University of Virginia Library

17. CHAPTER XVII.

Humphreys.

Alonzo and Melissa are married, said
we to the reader in closing our last chapter.
And here, were we to adopt the method of
some modern novelists, we might close our
history, and leave it for imagination to paint
the sequel. They seem to think it in style to
leave something to guess at, but we choose to
follow the old-fashioned course, and like the
lawyer in his declaration, tell the whole story.
Besides, there are some mysteries which, if
not elucidated, would render the narrative incomplete—the
finishing stroke would still be
wanting. Then, though the denouement has
been developed, the catastrophe displayed,
we shall, fashionable or not, proceed a little

beyond these events before we consign our
volumes to public scrutiny.

Alonzo's father soon realized the happy effects
of Franklin's generous and discriminate
proceedings. He not only recovered the principal
of the fortune he had lost, but the damages
and the interest. Even his former possessions,
which had been both sold and bought
by fraud and collusion, were yielded up without
difficulty; so that although like Job he
had seen affliction, like him his latter days
were better than his beginning. But wearied
with the active and tumultuous scenes of life,
he did not again enter into mercantile business,
but placing his money at interest in safe
hands, lived retired in the country.

A few days after the wedding, as Melissa
was sitting with Alonzo, Edgar and her parents,
she asked her father whether the old
mansion was inhabited.

“Not by human beings,” he replied;
“since it has fallen into my hands I have
leased it to two or three different families,
who all soon left it under the foolish pretence
or impression of hearing strange noises and

seeing frightful objects; and such is the superstition
of people that no one now will venture
to try it again, though I suppose the inhabitants
to consist only of rats and mice.”

Melissa then informed them of all that had
happened while she was there; the alarming
noises and horrible appearances she had
been witness to, and in which she was confident
her senses had not deceived her.

Exceedingly astonished at her relation, it
was determined that some persons should be
sent to the mansion in order to find whether
any discoveries could be made which might
lead to an elucidation of circumstances so singular
and extraordinary.

They consequently selected five stout fellows
and despatched them to the place with
orders to remain in the building through the
night; to return the following day and report
the result of their observations. Hickory canes
were the only weapons they carried, nor did
they expect to use even these. Two days however
elapsed and they came not back. Persons
were sent in search of them, but they
were nowhere to be found; nor could any

traces of them be perceived either within the
house or inclosure, except that the draw-bridge
was down, the gate and outer door of
the building unlocked, which evinced that the
men had been there.

Surprised at these alarming incidents, they
resolved upon taking measures more effecually
to investigate so mysterious an affair. For
this purpose, Edgar and Alonzo chose out
thirty men among the tenants and labourers
of Col. Bloomfield, and in the neighbourhood,
armed them with muskets and swords, and
repaired to the mansion, where they arrived
in the dusk of the evening, having chosen that
season as most favourable to their designs.
They found the drawbridge, gate and door,
as the last messengers said they had left
them. When they came to the house they
cautiously proceeded to the chamber, where
they struck a fire and lit candles, which they
had brought with them. It was then agreed
to plant twenty of the men at suitable distances
in the yard around the mansion,
and retain ten in the chamber with Alonzo
and Edgar. The men who were placed
without the building were stationed behind
trees, stumps or rocks, and where no objects

presented they lay flat on the ground, with
orders not to stir nor discover themselves
let what would ensue, unless an alarm should
be given from the house by the report of a
gun. Alonzo and Edgar were armed with
pistols and side arms, and having bolted the
outer door, posted themselves with the ten
men in the chamber, taking care that the
lights should not shine against the window
shutters, so that nothing could be discovered
from without. Things thus arranged they
preserved almost an entire silence, no one being
allowed to speak except in a low whisper.

For a long time no sounds were heard except
the hollow roar of winds in the neighbouring
forest, their whistling around the angles
of the mansion, or the hoarse murmurs of
the distant surge. They watched until
about midnight, when they were alarmed by
noises in the rooms below, among which they
could distinguish footsteps and human voices.
Alonzo and Edgar then taking each a pistol
in one hand and a drawn sword in the other,
ordered their men to follow them silently,
prepared for action. Coming to the head of
the stairs they saw a brilliant light streaming
into the hall; they therefore concluded to

take no candles, and to prevent discovery,
took off their shoes. When they came into
the hall opposite the door of the room from
whence the noise and light proceeded, they
perceived twelve men, genteely dressed, sitting
around a table, on which were a number
of glasses and several decanters of liquor, as
also a quantity of gold and silver coin. Alonzo
and his party stood a few minutes listening
to the following discourse which was held
among this ghostly gentry.

