our next meeting might be in General Howe’s headquarters where we stood accused of treason.

When I set off for Drinker’s alley I made it my way to pass nearby the London Coffee-House, and there, sure enough, was young Chris, parading to and fro just outside the door in such a consequential manner that whosoever saw him, and took any particular note of the boy, would know he had something on hand which he believed to be of importance.

Fortunately, so I said to myself, no one would suspect a lad like him of having treasonable designs, and therefore the lobster-backs would pay little or no heed to his manner, save it might be in the way of sport.

Striving earnestly to dismiss all disagreeable thoughts from my mind, and verily if I was so inclined I could find much to cause fear and distress, I hurried on toward Drinker’s alley, looking forward to the meeting with my mother as I had never before done.

I understood that, because of what I had agreed upon with Master Dingley, I might not be able to see very much of her in the future, or that before many days had passed she might fail of seeing me because of my being held prisoner, and such thoughts caused my heart to be very tender toward the one person in all the world who I knew full well loved me dearly.

Mother herself opened the door as I came up, thus showing that she must have been on the watch for me, and when she had led me up the stairs through the hallway and down again into the rear portion of the house where was the kitchen, explaining what was her purpose in thus conducting me secretly, as you might say, I understood only too well why she had been on watch.

“Jeremy Hapgood has already told me what you have agreed to do for the Cause, and although it gives me a certain degree of pride to know that a son of mine may be able to accomplish something in this work of freeing the colonies, yet am I borne down with grief and apprehension, for already have you done that which I fear must of necessity bring the British officers upon you.”

“What is it you think we have done, mother?” I asked, trying to assume an innocent air lest she should understand that my heart, too, was filled with forebodings.

“What other could it be than that you have been so unwise as to make a prisoner of Benjamin Baker?” she asked as if in a tone of reproach, although I knew full well that all her heart was full of sympathy for me and that which I would do.

“Well, what if we have taken Skinny to where we kept the boat? I don’t fancy he is of such importance in this city that there will be any great hue and cry raised concerning him, if he fails to go home within a certain time.”

“It is there that you are making a mistake, my son, for already has the hue and cry been raised. Within the hour Master Baker himself came here to ask if you knew aught concerning his son’s absence, which goes to show that he must have some suspicion you are concerned in the matter.”

“I have no question but that Skinny’s father and mother will both be alarmed concerning him, and sorry am I that we were forced to take the little scoundrel prisoner; but he would have it so by spying on us. Look you, mother, if we had not taken him as we did, by this time it would be known that we aided Master Dingley to escape, and you well understand what would be our fate in such an event. It was his liberty or ours, and I chose that it should be his. If so be we can keep our hiding place a secret--”

“For how long, my son? There must be an end to your holding Benjamin Baker a prisoner. What do you count on doing with him?”

“That is a matter which must be referred to Master Dingley when next we meet him, if so be we are fortunate enough. Certain it is that Skinny cannot be allowed to go free, else we must flee the city. My greatest fear is that someone will, while young Chris is in the plot, finally come to know of our hiding place. I question much whether the lobster-backs would take any interest whatever in Skinny’s absence; but surely they would look after us if he had a chance to tell them what we did in regard to Master Dingley.”

“But they are already taking interest, my son. Without really playing the eavesdropper, I heard our lodgers discussing the matter this afternoon. It seems that Master Baker has been to headquarters, and while as yet you are not suspected, save perchance the lad’s father himself may think you were interested in the matter in some way, it is believed by the Britishers that the appearance of the spy who was discovered in the London Coffee-House, has somewhat to do with Benjamin’s unaccountable absence.”

“And did you hear them say that they were deeply grieved because Skinny failed to show himself on the street?” I asked in what I intended should be a jovial tone, but down deep in my heart was I beginning to grow more timorous even than ever.

“It seems to me serious for this reason: They claimed, during the conversation which I overheard, that by seeking out Benjamin, it may be possible for them to come upon the trail of the spy who disappeared so strangely. It appears that during the day all the houses on Chestnut street were searched with the belief that he might have taken refuge in one of them. Finding that such was not the case, they have come to believe he has a hiding place here where he can come and go at will.”

During a full half-minute I stood looking blankly into my mother’s face, not knowing what I could say that would calm her fears, and at the same time striving with all my will to down the timorousness which was coming over me.

“What do you count on doing with Benjamin?” my mother repeated after a long pause, and I shook my head as does one who is at a loss for words.

From the bottom of my heart I wished I might be able to tell her exactly what we _would_ do with him, for verily was he rapidly becoming an elephant on our hands, and certain to bring us low if the lobster-backs were taking up the search for him.

If peradventure Jeremy Hapgood and I were the only ones concerned in the matter, then would I believe that he and I might keep the secret during so long a time that the search for Skinny would be given up; but with young Chris having a finger in the pie, and so eager to let it appear that he had important business on hand concerning the colony, or the king, or both, it seemed certain something regarding our movements must speedily leak out.

However, it was necessary I say that to my mother regarding our future plans which would ease her mind, and since we had none, I made a bluff at it by outlining what I would be pleased to do.

“If it so chances that the lobster-backs suspect us lads of aiding those who come into the city from the American army as spies, then must we flee, going to Valley Forge, and even though we may not be allowed, because of our age, to enroll ourselves as soldiers, it is necessary we stay under the protection of our own people. When that time comes, we shall take Skinny with us.”

“But you are thus counting to cut yourself off entirely from me, my son,” mother said in a tone of deepest sadness. “Since your father’s death you, Richard, are all I have left that makes life worth the living, and with you in the army, or, what is even worse, a camp follower, I truly believe I should die of fear and grief.”

