Chapter 42

"Yer need n't expect ter fool me by no sich a story. I ain't goin' ter let yer weaken my title by no sich a trick!"

"For shame!" cried Joseph, and a number of others echoed his words.

"Yelp away," snarled Hennion, rising; "If't 't wuz yer bull ez wuz ter be gored yer 'd whine t' other side of yer teeth." With which remark he shuffled away.

Not stopping to listen to the expressions of sympathy and disgust that the idlers began upon, Mr. Meredith entered the public of the tavern.

"Here yer be, squire, jus' mixed from my very bestest liquor, an' it'll set yer right up," declared the landlord, offering him a pewter pot.

The squire made a motion of dissent, but seeing the publican's look of disappointment, he took the cup and drained it. "Ye've not lost your skill, Simon," he remarked kindly, as he returned it. "Canst tell me if 't is possible for me to get a letter into New York quickly?"

"'T aint ez easy ez it wuz afore the soldiers come here fer they pervent the secret trade, but if yer apply tew Gin'ral Brereton, ez lodges with the paason, I calkerlate he kin send it in with a flag if he hez a mind tew"

Mr. Meredith shook his head in discouragement. "It seems as if all I ask must be begged of enemies. However, 't is small grief, after what has passed. Wilt give me pen and ink, man?"

While he was writing, Bagby came into the public, and interrupted him.

"I did n't offer to shake hands, squire," he said, "seeing as you were in trouble, and took up with other things, but I'm glad to see you and Miss Janice back, and there 's my hand to prove it."

Mr. Meredith laid down his pen, and took the proffered handshake. "Thank ye, Mr. Bagby," he said, meekly.

"I would n't stop what you're at now," went on Joseph, sitting down at the table, "if I had n't something in my mind as I think 'll interest you big, and may make some things easier that you want."

"What's that?"

"If I put you on to this, I guess you'll be so grateful that I don't need to make no terms beforehand. You 'd give me about what I asked, would n't you, if I can get you Greenwood back again?"

"How could ye e'er do that?"

"It 's this way. That general act was n't drawn very careful, and when old Hennion bid the place in, I looked it over sharp, and I concluded there was a fighting chance to break the sale. You see, the act declares certain persons traitors, and that their property is forfeited to the state. Now what we must do is to make out that Greenwood was Mrs. Meredith's and that as she was n't named in the act, of course the sale was n't valid and is void."

The squire wagged his head despondingly. "By the colony law it became mine the moment she inherited it."

"You see if I can't make a case of it," urged Bagby. "I've come out a great hand at tieing the facts up in such a snarl as no judge or jury can get them straight again, and this time the jury will be with us before we begin. You see old Hennion's been putting the screws on his tenants tight as he can twist them, and glad enough they 'd be if they could only have you again, 'stead of him. The whole country's so down on him that I've been planning to prevent his being re-elected to Assembly this spring. Now, you know, as well as I, what I would like, and I guess you won't be so set against it now, for I've got nigh to twenty thousand pounds specie, laid out in all sorts of ventures, so even if we don't get Greenwood, I'll be all the better match, but we won't say nothing about all that till we've seen what comes."

"Nay, Mr. Bagby, I'll not gain your aid by a deceitful silence. I owe ye an apology for the way I treated your overture before, but I must tell you that both my own, and my girl's word is given to Major Hennion, and so--"

"But he's been attainted, an' 'll never be able to come back here.

"Aye, and we too expect to accept exile with him. When we left Williamsburg, we planned once we had buried our dead, to go to New York, where the two will marry, and then I shall follow them to wherever his regiment is ordered."

"But you don't need to go, now that General Brereton 's persuaded the governor to pardon you," protested Joseph, "and you--"

"Was it Brereton did that?" demanded Mr. Meredith.

"Between you and me, squire, I'd been at Livingston ever since you was sent away, and had about won him over, when Brereton got back from Virginia and went to see him."

"I'm glad to hear he's willing to do me a kindness, for not once at Yorktown did he come nigh us, and so I feared me he would refuse a favour I must shortly ask of him."

"What 's that?"

"I'm writing to Phil Hennion, begging him to intercede with his father and get me permission to bury my wife at Greenwood."

