The Boy Spies with the Regulators

I fell out of line silently, and one of those who had been selected to remain behind, thinking I was afraid to venture on the enterprise, whispered eagerly:

"I'll swap my new saddle for your old one, if you'll give me your chance."

"I'd not consent if you threw into the bargain the best horse in the company," I replied, and an instant later Sidney and I were shaking hands vigorously in token of delight because of our good fortune.

It can well be supposed that we were not many moments making ready for the expedition, and when we came to the center of the encampment, where the lucky ones were assembling, it was learned that Master Rednap Howell had been selected as the leader of our party.

The only orders Master Hamilton had to give were announced in the hearing of all. We were to ride toward Salisbury until arriving at the bank of the Yadkin, which river was to be crossed in order that we might come upon General Waddel from Cabarras County, thus hoping to give him the impression that the Regulators were south of him, instead of in the course taken up by Tryon.

Master Hamilton was good enough to explain that he believed beyond a peradventure we would soon fight with the governor's forces; but it was his hope that we might meet them elsewhere than near about our own homes.

A ride of between eighty and ninety miles was before us; but we gave little heed to the distance, since each yard traversed brought us so much nearer the enemy, and I venture to say that a more eager, happy party of men never set out to provoke a battle.

When I say that the Regulators were in sore need of powder, it can be understood that this venture of ours meant more than the worrying of General Waddel; we were depending upon him for ammunition with which to wage battle against Tryon.

In less than an hour from the time when we had been summoned to hear Master Hamilton's announcement, our company of two hundred were riding away from the encampment, envied by every man who was forced to remain behind.

Many a time since Governor Tryon gave us the slip at Hillsborough had we ridden across the country in company; but never before with the certainty before us that we might measure strength with the oppressors of the colony if it so pleased us, and this fact it was which put us in such wondrous spirits.

It was the first opportunity we had had of striking a blow, and we were determined to give a good account of ourselves, regardless of the numbers to which we might find ourselves opposed.

We rode at an easy pace, believing there was no urgent need for haste; but did not draw rein until sunset, when Master Howell gave the word to halt and unsaddle.

"There is plenty of water and grass here," he said in explanation, "and the animals need a rest, not having the same spur to exertion as was given us with the news that Waddel might be where we could get at him."

Each man carried his share of the provisions, and as soon as the horses had been cared for, we ate a hearty supper, knowing that many hours might elapse before another opportunity for satisfying hunger presented itself.

At the end of two hours we were in the saddle again, and we rode until near two o'clock in the morning, with but one short halt, when the company had arrived at the bank of the Yadkin.

Now was come the time when scouts should be sent out lest we come upon the enemy before gaining possession of the powder, and it was near daybreak before the march was resumed.

By that time we had learned that General Waddel's force was in Salisbury, and counting on remaining there until the ammunition train came up.

Two miles below was a ford where we might cross the river without swimming the horses, and when the sun showed himself we were headed at full speed for the road leading from Charlotte to Salisbury, over which it had been reported that the powder would be sent.

Our horses were well blown; but we had made good time, and the only thing which might prevent the venture from being a success, was that General Waddel had already received the ammunition.

"If it turns out that we are too late to intercept the convoy, we must try conclusions with Waddel," one of our party said when we were waiting on the west side of the river for our people to get into line, and, overhearing the remark, Master Howell said emphatically:

"Don't fear that we'll miss of getting our hands on the powder. We'll have a try for it even though it becomes necessary to face all the men Tryon has brought with him."

But that we were in an enemy's country our people would have cheered this statement; but as it was the men contented themselves with raising their hats to such a leader, and then we rode on, now intent only on finding a hiding-place where we might remain until scouts had been sent out to learn the condition of affairs.

Eager though Sidney and I were to come face to face with those who wore the king's uniform, both were well pleased when the word was given to halt and make camp under cover. We had ridden nearly four and twenty hours, and although our hearts were stout for a battle, our bodies were sadly in need of a rest.

We had halted by the side of the road between Charlotte and Salisbury, along which the powder must pass if it had not done so already, and on either side the highway were groves of live oak where five hundred men and horses might readily have found a hiding-place.

Five were told off as sentinels to give the alarm when the ammunition train came in sight, and five more were detailed to scout in the direction of Charlotte to make certain the powder was yet to the south of our hiding-place.

Neither Sidney nor I envied those who were obliged to remain in the saddle yet longer. If, four and twenty hours previous, there had been an opportunity to act as scouts, we two lads would have been willing to fight for the honor; but now we congratulated each other on the possibility of gaining a little sleep before the battle was begun.

