And so they talked and talked and the time sped by. For more than an hour the brush fire crackled on the hillside; and then, when no more fuel was to be had, it was permitted to die away. But still the youth and the girl waited, their garments wrapped about them snugly, for the wind grew more bitter with each passing moment. Then from across the ice-choked river long lines of light began to dimly flicker.
“It’s the army of Washington,” said George, and there was exultation in his voice. “They are about to embark.”
“Then that,” said Peggy Camp, awed, “is really the answer to the signal.”
“It is,” answered he. “And in a few hours, there will, perhaps, be a new master in the town of Trenton.”
And so they stole away through the darkness and snow toward the town.
And when they had disappeared, the burly figure on the ground began to writhe and tug at the bonds that held him. After a long struggle, the neck-cloth began to stretch and slip; a half minute later it had fallen from his arms. Then the belt was off and Slade got painfully upon his feet.
“So we are to have a crossing of the river and a surprise, are we?” said he, as he hobbled toward the town. “Well, we shall see about that, my lad.”
CHAPTER XXIII
SHOWS HOW THE CONCERT WAS INTERRUPTED
When George Prentiss and Peggy Camp reached the inn, they found it brilliant with lights, festoons of green branches and laurels hung all about; holly berries gleamed redly against their backgrounds of somber leaves. The public rooms were alive with merrymakers; the gleaming costumes of the ladies mingled with the rich European uniforms of the German and English officers. Bright looks and happy laughter were everywhere; the beloved band of Colonel Rahl throbbed through a German waltz.
Peggy instantly sought out Mrs. Hawksworth; what explanation she made of her absence, George did not know; but he noted that both Mrs. Hawksworth and her cold-faced husband looked at him searchingly.