"You would n't need to do no asking if you 'd only let me get the property back."

"You 're right, man, and if it does nothing more, we'll perhaps frighten him into yielding us that much."

"'T will take time, you understand, squire, and it can't be done if you go to York or out of the country."

"We'll stay here as long as there 's nothing better to do."

"That's the talk. And don't you wherrit about your lodgings, if you 're short of cash. I'll fix it with Si, and chance my getting paid somehow. I'll see him right off, and fix it so you and Miss Janice has the best there is." He started to go; then asked, "I hope--there is n't any danger--I suppose--she'll keep, eh, squire?"

The husband winced. "Yes," he replied huskily. "The Marquis de Lafayette, quite unasked, ordered the commissaries to give us all we needed of a pipe of rum."

"That was mighty generous," said Bagby, "for I suppose he had to pay for it. Even a major-general, I take it, can't draw no such a quantity gratis."

"I writ him, asking that I might know the cost, but he answered that 't was nothing. 'T is impossible to say what we owe to him. 'T was he, so Doctor Craik told me, who asked him to bring Mrs. Meredith off the pest-ship, and 't was he who furnished us with the army-van in which we've journeyed from Virginia. Had we been kinsmen, he could not have been kinder."

"Now that only shows how a man tries to take credit for what he has n't had a finger in. Brereton, who, since he was made a general and got so thick with the governor, has put on airs enough to kill a cat, told your Sukey, as now is cook here, that 't was he went aboard the pest-ship with the doctor, and brought her off."

"'T is the first I've heard of it," averred Mr. Meredith, incredulously yet thoughtfully.

"I tell you that Brereton is a sly, sneaky fellow, as needs watching in more than one matter. Nigh ten months ago I showed him how he could nab old Hennion, so that like as not he'd have gone to the gallows, but he did n't stir a finger, durn him! Oh, here 's Si, now. Say, I want you to treat Mr. Meredith and Miss Janice real handsome, and don't trouble them with no bills, but leave me to square it," he said to the landlord, who had come bustling in.

"Lor, Joe, yer duz n't think I wuz goin' tew make no charge fer this? Why, the squire lent me the money ez started me, an' I calkerlate he kin stay on here jus' about ez long ez he elects tew." Then the publican laughed. "Like ez not there won't be no supper tew-night, squire. That 'ere Sukey hez got yer gal tucked in my best tester bed, an' is croonin' her tew sleep jes' like she wuz a baby ag'in. She most bit my head off when I went in tew tell her supper-time wuz comin'. 'Stonishin' haow like white folks niggers kin feel sometimes, ain't it?"

"I bought her when our first baby was coming, and she saw four born and buried, and nigh broke her heart over each one in turn," said the squire, huskily; "so when Janice came, 't was as if she was her own child." He rose, his letter completed, and with a word to explain his movements, walked across the green to the parsonage, where his knock brought Peg to the door, and resulted in a series of wild greetings and exclamations. At last, however, the old-time master was permitted to make known the object of his call, and was ushered into a room where Brereton was sitting writing.

"Mr. Meredith!" exclaimed Jack, starting to his feet. "How are you all--that--how is Miss Meredith?"

"She's stood the grief and--I know not if ye have heard of Mrs. Meredith's death?"

"Yes; a friend in Virginia wrote me."

"She's borne up under that and under the hard journey wonderfully, and has been braver and more cheerful, I fear, than I myself. I've come to ye, General Brereton, to ask if ye could send a letter for me, under flag, to New York?"

"Certainly, if 't is of a character that makes it allowable."

"I've not sealed it, that you might read it," answered the squire, holding out his letter.

Brereton read it slowly, as if he was thinking between the words. "It shall be sent in at once," he promised, his lips set as if to conceal some emotion. Then he asked, "You write to Colonel Hennion as if--are he and--you intend to give Miss Meredith to him?"

"Yes."

Jack wheeled and looked out of a window for an instant; without turning he said, "Is she--does she--she is willing?"

"Ay, the lass has at last found she loves him, and is as ready now as I ever was."

Again Brereton was silent for a breathing space. "When will they wed?" he questioned finally.

"Once we can get to York."