“Well boys! we have made a fine haul
this trip.”

“Yes; but poor Bob, though, was plump'd
over by the d—d skulkers.”

“Ay, and had we not tugg'd bravely at the
oars, they would have hook'd us.”

“Those rascally cow-boys detained us too
long.”

“Well, well, never mind it; let us toss
round the wine and then divide the spoil.”

“Yes, yes; first wine and then money.”

“But where are our prisoners?”

“Safe; perfectly safe in limbo, boy.”

“And what is to be done with them?”

“Tomorrow night we are to take them across
the ferry; then let them get back if
they can.”

“That will do; they thought to nab us,
but we were too old for them.”

At this moment Alonzo and Edgar, followed
by their men, rushed into the room, crying
“Surrender, or you are all dead men!” at the
same time discharging a pistol into the ceiling.
In an instant the room was involved in total
darkness; a loud crash was heard, then a
scampering about the floor, and a noise as if
several doors were shut with violence. Immediately
the report of guns were heard around
the mansion. One of the men flew up stairs and
brought a light, but to their utter amazement
no person was to be discovered in the room
except their own party. The table with its
apparatus, and the chairs on which those now
invisible beings sat, had all disappeared as if

by magic, not a single trace of them remaining.
While they stood petrified with astonishment,
the men from without called for
admittance. The door being opened, a
wounded stranger was led in, whom they immediately
discovered to be one of those they
had seen at the table.

The men who were stationed in the yard
informed that some time before the alarm was
given, they saw a number of persons crossing
the inclosure, from the western part thereof,
towards the house; that immediately after
the report of the pistol, they discovered several
people running from the building towards
the wall; they hailed them, which being disregarded,
they fired and one fell, who was the
wounded man they had brought in. The
others, though they pursued them, got off.
The prisoner's wound was not dangerous;
the ball had pierced his arm and glanced
upon his breast. They dressed his wound
as well as they could, and then requested him
to unfold the circumstances of the suspicious
appearance in which he was involved.

“First promise me on your honour,” said
the stranger, “that you will use your influence

to prevent my being punished or imprisoned.”
To this they readily agreed, on
condition that he would conceal nothing from
them, and he gave them the following relation.

That they were part of a gang of Illicit
Traders; men who had combined for the
purpose of carrying on a secret and illegal
commerce with the British army on Long-Island,
which, contrary to the existing laws, they
supplied with provisions, brought off English
goods in exchange, and sold them at a very
extortionate price. But this was not all;
they also brought over large quantities of
counterfeit continental money; this they put
off among the Americans for live-stock, poultry
and produce, which they carried to the Island.
The counterfeit money they purchased
by merely paying for the printing; the British
having obtained copies of the American
emission, struck immense sums in New-York,
and insidiously sent it out into the country in
order to sink our currency. This gang
was likewise connected with the Cow-Boys,
who made it their business to steal, from the
farmers about the country, not only milch-cows
and fat cattle, but also hogs and sheep,

which they drove by night to some convenient
place on the shores of the Sound, where these
thief-partners received the plunder and conveyed
it to the British.

“In our excursions across the Sound,”
continued the wounded man, “we frequently
observed this mansion, which from every
appearance we were convinced was uninhabited;
we therefore selected it as a suitable
place for our future rendezvous, which had
heretofore been only in the open woods.
To cross the moat we dragged up an old canoe
from the sea shore, and concealed it in the
bushes soon as we recrossed from the mansion.
To get over the wall we used ladders
of ropes, placing a flat piece of thick board
on the points of the spikes. We found more
difficulty in entering the house; at length
however we succeded by tearing away a
small part of the building, and fitting in a door
so exactly and so naturally painted that it
could not be distinguished from the adjoining
parts. This door was so constructed that on
pressing a spring it would instantly fly
open, and when unrestrained would voluntarily
shut with considerable force. Finding
the house so eligible for our purpose, and

fearing that at some future time we might be
disturbed either by the owner or some tenant,
we cut similar apertures through various parts
of the building into the yard, and also into all
the rooms, so that on emergency we could
traverse every apartment without access to the
usual passages. Trap doors on the same construction
communicated with the cellar; the table
which you saw us sitting around stood upon
one of these, which on your abrupt appearance,
was, with its contents, after the candles
were extinguished, precipitated below, and we
made our escape by those secret passages,
judging that although you had seen us, if
we could get off, you would be unable to find
out any thing which might lead to a discovery,
as the trap-door, by force of the secret spring,
closed of itself soon as it became disburdened
of its contents.

