SCENE 14 - Same day, valley below the LOCUSTS
(HENRY happily escapes on the horse of one of his guards, who are occupied
in hand to hand combat with swords against Refugees who attempted to steal
their horses. Riding at full speed around an overhang projection of rocks,
he hears a familiar voice above him, looks up sharply to see BIRCH perched
on a peak of rocks.)
HARVEY: Bravely done, Captain, don't spare the whip, and turn to your
left before crossing the brook.
(Though caught by surprise, HENRY follows the directions given by his
former guide, who waves his hat to the youth riding by. Soon over the bridge,
he finds himself stopping his horse beside his old acquaintance, Colonel
WELLMEYER.
WELLMEYER: Capt. WHARTON! Dressed in mohair, mounted on a rebel horse?
Are you from the clouds in this attire?
HENRY: Thank God! I am safe, and have escaped from my enemy, but five
minutes ago I was prisoner and threatened with the gallows.
WELLMEYER: The gallows? Capt. WHARTON! Surely those traitors to the
king would never dare to commit another murder in cold blood; is it not
enough they took the life of Andre? Why did they threaten you with a similar
fate?
HENRY: Under the pretense of a similar offense.
(The colonel's attention is diverted to the Germans surviving the battle
who are gathering their column of infantry.)
Col. WELLMEYER: I congratulate you, brave friends, mercy is a quality
with which these traitors are unaccustomed. You are fortunate in escaping
uninjured. Prepare to grant me your assistance and we will have a noble
revenge.
HENRY: I do not think there was danger to personal outrage from a party
that Major DUNWOODIE commands; his character is above such offense. Neither
do I think it wise to cross this brook into the open plain with those Virginia
horse flushed with success they have just obtained.
Col. WELLMEYER: Do you call the rout of those irregulars, those Refugees,
and these sluggish Hessians a deed to boast of? You speak of the affair,
Capt. WHARTON, as if your boasted Mr. DUNWOODIE, - for a Major he is none,
- had encountered the bodyguards of your king.
HENRY: I must be allowed to say, Col. WELLMEYER, that if the body guards
of the king were in yon field, they would meet a foe that it would be dangerous
to despise. Sir, my boasted Mr. DUNWOODIE is the pride of Washington's army
as a cavalry officer.
WELLMEYER: Ah, I do remember such a youth at the home of your sisters,
and does the congress of these rebellious colonies entrust their soldiers
to the leading of such a warrior?
HENRY: Ask the commander of yon Hessian horse, whether he thinks Major
DUNWOODIE worthy of such confidence.
(With a supercilious smile the Colonel ignores that suggestion.)
WELLMEYER: You would not have us retire, sir, before doing something
that may deprive them of part of the glory you think they have obtained.
HENRY: I would have you advised, Colonel, of the danger you are about
to encounter.
WELLMEYER: Danger is an unseemly word for a soldier.
HENRY: And one little dreaded by the 60th or any corps who wear the
royal livery. Give the word to charge and let our actions speak.
WELLMEYER: Now again I know my friend, but do you have any information
that can help us in our fight? Are more in ambush?
HENRY: Yes, in the skirt of this wood on our right are a small party
of foot soldiers; their horsemen are all before you.
WELLMEYER: Where they will not continue long. Gentlemen, we will cross
the stream in column, and display on the plain beyond, or else we shall
not be able to entice these valiant Yankees within reach of our muskets.
Capt. WHARTON, I claim your assistance as an aide-de-camp."
(HENRY shakes his head at the rashness of the orders, but prepares to
perform his duty as instructed.)
SCENE 15 - Same time farther up the valley
(During this conversation up the vale, DUNWOODIE had been collecting
his troops and securing prisoners. Believing the English too wary to give
him an opportunity of harassing them farther, he was about to withdraw the
guides, leave a strong party to watch movements of the regulars, and prepare
to fall back a few miles to camp for the night.)
(Capt. LAWTON looks through his eyeglass, suddenly exclaims,-)
LAWTON: How's this - a blue coat among those scarlet gentry? As I hope
to live to see old Virginia, 'tis that masquerading friend of the 60th,
handsome Captain WHARTON, escaped from two of my best men.
