Part 6 (1/2)

”Everything of this nature,” and the burly speaker gestured about him in great contempt. ”But I want to have as little to do with spying and ferreting as possible. What I want to know is: what has General Gage done to break the preposterous condition at Boston, that the rebels call a siege?”

”Nothing, sir,” replied the boy.

The great, red face grew grim, and the heavy round head wagged from side to side.

”British prestige will suffer for this,” said the major, solemnly. ”It will suffer the world over.” Then with a tightening of his jaws, ”Come, then, tell me what the rebels have done. I'll warrant they have been active enough.”

Ezra smiled.

”You are right in that,” said he. ”Never were men more busy before. Not a day goes by but that something is done. Earthworks are thrown up, companies are enlisted, stores are gathered, noted men of the colonial wars are offering their swords and their experience.”

This last caused Major Buckstone to grow grimmer than ever.

”And tough fighters, those same rascals are,” said he. ”I've fought shoulder to shoulder with them, and I know their mettle.”

Then little by little he drew from the boy all the details of what had pa.s.sed, to the colonists' credit, since the day that the column under Lord Percy had been driven pell-mell into Boston. But the boy shrewdly neglected to mention anything that would show the real and pitiful weakness of the colonial force. He did not tell how the slackly-disciplined farmers grew tired of the dull routine of the siege and left for their homes in droves. He did not tell how General Ward had written to the Provincial Congress declaring that if this was not somehow stopped he would soon be left all alone. Nor did he say that for sheer want of men, Boston Neck was at times almost unguarded-Boston Neck, the most important avenue of all out of the beleaguered city.

Major Buckstone listened to the rosy story of the colonists' prowess; his thick iron-gray brows were drawn together in a frown.

”I understand that they have Putnam from Connecticut with them, and that tall fellow John Stark, of New Hamps.h.i.+re, too. Well, they are both nasty fighters; I've seen them in the thick of it many a time. The only way to beat such fellows is to prevent them from making a fair beginning.”

Here Abdallah came forward. His dark eyes had grown calm once more; and there was a gentle smile upon his lips.

”In that, Major Buckstone, you are perfectly right,” said he. ”Once these men get a fair start in the conducting of a war it will be most difficult to put them down. And to prevent them is our mission.”

The major growled out an angry exclamation. But Abdallah proceeded smoothly.

”When the military force has shown itself to be incompetent,” said he, ”such as we step in.” He paid no attention to the glowering look that the major directed upon him for this criticism of the army. ”Our work is of such a nature--”

The ferret-faced youth thrust out a thin, large-knuckled hand and tugged at Abdallah's robe.

”Our work and its nature is well known to us all,” remarked he, with a sharp look at Ezra. ”So there is nothing to be gained by talking over it, that I can see.”

Abdallah smiled.

”Right,” said he, ”though it is somewhat late in the evening for us to think of becoming secretive. Major Buckstone has seen fit to--”

”We have been all over that, also,” said the major, brusquely. ”As I have said before, this lad has been entrusted with other and perhaps cleaner business of the King than this. And I can see no harm in speaking openly before him.”

”You are in command,” said Abdallah, smilingly. ”And I defer to you in everything.”

”If you had been bred to the artillery, you would have done that in the first place,” replied Major Buckstone, dryly. ”And, now, since that rather important point is settled, let us get to our affairs.”

The seal upon the packet of papers brought by Ezra was now broken and the three bent over them intently. Ezra once more seated himself, watching them keenly, for he was struck by the great difference in their appearance.

Major Buckstone was huge of limb and body; his great red face shone with perspiration; despite his rather uncouth farmer's dress, he looked every inch a British officer of the old school.

Abdallah's commanding height would have marked him almost anywhere as a person of unusual parts; and his queer robe-like garment, his bald dome and his singular dark eyes only accentuated this.

And the furtive-mannered Jason Collyer came in for his fair share of the boy's attention. There was a peculiar something in the sharp face and the light eyes that caused Ezra to cla.s.s him as dangerous.