 | CHAPTER VIII.
THE ESCAPE. Neal Nelson |  |
8. CHAPTER VIII.
THE ESCAPE.
Neal took the old patriot by the hand
and led him with caution along the bottom
of the ravine and following it about
twelve yards they came to its outlet.—
Here they stopped and Neal looked
abroad upon the water and listened.—
The next moment he saw a boat appear
close at hand and moving with noiseless
celerity. It touched the shore. The
faint outline of a single human figure
was perceptible in the bow.
`Jesse!' whispered Neal.
`Master Nelson!' answered the negro
in the same cautious tone. `I glad
you here! Is dat old massa?'
`Yes. Push your boat round so he
can step into the stern! Be cautious
for there are enemies close at hand!'
`I knows it! I have been layin' off
here two hour and hear 'em talk! Bless
you old massa! Missy Anny be mighty
glad see you!'
`Hist, Jesse!' said Neal warningly.
The old man stepped by his aid into
the skiff, and Neal springing in Jesse
pushed it noiselessly from the bank and
shot out into the bay. Not a word was
spoken for some minutes. Neal sat
watching anxiously the shore and Jesse
plied the paddle with perseverance and
skill.
Gradually the confused sounds of the
town grew less and less distinguishable
and the lights of the American camp increased
in size.
`Now, Colonel,' said Neal taking his
hand in his and pressing it warmly, `now,
sir, you are free! We are beyond pursuit!
Our escape has been undiscovered!'
`Thanks! blessings on your head!'
answered the grateful American.
`Massa let Jesse shake hands wid you
too!'
`Yes, Jesse, I shall never forget you.
But is it you were waiting there!'
`That is my plan,' answered Neal.—
`For five nights Jesse has been waiting
in this skiff off that inlet. Only to-night
has he been successful with taking you
on board. I arranged that he should
come for I did not know what might occur
and I wanted some means of getting
you to the main land knowing you could
not well stand the land route by the
rock. The signal which you heard us
exchange I also arranged with Jesse.—
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon
him for his faithful watching and
his skill and caution in bringing the plan
to a successful termination! I resolved,
sir, a week ago that, if you were not released
by the General I would release
you though at the expense of the confidence
he placed in me!'
`If you are a true born American and
really love your country and feel for her
wrongs now that you know them, you
have broken no faith! you have done
nothing but what in war is declared lawful
and honorable!'
`I do not feel any regret, I have well
weighed the result. I only wish my
mother was with me in the cause I have
now espoused!'
`She is a strong partisan of the royal
side?' Yes. But I have written and
left with her a letter in which I have gone
over the whole ground of my change of
opinion with all its probable arguments.
I have told her that if she is convinced
that England is wrong and American right
is withdrawn; for, sir, not many
hours hence Sir William will retire, if
he can do so unmolested, on board the
shipping!'
`This an event devoutly to be wished?'
`I know that this is his purpose. So I
have left it with my mother either to remove
and be with me or to depart with
the General. I have told her if she proposes
going to England I will visit her
after the war is ended! I trust she will,
however, conclude to favor the American
cause, and cast in her lot with mine!'
The boat at length arrived on the patriot
side of the Back bay and the party
landed: Jesse drawing the skiff up high
on shore and concealing it under some
bushes that overhung the bank. Conducted
by Neal the escaped prisoner then
took his way in the direction of the
American camp, at which all three arrived
about ten o'clock, two and a half
hours after leaving the sergeant and his
men standing guard before the side door
at the head quarters of the English General.
On the departure of the Selectmen
from the presence of Sir William Howe
after their conference, a rap at his door
called his attention from the deep meditation
into which he had fallen upon the
fearful crisis of affairs.
`Come in!' he answered and advancing
a step towards the door as if anticipating
who it was.
`Ah, you are returned!' he said to the
person he had ordered to follow Neal.
`Yes, Sir William?'
`And what is the result? Where went
he?'
`To summon the selectmen!'
`That I know! Where afterwards?'
`To the prison!'
`Did he go in!'
`Yes, Sir William! But he shortly
after came forth again and brought the
prisoner here, as you ordered!'
`As I ordered! What prisoner!'
`Why, I learned from the guard whom
I questioned while he was in, that he had
gone there by an order from you to escort
the old rebel Colonel to you!'
`This did you hear?'
`Yes, Sir William. And I waited till
Mr. Nelson came out again with the pris
oner; and then I followed him and the
Sergeant and four men at a distance.
`Do you mean to say that a Sergeant
and four men accompanied Neal and the
prisoner from the prison!'
`Yes, Sir William!'
`This is strange and unaccountable!
Where did they go?'
`Have you not seen them!'
`Seen who!'
`The prisoner and Mr. Nelson!'
`No!'
`I followed them hither to head-quarters.
Neal left his prisoner and guard at
the front gate and came into the house.
