University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.
THE DISGUISED SECRETARY

`There is no danger of detection in
this guise,' said Logan to the boy; `if I
should come in front of myself in a mirror,
I should never suspect who the gentleman
was.'

`Praps you'd ask him if he had any
fish to sell!' observed Steiney, who seemed
highly pleased at the transformation his
skill had effected.

`But will this wash off?'

`Yoh, as quick as water touches it,'
responded the boy; `so you will have to
keep watch on it.'

Logan, now transformed, as to externals,
into as rough a looking fisherman
as ever took fish over to the town, to sell
in the market-place, wandered about the
rocks, impatiently waiting for the approach
of night. He dined on boiled
mackerel, with Steiney, acting as amateur
cook, greatly to the astonishment of
Steiney, who, from the first, seemed to
look upon him as incapable of doing any
thing; for when he looked at his white,
small hand, it did not appear that it had
ever been soiled. But, when he beheld
how handily he cooked the dinner, his
respect for him was very greatly raised.

After dinner, they both went out from
the shore, in their skiff and smoked their
pipes and caught fish.

`Ods fish, master Logan,' said the boy,
on seeing how skillfully he plied the hook,
`you fish as if you had been brought up
to it.'

`I have fished a good deal, Steiney, in
the brooks of England.'

`What kind o' fish scalers do you catch
in brooks?' asked Steiney, with a sneer.

`Trout, and other brook fish.'

`What kind o' bait do you use?' asked
Steiney, drawing up a small cod, and
slatting it off his hook into the bottom of
the boat.

`Flies!'

`Flies?'

`Yes. The trout feed on flies that
dart about over the water. They catch
them by jumping at them. So, by taking
a fly, or a bait made in imitation of the
flies they like, and playing it above the
water, they see it, and spring out after
it.'

`That must be pretty sport,' answered
the boy. `But what is here? Here
comes a boat from the town, and it is got
close to us, afore we see it.'

`It is a pirogue and two men in it,'
cried Logan.

`Yah, and one on em is old Haddock.'

`What, your father!'

`Yah. Now look out for thunder!—
But he don't know you have brought his
boat, so he can't quarrel with you yet,
unless he twigs his jacket.'

Logan now drew in his line, and watched
the advancing skiff with great interest.
It brought not only the owner of the boat
he had taken away, but what was of more
interest to him, news from the town, as
to the state of affairs.

As soon as the boat got within hailing
distance, a large stout fisherman stood up,
and hailed:

`Ho, hillo there, Steiney! Have you
seen any thing of my scow? Some villain
has stole it, and I have had to get
neighbor Beck to bring me down!'

`Aye, yah, dad! The scow is safe.—
Just take a squint ashore, under the black
rock, and you'll see it, safe and sound.'

The fisherman placed his hollowed fist
to one eye, and closing the other, looked
in shore, and at length discovered it.—
He announced his satisfaction by an enormous
oath, and an expression of wonder
how it got there.'

`It got tired of waiting for you, up
town, dad, and so pulled home itself,' answered
Steiney, as the boat containing
his father, and a fisherman who lived on
Staten Island below, came along side of
the skiff.

`No, did it though?' asked the old man,
as if he did not like to believe it, yet did
not know how to doubt it. `You are
lying, Steiny.'

`Then, how did your boat get home?'

`Sure enough,' answered the man,
puzzled and rubbing his lofty, seamed
forehead. He then cast his eyes upon
Logan, who was quietly watching his
countenance, which was as hard featured,
rum-preserved a visage, as ever passed
under his observation. The old fellow
was about fifty years of age, tall and large
boned, with a face as brown as if his
complexion had been composed of ochre
and brick dust. He wore a short fishing
jacket, and dutk shorts. Upon his
head was stuck a faded, red woolen cap,
and his feet and legs were bare. His
small, grey watery eye fell on Logan inquiringly,
as if he might have something
to do with the mysterious movements of
his boat.

`Who is this, Stein?'

`The man that brought your boat
home. I suppose you forgot to fasten it,
and it got adrift! He didn't ask anything
either, and ought to make you pay.'

`He's a right good neighbour,' answered
old Sneck; `but it seems to me,
friend, I've seen you afore. There's
somethin' about ye kind o' familiar, but
I can't call ye by name.'

