University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.
THE PATROLES.

The fisher's boy, Steiney, at length
reached, unobserved, to the stoope of an
old Dutch house, where he concealed
himself, within ten feet of the Sentinal
who paced to and fro on the corner of
the street, his match-lock at his shoulder.

After he had been thus ensconsed
about ten minutes, he heard a foot-step
approaching. The man came nearer and
nearer, and, when within twenty feet of
Steiney, was abruptly challenged by the
Sentinel in broken Dutch,

`Who guesh dere?'

`The Prince,' answered the man.

`Goot!' responded the Sentry, carrying
his musket to his shoulder; pass on
de vay vhere you is goin.'

The citizen passed on and Steiney taking
advantage of the soldier's face being
turned the other way, stole from his hiding
place, and safely reached Logan.

`Well, what is the word?' demanded
the disguised young Secretary quickly,
advancing, as he spoke, from out of the
covert of the tree.

`When any body is asked who they
be,' answered Steney, `they says `The
Prince!'

`Did you hear this reply?'

`Yes,' answered the boy, `a man said
Prince, and the soger let him go by.'

`That is enough, you have done your
errand well, I would not have missed
your company on this expedition, Steiney,
for a good deal. Come, let us march.'

`Which way?'

`I will tell you by and by,' answered Logan,
crossing the street and taking the
side-walk up to where it joined Wall
street. As he approached the sentry,
at the corner, he assumed a swaggering
gait, and advanced with an air of confidence.
The gun of the soldier was
brought to the present, and the challenge
`Who goesh along dere?' fell loudly upon
their ears.

`The Prince,' answered Steiney, quickly,
getting out the word before Logan
could speak it.

`Den you may goesh, fishermens,' responded
the heavy Dutch soldier, carrying
arms again, and stepping back, so
that they might pass.

`You seem to keep vigilint watch here,
in the town, good man,' said Logan stopwing,
and addressing him. `What is
the state of things just now? Is all quiet?'

`Notin but what is as quiet as a mouse,'
answered the man.

`The streets are filled with sentries, I
find.'

`Yash, Governor Leisler know how to
keep de papist still. He goot Governorsh.'

`So no papist is allowed to stir out,
hey?'

`Not a nose or fingers,' responded the
man, stoutly.

`Except they show the yellow ribbon?'

`Yash, if dey show dat, den dey be let
alone.'

`Have many of them worn the badge?'

`Yash, goot many on em.'

`Do you know where Bayard, or
Courtlandt are?'

`In dere housh. Day no been out on
em to day. We hab de town all to ourself.
Be ye de fisherman dat lost de
boat?'

`Has it been found?' asked Logan,
gratified to find his disguise so perfect.

`I does'nt know dat. Peoplesh did say
dat de young Mynheer Logan, was seen
by a womans from her window, paddlin
off in such a boat; but she did'nt tell it
till the whole day was gone, and he got
away.'

`I wish I could have caught him,' said
Steiney.

`And the Governorsh wish so too,' answered
the Sentinel; `and he'll pe caught
soon; for the Governorsh's excellency
means to give one hundred silver marks
to any man dat will find him. So fishermen,
as folks think he is down among
de islands, dere is a goot occasions dat
you may be rich men's.'

`So there is,' answered Logan; `I
shall take good care to look him up.—
Good night, brave sentry.'

`Goot night, fishing-peoples,' responded
the Dutchman, as Logan and Steiney
moved on.

`I'm glad, chappy, we hearn that,'
said the latter, as they got out of hearing.

`Yes; I see that I shall have to be on
the look out, even at the island, or I shall
be taken. It is in your power, Steiney,'
he said turning to the boy, and laying his
hand firmly but kindly on his shoulder;
`it is in your power, while I am in town,
to betray me. One word from you would
place the hundred marks offered by Leisler,
in your pouch. But do you know
that I believe you would sooner cut off
your right hand than betray me.'

`You say true, chappy. If I thought
you had doubted me, I would pay you for
it by getting you into trouble. But because
you trust me, I will let them kil
me before they find out, from me, who
you are.'

`I understood you well, you see. Are
you ready now, to serve me in all I shall
ask of you?'

`Yah, to go and take this Orange
Governor by the head and heels and carry
him down to the island and make you
Governor in his place!'

`Then we are inseperable. Here, we
turn into Nassau street and thence into
Maiden Lane; for I am going to stop
first at the house of this Mynheer Leisler!'

