登陆注册
5265800000028

第28章 Chapter (3)

It was while in the exercise of his roving privileges that Jasper prepared to visit the post of the enemy at Ebenezer. At this post he had a brother, who held the same rank in the British service, that he held in the American.

This instance was quite too common in the history of the period and country, to occasion much surprise, or cause any suspicion of the integrity of either party. We have already considered the causes for this melancholy difference of individual sentiment in the country, and need not dwell upon them here. William Jasper loved his brother and wished to see him: it is very certain, at the same time, that he did not deny himself the privilege of seeing all around him.

The Tory was alarmed at William's appearance in the British camp, but the other quieted his fears, by representing himself as no longer an American soldier. He checked the joy which this declaration excited in his brother's mind, by assuring him that, though he found little encouragement in fighting for his country, "he had not the heart to fight against her." Our scout lingered for two or three days in the British camp, and then, by a `detour', regained that of the Americans;reporting to his Commander all that he had seen. He was encouraged to repeat his visit a few weeks after, but this time he took with him a comrade, one Sergeant Newton, a fellow quite as brave in spirit, and strong in body as himself. Here he was again well received by his brother, who entertained the guests kindly for several days.

Meanwhile, a small party of Americans were brought into Ebenezer as captives, over whom hung the danger of "short shrift and sudden cord".

They were on their way to Savannah for trial. They had taken arms with the British, as hundreds more had done, when the country was deemed reconquered; but, on the approach of the American army, had rejoined their countrymen, and were now once more at the mercy of the power with which they had broken faith.

"It will go hard with them," said the Tory Jasper to his Whig brother;but the secret comment of the other was, "it shall go hard with me first."There was a woman, the wife of one of the prisoners, who, with her child, kept them company. William Jasper and his friend were touched by the spectacle of their distress; and they conferred together, as soon as they were alone, as to the possibility of rescuing them.

Their plan was soon adopted. It was a simple one, such as naturally suggests itself to a hardy and magnanimous character. The prisoners had scarcely left the post for Savannah, under a guard of eight men, a sergeant and corporal, when they took leave of their host, and set forth also, though in a different direction from the guard.

Changing their course when secure from observation, they stretched across the country and followed the footsteps of the unhappy captives.

But it was only in the pursuit that they became truly conscious of the difficulty, nay, seeming impossibility, of effecting their object.

The guard was armed, and ten in number; they but two and weaponless.

Hopeless, they nevertheless followed on. Two miles from Savannah there is a famous spring, the waters of which are well known to travellers.

The conjecture that the guard might stop there, with the prisoners, for refreshment, suggested itself to our companions;here, opportunities might occur for the rescue, which had nowhere before presented themselves. Taking an obscure path with which they were familiar, which led them to the spot before the enemy could arrive, they placed themselves in ambush in the immediate neighborhood of the spring.

They had not long to wait. Their conjecture proved correct.

The guard was halted on the road opposite the spring.

The corporal with four men conducted the captives to the water, while the sergeant, with the remainder of his force, having made them ground their arms near the road, brought up the rear.

The prisoners threw themselves upon the earth -- the woman and her child, near its father. Little did any of them dream that deliverance was at hand.

The child fell asleep in the mother's lap. Two of the armed men kept guard, but we may suppose with little caution. What had they to apprehend, within sight of a walled town in the possession of their friends?

Two others approached the spring, in order to bring water to the prisoners.

Resting their muskets against a tree they proceeded to fill their canteens.

At this moment Jasper gave the signal to his comrade. In an instant the muskets were in their hands. In another, they had shot down the two soldiers upon duty; then clubbing their weapons, they rushed out upon the astonished enemy, and felling their first opponents each at a blow, they succeeded in obtaining possession of the loaded muskets.

This decided the conflict, which was over in a few minutes.

The surviving guard yielded themselves to mercy before the presented weapons.

Such an achievement could only be successful from its audacity and the operation of circumstances. The very proximity of Savannah increased the chances of success. But for this the guard would have taken better precautions. None were taken. The prompt valor, the bold decision, the cool calculation of the instant, were the essential elements which secured success. The work of our young heroes was not done imperfectly.