“Yet when Master Dingley made the proposition which he did, you would not have had me say nay,” I cried earnestly, and she, dear soul, answered like the true woman she was:

“Of course not, my son; but what I would have had is that you had never met this Master Dingley.”

“But knowing we did meet him, mother, and that it was possible for us to save his life, would you have had me turn my back upon the man, allowing him to be led to the gallows when it should please General Howe’s high mightiness to hang him?”

“You have done no more, my son, than was your duty; no more than your father would have bidden you do were he on this earth. And yet even that fact does not console me, nor will it give me comfort when you are away, and I all ignorant of your whereabouts.”

Well, we two talked in this strain until it was as if my heart was near to bursting. Then, striving to show myself some part of a man, I said with as much of courage as I could coax into my voice:

“Since it has all come about, mother, by chance as you might say, and because I am in a hobble from which there is no escape if I stay at home as before this thing came about, let us put the best face we can upon it. Try to believe what seems reasonable, which is that I shall succeed in keeping out of the clutches of the lobster-backs, and that it will be possible for me to see you, if not every day, at least many times in the week. We will live in the hope that General Washington counts on leaving Valley Forge soon, to pay a visit to this city of Philadelphia.”

Then it was I tried to persuade her that there was fair reason for believing our people counted on making some speedy move, bringing up as proof the fact that Master Dingley had deemed it of greatest importance word be sent out of the city to Valley Forge frequently, and arguing that unless there was some plan of attack in General Washington’s mind, he would not be concerning himself regarding the lobster-backs in Philadelphia, for they were surely doing no harm to the Cause while they remained in our city idling their time away with foolish sports.

Perhaps it was because she wanted to believe all this might be true, which caused her to lend a favoring ear to my words, and after we had talked together an hour, mayhap, she seemed right cheerful in mind, going about her household duties, the chiefest of which seemed to be caring for my comfort.

Had I eaten all she set before me, then must I have died of over-feeding, for the dear woman appeared to think, because I had been away all night, that I must be well-nigh famished, even though she had sent by Jeremy sufficient of food to keep a hungry boy satisfied during at least eight and forty hours.

It was not yet sunset when she insisted that I go to bed because of having remained awake all the night previous, and in truth I was willing to act upon her suggestion, for my eyelids were so heavy by the time I had been sitting in front of the kitchen fire half an hour, that I could keep them open only by the greatest exertion.

It seemed to me I had no more than lost myself in slumber, when I was awakened by mother’s hand being laid gently on my cheek, at the same time that she shook me lovingly into consciousness.

I started up in alarm, for at that moment my dreams were most unpleasant, I fancying myself in the power of the lobster-backs.

When I would have cried out in fear, she placed her hand gently over my mouth as she whispered:

“Samuel Elder has come to see you, and claims it is important that he deliver a message.”

“Why not let him come up here?” I asked, and she replied:

“Because all our lodgers are in the house, having with them no less than a dozen others from the Royal Irish regiment, and I fear to have them see the lad; he looks so startled and frightened that there would be good reason for them to suspect him of mischief.”

“Where is he now?”

“I have left him in the shed, not daring to do otherwise, and you are to come down at once.”

This last portion of my mother’s speech was not needed, for on the instant she uttered Sam’s name I concluded young Chris had succeeded in getting himself into some kind of a difficulty which would work to our disadvantage, and was putting on my clothes as rapidly as ever a lad could.

“Do you believe it will be necessary to go away from home again to-night?” my mother asked, and I, fearing the moment had come when I might be forced to flee for very life, replied with as much of carelessness as I could assume:

“If it should so be that I must, mother, I promise to come back within four and twenty hours, so do not fret if I go directly away with Sam Elder.”

“It is useless to warn me against fretting, my son, for what mother could know that her boy was in gravest danger, as I fear you are, and not feel anxiety?”

I made no attempt to reply to this, else would the tears have come into my eyes, and she, kissing me fondly again and again, turned away as I went down the stairs toward the shed, feeling much like one who goes to the scaffold.

Fortunately, matters were not so serious as I had allowed myself to fear. At least they did not seem so at the time, for when I was come to where Sam remained half-hidden in the shed, he told me that which lifted a great burden from my heart.

Instead of waiting for the morrow before he stood watch over young Chris, it appears that shortly after I went out from the lumber pile, Sam and Jeremy decided it would be well if he had a look around in the vicinity of the London Coffee-House, and there he saw, as had I, the baker’s son parading to and fro.

Sam was far too cautious a boy to go directly up to young Chris, fearing lest the lad might say something incautiously which would give an inkling of his purpose. Therefore he remained at a distance up Chestnut street, seeing nothing especial to cause alarm until he was startled by a hand being laid upon his shoulder from behind, and, turning, he saw a stranger, who later he came to believe was none other than Master Dingley.

“Who is yonder lad?” the man asked, pointing to young Chris, and Sam, ever cautious, instead of replying asked a question in return:

“Why would you know that, sir?”

“Simply to gratify a curiosity, young master,” the stranger replied laughingly, and added, “are you a friend of yonder lad?”

“Ay, that I am.”

“And are you also friendly with one Richard Salter?”

“I may say that it pleases me to look upon Richard as a friend, more than it does to count young Chris as one.”

“And do you know where young Master Salter is at this moment?”

“Ay, that I do.”

“Can you get word to him from me?”

“To what end, sir?” Sam asked suspiciously.

“There is no reason why you should be on your guard against me,” the man said with a smile, “and yet I like it well that you are. You need give me no information regarding Richard Salter; but I would have you, if so you please, take this word to him: Say that one whom he aided within the past four and twenty hours would have speech with him as soon as may be at the Jolly Tar inn.”

Having said this the man turned sharply about, and Sam, believing he had but just had speech with Master Dingley, came to my home with all speed.