"And that will be?"

"The burial of Mrs. Meredith and other matters will keep us in Brunswick for an uncertain length of time."

"And you will lodge where?"

"At the tavern."

"'T is no place for Miss Meredith."

"Beggars cannot be choosers, sir."

For a moment Brereton said nothing; then remarked as he faced about, "If I can serve you in any other way, Mr. Meredith, hesitate to ask nothing of me."

"My thanks to ye, general," answered Mr. Meredith, gratefully. "I fear me I little merit courtesy at your hands."

"'T is a peace-making time," replied Jack, "and we'll put the ill feeling away, as 't is to be hoped Great Britain and our country will do, once the treaty is negotiated and ratified."

"'T is no country I have," rejoined the squire, sadly. "One word, sir, and I will be gone. I was but just told that 't was ye who got Mrs. Meredith off the pest-ship; and if--"

Brereton held up his hand. "'T was the Marquis who gave the order, Mr. Meredith, and the Surgeon-General who superintended the removal."

"So I was told at the time, but I feared that I might have been misinformed. None the less, general, I am your present debtor;" with which words the squire bowed himself out.

Left alone, Brereton stood like a stone for some minutes ere he resumed his seat. He glanced down at the sheet, on which was written:--

Brunswick, June 13th, 1782. "SIR,--After three months' test, I can assure your Excellency that it is possible to very materially if not entirely check the illicit trade with New York, but only by the constant employment of a considerable force of men in a service at once fatiguing to them and irritating to the neighbourhood. I would therefore suggest, in place of these purely repressive measures, that others which will at once bring to justice those most deeply concerned in the trade, and terrify by example those who are only occasionally guilty, be employed, and therefore beg to submit for your consideration the following plan of action.

Shoving the paper to one side, Brereton took a fresh sheet, and wrote a hurried letter, which, when sealed, he addressed to "Lady Washington, Headquarters at Greenwood Manor." This done, he finished his official letter, and going to the rows of tents on the green, he delivered the two into the hands of an officer, with an order to ride with them at once.

On the following day a coach drew up in front of the Continental Tavern, and with much dignity a negro in livery alighted from the seat beside the driver.

"You will deliber Lady Washington's an' my deferential complimen's to Miss Janice Meredith; likewise dis letter from his Excellency," he said grandly to the tavern-keeper.

"Waal, of all airs fer a nigger!" snorted mine host. "Duz his Excellency run yer jobs fer yer ter hum? Guess yer ain't so fat, be yer, that yer keant carry that inter the settin'-room yerself."

With a glance of outraged dignity that should have annihilated the publican, the man went across the hall, and after a knock, entered.

"Why, Billy!" exclaimed Janice, starting up from her chair, her arm outstretched.

The intense dignity melted away in a breath, and the darky chuckled and slapped himself with delight as he took the hand. "Der, now!" he cried, "I dun assure her Ladyship dat Missy would remember Billy. Here am a letter from his Excellency, Miss."

Opening it, Janice read it out to her father:--

Headquarters, 14 June, 1782. Dear Miss Janice,--In writing this I but act as Mrs. Washington's scribe, she having an invincible dislike to the use of a pen. She hopes and begs that you will favour us with the honour of your company for a time at Headquarters, and to this I would add my own persuasions were I not sure that hers will count above mine. However, let me say that it will be a personal gratification to me if you give us now the pleasure I have several times counted upon in the past. Thinking to make more certain of your granting this request, and that you may make the journey without discomfort, Mrs. Washington sends her coach.

I most sincerely regretted not seeing you at Yorktown, the more that Lord Cornwallis assured me when he dined with me on the evening after the surrender, that he would secure your presence at the banquet he tendered to the French and American officers; but I was still more grieved when told the reason for your refusal to grace the occasion by your presence. The sudden sickness of poor Mr. Custis, which compelled me to hasten away from York, and the affecting circumstance of his untimely death threw Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Bassett, who were both present, into such deep distress that I could not find it in my heart to leave Eltham, once the funeral rites were performed. The Marquis has since assured me that nothing was neglected which could be of comfort or service to your mother, and I trust that he speaks informedly. I have just learned of your loss, and hasten to tender you both Mrs. Washington's and my own sympathy on this melancholy occasion.

