CHAPTER XII
A NEW MESSAGE
"My father has gone to see General Clinton," said young Nott. "I told him we never should have left mother and Hannah there alone, but he said 'he guessed they could take care of themselves. He was n't afraid for them.’"
"But he is now?"
"Afraid? Why, man, he trembled like a leaf when I told him your story. He acts like a crazy man. I'm afraid the general 'll think he ought to shut him up in the guard-house. Something will be done now, though. I don't mind telling you that it was mighty good of you to bring us this word."
"Hannah did more for me than that," replied Robert quickly. "I have n't got the taste of those ashes out of my mouth yet."
"They taste better than Claud Brown's bullets or his hemp," laughed Joseph.
"That they do."
"I may see you before you leave the fort, or if I don't this time I will some other," said Joseph. "But now I must say good-by and go back to wait for my father and to get the boys together." He extended his hand as he spoke and then turned quickly away.
There was nothing more for Robert to do until morning, when General Clinton had assured him that he would receive instructions concerning his further duties; and the young soldier, completely wearied by his recent experiences, was glad to seek out his quarters and retire for the night.
On the morning following, as soon as he had eaten his breakfast, he at once sought out the general's quarters, though on his way he glanced eagerly about him hoping somewhere to perceive Joseph Nott and learn from him what decision had been made concerning the protection of Hannah and her mother; but the young man was nowhere to be seen, and Robert was received by the general with the question still unanswered. He was obliged to wait for a brief time before the commander could receive him, and as soon as he was admitted he was compelled to relate once more the story of his adventures on the preceding day. The general was a stern man, and yet when his face was lighted up by a smile, as it frequently was, the expression was most winning. Stories of the leader's popularity, which were current, and the frequently expressed determination on the part of many to select him for the governor of the new "state," were easily explained, Robert thought, as he stood looking into the face of George Clinton and listening to his words.
"The letter you brought me, young man," said the general kindly, "more than makes up for the loss of the other. I do not fancy that the redcoats will obtain much information from the one they took from you, but the one you had is very valuable, very valuable indeed. Have you any knowledge of its contents?"
"No, sir."
"It matters little. It will be put to a good use. Now tell me all you know of affairs in New Jersey."
Thus bidden, Robert once more respectfully related the tale he had already told of the advance into the state of the detachments from New York, of their landing at Amboy and holding of Brunswick, and how they had again and again failed in their attempts to draw Washington, who had followed the British and yet kept within the security of the hills, into an engagement.
General Clinton smiled and his face beamed with satisfaction as he listened, and then said, "I shall tell you a few facts which you may be able to give the general, even if your letter should be lost on your way down as it was on your way up the river. We have comparatively quick knowledge of Burgoyne's movements, and he is now advancing."
Robert looked up eagerly as he heard the statement, but he did not speak, and the general continued: "Yes, we know that Burgoyne arrived at Quebec on the sixth of May, and on the tenth of the same month received the command of the army from General Carleton. On May twelfth he had advanced to Montreal. Then from the fifteenth of May till the seventh of June he was at Three Rivers, and doubtless by this time has pushed on to Fort Chambly, and it may be that he is even as far as Isle aux Noix or Cumberland Head. We shall surely know within a day or two, for his movements are watched and quickly reported."
"And will General Schuyler be able to stop him?" inquired Robert eagerly.
"That remains to be seen," replied the general, a momentary frown appearing on his face. "Naturally we hope so, we expect it," he added more cheerfully, "but the task is not one for boys. It is a difficult and trying one, but Philip Schuyler, though he is my chief rival for the governorship of this state, I can say is one of our best men. If the New England people would only support him as they ought, I think there would be no question as to the outcome."
"Are they not supporting him?"
"Not as they ought to."
"Why not?"
"Jealousies, petty and local for the most part. The fools don't seem to realize that it is a time for every one to forget himself and for us all to pull together. However, General Washington is aware of all this, and I do not need to explain it to you more fully. We have found out how many there are in the command of General Burgoyne," he added quietly.
"How many?"
"There are three brigades, with General Phillips, General Fraser, and General Hamilton in command. The Hessians have been distributed among these three brigades, with one corps of reserve, and Riedesel, Kingston, and Money in command of the Dutchmen."
"The Dutch butchers!" exclaimed Robert angrily.
"Yes, I know," replied General Clinton quietly. "I know how you feel, and how most of the people feel, but I don't quite share in the feeling myself."
"You don't? I don't see how you can help it!"
"You must not forget that the German soldiers are not here because they want to be. They belong, body and soul one might almost say, to the man or prince to whom they have sold themselves. And this time the gambling debts of a petty prince must be paid. Besides, King George and Lord North have found it extremely difficult to get the Englishmen to come over here to fight us. Many of them believe we are right, and they are almost willing to fight for the very same things in the old country for which we are fighting in the new."
"But the Hessians are paid for coming," protested Robert warmly, to whom any apology for the presence of the "Dutch butchers" in America was not likely to appeal.
"And are not our own men, you yourself, for example, paid for what you do?"
"That's different," replied Robert, somewhat abashed.
