his wounds.

"Sodder me up best ye kin. I got to last till I see the Father."

Solomon and other men in the old army had often used the word "Father"
in speaking of the Commander-in-Chief. It served, as no other could,
to express their affection for him.

The wind was unfavorable and the sloop found it difficult to reach the
landing near headquarters. After some delay Solomon jumped overboard
and swam ashore.

What follows he could not have told. Washington was standing with his
orderly in the little dooryard at headquarters as Solomon came
staggering up the slope at a run and threw his body, bleeding from a
dozen wounds, at the feet of his beloved Chief.

"Oh, my Father!" he cried in a broken voice and with tears streaming
down his cheeks. "Arnold has sold Ameriky an' all its folks an' gone
down the river."

Washington knelt beside him and felt his bloody garments.

"The Colonel is wounded," he said to his orderly. "Go for help."

The scout, weak from the loss of blood, tried to regain his feet but
failed. He lay back and whispered:

"I guess the sap has all oozed out o' me but I had enough."

Washington was one of those who put him on a stretcher and carried him
to the hospital.

When he was lying on his bed and his clothes were being removed, the
Commander-in-Chief paid him this well deserved compliment as he held
his hand:

"Colonel, when the war is won it will be only because I have had men
like you to help me."

Soon Jack came to his side and then Margaret. General Washington asked
the latter about Mrs. Arnold.

"My mother is doing what she can to comfort her," Margaret answered.

Solomon revived under stimulants and was able to tell them briefly of
the dire struggle he had had.

"It were Slops that saved me," he whispered.

He fell into a deep and troubled sleep and when he awoke in the middle
of the night he was not strong enough to lift his head. Then these
faithful friends of his began to know that this big, brawny,
redoubtable soldier was having his last fight. He seemed to be aware
of it himself for he whispered to Jack:

"Take keer o' Mirandy an' the Little Cricket."

Late the next day he called for his Great Father. Feebly and brokenly
he had managed to say:

"Jes' want--to--feel--his hand."

Margaret had sat beside him all day helping the nurse.

A dozen times Jack had left his work and run over for a look at
Solomon. On one of these hurried visits the young man h