Death and the Arrow by Chris Priestley Page B

each whale I spotted and each I helped to catch—and we caught many whales. I used the money to buy the wig, my hat, my coat and breeches, my shoes and stockings—all the strange, womanish garb you white men clothe yourselves in.” Tom smiled at Dr. Harker, who pretended not to notice and played with the ends of his wig.
    “I thought that if I watched the Arrow coffee house long enough, I might see the other robbers, and sure enough they came. I found that I could watch unseen from the rooftops of the city and I decided to panic them a little, as you might a herd of deer. That is where the cards came in. I had them printed here in the city. I made the printer a drawing of an image I remember seeing a shipmate carve into a whale tooth. All that was left was to deliver them. And that is where Will Piggot came in.”
    “But why Will?” said Tom.
    “I noticed Will picking pockets and saw his skill,” said Tonsahoten. “I gave him money and he put the first card in Leech’s pocket. He set off to plant the other cards as I followed Leech from the rooftops. It was a cold day; Leech put his hands in his pockets and found the card.
    “At first he was confused. I saw him look at the card and turn it over, trying to think how it might have come to be in his pocket. Then I called out to him. He looked up and saw me standing high above him, my head bare, bow in hand. And he ran for his life.
    “He ran down an alleyway and ducked through an arch into a courtyard from where there was no escape other than the way he had entered. He had just realized his mistake when the arrow hit him and he dropped to the ground.
    “I peeked out from behind a chimney to watch two men discover the body and declare him dead, baffled as to where his attacker had come from or gone to. I was about to make my escape when I saw another man enter the courtyard. He talked to the men but was too far away for me to hear what he was saying. When the others were distracted, this third man leaned over the body, broke off the arrow flight, and stuffed it into his pocket. I wondered why he would do this. I decided to follow him and it was not long before I saw his face—a face I had not seen in many years, but one I was not likely to forget.”
    “Sergeant Quinn,” said Tom.
    “Yes,” said Tonsahoten through gritted teeth. “He walked through the city looking over his shoulder the whole time, as if a bear were at his heels.”
    “Or a demon,” said Dr. Harker. Tonsahoten looked puzzled. “Please go on,” the doctor added.
    “Will had planted all the cards, just as I had asked him to, but unknown to us, he had been discovered.”
    “Discovered?” said Tom.
    “Yes. Shepton must have seen him place a card in one of the other men’s pockets and followed him. Sad to say, when I next appeared in front of Will, he ran from me in terror, having heard all about the Death and the Arrow murders. He feared me so much that he ran straight into the arms of Shepton.” The words were painful for Tom to hear and Dr. Harker leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder.
    “I was sorry for Will. Believe me. I saw you both at the funeral,” said the Mohawk.
    “It was you,” said Tom. “Standing in the street. It was you I saw.”
    “Yes, it was me. I jumped aboard a passing cart before you could see me clearly.”
    “And you followed us?” said Dr. Harker.
    “Yes,” said Tonsahoten. “I heard you talk about the murders and about the sergeant. I saw the one called Ocean save you from two of the men I sought while Shepton looked on from a safe distance. And I followed you to the Ten-Killed Cat and found the sergeant. I waited nearby and took my chance, following a group of sailors down the stairs. I pulled my bow from under my coat and let loose an arrow as the sailors entered the room, hitting the sergeant before he even had a chance to pull the trigger of his pistol. Drink had dulled the wits of everyone there, and I was at the top of the stairs and out into