Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion Part 21

Such was the period at which the wretched negro had now arrived. He listened, therefore, with patient composure to the fierce, threatening language of the warriors, which his former a.s.sociation with Manteo enabled him, when aided by their wild gesticulation, to comprehend. But it was far from the intention of the Indians to release him yet from his terrible existence. One of the braves approaching the poor helpless wretch with a small cord of catgut, such as was used by them for bow-strings, prepared to bind it tightly around his thumb, while the others gathering around in a circle waved their war-clubs high in air to inflict the painful bastinado. When old Giles saw the Indian approach, and fully comprehended his design, his heart sank within him at this new instrument of torture, and in despairing accents he groaned-

"Kill me, kill me, but for de Lord's sake, ma.s.sa, don't put dat horrid thing on de poor old n.i.g.g.a."

Regardless of his cries, the powerful Indian adjusted the cord, and with might and main drew it so tightly around the thumb that it entered the flesh even to the bone, while the poor negro shrieked in agony. Then, to drown the cry, the other savages commencing a wild, rude chant, let their war-clubs descend upon their victim with such force that he fainted. Just at this moment the quick ears of the Indians caught the almost inaudible sound of approaching hors.e.m.e.n, and as they paused to satisfy themselves of the truth of their suspicions, Bacon and his little band of faithful followers appeared full in sight. Leaving their victim in a moment, the savages prepared to defend themselves from the a.s.sault of their intruders, and with the quickness of thought, concealing themselves behind the trees and undergrowth of the forest, they sent a shower of arrows into the unwary ranks of their adversaries.

"By Jove, that had like to have been my death-stroke," cried Bacon, as an arrow directed full against his breast, glanced from a gilt b.u.t.ton of his coat and fell harmless to the ground. But others of the party were not so fortunate as their leader. Several of the men, pierced by the poisoned arrows of the enemy, fell dead.

Notwithstanding the success of this first charge of the Indians, Bacon and his party sustained the shock with coolness and intrepidity. Their gallant leader, himself careless of life or safety, led the charge, and on his powerful horse he was, like the royal hero to whom he had compared himself, ever seen in the thickest of the carnage. Well did he prove himself that day worthy of the confidence of his faithful followers.

Nor loth were the Indians to return their charge. Although their party only amounted to about fifty, and Bacon's men numbered several hundred, yet was the idea of retreat abhorrent to their martial feelings.

Screening themselves with comparative safety behind the large forest trees, or lying under the protection of the thick undergrowth, they kept up a constant attack with their arrows, and succeeded in effecting considerable loss to the whites, who, incommoded by their horses, or unaccustomed to this system of bush fighting, failed to produce a corresponding effect upon their savage foe.

There was something in the religion of these simple sons of the forest which imparted intrepid boldness to their characters, unattainable by ordinary discipline. The material conception which they entertained of the spirit-world, where valour and heroism were the pa.s.sports of admission, created a disregard for life such as no civilized man could well entertain. In that new land, to which death was but the threshold, their pursuits were the same in character, though greater in degree, as those in which they here engaged. There they would be welcomed by the brave warriors of a former day, and engage still in fierce contests with hostile tribes. There they would enjoy the delights of the chase through spirit forests, deeper and more gigantic than those through which they wandered in life. Theirs was the Valhalla to which the brave alone were admitted, and among whose martial habitants would continue the same emulation in battle, the same stoicism in suffering, as in their forest-world. Such was the character of their simple religion, which created in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s that heroism and fort.i.tude, in danger or in pain, that has with one accord been attributed to them.

But despite their valour and resolution, the contest, with such disparity of numbers, must needs be brief. Bacon pursued each advantage which he gained with relentless vigour, ever and anon cheering his followers, and crying out, as he rushed onward to the charge, "Don't let one of the b.l.o.o.d.y dogs escape. Remember, my gallant boys, the peace of your firesides and the lives and safety of your wives and children.

Remember the brave men who have already fallen before the hand of the savage foe."

Faithful to his injunction, the overwhelming power of the whites soon strewed the ground with the bodies of the brave savages. The few who remained, dispirited and despairing, fled through the forest from the irresistible charge of the enemy.

Meantime the unfortunate Giles had recovered from the swoon into which he had fallen, and began to look wildly about him, as though in a dream.

