The Boy Spies with the Regulators

"Give her a chance to talk with your father," Sidney said laughingly. "It appears to me as if the visitors were in some mischief down this way, and I cannot find any of the Regulators who are willing to look into the matter."

"If it was of consequence there would be no lack of men to attend to it," I said petulantly, and then I became interested immediately as I saw a throng of an hundred or more, who appeared to be deeply intent upon something in their midst.

"Most likely they are having some kind of a game," Sidney said when I came alongside; "but just before you showed yourself I fancied I heard cries for help, and it seems as if we should know the reason for the gathering. Unless we of the association have our eyes about us this day there will be rough play which may develop into a fight, as I heard General Hamilton say."

By this time we were among those of the throng who were in the outer ring, and I heard such cries as: "Drown the scoundrel!" "Be sure he don't get away till we from Chatham have put our mark on him!" "He's needed a lesson this many a day, and now is the time to give it to him!"

The crowd was so dense as each member of it pressed toward the center, that Sidney and I were forced to literally fight our way forward, and no less than ten minutes were spent in such task, during which time we plainly heard cries for help in a voice which sounded strangely familiar to me.

Then, finally, we were in the very midst of the gathering, and had before us what promised to be a tragedy which might bring shame and reproach upon us all, unless it was speedily checked.

As many men as could seize upon him, held in their grasp Sandy Wells, whose legs and arms were tied securely, and whose clothing had been torn to tatters by the rough usage he had received.

His captors were industriously engaged in kicking him when we gained a place by his side, and at every blow they called aloud the name of some citizen of the Carolinas who had been ill-treated at his hands.

"We're going to square accounts for all our neighbors, and then dump you in the river," one of the men cried vindictively, and I could see a huge rock, around which was a rope, lying near at hand to fasten on his body when the tormentors were ready to put an end to their victim.

Now it cannot be supposed that either Sidney or I had any affection for the sheriff's officer; but yet we could not stand idly by while he was being murdered.

In addition to such pity as common humanity dictated, it suddenly occurred to me that if the mob killed an officer of the law the Regulation would be accused by Governor Tryon of having committed the deed, and then would be good reason why the entire upper portion of the colony should be put under strict martial rule. If this murder was done the Sons of Liberty would be branded as assassins, and with some reason, therefore I whispered to Sidney, although without the slightest idea as to how we two might prevent the enraged men from working their will:

"We must put an end to this, and that right quickly, else will the man be killed before our eyes."

There was in his mind the same thought as had come into mine, and he turned to look me full in the face as he said, almost shouting in order that I might hear the words above the uproar:

"It may cost us our lives to interfere! I do not recognize any of these men, and they will refuse to listen."

At this moment Sandy Wells caught sight of us, and, stretching out his bound hands, cried imploringly:

"Save me, lads! For God's sake don't allow me to be murdered!"

"That we won't!" I cried, suddenly forgetting that I was running my nose into very serious danger until we could make that maddened desperate mob understand who we were, which last would require some time while the tumult was so great.

Forcing myself with a rush between two of those who had a hold upon Sandy, I seized the prisoner by the arm as I cried with the full force of my lungs:

"You are ruining the cause of freedom when you lay violent hands upon this man! Have a care, or there'll be mischief done to more than him!"

I had hardly finished speaking before half a dozen rushed forward, one seizing me by the throat, despite all Sidney's efforts to hold him back, and crying:

"Here's another of Tryon's friends! we'll drop him into the stream to bear the tax-collector company!"

I tried in vain to speak; but the fellow had my throat as if in a vise, and it was impossible to so much as whisper.

As the mob pressed yet further I was forced downward until I lay across Sandy's body, and Sidney strove valiantly to make himself heard as he cried:

"He whom you have there is Clare Butler, one of the Regulators! I am Sidney Hubbard, also a member of the association! Do you hear? We are of the Regulation, and are trying to prevent you from bringing yet greater wrongs upon the colony!"

Before it was possible for Sidney to utter many words the men had bound me hand and foot, after the same fashion as was Sandy, and at that moment I believed, and feel certain to this day, that death was very near me. It was only a question as to whether my comrade could make himself heard before I was pitched overboard.

Already I could hear shouts from those in the rear demanding that I be "finished" before Sandy's score was paid off, and more than one threatened to take a hand in the business if it was not brought to a speedy close.

"Drown the villain! Let Tryon understand that he can't play fast and loose with us!" one of the crowd shouted, and another added:

"Waste no time over him; but let us pay our dues to the tax-collector while he is drowning."

Those in the rear were so eager to expedite matters that they flung themselves forward until the men who held me were forced to turn and defend themselves lest they be trodden under foot, and this temporary delay, I firmly believe, was all that saved my life.

Had the members of the mob not fought with each other to gain a better place in which to witness the spectacle, of a verity I would have been flung into the river.

"We are two lads who acted as escort to the deputies when they went to Brunswick!" Sidney shouted during a momentary lull in the tumult, and one of those nearest him caught the import of the words.

"Who are you?" the man cried, and Sidney replied, yelling in the fellow's ear to make certain the words were understood:

"Regulators! Members of the association! But for the lad you are threatening to drown, the deputies might not have escaped from those whom Tryon sent in pursuit of us!"

Now it was Sidney had assistance in his efforts to procure for us a hearing, for the man set about making his neighbor acquainted with the facts, and in a twinkling a third understood that they had been trying to kill their friends.

When perhaps five minutes had passed, and time moved slowly to me who was expecting each instant that some impatient one would pitch me over the river bank, those in the middle of the throng came to know what we had been trying to tell them, and in a very few seconds afterward I was released from my bonds.