(As his sentence finished, the survivor of those two heroes arrives on
his horse, pulling the two horses of the Refugees who died in their scuffle.
He reported the death of his comrade and escape of the prisoner over which
the deceased had charge.)
(This escape, being the responsibility of DUNWOODIE, seemed to affect
his change of mind relating to another attack of the British troops. In
the last few hours he felt holding HENRY as prisoner a severe blow to himself,
but now he is accountable for his escape, and is panting for a chance, even
by risking his own life, to recapture his friend.)
(At that moment Col. WELLMEYER and his troops cross the brook into the
plains.)
LAWTON: There comes John Bull into the mousetrap, and with eyes wide
open.
DUNWOODIE: Surely he will not display his column on that flat: WHARTON
must tell him of the ambush, but if he does - .
LAWTON (springing into his saddle): We will not leave him a dozen sound
skins in his battalion.
(The English column, after advancing a short distance on the level land,
displays a line with an accuracy that would have done them honor on a field
day in their own Hyde Park.)
DUNWOODIE (loudly): Prepare to mount - Mount!
(The last word being repeated more loudly by LAWTON who advances with
sword waving. The troopers follow.)
TROOPERS sing MOUNT AND RIDE AGAIN:
"Mount and ride again ... mount and ride again ... charge
into their line ... so every time ... we scatter them .. take their numbers
down ... and defeat the crown ... 'til they leave ... and we can be ...
a nation here at peace."
(The British push forward; their guides open a galling fire. WELLMEYER
orders two companies to dislodge the Americans foot soldiers from their
hiding place. The movement causes confusion, and DUNWOODIE takes the opportunity
to charge. No ground could be more favorable for maneuvers of the horse,
and attack by the Virginians is irresistible.)
(It is aimed to the bank opposite the woods, to clear Americans from
fire on their friends who are concealed; and is completely successful. WELLMEYER,
on the left of his line, is overthrown with such fury, DUNWOODIE has to
save him from an impending blow of one of his men, raises Col. WELLMEYER
to his feet and places him in the custody of an orderly.)
(The left of the British line is outflanked by the Americans, who double
in their rear and make the rout in that quarter total, but the second in
command promptly wheels his party and throws in heavy fire on the dragoons,
as they passed him to charge.)
(With this party was Capt. HENRY WHARTON, who had volunteered to assist
dispersing the guides. A ball struck his bridle arm, causing him to be recaptured.
Great numbers of English took advantage of the smoke and confusion and went
to the rear of their countrymen, still in a line parallel to the wood.)
(Refugees were directed to form a second line within the wood. This is
being done when Capt. LAWTON calls to another officer, proposing a charge
on the unbroken line of the British. The idea is accepted eagerly, and their
troops promptly arrange for that purpose but without preparation to ensue
success.)
(Their horses receive destructive fire as they advance; both LAWTON
and the youthful officer fall in the discharge. Major DUNWOODIE enters the
field at this critical moment, sees the disarray and his dear friend, Capt.
GEORGE SINGLETON weltering in blood with LAWTON unhorsed and stretched on
the plain. The Major rides between his troops and the enemy and in a voice
that reaches the hearts of his men, recalls them to their duty.)
(His presence and words act like magic; the clamor of voices cease. A
line is promptly formed and charge sounded. Led by their commander, the
Virginians sweep across the plain with an impetuosity nothing can withstand.
The field is almost instantly cleared of the enemy; those not destroyed
seek shelter in the woods. DUNWOODIE slowly withdraws from the fire of English
covered by the trees and begins the painful duty of collecting the dead
and wounded.)
SCENE 16 - Same day, field below the WHARTON home
(The sergeant, ordered to take HENRY WHARTON to a place where he might
receive medical aid, conducts him across the field to a bald-headed man,
with powdered wig half concealed in his pocket, a cigar hanging from his
mouth, his clothes quite bloodied, and hands holding instruments of strange
formations.)
