The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-12-06

ent. In the meantime in this matter of
reaching Ferguson we may make good
use of him."
"In what manner, your lordshipT'
asked one whose voice did not recos-
nize.
HE has come straight from Major
Ferguson. as 1 say; and, loyalist or rebel
he can find his way back to Gilbert
Town.
But you'll never be trusting him with
dispatches" said Lord Rawdon.
There's no need to trust him. He can
be given the dispatches with some hint
of their purport. and of how much the
kings cause will profit by their safe de-
livery"
Again a silence fell upon the group
around the lawyers table, and then some
one-'twas Major Hanger, as thought
said: "'Tis an unread riddle for me as
yet, my lord"
CORVALLIS laughed. where are your
wits this morning, gentlemen? If he be
loyal and true. the dispatches will go
safe enough If, on the other hand. he
be a rebel and spy, he will doubtless
tamper with them; but in that case he
will none the less ride straight enough
to Major Ferguson's headquarters In the
west"
HIM: your lordship is still too deep
TOT me- SdlQ SCSOhO III VIM
mand IF he be a rebel and spy, why,
in Gods name, should he carry your
lordships letters to any but some rag
tag colonel of his own kidney"
My lord laughed again. Truly, major.
you should go to a DANES school and
learn diplomacy. If we tell him before
hand what our object is, how could any
rebel of them all defeat it more surely
than by going to Ferguson with gar
bled message that would make him stand
and fight a losing battle?"
But, my lord-the risk" cut in the
commissary general.
There need be none. An hour after he
sets out we shall send mounted detail
after him with an Indian tracker to nose
out his trail The lieutenant in command
will carry duplicate dispatches. At the
worst, 1reton will guide these followers
to Ferguson's rendezvous; and, so far as
we know, he is the only man who knows
exactly where to find the major
I had heard enough. Under cover of
the chorus of braves raised by Lord
Corvallis exploitation of a plot within
plot / lifted the trap door and made
my exit as noiselessly as had come.
Guessing that no time would be lost in
putting the plan into action, I made
haste to be found inquiring hither and
yon for the commander in chief when my
lord and his suite came down the outer
stair and when we were met l was
quickly told of my assignment to courier
duty.
Make your preparations to take the
road within the hour, and report to me at
Friend Stairs" said my lord, most affa-
bly,. I'VE shall put your new-found 10y
atty to the test, Captain Ireton, by in
trusting you with most important mis-
sion. Go with the commissary general
and he will find you your mount and
equipment"
Thus dismissed 1 went with Stedman,
and was accorded a more gentlemanly
welcome than my overhearings had
given me leave to expect.
On the way to the horse paddock the
commissary general told me of plan of
his to write history of the campaign; a
bit of confidence which set me laughing
inwardly and wondering if he would put
one John Ireton, sometime of the Scots
Blues and late captain in her Apostolic
Majesty's Hussars. between the covers
of his book. 'Tis small wonder that he
did not. l have since had the pleasure or
reading his history of the great war, and
l find 1t curiously lacking in those Incl
dents which did not rebound to the honor
and glory of the kings cause and army
in the field.
Not to digress. however, my makeshift
mount was soon exchanged for a better;
/ was allowed to draw what / would of
accouterments and provender from the
kings stores: and so. to cut il short
was presently at the door of my lord $
headquarters fully equipped and ready
for the road.
did hope in those last few moments