University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.
THE RUSE.

The limits of our story will not permit
us to accompany the party, composed of
Neal, Anne and the faithful black, each
step of their progress on their dangerous
enterprise. Favored by the storm and
darkness and by the direction of the sentry
whom Jesse had disarmed, they passed
the out posts and reached the American
lines in safety. Neal's British uniform
was concealed by his seaman's jacket,
in which he had enveloped himself.
Anne was protected by a cloak and furs
and bravely stood the fatigue of the three
miles walk which intervened between the
out posts of the British garrison and the
centre of the American camp at Cambridge.

Jesse proved an excellent guide; and
always having ready pass-word and countersign
when chalenged, in two hours
after, leaving her uncle's house within the
besieged town, Anne was in front of the
quarters occupied by General Washington.

Neal's feelings were sufficiently novel
at finding himself in the American camp,
and about to be ushered within the presence
of the Commander-in-chief of the
army opposed to that commanded by his
uncle and to which he had hitherto owed
service and allegiance. But he did not
hesitate. He had no feeling of regret.
He had become fully alive to the course
of duty: and if duty and honor did not
point him to serve the American cause,
love for the fair girl resting upon his arm
undisputably did so.

The hour was near midnight; but
lights were visible in several of the windows
as, after passing the sentry, Jesse
knocked at the door. It was opened by
a black footman who, recognising Jesse,
threw wide the door and admitted them.

`How is Master Frederick?' asked
Jesse in a low tone.

`About as he was when you left him,
but some little more fever! He has asked
after you a good many times.'

`Miss Anny, you and young master
Neal stop here in the hall a bit; and I'll
jist go up and tell him you are here and
all about it, so he need'nt be took by
surprise.'

The hall in which Jesse left them
plainly enough indicated the military occupation
of the house. Swords, and
belts, chapeous and pistols were hanging
from pegs around the walls or strewn on
the tables and settees. Military uniform
and camp-coats lay about, and the place
had that air of negligence which a common
hall might be supposed to wear after
midnight when all had retired.

`Which is General Washington's
apartment?' asked Neal of the footman.

`That front one,' he answered pointing
to a door on their left. `It is sleeping
and eating room. The other rooms
are occupied by his staff, and one by
young Captain Parks who was wounded
yesterday in rescuing a barge from the
enemy.'

`Was he badly wounded?' asked Anne
tremblingly.

`He received a spent ball in his forehead,
and was severely wounded in the
side; but the doctors think he may live.'

`May live? Then is his danger imminent.
I can never be too thankful,
Neal, that I have come.'

`I fear your fatigue and exposure will
endanger your own life, dear Anne.'

`No. I can never suffer from what I
have this night done. Here comes Jesse.'

`Come up, Miss Anne! Master Frederick
is told you is here. He wants to
see you.'

Anne flew up the stairs, but Neal folowed
at her side.

`I will not go in at present, Anne!
I would you should first let him know who
I am! I hope you will find him better
than you hope for.'

The reception of Anne by her brother
was very affecting. He blamed her for
adventuring so much, but expressed his
gratitude in the same words, that she was
with him. She found that he had fever
but was without pain, though he had been
severely wounded.

`Is there no danger of your dying, my
dear brother?' she asked with solicitude.

`None! The wounds are not mortal.
But the doctor says I must be kept quiet;
and that every thing depends on good
nursing for a week or two. I am glad
you are here! You were very kind and
brave to come! And how you have
changed! You are paler yet lovelier than
when we parted six months ago! Are
you not wearied with your walk?'

`Neal and Jesse carried me in their
arms a great part of the way.'

`Noble Jesse! And who is this Neal,
sister, that has risked danger with you!
Jesse says he is a young English officer!
Can it be possible.'

In a few words, with hesitation and
blnshing that betrayed to her brother the
secret of her heart, she told him who he
was; beginning with her first seeing him
when he rebuked the insolence of the
sentry up to the present evening.

`The nephew of General Howe! and
an American by birth! Educated in
England and attached to its naval service;
and now an aid of the Fnglish General!
I have heard of him! I trust he is all
you say he is; and that his conversion is
sincere!'

`It is brother! you have evidence of
it in his being now in the American
camp!'

`Let me be made known to him!—
Nay, don't object! I shan't talk too
much. I wish to see him, and thank
him. I wish Washington also to know
him!'

Neal was in a moment or two afterwards
introduced by Anne to her brother.
The two young men met with frankness
and mutual prepossession for each other.
In a few minutes they conversed together
like long known friends. Neal freely
discussed the change in his views and
feelings and spoke of his intention to
join the American Army so soon as he
should resign his present position.

`Resign?' exclaimed Frederic.

`Yes. I intend to return to the city
before dawn and seeking an interview
with my uncle freely and openly explain
to him my intention no longer
to bear arms against my native country!
I might now remain with your army,' he
added, `but I do not wish to take the
step I contemplate in a clandestine way.
I will resign in person into my uncle's
hands the trust I received at them and
returning to Admiral Shuldam my commission,
will again see you!'

