“We made a try, that same night in Crown Street,” said the dragoon. “But he’s such a sharp villain that we were hard put to it to avoid suspicion.”
“I tried to make him admit that he’d betrayed Dana or young Camp to Putnam,” said Hyde. “But he avoided us; and we were forced to pass the thing off as a sort of wager.”
But at length there was a pushing back of chairs upon the other side of the screen; the score was settled, after some argument with the waiter; George heard the sound of feet crossing the floor, mingled voices in talk that was both loud and light; then a door closed upon them.
The youth looked at his watch. It was after eight o’clock. Hastily he settled for his dinner, and rising, was helped on with his greatcoat. Feeling in his pocket to make sure that he had his tinder box, he came from behind the screen and made for the street door with quick steps.
Not once did he glance about him. If he had done so he would have noted that all of the Major Hyde party had not gone. The burly man still remained, and as George hurried by him, he glanced up. The same speculation filled his eyes that always entered them at the sight of George; but this time recognition quickly followed. His heavy jaws snapped together, mastiff-like, and as the door closed behind the lad, he arose to his feet and called for his hat and coat. And as George had felt carefully for his tinder box, so did this man feel for his pistol; and being satisfied that it was in its place he opened the door and set doggedly after the other through the Christmas lighted streets of Trenton.
CHAPTER XXII
TELLS HOW A FIRE WAS KINDLED ON A HILLSIDE
Upon all sides were lighted windows; and through each of them could be seen groups of Hessians feasting or dancing; the sounds of singing and laughter came from every quarter. Through the day, George Prentiss’ quick eye had noted the increasing lack of military deportment among the mercenaries; and now that night had come, things had grown worse.
“The fire, when I light it, will be allowed to burn,” thought the young fellow, grimly, as he pushed his way through the snow. “And when Washington’s rifles are banging about their ears, perhaps they’ll regret their feastings and frolickings.”
In a little while he was in the select quarter of the town. Here the festival was being observed with less grotesquery; and every now and then a sleigh flitted by, crowded with merrymakers on their way to Colonel Rahl’s concert. At the door of the Hawksworth mansion stood a number of gracefully modeled cutters, each with a spirited team and a great number of jingling bells. Apparently quite a party were going from here to the concert; they were trooping down the steps laughing and chattering; several footmen held lanthorns aloft; the ice upon the stone steps and pavement glittered like glass.
Suddenly there was an exclamation; a girl slipped and would have fallen had not young Prentiss deftly caught her. She murmured a “Thank you,” and looked into his face.