To the fact that the contending parties had been closely engaged, and that from this cause not a gun had been fired, the old negro probably owed his life. With the superst.i.tion of his race, the poor creature attributed this fortunate succour to a miraculous interposition of Providence in his behalf; and when he saw the last of his oppressors flying before the determined onslaught of the white men, he fervently cried,

"Thank the Lord, for he done sent his angels to stop de lion's mouf, and to save de poor old n.i.g.g.e.r from dere hands."

"Hallo, comrades," said Berkenhead, when he espied the poor old negro bound to the tree, "who have we here? This must be old Ochee[37]

himself, whom the Lord has delivered into our hands. Hark ye," he added, proceeding to unbind him, "where do you come from?-or are you in reality the evil one, whom these infidel red-skins wors.h.i.+p?"

"Oh, no, Ma.s.sa, I a'ant no evil sperrit. A sperrit hab not flesh and bones as you see me hab."

"Nay," returned the coa.r.s.e-hearted soldier, "that reasoning won't serve your purpose, for there is precious little flesh and blood about you, old man. The most you can lay claim to is skin and bones."

Hansford, who had been standing a little distance off, was attracted by this conversation, and turning in the direction of the old negro, was much surprised to recognize, under such horrible circ.u.mstances, the quondam steward, butler and factotum of Windsor Hall. Nor was Giles'

surprise less in meeting with Miss Virginia's "buck" in so secluded a spot. It was with difficulty that Hansford could prevent him from throwing his arms around his neck; but giving the old man a hearty shake of the hand, he asked him the story of his captivity, which Giles, with much importance, proceeded to relate. But he had scarcely begun his narrative, when the attention of the insurgents was attracted by the approach of two hors.e.m.e.n, who advanced towards them at a rapid rate, as though they had some important intelligence to communicate.

FOOTNOTES:

[37] The evil spirit, sometimes called Opitchi Manitou, and wors.h.i.+pped by the Indians.

CHAPTER XXV.

"Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks, Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast."

_Richard III._

The new comers were Lawrence and Drummond, who, as will be recollected by the reader, were left in Jamestown to watch the proceedings of the Governor, and to convey to Bacon any needful intelligence concerning them. Although he had, in the first impulse of triumph after receiving his commission, confided fully in the promises of the vacillating Berkeley, yet, on reflection, Bacon did not rely very implicitly upon them. The Governor had once before broken his word in the affair of the parole, promising to grant the commission which he craved, upon condition of his confession of his former disloyal conduct and his promise to amend. Bacon was not the man to be twice deceived, and it did not therefore much surprise him to see the two patriots so soon after his departure from Jamestown, nor to hear the strange tidings which they had come to detail.

"Why, how is this, General?" said Lawrence. "You have had b.l.o.o.d.y work already, it seems; and not without some loss to your own party."

"Yes, there they lie," returned Bacon. "G.o.d rest their brave souls! But being dead, they yet speak-speak to us to avenge their death on the b.l.o.o.d.y savages who have slaughtered them, and to proclaim the insane policy of Berkeley in delaying our march against the foe. But what make you from Jamestown?"

"Bad news or good, General, as you choose to take it," replied Lawrence.

"Berkeley has dissolved the a.s.sembly in a rage, because they supported you in your demand of yesterday, and has himself, with his crouching minions, retired to Gloucester."

"To Gloucester!" cried Bacon. "That is indeed news. But what can the old dotard mean by such a movement?"

"He has already made known his reasons," returned Lawrence. "He has cancelled your commission, and proclaimed you, and all engaged with you, as rebels and traitors."

"Why, this is infamous!" said Bacon. "Is the old knave such an enemy to truth that it cannot live upon his lips for one short day? And who, pray, is rash enough to uphold him in his despotism, or base enough to screen him in his infamy?"

"It was whispered as we left," said Drummond, "that a certain Colonel Henry Temple had avouched the loyalty of Gloucester, and prevailed upon the Governor to make his house his castle, during what he is pleased to term this unhappy rebellion."

"And by my soul," said Bacon, fiercely, "I will teach this certain Colonel Henry Temple the hazard that he runs in thus abetting tyranny and villainy. If he would not have his house beat down over his ears, he were wise to withdraw his aid and support; else, if his house be a castle at all, it is like to be a castle in Spain."

Hansford, who was an eager listener, as we may suppose, to the foregoing conversation, was alarmed at this determination of his impulsive leader.

