"See here," said the peddler, pointing to a hill, at a short distance in
the rear, "do you not see a man walking on the point of that rock? Turn,
so as to bring the daylight in the range--now, see, he moves, and seems
to be looking earnestly at something to the eastward. That is a royal
sentinel; two hundred of the rig'lar troops lay on that hill, no doubt
sleeping on their arms."
"Then," cried Henry, "let us join them, and our danger is ended."
"Softly, softly, Captain Wharton," said the peddler, dryly, "you've once
been in the midst of three hundred of them, but there was a man who
could take you out; see you not yon dark body, on the side of the
opposite hill, just above the cornstalks? There are the--the rebels
(since that is the word for us loyal subjects), waiting only for day, to
see who will be master of the ground."
"Nay, then," exclaimed the fiery youth, "I will join the troops of my
prince, and share their fortune, be it good or be it bad."
"You forget that you fight with a halter round your neck; no, no--I have
promised one whom I must not disappoint, to carry you safe in; and
unless you forget what I have already done, and what I have risked for
you, Captain Wharton, you will turn and follow me to Harlem."
To this appeal the youth felt unwillingly obliged to submit; and they
continued their course towards the city.
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