Datasets:

NicholasSynovic
/

Modified-VEAA

Dataset card Data Studio Files Files and versions Community

Split (2)

train · 42.9k rows

text stringlengths 1.96k 5.76k	author int64 1 50
softly captain said the orderly you don t blame the enemy for showing fight we mustn t quarrel with the chances of war there is not often a without a broken head captain we must deal with the prisoners according to the laws of war of tory war aye that will i string the dogs up to the first tree the devil s why didn t they surrender when we set upon them to morrow let them look out to morrow no words orderly send out two to look for the shoe robinson bodies and to bring in the stray horse if they can find him a pretty night s work to lose two good pieces of stuff for a brace of black hearted the two were detailed for the duty required and immediately set out on foot towards the scene of the late the rest of the troop were dismissed from the line i would venture to ask sir said butler addressing the captain for a cup of water i am much hurt silence and be d d to you said silence and know your place sir you are a prisoner and a traitor to boot don t you hear the gentleman say he is hurt interposed robinson it s and more like a beast than a man to deny a prisoner a little water by my sword villain i will your brain for you if you open that rebel mouth of yours again captain this will never do said men are men and must have food and drink here give me your of liquor and bring me some water from the river it is my duty captain to look after the prisoners who was a man of less savage temper than most of his associates obeyed this command with alacrity and even added a few words of kindness as he assisted in refreshment to the prisoners this evidence of a nature did not escape the comment of the captain who still remembered his old grudge against the away sir he said in a and angry tone away and attend to your own duty you are ever fond of obliging these hark you he added speaking apart to the take care how you trust this vagabond he will take from the and turn his coat whenever there is money in the way i have my eye upon him if i chose to speak said hold your peace you grey fox cried the captain not a word i know your remember you are under martial law and blast me if i don t make you feel it there are more than myself suspect you b i should like to know said butler why i and my companion are on our journey have we fallen amongst or do you bear a lawful commission if you do sir me tell you you have disgraced it by outrage and violence exercised towards men and shall answer for it when the occasion serves on what pretence have we been arrested hark my young fighting cock replied the captain you will know your soon enough and if you would sleep to night with a whole throat you will keep your tongue within your teeth it wouldn t take much to persuade me to give you a little drum head law do you hear that it is my advice major whispered robinson to ax no questions of these be it so said butler am weary and sick when other cares were disposed of and the excited passions of the lawless gang had subsided into a better mood the took butler s cloak from the baggage and spread it upon the ground beneath the shelter of the and the suffering officer was thus furnished a bed that afforded him some small share of comfort and enabled to take that rest which he so much needed robinson seated himself on the ground beside his companion and in this situation they patiently resigned themselves to whatever fate awaited them soon after this the whole troop were busy in the preparations for refreshment and sleep the horses were either by a cord from the fore to the hind foot and turned loose to seek pasture around the or in such parts of the forest as furnished them an opportunity to feed on the the fire was and some small of before it and in less than an hour this reckless and ill governed band were over their cups with all the rude that belonged to such natures come boys said who seemed to take a delight in urging the band into every kind of excess and who possessed that sort of sway over the whole crew including their leader no less than the which an expert and ready skill in himself to the humor of the company gave him and which faculty he now appeared to exercise for the increase of his own influence shoe robinson f come boys laugh while you can that s my motto this is a merry life fighting drinking and joking by the god of war i will the whole of you into the regular service or which you please boys they are both fine fellows and would give of gold for such charming gay blades fill up your and prepare for another bout i m not the cur to thirsty men a toast my gay fellows listen to cried out some three or four voices here s to the honor of the brave captain and his glorious dogs that won the battle of ford a broad and coarse laugh burst from the captain at the announcement of this toast by my sword he exclaimed the fight was not a bad fight u can you find a joint of said aside if you can give it and a cup of spirits to the prisoners stop i ll do it myself you will have the old bull dog on your back and saying this	29
the same who had been reported by the as kicked by the blacksmith we are up here with the jolly bottle sing heave and ho and the jolly bottle is a feather i what s a cracked crown so as it holds a man s brains continued the drunken whilst a laugh his stupid how are we off for provisions quarter master inquired the captain of one of the gang eaten out of skin from nose to tail replied black jack then the must to night continued we must take a buck my sweet ones there are plenty along the river get your and prepare lights and to keep out of the way of our horses don t stop short of a mile be about it lads black jack this is your business true captain replied the person addressed i shall have all things ready directly it was near midnight when black jack having prepared some of pitch pine and selected three or four of the best left the to look for deer himself though n lazy and impressed with a sense of his own dignity and now confused with liquor could not resist the attraction of this sport he accordingly not long after the others had departed took a rifle and attended hy his bull dog whom he never parted from on any occasion slowly followed in the direction chosen by the hunters those in advance had scarcely walked along the margin of the river a mile before they lighted their and began to beat the neighboring and their search was not protracted many minutes when the of their was thrown full upon the eyes of a buck a shot from one of the told with precision in the forehead of the animal the report and the light brought the captain into the neighborhood he had almost walked himself out of breath and as be did not very well preserve his or a straight line of march he had several times been tripped up by the roots of trees or by rocks and in his path exhausted at length and puzzled by the of his own brain as well as by the surrounding darkness he sat down at the foot of a tree determined to the return of the hunting party his faithful and congenial beauty not less and short than himself and not more savage or surly in disposition now upon his immediately between his master s legs and here this pair of friends remained silent and soothed by their own companionship during this interval the person who bore the fire followed by one of the crept slowly onward to the vicinity of the spot where the captain had seated himself the lapse of time had proved too much for s vigilance and he had at length with his head resting against the trunk of the tree fallen into a drunken slumber the short crack of a rifle at hand and the yell of his dog awakened him he started upon his feet with sudden surprise and stepping one pace forward stumbled and fell over the dead body of his favorite beauty who lay beneath him in blood the shot was followed by a rush of the hunter up to the spot it was buck or it is my shot cried as he halted immediately beside h r k u may all the devils blast you thundered out the captain you have sought my life you wolf and your bullet has killed beauty i shot at the eyes of what i thought a deer returned you were a fool to bring a dog into such a place my poor dog my brave dog beauty was worth ten thousand such as you and to have him killed may the devil feast upon your soul this night go and account for your wickedness take snake tiger and rebel and be thankful that you didn t come to your end by the help of and in this gust of passion he struck his knife into the bosom of the who groaned staggered and fell at this moment the person bearing the fire hearing the groan of his comrade rushed up to the spot and seized s arm just as the monster was raising it over the fallen man to repeat the blow damn him see what he has done exclaimed the captain as he lifted up the dead body of the dog so as to show in the light the wound inflicted by the ball between the eyes this poor faithful dumb beast was worth a hundred such hell hounds as he i am murdered said the wounded man i am murdered in cold blood the noise at this place brought together the rest of the hunters who were now returning with the buck thrown across a horse that had been led by one of the party s wound was examined by them and some linen applied to the blood the man had fainted but it was not ascertained whether the was mortal stood sullenly looking on during the examination and finding that life had not instantly fled he coolly wiped his knife and restored it to his the fellow has no idea of dying he said with a visible concern and has got no more than he deserves he will live to be hung yet take him to quarters make a for him said one of the and accordingly two men cut a few branches from the neighboring wood r horse shoe and twisting them together soon constructed a litter upon which they were able to bear the body of the wounded hunter to the the others scarcely uttering a word as they marched along followed slowly with the buck and in half an hour the troop was once more assembled under the chestnut for a time there was a sullen and discontented silence amongst the whole crew that was only broken by the groans of the wounded occasionally	29
there was a slight outburst of from several of the troop as a scream indicating some sudden increase of pain from assailed their ears then there were low and muttered curses pronounced by in a tone that showed his apprehension of some vengeance against himself and these were mingled with hints of the of the and charges of a pretended purpose to betray his fellow soldiers evidently by the captain to excuse his act of violence then he approached the sick man and felt his pulse and examined his wound and pronounced the hurt to be trifling it will do him good he said with affected u and teach him to be more true to his comrades hereafter but still the fate of the man was doubtful and the rising of the troop became every instant more open alarmed and faint hearted at these symptoms of discontent at last called the men into a circle and made them a speech in which he expressed his sorrow for the act he had committed endeavored to excuse himself by the plea of passion at the loss of his dog and finally perceiving that these excuses did not satisfy his hearers acknowledged his drunken condition and his of the deed he had done until the horrible consequences of it were before his eyes here interposed in his favor that he had examined the wound and that in his opinion the s life was not in danger and as the captain is sorry for it lads he concluded why what is to be done but let the thing drop so if there s another in the we will wet our boys and go to sleep this appeal was effectual and was followed by a hearty cheer so the of the last this company horse retired to rest away from them with a heart loaded with malice and revenge a few men were employed for a short time in burying the bodies of the who were killed in the and excepting the guard who busied themselves in the buck and some choice before the fire and in watching the prisoners or attending upon their sick comrade all were sunk into silence if not repose i chapter the move with their prisoners oft he that doth abide is cause of his own bat he that in good tide perhaps may fight again old it was with the most earnest solicitude that butler and his com watched the course of events and became acquainted with the character of the into whose hands they had fallen the presence of james in this gang excited a painful consciousness in the mind of the soldier that he had powerful and secret enemies at work against him but who they were was an impenetrable mystery then the lawless habits of the people who had possession of him gave rise to the most anxious distrust as to his future fate he might be murdered in a fit of passion or tortured with harsh treatment to gratify some concealed malice his position in the army was it seemed known too and for aught that he could tell his mission might be no secret to his robinson s sagacity entered fully into these he had narrowly observed the conduct of the party who had made them prisoners and with that acute insight which was concealed under a rude and exterior but which was strongly marked in his actions he had already determined upon the course which the safety of butler required him to pursue according to his view of their present difficulties it was absolutely necessary that he should effect his escape at whatever personal hazard butler he rightly was the principal object of the late that for some unknown purpose the possession of this officer became important to those who had procured the attack upon him and that james had merely hired this gang of to secure the prize under these circumstances he concluded that horse shoe robinson the major would be so strictly guarded as to forbid all hope of escape and that any attempt by him to effect it would only be punished by certain death but in regard to himself his calculation was different first said he i can master any three of this crew in an open field and fair fight and secondly when it comes to the chances of a they will not think me of so much account as to risk their necks by a long chase their whole eyes would be directed to the major the therefore determined to make the attempt and in the event of his success to repair to who he knew frequented of the in this region or in the alternative to rally such friends from the neighboring country as were not yet by the tory dominion and bring them speedily to the rescue of butler full of these thoughts he took occasion during the night whilst the guard were busy in cooking their and whilst they thought him and his comrade in sleep to whisper to butler the resolution he had adopted i will take the first chance to morrow to make a dash upon these he said and i shall count it hard if i don t get out of their claws then rely upon me i shall keep near you in spite of these devils so be prepared if i once get away to see me like a witch that travels on a or through a but the drunken mustn t hear us talking butler after due consideration of the s scheme thought it however perilous the only chance they had of themselves from the dangers with which they were beset and promised the most ready co operation also to let no opportunity slip which might be improved to his own your good arm and brave heart never stood you in more urgent stead than they may do to morrow was his concluding remark	29
when morning broke the light of day fell upon a strange and disordered scene the drunken and coarse wretches of the night before now lessened in number and strength by common and private quarrel lay stretched on their beds of leaves their and ill weapons lay around in drinking cups and empty were scattered over the trodden grass the skin horse shoe b bin n and horns of the buck and fragments of raw flesh were seen cast about beneath the tree and a conspicuous object in the scene were the of blood and both of men and beast that the soil two new made graves or rather hastily scratched together and imperfectly concealing the limbs of the dead placed but a few feet from the ring of last night s told of the of the fight at the ford the fire had burned down into a heap of ashes and the pale and sickly features of the wounded were to be discerned upon a of leaves hard by the heap of embers surrounded by the of bones and meat that had been flung carelessly aside in a spot of more apparent comfort sheltered by an overhanging of vines and lay butler stretched upon his cloak and close beside him the stout frame of horse shoe in the midst of all these marks of recent riot and sat two figures haggard and wan from night watching armed at every point and keeping strict guard over the prisoners the occasional and of horses in the neighboring wood showed that these animals were alert at the earliest dawn whilst among the first who seemed aware of the approach of day was seen rising from the earth where it had been flung in stupid for some hours the and person of now much the worse for the fatigue and of the preceding night a savage and surly expression was seated on his brow and his voice broke forth more than ordinarily harsh and as he ordered the troop to rouse and prepare for their march the summons was obeyed and while the yawning members of the were lazily moving to their several duties and shaking off the of their late the captain was observed bending over the prostrate form of and directing a few anxious inquiries into his condition the wounded man was free from pain but his limbs were stiff and the region of the sore and sensitive to the least touch the indications however were such as to show that his wound was not likely to prove mortal by the order of a better litter was constructed and the were directed to bear him by turns bob k robinson as far as s where he was to be left to the nursing of the family it was a full hour before the horses were the scattered furniture collected and the preparations for the march completed when these were accomplished the prisoners were provided with the two horses of the troop and they now set forward at a slow pace under the escort of four men commanded by james the two who bore the sick man followed on foot with the remainder one of whom had appropriated captain peter whilst he led the horses of the dismounted men brought up the rear on the journey there was but little spoken by any member of the party the boisterous and rude nature of the men who composed the troop seemed to have been subdued by sleep into a temper of indifference or stolid or james as the reader now him strictly preserved his guard over the prisoners a severity of manner altogether different from the tone of careless which his on the preceding night it never relaxed from an official and sullen reserve a moody frown sat upon his brow and his communication with the prisoners was confined to short and commands whilst at the same time he forbade the slightest intercourse with them on the part of any of the guard during the short progress to s he frequently rode apart with and the conversation which then occupied these two was maintained in a low tone and with a serious air that some grave matter of deliberation it was more than an hour after sunrise when the reached the point of their present destination there were signs of an anxious purpose in the silence of the journey broken as it was only by low amongst the men above which sometimes arose an expression of impatience and discontent as the subject of their whispered appeared to excite some angry objection from several of the party and this mystery was not less conspicuous in the formal order of the halt and in the pause that followed upon their arrival at the habitation the house in front of which they were drawn up was according to the prevailing fashion of the time a one dwelling covering an ample space of ground built partly of boards and x h i r bin h partly of logs with a long before it in small rooms made by the sides for a few feet at either extremity being situated some twenty paces aside from the road the intervening area was bounded by a fence through which a gate afforded admission a horse rack with a few feeding was erected near this gate and a draw well in the same vicinity furnished a ready supply of water with the exception of a cleared field around the dwelling the landscape was shaded by the natural forest a consultation of some minutes duration was held between and when the order to was given accompanied with an intimation of a design to at this place for an hour or two but the men at the same time were directed to leave their upon their horses one or two were detailed to look after the refreshment of the cattle whilst the remainder took possession of the principal room the first demands of	29
the troop were for drink and this being indulged the brute feeling of which in gross natures depends altogether upon excitement began once more to break down the of discipline and to mount into the scenes of the morning had made a disagreeable impression upon the feelings of butler and his comrade the changed tone and the manners of the band the pause and the doubts seemed to them mischief the two prisoners however almost instinctively adopted the course of conduct which their circumstances required they concealed all apprehension of harm and patiently awaited the end horse shoe even took advantage of the rising mirth of the company when drink began to them and affected an easy tone of companionship which was calculated to throw them off their guard he freely amongst the men and by private conference with some of the individuals around him who attracted by his air of confiding gaiety seemed inclined to favor his approaches of familiarity he soon discovered that the gang were divided in sentiment in regard to some important subject touching the proposed treatment of himself and his friend a party at least he was thus made ware were disposed to take his side in the secret which had been in agitation he was determined t profit by this i r h sion and accordingly applied himself still more to cultivate the favorable sentiment he found in existence whilst breakfast was in preparation and and were occupied with the wounded man in an adjoining apartment the playing the part of a boon companion laughed with the and made himself free of their cups i should like to know he said to one of the why you are giving yourselves all this trouble about a couple of simple travellers that happened to be along the road if you wanted to make a pitched battle you ought to have sent us word but if it was only upon a drinking bout you had set your hearts there was no occasion to be breaking heads for the honor of getting a good fellow in your company when he would have come of his own accord at the first there was no use in making such a mighty secret about it for as we were travelling the same road with you you had only to show a man the civility of saying you wanted our escort and you should have had it at a word here s to our better acquaintance friend you t be so jolly horse shoe robinson said green or according to his red in a whisper if some of them that took the trouble to find you should have their own way it s a d d tight pull whether you are to he kept as a prisoner of war or under ground this morning without of drum that for your private ear i was born in old myself replied horse shoe aside to the speaker and i don t believe there is many men to be found in it who would stand by and see the rules and of honorable war blackened and trod down into the dust by any cowardly trick of murder if it comes to that many as there are against two our lives will not go at a cheap price returned the other with my allowance for one it shan t be a prisoner s a prisoner i say and to the man that would make him out worse they say you are a merry devil old horse shoe exclaimed he who was called bow legs who now stepped up and the on the back so take a man fair play is jewel that s my doctrine fight when you fight and drink n you and that s the sign to know a man by horse h x u there is some good things said the in this world that s good and some that s bad but i have always found that good and bad is so mixed up and together that you don t often get much of one without a little of the other a s a no matter what side he is on and they are the people in the world for fellow feeling one day a man is up and then the laugh s on his side next day he is down and then the laugh s against him so as a has more of these and downs than other folks there s the reason his heart is towards a other people s here s your health sir this is a wicked world and twisted in a measure down and it is well known that evil communications good manners but were made to set the world right again on its legs and to good breeding and christian charity so there s a for you you well done preacher a prominent if you will desert and with us you shall be the of the troop we want a good swearing drinking and tearing blade who can hold a discourse over his liquor and fence with the devil at long words you re the very man for it for the blacksmith for the blacksmith shouted several others in the apartment butler during this scene had stretched himself out at full length upon a bench to gain some rest in his present exhausted and uncomfortable condition and was now of the refreshment of a bowl of milk and some coarse bread which one of the had brought him n what s all this laughing and uproar about said entering the room with just at the moment of the in favor of the is this a time for your cursed wide throats to be like we have business to do and you sir said he turning to butler you must be taking up the room of a half dozen men on a bench with your lazy up sir i allow	29
no and lying about to and you have cost me the death of a dog that is worth all your filthy kindred and you have made away with two of the best men that ever in shoe leather sit up sir and thank your luck k that you haven t your arms behind yon like a horse thief u insolent coward said butler springing upon his feet hired you shall in due time be made to pay for the outrage you have inflicted upon me u tie him up cried u tie him up and now i call you all to bear witness that he has brought the sentence upon himself it shall be done without waiting another moment harry i give the matter over to you draw out four men take them into the yard and the prisoners off hand shoot the on the spot before we eat our i was a that i didn t settle this at daylight this morning the of the earth have no heart about it men but make sure work by a short distance this is no time for when have the shown mercy to us it shall be four against four then cried out green by u and the first shot that is fired shall be into the of stand by me boys in a moment the parties were divided and had snatched up their weapons and then stood looking angrily at each other as if daring each to commence the threatened why how now devil s shouted have you come to a have you joined the james look at this by the bloody laws of war i will report every rascal who dares to lift his hand against me the thing is past talking about said the first speaker coolly neither you nor james shall command the peace if you dare to offer harm to the prisoners now bully report that as my saying they are men fairly taken in war and shall suffer no evil past what the law give them up to the officer of the nearest post that s what we ask carry them to s camp if you choose but whilst they are in our keeping there shall be no blood without mixing some of your own with it arrest the cried trembling with rage who are my friends in this room let them stand by me and then blast me if i don t force obedience to my orders i i i h i you got off by the skin of your teeth last night said green u when you tried to take the life of for that you deserved a bullet through your skull take care that you don t get your reckoning this morning captain and all as you are what in the devil would you have inquired stricken into a more cautious tone of speech by the decided bearing of the man opposed to him the safety of the prisoners until they are delivered to the commander of a regular post we have resolved upon that was the reply said turning in some perplexity to the as if for advice softly captain we had better have a here said who then added in a whisper there s been some damned kicked up here by the blacksmith this comes of giving that fellow the privilege of talking u a word men interposed horse shoe who during this interval had planted himself near butler and with him stood ready to act as the emergency might require u let me say a word this james is my man give me a and a pair of pistols and i will pledge the hand and word of a upon condition that i am allowed five minutes to have a pass here in the yard with him it shall be in sight of the whole i pledge the word of a to deliver myself back again to the guard dead or alive without offering to take any chance to make off in the meantime come james your word to the back of that and then on your sword man i heard your whisper soldiers said stepping into the circle which the party had now formed round the room let me put in a word as a peace maker captain won t be unreasonable i will for him that he will fulfil your wish regarding the convey ing of the prisoners to a regular post come come let us have no for shame put down your guns there may be reason in what you ask although it isn t so much against the fashion of the times to shoot a either but anything for ths sake of quiet amongst good fellows be considerate noble captain and do as the babies wish as for horse shoe s he is an shoe robinson old soldier and so am i that s we are not so green aa to put a and a brace of pistols into the hands of a prisoner no no horse shoe try another trick old boy ha ha lads i you are a set of fine dashing and this is only one of your bits of that up with your liquor take another cup on it my merry fellows and all will be as pleasant as the music of a come captain of the tiger join us and as for the prisoners why let them come for with us so there s an end of the business all is as new milk again well well get your said blast you i have spoiled you by good treatment you ungrateful dogs but as says there s an end of it so go to your feeding and when that s done we will push for s the morning meal was soon despatched and the party in the room where the late disturbance had taken place the good nature of robinson continued	29
escape from the hands of the it will be had been aided by the had sufficiently assured himself of the present safety of butler from the spirit with which a strong party of s followers had resisted die bloody purpose of their leader before breakfast and he had also by the reward secretly conveyed to received a pledge from that individual that the same protection should still be accorded to the major in the event of his own from the gang by the perilous which he then meditated it is no doubt apparent to the reader that the favor which saved the lives of the prisoners was won from the by the address of robinson and that whatever good will was kindled up amongst them was appropriated principally to the butler having but little consideration from the band beyond that interest which the men are apt to take in the fortunes of a young and soldier neither the major s manners nor temper were adapted to any special regard from such natures the escape of the therefore although it added nothing to the perils of butler s situation still in some degree to his present inconvenience it caused him to be more guarded than before and consequently to be more in his personal comfort he was hurried forward at a rough and uneasy pace and both from and and those more immediately of their party he experienced a surly indifference to the pain that this occasioned him they seemed to have no regard either to his wants or feelings an fin the passing remarks that fell from them he could gather harsh as to the manner in which he was now likely to be disposed of it is their own fault said one of them to his companion as butler overheard the conversation if every prisoner is strung horse robinson np and shot nowadays he makes no more of hanging our people than so many wolves and there was captain will any man say that hadn t him murdered in cold blood w yes added the other let a tory be caught over yonder amongst the on t other side of the line or in or down here at the why a grey fox in a barn yard with forty dogs would have as good a chance for his life so for my share i am glad to see our folks break up that breed root and branch has got as keen a nose for a as a blood hound said the first speaker and won t stop long to consider what s right to be done if he gets this chap in his so it is of no great account that we didn t make short work of it this morning such remarks produced a gloomy effect upon butler s mind he had witnessed enough in the scenes of the morning to convince him that had been employed to him and take his life and that the latter purpose had only failed by the lucky of circumstances which led to the he was aware too that was the prime conductor of the scheme and drove matters by a secret influence as far as he could towards its accomplishment whilst with a professional and most bearing he affected to be indifferent to the issue this fellow s malice was the more from his address and the gay levity with which he could mask the most designs nothing could his and he seemed to be provided at all times with a present expedient to meet the emergency of his condition the most feature in this man s present position was his recent with a fact that to butler with many alarming doubts all the other circumstances accompanying butler condition at this moment were subjects of uncertainty ignorant of the place to which he was to be taken into whose hands he was to be delivered how he was to be disposed of he could only anticipate the worst it was obvious that his journey was an expected one and that the gang who held him were employed by persons in authority set on no doubt by the agency of t du where was he and who was he f and what influence could he bring to bear against his butler life now that be had failed in his bloody purpose of lying in wait and that it was resolved by these who had in part only obeyed his to deliver their prisoner up to the regular authorities of the british army the mention of the name of by one of the was not calculated to his this person he knew to have been an active and eager adviser of the new court lately established at to promote the of the estates of the inhabitants of to the royal cause he was besides a zealous tory and having lately joined the army was now in command of a of on the then again there was abundant cause of anxiety to the unfortunate officer in the question whether robinson could be kept acquainted with his condition or even of the place to which he might be removed and if acquainted with these particulars whether in the disturbed state of the country he could render any service these thoughts all contributed to sink his spirits notwithstanding the usual assumed levity of he had now become towards butler and did not give himself the trouble to conceal it his manner was quick and showing his vexation at his own want of sagacity inferred by the successful flight of robinson expressions occasionally escaped him that indicated a self reproof on this subject though they were partially disguised by an affected of the importance of having such a prisoner so long as he retained the of the principal object of the enterprise but the consciousness of being again baffled by a man who had once before obtained the mastery over him	29
roused his pride into the exhibition of a and in this temper he the brutal disposition of and abandoned the captive officer to the coarse of those who exercised control over him there was some to this annoyance in the reserved and partial spirit in which the party of the manifested some slight signs of good will towards him an instance of this spirit was afforded in a passing hint conveyed by on one occasion when the troop had halted to water their horses whatever is to come of it after we give you up to other hands he said apart to butler we will stick to the l ground we have taken that no harm shall be done to yon in our keeping the da was intensely hot and the road over which the party travelled rugged and it was therefore near one o clock when they came in sight of the tiger a rough bold impetuous stream that rushed over an almost unbroken bed of rocks on the opposite bank was a rude hamlet of some two or three houses scattered over a rugged hill side a place subsequently rendered famous by the gallant of by the troop struck into a narrow ford and with some amongst the rocks succeeded in crossing the stream they then galloped rapidly up the hill towards a farm house which seemed to be the principal place of resort for the people of the neighborhood the approach of the party of cavalry drew to the door a of women children and who stood idly gaping at the spectacle and in addition to these a of consisting of between twenty and thirty men were seen to turn out and form a line in front of the house with an air of importance halted opposite this gave a few prompt orders to in regard to the disposition of the troop and in an tone of command ordered the officer of the to detail a guard for the safe keeping of a prisoner of state the personage addressed a tall and awkward signified his acquiescence with a bow and immediately took possession of butler by seizing the rein of his horse and leading him to one side where two men armed with placed themselves at either now directed his men to alight accompanying the order with a caution that the prisoner was not to be allowed to enter the house the d d rascal he added shall not play the trick of his rebel associate no more privilege of going into bar rooms and lounging about doors see the man in the barn and tell the never to take their eyes off of him do you hear lieutenant you may depend upon my look out replied the lieutenant with a flourish of a and rusty sword men march your prisoner straight to the barn have a relief every two hours and towards night set four on the watch at a time b shoe m look to it lieutenant shouted u no words sir do your duty and thus given vent to his own high opinion of himself the captain withdrew into the house butler was now marched into a large log barn in one corner of which an of or dried blades of indian corn were shaken out for his bed and this he was told was to be his prison until other orders awaited him the guard consisting of two were stationed on the inner side of the door having the prisoner immediately under their eye and this disposition being completed the officer commanding the retired to mingle with the in the farm house half an hour had scarcely elapsed after the arrival of the at before james had refreshed himself with a hasty meal and had his horse brought to the door he seemed bound upon some urgent mission captain st you say left this at sunrise this morning said the addressing the lieutenant of the he did he was here all day yesterday and thought he should hear from you last night what route did he take to at ninety six is there now think you v he is replied the lieutenant they say orders have gone up from to the post for four light companies and it is expected that captain is now on his way with them towards neither nor would leave the post i have heard that this corps was marching to head quarters are you sure st is not with he said nothing about it yesterday but i think he wishes to join colonel with the cavalry where is i inquired u over on about two miles from s mill said thoughtfully i must ride to the garrison at ninety six the devil take this about the country i have had more than enough of it and saying this the mounted his horse and clapping spurs to the was soon out of sight oi it was late in the day before the wants of butler were attended to he had thrown aside his coat from the oppressive heat of the weather and placing it under his head for a pillow had fallen into a sleep from which he was awakened by a summons from one of the to partake of food there was more kindness apparent in the of the soldier than butler had been accustomed to meet from the persons who held him captive and this circumstance won upon his heart and induced him to accept with courtesy the proffered attentions you live in a divided country and witness much to make a good man wish this unhappy war was at an end said butler after he had eaten of the provisions placed before him indeed we do sir replied the soldier and it is enough to make a man s heart to see brothers fighting against each other and kindred that ought to hold together seeking each other s lives men	29
