“I’ve heard of that Colonel Cadwalader,” Jonas said, drawing a long breath, “and you were certainly lucky to make such a powerful friend, Hadley. Why didn’t you join the army? You’d make a good soldier, and perhaps get to be a captain, or something. Men rise quick from the ranks now-a-days.” “You know very well why I cannot enlist,” Hadley replied, gravely. “If Uncle Ephraim should tell me I could go, I might feel as though I would not be breaking my word by enlisting. But unless he says so, I don’t see how I can do it, much as I would like.” The innkeeper shook his head. “Ah, boy, there’s plenty of time yet for you, after all, it’s likely. The struggle is bound to be a long one. The king is sending over more troops, they say, and there’s a big force marching from Canada. We’ll never give up till we’re free; but most of us may be dead before freedom comes.” Mistress Benson came in a minute later, and her delight at seeing Hadley safe and sound again was sincere, although, as Jonas had admitted to the boy’s private ear, she was none too sympathetic with the patriot cause. She set before the boy a bountiful repast and made him eat his fill. Then he retired to his usual couch in the loft of the great barn and slept undisturbed until morning. He was currying down Black Molly in the open door of the stable before breakfast when Colonel Knowles chanced to stroll into the inn yard. The Englishman stopped and stared at the stableboy with a lowering brow. Hadley kept at work, whistling cheerfully, but a little amused at the colonel’s evident surprise, and not at all sure what the outcome of the meeting might be. “Well, young man!” exclaimed the guest; “you certainly are a youth of mettle to dare come back here after what occurred the other day. Do you know who I am?” “You are a guest of Master Benson’s, sir,” Hadley said, quietly. “I am an officer in His Majesty’s army, sir.” “But you are in the enemy’s country just now, Colonel Knowles,” the boy said, softly. “The dragoons are no longer within call, and although there are some Tories in the neighborhood, there are more men who hold to the cause of the Colonies. I think I am safer to come back here than you are to remain.” “Humph!” grunted the colonel; but the words evidently impressed him. After a moment of sullen silence he said: “They tell me your name is Morris; is that so?” “It is, sir.” “Do you know a person named Ephraim Morris living in this part of the country?” “That is my uncle’s name,” declared the boy, and his interest grew, for he remembered his conversation two days before with Mistress Lillian. “How old a man is he?” demanded Colonel Knowles, with some eagerness. “Rising sixty, sir. He is a farmer and lives not more than four miles from here.” “Well,” said the Englishman, turning finally on his heel, “you’re a worthy nephew of such an uncle, I don’t doubt.” “I’m afraid Uncle Ephraim would not agree with you,” Hadley called after the gentleman. “He is a Tory.”