ght be so, that he was eager to turn his attention
to something more diverting than acting as a shadow to Pierre and me.

As the time wore on, however, I began to doubt the correctness of my
guess, for Hunt in turn threw himself down on the ground at full length,
as if to rest, and was seemingly encamped there for the night.

When I would have whispered to Pierre, counting on asking him if we had
not best try to escape from the fellow by the quickness of our heels,
the little lad motioned for me to remain quiet, and because of past
experience I obeyed him on the instant.

Now and then a soldier bent on some errand, or a sentinel on duty,
passed by; but gave no heed. None save Abel Hunt in all that town of
York appeared to fancy that it might be worth while to watch us.

Then, after it seemed as if a full night had passed, I heard the
sentries call the hour of midnight. We must have been there on the river
bank not less than three hours, and now it was, being thus warned of the
passage of time, that Abel Hunt began to grow uneasy.

Watching him out of the tail of my eyes as I lay silent and motionless
by Pierre's side, I saw the fellow raise himself on his elbow and look
steadily at both us lads, as if striving to make out whether we might
have fallen asleep, and I began to breathe heavily, as does one who
slumbers soundly, whereupon Pierre, who must also have been taking note
of Hunt's movements, followed my example.

Then the fellow rose to his feet, came softly beside us and bent over,
striving to get a view of our faces even though the night was dark, and
all the while we gave him fair token of being wrapped in the
unconsciousness of slumber.

He stood over us a full two minutes striving to make out to his entire
satisfaction whether we were asleep or awake, and then, evidently having
come to the conclusion that we were indeed in Dreamland, he stole softly
away.

Raising my head ever so slightly I noted that he took the direction
which would lead him near to my Lord Cornwallis's headquarters, and for
the first time since we had come upon the knave did I grow really
timorous. It needed not any very quick-witted lad to understand what
would be the result if even such a dissolute fellow as Abel Hunt should
give information that the son of a well-known rebel was loitering around
the village after night-fall, claiming to have no place where he could
find shelter.

"I believe he is going directly to headquarters