yourself captain for he told us you were on the road from towards exclaimed the captain with surprise u we saw nobody on that road when did the man arrive about an hour before you he came at full speed with his horse a great black beast seventeen hands high at least all in a foam he was first for passing by without stopping but we him and brought him short upon his and then he told us he was in a hurry and mustn t be delayed what kind of a looking man was he inquired a jolly fellow replied the lieutenant almost as big as his horse a good civil fellow too that well at a he made a joke of the matter about your coming up and called you old cat o nine tails said that you were the cat and your nine rags were the tails ha ha ha blast the exclaimed who could he be why we asked that but he roared out with a great took another drink and said he was never you should as a good soldier said have made him give his name i tried him again and he would only let us have a he told us then that he was called jack o lantern and had a special good stomach and that if we wanted more of him we must give him a snatch of something to eat well we did so after that he said he must have our landlord s sword for his own had been torn from him by the that pushed him so hard and that the bill for it must be sent to so he got the old cheese knife that used to hang over the fire place and strung it across his shoulder he laughed so hard and seemed so that there was no doing anything with him at last he mounted his horse again just stooped down and whispered in my ear at parting that he was an old friend of yours and that you could tell us all the news and away he went like a mad bully it over the hill at twenty miles to the hour a black horse did you say inquired had he a white star in the forehead and the two hind legs white below the knee h r s exactly said the lieutenant and several others of the party it was horse shoe robinson by all the black devils horse shoe horse shoe to be sure responded half a dozen voices he was a famous good rider horse shoe or anybody else said the lieutenant that beats all said one of the the cunning old fox he told the truth when he said you would tell the news captain but to think of his lies getting hun past the guard with a sword and a into the bargain why didn t you report instantly upon our arrival asked bless you replied the lieutenant u i never him more than i did you the fellow laughed so naturally that would never have thought him a there it is said that s the want of discipline the service will never till these are taught the rules of war butler had heard enough to satisfy him on one material point namely that robinson had secured his escape and was in condition to take whatever advantage of circumstances the times might afford him it was a consolation to him also to know that the had taken this route as it brought him nearer to the scene in which the major himself was likely to mingle with this dawn of comfort brightening up his doubts he himself more to sleep and before daylight the sounds of riot having sunk into a lower and more drowsy tone he succeeded in winning a temporary oblivion from his cares chapter xx u what ho what ho thy door undo art watching or asleep on the banks of the in a little nook of meadow formed by the bend of the stream which fringed with swept round it almost in a the inland border of the meadow being defined by a gently rising wall of hills covered with wood was seated within a few paces of the water a neat little cottage with a group of out buildings presenting all the of a comfortable farm the dwelling house itself was shaded by a cluster of trees which had been spared from the native forest and view were several fields of cultivated ground neatly with fences a little lower down the stream and within a short distance of the house partially concealed by the bank stood a small low mill built of wood it was near and the golden light of evening sparkled upon the shower fell from the race that conducted the water to the head gate and no less glittered on the spray that was dashed from the large and slowly revolving wheel the steady of the stream and the monotonous of the machinery aided by the occasional scream of a flock of that frequented the border of the race and by the of a few children who played about the of the mill excited pleasant thoughts of rural business and domestic content a rudely constructed wagon to which were two lean horses stood at the door of the mill and two men one of them advanced in years and the other apparently just beyond the verge of boyhood were occupied in upon it a heavy load of bags of meal the of these men showed them to be the proper attendants of the place and now engaged in their a military guard stood by the wagon and as soon as it was filled they were h b b shoe robinson seen to put the horses in motion and to retire by a road that crossed the stream and take the descending direction of the current	29
that secret dislike of the tory cause which it was known to a few the miller entertained although his age situation and perhaps some ancient prejudice of descent for he was the son of an early scotch would rather have inclined him to take the royal side that side which in common belief and in appearance he still favored thou hast bent thy bow he said in the warmest of his prayer and shot thine arrows o lord amongst this people thou hast permitted the ministers of vengeance and the of blood to ride amongst us and thy wrath hath not yet bowed the stubborn spirit of sin but the hard hearts are given strong arms and with curses they have smitten the people yet even the that it did please thee not to stay because of our sure yea even the that did cause along our border until by the light the children of men might read in the dark night from one end of our boundary even unto the other the of their own and their of thee that hath been thrown into the blaze which it had itself kindled and like a weapon of war which hath grown dull i horse shoe robinson in the work of destruction hath been cast into the place of lumber and hath been utterly consumed the of the righteous and the of the word hath paid the price of blood and hath fallen into the wherewith he lay in wait to the feet of the but stay now o lord of hosts the hand of the and let the angel of peace again spread his wing over our and wearied land take from the wicked heart his sword and shield and make the righteous man safe beside his family hearth shelter the head of the wanderer and guide in safety th r hunted fugitive who before the man of wrath comfort he captive in his and make all hearts in this rent and province to know and bless thy for ever mo e in especial we thee to give to him that hath right and to the foundations of the government in justice and truth giving liberty of conscience and liberty of law to those who know how to use it at this point the worship of the evening was arrested by a slight knocking at the door who goes there exclaimed the old man starting from his kneeling position who at my door a stranger good man replied a voice without a poor fellow that has been hot pressed and hard run friend or foe asked u a very worthless friend to any man at this present speaking replied the person on the outside of the door and not fit to be counted a foe until he has had something to eat if you be open your door are you alone or do you come with followers at your heels my house is small and can give scant comfort to many faith it is more than i know responded the other u but if i have followers it is not with my will that they shall cross your door sill if you be or if you be not open friend i am as harmless as a fowl i do not fear you sir said opening the door you are welcome to all i can give you whatever colors you serve then give us your hand said horse shoe robinson h r x robinson into the apartment tou are a stranger to me but if you are the miller that i have men speak of you are not the person to turn your back on a fellow creature in distress your mistress he added bowing to the dame far riding and fast riding gives a sort of claim these times so excuse me for sitting down you are welcome again your name sir said have i guessed yours inquired horse shoe you have then you must guess mine for it isn t convenient to tell it some poor soldier said privately to u it isn t right to make him betray himself you are hungry friend added and we will first get you something to eat and then you may talk all the better for it that s a good word said horse shoe and a brave word as things go for it isn t every man has the courage to feed an enemy in these days though i made the devils do it for me this morning ha ha ha some water mr and it will not come badly to my hand if you can it somewhat the refreshment asked for was produced by and horse shoe taking the cup in his hand stood up and with a rather awkward courtesy pledged the draught with your health good mistress and luck to the little ones for we grown up babies are out of the days of luck except the luck of escaping twisted or drum head law which for to night i believe is mine and he swallowed the mixture at a draught then with a long sigh placed the cup upon the table and resumed his seat that there spirit mr he added is a special good friend in need preach against it who will you say you have ridden far to day remarked the miller you must be tired i am not apt to get tired replied the turning his sword belt over his head and flinging the weapon upon a bench but i am often hungry my wife said smiling has taken that hint before you spoke it she has already ordered something for you to eat that s an excellent woman exclaimed horse shoe you horse robinson see i don t stand much upon making myself free of your house i have of you often before i saw you man and i know all about you you are obliged to keep fair weather with	29
these who have no consideration for decent orderly people but your heart is with the boys that go for liberty you see i know you and am not to trust you perchance you have tell of one horse shoe robinson who lived over here at the i have heard many stories about that man replied the miller well i won t tell you that he is in your house to night for fear the might take you to account for such a never do well but you have got a poor fellow under your roof that has had a hard run to get here in my house exclaimed horse shoe robinson and then after a pause he continued well well there is no rule of war that a christian in refusing aid and comfort to a and hunted stranger who comes with no thought of harm to a peaceful family hearth i take no part in the war on either side and in your ear friend robinson i take none against you or the brave men that stand by you your hand again said horse shoe reaching towards the miller i have come to you under a sore press of heels an officer of the continental army and me have been travelling through these here parts and we have been most by a half wild cat half bull dog known by the name of captain who us in the night at s ford heaven have mercy on the man who has anything to do with exclaimed the miller s wife amen mistress responded the for a piece of flesh there s not in these wild woods giving you the choice of bear or what not we were upon continued the by this bully and a of his and made prisoners but i took a chance to slip the this morning and after riding plump into a s nest at s where i put on a new face and the guard out of a dinner and this here old sword i took a bo shoe oh course for this mill people along the road where i should find and so after making some and into the woods until night came on to keep clear of the here i am and the officer said he is in the hands of the yet most likely now at s what might be his name major butler a bold warm gentleman that s been used to tender life and good fortune he has lands on the sea coast unless that new court at that they call the court of has made them and void as they have been making the estates of better gentleman than they could ever pretend to be taking all the best lands you see to themselves the cursed where did you come from with this gentleman a long way off mr from old but lastly from s s wife is a relation of my family then he is a filthy disgrace to all who claim kin with him was the man who put us into the s claws at least so we had good reason to think there was a tidy and smart little there tut man i am talking of your own and kindred for her name was mary our girl said the dame with an animated emphasis our own mary what of her mr horse shoe robinson u that she is as good a child mistress as any honest parent wish for she got some sort of of what was contrived and so she appeared to major butler in a dream or her ghost mercy on us the child has not been hurt cried the mother not ma am said robinson but it is as true as you are there she gave us somehow or other a warning that there was harm in the wind and we took her advice but it didn t do i wish the child were home said horse shoe robinson at day light boy saddle a horse and be off to s for mary the nephew promised to do the errand come mr robinson draw near the table and eat some thing with right good heart replied horse shoe but it s a kind of camp rule with me before i taste food no matter where just to look after captain peter that s my horse friend so by your leave just go take a peep to see that the captain is a good beast is a sort of right arm in times and as god ha n t given them the gift of speech we must speak for them shall save you the trouble replied a good horse never loses anything by the eye of his master said horse shoe u so i ll go with you in a short time the returned into the house and took his seat at the table where he fell to at what was set before him with a how far off he inquired is the nearest tory post mr colonel has some light corps stationed within two miles if you had been a little earlier you would have found some of them at my mill repeated horse shoe i thought had these parts under command so he has replied the miller but he has lately joined the garrison at rocky mount ha ha ha ejaculated robinson that s a pot into which will be dipping his before long all the land between and broad belongs to tom let mad cap do his best we mr have a little touch of the in us we travel pretty much where we please now i will tell you friend very plainly what i am after i don t mean to leave these parts till i see what is to become of major butler and put together sha n t hinder me from looking after	29
a man that s under my charge i m an old and they can t make much out of me if they get me u the country is with troops of one kind or another horse shoe f said the miller and a man must have his wits about him who would get through it you are now mr robinson in a very dangerous quarter the fort at ninety six on one side of you and rocky mount and hanging rock on the other the road between the three is full of colonel is here to keep the passage open and almost his men are passing you should be careful in showing yourself in daylight and as for your poor friend major butler there is not likely to be much good will shown towards him i greatly fear his case is worse than it seems to you u there is somewhere said robinson in that book that lies open on the table which i take to be the bible the story of the of king david and as i have it read by the preacher it tells how david was pushed on all sides by flying corps of the enemy and that seeing he had no sword he came across a man who gave him and the sword of as i got my dinner and a sword this morning from the tavern keeper at s and then he set off on his flight to some strange place where he feigned himself crazy and at the gate and let the spit run down on his beard as i have done before now with mr and then king david took into a cave which i shouldn t stand much upon doing if there was occasion and there the king waited until he got friends about him and was able to the for the as i make no doubt these have robbed yours but you know all about it seeing that you are able to read which i am not now i don t pretend to say that i nor major butler are as good men as david not at all but the cause of liberty is as good a cause as ever king david fought for and the lord that took his side in the cave will take the side of the sooner or later and help them to beat these grinding burning and throat cutting and moreover a brave man ought never to be cast down by such that s my religion mr though you m ought hardly expect to find much thought of such things left in a rough fellow like me that s been in these here wars like an old piece of iron that s been one while a plough and after that a gun barrel and finally that s been run up with others into a piece of horse h not to say that it t have been a shoe in some part of its life ha ha i ha there s not likely to be much conscience or religion left after all that he shall keep the simple folk by their right said quoting a passage from the defend the children of the poor and punish the wrong you have finished your supper mr robinson he continued and before we retire to rest you will join us in the conclusion of our family worship which was interrupted by your into the house we will sing a which has been given to us by that man whose has taught you where you are to look for yours if i cannot help to make music said horse shoe i can listen with good will the miller now produced a little book in black letter containing a familiar and ancient version of the and the following quaint and simple lines were read by him in successive the whole family singing each as soon as it was given out not excepting horse shoe who after the first having acquired some slight perception of the tune in with a voice that might have alarmed the of s camp tt a king that in his host shall not prevail at length the man that of his might doth boast shall fall for all his strength the troops of shall their sturdy shall starve the strength of horse shall not prevail the rider to preserve but so the eyes of god intend and watch to aid the just with such as fear him to offend and on his goodness trust that he of death and great distress may set their souls from dread and if that their land in hunger them to feed horse shoe robinson wherefore our soul doth whole on god our strength and stay he is our shield us to defend and drive all away when this act of devotion was concluded the old man a blessing upon his household and gave his orders that the family should themselves to rest horse shoe had already taken up his sword and was about retiring to a chamber the guidance of when the door was suddenly thrown wide open and in rushed mary she ran up threw herself into her father s arms and cried out oh how glad i am that i have reached home to night then kissing both of her parents she flung herself into chair saying i am tired very tired i have ridden the day alone and frightened out of my wits not alone my daughter on that weary road and the country so troubled with ill governed men why did you venture girl did you not think i would send your cousin for you oh father replied mary there have been such doings ah i and here is mr horse shoe robinson major butler where is he sir she exclaimed turning to the who had now approached the back of her chair	29
to offer his hand blessings on you for a wise and a brave girl f said robinson but it wouldn t do we were and the major is still a prisoner u i feared it said mary and therefore i stole away they are bloody minded and wicked father and uncle s house has been the place where mischief and murder has been talked o oh i am very sick i have had such a ride poor said the father taking her to his bosom you have not the temper nor the strength to struggle where men take up their weapons of war what has befallen tell us all no no interposed the mother no not now the girl must have food and sleep and must not be wearied with questions to night wait my dear mary until to morrow she tell us everything to morrow horse robinson u i must bear of major butler said mary u i cannot sleep until i have heard all that has happened good mr robinson tell me everything in few words the unfolded to the the history of the last two days during the narrative of which her cheek pale her strength failed her and she sank almost lifeless across her father s knee give me some water she said my long ride has worn me out i ran off at daylight this morning and have not stopped once upon the road a glass of milk with a of bread restored the maiden to her strength and she took the first opportunity to inform the circle who her of all the incidents that had fallen under her observation at s her father listened with deep emotion to the tale and during its relation clenched his teeth with anger as he walked to and fro through the apartment there was an earnest struggle in his feelings to withhold the expression of the strong which the narrative brought almost to his lips against the of his wife s but the habitual control of his temper which his religious habits kept him silent and considerations of prudence again swayed him from to the impulse which would have led him to declare himself openly against tho cause of the royal government and its in the district where he lived he cross questioned his daughter as to many minute points of her story but her answers were uniform and consistent and were stamped with the most proofs of her strict indeed the evidences furnished by robinson left no doubt on the miller s mind that the whole of mary s were the testimony of a witness whose senses could not have been disturbed by illusions nor by fear u it is a dreadful tale he said and we must think over it more be of good heart my daughter you have acted well ami wisely god will protect us from harm and so it was no ghost nor spirit said horse shoe that the major saw in the night but i wonder you didn t think of waking nt a word to me in the night seeing i have a good horse robinson deal on and have got used to being called would have had me stirring in a wink but that s part of s luck for i should most have the snake in his bed u called you said mary as loudly as i and more than once but you slept so hard that s like me too replied horse shoe i m both sleepy and watchful according as i think there is need of my now to bed my child said your bed is the place for your wearied body god bless you daughter p once more the family broke up and as robinson left the room mary followed him to the foot of the little stair that wound up into an chamber here she detained him one moment while she communicated to him in a half whisper i have a friend mr robinson that might help you to do something for major butler his name is john he belongs to general s if you would go to his father s only six miles from here on the upper road to ninety six you might hear where john was but may be you are afraid to go so near to the fort may be so said robinson with a look of comic incredulity i know the place and i know the family and likely john himself it s a good thought mary for i want help now more than i ever did in my life i ll start before daylight for it won t do to let the sun shine upon me with s so nigh so if i am missed to morrow morning let your father know how i come to be away u tell john said mary i sent you to him mary remember if i can t find john replied horse shoe you re such a little that i ll perhaps come back and you t everywhere that we can find such i wish some of our men had a little of your courage so good night the maiden now returned to the parlor and horse shoe under the guidance of found a comfortable place of deposit his hard worked though as he would have believe his frame the however was a man horse shoe ok not born to cares notwithstanding that his troubles were as thick as the sparks that fly upward and it is a trivial fact in his history that on the present occasion he was not many seconds in bed before he was as sound asleep as the in the fairy tale which the eastern chronicle records fell into a deep sleep when upon the spit and did not wake for a hundred years i chapter now if you who the stroke i cannot tell so i it was not given by man alive	29
the soldier of the guard i forgot he was in the room the weather holds up said who now walked into the house the rain has and so orderly if you have had a bite of something to eat the boys had better be got ready to march we have a long way to go and as the march with us we shall get on slowly i think so noble captain replied i shall be ready to join you before you get your line formed orders were now issued by both to the of his own and to the to put themselves in condition for an immediate movement the clouds during the last half hour had been breaking away and the sun soon burst forth upon the wet and glittering landscape in all the of mid summer during a brief interval of preparation the party of and cavalry that now occupied the hamlet exhibited the bustle incident to the gathering the corps some ran to one quarter for their arms others to the stables for their horses a cracked trumpet in the hands of a who here joined the troop kept up a continual and was horse shoe robinson by the ceaseless beat of a slack and dull drum there were some who having put on their military thronged the table of the common room of the house where spirits and water had been set out for their accommodation and rude jokes laughter and oaths were mingled together in move out the prisoner shouted he goes with the i ll never trust another of the tribe with a horse follow sir said one of the near butler s person as he faced to the right with his at an advance and led the way to the door butler rose and before he placed himself in the position required asked where is it you purpose to conduct me silence said sternly obey orders sir and march where you are directed butler folded his arms and looked scornfully at the uncouth savage before him as he replied i am a prisoner sir and therefore bound to submit to the force that me but there will be a day of reckoning both for you and your master it will not be the lighter to him for having hired such a to do the business in which he is ashamed to appear himself devil s screamed almost choked with dare you speak to me so by my heart i have a mind to your skull for you my master sir you will find out before long who is master when has tied the knot that is to fit your neck peace villain exclaimed butler i cannot come too soon into the presence of those who claim to direct your motions here james interposed to draw off the captain and butler having received another order from the officer of the guard moved out upon the road and took the place that was assigned him between two of the foot soldiers the being mounted and formed into column of march with and his at the head and in the rear now moved forward at a slow gait followed by the of who had the prisoner under their especial charge horse shoe robinson it was near noon when the party took up the line of march and they their journey southward with such expedition as to tax butler s powers to the utmost to keep even pace with them over roads that were in many places rendered by the late rain towards evening however the sun had sufficiently dried the soil to make the travel less and by that hour when the light of day only lingered upon the tops of the western hills the military escort with their prisoner were seen passing through a that opened upon their view an extensive of some two or three hundred horse and foot and occupying a space of open field with wood and guarded in its rear by a smooth and gentle river the spot at which they had arrived was the camp of a corps under the command of colonel a farm house was seen in the immediate neighborhood which was used as the of a party of officers numerous horses were attached to the trees that bounded the plain and various were made in the same quarter in the form of accommodation of branches and set against ridge poles that were sustained by to protect the men against the weather groups of this irregular were scattered over the plain a few were seen collected in one direction and not far off a line of fires around which parties were engaged in cooking food here and there a was seen pacing his short limits and occasionally the roll of a drum and the flourish of a announced some ceremony of the camp police the escort quickly across this plain until it arrived in front of the farm house here a guard was drawn up to receive them and as soon as the usual military salute was passed and the order to stand at ease given put the under the command of the lieutenant of and accompanied by walked into the house to make his report to the commanding officer of the post in a few moments afterwards colonel attended by two or three military men some of whom wore the uniform of the british regular army came from the house and passed hastily along the line of the escort surveying butler only with a rapid glance having regained the door he was heard to say horse shoe robinson u it is very well let the prisoner have a room above stairs see that he wants nothing proper to his situation and above all be attentive that he be kept under the eye of his guard when this order was given the colonel retired with his attendants to his quarters and butler was forthwith conducted by	29
a file of men up a narrow winding stair to a small apartment in the angle of the roof where he was provided with a chair a light and a comfortable bed his door was left open and on the outside of it full in his view was posted a he was too weary even to be troubled with the cares of his present condition and without waiting therefore for food or seeking to inquire into whose hands he had fallen or even to turn his thoughts upon the mysterious train of circumstances that hung over him he flung himself upon the couch and sank into a profound and grateful sleep chapter adventure wherein it is apparent that the actions of real life are full as marvellous as the inventions of romance david s house was situated on a by road between five and six miles from s mill and at about the distance of one mile from the principal route of travel between ninety six and s in passing from the military post that had been established at the former place towards the latter s lay off to the left with a piece of dense wood intervening the by way leading through the farm from the main road and traversed this wood until it reached the cultivated grounds immediately around s dwelling in the journey from s mill to this point of the traveller was obliged to ride some two or three miles upon the great road leading from the british garrison a road that at the time of my story was much frequented by military parties and that were concerned in keeping up the communication between the several posts which were established by the british authorities along that frontier amongst the parties also there were various occasions which brought them under the necessity of frequent passage through this same district and which therefore furnished opportunities for collision and with the opposite forces it is a matter of historical that immediately after the fall of and the rapid of south that followed this event there were three bold and skilful soldiers who undertook to carry on the war of resistance to the established authorities upon a settled and plan of annoyance under the most state of as regarded all the means of offence that perhaps history records it will not from the fame of other of similar enthusiasm and of b shoe robinson equal bravery to mention the names of and in with this plan of keeping up an apparently hopeless warfare which had the promise neither of men money nor arms and yet which was so nobly sustained amidst accumulated as to lead eventually to the of the tory and the of the british power according to the plan of operations amongst these took the lower country under his the south western districts upon the and to was allotted all that tract of country lying between the broad and the rivers from the angle of their below up to the mountain districts of north how faithfully these men made good their promise to the country is not only written in history but it is also told in many a legend amongst the older inhabitants of the region that was made the theatre of action it only concerns my story to refer to the fact that the events which have occupied my last five or six chapters occurred in that range more peculiarly appropriated to and that the high road from s towards ninety six was almost as necessary for communication between and as between the several british on the morning that succeeded the night in which horse shoe robinson arrived at s the stout and honest might have been seen about eight o clock leaving the main road from ninety six at the point where that leading to david s separated from it and cautiously urging his way into the deep forest by the more private path into which he had entered the knowledge that was along the within a short distance of the mill had compelled him to make an extensive circuit to reach s dwelling whither he was now bent and he had experienced considerable delay in his morning journey by finding himself frequently in the neighborhood of small parties of whose motions he was obliged to watch for fear of an encounter he had once already been compelled to use his horse s heels in what he called fair flight and once to himself a full half hour under cover of the thicket afforded him by a swamp he now therefore according to his own house shoe phrase into the little road that scrambled down through the woods towards s with all his eyes about him looking out as sharply as a fox on a morning and with this he was not long in arriving within view of s house lake a practised soldier whom frequent has taught wisdom he resolved to before he advanced upon a post that might be in possession of an enemy he therefore dismounted fastened his horse in a fence corner where a field of corn concealed him from notice and then stealthily crept forward until he came immediately behind one of the out houses the barking of a house dog brought out a negro boy to whom robinson instantly addressed the is your master at home no sir he s got his horse and gone off more than an hour ago where is your mistress beans sir i didn t ask you said the what she is doing but where she is in course she is in the house sir replied the negro with a any strangers there u there was plenty on em a little while ago but they ve been gone a good bit robinson having thus satisfied himself as to the safety of his visit directed the boy to take his horse and lead him up to the door he then entered	29
the dwelling mistress said he walking up to the dame who was occupied at a table with a large before her in which she was that household which the negro described luck to you ma am and all your house i hope you haven t none of these and about you that are as thick over this country as the in the that they tell of u good lack mr horse shoe robinson exclaimed the matron offering the her hand what has brought you here what news who are with you for patience sake tell me i am alone said robinson and a little mistress k shoe n he added as he took off his hat and shook the water from it it has just up a rain and looks as if it was going to give m enough on l you don t mind doing a little dinner work of a sunday i see of beans i s pose is to dragging a sheep out of a pond as the allow on the sabbath ha ha where s p u he s gone over to the meeting house on hoping to hear something of the army at perhaps you can tell us the news from that quarter p faith that s a mistake mistress though i don t doubt that they are hard upon the by this time but at this present speaking i command the flying we have but one man in the corps and that s myself and all the guns we have got is this piece of that hangs in this old belt by my side pointing to his sword and that i captured from the enemy at s i was hoping i find john at home i have need of him as a ah mr robinson john has a heavy life of it over there with the boy is often without his natural rest or a meal s and the general thinks so much of him that he can t spare him to come home i hav n t the heart to complain as long as john s service is of any use but it does seem mr robinson like needless tempting of the of providence we thought that he might have been here to day yet i am glad he didn t come for he would have been certain to get into trouble who should come in this morning just after my husband had cleverly got away on his horse but a young cock a that belongs to ninety six and four great with him all in red coats they had been out i warrant and were now going home again and who but they here they were all about my house and calling for this and calling for that as if they owned the fee simple of everything on the plantation and it made my blood rise mr horse shoe to see them run out in the yard and catch up my chickens and ducks and kill as many as they could string about them and i not daring to say a word though i did give them a piece of my mind too who is at home with you inquired the eagerly nobody but my youngest boy answered the dame horse robinson u and then the filthy she continued her voice what arms have you in the house asked robinson without the dame s rising anger we have a rifle and a s pistol that belongs to john they must call for drink too and turn my house of a sunday morning into a tavern they took the route towards ninety six you said mistress yes they went straight forward upon the road but look you mr horse shoe you re not thinking of going after them v isn t there an old field about a mile from this on that road inquired the still intent upon his own thoughts there is replied the dame with the old school house upon it a sided log cabin in the middle of the field am i right good woman yes u and nobody lives in it it has no door to it u there ha n t been anybody in it these seven years i know the place very well said the thoughtfully there is woods just on this side of it that s true replied the dame but what is it you are thinking about mr robinson u how long before this rain began was it that they quitted this house u not above fifteen minutes mistress bring me the rifle and pistol both and the powder horn and bullets as you say mr horse shoe answered the dame as she turned round to leave the room but i am sure i can t suspicion what you mean to do in a few moments the woman returned with the weapons and gave them to the where is asked horse shoe the hostess went to the door and called her son and almost immediately afterwards a sturdy boy of about twelve or fourteen years of age entered the apartment his clothes dripping with rain robinson he modestly and seated himself on a chair near the door with his soaked hat flapping down over a face full of and not less with the expression of an open of character how would you like a with them that stole your mother s chickens this morning asked horse shoe u i m agreed replied the boy if you will tell me what to do you are not going to take the boy out on any of your desperate projects mr horse shoe said the mother with the tears starting instantly into her eyes you wouldn t take such a child as that into danger bless your soul mrs there ar n t no danger about it don t take on	29
so it s a thing that is either done at a blow or not done and there s an end of it i want the lad only to bring home the prisoners for me after i have took them u ah mr robinson i have one son already in these wars god protect him and you men don t know how a mother s heart for her children in these times i cannot give another she added as she threw her arms over the shoulders of the youth and drew him to her bosom oh it nothing said in a tone it s only snapping of a pistol mother if i m not afraid you t to be i give you my honor mistress said robinson that i will bring or send your son safe back in one hour and that he sha n t be put in any sort of danger come that s a good woman u you are not deceiving me mr robinson asked the matron wiping away a tear you wouldn t mock the sufferings of a weak woman in such a thing as this f u on the honesty of a ma am replied horse shoe the lad shall be in no danger as i said before u then i will say no more answered the mother but my child be sure to let mr robinson keep before you horse shoe now loaded the fire arms and having the across his body he put the pistol into the hands of the boy then his rifle he and his young ally left the room ho robinson even on this occasion serious as it might be deemed the did not depart without giving some of that which no difficulties ever seemed to have the power to conquer he thrust his head back into the room after he had crossed the threshold and said with an encouraging laugh u and me will teach them mistress pat s point of war we will surround the now my lad said horse shoe after he had mounted captain peter you must get up behind me turn the lock of your pistol down he continued as the boy sprang upon the horse s and cover it with the of your jacket to keep the rain off it won t do to hang fire at such a time as this the lad did as he was directed and horse shoe having secured his rifle in the same way put his horse up to a gallop and took the road in the direction that had been pursued by the soldiers as soon as our had gained a wood at the distance of about half a mile the relaxed his speed and advanced at a pace a little above a walk he said we have got rather a sort of a job before us so i must give you your lesson which you will understand better by knowing something of my plan as soon as your mother told me that these had left her house about fifteen minutes before the rain came on and that they had gone along upon this road i remembered the old field up here and the little log hut in the middle of it and it was natural to suppose that they had just got about near that hut when this rain came up and then it was the most case in the world that they would naturally go into it as the place they could find so now you see it s my calculation that the whole is there at this very point of time we will go slowly along until we get to the other end of this wood in sight of the old field and then if there is no one on the look out we will open our first you know what that means it means i s pose that we ll go right at them replied pretty exactly said the but listen to me just at the edge of the woods you will have to get down and put yourself behind a tree til ride forward as if i had a whole troop at robinson my heels and if i catch them as i expect they will have a little fire kindled and as likely as not they ll be cooking some of your mother s fowls yes i understand said the boy eagerly no you don t replied horse shoe but you will when you hear what i am going to say if i get at them they ll be mighty apt to think they are surrounded and will like fine fellows for quarter and thereupon i ll cry out stand fast as if i was speaking to my own men and when you hear that you must come up full because it will be a signal to you that the enemy has surrendered then it will be your business to run into the house and bring out the as quick as a rat runs through a kitchen and when you have done that why all s done but if you should hear any of fire arms that is more than one shot which i may chance to let off do you take that for a bad sign and get away as fast as you can heel it tou comprehend oh yes replied the lad and i ll do what you want and more too may be mr robinson captain robinson remember you must call me cap tain in the hearing of these i ll not forget that neither answered by the time that these instructions were fully impressed upon the boy our adventurous forlorn hope as it may be called had arrived at the place which horse shoe robinson had for the commencement of active operations they had a clear view of the old field and it afforded them a strong assurance that	29
the enemy was exactly where they wished him to be when they discovered smoke arising from the chimney of the was soon posted behind a tree and robinson only a moment to make the boy repeat the agreed on in order to ascertain that he had them correctly in his memory being satisfied from this experiment that the intelligence of his young companion might be depended upon he galloped across the intervening space and in a few seconds abruptly up his in the very doorway of the hut the party within was gathered around a fire at the further end and in the corner near the door were four thrown together against the wall to spring horse shoe robinson from his saddle and thrust himself one pace inside of the door was a movement which the executed in an instant shouting at the same time halt file off right and left to both sides of the house and wait orders i demand the surrender of all here he said as he planted himself between the party and their weapons i will shoot down the first man who a foot leap to your arms cried the young officer who commanded the little party inside of the house why do you stand jf don t want to do you or your men any harm young man said robinson as he brought his rifle to a level but by my father s son i will not leave one of you to be put upon a if you raise a hand at this moment both parties now stood for a brief space each other in a fearful suspense during which there was an expression of doubt and visible on the countenances of the soldiers as they surveyed the broad proportions and met the stern glance of the whilst the delay also began to raise an apprehension in the mind of robinson that his would be discovered shall i let loose upon them captain said now appearing most unexpectedly to robinson at the door of the hut come on boys he shouted as he turned his face towards the field keep them outside of the door stand fast cried the with admirable in the new an sudden posture of his affairs caused by this appear boy sir you see that it s not worth while fighting five to one and i should be sorry to be the death of any of your brave fellows so take my advice and surrender to the continental and this scrap of its army which i command during this appeal the was by the lad outside who was calling out first on one name and then on another in the presence of a troop the device succeeded and the officer within believing the forbearance of robinson to be real at length said a lower your rifle sir in the presence of a superior force taken by surprise and without arms it is my duty to save i horse shoe robinson with the promise of fair usage and the rights of prisoners of war i surrender this little party under my command make the terms agreeable replied the never doubt me sir right hand file advance and receive the arms of the prisoners u i m here captain said in a conceited tone as if it were a mere occasion of merriment and the lad quickly entered the house and secured the weapons retreating with them some paces from the door now sir said horse shoe to the u your sword and whatever else you have about you of the of war the officer delivered up his sword and a pair of pocket pistols as horse shoe received these tokens of victory he asked with a smile and what he intended to be an elegant and composure u your name sir if i take the freedom st of his majesty s seventy first regiment of light your added horse shoe still preserving this unusual exhibition of politeness you have defended your post like an old although you much beard on your chin but seeing you have given up you shall be treated like a man who has done his duty you will walk out now and form yourselves in line at the door i ll engage my men shall do you no they are of a breed when the little of prisoners submitted to this command and came to the door they were stricken with equal astonishment and mortification to find in place of the of cavalry which they expected to see nothing but a man a boy and a horse their first emotions were expressed in curses which were even succeeded by laughter from one or two of the number there seemed to be a disposition on the part of some to resist the authority that now controlled them and sundry glances were exchanged which indicated a purpose to turn upon their the t no perceived this than he halted raised his rifle to his and at the same instant gave j an order to retire a few paces and to fire one of the captured pieces at the first man who opened his lips robinson ll by my hand he said if i find any trouble in taking you all five safe away from this here house i will thin your numbers with your own and that s as good as if i had sworn to it you have my word sir said the lead on by your leave my pretty gentleman you will lead and follow replied horse shoe it may be a new piece of to you but the custom is to give the prisoners the post of honor as you please sir answered the where do you take us to you will march back by the road you came said the finding the conqueror determined to execute summary martial law upon the first who should the prisoners submitted and marched in	29
double file from the hut back towards s horse shoe with captain peter s bridle dangling over his arm and his gallant young laden with double the burden of robinson having all the fire arms packed upon his shoulders bringing up the rear in this order and returned to david s well i have brought you your ducks and chickens back mistress said the as he halted the prisoners at the door and what s more i have brought home a young that s worth his weight in gold heaven bless my child my brave boy cried the mother seizing the lad in her arms and anything else in the present of her feelings i feared ill would come of it but heaven has preserved him did he behave handsomely mr robinson but i am sure he did u a little more ma am than i wanted him to be replied horse shoe but he did excellent service these are his prisoners mistress i should never have got them if it hadn t been for in these and times the babies in quarrel with their mother s milk show me another boy in america that s made more prisoners than there was to fight them with that s all chapter showing how a good soldier will turn the accidents of war to the best account st in a dis agreeable robinson having thus succeeded in his enterprise now found himself in circumstances of peculiar perplexity in regard to the disposal of his prisoners here he was in the neighborhood of the british posts in a district of country of which the enemy might be said to have at this moment complete possession for horse shoe himself was almost the only in the field against them and more than that he was but a few miles distant from a camp whose had chased him almost to his present place of refuge it was scarcely probable therefore that he could hope to retain his long under his control or prevent the enemy from receiving intelligence of the capture he was however notwithstanding these as usual cheerful confident and self possessed he had no wish or motive to detain the private soldiers as prisoners of war and would at once have dismissed them if he could have assured himself that they would not make the earliest use of their liberty to convey information of their to the first corps of they should meet and thus get up a hot pursuit of him through the whole district but he had and most important reasons for holding the st in close it occurred to him that this officer might be used to control the that should be adopted by those who meditated injury to arthur butler and he therefore at once formed the resolution of communicating with the nearest british authorities in order to assure them that he would upon the any pain that might be inflicted upon his late comrade his plan was speedily formed it was to keep his prisoners until night fall move off under cover of the darkness horse shoe robinson to some remote and concealed spot with st and release the others on their or pledge not to take up arms until regularly exchanged whilst the was over these arrangements the prisoners were allowed to shelter themselves from the rain under a shed near the door of the dwelling where w h all the pride and importance of his new station marched to and fro before them like a trained there was a small log building in the yard of s mansion which had been recently erected as a store house and which being well secured at the door by a robinson determined to convert for the into a prison it contained but one room not above twelve feet square with an floor and received no light except such as was admitted under the door and through a few about the roof into this narrow apartment the soldiers were now marched a bundle of straw was thrown upon the floor sundry of bacon that hung upon the walls were removed and a few comforts in the way of food and drink were supplied to render the accommodation as tolerable to the inmates as was with their safe this being done our friend was posted in the passage way of the dwelling in full view of the door of the store house which was carefully locked with a in his hand and with orders to make a circuit every five minutes round the little building to guard against any attempts at escape by the foundation as noon approached the weather began to clear up and with the first breaking forth of the sun came david the proprietor of the farm which was the scene of the present operations his recognition of horse shoe robinson was accompanied by a hearty greeting and with an expression of wonder that he should have ventured in hostile guise through a country so beset as this was by the forces of the enemy but when he heard the narrative of the of the morning and saw the of its success in the weapons piled against the wall and more especially when he received from the lips of his wife a account of the part which had been performed in this adventure by his sen his delight seemed almost to be absorbed by his astonishment and incredulity the proofs however were all around him horse shoe and after assuring himself by an actual inspection of the prisoners through one of the of the store house he came into his own parlour sat down and laughed out right was a friend of the independence of his country and although he had not been up in arms in the cause he gave it all the aid he could by the free expression of opinion and by a resolute refusal to with the of the	29
his eldest son had joined and had already been active in the field and he himself looked with an almost certain expectation to see visited upon himself that under which thousands were already suffering and which he had only escaped as yet by the of his or by their neglect arising out of the incessant hurry and pressure of their military operations in the organization of the new dominion which the royal forces had but lately acquired he was a man of sturdy frame now only in the prime of life brave thoughtful and intelligent and firmly resolved to stand by his principles through whatever adverse chances the present aspect of affairs was to his mind almost decisive of his fate the capture of these prisoners made from information derived from his own family and in which his own son had been a principal agent their confinement too in his own house were facts of so a character as inevitably to draw upon him the prompt ire of the and compel him to assume the attitude and abide by the issues of a as he had faith in the justice of his quarrel and a strong devotion to the principles upon which it was sustained he did not hesitate in the crisis before him but determined to meet the worst that might he therefore in the present emergency became a useful and efficient ally to robinson who opened to him the full history of and the course of measures he was about to pursue for the relief of that unfortunate officer we must now leave the holding watch and ward over his foes and shift our scene to s mill the family of were in a state of great horse shoe robinson had disappeared before day light and when the miller and his nephew left their beds a little after the dawn the only intelligence they had of the departure of their guest was inferred from finding the stable door open and the s ho h b robinson ft horse absent this feet was explained when mary met them at breakfast horse shoe had set out for s to learn some tidings of john and to him in an effort to butler he had departed under cover of darkness to avoid from s and she mary had placed the key of the stable the night before in a place where horse shoe might find it such was the extent of the maiden s information the day passed wearily upon her hand she was anxious to hear something of butler something of horse shoe and something we suppose of john frequently during the morning she and held secret they spoke in whispers suspense care and doubt were pictured upon her face and as the rain against the windows she stood before them and looked out upon the distant road and across the wide fields and then upwards to the clouded sky the sun at length appeared and his rays seemed to shoot a glimpse of joy into the breast of the maiden as she walked forth to note the drying of the roads and to see the clear blue which in that climate the mellow and rich tints of a heaven the day and the birds sang and nature was gay but the maiden was restless and the day and the sun rode downwards on the western slope in gorgeous beauty but mary was ill at ease and thought little of the grand and glorious her with meantime became more eager she and her cousin were seen to wander towards the mill then left her and presently he might be discovered leading two horses one bearing a side saddle down to the margin of the stream there was a short visit to the house by the young man a word whispered in the ear of the mother a shake of her head an expression of doubt a final nod of assent and in the next moment mary and were seen trotting off on horseback on the road that led towards s when they had ridden some two or three miles and had entered upon the high road between ninety six and s somewhere near to that piece of haunted ground where on the morning of this very day a had struck down james from his they a military party of horse and foot slowly advancing from the direction to which they were travelling in a h r i h k robinson few moments they met the first of the cavalry headed by a and the captain they were obtained at the head of this column whilst some questions were asked respecting the object of their journey the troops in their neighborhood and other matters connected with the affairs of the times answers were prompt and satisfactory he was only riding with his on a visit to a neighbor s camp was not above two miles and a half away and the country in general was quiet as far as he had the means of knowing the travellers were now suffered to pass on in succession they left behind them each of and then encountered the small column of march of the mary grew pale as her eyes fell upon the form of arthur butler posted in the centre of a guard her feeling lest he might not her features and guess something of her errand almost overpowered her she up her horse as if to gratify an idle curiosity to see the soldiers passing and halted in a position which compelled the ranks to file off in order to obtain a free passage round her every look seemed to be turned upon her as the escort marched near her horse s head and it was impossible to make the slightest sign to butler without being observed she saw him however lift his eyes to hers and she distinctly perceived the flash of	29
surprise with which it was kindled as he became aware of her features a faint and transient smile which had in it nothing but pain was the only return she dared to make an order from the van quickened the march and the moved rapidly by as mary still occupied the ground on which she had halted and was gazing after the retreating corps she saw butler turn his face back towards her she seized the moment to nod to him and to make a quick sign with her hand which she intended should indicate the fact that she was now engaged in his service she thought she perceived a response in a slight motion of butler s head and now resumed her journey greatly excited by the satisfaction of having in this accidental obtained even this brief insight into the condition of the prisoner the sun was set when mary with her arrived at s always an acceptable guest at this house she was now more than ever welcome there was business shoe ok to be done in which she could discharge a most important part and the service of in the garrison was of the greatest moment when the intelligence regarding the movement of butler to s camp was communicated to the it suggested a new device to his mind which he determined instantly to adopt butler was at this moment he concluded in the hands of those who had engaged the to set upon him at s ford and it was not improbable that he would be dealt with there was no time therefore to be lost the s plan in this new juncture was to compel the young to address a letter to the british to inform that officer of his present imprisonment and to add to this information the determination of his to put him to death in the event of any outrage being inflicted upon butler this scheme was communicated to and mary the letter was to be immediately written mary was to return with it to the mill and was to contrive to have it secretly delivered in the morning at s head quarters and david himself was to escort the maiden back to her father s house whilst was to attend the and assist him to transport the young to some fit place of concealment the private soldiers were to remain prisoners under the guard of until his father s return when they were to be released on as prisoners of war the plan being thus robinson went forthwith to the prison house and directed st to follow him into the when the young officer arrived in the family parlor he was ordered to take a chair near a table upon which was placed a light some paper pen and ink u young man said robinson take up that pen and write as i bid you to what end am i to write i must know the purpose you design to answer before i can put my hand to paper to the end replied horse shoe firmly and with unwonted gravity of the settlement of your worldly affairs if the of to morrow should bring ill luck to a friend of mine i do not understand you sir if my life is threatened to accomplish an purpose it is duty to tell you at horse shoe once that that life belongs to my king and if his interests are to suffer by any forced act of mine i am willing to resign it at once never was purpose more righteous sir in the view of god and man than ours said david i have a friend added horse shoe greatly excited as he spoke who has been dealt by some of your have laid an to trap him has been used by them that ought to be ashamed to see it under their colors to catch a gentleman who was only doing the common duties of a good and by mean bush fighting not by fair fields and honest blows they have seized him and carried him to the camp of that blood tory colonel i doubt more harm is meant him than falls to the share of a common prisoner of war i know nothing of the person nor of the circumstances you speak about said the so much the better for you replied the if your people are brave or honest men you will not have much occasion to be for yourself but by my right hand if so much as one hair of major arthur butler s head be hurt by colonel or by any other man among your and i myself will drive a bullet through from one of your ears to the other this game of war is a stiff game young man but we will play it out major arthur butler exclaimed the officer with astonishment is he taken ha you ve of him and know something of them that were on the look out for him i cannot write said the officer sullenly no words sir interrupted horse shoe but obey my orders write what i tell you or take your choice i will bind you hand and foot to a tree on yonder mountain to starve till you write that letter or to feed the wild with your body if you refuse the looked in robinson s face where a frown of stern resolution upon his brow and a tempest of anger showed that this was not a moment to hazard the trial of his shoe t what would you have the purport of my letter asked the officer in a subdued voice that you have got into die hands of the replied the u and that if so be any mischief should fall upon major butler by the of your friends you die the first minute that we hear of it i have had no hand in the taking of major butler	29
the door u oh bless you yes replied horse shoe i left word for him yesterday at s by giving the there something to talk about which i knew he would hear and the went on to relate the particulars of his stop at that post and i sent him a message continued he this morning by james in the same sort of fashion a little before daylight i heard the devil singing one of his upon the road back here so loud horse shoe robinson that he seemed to be frightened by ghosts or so i rode up fast behind him and him out of his saddle and then away i went like a leather winged bat i the s voice and i expect he my hand for he has felt it before i ll be bound he made a good story out of it and as such things fly i make no doubt it wasn t long reaching the ear of the major who would naturally think it was me whether james told my name or not because he knows my way it was as good as writing a letter to the major to signify that i was lurking about close at hand i never went to school mr so i write my letters by making my mark i can make a blow go further than a word upon occasion and that s an old fashioned way of telling your thoughts that was found out before pen and ink well horse shoe you are a man after your own sort replied laughing come mary take the letter our horses are at the door good bye t ye david said horse shoe shaking s hand it may be some days before we see each other again and me will be off with this young before you get back don t forget the prisoners at three o clock and a word david where had we best take this the to keep him out of the way of these fellows that are the country f w leave that to replied he knows every nook in the country so now friend robinson good night and luck go with you it was a clear star lit night and every tree and pool sent forth a thousand notes from the busy insects and that the summer hours of darkness when david set out with mary for her father s house chapter xxiv new difficulties open upon butler with the last notes of the everything was stirring in s camp it was a beautiful fresh morning a cool breeze swept across the plain and each spray and every blade of grass sparkled with the dew whilst above an gave promise of a rich and brilliant mid summer s day the surrounding forest was alive with the of birds and the of horses showed that this portion of the animal creation partook of the of the season from every little shed or crept forth parties of soldiers who themselves to their several posts to answer at the roll call and by the time the sun had risen officers on horseback and on foot were seen moving hurriedly across the open plain to join the groups of and cavalry which were now forming in various quarters for the purposes of the morning companies were seen in motion passing through the rapid of the march the retreat and the many exercises of service drums were beating and were piercing the air with their high notes and ever and anon the trumpet from the further of the field guards were seen on the edge of the camp wearied and night worn were exchanged by the small on service and here and there might be stationed at the several of the plain and presenting their arms as an officer passed their lines the troops that occupied this space were mostly pf the irregular kind some were distinguished by ill fitted and homely others were clad in the common dress of the country distinguished as soldiers only by their arms and but amongst them was also a considerable party of british clad in the national livery of scarlet amongst the officers who were in horse robinson command of the subordinate of this mixed and little army were several who from their costume might be recognised as belonging to the that had come from the other side of the atlantic colonel himself was seen upon the parade directing the movements of divisions that under their proper officers were the customary lessons of discipline he was a tall thin man of an complexion with a countenance of thoughtful severity a keen black eye seemed almost to burn within its and to give an expression of and like tjie of a sick man a rather awkward and person arrayed in a scarlet uniform that did but little credit to the tailor craft employed in its conveyed to the spectator the idea of a man unused to the pride of appearance that belongs to a soldier by profession and would have suggested the conclusion which the fact itself sustained that the individual before him had but recently left the walks of civil life to assume a military office his however showed him to be a zealous if not a skilful officer he gave close attention to the duties of his command and busied himself with scrupulous in the necessary to a system of this officer as we have before hinted had been an active in the proceedings of the new court of at and had rendered himself conspicuous by the fierce and industry with which he had brought to the judgment of that the of some of the most and patriotic citizens of the province amongst the cases upon which he had been called into consultation was that of arthur butler whose possessions being ample and whose position as a rebellious being one of there was but little on the part	29
of the judges and their adviser to subject him to the law of the proceedings however had been delayed not from any tenderness to the proprietor but as it was whispered in the scandal of the day on account of certain amongst a few prominent servants of the british crown as to which of them the privilege of a cheap purchase should be extended the matter horse was still in suspense with a view as that common alleged to reward a particular favorite of the higher powers with the rich of these good lands in compensation for private and valuable secret services rendered in a matter of great delicacy and hazard no less a service than that of into the of politics and an and gentleman of virginia mr philip in consequence of the odious nature of the duty which colonel had assumed to perform he became peculiarly hateful to the and this sentiment was in no degree when his occupation as a to the court at he accepted a commission to command a corps of in the upper country he was at the juncture in which have exhibited him to my reader new in his command and had not yet his maiden sword the day however was near at hand when his was to be put to the proof such was the person into whose hands arthur butler had now fallen after the morning exercises of the camp were finished and the men were dismissed to prepare their first the principal officers returned to the colonel s head quarters in the farm house where it will be remembered butler had been delivered by the escort that had conducted him from s the prisoner had slept soundly during the whole night and now as the breakfast hour drew nigh he had scarcely and put on his clothes before he heard an inquiry made by some one below of the orderly on duty whether the officer was yet in a condition to be visited and in the next moment the noise of footsteps ascending the stair towards his chamber prepared him to expect the entrance of the person who had asked the question a british officer in full uniform of a graceful and easy carriage neat figure and of a countenance that an intelligent and cultivated mind made his appearance at the door he was apparently of fi e or six and thirty years of age and whilst he paused a moment as with a purpose to for the seeming intrusion butler was struck with the air of refined breeding of the individual before him major butler i understand of the continental army said the stranger the unpleasant nature of the circumstances hi which you are placed i hope will excuse the i have committed upon your privacy captain st of his majesty s army and lately an de camp of lord butler bowed coldly as he replied to meet a gentleman as your rank and name both import is a privilege that has not been allowed me of late without knowing wherefore i have been and outraged by and you perhaps sir may be able to afford me some insight into the causes of this even if it were proper for me to hold discourse with you on such a subject i could only speak from common report replied the officer i know nothing of your except that by the common chances of war you have fallen into the hands of the ruling authorities of the province and you will doubtless as a soldier appreciate my motives for declining any reference to the circumstances in which you have been found my visit is stimulated by other considerations amongst which is foremost a desire to the peculiarly uncomfortable to which i am sorry to learn you have been subjected i thank you replied butler u for the intention with which your good offices are proffered but you can render me no service that i should value so much as that of informing me why i have been brought hither at whose suggestion and for what purpose i will be plain with you major butler your situation demands sympathy however the present posture of our affairs may require the of stern justice in respect to yourself to be executed i feel for you and would gladly aid you to any extent which my duty might allow in the possible calamity that may hang over you you are known as a gentleman of consideration and influence in the colonies i may further add as a brave and soldier you are believed to have more boldly than wisely the accomplishment of certain schemes against the safety of his majesty s acknowledged government in this province besides having committed other acts in of a faith for you by those who had full authority to bind you thus bringing yourself within the horse shoe robinson appropriate to the of a military if not within those of treason itself he lies in his throat cried butler who charges me with of word or honor in any action of my life that i have arrayed myself against what you are pleased to term his majesty s acknowledged government in this province i am proud to confess here in the midst of your bands and will confess it again at your judgment seat but if aught be said against me that shall be intended to my honor as a gentleman i will in the same presence and before god throw the lie in the teeth of my aye and make good my word now or hereafter it may be allowed me to meet the m i do not condemn your warmth said st calmly in a matter that so deeply your self esteem and only desire now to second it in all things wherein an honorable enemy may claim the support of those who themselves value a good name the authorities of this post have resolved to give	29
