Part 5 (1/2)

”Follow!” said Andy, trembling with excitement, but losing no time. Down upon hands and knees they went, and no creatures of the wood and night could have been more silent.

”All's well!” came from a far-off sentry; and the man and boy breathed quicker. A moment of rest at the opening of the cave-like path where Andy and the master had first met, then into the narrow gloom toward the danger line.

”The way is narrow,” whispered Andy, ”but it leads out just behind the British tents.”

”Ah! for Vulcan's hammer!” laughed the master softly; ”I'd hew me a broader path, Andy. The width of me suffers sorely for the cause.” Andy smiled in the darkness. The mirth in the master's voice gave courage.

”It is broader further on,” encouraged the guide.

”G.o.d be praised for that!” groaned the man as he came in contact again with the rocks.

The crutch had been left at the entrance, well hidden. Hands and knees were all that were needed on that journey. Once a slimy creature crawled across the master's hand, and he uttered an exclamation.

”Don't do that again!” breathed Andy, in alarm.

The minutes seemed endless, and the progress very slow. The darkness was so intense that it was something of a shock to the master when he suddenly became aware that he could see the outline of his guide's body.

There was a small opening ahead, and a gleam of moonlight shot in!

Neither spoke. If the British sentry was beyond there was every need of stillness now.

”I hear steps!” said Andy in a breath; ”listen!”

The duller ear of the master heard no sound for a moment, then slowly and alarmingly near, he _did_ catch the sound of the measured tread of a soldier, and, from the opposite direction evidently, a second man. Near the opening the two met.

”Fine night, Martin; everything quiet?”

”Quiet? Lord, yes! If something does not happen soon, I swear I'll cut and run. It wouldn't take a great deal to make me quit. The pluck of the rebels rather tickles me. I've half a mind to toss my luck among them, and stand or fall with the colonies.”

”Better change your mind,” laughed the other; ”something's going to happen and that pretty quick.”

”Is that hearsay, Norton, or authentic? I've just come into camp. I've been having a picnic over on Long Island--raiding farms and doing a lot of dirty work that sickens me. Clean fighting is what I set out to do, and gad! this kind of thing turns a fellow's stomach. We've been fed on the talk that these rebels are cowards. Cowards, bah! And as for that big, silent general of theirs, he--he rather appeals to me!”

”Don't be white-livered, Martin!” sneered Norton. ”You may get some cold steel from your own countrymen for uttering such sentiments. My information is all right, it comes from his lords.h.i.+p himself. Was.h.i.+ngton is too dangerous to leave longer alone; should he find out--what was that?”

The master, less a child of the woods than Andy, in his excitement had tried to creep closer, and the quick ear of the sentinel had noticed the sound.

”It is this accursed spot again!” muttered Norton; ”twice lately I could have sworn I heard breathing among the bushes. I've beaten every inch of ground, and not a living creature have I found. I'm not squirmish, and a rebel now and then don't count, but--well, you know I brought that parson's cub down a bit further back. Lord! how the fellow strutted, and when I called to him he started like a stuck pig. I cannot forget the look on his face as--as I fired.

”I'm agreeing with you, Martin, clean fighting or nothing. I'm not up to this slaughtering of infants myself. I half expect to see that baby playing in the moonlight every time a leaf rustles at night.” The man laughed uneasily. ”Once I fancied I saw a face--a pale boy-face--s.h.i.+ning in the bushes. Lord, it gave me a turn!”

”Could there be a secret pa.s.sage?” asked Martin in a low voice. ”A fellow named G.o.dkin told me an hour ago that he had his eye on a lame chap and a gawk of a schoolmaster who were always skulking around close to the ground. He says the boy lives hereabouts and knows the woods like a snake.”

”No fool rebel could keep such a secret from me. G.o.dkin likes to talk and swagger. He feels his oats. Come, just to pa.s.s the time, let's beat the bushes.”

”Back out!” breathed Andy. There was no time to be lost. But the backward movement was most painfully slow. The men tramping in the bushes, feeling the thing but child-play, laughed and talked loudly.

”How many men has the old fox!” asked Martin, giving a cut to the bushes with his gun.

”Twelve thousand, though he gives out many more.”