49. CHAPTER XLIX.
ADVANCE OF THE INVADING ARMY.
Blount, and Crook, and Valiant led their columns, by
forced marches, to Westminster, Maryland; and Sir Charles
Hunt and General Line being indisposed to risk a battle before
uniting with the host under Ruffleton, although they
had advanced several miles east of Emmitsburg, fell back
on that town. The Southern generals did not pursue.
But the very next day after the departure of Blount from
Newcastle, the Northern army of New Jersey was put in
motion, and crossed the Delaware to Philadelphia.
President Randolph having no means of arresting the advance
of such overwhelming numbers, retired across the
Susquehanna at Havre de Grace.
Lord Slysir, still alleging that he was sore and stiff from
the jolting inflicted by the hard-trotting horse of Captain
Bim, pleaded inability to travel, and Randolph left him in
possession of the mansion, at liberty to remain or to join his
ally. Senator Langdon, nearly recovered from his recent
indisposition, had proceeded, with Edith, on the railroad to
Washington. Wiry Willy and Mary were married by one
of the chaplains of the army; and, after the ceremony, proceeded
immediately to the peaceful cottage of Willy's grandame
on the Brandywine. Alice had prevailed on her
father to permit her to remain at his head-quarters, at
least until there should be a probability of a serious engagement.
The most commodious mansion in the vicinity had been
tendered the President as his head-quarters—the proprietor
alleging his purpose to set fire to it whenever the invaders
succeeded in crossing the Susquehanna.
At a late hour, but while the President still prosecuted
his labors, Captain Bim made his appearance at the door.
Alice, who was the first to perceive the presence of the
embarrassed and bashful Captain, beckoned him to advance.
“Captain Bim,” said Randolph, “I am glad to see
you, because there is a very dangerous service to be performed.”
“I thank your Excellency,” said the hearty Captain.
“I shall thank you if you perform this service well.”
“If it is to die, sir—”
“No—no! If you die you cannot serve me.”
“I mean, your Excellency,” stammered Bim.
“He intended to say,” observed Alice, “that he would
be willing to die to serve you. And he certainly would die
rather than refuse any service.”
“That's it,” said Bim, mentally blessing Alice. “I would
die with the greatest pleasure—”
“Not a word now about dying,” said the President, smiling.
“But the service is this: I desire you to take a hundred
picked men to act as scouts, and give me the earliest information
of the enemy's purpose to cross the river. If you
can defeat or frustrate the pioneers, the crossing of the army
will be retarded, and the delay may be of vast benefit to the
country.”
“If you will only permit me to fight—”
“To fight! Oh, you may have carte blanche as it regards
that.”
“A cart, your Excellency—”
“Captain, he means full liberty to do your utmost. I
believe you are not conversant with the French language.”
“No—I confess I have no sort of education in the languages.
I thank you, Miss Alice! Then, your Excellency,
I will do my best! But the errand I have come on—”
“True, I had not sent for you, although I intended doing
so. What was your errand, Captain?”
“It was to ask permission to introduce, at his own special
request, Captain Fink?”
“Captain Fink! Valiant declares I know the names of
all the commissioned officers in the army—but of this one I
confess I have no recollection. Have you, Alice?”
“Captain Fink! Fink! No—I don't recollect hearing
the name before.”
“I'm sure you never did, either of you,” said Bim,
“because he's just arrived.”
“Just arrived? And where from?” demanded the
President.
“From the Lamine, sir.”
“The Lamine? Where is that?”
“In Missouri, sir.”
“In Missouri? And do you intend to say that Captain
Fink has come all the way from Missouri to serve his country
under my banner?”
“I do, by—jing! And I would go to the devil to serve
you! Oh, pardon me, Miss—I didn't think what I was
saying!”
“Show him in, Bim!”
“If this be so, father!” said Alice, “I hope you will
convince him that you appreciate such devotion!”
Bim re-entered, but Captain Fink still lingered outside.
“Where is he?” asked the President.
“He wants me just to say, before he comes in,” said
Bim, “that he's almost ashamed to appear without some
kind of uniform worn by other Captains, and he hopes
you'll excuse his wild Western shirt.”
“Shirt?” said Alice.
“Yes, Miss. His coat's a shirt; and he says his men all
wear the same—I beg your pardon, Miss,”—stammered
Bim, and at the same time blushing—“I didn't mean to
allude to his under-shirt—I mean the shirt under his other
clothes—but—”
“You mean a hunting-shirt,” said Randolph. “Call him
in.”
“Yes, your Excellency,” said Bim, retiring again, “a
buckskin hunting-shirt.”
At last Captain Fink was ushered in. He was full six
feet four inches in height, erect in stature, and although not
encumbered with flesh, was broad-shouldered and muscular.
His hunting-shirt of dressed buckskin was encircled by an
old leather belt, in which was stuck a butcher knife. He
wore a coonskin cap with the tail of the animal standing
up in front, and his feet were enclosed in moccasins. The
face of the Captain was benevolent—but in the centre of
his right eye-brow there was a white spot.
“Captain Fink,” said Randolph, “I understand you come
from Missouri.”
“From the Lamine, in Missouri, an hour's trot above
Boonville. Here is a letter for you, sir.”
The President broke the seal, and recognised the hand
of a friend—the member of Congress representing the district.
He spoke in favorable terms of Captain Fink, and
of the men composing his company.
“Captain,” said Randolph, “it appears that you have a
company of volunteers in Missouri.”
“No, sir!” said the Captain. “They are here, and true
men, sir, as ever drew a tomahawk.”
“Tomahawk?” asked Alice.
“That means the same in Missouri,” said Fink, “that
drawing the sword does in these parts.”
“What is your company called, Captain?”
“Called? Oh, the Boonvillians used to call us the `Wild
Western Scouts.”'
“The name will do very well, Captain,” said the President,
“and you are the very man I want at this particular
juncture!”
“How many men have you?”
“Ninety-eight besides Lieutenant Click. I make up the
hundred.”
“Go with them, Captain Bim, when they are refreshed,
on the service I have indicated. Two hundred men will
not be superfluous.”
“We're not tired, or hungry, or sleepy,” said Captain
Fink.
“Then set out immediately.”
“That's what I like!” said Fink.
“And send me word of all the movements of the enemy,”
said Randolph.
The two Captains then departed.
