"The word 'rebels' be sufficient!" Sally told him grimly. "Methinks they care not whether rebels be men or not! Were ye wi' the red-coats who but now searched the hay?"
"Oui, oui!" nodded the Frenchman." I returned, "he went on simply, "for I did not wish to keel the inhabitants who fought only to protect ze—homes!"
"Did ye come Hackensack way?" asked Sally.
The Frenchman shook his head. "I come by ze Elizabeth Town Point—many o' us! We do ze march to Newark, arriving at noon!"
"'Tis past noon now?" asked Zenas in surprise, speaking for the first time.
"Oui, oui—yes, long past!" exclaimed the other. He looked around him. "May I secrete myself in ze hay?" he asked plaintively. "I—I do not wish to fight—I onlee wish to hide until I can escape to France!"
"Why not?" asked Zenas, looking at Sally. "Poor varlet! An Master Wheeler were here, I feel sure he would bid him remain and e'en help him to return to France!"
"Of course," nodded Sally, with eager sympathy. "Tell him to stay, Zenas!"
So Zenas turned to the young man, who, bowing, had already seated himself with a sigh upon the hay and had removed the high, awkward hat which was part of the British uniform.
