The Boy Spies with the Regulators. Otis James

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      Well, bow and cringe as he might, our people would not listen to Fanning, and Master Hamilton told him sharply to get to the rear lest he be trampled under the feet of the horses.

      "We'll have neither you nor your liquor," he cried angrily, "and unless you get out of sight I'll not be answerable for the temper of these good friends who have come in search of Masters Husband and Hunter."

      CHAPTER III

      PROMISES

      "The sooner we march into Hillsborough and make an attack on the jail, the better for the Cause," Sidney Hubbard whispered to me when Fanning had come to understand that not one in all our company was willing to hob-nob with him. "To sit idly here is much like admitting we are afraid to do that which we have threatened, or as if we doubted the righteousness of our mission."

      It was not for one like me, who knew nothing whatsoever of warfare, to criticize what Master Hamilton might see fit to do, and yet I held much the same opinion as did Sidney.

      It would have been more to my liking had we crossed the river at full speed, surrounded the jail, and forced the keepers to deliver up the keys without parley.

      I would have had the matter settled in one way or another, within ten minutes, and surely there would be no more treason in the act if done quickly, than if we dawdled around half a day listening to the vaporings of those who claimed to be loyal servants of the king.

      We were yet drawn up in line, gazing at the town as if trying to decide whether we would go forward or back, when Master David Edwards, Governor Tryon's secretary, rode up opposite us, halted an instant to view the scene properly, and then began fording the stream.

      "Whether yonder royalist will try to frighten or cajole us, he is setting about the business in proper fashion," Sidney whispered approvingly. "He can't be accused of wasting time."

      "Hush!" I said, laying my hand on his to still him. "I would hear his speech with Master Hamilton, for if I mistake not he will settle the matter in short order, one way or another."

      The secretary had by this time crossed the river and was spurring his horse toward where Master Hamilton was posted, and as Sidney and I watched he saluted our commander courteously, not in lick-spittle fashion as had Fanning.

      "Why this war-like array, sir?" he asked, and Master Hamilton replied:

      "We have come for our friends who were made prisoners even while depending upon the governor's assurance that he wished simply to hold a parley. It was a breach of faith not seemly in one who represents his majesty, and we will never brook such high-handed proceedings."

      "In that you are to be commended, sir," the secretary replied, speaking fair and softly; "but I warrant you have not fully considered what may be the result of such show of force. Your friends have been taken into custody in what appeared to his excellency like a lawful manner, and it is meet they should be released with due form, else may you plunge this fair colony into all the horrors of civil war. For the sake of the people, Master Hamilton, I beg of you to withdraw, at least until his majesty's judges have time to deliberate upon the matter."

      "We are here, and can work our will, therefore it would be little less than folly to abandon the advantage."

      "You need not do so. I pledge my word as a gentleman that all the grievances of the people shall be redressed, if you allow this unhappy business to be settled in lawful fashion. Retire, and the matter will speedily be arranged as you desire. By so doing you may avoid bloodshed and the charges of treason."

      "And we have your sacred word, Master Edwards, that all this shall be done without loss of time?" one of the party who sat near our commander asked.

      "Aye, sir," the secretary cried, raising his voice that all might hear, "the affair shall be inquired into as soon as may be."

      "There are other matters that need attention, sir," Master Hamilton said stoutly. "Money has been extorted by Edward Fanning, from very many here, and without color of lawfulness."

      "Master Fanning shall answer to the judges of this colony, and, if found guilty of illegal proceedings, will be punished as should be the lowest of our citizens," Master Edwards cried, holding up his right hand as if taking a solemn oath.

      "And will you also pledge yourself that whatsoever has been done by those who belong to the Regulation, in the effort to gain redress, remains in abeyance until the first question has been settled?" our commander asked, and the secretary replied in the affirmative.

      "Here is one of your tax-collectors who, while attempting to arrest two lads, was himself made prisoner," and Master Hamilton pointed toward Sandy Wells. "Such resistance might be given the name of treason, if you were inclined to play us false."

      "The act shall pass as if it had never been committed, provided that you release your prisoner. Go to your homes, and at the earliest possible moment Governor Tryon will take the necessary steps to have all this unhappy business disposed of to your satisfaction."

      Master Hamilton wheeled his horse around, and, addressing our party, cried:

      "You hear, gentlemen all, what the representative of the governor has promised in the name of his master. Are you agreed to do as he proposes to the end that bloodshed may be averted?"

      "We are agreed," our people cried as if with one voice, and an instant later Sandy Wells was allowed to ride out from among the party, when he forded the river hurriedly as if fearing some one might try to hold him back.

      "We yet have his weapons as spoils of war," Sidney said gleefully to me, "and I warrant you he will not venture near Alamance for many days to come."

      "Think you we shall go free after having raised our hands against him?" I asked, hardly able to believe that such good fortune might be ours.

      "We have the secretary's solemn word for it," Sidney replied, and he had no more than spoken when the command was given for our people to wheel about in the direction of Maddock's Mill.

      The return was made at a rapid pace, and when we were arrived at this place a general halt was called, the assembly being told that the Regulation would be in session at George Sally's house next day "to consult upon the public good."

      Sidney and I thought just then more about our own bodies than the burning questions of the hour, and after taking care of our horses we camped in a grove near the mill, with nothing save the bushes to shelter us from dew and sun.

      We slept nearly eighteen hours, which atoned for the repose that was lost during the march to Hillsborough, and then, on the morning after our appearance before Hillsborough, were ready to discuss the condition of the "rebellion."

      That we were included in the truce was a matter of rejoicing, for it had seemed certain we would become fugitives, hiding on the Dan River; but both of us decided that it would not be well to venture within reach of Sandy Wells, unless we were so well armed as to be able to care for ourselves.

      As a matter of course we two lads went to George Sally's with the Regulators, but neither of us ventured to take any part in the proceedings, although much was done of which we did not approve.

      In the first place the Regulation prepared a petition to be presented to Governor Tryon, begging that Messrs. Husband and Hunter be speedily released in accordance with the promise made by Master Edwards; that the taxes of those who, by reason of their poverty, could not raise the required amount of money, be abated; СКАЧАТЬ