Peggy Owen at Yorktown Part 29

"'Tis not the habit of Americans to slay a disarmed foe, sir. If you are not satisfied, rise; and have to again."

"No, no!" cried Peggy, possessing herself of the fallen sword. "Is there not already fighting enough in the land without contending against each other? Ye have fought once. Let that suffice."

"My sword, Peggy," exclaimed Clifford, rising, and stepping toward her.

"Thee shall not have it, unless thee takes it by force," returned the girl, placing the weapon behind her, and clasping it with both hands.

"And that," she added, "I do not believe thee would be so unmannerly as to use. Therefore, the matter is ended."

Drayton sheathed his sword on the moment.

"I am satisfied to let it be so," he said. "And now, Peggy, as to ourselves: what will be the best time for you to start home?"

"If that subject be renewed our broil is anything but settled,"

interposed Clifford Owen sullenly. "I believe I informed you that, as the lady's nearest relative, I am amply able to look after her."

"As to our quarrel," replied Drayton, regarding him fixedly, "perchance the whirligig of time will bring a more suitable occasion for reopening it. When that occurs I shall be at your command. Until then it seems to me to be the part of wisdom to drop the matter, and to consider Peggy's welfare only. As you are aware, no doubt, the British are in this immediate vicinity. Any moment may see them at this very place. Let us cry a truce, sir, for the time being, and determine what shall be done to promote her safety."

"How know you that the British are near here?" demanded Clifford suspiciously. "Your knowledge of their movements will bear looking into.

It savors strongly of that of a spy, sir."

For a second the glances of the young fellows met. Their eyes flashed fire, and Peggy's heart began to throb painfully. Oh, would they fight again! How could she make peace between them? She must; and so thinking started forward eagerly.

"Listen to my plan," she said. "Ye both--"

The sentence was never finished. Upon the air there sounded the shrill music of fifes, the riffle of drums, the hollow tramp of marching men, the rumbling of artillery, the cantering of horses; all sounds denoting the pa.s.sing of a large force of armed men.

With a sharp cry of exultation Clifford Owen sprang toward John Drayton.

"'Tis the king's troops," he cried, clutching him tightly. "The king's troops! Now, my fine fellow, you shall explain to his lordship how you came by your information. Ho!" he shouted. "What ho! a spy!"

"It is not thus that I would meet his lordship," answered Drayton wrenching himself free of the other's hold. "Until then, adieu, my friend."

Without further word he leaped down the embankment, and disappeared among the underbrush in the ravine, just as two British infantrymen, attracted by Clifford's cry, came running through the grove.

"Did you call, sir?" called one, saluting as he saw the uniform of the young man.

"I fell," answered Clifford, stooping to pick up the sword that Peggy had let fall. "Perchance I cried out as I did so. The embankment would be a steep one to fall down. Does the army stop here? I sent word to the general there was no forage to be had, and to pa.s.s on to Hanover Court House. I found no place where he would fare so well as at Tilghman's Ordinary."

"'Tis for that place he is bound, sir," replied the soldier, saluting again. "But a few of us delayed here to-to--" he paused, then added: "Shall we go through that enclosure there, captain?"

"My own little mare is there, Clifford," spoke Peggy indignantly.

"Which we will bring ourselves, men," he said dismissing them with a curt nod. "You will wish to ride her, of course, my cousin."

"If I go with you," she answered.

"There is no 'if' about it," he said grimly. "You are going."

"'As my nearest male relative in this part of the country' I suppose thee commands it," she observed with biting sarcasm. "Clifford, does thee forget that I am an Owen as well as thou?"

"I do not," he made answer.

"I think thee does," she cried. "An Owen, my cousin, with the Owen temper. 'Tis being tried severely by thee. I know not how much longer I can control it."

"I see not why you should be displeased with me," he remarked, plainly surprised that such should be the case. "I am doing all I can for you.

At least, I will try to do as much as that-that--"

"Yes?" she questioned coldly. "Does thee mean Captain Drayton? He is my friend. Mother and I esteem him highly. Pleasure me by remembering that in future."

"If he is your friend 'tis no reason why he should address you so familiarly. I like it not."

"I tire of thy manner, Clifford. I am not thy slave, nor yet under bonds of indenture to thee that thou shouldst a.s.sume such airs of possession as thee does. I tire of it, I say."

"If I have offended you I am sorry," he said sulkily. "I have a hot temper and a quick one. I have held resentment against that-captain ever since last February, when he flouted me with that shirt of my sister's making. It did seem to me then, as it hath to-day, that he took too much upon himself. Now it appears that I am guilty of the same fault. At least, being your near relative should serve as some excuse for me."

"I think thee has made that remark upon divers occasions, my cousin. Is not thy father with Lord Cornwallis?"

"Yes, of course. Why?"

"Then kindly remember that being cousin-german to my father, he stands in nearer relationship to me than thee does. Should I have need of guidance I will ask it of him. Does thee understand, my cousin?"

"Only too well," he burst forth. "And all this for the sake of a Yankee captain. Oh, I noticed how solicitous you were lest he should be hurt."

"And was solicitude not shown for thee also? Thou art unjust, Clifford."

With crestfallen air the youth led Star from the rude stable, and without further conversation they started for the house.

CHAPTER XXVI-TIDE-WATER AGAIN

"Now all is gone! the stallion made a prey, The few brood mares, and oxen swept away; The Lares,-if the household shrine possessed One little G.o.d that pleased above the rest; Mean spoils indeed!"

-"Juvenal," 8th Satire.

A cry of horror broke from Peggy's lips as they came in sight of the house. The barns, granaries, smoke-houses, and other dependencies were in flames. Clothing and even furniture were being carted from the dwelling by the soldiery; that which could be carried easily being appropriated by them, and the rest consigned to the fires. At some little distance from the dwelling, pale but composed, bearing herself with the fort.i.tude of a Roman matron, stood Mrs. Weston, surrounded by a group of wailing slaves, her little boy clinging to her skirts. She beckoned the girl to her side when she caught sight of the cousins.

"They are leaving nothing, absolutely nothing," she whispered. "How we shall sustain life, if that is left us, is a problem I dare not face.

They found the cows."

"Oh," breathed Peggy. "What shall thee do? And Fairfax?"

"Is undiscovered so far. If the house is not burnt he may remain so. The boy wanted to fight this whole force. I had hard work to convince him of the folly of such a course. And you, Peggy? You will go with your cousin, will you not?"

"Why, how did thee know 'twas my cousin?" queried Peggy in surprise.

"'Tis plain to be seen that he is kin, child. The resemblance is very strong. Perhaps I did wrong, but when he came this afternoon to look over the place as a possible site for some of the army to camp I thought at once that it must be your British cousin. When he told me that his lordship was to make his headquarters at Tilghman's Ordinary at Hanover Court House, and that the whole of the army would have to be quartered in the near vicinity, I knew what that meant. So I took it upon myself to tell him at once where you were, and sent him in search of you. Go with him, Peggy. The safest place in the state at the present time is in the enemy's lines. 'Tis the wisest thing to do. And oh, my dear! My dear! don't start out again alone so long as this awful war continues.