The Boy Spies with the Regulators Read online

  CHAPTER III.

  PROMISES.

  "The sooner we march into Hillsborough and make an attack on the jail,the better for the Cause," Sidney Hubbard whispered to me when Fanninghad come to understand that not one in all our company was willing tohob-nob with him. "To sit idly here is much like admitting we areafraid to do that which we have threatened, or as if we doubted therighteousness of our mission."

  It was not for one like me, who knew nothing whatsoever of warfare, tocriticize what Master Hamilton might see fit to do, and yet I heldmuch the same opinion as did Sidney.

  It would have been more to my liking had we crossed the river at fullspeed, surrounded the jail, and forced the keepers to deliver up thekeys without parley.

  I would have had the matter settled in one way or another, within tenminutes, and surely there would be no more treason in the act if donequickly, than if we dawdled around half a day listening to thevaporings of those who claimed to be loyal servants of the king.

  We were yet drawn up in line, gazing at the town as if trying todecide whether we would go forward or back, when Master David Edwards,Governor Tryon's secretary, rode up opposite us, halted an instant toview the scene properly, and then began fording the stream.

  "Whether yonder royalist will try to frighten or cajole us, he issetting about the business in proper fashion," Sidney whisperedapprovingly. "He can't be accused of wasting time."

  "Hush!" I said, laying my hand on his to still him. "I would hear hisspeech with Master Hamilton, for if I mistake not he will settle thematter in short order, one way or another."

  The secretary had by this time crossed the river and was spurring hishorse toward where Master Hamilton was posted, and as Sidney and Iwatched he saluted our commander courteously, not in lick-spittlefashion as had Fanning.

  "Why this war-like array, sir?" he asked, and Master Hamilton replied:

  "We have come for our friends who were made prisoners even whiledepending upon the governor's assurance that he wished simply to holda parley. It was a breach of faith not seemly in one who representshis majesty, and we will never brook such high-handed proceedings."

  "In that you are to be commended, sir," the secretary replied,speaking fair and softly; "but I warrant you have not fully consideredwhat may be the result of such show of force. Your friends have beentaken into custody in what appeared to his excellency like a lawfulmanner, and it is meet they should be released with due form, else mayyou plunge this fair colony into all the horrors of civil war. For thesake of the people, Master Hamilton, I beg of you to withdraw, atleast until his majesty's judges have time to deliberate upon thematter."

  "We are here, and can work our will, therefore it would be littleless than folly to abandon the advantage."

  "You need not do so. I pledge my word as a gentleman that all thegrievances of the people shall be redressed, if you allow this unhappybusiness to be settled in lawful fashion. Retire, and the matter willspeedily be arranged as you desire. By so doing you may avoidbloodshed and the charges of treason."

  "And we have your sacred word, Master Edwards, that all this shall bedone without loss of time?" one of the party who sat near ourcommander asked.

  "Aye, sir," the secretary cried, raising his voice that all mighthear, "the affair shall be inquired into as soon as may be."

  "There are other matters that need attention, sir," Master Hamiltonsaid stoutly. "Money has been extorted by Edward Fanning, from verymany here, and without color of lawfulness."

  "Master Fanning shall answer to the judges of this colony, and, iffound guilty of illegal proceedings, will be punished as should bethe lowest of our citizens," Master Edwards cried, holding up hisright hand as if taking a solemn oath.

  "And will you also pledge yourself that whatsoever has been done bythose who belong to the Regulation, in the effort to gain redress,remains in abeyance until the first question has been settled?" ourcommander asked, and the secretary replied in the affirmative.

  "Here is one of your tax-collectors who, while attempting to arresttwo lads, was himself made prisoner," and Master Hamilton pointedtoward Sandy Wells. "Such resistance might be given the name oftreason, if you were inclined to play us false."

  "The act shall pass as if it had never been committed, provided thatyou release your prisoner. Go to your homes, and at the earliestpossible moment Governor Tryon will take the necessary steps to haveall this unhappy business disposed of to your satisfaction."

  Master Hamilton wheeled his horse around, and, addressing our party,cried:

  "You hear, gentlemen all, what the representative of the governor haspromised in the name of his master. Are you agreed to do as heproposes to the end that bloodshed may be averted?"