It was in vain that both urged him to
stay while he was in safety. In vain Anne
held out to him the probability that his
uncle would place him under arrest as a
traitor or hold him in prison as a rebel.
Neal's high sense of honor was superior
even to the wishes and tears of Anne:
and after remaining two hours with them
he took his leave promising soon to return.

The storm which still raged favored
his entrance into the city. The morning
found him early in his uncle's presence,
which he had sought with the
merely patriotic determination to resign
his position and explain to him his
reasons for so doing. But the time happened
to be rife with excitement on account
of a rumor that the citizen rebels
had formed a plan to fire the town and
then compel the garrison to leave the
place. General Howe was surrounded
with officers and messengers, and Neal
postponed his purpose till another time.
He then went privately to inform Colonel
Park of the success of Anne's escape and
the condition of his nephew. He at the
same time laid before him his intention.
The Colonel tried to prevail upon him to
give up this `Quixotic idea' as he termed
it, assuring him that Howe would put
him under arrest.

Neal promised to think upon it? but
Colonel Parks would take no delay of
decision, and Neal finally consented to
depart, leaving a letter behind to his uncle
explaining his motives. The letter
was written and Neal was about to take

his final departure under cover of the
darkness and had walked to the mansion
of Colonel Parks to bid him adieu when
he found the house in the possession of
a guard of soldiers. On inquiring he
learned that the old soldier had been arrested
on suspicion of communicating
with the enemy.

Angry, grieved and surprised at this
intelligence, Neal felt, nevertheless, that
if he wished to serve him effectually he
must act with caution and secrecy. Instead,
therefore of obeying the first impulse
of his feelings, and going to his
uncle and demanding his release, he resolved
to learn first the facts of his arrest
and what particulars he had been
charged with.

He, at length, learned that Jesse had
been followed from the lines by a tory
who was skulking about seeking for
plunder, and who saw him cross there
disarming the soldier and proceed to the
house of Colonel Parks, and, that afterwards
saw three persons leave it, whom
he followed and saw pass the post into
the country. This account confirmed
by the absence of the run-a-away sentry
had led to the arrest of the venerable
patriot.

Until he should effect his release, Neal
resolved to be silent respecting his change
of opinion; for he knew that if his uncle
knew that he was a friend to the rebels
his opportunity for aiding the father
of Anne would be lost. With some
management he succeeded in getting an
interview with the Colonel in prison to
whom he made known his purpose of affecting
his release, either by entreaty or
stratagem.

It was several days before Neal became
fully satisfied that it was his uncle's
intentions to keep the old soldier a
close prisoner in spite of all his efforts in
his behalf; and of the petitions of the
American citizens in the town for his liberation.

Three nights of this period of imprisonment,
Neal had passed in the American
camp, whither, having the pass of the
garrison, he went without any difficulty.
With Anne and her brother he here discussed
plans for the release of the prisoner:
and returned to town before morning
to try and carry them into execution.
But all his schemes failed from the fact
that the guard over the prisoner was unusually
strict; and that his apartment
was changed every night, lest there should
be an attempt made to aid his escape, for
General Howe was aware tha, the citizens
were highly indignant at the arrest
of the venerable soldier and patriot whom
they believed was innocent of the charge
brought against him.

Affairs were in this situation when the
English General ordered Neal, who still
held his post near him in the hope of yet
aiding the prisoner by his presence, to
summon the selectmen of the town to a
consultation.[1]

The assembling of the rulers of the
city, and the conference between them
and Sir William Howe has already been
made known, with the subsequent truce
and evacuation of the town by the enemy.
Having now brought up our story to the
evening of Neals departure from General
Howe's head quarters to summon the selectmen
to wait upon him, we will now
follow him in his farther adventures.—
We have now seen that his uncle's suspicions
were not without good ground;
and that if he had been cognizant of what
is known to the reader, instead of sending
his nephew on a mission to the selectmen
he would have sent him under
guard to prison.

Neal delivered his several messages to
the members of the corporation and then,
from the town hall, took his way rapidly
in the direction of the prison where Colonel
Parks was confined. Although he
had in no one act betrayed Sir William
Howe's confidence in him by giving the
information he might have done to Washington,
concerning the garrison, he now
resolved, since he saw that his uncle had
suspicions of his loyalty, to use the power
his position near him gave him to see the
prisoner, and boldly effect his release.—
The evening before when he parted from
Anne in his brother's room, he had
pledged himself that he would not cross
the lines again but in company with her
uncle. He now resolved to redeem this
pledge.

`Who is on guard to night?' he asked
of a sergeant who stood in front of the
prison.

`I am with my men!'

Then my business is with you, Murray!'

`What is your wish, sir?'

`The prisoner, Colonel Parks I wish
brought out privately, and escorted to
Head Quarters! Yourself and four men
will serve a sufficient detachment!'

The sergeant did not hesitate to obey
an order brought by the nephew of the
General. He led the way into the prison
and showed Neal into the apartment
where the old soldier was confined.

`Orders, sir to march under guard to
Head-Quarters,' said the sergeant in a
formal tone. `Get ready to leave.'

On seeing Neal Colonel Parks was
about to express his pleasure when the
young man placed his fore finger on his
lip, with a look of caution.

