Neither of us had, since the assurance he had so graciously given me of Jonathan’s loyalty, spoken on the subject; though my brain was still puzzled. It had, however, been a habit with me to put aside that which I could not understand, until circumstances or a flash of intuition, made its meaning clear. With me, the more I pondered over perplexing problems, the further was I from their solution. General Burbank often discussed and explained to me the larger operations of war and, by suggestion, set me to thinking on them giving me thereby a clearer insight into its problems and greater love for the profession of a soldier. After reveille one morning, the general called me to him. The moment I saw his face, I felt that he had something to communicate of more than usual interest. He simply handed me a message of three words in Jonathan’s minute and delicate handwriting, “_Saddle not ripped_.” And then, pointing to the saddle on his chair, said, “I have been at work all night and must get some sleep,” he left me. I guessed that the work he referred to was connected with another message from Jot. I began without delay, cutting the stitches of the saddle until I found deftly concealed under the saddle’s lining, some papers in Jonathan’s handwriting addressed to me as follows: “Dear Davie: “When you receive this I may not be among the living; for suspicion and doubts of my loyalty to German interests at last have put the hounds of their secret service on my track. I have a foreboding as I begin this paper, that possibly I may never see you again in this life, and I can not let this chance pass without justifying my course to you. I would love to clasp your hand once more and die--if I must--under the Stars and Stripes. “I am concealing this in Jack’s saddle, in the hope that it will come to your hands, and that you will understand my former message written with a purpose to deceive the enemy, and give to them a belief that I am loyal to their cause, though I have plotted for your escape. I think that you will understand. “I know that your heart, dear David, has been torn with doubts of my loyalty, by evidences that have come to you. “Before we had landed in France, your colonel had shown me the necessity of self-sacrifice, by presenting to me the needs of the secret service in France, and of my opportunity to render great service by appearing to serve the German cause. My brother, whom he knew, was already in that service; for whatever might be his faults, he loved the dear old flag and its cause. The strong resemblance between us suggested to him greater opportunities, by our working together, in obtaining information much needed by the Allies, of the German war plans.