Dear Colonel: I beg to report that after leaving you on the road with Gemini I had the pleasure of Capturing Colonel Gravestone, now here on parole and a low diet. He says his name is Grimstone, but what can be grimmer than Gravestone, and grim he is and grave. We shall swap him off for Colonel Markham.My compliments to Captain the Honorable John Verney. Having been a kind and courteous guest I forgot him. It was against the rules of the service, but I trust, sir, you will not have me court-martialed. The map found in the coat proves useful. My thanks to Major Montresor.Remember me to your mother.I have the honor to be your very obedient humble servant and brother-officer.Allan McLane.Postscript—I promised you an ending to my story, and here it is.
Dear Colonel: I beg to report that after leaving you on the road with Gemini I had the pleasure of Capturing Colonel Gravestone, now here on parole and a low diet. He says his name is Grimstone, but what can be grimmer than Gravestone, and grim he is and grave. We shall swap him off for Colonel Markham.
My compliments to Captain the Honorable John Verney. Having been a kind and courteous guest I forgot him. It was against the rules of the service, but I trust, sir, you will not have me court-martialed. The map found in the coat proves useful. My thanks to Major Montresor.
Remember me to your mother.
I have the honor to be your very obedient humble servant and brother-officer.
Allan McLane.
Postscript—I promised you an ending to my story, and here it is.
“Well, of all the impertinent things!� cried Verney; “but, my dear Count, I should like to see ‘Gravestone’ among these gentlemen, and, on my word, I should like to meet this brave and merry officer.�
The Colonel spent two months and more on parole at Valley Forge. He lost four stone and became meek.
In the spring he was exchanged for a better man,Colonel Markham, but no amount of food, as he swore, ever enabled him to make up for the scant fare he had had in the camp of the Continentals.
The twins and Tom lived to enjoy many Christmas Days, but none like that they spent with the army at Valley Forge in the hard winter of 1777-8.