(He is standing over a breathless Hessian, with several guides leaning
on their muskets watching the troop movements and a young man who seems
to be an assistant by his bloody clothes and implements in his hands.)
SERGEANT: There, sir, is the doctor; he will patch up your arm.
(The sergeant whispers to the guides, pointing to HENRY, then rides back
to his leader. HENRY moves toward this strange figure to ask assistance,
when -)
DOCTOR: Now I know this man to be killed by Capt. LAWTON, as well as
if I'd seen him strike the blow. How often have I tried to teach him the
way to disable his adversary without destroying life. Such blows as this
render professional assistance unnecessary; it is treating the lights of
science with disrespect.
HENRY: If, sir, your leisure will admit. I must beg your attention to
a slight hurt.
DOCTOR: Ah, you are from the field below. Is there much business there,
sir?
HENRY: Indeed, 'tis a stirring time, I can assure you.
DOCTOR: Stirring? You give me great pleasure, sir, for so long as they
are stirring, there must be life, and while there is life, you know, there
is hope; but here my art is of no use. I did put in the brains of one patient,
but I rather think he was dead before I saw him. I will show you. It's across
the fence with many other bodies. Ah, (examining HENRY's arm) the ball has
glanced the bone without shattering it; you are fortunate in falling into
the hands of an old practitioner, or you might have lost this limb.
HENRY: Indeed, I did not think the injury so serious.
DOCTOR: Oh, the hurt is not bad, but you have such a pretty arm for
an operation; the pleasure of the thing might have tempted a novice.
HENRY (aghast) The devil! Can there be any pleasure in mutilating a
fellow-creature?
DOCTOR: Sir, a scientific amputation is a very pretty operation, and
might doubtless tempt a younger man to overlook particulars of the case.
( Dragoons come slowly marching in, and attention is needed for minor
injuries of the soldiers. The guides take HENRY with heavy heart back to
his father's house.)
(English had lost about one third of their foot soldiers; the rest secured
themselves in the woods, and Capt LAWTON is left with troops to watch and
harass them if a favorable chance allows.)
(The injury he relieved was by a glancing bullet in the head, so DUNWOODIE
chided him that if he made any more hasty judgments, they would know his
injury was deeper than it appears.)
(The English had been sent out to destroy certain stores of provisions
believed being collected for use by American troops. They traveled in their
retreat through the woods to the heights, keeping along the summits, places
unassailable by cavalry, until reaching their boats, to cross the Hudson
back to New York.)
SCENE 17 - Afternoon inside WHARTON home
( The last sounds of combat died and were succeeded by a stillness of
suspense to the listeners in the WHARTON house.)
(CAESAR was sent outside to learn reports of the outcome; Mr. WHARTON
related to the women details of HENRY's escape, when the front door opens
and HENRY himself enters with the guides and CAESAR following.)
Mr. WHARTON: HENRY, my son, my son, are you captive again, and in danger
of your life again?
HENRY: That, sir, you can safely say. That captain sees so far he had
me without delay.
HENRY sings ESCAPE:
"We thought the Virginians were leaving the field ... and
had given up and intended to yield ... the battle to us;"
"Then that musket ball hit my bridle-arm of course ...
and I had to change hands to control that stolen horse ... but the horse
had recognized ... its training trumpet sound ... so it bolted ... and it
reared ... and it turned itself around ... "
"I simply couldn't hold that horse in ... soon galloping
beside his old friend .. Roanoke ... whose owner ... Captain LAWTON ...
understood the joke ... and cried aloud ... as we plowed ... into the British
line ... 'This horse knows ... the righteous cause ... better than ... the
rider.' ... All I could do was frown."
SISTER (in unison): You're wounded!
HENRY: A mere scratch, but disabled me at a critical moment.
FRANCES: Is any - officer - hurt - on either side?
GUIDE: Yes, these southern youths are so full of metal; it's seldom
we fight but one or two gets knocked over. One of the wounded said Captain
SINGLETON was killed and Major DUNWOODIE - -
( FRANCES turns pale, sinks into a chair with eyes closed: her aunt and
sister quickly move to her to offer reassurance.)
