"Aye," nodded the boy soberly. "Newark has been recently occupied by ye enemy, besides. What the raiders did not take, the regulars did!"
They trotted along in silence until they began to ascend the western slope of the ridge across the summit of which were certain paths used by the young people of Newark for summer strollings and called, therefore, lovers' lanes. Below, halfway down the hill, was a lane called High Street upon which had been built one or two dwellings. This was the western boundary of the Town by the River.
"Ye know, Cherry, ye must be prepared to see desolation hereabouts," warned Young Cy. "Father said 'twas scandalous what ye enemy did after the Battle o' Trenton—they destroyed so much. The homes of Samuel Pennington and Josiah Beach were robbed o' everything, even clothes. Though the joke of it was, ye town Tories fared no better than the Whigs, for the Hessians did not spare them either."
"Those Hessians!" flashed Charity. "To think they are in this war for the money they make!"
Young Cy nodded grimly. "I have a good notion to tell ye something, Cherry," he began, glancing around him cautiously.
"I can keep a secret!" cried Charity eagerly.
"'Tis this, then. I have joined the 'Jersey Blues,' Cherry!"
"The 'Jersey Blues'?" repeated Charity, puzzled.
"Hush, not so loud!" Young Cy looked around at her frowningly. "Ye 'Jersey Blues,'" he went on softly, "are secret organization formed of mostly