"Yes, it is different, I admit that. We must fight these Dutch butchers along with the redcoats, but I don't blame them for being here nearly as much as I do the men in power who sent them. But you can remember that John Burgoyne has more than three thousand of them in his army."
"How many regulars?"
"Something more than four thousand."
"Seven thousand then, all told."
"Many more than that, many more, for there is the Canadian militia which he expects to join him, to say nothing of all the Indians. Then, too, I know he believes there are hundreds of Tories all about the country who will flock to join his army just as soon as he advances a little farther, or certainly as soon as he wins his first victory."
"Will they do it?" demanded Robert.
"No man knows. It's one of the things for which we must wait before we can really form much of an opinion. Personally, I do not believe there are many Tories around Albany, not nearly so many as the British suppose, and I do not think they will all dare to come out on Burgoyne's side. Certainly not, if we can keep Clinton or Howe from coming up the Hudson and can manage to starve out or hold back, even if we can't head off, Burgoyne's army. I think I understand pretty well the sentiment of the people, but one never knows. Sometimes even the very men on whom we believe we can most strongly rely are the ones to disappoint us first. Here's a letter I received this morning, for example," he added as he held forth a paper to Robert. "I know the young Dutchman referred to, and I would have relied upon him as much as I would upon you, but you see what Captain Underdunck has to say."
Robert took the letter and began to read: [1]
Taken in Tappen Lane between the Hours of Eleven & Twelve O'clock at night Dirck Rykman on Horse Back Heading one David Rake & Peter Lent with a Scouting party from the Enemy; And it appears by Evidence that said Rykman was Privy to the Scout, for said Rykman was Riding up and Down the Lanes at the Said time of night, untill one of our Centinals challenged & Stopt him, and Orderd him to Return home; yet he past the Lane which led Home, went on to meet his party, as appears by the Short aproach of the Enemy; after being Chaleng'd by a Second Centinal he then Dismounted, Securd his Sadle, Left his horse in the Lane And Retird to a house where he was taken; then a scermash Ensued, a Negro was wounded and taken who before his Disease, Confes'd that said Rykman was their Leader.
Garret Underdunck, Capt. of the
Orang County rangers.
"Dirck Rykman!" exclaimed Robert, looking up as he had read the letter. "I know him."
"What do you know of him?" inquired the general, gazing keenly at the young soldier before him.
"I know he is a good man. I don't believe it! I don't believe a word of it! That Captain Underdunck does n't know what he's doing. I mean he has made a big mistake," Robert added hastily and in some confusion.
"He appears to think he knows."
"But Dirck is one of the best men we have. I 've stopped at his house, and I know what I'm talking about."
"And you never knew of his having any dealings with the Tories or of the Tories being at his house?"
"No, sir. That is,—I—" Robert stammered and then stopped in increased confusion, for suddenly he recalled the presence of Russell and the flight of the Tory with Nero. Could it be possible that Dirck had betrayed him? Was the visit of Russell pre-arranged, and had he himself fallen a victim to the combined cunning of the two men? The suggestion was startling, and for a moment Robert was almost staggered.
"You see," said the general quietly, "it is n't safe to be too confident of any one in these trying times."
"But General Washington either trusts a man entirely or he does n't trust him at all, or so I have been told."
"That may be. It is safe to leave the general to follow his own conclusions, but is is n't safe for you."
"Did Mr. Nott go back home?" inquired Robert suddenly.
"Yes. He and two of his boys went last night. Do you know them?"
"No, sir. I brought him word last night of what had happened there."
"Then you were the man, were you? Well, Nott is a good man, one of our best; but he ought not to leave his family there. He 'll look after them now and be back in the fort before night. I am hoping you will not have to stop on your way back and be the knightly defender of any unprotected ladies."
Robert's face flushed as he replied, "I did n't stop because I wanted to, General. I don't know how I would ever have got away if it had n't been for Han—for Mrs. Nott and her daughter. Instead of my being the one to defend them, it seems to me they were the ones to help me."
"Doubtless," said General Clinton dryly. "Don't stop there to-day, though, if you can possibly avoid it."
"To-day? I'm not likely to stop there for a good many days yet. It will take me a week to go on and come back again."
"You are not going on. You are to return this morning."
"I am? Why, General Washington told me"—
"Yes, yes. I know. The letter you brought must be taken back to him, and at once. It is more important than you think. I have sent a copy of it on to General Schuyler, and our expresses here can do the work north of us for a time. I have explained many things to you, so that if you lose your letters you still may be able to make a good report for us. Have you no coat?" he suddenly inquired.
"No, sir. They cut mine when they took my letter."
"Very well. I 'll have one for you. Take these letters and conceal them so that not even Claud Brown can find them. By the way, if you will get him for us we will never refer again to the letter which you lost on your way up. Now, young man, be careful and don't stop anywhere for anything unless you are obliged to do so."
Robert Dorlon received the letters, and at once departed from the fort to secure his horse and begin his unexpected return to the army in New Jersey.
- ↑ With the exception of the substitution of "Dirck" for Philip " Rykman, this is an exact reproduction of Captain Underdunck's letter, dated June 25, 1777.