HENRY: Surely the Major is unhurt!
GUIDE: Never fear him. They say a man who is born to be hanged will
never drown; if a bullet could kill the Major, he would have been dead long
ago. I was going to say, - that the Major is in a sad state because of the
Captain's being killed, but had I known how much store this lady set by
him, I wouldn't have been so plain spoken.
(FRANCES rises from her seat, shaken but relieved, when DUNWOODIE himself
appears, sternness of battle set in his brow. He advances to Mr. WHARTON.)
DUNWOODIE: Mr. WHARTON, in times like these we need not stand on ceremony;
one of my officers is hurt mortally, and, presuming on your hospitality,
I have brought him to your door.
Mr. WHARTON: I am happy, sir, that you have done so; the necessities
are welcome to him, and doubly so, in being a friend of Major DUNWOODIE.
DUNWOODIE: I thank you, sir, for myself and in behalf of him who is
unable to render his thanks. If you please, we will have him taken to a
place where the surgeon may see and report on him without delay.
(To this was consent given, and he left without even a glance at FRANCES.
As the nearly lifeless body of DUNWOODIE's friend is carried past her, FRANCES
feels a chill in this glimpse of death in its most fearful form. She holds
open the door for their passage, and raises her eyes to see if DUNWOODIE
would do likewise, but his intent never leaves his friend.)
(Capt. WHARTON gives his word not to try escaping again and sets about
acting as host in the house on behalf of his father. The doctor sees him
and begins securing the dressing on his arm a little better, when DUNWOODIE
calls aloud -)
DUNWOODIE: Hasten, Dr. SITGREAVES, hasten, or GEORGE SINGLETON will
die from loss of blood.
Dr. ARCHIBALD SITGREAVES: What! SINGLETON? God forbid! Is it GEORGE,
poor little GEORGE?
(The doctor hurries to the bedside where the youth was placed, examines
him.)
Dr. SITGREAVES: He is alive. This is the first serious case I have
had today where the patient was not dead. Bless me, it is a musket bullet.
When only a bullet, I have hope it hit nothing vital. If it were Capt. LAWTON's
results, there would be little hope; for he hits the jugular or carotid
artery, or lets out the brains with his sword - all too difficult to remedy.
I tried replacing brains three times today. It is easy to tell where LAWTON's
men charge in battle, they cut so at random.
DUNWOODIE: Speak. Is there hope? Can you find the ball?
SITGREAVES: It is not difficult to find what one has in his hand.
(He shows the bullet and continues dressing the wound.)
SITGREAVES: It took what that literal fellow, Capt. LAWTON, calls a
circumbendibus route, never taken by swords of his men. Now I saw a horse
today with his head half severed from his body.
DUNWOODIE: That was my handiwork. I killed that horse.
SITGREAVES: You! and you knew it was a horse?
DUNWOODIE: I had such suspicions.
SITGREAVES: Such blows alighting on the human frame are fatal; they
give no opportunity to show the benefits of the lights of science. Disabling
the foe is all that is required in battle. I have sat, Major DUNWOODIE,
many a cold hour, while Capt. LAWTON has engaged not a single case worth
recording - either scratches or death-wounds. The saber is a sad weapon
in unskillful hands.
DUNWOODIE (points to his wounded friend, beckons the doctor to leave
with him; outside the room): Will he live?
SITGREAVES: He will.
DUNWOODIE: Thank God!
(DUNWOODIE is summoned by a messenger that he is needed in the field.
He is cordial to all but speaks only to the AUNT.)
AUNT: Is there any hope that your friend will survive his wound?
DUNWOODIE: Dr. SITGREAVES says he will live and he has never deceived
me.
AUNT: Your pleasure is not much greater than my own at this moment.
One so dear to Major DUNWOODIE cannot fail to be of concern to his friends.
DUNWOODIE: Say one so deservedly dear, madam, as he is the beneficent
spirit of the corps, equally beloved by us all; so mild, so just, so generous,
with the meekness of a lamb and the fondness of a dove - it is only in the
hour of battle that SINGLETON is a lion.
