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You bring your men down t' other side of the river to Meegan's place; and as soon as it 's dark, I'll come across the river in a sloop I own and will bring you right over to Hennion's wharf, from which it will be easy to steal into his barn without no one seeing us." Brereton made no answer for a minute, then said, "Very well; I'll adopt your plan."
At the same time that Major Hennion's party had been despatched to gain news of the fleet, other troops of Tarleton's and Simcoe's cavalry had been thrown out on scouting parties across the peninsula to the James, and the following day they brought word that the French were busily engaged in landing troops from their ships at Jamestown, with the obvious intention of effecting a junction with Lafayette's brigades, which were at Williamsburg.
Meredith set about the scheme, already hinted at, of buying assignments of the mortgages on Boxley. For this purpose he announced his intention of journeying to New York, and ordered Philemon to be his travelling companion that he might have the advantage of his knowledge of the holders of the elder Hennion's bonds.
"Yer might ez waal quit, Joe," interjected Squire Hennion. "I hez more 'n' yer hev, an' I intends ter buy it. Nineteen my bid, pa'son." "Twenty," burst out Joe, malignantly. "Twenty-one." "Twenty-five." Hennion's face in turn grew red with anger, and he half rose, his fist clinched, but recollecting himself he resumed his seat. "Going at twenty-five," announced McClave. "Will any one give more?"
"Yer did, consarn yer," was Hennion's reply; but then a smile succeeded the angry look on the shrewd face. "I did n't pay more 'n a third of what 't is wuth, then." "'T will be a dear buy, that I warn you," retorted Joseph, angrily. "I'll pay you off yet for bidding me out of it." "Yer be keerful what yer do, or I'll do some payin' off myself," warned Hennion.
That fopling Mobray is buzzing about her and pilfering all the sweets that can be had short of matrimony " "Nay, Clowes, he's no intriguer against my lass, that I am bound to say. 'T was only this morning, the moment he had news of Hennion's death, he came to me like a man, to ask permission to address her." "Ho, he's deeper bitten by her charms than I thought! retorted the suitor.
"You see if I can't make a case of it," urged Bagby. "I've come out a great hand at tieing the facts up in such a snarl as no judge or jury can get them straight again, and this time the jury will be with us before we begin. You see old Hennion's been putting the screws on his tenants tight as he can twist them, and glad enough they 'd be if they could only have you again, 'stead of him.
And how can we know where they set the ambush, so as to set a counter one?" "It's easy as can be. When they have the mail, it 's to Hennion's barn they all goes, where they cut it open and takes out everything as Clinton will pay for, and sends it off at once on one of the boats of provisions as old Hennion is stealing into New York two or three times a week."
"Sartin they approved the Congress doins, nemine contradicente, as they wuz baound ter do since all aginst kep away, but " "Dost mean to say ye voted for it?" demanded Mr. Meredith. Squire Hennion's long, shrewd face slightly broadened as he smiled. "I wuz jest stepped over ter the ordinary ter git a nipperkin of ale when thet ere vote wuz took."
"Ah, Janice," he cried, unable to contain himself even before the baron, "if you knew the thrill your words give me. Are you truly glad to see me?" "Yes, Phil, or I would not say so," answered the girl, ingenuously. Lord Clowes, a scowl on his face, turned from the two, to avoid sight of Hennion's look of gladness. This brought him gazing seaward, and he gave an exclamation. "Ho! What 's here?"
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