This last was asked in a sharp, stern way. Instantly young Prentiss took a quick step forward as though to protest, but the hand of Chesbrook closed upon his arm and drew him back. A moment later the lad left the room. Nat looked steadily into the British general’s face, paying no attention to this by-play.
“You mean that spies are shot?”
“Or hanged,” added Gage, grimly.
“In time of war—yes,” said Nat. “But not at such a time as this. Another thing. I am not a spy in a strictly military sense. Such a person would be an enemy to the king—which I am not.”
“No?” and the governor looked at him with interest.
“I came here for the same reason that you did,” declared Nat, boldly. “And that is to prevent war.”
“Your argument is ingenious enough,” said General Gage, “but it scarcely meets the facts solidly. However, I have no time now to examine you. I’ll have you put under a guard for a few days until I get some important matters off my mind.”
“If the taking of the colonial stores at Concord is one of them,” said Nat, coolly, “you may as well rid yourself of it now.”
General Gage’s face was naturally red, but at this it grew much more so.
“It seems to me,” remarked he, with a nod of the head, “that your time here has not been wasted.”