squire had from time to time accumulated for their comfort upon the road side after the escape of the this baggage had been kept with more than might have been expected from the character of the into whose possession it had fallen and now when butler had been surrendered up to the of colonel it was restored to the prisoner without the loss of any article of value on this morning therefore butler had thrown aside the rustic dress in which he had heretofore travelled and appeared as we have described him when first introduced to the reader after a very slight meal which had been administered with more personal attention and consideration for his rank and condition than he was prepared to expect an officer entered his apartment and communicated an order to him to repair to the yard in front of the quarters here he found a s guard to receive him and he was directed to march with them to the place that had been selected for his trial the spot pitched upon for this purpose was at the foot of a large that stood on the border of the plain at a short distance from the house when the guard arrived with the prisoner colonel was already seated at the head of a table around which were placed shoe robinson several officers both of the regular and forces writing materials were also arranged upon the board and at the lower end a few paces removed from it stood a vacant chair behind this was erected a pile of drums with one or two colours laid across them were stationed at different points near this group and within their lines were collected the principal officers of s command somewhat more remote a number of idle spectators were assembled amongst whom might have been discerned x and many of the heroes who had figured at ford captain st n had taken a station a little to the left of the officer at the table and in the rear of those who appeared to have the management of the approaching now stood with his hands folded apparently an anxious and interested on there was a thoughtful and even stern expression upon every face when butler appeared and a silence that was scarce broken by the occasional whispers in which the several individuals present communicated with each other the guard marched the prisoner around the circle and him into the vacant chair where he was received by a quiet and cold inclination of the head from each member of the court for a few moments he looked around him with a scornful gaze upon the assemblage that were to sit in judgment upon him and bit his lip as his frame seemed to be agitated with deep emotion at length when every look was bent upon him and no one breathed a word he rose upon his feet and addressed the company understand that i am in the presence of a military court which has been summoned for the purpose of inquiring into certain of the nature of which i have not yet had the good fortune to be informed except in so far as i am given to infer that they purport of treason i ask if this be true the officer bowed his head in token of assent and then presented a paper which he described as containing the of charges as an officer of the american and the citizen of an ml republic n continued butler i protest against any to his and with this protest i publish my wrongs ho shoe in the face of these witnesses and declare them to arise out of facts disgraceful to the character of an honorable nation i have been drawn by treachery into an overpowered by numbers insulted and abused by i wish i could say that these were practised at the mere motion of the coarse themselves who assailed me but their manifest to a plan the object of which was to take my life leaves me no room to doubt that they have been in the employ and have acted under the orders of a more responsible head keep your temper interrupted calmly something is to be allowed to the excited feelings of one suddenly arrested in the height of a bold adventure and the court would therefore treat your expression of such feelings at this moment with you will however consult your own welfare by giving your thoughts to the charges against you and yourself the labor of this useless read that paper and speak to its contents we will hear you patiently and sir it can avail me nothing to read it let it what it may the trial under present circumstances will be but a mockery by the chances of war my life is in your hands it is an idle ceremony and waste of time to call in aid the forms of justice to do that which you have the power to do without insulting heaven by affecting to assume one of its attributes that we pause to inquire replied is a boon of mercy to you the offence of rank rebellion which you and all your fellow have confessed by taking up arms against your king carries with it the last degree of punishment if our right to inflict summary pain for this we stay to hear what you can say against other and even charges you should thank us for our but this is time bead the paper to the prisoner he added addressing one of the officers at the table the paper was read aloud it first presented a charge against the prisoner for the terms of the given at the of the to support this charge was that by the terms of the surrender general had engaged that the whole garrison should be surrendered as prisoners of war and that they should not serve again until exchanged	29
horse robinson the prisoner was described as an officer of that garrison included in the surrender and lately taken in the act of making war upon his majesty s subjects the second charge was that the prisoner had himself by false representations into the territory conquered by the royal army and that in the quality of a spy he had visited the family of a certain walter with a view to obtain a knowledge of the forces plans movements and designs of the various engaged in his majesty s service in the neighborhood of broad river and third and last that he together with certain had contrived and partially attempted to execute a plan to seize upon and carry away a subject of his majesty s government of great consideration and esteem mr philip namely of the dove in the province of virginia that the object of this enterprise was to possess himself of the papers as well as of the person of the said philip and by him up to the leaders of the rebel army to bring upon win the vengeance of the rebel government thus exposing him to of property and even to peril of life such was the general import and bearing of the against the prisoner expressed with the usual abundance of and of detail butler listened to them at first with indifference and with a determination to meet them with silence but as the of them proceeded and the extraordinary they contained were disclosed he found his indignation rising to a height that almost mastered his discretion and he was on the point of interrupting the court with the lie direct and of himself in an act of which would have been instantly decisive of his fate his better genius however prevailed and his anger by a strong effort of self control he merely folded his arms and until the end with a contemptuous and proud glance at his you have heard the against you sir said colonel what say you to them what should an honorable man replied butler say to such foul the first and second charges sir i pronounce to bob i shoe robinson be frivolous and false as to the last sir there are in it that mark the agency of a concealed enemy lost to every impulse of honor a base and wicked liar me with that man and let the issue stand on this if i do not prove him to be in the judgment of every true gentleman of your army an and who has contrived against my life for selfish purposes i will submit myself to whatever penalty the most exasperated of my enemies may invent it was my purpose sir to remain silent and to refuse by any act of mine to acknowledge the of the rights of war by which i have been dragged hither nothing could have swayed me from that determination but the falsehood conveyed in the last accusation we cannot words with one in your condition interrupted the president of the court i must remind you again that our purpose is to give you a fair trial not to listen to of anger your honor is concerned in these charges and you will best consult your interest by a patient in your present difficulties u i am silent said butler indignantly taking his seat let the trial proceed continued the president you will not deny he said after an interval of reflection u that you are a native of can scarcely deny that before you replied butler who in my absence as report says have been busy in the investigation of my there are bounds sir to the forbearance of a court said sternly i understand the your estates have been the subject of consideration before another and if my advice were listened to the process relating to them would be a short one you are answered returned butler nor can you deny that you were an officer belonging to the army under the command of general to butler was silent you were at during the siege inquired one of the court in part replied butler i left it in march the bearer of to horse shoe and you were in arms on the night of the at grin s ford continued the same i confess it sir that s enough interrupted in the ninth article of the of we read all civil officers and the citizens who have borne arms during the siege must be prison ers on i should say interposed st who now for the first time opened his lips that the prisoner scarcely falls within that description the words during the siege would seem to point to a service which lasted to the end they are at least and i doubt lord would be to sanction a judgment on such a ground upon this ensued a amongst the officers at the table during which butler was withdrawn to a short distance in the rear of the assemblage several of the soldiers of the camp at this stage of the trial had crowded into the neighborhood of the court and the yielding to the eagerness of the common curiosity had relaxed their guard so far as to allow the spectators to beyond the lines among those who had thrust themselves almost up to the trial table were a few children male and female bearing on their arms baskets of fruit and vegetables which had been brought within the camp for sale a smart looking girl somewhat older than the rest seemed to have gained more favor from the crowd than her by the temptation which she presented of a rich collection of mellow apples and perhaps her popularity was in some degree increased by the soft and pleasant toned voice in which she recommended her wares no less than by the ruddy wholesome hue of her cheek and an agreeable laughing blue eye that shone	29
forth from the shade of a deep and narrow sun bonnet the curtain of which fell upon her shoulders and down her back buy my apples gentlemen said the pretty fruit merchant coming up to colonel in the midst of the consultation three for a penny they are very ripe and mellow sir the colonel cast his eye upon the treasures of the basket and began to select a few of the fruit thus encouraged th horse robinson girl set her load upon the table in the midst of the hats and swords with which it was and very soon every member of the court followed the example of the officer and became of the greater part of the store them when this traffic was concluded the little took up her burden and retired towards the group of spectators see ing the prisoner in this quarter she walked up to him and presented him an apple which was gratefully accepted and the proffered return from him in money refused when about a quarter of an hour had elapsed butler was to his seat and the court again proceeded to business the inquiry now related to the second charge that namely which to the prisoner the character of a spy in his visit at s to this accusation captain and several of his troop were called as witnesses the amount of testimony given by them was that on the of the month they had received information that a continental officer whose real name and title was major butler but who was travelling in disguise and under an assumed name from the towards the broad river in company with a well known a certain horse shoe robinson was expected in a few days to arrive at s that hoping to them had the country between the two rivers but that the travellers had the search by taking a very and route towards the upper part of s range and fishing creek that on the night of the twelfth the two men arrived at s and on the morning of the some of the s family had met and him of this fact adding further that the prisoner had offered a bribe to to induce him to give information in regard to the troops in the neighborhood with a view to communicate it to a certain colonel who had appointed to meet butler and his companion somewhere on the upper border of the province that in consequence of this attempt had directed the prisoner towards s ford and this intelligence being communicated to the witness he had conducted his troop to that place where he succeeded in the prisoner and his comrade with the loss of two men in the struggle the narrative then went on to give horse shoe robinson the particulars of horse shoe s escape and the other facts with which the reader is acquainted this account was by several witnesses and amongst the rest by butler heard the testimony with the most painful sensations there was just enough of truth in it to make the tale plausible and the falsehood related to points which as they were affirmed upon he could not by proof there was a common expression of opinion amongst the who in general were inclined to take the side of the prisoner in reference to the charge which was supposed to affect his life that this accusation of butler s acting the part of a spy was sustained by the proof in vain did he protest against the injustice of being condemned on what was alleged to have been said by some of s family in vain did he deny that he had offered a bribe to for information respecting the and equally in vain did he affirm that he had asked of nothing more than the common hospitality due to a traveller and for which he had made him a moderate the only money the had received from him the current was now setting violently against him and it seemed impossible to stem it it is but due said captain st a second time in behalf of the prisoner to the rank and character of major butler since a portion of this testimony is second hand to take his own examination on these alleged facts with permission therefore i would ask him a few questions the court will not object said who throughout affected the air of an impartial judge it is true major butler that you were at s on the night of the twelfth said the advocate of the prisoner i was sir and you made no concealment of your name or rank w i will not say that replied butler you were under a feigned name then sir inquired as st seemed a little confounded by the answer he had received u i was called mr butler sir my rank or station was not communicated your drew horse robinson was an assumed one to avoid inquiry this man horse shoe robinson said st was known to as a soldier well known replied butler and i was also represented as belonging to that party himself led us to believe that he was friendly to our cause here several members of the court smiled had you met any parties of inquired a in your journey between and broad we had more than one how did you escape them by assuming feigned characters and names your purpose was to join i am not at liberty to answer that question replied the prisoner suffice it sir i was travelling through this region on a mission of duty my purpose was to act against the enemy so far the charge is true and only to this extent i came with no design to into the condition of the royal troops i sought only a successful passage through a though sadly overpowered country u you offered no money to said	29
st again as if on this point of but what you have already called a moderate for his entertainment none replied the prisoner except he added a guinea to induce him to release from some wicked torture a wolf he had it will not do said colonel shaking his head at st and the same opinion was indicated in the looks of several of the court i was at walter s that night and saw the gentleman there and heard all that was said by him and i am sure that he offered no money said our little apple girl who had been listening with breathless anxiety to the whole of this examination and who had now advanced to the table as she spoke the words and i can tell more about it if i am asked and who are you my pretty maid inquired colonel as he lifted the bonnet from her head and let loose a volume of curls down upon her neck i am mary the miller s daughter said the with great earnestness of manner and is my uncle by my mother s side he married my aunt and i was at lis house when major butler and mr horse shoe robinson came there and what in the devil brought you here said cried impatient at the interruption of the gross captain what authority have you to ask questions sir the heavy bulk of at this order back into the crowd i came only to sell a few apples said mary heaven has sent that girl to the rescue of my life said butler under the impulse of a feeling which he could not refrain from giving vent to in words pray allow me sir to ask her some questions it is your privilege was the answer from two or three of the court and the spectators pressed forward to hear the examination butler carefully the maiden as to all the particulars of his visit and she with the most scrupulous fidelity the scenes to which she had been a witness when she came to detail the conversation which she had overheard between and and the events that followed it the interest of the was wound up to the highest pitch there was a simplicity in her recital of this strange and story that gave it a force to which the most skilful eloquence might in vain and when she concluded the court itself prejudiced as the members were against the prisoner could not help an emotion of satisfaction at the clear and which this plain tale inferred against the testimony of and his alone affected to treat it lightly and endeavored in some degree to its edge by suggesting doubts as to the capacity of a young girl in circumstance so likely to her to give an exact narrative of such a complicated train of events every cross examination however which was directed to the accuracy of the maiden s story only resulted in j i stronger conviction of its entire truth this concluded the examination on the second charge the court now proceeded to the third and last accusation against the prisoner to this there was but one witness called james in the course of the examination this man showed great address and knowledge of the world he gave some short account of he had been a man born to a better condition of life than he now enjoyed his education had been liberal and his associations in life extremely various it was to be inferred from his own relation that he had fallen into some early which had thrown him into the lowest stations of society and that his original had prevented him from ever rising above them he had served for many years in the army and was present at the surrender of being at that period a confidential servant or man of business to the earl of the de camp of sir henry upon the departure of that young nobleman with the rest of sir henry s military family for new york he had remained behind and had taken a similar service to that which he had left with another officer of some there were state reasons he said why this gentleman s name could not now be communicated to the court that in the month of july he had attended his master on a visit to mr philip in virginia and whilst in the immediate vicinity of that gentleman s residence at a small country tavern he had become to the design of the prisoner and the same horse shoe robinson who had been mentioned before to seize upon the person and papers of mr that these two persons had actually arrived at the tavern he spoke of to commence operations that he had overheard them discussing the whole plan and he had no doubt they had at hand to assist in the scheme and would have proceeded that same night to put it in execution if he had not their design at the risk of his life that with the view of interrupting this enterprise he had robinson the companion of the prisoner to walk with him at night to the margin of a small river near the tavern where he accused him of the treacherous design which he and his comrade had in view that in of this robinson had endeavored to take his life h k i shoe which was only saved by a severe struggle and that being thus discovered in their purpose this man robinson and the prisoner had made a hasty retreat towards gates s head quarters such was in effect the narrative of james which was solemnly given upon oath butler was for some moments confounded with astonishment at the audacity of this falsehood he urged to the court the of the whole story it would have been easy he said if i had been hostile to mr philip	29
which god knows there are most reasons to it would have been easy to procure his arrest without an attempt at a violent by me i had only to speak and the whole country around him would have united in treating him as an object of suspicion on account of his politics he admit ted that he was at mrs s at the time spoken of that robinson attended him there but all else that had been said relating to the visit he affirmed to be utterly false he gave the particulars of the meeting between horse shoe and the witness as he had it from robinson and spoke also of his knowledge of the visit of at the dove which person he said he had reason to believe came under a name not his own how do you happen to be so familiar inquired with the affairs of mr that question replied butler as it to matters entirely private and personal i must decline to answer upon a second examination re affirmed all he had said before and commented with a great deal of dexterity upon butler s statement particularly in reference to such parts of it as the prisoner s repeated refusal to answer had left in doubt after a protracted examination upon this point the trial was at length closed and butler was ordered back to his apartment in the here he remained for the space of half an hour an interval that was passed by him in the most distressing doubt and anxiety the whole proceeding of the court ill to him the haste of his trial the extraordinary nature of the charges and the general of the court itself only spoke to his mind as evidences of a concealed hostility which sought to find a plausible pretext for making him a sacrifice to some private shoe robinson he was therefore prepared to expect the worst when at the close of the half hour st entered his chamber i come sir said the officer to perform a the court have just concluded their and i am to be a sacrifice to their vengeance well so be it there was little need of deliberation in my case and they have soon despatched it said butler with a bitter spirit as he paced up and down his narrow chamber what favor have these my impartial judges vouchsafed to me in my last moment shall i die as a common on a or am i to meet a soldier s doom that has been thought of said st the command ing officer has no disposition to add unnecessary severity to your unhappy fate thank god for that and the detailed for this service are to be drawn from the ranks of my enemies i will face them as proudly as i have ever done on the field of battle leave me sir i have matters in my thought that require i should be alone your time i fear is brief said st the guard is already at hand to conduct you to the court who only stay to pass sentence i came before to break the unhappy news to you it is no news to me interrupted butler i could expect no other issue to the wicked designs by which i have been seized this solemn show of a trial was only got up to give color to a act which has been long at this moment the heavy and regular tap of the drum struck at equal intervals and a mournful note from a reached the prisoner s ear i come exclaimed butler these fellows are their manual for an occasion in which they appear impatient to act one would think captain st he added with a smile of scorn that they needed but little practice to accomplish them for a ceremony which has of late since his majesty has extended his merciful arm over this province grown to be a familiar piece of military st hastily fled from the room and rushing out upon grass plot where the guard was collected cried out robinson silence you base and worthless is it thus a would insult the sufferings of an unfortunate enemy by under his very ear your cursed death notes strike but one note upon that drum again and i will have you up to the the music did but try a flourish of the dead march replied the of the guard they are a little rusty and seeing that the officer another word sir and you shall be sent to the attend the prisoner i am here said butler who had overheard this conversation and had already descended to the door with a mournful and heavy heart though with a countenance that concealed his emotions under an air of proud defiance he took his place in the ranks and marched to the spot where the court were yet assembled a chair for the prisoner said some of the individuals present with an alacrity to serve him i would rather stand replied butler it is my pleasure to hear the of my enemies in the attitude a soldier would choose to meet his foe in the field mine is a painful duty major butler said rising as he addressed the prisoner it is to announce to you that after a full and most impartial trial in which you have had the advantage of the examination of witnesses and every favor accorded to you which the and customs of war allow you have been found guilty of two of the charges to you in the list with which you were furnished this morning notwithstanding the satisfactory testimony which was given in your behalf by the girl mary in relation to your conduct at the house of and however disposed the court were to abandon an accusation which thus seemed to be it has occurred to them upon subsequent reflection that by your own confession	29
to seven hundred they were tangled with the said the soldier and were set on unawares the bank of the river at the lower aye that s the way an no doubt a piece of cowardly bush fighting fresh men against poor devils worn down by long marching well well i have a good for the trick major butler s blood will weigh heavy in the scale or i am mistaken come gentlemen let us to quarters we must hold a council here is a letter said one of the officers of the court which i have this moment found on the table under my sword belt it seems from its address to contain matter of moment how it came here does not appear l to colonel or any other officer commanding a corps in his majesty s service said reading the besides here is something significant for life or death with what can this mean he added as he broke open the h b k h x paper and ran his eyes hastily over the contents st george i here is something strange gentlemen listen by ill luck i have fallen into the possession of the they have received intelligence of the capture of major butler and that some mischief might him have constrained me to inform you that my life will be made for any harsh treatment that he may receive at the hands of our friends they are resolute men and will certainly make me the victim of their st of the st t p sl for god s sake respect this paper and be to the prisoner u treason and paltry exclaimed with a smile of derision as he finished reading the letter what ho tell to lead out the prisoner and despatch him without a moment s delay so much for this shallow a base said one of the officers in attendance and doubtless the work of the rebel major himself he will die with this silly lie upon his conscience st here cried out the same officer to the captain who was now at some distance here is an attempt to put a trick upon us by a of your brother s hand telling a most and improbable falsehood look at it st read the letter and suddenly turning pale exclaimed sir this is no trick it is my brother s own writing he is in the of the how came this here who brought it when was it written can nobody tell me tut st interrupted the officer smiling you surely cannot be imposed upon by such a device look at the again in truth are you sure of it man he inquired with great surprise as he perceived the increasing of st s brow my brother s life is in imminent danger replied st with intense earnestness colonel as you value my happiness i entreat you the order for the prisoner s execute a i you respect this letter it is genuine and i dread f consequences my poor brother the youngest of my horse and the special darling of his parents for heaven s sake good colonel pause until we learn something more of this mysterious business for sake my friend and until we can investigate this matter said let the execution be suspended st instantly hurried to the guard to communicate the new order whence comes this demanded it has neither date nor place described who brought it did any one see the bearer he asked aloud of the no one answered except the officer who had first discovered the paper i know nothing more than what you see it was here upon the table how long it had been there i cannot tell it is strange continued can this young st have fallen in with or after all is it not an ingenious which has deceived our friend the captain still who could have brought it here the letter was again examined by every individual present it must be genuine said one of the officers shaking his head captain st was very much in earnest and it is not likely he could be deceived it has been mysteriously deposited here by some agent of the the person should be found and compelled to give us more specific information this matter must be looked to the i doubt not is in perilous circumstances let the prisoner be strictly guarded and held to wait our future pleasure said i would not put in the young s life a reward of twenty guineas shall be given to any one who brings me the bearer of this letter and you lieutenant take thirty and the country round to gain intelligence of this capture of st be careful to examine every man you meet as to the presence of parties in this district away instantly and do not return without tidings of this singular event the camp by these was thrown into great bustle the prisoner was securely lodged in his former quarters and placed under a double guard were held amongst the officers and butler himself was strictly in regard to the appearance of this mysterious letter of the contents of which horse shoe robinson he was yet ignorant the examination threw no light on the affair and very soon afterwards a troop of horse were seen beyond the limits of the camp under lieutenant to seek information of the fate of st n chapter xxvi the and his comrade project an expedition which the an opportunity of enjoying the picturesque as soon as david had departed with the maiden for s mill robinson ordered his own and s horse to be and another to be made ready for st his next care was to determine upon a secure place of retreat reflecting that the news of the capture of the must soon reach the british posts and that the country would be with a view to	29
his rescue a spot known to the of this region by the name of the devil s ladder which was situated in the of a mountain brook that emptied into the occurred to as the most secret within their reach this spot lay some twenty miles westward of s accessible by roads but little known and surrounded by a district which grew more wild and rugged the nearer it approached the here it was supposed the party might arrive by daylight the next morning and remain for a few days at small risk of discovery and thither accordingly it was resolved they should repair this being settled horse shoe now procured a supply of provisions from mistress and then proceeded to arm himself with the sword and pistols of the whilst suspended across his body the sword of as the called the brand he had snatched up at s and also took possession of one of the captured if it don t go against your conscience mistress said horse shoe when the preparations for the journey were completed i would take it as a favor in case any happen to pop in upon you if you would just drop a hint that you horse robinson thai s people had been seen about these parts it would have an amazing good bearing on the besides making them wary how they strayed about the woods it would be sure to put the on a wrong scent if they should chance to be for the young i know you women are a little about a but then it s an honest trick of the war sometimes and to make you easy about it it will be no more than the truth to say you did hear it for you i tell you so now but replied the scrupulous matron if they should ask me who told me what should i answer why said the hesitating just out with it tell em you heard it from one horse shoe robinson that ll not make the news the worse in of credit and be sure good woman above all things to remind david when he gets back to night that the rank and file in our prison yonder are not to be turned loose before three o clock in the morning this last caution was repeated to who still performed the duty of a at the door of the out house all things being now arranged for their departure st was brought from the chamber where he had been confined and was invited to join the and at supper before they set out this meal was and rapidly discussed by the stout and scarcely less honored by the prisoner whom the toils and of the day had brought to enjoyment of a good appetite with many cheering and kind expressions of encouragement from the the young officer prepared to with the demands of his and was soon in readiness to attend them robinson lifted him into his saddle with a grasp as light as if he was dealing with a boy and then bound him by a to the horse s back whilst he offered a good apology for the of this treatment u it is not the most comfortable way of riding mr he said with a chuckle but fast bind fast find is a most an excellent good rule for a traveller in the dark i hope you don t i take any pleasure in you but it is my intention to lead your horse by the rein to night and this friend of ine will in the rear so by way of a caution i would just horse shoe robinson signify to you that if you should think of playing a you will certainly bring some trouble upon your head as one or another of us would in that case be obliged to fire it is nothing more than military to give you a friendly warning of this you might dispense with this severity i should think replied the prisoner upon my pledge of honor that i will make no effort to escape i can take no pledge in the dark returned horse shoe daylight make a difference if we should happen to fall in with any of your i m thinking a pledge wouldn t come to much more than a when i should ax you to gallop out of the way of your own people is weak as the preacher says and to my mind it s a little the weaker when the arm is strong or the foot swift temptation is at the bottom of all no no mr you may get away if you can we ll take care of you whilst we re able that s a simple understanding without further speech the party proceeded on their journey they travelled as rapidly as was consistent with the ease of the prisoner and the nature of the ground over which they had to move for the first eight or ten miles their route lay across a country with but few except such as arose from the hour of the ride after this they found the toil and hazard of travel continually increasing they had been retreating from the settled country towards a rough wilderness which was penetrated only by an obscure road so little beaten as to be scarcely in the faint and which it required all s skill in to follow our travellers consequently often lost their way and were obliged to get down from their horses and about to ascertain the path the stars had shone all night through a but the deep shade of the forest around the and it was frequently with difficulty even that they could discern each other s figures they reached at length the small stream upon whose banks some miles above was situated the place to which their steps were directed and they were thus	29
rendered more sure of their road as they had only to follow the ascending course of the brook h r b shoe robinson s and of the journey had nearly the night and whilst our travellers were yet some two or three miles from their destination the first traces of morning began to appear in the east the increasing light disclosed to them the nature of the scenery around a tumbled over a rocky channel with a profusion of brush and amongst which were scattered a thousand wild flowers that by the dew threw forth a delicious perfume a succession of abrupt hills covered with the varied foliage of a rich forest growth bounded the brook on either side occasional rocks above the heads of the travellers as they wound along the paths worn by the wild cattle in the bottom of the both robinson and had dismounted when they entered this and whilst the former led the horse of the prisoner his companion preceded him to explore the doubtful traces of the road which frequently became so obscure as to render it necessary to seek a passage in the bed of the stream during all this progress horse shoe s good nature and light were he conversed with the prisoner in the same terms of friendly familiarity that he did with and neglected no attention that might in any degree relieve the of st s necessary that peculiar of country which had given rise to the name of the place to which they were conducting the prisoner was now to be discerned at some little distance ahead it presented a series of bold of granite with slate in which rock piled upon rock presented a succession of shelves each over its base and thus furnishing a shelter against the weather some of these were situated near the bank of the stream projecting over the water whilst others a different heights in such a manner as to bear a resemblance to a flight of huge steps cut in the slope of the mountain by this likeness doubtless suggesting the imaginative name by which the spot was known to the few hunters to whom it was familiar the like structure of these abundantly supplied the means of concealment to both men and horses from the casual notice of such persons as accident might have brought into this horse shoe robinson when the party arrived at the foot of the devil s ladder it was with great satisfaction to all that they now made a halt a short time was spent in selecting a spot amongst the impending cliffs of such a character as might afford the advantage of shelter as well as the means of ready look out and escape in case of discovery or pursuit the place chosen was about half way up the hill where the ridge of a enabled the occupants to see some distance up and down the valley whilst the itself contained within its recesses a chamber sufficiently large for the purpose to which it was to be applied a natural platform near this point allowed sufficient space for the horses which might be conducted there by a path up the slope at the same time the means of retreat were furnished by the nature of the ground towards the top of the hill to this place of security the was ordered by his guard and being released from his bonds he dismounted and threw himself at length upon the surface of the rock where he lay wearied in body and dejected in mind the horses were taken in charge by provisions were produced and all arrangements of caution and comfort were made for passing the next two or three days in this wild here for the present we must leave our to tell of other matters that are proper to be made known to the reader of this history in due time david returned from s precisely at three o clock in the morning the soldiers were released according to the terms of the and my reader will no doubt be pleased to hear that being discharged from duty went to bed as drowsy as e er a man of mould after a feat of glory and slept with a sleep altogether worthy of his heroic achievement the next day passed by at s dwelling with a varied and fearful interest to his family they had received intelligence before night of the event of butler s trial and had reason to rejoice that mary had so played her part in the delivery of the letter they were also of the reward that had been offered for the discovery of the bearer of this letter and were informed that of horse were out to the country shoe in quest of the these filled them with apprehension it occurred to that if perchance the released prisoners should fall in with any of the parties of the they would of course relate their story and thus bring down the full of the tory wrath upon his household this would also lead with more certainty to the pursuit of horse shoe there was still good reason to hope that the men might not so soon be able to give the alarm inasmuch as they were more likely to shape their course towards fort ninety six than to repair to s camp where they might be forced to do duty as much against their inclinations as against their they might even from a natural aversion to labor prefer about the country rather than put themselves voluntarily in the way of military operations what will of it said up the chances for and against him i will be ready for the worst many better men have given all they had to the cause of independence and i will not from giving my share they may burn and break down but thank god i have a country aye and a heart	29
