She Would Be a Soldier Part 7

GENERAL. You shall be taken care of, dear Adela; we will place you in the rear, among the baggage-wagons.

ADELA. And if they should be captured, I become also a prisoner, and probably a prize to some gallant Indian chief, who will make me his squaw, and teach me to kill deer. O delightful thought!

[_Bugles sound._

GENERAL. The troops are under arms, and approaching.

[_Quick march--the GENERAL, LENOX and ADELA pa.s.s to the left, and stand near the tent; the troops advance; CHRISTINE is among them, dressed in uniform; they pa.s.s round the stage in regular order, then form the line two deep; CHRISTINE is in front on the right, and keeps her eye fixed anxiously on LENOX; drum beats the roll; the troops come to an order, and then proceed through the manual by the tap of drum, and finally to a present; the GENERAL, LENOX, and other officers advance, and pa.s.s through the line in review; the flags wave, and the band strikes up "Hail Columbia."_]

GENERAL. Well--everything is right. And now, soldiers, to your posts; remember, discipline, subordination, courage, and country, and victory will be ours. [_GENERAL, LENOX and ADELA, enter the tent to the left.

The troops march off. CHRISTINE and a SOLDIER, headed by a CORPORAL, return to relieve guard at each tent. Port arms and whisper the countersign. CHRISTINE is placed before the tent on the right, her comrade on the left. CORPORAL retires with the two relieved sentries.

After a pause, she beckons to her comrade._]

CHRISTINE. Hist--comrade!

SOLDIER. Well, what is it?

CHRISTINE. Will you exchange places? There is no difference--and the sun will be too powerful for me presently. Look, here is a dollar.

SOLDIER. With all my heart. [_They cross quickly, the SOLDIER receives the money--CHRISTINE now paces before the tent into which LENOX, ADELA and the GENERAL have retired._]

CHRISTINE. Could I but see the false, perfidious LENOX, and upbraid him with his cruelty! [_She is in great uneasiness, pauses occasionally, and looks into the tent--her comrade is watching her. LENOX sings within._]

Shall the pleasures of life unknown fade away, In viewing those charms so lovely and gay?

Shall the heart which has breath'd forth rapturous flame, Be hid from the world and unsought for by fame?

Thus spoke the fond Roscoe to Scylla the fair, As he gaz'd on her charms, with a love-soothing care: Hear now the last wish, that fondly I sigh, I'll conquer in love, or in battle I'll die.

He girded his armour and flew to the field, Determin'd while life flow'd never to yield; The foe was subdued, but death's cruel dart Was aim'd at the valiant and fond Roscoe's heart:

But the blow was defeated--he lived to enjoy The sight of his Scylla, no longer so coy, And his laurels fresh bloom'd, as she smil'd on the youth, And gave her fair hand in reward for his truth.

CHRISTINE. Ha, that false voice! I can no longer bear it! [_Throws down her gun, and is about entering the tent, when her comrade, who has been attentively regarding her movements, rushes over and seizes her._]

SOLDIER. Where are you going?

CHRISTINE. Unhand me this instant! [_Struggles._

SOLDIER. Guards, there!

_Enter an OFFICER with SOLDIERS, who attempts to seize CHRISTINE--she draws her sword and stands on the defensive, and after some resistance, escapes._

OFFICER. Pursue him quickly! [_SOLDIERS pursue._

SOLDIER. He crosses the bridge.

OFFICER. The sentinels will reach him with their guns.

[_Muskets discharged._

SOLDIER. They have him--he is not hurt.

_GENERAL, ADELA and LENOX rush from the tent._

GENERAL. What means this confusion?

2ND OFFICER. The sentinel who was placed here on duty, attempted, for some desperate purpose, to enter your tent; but being discovered, he refused to surrender, drew his sword on me and the guard, and, after some resistance, has been disarmed and secured.

LENOX. Good heavens! What object could he have had?

2ND OFFICER. I know not--but he is a new recruit, probably a spy from the enemy.

GENERAL. It must be so--see that a court martial be called to try him, and bring the result to me without delay. If he is guilty, a dreadful example shall be made of him. Begone.

[_Exeunt GENERAL, SOLDIERS, &c._

SCENE III. _Another Part of the Camp._

_Enter JASPER, JERRY and PEASANTS._

JASPER. Nowhere to be found. I have asked everybody in the camp in vain--she is lost to me. Unhappy, cruel girl! to quit her old and fond father thus.

JERRY. Unhappy girl! to leave me in such an ungenteel manner too, run away from me on my wedding day! but I'll find her out.

JASPER. Impossible! we must return, dejected and disappointed.

JERRY. I'll peep into every tent, bribe the sogers--I've got a little money left. [_JASPER and PEASANTS retire. CORPORAL crosses the stage._]

Hist, corporal!

CORPORAL. Well, what would you?

JERRY. Why no, sure--it isn't--yes, it is--why Corporal Flash, how do you do? Don't you know me?

CORPORAL. Can't say I do, sir.

JERRY. Why, not know Jerry Mayflower? Don't you remember me at the battle of Queenstown, when you were in the boat and I on land, and you were crossing to fight Johnny Bull, and I didn't cross at all?

CORPORAL. Oh, I remember you now--I remember calling you a cowardly rascal at the time.

JERRY. So you did--how have you been? I am very glad to see you--you're not killed, I take it?

CORPORAL. No, not exactly killed--but I was wounded--an honour which you didn't seem to care much about.

JERRY. No, not much; I'm not very ambitious that way.

CORPORAL. What brings you to the camp, just when we are about having another brush with the enemy--do you want to run away again? Zounds! you deserve a round hundred at the halberts.