Dismounting, they hurried to the ball-room, where they found a gay assembly. The hall was brilliantly lighted and handsomely decorated. The music, which consisted of the regimental band, was playing a waltz, while a throng of dancers whirled round the room.
There was a large number of persons present, composed of the officers and their ladies, and the patriots dwelling in the neighborhood. It was a merry company, and one that seemed to dispel all troubles from the minds of our hero and heroine.
Imogene had hardly entered the room before she became the center of attraction. The captain led her to the upper end of the room, where they joined Colonel Hall, the commander of the garrison, and his lady.
Now it was that the wound in his leg annoyed the captain, for it kept him from engaging in the dance with Imogene. In order to keep the knowledge of this from her, he was obliged to find a partner for her among the lieutenants. A lucky accident for them, and the fortunate one appreciated it, too.
While the dance was going on, and when the company seemed in the hight of enjoyment, a man dressed in the garb of a hunter, entered the hall, and forced his way to the colonel. It was a noted American spy, Hank Putney by name, who had been dispatched the day previous to search for Captain Sherwood. He whispered a few words to the commander, and both retired from the room together, but so quietly that no one perceived them.
Upon leaving the hall, they directed their steps to the colonel’s head-quarters, where the following conversation took place between them:
“You say that you have news of importance, Putney?” said the colonel, handing the scout a seat.
“Indeed, very important, colonel,” answered Putney, taking a folded paper from his pocket and laying it upon the table. “If ye’ll just run yer eye over that, perhaps ye’ll understand what it is.”
Colonel Hall took up the paper, and with some difficulty managed to read the poorly-written and badly-spelled document. It was a description of the notorious Iron Hand.
“Well, really, this is good news, Putney. How did you succeed in obtaining a sight of him?”