34. CHAPTER XXXIV.
LORD SLYSIR'S CAPTIVITY.
Suddenly a great consternation prevailed at the head-quarters
of Ruffleton. Lord Slysir could nowhere be found,
and the rumor that he had been captured by Randolph
was credited by the Commander-in-Chief. All at once the
batteries of the Northern army were silenced. This, of
course, induced a corresponding cessation of the fire from
the besieged.
“Balatrum!” said Ruffleton, “they have taken the
British minister! Everything depends upon his recovery.
Without his orders, we shall have no assistance from the
British forces, unless, indeed, Admiral Bang should act on
his previous instructions. And Slysir alone can commit
his government to our cause. Call Virus!” And when that
astute diplomat made his appearance, Ruffleton continued
thus: “Go, Virus, into the camp of the enemy, with a flag,
and propose a conference. Let Randolph send hither his
chief General, Valiant, and I will send him mine, Balatrum.
Haste, Virus!” To this Balatrum made no objection, and
Virus departed without loss of time.
“General,” said Randolph, when Valiant reported the
very singular conduct of the besiegers, “we can only await
an elucidation.”
“I hope their Commander-in-Chief has been nipped in the
bud!” said Crook.
“No; it is not that,” said Randolph. “He keeps a bank
of sand bags, ten feet through, on the south side of his tent.”
“We have been in a desperate strait,” said Randolph.
“At present, however, we may congratulate ourselves on
this grateful respite, after the hard pounding we have endured.”
As this speech was concluded, Virus, blindfolded, was
ushered into the tent.
“Now,” said the President, “for the elucidation. Virus,
has your ammunition given out?”
“It has not even been diminished, sir.”
“What brings you hither?”
“General Ruffleton proposes an exchange of prisoners.”
“An exchange of prisoners!” cried Crook. “He has no
prisoners, if it be true, as the deserters allege, that all our
wounded taken by him are summarily killed.”
“That is not true,” said Virus.
“Then will he return my prisoners?” This question of
Crook produced a burst of laughter.
“If you mean the 30,000 transported across the bay by
the British fleet,” said Virus, “I have to say that the number
was seriously diminished by your batteries, in the meadow
on our left, and that the remainder have dispersed
themselves in so many directions it would be impossible to
restore them.”
“We have several of your men,” said the President,
willing to protract the cessation of hostilities, while his
horses were being quietly taken on board the flotilla, “which
we do not think can be matched by any captives in your possession.
We do not think we had any assassins in our camp;
but one of the prisoners taken in yours aimed a dagger at
my heart. It was Popoli. Next, we have a Lord —”
“Is he living? We understood he died!” It was thus
Virus endeavored to mask the interest he felt in the announcement.
“So far he has escaped death,” said Randolph. “But
several shells have exploded in his presence, and it is a miracle
that he lives.”
“In a word, then, would any consideration induce your
Excellency to restore his Lordship to liberty? If so, General
Ruffleton will send you his chief officer as a hostage for
the safe return of General Valiant, whom he would desire
to be bearer of your conditions, etc.”
“I think I may be induced to set his Lordship at liberty,
since I am not clear that the circumstances warrant his detention.
This you may say to Ruffleton; and further—if
General Valiant should not make his appearance in the
space of an hour, he may recommence hostilities.”
Virus was conducted back within the lines of the Northern
army; and Randolph, resolved to make the best possible
use of the time, retained Valiant until the hour specified
had nearly expired. And when the General was at length
conducted into the presence of Ruffleton, every art was
employed to compass the restitution of Slysir.
“The only difficulty likely to arise,” said Valiant, “is
the matter of time. Randolph has no disposition to use
his Lordship ill, and is quite willing to liberate him when the
last of our forces shall be safely embarked, to-morrow or
the next day.”
“And why not immediately? General Balatrum will remain
with you, if it be desired, as a guarantee of the fulfilment
of the stipulation that not another gun will be fired
from our side of the quicksand creek—the creek which,
Valiant, was all that saved you from destruction.”
“And now, with the addition of Her Britannic Majesty's
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary interposed
between us, we deem ourselves doubly safe. I do
not think Randolph will consent to yield up his Lordship
until we shall be prepared to begin the evacuation.”
Ruffleton saw that Valiant was conscious of his advantage;
but he never suspected the evacuation was already in
progress, or that Lord Slysir had been conveyed to the
Commodore's ship. He was quite willing, then, to treat for
the restoration of his Lordship on the basis suggested by
Valiant; and it was agreed that the convention should be
signed at sunrise the next morning; that the Generals
should return to their respective armies; and that hostilities
were not to be resumed by either party, before the
landing of the troops on the Delaware side of the river,
unless there should occur an infraction of the articles or
agreement.
To these stipulations Randolph and his colleagues heartily
agreed; and, moreover, it was their purpose to fulfil
the main stipulation, the rendition of his Lordship, to the
letter. But they were not aware of the fact that Virus
had overheard, though blindfolded very securely, as he returned
to his General's head-quarters, some one say that
Lord Slysir had been sent away, and that all President
Randolph's cavalry, under the command of General Carleton,
had been landed on the opposite shore of the broad
river!
