"The rest is soon told. Captain Park sent me down the road to be on the lookout for you an' the Tory. He thought the old feller would stop at Master Earle's, because the two are great cronies. I got to the cross-roads an hour 'fore you did, put a red rag on the bush so you'd know I was 'round, an' then hid in the woods. I heerd an' answered your signal, then went back to town for the troopers. There's only one thing more to tell you. The Safety Committee want to see you when we get into town. They've got something to talk over with you."
"I expected it," Ira replied. "Where am I to find them?"
"At the captain's, where we're to stop. They thought you would be tired, an' so agreed to be right there when you arrived."
In less than an hour the two lads were at their destination, and when a servant had taken their horses, both entered the huge kitchen of the mansion to find themselves face to face with twelve men, whose resolute countenances said more plainly than words that they were not to be trifled with when the enterprise they were engaged in was a righteous one. The men were seated around a long table, and Dan, stepping in advance of his comrade, announced:
"Governor Wentworth, this is the feller 'bout whom General Schuyler wrote, an' who is now known as Ira Le Geyt."
The twelve committeemen turned their eyes upon the newcomer, and he on his part gazed earnestly at them. Several he knew by sight, though he had no personal acquaintance with them; the others were strangers, save him at the foot of the table. As Ira's glance fell on this man he recognized him as a citizen whom he had met when on a former visit to the town, and he understood by the look given him, that the recognition was mutual. A slight shake of the head, however, gave this patriot to understand that the lad did not wish to be known, and then Ira listened to the governor, who now said:
"Though unknown to us, young man, we cannot doubt your faithfulness to the Cause we represent. The endorsement of General Schuyler alone is sufficient for us, and when to that is added the service you have already rendered, I, speaking for the others, may say that besides our welcome, you have our gratitude."
"He is not unknown to me," broke in the committeeman at the other end of the table. "Although not at liberty to declare his name, I can vouch for his patriotism. No one of us loves the Cause more than he."