He knew too well the obstinate loyalty of Temple to doubt that he would resist at every hazard, rather than deliver his n.o.ble guest into the hands of his enemies. He felt a.s.sured, too, that if the report were true, Virginia had accompanied her father to Gloucester, and his very soul revolted at the idea of her being subjected to the disagreeable results which would flow from an attack upon Windsor Hall. The only chance of avoiding the difficulty, was to offer his own mediation, and in the event, which he foresaw, of Colonel Temple refusing to come to terms, he trusted that there was at least magnanimity enough left in the old Governor to induce him to seek some other refuge, rather than to subject his hospitable and loyal host to the consequences of his kindness. There was indeed some danger attending such a mission in the present inflamed state of Berkeley's mind. But this, Hansford held at naught. Hastily revolving in his mind these thoughts, he ventured to suggest to Bacon, that an attack upon Colonel Temple's house would result in the worst consequences to the cause of the patriots; that it would effect no good, as the Governor might again promise, and again recant-and, that it would be difficult to induce his followers to embark in an enterprise so foreign to the avowed object of the expedition, and against a man whose character was well known, and beloved by the people of the Colony.

Bacon calmly heard him through, as though struck with the truth of the views he presented, and then added with a sarcastic smile, which stung Hansford to the quick, "and moreover, the sight of soldiers and of fire-arms might alarm the ladies."

"And, if such a motive as that did influence my opinion," said Hansford, "I hope it was neither unworthy a soldier or a man."

"Unworthy alike of both," replied Bacon, "of a soldier, because the will and command of his superior officer should be his only law-and of a man, because, in a cause affecting his rights and liberties, any sacrifice of feeling should be willingly and cheerfully made."

"That sacrifice I now make," said Hansford, vainly endeavouring to repress his indignation, "in not retorting more harshly to your imputation. The time may yet come when no such sacrifice shall be required, and when none, I a.s.sure you, shall be made."

"And, when it comes, young man," returned Bacon, haughtily, "be a.s.sured that I will not be backward in affording you an opportunity of defending yourself-meantime you are under my command-and will please remember that you are so. But, gentlemen," he continued, turning to the others, "what say you to our conduct in these circ.u.mstances. Shall we proceed to Powhatan, against the enemy of a country to which we are traitors, or shall we march on this mendacious old Knight, and once again wipe off the stigma which he has placed upon our names?"

"I think," said Lawrence, after a pause of some moments, "that there is a good deal of truth in the views presented by Major Hansford. But, could not some middle course be adopted. I don't exactly see how it can be effected, but, if the Governor were met by remonstrance of his injustice, and informed of our determination to resist it as such, it seems to me that he would be forced to recant this last proclamation, and all would be well again."

"And who think you would carry the remonstrance," said Bacon. "It would be about as wise to thrust your head in a lion's mouth, as to trust yourself in the hands of the old fanatic. I know not whom we could get to bear such a mission," he added, smiling, "unless our friend Ingram there, who having been accustomed to ropes in his youth, if report speaks true, need have no fear of them in age."[38]

"In faith, General," replied the quondam rope-dancer, "I am only expert in managing the cable when it supports my feet. But I have never been able to perform the feat of dancing on nothing and holding on by my neck."

"General Bacon," said Hansford, stepping forward, "I am willing to execute your mission to the Governor."

"My dear boy," said Bacon, grasping him warmly by the hand, "forgive me for speaking so roughly to you just now, I am almost ready to cut my tongue out of my head for having said anything to wound your feelings.

But d.a.m.n that old treacherous fox, he inflamed me so, that I must have let out some of my bad humour or choked in retaining it."

Hansford returned his grasp warmly, perhaps the more ready to forgive and forget, as he saw a prospect of attaining his object in protecting the family of his friend from harm.

"But you shall not go," continued Bacon. "It were madness to venture within the clutch of the infuriated old madman."

"Whatever were the danger," said Hansford, "this was my proposition, and on me devolves the peril, if peril there be in its execution. But there is really none. Colonel Temple, although a bigot in his loyalty, is the last person to violate the rites of hospitality or to despise a flag of truce. And Sir William Berkeley dare not disregard either whilst under his roof."

"Well, so let it be then," said Bacon, "but I fear that you place too much reliance on the good faith of your old friend Temple. Believe me, that these Tories hold a doctrine in their political creed, very much akin to the Papal doctrine of intolerance. 'Faith towards heretics, is infidelity to religion.' But you must at least take some force with you."