CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH PEGGY CAMP SHOWS HER COURAGE
For a moment, George Prentiss was so startled that he almost slipped his hold on the vine. But apparently Peggy took no notice, her interest in the two in the room below was so great; the dim rays of the candle were reflected in her eager eyes.
Though George, owing to his position, could not see the deserter and his companion, their voices were so pitched that he had no difficulty in hearing their conversation.
“The cause of the colonies attracted me,” he caught from young Camp. “It was the romance of it, no doubt; and partly it was the spirit of rebellion that every young man feels against the powers that be. But when my uncle made it so plain to me that it was against my interest to continue as a colonial officer, why, I did not hesitate an instant.”
A fist struck the cask head and the flickering candle leaped and almost went out.
“Now that is what I call reason, well spoken,” declared Hickey.
“Mr. Dana must have told you my opinions of these things,” said young Camp, “so there is no need of my repeating them. My object in coming here to-night was to offer my services in any way that you might be able to use me.”
“As to that,” replied the other, “I don’t know. There are others to be considered beside myself, you see. But,” here his voice fell into a much lower key and finally trailed off into a soft whispering which continued for some time. Then Herbert Camp was heard to say, emphatically:
“If you will do that it is all that I can ask in reason. Come,” and the pushing back of stools told that the two had risen, “let us go at once. I believe in making haste in things of this sort, for the opportunity does not always last.”
There was a low-voiced reply from the deserter; then the light went out and the dimly illumined square of the window vanished. Once more the neglected hinges creaked, then the door closed, and footsteps went stumbling away toward the tavern.