word about here, that, as he had friends and interests on both sides,
he had concluded to remain neutral! Are you sure you have been
correctly informed?"

"Quite sure. But while you may conjecture the source of my information,
remember that it is to work no injury to the family of my informer."

"Ay, I understand, now--'tis true, then; and you are correct, too, in
your suspicions about his present movements. That will account for the
existence of the hard dollars that have so strangely made their
appearance about here within a few days. But will he be suffered to
prosecute his plans here among us? What better is he than a spy?"

"Nothing."

"He must be nabbed, then; and we will let him find his duke's coronet
in a crow's nest, on the limb of some old hemlock, to which we will
soon have him dangling in the air, unless our authorities wish to give
him a more respectable gallows. What say you to that, Harry?"

"That you are not the first to think of it--that is, so far as to have
him captured. He rode away from Haviland's in this direction, and at a
moderate pace, just as I, unperceived by him, reached there, about an
hour ago, on his way, doubtless, to one of the tory haunts in
Manchester. My mare has a fleet foot, Risdon; so you now understand
why I was in a hurry to be off, don't you?"

"I do; but Heavens! Woodburn, you are not going to give chase alone?"

"Yes; no horse but mine probably could overtake him before he reaches