The Mohawk straightened. Skennenko:wa, Owassighsishon.
Sir John smiled at McDonells bemused expression. Dont look so perplexed, Captain. Merely a greeting between old friends.
Owassighsishon? McDonell said. Im not familiar
Its the name they have for me; it means He-who-made-the-house-to-tremble. Dont ask me which house as Ive no damned idea.
McDonell was given no chance to respond for at that moment the colonels attention was diverted once more, this time by the approach of another lieutenant in the uniform of a Royal Yorker. After acknowledging Wyatts presence with a nod, he saluted briskly and announced, Weve retrieved the barrels, Colonel.
A smile lit up the colonels face. Have you? Splendid! Thank you, Lieutenant. Ill be with you directly. He turned to Wyatt. Youll see to the boy?
Yes, sir, Wyatt said.
Barrels? he thought. Movement over by the doorway to the mansion made him turn and watch as four Royal Yorkers in dirt-stained uniforms and an equally dishevelled Negro civilian emerged from the house, carrying between them two large wooden casks.
Wine? Wyatt frowned. It seemed unlikely.
Well done, William! Sir John clapped the Negro on the back, sending puffs of dirt into the air.
Intrigued, Wyatt hovered as the barrels were deposited on the ground. A bayonet was produced and a lid was levered off. It looked at first glance as if the cask was full of old sacking.
Odd, Wyatt thought, until the top layer was removed.
Wyatt had never seen a pirates treasure trove unearthed but he suspected it probably wouldnt look much different to the sight that met his eyes. The barrel was stuffed to the gunnels with what was clearly a fortune in silver plate. Salvers, decanters, tankards, punch bowls, coffee jugs, gravy boats, condiment shakers, even serving spoons; all individually wrapped. He stared as each object was divested of its Hessian cocoon and placed reverentially on the ground.
Belongs to my family, the colonel explained. He seemed unconcerned that Wyatt was loitering. Bequeathed me by my father. We werent able to take it with us when we went north, so we concealed it beneath the floor in the cellar. Sir John indicated the manservant, who was brushing himself down. William here was the only person we entrusted with the hiding place. Hes kept it safe these past four years. Well, this time, its coming with me. Ill not have those damned rebels lay their hands on it. Ive seen too many friends whove had their inheritance usurped by those scoundrels. He watched as the last piece of silverware was exposed before turning to the lieutenant. There should be around forty pieces all told. Split the load. One item per man. Full inventory to be taken.
Yes, sir. The lieutenant turned and waved an arm towards a small detachment of troops waiting by the blockhouse. Number Two Company, fall in! Quartermaster to me! Sharply now!
The troops ran across to form a line and began to open their knapsacks. The Quartermaster produced his ledger and licked the point of his pencil. As the plate was distributed, a description of each item was written alongside the name of the soldier to whom it had been entrusted.
Wyatt couldnt help but smile to himself. How, he wondered, would the army function without lists? It didnt matter if they concerned cockades, cannons or the colonels heirlooms; lists were as integral to military life as marching and muskets.
Having satisfied himself that the inventory was being conducted to the required standard, the colonel turned to McDonell and the other officers whod been with him around the table and whod been observing the disinterment with considerable interest.
Right, gentlemen back to business. As I recall, we were conducting a situation report. Captain Anderson?
A dark-haired, thin-faced officer dressed in the uniform of a Grenadier stepped forward.
Colonel?
The patrols that were sent to retrieve our people should have returned by now. How many civilians have we collected?
By my count, one hundred and fifty-two, Colonel.
The colonel looked towards Wyatt. Better amend that, Captain. Make the total one hundred and fifty-three.
Yes, sir. Weve also acquired thirty-two Negro servants.
Very good. Prisoners?
Captain Anderson consulted his figures. Twenty-seven in total, mostly civilians
There was a pause, then Anderson continued including Sammons and his brood.
A nerve flickered along the colonels jawline. Release those that are too young or infirm. We gain nothing by subjecting them to the rigours of the return march.
And Sammons? Anderson enquired tentatively.