and an arm to stand by it on the same evening towards sun down a drew up his rein at s door he was young in the prime of early manhood his dress was that of a rustic his showed him to be a traveller a weary one from the plight of his horse and like most travellers of the time well armed he did not stand to summon any one to the door but put his hand upon the latch with eager haste and entered with the familiarity of one acquainted with the place mistress was seated at her spinning wheel anxiously brooding over the tales of the day her husband in his chair silently and thoughtfully smoking his pipe they both sprang up at once as the visitor crossed the threshold and with fervent joy greeted their son john the household was with the affectionate of the parents of the brothers and sisters and of the john was the eldest of s children and had just reached his paternal roof after an absence of some months during which he had bom in service with the gathering in of the members of a family around the domestic board in times of peril and k item is one of the luxuries of the heart that in peace we cannot know the arrival of john at the present moment was a source of the happiness to his parents they needed a cheerful as well as a resolute john had only hours previous left near rocky mount immediately after the battle with the british was won he was sent with to colonel a of note who was now supposed to be in the neighborhood of the these had some reference to the military movements of the parties and john was permitted by to make a short halt at his father s house in the first hour after his arrival he had given to the family the history of his homeward ride he had discovered that hostile forces of which until his journey was nearly finished he heard nothing were in the neighborhood that a court martial had been sitting for the trial of an american officer as a spy and had condemned him to be shot he had been moreover that small parties were out riding into every corner of the country he himself had nearly been surprised by one of these as he endeavored to make his way to the house of where he had proposed to himself a visit even before he came to his father s but fearing something wrong he had fled from them and baffled their pursuit although they had chased him more tha a mile he had in consequence been deprived of the opportunity of visiting the miller although it is four months since we have seen you john said the dame with a tone of affectionate yet you would turn aside to get under s roof before you thought of the arms of your mother john s sun burnt cheek blushed crimson red as he replied it was but a step out of the way mother and i should not have stayed long mr and his folks are safe and well i hope and tut boy speak it out and don t blush about it interrupted the father briskly she is a good girl and you needn t be ashamed to name her as you ought to have done first and before all the rest mary ia well john and has just proved herself to be in the shoe this little passage of mirth between the parents and their son led to a full narrative by david of the events which had occurred in the last two or three days concluding with the capture of the and the retreat of horse shoe and to the devil s ladder the communication wrought a grave and thoughtful mood on the young soldier it presented a crisis to him for immediate action he was wearied with a long ride but it seemed to him to be no time for rest father he said after turning over in his thoughts the intelligence he had just received it was a brave and beautiful thing for so young a lad as to do and the taking of the has served a useful purpose but it brings this house and family into danger and i fear for poor mary must get back to the mill and quickly too his absence will bring his uncle s family into trouble i will take s place and go to horse shoe s assistance this night we may take the prisoner with us to to night said the mother anxiously you would not leave us to night john aye to night wife answered david the boy is right there is no time to spare have mercy upon us exclaimed the dame to ride so far to night after so heavy a journey john you have not strength dear mother said john think that you are all in danger and that mary who has behaved so well might be suspected and brought to harm i must hurry forward to colonel and this road by the devil s ladder is far out of my way no i am not so much fatigued mother as you suppose i will rest for a few hours and then try the woods daybreak i warrant shall not find me far from horse shoe john was not above six and twenty he was with a stout and manly frame well adapted to hard service and this was associated with a bold and intelligent countenance which notwithstanding the dint of wind and weather was handsome he had for a year or two past been engaged in the war and his had in consequence acquired that maturity and decision which are generally found in those whose habits of life render them familiar with perils on the present occasion he	29
h e e shoe robinson regarded the necessity of co operation with robinson as so urgent that no other thought crossed his mind but that which belonged to the care of putting himself in condition to make his services effectual with this view he now directed his horse to be carefully tended then having taken a hearty meal he retired to rest desiring that he might be up at midnight when he proposed to follow the path of horse shoe and his comrade j chapter a retreat after the manner of the next morning a little after sunrise as robinson was holding the watch on the outer ledge of the rock in a position that enabled him to survey the approaches to the spot through the valley as well as to keep his eye upon the and who were both asleep under cover of the he was startled by a distant noise of something breaking through the bushes on the margin of the brook at first it struck him that this was caused by deer up the stream but he soon afterwards the head and shoulders of a man whose motions showed him to be struggling through the thicket towards the base of the hill this person at length reached a space of open ground where he halted and looked anxiously around him thus revealing his figure as he sat on horseback to the observation of the who in the meantime had taken advantage of a low pine tree and a angle of a rock to screen himself from the eager eye of the traveller at least until he should be satisfied as to the other s character and purpose a loud and cheerful several times repeated by the stranger seemed to indicate his quest of a lost companion and this gradually drew the with a weary motion from his hiding place assuring himself that the comer was alone he out to the edge of the shelf of rock and presenting his gave the common challenge of who goes there a friend to horse robinson was the reply of the visitor in whom my reader john before further question might be asked and answered john had dismounted from his horse and to the platform where he greeted the and the hastily awakened with a hearty shake of the hand and then proceeded to horse shoe robinson the pressing objects of his visit and to relate all that he had learned of the recent events during his short stay at his father s house in the consultation that followed these earnestly urged his comrades to make instant preparation to quit their present retirement and to attempt the enterprise of conducting the prisoner to who was supposed to be advancing into the neighborhood of a well known block house or frontier on the about forty miles from their present position the message with which was charged from to made it necessary that he should endeavor to reach that officer as soon as possible and the rejoicing in the thought of being so near a strong body of who might render the most essential aid to the great object of his expedition readily in the propriety of the young s proposal this enterprise was also recommended by the necessity of taking some immediate steps to preserve the of the whose capture had already been so serviceable to the cause of arthur butler in accordance moreover with john s anxious entreaty it was determined should hasten back to the mill at the earliest moment a speedy departure was therefore resolved on and accordingly all things were made ready in the course of an hour to commence the march at the appointed time the was directed to descend into the valley where he was once more bound to his horse the between the and his two comrades had been held out of the hearing of the prisoner but it was now thought advisable to make him acquainted with the late proceedings that had with regard to butler and especially with the that had been given to that officer t y this communication was accompanied by an intimation that he would best consult his own comfort and safety by a patient submission to the that were put upon him inasmuch as his had no disposition to vex him with any other precautions were necessary for his safe during the present season of peril to butler with this the party began their journey the first two or three hours were occupied in returning by the route of the shoe robinson valley to the when they reached the river they found themselves relieved from the toils of the narrow and rugged path by which they had the wild mountain and introduced into an country covered with forest t and by an occasional but road leading from one settlement to another here was to take leave of his companions his path lying along the bank of the whilst the to be pursued by the others crossed the river and extended thence to the the young miller turned his horse s head with some reluctance at parting with his friends in a moment of such interest and bore with him many messages of comfort and courage to those whom he was about to and more particularly from the to butler in case should have the good fortune to be able to deliver them at the same time horse shoe and john with the prisoner the and plunged into the deep forest that lay upon its further bank for several hours they travelled with the greatest avoiding the frequented roads and the chance of meeting such as might be abroad on their route it was a time of great anxiety and suspense but the habitual indifference of military life gave an air of to the conduct of the soldiers and scarcely affected in any visible degree the cheerfulness of their they reached at length the of a cultivated country	29
a region which was known to be inhabited by several tory families to avoid the risk of exposure to persons who might be to their purpose they thought it prudent to delay entering upon this open district until after sunset that they might continue their journey through the night the difficulty of road in the dark and the danger of seeking information from the few whose occurred to their view necessarily rendered their progress slow the time was therefore passed in weary silence and labor in the anxious contemplation of the probability of some of the enemy s at the break of day they stopped to refresh themselves and the contents of horse shoe s unhappily reduced to a slender f were distributed amongst the party during horse h k bo ok this halt john commanded the to exchange dress with him and our faithful ally was converted by this traffic for the into a well looking and gay young officer of the enemy s line the most portion of their journey now lay before them they were within a few miles of the from whence at its nearest point it was some six or seven more down the stream to the block house the appointed where it was yet a matter of uncertainty whether had arrived the space between the travellers and the river was a fertile and comparatively thickly peopled region of which the inhabitants were almost entirely in the tory interest the broad day light having overtaken them on the of this tract exposed them to the greatest risk of being questioned they had nothing left but to make a bold effort to attain the river by the shortest path and thence to pursue the bank towards the courage john said horse shoe smiling at the new garb of his comrade you may show your pretty feathers to day to them that are fond of looking at them and you my young ride like an honest or i find occasion to do a thing by putting a bullet through and through you excuse the liberty sir for these are times but i shall be as good as my word our soon resumed their journey they had come within a mile of the without interruption and began to exchange congratulations that the worst was passed when they found themselves descending a sharp hill which down upon an extensive piece of pasture ground one boundary of this was watered by a brook along whose margin a fringe of with wild of various kinds formed a screen ten or fifteen feet in height as soon as this range of meadow was observed our cautious soldiers halted upon the brow of the hill to and perceiving nothing to excite their apprehension they ventured down upon the track of an ill defined road which took a direction immediately over the portion of the field they had scarcely crossed the brook at the bottom of the hill before they heard the remote voices of men in conversation and the tones of a careless laugh on looking the upper horse shoe ion of the stream they were aware of a of cavalry who came riding in the shade of the directly towards the spot where the travellers had entered upon the meadow the party consisted of seven or eight men who were at this instant not more than one hundred paces distant they are upon us exclaimed john make sure of the prisoner retreat as rapidly as you can leave me to myself make for the block i will meet you there with these hasty he pricked his up to full speed and shaped his flight directly across the open field in full view of the enemy horse shoe at the same moment drew a pistol cocked it and throwing the rein of st s horse into the hands of the rider he cried out back across the branch and into the woods push for it or you are a dead man on on he added as he rode at high speed immediately beside the a or a whisper above your breath and you get the bullet fly your life is in your horse s heels the resolute tone of the had its effect upon his prisoner who yielded a ready obedience to the pressing orders and bounded into the thicket with as much alacrity as if flying from an enemy meanwhile the struck with the earnest haste of one whose dress a british officer across the field did not doubt that they had afforded this opportunity for the escape of a prisoner from the hands of the wheel up lads shouted the leader of the it is the wheel up and form a to cut off the pursuit we haye him safe out of their impressed with the conviction that a considerable force of cavalry were at hand the directed all their efforts to cover what they believed st s retreat and were now seen formed into a and moving towards the middle of the plain in such a manner as to place themselves between the fugitive and his supposed here they delayed a few minutes as if expecting an attack until finding that the object of their solicitude had safely crossed the field and plunged into the distant wood they rode away at a rapid pace in the same direction when they ho robinson reached the further extremity of the open ground they halted for an instant turned their eyes back towards the spot of their first discovery and finding that no attempt was made to follow gave a hearty and rode onward in search of their prize the had completely succeeded had escaped and horse shoe had withdrawn his prisoner into the neighboring wood upon the hill where he was able to observe the whole scene after a brief interval the resumed his journey and with all necessary bent his steps towards the river where	29
he arrived without and thence he continued his march in the direction of the john did not stop until he had crossed the and advanced a considerable distance on the opposite bank where to his great joy he was encountered by a look out party of s regiment our fugitive had some difficulty in making himself known to his friends and escaping the salutation which an enemy was likely to obtain at their hands but when he surrendered to them and made them acquainted with the cause of his disguise the party instantly turned about with him and proceeded in quest of the and his prisoner it was not long before they fell in with the small of s as the late masters of the meadow turned out to be who were leisurely returning from their recent these finding themselves in the presence of superior numbers turned to flight not far behind them and his new companions encountered horse shoe and the whole party proceeded without delay to s camp colonel had reached the block house on the preceding evening with a force of two hundred cavalry and happened at this juncture to be with him and these three gallant were now anxiously employed in arranging measures for that organized resistance to the tory dominion which fills so striking a chapter in the history of the southern war and which it had been the special object of butler s mission to promote horse shoe was enabled to communicate to and his the general purpose of this mission and the which had befallen butler in his attempt to reach those with whom he was to co operate this intelligence created a lively interest in behalf of r horse shoe robinson the captive and it was instantly determined to make some effort for his whilst these matters were brought into consultation by the leaders horse shoe and john mingled amongst the soldiers in the enjoyment of that fellowship which forms the most agreeable feature in the associations of the chapter s difficulties increase finds occasion to think of the there s many a slip the cup and the lip when arthur butler was conducted back to his place of confinement after his trial orders were given that no one should be allowed to approach him except the officer to whom was his safe the intercourse of this person with him was short and concerned only with the scant accommodation which his condition required he was therefore deprived of all chance of becoming acquainted with the extraordinary events that had led to his present from death in the that had during the first moments of excitement been put to him in regard to the letter he was not told its import from what quarter it had come nor how it affected his fate he only knew by the result that it had suspended the purpose of his immediate execution and he saw that it had produced great agitation at head quarters he found moreover that this or some other cause had a degree of against him that showed itself in the of his comforts and in the of his confinement agitated with a thousand doubts his mind was too busy to permit him to close his eyes during the night that followed and in this suspense he could sometimes hear amongst the occasional who passed under his window an allusion in their conversation to a victory gained over the royal troops this with the name of which was now and then uttered with some of he that horse shoe had probably fallen in with that and was leading him to this vicinity but this conclusion was com ho shoe by the fact that there seemed to be no alarm in the camp nor any preparations on foot either for instant battle or retreat then the letter that was a mystery altogether impenetrable there was only one point upon which his mind could rest with satisfaction of that he was sure horse shoe was certainly at the bottom of the scheme and was active in his behalf the whole of the next day passed over in the same state of uncertainty it was observed by butler with some stress upon the circumstance that captain st who had heretofore evinced a disposition to make himself busy in his behalf had himself ever since the trial and he thus felt himself cut off from the slightest exhibition of sympathy on the part of a single individual in the multitude of fellow beings near him indeed there were various indications of a general personal ill will against him the house in which he was confined was so constructed that he could frequently hear such expressions in the of those who inhabited the rooms below stairs as were uttered above the lower key of conversation and these him no good once during the day colonel visited him this officer s countenance was severe and indicated anger his purpose was to something from the prisoner in reference to his supposed knowledge of the course of operations of from whose camp did not doubt this letter regarding st had come he spoke in a short quick and tone u it may be well for you he said that your friends do not too brave my authority let me advise you to warn them that others may fall into our hands and that if the be not delivered up there may be a dreadful i know not sir of what or whom you speak replied butler and it is due to my honor to say that i will not be induced for the sake of saving my life to interfere with any operations which the soldiers of may have undertaken in the cause of the country in this sentiment i colonel that i desire to be put in possession of no facts from him that may be communicated under such an expectation and having made this	29
determination known to you i will add to it that from the same motives i will answer no questions you can propose to me you may yourself therefore the useless labor of this visit my life is h x robinson in your hands and i have already experienced with what justice and yon will use your power when you dare a more humble tone said with a bitter smile i think would better suit your circumstances and with this remark the walked out of the apartment the next morning whilst butler was taking his breakfast which had been brought to him by one of the soldiers of the guard he heard a loud cheering from the troops that at that hour were on parade in the plain this was followed by the discharge of a de from the whole line and a flourish of drums and trumpets what is that he inquired eagerly of the soldier who forgetful in the excitement of the moment of the order to restrain his intercourse with the prisoner answered they have just got the news from two days ago defeated gates and cut his army to pieces the troops are rejoicing for the victory and have just had the read butler heaved a deep sigh as he said then all is lost and liberty is but a name i feared it god knows i feared it the soldier was recalled to his duty by the at the door and butler was again left alone this was a day of crowding events the tidings of the battle of gained on the sixteenth and which had early this morning reached threw a spirit of the highest exultation into the camp the event was considered decisive of the fate of the rebel power and the most extravagant were indulged by the in regard to the complete of the of the southern provinces the work of was to be carried out to the most bitter extreme and the of the royal government were to grow rich upon the spoils of victory the soldiers of were permitted to give way to and from the first of the news this became a day devoted to himself looked upon the victory at with more satisfaction as it gave him reason to believe that the sentence pronounced against butler might be executed without fear of vengeance threatened against the st he was however exceedingly anxious to s e this young officer released from the bands of a robinson enemy and had determined to respect the threat as long as there was any doubt that it might be performed the personal consideration of captain st his station as an officer of importance and above all the great influence of his family in the esteem of the royal leaders made it an object of deep concern to to save the by the most scrupulous regard to his present difficulties his power to do so seemed to be much increased by the late victory in the afternoon of the same day further were brought to s camp that had been attacked on that morning upon the by and completely the prisoners and baggage taken on the had been regained and was flying with the scattered remnant of his troops towards north at the same time an order was brought to to break up his camp and move this only added to the shouts and of the troops and drove them into deeper the war they thought was coming rapidly to an end and they already anticipated this conclusion by throwing off the of military restraint the officers were gathered into and circles and laughed in feelings of triumph at the posture of affairs the private soldiers on their part their leaders and formed themselves into knots and groups where they over their cups danced and sang all was in the midst of this a portion of s who had now been absent forty eight hours arrived and made an immediate report to the purport of this was that they had found st in the possession of a of cavalry near the as soon as they him which they did some three hundred paces distant knowing him by his scarlet uniform they prepared to attack this party of but the perceiving his friends at hand had already by a brave effort himself from his and taken off into the open field the therefore instead of attacking the directed all their attention to secure the s retreat by holding themselves ready to check the pursuit their had been successful and the prisoner was free x ho robinson and is now with you in the camp my brave fellows p said with great exultation not yet replied the of the he is upon the road and will no doubt soon be here we have not seen him since his escape whilst we hung back with a view to favor his retreat we fell in with a party that we took to be the escort that had made him prisoner and as they us we thought it prudent to decline a with them so we filed off and made our way back to head quarters the must have been a good mile ahead of us and as the road is hard to find he may have lost his way but this is certain we saw him clear of the with his horse s head turned towards this camp thank you good friends said you have performed your duty handsomely go to your comrades they have news for you and an extra allowance to day faith this is a day for settling old accounts he continued as he turned and addressed an officer by his side gates beaten beaten and st delivered from that looks well and now i have another account which shall be settled on the nail stirring times captain st i congratulate you my friend on your brother s safety and mean to the event as	29
it deserves major bring out your prisoner and let him die the death at sun at sun down to the minute major we must get that job off our hands tomorrow my friends we shall move towards and thence to hanging rock meantime we must sweep up our rubbish so major look to your duty it might as well have been done at first he added speaking to himself as he walked away from the group of officers to look after other the execution of butler was now regarded as a mere matter of business and to be despatched as one item of duty amongst the thousand others that were to be looked after in the hurry of breaking up the post the interest of the trial had faded away by the lapse of time and in the more which the absorbing character of the late events had afforded the preparations for this ceremony were therefore attended with no display and scarcely seemed to arouse inquiry amongst the r horse soldiers of the camp it was treated in all respects as a subordinate point of police ten were detailed one drum and put in and this party attended by and two or three officers who happened to be near at the moment marched with a careless step to head quarters the first announcement of this sudden resolve was made to the prisoner by a who without or apology or the least effort to the of the order he bore walked abruptly into the chamber and delivered the message of his superior tt it is a sudden proceeding said butler calmly but your pleasure must be obeyed you have had two days to think of it replied the officer it is not often so much time is allowed st sir is safe and that is all we waited for we march to morrow and therefore have no time to lose you are waited for below butler stood a moment with his hand pressed upon his brow and then muttered it is even so our unhappy country is lost and the reign of blood is but begun i would ask the poor favor of a moment s delay and the privilege of pen ink and paper whilst i write but a line to a friend impossible sir said the man time is precious and our orders are positive this is like the rest answered butler i submit then his coat across his breast he left the room with a firm and composed step when he reached the door the first person who met his eye was captain st there was an expression of formal gravity in the manner of this officer as he the prisoner and lamented the of the fate that awaited him and it was somewhat with a cold and polite civility that he communicated his readiness to attend to any request which butler in his last moments might wish to have performed butler thanked him for his solicitude and then said i asked permission to write to a friend that has been denied i feel reluctant to expose myself to another refusal you have taken a slight interest in my sufferings and i will therefore confide to you b h foremost in the advance were to be discovered pushing through the groups of the enemy with a restless and desperate that nothing could withstand cut them down cried horse shoe without remember the and he accompanied his with the most vehement and decisive action striking down with a huge all who opposed his way meantime colonel and his comrades charged the column formed by and in a few moments succeeded in riding through the array and compelling them to a total robinson and side by side mingled in this charge and were seen in the of the fight finding all efforts to maintain his ground ineffectual turned his horse towards s mill and fled as fast as spur and sword could urge the animal forward the however had marked him for his prize and following as as the captain peter was able to carry him soon came up with the fugitive officer and with one broad sweep of his sword him from his saddle and left him bleeding on the ground turning again towards the field his quick eye discerned the bulk of the gross captain had in the hurry of the assault been unable to reach his horse and in the first moments of danger had taken refuge in one of the little sheds which had been constructed for the accommodation of the soldiers as the battle hot in the neighborhood of his retreat he had crept forth from his den and was making the best of his way to an adjoining he was bare headed and his bald crown as the rays of the evening sun fell upon it like a gilded globe the well known figure no sooner occurred to the s view than he rode off in pursuit the was bounded by a fence and the had just succeeded in reaching it when his enemy overtook him have mercy good mr horse shoe have mercy on a man screamed the in a voice with terror as he stopped at the fence which he was unable to mount and looked back upon his remember the good will i showed you when you was a prisoner quarter quarter for god s sake quarter horse shoe robinson you get no quarter from me you cursed blood exclaimed horse shoe excited to a rage that seldom visited his breast think of ford and at the same instant he struck a heavy downward blow with such sheer descent that it the skull of the clean through to the i have sworn your death said the even if i you asleep in your bed and right fairly have you earned it the body fell into a bed of mire which had been the resort of the neighboring swine and	29
leaving it in this foul plight horse shoe hastened back to his comrades the battle now ended in the complete route of the enemy s first care after the day was won was to collect his men and to secure his prisoners many of the had escaped many were killed and wounded but of butler no tidings could be gained he had disappeared from the field before the fight began and all the information that the prisoners could give was that orders had been sent to remove him from the neighborhood colonel was badly wounded and in no condition to speak with his he was sent with several other officers to head quarters captain st had fled with most of those who had mounted their horses before the arrival of the day was already at its close and order was taken to spend the night upon the field guards were posted and every precaution adopted to avoid a surprise in turn from the enemy who it was feared might soon rally a strong party and the the disturbed condition of the country and the almost unanimous sentiment of the people against the now strengthened by the late prevented from improving his present advantage or even from bearing off his prisoners robinson and volunteered to head a party to the country in quest of butler but the commanding officer could give no encouragement to the enterprise it was in his judgment a hopeless endeavor when the forces of the enemy were everywhere so strong his determination therefore was to retreat as soon as his men were in condition back to his his few killed were buried the wounded of which there were not more than fifteen or twenty horse k were taken care of and the troops were dismissed to seek refreshment amongst the abundant stores captured from the enemy st was still a prisoner and for the sake of adding to butler s security selected two or three other officers that had fallen into his hands to accompany him in his retreat these arrangements all being made the colonel and his officers retired to repose the next morning at daylight there were no traces of the to be seen upon the plain it was abandoned to the prisoners and their wounded comrades j chapter takes a fancy to forest life horse shoe and john continue active in the service of butler becomes a valuable had commenced his retreat before the dawn as much with a view to accomplish a large portion of his journey before the heat of the day as to protect himself against the probable pursuit of the rallied forces of the enemy his destination was towards the mountains on the north western frontier the overthrow of gates had left a large force of tory at the disposal of who it was would use them to break up every remnant of opposition in this region it was a matter of great importance to to conduct his little force into some place of security against the attacks of the colonel had ever since the fall of been employed in keeping together the few scattered families in that part of lying to the with a view to an organized plan of resistance against the british authorities and he had so far accomplished his purpose as to have procured some three or four hundred men who had agreed to hold themselves in readiness to strike a blow whenever the occasion offered these men were to be at any moment by a signal and in the meantime they instructed by themselves to their dwellings or pursuing their ordinary occupations to keep as much as possible out of the way of the dominant authorities resided in whence he had fled as soon as the leader brown had taken possession of and w h m already seen that a letter from colonel at which horse shoe robinson had been to deliver m robin n had summoned arthur butler to this frontier to aid hi s enterprise colonel a resident of washington county in virginia until the settlement of the southern line of the state had left him in the district at present known as county in had been an efficient in s scheme and was now ready to summon a respectable number of followers for the support of the war on the mountain border he and had accidentally arrived at s camp a day or two before the attack upon with a view to a consultation as to the general interests of the meditated campaign and they had only to take a part in the engagement from a natural concern for the fate of their intended comrade butler no further motive for remaining with they were both intent upon returning to their respective duties and accordingly during the retreat of the following day they took their leave the vigilance with which these were watched by their enemies almost forbade the present hope of successful combination from a consciousness of the hazard of attempting to their forces at this juncture they had determined still to pursue their separate schemes of annoyance until a more favorable moment for joint action should arise and in the interval to hide themselves as much as possible in the forest it was consequently in the hope of preserving his independence at least if not of that now moved with so much despatch to the mountains his course lay towards the head waters of the fair forest river in the present region of this district was inhabited only by a few hunters and some scattered indians of an character it in game and promised to afford an easy to men whose habits were and who were accustomed to rely upon the chase for support the second day brought our hardy soldiers into the they sought it was a wilderness broken by mountains and by streams of surpassing whilst its elevated position and southern latitude conferred upon it a climate that	29
