United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
"We will make them pay for this day's work, Saul Ogden, and while we are
casting up the reckoning with those who wear red coats, there is one not
far away who must also be held accountable for that which has just been
done!"
"Meaning Horry Sims!" Saul cried, actually trembling in his impotent
rage.
"Meaning that worse than Tory, for it was with no idea of serving the
king, or aiding the king's cause, that the miserable scoundrel pointed
out to those horse thieves where your mare and my colt might be found!"
"He shall have cause to regret that he saw this day's sun rise," Saul
said in a low tone, his voice aquiver with anger, and then, the horsemen
having passed, he stepped out into the road, turning his face toward
York Town.
"Where would you go?" Pierre cried excitedly, following the lad to seize
him by the skirt of his coat. "Would you venture into the British
encampment at a time when your heart is so filled with anger that it is
not possible you could hold it in check?"
"Ay, that is exactly where I count on going. You need have no fear,
Pierre Laurens, that I shall do aught which may deprive me of my
liberty, for I will hold myself in the presence of those who wear red
coats as gentle as any dame in silken skirts, until I have got back my
mare, or shot her with my own hand to spare the poor creature the abuse
that would come from such handling! If, however, in the meanwhile I
should come across Horry Sims where were none of his kidney who could
fall upon me with too great force, then is it certain you would see
whether a Minute Boy, and of late I'm beginning to be proud of that
title--you would see whether a Virginian, a member of a company of
Minute Boys, even though they number only three, could do anything
toward paying off his just and lawful debts."
To have argued with Saul at that time would have been worse than
useless, as I knew full well, for when the cloud of anger was upon him
he would not listen to prayers or to arguments, and in good truth I was
more than willing he should go his way, counting to make it my own, for
at that time I believe it would have been actually impossible for me to
have turned my back on poor little Silver Heels, even though by going
into the British encampment at York Town I could do her no good.
Pierre soon realized that he could not hope to turn Saul from the path
he had set out on, and he showed himself the dear little comrade I have
ever since known him to be, by ranging alongside first of Saul and then
of me as we went in single file, knowing full well that we might
encounter great danger, and yet holding himself ready to bear full share
of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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