The prisoners were quickly released, the arms of the captured British put into their hands, and, hurrying away from the spot which they have crowned with a local celebrity not soon to be forgotten, they crossed the Savannah in safety with their friends and foes.

This is not the last achievement of the brave Jasper which we shall have occasion to record. The next, however, though not less distinguished by success, was unhappily written in his own blood.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 龙皇

    龙皇

    神魔世界。一代修真者穿越成为了龙族,偌大的一个世界被他搞得鸡飞狗跳,提起就让人牙痛。诙谐,搞笑而不失血性。一切尽在《龙皇》之中。
  • 云端雁南飞

    云端雁南飞

    乱世饮血,天下分合。为了权力,他一步步走向巅峰。为了复仇,她一步步走向深渊。他和她经过岁月的涤荡与洗磨,最终会走向哪个彼端?
  • 异世之打造兽人家园

    异世之打造兽人家园

    新书《她来自时空管理局》欢迎入坑!顾念做梦都想不到,自己二十六岁以后的人生,会是如此的波澜壮阔,惊心动魄。她更想不到,自己的另一半竟然不在地球!她穿越时间与空间的长河,就是为了和一只老虎相伴一生。
  • 巵林

    巵林

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 年少无悔的青春

    年少无悔的青春

    青春也许会带来满身伤痕,也许未来都是不可能,还会把我们变成最讨厌的那些大人,也许还会发展到你意想不到的境地。但是这个青春我不悔。因为,这个青春有你,足矣。
  • 京城内外

    京城内外

    福大爷有产业时,门上不缺清客相公。所以他会玩鸽子,能走马。洋玩意能捅台球,还会糊风筝。最上心的是唱京戏,拍昆曲。给涛贝勒配过戏,跟溥侗合作过“珠帘寨”。有名的琴师胡大头是他家常客。他不光给福大爷说戏、吊嗓,还有义务给他喊好。因为吊嗓时座上无人,不喊好透着冷清。常常是大头拉个过门,福大爷刚唱一句:“太保儿推杯换大斗”,他就赶紧放下弓子,拍一下巴掌喊:“好!”喊完赶紧再拾起弓子往下拉。碰巧福大爷头一天睡的不够,嗓子发干,听他喊完好也有起疑的时候……
  • 邪少专宠:糊涂影后别想逃

    邪少专宠:糊涂影后别想逃

    本书讲的就是任性,简介神马的就自己看书的内容吧!这本书说起来是我第一本写的现言,但是在此之前我还是尝试过写古言,但效果不佳。所以,希望大家多多支持,不过……我总觉得…
  • 婚礼进行曲

    婚礼进行曲

    隔着软皮挎包,她再次捏了捏里面那本薄薄的硬皮小本本,心里无端地生出一股子悲凉,为了这个硬邦邦的小薄本子,她这些年咽下了母亲多少唠叨,又硬着头皮承受了多少复杂的眼神!现在,它总算是规规矩矩服服帖帖地被她捏在手心里了,想怎么捏它就怎么捏,想怎么拍它就怎么拍,想把它放在哪里就放在哪里!肖涵这么发狠地想了一阵,长长地舒了口气,抬头看了看天,秋天的天空高阔得连梦都触不到。瓦蓝瓦蓝的底色上偶尔飘过两朵悠闲的白云,也不知被哪路神仙踩在脚下——越发显得自己渺小得如同蝼蚁。一种习惯性的卑微感使肖涵收回目光,低头去看自己的脚尖,五彩的花砖路从她的脚尖延伸出去,一直向前,看不到尽头。
  • 劳伦斯性爱作品经典

    劳伦斯性爱作品经典

    本书是译者黑马选取劳伦斯作品中以性爱为主题的一个结集,包括散文、中短篇小说和长篇小说的节选。性爱主题作品时劳伦斯作品中较为精彩也最有其个人特色的一部分,读者从这些选篇中基本可以了解劳伦斯的情爱观,对情爱、人性、男人与女人会有更深刻的理解。
  • 小鱼漂流历险记

    小鱼漂流历险记

    一条小鱼,生性好奇,住在山间小溪里。一天她顺着小溪游进河里,最终历尽艰辛顺着河水一路游到了大海。它在大海里看到、听到、遇到了什么?