"Pardon me, sir, but there are hors.e.m.e.n ahead."
"Indeed? I was lost in thought, Conroy. Coming this way?"
"No, sir, they seem to be travelling south slowly. I noticed them first as we turned the corner back there; I could see outlines against the sky."
"How large a party? They form merely a lumping shadow to my eyes."
"Not more than three or four, sir, with a covered rig of some kind.
They"re halted, now; heard us coming, I reckon."
I could perceive the little group, but merely as a black smudge. Then a mounted figure seemed to detach itself from the darkness, and advance toward us.
"Halt your men, sergeant," I said quietly. "I"ll ride forward and learn what the fellow wants."
CHAPTER XXIX
THE ESCORT
The figure of the man approaching was hardly distinguishable, as he appeared to be leaning well forward over the saddle pommel, yet my eyes caught the glimmer of a star along a pistol barrel, and I drew up cautiously, loosening my own weapon.
"Who comes?" he questioned shortly, the low voice vibrant. "Speak quick!"
"An officer with despatches," I answered promptly, "riding to Philadelphia--and you?"
"We are taking a wounded man home," was the reply, the speaker riding forward. "Are you Continental?"
"Yes. Major Lawrence, of Maxwell"s Brigade."
"Oh!" the exclamation was half smothered, the rider drawing up his horse quickly. I could distinguish the outline of his form now, the straight, slender figure of a boy, wearing the tight jacket of a Dragoon, the face shadowed by a broad hat brim.
"Unless I mistake," I ventured cordially, "you must be Eric Mortimer."
"Why do you suppose that?"
"Because while at General Washington"s headquarters he mentioned that you had asked permission to take your father--Colonel Mortimer, of the Queen"s Rangers--to his home at Elmhurst. You left, as I understood, an hour or two ahead of us. Am I right?"
"Yes, sir; this is Colonel Mortimer"s party."
"Then we will pa.s.s on without detaining you longer, as we ride in haste.
I met your father once; may I ask if his wound is serious?"
"Serious, yes, but not mortal; he was shot in the right side when Monkton fell. His horse was. .h.i.t at the same time, and the animal"s death struggle nearly killed his rider. The surgeon says he may be lame for life."
I reached out my hand, and, with just an instant"s hesitation, he returned the clasp warmly.
"My father is suffering too much for me to ask that you speak to him, Major Lawrence," he said a little stiffly. "Perhaps later, at Elmhurst--"
"I understand perfectly," I interrupted. "I am very glad to have met you.
We shall ride within a short distance of Elmhurst. Shall I leave word there that you are coming?"
"Oh, no," quickly, his horse taking a step backward, as though to a sudden tug of the rein. "That would be useless, as there is no one there."
"Indeed! I thought possibly your sister."
The lad shook his head, glancing toward the carriage. The slight motion made me think again of the wounded man we were detaining, and reminded me as well of my own duty.
"Then, good-night, sir. Sergeant, we will trot on."
The lad touched my sleeve, even as I p.r.i.c.ked my horse with the spur, and I drew the rein taut in surprise.
"What is it?"
"Could you not send your men forward, and ride with me a moment? You could catch up with them easily within a mile or two. I--I have a word I wish to say to you--alone."
The voice was low, tremulous; the request one I saw no reason to refuse.
"Why, certainly. Sergeant, take your men down the road at an easy trot. I will join you presently."
They went by us like shadows, leaving a cloud of dust behind. The boy spoke a brief word to those in charge of the carriage, and it also began to move slowly forward.
"We will go ahead," he said, suiting the action to the word. "What I wish to say will not take long."
Within a minute, riding side by side, our horses walking rapidly, we were out of sight of the lumping shadow of the ambulance. I glanced aside curiously at my companion, noting the outlines of his slender, erect figure, wondering vaguely what his message could be. Had Claire spoken to him of me? Was he going to tell me about his sister? We must have ridden a quarter of a mile before he broke the silence.
"Major Lawrence," he began, and I noticed the face was not turned toward me. "I am sure you are not deceived, although you act the part well."
"I hardly understand."
"Oh, but I am sure you do. I--I could not permit you to go away despising me."
"But, my boy, this is all mystery--"
"Do you mean to insist you do not know--have not recognized me?"
"I--what can you mean?"
"Merely that I am Claire Mortimer," and lifting the hat, the young officer was revealed in the dim light as my lady. "Surely you knew?"
"But I did not," I insisted earnestly, recovering from my surprise, and leaning forward to look into her face. "Why should I? General Washington told me it was Eric who came for his father. Why should I suspect in this darkness?"
"I--I represented myself as Eric," she stammered.
"And was it you also who rode into our lines yesterday, telling of Clinton"s whereabouts?"
"Yes," hesitatingly, her eyes lifting to my face.