The Hidden Children

named ourselves to the sentry, who presently fetched an

ee Major Lockw

that we are come from headquarters expre

Albany do yo

al Clinton," returned Boyd in a lower voice

us standing in the crowded hall where officers, ladies of the fa

in confusion over tables, chairs, and even on the floor. An officer in buff and blue came out of the room, glanced keenly at us, made a

his care our war axes and the pistol which Boyd carried, and then ushered us into the parlour. And it occurred t

received us most blandly, although I noted that he kept the table between himself and us, and also that the tabl

weary day to come. Nor could I blame this gentleman with a heavy price on his head, and, as I heard later, alread

eral of Brigade, he asked us to be seated, and shut the table drawer, a

ents of this letter?"

ajor Lo

r. Loskiel

ir," I

g over and over the letter b

ecretly amused, even when his face was gravest and most composed; a gentleman of middle height, of good fig

frank. There are no recruits to be had in this vicinity for Colonel Morgan's Rifles. Riflemen are of the elite; and our best characters and best shots ar

its it in the infantry. It would be our loss, if we lose our best shots to your distinguished corps; but of course that is no

, Ma

her. So I will be quite frank, gentlemen. The man you seek, Luther Kinnicut, is a spy whom our Committee of Safety maintains within the lines of t

gamore, with whom we have need to speak. General Clinton

r pardon, gentlemen; the Sagamore, Mayaro, although a Siwan

know h

I inquire what it is

cret not to be entrusted to paper-a secret which you, sir, and even my comrade, Mr.

he hall, dismissed the sentry, closed

pon my very humble head; and as I am not only Major in Colonel Thomas's regiment, but also a magistrate, and also, with my friend Lewis Morris, a member of the Provincial Assembly, and of the Committee of

ely; General Sullivan has been selected to deal it, General Clinton is to assist. A powerful army is gathering at Albany, and another at Easton and T

en?" inquired t

l west by south and plunge straight into the wilderness, swif

exclaimed,

have been struck, how we have fought and suffered. But you, sir, have only heard; you have not seen. So I must tell you now that it is far worse with us than we have admitted. The frontier of New York State is already in ashes; the scalp yell rings in our forests day and night; and the red destructives under

then, softly smiting on

y grain field-lay waste, blacken, ravage, leave nothing save wind-blown ashes of that great Confederacy, and of the vast granary which has fed the British northern armies so long. Nothing must remain of the Long House; the Senecas shall die at the Western door; the

r Oneidas have told us that he knows where the castles of the Long House lie, and that he can guide our army uner

we camp at night not knowing why. Unseen authority moves us, halts us; unseen powers watch us, waking and sleeping, think for us, direct our rising and our lying down, our going forth and our return-nay, the invisible empire envelops us utterly in sickness and in health, ruling when and h

d I nearly hit the mark; for it seemed reasonable that our army, having once swept the Long House, could scarcely halt ere we had cleaned out that rat's nest of

p abstraction was broken by the

er the law, it shall be done; and when we are able to concentrate, and when your recruiting party arrives, I will do what I can, if permitted, to sel

idently worried and perplexed; and presently he ha

rrassment, and mortification in this country of Westchester, so that you m

ntal troops; our militia has its various rendezvous, and it turns out at every call. The few companies of my regiment of foot are widely scattered; one company left her

And-I ask you, gentlemen-considering that in New York City, just below us, there are ten thousand British regulars, not counting the partizan corps, the irregulars, the Tory militia, t

for me, it was not my place to sp

the Major said,

ay find ways and means. And now, one other matter

these was our Captain of Minute Men. They were, in order, Colonel Sheldon, a fretful gentleman with a face which seemed to me weak, almost stupid; Colonel Thomas, an iron-grey, silent officer, stern but civil; Captain William

centre table, where silver candlesticks glimmered

, military and civil. And to them Major Lockwood made known our needs-not, however, disturbing them in their pre

picked up in Westchester, and that we had had our journey for our pains. Anyway, he'd be damned if

