Ram; being the tale of one Ramillies Anstruther, 1704-55 .. (55 page)

"I'll—I'll do it," Wall muttered at last. "But wrong her, and I'll come from the world's end to kill ye!"

Daylight was showing through the window as Ram rose wearily. "Lass, you'll come with me, understand? There'll be horses to ride and children to play with on my plantation. We'll treat ye kindly."

"No!" She ran to fling her arms around her brother. "I'll never part from ye, Michael, never!"

"Get him away before the governor's oflicers come," Ram told Peg-Leg. "Have the child pack a bundle." He looked again at the Irishman who, though a weakling, had a warped integrity. "Serve me and ye may call me friend. Here's the thirty pieces—take them! And I'll add fifty guineas above your passage money."

Later, when he was abed, it occurred to him that perhaps del Lago might be behind his attempted murder. But surely his old enemy was too deep in Jacobite plots in the Old World to meddle in the colonial squabbles of the New. Who then?

And who was the Spanish doctor?

CHAPTER 18 SHOREACRES,

1736-39

"Drown me! Drown me, I say, like ye've drowned Michael!" Grown so unnerved by such wails even to swear any more. Ram sighed resignedly. Though locked in the cabin, Emma had kept up this tirade of defiance ever since leaving Charles Town. When Wall boarded the Yorktown-bound brig, escorted by Matt and young Tait, she'd wept as could be expected of a child parting from a beloved brother; but had then become this accusing little termagant. The instant Wall's done his work, I'll ship her back to him, he vowed, even if he's in Hell itself!

"Females!" Peg-Leg, at the wheel, shrugged humorously. "But Daufuskie's just abeam, sir, and the sound's rough enough today to change her tune, I'll warrant."

"Hope so," Ram grinned faintly, "else I'll be tempted to take her at her word and toss her overboard."

But Tom was right: the sound's usual turbulence soon made her seasick; she became too busy using the bucket Hilary had forehand-edly given her to think of further taunts at her captor.

"Look, Major." Peg-Leg pointed astern. "There's a big piragua coming up, rowed by ten oars. Redcoats!"

"Eh?" Ram raised his glass. "Begod, you're right. Must be the Independents from Beaufort. Something's brewing. Lay to."

The Beaufort craft drew abreast. Ensign Deleval, with thirty of the company with him, said that Oglethorpe had sent for them urgently, for the Spaniards threatened invasion. "My father follows with the rest and our artillery. Adieu, sir, I must speed on."

"I'll come with you." Ram wrote orders for Joseph, read them to Peg-Leg and added: "Go by the Lacy plantation and bid 'em send warning to Savannah. And warn Mr. Noble Jones at Wormsloe. Then bring me Alan and a horse for Hilary, and five of our best men, mounted for action. But if you find we're already beaten, return home and make ready to stand siege."

He saw Emma's wan little face staring at him from the cabin's now unlocked door and thought, half amused: Likely she's praying the Dons will slaughter us all! Then, with Hilary following with his portmanteau and cloak, he boarded the soldiers' craft.

"Has fighting broke out?" he asked young Delegal.

There was no news of any overt act, but the ensign feared the worst. "Suppose Mr. Oglethorpe's already beat before we get there?"

"When I was in Augustine, the Dons had only three hundred foot and fifty horse, scarce enough to defend themselves." But Ram had inner doubts. The Spaniards might have been reinforced!

The big piragua soon crossed the Savannah's mouth and nosed southward among the Georgia islands. Ram now became pilot and by nightfall had reached Ossabaw Sound. Two mornings later the craft neared new-born Frederica on St. Simon's Island and fired a signal gun. Oglethorpe himself awaited it on the jett}'.

"Mr. Delegal, stay aboard!" he called. "Here's a hamper of food and a pilot to take you around to the island's southeast. I want a fort there against a seaward attack. I'll come overland and meet you." Then, recognizing Ram: "Major, it's good you've come."

As the piragua put off again, Ram fell in step beside his friend, eying the fortifications being built to protect Frederica,

"Dempsey and Horton are held virtual prisoners," James told him. "But I think the Dons will soon back down, for I've Tomochichi here with his warriors, and a small company of Highlanders, The rangers patrol the mainland south, and now I've the Independents at hand."

"There's been no rupture yet?" Ram felt deflated.

