“And Hooper?”

Quade hesitated, then said, “In my opinion, he’s the dangerous one.”

“Because?” Walker said.

“It was Hooper who engineered Lawrence’s escape. He assaulted an officer in order to obtain a uniform which enabled him to infiltrate the Greenbush cantonment. He tricked his way into the guardhouse to secure Lawrence’s release. The reports from the men on duty there indicate he killed two soldiers and injured at least two more. That was after setting the stables alight to create a diversion.”

Walker’s eyebrows lifted.

“He purports to have returned recently from the continent – France,” Quade added, and then wondered why he’d felt the need to say that.

“France?” Pearce queried.

“Part of the story he concocted in order to pass himself off as an American officer. Said he’d been there on behalf of the president.” Quade snorted derisively.

“Did he indeed?” Pearce said, interested, in spite of himself. “Doing what?”

“‘Unspecified duties’ was how he termed it. Said he’d been assigned to Dearborn’s command in order to pass on his know-ledge of British military tactics. Not that it matters, since he’s patently not who he claims to be.”

“Perhaps,” Pearce murmured.

“Sir?” Quade said.

“It’s been my experience that even the most pernicious deception often contains an element of truth.”

Quade frowned. “I don’t follow, Colonel.”

“Perhaps he really was there. Maybe not France, but on the continent, as you put it. His conduct thus far indicates a strong familiarity with military matters. He’s certainly a soldier, and a well-trained one at that. About our age, would you say, Major? Give or take a few years. Given that Britain’s been at war with the French pretty much these past twenty years, he’s had plenty of opportunity to hone his craft. If he wasn’t in France, my guess would be the Peninsula. Either way, it would confirm your point about him being dangerous. Hell, the trail of bodies he’s left behind tells us that much.

“So, in answer to your question, Amos, I think it’s safe to assume that, while they might not be familiar with the country, they’ll be used to campaigning, which makes them used to hardship. We send anyone after them, they’ll have to be good.”

Walker’s eyes flicked to the Indian and then back to Pearce. “They are, Colonel. Don’t you worry about that.”

Pearce eyed Cornelius and the tattoos across his face. “You’ll send some of your observers?”

“It’s our best chance. They can travel a damned sight faster than white troops.” Walker squinted at Pearce. “My question, Colonel, is when they do catch up with them, you want them dead or brought back?”

When, not if, Quade noted.

Pearce, who’d been looking at the map, straightened. “Dead would be acceptable. Proof of death would be required.”