"You will soon do that when you are able to get out of doors. Do you feel equal to a little talk about your own and public affairs?" "Oh yes, indeed!" answered Caspar, eagerly. "I have so longed to hear some news! But first tell me how you escaped." "Easily enough," answered Captain Elmer. "In fact, I had no need to escape, for no one had thought of suspecting me. I went home to my lodging, and the next morning, having gained all the information I wanted, I walked away as I had come, made a circuit, and joined my regiment. And now, in return for my story, tell me how you came hither, for I don't suppose you came 'on purpose' to drive away the bear, as Kitty says." Caspar replied by detailing the circumstances with which the reader is already acquainted. "Then you really were a spy as well as myself, though not so successful. I remember that fine Major André saying that you would do good service in that line." "It was not Major André, but one of our own officers, to whom I was indebted," said Caspar. "I had no choice, you know: I had to obey orders." "That is of course. But what do you mean to do now?" "That is not for me to say. I am a prisoner, and I suppose under sentence of death." "Hardly as bad as that," said Captain Elmer, smiling. "It is true that death is usually the portion of a detected spy, but circumstances alter cases. In the first place, you saved my own life and my child's. In the second, you have acquired no information; and if you had, you have had no chance to communicate it, and it would be of no use to your commander as things are at present. Neither do I suppose you are possessed of any knowledge which would be of use to us." "If I have, I would not give it you," said Caspar. "I have no wish to return to the British service, but nothing shall induce me to act against my old comrades." "There is no need," said Captain Elmer. "I suppose you have heard no public news." "Not a word." "Then you don't know that Sir Henry Clinton has evacuated Philadelphia a month ago, and been beaten by the American forces on his way across the Jerseys?" "Beaten!" Caspar's face expressed the surprise he felt. "Why, yes, it amounted to that. The Americans encamped upon the ground, and Sir Henry ran away in the night. That looks like being beaten, doesn't it?" "It certainly does; and yet I hardly know how to believe it. I wonder what old Von Falkenstein said?" "I fancy there were plenty of hard things said on both sides. The triumph would have been much greater only for Lee's conduct." "And the Americans are in Philadelphia?" said Caspar, as if he could not yet believe the news. "Yes, and a good many of your own countrymen besides." "Prisoners?" "No; deserters. It was curious to see the poor fellows creeping out of every hole and corner, some of them half-starved. There have been still more desertions on the line of march."