Thomas bluntly, "but if the law permits Mr. Boyd to take th

little, and Cap

Boyd. You are welcome to any y

ical violence, offered no suggestion until the second obje

can Sagamore, is

t, Alsop?" asked Maj

him yes

n Pound

Thomas, then with a slight c

air, my wife and I--" he turned to Major Lockwood: "Betsy whispered to me, 'There is a handsome wench talking to an Indian!' And

attern again?" asked C

scarce a slattern, whatever else she may be-a youn

inquired Boyd,

Mr. Hunt primly. "The child pos

gallantly rescued an hour since." And he told the story gayly e

und," said Major Lockwood, "it might be well for

er again?" inquir

Boyd-and when Boyd had bidden me turn again because the girl was handsome, there had been no need to turn. I had seen her; and I knew that when he said

myself, saying

econd thought I think I mi

Fancher, "the wench has gone

erved Colonel Thomas grimly. "Doubtless She

fiddling uneasily with his s

I also to play chap

say: "You might play it as well as you play the Colonel;" but Shel

he learned that we were roofless he insisted that we remain under his roof, nor would

live plainly, and both bed and board are at your disposal. Lord, sir! And what would

card, and showed Boyd and myself to two pretty chambers, small, but very neat, where the linen on the

with sheet and pillow. What a pretty nest, Loskiel. Lord! And here's a vase of posies, too!

and put on fresh linen and our best uniforms of soft doeskin, which differed from the others only in

u, Loskiel, though I would not boast, this accursed rifle-shirt and these gaudy leggings conceal a supp

he envied me my hair, which was yellow and whi

er now such idle words, spoken in the pride and strength and gayety of youth! And always when I think of him I remember his dread of fire-the only fear he ever knew. These things-his brown eye

high-soaring martins, we had dressed. Boyd went away first, saying carelessly that he meant to look to the horses before

ll a seventh, the pretty maid whom we had seen on approaching the house, who proved to be a married dau

e bright courage she so sweetly maintained in a home which every hour of the day and night menaced, that even Mrs. Hunt,

d his homage gayly, as he always did. Yet, I thought a slight c

r there were two little maids of fourteen and eleven, Ruhannah and Hannah, sweet and fresh as wild June roses, who showed me the tow cloth for our army which they were spinning, and

of these, so youthful she seemed in her Quaker-cut gown of dove-colour-though i

e a dragoon-and we would completely represent a holy cause, my husban

uch beauty for our corps; for even a mental picture of Betsy Hunt in rifle-frock seemed too adorable. Mr. Hunt, entering, smiled in his quiet, embarrasse

, dusky green ocean of giant pines, vast as the sea and as silent and uncharted, when Major Lockwood bent over me saying

on the floor and stood up, "and if she be yet here you shou

s significant grin, and went out to the porch, putting on my light round c

hunting blade, I began to comprehend something of the imminent danger which so apparently lurked about this country. For all military men hereabo

fantry had left. Carpenters were still sawing and hammering on the flimsy new barracks down in the meadow, and there seemed to

or did I know how to make inquiries-perhaps dreading to do so lest m

-hanging sun, which presently it entirely swallowed; and the countryside grew luminously grey a

habits, nor the rapid violence of the July storms it hatches and d

rough the pleasant streets and lanes of old Poundridge, always approaching any groups

eve it likely that she had indeed gone off a-gyps

Pond and the Three Lakes; and, pursuing it, I came on a vidette of Sheldon's reg

and he continued to munch the green bough-apple

s pommel or manage the sawed-off musket which he bore, the butt resting wearily on his thigh. And it made me sober indeed to

munching on his apple; "best seek shelte

s this roa

outon

t is Bou

ve-a mile or two north, si

y of our

caps as we hunt quail-scare up a company,

irreg

tish plague them beyond endurance. Then," he added

hen it occurred to me that perhaps an inqu

caressing the sorry animal while I des

"that's the one the boys are

u know

ht, yes

mp followers, I take

l I know is that in April she was first seen here, loitering about the camp where t

ternoon by the camp of Col

ir. Did the m

es

his apple,

t I never saw her kind to a

, but what he said

w which way she

nows the Bouton boys yonder. I have seen her coming

a Saga

ing. Having swallowed

or Sagamores. The Indian

where he is

ir, I

his young

rneys about with him on the ridge y

ow her nam

her Lois,

er; and I thanked the boy and slowly start

storms; no leaves on bush and tree were now stirring; land and sky ha

low on the flank of the rocky rampart a ruined sugar house on the edge of a maple ridge, I do not know what

r, I left the highway, turned to the right, and began to mount the hillside where traces of a path or sheep-walk were faintly visible under foot among the brambles. Once or twice I glanced upward to see whether

ckle sap-house ahead of me among the maples.

stening attitude, then slowly began to retreat, not cowering, but sullenly and with a certain defiance in her lithe movement,

creasing gloom; and for a moment thought she had gone. Then I sa

" I called to her pleasantly.