`Sergeant, I will assist the prisoner in
getting his over-coat on, while you draw
out your men,' and the sergeant retired
along the gloomy corridor of the prison.

`Now, my friend, I am about to restore
you to liberty and to your family,' said
Neal quickly. `I have done all I can to
effect your release by an honorable discharge;
but in vain. Within three days
the garrison will withdraw from the town,
and I fear you may be conveyed on board
one of the ships and there held prisoner
till you can be exchanged. I am also
suspected and may share your fate. The
sergeant will escort you out to the Head-Quarters
of Sir William Howe. All
you have to do is to follow me and I will
conduct you to your neice.'

The sergeant soon returned to receive
the prisoner, and escorted by four soldiers
the prisoner left, leaning on Neal's
arm. The night was dark but clear, and
the hour about half past seven. The escort
took its way through Common street
into Beacon and so up to the Head-Quarters
of the General. They halted at the
gate at the foot of the steep flight of steps
where stood a sentry.

`Halt, here, sergeant with your prisononer
till I return to you,' said Neal.

He then ascended to the door and entered
the hall with a bold, free tread.—
He learned from a servant that his uncle
was already in conference with the seectmen.

`Then all is as I expected it would
be! The way will be free!' he said with
animation. He was about to return to
the sargeant, when his mother seeing him,
approached from the extremity of the
hall.

`Neal, I am glad you are returned. I
would speak with you.'

`Well, mother.'

`This is no place. Come into my
room.'

`I am somewhat engaged. But I will
give you a moment here, mother.'

`Do you know your uncle suspects
you of being disloyal to the king's cause.'

`Yes; he told me as much! But my
uncle's suspicions are not confirmed.'

`I do not like your tone, Neal. If I
thought you were false to your country I
would be the first to cry out for your arrest!'

`I am false to my country only when
I take sides with its oppressors, mother,'
said Neal evasively, `What have you
more to say, dear mother?'

`To caution you! If you are getting
rebel notions, banish them! You are in
danger! My brother will not spare even
you!'

`Mother, why should I not be a rebel?'
he said with a smile. Is not America
my birth-place? Did not England drive
you and my father to these shores?—
What harm or wonder would there be if
I should be a little rebelish! But here
is a packet for you, which I wish you to
read, dear mother! I have another,
something similar, for my uncle. Good
night! I shall soon see you again.'

Thus speaking, he pressed her hand,
and hurriedly descended the steps to
where he had left the sergeant with the
prisoner.

`Sergeant, the general is at this moment
engaged in council. You will
march your prisoner up the yard by the
wall, and so to the side door.'

The sergeant obeyed, and halted his
men at a door that led from the carriage
yard up to the kitchen.

`You will wait here with your men till
the prisoner returns.' he said. `Follow
me, sir!' he added sternly to the prisoner.

He entered the door and ascended a
steep, winding stair-way, closely followed
by the Colonel. At the landing he turned

to the right, and traversing a narrow
passage, opened a door at its extremity
which led into the garden.

`Now, my dear sir, lean on me and
move on as quickly as possible!' said
Neal giving him his arm.

He rapidly crossed the lower parterre
and then ascending the steps of the terrace
to the summer-house, passed it, and
crossing the elevated summit of the garden,
descended by a steep path on the
farther side which terminated in a gate.
They passed through this, and entered a
lane which led towards the water-side on
the west of the town.

`Now, my dear friend,' said Neal, `we
are almost in security. You can understand
now that the order to march you
from prison to the head-quarter's was a
ruse to deceive the sergeat, and get you
from his power! In five minutes more,
if all is as I hope for, we shall be beyond
pursuit. But there is little probability
that my uncle will end his conference
under an hour, and during that time the
sergeant and his men will not discover
the deception I have practiced on them.

`Noble young man! I know not how
to thank you for your interest in my behalf.'

`I am fully rewarded in your liberty,
sir,' answered Neal, who also thought of
the sweet reward he should be sure to
obtain from her whom he loved better
than life.

In ten minutes after leaving the garden-gate
they came to the water-side at
a point where a ravine penetrated the
land for some rods. Here Neal stopped
and listened. As he did so he heard on
one side and on the other of him the cries
of the sentinels that guarded the beach of
`All's well,' sound answering to sound,
for many a winding mile of the guarded
shore. He could also hear it from the
American side coming faintly and far-distant
over the water. After all was
still he took up a stone and threw it far
out into the dark water. After a pause
long enough to count fifty, he cast another.
A third, after a similar interval followed,
each striking sharp into the wave
like the light splash of a small fish springing
into the air and falling back again.
The fall of the last stone was answered
by three low splashes upon the water not
many yards off; but in the darkness nothing
was visible.

`The cry of “all's well,” has alarmed
the fish, Bill,' said one sentry calling to
another.

`Yes, they seem to be quite lively tonight.
But when one wants to catch one
to keep from starving, they are as scarce
as guineas in a canteen.'

`I am glad they are gossiping to one
another,' said Neal. `Now step softly,
sir. The breaking of a dry stick would
betray us.'