"It was a close shave for you," he who had been holding me by the throat said, as I stood before him gasping for breath. "We made certain you were trying to save the tax-collector."

"That is exactly what we were doing," I replied, speaking with difficulty because my windpipe was sore from the pressure so lately put upon it.

"Then you must be friendly to Tryon, else you would not speak a good word for that villain whom we count on killing as we would a rat!"

"It must not be done!" I cried frantically, raising my voice so that those in the immediate vicinity might hear. "If you kill him it will be said that it was done by orders of the Regulation, and Tryon will have right on his side when he overruns the country with soldiers. To raise your hands against an officer of the county is to weave a noose for those brave men in prison who will look to-morrow for your assistance! Nothing would please Tryon better than to have a reasonable excuse for throwing us all into jail!"

Then, as my voice failed, Sidney took up the theme:

"How much do you harm Tryon by killing Sandy Wells? The governor cares nothing about such as he, and would gladly reward the man who, by committing murder almost in the encampment of the Regulators, should give the king's minions power over us! Turn the tax-collector over to us. We will take him to General Hamilton, who is bound to see that he be held a prisoner, and to-morrow, if Tryon and Fanning play us false, we shall have one on whom to retaliate."

"Keep him till to-morrow!" a voice cried, and straightway I began to have hope that we might finally succeed in our purpose.

Some of the mob came to understand that which we would beat into their thick skulls, and with the knowledge of what the murder of a king's officer might mean for all in that section, whether innocent or guilty, came the impulse to wash their own hands of any participation in the outrage.

For the time being they forgot their victim while discussing each with another the situation as we had shown it, and now was come the time when I could cut Sandy's bonds.

"Get to your feet and keep close behind Sidney and me," I whispered. "Do as I bid you, and it may be that we three can make our way inside the lines of the encampment."

"I'll do whatever you say," Sandy replied in the tone of one whose life has just been saved, as indeed his had, and I whispered in Sidney's ear, for the tumult had so far subsided that it was possible to speak with some degree of privacy:

"Work gradually toward the encampment while you talk. If we can attract the attention of the Regulators our point is gained."

Then I turned to argue with the man nearest me, showing him how much it would advantage us if we could have the tax-collector as our prisoner until the trial in the court had come to an end, and all the while pressing gently forward, step by step, toward our line of guards.

Sandy, knowing that his only chance for life was in keeping close to us lads, for if he had attempted to gain the village an hundred hands would have been laid upon him in anger, obeyed my commands to the letter, pressing me so hard at times that I found it difficult to keep my footing.

In this manner we succeeded, after more than an hour had passed, in approaching within twenty feet of the encampment line, and the remainder of the task was simple.

We had but to attract the attention of the guard, and in a twinkling half a dozen Regulators were on the spot.

Hurriedly I told our friends of what had been on foot, and Sandy Wells was marched directly within the lines, while those who would follow were forced by the guards to keep their distance.

The men who had come to our rescue believed it proper the prisoner should be taken to that lean-to known as "headquarters," and soon the miserable wretch was telling his story to our commander.

"Why did you show yourself such a simpleton as to venture into the midst of those whom you had harassed?" the old general asked with a laugh, for I believe he was secretly pleased at seeing the tax-collector in such a plight.

"I came across the river to speak with some friends of mine who were come – " Sandy began, and one of our party interrupted him by saying:

"I didn't suppose you had a friend outside of Hillsborough, and but precious few in the town!"

"This was a family from Chatham whom I have known many years – "

"I venture to say you never tried to collect illegal taxes from them!"

"Let the man tell the story," General Hamilton interrupted, and Sandy continued:

"They were so near the town that I didn't think any one would dare lay hands on me; but before I was comfortably seated under their wagon half a dozen men seized me. I was dragged up the stream to that point where the bank is high and steep, and there the life was nearly kicked out of me."

Sandy concluded the story by explaining how we had chanced to go to his rescue, and what happened after we arrived at the scene.

"You two lads have done well!" the old general said emphatically. "It would have been a sorry day's work for the people in this section if yonder rascal had been killed. The one question now in my mind is, what we shall do with him. I don't want such scurvy knaves in camp."

Hearing this Sandy dropped on his knees, begging the general not to send him outside the lines of the encampment lest he be killed, and, after waiting a moment without hearing anything by way of suggestion as to what should be done with the fellow, Sidney said:

"If it please you, Master Hamilton, Clare and I will take charge of him until to-morrow. I think he will do as we command, and it's only a question of keeping him away from the visitors."

"You may take him and welcome," the general said in a tone of relief. "It may not be safe to make too great a display of the rascal even in camp, for we have among us many whom he has wofully distressed."

"Always acting under orders, sir, always under orders!" Sandy cried, yet on his knees.

"You would be more of a man if you took your orders from a different source," the general said sharply, and then motioned for us to lead him away.

"You lads have saved my life," Sandy began when we three were walking toward the lean-to Sidney and I had built, "and if I can ever do anything in return, you shall understand that I know how to be grateful."

"We've done nothing for which we expect to be rewarded," Sidney replied with a gesture of impatience. "You can't fancy that we bear you any very good-will, therefore what we did was for the good of the colony."

"Never mind why you did it; I shall never forget what I owe."

Then we were come to the lean-to, and once there the question arose as to what we should do with our charge. If he was left to wander around the encampment alone, some of the men would undoubtedly ill-treat him, and we were not disposed to waste time which should be spent in the company of our dear ones, looking after him.

It was Sandy himself who solved the question for us, by saying:

"Leave me here; I can hide beneath the brush which forms your bed, and you may be certain I shan't be such a fool as to venture out."

It was a good idea, and after he had burrowed beneath the pine branches until no trace of him could be seen, I went to seek my mother.