Be assured that your company will truly gratify both me and the partner of all my Domestic enjoyments, and that I am, my dear young lady, with every sentiment of respect and esteem, Yr most obedt hble servt Go Washington.

"'T is the very thing I'd have for ye, Jan," exclaimed the squire.

"Oh, dadda, I'll not leave you."

"That ye shall, for I'll be busy with this scheme of Bagby's, and the tavern is no place for ye, child, let alone what ye'll be forever dwelling on if ye have no distraction."

"An' his Excellency," said the messenger, "done tell me to say dat he done holds you' parole ob honour, an' dat, if you doan' come back with me in de coach, he done send de provost gyard to fotch youse under arrest. What 's mo, Miss, dat big villin, Blueskin, will be powerful joyed to see youse again."

LXIV A SETTLING OF OLD SCORES

On a night of the most intense darkness a strange-looking craft was stealing slowly up the Raritan, quite as much helped in its progress by the flood-tide as by the silent stroke of the oars, about which were wound cloths where they rubbed against the thole-pins. The rowers knelt on the bottom of the boat, so that nothing but their heads projected above the gunwale, which set low in the water, and to which were tied branches of trees, concealing it so completely that at ten feet distance on any ordinarily clear night it would have been difficult to know that it was not a drifting limb.

Lying at full length in the bottom of the boat were two men, one of whom from time to time moved impatiently.

"Will we never get there?" he finally whispered.

"Slow work it is," replied the other, in the lowest of voices, "but it has to be done careful."

"I understood you the river was open once more."

"Ay. We had word the regiments had been withdrawn, to go north with the main army; but this is only the second night the boats have ventured in, and cautious we've always had to be."

The note of a crow came floating over the water, and at the sound the last speaker raised himself on his elbow and deliberately began counting in a low voice. As he spoke the number "ten," once again came the discordant "caw, caw," and instantly the counter opened his mouth and sent forth an admirable imitation of the cry of a screech-owl. Counting once again to ten, he repeated the shriek, then listened.

In a moment the first splash of oars reached them.

"This way," softly called the man, and put out his hand to prevent a small boat colliding with the larger one.

"Thought I heard a bird just now," remarked the solitary occupant.

"If you did, 't was a king bird."

"I have n't much to-night," announced the new arrival, as he handed a small packet into the boat. "It contains a paper from No. 2, giving the decisions of the last council of war, and the line of march they have adopted for next week."

The one in the larger boat pulled up a cleverly fitted board in the bottom of the boat, and taking out a letter, slipped the just received parcel into the cavity and dropped the plank back into place. "There's a letter for you," he said, passing it to the new-comer. Without another word the stranger shoved off and in a moment was lost in the darkness.

"Was n't that Joe Bagby?" questioned the man's companion.

"'Sh! We don't mention no names, if it can be avoided."

"You need not fear me. I am in the general's confidence, and know as well as you that No. 2 is Major-General Parsons of the Connecticut line."

"That 's more than I knew," muttered the boatman; "so you see, Colonel Hennion, 't is as well not to mention names."

In silence the boat drifted onward, save for an order presently given that the rowers turn in toward the left bank.

"Seems like I hearn suthin'," suddenly came a voice out of the darkness.

"'T is only we, fishin' for what 's to be caught!" said the boatman.

"No danger of yer catchin' nuthin' here," asserted the unseen speaker.

"Pull into the pier, boys! We 're got your son aboard, Hennion."

A low exclamation came from the man standing on the rude wharf that suddenly loomed into view. "Yer duz n't mean my Phil

"Ay, dad," answered the colonel, as he rose and climbed out of the boat; "'t is me."

"Lordy me, if I ever expected ter see yer ag'in, Phil," cried the father, as he threw his arms about him. "This is a surprise ez duz my ole bones a heap of good. Naow say yer've come ter tell me thet I may make yer peace with the state, an' yer'll come back ter Boxely fer good. Terrible lonesome I've bin, lad, all these years yer ye bin off."

