Part 8 (1/2)

”I have set guards to watch the lodge and report continually how things go. For the rest I have tried to keep the camp in perfect quiet.”

”How goes it with the prisoners; are they well?”

”Yes,” answered Pipe the Boatswain, ”the Commodore has his boy in the very furthest end of the lodge, and he stays there walking back and forth before the lad, cutla.s.s in hand. They haven't dared to molest him yet. He sounded his bugle once or twice, and I know he wonders why his friends, especially his old tars, have deserted him. It's well nigh broke our hearts, Cap'n.”

”It was hard to resist the pressure, Captain,” said MacWhirlie, ”and harder still to control my own heart. But I did what I thought my duty.

I stand ready to suffer for it if I erred. And now that you are back all I ask is to lead the rescue. I will save Rodney and his boy, or leave my carca.s.s with the Pixies.”

”My dear fellow,” said Bruce, ”you did quite right. G.o.d bless you for your love of me and mine but especially bless you for your firmness on this occasion. It would have been a sad day for us all if the life of our nation had been risked for the sake of one however dear to me and to us all. Now, get ready for action! Is all in order for the a.s.sault?”

”Everything.”

”Then rally the men. We will advance with all our force. We must first save Rodney and his boy. Then we shall clean out the whole Pixie nest.

The battle word is 'Rescue.' Madam Breeze waits yonder in the orchard to join us.”

How the order flew through the Brownie camp! Love for Rodney, and the news of the near presence of their powerful ally put hope and courage into all hearts. Every man was in his place. Even the older boys had taken arms, hoping for permission to join in the battle or at least the chase.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 28.--A Tubeweaver's Den.]

The Captain led his men swiftly and cautiously by a roundabout route to the site of the old lodge, which was at the extreme eastern flank of the Pixie camp. He skirted the Lawn, pa.s.sed the spring, and struck the bank of the rivulet at the foot of the orchard. There he waited until the full moon had risen above the hills, and slanted her rays along the river and into the bosom of little Lake Katrine.

”Hark!” said the Captain at last.

”Hark,” the word pa.s.sed in a whisper along the line.

Up in the tree tops Madam Breeze and her train were waiting for the signal. Not waiting patiently, indeed, for they rocked and rolled among the round topped apple trees, and swung to and fro among the tall pears, rustling the leaves, shaking down the fruit, and whistling among the branches. But there they were, all ready, eager to rush upon their foes.

The Brownies had now reached a point well to the east of the Pixie camp and fort. Just beyond them was the lodge, now changed into a tubeweaver's den, in which the Commodore and his boy were confined.

Captain Bruce halted the column and distributed the men throughout the tall gra.s.s. He formed a half circle looking toward the old lodge, the pioneers or axmen being in the centre.

”Steady, now, a moment,” he exclaimed in a low tone to MacWhirlie. He fell upon hands and knees and glided through the gra.s.s. He was back in a few moments.

”It is all right. Not more than a dozen Pixies are on guard, the rest are beyond the demilune in the camp at supper, carousing, singing and making merry over Rodney's capture. Poor fellow! He is seated in the far end of the lodge holding Johnny on his lap. The boy has cried himself asleep. The Commodore has one hand on his sword and rests his face upon the other. Neither friend nor foe seems to be expecting us.”

”Attention!” The order ran in low whispers around the line.

”Ready!”

”Ready.” This word pa.s.sed from officer to officer in the same way.

Then the Captain stepped to the head of the axmen, put his whistle to his lips and blew a long blast. The shrill notes cut through the air.

Rodney heard it, lifted up his boy, leaped to his feet and cried:

”Come, Johnny, up! Wake! It is a rescue!”

The Pixie guards heard it. They grasped their weapons, and crowded together before the door of the lodge. Spite the Spy and his horde heard it as they feasted and made merry. They hastily seized their arms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 29.--Spite and His Pixie Friends make Merry Over Rodney's Capture.]