Ogden,
else would we have come upon him ere this. We must content ourselves in
patience so far as may be, believing that the Jerseyman will sooner or
later come upon the truth."

"And what then?" I interrupted fiercely.

"Then we shall do all within our power to aid the lad, if he be alive,
and keep ever in mind, in case he has gone into the other world, that he
went because of striving to do whatsoever he might for the Cause."

I believe we could have walked through the village of York again and
again talking loudly on the most disloyal topics, and yet no one would
have given heed to us, so intent were all upon that distant booming
which told of a struggle that must decide the fate of those who held the
town of York while they themselves were much the same as prisoners.

It was some such thought which caused me to say with a smile, and as if
there was more of courage in my heart than really existed, that Lord
Cornwallis was much like Pierre and me. He had taken this village of
ours and set himself down to keep it, after which General Lafayette had
come up, closing him in, and holding him fast. We on our side had taken
Horry Sims a prisoner, and were striving to hold him, while the king's
soldiers were much the same as depriving us of our liberty now that they
no longer allowed us to make our way through the lines.

"I'll agree that the two situations are alike up to a certain point,"
Pierre said grimly; "but the end is to be much different. My Lord
Cornwallis will be beaten, while I'm counting that we shall come off
victors, through the aid of those who are battling for the Cause, and
therefore will we laugh best because we laugh last."

A dearer, truer, more cheery comrade than Pierre Laurens never lived!
Surely I had good proof of it that day when he heartened me with his
light words and his promises concerning the future until I was almost
come to believe we were on the high road to success, even though there
remained in the cupboard of old Mary's cabin no more than food enough to
serve for another meal, and we were unable to make our way to the
Hamilton plantation where we might have revelled in plenty.

When we saw Uncle 'Rasmus once more it was as if we had not stirred hand
or foot since we left him as Horry Sims's guardian.

The black, wrinkled face could be seen through the window as we
approached, and so far as being able to read an expression of either
hope or despair upon his countenance, one might a