CHAPTER XXX
BEFORE GENERAL ARNOLD
I felt her hand withdrawn quickly, and the swift intake of her breath,yet there was no sharpness in the voice.
"Captain Grant, Peter? What can the man want here?"
"He claimed to be hunting deserters," returned Swanson, as calmlydeliberate of speech as ever. "But that was false. He knew we were on theroad, and asked for you."
"For me? And you told him--"
"Merely that you rode ahead to see that the road was clear. Then I leftat once, fearing he might join you."
She sat a moment in silence, her head bowed; then looked across into myface.
"This arrival must end our conference, Major," she said soberly. "CaptainGrant must not know that you are with me--that would mean fighting."
"Surely you do not wish me to run away."
"Yes, this time, for my sake as well as your own. If I could havecompleted my confession you would realize the necessity. However, thefact that you are the bearer of despatches should be sufficient; yourduty to the Colonies is more important than any private quarrel. You willgo?"
"Yes--but you? Are you safe with him?"
"Perfectly. I wish I might be clothed in my own proper dress, but withPeter and Tonepah on guard, Captain Grant alone is not dangerous. BesidesI wish to learn his purpose in seeking to join us." She hesitated. "Youmust not fear for me, but--but I wish to tell you all, and--and I am sureI shall need your help."
"You mean I am to join you again--at Elmhurst?"
"Is that asking too much?"
"Claire," I whispered, bending toward her, so Peter could not overhear,"nothing shall keep me from coming, dear. I will ride back the moment mydespatches are in Arnold's hands. But tell me first, if you are notafraid of Grant yourself, what is it you need me for?"
"Eric," she answered swiftly. "He has disappeared, dead or deserted. Oh,I cannot believe the last is true. It was to save his reputation that Idressed in this uniform, performed the work assigned him. I feel sureGrant knows where he is, what has become of him. I went to him inPhiladelphia, but he only sneered, and said the boy had doubtless runaway. I know better; that is not like a Mortimer. But I cannot search forhim; I must stay with my father. But if I can only be assured you willcome."
"You can be assured."
"Mistress Claire," broke in Peter, "some one is riding up the road."
"Yes, Peter, yes. Major, wait here! Don't move. We will go back and meethim."
I held my horse steady, although he made an effort to follow. Voices cameback to me through the darkness,--Grant's loud enough to be clearlyheard.
"What, is this you, Claire?" he laughed gruffly. "By all the gods, Ithought it must be Eric. I never expected to find you togged out in thisstyle. By Jove, I could wish it was daylight."
Whatever she replied must have sobered the fellow.
"Everything I say you take wrongly. Of course it's all right, for thecountry is full of stragglers out of both armies. Lord, I don't care whatyou wear, as long as it suits you. My business? Oh, I explained all thatto your putty-faced servant--Saint Anne! that fellow! But I'll review thematter again. I'm drumming up Clinton's deserters, but now I've met you,I'm tempted to go along with you as far as Elmhurst."
"Become a deserter yourself?"
"Oh, no, or at least only temporarily. There will be plenty of fightingyet in the Jerseys. Clinton's whipped all right, and is going to have atime getting away to the ships. In my judgment there will be richerpicking for a Jerseyman right here at home, than with the army in NewYork."
There was a moment's silence; then the girl asked, a shade of horror inher voice:
"Surely you cannot mean to ally yourself with guerillas, Captain Grant?With--with Fagin?"
The man laughed, but mirthlessly.
"That would be horrible, wouldn't it? Well, personally I fail to see whyFagin is any more of a scoundrel than some of these other fellows in giltepaulets. However, I've not come to that point yet. The fact is I have aprivate affair to attend to before I leave this neighborhood. Can youguess what it is?"
"I? Certainly not."
"Well, you will know shortly--the ambulance is coming."
I rode my horse slowly forward, keeping at the edge of the road, untilassured a sufficient distance separated us. Then I gave the restiveanimal a sharp touch of the spur, sending him swiftly forward. My escortwould have a mile or two the start, yet that was nothing. My thoughtswere not with them, or with my military duty, but reverted to the littlecompany around the wounded man. The bearing of the despatch to Arnold wasmere routine, involving only steady riding, but the relations existingbetween Claire, Grant, and Eric Mortimer were full of mystery. There wereconnecting links I could not understand; no doubt had the girl beenpermitted to conclude her story I might fit it together, but as it was Iwas left groping in the darkness. Yet my mind tenaciously held to itsoriginal theory as to Eric's strange disappearance--he had been betrayedby Grant, and was being held prisoner. But where? By whom? And for whatpurpose?
