24 Back to the South

The river, which in our retreat had threatened to he our destruction, was now, repassed, our bulwark. It sometimes happens that men who have lived hitherto peaceful lives, suddenly and under the pressure of necessity develop military talent. And the pale, reserved schoolmaster, whom all called a coward, now furnished such an instance. He shouted to us to hold the ford, and he was obeyed. The spirit and courage of the borderers rose again. They were not like the raw soldiers; they might bend to the sudden blow, but they would not break, and though rash leadership and their own hot blood had led them into disaster, they sought now for revenge.

I thought it well to imitate the example of Underwood, and I too cried to the men to attack, and helped in forming our forces for the defence. Curry had been mortally wounded in the river, but managed to reach the shore, where he died presently, paying for his folly with his life. Harvey, he of the weak chin, who had been drawn into the plot by the stronger man, Curry, was wounded too, but his hurt was slight, and he was fighting with valour, all his treason gone from him in such strenuous moments like a skim of snow melting before a hot sun. I looked, too, for Mr. Carew, and I saw him lying wounded at the very edge of the stream, unable to come farther, and in his position a fair target for the Indian rifles on the other shore.

I did not in the first moment feel pity for the man. His death would be a great grief to his daughter, but it might save her from keener sorrows, and I turned my eyes from the sight of the wounded man lying there, his feet in the water. Then I felt shame and remorse because such a thought had entered my mind, and springing forward I dragged him to the cover of the rocks.

“I thank you, Lee; my debt to you grows great,” he said, and there was genuine gratitude in his tone.

I had no time to answer him, as the savages, rushing forward with a fierce yell of triumph, were beginning their attempt to force the ford, though they came now to meet a foe full of courage. Our men, sheltering their bodies behind rocks and hillocks., received them with so true and deadly a fire that they fell back to the shelter of the farther bank, leaving many dead to float off with the stream. Twice and thrice they returned to the assault, but they could not force the passage, being hurled back each time with increasing loss, and then the war-cry of the borderers arose, in its turn triumphant.

All day we held that bloody ford, and at nightfall the savage army, tired of so vain and costly an effort, resumed its march to the northward, while we, taking our wounded with us, turned to the south, sad because we had rushed into an ambush, but with the saving memory that at the last we had regained our courage and driven back our foes. We had been hot with folly, but our valour had saved us.

I heard as we marched little criticism of the mistakes of others. Our own were too fresh in our minds, but the common danger now bound the men together in a brotherhood that could not be broken. Old Joe Grimes for the first time in his life was subdued, and talked to me in the most temperate manner.

“We bit off more’n we could chaw,” he said. “You can scorch a cat once, but it’s mighty hard to git him too close to the fire twice.”

“You must help to defend the border now, Joe,” I said.

“I’m not thinking of anything else,” he replied.

And I believe that his words were true. Harvey, too, spoke to me a little later. His left arm was in a sling, caused by a flesh wound, but his downcast look was not due to his hurt.

“Mr. Lee,” he said, “I have been indulging in a dream as foolish as it was wicked, and it took a man whom I once despised, Underwood the schoolmaster, to awaken me from it.”

“But you waken in time,” I said.

“Will you say nothing of what you saw and heard in Danville back there, that night?” he asked.

“You do not need my promise,” I answered; “the occasion will never arise.”

His face grew clearer, and presently I saw him talking in the most cheerful manner to others. In truth, he was but a boy, and Curry had drawn him into the mischief. Mr. Carew, on his part, was silent and moody, a frame of mind for which his wound gave him good excuse, and I kept away from him. Underwood by unanimous consent remained in command, though he was kind enough often to ask the advice of Osseo, myself, and others, and he conducted us safely across the Ohio into Kentucky, where the little army divided, all returning to their homes or duties elsewhere. Osseo again was to wait for me at the Ohio, and I continued the journey with Underwood and Mr. Carew to Danville. It was my first impulse to stop at the Ohio, but I wished to see Mr. Carew safe again with his wife and daughter, and I did not deny to myself that the sight of Rose Carew once more would be pleasant to my eyes. Not in all the years since its beginning had my disgrace borne so heavily upon me as it did now. Were I only free to seek her, I said over and over again to myself, I might pick up the challenging glove of any one, even that of Jasper himself, with all his worldly wealth and smooth ways. I renewed the events of our life together, the long flight through the forest, the idyllic days, and the revelation. I could remember each incident, and the order in which it came, and her look and smile when she spoke.

