CHAPTER XXI
THE SEARCH
It was only a few feet that Robert fell, for the barn was low and the distance between the partitions was slight; but as the young soldier struck the floor beneath him, his hat was flung far from him and for an instant he was almost stunned. A silence had greeted his unexpected appearance, but it was quickly broken when Claudius Brown with a shout called to his men: "There's the fellow himself! Don't let him get away! Get him! Get him!"
At the words Robert sprang to his feet and seizing the first of the men that rushed upon him, and exerting all his strength, he flung him hard against the side of the barn, where the man fell and did not rise. Desperately he struck the next man to advance upon him, but almost before he was aware of what was being done, the others had fallen upon him and he was borne to the floor, where he was helpless in the grasp of his captors.
"Had enough, young man?" shouted Claudius Brown with a laugh. Apparently the leader was so rejoiced at the unexpected good fortune which had befallen him that he was not mindful of the treatment two of his followers had received at the hands of the powerful young express. "If you have, stand up!" he added.
As Robert did not speak or move, he was roughly seized by the shoulders and lifted to his feet. Jacob Gunning had not moved from his position during the encounter, and as Robert glanced about him, his absolute helplessness was so apparent that he knew that any further attempt at defending himself would only cause him to increase his own peril. Accordingly he stood still and fearlessly looked into the faces of the men before him. Only once did he look at his hat, which had been flung in his fall far to one side of the barn, and quickly he turned his eyes away. Between the folds of his hat the small thin letter which had been intrusted to him had been placed, and for a moment there was a slight hope in his heart that it might not be found, If he should not be able to deliver it into the hands of the one to whom it had been ad- dressed, it would at least be a relief to know that it had not been secured by his enemies.
A shout from Claudius Brown caused the man who had been about to carry out the leader's order to set fire to the house, to return and join his comrades, and at the same time the man whom Robert had thrown violently against the side of the barn slowly arose, and with an expression of rage upon his face advanced upon the helpless prisoner.
"Here! None of that!" said Brown sternly, as he perceived what the man was about to do. "We 'll leave all that till we have done our other work." Then turning sharply upon Robert, he said quietly, "Give me the letter, young man."
"What letter?" replied Robert boldly.
"Don't try any dodges. You know what I mean. Give me your letter."
"I have n't any letter. You can search me and see for yourself."
"I don't need you to tell me what I can do. You 'll find that out before you are many minutes older." Nevertheless a new expression appeared upon his face at Robert's words, and for a moment he seemed to be abashed by the very calmness of the young man before him. "You brought a letter from the army."
"I know it."
"Where is it now?"
"I can't tell you. All I can say is that I have n't it any longer."
"What did you do with it?"
"What would I be supposed to do with a letter?" Robert was speaking boldly, for in spite of the fear in his heart he was convinced that his own safety, as well as the safety of the precious letter itself, would be best preserved in this manner.
"We 're in no mood to stand any foolishness," said Claudius Brown sharply. "Will you give me that letter?"
"I told you I did n't have any letter. You can search me and see for yourself."
"We can do that fast enough," replied the leader angrily, as he drew a knife from his belt and stepped forward. "Take off his coat!"
Instantly the prisoner's coat was torn roughly from him and cut into slits by the angry man. The search for the missing letter was not rewarded, and Robert again said quietly, "I told you the truth. I have n't the letter, but you won't believe me till you 've proved it, so go ahead."
"Take off his shoes!" ordered Claudius Brown.
Robert's shoes were quickly removed from his feet, and these also were cut into bits, but still the letter was not found.
"Keep it up! We 'll find it yet!" ordered the leader.
"You won't find it, simply because it is n't here," said Robert.
Roughly the search was continued, and when at last a half hour had elapsed and still the missing letter was not found, Robert was standing with his clothing in tatters, and the anger of his captors becoming greater with the repeated failures that were made.
"The letter is n't on him. That's as plain as the nose on his face," said Claudius Brown at last. "Now, young man, tell us where it is!" he demanded.
"I shall not tell you what I did with it," replied Robert quietly. "You would n't believe me if I did, any more than you believed me when I told you that I did n't have it."
"Where is it?" demanded Claudius Brown savagely.
"I hope it is where General Clinton will soon get it. If he does n't, I can assure you that it won't be the fault of the man that took it."
"Ask Jake," suggested one of the men. "Perhaps he gave it to him."
"Have you got that letter?' demanded Brown, turning savagely upon the landlord. Jacob Gunning only laughed and did not speak, and the anger of the leader apparently rose at the indifference of the man.
"We 'll search you, too, Jake, if you don't speak up!" growled Claudius Brown.
"I can tell you," interrupted Robert quickly.
"Tell, then!"
"He has n't got the letter, and he has n't the remotest idea who has it either."
"Don't you believe him, Claud," said one of the band. "Jake knows all about it, and it's more'n likely he's got it in his pocket now."
The suggestion seemed to increase the rage of the leader, and at his word two of the men came to his aid, the others being left to guard the prisoner.
"Now see here, Claud Brown," said Jacob slowly. "You know me an' I know you. What's the use o' all this foolishness?"
"Have you the letter, Jake?"
"I did n't know there was any letter; leastwise," he added, "I have n't seen anything o' it."
