64. CHAPTER LXIV.
AN ALARM AND A CAPTURE.
The inmates of Mount Vernon were roused by the same
sounds which had startled the bogus Cabinet at Washington;
and a few moments after all had risen from their
couches and assembled in the parlor.
“It is the beginning of the battle,” said Mr. Langdon,
meeting Alice and Edith, and taking a hand of each.
“And when will there be an end of it!” exclaimed the
Rev. Dr. Love. “He in Heaven must decide. And, my
dear friends,” he continued, opening a prayer-book that lay
on the table, “let us address our petitions to Him, as the
Church prescribes on such occasions.”
This was done, and all united heartily in the supplication
for victory. And when the service was over, a more cheerful
expression rested on the faces of the group.
“Where is Charlotte?” asked Edith, looking round.
“She was here, and strangely calm and silent,” said
Alice, “during the prayer.”
“And she responded punctually,” said Dr. Love; “but
at thefinal Amen I observed that she rose up quickly and
glided out.”
“I hope,” said Edith, “she may return with good tidings.”
“I rely upon Captains Bim and Fink,” said Alice, “for
early news.”
“And where is Wiry Willy?” asked Mr. Langdon.
“I know not!” said Alice, with interest. “He was with
us when we escaped the toils Virus and the treacherous
Windvane had prepared. We left him in a boat on the
river, having those evil plotters in custody—but he was
directed to release them on the island bar. Ever before
Willy has been present in such critical times as the present;
and if he lives, and is at liberty, I am sure he is now rendering
valuable services somewhere. I hear the approach
of a messenger. It may be Willy himself. It is!” she
continued, a moment after, having gone to the door and
returned on recognising the horseman.
“Your face is unclouded, Willy!” cried Edith, the first
speaker upon the entrance of the messenger.
“It is neither sad nor joyful, Miss Edith,” said he. “The
President sends word that there will be no great battle;
but that the enemy will be thrown into a panic, which will
induce them to march in compact masses.”
“And that,” said Langdon, “will be equivalent to, if not
better than a victory. The inhabitants will not suffer by a
wide-spread devastation, while the enemy will have to transport
from their own country the provisions they consume.”
“But why, Willy,” demanded Alice, “does he not think
there will be a great battle? The thunders of the batteries
would seem to indicate that all the forces were engaged.”
“Ruffleton is firing nearly a thousand great guns across
the river. Sir Charles Hunt, at the very onset, took refuge
under the banks of the Potomac. And this is merely skirmishing,
as I heard General Blount say.”
“General Blount!” said Edith. “And had he heard the
terrible news?”
“No,” said Willy. “The President would not permit
any one to tell him. I was with his father during his last
moments, and he gave me his watch, and other valuable
articles, and among them the portrait of the General's mother,
to be delivered to his son; but—”
“But what, Willy?” asked Edith, her eyes suffused with
tears.
“The executioner claimed them and snatched them away.
I obtained an order from General Ruffleton himself for their
restitution, and he likewise dispatched an officer for the execution
of the miscreant—one of the friends of Windvane—”
“Was the executioner executed?” asked Alice.
“He was; but he had already disposed of the articles,
and I was unable to find them. Nay, do not weep for him,
sir,” continued Willy, observing the tears rolling down the
cheeks of Mr. Langdon. “He died happily, sir; and
proudly, and patriotically. But hark! That's crazy Charlotte's
voice!”
“Fly! fly!” cried she; and her startling warning became
more distinct as she approached the mansion. “Away, away!
Lamb of America! The shepherd is gone, the watch-dogs
are at play, and the wolf approaches! Go, go! Don't ask
me why—but go!” she continued, rushing in, and falling
down in the midst of the amazed company from complete
exhaustion.
“Charlotte!” said Alice, “what is the meaning of this?”
“Don't ask me! Fly! Your Blue Caps are not here!
Away!” and, unable to utter another word, the panting
woman motioned her hands towards the rear door, for
them to make their escape in that direction.
“Fly!” cried Willy himself, returning from the lawn,
whither he had gone to reconnoitre. “A fleet of British
steamers is in the river, and the crew of one has been landed
on this side!”
“Come—come with me!” cried Charlotte, springing up
from the floor. “I will lead you to a place of safety! I
know every inch of these grounds. Come!” and seizing
the hand of Edith and of her father, she hastened away, not
doubting that Alice and Willy would follow.
“I will remain!” said Alice.
“No, do not!” said Willy.
“They do not war against women! Nor will they dare
molest the home of Washington,” said Alice.
