it into practice, but here another matter came to plague me. To put the sentence in alone, without connection with anything else in the letter, would excite suspicion, so I tried to think of some, manner in which I could include it naturally. At last, after much puzzling, I wrote the following: I regret that I have no gossip of London for you, but I was there so short a time that I scarce had a chance to see aught but a few shops. Granny says 't is a most extravagant place, and that tea has gone up thrippence a pound. I know not whether you will be interested in this, but Captain Timmons told me a story of the Boston Tea Party. Perhaps that is the reason it is so high. I read this over many times, wondering if the true purport of it would be plain to Mr. Vernon, and then, deciding that he would see only what was written, I copied it into the letter and so finished. Mr. Vernon was on deck, and together we went back to the gun-carriage. It took him some time to read, the letter being long, but at last he finished it, and folded it for me to place the wafers. "'T is a sad letter," said he, "and your information about the tea touches upon a tender point. For tea is a sore subject in America these days. But I will see that it starts on its way at once," and, with a smile, he went off. There was nothing now for me to do but wait until a troop-ship bound for England should be ready. The hours passed uneventfully, for I had lost interest in everything, and a sort of numbness had come upon my spirits which, though it eased the pain of my disappointment, left me quite indifferent. One morning some four days after I had written my letter, I became aware of a man standing before me, holding out some plums as if for sale. He was a young man, as I could see at once, though the rough sort of cap he wore was pulled down over his forehead, and the collar of his rather torn and soiled coat was turned up. I looked at him for a moment, and was about to tell him that I did not wish to buy, when he lifted his head suddenly and looked me full in the face, his eyes meeting mine squarely. There was something in the bright glance that held my attention, and then-he deliberately winked! "Tea has gone up thrippence a pound," he whispered-and my heart stood still. “Come, buy my plums," he went on in a loud voice. "They are the best in the Jerseys, and I'll make them cheap for an English maid. (Do not look so frighted," he added under his breath. "'T is all right, and I am your cousin John.) Come, mistress, buy my plums!" For a few moments, he went on in this strain, praising the fruit and urging me between whiles to compose myself, and, indeed, I had need to, for my heart was beating furiously and I was panting from excitement. We stood alone on the deck, but there were sailors passing constantly, and at such times Mr. Travers, for it was, indeed, he, would raise his voice for me to buy, like any hawker. "Nay, now, do not look so pale!" he said in an undertone. "But if you are caught, they will hang you for a spy!" I whispered back. "Indeed, that's true!" he answered, with a reckless little laugh. "But these British are so cock-sure of themselves, they 'd never suspect that any one would dare brave their mightiness. 'T is their conceit will be their undoing. But enough of that! I was much distressed when your long letter reached me and I found what I had done. How did you manage to get it to me? I had not thought they would be so obliging, after my refusal to come for you." "Mr. Vernon sent it," I answered. "Not Guy Vernon?" he asked, with a note of anxiety in his voice. "The same," I replied; "he is aboard this ship." "And he would know me in any sort of dress," Mr. Travers went on, more to himself than to me. "Oh, well, it makes the adventure the more diverting, that's all. Now what of the message from Captain Timmons? for he would never have given you that word about the tea, if there had not been something behind it.” "I have the paper," I told him. "T is most important, though I know not what it is about; but the English know of it, and it is on that account mainly that they wish to keep me prisoner." It was some minutes before we could go on, for two officers stopped near us and talked for a while, during which time Mr. Travers kept up the patter about the fruit. But not content with showing his wares to me, he must needs go up to the officers as well, while I looked on in a panic. "They 're good loyal plums," I heard him say; "grown in the Jerseys, and never a Whig near them. Come, Your Excellencies, buy, and mayhap you'll convert a rebel." The officers, laughing at his audacity, told him to be off, and themselves walked away. "Where is the paper?" he asked, coming back to me, and I told him. "I guess what is in it!" he exclaimed. "Would it were in the general's hands." "Let me get it for you now!" I urged. "I can pretend to go for my purse." "But I cannot take you now," he said. "Oh, but never mind me!" I replied. "The How long they stood thus, I cannot tell, but it paper is ever so much more important." seemed to me like hours; then in a harsh and "Nay," he answered, with a resolute shake of rather husky voice, Mr. Vernon spoke: his head, "you have brought it so far, you shall. take it all the way. Besides, I came not for that alone. Indeed, no! I came to fetch my new cousin." "But how?" I asked, for I could see no way of his doing that. "Listen!" he said, glancing about him. “Think you you can come on deck to-night without being seen ?" "Yes, I can manage that," I answered, for the position