`I know where he lives. He bought
fish of me once,' answered Steiney, pulling
at his waist bands as he tramped
along by the side of Logan. A few steps
from the corner they were a second time
challenged and passed on. The streets,
though the hour was early, were deserted,
save by the sentries. The doors of the
houses were closed and barred and most
of the windows on the lower stories shut
and bolted. Here and there a light shone
from an upper window, and occasionally

a head was seen stealthily peering from a
pane of glass.

At the junction of the street with
Maiden Lane a patrol of a dozen armed
men came suddenly upon them round the
corner. Logan stood perfectly still to
let them pass. But when he saw their
leader he felt inclined to retire with precipitation,
for he recognised in him the
tall sergeant Graff who had betrayed him.
But to escape would have been impossible.
He summoned his self-possession
and whispered to Steiny,

`If he speaks, you reply; I am deaf!

`Ho, men, stand if ye be good men
and true!' cried the sergeant as he came
near; `what is the word by which honest
people pass free in these times?'

`The Prince,' answered Steiny boldly.

`Very good. But are you not fishermen?
What are you doing here in the
town at this hour? The Governor hath
commanded that every one who dwelt
not in town and had his occupation here
should depart to his home at sun-down.
Ho, you fellow, why are you here?'

`Dick, is deaf as a haddock; he got
deaf livin' on them kind o' fish. You
see we had our skiff stole and can't get
home.'

`Ho, so you are the men, hey, that
lost your skiff?'

`Yes, and if the Governor wants us to
go off to island he must send us, for we
ha'nt fins to swim.'

`Well answered, boy; very well answered.
How came you by the pass
word?'

`Didn't he give it to us that we might
stay and look up the thief what stole our
scow!'

`True enough. If he didn't give it
you couldn't have it. But it seems to
me, old fellow, you want deaf to-day,' he
cried, shouting in Logan's ear, `when
you went to the governor and told your
story. You made so much noise we all
wished we were deaf.'

`Deaf people ol'ays thinks every body
else deaf,' answered Steiny.

`That's true. Well, go and catch the
thief if you can; but if it is the man I
think it is I hope you wont find him very
soon.'

`Who do you think it is?' asked
Steiny.

`The young master Logan! If he
didn't get off in your skiff I don't know
where he is. All I wish is that he may
get away and trouble us no more. If he
is taken he will swing for it, and I like
him too well to wish to see the poor young
gentleman die!'

`How can you say that, Graff?' said
one of his party, `when you gave up the
fort by shutting him out!'

`Well, I didn't shut him out because
I had any thing against him, but because
I saw that if things went on there'd be
blood spilled; and so I thought it best to
stop mischief. I told Mynheer Leisler
the same, as boldly as I speak it now;
for I told him Mynheer Logan had always
treated me well, and I wished no
harm to him; for I had not forgotten
how kind he always was to me and any of
the garrison that got sick. I suppose he
hates me for what I did; but if I could
ever see him I'd tell him I did it for his
good and the country's; and that I'd
quicker serve him now than any other
man, if I could do it without betraying
the present cause!'

`If I said such worts, Graff,' spoke the
one who had before replied to him, `it
would go hard with me with the Governor.
But you are a favorite.'

`Governor Leisler knows me to be
honest, and that I shall serve the Province
no worse for wishing well to master
Logan. But march, soldiers! When
you find your boat, men, let me know.'

The patrole passed on. Logan stood

a moment looking after it, and then said
to Steiny,

`I have a good friend yet, I see, in the
man I most feared!'

`He didn't know who he talked to, I
guess, said Steiny laughing. `But, if I
was you I would n't trust him; for he'd
give you up, because he's one o' those
kind o' men that would think he'd have
to, since he served the Orange Governor.
For all he has said, chappy, he'd think
more o' the Province than his likin for
you!'

`I dare say you are right. But here
we are near the abode of Jacob Leisler.
It is closed up, save a light streaming
from an opening in the shutter above.—
Now, Steiny, I want you to go and knock
at the door, and ask for the Governor. I
wish to know whether he is in the castle
or not. If they say he is at the castle,
then ask for Bertha Leisler, his daughter;
for she may be with him, and I wish to
ascertain.'

`Well, chappy, and what shall I say?'

`I will tell you. I love that young
maiden, Steiny, but I am not sure that
she loves me or thinks of me. Now I
want you, if you ascertain that she is
there to say that you want to see her
alone.'

`I was never alone with a girl in my
life without bein scared,' answered Steiny.

