the more to be feared. His resolution is like granite, his talent beyond dispute. I mean Colonel Washington, of Mount Vernon.”

What Royce thought of this estimate Nat never knew; for at that moment there came the ring of hoofs in the darkness. Then a horseman dashed up to the Chew House and threw himself from the saddle.

“Young Prentiss at last!” cried Royce.

“And come with news of importance, I’ll be bound,” echoed Dimisdale.

The two hurried away toward the spot where an eager group had gathered about the newcomer; and Nat was left to his thoughts and the darkness.

[48]“An attempt to capture the Virginia members of Congress,” breathed the boy, his blood thrilling at the idea; “and to-night!”

[48]

He stared at the dim cluster of Tories who stood in the path before the house listening to something that was being swiftly imparted to them by the night rider.

“And it may succeed,” he said. “It is a thing so unsuspected that it may succeed!”

As he watched he saw the group scatter. Horses were heard trampling and jingling their equipment; then came the noise of men mounting and calling to each other triumphantly. Finally the entire party rode down the path and into the public road; some of them bore lanterns to light their way, and in the dancing rays Nat saw eager, laughing faces, and also the glint of steel. In the midst of them rode a boyish figure; it was the bearer of the news, but Nat could not see his face, as it was turned away, the boy being engaged in earnest talk with Dimisdale, who rode beside him.

“Keep to the roads on the outskirts,”[49] ordered Royce, who seemed to command the cavalcade. “We might attract attention if we rode through the city; and we can reach the lower ferry just as well.”

[49]

[50]

CHAPTER V HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE

Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble. But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him—when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the 

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