  "We are agreed," our people cried as if with one voice, and an instantlater Sandy Wells was allowed to ride out from among the party, whenhe forded the river hurriedly as if fearing some one might try to holdhim back.

  "We yet have his weapons as spoils of war," Sidney said gleefully tome, "and I warrant you he will not venture near Alamance for many daysto come."

  "Think you we shall go free after having raised our hands againsthim?" I asked, hardly able to believe that such good fortune might beours.

  "We have the secretary's solemn word for it," Sidney replied, and hehad no more than spoken when the command was given for our people towheel about in the direction of Maddock's Mill.

  The return was made at a rapid pace, and when we were arrived at thisplace a general halt was called, the assembly being told that theRegulation would be in session at George Sally's house next day "toconsult upon the public good."

  Sidney and I thought just then more about our own bodies than theburning questions of the hour, and after taking care of our horses wecamped in a grove near the mill, with nothing save the bushes toshelter us from dew and sun.

  We slept nearly eighteen hours, which atoned for the repose that waslost during the march to Hillsborough, and then, on the morning afterour appearance before Hillsborough, were ready to discuss thecondition of the "rebellion."

  That we were included in the truce was a matter of rejoicing, for ithad seemed certain we would become fugitives, hiding on the Dan River;but both of us decided that it would not be well to venture withinreach of Sandy Wells, unless we were so well armed as to be able tocare for ourselves.

  As a matter of course we two lads went to George Sally's with theRegulators, but neither of us ventured to take any part in theproceedings, although much was done of which we did not approve.

  In the first place the Regulation prepared a petition to be presentedto Governor Tryon, begging that Messrs. Husband and Hunter be speedilyreleased in accordance with the promise made by Master Edwards; thatthe taxes of those who, by reason of their poverty, could not raisethe required amount of money, be abated; and that Master Fanning andother court officers be restrained from oppressing the people byexorbitant fees whenever a legal document was required or served.

  As I chanced to know full well, neither my father nor Master Hamiltonapproved such a course as pleading with the governor after showing hisminions that the Regulation was sufficiently strong to make demands;but the majority of the gentlemen were in favor of proving that theRegulators were not disposed to transgress the laws, and the petitionwas written out by Malichi Tyke, who had once served as clerk ofcourts.

  Sidney and I were both very much dissatisfied with the turn ofaffairs, although we took good care not to give words to ourdiscontent in the hearing of the gentlemen who formed the Regulation.

  In our opinion we should have encamped near about Hillsborough untilall which Master Edwards promised had been performed, for GovernorTryon could better be moved by a show of force than an humblepetition.

  However, as Sidney wisely said, it was no real concern of ours, sincethe elders of the association would contrive to manage affairs aftertheir own fashion, without giving overly much heed to boys orhot-heads, and if we wished to be numbered among the Regulators itstood us in hand to
obey the voice of the majority without grumbling.

  It was also decided at this meeting in George Sally's barn, thatMasters Rednap Howell and James Hunter be appointed deputies of theRegulation to present the petition to Governor Tryon, and that theyset out at once for Brunswick, where his excellency then was.

  Now the upper Carolina was not in as peaceful a state as could havebeen desired. Some of the more wealthy inhabitants favored therepresentatives of the king, and upheld them in all their iniquitousproceedings; calling themselves royalists, and us of the Regulationrebels. They oftentimes, when a fair opportunity presented itself,took the right to discipline the people who grumbled against themoney-gluttons.

  It was not impossible that some of these aristocrats might meet ourdeputies, and, being the stronger in numbers, attempt to prevent themfrom appearing before Tryon, therefore to put a check upon such apossibility it was decided that at least two others should accompanyMasters Howell and Hunter.

  It was my father who proposed that Sidney and I be chosen as theescort, giving as a reason why we two lads should be selected, that itwas possible, despite the promise of Master Edwards, Sandy Wells mighttry to make trouble for us because of our taking him prisoner. It wasbetter, so he urged, that we be kept out of sight until the Regulationhad accomplished its work, and by accompanying the deputies toBrunswick, Sandy would not readily find us.

  Master Howell himself seconded the proposition, kindly stating that hedesired no abler escort than our two selves, and thus was the mattersettled, much to my satisfaction, even though there was more than theshadow of a suspicion in my mind as to the reception with which wemight meet.