`She wont hurt you. Begin and tell
her about the loss of your skiff, and how
you wish her to ask her father to pay you
for it, as he had promised your father;
and I wish you to tell her you hear the
Secretary Robert Logan, had escaped in
it; and then watch her face, and in your
own way, by adroit words, draw from
her what her opinion is and whether you
think a visit to her would be acceptable
from me.'

`I understand, chappy. You want me
to bait the hook while you catch the fish.'

`Yes; I want you to ascertain by your
own wit whether it would be safe for me
to see her and to let her know that I was
in her power.'

`I'll do it!'

`Be discreet!'

`Yah, I know what to do. But where
are you going?'

`I have some person to see farther up
town. In one hour you will find me seated
upon the platform of the well there.'
As he spoke he pointed across the street
to a circular well, which was used as the
public fountain by the whole street.—
`But I will wait first to see if you are admitted.'

Steiny approached the house, and ascending
by three steps to the stoope,
knocked upon the door. He waited full
a minute and repeated the knock. There
was a slight noise over his head at the
window shutter; it was softly and carefully
pushed open, and a face appeared
looking down:

`Who is it?' demanded the rich-toned
voice of Bertha Leisler.

Logan's heart bounded. He was almost
of a mind to bound across the street
and answer, `It is I, dearest Bertha!'—
But he feared it would have alarmed her,
as most likely, and also have defated all
his hopes, for he was not like a lover
who has confidence in the affection of
her he loves; but he was uncertain whether
she cared for him; nay, whether, if
she had him in her power, she would not
without hesitation give him up to her father.

`It is Steiny Sneck,' responded the
boy.

`And who is Steiny Sneck?' asked
Bertha, firmly.

`I'm a fisher from the island.'

`So I see you are a fisher by your
dress,' answered Bertha; for the moonlight
shone broad upon the stoope and
fell upon him. `But what do you here?

This is no time to be abroad startling
people, when the town is full of tumults.
What is thy wish? tell speedily and be
away, or the guard will trouble thee!'

This was spoken partly as if with a
desire to terminate the interview, and
partly from an apparent wish to keep the
youth from falling into the hands of the
patrole.

`I am the son of the man who had the
scow stole, pretty mistress, and I want to
see the Governer!'

`The Governor? there is no Governor!'

Governor Leisler!'

`True, true; I had forgotten it; he is
the Governor. But my father is at the
citadel engaged in mighty matters!'

`I want him to give me pay for my
boat.'

`He will to-morrow.'

`I must buy another and go home tonight,
or I shall be put in prison; for that
is the law, they say.'

`True, true! Poor youth! Is no one
with thee?'

`No, pretty lady.'

`Well, tell me how much thy boat is
valued at.'

`Three marks and a half.'

`Then I will pay thee in the Governor's
name. Wait till my maid opens the
door to thee.'

The fair head disappeared from the
window and the shutter was drawn to.—
Steiny rubbed his hard bony hands with
delight.

Logan would have taken this opportunity
to have run forward and joined Steiny
and gone in with him, feeling secure
in his disguise, since he had defied
Graff's scrutiny. But Steiny, by saying
that he was alone, prevented him from
obeying this impulse; for if, when she
opened the door, she beheld two instead
of one, she would have been alarmed and
closed it upon them. He, therefore, saw
that his only way was to leave the first
interview with Steiny alone, who had
shown talent enough to manage it. Logan's
surprise at finding her at home instead
of at the fort with her father, was
only equalled by his joy.

The bolt of the door was carefully
drawn and the door partly opened, showing
a middle-aged Dutch woman in a
white cap, and blue handkerchief tied
about her neck. Holding the door nearly
too, she put out her hand, in which
were the three marks and a half, and
said—

`Here, lat; here is ty monies, mistress
send tee. You must not come in these
wars times.'

`Tell your pretty mistress,' answered
Steiny, who saw that his prospect of seeing
Bertha was likely to be defeated by
this wariness, `tell her if she is the daughter
of Governor Leisler, I have something
to say to her very particular.'

`What is it you would say, fisher?
called out Bertha, from the hall behind
the servant.

`What none by thy own ear must hear,'
answered Steiney.

`Stand aside, Brecket,' said Bertha,
`and let me hear his errand.'

`I cannot speak it here, the soldiers
coming by, may see me, and carry me
off, for all you couldsay. There comes a
patrol of them now, up the street. I must
either go off out o' the way and sight or
be let in.'

