phen had
often heard of the tavern, but had never been there. Still he was
resolved to seek an introduction to its clientele at the first
propitious moment. That moment had now come.

Upon entering, their attention was at once arrested by the animated
discussion in progress at a table in the nearest corner of the room. An
officer of the Governor's Guard, in full regimentals, booted and
spurred, in company with a gentleman, finely dressed, was talking loudly
to Jim Cadwalader, who was seated before them holding a half-opened
newspaper in his hand. It was plain to be seen that the soldier was
somewhat under the influence of liquor, yet one could not call him
intoxicated.

"Gi' me that an' I'll show y'," exclaimed the soldier as he grabbed the
paper from Cadwalader's hand.

"Y' were told," he went on to read from it, "that it was t' avoid the
'stabl'shment 'r count'nancin'," he half mumbled the words, "of Pop'ry;
an that Pop'ry was 'stabl'shed in Canada (where 't was only tol'rated).
And is not Pop'ry now as much 'stabl'shed by law in your state 's any
other rel'gion?" "Just what I was sayin'," he interpolated. "So that
your Gov'nor and all your rulers may be Papists, and you may have a
Mass-House in ev'ry corner o' your country (as some places already
'xper'ence)."

"There!" he snarled as he threw back the paper. "Isn't that what I wuz
tryin' t' tell y'."

"You can't tell me nothin', Forrest," retorted Jim.

"Course I can't. Nobody kin. Y' know 't all."

"I can mind my own bus'ness."

"There y' are agin," shouted Forrest, "y' know 't all, ye do."

"Don't say that again," Jim flared back at him. "I'll--I'll--I'll----.
Don't say it again, that's all."

"'Cause y' know 'ts true."

"It's a lie," Jim interrupted him. "Ye know it's a lie. But I don't
'spect much of ye, 'r of the Gov'nor either. None of ye 'll ever be
Papists."

"Now you're talkin' sens'ble; first sens'ble thing you've said t'day. No
Papists here if we kin help it."

Stephen and Mr. Allison, keenly interested in this remark, moved nearer
to the table. Cadwalader was well known to Mr. Allison. The others were
total strangers.

"What's he goin' t' do about the help from France? Refuse it 'cause it's
from a Catholic country?" asked Jim.

"He don't like it and never did."

"Is he fool 'nough t' think we can win this war without help?"

"He won it once."

"When?"

"Saratoga."

"That's his story. We didn't have it won and it won't be won w