CHAPTER IV
TELLS WHAT BEFELL EZRA THEREIN
Directly behind the red-faced man came Abdallah, and a small,weazened-looking youth, with the face of a ferret and the covert mannersof a fox.
That Abdallah was not pleased with the situation was very evident. Therewas an angry light burning in the dark eyes; and though his manner wasas suave as ever, his voice, as he spoke, had gained distinctly insharpness.
"This," said he, addressing Ezra, who had arisen, "is a gentleman whoinsisted upon making your acquaintance."
Major Buckstone laughed loudly, and held out his hand to the boy.
"And that is the plain truth," spoke he, with great heartiness ofmanner. "I am a bluff soldier, young sir, and I am always delighted tosee those who do their work out in the open."
As he said this, his eyes went quickly to Abdallah and the ferret-facedyoung man. It was the latter who made answer.
"In a time like this, Major Buckstone," said he, "there is work of allsorts to be done for His Majesty, the King. You have your place--we haveours."
"And you will pardon me for saying it, I'm sure," said Abdallah, alsoaddressing the major, "but your place is decidedly not here."
The words were softly spoken; but, for all, there was behind them thebitter resentment of a man not accustomed to being crossed.
Major Buckstone drew himself up, and saluted formally.
"Sir," he made reply, "you have complimented me highly. You are quiteright. This is not my place. In plain words, a man of my quality shouldnever have been detailed upon such duty."
The ferret-faced youth, his eyes full of alarm, furtively tugged at thespeaker's sleeve; then he whispered some words of caution. But the burlysoldier shook him off impatiently.
"I understand you very well, Jason Collyer," said he with ponderousdisdain. "But as I have told you many times in this last twenty-fourhours, I will pay no heed to you. I have my own way of conducting my ownbusiness, and that I will persist in."
Abdallah made a sign to the ferret-faced youth, and the latter fell backfrom the plainspoken major. Then the two drew together at a far cornerof the room and consulted in whispers. The major turned to Ezra oncemore.
"You have ridden from Cambridge, I understand," said he.
"I have," replied the lad, briefly.
"It has been a week since I passed through the rebel lines," said theofficer. "I was in disguise," in a tone of great disgust. "Much ratherwould I have been in full uniform, and at the head of two regiments ofhardy fellows." Then in another tone, "But what news?"
"The papers, I should think," and Ezra nodded toward Abdallah, "wouldtell you everything."
"Everything of this nature," and the burly speaker gestured about him ingreat contempt. "But I want to have as little to do with spying andferreting as possible. What I want to know is: what has General Gagedone to break the preposterous condition at Boston, that the rebels calla siege?"
"Nothing, sir," replied the boy.
The great, red face grew grim, and the heavy round head wagged from sideto side.
"British prestige will suffer for this," said the major, solemnly. "Itwill suffer the world over." Then with a tightening of his jaws, "Come,then, tell me what the rebels have done. I'll warrant they have beenactive enough."
Ezra smiled.
"You are right in that," said he. "Never were men more busy before. Nota day goes by but that something is done. Earthworks are thrown up,companies are enlisted, stores are gathered, noted men of the colonialwars are offering their swords and their experience."
This last caused Major Buckstone to grow grimmer than ever.
"And tough fighters, those same rascals are," said he. "I've foughtshoulder to shoulder with them, and I know their mettle."
Then little by little he drew from the boy all the details of whathad passed, to the colonists' credit, since the day that thecolumn under Lord Percy had been driven pell-mell into Boston. But theboy shrewdly neglected to mention anything that would show the realand pitiful weakness of the colonial force. He did not tell how theslackly-disciplined farmers grew tired of the dull routine of thesiege and left for their homes in droves. He did not tell how GeneralWard had written to the Provincial Congress declaring that if this wasnot somehow stopped he would soon be left all alone. Nor did he saythat for sheer want of men, Boston Neck was at times almostunguarded--Boston Neck, the most important avenue of all out of thebeleaguered city.
Major Buckstone listened to the rosy story of the colonists' prowess;his thick iron-gray brows were drawn together in a frown.
"I understand that they have Putnam from Connecticut with them, and thattall fellow John Stark, of New Hampshire, too. Well, they are both nastyfighters; I've seen them in the thick of it many a time. The only way tobeat such fellows is to prevent them from making a fair beginning."
Here Abdallah came forward. His dark eyes had grown calm once more; andthere was a gentle smile upon his lips.
