Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
forge Fe ee, olor cee
paced eb ae CO agp ane
ee
asaggy ts eet
2 Tt aramatalerae a
ee
re ye
a
. SN SR TTT ee te cae Yop ene car eet ee ang a ene north ret,
ORE PER Ee
29 _ THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY.
. frigates, a sloop and a brig-of-war with orders to enter the har-
por if they could and destroy her, but if it was too well pro-
tected to run this risk, to blockade the port so closely that the
schooner could not get to sea again.
Washington fortunately had spies around Gage, and nothing
could oceur on shore that did not reach his ears. Even before
the English men-of-war had received their sailing orders, a
courier was flying as fast as zood horses and frequent relays
could carry him, to warn Pemberton to get to sea before the
blockaders were off the port.
The cargoes of the prizes were all on shore when this news
‘reached Pemberton, so he was ready for sea and had no hasty
preparations to make.
Leaving his prize interests in the hands of a good agent, he
sade sail and stood down Long Island Sound just at night,
while from his mast-head a small fleet was visible outside to the
north-east, undoubtedly the ships sent to blockade or destroy
him.
“They'll hardly find anything wow in New London harbor
that will pay them for the hard knocks they’ll get if they try
to pass the batteries,” said Pemberton, laughing, as Josi Hop-
kins gave the schooner her course down the Sound.
“And now for the Chesapeake!” cried Jack Clewline, as the
schooner headed’ south.
“Ay, my boy, we'll take a peep into old Culpepper if they are
not too thick with men-o’-war in the bay. And I think we can
dodge them in the night if they are thick, for you know’ every
rock and shoal in that section, as well as every channel.”
“That’s so,” said Jack. ‘Hopkins here beats me to death in
these waters, but when we get south I’ll show him the ropes.”
“Thankee, leftenant, you’re kind. I’m willin’ to larn.
That’s how I got to know these waters so well. I’ve been along
spell Jarnin’, and what I Jarn once I never forget. But much’as
know, I wouldn’t run Hell Gate in the night for ten bushels of
hard dollars.”
“What time will we got there?” asked Pemberton.
‘We'll have to slrorten sail an hour afore daylight if this breeze
Rolds, for we'll be close aboard of itthen. If I can judge by the
- tide here, we’ll have just the right tide torun through with at
suurise to-morrow: ‘Then, ifthere’s nothing in our way, that
* tide will last us clear out by Sandy Hook—that is if the’ wind
keeps fresh in this quarter as it promises to.”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
~ _ RESENTING AN INSULT.
Lord Markton remained on board the Formey until she was in
$he Potomac River, then taking his one hundred picked men
gud Lieutenant Carlton he went on board the tender, leaving
Lord Dunmore on the Formey, with orders for her officers to
obey his lordship’s wishes.
After leaving his ship, Lord Markton crowded all sail on the
ender and stood up the river until he reached the sharp, turn in
the river near Stafford Court House. Here, in a deep bayou
making out from a swamp, he had the tender carefully moored,
out of sight of any craft passing up or down the river, to lay
» Shrough the day, for he intended to make his attack on the Cul-
pepper neighborhood in the night, and so suddenly that the Sons
of Liberty would have no time to rally after it occurred before
he could get back to his vessel. For his lordship had an Indian
cunning and had no desire to meet desperate and angry men
in battle if he could avoid it. : .
All that day, with the exception of two of his most intelligent
men, absent as spies, the crew of the tender and the picked men
for shore service kept quiet on the vessel’in the deep shadows of
the swamp-forest. . :
Just before night the spies returned and reported all quiet in
fhe neighborhood where they intended to operate that night, no
. wnusual gathering indicating any’ suspicion of apprehended dan-
ger among the patriots. :
They had even entered Mr. Pemberton’s house on the plea of
saving lost their way, and had been received with kindness and
hospitality, which they were even then plotting to repay with
outrage and cruelty.
Lord Markton questioned them closely about what they saw
there, and his gray eyes flashed wickedly when they spoke of
the two beautiful young ladies—one a blonde, and the other a
brunette.
They also told of the silver plate they had seen on the din-
ner-table, for they had been invited to eat before starting on
their journey, for the villains had told a tale of being mechanics
engaged to work in North Carolina, with a weary journey before
them. :
“The men will have plenty of plunder on this, expedition,
and vou may as well tell them so,” said Markton, as he dis-
missed the spies, after their report was finished.
