t me on my feet again. I was in need of it, for a different
kind of man, of the name of Arnold, had nearly floored me."

"'Sit down here and tell me all about Franklin,' he said with a smile.

"I told him what was going on in Paris and especially of the work of
our great minister to the court of Louis XVI.

"He heard me with deep interest and when I had finished arose and gave
me his hand saying:

"'Colonel, again you have won my gratitude. We must keep our courage.'

"I told him of my unhappy meeting with Arnold.

"'The man has his faults--he is very human, but he has been a good
soldier,' Washington answered.

"The thought came to me that the love of liberty had lifted many of us
above the human plane of sordid striving.

"Solomon came into camp that evening. He was so glad to see me that he
could only wring my hand and utter exclamations.

"'How is the gal?' he asked presently.

"I told him of our meeting in Passy and of my fear that we should not
meet again.

"'It seems as if the Lord were not yet willing to let us marry,' I said.

"'Course not,' he answered. 'When yer boat is in the rapids it's no
time fer to go ashore an' pick apples. I cocalate the Lord is usin' ye
fer to show the Ol' World what's inside o' us Americans.'

"Margaret, I wonder if the Lord really wished to show you and others
the passion which is in the heart of Washington and his army. On the
way to my ship I was like one making bloody footprints in the snow.
How many of them I have seen! And now is the time to tell you that
Doctor Franklin has written a letter informing me how deeply our part
in the little pageant had impressed Mr. Hartley and the court people of
France and that he had secured another loan.

"Solomon is a man of faith. He never falters.

"He said to me: 'Don't worry. That gal has got a backbone. She ain't
no rye straw. She's a-goin' to think it over.'

"Neither spoke for a time. We sat by an open fire in front of his tent
as the night fell. Solomon was filling his pipe. He swallowed and his
right eye began to take aim. I knew that some highly important theme
would presently open the door of his intellect and come out.

"'Jack, I been over to Albany,' he said. 'Had a long visit with
Mirandy. They ain't no likelier womern in Ameriky. I'll bet a pint o'
powder an' a fish hook on that. Ye kin look fer 'em till yer eyes run
but ye'll be obleeged to give up.'

"He lighted his pipe and smoked a fe