AUNT JEANETTE: You speak of him as if he were your mistress.
(She glances at FRANCES, who sits listening glued to every word.)
DUNWOODIE: I love him as one, but he requires care and nursing; all
now depends on the attention he receives.
AUNT JEANETTE: Trust me, sir, he will want for nothing here.
DUNWOODIE: Pardon me, dear madam, you are all that is benevolent, but
GEORGE requires the care which many men would feel would be irksome. In
sufferings like this, the soldier most finds the want of female tenderness.
(He turns turns his eyes on FRANCES, with an expression that thrilled
her heart. She rose from her seat with burning cheeks.)
FRANCES: All the attention that can be given with propriety will be
cheerfully bestowed on your friend.
DUNWOODIE: That word propriety will kill him. He needs a sister. A sister?
He HAS a sister, and one that could be here at tomorrow's sun. GEORGE requires
it; it must be done.
AUNT JEANETTE: If there were a sister of Capt. SINGLETON near, her presence
would be gladly requested.
(The sister, ISABELLA SINGLETON, lived but a short day's march from the
LOCUSTS with her father, Colonel SINGLETON, who for the past year has been
entrusted with the passes of the Highlands. He had been a soldier by profession
and offered his services when the struggle for liberty commenced, though
his health and age prevented his involvement in rigorous battles.)
DUNWOODIE: It must be, madam, she shall be sent an express this very
night. And, HENRY, to me honor is dearer than life, but in your hands I
know it can be confided; remain here unwatched until we leave the county,
which may be a few days.
HENRY: (taking DUNWOODIE's hand) Your generous confidence, PEYTON, will
not be abused, even though the gibbet on which your Washington hung Andre
be ready for my own execution.
DUNWOODIE: HENRY, you little know the man who leads our armies, or you
would have spared him that reproach; but duty calls me without. I leave
you where you cannot be wholly unhappy.
(In passing FRANCES receives another look of affection she so prizes,
and in a while his appearance after the battle is forgotten. He is gone
but a short time, when he reenters accompanied by the captured Col. WELLMEYER
who was injured in the fall of his horse.)
HENRY: Col. WELLMEYER, has the fortune of war been cruel to you, also?
- but you are welcome to the house of my father, though I could wish this
could take place under more happy circumstances.
(DUNWOODIE leaves the colonel with HENRY and the family to fetch the
doctor from his wounded friend's room. Mr. WHARTON is uneasy in the presence
of a higher ranking British officer, but SARAH is somewhat overpowered by
seeing the colonel again, after no association with him since moving from
New York to the LOCUSTS. The affection she had nourished for him at their
New York parties had placed WELLMEYER in the foreground of her thoughts
since moving to this solitary home.
(DUNWOODIE emerges soon with Dr. SITGREAVES, trying to replace his wig.)
AUNT JEANETTE: Then, sir, may we be flattered with the expectation that
your patient will recover.
SITGREAVES: 'Tis certain, madam - with care and good nursing.
AUNT JEANETTE: In those he shall not be wanting; everything we have
he can command, and Major DUNWOODIE has dispatched an express for his sister.
SITGREAVES: Sister! If the Major has sent for her - she will come.
AUNT: Her brother's danger would induce her, I would imagine.
SITGREAVES: No doubt, madam. (turning to Col. WELLMEYER): Sir, I am
advised you are in want of my aid, God send 'tis not Capt. LAWTON with whom
you came in contact, or I may be too late.
WELLMEYER (haughtily): There must be some mistake, sir. It was a surgeon
Major DUNWOODIE was to send me. Not an old woman.
(With difficulty suppressing a laugh -)
HENRY: 'Tis Dr. SITGREAVES, his many engagements today has prevented
his usual attention to his attire.
WELLMEYER: Your pardon, sir.
( He lays aside his coat to show his wounded arm.)