“As soon as it is dark, we will yetfout under your guidance.
Lf you can get an hour’s rest before then, take it, for it‘is likely
we will have a busy night., It may be pretty dark going up,
but if houses will burn, we will have it light enougk on our
return.” :
That night in the Pemberton mansion there were three proud
and joyous hearts. A courier had arrived from Edward Pem-
berton, relating the whole career of the gallant Rattlesnake,
from the time Spence Sturges dyed on board up to her entrance
to Salem Harbor witha valuable prize, and the interview the
young hero had had with General Washington. Many a blush
of pleasure came upon the cheeks of Maude while Ned spoke of
the gallantry of Jack Clewline, and Fanny’s face was rosy red
when the letter said: ‘““Give my warm’ and ‘neyer-ceasing love
to my precious Fanny. When we leave this port, which will
be very speedily, if nothing occurs to change our plans, we
will run down into the Chesapeake, and try to make a visit
to you dear ones at home.”
“Oh, darling, how happy we will be when they come,’
Maude, .as she pressed Fanny’s little hand. ‘
“But they will make so short a stay,” sighed Fanny. ‘We
will hardly see them before they will have to go.”
“The calls of duty must never be disobeyed,” said Pemberton.
‘We will be thankful if once ina while even my dear boy can
get time to look'at us. This contest will be long and bitter’
But in the end right will triumph. over might. And, then,
Fanny, your father will return to reason, and all will be well
again.”
‘Alas, sir, you know not how set and obstinate he is! I only
fear he will get killed, for all patriots are not so kind and good-
natured as you.”
“He is not with patriots now. He has gone with Lord Dun-
more on board the Formey at Norfolk,” said Mr. Pemberton.
“The Sons of Liberty got news from there this morning.”
“JT wish he had remained at home!” said Fanny. ‘Lord Dun-
more is a bad and bitter man. He talked of nothing but flames
and desolation when he was at the Cedars.”
“He was glad to seek safety in a British ship-of-war”
said Mr. Pemberton. ‘His lordship finds royal rule pre-
rogative growing weak on shore in Virginia.. Ha!—what is the
matter?”
This last question was addressed to a negro. man who rushed
into the room without knocking, his face almost blue with
right.
\ “Dere’s an awful lot o’ men a-comin’ up de lane, sir, a-swearin’
an’ a-laughin’, an’ Iknows dey isn’t here for no good!” . cried
the old man. .
“Run out by the back doorto the hill in the corn-field, and
set fire to the beacon!” cried Mr. Pemberton. ‘Girls, go to
your chamber, and lock yourselves in—we’ll have plenty of help
here in half an hour.” i
And he sprang to get his pistols from a case on the mantel-
piece, ever near at hand for an emergency.
The girls, even if they intended to desert the brave old man
and go to their chamber had no time, for a second later the
?
said
room was entered by twenty armed men, and before Mr. Pem- .
berton could raise the pistols he had just drawn from the case,
he was seized and disarmed, while the girls, darting to the cor-
ner of the room nearest to him, stood and trembled. :
“Who commands this gang of ruffians?” cried Mr. Pemberton,
angrily. :
“I do, my rebel friend. You had better be more choice of
epithets, however, or you may receive ruffianly treatment!” cried
Lord Markton, himself stepping forward.
Then, turning to his men, he cried:
“Scatter, and secure all the plunder you can find.”
“There is little difference between robbers and ruffians!” said
Mr. Pemberton, indignantly. ‘‘Release me, sir—I am disarmed
and can offer no resistance.”
They had bound his hands at the moment of seizing him. .
Lord Markton paid no attention to his request, but looking at
Fanny aud Maude with insolent gaze, turned to his lieutenant,
and said: !
“Report spoke truth for once., These fair rebels are beautiful.
Which one of you is the sister of the daring scamp who com-
mands the Rattlesnake?”
“IT am, sir, and woe to you when he learns of this outrage!”
cried Maude, her eyes flashing in anger. \
“Then the other is his sweetheart. She shall be my prize!”
cried the villian, laughing. ‘
“Captain, there is a big fire blazing ona hill close by. No
doubt it isa signal to alarm the country!” cried a man, who’
rushed iv at this moment.
“By Jove, it .mnst be! * Let the men hurry to gather up
their plunder. Yon girls prepare for a hnrried vight’s journey;
cloaks and hoods will be comfortable, you'll find.”
TO Mt a I,
2 ecto madyeeniars in
ow