“A circumstance shortly happened which
tended to embarrass our plans, and at first
seemed to menace their overthrow. Our assembling
at the mansion was irregular, as occasion
and circumstances occurred; sometimes
not to exceed once a week; at others
more frequently, and always in the night,
though of late we have made it almost our

constant residence. Late one evening as we
were proceeding to the building, and had arrived
near it, one of the chamber windows was
suddenly opened, and a light issued from
within. We entered the house with caution,
and soon discovered that some person was in
the room from whence we had seen the light.
We remained until all was silent and then repaired
to the chamber by one of our secret
doors, and to our inexpressible surprise, beheld
a beautiful young lady in bed and asleep
in the room. We cautiously retired, and reconnoitering
all parts of the mansion, found
she was the only inhabitant, though there
were two beds in her chamber. The singularity
of her being there alone is a circumstance
we have never been able to discover,
but it gave us fair hopes of easily procuring
her ejectment. We then immediately withdrew
and made preparations to dispossess the
fair tenant of premises to which we considered
ourselves more properly entitled, as possessing
a prior incumbency. We did not effect
the completion of our apparatus under
three or four days; and once while it was
constructing, we returned to the house about
midnight in order to hold consultation respecting
some of our plans and transactions.
As we approached the building it seems the
lady heard us, for again she flung up a window
and held out a candle; we skulked from
the light, in hopes she would not discover us.
After entering the house we were silent and
still until we supposed her to be asleep,
which we found to be the case on going to
her apartment. We then commenced our business
in the rooms below, and while there,
one of the company who was a little intoxicated,
overset a table we had been sitting around;
we feared this might awake her; but
not hearing any movement in her chamber,
we continued our sitting till towards day, and
then departed.

“Soon as we were fully prepared we returned
to the mansion at about eleven o'clock
in the evening. On entering the house, by
the inattention of one of our people, the door
flew to with force, the sound of which must
have alarmed the lady as we immediately
heard her descending the stairs, and retreated
to our hiding places. She did not stay long;
on he retiring to the chamber we returned to
put our scheme into execution.

“When we found he was in a sound sleep
we stationed one near her bed, who by a
rap upon the floor with a cane, evidently aroused
her in a fright. Noises were then made
below, the person in her room whispering at
the same time; she raised herself up, and he
fled behind the curtains. Soon after she again
lay down and he approached nearer the
bed with a design to lay his hand, over
which he had drawn a thin sheet-lead glove,
upon her face: but discovering her arm on
the outside of the counterpane, he grasped
it; she screamed and sprang up; the man
then left the apartment. As it was not our
intention to injure the lady, but only to drive
her from the house, we concluded we had sufficiently
alarmed her, and having extinguished
the lights were about to depart, when we
heard her descending the stairs. She came
down and examined the doors; one of our
party, who had secreted himself in a closet
adjoining the hall, then whispering with
strong aspiration “away! away!” she darted
up stairs, and we left the house.

“We did not return the next night in order
to give her time to get off; but the evening
after we again repaired to the mansion,

expecting that she had gone, but were disappointed.
As it was late when we arrived she
was asleep, and we found that more forcible
measures must be resorted to before we could
remove her, and for such measures we were
amply prepared.”

The stranger then unfolded the mysteries
of that awful night when Melissa was so terrified
by horrible appearances. One of the
tallest of the gang was attired as has been described
when he appeared by her bed-side.
The white robe was a sheet stained in some
parts with a liquid red mixture; the wound
in his breast was artificial, and the apparent
blood issuing therefrom was this red liquid
pressed from a small bladder concealed under
his robe. On his head and face he wore a
mask with glass eyes; the mask was painted
to suit their purposes. The bloody dagger
was of wood, and painted also.