was then as well as now remarked for its delicious temperature in summer and its from the of winter horse shoe robinson the spot at which william rested was a valley deep hidden in the original woods and watered by the fair forest whose stream so near its fountain scarcely exceeded the dimensions of a little brook here he determined to form a camp to which in times of emergency he might safely retreat with a view to render it easy of access as a he caused to be made by cutting on the or blazing them in the s phrase in several directions leading towards the principal that penetrated the country the retreat thus established is familiar to the history of the war under the name of the fair forest camp these arrangements being completed in the course of the first day after his arrival now applied himself to the of measures for the safety of arthur butler amongst the spoils that had fallen into his hands after the victory over was the document containing the proceedings of the court martial the perusal of this paper together with the comments afforded by robinson convinced him of the of the persecution which had aimed at the life of the prisoner it occurred to him therefore to submit the whole proceeding to lord to whom he was persuaded it either had been or most probably was entirely unknown he did not doubt that an appeal to the honorable feelings of that officer with a full disclosure of the facts would instantly be followed by an order that should put butler under the protection of the rules of war and him all the rights that belong to a mere prisoner taken in arms in a lawful quarrel a spirited remonstrance was accordingly prepared to this effect it detailed the circumstances of butler s case which was accompanied with a copy of the proceedings of the court and it concluded with a demand that such measures should be adopted by the head of the army as with the rights of humanity and the laws of war a course the writer suggested that he did not hesitate to believe his would feel belonged both to the honor and duty of his station this paper was consigned to the care of an officer who was directed to proceed with it under a flag of to the head quarters of the british com soon after this robinson that and horse robin k himself had determined to venture back towards the to learn something of the state of affairs in that quarter and to apply themselves more immediately to the service of butler in aid of this design the obtained a letter from the purport of which was to inform the of any post of the whom it might concern that an application had been made on butler s behalf to and that the would be exercised upon the prisoners in s for any violence that might be offered the american officer putting this letter in his pocket our man of might attended by his good and faithful ally john took his leave of the fair forest towards noon of the fourth day after the battle near s mill the second morning after their departure the two companions had reached the not far from the habitation of david it was fair summer weather and nature was as gay as in that time before the blast of war had blown across her fields all things in the course of a few days seemed to have undergone a sudden change the country presented no signs of strife no bands of armed men the an occasional was seen at his plough the deer sprang up from the and fled into the forest as if inviting again the of the chase and even when the two soldiers encountered a chance upon the road each party passed the other there was all the seeming quiet of a country the truth was the war had rolled and all behind it had submitted since the disastrous fight at the and hot portions of the population were away with the army and the non only or those wearied with arms were all that were to be seen in this region horse shoe after riding a long time in silence as these images of tranquillity occupied his thoughts made a simple remark thai spoke a volume of truth in a few homely words this is an sort of stillness john men may call this peace but i call it fear if there is a poor wretch of a in this district it s as good as his life is worth to own himself how far off we be from your father s v the heaved a deep u w k i shoe robinson of my father when you spoke your thoughts horse shoe this is a heavy day for him but he could bear it he s a man who thinks little of hardships there are the helpless women robinson he continued as he shook his head with an expression of sorrow that almost broke into tears getting near home one thinks of them first my good and kind mother god knows how she would bear any heavy accident i am always afraid to ask questions in these times about the family for fear of bearing something bad and there s little mary over at the mill u you have good reason to be proud of that girl john interrupted robinson so speak out man and none of your she told me she was your sweetheart you hav n t half the tongue of that why sir if i was a man which i m not i ll be cursed if i wouldn t spark that little myself this fence said the s belongs to our farm and perhaps we had better let down the rails and approach	29
the house across the field if the should be there we might find the road dangerous this gives us a chance of retreat that s both scrupulous and wise john replied the so down with the we will steal upon the good folks if they are at home and take them by surprise but mind you my lad see that your pistols are we get into a s nest the fence was lowered and the cautiously entered the field after passing a narrow and rising to the crest of the opposite hill they obtained a position but a short distance in the rear of the from this point a melancholy prospect broke upon their sight the dwelling house had disappeared and in its place was a heap only of ashes a few of the upright frame posts black and a stone chimney with its ample fire place were all that remained of what but a few days before was the happy abode of the family of a brave and worthy man u my god my thoughts were running upon this i feared their spite would break at last upon my father s head cried john as he put spurs to his horse and galloped up to the ruins shoe the savages have done their worst but my father and mother where are they he exclaimed as the tears rolled down his cheeks take heart my brave boy said robinson in the tones there s a reckoning to come for all these and it will go hard with many a tory yet before this account is settled i will carry a hot hand into the first house that covers a tory head replied the young passionately thia burning shall be paid with ten like it all in good time john said robinson coolly as for the burning it is no great matter a few good neighbors would soon set that to rights by building your father a better house than the one he has lost besides will not forget a true friend when the war is well fought out but it does go against my grain john to see a parcel of cowardly their malice against and children the barn likewise i see is gone continued the looking towards another pile of the ruins a short distance off the when there s foul work to be done they don t go at it like no matter i have made one observation the darkest hour is just before the day and that s a comfortable old saying by degrees john fell into a calmer temper and now began to cast about as to the course fit to be pursued in their present emergency about a quarter of a mile distant two or three negro were visible and he could a few children near the doors with an eager haste therefore he and the shaped their course across the field to this spot when they arrived within fifty paces of the nearest the door was set and a rifle thrust through the was aimed at the visitors stand for your lives shouted the well known voice of david in the next instant the door was thrown wide open the weapon cast aside and the father rushed forward as he exclaimed gracious god my boy and horse shoe robinson welcome lads a hundred times more welcome than when i had better shelter to give you but the good friends of king george you see have been so kind as to give me a call it is easy to tell when they take it in their head to visit a my mother exclaimed john horse shoe a in and see her boy she wants comfort from you but thank god i she bears this blow better than i thought she could before this speech was uttered john had disappeared and how came this to fall upon yon david inquired horse shoe u i suppose some of your prisoners replied must have informed upon and me for in the retreat of s a party came through my farm they stayed only long enough to the house and to steal whatever was worth taking and then to set fire to the dwelling and all the out buildings both and myself by good luck perhaps were absent or they would have made us prisoners so they turned my wife and children out of doors to shift for themselves and off as fast as if was still at their heels all that was left for us was to crowd into this cabin where considering all things we are not so badly off but things are taking an ill turn for the country horse shoe we are beaten on all sides not so bad david as to be past yet replied the what have they done with major butler he was carried as i learned up to s the evening of the fight and yesterday it was reported that a party has taken him back to s i believe he is now kept close prisoner in s house was here two days since and told us that orders had come to occupy the miller s dwelling house for that purpose horse shoe had now entered the cabin with david and in the course of the hour that followed during which the family had prepared refreshment for the travellers the had fully all the particulars necessary to be known for his future guidance it was determined that he and john should remain in their present concealment until night and then endeavor to reach the mill under cover of the darkness and open some means of communication with the family of the miller the rest of the day was spent in anxious thought the situation of the was one of great personal peril as they were now immediately within the circle of operations of the enemy and likely to be observed and the first moment they ventured upon the	29
road s horse robinson the hour of dusk had scarcely arrived before they were again mounted on horseback they proceeded cautiously upon the road that led through the wood until it the highway and having attained this point john who was well acquainted with every avenue through the country now led the way by a private and scarcely path into the adjacent forest and thence by a tedious and prolonged route directed his companion to the banks of the this course of travel took them immediately to the plain on which had been the late field of battle all here was still and desolate the sheds and other of the recent were yet visible but not even the farm house that had constituted s head quarters was by its original inhabitants the bat over the plain and the owl from the neighboring trees the air still bore the scent of dead bodies which had either been left exposed or so covered with earth as to taint the breeze with there is a great difference said horse shoe who seldom let an occasion to after his own fashion slip by x there s a great difference between a hot field and a stale one your hot field makes a soldier for there s a sort of a stir in it that sets the blood to running merrily through a man and that s what i call pleasure but when everything is like the inside of a hospital or what s next door to it a grave yard it is mighty apt to turn a s stomach and make a preacher of him this here dew falls to night like frost and me to the heart which it wouldn t do if it didn t up the smell of dead men and there s the busy as so many among s you may hear them over their well there is one man among them that i ll make bold to say these swine hav n t got the stomach to touch that s he sleeps in the mud in yonder fence corner if you had done nothing else in the fight horse shoe but that fellow s skull said the ride we took would have been well paid for it was worth the trouble and the fellow to think added horse shoe u that i was a going to save him from the devil s when i horse shoe robinson bad a in my hand and his bald greasy in reach his brain had nothing in it but deceit and lies and all sorts of cruel thoughts enough to poison the air when i let them out i have made an observation john all my life on them foul mouthed that when there s so much cunning and there s no room for a of courage their heart s in their belly which is as much as to signify that the man s a most coward but now it is my opinion that we had best choose a spot along upon the river here and leave our horses i think we can better on foot the miller s house is short of two miles and we be noticed if we were to go nearer on horseback this proposal was adopted and the two friends when they had ridden a short distance below the battle ground halted in a thicket where they fastened their horses and proceeded towards the mill on foot after following the course of the stream for near half an hour they perceived at a distance a light glimmering through the window of s dwelling this induced a second pause in their march when suggested the propriety of his advancing alone to the house and attempting to gain some speech with the inmates he accordingly left the to amuse himself with his own thoughts horse shoe took his seat beneath a where he waited a long time in anxious expectation of the return of his comrade growing uneasy at last at john s delay he arose and stole cautiously forward until he reached the mill where he posted himself in a position from which he was able to see and hear what was going on at the miller s house the porch was occupied by three or four persons whose conversation as it came to the s ear proved them to be strangers to the family and a ray of light from a within after a while made this more manifest by revealing the scarlet uniform of the enemy horse shoe was thus confirmed in the truth of the report that butler had been brought to this place under a military escort with this conviction he returned to the where he again sat down to wait for the coming of his companion it was after ten o clock and the was casting over in his k thoughts the long absence of john when his attention was aroused by the sound of footsteps and the next instant john and mary stood beside him what kept you till this time of night was the s u softly man i have news for you replied here is mary herself aud so she is x indeed exclaimed the at the same time shaking her hand this is my how goes it with you girl i have only a moment to spare replied the maiden cheerfully u aud it is the greatest of good luck that i thought of coming out for john gave me a signal which i was stupid enough not to understand at first but after a while i thought it could be no one but john and that partly because i expected he would be coming into the neighborhood ever since i heard of his being at his father s after the was made a prisoner i went said john to the further side of the house where i set to whistling an old fashioned	29
until he could learn something of the combat butler was in a state of the most exciting bewilderment as to the cause of this sudden change in his affairs no explanation was given to him by his and although from the first he was aware that an extraordinary emergency had arisen from some assault upon s position no one dropped a word in is hearing to give him the slightest clue to the nature of the attack the about him preserved a and ill natured silence and even manifested towards him a harsh and he heard the firing but what troops were engaged by whom led or with what chances of success were subjects of the most painfully interesting doubt he could only conjecture that this was a surprise accomplished by the and that the must have come in sufficient force to justify the of the that shoe m r r w bi vn b b we w er b w b w e b s v r t b w w b shoe with this he felt fully assured and from this circumstance he gathered the and cheerful of a better issue out of his than in his late condition seemed even possible this hope grew brighter as the din of battle brought the tidings of the day to his ear the first few scattered shots that told of the confusion in which the combat was begun were after an interval succeeded by regular of that indicated an orderly and resistance after fired in succession to the practised hearing of the soldier that was receiving the attacks of cavalry and that as yet the first had not faltered then the firing grew more slack and random shots were discharged from various quarters but amidst these were heard no embodied it was the casual and nearly overpowered resistance of flying men at this juncture there was a dark frown on the brow of as he looked at his comrades and said in a low and muttered tone that shot on the ear there s ill luck in the sound of it presently a few appeared at a turn of the road some quarter of a mile in the direction of the battle urging their horses forward at the top of their speed these were followed by groups both of and cavalry pressing in the utmost disorder those on horseback thrusting their way through the throng of foot soldiers seemingly regardless of life or limb the wounded with their wounds bleeding afresh or hastily with such as were at hand all hurried along amidst the oaths and orders of the officers who were to resume their commands it was the flight of men beset by a panic and fearful of pursuit and the clouds of dust raised by the press and hurry of career almost obscured the setting sun during the first moments of uncertainty no less anxiously than butler remained stationary by the roadside reading the distant signs of the progress of the fight but now when the disastrous issue was no longer doubtful he commanded his to move forward and from that moment his journey with speed until he arrived at s was marched to his former place at shoe in the bam where a guard was set over his person in the confusion and that prevailed amongst the crowd that daring the night was continually increasing in the little hamlet the common rites of humanity towards the prisoner were forgotten and he was left to pass the weary hours till morning on a shock of hay without food or other refreshment than a simple draught of water from the murmurs of those who frequented the place and the of the against each other butler was enabled to the principal incidents of the day the supposed death of reached him through this channel and what was scarcely a subject of less personal interest to him the certain end of it was with a silent satisfaction at the moral or poetical justice as it has been called of the event that he heard the comrades of the late self conceited captain describe his death in terms of coarse and a due to the memory of a cruel and cowardly when the morning was fully abroad the and broken of the tory camp began gradually to be reduced to a state of discipline the day was spent in this occupation orders were every moment arriving from the higher officers of the late camp or from the nearest british posts bore the tidings of the different military operations from the neighborhood of the enemy the fragments of companies were into and and one party after another was seen to leave the hamlet and take a direction of march that led towards the main british army or to the of the lower districts towards the close of the day one only was left and butler was given to understand that this was with his especial keeping it was composed of a few regular soldiers of the garrison of ninety six and a small number of the country making in all about twenty men commanded by lieutenant of the regular army butler remained in his present state of seclusion four or five days during which he experienced much of the of his was a careful and considerate soldier and himself towards his prisoner with such kindness as nature of his trust allowed he removed him into a ble apartment in the dwelling house and supplied him with the his situation required he even made him occasional visits which were attended with more than the mere of courtesy and respect and expressed a sympathy in his sufferings these unexpected tones of comfort from a quarter in which butler had hitherto heard nothing but fierce hatred and harsh rebuke fell gratefully upon his ear and gave a brighter color to his hopes for the	29
future but he could not help observing that no hint was dropped by which might furnish him the slightest ground of as to the that yet awaited him the reported fall of seemed to afford a natural foundation for the belief that the malice of his enemies might hereafter be less active as he attributed much of the persecution he had suffered to the secret of that individual he no longer saw around his person those agents who first pursued him with such bitter hostility he seemed to have fallen into entirely new and had reason to from all he saw that their purposes against him were less wicked and first above all other topics of consolation and comfort was the conviction that a brave and efficient party of friends were in the field intent upon his still his situation was one in which it required all his manhood to sustain himself a young soldier of an ardent temper and bent upon active and perilous service can ill brook the tedious dull of even in its form but if this in a period of universal agitation when great events are on the gale of which the captive is only a witness to the interest they excite without being permitted to know their import if moreover as in the case of butler an impenetrable veil of mystery hang over the purpose of his behind which the few short glimpses afforded him open upon his view nothing but death in its most frightful forms and if to these are added by far the bitterest of its qualities the anxieties cares and pains of a devoted lover separated from the heart that loves him we may well conjecture that the most gallant spirit may find in it even amidst occasional of sunshine that sinking of hope which the philosophic king of has described as making the heart sick that of the soul that like the w v tears its w g ag t e of fr shoe robinson prison even so it with arthur butler who now found himself growing more and more into the shadow of a melancholy temper it was soon ascertained that had abandoned the field he had won and had retreated beyond the reach of immediate pursuit and as the post at s mill afforded many advantages in reference to the means of communicating with the of the middle section of the province and was more secure against the hazard of from such parties of as might still be out lying an order was sent to to remove with his prisoner to the habitation of the miller and there to detain him until some final step should be taken in his case in of this butler was conducted after the interval of the few days we have mentioned to s the old man received his guest with that submission to the of the military masters of the province which he had prescribed to himself throughout the contest secretly rejoicing that the selection made of his house for this purpose might put it in his power to the sufferings of a soldier towards whose cause he felt a decided though attachment this selection furnished evidence to the miller that nothing had to arouse the distrust of the british authorities in the loyalty of any part of his family and to butler it inferred the fact that the zealous devotion of mary to his service had as yet passed without notice whilst to the maiden herself it was proof that her agency in the delivery of the letter which she had so put within the reach of the officers of the court had not even excited a suspicion against her the best room in the house was allotted to the prisoner and the most attention on the part of the family so far as it could be administered without was employed in supplying him with whatever was needful to his condition on the part of the commanding officer the usual precautions known to military experience for the safe keeping of a prisoner were adopted the of the guard occupied the barn whilst and one or two subordinate officers took up their quarters in the dwelling house were posted at the several avenues leading to the habitation and a had the especial care of the shoe robinson prisoner who under this was occasionally allowed the range of the garden the usual forms of a camp police were observed with scrupulous and the morning and the nightly drum the parade the changing of the ringing of in the empty barrels of the and the glitter of weapons were strangely and curiously associated with the rural add features of the scenery around i s chapter butler a gleam of sunshine in his distress had heard enough of butler s history from his daughter and from robinson to feel a warm interest in tbat officer s safety and now his personal acquaintance with the prisoner still further his first the old man took the earliest opportunity to indicate to butler the concern he felt in his welfare from the moderate and kindly tone of his own character he was enabled to do this without drawing upon himself the distrust of the officer of the guard his expressions of sympathy were regarded by as the natural sentiments of a religious mind with an habitual compassion for the sufferings of a fellow creature and of one who strove to discharge the duties of a peace maker his visits were looked upon as those of a spiritual whose peculiar right it was to administer consolation to the afflicted in whatever condition he was therefore permitted freely to with the prisoner and as it sometimes happened alone with him in his chamber this privilege was now particularly useful for mary having on the morning after her midnight interview with john and robinson communicated to her father the incidents of that meeting and	29
put in his possession the letter which the had given her and having also repeated her message to him accurately as she had received it took occasion during the following day to deliver the letter to butler and to make known to him all that he had heard from his daughter this disclosure produced the most cheering effect upon butler s spirits it for the first time since the commencement of his sufferings opened to his mind a distinct view of his chance of the expectation of having his case represented to inspired him with a strong confidence that justice would be done to him i r bin w and the covert malice of his enemies be in this hope it occurred to him to take some instant measures to satisfy the british in chief of the character of the principal accusation brought against him by the court martial that which related to the pretended design to deliver up philip to the wrath of the republican government for this purpose he resolved to make an appeal to himself by letter and frankly to call upon him to put at rest this most unjust and wicked accusation he knew that however strong s to him might be the high sense of honor which distinguished the father of might be confidently and successfully to furnish such a statement as should entirely satisfy his of the gross injustice of the charge i will write to him he said and throw myself upon his protection i will require of him to detail the whole history of my intercourse with his family and to say how improbable even he must deem it that i could be so base as to plot against his peace and i will appeal to to her father s statement to show that this wicked accusation rests upon a story which it is impossible could be true whilst s thoughts were still occupied with this resolve mary entered his apartment bearing in her hands a and plate which she had come to spread for his dinner and as the maiden employed herself in arranging a small table in the middle of the room she cast a few glances towards the who paced to and fro opposite the door and then seizing on a moment when the soldier had disappeared from view she whispered to butler you have seen my father sir w butler nodded his head he has told you all butler again signified a silent assent the tramp of the showed that he was again approaching the door and when mary turned her eyes in that direction she beheld the watchful soldier halting in such a position as to enable him both to see and hear what was passing in the room without showing the least or even appearing to notice the guard she said in a gay and careless voice u my father and lieutenant who is a good gentleman think it ho fr to christian people to do all the good we can for them that providence has put under us and so sir i have been to gather some which i thought may be you would sir the walked away and mary smiled as she saw her little succeed bring me some paper said butler cautiously you are a considerate girl he continued in a louder voice and i thank you for this good will then finding that the did not immediately return he whispered i wish to write to robinson you shall take the letter and read it to him i will do my best replied the maiden and again the interrupted the conference mary having arranged the table left the room in a few moments she returned bringing with her the family bible if you would like to read sir she said here is a book that a body may look at a long time without getting tired of it we have only got this and the pilgrim s progress and the in the house but my father says this is worth all the others that ever were printed put together and especially sir when one s in distress and away from their friends an expression of pleasure played across butler s features as he took the heavy volume from the girl a thousand thanks to you my pretty maiden he replied i doubt not i shall grow both wiser and better under your this kindness almost me to my fate john is doing all he can for you and he is a good to mr robinson said mary in the same cautious whisper that she had first spoken in as she retreated from the room butler opened the book and found a sheet of paper folded away amongst the leaves then closing it he threw it upon his bed in due course of time mary returned with a few dishes of food which she set out upon the table and in one of the successive visits which were employed in furnishing the she took from beneath her apron a small ink horn and pen which she placed unobserved by the in butler s hand having done this she retired leaving the prisoner to despatch his meal alone b bin after dinner butler threw himself upon his bed where he lay with the bible opened out before him with his back turned towards the door and whilst mary was engaged in removing the furniture of the table he found means to write a few lines to philip he took the same opportunity to pen a short letter to and then to set down some directions for horse shoe robinson the purport of which was that the should take the two letters and depart with all despatch for the dove and to put both into the hands of with a request that she would procure him the necessary reply from her father horse shoe was also directed to explain	29
to such particulars of butler s history as were necessary to be made known for the ac of the object of the mission when these papers were finished they were folded up into a small compass and in the course of the evening put into mary hands with a request that she would herself read the instruction intended for the and him of their contents when she delivered the papers to him so far all had succeeded well and butler found additional to the gloom that hung upon his spirits in the prospect that was now opened to him of strong and friends in the scheme of his chapter s as a who watches the heavens from the deck and notes the first of the small cloud no bigger than a man s hand that to his practised eye shows the sign of tempest and anon as the speck quickly changes into a lurid mass whence volume after volume of is driven in curled forward covering the broad with a gloomy pall he looks more frequently and more intently upwards anxious to lay his vessel safe and assure himself of his proper course to steer so not with the same doubt of safety but with the same restless inspection of the heavens did mary watch the slow approach of night first she looked wistfully at the declining sun and observed with pleasure the night hawk begin to then through the long twilight she noted the darkness and saw the bat take wing and heard the from his pool and as the stars one by one broke forth upon the night it her to think the hour of her mission was approaching for she was troubled in her spirit and anxious to herself of her charitable office and perhaps too it may be told of her without prejudice to her modest emotions a spur was given to her wishes by the hope of meeting john for an hour after supper she paced the porch and still looked out upon the stars to mark the slow of the night and now and then she walked forth as far as the mill and lingered by the bank of the river and again returned to ask the the hour you seem disturbed mary said now til venture to say i can guess your thoughts this star gazing is a great tell tale you were just now thinking that as the of the war is over some lad who has borne a lately will be very horse shoe naturally this way to night instead of going home to see his mother come isn t that a good guess f do you know him sir v asked mary with composure aye to be sure i do a good brave fellow who eats well drinks well and fights well all men do that now replied the maiden but i am sure you are wrong sir if you think any such considers it worth his while to come here he must come quickly or we cannot let him in without a said the officer order the to beat it is nine o clock mary stay i must cross question you a little about this same gallant indeed sir i did but jest and so i thought you did my father says it is not proper i should to talk with the men good night sir it is our time for prayers and with these words the young girl withdrew into the house in some half hour afterwards mary escaped by another door and taking a path through the garden she passed behind the and sped towards the mill intent upon keeping her appointment with the friends of butler as soon as she reached the river bank she quickened her pace and hurried with a step towards the distant thicket what ho who goes there shouted the voice of a man from the neighborhood of the mill m who so fast faith tom it must be a ghost said a second voice loud enough to be heard by the who now increased the speed with which she fled towards the cover in an instant two of the soldiers of the guard rushed upon the track of the frightened girl u spare me good sir for pity s sake spare me exclaimed the maiden suddenly turning round upon her where away so fast said one of the men this is a strange time of night for girls to be flying into the woods what matter have you in hand that brings you here and what is your name lam the daughter of replied mary indignantly is it so said the first speaker then it is the miller s own daughter and we ask your pardon we only saw you flying along r horse shoe robinson tho bank of the river and not knowing what it was why w thought it right to follow but as it is all explained now we will see you back to the house i can find my way without help replied the maiden u now that s not good natured for so kind a girl as the miller s daughter ought to be said the second soldier i will see if my father can protect me said mary hastening back towards the house so rapidly as almost to run a i will know if lieutenant will allow me to be insulted with a hurried step she entered upon the porch and without stopping to with those who occupied this part of the dwelling retired to her chamber and threw herself into a chair where she sat for some time panting with as she gradually recovered her strength she began to turn her thoughts upon her recent discomfiture and it was with a deep sense of and disappointment that she reflected upon her not being able successfully to renew her enterprise on the same night the hour of meeting had arrived	29
the officers of the guard were still the porch her conduct had already excited notice and if she wished to be in a condition to render future service her most obvious duty was to any further attempt to deliver the papers until another time on the other hand she had reason to fear that john would be hovering near to ascertain the cause of her failure to meet him and might resort to the same mode of conveying a signal which he had successfully practised heretofore this would she believed provoke an investigation that might entirely all their views but then john is a good soldier he said in the way of self consolation and will know that the enemy is awake because if it was not so he would be sure i would keep my word and if he only takes notion into his head he is too careful to run the chance of all by coming here still with some little as to john s when it crossed the path of his love which naturally she reflected makes a man rash she thought it best to provide against accident by throwing herself into the company of the officers who about the door in idle discourse with her father she accordingly left her room and with an anxious and troubled heart went out shoe robinson and seated herself quietly on the steps of the porch where she remained for some time a silent but listener to the conversation of those around her as a part of that system of things by which it is contrived that the current of true love shall never run smooth i have ever found that when it was peculiarly fitting that some uncle cousin father or guest should retire early to bed in order that some scheme of interest to young lovers might be successfully achieved precisely on such nights is the of fate most conspicuous in the minds of such uncle cousin and so forth to sit up much longer than they are wont thus showing that the and of things in this world are not nicely fitted to the occasions of those who deal in the tender passion and so it for poor mary this night the hour was now fast upon eleven and she anxiously noted every sentence that was spoken hoping it was to be the last and then she trembled to think that john regardless of the danger might be lurking near and expose himself and still the as they meant to sit up all night it was a delicious cool hour after a day and there was luxury in the breeze but as the minutes were counted over by the maiden in their slow passage her fears increased at length far off as if it were a mile away the clear notes of one whistling an old tune were heard mary involuntarily started from her seat and moved along the little pathway towards the gate her heart beating against her bosom as if it would have its the signal notes upon the air and the tune came forth and boldly showing that the was with a light heart down the main road towards the mill the party in the porch however were too much engrossed in their to notice the incident the whistling came still nearer until at last it seemed to be scarce a from the house beyond this point it did not advance but here indicated that the person from whom it proceeded had halted if mary s cheek could have been brought to the light it would have shown how the blood had deserted it from very fear her whole frame shook with this emotion to exhibit her which in truth t horse shoe robinson was most sadly affected she mingled amongst the company in the porch and against the door post still the whistling continued with no symptom of retreat and mary impatiently walked towards the farther end of the house john makes a fool of himself she muttered hasn t he the sense to see i cannot get out what keeps the simple man at the fence as if he actually wanted them to take him i don t believe in the mighty sense and wisdom of these men if john had half an eye he would see that i couldn t get away to night as the maiden grew her fears had less mastery over her and now taking heart of grace she returned to the porch said calling to one of his men take two and the road until you ascertain who that fellow is who makes himself so merry to night i thought it some fool he continued addressing himself to who as the poet says whistled as he went for want of thought but he seems to have a after these premises that is not exactly to my mind perhaps after all mary he added privately in the maiden s ear it is the lad i was telling you of and as he is a youth we will bring him in by force you know he can t help that and old here can never blame you if i should make the fellow come to see you against your will treat the man you understand it is not worth your while to be sending after adam said mary with some slight confusion in her accent he is only half and almost the only thing he does for a living is to come down of nights here to the mill dam to bob for if it wasn t for that his mother would go many a day without a meal no matter we will bring adam in replied the lieutenant and if he is good at his sport why we will go and join him u he is shy of company said mary still faltering in her speech and will not come amongst strangers partly from a spirit of resignation	29
