"What?"
"To see this rustic beauty, Penelope Grant----"
"Have I not refused to seek her for you?" I demanded.
"Yes, but not for yourself, Jack! Curiosity killed a cat and started a young man on his travels!"
Exasperated by her malice I struck my mare"s flanks with moccasined heels; and as I rode out into the darkness Claudia"s gaily mocking laugh floated after me on the still, sweet air.
CHAPTER VI
RUSTIC GALLANTRY
There were few lanterns and fewer candle lights in Johnstown; sober folk seemed to be already abed; only a constable, Hugh McMonts, stood in the main street, leaning upon his pike as I followed the new moon out of town and down into a dark and lovely land where all was still and fragrant and dim as the dreams of those who lie down contented with the world.
Now, as I jogged along on my mare, Kaya, over a well-levelled road, my mind was very full of what I had seen and heard at Johnson Hall.
One thing seemed clear to me; there could be no foundation for any untoward rumours regarding Sir John,--no fear that he meant to shame his honoured name and flee to Canada to join Guy Johnson and his Indians and the Tryon County Tories who already had fled.
No; Sir John was quietly planning his summer farming. All seemed tranquil at the Hall. And I could not find it in my nature to doubt his pledged word, nor believe that he was plotting mischief.
Still, it had staggered me somewhat to see Hiakatoo there in his ceremonial paint, as though the fire were still burning at Onondaga. But I concluded that the Seneca War Chief had come on some private affair and not for his nation, because a chief does not travel alone upon a ceremonial mission. No; this Indian had arrived to talk privately with Hare, who, no doubt, now represented Guy Johnson"s late authority among the Johnstown Tories.
Thinking over these matters, I jogged into the Mayfield road; and as I pa.s.sed in between the tall wayside bushes, without any warning at all two shadowy hors.e.m.e.n rode out in front of me and threw their horses across my path, blocking it.
Instantly my hand flew to my hatchet, but at that same moment one of the tall riders laughed, and I let go my war-axe, ashamed.
"It"s John Drogue!" said a voice I recognized, as I pushed my mare close to them and peered into their faces; and I discovered that these riders were two neighbors of mine, G.o.dfrey Shew of Fish House, and Joe de Golyer of Varick"s.
"What frolic is this?" I demanded, annoyed to see their big pistols resting on their thighs and their belted hatchets loosened from the fringed sheaths.
"No frolic," answered Shew soberly, "though Joe may find it a matter for his French mirth."
"Why do you stop folk at night on the King"s highway?" I inquired curiously of de Golyer.
"Voyons, l"ami Jean," he replied gaily, "Sir Johnson and his Scottish bare-shanks, they have long time stop us on their sacre King"s highway.
Now, in our turn, we stop them, by gar! Oui, nom de dieu! And we shall see what we shall see, and we shall catch in our little trap what shall step into it, pardieu!"
Shew said in his heavy voice: "Our authorities in Albany have concluded to watch, for smuggled arms, the roads leading to Johnstown, Mr.
Drogue."
"Do they fear treachery at the Hall?"
"They do not know what is going on at the Hall. But there are rumours abroad concerning the running in of arms for the Highlanders, and the constant pa.s.sing of messengers between Canada and Johnstown."
"I have but left the Hall," said I. "I saw nothing to warrant suspicion." And I told them who were there and how they conducted at supper.
Shew said with an oath that Lieutenant Hare was a dangerous man, and that he hoped a warrant for him would be issued.
"As for the Indian, Hiakatoo," he went on, "he"s a surly and cunning animal, and a fierce one as are all Senecas. I do not know what has brought him to Johnstown, nor why Moucher was there, nor Steve Watts."
"Young Watts, no doubt, came to visit his sister," said I. "That is natural, Mr. Shew."
"Oh, no doubt, no doubt," grumbled Shew. "You, Mr. Drogue, are one of those gentlemen who seem trustful of the honour of all gentlemen. And for every gentleman who _is_ one, the next is a blackguard. I do not contradict you. No, sir. But we plain folk of Tryon think it wisdom to watch gentlemen like Sir John Johnson."
"I am as plain a man as you are," said I, "but I am not able to doubt the word of honour given by the son of Sir William Johnson."
De Golyer laughed and asked me which way I rode, and I told him.
"Nick Stoner also went Mayfield way," said Shew with a shrug. "I think he unsaddled at Pigeon-Wood."
They wheeled their horses into the bushes with gestures of adieu; I shook my bridle, and my mare galloped out into the sandy road again.
The sky was very bright with that sweet springtime l.u.s.tre which comes not alone from the moon but also from a million million unseen stars, all a-shining behind the purple veil of night.
Presently I heard the Mayfield creek babbling like a dozen laughing la.s.ses, and rode along the bushy banks looking up at the mountains to the north.
They are friendly little mountains which we call the Mayfield Hills, all rising into purple points against the sky, like the waves on Lake Ontario, and so tumbling northward into the grim jaws of the Adirondacks, which are different--not sinister, perhaps, but grim and stolid peaks, ever on guard along the Northern wilderness.
Long, still reaches of the creek stretched away, unstarred by rising trout because of the lateness of the night. Only a heron"s croak sounded in the darkness; there were no lights where I knew the Mayfield settlement to be.
Already I saw the grist mill, with its dusky wheel motionless; and, to the left, a frame house or two and several log-houses set in cleared meadows, where the vast ramparts of the forest had been cut away.
Now, there was a mile to gallop eastward along a wet path toward Summer House Point; and in a little while I saw the long, low house called Pigeon-Wood, which sat astride o" the old Iroquois war trail to the Sacandaga and the Canadas.
It was a heavy house of hewn timber and smoothed with our blue clay, which cuts the sandy loam of Tryon in great streaks.
There was no light in the windows, but the milky l.u.s.tre of the heavens flooded all, and there, upon the rail fence, I did see Nick Stoner a-kissing of Betsy Browse.
They heard my horse and fluttered down from the fence like two robins, as I pulled up and dismounted.
"Hush!" said the girl, who was bare of feet and her gingham scarce pinned decently; and laid her finger on her lips as she glanced toward the house.
"The old man is back," quoth Nick, sliding a graceless arm around her.
"But he sleeps like an ox." And, to Betsy, "Whistle thy little sister from her nest, sweetheart. For there are no gallants in Tryon to match with my comrade, John Drogue!"
Which did not please me to hear, for I had small mind for rustic gallantry; but Martha pursed her lips and whistled thrice; and presently the house door opened without any noise.
She was a healthy, glowing wench, half confident, half coquette, like a playful forest thing in springtime, when all things mate.
And her sister, Jessica, was like her, only slimmer, who came across the starlit gra.s.s rubbing both eyes with her little fists, like a child roused from sleep,--a shy, smiling, red-lipped thing, who gave me her hand and yawned.
And presently went to where my mare stood to pet her and pull the new, wet gra.s.s and feed her tid-bits.
I did not feel awkward, yet knew not how to conduct or what might be expected of me at this star-dim rendezvous with a sleepy, woodland beauty.