“Is thee sure that it was he, Harriet?” questioned Peggy who had been amazed at what had taken place.
“Did I not see him? And did you not hear him speak? I could not tell what he said. Could you? He is a prisoner. I must get to him. Come! we must go faster, Peggy, so that we can see where they take him.”
By this time the dragoons had turned into one of the cross streets, and when the girls reached the place of turning they had passed out of sight.
“I wish Cousin David were here. He would know what to do,” cried Harriet greatly excited. “Couldn’t we send for him, Peggy?”
“Father couldn’t leave the army now, Harriet, as thee knows. Besides, it would take long to send for him, and thy brother might be gone before he could get here. We must find John. He will know what to do.”
“Then let us hurry, hurry,” exclaimed the English girl clasping her hands convulsively together.
Lieutenant Drayton was just ascending the steps of the Owens’ dwelling as they reached Fourth Street, but catching sight of them he ran down the stoop to join them.
“The Congress hath but this moment finished with me,” he said, “so that it was impossible for me to come to Pegg’s Run. Was the skating fine? I should like to have seen it, and to have taken a turn—— Why! what hath happened?” he broke off, all at once becoming aware of their perturbation. “You both seem somewhat upset.”
“’Tis Harriet’s brother,” explained Peggy seeing that her cousin was unable to speak. “A party of American horse came from the North bringing in some prisoners, and Harriet saw her brother, Clifford, among them. She called to him, but they would not let him stop. They turned into Arch Street, and we lost sight of them.”
“When did it happen, Peggy?”