for cecil stark a matter greater far than his own failure and the treachery that had ruined the tunnel plot centred in thoughts of john lee and the price that he must pay. much the american suffered before news reached him in his solitary confinement, through a friendly turnkey who knew tom putt. and then the prisoner heard that grace malherb was safe at home, and john lee had either escaped or been drowned in attempting to do so.
as for the prisoners, like the sea after a storm, their passions slowly stilled. once only did they break into active rage, when, upon the release of their leaders, david leverett did not return, and a soldier confessed that he had betrayed them for two hundred pounds. then the plot and its failure were dismissed before rumours of peace. at first these woke and died again, yet gradually a greater degree of truth characterised them, and all men felt the music of freedom and of home playing at their hearts.
but in prince town was witnessed the spectacle of a worthy gentleman struggling with a task somewhat beyond his strength. as commandant of a war prison, wherein were nearly six thousand souls, now grown turbulent and reckless at rumours of approaching liberation, captain short found himself involved in countless difficulties.
after the discovery and defeat of their plot, the mass of prisoners was removed and confined in nos. 1 and 3; while, by way of comprehensive punishment for their attempt, every man was docked of one-third of his allowance for the space of ten days. grave friction resulted from this measure, and short's officers went in secret fear of a rising. to check the possibility of such a disaster, he adopted stringent methods, and continual strife between the turnkeys and prisoners was the result. both sides displayed passion, and many a sentry, for some disrespectful word concerning congress or the president of the united states, had his head broken.
with the severe mid-winter weather, increased sickness fell upon the war prison, and the most popular man at prince town in these days was doctor magrath, a surgeon whose humanity, energy and skill made him the personal friend of every sufferer. he struck up an acquaintance with cecil stark, and, at the doctor's advice, the young american henceforth eschewed prison politics and threw all his weight upon the side of law, order and patience.
a partial exchange of prisoners had wakened general hopes, but when it was found that nothing more in that sort would be done, the americans vented their annoyance by playing a thousand pranks upon authority. on one occasion a man was seen ostentatiously escaping out of a window by moonlight. when challenged he refused to answer and continued to descend a rope. the guard at short's own order fired, rushed in as the figure fell heavily to the earth, and found a dummy. unfortunately, such jests bred an evil temper, and once when certain soldiers discovered a candle burning by night and ordered its extinction, they fired a volley through the windows almost before it had been possible to comply with their demand. by a miracle no harm was done, but every prisoner knew next day how the watch had fired upon sleeping men, and the soldiery justly suffered under the lash of a thousand tongues.
william burnham it was who suspected that the outbursts of severity probably marked british reverses at sea; and the thing became a jest, so that whenever a hard word was spoken, or a harsh punishment ordered, the americans shouted together and cheered their country's successes.
burnham, indeed, had come into distinction of late days. despite the advice of stark and others, who now preached patience and obedience while all waited for peace, burnham, ever jealous of his old messmate, and glad to find himself a leader of men, stayed not to consider the manner of men he led, but stood for a factious and unruly multitude, and promised to support their fancied rights. ira anson joined this party also and to him as much as burnham belonged the discredit of various ill-timed and vicious commotions. their conduct maddened short, and finally they led him into tribulation and themselves paid the penalty.
with the end of the year came a persistent rumour that the crew of the marblehead was about to be exchanged, but this hoped-for circumstance did not happen, and william burnham, with his faction, grew more desperate and more unwise. unfortunately, they numbered secret friends among the soldiers and non-commissioned officers at the prison, for not a few of the baser sort were disaffected against their own superiors, and at least pretended sympathy with the americans. on the other side laboured many more sensible men, and while each heart throbbed for the news so long withheld, law and order were re-established, and the schools, arranged for the young and ignorant, were opened again. for two years these institutions had done valuable work; it was only after the failure of the great plot to burrow out of the prison that they became neglected.