  The Regulation also decided that we four should set out as soon asMaster Malichi Tyke had made a fair copy of the petition, and he wasso expeditious with the work that everything was in readiness for ourdeparture on the following morning.

  We had before us a ride of about two hundred miles, and to Sidney andme, who had never before traveled an eighth part of that distance fromhome, the journey offered much in the way of novelty.

  There were no preparations to be made save saddling our horses: wewould sleep wheresoever night overtook us, and procure food at suchdwellings as we came across, or, failing in this, depend upon findinggame enough to satisfy our wants.

  "Remember that Masters Howell and Hunter are to be obeyed strictly byyou, lads," my father said to us as we were saddling the steeds, "anddo not put me to shame by behaving other than as gentlemen."

  As a matter of course we promised faithfully to heed his words, andwith high anticipations set off, riding immediately behind those whomwe were supposed to guard.

  During this first day, when we were yet within our own homeneighborhood, the ride was without especial incident, save that atnightfall, when we were encamped in a lean-to which Sidney and I hadput up while the gentlemen were cooking a couple of hares I had killedlate in the afternoon, Master Howell amused himself with writing theverses I shall set down below, and which I afterward saw in a pamphletentitled "A Fan for Fanning," that had been printed in Boston in 1771:

  "When Fanning first to Orange came, He looked both pale and wan; An old patched coat upon his back-- An old mare he rode on.

  "Both man and mare wa'n't worth five pounds, As I've been often told, But by his civil robberies He's laced his coat with gold."

  When these lines had been read to us Master Hunter declared that itwas no more than right Master Howell should touch up Thomas Frohock,who, as clerk of the Superior Court in Salisbury, had done quite asmuch as Fanning to extort money from the people, and then it was thatour deputy wrote these verses, which were afterward published in thesame pamphlet of which I have spoken:

  "Says Fanning to Frohock, to tell the plain truth, When I came to this country I was but a youth; Me father sent for me; I wa'n't worth a cross, And then my first study was to steal for a horse. I quickly got credit, and then ran away, And haven't paid for him to this very day.

  "Says Fanning to Frohock, 'tis a folly to lie; I rode an old mare that was blind of an eye; Five shillings in money I had in my purse, My coat it was patched, but not much the worse: But now we've got rich, and 'tis very well known That we'll do very well if they'll let us alone."

  Master Howell laughingly said that as poetry the verses were of littleaccount; but the sentiment could not be bettered, according to myideas, and before we went to sleep that night I could repeat the lineswithout missing a word.

  We set out on our journey next morning shortly after sunrise, and,just before noon, when we were looking for a place in which to camp,two men, attended by a negro slave, undertook to make us explain ourbusiness.

  The whites had halted in the middle of the road, with the blackimmediately behind them, and when we advanced made a great showing ofpistols.

  "Halt, gentlemen, and make us acquainted with your destination andyour purpose in traveling this way!" one of them cried peremptorily,and in a twinkling Sidney and I, who were slightly in the rear of thedeputies, had our rifles ready for use.

  "Why shall we make explanations to you or any other in theCarolinas?" Master Hunter cried angrily.

  "Fair and softly, good sir," the spokesman said, looking well to thepriming of his weapon. "We are told that there are in the Carolinasthose who speak against his majesty the king, and with such as they wewould have a few words."

  "Except we are so minded, you will have no words with us," MasterHowell said sharply, and I observed that he was fingering his revolveras if itching to draw it from the holster.

  "You will at least explain from what part of the colony you havelately come," the stranger said, this time speaking in a more gentletone.

  "I am willing to give you so much information as that; but no more,for I deny that any person, save the king's representatives, have theright to question me. We are lately from Hillsborough."

  The two strangers exchanged glances, and he who had first spoken saidquietly:

  "I have heard that the good people near there talk of banding togetherto resist the king's officers in their duty of collecting lawfultaxes."

  "It can now be seen how much the governor's secretary meant when hegave us such fair promises," Sidney whispered. "Edwards himself hassent these fellows in advance to prevent us from going to Brunswick."

  There was much the same thought in my own mind; but I made no answerjust then, for the very good reason that Master Hunter was replying towhat was little less than a question.

