Four men sat around a small fire eating, and near by were tethered their horses.
It was fortunate our steeds were so leg-weary, else when this party drove up they might have given the alarm, for I doubted not but that these were enemies. At such time in the history of the so-called rebellion we had so few friends as to be able to say with a certainty where they were.
It was in my mind to return at once and arouse Gavin Witherspoon and Percy, that we might make our escape; but all was so quiet, and these four apparently unsuspicious that any save themselves were in the vicinity, that I delayed carrying out the purpose in my mind, until, having almost unconsciously approached a few yards nearer, I recognized in one of them, that Tory villain, Sam Lee.
Once this discovery was made I no longer thought of returning to where I had left my comrades; but wriggled along yet nearer, and was well repaid for the delay.
It would seem as if the men had been questioning young Lee as to his ability to do something which had been promised, for one of them was saying when I came within earshot:
"It is a blind chase to push ahead in search of a party of rebels who by this time may have returned home, hoping to keep secret the part they have been playing."
To this Sam Lee replied hotly, much as if the honor of the James family were in his keeping:
"The major will never go home alive so long as one other can be found to remain with him, and there are many of his kin in Williamsburg."
"But what reason have we for believing you can lead us to them?"
"Because I know of their haunts," the scoundrel said, as if he was telling the truth. "So far all they have accomplished has been by surprising our people who are not soldiers; but I guarantee that you men of the Prince of Wales' regiment will make a different showing among them."