When Clarke had his plans all ready an accidental word was dropped by a soldier in the 49th. A hurried meeting of the officers discussed the situation, and word was quickly sent to Brock, it is said without the knowledge of Sheaffe. The soldier who bore the message had a bad reputation in the regiment, and Brock at once jumped to the conclusion that the man himself was implicated in the plot. Under stern questioning and threats of severe punishment the soldier broke down and told the whole story, together with the names of the ringleaders. Accompanied by Sergeant-Major FitzGibbon, Brock set sail that very hour and landed at Fort George long before he was expected by the waiting officers. The guard at the east gate of the fort was headed by Sergeant Clarke himself, and Brock ordered him to lay down his pike and take off sword and sash. When this was done, O’Brien, next in command, was ordered to handcuff the sergeant, and a third soldier, in turn, to manacle O’Brien. Almost before the officers who had asked his assistance knew that he had arrived, Brock had the twelve leaders of the plot in irons, and, they, with the seven deserters already mentioned, were sent to York under guard. We have read the story of Carr’s intended mutiny, and we have seen that Brock could be kind and indeed cure by kindness. He knew when to punish and when to stay his hand. In the case of Clarke he saw that an example must be made, so that his authority over his men might be seen by them to be a thing not lightly to be set aside. This time he showed no mercy. The affair was now one for the commander-in-chief of the forces, Lieutenant-General Hunter. The men were sent to Quebec, and there tried. Four of the conspirators and three of the deserters were sentenced to death, and on March 2nd, 1804, the sentence was carried out, greatly to Brock’s grief. He was big-hearted and clear-headed enough to know that Lieutenant-Colonel Sheaffe had been to a large extent responsible in arousing the evil passions which had resulted in the conspiracy, and while he recognized that the punishment was just he could not help but think that the delinquents were more foolish than criminal. When at York, he got news of the execution, he addressed a full parade of his men. He thought of the fate of the men who had been with him in Holland, and he was grave and bitterly sorry when he said: “Since I have had the honor to wear the British uniform, I have never felt grief like this. It pains me to the heart to think that any members of my regiment should have engaged in a conspiracy which has led to their being shot like so many dogs.” CHAPTER IV RUMORS OF WAR