I pondered on this problem as my horse ploughed forward through the dust,my eyes unconsciously scanning the dark road. Grant could not have knownthat Colonel Mortimer was being taken home. His meeting with theambulance party was altogether an accident. Yet I had no faith the manwas out seeking British stragglers, for had he been despatched on such amission he would have had at least a squad of soldiers with him. Thenwhat? The probability was that he was either riding to Elmhurst, or tosome rendezvous with Fagin. Some plan had been interrupted by Clinton'ssudden march, by the British defeat at Monmouth, and Grant was riskinghis commission, braving the charge of desertion, for some privatepurpose. This might be love of Claire, revenge upon Eric, or possiblyboth combined. The latter would seem most probable. He would use Eric insome way to threaten the sister, to compel her to sacrifice herself. Shewas of a nature to do this, as was already abundantly proved by herassumption of male attire to save Eric's reputation. My ownresponsibility loomed large as I reached this conclusion, and rememberedher appeal for help. She, also, must suspect the truth, and had turned tome as the only one capable of unravelling the mystery. She trusted me,loved me, I now believed--and, under God, I would prove worthy her faith.With teeth clinched in sudden determination I caught up with my littlesquad of plodding horsemen, and, with word of command, hurried them intoa sharp trot.
Riding ahead, boot to boot with Conroy, I thought out a plan for action,and finally, in the gray of the morning, told him enough of the story toarouse his interest. Just before sunrise we passed Elmhurst, the greatwhite mansion appearing silent and deserted. There was no halting,although we turned in the saddle to look, and my eyes swept over thetroopers trotting behind us. They were a sturdy lot, their faces bronzedfrom exposure, their uniforms stained and dust-covered.
"Regulars?" I asked, nodding back across my shoulder.
"Not a man but has seen two-years' service," he replied proudly."Hamilton knows the troop, and he picked us out."
"I may need them for a bit of desperate work."
"They'll do it, sir, never fear."
"Good, sergeant; we'll ride hard, and trust to getting fresh horses inPhiladelphia. I'll tell Arnold the story. When we arrive there have yourmen get all the sleep they can. I'll attend to rations and ammunition.You are simply to have the men rested and ready. Cannot we make bettertime? The horses seem in good condition."
We passed swiftly over the level country, meeting a few stragglers, butpaying them small attention. Farrell's shop was closed and locked, and wehalted there merely long enough to water our animals. The road was nowclear to the river, although we passed numerous footmen wearily trudgingwestward. These were army riffraff, however, few being in uniform. By twoo'clock we were on the banks of the Delaware, and a half-hour later, Iswung down stiffly from the saddle in front of Arnold's headquarters onHigh Street.
He was an officer I never greatly liked, with his snapping eyes andarrogant manner, but he was courteous enough on this occasion,questionin
g me after reading the despatch, and offering me a glass ofwine.
"You look tired, Major, and must rest before you start back. I shall havemy report ready by sundown."
"General Arnold," I said, standing respectfully hat in hand, "I have afavor to ask,--that you will send your report by some other messenger,and give me a detail for special service."
He looked up in surprise.
"Special service, sir! But you are not assigned to my command."
"That is true, General," I insisted, "but the conditions warrant theunusual application."
"What service is contemplated?"
"An attempt to kill or capture Red Fagin, and release a scout whom Ibelieve he holds prisoner."
"You hope to accomplish all this alone?"
"With the assistance of the sergeant and ten dragoons who came here withme. They are in camp now on the Jersey shore."
He walked across the room, stared out of the window, and then again facedme.
"By Gad, sir, this is a most extraordinary request. Damme, I'd like toget hold of Fagin all right, but I need to know more of your plan, andthe reason you have for asking such a detail. It looks foolhardy to mymind."
I went over the situation carefully, watching the effect of my words inthe man's face. He sat at the table now, leaning forward eagerly. Arnoldhad the reputation of a gallant, and my first reference to a young ladyaroused him.
"The name, please--you mentioned no name."
"Claire Mortimer, sir."
"Ah! Ah! I remember her well. Danced with her myself. Now go on, sir; Ican appreciate the tale better from my recollection of the fair heroine."
I was not long at it, although he interrupted me occasionally by shrewdquestioning. As I concluded he kept silent a moment, looking at me fromunder his heavy brows.
"It looks like rather a blind trail to me, Major," he said kindly, "butI'm no spoil-sport in such an affair. You might have the luck to stumbleonto your party, and I'd take the chance myself if I were in your shoes.You wish to start at sunset?"
"Yes, sir."
"You need horses, rations, and pistol ammunition for twelve men?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well, Major, the quartermaster will attend these details. Go andlie down. Washington may not approve, but I'll take the responsibility."
He extended his hand across the table, and I felt the firm clasp of hisfingers.