his shoulder the grip of a hand hard as steel. He
did not make any answer, but stood dumb, wondering what might be the
next act of this man, who seemed half a madman.

"Five of them!" he heard the same hoarse voice go on. "There must be
another--there must be one more, at least. You have done this--you
brought these letters. Give me the last one of them! Why don't you
answer?" With sudden and violent strength Lewis shook the boy as a dog
might a rat. "Answer me!"

"Captain, I cannot!" broke out Shannon.

"What? Then there is another?"

"I'll not answer! I'll stand my trial before court martial, if you
please."

Again the heavy hand on his shoulder.

"There will be no trial!" he heard the hoarse voice of his commander
saying. "I cannot sleep. I must have the last one. There is another!"

Shannon laid a hand on the iron wrist.

"How do you know?" he faltered. "Why do you think----"

"Am I not your leader? Is it not my business to know? I am a woodsman.
You thought you had covered your trail, but it was plain. I know you
are the messenger who has been bringing these letters to me from her.
I need not name her, and you shall not! For what reason you did
this--by what plan--I do not know, but I know you did it. You were
absent each time that I found one of these letters. That was too
cunning to be cunning! You are young, Shannon, you have something to
learn. You sing songs--love songs--you write letters--love letters,
perhaps! You are Irish--you have sentiment. There is romance about
you--_you_ are the man she would choose to do what you have done.
Being a woman, she knew, she chose well; but it is my business to read
all these signs.

"Give me that letter! I am your officer."

"Captain, I will not!"

"I tell you I cannot sleep! Give it to me, boy, or, by Heaven, you
yourself shall sleep the long sleep here and now! What? You still
refuse?"

"Yes, I'll not be driven to it. You say I'm Irish. I am--I'll not give
up a woman's secret--it's a question of honor, Captain. There is a
woman concerned, as you know."

"Yes!"

"And I promised her, too. I swear I never planned any wrong to either
of you. I would die at your order now, as you know; but you have no
right to order this, and I'll not answer!"

The hand closed at his throat. The boy could not speak, but still
Meriwether Lewis growled on at him.

"Shannon! Speak! Why have you kept secrets from your commanding
officer? You have begun to tell me--tell me