to return to the fair forest camp to inform of the state of affairs and he was hereafter to act as occasion might suggest and mary were to attend upon butler and communicate whatever might of interest to david who promised to find means of intercourse with or as circumstances should allow these matters being arranged mary and took their leaves of s family and went about the object of their expedition horse shoe s plan of travel during the first and most perilous stages of his journey towards virginia was to avail himself of the darkness of the night and he accordingly resolved to set out as soon as this day should draw to a close his immediate cares were therefore directed to making all the necessary preparations for his departure captain peter was carefully tended and supplied with a double allowance of provisions were away both for himself and his beast his pistols were put in order his rifle cleaned out and a supply of provided and finally the letters were up in a leather and around his body by a inside of his clothes it was no item in the s preparation for his horse shoe robinson tion to sit down and eat a meal which from the quantity bestowed and the vigor with which the assault upon it was made might have a full week s starvation the day and the night came a welcome visitor to the and at that hour which old as inter et captain peter was brought to the door ready for travel s family stood around and whilst with boyish affection held horse shoe s rifle in his hand the spoke the words of parting to his friends then with air of careless mirth springing into his saddle and receiving his weapon from the young comrade of his late gallant adventure he rode forth with as stout a heart as ever went with knight of chivalry to the field of romantic renown chapter glance at the dove the companionship of brother and sister our story once more brings us back to the dove he during the first week that followed her interview with arthur butler under the s tower was calm and thoughtful and even melancholy her usual custom of exercise was and her time was passed chiefly in her chamber by degrees however her firm and resolute temper over the sadness of her fortunes and she began to resume that cheerfulness which circumstances can never long subdue in a strong and mind she had grown more than ever watchful of the public events and sought with an intense to obtain information in regard to the state of things in the south she now felt herself closely allied to the cause in which arthur butler had embarked and therefore caught up the floating of the day in what regarded the progress of the american arms in the southern expedition with the interest of one who had a large stake depending on the issue she had received several letters from butler which detailed the progress of his journey from the dove to gates s camp and from thence to horse shoe s cottage they were all written in the confident and even tone of a light hearted soldier who sought to amuse his mistress and they such matters of personal history as were of a character to still her fears for his safety their effect upon was to warm up her enthusiasm as well as to her of the future and thus to increase the returning of her spirits up to this period therefore she grew every day more and playful in her temper and brought herself to entertain a more sanguine reckoning of the determination of affairs she was now frequently on horseback attend m horse shoe robinson ed by her brother with whom she scarcely ever to make a visit to the good mistress where she either found a letter from butler or heard some of the thousand tidings which report was for ever busy in or in regard to the movements of the army i ll warrant you arthur is a man for the pen as well as for the spur and my pretty lady was one of the landlady s comments as she handed to the eighth or ninth that had fallen into her hands since butler s departure there scarcely comes trotting by a soiled traveller with his head set but it is good woman is this mistress s and when i say aye then here s a letter madam for you that comes from the army and so there s arthur s own hand writing to a great for mistress of the inn of and not even after all one poor line for me but just a cover and the inside for miss of the dove ha ha we old bodies are only horses in this world but god bless him he is a fine and noble gentleman and would take the and impatiently break the seal and as she the contents the color and upon her cheek and her eye would one instant sparkle with mirth and in the next grow dim with a tear and when she had finished reading she would secretly press the paper to her lips and then bestow it away in her bosom the earnest fondness of a devoted and enthusiastic nature and henry were inseparable and in proportion as his sister s zeal and attachment to the cause of independence became more active did henry s inclination to become a grow hers was a character to the spirit of brave adventure there was in it a quiet and but current of resolution that shrank before no perils her feelings acute and earnest had given all their warmth to her principles and what she once believed her duty commanded was pursued with the devout self of a religious obligation to this temper which by some	29
secret of its constitution has a spell to sway the minds of mankind there was added the grace of an exquisitely feminine address the union of these two attributes rendered an object of conspicuous interest in such a time as that of b shoe robinson the her youth her ready genius her knowledge and her habits of reflection much in advance of her years the impression her character was adapted to produce and brought upon her even in her secluded position a considerable share of public observation it was not wonderful that a mind so organized and accomplished should have acquired an unlimited dominion over the frank open hearted and brave temper of her brother now just stepping beyond the of mere boyhood her influence over henry was and unbounded her affections were his her faith was his her enthusiasm stole into and spread over his whole temper with these means of influence she had applied herself to into henry s mind her own sentiment in regard to the war and this purpose had led her to interest herself in subjects and pursuits which in general are very foreign from her sex her desire to his feelings in aid of butler and her conviction that a time was at hand when henry might be useful gave rise to an eager solicitude to see him well prepared for the of the day by that necessary mode of education which during the period of the revolution was common amongst the young gentlemen of the country he was a most willing and ready pupil and she delighted to encourage him in his inclination for military studies however fanciful some of his in regard to them might be she therefore saw with great satisfaction the though boyish devotion with which he set himself to gain a knowledge of matters relating to the duties of a soldier however little this may fall within the scope of female perception in ordinary times it will not appear so much removed from the or even the habits of the sex when we reflect that in the of this great national struggle when every resource of the country was drained for service the events of the day were contemplated with no less interest by the women than by the men the with which the american women in the cares and sacrifices of the war has the frequent notice and warmest praises of its but reflected in this instance the hues of the society around the dove which consisted of many families scattered along the country side composed of i i horse shoe l sons of elevated character easy circumstances and of the politics with whom she held an and familiar intercourse another consideration may serve to explain the somewhat masculine character of s pursuits her most intimate companion at all times and frequently for weeks together her only one was her brother these two had grown up together in all the confidence of childhood and this confidence continued still their pursuits sports exercises thoughts and habits were alike with less of the usual between the sexes than is to be found between individuals in larger associations they each other in temper and disposition and henry might in this regard be said to be without to bis manly qualities a girlish boy and on the other hand with as little to be a boyish girl this freedom of produced in its development some grotesque results which my reader has doubtless heretofore observed with a smile and it will likewise serve to explain some of the peculiar forms of intercourse which may hereafter be noticed between the brother and sister the news of the battle of had not yet reached the neighborhood of the dove but the time drew nigh when all the country stood on anxious to receive tidings of that interesting event a week had elapsed without bringing letters from butler and was growing uneasy at this interval of silence there was a struggle in her mind an unpleasant that she was almost ashamed to acknowledge and yet which she could not subdue the country was full of reports of the hostile operations and a thousand were entertained which varied according to the more sanguine or of the persons who made them was taught by butler to expect defeat yet still she hoped for victory but the personal fate of her lover stole upon her conjectures and she could not keep down the which affection generally and always renders painful in this state of doubt it was that her manners occasionally rose to a higher tone of than was natural to her and by turns they sank to a moody silence showing that the of the mind was dis h r x h b and that the scales did not hang true it was the of mental resolution with a coward heart a heart by its affections such was the state of things when in the latter fortnight of august the morning ushered in a day of beauty the air was elastic the cool breeze played upon the and stole the perfume of a thousand flowers the bu ds sang with unwonted vivacity from the neighboring trees and the sun lighted up the mountains with a golden splendor the fast drifting clouds flinging their shadows upon the forest that clothed the hills around and the eagle and the sailing in the highest heavens or around the cliffs with a glad flight as if rejoicing in the luxuries of the cool summer morning breakfast was scarcely over before henry was seen upon the terrace arrayed in his hunting dress his was suspended by a green cord across his shoulders it was a neat and glittering instrument whose was with the of silken and was displayed as as if worn by the hero of a like st in the ballad he had footed thrice the when he put the to his mouth and blew a both loud and long how	29
now good master puff said coming up to her brother what means this uproar pray you have mercy on one s ears henry turned towards his sister without taking the from his lips and continued the blast for a full minute then ceasing only from want of breath he said with a comic earnestness u i m my sister i can give you to horse and and roast like a trained truly you are a proper man master replied but it is hardly a time she continued half muttering to herself foe you and me henry to wear light hearts in our why sister said henry with some astonishment in his looks this seems to me to be the very time to practise my we are at the very of the war and every man that has a sword or either should be up and doing how come on your studies brother interrupted without henry s interpretation of is duty robinson oh rarely i know most of the speeches of all by heart like an eagle in a dove i flattered your voices in alone i did it boy he quoting from the play and accompanying his with some extravagant gestures this is easy work henry said laughing there is too much of the holiday play in that i thought you were studying some graver things instead of these you pretended to be very earnest but a short time ago to make a soldier of yourself well and don t you call this suppose i were to down upon his as that fellow calls him just in that same fashion i warrant they would say there was some in it but sister haven t i been studying the attack and defence of fortified places i wonder and what call you that look now here is a regular continued henry making lines upon the gravel walk with a stick here is the these lines are the flank the face the here is the curtain now my first parallel is around here six hundred paces from the but i could have taken myself in half the time that fellow did it if i had been there and one of his side which thank my stars i am not u you are entirely out of my depth brother interrupted i know i am how should women be expected to understand these matters go to your knitting sister you can t teach me have you studied the military henry that you know baron requires of all the young officers most replied henry not quite through it i hate this getting prose by heart is more to my mind than baron but i will tell you what i like sister i like the management of the horse i can passage and and change feet and throw upon the with e er a man in or either may be horse h b u you told me you had practised firing from your saddle to be sure i did and look here replied the taking off his cap and showing a hole in the cloth do you see that i flung the cap into the air and put a ball through it before it fell at a gallop well done master you come on bravely and another thing i have to tell you which perhaps you will laugh to hear i have taken to a rough way of sleeping i want to myself so i fling a blanket on the floor and stretch out on it and sleep like like what good brother you are posed for a comparison like the sleeping beauty sister ha ha that s a most and impertinent well like a or a or a or like foster and that is as far as sleeping can go i have a notion of trying it in the woods one of these nights if i can get to go along why not try it alone why it s a sort of an awkward thing to be entirely by one s self in the woods the night it is you know sister and to tell the truth i almost suspect i am a little afraid of ghosts indeed and you a man that s a strange fear for a young suppose you should get into the wars and should happen to be posted as a at some remote spot far from your comrades on i think you call it henry nodded on a dark night would you desert your duty for fear of a i would die first i would stick it out if i made an earthquake by trembling in my shoes laughed and then if a ghost should rise up out of the ground she continued with a mock solemnity of manner i would whistle some tune interrupted henry that s an excellent way to keep down fear shame on you to talk of fear brother only of ghosts sister not of men you must cure yourself of this childish apprehension master ho robinson and bow shall i do so i have heard people say that the men have been alarmed by spirits you must yourself to midnight hours and dark places all alone our poor mother taught you this fear should think of her until my heart would burst and my cheek grew pale as ashes said henry with an earnest and solemn emphasis her spirit could it rise would love you brother it would never seek to do you harm replied thoughtfully tt sister said henry you came here in sport but you have made me very sad walked off a few paces and remained gazing over the when she looked back she saw henry approaching her you stoop brother in your gait she said that s a habit it comes sister of my climbing these mountains so much we naturally get a stoop on	29
the hill sides but if you think continued henry to the subject which had just been broken off it would make me bolder to watch of nights i should not care to try it i would have you said walk your rounds like a through the woods from twelve until two every night for a week agreed sister rain or shine and then i shall think you completely cured of this infirmity when you are able to march as far as the church and serve one tour of duty in the grave yard by myself inquired henry with concern u you wouldn t have me go with you brother i should feel very brave if you did for you are as brave as a general but if foster ill keep in the neighborhood near enough to hear my all s well i think i could stand it out you must go alone said cheerfully before i shall think you fit to be promoted if you say i must sister why then i must and there s an end of it but your discipline is forty times more severe than horse robinson the german baron s at father looks pale morning continued henry as he turned his eyes towards the porch where mr was now seen walking forward and back with his arms folded across his breast something perpetually troubles him i wish that devil had been buried before he ever found his way to the dove see he comes this way both and henry ran to meet and encountered him before he had advanced a dozen paces over the lawn such a day father said as she affectionately took his hand it is a luxury to breathe this air god has given us a beautiful heaven my children and a rich and earth he has filled them both with blessings man only them with his cursed passions said with a sober accent you have heard bad news father said henry what has happened grew suddenly pale we shall hear glorious news boy before many days replied as yet all is uncertain henry away to your sports or to your studies i have something for your ear and so my child walk with me a while henry took his leave looking back anxiously at his sister whose countenance expressed painful alarm accompanied her father slowly and silently to the small that shaded the door of the next the terrace chapter put to a trial i her firmness my mind troubles me said hear me and mark what i say our fortunes are coming to a period of deep interest it is therefore no time to deal in speeches or to with and girlish feelings i wish my daughter to be understood father have i offended you inquired struck with the painful and almost repulsive earnestness of s manner arthur butler has been at the dove he said sternly and you have concealed it from me that was not like my child father exclaimed bursting into tears nay these tears shall not move me from my resolution as a parent i had a right to expect obedience from you but you saw him in the very despite of my commands here on the of the dove you saw him i i did and you were silent and kept your secret from your father s bosom v you forbade me to speak of him replied in a low and sobbing voice and banished me from your presence when i but brought his name upon my lips he is a villain daughter a base wretch that would murder my peace and steal my treasure from my heart covered her eyes with her hands and trembled in silent agony i have received letters continued that disclose to me a vile plot against my life this same butler this furious and rebel has been lurking in the neighborhood of my house to watch my family motions to into the character of my guests horse shoe robinson to possess himself of my sacred confidences to note the and the out going of my most attached friends and thereupon to build an accusation of treason before this and most accursed power that has dominion in the land i am to be to these malignant masters and to suffer such as their passions may and all this through the agency of a man who is cherished and applauded by my own daughter my dear father who has thus abused your mind and led your thoughts into a current so foreign from that calm judgment with which you have been accustomed to look upon the things of life n can you deny that this butler followed to the dove lay concealed here close at hand sought by discourse through some of his with s servant to learn the object of s visit and offered gross outrage to the man when he failed to persuade him to betray his master can you deny this can you deny that he fled from his when he could no longer conceal his purpose and knowing these things can you doubt he is a villain he is no villain father said indignantly these are the wretched of that unworthy man who has won your confidence a man who is no less an enemy to your happiness than he is a selfish against mine the story is not true it is one of and butler was not here you would persuade me so he was in the neighborhood for a single night he in the course of his duty answered mildly and had no with him he was attended by a guide only one and hurried without delay and you met him on that single night by accident i suppose do you doubt my truth father you will break my heart why was he here at all why did you meet	29
him he came father said struggling to speak through a sudden burst of tears silence i will hear no apology exclaimed then horse shoe robinson in an instant ho took his daughter s hand as he said u my child thou art innocent in thy nature and not the evil of this world he lied if he told you that he came casually hither or that his stay was to one short night i have proofs full and satisfactory that for several days he lay concealed in this vicinity and moreover that his scheme was only by an unexpected discovery made through the of a drunken bully who came linked with him in his foul it was a lie invented to impose upon your if he gave you room to believe other j wise arthur butler a falsehood father with the deepest scorn that belongs to a noble mind and would resent the charge with the spirit of a and virtuous man if mr tj have such to make it would be they should be made face to face with the man he would than in my father s ear but it is the nature of the serpent to sting in the grass not openly to encounter his victim the first duty of a friend is to give warning of the approach of an enemy and that has done for this act of service does he deserve your rebuke could you expect aught else of an honorable gentleman shame on you daughter father i know the tale to be false arthur butler is not your enemy sooner would he lay down his life than even indulge a thought of harm to you his coming hither was not unknown to me his delay but one brief night business of great moment called him hastily towards the army of the south u you speak like a girl i have against this tale the of a loyal and brave soldier aye and let me tell you as you may deem of this false and rebel his arts have been and quick vengeance is now upon his path his doom is fixed for heaven s sake er dear father tell me what this means have you heard of arthur f cried in the most impassioned accents of distress at the same time throwing her head upon s breast oh god have you heard aught of harm to him horse shoe girl foolish mad self willed girl exclaimed himself from his daughter and rising from his seat and angrily a few paces upon the terrace dare yon show this to me no i did not mean that have you the heart to indulge these passionate for the man i hate more than i can hate any other living thing he a wretch upon whose head i nightly curses a image to my mind hear me and hear me though your heart break while i utter it may the s death him and his name in eternal disgrace may his present be beset with all the horrors of friendliness his father and has he then fallen into the hands of the enemy quick tell me all i shall die my life is wrapped up in his ejaculated in agony as she sprang towards her father and seized his arm and then sank at his feet for god s sake my child said becoming alarmed at the violence of the he had excited and now lifting his daughter from the ground speak girl this emotion will drive me mad oh fate fate how dost thou fulfil the sad of my spirit how darkly does the curse hang upon my household dear daughter pardon my rash speech i would not harm thee child no not for worlds p father you have cruelly tortured my soul said from the half lifeless state into which she had fallen and which for some moments had denied her speech tell me all on my knees father i you it was a hasty word daughter replied ill concealing the of his feelings i meant not what i said nay dear father said i am prepared to hear the worst you spoke of arthur s it was only a replied struck with apprehension at his daughter s earnestness and now seeking to the feeling his hint had aroused in her mind it may be exaggerated by whose letter hastily written the fact that butler had been made a prisoner by some bands of amongst whom he had ventured the of his king may yet win him back to his a confinement at least will deprive him of the power of mischief his lands will be ho shoe robinson ed and the close of the war now fast approaching will find him a adventurer baffled in his treason and by all good men this should persuade you to your unnatural attachment and to think no more of one whose cause heaven has never and whose condition in life should forbid all to your one above all repulsive even to to the thoughts of your father i loved him father in his happiest and brightest day said firmly u i cannot desert him in his oh speak to me no more let me go to my chamber i am ill and cannot bear this torrent of your displeasure i will not detain you in sorrow and suffering but still with a s affection as warmly shining on you as when in earliest infancy i thee upon my knee i part with thee now one kiss girl there let that make peace between us for your sake and my own i pledge my word never to distress you with this subject again destiny must have its way and i must bide the inevitable doom with a heavy heart and an exhausted frame slowly and withdrew remained some time fixed upon	29
the spot where his daughter had left him he was like a man and astounded by a blow his conference had ended in a manner that he had not prepared himself to expect the treachery of butler derived from s letters had not struck alarm into the heart of as he had supposed it could not fail to do the wicked had only upon the and with the resolute confident and attachment of her nature clung with a nobler devotion to her lover to in whose mind no distrust of the honesty of could find shelter whose prejudices and peculiar temperament came in aid of the gross and disgraceful which the letters inferred the constancy and generous of his daughter towards the cause of butler seemed to be a mad and fatal ever since his first interview with on the subject of her attachment his mind had been engrossed with the reflections to which it had given rise there was such a of purpose apparent in her behavior such an resolve horse shoe robinson as seemed to him in the circumstances of her condition tc defy and stand apart from the ordinary and natural impulses by which human conduct is regulated he grew daily more abstracted and moody in his and as study and thought gave a still graver complexion to his feelings his mind fled back upon his and that intense scholar like superstition which i have heretofore described as one of the tendencies of his nature began more to up its before his mental vision a trait of this superstition was an increasing conviction that in s with arthur butler there was associated some signal doom to himself that was to affect the fortunes of his race it was a vague misty obscure consciousness of impending fate the loss of reason or the loss of life that was to upon that alliance if it should ever take place it was such a that now in the solitary path of s life began to be into a certainty of ill the needle of his mind trembled upon its and began to decline towards a fearful point that point was frenzy his studies favored this apprehension they led him into the world of visions the circumstances of his position favored it he was perplexed by the of against whom he had no defence in temper nor worldly skill he was by false views of events he was embarrassed and dissatisfied with himself above all he was wrought upon bewildered and to use a most expressive scotch phrase by the remembrance of a sickly dream thus hunted and by circumstances he fled with to the made in s letters to try as a last effort their effect upon hoping that the tale there told might divert her from a purpose which now fed all his melancholy the reader has just seen how the experiment had failed retired to his study and through the remainder of the day sought refuge from his meditations in the converse of his books these mute companions for once failed to bring him their customary his feelings had been turned by the events of the morning into a current that bore them along towards a dark and troubled ocean of thought and when the horse shoe robinson shades of evening had fallen around him he was seen pacing the terrace with a slow and measured step it is plain she passionately loves butler he said in despite of all the visible influences around her her education habits affections duty all set in an opposing tide against this passion and yet does it master them all that i should be bound to mine enemy by a chain whose strongest link is by my own daughter she no no that link was not by her it hath not its shape from human oh that like those inspired who in times of old yea and in a later day have been able to open the book of destiny and to read the passages of man s future life i might get one glimpse of that forbidden page to what a charitable use might i apply the knowledge wise men have studied the of the stars and have as they deemed discovered the secret spell by which yon shining sway and compel the animal of this earth even as the moon the flow of the ocean or the fever of the human brain who shall say what is the invisible what the innumerable that tie this planet and all its material natures to the millions of worlds with which it is what is that mysterious thing which men call attraction that these in their tangled through the great void that their swift and fearful career into the track of their voyage without the of the breadth of a single hair rolling on the same from eternity to eternity how awfully does the thought our feeble and philosophy is it then to excite the scorn of the wise if we assert that some kindred power may shape out and direct the wanderings of man that an unseen hand may lay the threads by which this tottering creature is to travel through the of this world aye and after it is done to point out to him his course along the dark and chill valley which the dead walk through and silent have not men heard strange whispers in the breeze the voice of warning have they not felt the of the wing that bore the secret messenger through the air have they not seen some floating fold of the robe as it passed by god have they not seen the dead arise what are these but the com horse shoe robinson the points of contact between the and spiritual worlds the or that sometimes across the confine of our gross sphere and speak	29
to the children of clay and wherefore do they speak but that the may regard the sign and walk in safety or perchance some mischief for such too are permitted to be busy to mar the good that god has made may speak in malice to us from our better purpose aye as this as the other miserable child of doubt how art thou beset let the vain of his philosophy let the soldier boast his the learned scholar his and the laugh his scorn yet do they each and all yield homage to this belief there comes a time of honest self confession of secret meditation to all and then the spirit rises to his proper mastery then does instinct argument then do the darkness of the midnight hour the howling wind the rush of the torrent the of the forest and the field shake the strong nerves and the feeble man at his own in such a strain did nurse his doubting superstition and by these degrees was it that his mind soothed itself down into a calmer tone of resignation in proportion as this fanciful and philosophy inclined his reflection towards the belief of influences it suggested excuses for s seeming and a more indulgent sentiment of forbearance in his future intercourse with her towards the confirmation of this temper an ordinary incident which at any other time would have passed without comment now contributed a storm had arisen the day towards its close had grown and had one of those sudden which belong to the summer in this region it came without in a violent that rushed through the air with the roar of a great had scarcely time to retreat to the cover of the porch before the heavy charged cloud poured forth its fury in floods of rain the incessant glittered on the descending drops and illuminated the distant landscape with more than the brilliancy of day the most remote peaks of the mountain were with die glare and the torrents that leaped down the nearer hill sides sparkled with a r horse shoe robinson dazzling radiance peal after peal of abrupt and crashing roared through the heavens and echoed with terrific along the valleys gazed upon this scene from his secure cover with mute interest inwardly aroused and delighted with the grand and sublime conflict of the elements in a spot of such wild and magnificence the solemn and awful emotions excited by these phenomena were exaggerated by the peculiar mood of his mind and now absorbed all his attention after a brief interval the rain ceased to fell as suddenly as it had begun the thunder was silent and only a few distant flashes of wide spread light broke above the horizon the stars soon again shone forth through a transparent and placid heaven and the moon sailed in beauty along a sea the again from the trees and the far off owl in the wood his melancholy song that had been so briefly the foaming river below swollen by the recent rain flung upwards a more lively from its rocky bed the cock was heard to crow as if a new day had burst upon his and the house dogs in sport as they over the wet grass looked forth and spoke how beautiful is the change but a moment since and the angry elements were with the shock of war and now how calm my ancient oaks have the gale and not a branch has been torn from their limbs not the most delicate of s flowers not the tenderest has been by the threatening fires of heaven the dove and its inmates have seen the storm sweep by without a of harm kind heaven grant that this may be a of our fortune and that when this tempest of human passion has been spent the dove and its inhabitants may come forth as tranquil as safe as happy as now more yes more happy than now our ways are in thy hands and i would teach myself to submit to thy providence with patient hope so let it be i am resigned as still occupied his position in the porch foster appeared before him dripping with the rain of the late storm a letter sir said i have just rode from the post t c fi house shoe robin n office and was almost in the gust it me upon ths and it was as much as i could do to cross the river it s a ir piece of water after one of these here took the packet u get your supper good he said u order lights for me in the library thank you thank you when opened the letter he found it to contain tidings of the victory at written by after he had the contents it was with a triumphant smile that he exclaimed and it is come so soon thank god the omen has proved true a calmer and a brighter hour at last opens upon us he left the study to communicate the news to his children and spent the next hour with and henry in the parlor his feelings had risen to a happier key and it was with some approach to cheerfulness but little answered in the looks or feelings of his children that he retired to his chamber at a late hour where sleep soon came with its sweet oblivion to repair his exhausted spirits and to restore him to the quiet of an easy mind r chapter ik is near making a disclosure a visitor arrives at the dove then in that how lie felt and his heart told him he had dealt with his child on the following day confined herself to her chamber she had passed a sleepless night and the morning found her a pale anxious and distressed of the slow approach of light her thoughts were busy with	29
the fate of butler this topic overwhelmed all other cares and struck deep and anguish into her mind the hints that had been so dropped by her father more than if the whole tale had been told had worked upon her imagination and up to her apprehension the certain destruction of her lover in her interview with her emotions had been controlled by the extreme difficulty of her situation the fear of rousing in her father that deep and solemn tone of passion which had now become the infirmity of his mind and almost threatened to deprive his of reason and of which she was painfully aware had subdued the strength of her own feelings so far at least as to a more seeming moderation than in other circumstances she could have exhibited it was the struggle between filial affection and duty on the one side and an ardent though acknowledged attachment on the other the course that she had previously determined to pursue in reference to the many earnest and efforts of to persuade her from her love was steadily to in the open acknowledgment of her vow and endeavor to win her fathers favor by a calm and gentle or to seek in a respectful silence the means of the occasion of that and moody outbreak horse robinson of temper which the peculiar of his mind was apt to make frequent she would have resorted to this silence in the late communion with if he had not with an unusual bitterness arthur butler as the author of a hateful crime a crime which she knew had been against him by a man of whose subtle wickedness she was persuaded and whom of all others she most heartily she was therefore led indignantly though to the by which her father s hatred had been but when in the fierce of his displeasure had announced to her the danger that had befallen butler the disclosure opened to her mind a world of misery the late silence of her lover had already alarmed her fears and this announcement suggested the worst of the many anxious conjectures which her brooding spirit had imagined as the cause of that absence of tidings her emotions upon this disclosure were those of a bursting heart that dared not trust itself with words and when her father see ing the for mischief he had done sought to temper his speech and some of the of communication by an explanation the only effect was for the moment to take off the edge of her keenest grief but when she left his pre and recovered herself sufficiently to recall all that had passed the dreadful thought of disaster to butler came back upon her imagination with all the horrors which a fond heart could summon around it a weary hour was spent in sobs and tears and it was only by the of her brother henry s kind and earnest sympathy when the youth found her in the parlor thus in sorrow and by his manly and cheering reckoning of the many chances of safety that attend the footsteps of a prudent and a brave man that she began to regain that resolute that was a natural and even attribute of her character when came into the parlor with the tidings of the victory at such was the state in which he found her and whilst he announced to her that event which had given him so much joy he was not of the pang he had previously inflicted and now endeavored to make amends by throwing m some apparently casual though reference to the shoe robinson tion of butler who he doubted not would now be disposed of on easy terms perhaps he continued as the war was drawing to a close and the royal had been singularly considerate of the mistaken men who had taken arms against their king he would in a little while be discharged on his this reluctant and forced of comfort fell before one who had but little appetite to take it and received it only in cold silence henry however made better use of the event and by that which in true and gentle never and never its aim when that aim is to revive a sinking hope succeeded in lifting both his father and sister into a climate of feeling but solitude and her pillow all this work of charity fancy that stirring of acute minds summoned up all its to s waking fears and the night was passed by her as by one who could not be comforted in the morning she was ill and therefore as i have said remained in her chamber ever for the happiness of his children and keenly sensitive to whatever gave them pain now that the violence of his passion had subsided into a clearer and calmer medium applied himself by every art which parental fondness could supply to the suffering of his daughter like a man who in a reckless and moment having done an injury which his heart at and having leisure to contemplate the wrong he has inflicted to administer comfort with an alacrity which even the suggestions of ordinary affection so did he now himself to s chamber and with sentiments of mixed alarm and seek her forgiveness for wh i he acknowledged a rash and assault upon her his soothing did not reach the disease they could give her no assurance of butler s safety and on that point alone all her anguish turned my dear dear father she said with a feeble and dejected voice how do you wrong me by supposing i could harbor a sentiment that might cause me to doubt the love i bear you i know and the purity of your nature and need no assurance from you that your affection itself has kindled up this warmth of temper but you have opened a fountain of bitterness upon my feelings she added	29
