"Oh, by no means!" he said, trying to control his voice. "Pray do not disturb him."
As he was about to release his hold from one of the iron bars, he perceived that it was filed almost in twain from the inside! He could feel it with his fingers. The sleeper moved slightly, and William stepped to one side out of sight.
It was quite difficult that he could affect any interest in the rest of the prisoners, his brain was whirling so, and soon he thanked the jailer and left the gloomy shadow of the building.
When he reached the outside air he drew down the muffler, for he felt faint and sick. The tall soldier on guard at the gateway saluted him. William turned, and as he did so almost ran into the arms of the little schoolmaster, who was bobbing quickly along.
"Ho, ho, Lieutenant!" was the greeting; but a glance at the young man's face told the story. "You know it. You have seen him?" asked Schoolmaster Anderson.
"I have, and I am going to find out more. They say he stole, that my brother is a thief. I cannot—"
"No, no, he is not," said Mr. Anderson. "On my honor no—and try to find out nothing, for by doing so you may place a halter around his neck." Then he added, quite calmly, "Your brother is a spy."
A sense of horror and yet of relief came over William.
"I have imperilled my own safety by befriending him," said Schoolmaster Anderson. "Surely you, his brother, will not betray him?"
"Tell me," inquired William, "is he Richard Blount of Albany?"