“I expect to see Miss Elsie tonight. Naturally I don’t care to set her father against me, but, if I learn anything that’s all right for me to repeat, I’ll tell you.” Leaning forward, Sevier swept his flaming gaze up and down the ranger’s trim form in mingled anger and scorn. “Young man,” he softly said, “you’re either an American or just a two-legged critter. Can’t you see the time has come when it must be decided once for all whether an English or a Spanish-speaking race is to rule this country? What are your personal affairs compared with the destiny of a world? As an American you’ll do nothing dishonourable. I don’t expect you to wheedle secrets from Elsie, whom I’ve known and loved dearly and who is as good an American as I am. But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go to John Tonpit and put the question to him frankly: did he or did he not confer with Lon Hester this morning?” “That means I lose the girl,” Jackson sadly reminded. “Not if she is the girl I’ve always believed her to be. I tell you she’s an American girl. She may not call it that, but she is. She would despise you if you dodged your duty to secure her love. Remember, you’ll get nothing worth while in this life except what you pay for by work and suffering. God knows we who have won the Watauga and the Kentucky lands have paid the full price. Tell the girl frankly you must know more about her father’s doings from the lips of her father.” “He’d simply rage and probably threaten to shoot me.” “I need scarcely remind you that threats won’t scare a man who’s just from the Shawnee country,” said Sevier with a smile. “—— it! I’ll lose my chances of seeing the girl without learning anything that would help you.” “Tonpit will rage and bluster, and he’ll threaten and forbid your seeing Elsie. But he won’t lie about Hester; there’s where he is weak as a plotter. If he saw him, he’ll fume and demand what business it is of yours. Then tell him you propose to marry his daughter. She’s of age. If she loves you and is worth the winning, you’ll lose nothing. The other way—trying to remain neutral—leads to dishonour and the girl’s contempt. When do you see her?” “Tonight—about ten o’clock.” “I will be here waiting for you. I understand your feelings. It’s natural you should feel a bit selfish. Love-making wouldn’t be worth the experience if lovers weren’t selfish. But Miss Elsie would scorn a man who slighted his duty. Our country comes first. If I can find out what Tonpit intends to do, if only a hint of his next move, I can make a close guess about what McGillivray wrote him. I know the Creek Nation has been ready to strike for months and has been held back until the Cherokees could be won over. Now that we’re ceded to the Union and believed to be unprotected, the Cherokees favour the Creek alliance.