Thus accoutred he took his stand near
Melissa's bed; he first extinguished the candles
she had left burning and then discharged
a small pistol. Perceiving this had awakened
her, a train of powder was fired in the adjoining
room, opposite the secret door, which

was left open so that the flash might illuminate
her apartment; then several large
cannon-balls, they had picked up on Long Island,
and which they used as ballast, were
rolled through the rooms over her head, imitative
of thunder. The person in her chamber
next uttered a horrible groan, and gliding
along by her bed, took his stand behind the
curtains near the foot. The noises below, the
cry of murder, the firing of the second pistol,
and the running up stairs, were all corresponding
scenes to impress terror on her imagination.
The pretended ghost then advanced
in front of her bed, while lights were
slowly introduced, which first shone faintly,
until they were ushered into the room by the
secret passage, exhibiting the man before
her in all his horrific attitudes. On her
shrieking and shrinking into bed, the lights
were suddenly extinguished, and the person
after commanding her to begone in a hoarse
voice, passed again to the foot of the bed,
shook it violently, and made a seeming attempt
to get on it, when perceiving her to be
springing up he fled out of the room by the
private aperture, cautiously closed it and
joined his companions.

The operators had not yet completed their
farce, or rather to Melissa, tragedy. They
had framed an image of paste-board in human
shape, arrayed it in black, its eyes being
formed of ignis vulpina, vulgarly called fox
fire,[1] some of the same material being placed
in its mouth wrapped in thin scarlet tiffany
in order to give it the appearance of flame.
They had also constructed a large combustible
ball of paste-board, several inches thick,
to which a match was affixed. The image
they intended to convey into her room, place it
before her bed, and while in that position to
cover the ball with phosphorus, set the match
on fire, and roll it across her chamber, and
when it should burst, the image was to vanish
by being suddenly conveyed out by the
secret passage, which was to close the scene
for that night. But Melissa having now arisen
and lighted candles, the plan was defeated.

While they were consulting how to proceed
they heard her unlock her chamber door and
slowly descend the stairs. Fearing a discovery

they retired with their lights, and the
person who had been in her chamber, not having
yet stripped off his ghostly habiliments,
lay down on one side of the hall. The man
who had the image, crowded himself with it
under the stairs she was descending. On her
dropping the candle when she turned to flee
to her room from the sight of the same
object which appeared at her bed side,
the fellow under the stairs presented the
image at their foot; at the same instant the
combustible ball was prepared and rolled
through the hall; and when on its bursting
she fainted, they began to grow alarmed;
but finding she quickly revived and regained
her apartment, they departed for that time
from the house.

“Our scheme,” continued the prisoner,
“had the desired effect: on returning a few
evenings after, we found the lady gone and
the furniture removed. Several attempts
were afterwards made to occupy the mansion,
but we always succeeded in soon frightening
the inhabitants away.

“A few evenings since, on coming to the
house, we heard a noise in one of the rooms

adjoining the hall. On a cautious examination
we perceived, by the light of a candle they
had with them, five men in the apartment.
Listening to their discourse, we found they
were sent to make discoveries. We waited
some time in hopes they would depart, but
finding they intended to stay till morning, we
soon determined how to act. As they were
unarmed, and there being more than twenty
of us then together, we suddenly rushed in
upon them, and after a short scuffle made
them all prisoners. They are now confined
in a secret part of the building. Considering
it not safe to liberate them, tomorrow evening
they were to be conveyed to the Island
and delivered to the British.”

Edgar and Alonzo then directed their prisoner
to lead them instantly to the place
where their five messengers were confined,
and then to show them the machinery of those
secret doors, and how they were managed.
This he did immediately. The springs were
sunk in the wood, which being pressed by entering
a gimblet hole with a pointed steel instrument
that each of the gang always had about
him, the door would fly open, shut, and fasten
again of itself. On raising the trap door whereon

the twelve fellows sat when first discovered,
they perceived in the cellar beneath, the table
and chairs, with the decanters and glasses
broken, as also the money which they secured.
In one part of the cellar was
a kind of cave, its mouth covered with
boards and earth; here the company kept
their furniture, and thither would they have
removed it, had they not been so suddenly
frightened away. Within this cavern was
another trap-door fastened by one of those
springs, which the prisoner opened, and there,
in a deep dungeon, they found the five men,
whom to their mutual joy they quickly released.
The canoe they were shown secreted in
the bushes beyond the canal.

