Dorothy's Spy/Chapter 9
CHAPTER IX
LIEUTENANT OAKMAN
When Master Lamb's prayer had been brought to a close, the inmates of the house, including the children, went to the lower floor expecting, and with good cause, that within a very few moments the conflagration would be increased by the destruction of the buildings in Hanover square.
They halted in the main hall, near the door leading to the street, because from that point some idea might be had as to what was going on outside, and were not kept long in suspense.
Exclamations of anger, oaths, and a loud hum, as of many people speaking at the same time, could already be heard, and Master Lamb said as he took up his station at the door:
"I hope, Jacob Dean, that you will allow me to speak to our enemies as if I was master here, and indeed, except as to the value of the goods which will be destroyed, my interest is as great as yours."
As he spoke Master Lamb looked at Sarah and her mother, showing that there, instead of stored in attic or cellar, was his real treasure.
"You will do well to take charge, Anthony Lamb," the silversmith replied in a low tone. "It is well known that your judgment is better than mine, although, argue as you may with those wolves outside, I question if anything of benefit to ourselves will be effected. They have come to destroy all save our lives, and soft words will not turn them from such a purpose."
This arrangement had hardly more than been made when there came a vigorous pounding on the door, and a voice familiar to the two merchants cried peremptorily:
"Open here, and be quick about it, for we cannot remain at this job overly long!"
"Is it Master Newcomb who speaks?" Master Lamb asked, without making any effort to open the door.
"Ay, Anthony Lamb, it is Newcomb the Tory, as you would have spoken of me a month ago—Newcomb the traitor to his country, who has come to square accounts with you and the owner of this dwelling."
"How mean you? Is there an open account between us?"
"Indeed there is, and one wherein you show to be a heavy debtor. I have come to demand payment for all the harsh words, the insults and the contemptuous looks given by you since the rag-tag and bobtail of an army under the Virginia farmer came into the city."
"Let us understand one another, Master Newcomb, as men should who make ready to cry quits. What is the amount due from Master Dean and myself, according to your reckoning?"
"Everything you own in the city of New York, and I would have your lives as well, were it not that you will suffer more by living as paupers, for such you shall be before to-morrow's sun rises! My lord Howe believes in reprisals, therefore we may work our pleasure on such scum as you."
"Then you have charged against our families that which you claimed was due only from us, since they must be the greatest sufferers if you reduce us to beggary."
"And it is well they should, for then will you and the rascally silversmith be struck in the tenderest parts. Open, unless it is your wish that we batter down the door!"
"Do not parley with the ruffian, since it can effect nothing," Master Dean cried. "They have come intent on working the greatest possible amount of mischief, and we can neither say nor do anything to change their purpose."
"Will you open?" Master Newcomb cried angrily.
"Since it is your intention to destroy this property, as you have doubtless begun the destruction of that which is now in flames, it cannot serve us to give you ready entrance, therefore come in by force, as do thieves and murderers."
"Look about for something with which to force the door!" the Tory cried to his followers, and it was not necessary they should search very long, for the beam which had been brought into use when the Whigs were in search of a spy, lay conveniently near at hand.
"Here is that which will serve," a voice from amid the vengeful throng cried, and Master Newcomb shouted:
"Lay hold and swing it against the door. Two blows should be enough, and then the Whig silversmith, who has made his money from profits paid by those whom he calls Tories, shall know what it means to be smoked out—he and his brood!"
"It will be well for us to stand near the kitchen door, and go out as they come in," Master Lamb said hoarsely. "It is not possible we can effect anything by words, and it would be folly to allow the women and children to remain while the work of destruction is going on. Save such things of value as can be readily carried, and I will hold them back from the rear of the house until you have safely escaped."
Master Dean shook his head moodily; the knowledge that he was about to be rendered penniless seemed to have paralyzed him.
"It is as well that all should go together, for we will be plundered before arriving at a place of safety. Safety? Is there such a place for us?" and the silversmith leaned his head against the stair rail as if his strength had suddenly deserted him.