of the little cubbyhole in which I slept made it easily possible. "Good!" he exclaimed. "Come then as the ship's bells strike six to-night. That will be eleven o'clock, as you, no doubt, know. I will be waiting at the landing-stage for you. Be ready, and come on the stroke of the bell." "Be off with you! and hereafter sell your plums on some other ship; for, if I find you on the Good Will again, you'll not get away so easily!" Picking up his baskets, Mr. Travers hurried along the deck, and, a minute later, I saw him run down the ladder and jump into a small boat. CHAPTER XVI SIX BELLS I was in a flutter of excitement for the rest of that day, and when night came down upon us I thought the hours till eleven o'clock would never pass. I went early to my little cabin, and got into my berth to await the time when I must attempt my escape. All was prepared as best I knew how. I had "But there is always a guard on the landing- ready a gown of linsey-woolsey, and under it stage," I returned. "Do "Yes, one," he answered with a smile. not fear that he will stay you. Put on a dark dress, and come with the book. Your other things must be left behind. Will you be there?" "Yes," I answered, and was about to speak further, when a step sounded near us and my cousin raised his voice again in praise of his fruit. This same thing had happened so often before that I thought nothing of it, till a voice spoke to me, and I looked up to see Mr. Vernon standing beside us. "Yes," I answered, "I was thinking of buying some, but my purse is below. I will go and fetch it." hung my pack-pocket filled with those things I could not bear to leave behind. They were trifles mostly: the shoe-buckles, a brooch, and such like things that Granny had given me, and also the tiny tea-set carved out of bone by Jim Tasker, the boatswain of the Bouncing Betsey. So, with my precious book of Maxims clutched in my hands, I lay and listened for the ship's bells to sound the half-hours. Finally five bells struck, and I rose quietly and put on my dress. Then again I waited. Oh, how long it seemed! Everything about the ship was "They are fine-looking plums," he said pleas- exceedingly still, and the occasional rapid footantly. falls of those crossing the deck above my head only served to make the quiet more complete. My heart was beating furiously and my breath was coming in little gasps, so great was my anxiety. I was sure it must be past the time, and that the sailor whose business it was 'had forgotten to ring. When it began to sound, the first tap of the bell seemed so loud and ominous that it startled me; but, summoning all the courage and fortitude I possessed, I stole forth. "Why trouble?" returned Mr. Vernon, taking a coin out of his pocket. "Let me have the pleasure of presenting you with the fruit. How much are they, fellow?" "Nay," I hurried to reply, for I feared the moment when he would discover the identity of the man before us. "Nay, he has pestered me so that I have lost my desire for them. Let him go." "Pestered you, has he? Then we 'll teach him better manners!" Mr. Vernon replied, and reaching out a hand, he put it under the other's chin and raised the bowed head. "Look up, fellow, and-and-" He stopped as their eyes met. Mr. Travers said no word, but gazed back at him with a halfreckless, half-serious smile on his face, as if he cared not what was the issue. But Mr. Vernon was visibly affected, and I trembled with fear; for a word from him meant death to my cousin. There was no one to heed me as I made my way on deck, and, once there, I saw a clear path to the break in the bulwarks where the companion-ladder dropped down to the landing-stage below. Gaining that, and beginning to feel almost safe, I looked down-and there, softly whistling a tune to himself, was the guard standing near a lanthorn that made a circle of light over the black water which gently lapped the sides of the ship. I hesitated at the top, not knowing what to do, for surely the sailor below me would put a halt to my flight and rouse the ship should I make a struggle. My heart sank like lead, for I had not expected him to be there, having relied on my cousin's words of assurance that the guard would be taken care of. All, then, was lost, I supposed. For some reason or other the plan had miscarried. Still, I meant to play my part to the end, and so took the first step down. There was a creak as the ladder moved slightly under my weight, and the sailor, catching the sound, turned and looked up at me. I noted the surprised expression of his face as he opened his mouth to speak; but, at the same instant, a dark shadow came into the ring of light, and a boat touched gently against the stage. Out of it leaped Mr. Travers, who immediately sprang upon the guard and thrust a handkerchief or cloth, I know not which, into his half-opened mouth, thus preventing any outcry. Then followed a short, sharp struggle, but the guard, taken wholly by surprise, was no match for the other, and, in a moment, was on his back with Mr. Travers atop of him. Meanwhile I had run down the steps, well knowing what was going forward, and stood beside the struggling pair. “Ah, you are just in time," whispered my cousin, looking up at me with a smile. "This fellow is tougher than I thought for, and you will have to help or he will rouse the ship. Bind his arms with that," he ended, nodding toward a coil of rope which he had doubtless brought with him for the purpose. As quickly as I was able, for my fingers trembled greatly, I put the rope under the guard's