Logan and Steiney exchanged glances.
They both saw that what was familiar
about him was the jacket and shorts and
old hat; and instead of recognising them
to be his he had the notion that it was the
man in them he recognised.

`I dare say; I have often been up in
town,' answered Logan, enjoying the old
man's perplexity, who still closely observed
him and his dress; but not as if
he suspected the costume was his own,
but as if trying to recal the man. He at
length shook his head.

`Blessed like somebody, but I'm hooked
in the gills, if I can tell who. Familiar
as my hand, and yet I couldn't
swear I'd ever seen you! Where did
you say you lived?'

`About in spots here and there.'

`Where did you pick up my boat?'

`Up the harbour a piece.'

`Was it alone?'

`Yes, and the oars in it.'

`And so you knew it and brought it
home? I wish you'd towed it back to
the town, for I've had a devil of a time of
it! I got ready to start and found it

gone, and searched the whole shore up
and down; but it was not to be seen fin
nor tail. So I was sure it was stole.—
Then I went off to the new Governor and
complained to —'

`Who is the new Governor?' demanded
Logan, in a tone so quick and startling
that the old man looked upon him with a
broad stare, as also did his comrade.

`Why one would think you were hailin'
a mast head, friend. Who is the new
Governor? Pray when did you leave the
town that you dont know that?'

`This forenoon. But what is this
news?'

`Why, then, I'll tell ye,' answered
Sneck; and he stepped into the boat,
seeing that the Staten Island man was
impatient to go on his way, which he pursued
as soon as the old man left his skiff.
`You see there's the old Gov. Dongan
giv up first the other day and got aboard
the vessel that is gone. Well, things
growd worse, and last night Nich follered
without sayin a word to any body.—
Well, you know that dare-devil secretary,
Logan, of his, Dongan's nephew?'

Logan and Steiney both professed the
most entire ignorance of any such person,
and Sneck went on:

`Well, he is a nobleman's son, from
over sea, and ony come out to the Province
on a lark, as I s'pose; for I don't
see what good he had done by coming,
except set the girls heads crazy ater him.
Well, he wouldn't go with Nich and staid
behind in the fort and swore he'd keep it
till King William came for it! That's
what they say in town. But afterwards,
you see he thought he'd have to give it
up, and so he writ to the rich merchant
Jake Leisler, tellin him that if the town
would raise ten thousand dollars he'd surrender
without fightin; which must ha'
gone heavy agen his grain, for they say
he loves fightin as fish do watr. Jacob
sets the bells to ringin and calls the town
together. That was the ringin' we
hear, Steiney, just afore I put off. Well
the town wouldn't agree to it, and Jacob
made 'em a speech and they took his advise
and sent to this Jack-a-lantern Logan
to surrender. He laughed at the
community and told 'em to go back and
send Jacob Leisler, for to him he had
writ the letter and he wanted to see what
he had to say.'

`I know old Jacob Leisler, dad,' said
Steiney. `Onct I sold him two cod and
he gave me a shillin piece, and when I
was goin to give the change he told me
to kaep it. He's a man for me!'

`Well,' continued Sneck, `he went to
the fort-gate to see what he wanted and
axed Jacob to come inside and have a
talk; but Jacob didn't like to trust himself
in the hands of such a wild chappy,
and so said he would hear what he had
to say there. But master Logan didn't
care to speak out afore his soldiers what
he wanted to tell him, and so he opens
the gate and walks out to him. Well,
they walked together a bit, though nobody
knows what he said, and by and by
Jacob was seen to get angry and leave
him. Then our chappy goes to get in
the fort agen and the soldiers wouldn't
let him come in. They hurrard for king
William, fired the guns and set the whole
town in a muss. The people thought the
guns was bein fired at them and they
started down to take the fort. But Jacob
told 'em it wos for the Orange King and
the fort was theirs! He then turned
about to catch the chappy Logan and he
was off, not a soul could tell how! All
this is great news, friends; for the fort
was took at once, the sojers disarmed
and Master Jacob Leisler was made captain
in it and Governor!'

`Jacob Leisler governor?' exclaimed
Logan.

`Yes, and a good majestic Governor he
makes as the best of 'em. When I went

before him tellin me about my skiff, he
received me as if I'd been a gentleman
and listened to all I said, though twenty
were about him; and told me if I didn't
find it he would pay me for its loss!'

`That was liberal,' remarked Logan.
`But do you say he has assumed the power
and authority of Governor of the Province?'

