Her chest expanded with a swift intake of breath. He must have heard it, because he looked down. Their eyes met, and Robyn’s heart stopped beating. Then, Chaplen turned his head back to the three he had been addressing.
They nodded the affirmative, and the Shadow Fox hoped the agent would leave, but he wasn’t finished.
“I want you all to be on the look out tonight. A sentry observed a man slipping in last night. We suspect that he may have been contacting the Shadow Fox about the spy.” He ran his eyes over all gathered. “Understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Robyn chorused with everyone else.
As the three got up to leave, the girl stood as well and followed them. They discussed the spy among themselves. She quickly learned that he was indeed the man she was looking for. Once glanced back and noticed her.
“Oy, boy. What are you doing?”
Blushing slightly for effect, she replied, “I wanted to see the spy, sir. I’ve never seen one before.”
The men laughed at this and agreed to let the silly little drummer lad see the spy. As they approached the tent, the girl realized why she hadn’t thought it was the one holding William Fenn. Looking quiet bored, ten men sat lazily around it.
Her companions allowed her to get a quick peak inside. The man tied to a post panted firmly in the ground did not look very good. Both his eyes were black and every inch of skin she could see was covered with scrapes and bruises. They most likely had beaten him in the attempt of getting information. She smiled reassuringly at the man before one of the three men closed the flap.
Having all the information she needed, Robyn made her way out of the camp. Pleased with herself, the Shadow Fox began to whistle “Yankee Doodle.”
Agent Chaplen stopped in mid-sentence as the sound of some one whistling “Yankee Doodle” reached his ears. He had heard the soldiers tell of how the rebels had sung the song back to them in triumph. They had said they rarely sung that song because of their defeat. He turned his head to see that straw-haired boy striding past the group whistling and looking quite cheerful.
Something had tugged at his mind when their eyes had met. He had discarded it of course, but now it was tugging again. The words were out of his mouth before he had considered them. “You there, boy.”
The boy froze, stopping the song at the beginning of the chorus. His head turned, but most of his face was obscured behind yellow bangs. “Yes sir?” he asked cautiously.
He felt a jerk at the sound of the boy‘s voice, although it was slightly lower than usual. “What is your name?”
He knows. “”Daniel Dale, sir.”
“Really? I didn’t know your hair is blonde.”
Yes, he definitely knows. A mischievous grin spread across the Shadow Fox’s face. “Who said it is blonde?”
Agent Chaplen shook his head with a slight smile. “I didn’t expect you until this evening.”
His opponent shrugged. “Like they say, early bird gets the worm.”
“You have some nerve, coming out in broad daylight,” the agent said with a chuckle.
“I have more than some nerve.” She plunged her hands into her pockets. “Out of curiosity, what gave it away?”
Chaplen deliberated for a few seconds. “Your eyes. They’re unmistakable.”
“Are they? I was under the impression you didn‘t even know what color they are.”
“Ah,” said Agent Chaplen, wagging a finger, “ you assumed incorrectly. I know that they are black. Besides the color, I’ve found eyes have different expressions in them. I’d know yours anywhere.”
Robyn raised her eyebrows at this piece of information. “Would you?” Good thing silly, dense Robyn doesn’t usually look him in the eye.
“Pity,” he was saying,” you seem to have left you sword at home. You have no weapons, and you’re far out numbered. Oh, and did I mention you don’t have your cloak to protect you either?”
“Indeed. Well, I‘m afraid I must return to my place of abiding. This has been lovely.” With that, she took off running.
“Get him! That lad is the Shadow Fox!” the agent screamed behind her.
Robyn ran headlong towards the outside of the camp. She knocked over people, boxes, crates, and scattered wood--anything to slow Agent Chaplen down. She broke free of the camp and headed towards her home. As she dodged around the crowded streets of Boston, she could hear Agent Chaplen and the Redcoats running after him shouting and yelling at people to get out of the way.
Finally, she burst into the barn. Nearly knocking Ben over, she bounded up the stairs to the loft. She yelled down an apology and quickly began removing the uniform and wig. As fast as possible, she pulled on a dress and tugged a mobcap over her unruly dark hair. Scrubbing off a great deal of stage make-up with a handkerchief, Robyn bounded back down the stairs. Waving her hands in haste, she said, “Start talking to me about something!”
B en stared blankly at her.
Robyn strode quickly over to their brown cow, Lily, and began to discuss the lovely weather that they’d been having.
Seconds later, Chaplen burst in. Ben, who had guessed what was going on, had quickly entered in the conversation and now stopped in mid-sentence. The Shadow Fox looked up in feigned surprise.
Panting, the agent said in breathless bursts, “Is… he in…here?”
“Who, sir?” Ben asked in a marvelously done puzzled voice.
“Don’t play games with me, boy,” Chaplen growled after he had gained his breath.
“My brother is in here,” Robyn offered helpfully.
Agent Chaplen turned to look at her and she quickly averted her eyes. He noticed this and found it most curious. Logging it away for later, he turned back to Ben.
“Did the Shadow Fox come in here?” he demanded.
“No, sir,” the boy calmly replied. “Only my sister and I are in here.”
The agent didn’t take his word for it. Waving his hand at those who had followed him, he said, “Search the place.” Turning back to Robyn, he barked, “Lass, has anyone else come in this barn?”
Robyn started for she had not expected him to give her a second glance. Breathing deeply, she tilted her head to the side, considering. “Well, sir,” she said after a awhile, “you came in. Then those men.” She continued to frown as if thinking of other possibilities.
The agent sighed in exasperation. He doubted she would lie unless she had simply not seen him come in. Once the men came back shaking their heads, he accepted the fact that his assumption had been wrong. The boy impersonating a British drummer boy had not fled to the River’s barn. He gave Ben one last frown and exited.
Once Chaplen and his men had disappeared from sight, Robyn sank onto a hay bail and let out a long sigh of relief. Ben sat next to her.
“What happened?”
With a second long sigh, his sister retold the whole story from the time when she had entered the camp to the time she had arrived in the barn. Once she was finished, Ben let out a long whistle.
“He claims to recognize on sight, eh?”
Frowning, Robyn nodded.
“That could turn problematic.”
She nodded again. “Yes, in the long run of things, but a more pressing matter is that he knows I’m trying to rescue William Fenn.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “How can that be a more pressing matter? Your life is in grave danger now more than ever.”
Robyn sighed. “But so is William Fenn’s. His is in more danger than mine currently.”
The Shadow Fox’s brother arched an eyebrow. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
“If you thought some one was in danger of rescuing your prisoner, what would you do with him?”
There was a sharp intake of breath as he replied, “Hang him.”
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Gasps! On, noes! Whatever is gonna happen? Chaplen just keeps getting closer, doesn't he? It's scary.
Well, off to finish my research paper. Yay-rah.
See ya next week! Same bat-site, same bat-time....ish!!
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