The Hidden Children

igh impossible. Yet, an orderly, riding at hazard, managed to come up with a hundred of the Continental foot, convoying th

trict militia, and they plodded all night with their

helmeted, he sat apathetic and inert in the

y but a fool would ride hither in such a storm. And Tarleton is no fool, n

ere from Lewisboro?" demanded Colonel Thomas sharply

. Hunt very mildly interposed; and a painful scene was narrowly averted because o

at the moment, flung aside

hat the Legion is abroad has reached you

d, rising, strode heavily to the door, but met there hi

and cloak were dripping, and he impatientl

on loudly, "I have as yet

e, "the orders must have come fro

ed Sheldon, "What

I mean what I say. Orders must

was-and so he left Sheldon a-fuming and Major Lockwood and Mr. Hunt mos

ure of Mr. Hunt and all the vigorous logic of Major Lockwood to prevent him

dard, but Sheldon pettishly bade them to place it in the parlour and await furt

the little children were asleep; the family servants and slaves remained awake, not d

two escort companies of his command, yet scarcely hoping for such good fortune, I think, for his ke

verybody who cared to listen that no attack was to be apprehended in such a storm, and that

muskets wrapped in rags, reported, and were taken in charge b

f sheds which had recently been erected near the house. A pair of smoky lanterns hung under the dripping rafters; and by their light I perce

was thinking of those forty golden guineas which were to be paid for the delivery of his head-perhaps she was thinking of Bloody Cunningham,

leisure to listen to Boyd's whispered fooleries, and to caution him with lifted finger, glancing at him sideways; and I saw her bi

oak about me and went out to the horse-sheds, where our riflema

s is rare weather for Colo

core of Colonel Sheldon's dragoons in yonder barns, drawing at jack-straws or conning their thumbs-and not a vidette ou

ed such impudent presumption as this; and I sharply rebuked th

if you but ask him, he will tell you very plainly that none of his four-footed comrades in the barn

arcely avo

that Colonel Tarleton will ve

leman coolly, "-being some three ye

at do I bel

ds as good a soldier as I am

bliged

ree with me that the

er hatched out rattlers as it is certain th

certain in your

e this same Major Tarleton! You know what Major Parr would do-and what you and I and every

n the un

eton, has ever done the same, and will continu

d I knew that our videttes should long since have been s

ured to accost him and mention very modestly my p

ou; and I have taken it upon myself to protest to Major Tallmadge, who is at t

cout of three," I said, "but Colonel Sheldon h

his rain-smeared lantern han

; then, turning: "But, damn him, I think he will," said he. And walke

ry pickle which this alarm must leave us in if Tarleton's Legion came upon us now; and that with our widely scattered handfuls we could only pull foot and await another day to find our Sagamore; when

d, hastening forward to

the lanterns and among the horses, moving silentl

I said, "to venture abro

e said, "on behal

the edge of the scarlet cloak,

hastily, "What of the

me as I pro

delighted. "Th

re, this

armth and sincerity that invaded every fibre of me. "And ha

nce when, sir, have beggars ridden

horse and gone for you and brought

or me, Mr. Loskiel, I should

exposed. Enough of lantern light from the other shed fell on her face for me to see her smooth, c

d horses stood in grotesque shadow shapes under the windy lantern

rer," she

nt to meddle with my heart and check it; then, as though to gai

in a lo

eft him at the porch and came out here to warn you. Be

ss also with M

me by North Castle, and that the roads south of the church ar

eir jack

l. They were too

goons?" I said anxiou

ntercept him and bring him here to you, as I promised you, but missed him on the Bedford road, where he should have passed. Therefor

ild who had stood in the storm all night long on the Bedford road to intercept the Indian. Faithful, indeed! For

ken with Colonel Shel

not

rry here til

her use of me,

e had I for her? I did not even know why I had asked her to tarry here until my return; and se

for you. Tarry for a moment and I shall return. And," I adde

ould hear the loud voice of Sheldon vowing that if what this Indian said were t

bstinate man to send out his patrols; then I walked over to the

aint of any kind that I could see, carried neither gun nor blanket, nor even a hatchet. There was on

an turned his head and shot a s

gamore he said: "My brother, this is Ensign Loskiel, of Colonel Morgan's command-my comrade and good friend. What this man's lips tell you has first been taught them by his heart. Squirrels chatter, brooks ba

fingers touched mine, warily at first, like the exploring antennae of

rhaps it may have been so-at Johnson Hall-or at Guy Park, perhaps, where came many chiefs and sache

iven name?" inquired

these three long battle years, officer in Colonel Morgan's regimen

s wavered, then

tongue of which I scarcely understood a word. But I knew he had seen me som

er Siwanois

ession came in

woman, of what nation are the c

ff my tongue for vexation that I should have so clumsily reminded a Sagamore of a subject nation of his

