She stared at him stonily and deigned to make no answer. She was attempting to feel anger at one who could look so much like her dear Master Sheffield and yet could draw his sword in the cause against Liberty. But it was hard to resist the appeal of those earnest, friendly eyes. “You see,” commented Merton, “the maid is just as stubborn as are all of these backwoods folk that call themselves patriots. You will get nothing from her by gentleness.” Through the door, that had been left open, came a low, whining voice speaking in rapid French, and round the edge of the doorpost peered the dark face of the half-breed pedlar. “There are but women here,” he said, “an old dame who has a tongue like a flail and this young Mademoiselle. It is the best place to learn, not only the road to M’sieur Shadwell’s, which I have missed in this wilderness of snow, but also where lies that handful of rebel troops that we have heard are encamped in the neighbourhood. There are red-coated men enough here to take them twice over.” The Captain, stepping to the threshold, answered the man in a low voice and in his own tongue. “Your task was to guide this expedition to the Loyalist headquarters, and not to lose your bearings at the first turning. Yet, as I have been once over the road myself, perhaps I can find the way again. What I wished most to have you discover was the place of encampment of the American troops.” The French pedlar interrupted quickly with some words that she was not able to hear, although she could guess their purport from the officer’s answer. “You need not fear so greatly for the safety of your precious skin. The Americans are so few that they can only harm us if they cut all our return to our vessel in the harbour; could we but have the chance of surprising them, they would be quite helpless in the face of our numbers. Yet I should rather leave them unmolested and accomplish our errand as quietly as possible. I do not care to risk good lives in the rescue of a rascal like your master, Andrew Shadwell.” He turned back into the room and spoke in English to the two soldiers. “We may as well go on,” he said, with a visible effort to make it appear that their errand was only a casual one. “We owe this maid an apology for troubling her with questions that are of no great moment. You must pardon us, my Mistress.” “I could find out all we want to know,” growled Merton, “if you would but leave me alone with her for a little. Or,” he added hopefully, “there may be some one else here to ask.” While the Captain was talking with the pedlar, the other soldier had tramped up the narrow stairs that led from this room to those overhead, and was now coming down again after having searched the tiny sleeping quarters above. “There is no one else in the house,” he announced. “We may as well cease to frighten the young Mistress and go upon our way.”