Now, no sooner did I reach my camp with my prisoner than my people came crowding around us from their watch-fire, which burned dull because they had made a smudge of it, black flies being lively after dark. I drew Nick aside and told him all. "You shall take Johnny Silver," said I, "and set off instantly for Summer House and the Continental camp. You shall deliver a letter to Major Westfall, and then you shall search with your lanterns every face you encounter; for I am beginning to believe that I truly saw Stephen Watts and Lieutenant Hare in the orchard at Summer House Point this night. And if I did, then they are a pair o' damned spies, and should be taken; and suffer as such!" "My God," says he, "Lady Johnson's brother!" "And my one-time friend. Is it not horrible, Nick? But any hesitation makes me a traitor to my own people." I sat down in the dull firelight, a block of wood for a seat, fished out my carnet, wrote a line to Major Westfall, and handed it to Nick. Silver came with a lantern and both rifles. "Use the canoe," said I, "and have a care that you reply clearly and promptly when challenged, for yonder Continentals are prone to shoot." They went off with their rifles and the lantern, and I waited until I heard the dip of paddles in the dark. "Throw a dry log on the fire, Godfrey," said I. And to Joe de Golyer: "Bring that prisoner here." Joe fetched him, and he stood before me, arms trussed up and head hanging. Tahioni approached. "Untie him," said I. Whilst they were fumbling with the knotted rope of thrums, I said to Tahioni: "Luysnes is on guard, I take it?" "My French brother watches." "That is well. Now, tell my Oneida brothers that here we have taken a very dangerous man; and that if he makes any move to escape from where he stands beside that fire, they shall not attempt to take him _alive_!" The young warrior turned calmly and translated. I saw my Oneidas loosen their knives and hatchets. The Saguenay quietly strung his short, heavy bow, and, laying an arrow across the string, notched it. "Thiohero!" I called. "I listen, my elder brother," said the little maid of Askalege. "You shall take a trade-rifle, move out one hundred paces to the west, and halt all who come. And fire on any who refuse to halt." "I listen," she said coolly. "You shall call to us if you need us." "I continue to listen." "And if there comes a wagon, then you shall take the horses by the head and lead them this way until the fire shines on their heads. Go, little sister." She took a trade-rifle from the stack, primed it freshly, and crossed the circle on light, swift feet. When she had gone into the darkness, I bade de Golyer kick the fire. He did so and it blazed ruddy, painting in sanguine colour the sombre, unhealthy visage of my prisoner. "Search him," said I briefly. Joe and my Oneida rummaged him to the buff. It was in his boots they discovered, at last, a sheaf of papers.