No word of mine will be raised in
your favor. Now, sir, go, and never again enter this house, where the
loathing and contempt that I feel for you will, I know, be shared by
the ladies of my family."
At a nod from Harold Jake released his hold of the captive, who, without
a word, turned and left the room.
Not a word was spoken for a minute or two after he had left. The
youngest girl was the first to speak.
"The wretch!" she exclaimed. "To think that Herbert Chermside should
turn out such a mean traitor! Papa, I would have let them hang him at
once. It would have served him right. Now he may do us all harm."
"I do not know that you are not right, Ada," Mr. Jackson replied
gravely. "I am far from saying that I acted wisely. Young Chermside has
many friends among the Americans, and it is possible that he may work us
harm. However, my position as a neutral is well established. Officers on
both sides have at times been welcomed here, and his report, therefore,
that our friends here are often with us can do us no harm. Henceforth he
must be regarded as an enemy, and there will always be danger in these
visits. So long as the American outposts are within an hour's ride he
can have the road watched; and, although he is not likely to venture
upon signaling with rockets, he may send or take word on horseback. A
bonfire, too, might be lit at the other side of the hill to call them
over. Altogether you will never be safe from home except when you have a
strong body of your own troops between this and the river.
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