16. XVI.
HOW CAPTAIN WAGNER DECLARED WAR ON HIS PRIVATE ACCOUNT
AGAINST LORD FAIRFAX.
THE stalwart Borderer uttered these words with
so much energy and expression, that Lord Fairfax
was diverted from his gloomy thoughts, and
smiled. It was the old grim smile, habitual with
him; but this even was more pleasant than the gloomy
shadow which lay before upon his lips and forehead.
“Captain,” he said, with his sardonic expression, “permit
me to say that your invention in respect of oaths is
truly wonderful.”
“Many thanks, my lord,” returned the Captain, evidently
pleased and flattered; “I have a small genius in that line
which my friends have complimented. But after all 'tis a
bad habit! a bad habit!”
And the worthy looked modestly down, with an expression
of mock self-depreciation which was a treat to the
author of the papers in the “Spectator.”
“I agree with you, Captain,” replied the Earl, coolly,
“but 'tis nothing to our present purpose. You have spoken
of the Indians in time. When I touch on the subject of
Denton, and the wrong done to me, I am never in my right
mind. What do you counsel? speak plainly and without
paraphrases. I require the assistance of a man who knows
the habits of these devils, and who can plan. I don't care
to acknowledge that I am a mere nothing in council as Tom,
the General, was before me. I am irresolute—have a morbid
inertness clinging to my mind; it is only in the chase
that my nerves are strung, my brain clear and vigorous.”
“I have seen as much in your lordship,” said Captain
Wagner. “You are irresolute, but would be an excellent
officer for a cavalry charge.
“Speak plainly,” said the Earl, indifferently, “but when
you have finished with me, come to the threatened Indian
attack. I know nothing of these matters. Come, your
counsel! I have laid before you the particulars.”
“My counsel is easily given, or the devil take me,” said
the Captain. “ 'Sdeath, my lord, I know these Injun rascals;
they hold pawpawing days the year round, and will be
on you like an avalanche some morning; you should prepare.
Send runners to the South Branch, with instructions to
assemble the men with all the pistols, cohorns, muskets,
rifles and carbines to be found: entrust commissions to them
for persons I will designate. Such men as Martin, Miller,
Howard, Walker, and Rutledge—direct the levies to be trained
in bush-fighting, in loading while running at full speed, and
in everything connected with a combat, and the instruments
of the said combat, down to the cutting off the necks of the
balls of the rifles. You have no time in an attack to unbreech
and extract the ball—consequently a rifle is done up,
or the devil take me. I will repeat to your lordship all the
particulars, and you shall write them down, and entrust
them—with the commissions you have the right as County
Lieutenant to issue—to the runners. As to myself, I shall
remain here, partly on private affairs,” said the Captain,
curling his moustache, “and partly because my services
may be needed here more than yonder. It is not out of
probability, even, that these devils will make their swoop
upon Cedar Cheek, and this portion of the manor, from the
mountains yonder toward the Northwest. Let 'em come!”
“That is a wild country, is it not?”
“The ruins of an overturned world, grown over with
grass and trees, and inhabited by panthers and Injuns,”
said Captain Wagner, succinctly.
“Pardy,” said the Earl, with his grim look; “I think we
may expect them from that quarter.”
“Therefore I shall remain here, my lord. Zounds! I will
have an opportunity, even here, of breaking some skulls, I
warrant you: I hope so at least; my hand is getting out of
practice. Since I have stopped dragging at scalplocks and
eating buffalo hump I have felt badly. Give me an attack
soon, or by the devil's horns, I will rust to death!”
The stern smile came back to the Earl's face. He liked
to hear the sonorous voice, the martial oaths even, of the
rude soldier: they were but additional proofs that the instrument
which gave forth such sounds must be robust and
strong. The Earl needed Captain Wagner; he had estimated
his own character—its strength and weakness—with
perfect exactness. Brave, impetuous, even wholly fearless
when aroused, he was yet morbidly irresolute when unmoved—could
not bring himself to any determination—had
scarcely power to decide upon the most obvious courses.
He would often spend long, weary, miserable hours thus, in
his great dining-room, his head resting on his hand, his
thoughts wandering back to the past, or forward to the future;
and would only rouse himself at last to dash off to the
forest, there to drown his morbid feelings in the excitements
of the chase, as other men do in the stimulant of wine.
