United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Fiction; War stories
An old woman, and a girl with her, were peeping through the dirty panes
of a poor, narrow house close by; and now, seeing that there was such a
pretty gentleman in distress, and that the citizen, whom they knew and
treasured a grudge against, had been frightened away, they came out to
drag him into shelter. Just as they stepped forth together on the
street, however, a squad of soldiers, coming up at double-quick,
captured this easy prisoner, whose heart was beating yet. One of them
put the hanging watch into his own pocket, unseen,—oddly enough, it came
easily into his hand; and after some consideration of so grave a matter
of military necessity, two of them lifted Wallingford, and finding him
both long and heavy called a third to help, and turned back to carry him
to the guard-house. By the time they reached the door a good quarter
part of the townsfolk seemed to be following in procession, with angry
shouts, and tearful voices of women begging to know if their husbands or
lovers had been seen in danger; and there were loud threats, too, meant
for the shaming of the silent figure carried by stout yeomen of the
guard.
After some hours Wallingford waked, wretched with the smart of his
wounds, and dazed by the first sight of his strange lodging in the town
jail. There were no friends to succor him; he had not even the resource
of being mistaken for a Tory and a friend of the Crown. There were at
least three strutting heroes showing themselves in different quarters of
the town, that evening, who claimed the honor of giving such a dangerous
pirate his deathblow.
Some days passed before the officer in charge of this frightened seaport
(stricken with sincere dismay, and apprehensive of still greater
disaster from such stealthy neighbors on the sea) could receive the
answer to his report sent to headquarters. Wallingford felt more and
more the despair of his situation. The orders came at last that, as
soon as he could be moved, he should be sent to join his fellow rebels
in the old Mill Prison at Plymouth. The Whitehaven citizens should not
risk or invite any attempt at his rescue by his stay. But, far from
regretting his presence, there were even those who lamented his
departure; who would have willingly bought new ribbons to their bonnets
to go and see such a rogue hanged, wounded shoulder and all, on a
convenient hill and proper gallows outside the town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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