"No, we're each merely baring our teeth. I've scout boats cruising off the St. John's mouth—which they protest—and their boats spy on us here." And, when James heard that some of Ram's riders would soon arrive, "Capital! We've not a horse on the island. If we're to meet young Delegal when he lands, we'd best begin walking."

They started, accompanied by Hilar}', other servants and several Yamacraws. The forest stretched from the town's outskirts to the island's southwestern tip; but to seaward it ended abruptly at the edge of a long salt marsh, which gave good protection against surprise. The trail ran between the marsh and the forest's eastward fringe.

James was so busy writing messages and sending them back to Frederica by Yamacraw runners, it was not until they halted to eat that Ram could tell him about Bacon's attempt on him and its outcome.

"So they'd weaken us by assassination!" But James was dubious of Wall's use as a double spy. "If he truly loves his sister, he'll get some word to ye, however false. Yet if ever the Spaniards suspect him, he'll wish he'd been hanged in Charles Town. D'ye think this plot's against us all, or just you?"

"Probably myself alone—yet. Though I've an enemy, I doubt he knows where I am, so it's likely it's because of my Augustine visit. They doubtless think my death will deter other British spies."

"Then guard yourself always. Now let's march. We need time to mark out the fort before the troops arrive."

In two days the soldiers had thrown up revetted earthworks and gun platforms. The Squire and Ram then chose another site farther west, to command the inland way, and be named Fort St. Simon's. When back at Frederica, however, Oglethorpe grew so worried at lack of news from his scout boats, he decided to seek them himself, and left Ram to supervise the work of Fort Frederica and organize the town militia.

Peg-Leg arrived, a swivel mounted in the piragua's bows. Ram, riding Alan, had Hilary and the five other Shoreacres men parade before him, equipped and mounted. They wore blue coats faced with red, cocked hats, breeches and boots covered by long deerskin overalls. Each was armed with a musket, two pistols and a saber and, for work afoot, carried a pair of moccasins.

Ram's chief assistant in fort building was John Mor Mackintosh from Darien. His military knowledge, he admitted, stemmed from his being out with his clan for James Stuart in 1715; but he had added to it since by a study of books on tactics. Leader of the Darien settlement, he was a tower of strength.

The weather turned stormy and when days passed everyone began worrying for Oglethorpe's safety. Ram, however, felt sure James had sheltered in some creek mouth until the weather cleared.

Volunteers arrived from the north: the Lacy brothers sent some men; others came from Savannah; and Carolina planters came, rowed by slaves. They were a motley crew, but Ram gave all their duties.

Captain Gascoigne's sloop of war Hawk crossed the bar and dropped anchor, having sailed from its station at Charles Town. Lieutenant Delegal, Sr., and the rest of the Independents arrived in piraguas, bringing artillery. And Mary Musgrove came with many Uchee warriors.

Then Oglethorpe himself returned having, as Ram had suspected, sheltered from the storm at St. Simon's Island. The reason for lack of news from his boats was because the commanders hadn't understood the importance of sending back negative reports.

The Hawk had brought him letters, and that night, as he and Ram sat over their wine, he grew jubilant. "Walpole's peace policy has lost. Merchants, whose ships are being taken by the Dons, demand war. They're using one Jenkins, a sea captain who had his ear cut off by a guarda costa back in '31, to stir popular opinion."

"If war comes, invasion here's certain then?" Ram queried.

"True. Now, even better news. I've a certain 'friend' at the Court. Before I came away last time, he hinted if regulars were needed, I'd not be refused permission to raise a regiment. So, if now we can reach a treaty, however temporary, with Augustine, I'd best return home and learn if he's still of the same mind."

Grinning, they toasted the "friend," who, Ram realized, was George II himself.

"Now, you," }ames resumed. "You've had more war training than I, but would you consider serving in my possible regiment?"

"Of foot? Lud, how I'd hoped to raise dragoons of my own! But, yes, James, I'd be honored to serve under you."

"As my lieutenant colonel, of course," Oglethorpe added eagerly. "Perhaps I but dream, for politics and policies change overnight, but I think we'll get our regiment."

After they'd toasted the future Oglethorpe's Foot, Ram said: "Why can't we use spies ourselves? They're to be had for pay."

"Pay? The trustees would never agree to using funds for such a cause. Besides, our Parliament grant's already o\'erspent this year and I'm having to use my own credit."