We tethered our horses near by; placed saddles and bridles where they might be come at in a hurry, and laid ourselves down in a thicket of small oaks, falling asleep almost as soon as we touched the ground.

It was sunset when I awakened, and looked about me fearing, by some unlucky chance, the company had got away without my knowledge; but my mind was soon set at rest by seeing a score or more of men lounging near at hand as if discussing some matter of importance.

Without stopping to awaken Sidney, I went toward them, and soon learned that our journey had not been in vain. The scouts had come in with the report that the powder and its convoy had not yet arrived at Charlotte, therefore we had only to wait patiently for the desired opportunity.

I was also told that Master Howell had stationed guards three miles down the road, in order that we might have timely warning of the movements of the train, and there was nothing for us to do but pass the time as best we might, providing all hands were ready for a quick jump at the word of command.

When we first halted I was so sore in body from long riding that I believed four and twenty hours of a rest would not be sufficient to satisfy me; but within half an hour after awakening and being told that there was no doubt as to the coming of our game, I was eager to be in the saddle once more.

Although our sentinels were four miles away, and would come into camp at their best pace on hearing or seeing the ammunition train, the word was passed that no man should speak above a whisper, while the horses were to be guarded closely lest by whinnying they betray our whereabouts.

Then came a most trying time of waiting, when we crouched in the darkness close by our accouterments that there might be no delay in laying hands on them immediately the alarm was given, and expecting each instant to be engaged in deadly conflict.

Sidney and I were side by side, not making any attempt to start a conversation because our nerves were strung too tightly to admit of anything like ordinary topics, and I do not remember of passing such dreary, dismal moments.

One had ample time in which to figure all the chances in favor of his being killed or wounded, and to speculate upon the probabilities of success. It seemed as if each moment was ten times its usual length, while the hours were like entire days.

Once when I believed it must be near morning, and was looking up at the sky for the first faint light of the coming dawn, I heard Master Howell say that it yet lacked a quarter of an hour to being midnight, and then both patience and courage oozed out at my finger ends. The cold chill of fear ran up and down my spine, and I believe that had the enemy made his appearance just at that moment, I should have been forced to fight against an inclination to run away.

It is needless and impossible to try to give any correct story as to that night when we waited for the enemy, fearing because success was so necessary to our cause, that, by some blunder or unforeseen accident, we might fail.

The sun had risen, showing haggard faces amid that thicket of live oaks, when we heard among the underbrush some distance away, that crashing which tells of a heavy body trying to force its way through the foliage.

Every man of us sprang to his feet and held his horse's bridle ready, when we saw one of the scouts in company with a sentinel.

"The train will be here within an hour!" was the whisper, and even though the time when we might meet the foe was so far in the future, I ran with all speed to saddle my steed, exulting and at the same moment timorous.

CHAPTER XIV

THE CONVOY

After the first flush of excitement had died away, leaving in its stead that tremulous calm which is caused by exceeding great courage or abject fear, we of the Regulation went about our task in proper order and with due precaution.

It was Sidney who, when I was exultant and excited to the verge of doing some foolish thing, brought me to a realization of the situation by saying scornfully:

"I'm beginning to grow ashamed of the Regulators. To see them running around here as if bereft of reason simply because a rascally corporal's guard of a convoy is coming this way, one would say they had never seen service. Is there like to be so much of credit in the capture of ten or twenty men by a force of two hundred, that each fellow burns with a desire to be in the front rank?"

For a moment I was ashamed at having shown so much emotion over what was really nothing more than an incident, and then there came to my mind the knowledge that this capture meant more to us of the Regulation than would the taking of a force twice our size, and I said decidedly, angry with myself for having been disconcerted by Sidney's scorn:

"One whose heart is with the cause cannot fail of being excited and anxious at such a time, no matter how small may be the force with which we are to contend. It is the idea that the powder is sadly needed by our people, which causes our company to be unduly excited. Every man realizes the importance of doing the task well, and, quite naturally, fears lest it be not performed thoroughly."

Sidney had no reply to make, and I fancy he was somewhat ashamed of having spoken disparagingly of his companions.

Then the word was passed in a whisper for each man to conceal himself and his horse as near the edge of the road as possible, remaining there in readiness to spring out at the first word of command.

A squad of ten was sent a quarter of a mile to the north in order to intercept any who might succeed in making their way past the main body, and our preparations were complete.