CHAPTER XII
A CAPTURE
What was the matter with the fellow? Could he have sent for me merely toask that question, insisting on privacy? There must surely be some hiddenpurpose behind this. Yet if so, there was no betrayal in the man's face.His eyes had an angry gleam in them, and his words were shot at me indeadly earnest.
"The lieutenant?" I repeated, not prepared for a direct reply. "Why, Ihardly know--curiosity largely."
He stared at me in manifest unbelief.
"What do you expect to gain by lying?" he exclaimed sullenly. "You sawhim, no doubt, or you would not have asked what you did."
"Certainly I saw him," more deeply puzzled than before at his insistence."That was what aroused my interest. He seemed such a mere lad as he rodepast, and later I heard his voice, the voice of a boy."
"Was that all?"
"All! What else could you suppose? It was dark, only a little gleam ofmoon revealed outlines. I couldn't distinguish the face, but when hefailed to appear after the fight I remembered him, and was afraid he hadbeen hurt. Now I want to know what you mean. Who was the lad?"
He had seated himself on the stump, and was leaning forward, his facehidden from the light of the fire.
"Well, go on then," he returned finally. "If that's all you saw of himit's all right."
"No, it's not all right," I insisted, aroused by his peculiar actions."What is all this mystery about? You told me you didn't know the man."
"I said I hadn't seen him; that we joined Delavan after dark," hecorrected sharply. "But you needn't try to interview me, Major Lawrence,"stiffening with anger, "for I haven't anything to say to a spy and leaderof guerillas."
"You requested this interview; however, if you are satisfied I am, andyou can return to your men. Shall I call the guard?"
He hesitated a moment, but whatever it was which had first inspired himto question me, was too strong to be thrown aside.
"Did--did Mistress Mortimer help you escape from Philadelphia?" he askedbluntly.
"That is entirely my affair. Why don't you ask the lady herself?"
"See here, damn you!" he burst out. "I haven't seen the lady. When I gotback to the dining-room she was gone, and then I was ordered out here.But you knew you were being sought after, and I cannot imagine who elsetold you."
"You do not exhibit very great faith in the lady--the daughter of aloyalist."
He drew a quick breath, suddenly aware that he had gone too far.
"It is your sneaking spy methods, not the girl. She is innocent enough,but I suspect you dragged the truth out of her. Now see here!" and hisvoice took on the tone of a bully. "You are in power just now, but youwon't always be. You can't hold me prisoner; not with these ragamuffins.They'll turn us loose as soon as they loot those wagons. I know how theywork in the Jerseys. But first I intend to tell you something it will beworth your while to remember. Claire Mortimer is going to be my wife--mywife. War is one thing, but if you interfere in my personal affairsagain, I am going to kill you."
"Indeed," smilingly. "Is Mistress Mortimer aware of the honor you areaccording her?"
"She is aware of the engagement, if that is what you mean. It has beenunderstood since our childhood."
"Oh, I see; a family arrangement. Well, Grant, this is all veryinteresting, but I am unable to conceive what I have to do with it. I metMistress Mortimer by accident, and then was fortunate enough to dancewith her once. 'Tis scarcely likely we shall ever meet again. Thedaughter of a colonel of Queen's Rangers is not apt to come again intocontact with an officer of the Maryland Line. I don't know why you shouldsingle me out in this matter. I don't even know the lady's brother."
"Her brother?"
"Yes, the family renegade; the twin brother on Lee's staff."
I could not perceive the expression of the man's face, but he was a longwhile answering.
"Oh, yes. She told you about him?"
"It was mentioned. Would I know the boy from any resemblance to hissister?"
"Y--yes, at least I should suppose so. You must have become very intimatefor her to have told you that. You see it--it is a family secret."
"Nothing for Tories to boast over, I should imagine. However, it came upnaturally enough while we spoke of the sufferings of the American armyduring the winter. It is a sad thing the way this war has dividedfamilies. Has Mistress Claire any Colonial sentiments?"
"How the devil do I know! She would not be likely to air them before me.I don't know what fool trick you played on her last night, but she's onthe right side just the same."
"I think so, too."
His manner was so disagreeable that I instantly determined to have anend. I had more important work before me than quarrelling with thisfellow, and, somehow, his claimed intimacy with Mistress Mortimer gratedupon me strangely.
"If that is all you requested an interview for, Captain Grant," I saidcoldly, "I'll trouble you to return to your men."
I followed him closely back toward the fire, and neither spoke until wereached the guard-lines. Then he turned his face toward me.
"Have you a party out after the lieutenant?"
"No; probably he ran into our horse guard across the creek. If not, thethree who are reported to have got away can do us no harm. Why are you sointerested?"
"That is my affair," he replied, insolently, and walked across the opensquare, with shoulders squared.