there fell a memorable day at the year's end when news reached prince town that the commissioners at ghent had signed the treaty of peace and that the sloop-of-war, favourite, would sail immediately with the document to the united states. this occasion was seized for widespread rejoicings within the prison, and captain short felt as thankful at heart as any of his charges. but while the day of thanksgiving drew to its close, the tumult in the prisons drew deafening; great masses of men stampeded from yard to yard; a mad spirit animated reckless thousands; the air grew heavily charged with human passion; and danger threatened in many shapes.
burnham's party had obtained a quantity of gunpowder unknown to their guards, and with this they manufactured bombs which exploded with reports like cannon. alarming rumours followed these discharges; some said efforts were being made to blow down the walls; many junior officers approached commandant short with fear upon their faces.
at midday a pennant was seen to flutter out above each division of the prison, and on no. 3, styled "the commodore," a huge white flag broke and revealed a legend printed upon it. "free trade and sailors' rights." a salute of seventeen bombs accompanied this display and the riot became deafening. far distant upon the moor many a traveller heard the sound, as of remote thunders grumbling under the horizon, and hastened upon his journey in dread of approaching tempest.
at the prison, as the flags flew out, and the multitudes roared, cecil stark approached burnham and prayed him to consider his position.
"you are doing a mad thing," he said. "you know as well as i that while a spark of reason lurked in efforts to escape authority, i was eager as any man. ay, and beyond reason too, for, looking back, i see that the tunnel plot was folly. but now, to what purpose is this frantic nonsense? we shall be free men in three months. then why make vexatious friction and lend the weight of your support to so much brainless folly?"
burnham had been drinking and he answered fiercely.
"cease your preaching! i calculate things are just about cooked now; and they'll have to be eaten. we know you, at any rate—ever ready to make trouble when you had no temptation to do otherwise. but now—you're an englishman in disguise!"
"if you were not drunk, i'd thrash you before your bullies, for that insult."
"threats—threats and big words. we know you, i say; we see through you. a place-seeker, who tried to lead that he might gratify his own cursed vanity. now you are a pious prig and teach in the school and say your prayers, i dare say! much good your leadership did—you with big patriotic words on your lips and an english girl in your mean heart!"
"leave that, or i'll——"
"do it—do it! d'you think i fear you? i'm leader now—leader of braver men than ever listened to you. touch me, and a hundred men will break every bone in your body! a yankee—you! i'll swear, if the truth was known, we should find you were leagued with judas leverett himself. take that pill and swallow it, you canting humbug!"
stark fell back and stared at his old companion.
"you!" he cried. "bill burnham to say that to me!"
he was silent and the other repeated his charge.
"i'll speak with you when you're sober then."
"and what will you say?" began the younger; but stark turned from him; and at the same moment a peculiar whistle, used by his gang as a signal, told burnham that he was wanted. captain short, with a bodyguard of armed troops, had appeared, and he desired to speak with a representative of the prisoners.
burnham, with ira anson, stepped forward, and the rest of the mischief-makers stood in a group and watched them.
"do you speak for these troublesome men?" asked the commandant.
"i do," answered the young american. "i lead them all; and i'll not answer for them if any attempt is made to oppress them to-day."
"at least their spokesman should not be drunk himself, whatever his rag-tag and bob-tail are. you stand condemned, for you know that liquor is forbidden."
"the lad's not drunk," said anson; "or, if he is, it is only at the same tap as all of us: the news from ghent."
"i'll not argue it, sir. i'm only sorry you cannot receive the news in a spirit more worthy. at least you'll oblige me by striking that flag on prison no. 3. it is an invitation to foolish and ignorant sailors to mutiny, and i will not permit it to float here while i'm in command."
"the word 'rights' is a red rag to your government," said anson insolently.
"your rights at least have always been respected," answered short patiently. "i wish i could help you benighted fellows to see reason and take juster views. your conduct proceeds from hatred of us and fear of us, instead of hatred of evil and fear of god. but 'tis your nation that must answer for you. believe me, i shall be very well pleased to wash my hands of you."
stark approached at this moment, and captain short turned to him.
"you at least are intelligent; and you fought fair," said the soldier. "now i desire that yonder flag should be hauled down. i ask politely; i sink authority and approach these foolish fellows here as man to man. one is intoxicated; the other is, unfortunately, not a gentleman. i desire that that offensive flag shall be pulled down, and since we are in the atmosphere of peace, i will hoist an american emblem at the prison gate and let it wave beside the union jack."