In a few minutes he returned, and I heard
him say that you were engaged in council,
and for the present the prisoner must
await your leisure in a rear room of the
house. So he ordered the guard round
to the east door and there they remain
supposing that the prisoner was with you,
as certainly I did, for I saw them ascend
the stairs together, as I supposed to the
ante-room. If I have been in error, Sir,
I could not help it; for I supposed that
you had sent for the prisoner, and that
Mr. Nelson was acting under your instructions.
I thought you only wished
me to follow him while he was abroad;
not in your own house!'
Sir William Howe stood a few moments
over-powered with surprise. At length
he said,
`Is the Sergeant at the door?'
`Yes, Sir William!'
`Send him to me!'
From this man the British general
learned the ruse Neal had practiced to
get possession of the prisoner. Instant
search was made throughout the house
and gardens but he could not be discovered,
neither he nor the prisoner. Sir
William Howe then gave orders to have
every avenue strictly guarded, and patrols
were sent in every direction to intercept
the fugitives in their escape.
After he had given his orders, and was
pacing up and down the room thinking
upon Neal's defaction, the door opened
and Madame Nelson, his sister, entered
with a face flashed with angry emotion.
`Neal has gone over to the rebels,
brother!'
`I know it!'
`Here is a letter stating his reasons
Perhaps you will not censure him so severely,
when you bear in mind that he is
a native of the country!'
`Ah! are you too, about to prove disloyal!'
`No! But Neal's arguments are very
forcible! I never before viewed this contest
in the light he represents it!'
`Sir William, here is a package for
you!' said a servant entering.
The English general took it and glancing
at the address, said with angry susprise,
`It is the young traitor's hand-writing!
Does he address me too, seeking to make
a rebel of me l'
Without further words his uncle broke
the seal and sat down to peruse the letter
which Neal had left for him. When he
had ended it, he took up that written to
his mother, and read that also to the end!
`Well, the boy is thorough-faced rebel,
bone and blood! The rogue reasons
well, and would I dare say convince any
man but an Englishman that we are unjust
and tyrannical, and the cause of the
Revolters is a sacred one! There is no
doubt but that he has escaped with Colonel
Parks to the rebel army! If so, I
am sorry; for I hoped much from him!
But if he attaches himself to this cause
which he loftily styles `his country's,'
he will fall with it, and all his hopes in
life ruined forever! The Colonists,
though we are now somewhat closely
pressed by them, must eventually yield
submmission to the royal arms, and then
infamy will follow all those visionary and
romantic gentlemen who have deserted
the King for the standard of revolt!'
The next day the English general, as
has been already seen, was too much occupied
with arranging for the secure retreat
of his garrison to think much of
Neal. His mother, partly influenced by
his arguments, but mainly governed by
materal feelings, resolved to remain behind;
which in the confusion of the evacuation
she was enabled to do without
drawing the attention of her brother to
the fact until he was already embarked
and missed her on board. The departure
of the fleet for Halifax we have already
mentioned, with the repossession
of the town by the Patriots. Neal, our
here we have also seen enter riding
among the young officers composing the
staff of Washington. He had been presented
to Washington in Frederick's
chamber several evening's before, and
when he had reached his quarters with
Colonel Parks, this gentleman so warmly
spoke in his praise, relating his history,
that Washington at once appointed him
to a position near his person, the same
which Frederick had occupied before he
was wounded. In Boston he found his
mother and embraced her with joyful emotions.
Having thus brought our hero to honor
and credit among his own countrymen,
and to favor with Washington, we
need not assure the reader that Annie was
become the happiest maiden in all the
land? Her brother was rapidly convalescing,
and a warm friendship had sprung
up between him and Neal. He sanctioned
her heart's choice of the noble
young seaman, and her uncle had given
her his consent to her union with his
young friend so soon as the war should
terminate; `for,' said he, `the camp is
no place for bridals. As there seemed
to be a prospect, from the present aspect
of affairs, that the war would speedily be
brought to an end, the lovers were not
impatient so long as they could see each
other daily; which was the case, as Colonel
Parks had returned to his mansion
where not only Annie resided, but where
Neal himself was quartered with his friend
Frederick.
The face of things after the entrance
of the American army into Boston began
to wear a different aspect. The ruined
and dismantled houses were repaired;
churches desecrated to riding circuses
for cavalry, and to the uses of barracks
were restored; the town was open to the
country people; and the markets were
once more filled with abundance. Preparations
were at once made for fortilying
the harbor and making it defensive in
case the enemy should attempt to reoccupy
the town with a fresh army.
Cannon, muskets and ball were now
plenty among the Amercans, but there
was no powder. If forts were built and
redoubts armed there was no powder to
render them of service in case of an attack.
This deficiency so serious was irremediable.
