“Why,” said he, “it is but a trifling thing to get rid of a rascal of that stripe. They seldom have the courage they seem to have.”
“Nevertheless,” and the old man held up his thin hand in protest, “he was a formidable villain enough. I thank you, and my daughter thanks you.”
Here the girl came forward a step or two.
“I do thank you,” she said, sweetly; “I was in great fear of the man, for he seemed capable of anything.” Then as she saw Ben was of a mind to still make light of the matter, she added, laughingly, “Well, at any rate you have saved our boiled mutton and the rest of the things; and even though you persist in refusing our thanks, perhaps you will not refuse to accept a part of our supper.”
“Now, my dear, that was well thought of,” quavered the old gentleman, very well pleased. “No doubt, young sir,” to Ben, “you have ridden a long way and are both worn and hungry.”
“I can answer ‘yes’ to the latter part,” laughed Ben, as he helped the landlady to set aside the saucepans, “but I am not over tired, as I have ridden but from Princeton.”
“From Princeton, did you say?” The old gentleman was very eager. “Then, perhaps, you came by way of Trenton and saw the army encamped?”
Ben shook his head.
“No,” said he, “I avoided Trenton as much as I could. Lord Cornwallis is not in great good humor just now, and I did not care to fall into the hands of any of his people.”
The old gentleman grasped the arm of a chair, and then sat down.