“Has his name ever been upon our list of officers?” asked George, and his voice sounded strangely in his own ears.
The general looked at him in surprise.
“I had not thought you had gone so far into the matter,” said he. “And while I can mention no names, it is very likely the person you have in mind.”
That night, at the place where they had quartered, George had a brief talk with Nat Brewster, who had just ridden in from the Highlands, and was eating a hasty supper.
“I will give you the details later,” said Nat, “but the main facts are these: I intercepted some letters passing between Mayor Matthews at his place in Flatbush, and Governor Tryon on board the ‘Asia’; and in this way secured the vital facts.”
“I see.”
“I never saw any documents richer in facts. They were full of allusions which proved most valuable to me. I recall one in particular which put me on a surprising scent. It said: ‘Don’t hesitate to trust the young man I spoke of to the full. He is a nephew of Camp’s, and as he has proven trustworthy in the past, will no doubt continue to be so in the future.’”
“Is it known when they will be arrested?”
“The present home of Mayor Matthews is no great distance from General Greene’s camp on Long Island. His house is to be surrounded to-night, and he is to be taken. We expect to arrest the other actors in the conspiracy, also, to-night. They are to meet at Corbie’s tavern, which lies just to the west of Bayard’s woods; perhaps we’ll have the good fortune to capture them in a body.”
Nat had time to tell but little more; for instantly upon finishing his meal, he ran out and mounted a fresh horse, which had been saddled for him, and rode off toward Richmond Hill.