`I dont know what you call assume;
but I know he is chosen Governor, and
stays in the castle, and has chose a council
and raised five train-band companies,
and made captains and put guards all
about the city, and acts in every thing
the same as Governor Andross used to
do in his day. If you want to see war go
to town, for there's plenty of soldiers in
the streets and in the fort; and not a papist
dare show his head without a yellow
ribbon on his hat!'

`Can all this be true?'

`I guess it is, chappy. You never see
sich times. There is brave drinkin in the
tap-rooms and seven shillins to every man
that'll list in the train-bads. Arter I'd
lost my boat I thought I'd have to turn
soger. But look-a-here, chappy, will you
tell me where I've seed you afore now?'

`I guess only in town about the fish
market.'

`Where did you say you lived?'

`Along shore.'

`Well, I dont swear to your face for
certain, but a Guinea black nigger if I
wont swear to your jacket, and your
shorts too. I've seen em afore!'

`Feyther, come, let's take a drink all
round,' said Steiny, who thought the recognition
was becoming too close; and,
taking from the caddy a small black bottle,
he poured into a mug a stout dram,
and handed it to the old man, who took
it down at a gulp.

`More, Steiny, more!' he cried, holding
out the cup.

`Wait till it goes round, dad. Come
neighbor, drink.'

Logan touched it to his lips and passed
it to the old man, saying—

`You need it, uncle, more than I do.'

Sneck did not wait to be twice invited
in a matter of that kind. He placed the
mug to his lips and slowly emptied it, his
eyes resting still upon a peculiar patch
in the thigh of the shorts. Logan noticed
his observance and changed his position.
In doing so he brought to view a
still more remarkable patch, when the old
man's eyes brightened up and he sprung
up, with a slap upon his knee, crying—

`I'm d—d if them shorts aint mine!
Steiny, he's a thief! He stole my boat
and shorts! That's my jacket and hat
too! I'd know em in Jerusalem!' and
the old fisherman sprung forward to grapple
with the supposed thief.

`Stop, old shark!' cried Steiny, catching
him by the waistband and holding
him back. `You are drunk—you dont
know nothin!'

`Steiny let me go! Aint that my cap?'

`No!'

`Nor my jacket?'

`No!'

`Nor my shorts?' depressing his voice
at each inquiry, perfectly confounded by
Steiny's assurance.

`No, dad. Its the gin you've taken.
You see double, and think every thing
that another has on is yours'

`Give me some more liquor, Steiny,'
said the old man, sinking back upon the
thwart of the boat. `If I'm drunk I axes
neighbor's pardon.'

He then drank off a third mug of liquor,
and Logan then suggested to Steiny
that they had best pull in shore. The
old man made no reply, but steadily eyed
the patch. He was, however, growing
so tipsy that Logan felt no further solicitude
about his recurring to the subject.
Upon reaching the shore, the old fisherman

was roused at the sight of his boat
lying there. He staggered towards it,
stumbled into it, and fairly embraced it
in his arms, addressing it with all the
puling childishness of inebriety. Leaving
the boat, at Steiny's urging, he then
grasped Logan's hand and thanked him
over and over again with tipsy solemnity,
for bringing the boat back; but at every
few words he would utter some expression
that betrayed his perplexity touching
the resemblance of the jacket to his own.

`You must make him drunk before he
gets into the hut,' said Logan, whispering
to his young coadjutor, `or he will trouble
me.'

`I'll do it, chappy,' answered the youth;
and turning to his father he proposed
that he should drink the good neighbor's
health, who had brought back his boat.
To this proposition the old fisherman
was nothing loth; and as Steiny continued
to ply him, by the time they got to the
door of the cabin the old man's legs failed
under him.

He, however, staggered in and threw
himself upon his bed, and was soon in a
state of thorough insensibility.

`You came pretty near being found
out, chappy,' said Steiny, as his father
gave signs of oblivion to all worldly matters,
but he was too misty in the outset
to be sure, and now he's fixed till to-morrow
morning.

`You have shown yourself sharp witted
and a good friend to me,' said Logan.
`I shall not forget you.'

`When are we to start to go up to
town?' he asked, with youthful impatience.
`I want to see some of this warlike
stirring going on. I never saw a
man killed in my life.'

`There has been no one killed, nor
perhaps will there be at present,' answered
Logan; `but we will start in about
half an hour. It is now within an hour
of sun-down.'