"Nay, dad, my heart 's too much in the service to ever let me get interested in turnips or cabbages again. What I've come for is to make you yield to Mr. Meredith's request, and if possible to get a word with Janice. Tell me he's mistaken, dad, in what he wrote. You never refused--"

"Look here, Hennion," growled the boatman, "we can't waste all night while you--"

He was in turn interrupted by a sharp click, the spit of a port fire sounded, and instantly came a glare of red light, which brought those on the pier into full view, and showed to them two boats full of soldiers on the river, and another party of them rising from behind a fence a few rods away.

With a scream of terror, Squire Hennion started down the wharf, hoping to escape before the troops closed in.

"Halt!" commanded some one; and when the old man still ran, he ordered "Fire."

"Bang!" went a musket on the word; but Hennion reached the end of the pier, and turned down the river bank. "Bang, bang," went two more; and the runner staggered, then pitched forward on his face.

"I surrender," announced Philemon, as the soldiers came crowding on to the wharf. "Where is your commander?"

"I am sorry to see you here, Hennion," said Brereton's voice. "You are the last man I wanted to take prisoner under such circumstances."

"Wilt let me go to my father?" steadily requested the British colonel. "I give my word not to escape."

"Let him go free," ordered Brereton; and together they walked down to the prostrate body, which an officer had already turned on its face, so that he might search the pockets.

As the two came up, the squire opened his eyes. "They've dun fer me, Phil," he moaned. "Yer ole dad 's gone ter the well once too offen, an' a durn fool he wuz ter go on, when he know'd they wuz arter them ez wuz consarned in it."

As he spoke, the keel of one of the boats which had rowed in, grated on the river bottom. An officer, springing ashore, joined the group, and saluting, reported: "General Brereton, when you fired the light, it revealed, close upon us, a small boat stealing up the river, in which we captured Mr. Bagby. He declares he was out fishing; but he had no tackle, and the bowsman swears that as we approached he saw him put something into his mouth and swallow it."

"Bring him here," ordered the commander; and Bagby, his hands and feet tied, was more speedily than politely spilled into the shallow water and dragged ashore.

"I'll pay you military fellows up!" he sputtered angrily. "Attacking and abusing citizens as is engaged in lawful occupations. You wait till the Assembly meets. Hello! Well, I'm durned, what 's happened to Squire Hennion?" he ejaculated. "You don't mean to say he's got his deserts at last? Now, I guess you see what your buying of Greenwood 's brought you. No man makes an enemy of Joe Bagby but lives to regret it."

A look of intense malignity came on the dying man's face, and pushing his son, who was kneeling beside him, away, he raised himself with an effort on one elbow. "So it wuz yer ez betrayed me, wuz it," he cried, "yer ez took yer share in it daown ter the time ez we split over Greenwood, an' naow goes an' plays the sneak? Duz yer hearn that, Phil? Ef yer care fer me one bit, boy, bide yer chance an' pay him aout fer what he's done ter--" He beat the air wildly with his free arm, in a vain attempt to steady himself, and then once more pitched forward on his face, the blood pouring from his mouth.

The sun had been up an hour when three companies of Continentals, guarding five prisoners, marched into Brunswick, and at the word of command halted on the green. The sight was enough to draw most of the villagers to doors or windows; but when the rumour spread like wild-fire that among those prisoners were Joseph Bagby and Philemon Hennion, every inhabitant who could, promptly collected about the troops, where, as the soldiers and officers paid no attention to their questions, they spent their time in surmises as to what it meant, and in listening to the Honourable Joseph's threats and fulminations against the military power.

Among those who thus gathered was Mr. Meredith; and the moment he appeared Colonel Hennion called to Brereton, who was busily engaged in conferring with the officer in actual command of the half battalion.

"General Brereton," he requested, "may I have a few words in private with Squire Meredith?"

"Withdraw your guards out of ear-shot, Captain Blaisdell," ordered Brereton.

"Why, Phil, this is a sad plight to find ye in," said the squire, regretfully, as he held out his hand, forgetful that the prisoner's cords prevented his taking it.

"'T is worse than you think, squire," answered Philemon, calmly; "I came but to see my father about your wish, but, caught as I was, they will never believe it, and will doubtless hang me as a spy the moment a court-martial has sat."

"Nay, lad, 't is not possible they--"