In Hostile Red. Altsheler Joseph Alexander

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ makes one think of the mountains and lakes, and of sleep under the trees," said Vivian, who was of our company.

      "I warn you that you will not have a chance, Vivian, to go to sleep under a tree or anywhere else," said Blake. "We have more important business than day-dreaming in hand. This fellow Wildfoot, who is worse than a plague, must be trapped to-day."

      "I trust that we shall have him hanging from a strong oak bough before nightfall," said Belfort, who also had been sent on the service.

      "I can scarce say that," continued Blake, who was a gallant fellow. "I would rather fight these people with the sword than with the cord."

      The country seemed to be the abiding-place of peace. The district through which we rode had not been harried, and we saw some farmers going about their business.

      They noticed us but little; doubtless soldiers had ceased long since to be an unaccustomed sight to them. The fresh air and the beauty of the country acted like a tonic upon us. We broke into a gallop, our sabres clanking at our sides. I forgot for the moment that I was with enemies, – official enemies.

      "We should meet Barton somewhere near here," said Blake.

      Barton was the commander of the first troop that had been sent out to trap Wildfoot. Blake had been sent along later, for fear Barton's squad would not be strong enough for its task. Blake was to command both detachments when they united.

      "Barton may not like to be superseded thus," said Blake, "but it is the general's orders. He did not wish to take unnecessary risks."

      "Anyway, we will make sure of the rebels," said Belfort, "and a bit of service like this does not come amiss, after so many weeks of feasting and dancing in Philadelphia."

      "Those must be our friends on that distant hill-side yonder," broke in Marcel, "for against the green of the grass there is a blur of red, which I take to be British coats."

      Marcel was right, and the two parties soon formed a junction. Barton, a middle-aged officer, did not seem so displeased as Blake thought he would be at the coming of the reinforcements and his own supersession in the command.

      "What news?" asked Blake eagerly of him. "Have you seen anything of the rebels yet?"

      "No," replied Barton; "but if you will ride with me to the crest of this hill, I will show you the wagon-train."

      Blake beckoned to several of us to accompany him, and we ascended the hill, which was crowned with oak-trees.

      "See, there they are," said Barton, pointing into the valley beyond, "and I think those wagons carry enough food to tempt the starving rebels to almost any desperate deed."

      About thirty large Conestoga wagons, each drawn by four stout bullocks, were moving along slowly and in single file. From where we stood we could hear the creaking of the wagon wheels and the cracking whips of the drivers.

      "You are right about the temptation," said Blake, "and if Wildfoot and his men mean to make the dash upon them according to our advices, this is the place for it. It would be a matter of great ease for them to surround the wagons in that valley. You have been careful to leave no evidence of your presence, Barton?"

      "Yes; this is the nearest that we have been to the wagons," replied Barton. "If the rebels are about, they cannot suspect that the train has other guard than the soldiers you see riding with it."

      "I think it would be wise to keep watch as long as we can from this summit," said Blake. "It is well wooded, and will serve to conceal us from the rebels."

      "Captain," said a soldier who had ridden up hastily, "Lieutenant Vivian wishes your presence immediately."

      Vivian had been left in charge for the moment of the soldiers down the hill-side; and Blake, saying to us, "Come on, gentlemen," galloped back to him. We found the entire troop drawn up as we had left them, but all were gazing towards the north. We looked that way too, and at once saw the cause of this concentrated vision. Just out of musket-range and under the boughs of a large oak-tree were three or four horsemen. Their reins hung loose, and their attitudes were negligent and easy, but all wore the uniforms of Continental soldiers. Their coats were ragged and faded, as in truth were all the uniforms in our army, but enough of the color was left to allow no room for doubt.

      "By heavens, this savors much of impertinence!" said Blake. "How came they there?"

      "We do not know," responded Vivian. "One of the men called my attention, and we saw them sitting there just as they are now."

      I had been examining the men with great attention. The one who was nearest to us was large, dark, and apparently very powerful. His figure did not appear altogether strange to me. I was vexing my brain in an endeavor to account for the recollection, when Marcel leaned over and whispered to me, —

      "Behold him, Chester. It is the lively gentleman who chased us so hotly when we fled into the arms of our friends the British."

      "What is that you say?" asked Blake, who saw Marcel whispering to me.

      "I was reminding Lieutenant Melville," replied Marcel, "that we had unexpectedly renewed an acquaintance. The large man who sits nearest to us is the leader of the band who chased us into the midst of your troop the other day."

      "We failed to take him then," responded Blake, quickly, "but I do not think he can escape us now."

      "It would be a pity to use arms on such skulkers," said Belfort. "They should be lashed into submission with whips."

      A hot reply was rising to my lips, but Blake said lightly: "Then we will even delegate the task of lashing them to you, Belfort. We will look on while you ride forward and perform your duty. But wait! what does that fellow mean?"

      The large man had taken notice of us apparently for the first time. With deliberate action he hoisted a piece of white cloth on the muzzle of his gun-barrel, and then began to ride slowly towards us.

      "Does he mean that they surrender?" asked Blake.

      "I think not," said Marcel. "That is a flag of truce. He wishes to confer with you."

      "I would hold no conference with him," said Belfort. "He is a rebel and not worthy of it. Let us ride forward and shoot them down."

      "Not so," said Blake; "we must recognize a certain degree of belligerency in them, rebels though they be, and we will hear what he may have to say. Let no one raise a weapon against him while he bears that white flag. The honor of England forbids it."

      Belfort was silent under the rebuke, but I could see that it stung him. The American continued to approach, but when he was midway between us and his companions he stopped.

      "Come," said Blake, "we will meet him." Accompanied by a party of officers – Marcel, Belfort, Vivian, and myself among the number – he rode forward. We stopped within speaking-distance of the man, who waited very composedly. Then Blake hailed him and demanded his name and his errand.

      "I am Captain William Wildfoot, of the American army," said the man, "and I have somewhat to say to you that may be to your profit, if you take heed of it."

      There were some murmurs in our group when the famous ranger so boldly announced himself, and Blake said, in an undertone, "It would in truth be a great mischance if the fellow escaped us now."

      Then he said to Wildfoot: "We have heard of you, and I may say have been looking for you, СКАЧАТЬ