Sustained honor Part 37

"I refuse to comply with your demand."

"Surely, Captain Lane, you must know that you cannot hope to resist the _Xenophon_. Her heavy guns will soon batter down your walls and destroy your houses."

"When that is done, it will be time enough to think of surrendering."

"Surely you do not know that Washington is burned and Baltimore surrounded. All night long the fleet bombarded the town."

"Yes, we could hear the roar of cannon even here."

"Well, you must ultimately surrender."

Lieutenant Matson was greatly distressed by the stubbornness of Captain Lane. He reminded him of the helpless women and children in the town, and asked him, for their sakes, to consider the crime of resisting; but it was all in vain. Captain Lane had been chosen by the people to defend them, and he swore he was no Hull to yield at the sight of an enemy.

"No, sir; when our guns are dismounted, our walls battered down, our houses burned, and there is not a man able to hold a lanyard, then it is time to think of surrendering."

"Very well, Captain, if such is your resolution, I must leave you; but permit me to conduct Miss Morgianna to a place of safety. She would be safe on board the _Xenophon_ and I offer her----"

"What!" interrupted Captain Lane, his eyes flashing fire. "Lieutenant Matson, do you wish to insult me?"

"No, Captain Lane, I merely wish to secure the safety of Morgianna."

"Morgianna! Morgianna!" called the old man, starting to his feet and pacing the floor anxiously.

"Here, father!" and, clothed in spotless white, looking like some celestial being just reached this earth, Morgianna entered the room.

"What do you want, father?" she asked, paying no heed to the lieutenant, who had risen to his feet with a most gracious smile and bow.

"Morgianna, Lieutenant Matson announces that the English frigate _Xenophon_ is coming to destroy our town and kill our people. He offers you a place on board that vessel where he says you will be safe. Do you accept it?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "MY FATHER WILL PROTECT ME; I WANT NO OTHER PROTECTION."]

"No!" she answered, stamping one little slippered foot on the floor.

Then going to the captain's side, she laid her head on his shoulder and said:

"My father will protect me; I want no other protection."

"Morgianna," began the baffled lieutenant, "I would like a word with you in private--"

"Lieutenant Matson, I don't care to hear you--I will not listen to you.

As my father's friend, I once did tolerate you; but now, as my country's enemy, I have no forbearance with you. Begone!" and her white, jeweled hand pointed to the door.

The Briton's face flushed crimson, as he retorted:

"Morgianna, you may regret--"

"Lieutenant Matson!" interrupted the captain fiercely. "Not another word, lest I forget your father was my mate. Begone!"

With an oath, Matson left the town and returned to his men on the neck of the peninsula. When he was gone, Captain Lane turned to his daughter and was surprised to see a look of contempt instead of the grief he had expected. That one glance convinced him that he had been mistaken, and that she did not love the Englishman after all.

"Father, that man's true spirit was revealed to-night. Even though he is your old friend's son, he is a villain."

Next day some of the Marylanders had a skirmish with the British on the neck of land, and one of the villagers was wounded. The _Xenophon_ still hovered near the mouth of the narrow harbor and only waited a favorable wind to enter the bay, and commence the siege which could have but one result.

Captain Lane strove hard to be cheerful; but his heart was heavier than lead. Again night came, with the _Xenophon_ anch.o.r.ed off Mud Island. The night was dark, and the wind from sh.o.r.e strong, so that Captain Lane knew she could not enter the harbor.

He was sitting at his fireside, when suddenly from the narrow inlet south of the peninsula there rang out a volley of musketry followed by wild cries and cheers. The volley was followed by heavy firing, and Captain Lane, donning his hat, s.n.a.t.c.hed his sword and ran down to the works, where the drum was beating, and the Marylanders were seizing muskets and falling into line.

"What is it? whom have they attacked?" was the general query asked by all. The pickets were called in and the only sentries were the chain guards just outside the parapet. Suddenly the sound of footsteps came from the darkness, and the sentries knew that two or three men were running toward them. Zeb Cole, a large, powerful Marylander, finding one of them coming directly at him, dropped his musket and, seizing the fellow's throat, hurled him to the ground.

"Halt! ye wanderin' Israelite. Stop an' tell me who you are?"

"Oh, let go me, ma.s.sa, lem me up!" pleaded the captive, struggling to his feet. "I ain't no Britisher! dar ain't no Angler Saxun blood in dese veins. I is a Yankee n.i.g.g.e.r, ma.s.sa, bet I am."

Another man who had come up at a run cried in language in which the Hibernian was plainly distinguishable:

"Hould hard, ye haythin! The redcoats are afther us!"

"Who be ye?" demanded Zeb.

"The advance guard of two hundred Americans comin' to help ye whip the Britisher. Jist as we landed, afther crossing the mouth of the creek, the dirthy spalpeens fired on us; but we drove thim back, and here come our boys at double quick."

Terrence was correct, for Fernando and his riflemen having cut their way through the British, hurried into the fort. Captain Lane was amazed to find their friends led by the young Ohioan, whom he had entertained at his house five years before.

"Did you lose any of your men in the skirmish?" asked Captain Lane.

"Two were wounded, none killed or missing. Has the _Xenophon_ commenced the bombardment yet?"

"No; but she will as soon as the wind shifts to bring her in."

"How many men have you capable of bearing arms, Captain Lane?" asked Fernando.

"Almost two hundred."

"I have two hundred more, we will die together or beat off the ship."

"Did General Winder send you to defend the town?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then I will serve under you. Captain Stevens."

Fernando tried to get the old captain to a.s.sume command; but he said he was too old; that he would gladly advise him and serve with him and under him; but he did not want the responsibility of the command. Then, all being quiet, Captain Lane went to his house to sleep and rest.

"He is gone," said Fernando when left alone near the big gun; "gone and not a word said about Morgianna. What will she say, what will she think, when she knows it is I who came to defend her?"

Fernando sighed and was very unhappy.