CHAPTER XV
UNEXPECTED GUESTS
Robert, puzzled somewhat by the actions of the landlord, nevertheless at once led his horse to the low barn in the rear of the tavern, and not finding any one there to aid him, began himself to look after the wants of Nero. Everything about the place was strange, not the least strange being the actions of the boniface. While he was watering and feeding his horse, for he had discovered a bin of oats and had appropriated what he required, Robert was thinking of Jacob Gunning, and had it not been for the positive assurance of the general he would have been inclined to be suspicious of the man.
"Find what ye want?"
Robert glanced up quickly at the unexpected inquiry and beheld Jacob standing on the barn floor and watching him with evident interest. So quiet had been the man's approach that he had not been aware of his presence until Jacob had announced it by his unexpected question.
"Yes, sir, thank you. I 've been helping myself to what I could find."
"That's right. My man left me yesterday an' I have n't found one yet to take his place. I want to talk with ye about that letter," he added in a lower voice and drawing nearer to Robert. "When d' ye get it?"
Thus bidden, and recalling General Clinton's confidence, Robert decided to relate what had occurred at the home of the Notts, and in a few words he told the landlord his recent experiences there. Jacob's bearing had changed now and much of his apparent indifference was gone. He did not once interrupt Robert until his story was all told. Then he said abruptly, "Why don't ye take it yerself?"
"I can't do it."
Why not?"
Robert hesitated a moment and then said, "I must push on for Morristown. Have you heard anything of what our army is doing?"
"Last reports were that 't was n't doin' much of anything. I don't know of but two ways to get this letter where it belongs. One is to take it myself an' t' other is to let my gal take it. I'd go myself but I must n't be away from here for a day or two just now."
"Why not? What's awry?" demanded Robert quickly.
"Nothin' as yet. I 'll let Betsey go," Jacob said, after a moment of thought. "When ye goin' to push on?"
"Early to-morrow morning."
"Why don't ye go to-night?"
"I want to give my horse a rest; and then, too, I may be better off myself if I get a few hours of sleep. Why? Is there any special reason why I ought not to stop?"
"I dunno's there is," replied the man hesitatingly. "I 've heerd that some o' Claud Brown's gang is hereabouts."
"You have? You have?" demanded Robert quickly. "What are they doing so far back from the river as this?"
"Oh, this is a part o' their stampin' ground. They 're first in one place an' then in another, and then again they 're somewhere else."
"I don't want to meet any of them," said Robert thoughtfully.
"Ye won't have to if ye push on. Come in an' get some supper, anyway, an' then we can tell afterwards what's best to be done. I don't want to get ye into any trouble."
The man appeared to be sincere, and Robert was too seriously troubled by what had been said to be unduly suspicious of one whom General George Clinton had declared to be absolutely trusty. He turned away from the barn when the man had gone, hastened to the rear of the house, and, going to the well which stood near the barn, he drew a bucket of water, and using some "soft soap" that was in a near-by keg, he soon removed the traces of his journey from his hands and face. While he was busy with his ablutions he heard the sounds of a horse departing from the yard; and glancing quickly up, perceived that a young girl not more than fifteen years of age was riding from the place on horseback. Doubtless this girl was "Betsey," and she was already started on the journey with the letter he had given to the landlord, he concluded; and when she had disappeared from sight in the road that led into the forest, he entered the tavern, and soon was seated at the table where his supper had been prepared for him. Jacob had not appeared since the interview in the barn, and Robert was left to his own meditations. Before his supper had all been eaten he had decided that he would remain where he was for a part of the night anyway. His horse had had a hard day and needed a rest, and even if Claudius Brown's gang was in the vicinity, his own safety would be increased if he was with a friend instead of trying to make his way in the darkness over an untried and unfamiliar road.
He was relieved by the decision, and was about to push back his chair from the table when he was startled by the sound of voices of men in front of the tavern.
"Ho, there!" some one called in a voice that seemed to roll through the house and could be heard in every part of the building. "Come out and get our horses! We 're waitin', but we shan't wait long!"
Surely he recognized that voice, Robert assured himself, and trembling in his excitement he ran to the door of the room and peered cautiously out at the two men who now had dismounted and were standing on the steps, each holding the bridle of his horse in his hand. One glimpse was sufficient to convince Robert that he had not been mistaken, but his fears increased when he perceived that in addition to "Josh," the huge guard who had kept him in the hut into which the Thirteen had taken him, was Russell, the man whom he left asleep on his blanket in the same hut when he himself had been summoned by Claudius Brown, and by mistake given the letter which the treacherous Tory was to have received.
In a moment Jacob Gunning appeared, coming from the barn at the boisterous summons, and, almost fascinated by what he saw, Robert still peered forth from behind the door and listened intently to what was being said.
"Well, Jake, got a bite for us?" roared Josh.
"I never turned ye away empty yet, did I?" replied the landlord.
"Jake, we 're looking for a man," broke in Russell. "Have you seen him?"
"Well now, that's a little too much. Course I 've seen men, but how'd I know it might be the p'tic'lar man you was wantin'?"
