Janice Meredith Part 99

"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, pa.s.sing 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.

"'s.h.!.+ 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, fis.h.i.+n' for what 's to be caught!" said the boatman.

"No danger of yer catchin' nuthin' here," a.s.serted 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 circ.u.mstances."

"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 ash.o.r.e, 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 fis.h.i.+ng; 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 ash.o.r.e.

"I'll pay you military fellows up!" he sputtered angrily.

"Attacking and abusing citizens as is engaged in lawful occupations.

You wait till the a.s.sembly meets. h.e.l.lo! Well, I'm durned, what 's happened to Squire Hennion?" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.

"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 pus.h.i.+ng 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--"

"'T is what we should do in the same circ.u.mstances, so 't is not for me to complain. 'T was not this, however, of which I desired to speak. My father was killed this morning, and his death makes it possible for me to end your difficulties.

We had word in New York that the governor had pardoned you; is't so?"

"Ay."

"Then 't is all right, if we but act quick enough to complete it, ere I am sent to the gallows. Find a justice of the peace without delay, and let him draw deeds from me to-- to Janice, of both Greenwood and Boxely, and bring them to me to sign

"Surely, Phil, 't is--" protestingly began the squire.

"Waste not a moment," importuned Philemon. "If 't is delayed till I am convicted, the state may claim that they were in escheat, but for these few hours I have a good t.i.tle, and if ever they seek to invalidate the deeds, set up the mortgages on Boxely that you hold, as the consideration."

"But--"

"In G.o.d's name, squire, don't lose the opportunity by delay! 'T is best, whatever comes; for even if by the most marvellous luck I can convince the court that I am no spy, and so go free, the moment the legislature meets, they will vote a bill of forfeiture against me; so 't is the one means to save the property, whatever comes."

"Ye have the sense of it, lad," acceded Mr. Meredith, "and I'll do as ye tell me, this instant. But I'll do all that's possible to save ye as well, and if ye but go free, ye shall be not a penny the worse off, that I swear to ye."

"And if not, 't is what I would do with the lands, were I dying a natural death, squire."