"Damme, I must know who's ordered me murdered! I'll gladly use my own money to pay double-dealers like Davis to report what goes on in Augustine. And why not get information from the English South Sea Company's agents in Cuba? If the Dons have a doctor nosing through our colonies, why not have our spies in theirs?"

"Capital! And if your funds run out, count on me for more."

Again their glasses raised, and it was late before they slept.

Deciding that the Georgians had grown too strong, the Spaniards reverted to diplomacy. William Horton was freed and returned to report that Dempsey would soon come back also, with Spanish emissaries to work out details of a settlement.

"x^nd examine our defenses," Oglethorpe surmised. "Well, we'll treat 'em civil but let 'em see nothing. What's your idea. Ram?"

Ram stared at the Hawk in the harbor. It wasn't a ship-of-the-line, but its open gun ports looked menacing. "Wliy not receive 'em aboard her? She's as large as any in these waters."

So, when Dempsey arrived with Colonel of Horse Don Pedro Lamberto and Governor's Secretary Manuel d'Arcy, Captain Gas-coigne greeted them aboard the Hawk. The crew manned the shrouds, the marines paraded on the poop and thirty of Hugh Mackay's Highlanders lined the waist.

As if casually, Gascoigne pointed out a squadron of horse riding at the forest's fringe near Fort St. Simon's. Actually, the "squadron" was merely Ram and his six men who, in single file, were vanishing into the woods and re-emerging upon the tail of the last rider, thus creating the impression of a long line of cavalry.

Next, Oglethorpe, with Ram and both Delegals, put off from shore. As he was piped aboard, a salute was fired, to be answered by Fort St. Simon's—by rapid reloading, the Independents made their few cannon sound as if each of fifteen guns had fired only once. These salutes were continued by Fort Frederica and even distant Darien, to convince the emissaries that Georgia had now enough artillery to sink a fleet.

After Oglethorpe had received the Spaniards' credentials, Tomo-chichi, Hillispilli and the Yamacraws, together with Uchees and other Creek tribesmen, came aboard and, through Mary Musgrove, demanded justice. A year before, Spanish Indians had killed some of a Creek hunting party north of the St. John's River, in territory the Creeks had always claimed as their own.

Ram grinned inwardly at Secretary d'Arcy's look of terror at this demand. But Don Pedro, of sterner breed, disclaimed all responsibility, saying that he had been away in Mexico at the time. Governor Sanchez, he added, had regrettably allowed Pohoia, King of the Floridas, to send a party north to hunt, not to make war. When the Creeks still demanded vengeance, he swore to have Pohoia executed —if he could be found.

After an elaborate banquet, the emissaries were rowed ashore and accommodated for the night in two large silk-lined tents. Sentries were posted, ostensibly to protect them from the Spanish-hating Creeks, actually to prevent them from creeping out to spy.

The meeting had displayed Georgia's strength, and Oglethorpe, Ram, Gascoigne and Horton drank bumpers to their success.

The success was almost too great, for during the night the Creeks, in deadly earnest about their wrongs, tried to attack the Spaniards in their tents, and only swift intervention by the Independents prevented a massacre.

When the emissaries left, taking Dempsey with them to arrange a convention of amity, Oglethorpe went to Savannah and Charles Town, while Ram took his horsemen home, where a letter from Sue awaited him. All was well at Dalesview, she was delighted the baby would be bom there and she longed to see Rob, though she was heartsick that Ram himself couldn't come.

It was still too soon, of course, to hear from Lucinda.

As of old Maria Bland cared for him. "Oh, sir, and little Emma, she's a rare lass," she beamed. "She was most fearful at first of being scalped by Indians, but now she's settled down finely and she's learning all the children their letters."

"Is she, egad? Well, she may seem tame to you, Mrs. B., but she still wants to cut my heart out for bringing her here."

He wasn't wrong. He came upon her surrounded by the children, who were scratching the alphabet on slates. At once her rosebud lips thinned and hatred showed in her gray-blue eyes.

"I trust your captivity's none too close," he began, "I—"

"Davie!" she called, ignoring him. "How often must I tell you 'A' is made with a bar across it? Do it right this instant."

Furious, he went his way. Since Joseph and Maria were now eating at Shoreacres, so was she. And however much she hated him, he was master here and must at least be accorded civility.

Nell Lann sought his advice. If it weren't for Davie, she explained, she could marry one of the Fort Argyle rangers. "But who wants another man's bastard, sir?" she sighed.