Mr. Carew remained silent and gloomy. His wound, though still painful, did not prevent him from travelling on horseback, and I was glad now that he had been struck in the battle, since to any who might hereafter taunt him with projected treason he could point to the honourable scars received in his country’s cause. But Underwood was my friend, and we talked freely. There was a certain change in him. The man had found himself. He was now conscious of his own powers, and yet scarce knowing whence the knowledge came. I saw in him a force which had not appeared until that night in Danville, when it was disclosed by the presence of supreme emotion. I was drawn to him, too, by the faith that he showed in me.

“You must remain with us now, Lee,” he repeated. “’Tis not a matter to be dismissed lightly, and I beg you to think long upon it before you refuse. You were one of those who did not fall into a panic back there at the ford. The debt that Kentucky owes you has grown. Here you have the respect and love of everybody. Stay with us and become one of our great men. We need your like.”

He did not know then that he himself was to win such a place—member of Congress and then Governor of his State, a national figure of importance—but I dimly foresaw it even at that moment. I confess that he tempted me strongly. I could go back to the old community and show the honours given to me by the new, but stronger than that was the vision of a woman’s oval face, with fair hair rising above pure eyes.

“Don’t ask me, Underwood,” I replied; “I feel that I ought not to stay.”

He said no more, but often I caught his eyes dwelling upon me with a wistful look, and I was troubled much, for the flesh was weak.

I felt that our defeat—defeat it was despite the final repulse of the savages—was not in one respect a bad thing for the Western people, as they could now look with more leniency upon the mistakes of their Eastern brethren, and the community of disaster would bind them together. The news of the fight at the ford was received with calm, showing another phase of their character. It was their own who had made the mistake and suffered, and they would not complain; rather, it would encourage them to new efforts in defence of the border, and they would make expiation; they would hold the Western marches until the new relief expedition which the Government was now said to be preparing could come. The people strengthened themselves again for the great task that lay before them, and in the face of defeat that must be repaired the last phase of Spanish or French conspiracy disappeared like a dead leaf before a wind.

Our advance southward was slow, owing to Mr. Carew’s wound, and suddenly spring, which often in that latitude makes unkept promises, began to breathe upon us with south winds. Tender blades of grass sprang up amid the dead stems of last year, and a faint tint of green appeared on the foliage. I looked at the beautiful land rolling so gently over hill and valley, the brooks of clear water, and the noble forests of oak and hickory and beech; and Underwood, following my eye, swept his hand in a wide curve.

“This is too fine a country for our race to lose,” he said, “and I know, too, of none better for the making of a man’s career.”

His eyes met mine directly now, and his look was most meaning, but I shook my head. He sighed slightly, and was silent.

Joe Grimes and others had gone on before, and we found our fame ready for us. The skill, courage, and quickness of Underwood were praised by all, and he had ample repayment for the measure of contempt which once was given to him. I too, it is said, had borne a part second only to his, and my denials seemed only to increase the emphasis of the statements. Mr. Carew was applauded as a hero who had received a desperate wound in a successful endeavour to cover the retreat of his comrades, and soon he brightened visibly, for he loved praise. His confidence returned, and he speedily became his old complacent self, ready of speech and courteous of manner. Jasper met us at Lexington, and his joy at the sight of Mr. Carew, alive and wrapped in glory, was quite wonderful to see. He wished that he could boast of such honourable scars; it had been a painful thing for him to stay behind, but necessity was the step-mother of choice, and he was the sufferer, yet the knowledge of Mr. Carew’s achievements almost repaid him. It was all hollow to me, but Mr. Carew’s delight was manifest, and soon the attention of Underwood and myself was not required by him, as he found ample pleasure in the society and flattery of Jasper.

I went with them to Danville, where I saw Mr. Carew restored to his daughter and wife, as Rose Carew had been restored to her father and mother. She said but little to me then, but asked me not to go to the Ohio before seeing her again, and I promised.

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