SITGREAVES SITGREAVES: If, sir, the degrees of Edinburgh - walking your
London hospitals - amputating some hundreds of limbs - operating on the
human frame in every shape that is warranted by the lights of science, a
clear conscience, and the commission of the Continental Congress, can make
a surgeon, I am one.
WELLMEYER (stiffly) : Your pardon, sir, Capt. WHARTON has accounted
for my error.
SITGREAVES: For which I thank Capt. WHARTON.
(He proceeds to arrange his amputating instruments with a formality that
made the colonel's blood run cold.)
SITGREAVES: Where are you hurt, sir? What! Is it this scratch on your
shoulder? In what manner might you have received this wound?
WELLMEYER: From the sword of a rebel dragoon.
SITGREAVES: Never. Even the gentle GEORGE SINGLETON would not have breathed
on you so harmlessly. (He takes a piece of stick plaster from his pocket
and applies it to the shoulder) There, sir, that will answer your purpose.
I am certain it is all that is required of me.
WELLMEYER: What do you take to be my purpose, then, sir?
SITGREAVES: To report yourself wounded in your dispatches - and you
may say that an old lady dressed your hurts - for if one did not - one easily
might.
(Here HENRY interferes and in part succeeds in appeasing the insulted
doctor, who looks to the other bruises from the colonel's fall. DUNWOODIE
leaves with his heart full of the day's anxieties.)
SCENE 18 - Evening in the vale
(Capt. LAWTON and his party have watched the retiring foe cross the summits
on foot where the horse could not attack, then descend to the water's edge
in tight groups, so as to be unwise for a charge, slowly boarding a waiting
schooner with guns poised at the shore. The dragoons linger but shortly
at this departure, then slowly turn back to the main body of the corps.
LAWTON (to his senior subaltern):Then it struck you, too? The instant
I placed eyes on her, I remembered the face; it is not one easily forgotten.
By my faith, TOM, the girl does no discredit to the Major's taste.
TOM: She would do honor to the corps. Those blue eyes might easily win
a man to gentler employment than this trade of ours.
LAWTON: Mutiny, sir, Mutiny. Would you dare to rival the gay, admired,
and withal rich, Major DUNWOODIE in his love! A captain as tough as a peperage
log and as many lives as a cat?
TOM: Faith, the log may yet be split and the Grimalkin lose his lives,
if you often charge as madly as you did this morning. What think you of
the raps as laid you on your back today?
LAWTON: Ah, don't mention it, my good TOM; the thought makes my head
ache. It's what I call forestalling night.
TOM: The night of death?
LAWTON: No, sir, the night that follows day. I saw myriads of stars,
things that should hide their faces in the presence of the lordly sun. I
do think this cap saved me for your presence a little longer.
TOM: I have reason to be obliged to the cap, that or the thickness of
your skull, I admit.
LAWTON: Come, come , TOM, you are a licensed joker, so I'll not feign
anger with you, but SINGLETON's lieutenant, I am fearful, will fare better
than yourself for this day's service.
TOM: I believe both of us will be spared the pain of receiving promotion
purchased by the death of a comrade and friend. It was reported that SITGREAVES
said he would live.
LAWTON: From my soul I hope so; for a beardless face that boy carries
the stoutest heart I have ever met. It surprises me, however, that, as we
both fell at the same instant, the men behaved so well.
TOM: For the compliment, I might thank you, but modesty forbids; I did
my best to stop them, but without success.
LAWTON: Stop them? Would you stop men in the middle of a charge?
TOM: I thought they were going the wrong way.
LAWTON: Ah, our fall drove them to the right about?
TOM: It was either your fall, or apprehensions of their own; until the
Major rallied us, we were in admirable disorder. Then DUNWOODIE came in
at half speed, with the other two troops, and riding between us and the
enemy, with that imperative way he has when roused, brought us in line in
the twinkling of an eye. Then it was we sent John Bull to the bushes. Oh
- it was a sweet charge - heads and tails until we were upon them.
LAWTON: The devil what a sight I missed!
TOM: You slept through it all.
LAWTON: Yes, it was all lost to me and poor GEORGE SINGLETON; but TOM
what will GEORGE's sister say to this fair-haired maiden in yonder building?