"Tell us who has been here," suggested Russell.
"To-day?"
"Yes."
"Let me see, there was two men 'long here 'bout noon. One o' 'em was not named Nott"—
"Have you heard about the Notts?" interrupted Russell.
"Course I have. Ye don't s'pose there's much goin' on 'tween here an' the Hudson I don't hear 'bout, do ye?"
"You say there were two men here about noon?"
"That's jest what I said."
"Did they stop here?"
"Only long 'nough t' ask th' same questions you 're askin'."
"What did you tell them?"
"I told 'em I had n't seen anybody here. Bus'ness has been all-fired poor ever since th' war"—
"Did one of these men have a scar on his left cheek?"
"Yes. I'm not sure 't was th' left cheek, though. Let me see. Yes, I guess 't was th' left cheek, after all. I wasn't sure at first."
"That's all right," roared Josh. "We saw both men back here."
"Any one been here since they went away?" demanded Russell.
"Let me see. Yes, there was a man here."
"Young man?"
"He was n't so very old."
"About twenty?"
"I did n't ask him, but I should say he was 'bout that. He was as strong as a young bull an' as full o' grit an' ginger as an egg o' meat. When I see him I thought he'd give a lively tussle to 'most any man that took hold o' him."
"Yes, yes," said Russell nervously. He was a slight man in physique, restless, energetic, and alert, and it was evident why he had the huge Josh as a companion. "Is he here now?"
"Th' last I see o' him he was goin' out th' barn door."
"How long ago?"
"Well now, I can't say exactly."
"You know, Jake. Tell us, for it's more important than you think."
"Ye don't say so! I see he was a smart chap, but I did n't know he was so important as all that."
"How long ago was it when he left?" demanded Russell impatiently.
"Well now, 't was quite a spell. Quite a spell, I should say."
"Was it an hour, or two, or three?"
"I 'll go an' ask Nancy. My wife always keeps track o' those things better'n I do. She seems t' have a better head for such things 'n I have."
"Josh, we 'll stop here and get some supper," said Russell sharply, turning to his companion as he spoke. "Jake can't tell us much, but the fellow has been here and we 'll get him before it's light. He won't go on very far in the night."
"That suits me," roared Josh. "I 'll put out the horses an' you can go in an' get ready for supper. I'm all ready now," and the roaring voice seemed to boom throughout the house.
"I 'll go in an' tell Nancy ye 're here," suggested Jacob. "You can wait here or go out t' th' well an' wash up."
As Russell started toward the well, Jacob quietly entered the house. In a moment his manner had changed completely, and instead of the lazy appearing, lawless man that he had been a moment before, he was now alert and the expression of his face had become keen and eager. Stepping softly from his hiding-place, Robert held up his hand warningly as the landlord approached, and Jacob quickly nodded his head in token that he understood.
"They 'll see yer horse, but Josh is such a lunkhead he may not know it," whispered Jacob. "They 're after you though, and no mistake."
"What shall I do?" inquired Robert, in a whisper.
For a moment Jacob hesitated and then said quietly, "Can ye stand it to stay right here behind this door?"
"Yes."
"Then ye better do it. I'm afraid ye'd be heard or seen if ye was to try to get away now. Besides, ye may hear somethin' to yer advantage."
Robert quickly took a position behind the door which Jacob pushed back against the wall, and then placed a rock, which was used to hold it in place, against it to prevent it from moving from its position. He then went into the kitchen and gave his directions to his wife, who at once began to prepare supper for the latest comers.
A half hour had elapsed when the two men entered the room and seated themselves at the table where Robert himself had recently been, and the boniface remained to attend to the wants of his guests himself. In his hiding-place Robert could hear every word that was spoken, but he knew that his peril would be great if he should be discovered. He had more fear of Russell with his quick ways than of Josh with his great strength but ungainly and awkward form ; but at the worst there were only two to be faced, and somehow Robert believed that, in the event of serious trouble, he might rely upon the landlord himself. However, the young soldier was eager to hear what was being said, and as soon as the two men were seated, Jacob began the conversation.
"What did ye want t' get the young chap for?" he inquired.
"We need him," replied Russell tartly.
"Have you joined the Thirteen?"
"I joined it? Hardly," laughed Russell a bit nervously. "I use it. I am a good friend of theirs and of you, and a good many others."
"Ho, ho!" roared Josh.
"What was this trouble at the Nott's?"
"There was n't any trouble."
"I understood their house was burned up."
"It was; but it was n't any trouble to do that."
"What has become o' th' folks?"
"Who?"
"Why, the Notts."
"I can't tell you."
"Don't you know?"
"Yes."
"But ye won't tell? Is that it? Well, all I can say is I'd rather have Johnnie Burgoyne after me than Nott an' his boys."
"The boys are not so bad as the girl."
"Sho! Ye don't mean it! I did n't know she was such a tartar."
"She is now where she"—began Russell, but he stopped and abruptly rose from his seat and quickly ran toward the door.