The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill Part 32

Ezra saluted, and went quickly out. A few moments later the clatter of hoofs sounded upon the pavement, and Prescott, as he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his hat, gestured Nat to follow.

Not only was Colonel Prescott's mount awaiting him, but a little behind it stood the raw-boned black which Nat Brewster had ridden ever since leaving Philadelphia the fall before. Beside this again was a hardy looking, flea-bitten gray of visible quality which Ezra had bought of a horse dealer in the camp to replace the tall bay which, for all he knew, still stood in the barn at the "Indian's Head."

All three mounted, and Prescott headed at once for General Ward's headquarters. The sun had but a short time to keep its rim above the west; indeed, in sheltered places, the shadows had grown long and were thickening into dusk.

The colonel was admitted at once to the general's presence; and the boys remained in an anteroom, which was crowded with officers and persons of consequence, all eager to hear the news of what was to be done on the morrow.

General Ward's room was also thronged, and business was being dispatched hurriedly. The hangings of the doorway were drawn because of the heat of the evening, and all that was said and done was plain to those in the anteroom. A light breeze was blowing through the house; and some lights, already burning in tall silver candlesticks, leaped agitatedly, throwing quavering shadows upon the stern faces of the fighting-men gathered about.

With one accord, all fell back from the table at which General Ward sat, upon the appearance of Colonel Prescott. As the commander of the force at the summit of the hill, they at once gave him place.

"General," and Colonel Prescott saluted grimly, "I have come to make my report upon the engagement fought to-day in the neighborhood of Charlestown."

He placed a closely written paper upon the table as he spoke, and then stood back a pace.

General Ward took up the paper and sat running his thumb and forefinger along its folds; but he did not open it.

"What has happened," said he, "is of course already known to me. All who witnessed your work to-day join in praising it; it seems the universal opinion that no man could have done more. If you were driven from your position--"

Colonel Prescott's hand went up and his flashing eyes swept the room.

"If I lost my position," said he, "it was not because my men and I were not willing to hold it to the last. It was because of the neglect of some whose duty it was to lend me help. Another thing," and he advanced to the table, his hand falling upon it with force, "give me fifteen hundred men to-night, with powder and ball and bayonets, and I will have recovered Breed's Hill for you by sunrise to-morrow."

A thrill ran through Ezra at these words. There was no doubting but that the aroused man meant them and stood ready to carry them out. But General Ward was too conservative a soldier to harken to any such daring plan.

"The risk would be too great," said he. "We must not waste our strength.

To-day we have lost above four hundred men. If Howe were to order an advance we could scarcely hope to hold him in check."

"He has lost three times as many as we," returned Prescott; "and we need have no fear of his attacking us again, just yet."

Then some one else broke in, and the conversation in a moment became almost general. Plans were suggested and debated; the raising of men, money and ammunition engrossed every one.

When Colonel Prescott was leaving, General Ward arose, shook his hand warmly and thanked him for his services in the name of the colonies.

Coming with him to the door of the anteroom his eyes fell upon Ezra and Nat, and his face lighted up.

"Here are the very lads," said he. "I had all but forgotten that I required the service of some ready riders, and at once."

The two boys stood forward and saluted.

"There is a dispatch, all ready," said General Ward to Prescott, "for the Congress at Philadelphia, giving a brief account of to-day's engagement. If you can spare these lads, and if they are not too weary with their work of to-day," with a smile at the two, "there are none that I would rather send upon the mission."

Prescott turned and looked at Ezra and Nat; their eager looks caused a smile to appear upon his stern face.

"They will carry the dispatch," he said, briefly.

"I shall require it to go to-night," said the general to the lads.

He was a thoughtful man; knowing that they had been in the thick of the fight, he hesitated about burdening them with this long journey without their having had a chance to rest.

"Our horses are at the door," said Ezra, promptly. "We are ready to go at once."

So they remained after Colonel Prescott had departed. Soon the dispatch of the colonial commander was placed in Ezra's hands; their instructions were brief; then they mounted and rode swiftly away upon their journey through the deepening dusk.

"We should sleep at Framingham to-night," said Ezra.

"We made the complete journey once in seven days," answered Nat. "And this time we should not be behind that."

A farmhouse was their first halt; and the good people were eager to do all they could for them when they heard who they were. It was the same through all of Ma.s.sachusetts and Connecticut. Innkeepers gave them their best attention; hostlers looked to their horses with unexampled solicitude; the townspeople gathered about them burning to hear the news from the lips of the lads who had been in the battle.

They reached New York, where they attracted great attention, crowds thronging the streets to watch their progress; then they crossed the Hudson and began pushing their way across the level Jerseys. They had gone a half day's ride over the sandy roads; it was a little past noon when they came to a fine, old, tree-shaded house, with broad fields, green with the spring's planting, beautiful orchards and a generally prosperous look.

"Now this," spoke Nat, good-humoredly, "is a likely sort of place for two wayfarers to alight and beseech entertainment. The people who live here could provide good food and in plenty, if appearances go for anything."

They dismounted at the open gate and tied their horses to the fence. A small dog, hearing their footsteps upon the path, ran toward them with a great ado of barking; this brought forward a very small boy, who stood before them, his freckled face turned up inquiringly.

"Do you want my father?" asked he.

Ezra smiled down at the child.

"Perhaps so," said he. "Is this your father's place?"

The boy swept a small hand to all four points of the compa.s.s.

"All of it," answered he. Then confidentially, "And he's going to get more."

"Good for him," laughed Nat, "and so now run off and ask him if he can see two riders who are on their way to Philadelphia."

The child pursed up his mouth.

"He is engaged," spoke he, wisely. "Some gentlemen stopped a while ago.

They are having dinner, and one of them is a general."

The young continentals looked at one another.

"What's his name?" inquired Ezra.

"General Wash'ton," answered the child promptly.

Again the lads' eyes sought each other in mute question; and a thrill ran through them both. They recalled the tall, athletic Virginian who had sat his horse so well in Philadelphia's streets; they remembered the calm, handsome face, so highly bred and yet so powerful; they recalled the outspoken admiration of the citizens, the great esteem of his fellow members of the First Congress.

"Can it be," said Ezra, "that Washington of Virginia has been chosen commander-in-chief by the Continental Congress!"

"If he has," replied Nat Brewster, all excitement, "they have done excellently for the colonies. There is no n.o.bler man in all America; and from all accounts, he is a born soldier."

The small boy disappeared into the house while they were speaking; but the small dog remained, sniffing suspiciously and occasionally growling for them to keep their distance. And while they were smiling at the self-importance of the little beast, there came a full-toned voice saying:

"I had not thought, Mr. Clark, to see so fine a farm in the Jerseys. It is splendid. And as I come from Virginia, where the plantations approach the extent of princ.i.p.alities, I may say that I am a judge."

There were footsteps upon the wide verandah which ran about the house; and turning in the direction of the sound, the boys saw a party of gentlemen. Nat's eyes instantly sought out the speaker, and at a glance he recognized the tall, strong frame and the lofty face.