But he stopped upon the very verge of the adventure. Pulling up a chair, he seated himself in it and addressing Ezra, said:

"But let us come to this message which Abdallah gave you. As you came here seeking Master Pennington, which I have no doubt you did, I suppose you brought the writing with you."

During all which followed Scarlett's entrance with the innkeeper, Pennington's sharp glance kept shifting itself to Ezra. Now he spoke, eagerly:

"In that you bring us to a matter of consequence, sir. During your absence, we held some converse upon this very matter. And our young friend informed me that the dispatch is no longer in his possession."

Scarlett folded his arms across his chest in an easy sort of way, and replied, lightly:

"I have no real knowledge of this affair, one way or the other, sir. But from your manner, I take it that this circ.u.mstance is irritating."

"It is more than that," spoke Pennington. "It may be fatal. General Gage was expecting--"

But here he checked himself after the manner of a cautious man who has caught himself in the midst of a dangerous admission.

Ezra, however, smiled.

"It is somewhat late," said he, "to try and conceal the dispatch's ultimate destination. Major Buckstone saw to my enlightenment at the very start."

Pennington's hands clenched.

"You saw him then! The old idiot! He would discuss our plans with the colonial council of war itself."

"I have not the good fortune of this gentleman's acquaintance," spoke Scarlett, "but I think I know the type. The bluff old officer-honest as the sun-who knows nothing but his routine and the well ordering of his command. But," with a careless wave of the hand, "what matters it? We are all friends, are we not? We are all fairly well gifted with understanding. So a trifle of plain talk will do no harm."

Pennington pondered and nodded reluctantly.

"In a way," said he, "you are right."

"A frank question or two, when needed, will have no bad result," said the adventurer. "And I think if they were applied here and now, we'd come at something of profit, perhaps."

Pennington's face flushed.

"I am beholden to you, sir," said he, a trifle bitterly. Then turning to Ezra he said: "Perhaps you will now tell us how you came to so part with the papers entrusted to you?"

"Is it any great wonder," said Ezra, "that I did not safeguard a message given me by people who later sought my life?"

He was determined to be as evasive as possible. If he hoped to come to the true depth and breadth of this spy system, he knew that he must meet craft with craft.

Pennington made no reply to this, but continued to sit and watch. The situation must have puzzled him; clearly he did not understand it.

But Scarlett was ready enough.

"For my part, I blame you but little," he said. "It was but a churlish way to treat a messenger."

There was a short pause; then the spy spoke.

"Might I ask," he inquired, "who this mysterious person is to whom you confided this paper?"

Ezra shook his head and remained silent.

"As a grandson of Seth Prentiss," continued Pennington, "I am loth to believe you other than a friend to honesty and good government."

"And in that," returned the boy, "you would be right."

Scarlett here leaned forward.

"And was the gentleman to whom you entrusted the paper," asked he, "of a like inclination?"

"He was."

"Why, in that case," and the soldier of fortune laughed good-humoredly, "I don't think it any great matter. Let us but get word to the gentleman and he'll take it to Boston himself, perhaps."

Pennington's eyes searched Ezra's face, and the boy replied:

"Perhaps so; I have heard him say that he meant to make his way into Boston before long."

The hidden meaning of this must have left its trace in Ezra's voice, for Pennington's gaze, if it were possible, grew keener.

"That may, perhaps, serve," said the man. Then he continued: "It so chances that I am left in a most peculiar position by your unexpected connection with this affair, Master Prentiss." There was concern in his voice as he went on. "It will be difficult for me to explain it to those to whom I must make explanation. And it will be equally difficult for them to understand."

A thrill ran through Ezra. As plainly as day he read the purpose of the man in his crafty eyes. And, so it flashed upon him, as that purpose would help him in his own, he at once fell in with it.

"If I could but make my own explanation," he said, "it would greatly lighten your labor."

The eyes of the spy snapped.

"To do that you must needs go into Boston," he said. "Would you venture that?"

"I have been there before," answered the boy. "And why not again? And I think this gentleman," nodding smilingly at Scarlett, "would also make the venture if it could be accomplished."

"As well as not," said the soldier of fortune, carelessly. "One place is much like another to me."

There was triumph in Pennington's face as he arose.

"Excellent!" he cried. "Both of you shall cross the river to-night. I have the means at hand. And I will present you to those," here the high-pitched, disagreeable laugh rang out, "who will be delighted to welcome you."

CHAPTER IX

IN WHICH EZRA FARES INTO THE CITY OF THE ENEMY, AND HEARS THE VOICE OF AN ACQUAINTANCE

It was very evident to Ezra Prentiss that the purpose of Pennington was to entrap him. Once safe in Boston, so the spy's thoughts ran, he and his friends could put upon the boy whatever pressure it pleased them; there the latter would not be so indefinite in his statements as he was at the "Indian's Head."

"If you have a way of crossing, it must be a most secret one," said Gilbert Scarlett, who, like the others, was preparing to depart. "Only this morning I made the rounds, or as much of them as I was permitted to make, and I found the sh.o.r.e very well guarded."