keeps the rebellion afoot in spite of it?  The rebel army complains, and goes hungry and half-naked, and is full of mutiny and desertion—­what still controls it from melting away entirely?  What carries it through such Winters as the rebels had at Valley Forge, when the Congress, the army, and the people were all at sixes and sevens and swords’ points?  What raises money the Lord knows how, finds supplies the Lord knows where, induces men to stay in the field, by the Lord knows what means, and has got such renown the world over that now France is the rebels’ ally?  I make you stare, boys; you’re not used to seeing me play the orator.  I never did before, and I sha’n’t again, for heaven forbid I should be a woman of that kind!  But I’ve studied this matter, and I hope I have a few ideas upon it.”

“But what has done all these things you mention?  May I ask that?” said I, both amused and curious.

“Washington!” was her reply.  “Remove him, and this rebellion will burst like a soap-bubble!  And that’s the last of my speechmaking.  Our project is to remove Washington—­nay, there’s no assassination in it.  We’ll do better—­capture him and send him to England.  Once he is in the Tower awaiting trial, how long do you think the rebellion will last?  And what rewards do you think there’ll be for those that sent him there?”

“Why,” said Tom, “is that a new project?  Hasn’t the British army been trying to wipe out Washington’s army and take him prisoner these four years?”

“But not in the way that we have planned it,” replied Margaret, “and that Captain Falconer shall execute it.  Tell them, captain.”

“’Tis very simple, gentlemen,” said the English officer.  “If the honour of the execution is to be mine, and the men’s whom I shall lead, the honour of the design, and of securing the necessary collusion in the rebel camp, is Mrs. Winwood’s.  My part hitherto has been, with Sir Henry Clinton’s approval, to make up a chosen body of men from all branches of the army; and my part finally shall be to lead this select troop on horseback one dark night, by a devious route, to that part of the rebel lines nearest Washington’s quarters; then, with the cooeperation that this lady has obtained among the rebels, to make a swift dash upon those quarters, seize Washington while our presence is scarce yet known, and carry him back to New York by outriding all pursuit.  Boats will be waiting to bring us across the river.  I allow such projects have been tried before, but they have been defeated through rebel sentries giving the alarm in time.  They lacked one advantage we possess—­collusion in the rebel camp—­”

“And ’twas you obtained that collusion?” Tom broke in, turning to Margaret.  “Hang me if I see how you in New York—­oh, but I do, though!  Through brother Ned!”

“You’re a marvel at a guess,” quoth she.

“Ay, ay!  But how did you carry on your correspondence with him?  ’Twas he, then, originated this scheme?”