TOM: Hang herself in her garters. I owe a proper respect to my superiors,
but two such angels are more than justly falls to the share of one man,
unless he be a Turk or a Hindu.
LAWTON: Yes, yes, the Major is ever preaching morality to the youngsters,
but he is a sly fellow in the main. Do you observe how fond he is of the
cross roads above this valley? Now if I were to halt the troops twice in
the same place, you would all swear there was a petticoat in the wind.
TOM: You are well known to the corps.
LAWTON: Well, TOM, a slanderous propensity in incurable, but - (peering
into the darkening landscape) what animal is moving through the field on
our right?
TOM: 'Tis a man.
LAWTON: By his hump 'tis a dromedary. (Wheeling his horse suddenly)
HARVEY BIRCH - take him, dead or alive!
(Only TOM and a few men in the lead understand the sudden cry, but it
is heard throughout the line. A dozen men follow their lieutenant after
LAWTON; their speed threatens a quick termination of the race.)
***********************
(BIRCH had kept his perch on the rock, where HENRY passed on his morning
escape route, until evening began to shroud surroundings in darkness. From
this height he had watched all the events of the day. In the near darkness
he felt safe enough to venture home, and had not completed a fourth of the
way to his house, when he hears the tread of the approaching horse, so moved
in crouched position until he thought it safe to stand, making movement
easier.)
(At the moment he stands above the shadow of the ground, he is seen,
and the chase commences. He casts his pack aside, tightens his belt and
takes himself to flight with his blood curdling in his veins at the imminence
of the danger. He knows by bringing himself in line with his pursuers and
the wood, his form will be lost from sight, so flees, straining every nerve
to gain the wood itself, when several horsemen ride by him but a short distance
on his left and cut him off from this place of refuge.)
(The peddler throws himself on the ground as they come near and pass
him unseen, but it is too dangerous to delay to remain in that position.
He rises, still keeping in the shadow of the wood, along the skirts of which
he hears voices crying to each other to be watchful. He runs with incredible
speed in a parallel line in the opposite direction to the march of the dragoons.)
(The confusion of the chase is heard by all of the men, though none distinctly
understand the order of LAWTON; one trooper is making inquiries of another
near the rear when a man is seen crossing the road in a single bound. At
that instant the voice of LAWTON rings through the valley.)
LAWTON: HARVEY BIRCH, take him dead or alive.
(Fifty pistols light the scene; bullets whistle in every direction around
the head of the peddler. In the bitterness of the moment -)
HARVEY: Hunted like a beast in the forest!
(He felt life and its accomplishments to be a burden and is about to
yield to his enemies, knowing he would not be honored with the form of a
trial, for he was already condemned to death and had only escaped that fate
by stratagem; yet again he flees before them. )
(A section of stone wall that had withstood ravages of war fortunately
crossed his path. He hardly had time to throw his exhausted limbs over this
barrier before twenty horsemen reach its opposite side. Their horses, however,
refuse to take the leap in the dark.)
(BIRCH could see the base of the hill on which the summit was a place
of security, when the voice of Capt. LAWTON again rings in his ears, shouting
to his men to make room. The fearless trooper rides at the wall at top speed,
plunging the rowels in his charger, and flies over the obstacle. Triumphant
cheers of the men and thundering tread of the horse assures the peddler
of his danger. He is nearly exhausted.)
LAWTON: Stop or die!
(LAWTON yells above the peddler's head, as HARVEY glances over his shoulder
and sees within a bound of him the man he most dreads. By the light of the
stars he beholds the hand with uplifted saber. Fear, exhaustion and despair
grip his heart and the intended victim falls at the feet of the dragoon.)
(The horse of the LAWTON strikes the prostrate peddler, stumbles and
both steed and rider fall violently to the earth. As quick as thought, HARVEY
is on his feet with the sword of the trooper in his hand and stands looking
down at the dazed man. )
HARVEY sings YOUR SABER:
"Are you waiting ... for the saber ... now that I have
your sword ... is it your time to die? ... We have seen the face of death
... many times before ... you and I. ... Will this time ... be the last
time ... that one decides ... the other's fate? ... NO - O ... the demons
here within me ... I will not allow ... to retaliate."