Thus the sight of Captain Wagner was always welcome to
the Earl; he was glad to hear the loud voice, the rattle of
spurs, the clatter of the sword; they kept him from thinking.
He needed a counsellor, too, as has been seen, and
thus the soldier stood high in the Earl's regards.
“Well, remain!” he said, in reply to the Captain's last
words, “I shall have need for you in other matters, not so
warlike.”
“In what, pray, my lord?”
“They speak of a trial for witchcraft here soon.”
“Who?”
“These gentlemen justices of Frederick, or rather one of
them, a Mr. Gideon Hastyluck.”
“I know him. A crop-eared rascal!” said the Captain;
“zounds! one itches to kick him—this Master Hastyluck,
or Haste-thee-Luke, as he was formerly called. But who on
the earth is to be charged with witchcraft?”
“An old settler here in the Fort Mountain.”
“His name?”
“Powell,” said the Earl.
“Old Powell? what folly! A more peaceful man I never
knew.”
“Well, I take no part in the affair; let the gentlemen
justices follow their own ideas.”
“They have none, my lord; they really have not, many
of them, capacity to follow their noses, even.”
“I am sorry therefor, inasmuch as I shall have to submit
to them, very soon, a proposition in which I am interested.”
“What is that?”
“I wish the county seat of Frederick County to be
Stephensburg, over here.”
“Well, my lord,” said the Captain, collecting his forces.
“Well, there are gentlemen who desire that Winchester
should be selected.”
“And ladies too, pardy!”
“What, Captain?”
“Nothing, my lord; I only said that there were ladies
who wished Winchester to be chosen.”
“Indeed! why?”
“Who have property there.”
“I regret it; but I cannot yield; my interests all point to
Stephensburg.”
“Let us argue that point, my lord,” said the Captain; “I
know that Stephensburg, from its position, as”——
“Enough, Captain,” said the Earl, indifferently; “spare
your logic, I have determined to have the county seat at
Stephensburg, if my influence can compass it.”
“Good! then it only remains for me, in due and honorable
form, to declare war on my private account against
your lordship in this affair.”
“You?” said Fairfax.
“Myself,”
“You wish Winchester to be selected?”
Yes, indeed, my lord.”
“Why?”
“For private reasons.”
“Ah! a lady is concerned; I have heard of your gallantry
very often, Captain. A lady!”
“I do not deny it, my lord,” said the Captain.
“Well, I am sorry to say that I cannot oblige yourself
and your fair friend in this matter. I have determined on
Stephensburg.”
“And I, my lord,” said Captain Wagner, “have determined
on Winchester. Zounds! with all possible respect
for your earlship, Winchester shall be the county seat.”
The melancholy smile flitted over Fairfax's face.
“How will you compass it?” he said, “I have a majority
of the justices already in my favor.”
“How large a majority, pray, my lord?”
The Earl smiled again.
“You seem to forget that you have declared war,” he said,
“but this moment. I will afford an enemy no information,
whatsoever.”
“Ah, that is just, or may the devil take me—right, right!
I must do my own nosing-out, I see—and faith, as your lordship
has so much the start of me, I will commence at once.”
“And I promise not to bear the least grude, Captain, if
you succeed, since we are fairly pitted, arms in hand.”
“Except that my sword is shattered to the hilt, when I
enter the contest; yours whole and sharp.”
“It is the fortune of war: so much the more glory if you
overcome me.
“Very well, my lord. I promise you to give you a hard
fight, and from this moment I sound the trumpet,” said the
Captain, rising.
“Where are you going?” said the Earl.
“I decline to reply,” returned the Captain, cunningly; “I
follow your excellency.”
“Not a bad hit, upon my honor; you are invaluable to
me, Captain; you alone of all my friends make me laugh.
Go then: but let us empty a cup before your departure.”
“Willingly, my lord.”
And so Captain Wagner tarried and emptied a fair flaggon
of Jamaica—wine he cared not for—to his own success.
Then assuring his lordship that on the next day, the instructions
for the border settlers would be ready for him,
the Captain mounted his horse, and took the road to
Ordinary.