Several officers exchanged glances. After the colonels escape and following his wifes departure from the valley the mansion and grounds had been seized by the Tryon County Commissioners, whod appointed local Patriots to act as caretakers until the property could be sold. The Sammons clan, former neighbours of the colonel, had been selected for the task. The patriarch, Sampson Sammons, along with his three sons, had been among the first prisoners captured by the raiding party upon its arrival at the Hall, where the colonel, in a deliberate display of bravado, had set up his temporary headquarters.
You can let the old man go; Thomas, too. Jacob and Frederick arent going anywhere save to Canada with us. The colonel smiled. The walk will do them good.
The comment drew satisfied grins all round. Jacob Sammons was the Commissioners chief overseer at the Hall. His face, when hed realized whod come to interrupt his slumbers in the dead of night, had been a picture to behold.
For the familys part in the occupation of the estate, the father would remain free to reflect on his impudence on the understanding that two of his sons were to be marched as prisoners to a Canadian stockade by the very man whose property they had usurped.
Justice had been served.
Yes, sir The captain paused once more. And the militia captain, Veeder?
Release him, too. Hes given me his word that, if we let him go now, hell look upon it as the first half of an exchange. Hes promised me the Americans will reciprocate and free one of our own: Lieutenant Singleton. You may recall he was wounded and taken prisoner during the Stanwix engagement.
Anderson frowned. You trust Captain Veeders word, sir?
He gave it as an officer, and I knew the family in happier times so I see no reason to doubt him. He comes from good stock. His brothers a lieutenant colonel in the county militia. I think its a risk worth taking if we can get Singleton back. Three years incarceration is enough for any man.
Still looking sceptical, Anderson managed to force a nod. Very good, sir.
Sir John turned. It would appear, gentlemen, that in the light of what weve accomplished, our enterprise has been rather successful, though a number of Captain McDonells raiding parties have yet to report back correct?
Yes, sir, McDonell said.
The colonel looked up to where the smoke clouds were staining the eastern sky. The evidence would indicate that theyve been performing their duties admirably. In which case its time we started to organize our withdrawal. Id hate to think weve outstayed our welcome.
The officers smiled dutifully.
The colonel picked up his hat from the table and brushed it down. Prepare to dismantle the camp. Also, the civilians need to be advised of their responsibilities. It took us nine days to get here from Champlain. Well need to step up the pace if were to get back to the rendezvous point without mishap. Our enemies may have slept through our arrival, but they know were here now and will, I suspect, be most anxious to make our acquaintance. Captain Duncan, how many fresh horses have we acquired?
Sixty-seven, Colonel.
Very good. We can put them to use as baggage animals and as mounts for the elderly and the youngest children. The ablest of the ladies and the older children will have to walk with the men. Youd better tell them they should wear suitable attire. Theyve been told to travel light, I take it? See to it they adhere to that. Anything they cant carry gets left behind. No exceptions.
He turned to a stocky officer with salt-and-pepper hair. As to the troops: Captain Scott, your regulars are to act as escort. Captain Leakes Independents and the other irregulars are to deploy as individual commanders see fit. The same goes for your riflemen, Captain Friedrich, if youd be so kind. We will have use of them, should a delaying tactic be required.
A slim, officious-looking officer, with hair so blond it was almost white, dressed in the uniform of a Hessian Jaeger, inclined his head. At your command, Colonel.
Good. Well, unless theres anything else ? No? Excellent. In that case, lets get to it. Dismissed. Sir John turned abruptly. That includes you, Lieutenant.
Yes, sir, Wyatt said quickly, though there had been drollness in the colonels tone rather than rebuke. Leaving now.
He paused, struck by the expression on the colonels face. Sir John continued to hold the Rangers gaze before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod. Acknowledging the unspoken message, Wyatt summoned Tewanias to him. With the Mohawk at his shoulder, he headed back to the tether line.
Why cant I stay with you?
The boy was mounted on his horse. The dog lay stretched out on the grass alongside.
The question took the Ranger by surprise, as did the look of apprehension in the blue-grey eyes. It was the first time the boy had shown anything approaching trepidation or doubt.
Colonels orders. He wants all civilians to travel together.
A frown creased the boys face. Why?
He wants to keep you safe.
Cant you do that?
