“All right,” replied Barclugh firmly. “I saw Washington; I saw Clinton; I saw Risk killed.”
“Good enough for that little pudgy piece of conceit. He thought that he could whip all Christendom with that Holker and fifty men. So he’s killed! How did that happen?”
Barclugh briefly related the whole journey,—the capture of the General Monk, and the loss of the Holker.
When it came to the capture of the Holker, General Arnold became very much interested, for his profits were in the cargo. He asked:
“Well, Mr. Barclugh, shall I receive anything out of this Holker business now?”
“Oh, we have sold the ship and cargo to the English for whom it was intended, and the telltale crew is disposed of. I will guarantee your share. You need not worry about that. All that you need to do now is to secure the command of West Point. We will carry out the money part of the agreement.”
“Very good, Mr. Barclugh,” continued Arnold, “but you see I am suffering for money; my debts of five thousand pounds sterling are driving me to destruction, and I wish that you could advance me some to-day.”
Barclugh now saw his opportunity to crush the independence of Arnold. At this pitiable appeal for money, he arose with fist clenched, and struck the table as he spoke:
“General Arnold, I have advanced you $3000! I have undertaken the Holker enterprise for your benefit! I have arranged to secure you twenty thousand pounds for the delivery of West Point! I have even secured for you the assurance of a General’s commission in His Majesty’s service, and all that has been asked of you is to deliver West Point! Now you ask me to advance more of His Majesty’s funds? No, sir, not until you have done more of your part. You must secure West Point!”
The man who had suffered the privations and starvation of an expedition at the head of a half-clad army to capture Quebec in mid-winter, and never lost heart, now quailed before this ostentation of money. He hung his head and in half-choking tones he arose and said: