Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-03-22
CHAPTER XIV.

tons illword, l met with nothing like
the welcome at the outpost camp that
kings courier had a right to expect
AS luck would have it, the first famil-
lar face / saw was that of Charles
Stedman, the commissary general On
my inquiry he directed me straight
My Lord is at supper at Mr.. Stairs.
Have YOU news, Captain
/ drew breath of relief. Happily the
loss of the day had not made me the
bearer of stale tidings. So / made an
swer with proper reticence, saying that
] had news, but ii was for Lord Corn
wallis ears first of al.
| shall not soon forget the scene that
fronted us when we came into my
Lords presence. The supper was in
some sort gala feast held in honor
of my Lords accession to his earldom.
The table, lighted by great silver can
delabra which 1 recognized as Ireton
heirlooms, was we'll filled around by
the members of the commander-in-
chiefs military family, with the earl at
the head, and Mistress Margery, be-
digit as befitted a lady of the quality,
behind the tea-urn at the foot.
At our incoming ali eyes were turned
upon US. but 1t required by Lords sharp
question to make me leave off dwelling
upon my sweet lady's radiant beauty.
How now, Captain Ireton? Do you
bring us news from the major?"
Il do, my Lord"
well, what of him? You left him
Fastening to rejoin with his new loyal
list levies, l hope?"
May all the enemies of the Com
monwealth be even as he is, my Lord"
1 said, quietly.
Now, truly, had hanged my petard
well and twas plain the shock of it had
gone far to shatter the wall of conf
dence our enemies had builded on the
field of Camden and elsewhere. Had
hand grenade with the fuse alight been
dropped upon the table, the consterna-
ton could scarce have been greater.
To d man the tableful was up and
thronging round me; but above all the
hubbub / heard a little cry of misery
from the table-foot where my lady sat
How is this, sir?-explain YOURSELF"
Numbered my Lord, forgetting for once
his mild suavity.
"'Tis but a brief tale, and will
make 1t as crisp as may be in the tell
ing" I replied. II came upon the ma
1or some miles this side of the crossing
of the Broad. He was marching to re-
join you. in accordance with his orders.
But when he had your Lordship's COM
mand to stand and fight. he obeyed."
MY command?-but 1 gave him no
such order!"
Nay, truly, you did not-neither in
the original nor in the duplicate, my
Lord But when we had waylaid Lieu
tenant Tybee and quenched the dupli-
cate, and had so amended the original
as to make 1t fit our purpose. the brave
major thanked you for what you had
not done and made his stand to await
the upcoming of the over-mountain
men,
For a moment 1 thought they would
hew me limb from limb, but my Lord
quelled the fierce outburst' with a word.
Put up your swords. gentlemen. We
shall know how to deal with this trail
tor" ne said And then to me: Go on.
sir, If you please; there has been a
battle, as / take it?'
"There has. indeed. The mountain
men came up with us in the afternoon
of the Saturday. In an hour one third
of the majors force was dead or dying.
the major himself was slain, and ev-
cry living man left on the field was a
prisoner"
Again a dozen swords Kissed from
their scabbards. and again heard the
little CRY Of misery from the table-foot.
bowed my head, looking momently
70 nav the penalty: but once more my
Lord nut the swords aside.
Let us have clean breast of it this
time Captain Ireton." he said. you
know we'll what you have earned, and
po,hing YOU can say will make II bet
ter or worse for you. Was this your
purpose in making your submission to
me?'
1T was"
"Then II was farrago OF lies you
told me about your adventures In the
western mountains?"
mot wholly. 1t was your Lordship's
GOOD pleasure to send succors of pow
5er and lead to your allies. the western
savases. l and three others followed
Cantain Falconnet and his. Indians. and
have the honor to report that we
overlook and exploded them with their
own powder cargo.
with them? ?"
II do so hope and trust my Lord
..put this spy in irons and clear the
room" he ordered sharply. And this
g how the little drama ended: with
the supper guests crcwding to the
door. with my Lord pacing back and
forth at the table-head; with two SER
Seants bearing me away.
Being without specific orders what to
do with me. my two sergeant bailiffs
thrust me into that little den of a
strong- room below stairs where l had
once found the master OF the house.
and enc OF them mounted guard whilst
the other fetched the camp armorer to
iron me. e.slA->
Sleep came to drag at my eyelids. a
drowsiness so mssterful that could
make no head against II. fell away
into the pit OF forgetfulness. When !
awakened I was stretched upon the
oaken settle In that same lumber gar
ret where 1 had been bedded through
that other night OF hiding. So much
saw at the waking glance: and then !
realized. vaguely at frst. but presently
with startling emphasis. that It was the
westering sun which was shining In a,
the high roof windows. that the
shackles were still on.
The wainseot door was opened and
closed softly, and light footsteps tip
,oed 10 my bedside. shut my eyes
wilfully when a voice low and tender
asked: Are you awake. Monsieur
john And then: Gratitude does not
seem to be amongst your gifts"
~Gratitude. Mayhap you viii tell me
what IL is I have 10 be grateful for. Al
/ craved was the chance TO die as G
soldier should. and some one mus
90 that"