Part 27 (1/2)

”It is right cleverly laid out,” commented Gilbert Scarlett, whose keen, dark eyes missed nothing. ”I am more struck with admiration of your farmer and mechanic soldiery the more I see of them.”

”I can see,” said Nat Brewster, who rode with him, ”that you have been harkening to the stories that the British have to tell about us. They call us impudent peasants who, in ignorance of what we are about, dare to face the army of the King. But that is mere bl.u.s.ter and affectation.

Those officers among the British who have any experience in the warfare of the colonies, know that we have leaders who are perhaps their superiors.”

Scarlett smiled.

”Almost,” said he, ”do you surpa.s.s our young friend Prentiss in attachment to the cause.”

”It is the cause of my country,” said Nat, simply.

A look of something like sadness came into the adventurer's face.

”It must be a fine thing, indeed, to feel like that,” said he moodily.

”As I have mentioned, I have served many causes-but never that of my own country, because I have no country.”

Nat looked at him inquiringly.

”I was born in Lisbon, of an English mother and an Italian father,” said Scarlett, ”and in my childhood, you might say the world was my cradle.

My father followed the wars and my mother followed him. And when they died, I took up their task of wandering. This sword,” and his hand rested upon the heavy hilt, ”was my father's, and I have carried it from Muscovy to the Floridas; and it has profited me no more than the cloth you see upon my back.”

”You have lived and fought in old countries, or among old peoples,”

spoke Nat, eagerly. ”But here is a new land, a new people. In the years to come, by the righteousness of our cause and the strength of our arms, we'll stand free and alone. Make this your country. Draw your blade for it. And when all is done, it will not forget you.”

Scarlett's eyes sparkled; he looked at Nat with admiration.

”That's well spoken,” said he, ”and you all but persuade me. But,” and he shook his head, ”I have seen uprisings of people before. I have seen them suffer under burdens imposed upon them by their masters until they could bear it no more; then they threw it off and struck out madly, blindly at their tormentors. But always they were beaten down. They were untaught in war; they had no skilled leaders to show them the way to point out the foe's weaknesses, to direct their strength. If I expect to see this repeated now it will not surprise you, surely.”

”When you come to know us,” smiled Nat, ”you'll know us better.”

As they entered Cambridge they encountered Colonel Stark, with his powerful face and fearless bearing. Ezra saluted and stopped him, and as they conversed at some distance, Scarlett said:

”Who is that?”

”It is Colonel Stark, of New Hamps.h.i.+re. He has fought the French and Indians all his life and is a sample of our leaders.”

”He has the front of a man who'd face terrible odds and never flinch,”

commented the adventurer as he regarded Stark narrowly. ”Yes, I like your Colonel Stark; but I will require to see the others before I change my mind.”

Ezra saluted the New Hamps.h.i.+re warrior, who then rode on. The boy returned to his comrades.

”We are again fortunate,” said he. ”Colonel Stark has just left General Ward and tells me that Colonel Prescott and General Putnam were then with him. If we make haste we might find them there still.”

The hasty clatter of hoofs awoke no surprise in the town. Cambridge had grown accustomed to such long since. As they approached the house which the commander had made his headquarters, they saw a few sentries leaning upon their rifles, conversing carelessly.

A broad window, which faced an open sweep of green, stood open; and within, three men in blue uniforms faced with white were gathered about a table in earnest discussion.

The boys halted and dismounted; after a moment's discussion it was decided that Ezra should seek admittance to the officers' presence alone, as he could best tell of what had happened. So the others seated themselves upon the gra.s.s in full view of the window, while the young New Englander approached the sentries and announced himself. After some hesitation one of them went into the house as though to seek the commands of a superior.