A loud shouting from the street, followed almost immediately by a heavy blow upon the oaken door, causing the very building to tremble, aroused Master Dean somewhat, and when his wife and Dorothy, flinging their arms around him, urged that he at least make one effort toward escape, the unhappy man slowly followed them in the direction of the kitchen, where stood Scipio with a bundle of clothing in his arms.
There seemed to be no doubt but that the blow upon the door would be repeated immediately, and even as Mistress Lamb and Sarah urged Anthony to have care for himself by going with them, a second triumphant shout was heard.
"The door will give way this time," Master Lamb said hoarsely, as he involuntarily stepped back a few paces, and at that very moment when there appeared to be no hope, a ringing voice was heard in the distance:
"Hold hard there, you scoundrels, or I shall open fire!"
Jacob Dean heard the words as he was passing through the living room, and he ran swiftly back to where Master Lamb stood, crying nervously:
"Who is coming? Who is coming?"
"I know not," Anthony Lamb replied; "but it must be a friend whom God has raised up, for I believed of a verity there were none remaining in the city who would dare to lift a voice in our behalf."
"The soldiers! The soldiers!" the merchants heard several of those on the outside cry as if in alarm, and St. John Newcomb answered them by saying confidently:
"Hold your hands for a moment, and let them come. My lord Howe will permit no interference with our sport, when it is known whom we have here at bay."
Then the voice which had brought the Tories to a stand-still in their cruel work, asked sharply, and sounding now nearer at hand:
"What is the meaning of this? Who has given you permission to break into the houses of honest citizens? Who is the leader of this mob?"
"I, St. John Newcomb, may it please you; but I object to the term 'mob,' for we be honest Tories, who are smoking out the most arrant Whig in this colony—one who has ill-treated us time and time again when Washington's army of beggars held possession of the city."
"Ay, an' it please you. Now is the time when such as Jacob Dean and Anthony Lamb are given into our hands, even as God gave the Midianites to the mercy of the children of Israel, and who shall prevent us from wreaking our vengeance upon them?"
"You will speedily learn, Master Ranter, that the king's officers do not permit anything of the kind. Withdraw, you and your following, or my men shall open fire, which, mayhap, will give you another cause to cry for vengeance!"
"But, good sir," Master Newcomb cried in a whining tone, and before he could say more the new-comer shouted impatiently:
"You are allowed thirty seconds in which to get out of this square, and I will not listen to your idle words. And hark ye, Master St. John Newcomb, if it was you or any of your following who started the conflagration, I advise that you leave this town without delay, for my lord Howe will make short work of those who have thus destroyed one of his cities." Then to the soldiers the command was given, "Make ready! Aim!"
The shuffling of many feet told that the precious gang of Tories were making all speed to escape from the danger which menaced, and the silversmith cried as he seized Master Lamb by the hands:
"We should give thanks, friend Anthony, for of a verity have we been snatched out of the burning. God moves in many mysterious ways, and surely none are more wonderful than that our enemies concern themselves with the safety of two ardent Whigs."
"It is marvelous!" Master Lamb said with a long-drawn sigh of relief. "It must be that the officer who has arrived so opportunely believes that friends of the king live here."
"Then surely he had time to learn his mistake, for the Tory Newcomb called us loudly by name."
"I do not understand it," Sarah's father said half to himself; but he was soon to be enlightened, for at that instant was heard a knocking at the door, and when the silversmith cried out to know who was there, the voice replied:
"I would have speech with my young mistresses, Dorothy Dean and Sarah Lamb, if it so be they are within."
"It is our poor, dear spy!" Dorothy cried loudly as she clasped Sarah by the neck and whirled dizzily around the hall in the excess of her joy.
"Ay, little maid," the voice from without replied. "Your spy who would say to you that which was left unsaid on a certain night not so long ago."
By this time Master Dean opened the door, and a tall soldier stepped inside the hall as he raised his hat and said courteously:
"At your service, ladies and gentlemen. I am Lieutenant Fitzroy Oakman of his majesty's Forty-fourth foot, an' it please you. By a fortunate chance I heard that rabble which has just left the square, proposing to burn this dwelling, therefore I came to take a hand in the game, as is my right, since two of my friends reside here if I am not mistaken," and before the master of the house could make reply, Dorothy and Sarah were by the officer's side.
