ns of his presence; whatever had subsequently happened
between the girl and himself, she had not felt justified in releasing me
while he and his men remained. They must have departed soon after dark,
well provisioned, upon their long march toward the Delaware, leaving
Elmhurst unoccupied except for its mistress and her servants. The fact
that neither the lady nor Peter had opened the entrance to the secret
staircase would seem to show that the attack on the house must have
followed swiftly. It had been a surprise, giving those within no chance
to seek refuge. There had been a struggle at the front door; some of the
assailants had achieved entrance through the window, and that had
practically ended the affair.

But what had become of Peter? Of the girl? Who composed the attacking
party? The Indian had been despatched to Valley Forge with my memoranda;
probably Peter, the Irishman, and a negro or two were alone left to
defend the house. As to the identity of the marauders, I had small doubt;
their handiwork was too plainly revealed, and those two dead men remained
as evidence. Rough as were British and Hessian foragers, they were seldom
guilty of such wanton destruction as this. Besides this was the home of a
prominent loyalist, protected from despoliation by high authority. The
hellish work must have been accomplished by one or more bands of those
"Pine Robbers" who infested Monmouth County, infamous devils, hiding in
caves among sand hills, and coming forth to plunder and rob. Pretending
to be Tories their only purpose of organization was pillage. Even in the
army the names of their more prominent leaders were known, such as Red
Fagin, Debow, West, and Carter, and many a tale of horror regarding their
depredations had I heard told around the camp fire. These came back to
memory as I gazed about those lower rooms, dreading my next discovery,
half crazed to think that Claire Mortimer might be helpless in their
ruthless grasp. Better death a thousand times than such a fate.

I pushed forward into the rooms of the lower floor, more than ever
impressed by their original magnificence. Now, however, they were all
confusion, furniture broken and flung aside, walls hacked, dishes smashed
into fragments. The scene was sickening in its evidence of wanton hate.
Yet I found no more bodies, or proof of further resistance. Apparently
the only serious fighting had occurred when the front door was burst
open. Had the other occupants of