Washington Crossing The Delaware Part 9

Honeyman the Tory?

SOLDIER

That's who it is. Let's grab him.

CORPORAL

Men! (_several voices respond_) We're going to take this fellow. All right now--lie low--and when I give the signal, jump!

HONEYMAN (_off, coming in_)

So-o-o, boss--where's that dang critter gone to? I cal'ate mebbe--

CORPORAL

Halt! Get him boys!

HONEYMAN

Say! What's the matter--what ye doin'!

ALL

Come on! Grab him! Get hold of him there! Down with him! (_etc._)

HONEYMAN (_at same time_)

Hey, you scoundrels! Git off me! Leave me be! I'm a peaceable man, ye ain't got no right to do this to me--git off me--git off--I say--hey, leave go my halter!

SOLDIERS

Well, ain't this nice, boys. He's brought along a rope for us to tie him up with, now ain't that thoughtful--here--leave go the rope.

HONEYMAN

Let me up--don't ye tie me up! I'm jest a farmer--out huntin' a stray cow!

CORPORAL

Stray cow, eh? Well, we was huntin' a stray coward! (_laughter_) Here give me that whip!

SOLDIER

Here ye are, Corporal! Well boys, take a look at him--this here's Honeyman the Tory. (_all comment_)

CORPORAL

All right, throw him into the boat! General Was.h.i.+ngton'll be right pleased to see ye, Mister Honeyman! Come along--oh, ye won't go, eh--well, fetch him, boys.

HONEYMAN

Leave me be! Stop it! The King's men'll make ye pay fer this.

ALL

Hey shut up--grab him Tom--stop that kickin', fetch him along. (_etc._)

ANNOUNCER

Protesting and struggling, Honeyman was thrown into the boat and carried to the Pennsylvania sh.o.r.e of the Delaware. In the meantime, on that very afternoon of December 22, 1776, Was.h.i.+ngton was holding a council of war with his staff.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON

Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that Congress has fled from Philadelphia.

ALL

What? Fled? Left Philadelphia? Too bad! (_etc._)

WAs.h.i.+NGTON

I'm sorry! I asked them particularly to stay there, as I feared the effect on the people of the country. But it seems that even Congress has lost faith in the army.

KNOX

General Was.h.i.+ngton.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON

General Knox.

KNOX

We've got to do something to re-establish their faith! (_all agree_)

WAs.h.i.+NGTON

Yes! But what? Charles Lee is captured--his army gone--we can't look for any help from that quarter.

KNOX

Sir, can't we go back across the river, suddenly--and strike a blow before the enemy knows what we are up to?

WAs.h.i.+NGTON

We'll have to! It's our only hope. But how, when, and where? I had hoped that we might get information that would guide us in our plans. Well, we haven't got it! Now, much as I hate to make any move without full and complete information, I don't see what else we can do. The river will be frozen over in a week or ten days. That means that the enemy can cross over and chase us whither they please! If we are to do anything, we've got to do it now! I've called you here to lay this before you. Will you follow me on a blind chance?