The time when the silversmith would have been angry at seeing his child in converse with a Britisher, had gone by, and he made no protest when the soldier, embracing both the children, kissed them fervently, saying as he did so:
"These are from my own babies whose father's life you saved, and if your parents be not averse, they shall send you many messages of the same kind, for by this time they must know and love the little maids who played so kindly gallant a part toward a sorely distressed enemy."
"Will you be pleased to enter, sir?" Master Dean said as the officer released the children. "If these babies of ours saved your life, you have saved us and them from poverty, which is sometimes worse than death. I had never thought to be at peace with one of our foes; but now I am your debtor so long as I remain in this world."
Then the silversmith, ardent Son of Liberty, though he was, offered his hand in greeting to the visitor who had arrived so opportunely, and Master Lamb did the same as he added:
"Although our children acted under a delusion when you were set free from the chest, I rejoice heartily that so gallant a gentleman and such a good friend did not suffer the death of a spy."
"I should have suffered only for the intention, if your good friends had put a noose around my neck, for verily I had learned nothing which could harm you or aid General Howe, when the hue and cry was raised against me," Lieutenant Oakman said with a laugh, and then he straightened himself up to be presented to the ladies.
After the ceremony of an introduction, the rescued party and their deliverer seated themselves in the best room, much like old friends, and Dorothy and Sarah stood close on either side the guest.
Lieutenant Oakman had already explained how it chanced that he arrived at the very moment when he was most needed; but he professed to be curious as to the merchants' plans for the future, whereupon Anthony Lamb explained all that had been done by them, adding, that if they could be allowed to keep their shops open it would be possible to earn a livelihood.
"That you shall do, my friends, and I promise you the patronage of all whom I know in the army. General Howe already understands what a service these young maids rendered, and will gladly do what he may to your advantage, so that it give you no discredit with your own political party."
"Could we accept favors from the man who has come to crush us?" Master Dean asked bitterly; but Master Lamb made no reply, although he looked wondrous pleased, for if the British commander-in-chief was disposed, both he and his brother merchant might count on prosperity, instead of being paupers, as would have been the case had Dorothy's spy arrived half an hour later.
"Nay, you are receiving no favors from Lord Howe, my dear sir; it is these dear little maids of mine who are favored, and however much may be done for them, I am not relieved from debt. Orders shall be given as soon as this terrible conflagration be checked, if it does not destroy the entire city, that you two are to be protected by our troops, therefore you need have no fear in replacing your valuables in the shops where they may be displayed. Greatly as it would pleasure me to remain in this goodly company, I am needed elsewhere, for soldiers are being stationed at various points to protect the property of the citizens; but before going I crave a boon of you."
"Since all we now have is due to you, sir, it can readily be understood that your wish is the same as a command."
"But I would rather it were put differently, Master Dean. I do not care to accept favors which are granted under compulsion, as it were."
"May we know what it is you desire, sir?"
Master Lamb asked, fearing lest something might be said to arouse his friend's anger.
"I crave permission to visit these little maids whenever it may be to their mothers' convenience. Next to my own, I must love these young mistresses more than all else, and while in their company I shall feel less keenly the homesickness which comes upon me when I allow myself to realize that I may never see my children again."
"You will pleasure us by coming at your own time and so often as inclination leads you, sir," Mistress Dean said heartily as she took the lieutenant's hand, and at that moment the noise of hurrying feet, as people came into the square with such goods as had been saved from their burning homes, aroused the officer of the Fourty-fourth foot to a sense of duty.
Hurriedly, but with the understanding that he would come again very soon, Dorothy's spy took his departure, and the two Sons of Liberty who had been so happily relieved from danger, gave thanks to the Lord God that He had preserved them, through their children, at a moment when so many in the goodly city of New York were meeting death, or being rendered homeless.
THE END