Part 16 (1/2)
They drew back behind some shrubbery, and Andrius Tefft, night watchman, pa.s.sed by without a suspicion that one of Albany's most respected citizens was hiding from him. The light of his lantern faded in the distance, and the four proceeded rapidly towards the house of Hendrik Martinus, entering its grounds without hesitation and spreading in a circle about it. Robert, who lurked behind a small clipped pine in the rear saw a door open, and a figure slip quietly out. It was that of a man of medium height, and as he could see by the moonlight, of dark complexion. He had no doubt that it was a Frenchman, the fellow whom Peter had seen enter the house.
Robert acted with great promptness, running forward and crying to the fugitive to halt. The man, quick as a flash, drew a pistol and fired directly at him. The lad felt the bullet graze his scalp, and, for a moment, he thought he had been struck mortally. He staggered, but recovered himself, and raising his own pistol, fired at the flying figure which was now well beyond him. He saw the man halt a moment, and quiver, but in an instant he ran on again faster than ever, and disappeared in an alley. A little later a swift form followed in pursuit and Robert saw that it was Tayoga.
Young Lennox knew that it was useless for him to follow, as he felt a little dizzy and he was not yet sure of himself. He put his hand to his hair, where the bullet had struck, and, taking it away, looked anxiously at it. There was no blood upon either palm or finger, and then he realized, with great thankfulness, that he was merely suffering a brief weakness from the concussion caused by a heavy bullet pa.s.sing so close to his skull. He heard a hasty footstep, and Mynheer Huysman, breathing heavily and anxious, stood before him. Other and lighter footsteps indicated that Peter also was coming to his aid.
”Haf you been shot?” exclaimed Mynheer Jacobus
”No, only shot at,” replied Robert, whimsically, ”though I don't believe the marksman could come so close to me again without finis.h.i.+ng me. I think it was Peter's spy because I saw him come out of the house, and cried to him to halt, but he fired first. My own bullet, I'm sure, touched him, and Tayoga is in pursuit, though the fugitive has a long lead.”
”We'll leave it to Tayoga, because we haf to,” said Mynheer Jacobus. ”If anybody can catch him the Onondaga can, though I think he will get away.
But come now, we will talk to Hendrik Martinus und Andrius Tefft who ha.s.s heard the shots und who iss coming back. You lads, let me do all of the talking. Since the spy or messenger or whatever he iss ha.s.s got away, it iss best that we do not tell all we know.”
The watchman was returning at speed, his staff pounding quick and hard on the stones, his lantern swinging wildly. The houses there were detached and n.o.body else seemed to have heard the shots, save Hendrik Martinus and his family. Martinus, fully dressed, was coming out of his house, his manner showing great indignation, and the heads of women in nightcaps appeared at the windows.
”What is this intrusion, Mynheer Huysman? Why are you in my grounds? And who fired those two pistol shots I heard?”
”Patience, Hendrik! Patience!” replied Mynheer Jacobus, in a smooth suave manner that surprised Robert. ”My young friend, Master Lennox, here, saw a man running across your grounds, after having slipped surrept.i.tiously out of your house. Suspecting that he had taken und carried from you that which he ought not to haf, Master Lennox called to him to stop. The reply wa.s.s a pistol bullet und Master Lennox, being young und like the young p.r.o.ne to swift anger, fired back. But the man ha.s.s escaped with hiss spoil, whatefer it iss, und you only, Hendrik, know what it iss.”
Hendrik Martinus looked at Jacobus Huysman and Jacobus Huysman looked squarely back at him. The angry fire died out of the eyes of Martinus, and instead came a swift look of comprehension which pa.s.sed in an instant. When he spoke again his tone was changed remarkably:
”Doubtless it was a robber,” he said, ”and I thank you, Mynheer Jacobus, and Master Lennox, and your boy Peter, for your attempt to catch him.
But I fear that he has escaped.”
”I will pursue him und capture him,” exclaimed Mynheer Andrius Tefft, who stood by, listening to their words and puffing and blowing.
”I fear it iss too late, Andrius,” said Mynheer Jacobus Huysman, shaking his head. ”If anyone could do it, it would be you, but doubtless Mynheer Hendrik ha.s.s not lost anything that he cannot replace, und it would be better for you, Andrius, to watch well here und guard against future attempts.”
”That would be wise, no doubt,” said Martinus, and Robert thought he detected an uneasy note in his voice.
”Then I will go,” said Andrius Tefft, and he walked on, swinging his lantern high and wide, until its beams fell on every house and tree and shrub.
”I will return to my house,” said Mynheer Martinus. ”My wife and daughters were alarmed by the shots, and I will tell them what has happened.”
”It iss the wise thing to do,” said Mynheer Huysman, gravely, ”und I would caution you, Hendrik, to be on your guard against robbers who slip so silently into your house und then slip out again in the same silence.
The times are troubled und the wicked take advantage of them to their own profit.”
”It is true, Mynheer Jacobus,” said Martinus somewhat hastily, and he walked back to his own house without looking Huysman in the eyes again.
Mynheer Huysman, Robert and Peter returned slowly.
”I think Hendrik understands me,” said Mynheer Huysman; ”I am sorry that we did not catch the go-between, but Hendrik ha.s.s had a warning, und he will be afraid. Our night's work iss not all in vain. Peter, you haf done well, but I knew you would. Now, we will haf some refreshment und await the return of Tayoga.”
”I believe,” said Robert, ”that in Albany, when one is in doubt what to do one always eats. Is it not so?”
”It iss so,” replied Mynheer Jacobus, smiling, ”und what better could one do? While you wait, build up the body, because when you build up the body you build up the mind, too, und at the same time it iss a pleasure.”
Robert and Peter ate nothing, but Mynheer Jacobus partook amply of cold beef and game, drank a great gla.s.s of home-made beer, and then smoked a long pipe with intense satisfaction. One o'clock in the morning came, then two, then three, and Mynheer Jacobus, taking the stem of his pipe from his mouth, said:
”I think it will not be long now before Tayoga iss here. Long ago he ha.s.s either caught hiss man or hiss man ha.s.s got away, und he iss returning. I see hiss shadow now in the shrubbery. Let him in, Peter.”
Tayoga entered the room, breathing a little more quickly than usual, his dark eyes showing some disappointment.