Irritated that I had even condescended to question him, I turned back upthe road to where the men were yet busy about the wagons, spoke a fewwords to Duval, he explaining to me the best route toward the rivercrossing at Burlington, and then swung into the saddle and sent the blackforward to the crest of the ridge. The animal was restive, and hard tocontrol; I cast a single glance backward to where the blaze of the fireslit up the busy figures below, and then plunged forward into the blacknight, unable to see the road, but trusting the instincts of the horse.
I permitted the animal to go his own gait, and for a mile or more he keptup a hot gallop, finally tiring to a trot. By this time my eyes hadaccustomed themselves sufficiently to the gloom so as to dimly perceivethe outline of the highway, and the contour of the surrounding country.It was not a thickly settled region, although we passed two houses, andseveral cultivated fields, the latter unfenced. Duval had spoken of aturn to the westward, but I perceived no branching of the road, and beganto wonder if we had not passed the spot during that first rush. So far asI could judge from the few stars visible we were travelling almost duenorth. However, I was certainly getting farther away from the Britishlines, and could swing to the left at daylight. It made little differencewhere I struck the Delaware; every mile north added to my safety.
The silence of the night, the dull monotony of the landscape, caused mymind to drift backward over the rapidly occurring events of the past twodays. They all seemed natural enough--merely such a series of adventureas could occur to any one between the lines of two contendingarmies,--and yet a trail of mystery seemed to run through it all,becoming more and more perplexing. Why should Claire Mortimer have savedme from capture? What could have caused her so suddenly to array herselfagainst those who were nearest her in life, to assist a mere stranger?Who was the girl? Were those few words spoken to me the truth, or werethey intended to deceive? I could scarcely believe the last possible, forshe could have no object in leading me astray. The dividing of familieswas nothing new; the very fact that she possessed a brother in arms withthe Colonies was evidence that the younger blood was arrayed against theKing. As to her engagement with Grant I scarcely gave that a secondthought, for I knew she despised him, and was of too determined acharacter to surrender at the will of others. She might permit him tosuppose she was compliant, for some object of her own, but there wouldsurely be an hour of rebellion.
The memory of her arose clearly before me--the smile in those frank blueeyes, the proud poise of the head, the banter of the soft voice, and thewords spoken. While she had said nothing convincing--merely an expressionof womanly sympa
thy for the sufferings of the patriot army--yet I couldnot drive away the impression left that she was desirous that finalvictory perch upon our banners. Otherwise why should she have championedme, aided my escape, realizing, as she did, my mission in Philadelphia? Ifelt a sudden determination to learn the truth, to meet with her againunder pleasanter circumstances. There was but one way in which this mightbe accomplished. I would seek out the brother on Lee's staff, the momentduty would permit. The way of accomplishment appeared to be so clear, soeasy, that I ceased to dream, and began to plan. My horse had fallen intoa long, swinging lope, bearing us forward rapidly. The moon haddisappeared, but the sky was glittering with stars, and I coulddistinguish the main features of the country traversed. I was on thesummit of a slight ridge, but the road swerved to the right, leading downinto a broad valley. There were no signs of habitations, until we roundedthe edge of a small grove, and came suddenly upon a little village of adozen houses on either side the highway. These were wrapped in darkness,apparently deserted, shapeless appearing structures, although I thoughtone had the appearance of a tavern, and another seemed a store. There wasa well in front of this last, and water sparkled in a log trough besideit. My horse stopped, burying his nostrils in the water, and, suddenlymade aware of my own thirst, I swung, down from the saddle. My hands wereupon the well-rope when, without warning, I was gripped from behind, andflung down into the dirt of the road. I made desperate effort to breakaway, but two men held me, one with knee pressed into my chest, the otheruplifting the butt of a pistol over my head. There was not a word spoken,but I could see they were in uniform, although the fellow kneeling on mehad the features and long black hair of an Indian. My horse started tobolt, but his rein was gripped, and then a third figure, mounted, rodeinto the range of my vision.
"Search him for weapons, Tonepah," said a boyish voice briefly. "Thereare pistols in the saddle holsters, but he may have others. Then tie himup as quick as you can."
There was no mistaking my captors--the young dragoon lieutenant, and thethree who had escaped with him. But why had they ridden in thisdirection? What object could they have in thus attacking me? Theyafforded me little opportunity for solving these problems. Had I been abale of tobacco I could not have been treated with less ceremony, thewhite man unclasping my belt, while the Indian, with a grunt, flung meover on my face, and began binding hands and feet. I kicked him once,sending him tumbling backward, but he only came back silently, with morecruel twist of the rope, while the boy laughed, bending over his horse'sneck.
"Hoist him up on the black, lads," he said shortly, reining back out ofthe way. "Delavan's horse, isn't it? Yes, tie his feet underneath, andone of you keep a hand on the reins. Peter, you and Cass ride with him. Iwant Tonepah with me. All ready? We'll take the east road."
Some one struck the horse, and he plunged forward, swerving sharply tothe right in response to the strong hand on his bit. I swayed in thesaddle, but the bonds held, and we went loping forward into the night.