“My men informed me that Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, three rebel spies, were here, and that they had them prisoners, but that they managed to escape,” said Arnold.
“Yes, General Arnold. We did not know anything about them, of course, but as they appeared to be very nice young men, we gave them their supper, and they took part in the festivities.”
“Oh, I am not blaming you, Mr. Hart. I was just wishing that the rebels had not escaped. I would have liked to have made them prisoners.”
They talked a while longer, and then Arnold and his companion rose, said good-night and took their departure.
“That man is a rebel, Colonel Riggs,” said Arnold, when they were a little distance from the house.
“I rather think so, myself,” was the reply.
“Yes. He pretended that he was in sympathy with the king, but I am pretty sure that he is at heart a rebel.”
“He did not seem to be very enthusiastic when you were asking about securing recruits in this region,” said the colonel.
“No. I think he wished to discourage the idea.”
“It looked that way to me.”