“For us, or against us?” he asked.
“Against us,” I replied. “The son and brother is in the English army with Burgoyne, over there; moreover, the daughter is betrothed to an Englishman who has just been taken prisoner by us.”
I thought it best to make no disguise of these matters.
“That looks suspicious,” he said, his hawk face brightening at the thought of hidden things to be found.
“They might do us harm if they could,” I said, “but they have not the power. Our lines surround the house; no one save ourselves can go to them, nor can they go to any one.”
“Still, I would like to go through the house,” he said, some doubt yet showing in his tone.
“I have searched it twice and found nothing,” I said indifferently.
He let the matter drop for the time and busied himself with an examination of the ground; but I knew he was most likely to take it up again, for he could not suppress his prying nature. I would have been glad to give warning to Kate, but I could think of no way to do it.
“Who is the best man that you have here?” he asked presently.
“Whitestone—Sergeant Whitestone,” I replied, glad to place the sergeant in his confidence, for it might turn out to my advantage. “There is none more vigilant, and you can depend upon all that he says.”