  "Our people have banded together; but it is for the purpose ofdeclaring ourselves against _unlawful_ taxation."

  "And you are one of the so-called Regulators, I may suppose?" thestranger said with a sneer.

  Sidney and I moved nearer until we were almost side by side with ourdeputies, for now did it seem certain that we were fallen upon thosewho would make trouble.

  "We have not come out either for the purpose of discussing politicswith strangers, or indulging in a brawl," Master Hunter said stoutly,drawing his pistols deliberately. "It is our purpose to ride forwardwithout too great delay, and if you oppose us the blood which is shedwill be upon your heads."

  "Might it not interest you to know who we are?" the stranger askedmenacingly.

  "Not a whit; _we_ are peaceful travelers who pursue our journeywithout molesting any man who does not seek a brawl. We shall goforward at whatever cost."

  Now it was that I believed a fight would be begun in a twinkling, andmy rifle was raised, ready to do my share, when we heard the tramplingof horses' hoofs in the distance.

  "There is some treachery afoot," Master Howell said in a low tone."These fellows have kept us in conversation until the remainder of theparty can come up. It would be useless to oppose an overwhelmingforce."

  "True," Master Hunter added, and then, as if seized by a suddenthought, he added in a low tone to me, who sat nearest him, "You twolads may perchance escape and carry to our companions of theassociation
the information of our trouble. Back your horses off tillyou are partially screened by the trees, and then ride at fullspeed."

  "There are four of us, and each one ready to give a good account ofhimself," Sidney said, much as if he was eager to take part in a fraywhere blood must inevitably be spilled.

  "Do not stop to argue, lad. It is necessary the Regulation know thatour passage is barred by some treachery of Edwards and Fanning, andyou must carry the news."

  I remembered what my father had said, and pulled my horse back, stepby step, until he was amid the bushes that bordered the road on eitherside.

  The strangers gave but little heed to my maneuvers, probably becausethey believed that a lad like me was of but little importance ascompared with the deputies--I had no doubt but that they wereacquainted with the purpose of Masters Howell and Hunter--and,therefore, I was soon partially screened from view.

  Sidney delayed until a party of horsemen numbering four or five cameinto view, and then he wheeled around suddenly, riding at full speedpast me as a couple of pistol balls whistled by his head.

  I joined him, as may be supposed, and we rode at a sharp pace for amile or more, when we pulled up as if by common consent.

  No chase had been given, and thus was I all the more stronglyconvinced that these highwaymen knew full well who were acting asdeputies of the Regulation.

  We two lads looked at each other in silence as our horses came to astandstill, and not until perhaps a minute had passed did we speak.

  "The Regulators did well to listen to such knaves as Edwards andFanning!" Sidney said angrily. "We should have released the prisonerswhen it was in our power. Now the poor men will remain in jail untilthe brute Tryon gets tired of holding them."

  "It is childish to cry over spilled milk!" I replied, angry because mycomrade was inclined to give way to repinings when they could be of noavail. "It is our duty to get speech with Master Hamilton withoutdelay."

  "Yes," Sidney cried scornfully, "and while we are riding towardMaddock's Mill, where I question if any of the Regulators can befound, those scoundrels will carry our companions to some jail inwhich they may die before we learn of their whereabouts."

  "We can only do as Master Hunter commanded," I replied meekly,realizing the truth of all Sidney had said.

  "I don't count on anything of the kind; but intend to turn back."

  "To what purpose?" I cried, now thoroughly alarmed, for I knew mycomrade well enough to understand that he did not make such assertionswithout fully intending to carry out whatever plan might be in hishead.

  "It stands to reason that those fellows who have taken the deputiesprisoners came from near about Hillsborough, in which case they willcamp somewhere on the road to-night. It is not probable they count twolads as of any great importance, and will never suspect us of comingback once we get away."

  "Well?" I asked, determined that he should unfold his scheme withoutassistance from me.

  "I shall turn back, follow those fellows if possible, and try to comeupon them unawares to-night, when there should be a chance to aid ourfriends."

  "Suppose you fail?" I asked, turning over in my mind the possibilitiesof his being able to accomplish anything of importance.

  "If I find that they are on the alert against a rescue, or if thereare too many, it will yet be time to turn my horse's head towardMaddock's Mill."