(HARVEY drops the sword on LAWTON, as he lays half-stunned on the ground,
and vanishes up the side of the friendly rock, before a dozen troopers ride
around the end of the rock wall to reach their captain.)
TOM: Help, Capt. LAWTON there. Some of you dismount with me, and search
the rocks, the villain must be there concealed.
LAWTON (roars): Hold! If one of you dismounts, he dies. TOM, my good
fellow, help me to straddle Roanoke again.
(The astonished trooper complies in silence as others remain fixed in
their saddles.)
TOM: You are much hurt, I fear.
LAWTON (having difficulty with breath): Somewhat so, I do believe. I
wish our bonesetter was at hand to check my ribs.
TOM: Dr. SITGREAVES has been left in attendance on Capt. SINGLETON at
the WHARTON home.
LAWTON: Then there I halt for the night. You remember the old gentleman
professed a kinsman's regard for the corps.
TOM: Then I will lead the troop to Four Corners; if we all halt at the
WHARTON's we shall breed a famine in the land.
LAWTON: A condition I never desire to be placed in. The idea of that
graceful spinster's cakes is no bad solace for twenty-four hours in the
hospital.
TOM: Oh, you won't die if you think of eating.
AN ORDERLY: Capt. LAWTON, we are passing the house of the peddler spy;
is it your pleasure that we burn it?
LAWTON (roars): NO! Are you an incendiary? Would you burn a house in
cold blood? Let but a spark approach, and the hand that carries it will
never light another.
ANOTHER SOLDIER: Zounds! There is life in the Captain even with his
tumble.
(They ride on in silence, TOM thinking of the wonderful change produced
in the Captain by his fall, until they reach the gate of the LOCUSTS. The
troop continue on to Four Corners one half mile north, as LAWTON and MASON
dismount and walk to the door.)
SCENE 19 - Night, inside the WHARTON house
(AUNT JEANETTE serves tea in the parlor to her nieces and Dr. SITGREAVES,
who has recently checked his patients in their rooms and found time to relax
with the ladies, sharing a discourse with the aunt about mutual acquaintances,
as the nieces only listen.)
SITGREAVES: As I was observing, Miss PEYTON, it was the noxious vapors
of the lowlands that rendered your brother's land unfit as residence for
man. -
(The sound of pistol shots fired at BIRCH are heard.)
AUNT: Bless me, what's that?
SITGREAVES: It sounds like the explosion of firearms. I imagine it to
be the troop of Capt. LAWTON returning, did I not know the Captain never
uses a pistol, and he dreadfully abuses the saber.
AUNT: Merciful providence! He would not injure one with it certainly?
Dr. SITGREAVES sings DEADLY SWORD:
"Captain LAWTON's sword ... is certain death ... All
that I say ... to him has no effect ... such force and such random ... that
no man can withstand them ... ev'ry one knows ... from his blows ... you
will not live to see the sun set."
FRANCES: But Capt. LAWTON is the officer we saw this morning. He is
surely your friend.
DOCTOR sings (2nd verse) DEADLY SWORD:
"With his friendship there ... can no fault be ... but
he should cut ... more scientific'ly ... not hack away wildly ... and leave
no one before me ... What good is then ... a surgeon ... with all his patients
already dead?"
(This conversation continued until a knock is heard at the door, upon
opening it, CAESAR found the very Captain mentioned again seeking help from
the doctor.)
SITGREAVES: CAPT. LAWTON!
LAWTON: Ah, my dear bonesetter, you are here, fortunately, to inspect
my carcass; but do lay aside that rascally saw.
(TOM explained the nature of the Captain's hurts, and the aunt set to
preparing a room for him, suggesting the two men partake of the food left
from dinner, as she realized they probably had their only meal of the day
with them at breakfast that morning. When the room was ready, the two troopers
left with the doctor.)
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