were all up river."

"And so did I until last night. But the young man who brought this
letter from Davidson was attacked by three slashers as he was searching
for me. They met him as he was coming from your store along the
waterfront. Fortunately he was able to put the three to route."

"How did he know they were slashers?"

"Because they demanded the letter he was carrying. It proves that they
were spies, and knew from whence the courier had come."

"It does seem reasonable," the trader agreed. "But I did not know they
were hanging around our store. There has been such a crowd there,
though, the last two days that I could not tell the slashers from the
Loyalists. However, I shall keep a sharp watch after this, and if I
catch them I shall let you know at once. But what about Davidson? He
must be hard pressed, or he would not have sent you that urgent appeal."

"I can't send him any men, Mr. Simonds, that's certain," and the Major
thrummed upon the table as he spoke. "Why, it would take a regiment to
do any good, and I have barely fifty men in all. But I am going to
send him a supply of guns and ammunition. They must go on the _Polly_,
and you are to give Leavitt strict instructions to see that they are
delivered to Davidson as speedily as possible. That is the best I can
do."

A sharp rap sounded upon the door, and at once a soldier entered. He
advanced to the centre of the room, stopped, clicked his heels
together, saluted, and stood at attention.