Too many damned questions, Wyatt thought, for a twelve-year-old. Though he wasnt sure if that was, in fact, the boys age. As with the name, he hadnt bothered to enquire. It hadnt seemed relevant. It still didnt, not really, because there had been little doubt the boy was older than his years would suggest. But then, Wyatt thought, taking a mans life could add years to a person; it didnt matter if they were twelve, twenty-five or seventy. He remembered how hed felt, the first time.
Wyatt shook his head. My men and I have to scout the trails. We might run into trouble. Its all right, though. Youll be safe with Reverend De Witt. Wyatt turned. Isnt that so, Reverend?
The question was greeted with matching smiles from a burly, ruddy-complexioned man in a wide-brimmed black preachers hat, black breeches and waistcoat, and a sturdy yet homely woman in a navy-blue dress and bonnet. The reverends hand rested paternally upon the shoulder of a small, auburn-haired girl of around nine years old. A grey mare stood saddled and ready behind them.
The woman laid a proprietorial hand on the pastors arm before he could respond to Wyatts question. The young man will be as safe as houses, Lieutenant. Dont you fret.
The pastor nodded enthusiastically. Indeed, Mother! The more the merrier! Thats what I always say!
Wyatt wondered if, despite the attempt at humour, the preacher wasnt trying a little too hard to exude a confidence he might not be feeling, in order to reassure his wife and young daughter and perhaps himself that they were about to embark on nothing more arduous than an afternoon stroll through the countryside.
Though, maybe, Wyatt thought, noting again the solid, square shoulders and the brawny muscles along the pastors upper arms, De Witt wasnt quite the humble shepherd he made himself out to be. In fact, having already elicited details from some of the pastors fellow travellers, Wyatt knew he couldnt have been.
Wyatt had learned that De Witt was pastor to a small community on the eastern side of the Dadenoscara Creek, whod come to the attention of the Commissioners for, supposedly, inciting disaffection against the State of New York from his Sunday pulpit. As a consequence, the pastor had been served with an order to appear at the Albany County Sessions to answer charges of sedition. Having seen what had befallen former neighbours and fellow Tories whod faced the same accusation, and knowing that his calling offered no protection against a charge of treason, the pastor had accepted Sir Johns alternative summons to join with other Loyalist families in their flight to the Canadian border.
It had been the sight of the pistol butt protruding from one of the mares saddle bags as well as De Witts more obvious credentials that had prompted the Ranger to take the preacher aside and enquire quietly if he and his wife might be willing to look after a couple of strays in the person of a twelve-year-old orphan boy and a racoon hound of a more indeterminate pedigree.
When the pastor had asked after the boys parents, Wyatt had seen no reason to hold back. Neither, after revealing what he knew of the boys background, had he spared details in describing how Will and Beth Archer had died. What he had not disclosed was how the boy had dispatched one of his guardians attackers with a hatchet. The last thing hed wanted was for either De Witt or his wife to think that they would be taking some delinquent neer-do-well under their wing.
The reverend, whod known of the Archers through mutual acquaintances within the Loyalist community, had turned pale at the telling. When hed summoned his wife to apprise her of the situation, the anguish in her face had mirrored that of her husband.
Oh, my dear Lord the poor wee boy! shed gasped, lifting a hand to her throat in horror.
Cant argue with that, maam, but probably best not to make a fuss over him, Wyatt had advised. From my dealings with the lad, Id say hes got true grit and then some. My sense is hes strong enough not to need any reminders. He just needs to sit for a spell. Itll hit him hard eventually and when that happens
You can rest easy on that score, Lieutenant, the pastor had reassured Wyatt firmly. Esther and Ill not crowd him. War makes orphans of us all in one way or another, and Mrs De Witt and I have seen more than our share of pain in that regard. And if theres one thing Ive learnt in ministering to those whove suffered a loss, its that people vent their sorrow in all sorts of ways. With some, it leaks out a few droplets at a time, while others keep the grief bottled up so tight its like watching water rising behind a dam, so that when the hurt becomes too much to bear The pastor clenched a fist against his chest. Well, I dont have to tell you. All we can do is offer comfort if and when that happens and place our trust in the Lord.