Peggy Owen and Liberty Part 37

"Tell him," she sobbed, then looked up at Peggy wrathfully: "If thee tells him anything until the very last, Peggy Owen, I will never forgive thee. Never!"

"I understand, Sally," encouraged Peggy. "Tell me."

"Thee may tell him, at the very last, at the very last, Peggy."

"Yes, Sally."

"Thee may tell him that I think him the finest gentleman I ever knew.

There! Of course, being thy kinsman, and because we are such friends, for thy sake, thee knows----"

"Yes, I know." Peggy kissed Sally gently, then held her close. "I have not told Harriet a word," she whispered. "Oh, Sally! Sally!"

They joined Clifford and his guards on the Bristol road. Peggy could not but reflect with what joyousness she and Sally had pa.s.sed over this very road a few short months before. How much had happened since that time! Fairfax foully murdered, Clifford, her cousin, on his way to pay the penalty of the deed. Truly strange things were wrought in the warp and woof of time. So musing, for little conversation was held, the long hours of the day glided into the shadows of evening, and found them at Trenton where they were to bide for the night. Peggy suggested seeing Governor Livingston, but Harriet demurred at once.

"He would do naught for us, Peggy," she declared. "Have you forgot that 'twas I who tried to effect his captivation at Middlebrook? 'Tis that very thing that makes me fearful of meeting General Washington.

Were not my brother's life at stake I would not chance it."

The roads were in good condition, the business in hand most urgent, and so they journeyed from early morning until nightfall of each day with but short stops to refresh man and beast. Through Princeton, and along the banks of the Millstone to Kingston they rode. Here the road left the valley and began to ascend the heights, then along the banks of the Raritan River until Somerset Court House was reached. Peggy turned to Harriet.

"Does thee know where we are, my cousin?" she asked smiling.

"We are coming into Middlebrook," answered Harriet gazing about her.

"Does it cause you painful thoughts, Peggy? 'Twas here that first you knew me. 'Twas here that I played the spy. Ah! the huts where the soldiers dwelt are still standing. 'Tis most familiar, Peggy."

"Nay, I am not pained at the recollection, Harriet. Thou art changed in many ways since then. I do not believe that thee would play the spy now."

"You know not, Peggy. I do not know myself. If aught would result of benefit to England's cause, I might. I have done other things. I do not know."

"Are you two talking about those huts yonder?" questioned Clifford, who had been riding with Mr. Owen. "Cousin David says the American army camped here in the winter of '79."

"We know it, my cousin," answered Peggy. "This is where we first met.

Harriet and I pa.s.sed that winter here."

"Tell me about it," he said. "There are many things concerning that winter I would know."

So with each girl supplementing the other the story of Middlebrook was told. Harriet did not spare herself in the recital. With amazing frankness she related how she had tried to capture both General Washington and Governor Livingston. Her brother listened in wide-eyed astonishment.

"And father let you engage in such emprises?" he queried with pained surprise.

Harriet smiled.

"I liked the danger, Cliff," she said. "'Tis risk that gives the zest to all undertakings. Life is like food: insipid without some spice.

Beside, here was Peggy to rescue me from paying the penalty of my acts. Poor Peggy! she thought she had fallen upon evil days when I carried her off to New York."

"Poor Peggy indeed!" he agreed briefly; then relapsed into thought.

The road beyond Middlebrook was new to both maidens, and had they not been saddened by the knowledge that each mile traversed brought them nearer to the place where Clifford must be left they would have been delighted with the romantic scenery. Soon the heights of Morristown came into view. A few miles to the eastward of Morristown lay the little town of Chatham. Between the heights and the village lay the cantonment of the Jersey line, Clifford's destination.

Chatham was a pleasant little place. There were many hills in the vicinity, and a fine view of the valley of the Pa.s.saic River, which stream ran through the village. But none of the party noticed hills or river as they went through the town toward the encampment. Harriet grew pale at sight of the tents.

"You must be brave, my sister," pleaded Clifford, observing her pallor. "I must meet the colonel, you know. Help me to do so with composure. Besides, you will come back here after you have seen Sir Guy."

"True," she answered. "I am not going to break down, Clifford. There is much to be done."

They were received with extreme kindness by Colonel Elias Dayton, who had command of the Jersey line. No orders concerning Clifford had as yet been received from General Washington, he told them, save only that he must be closely guarded.

