pick up such
information as might be possible. The chances are the lad met the young
Tory--came across him by accident, of course, and could do no less than
show a friendly front, unless he was minded to much the same as tell him
we were counting on making reprisals because of the loss of our horses."

Although this was the reasonable, and, to my mind, the only explanation
of little Frenchie's behavior, Saul would not at first admit it; but
insisted that there must be treachery somewhere else than in Horry
Sims's heart, and thus he argued until I verily believe he convinced
himself that our little comrade from New Orleans could have done no
different. Then came the question as to whether we should remain where
we were, or start homeward, for now it was too late for us to make any
venture into the town of York even though we had been so minded.

Saul was for pushing on hurriedly, and, overtaking the young Tory, flog
him within an inch of his life. It was all I could do to hold him back
sufficiently long to repeat again and again that a flogging was all too
poor a punishment for the crime he had committed, and that if we should
lay hand against him now we might, and very likely would, put a
stumbling block in our way, for until the moment came when we could
repay the debt in full, it was absolutely necessary we seem to hold
ourselves friendly with this fellow who had dealt us such a cruel blow.

I forced Saul to listen to me so long that it would have been useless to
set out in pursuit, and after that again came the question as to whether
we ought to go on our way homeward, or wait where we were.

It was fortunate we spent so much time in such discussion; fortunate
that Saul differed from me as to what we had best do, for while we lay
there disputing we heard a crashing of the underbrush where the growth
was thick, and a moment later little Frenchie, looking heated and so
nearly breathless that for a full minute he could not speak so we might
understand, came into view.

Panting, and with the perspiration streaming down his face, he threw
himself headlong on the ground beside me, breathing like one who had
been running a race, until it was possible to have control over his
voice, when he said hurriedly, as if eager we should understand all the
reasons for his movements without loss of time:

"I was forced to go a certain distance with that young villain, else
would he have mistrusted that you might be near about."