The Young Continentals at Monmouth

“Do you know what to-morrow will be, Ben Cooper?”

The speaker was a dwarfish looking lad whose big head and upstanding crest of hair gave him a most curious appearance.

“To-morrow,” replied the second boy, promptly, “will be New Year’s day.”

The dwarf shifted his leather belt so that his huge service pistol might hang more comfortably; and his voice, when he spoke again, contained a note of complaint.

“It will be that, to be sure; but it will also be just one week since Washington crossed the Delaware and beat the Hessians.”

The eyes of the other boy sparkled.

“Ah, that was the night,” he cried. “There, indeed, was sport, excitement and glory.”

The dwarf shook his large head.

“For you and for Nat and the others,” protested he. “But not for me. While you were all having your fill of fighting, I was away in Philadelphia, riding here and there, at the beck and call of a parcel of excited committeemen.”

Ben Cooper’s good-natured face was all a-wrinkle with smiles.

“Don’t worry, Porcupine,” he said. “The war is not over as yet, by a good deal. They say Cornwallis is on his way across the Jerseys, and as he’s the best fighter the British have, we may expect plenty of warm work still.”

It was late in the afternoon; the pale wintry sun was dipping slowly toward the cluster of peaked roofs which marked the location of Philadelphia; the snow-packed road with its topping of ice went stretching ahead like a gleaming serpent.

“We will reach there before sundown,” said Ben, his eye upon the housetops as though marking the sun’s position. “And I trust that we find Mr. Morris at home, for I fancy that the general’s dispatches are somewhat urgent.”

“The general’s dispatches to Mr. Robert Morris are always urgent,” said the Porcupine. “I have carried more than one of them, and I know. And I have carried them for other officers and gentlemen in and out of the army.”

“Merchant Morris seems a most important person,” smiled Ben.

The Porcupine brushed his crest of hair more stiffly erect than ever.

“Is it any wonder that he is?” said he. “I don’t know much about the ways of people of quality, but I do know that without Master Morris there would be little money with which to feed and pay the troops.”

“He is very rich, I hear.”

“I have heard so too. And then, again, I have heard that he has not much more than enough.”

Ben nodded.

“But,” said he, “he has the power to raise funds. He seems to know by instinct the way to hidden hordes. And somehow, he knows the magic word which causes the hoarders to unlock the treasure chests. Congress, I think, has much to thank Merchant Morris for.”

Ben touched his horse with the spur, and it responded instantly. It was a clean built animal whose small head and slim, powerful legs indicated Arab blood. The Porcupine’s mount was a tall, raw-boned beast, sway-backed and with a wicked eye; but it evidently had bottom, for with a long, awkward stride it easily kept him at the side of his friend.

As they entered the suburbs, the drifted road gave way to the clearer streets; and when they entered the city proper, they found Second Street bare of snow, but with stones ice-coated and glistening.

“Front Street will not be so bad,” spoke Ben; “there is never so much traffic there, and the snow will still be untrodden.”

They turned Sassafras Street and into Front; and when nearing Arch they caught the gleam of arms and uniforms, and saw the townspeople scurrying along as though attracted by something unusual. When they reached the market-place at the foot of High Street, the two boys saw the reason for this. Along Front Street was drawn a force of Continental troops, and under their watchful eyes was a rabble of unshaven, tattered, dispirited looking men to the number of several thousands.

“Hello,” spoke the Porcupine, surprisedly, as he looked over the heads of the crowd from the back of his tall steed; “and who are these?”

“Our friends, the Hessians, captured at Trenton,” replied Ben Cooper. “I heard that the greater part of them were being sent westward to Lancaster or York for safe keeping. And they seem to have just reached Philadelphia.”

The ragged wretches stood in long lines, gazing stupidly at their captors and at the curious throngs. And that these could be the mercenaries who had spread terror through the Jerseys seemed impossible.

A perky looking little man, standing upon tiptoe to get a glimpse of the captives, exclaimed in a high-pitched, astonished voice:

“And are these really the hirelings of whom we have heard so much! Why, they look like common vagabonds.”

A plethoric gentleman in a huge waistcoat and steel buckles seemed to grow even more expansive with indignation.

“The idea,” he panted. “The bare idea of such vermin spreading fear through an entire state. And the idea of our statesmen and our generals and our soldiers permitting it.”

The perky man nodded and settled back upon his heels.

“What you say, sir, is proper and correct,” agreed he. “I am quite amazed that such a condition of affairs has been permitted to continue for so long.”

“A lot of scurvy ruffians,” stated the plethoric gentleman, wrathfully. “A gathering of mean, low fellows without a shred of ambition, or the slightest appearance of manly bearing. You do well, sir,” to the perky gentleman, “to be amazed. No such thing would have been permitted in any other nation under the sun.”

Ben glanced at the Porcupine, and his good-humoured eyes were filled with laughter.

“It is easy to see,” said he, “that neither of our friends here has been where the Hessians ranged with their muskets in their hands. These,” and he nodded toward the wretched array of foreigners, “do present an uncommonly ill-favored appearance; but properly uniformed, officered and armed, they were as formidable troops as were in all of Howe’s army.”

Close at the elbow of the plethoric gentleman stood a tall man with prominent features and great square shoulders. He was richly dressed and carried himself with the air of a person of consequence.