It was agreed that the prisoner should go
before the proper authorities in a neighbouring
town, and there, as state's evidence, make
affidavit of what he had recited, and a complete
development of the characters concerned
in the business, when he was to be released.
The man inquired to what town they
were to proceed, which when they had informed
him, “This,” said he, “will enable
me to perform one act of justice before I
leave the country, as leave it I must, immediately

after I have given in my testimony, or
I shall be assassinated by some of those who
will be implicated in the transactions I have
related.” He then told them that while he
with his companions was prosecuting the illicit
trade, a British ship came and anchored in
the Sound, which they supplied with provisions;
but that having at one time a considerable
quantity on hand, the ship sent its boat
with an officer and five men to fetch them; the
officer with two of the hands came on shore,
leaving the rest of the men in the boat. “As
we were about to convey the provisions on
board the boat,” continued the man, “a party
of Americans rushed from the woods, fired
upon us and wounded the officer in the thigh,
who fell; `I shall be made prisoner and
probably plundered,' said he, taking out his
purse and handing it to me; `keep this,
and if I live perhaps you may restore it to me
when in prison, where I shall need it.
Fly; alarm the boat's crew, and shift for
yourselves.' The two sailors fled to the boat,
which returned to the ship, and we also saved
ourselves by flight. This happened about
four months ago; the ship soon after sailed for
New-York; the officer was imprisoned in the
jail of the town to which we are going; I have
twice been there for the purpose of restoring
him the purse, but being a stranger I could
not gain admission to the prison; with your
assistance the measure may now be effected.”
The man further informed them that they
were several times near being taken by the
Americans, and that in their last trip they
were fired upon and one of their party killed.

Soon as morning appeared they set out for
the aforesaid town, after having dismissed
their men, and when they arrived there
Alonzo and Edgar accompanied their prisoner
to the jail. On making their business
known they were conducted into a dark and
dirty apartment where were several captives
in irons. The British officer was soon distinguished
among them by his regimentals.
Though enveloped in filth and dust, his countenance
appeared familiar to Alonzo, and on
a few moments recollection he recognized, in
the manacled seamen, the generous midshipman,
Jack Brown, who had so disinterestedly
relieved him when he escaped from the
prison in London! In the fervency of his
feelings Alonzo flew to him and folded him
in his arms. “What do I behold!” he cried;

“my friend—my brave deliverer, in chains
in my own country!”

“The fortune of war, boy,” said Jack;
“it might have been worse. But my lad, I
am heartily glad to see you; how has it
fared with you since you left old England.”

“We will talk of that at a future time,”
said Alonzo.

There were then some American officers of
distinction in the town with whom Edgar was
acquainted, and to whom he applied for the
release of the noble sailor. As there were
several other British prisoners in the jail, it
was agreed that a cartel should be immediately
sent to New-York to exchange them. Alonzo
had therefore the satisfaction to see the
irons knocked off his liberal-hearted benefactor,
and his prison doors opened. The man
they had taken at the mansion returned him
his purse, containing only twenty-five guineas,
of which Brown gave him ten; “There boy,”
said he, “you have been honest, so I will divide
with you.” They then repaired to an
inn; Jack, whose wound was healed, was
put under the hands of a barber, cleaned, furnished

with a change of clothes, and soon appeared
in a new attitude.

He informed them that soon after Haventon
left England the Severn was ordered for
America; that the price of provisions growing
high, it had taken almost all his wages to
support his family, though he was under
lieutenant's pay, having been advanced to
that station; that he had sent home his last
remittance just before he was taken, reserving
only the twenty-five guineas which had
been restored him that day. “But I have
never despaired,” said he; “the great Commodore
of life orders all for the best. My
tour of duty is to serve my king and country,
and provide for my dear Poll and her chicks,
which if I faithfully perform I shall gain applause
from the Commander.”

