The Boy Spies with the Regulators

"There will be no further thought of foul play, now that the people are amused; but if those two lads had not rescued the tax-collector when he was nigh to death, we should have a pretty hornets' nest about our ears by this time."

It filled me with pride as I realized that Sidney and I had done so much for the cause, and I could well understand how important was our work of mercy, by glancing at the governor's troops.

Had Sandy Wells been killed, as he would have been but for us two lads, then had Tryon such a weapon against us as must have doomed the Regulation to everlasting shame and contempt.

We held our line until the governor's soldiers disappeared behind the court-house, and then the command was given to break ranks, after which General Hamilton rode up to Sidney and me, saying as he faced about to check our forward movement:

"I thank you, lads, in the name of the Regulation, for having made it possible for us to throw ridicule upon the enemy. May you ride long in the ranks of the Sons of Liberty!"

I was as proud as any turkey cock at being publicly praised by one of the foremost men in the colony, and when we were alone in our lean-to Sidney said:

"I reckon we ought to be well satisfied with ourselves. There's many a one in this company who would give half he possessed to win such words as we received from the general."

"But for you Sandy would have been killed, and the governor had just cause to imprison every Regulator he could come at. I have taken my share of the praise, but without having earned it."

"I say you're entitled to as much as myself," the lad cried hotly. "I had no idea anything very serious was on foot when I dragged you from your mother, and once we were in the crowd it was impossible to do other than exactly as we did."

Sidney's generous heart prompted him to give me a full share in the work when I had but followed him, and during the remainder of that day I took good care to make every one who spoke of the matter understand exactly the position of affairs.

When my horse had been tethered I sought out mother once more, and she sang my praises till my cheeks were red with something very like shame, for she would not listen to the explanations I made; but insisted on calling me "a brave lad" who was an honor to his parents.

A stranger who had come suddenly upon us during the afternoon of this day would have found it difficult to believe that we were ready for, and expecting, mischief on the morrow.

The scene on the hill and nearabout the river was rather one of peace and good-will. Neighbors and friends seemed bent on a holiday, with no thought of care, and yet their merry-making was carried on between two small armies, each prepared to meet the other in deadly conflict if provocation was given.

It was a scene of gaiety which might be entirely changed by the morrow, and then instead of smiles one could expect to see tears; instead of laughter, to hear groans of agony, unless God should put it in the heart of William Tryon to deal justly and lawfully by those over whom the king had set him.

It was with some such thoughts as these that I looked down from the brow of the hill upon the joyous throng, and my heart grew sick with apprehension as I speculated upon that which the morrow's sun might bring to light.

CHAPTER X

THE LONG NIGHT

The excitement of the people appeared to increase rather than diminish as the night approached.

The appearance of the king's soldiers had disturbed them in their merry-making, and brought to their minds the possibilities of the morrow. A view of the two armed bodies, drawn up one against the other, told more clearly of the danger which threatened than words could have done, and the cautious began to ask if it would not be well to send the women and children away.

Dull-witted though I am, I could not fail to observe the people casting furtive glances toward the town, as if fearing to see issuing from it those who would work some injury in the name of the king.

The sounds of laughter were replaced by deep mutterings, and instead of lounging here or there with their families, the men and boys moved restlessly from one point to another, watching jealously every motion of the Regulators.

It was much as if we were all walking to and fro in a magazine of powder, each with a lighted match in his hand, and that the explosion was a foregone conclusion, the only question being as to exactly when it would occur.

I understood that others besides myself took much the same view of the situation, when the officers of the Regulation gave orders concerning that which should be done during the night.

All the company were ordered to go on duty at sunset, remaining under arms until morning, ready for any sudden emergency. The men were especially commanded not to stray away from the limits of the encampment, and forty were told off to do guard duty when ten could have patrolled the camp thoroughly under ordinary circumstances.

All these preparations told that our leaders were anxious regarding the possibility of treachery on the part of the royalists, which was not to be wondered at in view of all that had happened.