“Sir,” said he to the stout man, “what you have just said I agree with as heartily as our friend here,” bowing to the perky man. “It is a shame and a scandal that our army should have allowed these wretched Dutchmen to hold them so long in check. To be sure,” and he gestured with one hand in a scornful fashion, “they have been beaten and taken. But it should have happened long ago. It should have been done promptly and out of hand. It would seem to me,” confidentially, “that our military leaders are not all that they should be.”

“Sir,” said the other, “you have expressed my sentiments precisely. I could not have spoken them in more fitting terms. Our officers are not what they should be. They are far from it, as they have proven a dozen times, since the fighting began at New York.”

“Congress is at fault,” spoke the perky man. “They should see to it that we are provided with competent gentlemen to conduct our military enterprises.”

The plethoric gentleman seemed to agree with this statement unqualifiedly. But the tall man shook his head.

“Congress,” said he, “is a much harassed body. It has a great deal to do, and no great amount of experience to guide it. But for the greater part it does very well indeed. There are gentlemen belonging to it,” with a lowered tone, and a series of knowing nods, “who would readily replace a certain person if they could.”

The plethoric one contented himself with puffing his cheeks and assuming a look of much sagacity. It was the perky man who spoke.

“I have heard,” said he, his head at one side, like that of an inquisitive bird, “that Washington is not greatly in favor with some of the members of Congress. Of course,” and the inquisitive cock of the head grew more pronounced, “it is he you mean.”

But the tall man closed his lips tightly, and shook his head after the manner of one who disliked committing himself. It was the stout man who spoke.

“The naming of names,” said he, with heavy wisdom, “is sometimes to be avoided; and this is one of the times. Gentlemen can carry on an intelligent conversation without placing themselves on record in matters of delicacy; and in this way important matters can be kept from becoming things of common gossip.”

Properly rebuked, the perky man gave his attention once more to the captive mercenaries, while the speaker continued, addressing the tall man, in a guarded tone:

“It is a matter of wonderment with me how people can have so little consideration as to discuss private matters of state in the hearing of every Tom, Dick and Harry. It is an almost criminal propensity, believe me, sir; and I always discountenance it when I have the opportunity.”

The other nodded, with gravity.

“It is a common failing,” said he, “and I have little doubt but what it has occasioned more trouble in the public’s affairs than any of us have any knowledge of. And I am glad indeed to meet with a gentleman who is so careful of the general weal; it is a rare occasion, sir; more’s the pity.”

The large man took out a silver snuff-box, his great face growing more mottled than originally; offering the box to the other, he said in a tone of much gratification:

“Sir, I should be exceedingly pleased with your acquaintance.”

The tall man took a pinch of the proffered snuff; and as he dusted the remaining grains from his finger-tips, he made reply:

“Sir, you are very good. My name is Hawkins—Tobias Hawkins—and I am lately arrived from Savannah, in Georgia, where I have some shipping enterprises.”

“I thank you,” said the plethoric man, with ponderous politeness. He took a companionable pinch, restored the box to one of the huge pockets of his waistcoat, and went on: “I am Samuel Livingstone, merchant and trader in West India goods. And it gives me much pleasure, Master Hawkins, to know you.”

The two had fallen into a most earnest conversation upon the condition of trade and public affairs when a drum began to tap, and the long lines of American troops and bedraggled Germans fell into column; then at the word of command they went marching away southward.

As the crowd dispersed, Ben Cooper did not immediately turn his horse’s head up High Street, as the Porcupine evidently expected him to do; instead, he sat motionless in his saddle watching the retreating forms of Messrs. Samuel Livingstone and Tobias Hawkins. When he did finally give his rein a shake as a signal to his mount, the curious, speculative expression upon his face did not lessen. And as he turned into Second Street once more, he said:

“Do you know, that was a rather queer thing.”

The Porcupine had noticed his manner, but had made no comment; now, however, he asked:

“What do you mean?”

“Why, the conduct of Mr. Tobias Hawkins, as he called himself. Did you notice him?”

The dwarf nodded.

“And rather a wide-awake sort, I thought him,” said he. “But I did not see anything queer in him. Very even, and much like a gentleman.”

But Ben shook his head.

“I don’t mean in that respect. He appeared to be all you say, but at the same time there was a something——” he paused as though uncertain for a moment, then went on with thoughtful face. “To all appearance his meeting with Merchant Livingstone was pure accident.”

The Porcupine opened his eyes wide.

“What?” demanded he. “And was it not so?”

“I think not,” replied Ben. “Rather, I am inclined to believe that it was a cunningly devised plan. I scarcely know what makes me think so, but Hawkins purposed making acquaintance of Mr. Livingstone before he spoke to him; and so expertly did he contrive matters that he’s made it appear that it was Mr. Livingstone who sought him.”

“Why, it may be so,” said the dwarf. “These traders have very curious ways, I’ve heard. But, in any event, it makes no difference. We are not at all interested in their doings.”

“I don’t know,” said young Cooper, gravely. “If the matter which Mr. Hawkins has in mind is commercial, of course we are not; but,” and he turned his head as though to get a fresh sight of the gentlemen in question, “if it is something else, perhaps it may turn out that we are.”