The Rider of the Black Horse/Chapter 24
CHAPTER XXIV
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JACOB
"You'd better stop and see Hannah," said Joseph, laughing lightly as he spoke.
"Where is she?"
"You know where Dirck Rykman's house is?"
"Yes."
"Well, she and mother are staying now at the first house beyond Dirck's. Don't you tell her that I suggested it, but I really think she'd like to know if you 've got all the ashes out of your hair yet."
"I 'll try to do it," responded Robert eagerly. "Will you be there, too?"
"Can't tell. I'm likely to be anywhere or nowhere these days."
Robert was eager to question his friend more fully, but the importance of at once returning and securing his horse was too great to admit of any delay, and accordingly he turned away and was soon moving swiftly over the road by which he and the force, that had been planning to rescue the captive redcoats that were held by the Americans at Esopus, had come. How different everything now was! All danger, it was true, had not departed, but the threatened attack upon Esopus was frustrated, his own letter he had succeeded in retaining, and the chances of his being able to deliver it into the hands of General Clinton had greatly improved. Despite his feeling of weariness, Robert was almost light-hearted as he moved onward through the darkness. It was true that he was now without any means of defense, and his clothing did not permit of his making a very agreeable presentation of himself if he chanced to meet any one, but that meeting for the present was what he most of all desired to avoid.
Even the perplexing questions as to how it chanced that Hannah Nott and her mother should now be where Joseph had declared they were, and whether or not Dirck Rykman had been released by the patrols who had seized him under such suspicious circumstances, would soon be solved, he assured himself, if he could secure his horse again; and in the renewed interest which the conviction afforded he quickened the pace at which he was moving, and in certain parts of the road even found himself running in his eagerness.
At last he arrived at a spot from which he could see before him the ruins of Jacob Gunning's recent home. The smoke was still rising, and even the flames had not entirely died away; but as he approached a new fear arose in his mind that the landlord might already have departed from his ruined home and taken Nero with him.
The fear was speedily relieved, however, when he perceived a man moving about near the smouldering ruins of the barn, and in the dim light Robert recognized him as Jacob himself. Beginning to run, he called out, "Jacob, is that you?"
Apparently no heed was given to his hail, for the man did not even glance toward him. It was strange, Robert thought, but a second look confirmed his conviction that it was indeed Jacob who was wandering about the place, and, hastily approaching him, Robert said as he halted before him,—
"What are you doing, Jacob? Looking for something that was lost?"
The man lifted his head for a moment, gazed at Robert, and then without a word dropped it again and resumed his silent walk.
"Jacob! Jacob!" exclaimed Robert, "what's wrong? What are you doing?"
"Everything is wrong," replied Jacob, in a low voice as he stopped again.
"I know it, Jacob. It's terrible! Every one of the villains ought to hang for it. But you are not the only one to suffer, Jacob," he added, attempting to console him.
"What's that got to do with it?" demanded Jacob harshly.
"Not much, I know. Still, it is n't quite as if you were the only one to suffer, you know."
"I don't see it."
"Have you done anything with my horse?" inquired Robert.
"‘Horse?' 'Horse?' What should I be doing with horses at a time like this? Just look at that, will you?" demanded Jacob, his voice breaking as he spoke and a great sob escaping him. "Here I 've lived ever since I was married. Here I wanted to live all my days. But the sooner it's all ended now the better for me," he added disconsolately.
"The Notts had their house burned, and by the same rascals, too," suggested Robert.
"That does n't alter my case. I'm sorry for them, but just tell me what I'm to do, will you?" he demanded savagely.
"I don't know, Jacob, unless you do just what the others are doing."
What's that?"
"Going into the fight for our liberties. Every man of the Notts is in the army, and even Hannah and her mother are not giving up. At least, that's what Joseph told me."
"Give up? Who's been talkin' 'bout givin' up, I'd like to know. I have n't."
"No, you have n't. That's so, Jacob," said Robert soothingly.
"I have n't said a word 'bout givin' up," continued Jacob. "I 've been thinkin' an' thinkin' ever since th' men went away what I should do. You went away with 'em, did n't ye? How does it happen that ye 're back here?"
In response to the question, Robert recounted the events that had occurred near the fork in the road, but even his description of the confusion and flight of the band of redcoats apparently did not arouse any enthusiasm in the heart of the landlord. His dejection and despair were too great to be lightly shaken off, and as Robert looked at him his own heart went out in sympathy to the man whose home had been so wantonly destroyed.
"I 'll tell ye what I'm goin' t' do," said Jacob, in a low, intense voice. "I 've been thinkin' it all out ever since ye left. At first I thought I'd put straight for Fort Montgomery an' tell General Clinton I'd join the army an' fight as I 'll venture t' say mighty few o' his men 'll fight. I don't know whether t' call him General Clinton or Gov'nor Clinton now."
"Why not? What do you mean?"
"Why, General Clinton is the Governor now. Have n't ye heard 'bout it?"
"No, I have n't heard of it."
"Well! he is, whether ye heard of it or not."[1]
"I'm glad of it."
"So'm I. But that has n't anything t' do with my plans."
"No," assented Robert.
"What I'm goin' t' do is to try to run this rascal to his hole."
Who?"
"Claud Brown."
"How will you do it?"
