Chapter 7

Isak, the sergeant and Ned Caldwell arrived at the British camp in time to watch Jeremy dragged back into the colonel's tent for more questioning. Isak said, "He doesn't look good."

The sergeant said, "We better act now before they have the opportunity to inflict more damage."

The three men surprised a sentry and a sergeant and knocked them out. They stole their uniforms, one for Ned and one for the sergeant. The sergeant riding on horseback accompanied Ned who drove the wagon up to the colonel's tent. Isak crouched down and ran behind the wagon so that he could hide behind the colonel's tent unseen by the guard at the entry.

When the men pulled up to the tent, the guard asked their business. The sergeant, in a very convincing British accent, said, "I need to speak with your commander. I have been sent by General Clinton. I have orders here." He pulled the fake note from his jacket pocket. The guard took the note and disappeared into the tent.

A moment later, the aide walked out with the note. He looked over the wagon and the two men and said, "This is odd. Where is the rest of your guard sergeant?"

"They are camped down the road near a stream. We didn't want to crowd you."

The captain said, "Alright. Will your man load the wagon?"

Ned jumped down from the wagon. "Certainly sir." He followed the captain back into the tent. Ned returned with the first crate. He repeated the trip until he had the last crate loaded. Then he said loudly, "That's the last one sir."

Isak took the cue and quickly knocked out the guard and dragged him behind the tent, tying him up and gagging him. He returned and waited as the sergeant entered the tent. As the sergeant walked in he saw Jeremy on the ground on his knees. Jeremy looked up and recognized the sergeant. The sergeant turned to the aide and said, "Captain, will you please inspect the wagon to confirm, and sign the note to show that everything is in order?"

The captain nodded and stepped outside the tent.

The colonel said, "You have what you came for. Is that all?"

"Not quite. Who is this unlucky man?"

"I believe it is the great Captain Yankee Doodle." The colonel sneered. "The boy doesn't look as ominous as his legend proclaims does he?"

The sergeant swiftly grabbed the colonel's arm turning him around, and before the colonel could cry out, the sergeant slit his throat with his knife. The colonel fell noiselessly to the floor. Jeremy stared in shock at his tormentor dead on the floor; he tried to stand up but could not. Suddenly the captain returned. The sergeant turned and pulled the man into his knife. The knife pierced the captain's heart, killing him instantly. The sergeant yanked the knife out and let the man fall on his colonel. The sergeant sheathed his knife than pulled Jeremy up, putting his arm around the younger man to steady him. Jeremy looking at the sergeant and tried to speak. "Sergeant, the medicine..."

The sergeant said, "We have it all Jeremy. Quite now, we don't want to alarm anyone."

Isak came in and looked aghast at the two dead men. Then he saw Jeremy and suddenly felt deep remorse at having left his friend behind. Isak looked around for anything he could grab and saw the letter on the table. He grabbed it and stuffed it down his shirt. Isak and the sergeant helped Jeremy out to the wagon. Isak lifted him up into the wagon and covered him with a tarp. They rode out of the camp quietly. No one took notice of them.

When they reached Isak's horse tethered in a small grove of trees, Isak said, "Should we go back and free those horses sergeant? I am afraid they will be coming after us soon."

"It will be awhile before they realize their colonel and his aide are dead. Even then, they will have no one to tell them what to do. A regiment that suddenly finds itself without a leader is harmless." The sergeant smiled. "Let's take it easy for Jeremy's sake. He is in bad shape" The sergeant pulled back the tarp and saw that Jeremy was asleep, apparently fatigue had overtaken him.

Isak said, "They beat the crap out of him. Is that why you killed those men sergeant?"

The sergeant said, "The colonel had figured out that Jeremy was Captain Yankee Doodle. I wanted to protect Jeremy's identity so I killed the two men that could disclose it."

Isak nodded. He knew he could not have done that himself. As the sergeant and Ned changed out of the British uniforms, Isak poured some water from his canteen onto his handkerchief and dabbed Jeremy's bloody face. Jeremy awoke, he squinted his eyes trying to adjust to the daylight. "Isak?"

"Aye, Jeremy you're safe now. We are headed back to Chester. I'm sorry my friend...but I had to get some help to free you."

Jeremy suddenly grabbed the canteen and gulped down the water before Isak could stop him. Isak said, "Whoa there Jeremy. Not so much." Isak pulled the canteen away and looked up at the sergeant.

The sergeant said, "They clearly deprived him of water and sleep to try to get information. The medicine was a bait. They probably figured we would be desperate enough to come after it. I should have thought of that."

Jeremy said, "Nay sergeant, I should have thought of that. I feel like such a fool for getting caught. Isak don't look so worried. You did what I wanted you to do. The general needed that quinine. How is he by the way?"

The sergeant said, "He was plenty mad when he woke up, but calm and accepting Henry's help when we left. Hopefully that quinine Isak brought will have worked wonders by the time we return."

Jeremy said, "That's good. I'll be fine too in a few days. I just need to sleep now. Carry on men." Jeremy turned over and quickly drifted off to sleep. Isak, Ned and the sergeant smiled at Jeremy's 'order' as they headed for Chester.