"In that, Major Buckstone, you are perfectly right," said he. "Oncethese men get a fair start in the conducting of a war it will be mostdifficult to put them down. And to prevent them is our mission."
The major growled out an angry exclamation. But Abdallah proceededsmoothly.
"When the military force has shown itself to be incompetent," said he,"such as we step in." He paid no attention to the glowering look thatthe major directed upon him for this criticism of the army. "Our work isof such a nature----"
The ferret-faced youth thrust out a thin, large-knuckled hand and tuggedat Abdallah's robe.
"Our work and its nature is well known to us all," remarked he, with asharp look at Ezra. "So there is nothing to be gained by talking overit, that I can see."
Abdallah smiled.
"Right," said he, "though it is somewhat late in the evening for us tothink of becoming secretive. Major Buckstone has seen fit to----"
"We have been all over that, also," said the major, brusquely. "As Ihave said before, this lad has been entrusted with other and perhapscleaner business of the King than this. And I can see no harm inspeaking openly before him."
"You are in command," said Abdallah, smilingly. "And I defer to you ineverything."
"If you had been bred to the artillery, you would have done that in thefirst place," replied Major Buckstone, dryly. "And, now, since thatrather important point is settled, let us get to our affairs."
The seal upon the packet of papers brought by Ezra was now broken andthe three bent over them intently. Ezra once more seated himself,watching them keenly, for he was struck by the great difference in theirappearance.
Major Buckstone was huge of limb and body; his great red face shone withperspiration; despite his rather uncouth farmer's dress, he looked everyinch a British officer of the old school.
Abdallah's commanding height would have marked him almost anywhere as aperson of unusual parts; and his queer robe-like garment, his bald domeand his singular dark eyes only accentuated this.
And the furtive-mannered Jason Collyer came in for his fair share of theboy's attention. There was a peculiar something in the sharp face andthe light eyes that caused Ezra to class him as dangerous.
"Even, perhaps, more dangerous than Abdallah himself," thought the boy."He is of the kind that never trusts any one and would halt at nothingto gain its ends."
It did not take many minutes for these strangely-contrasted coworkers tomaster the contents of the documents. Then Major Buckstone drew anink-pot toward him at a table and took up a broad-nibbed quill pen.
"A line will suffice," said he to the others. "General Gage will graspthe situation instantly. A single dash upon Boston Neck of a dark nightwill do the work. If I were only there with my artillery, I would soonhave it as wide open as----"
"Hsh-h!" warned Jason Collyer again. And once more he threw a sharp,distrustful look at Ezra.
With a snort of contempt the bluff soldier dipped the broad-nibbed pendeep into the ink-pot; then he dashed off some heavy lines of writing
,folded the paper and affixed a seal.
"There," said he, rising, "that will answer." He handed the message toEzra and continued, "Is your horse fresh enough to mount at once?"
Ezra knew that the beast was not; but then he had seen and heard allthat was necessary and had no desire to linger in the house of Abdallah.
"He will do until I reach my first stop," said he.
"Good," spoke the major as he watched the lad button the message tightlyup in his breast pocket. "Make all haste."
"You may depend upon me to do so," returned Ezra evenly. "But first youmust tell me where I am to go?"
Amazement was written large upon the soldier's broad, red face at this.His eyes went to Abdallah; and the latter smiled easily.
"It is our way of conducting things," said he. "We never allow our righthands to know what our left hands are doing." Then turning to Ezra, hewent on, "Return by way of Charlestown. Just outside of that village,near an elevation called Bunker Hill, there is a small place of resortknown as the 'Indian's Head.'"
"I can find it," said Ezra.
"Excellent!" Abdallah smiled pleasantly. "At the 'Indian's Head' youwill ask for Mr. Pennington. And when he is pointed out to you--by thelandlord, mind you--deliver the message to him."
"Very well," said Ezra.
"You understand perfectly?" inquired Jason Collyer.
"Perfectly," replied Ezra, briefly. Then turning to the others hecontinued, "If that is all you have to say to me, I will be off atonce."
"That is all," said Major Buckstone; and Abdallah smiled and inclinedhis hairless head.
They held candles for him as he went out, for night had come on.
"Ride carefully," warned Major Buckstone. "It will be a dark night."
"I am used to it," said the boy, as he unfastened the tall bay andclimbed into the saddle. "And then, this nag of mine has eyes like anowl."
And so, with a shake of the rein and a wave of the hand to the three,the young patriot was off along the dark road, going by the way he hadcome.