I have travelled, are gathering, drilling and giving their attention to military matters, making ready for service at short notice," replied Jones. "Damn them! I will disperse the rebels if I can find them. It is time to give them a taste of our displeasure that they will not soon forget. I will make a few more bonfires of their homes,' exclaimed Tryon, as a sardonic smile illumined his face at the prospect of torture. "Have you seen or heard of Colonel Johnson of late, is he gaining much information as to the location of the probable stores and ammunition of the Colonists? Is this rebellious spirit spreading, or is it weakening, think you?" "I saw him but a day since riding toward the interior and had a few moments converse with him. He tells me the people are getting stronger in their opposition and are increasing in numbers. At the same time it occurred to me, as I was speaking with the Colonel, he was less enthusiastic from our point of view, in fact, I thought he was quite luke-warm about it," said Jones. "Gads! we cannot allow that. We must bring him back if he is wavering. He is too strong an ally to let the other side win his favor; besides, his family have immense wealth for us to draw on, if necessary, and those savages would swoop down upon us like a whirlwind, if the Johnsons but gave the sign. His influence with the Indians is but little less than his Uncle's. I have heard say they consider him little less than a son of the Manitou, he has some subtle influence over them that mystifies me. However, I can put a stop to that," added Tryon with a sinister smile. "I may be in error about this, but something made me feel he was less inclined to oppose the Colonists or to take note of many infringements against the law. He spends a goodish bit of his time with a Tavern keeper by the name of Bishop up my way. Bishop is a slippery customer, you can't tell which stall to put him in; one day you would say he was a rank Tory, the next you get wind of his supporting the American cause. guess he is a pretty slick 'trimmer,'" said Jones. I "Try and gather the names of those who are taking most active part and the number that are wayward, so we can single out the chief rebels and make a light of their homes as a check or example to others," commanded General Tryon, and then added: "Let me hear from you if you have anything of importance to communicate, you know where our friends are stationed along the shore to give us assistance in case of necessity." Jones saluted and withdrew and re-embarked for the shore, at the same time remarking to himself, "There, I have put one nail in Colonel Johnson's coffin. I'll teach him to come around with his grandiloquent airs and steal my sweetheart. Damn him! I'll crush his haughty spirit. I can't see for the life of me what Sarah sees in that fellow. I hate him, but I know she is in love with him. She never looks at one of us like she does at him, as if he were little less than a god. I wonder if he knows she loves him. I thought I was a little ahead in the race before he appeared upon the scene." It were well to notice the speaker more closely. He was born and brought up in Ridgefield, his ancestors were of the earlier settlers of the place. Ezekiel Jones had an average of good lookssomewhat boorish and uncouth of appearance, but not much more than the young men of primitive surroundings, where there was but little opportunity for the polish of polite society. But many, no matter how lowly born, have an innate breeding, delicacy of feeling and gentlemanly instincts that will offset the artificial cultivation of gentleness in one of naturally noble instincts. His facial expression had one drawback that no amount of dissemble would conceal, a shifty hangdog look, he was never able to look a person straight in the eye, but his eyes, if they at first met your gaze, would suddenly drop and wander in every direction but toward your face. Deep down in his eyes was a crafty, covetous expression that gave a want of reliance to his word or promise. His was an essentially selfish, unstable nature which was constantly looking for loopholes or excuses for not fulfilling compacts with his fellow man. He never let slip an opportunity to take a mean advantage of a person. Everything was sacrificed, even his soul, for gain and advantage over others at no matter what cost to selfrespect, if, in fact, there was ever much of it present. It was, therefore, little cause for wonder when this subject was caught as a spy and hanged at Reading, a few years later by "Israel Putnam." When subterfuge required it, he was an ardent patriot, but only to betray the confidence imposed in him. He had just enough of caution to conceal the cloven hoof, and I presume there are many that consider him a martyr to this day. He was the black sheep of the flock; the other members of the family were eminently respectable and fought for the cause and were conspicuous for the bravery at the battle of Ridgefield. Johnson became thus unwittingly an antagonist of Jones by virtue of his admiration for the same young woman. Jones endeavored to strike at the most vulnerable point of Johnson's career, his apparent want of faith with the cause of the Crown imperilling his family name and possessions. He thought if his honor could be sullied it might also extend to the honor of his family, and if it was made sufficiently flagrant in the eyes of the King, helped onward by the machinations of Tryon, the spoils coming from confiscation would be tremendous and the crumbs from the table might come his way with probable emolument from the King in honorary reward or promotion. Thus was our worthy friend Jones wont to speculate on the chances of success in the downfall of his enemy and his avarice was whetted up to the keenest edge of expectation, and naturally, in his own future aggrandizement and distinction, Sarah would as instinctively turn to him as a sunflower turns toward the orb of day. By this means was laid a train of circumstances, the false interpretation of which was to entangle and ruin |