The youth felt on his shoulder the grip of a hand hard as steel. He did not make any answer, but stood dumb, wondering what might be the next act of this man, who seemed half a madman.
"Five of them!" he heard the same hoarse voice go on. "There must be another--there must be one more, at least. You have done this--you brought these letters. Give me the last one of them! Why don't you answer?" With sudden and violent strength Lewis shook the boy as a dog might a rat. "Answer me!"
"Captain, I cannot!" broke out Shannon.
"What? Then there is another?"
"I'll not answer! I'll stand my trial before court martial, if you please."
Again the heavy hand on his shoulder.
"There will be no trial!" he heard the hoarse voice of his commander saying. "I cannot sleep. I must have the last one. There is another!"
Shannon laid a hand on the iron wrist.
"How do you know?" he faltered. "Why do you think----"
"Am I not your leader? Is it not my business to know? I am a woodsman. You thought you had covered your trail, but it was plain. I know you are the messenger who has been bringing these letters to me from her. I need not name her, and you shall not! For what reason you did this--by what plan--I do not know, but I know you did it. You were absent each time that I found one of these letters. That was too cunning to be cunning! You are young, Shannon, you have something to learn. You sing songs--love songs--you write letters--love letters, perhaps! You are Irish--you have sentiment. There is romance about you--you are the man she would choose to do what you have done. Being a woman, she knew, she chose well; but it is my business to read all these signs.
"Give me that letter! I am your officer."
"Captain, I will not!"
"I tell you I cannot sleep! Give it to me, boy, or, by Heaven, you yourself shall sleep the long sleep here and now! What? You still refuse?"
"Yes, I'll not be driven to it. You say I'm Irish. I am--I'll not give up a woman's secret--it's a question of honor, Captain. There is a woman concerned, as you know."
"Yes!"
"And I promised her, too. I swear I never planned any wrong to either of you. I would die at your order now, as you know; but you have no right to order this, and I'll not answer!"
The hand closed at his throat. The boy could not speak, but still Meriwether Lewis growled on at him.