"The robbing of the mail."
"How know you that?"
"Well, being in politics, colonel, I make it my business to know most things that is happening in the county. Now, I"ve been ferreting for some time to get at this post-riding business, and at last I"ve found out how it "s done. And they "re going to do it again to-morrow night just this side of Rocky Hill."
For a moment Brereton was silent. "How is it done?"
he asked.
"It"s this way. One of Moody"s gang is working with Squire Hennion as hired man; and when Hennion knows that a rider is due, he drops into the ordinary, and, casual like, finds out all he can as to when he rides on, and by what road.
Then he hurries off home and tells his man, and he goes and tells Moody, who gets his men together and does the business."
"I see. And how can we know where they set the ambush, so as to set a counter one?"
"It"s easy as can be. When they have the mail, it "s to Hennion"s barn they all goes, where they cut it open and takes out everything as Clinton will pay for, and sends it off at once on one of the boats of provisions as old Hennion is stealing into New York two or three times a week."
"Ah, that "s where he"s got the money to buy Greenwood, is it?"
"Yes; I tell you he"s a traitor if there ever was one, colonel.
But I guess he"ll be nabbed now. All you"ve got to do is to hide your men in the barn to-morrow night, and you"ll take the whole lot red-handed."
"And I suppose you tell me this to get your revenge for this afternoon."
"Just a little, colonel; but don"t forget I"m a patriot, who "s always trying to serve his country. Now I"ll tell you how we"ll do it. You bring your men down t" other side of the river to Meegan"s place; and as soon as it "s dark, I"ll come across the river in a sloop I own and will bring you right over to Hennion"s wharf, from which it will be easy to steal into his barn without no one seeing us."
Brereton made no answer for a minute, then said, "Very well; I"ll adopt your plan."
"I suppose there"ll be some reward coming to me, colonel?"
"Undoubtedly," replied Jack, but with a twitch of contempt.
"Is that all?"
"That"s enough to do the business, I guess," rejoined Joe.
"About nine clock I"ll allow to be at Meegan"s," he said.
Without a word of a.s.sent, Jack quickened his pace. When he had gone fifty feet he looked back, but already the informer had disappeared. "What dirty work every man must do on occasion!" he muttered. "I"d suspect the scoundrel but for what I heard this afternoon, and he has it all so pat that he"s probably been in it himself more or less. However, it promises well; and "t will he a service of the utmost importance if we can but break up the murdering gang and bring them to justice, for "t is no time to have Clinton reading all our secrets."
It was midnight when Brereton trotted into Chatham and dismounting from his horse walked wearily into his tent.
His servant, sleeping on the floor, waked, and hastily rose.
"A despatch, sir, from headquarters," he said, taking a paper from his pocket.
"When did it arrive?" demanded Jack, as he examined the seal, to make sure that it had not been tampered with, and then broke the letter open.
"Four hours ago, sir, by special courier."
What Brereton read was this:--
Headquarters, August 16, 1781.
Sir,--Should you have already taken steps looking to the discovery and seizure of those concerned in the late robbing of the mails, you will hold all such proceedings in abeyance until further orders. For military reasons it is even desired that the post-bag which will be sent through to-morrow should fall into the hands of the enemy, and you will act accordingly. I have the honour to be, Yr. Obedt. hble Servt.
Go. Washington.
To Colonel Brereton, Commanding the 3rd. New Jersey Regt., Stationed at Chatham.
Jack whistled softly, then smiled, "Joe will have a long wait," he chuckled. "I wonder what "s up."
He knew three days later, for orders came to him to put his regiment in motion and march for Philadelphia, and the bearer of the despatch added that the united forces of Washington and Rochambeau were already across the Hudson and would follow close upon his heels.
"We"ve made Sir Henry Clinton buy the information that we intend to attack New York," the aide told him, "and now we are off to trap Cornwallis in Virginia."