When it was reported in Hillsborough that Sandy Wells had been murdered, Tryon and Fanning saw an opportunity of setting us down before the world at large as murderers and knaves who should, in justice to a law-abiding community, be committed to jail.

When they learned that we had kept our hands clean, that we had done our best to preserve the peace, it might well be expected some other plan to ruin us would be tried, and General Hamilton was far too wise a man to neglect any opportunity for additional defense.

It was also evident that the people generally were of the belief that the royalists would attempt to do us a mischief, and, as I have said, they moved around restlessly, watching keenly all that was taking place on the opposite side of the river.

Had the king's troops come toward the ford a second time, I believe of a verity that trouble would have ensued even though the soldiers advanced with peaceful intent.

Sidney and I were stationed as sentinels at that part of the line which overlooked the town, with orders to observe closely all that might be taking place on the opposite side of the river, and to report immediately at headquarters any unusual movement, either on the part of the royalists or visitors.

Every inch of the line which marked the bounds of the encampment was constantly traversed that night. The guards were stationed twenty feet apart, and it was expressly commanded that each man should advance until he met the sentinel on his right, when he was to wheel about and proceed in the opposite direction until meeting the Regulators on his left, continuing this throughout the hours of darkness.

The numerous fires kindled by the visitors with which to cook supper, or keep off the insects, served to illumine the scene, and on the opposite side of the river one could see the streets closely packed with human beings, who counted to spend the night in the open air.

It was eight o'clock in the evening, and I was yet doing guard duty, when a sudden outburst of noise from near about the court-house startled us, for it seemed to be the signal of that uprising or outbreak which we had been fearing might occur before morning.

At first it was no more than angry cries and yelps of pain; but these increased steadily until it seemed as if a riot was well under way.

There was no need of carrying any information to the headquarters' shanty. General Hamilton was on the guard line very near to my post, within two minutes after the first cries were heard, and he remained there in a listening attitude, turning his head this way and that like the dog who seeks to find a lost trail.

A dozen or more of the chief men were with him, and I heard one of them ask anxiously:

"Can you guess why trouble should have begun at this time? I believed all the hot heads among our friends were on this side of the river."

"So they are, else would the brawl have been fanned into a battle long before this. Master Hunter," he cried sharply to the deputy, "form your men into line at the river bank to prevent any from leaving the encampment, and lose no time in doing so."

At the call for the guards to advance into line I stepped forward; but stopped very suddenly as the general seized me by the collar of my shirt.

"You and the comrade who aided in saving Sandy Wells' life are to wait here that I may have a moment's speech with you." Then, raising his voice, he cried, "Hunter, give the word as soon as you have a force at the riverbank sufficient to hold this throng in check!"

"The entire Regulation will be none too many for such service as that."

"Station the guards first, and then call out the remainder of the force. It stands us in hand to hold all on this side the river, and also keep peace among them."

I was at some little trouble to find Sidney, he having gone to the further end of the line when the word was given to "fall in"; but I succeeded in withdrawing him from the ranks just as the men went forward into position at the river bank.

When we two lads stood before him, the general said in a low tone as if to prevent any other from hearing the discourse:

"It is in my mind that yonder riot has been begun by orders of Tryon or Fanning, that they may have some excuse for filling the jail before morning, as well as to cast discredit upon the Regulation. You lads have shown yourselves quick-witted, and I have no doubt that you will be able to hold your own in case Tryon and his crew are provoking a brawl. Cross the river at once; mingle with those who are taking part in the disturbance, and learn all you can regarding the beginning of the trouble."

"Our lines are in position!" Master Hunter cried, and the general replied:

"Very well. Hold the people here, and allow none to cross save the two who may speedily come with my permission to do as they please."

We lads waited twenty seconds or more to learn if Master Hamilton had any further commands for us, and since he did not speak, Sidney plucked me by the sleeve as a signal that we should set out.

The general was looking at us when we moved off, therefore did I know that we had received all the orders he had to give.

On coming to the water's edge we walked up the stream until finding Master Hunter, and then, in a low tone, explained what we had been ordered to do.