Part 38 (2/2)
”Let me down, I say,” screamed Katy; ”I shall fall and be killed.
Besides, I have nothing to hold on with; my arms are full of valuables.”
”True,” returned the trooper, observing that he had brought bundle and all from the ground. ”I perceive that you belong to the baggage guard; but my sword belt will encircle your little waist, as well as my own.”
Katy was too much pleased with this compliment to make any resistance, while he buckled her close to his own herculean frame, and, driving a spur into his charger, they flew from the lawn with a rapidity that defied further denial. After proceeding for some time, at a rate that a good deal discomposed the spinster, they overtook the cart of the washerwoman driving slowly over the stones, with a proper consideration for the wounds of Captain Singleton. The occurrences of that eventful night had produced an excitement in the young soldier, that was followed by the ordinary la.s.situde of reaction and he lay carefully enveloped in blankets, and supported by his man, but little able to converse, though deeply brooding over the past. The dialogue between Lawton and his companion ceased with the commencement of their motions, but a footpace being more favorable to speech, the trooper began anew:
”Then, you have been an inmate in the same house with Harvey Birch?”
”For more than nine years,” said Katy, drawing her breath, and rejoicing greatly that their speed was abated.
The deep tones of the trooper's voice were no sooner conveyed to the ears of the washerwoman, than, turning her head, where she sat directing the movements of the mare, she put into the discourse at the first pause.
”Belike, then, good woman, ye're knowing whether or no he's akin to Beelzeb.o.o.b,” said Betty. ”It's Sargeant Hollister who's saying the same, and no fool is the sargeant, anyway.”
”It's a scandalous disparagement” cried Katy, vehemently, ”no kinder soul than Harvey carries a pack; and for a gownd or a tidy ap.r.o.n, he will never take a king's farthing from a friend. Beelzebub, indeed! For what would he read the Bible, if he had dealings with the evil spirit?”
”He's an honest divil, anyway; as I was saying before, the guinea was pure. But then the sargeant thinks him amiss, and it's no want of l'arning that Mister Hollister has.”
”He's a fool!” said Katy tartly. ”Harvey might be a man of substance, were he not so disregardful. How often have I told him, that if he did nothing but peddle, and would put his gains to use, and get married, so that things at home could be kept within doors, and leave off his dealings with the rig'lars, and all inc.u.mberments, that he would soon become an excellent liver. Sergeant Hollister would be glad to hold a candle to him, indeed!”
”Pooh!” said Betty, in her philosophical way; ”ye're no thinking that Mister Hollister is an officer, and stands next the cornet, in the troop. But this piddler gave warning of the brush the night, and it's no sure that Captain Jack would have got the day, but for the reenforcement.”
”How say you, Betty,” cried the trooper, bending forward on his saddle, ”had you notice of our danger from Birch?”
”The very same, darling; and it's hurry I was till the boys was in motion; not but I knew ye're enough for the Cowboys any time. But wid the divil on your side, I was sure of the day. I'm only wondering there's so little plunder, in a business of Beelzeb.o.o.b's contriving.”
”I'm obliged to you for the rescue, and equally indebted to the motive.”
”Is it the plunder? But little did I t'ink of it till I saw the movables on the ground, some burnt, and some broke, and other some as good as new. It would be convanient to have one feather bed in the corps, anyway.”
”By heavens, 'twas timely succor! Had not Roanoke been swifter than their bullets, I must have fallen. The animal is worth his weight in gold.”
”It's continental, you mane, darling. Goold weighs heavy, and is no plenty in the states. If the nagur hadn't been staying and frighting the sargeant with his copper-colored looks, and a matter of blarney 'bout ghosts, we should have been in time to have killed all the dogs, and taken the rest prisoners.”
”It is very well as it is, Betty,” said Lawton. ”A day will yet come, I trust, when these miscreants shall be rewarded, if not in judgments upon their persons, at least in the opinions of their fellow citizens. The time must arrive when America will distinguish between a patriot and a robber.”
”Speak low,” said Katy; ”there's some who think much of themselves, that have doings with the Skinners.”
”It's more they are thinking of themselves, then, than other people thinks of them,” cried Betty. ”A t'ief's a t'ief, anyway; whether he stales for King George or for Congress.”
”I know'd that evil would soon happen,” said Katy. ”The sun set to-night behind a black cloud, and the house dog whined, although I gave him his supper with my own hands; besides, it's not a week sin' I dreamed the dream about the thousand lighted candles, and the cakes burnt in the oven.”
”Well,” said Betty, ”it's but little I drame, anyway. Jist keep an 'asy conscience and a plenty of the stuff in ye, and ye'll sleep like an infant. The last drame I had was when the boys put the thistle tops in the blankets, and then I was thinking that Captain Jack's man was currying me down, for the matter of Roanoke, but it's no trifle I mind either in skin or stomach.”
”I'm sure,” said Katy, with a stiff erectness that drew Lawton back in his saddle, ”no man shall ever dare to lay hands on bed of mine; it's undecent and despisable conduct.”
”Pooh! pooh!” cried Betty; ”if you tag after a troop of horse, a small bit of a joke must be borne. What would become of the states and liberty, if the boys had never a clane s.h.i.+rt, or a drop to comfort them? Ask Captain Jack, there, if they'd fight, Mrs. Beelzeb.o.o.b, and they no clane linen to keep the victory in.”
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