nced before I condemn the lad. When did he leave
here last?"

"About the middle of May."

"Would you mind telling me his mission? Where he was sent?"

The officer glanced keenly into my face; then ran hastily over a package
of papers taken from an open trunk.

"I can see no harm in doing so now, Major. He was sent to communicate
with a British officer--a prominent Tory--who has associations with 'Red'
Fagin, and others in Monmouth County. This officer has in the past, for a
consideration, furnished us with valuable information, generally through
young Mortimer who knew him. He had written us that he had more to sell."

"Where were they to meet?"

"At a rendezvous known as the Lone Tree, not far from Medford."

"Was the Tory officer named Grant?"

He stared at me in surprise.

"I am not at liberty to answer."

"Oh, very well; however, I understand the situation even better than you
do probably. Only I advise you one thing--don't condemn that boy until
you learn the truth. Grant is an unmitigated, cold-blooded scoundrel, and
the treachery is his. You'll learn that, if you wait long enough.
Mortimer is either dead, or in Fagin's hands. Good-night."

I passed out, and was beyond the guard, before he could recall me, even
had he desired to do so. I had no wish to talk with him longer. I felt
disappointed, sick at heart, and realized this staff-officer was strongly
prejudiced against young Mortimer. It seemed to me I saw a little light,
although not much. Eric had been at Elmhurst, and Claire was not innocent
of his presence in that neighborhood. She was shielding him, and it was
through her help that his first report to Lee had been sent back by the
Indian. Then Eric must have been in the house while I was there. Indeed
it must have been Eric who made me prisoner. And to protect him she had
told me a deliberate falsehood. Well, I could not blame the girl--after
Grant's open treachery (and doubtless she must have known something of
his double-dealing) she would scarcely trust any one, especially a
comparative stranger. It hurt me a little to realize this lack of faith
on her part, and yet it was not strange after all. Her brother's life
could not be put to the hazard of betrayal; perhaps she overestimated his
peril, and the importance of his mission.

As I rode back through the night, finding a path almost by instinct
through the maze of military encampments, I thought of all these things,
exonerating her from w