Peggy made no further remark, but wandered restlessly about, finally going into the dining-room. She was filled with apprehension lest at any moment Clifford"s hiding-place should be discovered. He must not stay, she reflected. It was no longer safe to conceal him anywhere on the premises. But where could he go? At this point in her musings she felt an arm slip about her waist, and turned to find Sally Evans beside her.
"And who is it, Peggy?" whispered Sally. "I know that "tis some one thee knows, else thee would not have helped him."
"Oh, Sally! how did thee know that "twas I who helped any one?" asked Peggy alarmed. "Did I show it so plainly? Does thee think the sheriff could tell that I knew aught?"
"Nay," Sally whispered back. "I knew because I know thee so well. Thee remembers I thought I heard thee talking with some one in the kitchen.
Who is it?"
"Clifford," whispered Peggy.
"Harriet"s brother?" asked Sally, after a little gasp of surprise.
"Yes; he hath escaped from Lancaster, and is trying to get to New York. I could not do otherwise than help him, Sally. He would not have come here had not the storm rendered traveling difficult. But father must not know. "Twould go hard with him were it known that he a.s.sisted Clifford, if he should a.s.sist him. He might not do it. Thee knows how he feels about such things. He might deem it right to give Clifford up even though he be our cousin. I want father to do right, Sally, but I don"t want Clifford given up, either."
"Why, of course thee doesn"t," answered Sally briskly. "And of course, Peggy, "tis quite right for thy father to feel as he does. I dare say Robert and Fairfax feel the same toward any who is an enemy to the country. "Tis right for them, but we females are made of softer stuff.
Don"t worry, but let thy cousin go home with me. Mother and I will be glad to conceal him until the weather permits him to continue his journey."
"Oh, Sally! does thee mean that?" cried Peggy breathlessly.
"I do, Peggy. Thee would be surprised to know how many of the British we have helped during the war. As a whole I dislike them intensely,"
and Sally drew her lips together vindictively. "When there is a battle I rejoice when we defeat them; but when any of them are in trouble, or danger, I never can think of them only as mothers" sons, and so, and so----"
Peggy leaned forward and kissed her.
"I think thee is the dearest girl in the world, Sally Evans," she said. "Does thee remember that there is a penalty for harboring escaping prisoners?"
"Well, yes; but friendship would not be worth much if it were not willing to incur some risk," answered her friend sagely. "Where is he?"
"In the chamber above the kitchen, Sally. Let"s go out there. I am consumed with anxiety lest he be discovered."
The sheriff, followed by his a.s.sociate Mr. Ledie, David Owen, Robert and Fairfax, having made the rounds of the house came into the entry way just as Sally and Peggy entered it. The men who had been detailed to make the search of the outbuildings and grounds joined them a few moments later.
"He stood just here," observed the sheriff indicating the place behind the door. "You can see his tracks. What puzzles me is the fact that there are no further traces. He did not go away, as there are no tracks leading away from this place. Neither are there any inside, and the sand on the kitchen floor hath not been disturbed save by the darkey."
"Hast thou searched the wash-house and the servants" quarters?"
queried Mr. Owen anxiously. "They are all in this building."
"We have looked through it thoroughly," declared the sheriff emphatically. "And the barn, and all other buildings. "Tis most mysterious. He hath disappeared as unaccountably as though whisked out of sight on a witch"s broom. Well, boys, scatter about the grounds again, and see if you can"t find some trace. Some one in the house hath aided in the escape," he said, turning again to Mr. Owen as the men obeyed his order.
"I do not see who could have done so," returned David Owen with a troubled look. "There is not one of the household who is not a consistent Whig, and there hath been no opportunity for anything of the sort. When we have not been together in the sitting-room we have been at the table. The girls washed the dishes in the dining-room, but joined us immediately afterward. From the laughter that accompanied the act I would be willing to wager that no British prisoner had any share in it."
Peggy did not see the quick glance that pa.s.sed between Robert Dale and Fairfax Johnson. She had been absent from the room fully a half hour longer than the other girls, but evidently her father had not noticed the fact. Fairfax Johnson spoke abruptly:
"Suppose we take a look about the grounds, Major Dale."
"Your pardon, gentlemen," interposed Sheriff Will. "I cannot allow you to go unless one of my men accompanies you. You see all of you are more or less under suspicion until the matter is cleared up, and I prefer that you remain in sight."
"Just as you say, sir," replied the youth quickly. "I thought only to be of service."