wer to him or of my embarrassment, I did not know. His calm countenance had not altered-not

a mortif

his new brother, Loskiel, meant no offens

Mohican Sagamore listens, all Algonquins listen, and the Siwanois clan grow silent in the still places. When a real man speaks, real men listen with respect. Only the Canienga continue to chirp

mphant glance at

oquois? Is it not time that the Mohawks listen to the reading of those ancient belts, and count thei

or yet in the Kanonsionni may the Mohicans read to the Mohawks the ancient wampum records. The Lenni-Lenape are Algonquin, not Huron-Iroquois. Let those degraded Delawares who sti

and great deeds," I said, "but the belts in their

ore's eye

cans have never understood Iroquois wampum. Let th

rhaps the Canienga's ambassadors can no longer per

e or any direct appeal for an immediate answer to Boyd's request. But already I had so thoroughly prepared the ground; and the Sagamore's responses had been so encouraging, that the time seemed to have come to put the direct and final question. And now, to avoid the t

to a Sagamore of a conquered race-a race which already was nearly extinct-investing this Mohic

an people! Our people have need of you. The path is dark to Catharin

her's words, when this leathern girth I wear around my body carrie

nd drew with my forefinger a gr

embers redden. We have slept (touching my eyelids and then laying my right hand lightly over his); we have eaten (again touching his lips and then my own); and now-now here-now, in this place and on this da

e scale was weighted with the immemorial customs and usages of a great and proud people; the other with a white man's subtle and flattering recognition of th

rd road at a gallop, apparently headed for Ridgefield. But I scarcely noted what was being discussed in the further end of the hall, so intent was I on the Sagamore's reply-if, indeed, he meant to answer me at all. I could even feel Boyd's body quivering w

day I come to you here, at this fire, to acquaint you wi

breath of profound relief

spoke again,

of the Long House arise and stand. Only a thick darkness is there-an endless gloom to which the Mohican hatchets long, long ago dispatched the severed souls they struck! In every trail they stand, these ghosts

f my knife, drew it from my belt, and then slowly r

ing springs to my eyes. I can see through to their pleasant depths. No snake lies hidden under them. So now-now, I say-if my brother's sight is dimmed on the trail to Catharines-town, Mayaro will teach him how

s. I have drawn my brother's k

. Boyd silently gave him his hands, and so did I; then B

Tallmadge go out ahead of me, run to the mounting-block, and climb into hi

nd meet Colonel Moylan! A doz

s in rapid motion, which had been seen and reported by one of our videttes a few minutes since, could be no other than M

zon became visible, and the dim light spreading from a

range maid swathed in her scarlet cape; and found h

up with he

ons riding on the Bedfor

idettes, making toward Ridgefield. Colonel S

yo

ay be

be the le

nd ourselves in

ir saddles down by the barns, and came riding up the sloppy road, their horses slipping badly and floundering through t

m out of sight

oskiel. Pray, in what further manner

the Sagamore has now ended, and most happily. You have served your country better than you

one well?" she

, with such a warmth of feel

stand this thing that I h

I might

you

I dar

she seemed to come to herself, wearily, and she cast a tragic upward glance at me. Then, dropping her eyes, a

her side again i

nd lifted brows. Under them her grey eyes hinted of

express my gratitu

already

eful to you we men of the Northland are-how deeply we must ever remain in

en-if there is not

ell you. Will

d-suitably.... I wi

r me as to make known to me your

me," she said

re tha

re tha

red to be my instinct not to let her slip away into the world without s

efore, I offer none of any sort. Yet, because you have been a good comrade to me-and because now we

oking away from me

" she

ake my hand in adieu-and let

hand. I retained it for a moment, then released it. Her ar

is strange and curious reluctance to l

es

e's token-in memory of

ha

and her grey eyes were on me now, pierci

knowing why I was doing it at all, and stooping and lifting her little, wind-roughened hand, put it on t

hatred, in her level stare, and something of fear, too, in every quickening breath that moved the scarlet mantle on her breast. Then, in a flash, she had turned

ing with my breath and pulses, now checking, now speeding both

ufficient composure to

rade, good-bye," I sai

shoulder to me, but I

ye-Mr.

o it

s in no particular direction. Three times I turned in my tracks

stlessly through the freshly mowed meadow between drenched haystacks-the first I had seen that ye

distant Bedford road I saw one of our dragoons

ing, a great body of red-jacketed horsemen-hundreds of them-the foremost shooting from their saddles

for my horse. Other officers came running, too-S

t seemed that the red-coats must cut us off, but we spurred out of the

don has done for us now! G

resently, pale as death

l be broke for this

ut to sa

sir, and we have scarce four scor

he panted. "But if they do we

ders?"