"You knew he had a letter?"
"Suppose I did? What's that got to do with it?"
"Everything!" retorted Claudius Brown savagely. "We can't hang 'round here all day. We knew this cub here had a letter an' we know he has n't gone on any farther than your tavern. We can't find th' letter on him an' ye act 's if ye knew more 'bout it than ye 're willin' t' tell. It 'll be all the better for you, Jake, an' for every one concerned, if ye 'll own up to it right now."
"What 'll ye give me, Claud Brown?" laughed Jacob.
"You know what I 'll give ye if ye don't."
Jacob's laugh was irritating, and evidently the leader lost all control over himself. With an exclamation of anger he ordered his men to assist him, and in a few minutes the landlord was standing in tatters not unlike those that partly covered the body of Robert. The longed-for letter, however, was still missing, and the rage of the men now threatened to break all bounds.
"Jake Gunning, will ye own up where th' letter is?"
"No, I won't," said Jacob sturdily.
"He does n't know, I tell you!" interrupted Robert again.
"You keep still! Your goose is n't all cooked yet, my friend!' snarled Claudius Brown, glaring at Robert for a moment. Then turning to Jacob again, he said, "I 'll be generous with you, Jake. I was to have five pounds if I got that letter. I 'll give you two if you 'll give it up."
"Make it two hundred an' I might talk with ye," laughed Jacob.
"He does n't know anything about the letter. Can't you believe me?" said Robert again.
Ignoring the interruption, Claudius Brown said once more to the landlord, "It's yer last chance, Jake. Will ye own up where the letter is?"
"No, I won't," and Jacob laughed as he spoke. Robert was unable to understand the change which apparently had come over the man. All his despondency was gone and he appeared even to be enjoying his present experience, which to his fellow prisoner seemed to be beyond all reason.
"Jake, do ye care more for that letter 'n ye do fer yer house?" demanded Brown.
"My advice to you, Claud Brown, is to leave my house alone," retorted Jacob, for the first time displaying any evidence of anger.
"Will you give up the letter, then?"
"I told you I wouldn't."
"Burn up his old trap!" shouted Claudius Brown.
At his bidding one of his men ran quickly into the tavern, and it was evident that the command of the leader was about to be obeyed. As if by some prearranged signal both Robert and Jacob strove to throw off the men that held them, but Robert's hands had been securely bound and he was well-nigh helpless, and even the sturdy landlord was powerless in the grasp of the powerful men that held him in the barn.
In a brief time a curl of smoke could be seen issuing from the front door, and within a few minutes it was followed by flames that seemed all at once to envelop the entire building. Robert could see that Jacob's face was deathly pale and that his eyes almost seemed to reflect the blazing fires that were consuming his home, but he did not speak, and to all appearances was not minded to make any further resistance. It was difficult, however, for Robert to follow his example, though he realized that he, too, was as helpless as the landlord. For a moment he was tempted to declare where the letter was, but a brief reflection caused him to abandon the thought. He did not know what the letter contained, but he had been informed that it was of so great importance that, if it should be found impossible to deliver it, under no circumstances should it be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy. No, it were better for one to suffer than for many, he assured himself. Better even that Jacob should be the loser than that the redcoats should be the gainer.
The flames had mounted higher and higher, and the little building; was almost concealed in the mass. The roar, too, could be plainly heard in the barn, and the dark expression on the face of Claudius Brown, who had remained by Jacob's side, afforded no intimation as to what his plans for the future were.
At last when a half hour had elapsed and the low tavern was hopelessly doomed, the leader turned once more to Jacob and said, "Now ye 'll believe that I mean what I say. Answer me; will you give up that letter now?"
"He has n't got the letter, I told you," interrupted Robert once more.
"You keep still and save your strength! You 'll need it all, young man," said Claudius Brown to Robert. Then turning again to Jacob, he said, "Your hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you. But you have n't heard me for the last time. Your five pounds won't go far in paying your debt."
"Save your wind, Jacob! If you don't give up that letter you 'll need it all. I'm not going to ask you again, Jake."
"The better for you, then!"
Claudius Brown said no more, but began to search the barn. He passed close to the place where Robert's hat was lying, but though the young express for a moment thought the letter was discovered, the leader passed it, apparently not suspecting its presence. He went into the stalls, and soon returned with two leathern halters in his hand.
Handing one to one of his fellows, he said sharply, pointing at Robert as he spoke: "Tie him to the timber, and tie him so that he can't get away either!"
Helpless, Robert was borne to the edge of the mow and securely fastened to the rude ladder which led to the hay above. His fears had increased keenly, and he fancied that he knew what was about to be done. Yet it seemed to him even then that Claudius Brown could not be such a heartless villain as the threatening actions proclaimed him to be. It was his last and desperate attempt to make him disclose the secret of the letter. Turning about, Robert perceived that the other halter had been placed about Jacob's neck, and already he was being led forth from the barn.
On the threshold Claudius Brown stopped for a moment as he glanced back and said, "We 'll swing Jake from his own apple-tree, and then we 'll see how much smoke this barn can make. We have n't got our letter, but we 'll make it a bit easier for the next man to speak when we tell him to."
Then he abruptly departed from the barn, taking Jacob with him, and before Robert could cry out he had disappeared around the corner.