`Let him in, mistress; he is but a boy;
and Mynheer Von Vow said, let no man
in.'

`I heed not what the burgomaster said
or said not,' answered Bertha. `If you
have words for my ear, come in quickly,
ere thou art seen.'

Steiney glided in, the door was closed
upon him, and the very next moment appeared
Mynheer Van Vow, at the head
of his patrol, which, he had taken from

the fort for the special protection of the
dwelling of the lovely Bertha. Logan
had only time to withdraw into the shade
of the low eaves of a shed opposite, and
escape being seen, though he recognised
the valiant burgomaster, who, as Jacob
Leisler had told him, was the betrothed
husband of Bertha Leisler. He felt at
once, the most decided dislike to little
Van Vow, and, if little Van Vow had
been aware of his presence, and his attachment
to Bertha, he would doubtless,
have taken quite as strong a dislike to
him.

`Soldiers, halts!' cried the burgomaster.

His guard came to a full stand, and
somewhat in a heap.

`Dress dere! Strait lines, all of yous!
Shoulters arms, and carry your heats
ups!'

These orders were obeyed with about
the same precision with which they were
given.

`Vera goots,' exclaimed the burgomaster,
seeing then place themselves in near-a
semicircle. `Now lets me gif you your
order. You vil keeps garts here till
twelve o'clocks, ant let no poty in, as
dont say `Slems,' and nopoty out as dont
say `Slems.' Now I goes in to smoke
mine bipes, mit te Governorsh daughters,
and tell her not to pe afrait; for I haf
brot te bravest gart of soldiers, to keep
gart at her doors, as is in all New Yorks.'

`A plague on that crack-brained simpleton,'
exclaimed Logan, as he saw him
go to the door and rap upon it, with the
hilt of his huge sword. `She cannot care
a fig for him. I will yet circumvent him
to his hearts' content. Let me wait and
see if he is let in. There is the window
open, above the door, again.'

Who is it hammerin at the door?' called
out the shrill voice of Brecket.

`It ish me, te burgomaster,' answered
Mynheer Van Vow, with great confidence.

`Vell, ant what ish te matter?'

`Tell my beloved Bertha, goot Vrow,
tat I am here, wit a garts of brave mens
almost as myself, to keep her from alarms
and thongers; ant tat I vill come in and
smoke a bipe a little while.

`I will tell her,' answered Brecket,
returning from the window; while Logan
waited with curiosity, the issue. In
a few moments he returned.

`Mynheer burgomaster?'

`Vel, Vrow Brecket.'

`My mistress says she is very much
obliged to you for your gart, and says
when you want to go into barrachs, to
smoke, there is the fort.'

`The sweet Bertha is very witty,' answered
the burgomaster.

`She bade me say too that she thinks
you can keep betters guards, outsides dan
ins.'

With these words. the house-keeper
shut down the window, and Mynheer sat
down upon the stoope, deliberately lighted
his pipe, and, leaning upon his sword,
began to amuse himself with smoking
and dreams of love; for this discomfiture,
in no degree troubled him. Every
rebuff of the kind he took with simple
good feeling, and thought neither less of
himself, nor of Bertha, therefor. Perhaps
his philosophy was based upon the
comforting assurance, that she was destined
to be his vrow, at all events in due
time, however wilful and wayward she
now chose to be.

Logan rematned till he saw the burgomaster
as comfortable as if he had not
a thought beyond his pipe, and his brave
troop on which he gazed affectionately as
he smoked. He then moved noiselessly
away, not a little gratified at the answer
Bertha had sent Mynheer Van Vow.

`It is a settled matter,' he said with joy,
as he walked on; `it is clear as the sun,

that she cares nothing for him, but only
endures him. I am elated with hope.—
By the good mass! fat and simple burgomaster,
if such be her reception of thee,
I will see her this night, before thou dost.
And what will become of thee, Steiney,
thou audacious rogue. It is a good omen
that the fair Bertha would not see the
burgomaster, because she was listening
to thee; and had my name, already fallen
upon her ear? I will know within one
hour, leaving thee, boy, to get out of
the house by thy own wits, as thou gottest
in.'

`Stand, and give the countersign!' cried
a voice, suddenly, accompanied by the
rattle of a watch-lock.

`Bertha!'

`Not so! You are my prisoner.'

`The Prince!' answered Logan, correcting
himself, and smiling at his own
mistake.

He was suffered to pass on, and, after
answering the challenges of two more
sentries, he stopped before a gate in a
bye street.