"I see not where the fellow could have gone," mused David Owen, whose distress was evident. "Would that he might be found, if only to release us from suspicion."
"Well, have you found anything?" demanded the sheriff as his men reentered the dwelling. "Come into the kitchen, boys. It grows cold."
"And dark, Mr. Will," announced one of the men. "Too dark to see much.
We shall have to give up for the night."
"I fear so," answered the sheriff grumblingly. His manner showed that he was far from satisfied with the result of the search. The house had been gone through thoroughly, and every place that could afford a possible hiding-place ransacked. David Owen and the two youths were of the army. The family was noted for its patriotism, and had offered no objection to the search, yet he showed that he was reluctant to give up. He stood meditatively before the fire, his hands clasped behind him, his glance roving about the room. Suddenly he started forward, and an excited "Ah!" escaped him.
Peggy turned pale, for his eye was resting upon the trap-door. Her father"s glance followed the sheriff"s.
"If any went through that door, Friend Will," he said casually, ""twas one who is much younger than either of us. In truth, none but a slender youth could draw himself through that door."
"True," answered the officer gazing at the door thoughtfully. "True, Mr. Owen, yet am I minded to explore it. I like not to leave any place unsearched. It may be that our man is young, and that that is the very place where he lies concealed. Is there a ladder?"
"There was one, but "tis at the carpenter"s shop to be mended,"
answered Mr. Owen. He looked vaguely about the kitchen. "I see not how thee is to get up," he said.
"I think I could get up there." Fairfax Johnson sprang lightly upon the table as he spoke. "Will some one hand me a chair?"
"That"s the idea," cried the sheriff approvingly. "Still, young man, before you undertake this you must understand that there is risk attending it. You will be completely at the mercy of any one who happens to be up there. You understand that, don"t you?"
"Well, some one must go," replied Fairfax. "One of your men would take the risk in case I don"t. Won"t he?"
"Yes; but---- Well, go on." A chair was pa.s.sed up to him, and the youth mounting it pushed the trap-door back slowly.
Peggy"s hand involuntarily went to her heart, and she trembled so that she could scarcely stand. The watchers grew very still as Fairfax Johnson stood for a moment before swinging himself up through the opening. Sally gave a little gasp as he disappeared into the darkness.
"What if--if he should shoot?" she murmured unconsciously speaking aloud.
""Tis what I"m afraid of," answered Sheriff Will. "What is it?" he cried, springing upon the table and mounting the chair in a vain effort to see what was taking place in the attic. "Have you found him?" For an unmistakable chuckle came from overhead. It sounded to Peggy as though it were her cousin"s voice. She told herself that she was mistaken, however, when Fairfax Johnson appeared at the opening.
"It"s a rug," he called, a broad smile illuminating his countenance.
"When I stumbled over it I thought it was a bear. I suppose Miss Peggy hath put it up here anent her housekeeping time. Shall I throw it down?"
"No," answered Sheriff Will, in disgusted tones. "If that"s all there is up there you might as well come down. We are not hunting articles to set Miss Peggy up."
"If any of the rest of you wish to come up I think I could help draw him up." The youth leaned over the side of the opening suggestively.
"No, no," interposed Mr. Ledie, commissioner of prisoners. "The fellow is evidently not up there, and there is no use wasting time. He must be somewhere else about the premises, or else we have overlooked his tracks."
"I don"t see how we could," declared the sheriff. "Anyhow, "tis getting too dark to do any more to-night. You seem to have found some cobwebs, if you did not find a prisoner, my friend," he said as Fairfax Johnson swung himself down to the table. "I suppose that we must wish you good-night, Mr. Owen. We may drop in to-morrow."
"Nay, gentlemen, go not so," spoke Mr. Owen. "Come, refresh yourselves, I pray you. You will take supper with us after so hard a search. It will not be long before "tis ready, and "tis o"er cold to go forth without something warming. La.s.s, canst thou not help Sukey to get it quickly?"
"Yes, father," answered Peggy. She was quite herself by this time, but filled with amazement at Fairfax. What a queer compound he was, she thought, glancing over to where the youth stood. He was blushing as Sally helped him to remove the cobwebs from his clothing, and seemed unable to answer the chaff with which she and Robert were plying him.
Yet but a short time since he had made that little joke concerning the fur rug and her housekeeping. Had he really seen Clifford?
"Let all of us young people help," cried Betty gayly coming into the kitchen as Mr. Owen with the sheriff and his men left it.