"Do it? I don't know jest how I 'll do it, but I'm not concerned 'bout that. All I know is that 'twill be done, and done afore he's many days older, too. And I 'll be there," he added grimly. Then, his voice rising in the excitement that seemed to overpower him, he shouted, "I 'll chase him clear t' kingdom come, if I have to! I won't eat nor sleep till I get my hands on him! He's robbed the widows! He's turned traitor more times 'n he has hairs on his head! He's burnt up 'bout all th' houses that 'll stand burnin', I'm thinkin'. I 'll leave my family t' shift for themselves an' I 'll jest go at it day an' night till I bring Claud Brown to a place where he 'll quit his doin's for good an' all! He 'll find out that his game is n't all on one side, before I'm done with him!"
"When are you going to begin, Jacob?" inquired Robert.
"‘Begin?' I'm goin' t' begin now, right away! Good-by!" And before his startled companion was fully aware of what was occurring, Jacob Gunning had turned abruptly away, and disappeared as he ran swiftly out into the road in the direction from which Robert himself had just come.
Too surprised to protest, the young soldier stared at the spot where the landlord had disappeared, and his first thought was to follow the man, who seemed almost to have lost his wits; but in a moment he restrained the impulse, as he was aware that Jacob must go somewhere, for it was impossible for him to remain at his ruined home. Perhaps this departure was what he most needed. At least, it might serve to divert his thoughts in part from the horrible experiences through which he had recently been compelled to go.
Somewhat reassured by the thought, Robert turned hastily into the woods and began to search for his horse, nor was it long before he found him. A low whinny greeted his approach, and Robert could perceive that Nero was greatly excited, a condition which was not in the least surprising to his owner in view of the experiences of the night.
The animal was led from the woods; as soon as the highway had been gained Robert leaped upon his back, and in a moment horse and rider were speeding swiftly along the road into which the excited landlord himself had turned a brief time before. Although Robert kept a careful lookout for the man, nothing had been seen of him when the young express arrived at the fork in the road where the surprise and rout of the redcoats had occurred.
Even there no traces of the recent excitement were to be found, but in the very stillness there was something; almost ominous to the young rider. Almost unaware of what he was doing, he drew the rein more tightly on his horse, and found himself peering intently about him as he moved forward more slowly, fearful of discovering some one near. For a mile or more he cautiously proceeded on his way, but the tense silence of the night was not broken except by the sound of the footfalls of the horse he was riding. He soon turned into a road which he recognized as one over which he had before passed, and a feeling of increasing confidence returned to him. Perils were by no means gone, but the immediate fear of discovery by Claudius Brown or any of his gang had in a measure departed.
Steadily Robert continued on his way until in the light of the early morning he perceived the familiar little place of Dirck Rykman before him. He was eager to stop to make inquiries concerning his friend, and learn what had become of his little wife and child, but he could see no one about the house, and as he had convinced himself that it was necessary for him to stop at the house next beyond and at least permit his wearied horse to obtain some much-needed rest, he soon passed Dirck's lonely abode, and in a brief time could see the place where Joseph Nott had informed him that Hannah and her mother were staying.
It was by this time fully light, and the brightness of the early sun was flooding all things with its glory. Myriads of birds were to be heard in the woods and fields as he passed, and something of the peacefulness of the scene crept over Robert's heart. It was good, he thought, even for a brief time to be where the horrors of the sights he had recently seen no longer appeared; and, too, there was an added pleasure in the thought that he might soon see the resolute girl by whose quick wit and prompt action he had before escaped from Claudius Brown and his associates. As he drew near the house he discovered some one in the yard in front picking flowers from the bushes that bordered the walk from the house to the horse block by the side of the road. In a moment he perceived that it was Hannah herself, and he called to her as he leaped from the back of his horse and stopped near the horse block.
"Joe told me you might stop here," she said, as she advanced to greet him.
"Joe? Has Joe been here? Is he here now?"
"I should think you would ask after my mother first," she said archly.
"I beg your pardon. Is your mother here? And is she well?"
"She is quite well, kind sir, and, if you desire, I will at once take you to her. Joseph said you might stop to pay your respects to her."
"I shall, I will, I am,"—began Robert in some confusion. Somehow this girl always seemed to deprive him of the ability to say just what he intended.
"I am, thou art, he is," laughed Hannah.
"You did not tell me if Joseph was here."
"He was, but he is not now. He's gone back to the fort."
"Will you give me some breakfast?"
"That I will. You must be hungry and tired after such a night," said Hannah kindly. Then for a moment she stopped, and, looking at Robert, began to laugh.
In some confusion the young express said tartly, "You seem to find me very funny. I don't know that I care to"—
"Oh, Robert!" she said quickly, "if you could only see yourself! Where did you get those clothes?"
Robert, in the excitement of the night, had almost forgotten the condition of his own clothing, and as he glanced down at himself the first feeling of confusion speedily passed, and he, too, laughed at his own woe-begone appearance.
"You poor boy!" said Hannah gently, her eyes filling as she spoke. "You must have had a terrible time somewhere. Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm hungry," laughed Robert, his good humor instantly restored.
"Of course you are. Come right into the house— No, take your horse out to the barn and feed him, and then come in. By the time you are ready we 'll have something warm for you to eat."
As she turned and ran into the house, Robert obeyed her suggestion, and taking his horse by the bridle started toward the barn. But he was startled by the sight that greeted him as he entered, and he did not return to the house until Hannah herself came to summon him.
- ↑ In 1777, under the new constitution of the State of New York, General George Clinton was elected Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of the newly formed commonwealth. In the former office he continued eighteen years. In 1801 he was again elected Governor of New York, and three years afterward was elected Vice-President of the United States, an office which he was holding at the time of his death in 1812. His chief competitor in his first election was General Philip Schuyler.