emained at the window a full half
hour, seeking some sign of suffering, or at least an acknowledgment of
his presence, but he obtained neither, and he went on, leaving the
silent figure full of rage.
On the tenth day Holderness came in with the soldier. Henry knew by his
face that he had something to say, but he waited for the lieutenant to
speak first. Holderness fidgeted and did not approach the real subject
for a little while. He spoke with sympathy of Henry's imprisonment and
remarked on the loss of his tan.
"It's hard to be shut up like this, I know," he said, "but it is the
fortune of war. Now I suppose if I were taken by the Americans they
would do to me what Colonel de Peyster has done to you."
"I don't know," replied Henry, truthfully.
"Neither do I, but we'll suppose it, because I think it's likely. Now
I'm willing to tell you, that we're going to let you out again. Some of
us rather admire your courage and the fact that you have made no
complaint. In addition there has been another letter from those impudent
friends of yours."
"Ah!" said Henry, and now he showed great interest.
"Yes, another letter. It came yesterday. It seems that there must be
some collusion--with the French-Canadians, I suppose. Woodsmen, I'm
sure, do not usually carry around with them paper on which to write
notes. Nor could they have known that you were locked up in here unless
someone told them. But to come back to the point. Those impudent rascals
say in their letter that they have heard of your close imprisonment and
that they are retaliating on Privates Doran and Myers."
Henry turned his face away a little to hide a smile. He knew that none
of his comrades would torture anybody.
"They have drawn quite a dreadful picture, 'pon honor," continued
Lieutenant Holderness, "and most of us have been moved by the sufferings
of Doran and Myers. We have interceded with Colonel de Peyster, we have
sought to convince him that your confinement within these four walls is
useless anyhow, and he has acceded to our request. To-morrow you go
outside and walk upon the grass, which I believe will feel good to your
feet."
"Lieutenant Holderness, I thank you," said Henry in such a tone of
emphatic gratitude that Holderness flushed with pleasure.
"I have learned," continued Henry, "what a wonderful thing it is to
walk on a little grass and to breathe air that I haven't breathed
before."
"I understand," said Lieutenant Holderness, lo
|