be carried on without money. I helped him in his
plan, I say, and now he will not do this for me."

"And that wagon with the false bottom was where those goods were?" he
said. "Harriet, how could you do it? With Cousin David who hath been
so kind to you in charge of that work of detection."

"I did not know that he was there, Clifford. As for the false bottom
in the wagon, I knew naught of that, as I said. I was not told of
that. It was a----"

"A cask in a barrel of vinegar," put in Peggy quietly. "John found it,
Harriet, but he did not speak of it to father, or Robert, or thy
brother here."

"John Drayton found it?" she cried, amazed. "Why, how did he come to
look in the vinegar?"

"I think 'twas something that thee said which caused him to be
suspicious, Harriet. So thee sees that that part of thy general's plan
hath failed."

"I am glad of it," cried Harriet. "Glad! Glad! He would not help me.
He will only investigate further. And General Washington will wait no
longer when he has heard from him. Clifford, you need too much
explanation. The time hath come to act."

"Do I understand that you are responsible for having us brought to
this place?" he asked.

"Yes, oh, yes," she answered hastily. "Only Peggy was not to come in
here. She was to be kept in another room, and after all was over she
was to be returned to camp."

"After what was over, my sister?" His voice was cold, but Harriet did
not seem to notice it.

"Your escape, Clifford. Come, we have no time to lose. Fresh horses
await us in the stables, saddled and bridled ready for instant use.
Here are clothes for a disguise. Don them, and we leave at once. We
are to make a wide detour to the north of Chatham, reaching the
Passaic River again at Newark. A boat will be there in the bay to
take us to New York. It cannot fail if we start now."

"And Peggy?" he questioned so calmly that she should have taken alarm
from the quietness of his voice.

"Peggy is to go back to Chatham, and tell the rebels they may seek
another victim," she replied gleefully.

"Peggy to go back to face Colonel Dayton with information that I have
escaped?" he cried, amazement written on every feature.

"She was not to know it, Cliff, but you would have her to come in
here. Beside, they wouldn't harm her. She is a Whig herself, remember.
Oh, she may come with us," she added as his brow grew dark. "Only,
Clifford, we must make haste. The longer start we have the better
chance