ering into her face through the falling twilight. And for a m

bon tied beneath her chin, nor any trace of hair powder, nor dotted k

and her cheeks not painted either, but much burned by the July sun. Nor were her eyes black, as I had supposed, but a dark, clea

now not why, "I have been searching

t of me?" said she, s

fav

r's mare and go a-joggi

her insolent grey eyes took me

cognized in me the officer who was at

said she, so rudely tha

I sharply, "you seem to mi

rt and plainer-though I have learned that the errands which

men

, black eyes. Ask him how much cha

again," said I, still redder.

en lie," said

with such contempt that I saw the painful

ght her confidence. But whatever she had been, and whatever she was, after

aid I, "-however mistaken you ar

aid n

ness that surprised myself, "my conduct earlier in

er my own fashion," s

e and then retu

potted fawn from wolf and fox-so

an," I said, so unpleasantly that again t

t," she said defiantly. "Doubt

ssed, I believe, one lesson. And y

furious; "far less desire to attemp

" she said, with

ers was somehow arousing me with its separate sting hidden in every word she uttered. "And now," I continu

ited, her eyes, her expression, her very

Sagamore, Ma

say

be found?" I con

ou desire

k I looked it, for the slightest curl of

is a storm approaching, and I do not wish to get wet. Answer my civil question an

you wish

consult him concern

matt

o not concern yo

re of that,

. "What do you mean? Will you an

amore?" she repeated so obstinatel

had you rather I fetche

d I shall tell you no

what do you take me, then, that you refuse to answer th

ot so name

uan Loskiel, Ensign in M

say

u doub

I stood, bent forward and looked me very earnestly in the eyes-so closely that som

s lightning glimmered; and af

this Sagamore for you?

you

ust where the cheek curved under the long black

she asked, after a s

ckwood's. Tomorrow I travel north ag

dily at me all the t

to be a friend to libe

n this rifle dress I

ay dress as

rust me f

have not been in Westchester very long. It does not matter. No boy with

ol presumption-and would not for worlds have ha

she stood there

n," she said

ience a sense of inferiority-which was absurd a

My clothes being my best, I instinctively stepped into the doorway; and, of a sudden, she

ek shelter from a storm in a ruined sug

n dwelling!" she said ho

ke to take offense at everything I say, or look

oment,

el

then slowly dropped her eyes, and in the

id. "Please to come inside-and close t

rawing the rain

n when the bolts fall very near; flash after flash of violet light illuminated

light hereab

N

scarce see her now in the gloom. And so we waited there in silence until the roar of the ra

ed out into the dripping

ing the Sagamore

not pr

you w

ed a whi

will bri

he

nig

pro

es

it rains

st go, sir. The real tempest is yet to break. It hangs yonder

ight but reassuring smil

inform you that in what you do for me you serve our c

ther pass the knife you wear around my t

h voice, seemed so oddly at variance tha

ly that the next moment I was afraid I had angered her, and fearing sh

ense of fatigue invaded me; and I did not then understand that it came from my steady and sustained efforts to ignore what any eyes could not choose but see-this you

omething-indescribable perhaps-but which even such a man as I had become unwillingly aware of. And I must have been very conscious of it, for it made me restless and vaguely ashamed that I should condescend so far as e

; and even as I entered the house, a tempest of rain and wind burs

all, I scowled at the latter askance, but remembered my

me to send this Sagamore here tonight. A

ord! How sick am I of saddle and nag and the open road. Your kindly hospitality, Ma

ed with him; but Betsy Hunt turned up her pretty nose, declaring that young men were

peat it again, utterly refusing to say she was sorry or that she commiserated his desperate lot. But on

often-few remained indifferent to this young man, and many there were who found him difficult to forg

e their reverences to their mother and father, and so very dutifully to every guest. A fat black woman in turban and

les at his elbow; Mr. Hunt was reading; his wife and Boyd still lingered o

was our topic; and she was still speaking of the pleasure it had given all when Lewis Morris brough

gallop of a horse. Major Lockwood lifted his eyes fr

de his book very deliberately and walked to the parlour door, and a moment

mmon instinct of coming trouble impelled us. The black servant open

and drew him in the door; and they s

od murmured

There is bad news for us

d the M

Thomas and Sheldon with this news. T

into the storm, and Major

news of Moyla

second's silence, a clatter of slippery hoofs, then o

at the door, turned aroun

f we may know?" ask

nah. And it may not be true, but-some

benezer?" asked Mr. Hunt,

her Kinnicut sends the war

orse is concentrating here," said Mr. Hunt. "Bu

eaking, and not to be mistaken. She knew; and we also now surmised that if the Legion Cavalry was out, it was for the purp

ging of the papers and conceal them as usual. I shall presently be bu

think?" I whispered to Boyd, "

f them I make a guess that

s to be our

h he knew well that we had been cautioned t