ng to know me."

"If I speak confidentially will you treat it as sacred to you alone?"

"Certainly."

"Pledge me your honor that you will never divulge what I am going to
say."

"I am a soldier and a gentleman. My word is enough."

"Then I will accept your word. If I were free I could gain the ear of
the king's advisers."

"But you are not free yet, and it may be some time before an exchange
can be made."

"Exchange! Do you not know that there will be no exchange possible?
If any of the rebels fall into the hands of the English they will be
shot or hanged at once."

"In that case you would stand a poor showing."

"How so?"

"Because the first man taken by your side and hanged would lead us to
hang an equal number of your men, and officers would have the first
piece of rope."

Delaplace had not expected to hear such strong sentiments from Arnold,
but he laughed and said that a soldier dealing with rebels knew that he
took great risks, and that he must be prepared for them.

"But," he added, in a whisper, "if I could slip out of this fort and
gain the English lines----"

"But you cannot slip out."

"If you were to help me I would guarantee that you would be a general
of the English army in less than forty-eight hours, and, once gain that
position, there is no limit to your success."

Arnold listened.

It was wrong of him to do so.

There was a temporary hesitation, but in a few seconds of time that
passed.

"Captain, you have dishonored yourself by suggesting treason, and I
have dishonored myself in listening. Know this: I have given my
allegiance to the cause of the Provincials, and I will rise or fall
with them."

"Be it so. I shall live to see you hanged as a rebel."

Arnold bowed very low in acknowledgment of the kindly expression of
opinion.

"Thank you, Capt. Delaplace. I have no wish to see you hanged, but
should the English hang even a private in our ranks, I should have no
hesitation in hanging you with my own hands."

Questionable sentiments on both sides, but Arnold felt strongly at that
time, and expressed himself as he thought.

He left the room and called the sergeant on guard.

"Double your guard. If Capt. Delaplace escapes I shall hold you
responsible, and your neck will feel the effects of a tightened noose."

It was a blunt way of speaking, but Arnold never was very courteous to
those of lesser rank.

"I hate that man," Arnold soliloquized, "and yet--well, the