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Updated: June 3, 2025
They were very silent as they sat by the camp-fire that night in an orange-grove, with the big stars peeping down at them, and Tom Jones, who took a great interest in what was said, sat and waited for ever so long, and then being tired out with the long day's tramp, lay down to listen, and dropped off fast asleep, just as Joe Beane said thoughtfully:
"Mrs Corporal Joe Beane," was the prompt reply, and the boy drummed the mule's sides to make it go faster, but without effect. "Well, where did you live before Joe Beane found you?" "I don't know," said the boy, shaking his head, and Tom Jones stared hard with his mouth open before asking his next question. "I say, how's your head?" "Quite well, thank you," said the boy; "how's yours?"
"Wouldn't it be well, since this is a court, to swear me as a witness?" asked Roland Reed, quietly. "Of course, of course," said the squire, rather annoyed to be reminded of his duty by this stranger. This being done, Mr. Beane questioned the witness in the interest of his client. "Do you know anything about the tin box found in the possession of Luke Larkin?" he asked. "Yes, sir."
The boys wouldn't touch a morsel till I'd put aside some for you and Tom." That night the 200th was still marching on where they were to camp in the mountains, while on a rough kind of litter formed of a long basket strapped upon the back of a mule, with a couple of great-coats and a blanket for bed, lay the poor child whose life Mrs Beane was trying to save.
"Corporal Joe Beane," said the boy promptly; "I say, Tom, mayn't I have a blow now?" "What? No, of course not. You don't want to send the men at the double up a hill like this." "Why not? I should like to run too, only I so soon get tired." "You shall have a blow some day. But I say, who's your mother?"
It was a long and a weary forced march, for scouts had brought in news which made the officers hope to come in touch of the retreating army before morning, for the news had spread, and during the night the Colonel and officers found opportunities for coming and asking Mother Beane about her little patient.
"I knew the box was one such as is used to hold valuable papers and bonds," proceeded Melinda, "and, as I had always looked on the widow as very poor, I didn't know what to make of it." "Did you question Mrs. Larkin about the tin box?" asked Mr. Beane. "No; she shut the trunk at once, and I concluded she didn't want me to see it." "Then you did not say anything about it?"
But the night passed away without any alarm, and soon after sunrise in the beautiful chestnut wood, about fifty of the missing crawled back into camp, but there was no news of the Colonel, none of Dick, and poor Mrs Corporal Beane had another terrible trouble on her mind as she nursed and held water to her husband's feverish lips, for in the terrible fight at the surprise brave stout-hearted Joe Beane had been shot close to the Colonel's side, and he remembered seeing that officer wave his sword, and hearing him cry, "Forward, my lads; this way," but he could recollect no more.
We are not even certain that it is the one missing from the bank." As Mr. Beane was a lawyer, Prince Duncan, though unwillingly, was obliged to yield. The box, therefore, was taken to the bank and locked up in the safe till wanted. It is hardly necessary to say that the events at the cottage of Mrs. Larkin, and Luke's arrest, made a great sensation in the village.
If you were men you'd ketch and kill some of 'em for this." A low growl arose from the soldiers around, and Tom Jones sniffed, drew his bugle round from where it hung at his back, and dropped two silent tears in its mouth. "You Tom," cried Mrs Beane, "don't stand sniffing and snivelling there like a great bull calf. Take the tin dipper and fetch it full of clean water. Oh, Joe, Joe! It's too late.
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