The captain examined this small array of force, every man but Mike being up and in the line, with a saddened countenance; for he remembered what a different appearance it made only the previous day, when he had his gallant son too, with him, a host in himself.  It added mortification to regret, also, when he remembered that this great loss had been made without a single blow having been struck in defence of his precious family, and his lawful rights.

“We must close the gate of the court, and bar it at once, Joyce,” the captain said, as soon as fully apprised of the true state of his force.  “It will be quite sufficient if we make good the house, with this handful of men; giving up all hope of doing anything with the stockade.  It is the facility offered by the open gateway that has led to all this mischief.”

“I don’t know, your honour.  When desertion once fairly gets into a man’s mind, it’s wonderful the means he will find to bring about his wishes.  Corporal Strides, no doubt has passed his family and his kit through both gates; for, being in authority, our people were hardly disciplined enough to understand the difference between a non-commissioned officer on guard and one off guard; but, there were a hundred ways to mischief, even had there been no gate.  Jamie, take one of the blacks, and bar the inner gate.  What is your honour’s pleasure next?”

“I wish my mind were at ease on the subject of the Tuscarora.  With Nick’s assistance as a runner and spy, and even as a sharp-shooter, we should be vastly stronger.  See to the gate yourself, serjeant, then follow me to Mr. Woods’ room.”

This was done, the captain waiting for his companion on the threshold of the outer door.  Ascending the narrow stairs, they were soon on the floor above, and were happy to find the door of the Tuscarora’s prison fastened without, as they had left it; this precaution having been taken as a salutary assistance to O’Hearn’s sagacity.  Undoing these fastenings, the serjeant stepped aside to allow his superior to precede him, as became their respective stations.  The captain advanced, holding the lantern before him, and found an empty room.  Both Nick and Mike were gone, though it was not easy to discover by what means they had quitted the place.  The door was secure, the windows were down, and the chimney was too small to allow of the passage of a human body.  The defection of the Irishman caused the captain great pain, while it produced surprise even in the serjeant.  Mike’s fidelity had been thought of proof; and, for an instant, the master of the place was disposed to believe some evil spirit had been at work to corrupt his people.

“This is more than I could have expected, Joyce!” he said, as much in sorrow as in anger.  “I should have as soon looked for the desertion of old Pliny as that of Mike!”