War by Edward Cline

the dirt. He had observed, at first with unconcern, the collection of men who looked like tenants and slaves of the plantation here. They carried mostly farming tools and implements, but a few sported muskets.Whether or not these weapons were charged to fire, he could not tell. But his party was clearly outnumbered, and these tenants and slaves looked determined to support the two gentlemen on horseback. He swallowed once in the knowledge that to continue to press his duty now would be a folly he did not want to answer for; indeed, one he might not survive.
    To further complicate the situation, a woman, obviously a lady, had appeared on a riding chair and sat in its seat on the fringes of the tenants, watching with obvious horror.
    He heard sounds on the porch of the great house. He turned and saw that two more men had gathered on it behind the finely dressed woman with red hair, presumably the mistress of the house, whom he had not even had the chance to address. They carried pistols at the ready, and those pistols were cocked.
    Hunt had not counted on such resistance. The letter he had received about a possible cache of arms hidden in this house did not hint at the resolute defiance he might encounter, although he had thought it prudent to request the assistance of the marines from the naval commander. Even if the lieutenant could fire a volley, he and his men could be overwhelmed in the midst of reloading. The situation had become dangerous and humiliating. It was time to concede defeat. The Customs inspector turned back to the strangers. “Who
are
you, sir?” he asked with impatience.
    “Hugh Kenrick, master of Meum Hall,” said Hugh, pointing vaguely in the direction of the plantation with his sword, “and burgess for this county.”
    In spite of his angry red pallor, the Customs inspector seemed to smile, and his black eyes become animate with some secret knowledge. The two intruders studied him with curiosity, for they could not account for his change in demeanor. He derived a small satisfaction from that.
    Hunt abruptly turned to the marine lieutenant. “Shoulder your men’s arms, lieutenant, and prepare to march them back to the boat! We are done here!”
    The lieutenant, a young man whose eyes were wide with fright, immediately complied with the request and gave his orders. A barely suppressed collective sigh of relief blew from the squad of redcoats. When his men’s weapons were shouldered, the lieutenant looked to Mr. Hunt for further instruction.
    “March them out, thank you, lieutenant. We will follow.”
    The lieutenant left-faced his men, strode to the head of them, andquick-marched them away. The tenants parted to let them pass. Hunt’s two colleagues followed without their own superior’s leave.
    Hunt waved a stern finger at the two horsemen. “Do not doubt me, sirs! I will write the authorities about this incident, make no mistake about that! There will be consequences!” Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and followed his party.
    Hugh and Roger reined their mounts around and followed the Customs inspector a short distance. It was only then that Hugh noticed his wife in the riding chair, and the mask of bitterness in her expression.
    She looked away from him, turned the chair around, and rode away back to Meum Hall.

Chapter 6: The Antagonists
    H ugh wanted to follow her, but resisted the impulse. He knew what she was thinking. He also knew it was necessary to punctuate the episode with an assurance that the Customsmen would not return. Instead, he rode with Tallmadge in the wake of the marines and Customsmen down the rolling road to the pier and the waiting galley boat tied to it. Lieutenant Manners trailed behind out of curiosity. There they stopped to watch the party board the boat. A pair of
Fowey
crewmen rowed them back across the water to the warship.
    Hugh glanced behind him. Some of the tenants had followed them down the road. Others were gathered on the lawn over the