shoulders. Then making a noose, I drew it as tightly as I could about his arms while Mr. Travers held him. Once this much was accomplished the rest was simple, and in a few moments he lay helpless, though little the worse for his handling. A moment later we stepped into the boat and, in less time than I can write it, Cousin John had rowed away from the ship and we were swallowed up in the darkness of the bay. We rowed on in silence, the boat cutting through the water with scarce a sound. All about us were the lights of the British ships. Should my escape be discovered, an alarm would bring a swarm of searchers; but our luck held, and one after another we passed the dim hulks of the huge vessels, till at length we were free of the fleet. "And now, Cousin Beatrice, we can talk to our hearts' content!" cried Mr. Travers, and he began plying his oars vigorously, caring little what noise we made. "And am I safe at last?" I asked, taking a long breath and speaking aloud for the first time. "Aye," said he, "for though there are plenty of redcoats about, they 're on the other side of the bay at Staten Island. But tell me, have you the paper safe?" "Yes," I answered, "and I am anxious to be rid of it." "No doubt, no doubt!" he agreed; "but you must carry it yet a while, for we have a good way to go before we reach the town, and I do not mean to stop until we are there." "Cousin," I said anxiously after a few moments, "can you forgive me for being a girl instead of a boy?" "'T is a great tax on my forbearance," he made answer; and, not being able to see his face, I knew not how to take it. "Even though I am a girl," I went on, "I shall try not to be a burden to you, and hope in a little while, after I have learned the customs of America, to be useful. Granny says I 'm a good housewife and-" "Nay," he interrupted, breaking into a hearty. laugh, "housekeepers are easy come by, and I have a most excellent one already. But”—and he dropped his voice, so that he spoke seriously"sisters are a different matter, and now that I have found one, I mean to keep her. Do not trouble your head on that score, Beatrice. I'm right glad you 're here, and I hope you will soon love me as, by reason of your steadfast courage, I have already begun to love you." He was much in earnest, as I could tell by his voice, and I was very, very glad. "I know I shall love you," I answered, a little huskily; "and I should like you to call me Bee, as they did at home, if you will." "Good!" he exclaimed, "'Bee' it shall be, and I am Brother John. Is that agreed?" "Yes, Brother John," I hesitated. "That 's right," he laughed; "now we shall be truly brother and sister"; and he said it in so kindly a way that all the heartaches and disappointments were forgotten, and I felt that, though I had, indeed, lost one home, I should soon find another. We talked while he rowed, and he asked me all manner of questions about Granny and the boys, and was very properly disgusted with Mr. Van der Helst, though he admitted owing him something for sending him a sister. So, with the feeling of safety and the realization that my troubles were at an end, I must have dropped asleep, for one moment I was listening to Brother John's voice in the darkness, and the next I opened my eyes to find that it was broad daylight, and he laughing at me as he still rowed the boat. "I've been waiting very patiently for you to wake up," he said half banteringly. "I want to see that paper now that there is light to read." "Oh, yes, the paper!" I cried, taking up the book and breaking a thread in the cover with my bodkin. "Here it is!" and I drew it forth and handed it to him. come out before the world as a supporter of the new government of America, for fear of war with England, he, nevertheless, bids us count upon him as a friend, and adds that the ports of France are open to us." There could be no doubt that he was overjoyed, He opened it eagerly, and I saw his face light but somehow it seemed little for both the Ameriup with joy. cans and British to make such a pother over. ""T is splendid!" he cried, "and will put some heart in the doubting ones, beside giving us a place to buy powder for our army. Hold it safe, Bee," he went on excitedly, "for the general must have it before he goes on his daily rounds!" and he picked up the oars and rowed furiously. "And may I not know what it is now?" I asked, for I confess that the contents of the precious document had greatly aroused my curiosity. "Aye!" he answered heartily. "Though 't is a secret, you deserve to know, and I need not fear to trust your discretion. 'T is a letter, Bee, from our agent at the French court, saying that, although King Louis is not at this time willing to I think he must have seen what was in my mind, for he spoke further. "You cannot possibly understand all it means to us, who are fighting not only the British army and navy, but many of our own people, who, from fear, or hope of gain, stick to the Tory side and do all in their power to discourage and hamper us. For us to be able to say that France is our friend will bring money and men to our colors, and we need both sadly. Then, too, the chance to secure arms and ammunition is most important. You have brought glorious news, Bee, glorious! and His Excellency, General Washington, will be overjoyed when you hand it to him!" (To be continued.) " It is seldom, said an Gztec to his Wife, That we find our Dog so brisk and full of life. James, before you serve the Tea, you must try to catch that Bee, really cannot stand this noise and Strife!" |