large
that he could readily turn around in it, and in the gloom of the shed I
could see that his face was as white as my mother's table linen. He
shook like one in an ague fit, as well he might, for the threats Pierre
made carried with them such a ring of truth that he would have been dull
indeed had he failed to understand how far we would go in order to save
our own skins.
Pierre followed him into this snug hiding place, and I stood helplessly
by, awaiting some word from little Frenchie, ready to obey whatever
commands he might give, while Saul, shamefaced because of his
indiscretion, came up to my side.
"It is like this," Pierre said as if he had asked a question. "So long
as we can hold this Tory sneak secretly, so long are we at liberty to
remain in York Town to compass the business which brought us here; but
on the instant he gives us the slip, we may count on coming before a
military court charged with being rebels, if not with being spies."
"How long do you think he can remain in this shed without being
discovered?" Saul asked stupidly, and then it was that Pierre explained
his plan, so far as he had formed it.
"One of us, and you should be that one inasmuch as it was through you
that all this trouble came about," he said, looking at Saul, "must
remain here until midnight, or thereabouts, on the alert all the while
lest he give an alarm, while Fitz and I move about the village as we
were intending when we left old Mary's cabin. When night has come, and
if we find it possible, this Tory must be carried across the town and
stowed safely in that loft above the room in which Uncle 'Rasmus is
living. There, one or the other of us must act as jailor all the while,
until--I cannot guess when our duties may be ended. If, perchance, the
American forces give Lord Cornwallis battle, and are victorious, then
may we come out of the snarl with whole skins; but if so be the British
are the conquerors, we can look to have the tables turned on us, when
Horry Sims will get all the revenge he may desire."
A pretty pickle we were in because of what Saul had done! The most we
could hope for would be to hold Horry day after day in that loft of old
Mary's cabin, with but one show of getting out of the box, which would
be such a victory by the Americans that they might take possession of
the town of York.
It was a slim chance, though I doubted not that General Lafayette's
army, if reinforced as it should be, would whip the
|