Jackson was deeply embarrassed and felt himself slipping into deep water.
“I don’t know, but I believe he visited John Tonpit. He was afoot and didn’t plan to go far. A short time afterward I saw him coming up the trail. I didn’t see him go to or come from Tonpit’s house.”
“My boy, why not tell it all?” gravely encouraged Sevier.
Jackson made his decision under the compelling gaze of the steady blue eyes and briefly related his meeting Miss Elsie and his knowledge that her father was closeted with a visitor.
“That would explain much!” rapped out Sevier. “McGillivray sent a written message to Major Tonpit. The bearer managed to get it to the tavern. Polcher forwarded it to Tonpit by Hester. If the Creek had taken it direct to the major, he probably would now be alive. But the system is to send all messages to the tavern, where they are relayed without exciting suspicion. That Polcher is a deep one. He’s a natural conspirator. He loves underhanded methods. He must be an able man to hide his real self in the rôle of a tavern-keeper.
“Tonpit couldn’t do that. He’s insanely ambitious. He must always have a dignified part to play. Useful at a certain point when his dignity fits in, such as influencing some of our settlers to follow his lead, but incapable of continual plotting. He’s just a fool figurehead. Yes, I’m convinced Polcher is the more dangerous man of the two.”
Jackson hesitated and twisted nervously. His sympathies were entirely with the settlement. Although he had known Sevier for a few hours only, he was eager to serve him. Finally he blurted out:
“I expect to see Miss Elsie tonight. Naturally I don’t care to set her father against me, but, if I learn anything that’s all right for me to repeat, I’ll tell you.”
Leaning forward, Sevier swept his flaming gaze up and down the ranger’s trim form in mingled anger and scorn.
“Young man,” he softly said, “you’re either an American or just a two-legged critter. Can’t you see the time has come when it must be decided once for all whether an English or a Spanish-speaking race is to rule this country? What are your personal affairs compared with the destiny of a world? As an American you’ll do nothing dishonourable. I don’t expect you to wheedle secrets from Elsie, whom I’ve known and loved dearly and who is as good an American as I am. But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go to John Tonpit and put the question to him frankly: did he or did he not confer with Lon Hester this morning?”