When the cartel was ready to depart, Haventon
drawing Brown aside from the company,
presented him with a draught of five
hundred pounds sterling on a merchant in
New-York, who privately transacted business
with the Americans. “Take this my friend,”
said he; “you can ensure it by converting it
into bills of exchange on London. Though

you once saw me naked and poor, I can now
conveniently spare this sum, and it may assist
you in buffeting the billows of life.” The
affectionate tar, with tears of gratitude, clasped
Alonzo to his bosom; in eloquent silence
they separated, each fervently invoking Heaven
for blessings on his mutual benefactor.

The man who came with Haventon and
Bloomfield from the mansion, went before the
magistrates of the town and gave in his testimony
and affidavit, by which it appeared that
several eminent characters in Connecticut
were concerned in the illicit trade. They
then released him, after giving him the money
they had found in the cellar, and he immediately
left the town. Warrants were soon after
issued for apprehending those illicit traders;
several were taken who belonged to the
gang, and some remotely connected therewith;
but most of them absconded, so that the company
were dispersed and their illegal trading
schemes annihilated.

When Alonzo and Edgar returned home
and related their adventure, they were all astonished
at the fortitude of Melissa by which
she was enabled to support her spirits in a solitary

mansion, amidst such great and so many
terrors.

Haventon now turned his attention to future
prospects. It was time to select a place
for domestic residence. He consulted Melissa,
and she expressively mentioned the little
rural village, where

they had projected scenes of conjugal bliss, and
planned the structure of their family edifice.

“Do you not remember, Alonzo,” said she,
“that I once remarked, `This shall be my
Asylum?”'

“Never can I forget it,” he replied; “and
now the prediction shall be verified.”

The scite formerly marked out, with an adjoining
farm, was immediately purchased, and
suitable buildings erected, to which they removed
the ensuing summer. To this place
they gave the name of Asylum, which it locally
retains to the present day.

Here did Melissa and Alonzo repose after
the storms of adversity were past. Here did
they realize all the happiness which the sublunary
hand of time apportions to mortals. The
varying seasons diversified their joys, except
when Haventon was called with the militia of
his country, in which he was honoured with a
distinguished commission, to oppose the enemy,
and this was not unfrequent, as in his
country's defence he took a very conspicuous
part; then would anxiety, incertitude and
disconsolation possess the bosom of Melissa,
until dissipated by his safe return. But the
happy termination of the war soon removed
all cause of these inquietudes.

Shortly after the return of peace Alonzo received
a letter from his friend, Jack Brown,
dated at an interior parish in England, in
which, after pouring forth abundance of gratitude,
he stated that at the close of the war he
returned to England and was discharged from
the navy; that he then sold his house in town
and removed into the country, where he had
set up an inn with the sign of The Grateful
American. “You have made us all happy,”
said he; “my dear Poll blubbered like a
fresh-water sailor in a hurricane when I told

her of your goodness. My wife, my children—all
hands upon deck are yours. We
have a good run of business, and are now under
full sail for the land of prosperity.”

The clergyman of the village where Haventon
resided having died, Edgar was called
to the pastoral charge of this unsophisticated
people. He shortly after married Katharine
Bergher. The Baron Du Ruyter returned
to Germany, accompanied by Roderick, who
had been his aid-de-camp through the war,
and whom the Baron intended to make the
principal heir to his large estates.

Alonzo and Melissa were frequently visited
by their parents, as also by Vincent,
his lady, and the Berghers, with many other
friends and acquaintance, who all rejoiced
in their felicity, after such a diversity of troubles.
Alfred was generally once a year their
guest, until at length he married and settled
in mercantile business at Charleston.

To our hero and heroine the native charms
of their retired village were a source of ever
pleasing variety. Spring, with its verdured
fields, flowery meads, and vocal groves, its

balmy gales, purling rills, and its evening
whipperwill; summer, with its embowering
shades reflected in the glassy lake, its mild
showers, gay rainbow, its lightning, its
thunder, and the long, pensive, yet sprightly
notes of the solitary Strawberry-bird; autumn,
with its mellow fruit, yellow foliage,
falling leaf, and decaying verdure; winter,
with its hoarse, rough blasts, icy bands,
stormy skies, and snowy mantle—all tended
to thrill, with sensations of pleasing transition,
the feeling bosoms of Alonzo and Melissa,
in their early chosen, long sought, but
finally happy, secluded Asylum.