"you are generous," declared cecil stark. "nothing could be fairer."
"i say 'no,'" interposed burnham doggedly. "my men will have their flag; and if the motto stings—let it sting."
"in that case i order all flags down," answered short, his neck flushing crimson. "since you are such an intractable ass, you must be driven. let every shred of bunting be down ere the sun sets, or it shall be brought down. if you court hard knocks, you may expect them."
he turned away in a rage, and burnham whistled "yankee doodle," while a few silly sailors who had overheard the conversation cheered their representatives and hissed at cecil stark. but later in the day anson prevailed with his detachments, and at sunset, rather than provoke an actual struggle, the flags came down. to the end, however, they defied their guards. captain short himself led three hundred men with fixed bayonets, and sergeant bradridge, who was of the number, expected at last to hear the sound of battle. but as the red winter sun sank behind the moor, every flag fluttered simultaneously to earth, and for that time acute danger vanished with the daylight.
many sailors were now arriving from the british battleships. these men, on hearing of peace, claimed the rights of american citizenship, and refused longer to fight against their fellow-countrymen. those guilty of such tergiversation met but a frosty welcome at prince town, and new strifes followed upon their arrival. among these shifty mariners were six from h.m.s. pelican, who had fought in the action between that vessel and the united states brig argus. the crew of the captured brig had been imprisoned at prince town; and after the pelican's men arrived, such was the bitter animosity displayed against them that they found their lives in danger. to captain short these people appealed for protection, and another grave collision occurred between burnham's party and the commandant, when a detachment of soldiers entered the war prison and rescued the six by force of arms. then came two more defaulters from an english ship, and as both had actually volunteered for british service from prince town a year before, they were received back again with universal execration. a court convened by ira anson sat upon these poor wretches, and while some cried for their instant death, others proposed a flogging.
it was mr. knapps who hit upon an agreeable punishment to meet their crime.
"take the doodles and brand 'em," he said. "they've got the name of a british ship tattooed over their dirty hearts, for i seed it there; now put u.s.t. on their faces, so as they'll be known evermore for united states traitors."
the proposal was cheered and acted upon. to the hospital the sufferers went after their punishment, and doctor macgrath did what was possible to eradicate the damning letters; but they had been bitten in too well. captain short took this matter gravely, and the men responsible for the actual assault were thrust into the cachots to stand their trial.
another incident to illustrate the growing rancour and bitterness may be given. a prisoner—one of four unfortunates who had suffered six months in a cachot—watched his opportunity when at exercise, and escaped from his yard to the next. he was immediately surrounded by his countrymen, and when short demanded him back, the americans refused to give him up. thereupon the commandant appeared with fixed bayonets and directed all prisoners to retire into their respective quarters, that a strict search might be made for the escaped man. burnham, however, defied this order in the name of his comrades.
"this poor devil has suffered enough," he said. "his crime, which was an alleged attempt to blow up a british schooner, was never proved against him, and we will not restore him to renewed tortures. i am master here, and we lack not for arms or skill to use them. that you will learn to your cost, if you try force against us. you forget that the war is ended now."
captain short perceived that with his small company he would have little chance against the threatening hordes arrayed against him; therefore, without answering burnham, he gave the order to retire, and left the prison amid wild and derisive shouts and cat-calls.
but albeit defeated, the commandant took a weak man's revenge and shut up the prison markets. instantly burnham and his friends issued an order that no carpenter, mason nor other mechanic should do any further work for the british government until the markets were re-opened. this 'strike' caused such unexpected expense and inconvenience, that captain short was constrained to yield again. the markets were set going once more and the artificers promptly returned to their labours. thus the prisoners achieved their ends, and burnham, flushed with success, continued to take the side of lawlessness; while short, much embittered by his reverse and uneasily conscious that his own officers were laughing at him, sank into a brooding ferocity that darkened his face and boded ill for the future.
an interval of calm succeeded; and then fell out those tragic events that closed the history of the prince town war prison.