There was no manufactory
of gunpowder then established in New
wholly upon supplies from abroad. Vessels
disguised under English colors had
been despatched to the coast of Africa to
purchase powder from the British forts
there, but they had not returned; and
there was no visible means of getting a
supply. Up to this time, the Americans
had no navy. They had never thought
of competing on the sea with so formidable
a power as that of England—the mistress
of the Ocean. Two letters of
Marque, indeed, had been fitted out, one
under the heroic Captain Manly, who,
having captured an English provision
ship and brought her safe into Salem,
won for himself a high reputation; for
it was the first conquest over England
upon the ocean. This success led to the
arming of other private cruisers as well
as an order from the provincial Congress
to build several thirty-two gun frigates.
But at the period of the repossession of
Boston by Washington's army, none of
these frigates had been launched, and all
the armed marine of the country consisted
in four or five small cruisers to which
letters of Marque had been granted by
Congress. These little vessels were generally
fast sailers, and manned with very
resolute men. As yet, none of them had
made any captures save Manly's schooner.
This was not, however, from want
of zeal or courage, but from the difficulty
of cutting off any of the English merchantmen
or transports that were bound
into Boston to Howe's army. They were
daring enough, and often risked capture
by the English frigates through their
boldness. They would secrete themselves
in the small harbors along the
coast, or in the mouth of the rivers, or
behind some one of numerous islands of
Boston Bay and from these positions dart
out upon the enemy, sometimes running
him fairly into port under the very guns
of Shuldam's ships of war.
The departure of the one hundred and
fifty British transports was a source of
very particular gratification to the commanders
of these cruisers. They fore-saw
that many English provision and
powder ships would still make for the
port, ignorant of the departure of the
fleet and garrison; and these they resolved
to make prizes. Admiral Shuldam
however, was too shrewd a man to leave
such unsuspecting vessels to fall into the
hands of the rebel cruisers that hawk-like
would be ready to pounce upon them.
He therefore left Commodore Barker
with a small force of one frigate and
three sloops to protect them, and warn
them off the coast.
The American cruisers were not, however,
to be intimidated by such precautions.
Stretching boldly out to sea in
the night, they run by daylight far eastward
of the squadron and out of sight of
it, and placing themselves in the track
of vessels bound in lay in wait for them;
John Bull believing he had the rogues
blockaded in shore of him.
Five days after the sailing of the
transports with Sir William Howe's forces,
the citizens of Boston were surprised
and alarmed one morning at dawn by
firing of cannons in the direction of the
harbor. On hastening to their roofs and
look-outs they beheld a large English
ship, the British ensign hoisted underneath
the stars and stripes, coming in
past the castle a prize to a small schooner
that was a cable's length in advance.
She proved to be a store-ship bound to
Boston to supply the garrison. The
cruiser had fallen in with her fifty miles
at sea early the evening before and captured
her; and though discovered by an
English frigate four hours later and
chased by it, she reached port in safety
with her valuable prize. This cvent
gave new impulse to public feeling.—
The stores on board the prize were very
much needed, but there was no powder,
the article most in requisition.
`If one hundred of those barrels had
been filled with gun-powder instead of
flour,' said General Washington, `it
would have been more valuable than
gold dust. The captain of the cruiser
that should capture a powder ship deserves
a frigate!'
This speech did not fall unheeded upon
the ears of Neal Nelson who was present
and heard it. He had an hour before
been insulted by Frederick Parks;
and but for his love for Anne he would
have resented it at once. But this restrained
him; and he had sought the
presence of Washington to desire to be
sent on some duty of danger and importance,
that he might show that the
upon him was false. Anne, young and
beautiful, had more admirers than our
hero. In the American army were several
young men who admired her and
sought her society. They were not long
in discovering that Neal was the monopolizer
of all her smiles. Jealousy was
awakened, and envy aroused. This led
to an investigation of his claims and
then whispered doubts as to the sincerity
of his attachment to the American
cause. `Spy of Howe!' dropped from
more than one young man's lips. The
ears of Frederic were poisoned, and
though at first he warmly took the part
of his friend, he was finally led to doubt
his good father. He went to him, frankly
told him the suspicions he entertained
of him.
With the resolution that he would perform
some act that should forever silence
calumnies that he knew originated in
jealousy, he sought the presence of the
Commander-in-Chief. He waited until
Washington was alone, and then said,
firmly and respectfully,
`Sir, yon have kindly placed confidence
in me, and stationed me near your
person, though I so lately formed a portion
of the military household of the English
general. Your favor towards me
and some other light causes, have drawn
upon me the dislike of some of the young
officers. I am accused of being a spy
of Sir William Howe! Will you, sir,
confide to me some duty of danger and
necessity whereby my conduct I may silence
my calumniators.'
`What service would you like?' asked
Washington after questioning him more
closely and in a friendly manner as to
the difference between him and the other
young officers.
`I am a sailor, I would like to cruise
in search of a powder-ship! your excellency!
There are two to be destined
for this port. The cruiser that captured
that English ship is about to sail to-morrow.
The second officer in command
is wounded and the place is vacant. Your
interest will obtain it for me!'
`You shall have it,' answered Washington
very positively.
| CHAPTER VIII.
THE ESCAPE. Neal Nelson | |