eir brains but for the old man's intervention.

As for the officer, I had flung myself upon him in the rush and was
having a pretty handful of him. But though he was broad in the
shoulders, and as agile as a cat, he was taken at a sleeping man's
disadvantage, and so I presently had the better of him.

"Enough, man! 'tis as good as a feast!" he cried, when I had him fast
pinioned; and thereupon I let him have breath and freedom to sit up. In
the act he had his first good sight of me, as I had mine of him. 'Twas
Tybee and no other.

"Gad! my Captain," he said, feeling his throat. "If you have a grip like
that for your friends, I'm damned glad I'm not your enemy."

"But you are," I rejoined, rather shamefacedly, yet thankful to the
finger-tips that I had not consented to a massacre. "I am for the
Congress and the Commonwealth, Lieutenant, and you are my prisoner. May
I trouble you for the despatches you carry?"

He looked up at me with a queer grimace on his boyish face.

"The devil! but you're a cool hand, Captain Ireton! Whatever you were in
that coil at Appleby, you've led the spy's long suit this time. And I'm
not sure whether I like you any the worse for it, if so be you must be a
rebel." And with that, he gave me the sealed packet and asked what I
would do with him.

His query set me thinking. As for the two stunned troopers, I meant to
turn them over to the old man for safe keeping; but I was loath to make
it harder than need be for this good-natured youngster. So I put him
upon his honor.

"Do you know what this packet contains?" I asked.

He laughed. "My Lord did not honor me with his confidence. I was to
follow you in to Major Ferguson's camp, deliver the despatches, and
vanish."

"Good; then you need tell no lies. When the Indian has fetched my horse,
I shall ride to Ferguson's camp, and you may ride with me. I shall ask
no more than this; that you do not fight again till you are exchanged;
and that you will not tell Major Ferguson whose prisoner you are. Do you
accept the terms?"

"Gad! I'd be a fool not to. But what's in the wind, Captain? Surely you
can tell me, now that I am safely out of the running."

"You will know in a day or two; and in the meantime ignorance is your
best safety. You can tell Major Ferguson that you were waylaid on the
road by a party of the enemy, and that you were paroled and fell in with
me."

He looked a little rueful, as a good soldier would, but was disposed to
ma