ached us with indolence
when he first came up in the early morning, and grumbled as we came
toward the village because little Frenchie insisted on walking
leisurely, lest suspicion might be aroused. While we remained in old
Mary's cabin with Uncle 'Rasmus, he cried out loudly at our wasting time
when we might accomplish something, although the lad knew full well that
much time must be spent, and many plans made, before we could hope even
to set about our purpose.

He was the first to leave the cabin when Uncle 'Rasmus insisted that we
play the part of curious ones, and pressed on ahead as if he would go
his own way, leaving us behind, until Pierre said to me in a whisper:

"It is not well that we separate--at least, not until we have made some
agreement as to a rendezvous later."

Then it was that I quickened my pace to overtake Saul, who had just
disappeared around the corner of that shop wherein a man named Bemis,
who had lately come from Baltimore, displayed stuffs for dresses and
gewgaws of all kinds intended to attract the attention of the women and
girls.

I was for going directly to where the Rangers were quartered, and
therefore felt not a bit hurt that my cousin should start off by himself
without giving heed to our wishes, and, finding it was impossible to
overtake him at any ordinary pace, I quickened to a run. In consequence
I turned the corner of the shop rapidly, coming directly upon, and
almost over-running, a lad who had halted Saul, and was engaged with him
in angry altercation.

While one might have counted ten I was too nearly dazed with having come
into violent contact with the fellow, to fully realize the situation,
and then a cry of mingled surprise and dismay burst from my lips, for I
found myself clutching and being clutched by none other than Horry Sims.

Even then no great harm might have been done had it not been for Saul's
ill temper. Little Frenchie, seeing that we had thus inadvertently come
upon the lad whom we knew to be an enemy to us as well as a traitor to
his country, would have treated the matter as a pleasing incident, and
began by saying with a friendly shrug of his shoulders and a wave of the
hands, that he was glad we had found a friend in the town because we
were feeling like cats in a strange garret, when Saul interrupted him as
he cried angrily:

"There is no reason, Pierre Laurens, why you should put on a false face.
You know full well, after all that happened yesterd