“I begin to see your position,” said Nat. “And so,” sternly, “you think that to bring these things about, any deceit may be practiced, and treachery resorted to.”
“Those are hard words,” said the other, quietly.
“But they are true ones. Was it not treachery to plan the capture of your kind friends Mr. Adams and his brother by the Tories? Was it not deceit that you practiced upon Mr. Cooper and Ben, who trusted you—upon Dr. Warren, upon Paul Revere?”
Near at hand a smoking lantern, borne upon a pole, threw off a red flare of light; in this the face of the New England lad took on a sudden troubled look. He laid his hand upon Nat’s arm and was about to speak; but at that moment the grizzled sergeant broke in upon them.
“Sorry to interrupt, my lads,” said he, in his gruff way. Then addressing himself to Nat, he continued: “You’re wanted back here a piece by Lieutenant Chesbrook. And,” lowering his voice so that no one else might hear, “now is the time to remember what I told you in the guard-house awhile ago. I think you are going to have use for it.”
The British column had advanced steadily along the old Charlestown and West Cambridge road until it had now reached Menotomy. Lights could be seen flickering at windows; and as the head of the brigade came on, dark forms went flitting and vanishing into the night.
But Nat saw none of this; he was hurried toward the group composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and his aides, which had drawn up before Newell’s tavern. The hoofs of the horses rang loudly as they stamped upon the stones; their bridle chains jingled and they snorted impatiently at the delay. A party under several officers had just been sent to enter the inn.
“My information is positive,” Nat heard Lieutenant Chesbrook say to Major Pitcairn, as he came up. “The rebel Committee of Safety met here to-day; and I have not much doubt but that some of them are passing the night under the same roof.”
“We’ll root them out, if they are,” returned the immaculate major. “I suppose you’ll know them, if taken?”
“No, but our young friend here will, I think,” and Chesbrook waved his hand toward Nat Brewster.