Part 17 (1/2)
As Thomas Ashley had said, all New Jersey was roused to action.
Hara.s.sed and harried as no other state had been, with the exception of South Carolina, at this time it seemed on the verge of extinction, and its condition was in truth deplorable. In the earlier years of the war it had been swept like a plague by the horde of hireling Hessians and the British army. In addition, the main army of the patriots had wintered for several years among its mountains, and drawn upon it for supplies until the state was all but beggared. But if liberty live the army must eat; so the farmers plowed, and sowed, and reaped, even though many dropped in the fields from the crack of an ambushed rifle.
As though suffering from the depredations of the pine robbers were not enough, there was added to the state's afflictions the incursions of the freebooters of the sea, and, far more bitter to bear--for civil war is ever without mercy and compa.s.sion--were the heinous outrages of the Tories. It was no wonder, with foes without and foes within, that the temper of the people had risen to fever heat, and that they were making determined efforts to rid themselves of their enemies.
The meeting was ended finally, and with saddened mien the family reentered the sleigh. Farmer Ashley's face wore a grave expression, while Fairfax's countenance betokened a set determination. He turned toward his mother abruptly.
”Mother,” he said, ”these girls must go home. New Jersey is no place for them.”
”You never spoke a truer word, nevvy,” chimed in his uncle. ”They must go home; the sooner they start, the better 'twill be. So long as the snow lasts, the riding will be easy. Now, if you are willing to risk another encounter with the robbers, we will start with them Tuesday.”
”But would not Friend Nurse and thy wife be left unprotected while ye were away?” questioned Peggy in troubled accents.
”Now, Peggy, don't wherrit over that,” spoke Nurse Johnson. ”The first thing to attend to is getting you girls home. I should never have another minute's peace if anything befell you. I ought never to have brought you into such danger, but I knew not that things were as they are here. Mary and I can take care of ourselves.”
”It won't do, Hannah,” said Thomas Ashley decidedly. ”The girls must go of a truth, but you and Mary must have protection, too. Capable ye both are, but 'twould not do to leave ye alone. The journey to Philadelphia would take all of six days, there and back. That would mean fast going at that. Should there come a thaw there's no telling when we'd get home.”
”Friend,” broke in Peggy eagerly, ”if thee could get us to Trenton there would be no need for thee to go on to Philadelphia. Both Sally and I have friends there who would see that we reached home safely.
Beside, the stage runs thrice a week from that point to our city, and should other means fail, we could take that.”
”Come! that's well thought of,” he cried quickly. ”'Twould be but a day's travel to Trenton, if the snow holds. Mary and Hannah could bide in Freehold until our return; so we'll call the matter settled. Nevvy, we will start Tuesday.”
”Then on Tuesday ye will both be gone,” said Fairfax with such a sigh of relief that Sally, despite the gravity of the situation, could not forbear a little laugh.
”Oh, Peggy!” she cried, ”why weren't we named Betty? Had we been Captain Johnson would not wish us gone as soon as we arrived.”
”'Tis not as you think, Mistress Sally,” he protested earnestly.
”Indeed, in truth ”--he faltered, then continued manfully--”did I regard your friend as your words imply I would not consent to wait until Tuesday to take her back.”
A puzzled look spread over Sally's face.
”Doth he mean that he is indeed fond of Betty?” she whispered to Peggy under cover of Thomas Ashley's laughter which followed the youth's response.
”I fear to say,” was Peggy's amused reply.
And so, in spite of the fact that ravage and pillage had come very near to them in the night, they returned to the farm in much better spirits than would have been deemed possible when they left the meeting-house.
CHAPTER XIII
A WOMAN'S WIT
”Man is not born alone to act, or be The sole a.s.serter of man's liberty; But so G.o.d shares the gifts of head and heart, And crowns blest woman with a hero's part.”
--_Author Unknown._
”Surely thee is not unpacking, Peggy?” questioned Sally as she entered their little room for the night. Peggy had preceded her by a few moments, and was now bending over her portmanteau. ”It hardly seems worth while when we return so soon.”
”I am just getting my diary, Sally,” answered Peggy, drawing forth the book after several attempts to locate it. ”Methought the time was propitious to make an entry. And of a verity that encounter with those robbers ought to make exciting reading for the Social Select Circle.”
”'Twas a wondrous adventure,” cried Sally with a s.h.i.+ver of pure enjoyment. ”Since none of us received injury 'tis delightsome to have so stirring a thing to record for the girls. And oh, Peggy! is it not charming that I am with thee?”