LX THE SPINNING OF THE WEB
Owing to the impossibility of the horses of Tarleton"s and Simcoe"s legions being ferried on the small boats which transported the foot troops from Portsmouth to Yorktown, they had been left behind the rest of the army, with directions to put themselves on board the frigate and sloops of war and effect a landing at Hampton or thereabouts. This gave the commissary still more time free from the presence of Major Hennion, but he had little reason to think it of advantage to him. At meal hours, since they had but one table, Janice could not avoid his company, but otherwise she very successfully eluded him. Much of each day she spent with her mother, who was ailing, and kept her room, and she made this an excuse for never remaining in those shared by all in common. When she went out of doors, which, owing to the August heats, was usually towards evening, she always took pains that the baron should not be in a position to join her, or even to know of her having sallied forth. With the same object, she generally, as soon as she left the house, hurried through the little village and past the rows of tents of the encampment on the outskirts and the lines of earthworks upon which the soldiery and negroes were working, until she reached the high point of land to the east, which opened on Chesapeake Bay, where, feeling secure, she could enjoy herself in the orchard of the Moore house, in the woods to the southward, or with sewing or a book, merely sit on the extreme point gazing off at the broad expanse of water.
She was thus engaged on the afternoon of the 28th of August, when the rustle of footsteps made her look up from her book, only to find that her precautions for once were futile, as it was the commissary who was hastening toward her.
"I needed this," he began, "to prove to me that you were not a witch, as well as a bewitcher, for, verily, I had begun to think that by some black art ye flew out of your window at will. Nay," he protested, as Janice, closing her book, rose, "call ye this fair treatment, Miss Meredith? Surely, if ye have no grat.i.tude yourself, ye should at least remember what I am doing for your father and mother, and not seek to shun me as if I were the plague, rather than a man nigh mad with love for ye."
""T is that very fact, Lord Clowes," replied Janice, gravely, "which has forced avoidance of you upon me. Surely you must understand that, promised now as I am to another, both by my father"s word and by my own, your suit cannot fail to distress me?"
"Is "t possible that, to please others, thee intends, then, to force thyself to marry this long-legged dragoon?" protested Clowes. "Hast thy father not told thee of thy own loss of Greenwood and of his undoubted loss of Boxely?"
"Our loss of property, my Lord, but makes it all the more important that we save our good name; and if our change of circ.u.mstance does not alter Major Hennion"s wishes, as I am certain it will not, we shall keep faith with him."
"Even though Lord Clowes offers ye position, wealth, and a home for your parents, not a one of which he can give?"
"Were I not promised, Lord Clowes, nothing could induce me to marry you."
"Why not?" questioned the baron, warmly.
"Methinks, if you but search the past, sir, you cannot for an instant be in doubt. Obligations you have heaped upon us at moments, for every one of which I thank you, but never could I bring myself to feel respect, far less affection for you."
The commissary, with knitted brows, started to speak, but checked himself and took half a dozen strides. Returning, he said:--
"Miss Meredith, "t is not just to judge the future by the past. Can ye not understand that what I did in Philadelphia, ay, every act of mine at which ye could take offence in our whole acquaintance, has been done on heated impulse? If ye but knew a man"s feelings when he loves as I love, and finds no response to his pa.s.sion in the object of it, ye would pardon my every act."
""T is not alone your conduct to us, Lord Clowes, but as well that to others which has confirmed me in my conviction."
"Ye would charge me with--"
""T is not I alone, my Lord, that you have deceived or injured, and you cannot plead for those the excuse you plead to me."
""T is the circ.u.mstances of my parole of which ye speak?"
demanded the baron.
"Of that and other things which have come to my knowledge."
Again the suitor hesitated before saying, with a suggestion of glibness: "Miss Meredith, every ounce of blame ye put upon my conduct I accept honestly and regretfully, but did ye but know all, I think ye would pity rather than judge me in that heart which seems open to every one but me. From the day my father died in the debtor"s prison and I was thrown a penniless boy of twelve upon the world, it has been one long fight to keep head above water, till I got this appointment.
The gentlemen of the army have told ye that I was a government spy, I doubt not. I wonder what they would have been in my straits! Think ye any man is spy by choice?