aid he. "We'll see t

House. Sheldon's four score troopers heard the uproar of the coming storm, wavered, broke, and whirled their horses about into a most disorderly flight along the Stamford road. Everybody ran-there w

ce. There was nothing on earth for us to do but to ride and try to keep our horses from falling headlong on the rocky, slippery road; for it was now a very hell of trampling horsemen, riding fran

I found myself riding in the rear beside Boyd and Jack Mount once more. Turning to look back, I perceived the Legion Cavalry were slowing to a trot to rest

nd we in the rear returned their fire, emptying one s

the rocky country was too stiff for their riders, and t

knew he meant the shameful surprise, not the retreat of our eighty

th us on the New Canaan road some twenty light dragoons, not including Boyd, myself, and Jack Mount-one c

his hatless head to scowl back at the Hussars; and he talke

rge. Wait till the odds lessen. Steady there, boys! This cattle chase is not ended. We'll fetch 'em a

e, fox-hunting calls, and behind us we could hear the far lau

y, and I saw our dragoons turning angrily in their saddl

a sandy, narrow cross road into

eered us, and the pursuit seemed to have slackened after nearly three hard miles of running. But they still followed us

e divided, half backing into the sandy road to the right, hal

he dragoon captain coolly, beck

agoons, spurring suddenly forward into the main road, beat down a Hussar's guard, flung his arms around him

d all the way back to the Stamford road we ran them, and so excited became our dragoons that we could scarce hold them when we came

ntering down the Stamford road to rejoin us and watch the burning town, for we coul

oke; and our dragoons listened to the tales of these men, some of whom had been in the village when the o

says Tarleton, 'when shots are fired at my men from houses by the inhabitants of any town in America, I'll burn the town and hang the men if I can get 'em.' Some Hussars came up, driving before them the Major's fine herd of imported cattle-and a troop of his brood mares-the same he has so often had to hide in the Rock Hills. 'Stand clear, madam!' bawls Tarleton. 'I'll suffer nothing to be removed from that house!' At this the Major's lady gives one long look after her children, which Betsy Hunt and the blacks are carrying through th

listen. Until this moment our white enemies had offered no violence

said in a

ired the c

barns and stables, his sheds, and the new, unfinished barracks. We c

bbed him of his watch and purse, damning him for a

another. "They had a dozen nei

spoke to him. For even a deeper disgrace had now befallen the dra

there nothing to be done but sit here and

distant firing on the Lewisboro road. Colon

!" he said loudly, "o

er of their muskets, saw the long belt of white smoke encircle them, saw red-j

Continental infantry appeared on t

r Tallmadge, with a trumpeter at his back, rein in while the troopers were r

rom Thomas's regiment, and the cavalry and mounted infantry of the Legion were as

as's men, and we rode up to him. He passed his sword to the left hand, and l

n my wife and children. My wife is not badly in

, now pressing forward on a heavy run, so that Colone

galloped Sheldon's light dragoons, who, having but five muskets in the command, went at the Yagers with nak

amned rebels! Pul

aped from the melee; and another, one John Buckhout, duck his head as a dragoon fired at him, and, still ducking and loudly cursing the fello

sparks, so that in the confusion and explosion of muskets it was difficult to manoeuv

peaceable inhabitants who had taken no part in the affair. Also, they had a wagon piled with the helmets, weapons, a

; and they retreated faster than our militia and Continentals could travel. So

, and saw their comrades lift them into one of the wagons. Also we saw our dragoons and militia take thre

ttle consequence to our country compared to the safe accomplishment of our mission hither, and our safe return with the Siwanois. Fortune had connived at our disobedience, for no

mong a throng of village folk who stood gazing at the smoking ashes of the Lockw

were full; our animals rested; and, beside us, strode the Sagamore, fully armed and accoutr

is called by the Delawares "The Clan of the Magic Wolf," outlined in sca

re? At Guy Park? At Johnson Hall? Fort Johnson? Butlersbury? Somewhere I had seen that symbol, and in that same paint. Yes, it might easily have been. Every nation of the Confederacy possessed a

s the Sagamore came

many nations, why is the symbol that you wear f

nce at me, then instantly his features

before seen the Spirit

a clan,

I muttered. "I have never before seen a Siwano

ly shook

ward; I still lingered by the

ittle maid who bore

e no a

"whether she has no friends-so poor she seems-so

"My brother Loskiel should ask th

her again, Sagamore. Ho

of loosening his tongue in her regard, I now said nothing more concerning her, deeming t

lso, for some hours, that curious battle-hunger had been gnawing at my belly so that I ha