to think that even
then she was probably in Boston. In the tent where he and Solomon
lived when they were both in camp, he found the scout. The night
before Solomon had slept out. Now he had built a small fire in front
of the tent and lain down on a blanket, having delivered his report at
headquarters.

"Margaret is in Boston," said Jack as soon as he entered, and then
standing in the firelight read the letter to his friend.

"Thar is a real, genewine, likely gal," said the scout.

"I wish there were some way of getting to her," the young man remarked.

"Might as well think o' goin' to hell an' back ag'in," said Solomon.
"Since Bunker Hill the British are like a lot o' hornets. I run on to
one of 'em to-day. He fired at me an' didn't hit a thing but the air
an' run like a scared rabbit. Could 'a' killed him easy but I kind o'
enjoyed seein' him run. He were like chain lightnin' on a greased
pole--you hear to me."

"If the General will let me, I'm going to try spy duty and see if I can
get into town and out again," he proposed.

"You keep out o' that business," said Solomon. "They's too many that
know ye over in town. The two Clarkes an' their friends an' Colonel
Hare an' his friends, an' Cap. Preston, an' a hull passle. They know
all 'bout ye. If you got snapped, they'd stan' ye ag'in' a wall an'
put ye out o' the way quick. It would be pie for the Clarkes, an' the
ol' man Hare wouldn't spill no tears over it. Cap. Preston couldn't
save ye that's sart'in. No, sir, I won't 'low it. They's plenty o'
old cusses fer such work."

For a time Jack abandoned the idea, but later, when Solomon failed to
return from a scouting tour and a report reached camp that he was
captured, the young man began to think of that rather romantic plan
again. He had grown a full beard; his skin was tanned; his clothes
were worn and torn and faded. His father, who had visited the camp
bringing a supply of clothes for his son, had failed, at first, to
recognize him.

December had arrived. The General was having his first great trial in
keeping an army about him. Terms of enlistment were expiring. Cold
weather had come. The camp was uncomfortable. Regiments of the
homesick lads of New England were leaving or preparing to leave. Jack
and a number of young ministers in the service organized a campaign of
persuasion and many were prevailed upon to reenlist. But hundreds of
boys were hurrying homeward on the frozen road