to be with Claire!"

"There must be some mistake, Colonel Mortimer," insisted the other
officer gravely. "Perhaps we can get the truth out of this bumpkin, if we
take the lash to him."

I understood in a flash, and as swiftly chose a course of action. This
gray-headed Colonel was her father, and I would serve her in this
emergency without thought of my own danger. No threat of a whip would
open my lips, but memory would.

"Come, you dog!" burst out the Colonel fiercely. "You know more than you
have told. Speak up, or we'll skin you alive."

"I will, Colonel Mortimer," I said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Not because of your threats, but because I wish to serve you. Now I know
who you are, and I will tell you all I know about this whole affair."

"Was--was my daughter here?" he interrupted.

"Yes, sir."

"My God! and Eric?"

"Not to my knowledge--there was a man called Peter, this fellow, and a
black slave or two. They were all I saw."

"But why should Claire have been here," he asked, as though dazed,
"unless she came to meet her brother? I supposed her safe in the city."

"I do not pretend to understand the cause of her presence. But if you
listen to my story you may know what to do." I paused an instant to get a
grip on my thoughts. I need not tell all, confess my identity, or mention
my personal relations with the daughter. "I am a soldier, Colonel
Mortimer, in Maxwell's Brigade, of Washington's army. What brought me
here has nothing to do with the present story. I was in the fight over
yonder near Mount Laurel night before last when we captured Delavan's
forage train--"

"What!" burst in the dragoon officer. "Was Delavan defeated, then? Hadn't
Grant joined him?"

"Yes to both questions, sir. Delavan was killed, and Grant surrendered.
He and his men were paroled, and started for Philadelphia last evening
from here."

"From here!" incredulously. "That must be a lie, Colonel, for Mount
Laurel is between here and the city."

"Nevertheless, it is no lie," I retorted promptly, looking the young fool
in the eyes. "I was hiding here for reasons of my own when they came
tramping in along that road about the middle of the forenoon yesterday.
There was near a hundred Hessians and Rangers, with two German officers,
and Grant. I heard them tell Mistress Mortimer this was the nearest place
where they were sure of finding provisions, and that they intended to
remain until night. I don't know what happened