have my way. If there be such a thing as desertion, there is such a thing as evacuation also.” Qu "Hugh! What can you do you mean! Remember, we are surrounded by a wilderness." t "I know our position reasonably well, wife of mine, and intend to turn that knowledge to some account, God willing and aiding. I mean to place old Hugh Willoughby by the side of Xenophon and Washington, and let the world see what a man is capable of on a retreat, when he has such a wife, two such daughters, and a grandson like that, on his hands. As for Bob, I would not have him here, on any account. The young dog would run away with half the glory." The ladies were too delighted to find their father and husband in such spirits to be critical, and all soon after sat down to an early breakfast, to eat with what appetite they could. cheaded tow Linow oned dail od at ito! noa CHAPTER XXII. Yet I well remember to dod The favors of these men: were they not mine? Found truth in all but one: I in twelve thousand none. RICHARD II. THAT which Captain Willoughby had said in seeming pleasantry, he seriously meditated. The idea of passing another night in the Hut, supported by only six men, with more than ten times that number besieging him, and with all the secrets of his defenses known, through the disaffection of his retainers, was to the last degree painful to him. Had his own life alone been at risk, military pride might have tempted him to remain; but his charge was far too precious to be exposed on account of considerations so vain. No sooner, therefore, was the breakfast over, than the captain summoned Joyce to a consultation on the contemplated movement. The interview took place in the library, whither the sergeant repaired, on receiving his superior's orders. As to the party without, no apprehension was felt, so long as the sentinels were even moderately vigilant, and the day lasted. "I suppose, sergeant," commenced Captain Willoughby, "a soldier of your experience is not to be taught what is the next resort of a commanding officer when he finds himself unable to make good his ground against his enemy in front?" "It is to retreat, your honor. The road that cannot be passed must be turned." "You have judged rightly. It is now my intention to evacuate the Hut, and to try our luck on a march to the rear A retreat, skillfully executed, is a creditable thing; and any step appears preferable to exposing the dear beings in the other room to the dangers of a night assault." Joyce appeared struck with the suggestion; though, if one might have judged from the expression of his countenance, far from favorably. He reflected a moment ere he answered. "Did your honor send for me," he then inquired, "to issue orders for this retreat, or was it your pleasure to hear anything I might have to say about it? " "The last I shall give no orders, until I know your opinion of the measure.” "It is as much the duty of an inferior to speak his mind freely when he is called for an opinion, Captain Willoughby, as it is to obey in silence, when he gets nothing but orders. According to my views of the matter we shall do better to stand our ground, and try to make good the house against these vagabonds, than to trust to the woods." "Of course you have your reasons for this opinion, Joyce? "Ayal "Certainly, your honor. In the first place, I suppose it to be against the rules of the art of war to evacuate a place that is well provisioned, without standing an assault. This we have not yet done. It is true, sir, that our ranks are thinned by desertions; but I never heard of a garrisoned town or a garrisoned house, capitulating on account of a few deserters; and I take it, evacuation is only the next step before capitulation." "But our desertions, Joyce, have not been few but many. Three times as many have left if we include our other losses, as remain. It matters not whence the loss proceeds, so long as it is a loss." "A retreat, with women and baggage, is always a ticklish operation, your honor, especially if an enemy is press ing your rear ! Then we have a wilderness before us, and the ladies could hardly hold out for so long a march as that from this place to the Mohawk; short of which river they will hardly be as safe as they are at pres ent." "I have had no such march in view, Joyce. You know there is a comfortable hut, only a mile from this very spot, on the mountain-side, where we commenced a clearing for a sheep-pasture only three summers since. The field is in rich grass; and could we once reach the cabin and manage to drive a cow or two up there, we might remain a month in security. As for provisions and clothes, we could carry enough on our backs to serve us all several weeks, especially if assisted by the cows." "I'm glad your honor has thought of this idea," said the sergeant, his face brightening as he listened; "it will be a beautiful operation to fall back on that position, when we can hold out no longer in this. The want of some such arrangement has been my only objection to this post, Captain Willoughby; for we have always seemed to me, out here in the wilderness, like a regiment drawn up with a ravine or a swamp in its rear.” "I am glad to find you relishing the movement for any cause, sergeant. It is my intention at present to make the necessary arrangements to evacuate the Hut, while it is light; and as soon as it is dark to retreat by the gates, the palisades, and the rivulet-How now, Jamie? You look as if there were news to communicate?" Jamie Allen, in truth, had entered at that instant in so much haste as to have overlooked the customary ceremony of sending in his name, or even of knocking. "News!" repeated the mason, with a sort of wondering smile, "and it's just that I've come to bring. Wad ye think it, baith, gentlemen, that our people are in their ain cabins ag'in, boiling their pots, and frying their pork, a' the same as if the valley was in a state of tranquillity, and we so many lairds waiting for them to come and do our pleasure!" "I do not understand you, Jamie by our people'?" whom do you mean "Sure, just the desairters; Joel, and the miller, and Michael, and the rest." "And the cabins Is gibberish to me." and the pots—and the pork—it "I hae what ye English ca' an aiccent, I know; but, in my judgment, Captain Willoughby, the words may be comprehended without a dictionary. It's just that: Joel Strides, and Daniel the miller, and the rest o' them that fleed the past night, have gane into their ain abodes, and have lighted their fires, and put over their pots and kettles, and set up their domestic habitudes, a' the same as if this Beaver Dam was ain o' the pairks o' Lonnon ! "br "The devil they have! Should this be the case, sergeant, our sortie may be made at an earlier hour than that mentioned.I never will submit to such an insult." Captain Willoughby was too much aroused to waste many words, and seizing his hat he proceeded forthwith to take a look for himself. The stage or gallery on the roofs offering the best view, in a minute he and his two companions were on it. "There; ye'll be seein' a smoke in Joel's habitation with your own een; and yon is anither, in the dwelling of his cousin Seth," said Jamie, pointing in the direction he named. An "Smoke there is, of a certainty; but the Indians may have lighted fires in the kitchen to do their own cooking. This looks like investing us, sergeant, rather more closely than the fellows have done before." Ya❝I rather think not, your honor Jamie is right, or my eyes do not know a man from a woman. That is certainly a female in the garden of Joel, and I'll engage it's Phoebe, pulling onions for his craving stomach, the scoundrel!" Captain Willoughby never moved without his little glass, and it was soon leveled at the object mentioned. f "By Jupiter, you are right, Joyce," he cried. "It is Phoebe, though the hussy is coolly weeding, not culling the onions! Aye, and now I see Joel himself! The rascal is examining some hoes, with as much philosophy as if he were master of them, and all near them. This is a most singular situation to be in!" |