"And naught will happen to him until you have had time to see General Washington," he rea.s.sured Harriet, moved by her grief at parting from her brother. "'Tis a most distressing affair, and there is no one in the American lines who does not desire that General Carleton will give us the real culprit."

And with lightened hearts Mr. Owen and the two girls proceeded to Morristown, where they were to pa.s.s the night.

CHAPTER XXV

AT HEADQUARTERS

"But mercy is above this sceptered sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute of G.o.d himself; And earthly power doth then show likest G.o.d's, When mercy seasons justice."

--_Shakespeare._

The route now took the little party through a most romantic country, but after leaving Clifford their distress of mind was such that at first they did not remark it particularly. Nowhere in the world can there be found more beautiful scenery than that along the Hudson River. The views vary from what is pleasing and picturesque to that which is in the highest degree magnificent. And so, as gentle wooded slopes were succeeded by bold promontories, deep vales by extensive valleys, hills by lofty precipices, Harriet and Peggy found themselves roused from their apathy, and their attention, in spite of grief, was caught by the majesty of the n.o.ble river.

War with its attendant evils receded into the background for the time being, recalled only by the fortifications of New York Island, and the batteries of Stony Point and its sister garrison of Verplanck's Point on the eastern sh.o.r.e. Sometimes the journey led them through fine woods; at others, through well cultivated lands and villages inhabited by Dutch families. Sometimes there were long stretches of dark forests, wild and untamed as yet by civilization; at other times, the road wound along the top of the Palisades, those rocky heights that extend like everlasting walls along the Jersey bank of the river.

Again, the road descended these rocky walls skirting their base, and they found themselves marveling at the broad expanse of the water which in places seemed like a vast lake.

As they ascended into the Highlands, cliffs seemed piled on cliffs rising precipitously from the water's edge, forming a surprisingly beautiful and sublime spectacle. The majestic river hemmed in by towering heights densely covered with forests made a picture of impressiveness and grandeur.

Again and again the maidens drew rein, sometimes uttering cries of delight as some new prospect unfolded its beauty; at others, sitting in silence awed by the magnificence of the panorama expanding before them. In such mood as this they approached West Point on the afternoon of the fourth day after leaving Chatham.

The river here ran in a deep channel formed by the mountains whose lofty summits, on every side, were thick set with redoubts and batteries. From the fort of West Point proper, which lay on the edge of the river, to the very top of the mountain at the foot of which it stood were six different forts, all in the form of an amphitheater so arranged as to protect each other.

"And this," spoke Harriet with quickened interest, "is the fortress that General Arnold was to deliver into our hands?"

"Yes," answered David Owen briefly. Americans could not even yet bear mention of the treason of the brilliant Arnold.

"It looks to be an important post," commented the English maiden with a glance around that embraced all the grim redoubts of the lofty summits. "Had we obtained it the misfortune at Yorktown would not have occurred."

"Perchance not, la.s.s. Here we are at the sally-port of the fort. I will turn you girls over to Mrs. Knox for the night, while I find quarters elsewhere. I for one am glad to reach here. It hath been hard riding. Are ye not tired?"

"I am, father," answered Peggy wearily. "And yet I have been delighted with the beautiful river."

"And I also," agreed her cousin.

With the morning came the realization of the matter which had brought them. The n.o.ble river with its superb amphitheater of mountains no longer had power to enthrall their senses. Clifford's fate rested upon the result of the interview before them, and that was the thing which now concerned them. Newburgh, where General Washington's headquarters were, was not far distant. A ride of a few hours brought them to the southern extremity of the village, where the Hasbrouck house was situated. It was a farmhouse, constructed in the Dutch fashion, on the west side of the Hudson. The front stoop faced the river, and a beautiful picture of mountains, sky and water was spread before the eye, but it extorted but a pa.s.sing glance.

The army was at West Point, and only the life-guards were near the quarters of the commander-in-chief. Hence, there was lacking much of the bustle and movement which ordinarily existed about the chief's quarters. An orderly took charge of their horses, and presently they were ushered into a large room which served as office as well as dining-room for the general. He sat now before a small table looking over some papers, but rose as they entered the room. He looked weary, and there were tired lines upon the strong face, but his manner was courteously attentive.