“Oh, do not trust either Ruffleton or Lord Slysir!”
“I trust not, but defy them.”
“They come! It is yet time.”
“Leave me! Provide for your own security. The daughter
of the President will not fly from the home of Washington!”
“No; I will not leave you. I may serve you. I have no
fear. If they take you away, I will accompany you.”
“Surround the house, Buzzards!” said Lieutenant Junkins,
the leader of some fifty men, just landed from the
British steamer Buzzard.
Alice stood perfectly composed when Junkins entered.
“Good morning to your ladyship,” said the burly purple-faced
officer, advancing and extending his hand.
“I spurn your salutation, sir,” said Alice, with indignation.
“I am Lieutenant Junkins, commander of Her Britannic
Majesty's `Buzzard!”'
“No matter. Seek your prey elsewhere,” said Alice.
“By your leave, madam, we seek our prey wherever we
can find it; and if I am not mistaken we have fallen upon
a rich prize here. I cannot be mistaken. A few months
ago I bore a despatch to Washington, where I am sure I had
the honor of seeing your ladyship in the White House. It
will do no good to deny it—and, of course, resistance will
not be thought of.”
“I deny nothing, sir, except your right to be impertinent.
But if you venture still further, and indulge a brutal propensity
for vulgarity, I shall spit upon you, and upon the
flag disgraced by you.”
“Pardon me, lady! I shall not, I hope, be either rude or
brutal to the daughter of the late President of the United
States. But if it be necessary, I must use sufficient constraint
to conduct you on board my vessel, and to convey you to
the Lord Protector, or to Lord Slysir. I grant you that we
do not capture ladies, as a general rule—but I dare not
decline making the daughter of ex-President Randolph an
exception. If my conduct be not approved, I can repair
the wrong in a few hours, by restoring you to your father.”
“If there can be a doubt whether or not your conduct
will be approved, why was the enterprise undertaken?”
“I had another duty to perform—and did not know that
I would find you here.”
“What other duty, sir?”
“One which several of my brother officers declined participating
in—that much must be confessed. The destruction
of this house!”
“Is it possible! No wonder the officers, being gentlemen,
declined such a service. The man who applies the
torch to this structure must reap an eternity of infamy, like
the incendiary who fired the Ephesian dome! Let me beseech
you, sir, to desist from such a diabolical purpose!”
“I should be deprived of my commission. No; I will
not consider what posterity may say, and I shall not live to
hear it. The object is to render a reconciliation of the
sections impossible. But my time has expired. Come; you
need not behold it.”
“Touch me not, sir,” said Alice, starting back, when the
officer extended his hand to lead her away. “I must needs
obey, but will not be touched by the hand that fires the
dwelling of Washington. Come, Willy, attend me to the
ship.”
“Willy! And pray who are you, sir?”
“These will show!” said Willy, exhibiting the passports
and protections of both Ruffleton and Slysir.
“By St. George!” said Junkins, “you belong to our side.
Suppose you fire the house?”
“No, sir, I—I have no such orders!” stammered Willy.
“Suppose I order you.”
“Wiry Willy only obeys General Ruffleton and Lord
Slysir.”
“If they say so, I suppose it must be so.”
“Besides, I couldn't do it, sir; I love Mount Vernon,
and my tears would put the fire out.”
“Come, Willy!” said Alice, leading the way out. “Millions
will weep over the recollection of the dastardly profanation!
Shall we proceed, sir?” she continued, addressing
the officer.
“Yes! but in the right direction. And to insure that,
I will go with you. Turn your eyes away a moment,” said
he, igniting a match, as several of his men came in bearing
straw.
Alice needed not the suggestion. Her eyes were blinded
with tears; and, taking Willy's arm, she urged him away
in the direction indicated by the Lieutenant. They were
overtaken in a few minutes by Junkins, who, with all the
politeness of which he was capable, tendered his arm to the
captive, and was again repulsed.
“I do not desire your assistance, sir,” said Alice.
“I will not enforce it upon you, madam,” said the piqued
commander. “I have your word that you will go on board
my ship, and you have mine that I will conduct you to the
Palace for the decision of the Lord Protector and Lord
Slysir.”
“I will comply with my promise, sir,” said she.
“And I with mine. But if that cannonading is kept up,
I shall have to land you at the Navy Yard. And then we
will go in a carriage.”
Soon they were at the margin of the river, and passed on
board the Buzzard, where they were joined by the men who
had been left temporarily at the mansion. And Alice, with
an aching heart, as the vessel started up the river, beheld a
dark column of vapor ascending from Mount Vernon.