`Are you the chappy, then, the old
Gin-bottle talked so sweetly about?'

`Yes,' answered Logan, smiling at the
manner and tone in which the inquiry
was put.

`Well, didn't he give it to you under
his jacket?'

`I bore it quietly.'

`Not a wince; but you had an escape
of it, tho'. If it had not been for dad's
boat they'd ha' got ye, may be!'

`It would have gone hard with me.—
Indeed, perhaps I owe my life to finding
it.'

`Well, I'm glad they didn't catch you.
You see that old Tom Cod is an Orange
man!'

`Yes, I perceive he is by his speech.
It will not do to trust him.'

`Not a bit.'

`And you spoke in favor of Jacob
Leisler. Are you a Protestant?'

`I don't know. I'm fish agen Orange.

`Still you like Leisler.'

`He spoke me kindly once, and
wouldn't take the change for fish.'

`But he is a Protestant.'

`I don't know what kind of fish that
is.'

`He isn't a Roman Catholic, I mean.'

`What is that?'

`One who obeys the Pope.'

`Pope! I have seen a Pope-fish! But
they bite like a shark.'

`Don't you know any difference between
Papist and Protestant?'

`Never heard of such fish.'

`King James was a Papist. The
Orange King is a Protestant.'

`I go dead agen Orange, salt or fresh,'
answered Steiny, who was independently
ignorant of all religious politics, and
whose politics were defined and limited
to `fish' and `orange.' These, in his
mind, were the two great designating
term to distinguish the adherents to the
two crowns.

Logan regarded him with unfeigned
surprise. He could not believe that there
was to be found one so near a maritime
town who knew nothing about religion:
to whom the great rallying words `Protestant'
and `Papist' were wholly unknown.

The sun was slowly falling towards
the west when they entered their boat
and pulled out from the island towards
the town. It was a bright afternoon, and
the waters reflecting the brilliant golden
hues of the western sky, shone like a
gilded mirror. Here and there was visible
a fisherman's skiff, gliding across the
harbor homeward from town, pulling
either to the Jersey shore or one of the
islands. Over the town hung a low blue
wreath of smoke, above which, piercing
it, rose the needle-like spire of Trinity,
always a prominent object in the scene;
but now rising alone above the azure
cloud like a beacon from the bosom of
the blue deep, it presented an interesting
appearance, and even drew the attention
of Steiny, who paused in his rowing to
point it out to Logau's admiration.

At length the broad red disc of the
sun glided away into the western world,
leaving behind him a glorious pathway
of colored light. A gun was fired from
the fort, announcing the sunset, and the
flag was lowered from the staff. The
twilight was soft and glowing and lingering.
Before it deepened into the shadows
of the night, the moon arose and flung
her silvery scarf across the waters of the
harbor; and above her car sparkled the
planet Venus, like a diamond swinging
in the skies: By the light of the moon
Logan directed Steiny to pull into the
mouth of the fosse, at the very point
from which he had in the morning taken
his departure.

Having sprung to the land and assist
ed Steiny in drawing the skiff under a
sort of hanging bridge, which was extended
from the outer wall of the fort to
the decks of vessels where stores and ammunition
were being discharged, he took
the young man by the arm and walked
with him up a narrow causeway of stone
that was built to protect the shore from
the encroachments of the waves. A few
trees growing along the inner verge of
this causeway, the first beginning of
what constitutes at the present day the
magnificent Battery, cast their shadows
across and concealed in a degree their
progress. All this time they were leaving
the citadel on their left hand.

At length they came into a street that
led obliquely from the harbour in the direction
of the Green.

Here and there a light glimmered from
the dwellings or shops, and one or two
persons were moving past at a quick step.
One of them being challenged in a low
quick tone, as he reached the head of
the street, recalled to Logan what the old
fisherman had told him and warned him
of the danger he was running in thus
entering the town.

`We shall be stopped, unless we are
very wary,' said Logan to his companion,
as they stood under the shadow of
the last tree of the causeway, which also
flung its branches half way across the
street that they had reached. `Go you
forward, Steiny, and get as near the sentinel
as possible, and then conceal yourself
till you can catch the countersign,
that is the word that men give when they
are challenged by the soldiers. I will
await you here.'

The next moment the lad was worming
his way along in the direction of the
sentry, with the noiseless celerity of a
serpent.