left a few days after the battle and had travelled with post haste to virginia on a leave of absence he described the state of things consequent upon the recent victory and it was with a tone of triumphant exultation that he frequently appealed to his as to the course of events when last at the dove the conversation soon became too confidential for the presence even of henry who sat devouring every word that fell from the lips of the and the further interview was transferred to the library henry hastened back to the fellow is so full of politics sister said the eager that he has not dropped one solitary word about butler he talks of the province being brought back to a sense of its duty and public sentiment putting an end to this unnatural war and his majesty fresh on the fields of virginia let his majesty put in his here he shall reap as fine a shoe robinson crop of to bind round his brow as ever grew m a but butler oh no he has nothing to say of butler me is a cunning man sister and keeps out of the major s way take my word for that brother get you again to my father and say to him that i desire to know what tidings mr brings us say it in his ear privately henry the young again took his leave and without apology entered the library in the meantime restless and impatient applied herself to the duties of the toilet and with the assistance of her maid was soon in a condition to leave her chamber she had almost and in obedience to her wish to know something of butler made these preparations to appear in the without thinking of her to meet and now when she was on the point of going forth her resolve changed and she moved through the chamber like a anxiously waiting the return of henry she walked to the window whence looking out towards the terrace she perceived that her father and his guest had strolled out upon the lawn where they were moving forward at a slow pace whilst their showed that they were engaged in an earnest conference henry s footsteps at the same moment were heard the long passage and no longer able to restrain her eagerness hastily left her room and met her brother with whom she returned to the parlor my news upon the whole is good said henry as he put his arm round s waist when i entered the library and took a seat by my father he suddenly broke up some long talk that was going on in which he looked very grave and as if he knew what i came for he is an excellent kind father sister for all his and sad and loves both you and me u he does henry and we must never forget it i would fight for him to the very death so seeing that i looked as if you had sent me to him he turned in a kind of careless way and asked if he had heard anything lately of butler brother robinson i scarce thought to mention it answered but the man think of that way of speaking of major the man had the to push himself amongst the loyal troops and was made a prisoner he was suspected to be a spy and there was as i have understood an idea of trying him by court martial for it and for other of which i wrote you some particulars i believe indeed he was tried and would perhaps have been s ok oh heaven brother can this be true exclaimed a the color deserted her cheek i give you exactly s words replied henry but the court were attacked said he by some bands of who stole a march upon them and arthur escaped kind heaven i thank thee almost as she clasped her hands together so thinks continued henry at all events they did not shoot him like a pack of cowardly as they were and as some tory prisoners were taken and dragged away by our good friend general who was the man says that bet upon them it is considered good policy these were his words to spare the unnecessary of blood on both sides and then my father asked if knew of these doings and he answered not that it was the act of some mountain boys who were in the habit of burning and against the wish of his that the regular officers of harsh measures and that peace now all through the province when they make a desert of the land they call it peace said thoughtfully quoting a translation of the beautiful passage of this war is a dreadful trade for us sister who stay at home replied henry but god is good to us and will favor the right and will protect the brave men who draw their swords to maintain it from treachery and murder i thank you brother for that word heaven shield us and those we love but these are fearful times chapter circumstances favor s influence the discourse and was one of deep moment had taken advantage of the which the late of the british arms had diffused amongst the of the royal cause in behalf of what was deemed their certain triumph to urge forward his own views this was the occasion of his present unexpected visit at the dove his immediate aim was to plunge into the contest by forcing him to take some step that should so commit him in the opinion of the republican government as to leave him no chance of retreat nor the means longer to enjoy the privileges of his late he unhappily found in a mood to favor this the increasing anxieties of that gentleman s mind	29
his domestic his peculiar temperament and the warmth of his political all stimulated him to the thought of some active in the struggle had sufficient penetration to perceive that such was likely to be the current of s feelings and he had by frequent letters administered to this result there were several families in the lower sections of the state who still clung to the cause of the king and who had been patiently awaiting the course of events for the time when they might more boldly themselves with the heads of these families had been in active correspondence and it was now his design which under the sanction of the british leaders he had already nearly to bring these individuals together into a secret council that they might act in concert and strengthen themselves by mutual alliance immediately after the battle of it is known that had laid his plans for the invasion of north by of the same kind it was only extending the system a little in advance to apply it to virginia d shoe robinson had been made for this meeting of to be held at the house of a mr on one of the lower sections of the james river a gentleman of good with whom had long been in the relations of close friendship the moments are precious and you are waited for said in the course of his conference with we must strike whilst the iron is hot separated as our good friends are from each other you are now in the power and at the mercy which is a significant phrase of the government of your motions therefore should be prompt there are seasons in the history of every trouble when the virtue of deliberation mainly lies in its rapidity and the boldness of its resolve i you sir to regard this as such a season and to take the course which the honor of our sovereign demands without further pause to think of consequences when you were here a month ago replied i had my scruples but things have strangely altered in that short interval your standard more bravely over the path of invasion than i had deemed it possible you charged me then with being a and you may remember even my loyalty i did you a grievous wrong my dear friend and not know your generous nature as soon as it was uttered my rash and speech it would have cost me many a pang of remorse even in this good sir said smiling and laying his hand upon s shoulder even in this you see how necessary is it that we have a wise and considerate to moderate the zeal of us younger men my mind is made up replied i attend the meeting and will be removed forthwith to f eagerly interrupted ah sir not one word of that if i attend this meeting it must in secret nor do i yet commit myself to its i shall be a listener only i would learn what my think to myself the right to act even yet i would purchase peace with many a sacrifice i all violent measures of offence i am tent answered that you should hold your to any measures which your and judgment does not approve though i little doubt that from all quarters you will hear tidings as shall convince you that the road both of safety and honor leads onward in this glorious enterprise lis from this danger that we pluck the flower safety conscious of this i would have and her brother cared for can never be yours said musing there is the thought that makes me pause i believed and so do you that the favor this butler had found with her was the capricious and fancy of a girl it is the devoted passion of a woman it has grown to be her faith her honor her religion butler is a fool a doomed madman replied with earnestness he came here with the purpose to betray you and he was silly enough to think he could do so and still win your daughter she should be told of this she has been told of it and she believes it not was my given to her for the truth of the fact it was and to speak plainly to you it has only made your name hateful to her ear then shall she have proof of it which she cannot doubt she shall have it in the recorded judgment of a court martial which has condemned him as a traitor and a spy she shall have it in the doom of his death and the of his estate exclaimed with a bitter proud girl u remember yourself sir interrupted sternly this is not the language nor t the tone fit for a father s ear when the subject of it is his own daughter was instantly recalled to his self possession and with that humility which he could always assume when his own interest required it spoke in a voice of sudden why what a fool am i to let my temper thus sway me humbly most humbly dear sir do i entreat your forgiveness i love your daughter and the earnest enthusiasm of her nature and therefore have been beyond my proper show of duty to learn that she could my word i it upon you said that in your intercourse with my family here you drop no word calculated to my daughter for the safety of this butler it is a topic which her and must be avoided u for the present replied as i have before told you i think he is safe the of his estate is not a secret but to business my friend when shall we set out to morrow answered we must travel cautiously and amongst our friends this disguise has served me so far said i	29
may the better trust to it when in your company and henry remained in the parlor and were there when and his guest terminated their secret conference returned to the house your cheek your customary boast of good health miss said respectfully approaching the lady and with an air that seemed to indicate his expectation of a cold reception it me to learn that at a time when all good men are rejoicing in the prospect of peace you should not be in a condition to share the common pleasure i think there is small occasion for rejoicing in any quarter replied calmly miss would perhaps be interested to hear said not by the evident aversion of the lady that i have within a few days past left the head quarters of the british army where i was enabled to some particulars of a friend of hers major butler of the continental service colored as she said in a faint voice he is my friend he has been unfortunate continued having fallen into the hands of some of our but i believe i may assure miss that he is both safe and well he the reputation of being a brave gentleman i may be permitted to say that had his destiny brought him under other colors i should have to be better known to him u major butler chooses his own colors said henry i think destiny had much to do with it he took his side because they wanted men to help out a brave war frowned and strode once or twice across the apartment during which an embarrassing silence prevailed you are the same you always were henry said shoe with a always warm for the fight but it is a christian duty you know to be peace makers in such times as these we may trust miss that some spirit shall arise to the of the people and bring all things back to tranquillity for myself i devoutly wish it the day for such a spirit does not seem to be at hand said quietly rising to withdraw you are not well m daughter interposed is but recently from a sick bed he continued addressing in the way of apology for her marked coldness of i am not well father replied i must be permitted to leave you and she now retired when henry soon afterwards joined her he found her agitated and excited better known to arthur butler she exclaimed dwelling on the speech of he is better known already than he dreams of think brother of the cool of this bold this secret of the quiet of our house that he should dare boast to me of arthur s bravery and to talk about his colors too said henry did you mark sister how i set him down in spite of my father s presence and did you see how his brow when i spoke my mind to him he will find me too hot a as he calls me to venture upon our colors again i hold no terms with him sister more than yourself you will excuse me to my father henry i will not go in to dinner to day i wondered replied henry that you met him at all sister but he took us unawares and truly i don think it would be safe to bring you near him again so i advise you keep your room as for me tut i am not afraid to meet him i warrant he gets his own upon occasion i entreat you henry said to guard your temper it would give our father pain to hear a rash speech from you it would answer no good end house shoe u i will be as as the state of the war requires answered henry u fight when it is necessary and be silent when we can t strike henry now left his sister and went to his usual occupations in accordance with the purpose expressed to her brother did not appear at the dinner table and the day was passed by and in communion the topics connected with the object of the enterprise in which they were about to had seen enough to convince him that he might at least for the present abandon all effort to win s good opinion and his whole thoughts were now bent to bring into such an attitude of hostility to the republican authorities as would inevitably lead to his removal from the state and perhaps compel him to retire to england either of these events would operate to the advantage of the and selfish policy by which hoped to accomplish his object in the course of the evening held a short interview with his children in which he made known to them that affairs of importance were about to call him away for a fortnight perhaps from the dove it was in vain that endeavored to turn him from his purpose which though to her she to be from its association with some sinister political move of which her father was to be the in accordance with s intimation he and set out at an early hour of the following day on their journey towards the low country chapter xxx vii a domestic scene at the dove on the third morning following s and s departure the season being now about the commencement of henry was seen after an unusually early breakfast to come forth upon the grass plot in front of the house bearing in his hand a short rifle his customary accompaniment of the being across his shoulders for some moments he was occupied in examining his weapon then leaning it against a tree that stood upon the lawn he put the to his mouth and sounded a long and clear signal note the first effects of this spell were to bring up bell and the three hounds who came over	29
the grass with many that might be said to resemble the bows and of the human species and which were accompanied by the salutation of deep mouthed that the horn never fails to wake up in these animals soon after these came up the hill the long gaunt form of foster who mounting the stone wall on the lower side with one bound sprang over the hedge that the terrace he was now arrayed in a yellow hunting shirt that reached to the middle of his and which was decorated with an abundance of red fringe that bound the cape elbows wrists and extremity of the skirt and a wool hat encircled with a broad red band in one side of which was set the national the around his waist was a broad belt he was armed besides with a rifle a little short of six feet in length foster was one of that idle craft who having no particular occupation was from this circumstance by a contradiction in terms usually called a man of all work he belonged to that class of beings who are only to be found in a society where the ordinary are discharged by slaves and was house robinson the tenant of a few acres of land to the domain of the dove where he professed to make his living by but by far the greater proportion of his was derived from divers miscellaneous services such as driving a team of four lean horses of which he was proprietor wood for fuel assisting in the harvest fields working in the garden and when required riding errands which he preferred to all other business but labor was not s it was a part of his system to matters of work for pleasure and if there was anything for which he was particularly famous it was in avoiding all appearances of to irksome engagements if he can be said to have had a calling at all it was that of a hunter a species of employment that possessed a wonderful charm for his fancy and which was adapted both to his physical and moral qualities he therefore gave much of his time to the concerns of and and his skill with the rifle was such that he could make sure of putting a ball through the brain of a wild pigeon as far as he was able to draw a sight he was skilled in the habits of all the forest animals common to this part of virginia and accurately drew the line of distinction between and game he hunted wolves bears painters in his own and and and moreover he was an expert and of and well knew the streams for these pursuits he was endowed with a patient nature that could endure a whole day and night in the woods without eating or sleeping my authority says nothing of his forbearance in the third want of humanity he was a man of fine and stout and brave and withal of a generous frank and invariable good nature the war had furnished occasion for such talents as he possess fc and was now meditating a bold from his wife and children who had heretofore exerted such a dominion over his affections that he had not the heart to leave them but the present difficulties of the nation had made such a appeal to his patriotism that he had resolved to take one campaign in the field and thus give scope to his natural love of adventure it was now his peculiar glory and one that wrought with a potent influence upon his self love that he held the post of ho shoe b k to the company of a corps that had lately been organized with a view to the state of affairs in the south this worthy when he had no expedition in hand was generally to be found lounging about the mansion of the dove in expectation of some call from henry between whom and himself there existed a mutual and somewhat affection on his present appearance there was a broad complacent grin on s features as he the young with the what s in the wind now henry another buck i reckon and an elegant morning it is for a drive may be the wind s just a little too fresh you was able to steal on the lower side of the game and then the scent would come down like a rose s a great advantage in being down the wind because animal can t hear you breaking through the bushes for the makes naturally such a of the leaves that it him you see u i fancy i know a good hunting day lieutenant foster said henry putting his arms as well as you who told you i was going after a buck why man if that had been my drift i should have started you two hours ago but we have other business in hand there is such dreadful news in the country we shall march soon take my word for it i am resolved to go as soon as ever the set out let my father say what he will it is time men should take their sides that s my opinion henry i wouldn t advise you said with a wise shake of the head your father would grieve himself to death if you were to leave him don t believe the half of that lieutenant there would be a for a little while and after that father would we that the thing couldn t be helped and so he would have to be satisfied steal away that s flat u well take notice henry said i give you my warning against it but if you do go along with me i ll take as much care of you as if you were my own son i know sister thinks replied henry it	29
wouldn t be wrong in me to go and so i ll leave her to make my peace b oh at home beside i am going on her account just to try and h something of major butler if that s her opinion returned isn t much wrong about it she is the head and main added laughing as he used these words with which he was in the habit of his conversation u of all matters that are done here in this house these are your new said henry looking at foster s dress you shine like a on a sunny day it will please sister to the life to see you so she s a prodigious and doesn t like to see us here he put his hand to his mouth and pronounced this word with a mock worse dressed than the red coats when do the march u we are waiting for orders every day we parade you know henry this morning you must plead off to day said henry u i called you up to tell you that sister and i were going to ride and i wanted you to go with us at any rate if you must go to the troop you can leave us on the road you don t meet till twelve and both sister and i want to talk to you she commanded me to tell you this i believe she wishes you to take a letter for her poor doesn t know that i am going with you so as to that you needn t let on go have our horses ready as soon as you can get them quick good sister and i will wait for you on the lawn the lieutenant of the having received his orders hurried away to attend to their execution was already for her ride and came at this moment from the house along the gravel walk her cheek lately pale had w begun to show the ruddy hue of health her full dark blue eye although habitually expressive of a thoughtful temperament frequently sparkled with the sudden flashes of a playful spirit and oftener with the are of an ardent resolution her features marked by a well defined outline bore a strong resemblance to her brother s and when animated by the emotions of her mind presented a countenance unusually gifted with the graces of external beauty the impression which horse her conveyed was that of an impassioned and enthusiastic nature and of a feminine courage that was sufficient for any emergency a clear skin gave brilliancy to her complexion and although habits of exposure to the air had slightly its lustre the few traces which this exposure left rather communicated the agreeable idea of a wholesome and vigorous constitution the tones of her voice were soft and gentle and full of harmony and when stimulated by her feelings rich deep and her figure of what might be deemed a medium height in females was neat and well and the ease proper to her sex with a degree of and strength that might be masculine her movement was graceful distinguished by a ready hand and free step and it was impossible to look upon her most familiar bearing without being struck by the indication which it gave of a self possessed fearless and temper allied to a mind raised above the multitude by a consciousness of intellectual force as advanced along the shaded walk she was followed by a little attendant whom in the of a solitary and luxurious life she had trained to fill the station of a lady s page this was a negro boy not above ten years of age of a delicate figure and now in a of scarlet cloth a pair of loose white linen drawn at the and red slippers a fell over his neck and full white sleeves were fastened with silken at his wrists a scarlet velvet cap gave a finish to the apparel of this gorgeous little and the dress grotesque as it was was not badly set off by the familiar port of the conceited whether he had been destined from his birth to this station or accidentally like many of the eastern raised to the purple he bore the romantic name of and wits fully as much at the call of his and as fond of sleep as him of mount his business seemed to be at the present moment to himself of the responsible duty of holding an riding whip in readiness for the service of his mistress when had crossed the lawn and arrived at the spot where henry now stood she was saluted by her brother with i robinson stand my gentle sister you and your monkey ah yon are not what you used to be you have grown much too grave of late bear up dear sister for after all what is it why we have been beaten and we must fight it over again that s all and as to the major your partiality his dangers hasn t he an arm yes and hasn t he a leg which in war i hold to be just as useful sometimes u there is a dreadful uncertainty brother replied i dream of the worst m a fig for your dreams sister they have been all sorts of ways and that you know now i have a waking dream and that is that before you are twenty four hours older you will hear of major butler would to heaven your dream may prove true replied but henry you love me and affection is an cheat in its then sister don t talk of it for when we know nothing it does no good to get to these are the times to act and perhaps i ll surprise you yet u with what good brother order arms replied henry his sister s inquiry and at the	29
gossip of the country as were likely to interest her patriotism and be contrived to to her recollection passages in the life of butler which related to the perils he had heretofore encountered and from which be had himself by his address and and henry told these in such a way as to infer from them arguments of comfort that the present state of his sister s feelings as waa usual in moat of the young s be glided into that and half in which he delighted to refer to own pursuits and aspirations alter military glory a man naturally sister he said himself in bis and assuming the stiff carriage of a conceited young oil parade a man naturally feels proud on horseback it is what i call to have a noble beast under you that you can urn and wind and check and set forward as you please as if hia limbs ware your own you feel stronger and in this world i do believe a strong man is always proud now i should think a woman would feel even more so than a man because being weak by nature she must grow happier to think how much muscle she can put in motion by only pulling a rein some j in that henry replied so there is sister and i tell you more that when a person has this sort of as they call it they always get more themselves and that s the reason as far as i am a judge that you always feel in better spirits when you are on m f especially if ft should be in front of a troop ejaculated henry taken by surprise in the midst o discourse by the sight of a of wild that ran across the road hundred pace did you see that f here s game for us n and in be sprang horse which he fastened to one of the neighboring trees ran off with bis rifle in bis hand in pursuit of the flock instincts were those of a keen was before bim did tbe same thing and in a few n found herself left entirely in ro j horse to and half to smile at the eager and desertion of her attendants who were now in quick but cautious pursuit of the brood of the speed with which these birds are accustomed to run through the woods their to some distance into the depths of the forest and patiently awaited the return of her companions on the ground where they had left her after five or ten minutes had elapsed it was with a sensation of some little concern that she upon the road a stranger mounted on horseback and coming at a brisk trot to the spot where she had halted the appearance of the individual was that of one of the irregular soldiers who had accompanied gates s army his dress was rustic and his weapon according to the almost universal fashion of the country troops the long rifle the condition of his sturdy showed long and service whilst the bold and manly person of the rider left little room to suppose that he was to be amongst the many who had fled in panic from the field of action as soon as the stranger aware of the presence of the lady he his speed and approached with a respectful salutation if i be so bold ma am how far it be to a river they call the u it is scarce two miles away sir replied and there if i don t said the traveller is a house kept by the widow the blue ball i think u there is sir and no forks in the road this and the it is a plain road replied and about two miles is squire s at a place they call the dove p does your business take you there asked with interest u are you from the army whence come you p beg ma am replied the stranger smiling but i am an old and rather about answering questions that myself i suppose it is likely i see mr p ay sir tell me what brings you here and who you are i reasons for so far upon your kindness i self live at the dove and r horse shoe robinson u then you have of one major arthur butler t w oh yes sir if you have any news of him speak it to me quickly exclaimed with much agitation by that sparkling of your eye ma am it is no guess that you are the identical particular lady that i have rode nigh on to five hundred miles to see you have the major tell of horse shoe robinson and arthur butler u he is well madam and in good heart excepting some trifling that don t come to much account u thank god thank god for this news i have brought two letters miss from the major for you they will tell you i believe mainly that the major is in the hands of the said horse shoe through the of his dress and getting loose the belt and from which by the help of his jack knife he the but they leave the story to be told pretty much by me the long and the short of it is that the major is a prisoner and wants some assistance from you but there is no danger of any harm being done him eagerly tore open the letters and read them then heaving a sigh she said he is closely watched and with misfortune he to you mr robinson and i must beg you to tell me all horse shoe with a cheerful and occasionally even with a laughing manner adopted to the lady and her fears all such particulars of butler s adventures as were necessary to enable her to comprehend the	29
nature of his present mission to the dove before this narrative was brought to a close henry and foster had returned bringing with them a large turkey which henry had shot and which the young was exhibiting with triumph here s a new turn of good luck i horse shoe robinson the brave shouted henry as soon as he observed the stout fig re of our old friend is major butler here too f horse shoe robinson he demanded as he shook the s hand or have you come alone now sister you ought to be a happy woman you bring us good news mr horse shoe i know you do the news is better than it have been if the had had their way replied horse shoe but a s life has both shade and sunshine in it and the major is now a little in the shade brother mount quickly said we have business before us mr robinson ride beside me i have much to say to you foster after the and reminding of his engagement to meet his troop took his leave of the party the rest repaired with as much expedition as they were able to employ to the dove horse shoe to the brother and sister as they went along a great many particulars of the late history of butler when they reached the house orders were given for the accommodation of the and the most attention was shown to everything that regarded his comfort frequent were held between and henry and the the letters were and all the circumstances that belonged to butler s means of were anxiously discussed how unlucky is it said that my father should be absent at such a moment as this arthur s appeal to him would convince him how wicked was charge against his honor and yet in my father s late mood the appeal might have been ineffectual he might have refused we are in great difficulties and i know not what to do a letter you say has been written to lord yes ma am and by a man who sharpened his pen with his sword a you heard nothing of the answer of his there was not time to hear will be prejudiced by those around him and he will refuse said with an air of deep solicitude not if he be the man i take him to be young replied horse shoe horse shoe the world says he is above doing a cowardly thing and it isn t natural for one brave man to wish harm against another except in open war did you hear of one in the british camp but how could you that was an assumed name tou mean the gentleman who was here when the major stopped at s said robinson that was the name the landlady spoke about if i remember myself i did not hear of him ma am in my travels but his servant james i met oftener i undertake to say than the fellow wished he was in major butler and me at s ford it was out opinion he was hired there exclaimed that what i guessed of s i will go to myself i will expose the whole matter to his henry my dear brother it is a rash venture but i will essay it you must accompany and protect me that s a sudden thought sister and you may count on my hearty good will to help it along it is a brave thought of yours besides said pondering over it and everybody will praise you for it robinson listened to this resolve with an incredulous ear u you wouldn t venture young madam to trust yourself amongst such rough and people as you would have to go among before you could see in danger of being taken up by and or arrested by or dragged about by and fellows that have more in them than wolves oh no ma am you don t know what you would have to put up with that s mr henry here and me can take a letter i may not trust to letters i must go myself you will protect me mr robinson my brother and i will form some good excuse that shall take us through safely ma am i will stand by you through all chances if you replied the but not many women with their eyes open would set out on such a march it will be easily achieved said it is an honest and virtuous cause that takes me away and i will attempt it with a v it t but come my fathers n give ine free passage through the enemy s lines and you shall pass as my attendant if you have a heart stout enough ma am for such hard fare i believe i undertake for your safe passage answered horse shoe and it would do the major great good to hear that you was stirring in this matter yourself as long as you think necessary said but if you can be ready to set out to morrow i should like to go then and at an early hour don t stand upon my fatigue young lady i never saw the time when i wan t ready to march at the shortest warning with your leave i will go look after my horse captain peter i call him ma am a little chance of a roll and the privilege of a good green pasture soon puts him in marching trim the now left the room sister said henry you never thought a better thought and you never contrived a better act than just taking matter in hand yourself under mine and horse shoe s protection because horse shoe is as brave a man as you ever fell in with and as for me i ll back the we can finish the thing in two or three	29
blow the country over which was now to travel was calculated to tax her powers of endurance to the utmost it was a dreary waste of barren wilderness covered with an endless forest o g y pin through sandy road c e in horse shoe robinson and melancholy shade here and there a miserable hut occurred to view with a few ragged inmates surrounded by all the signs of poverty the principal population were only to be seen along the banks of the rivers which penetrated into this region some twenty or thirty miles distant from each other the through which these streams found a channel to the ocean were the only tracts of land of sufficient to afford support to man all between them was a and gloomy forest still these regions were not deserted bodies of irregular troops ill clothed and worse armed and generally bearing the haggard features of disease such as mark the population of a sickly climate were often encountered upon the road directing their wearied march towards the head quarters of the republican army the of the southern summer had not yet and it was with painful steps in the deep sand amid clouds of dust that these little their journey so far from sinking under the weariness and increasing hardships of her present toils seemed to be with a capacity for them much beyond anything that could have been believed of her sex her courage grew with the difficulties that beset her she looked upon the obstacles before her and encountered them not only without murmur but even with a cheerfulness to which she had hitherto been a stranger the of her onward march her patience and the gentle solicitude with which she turned the thoughts of her companions from herself and forbade the supposition that her powers were over showed how deeply her feelings were engaged in her enterprise aud how her mind had taken its resolution one never would have guessed said horse shoe towards the close of the second day after they had entered north that a lady so nursed as you was at home mistress could have ever borne this here of it through these woods but i have made one observation that no one can tell what they are fit for till they are tried and on the back of that i have another that when there s a great stir that up a whole country it don t much signify whether they are man or woman they all get roused alike for shoe robinson my word ma am i have seen men who think themselves too that would be on willing to trust themselves at this time o year through such a dried up piece of pine barren as we have been travelling over for two days past you remember the fable of the willow and the oak mr robinson replied smiling storm may bring down the sturdy tree but the will bend before it without breaking i m not much given to religious on said the but sometimes a notion comes into my head that looks a little that way and that is when god a thing to be done he gives them that s to do it all the now as major butler is a good man and a brave god bless him it does seem right that you mistress who i take on me to understand enough of your and his n without offence to say has a leaning towards the major i say it does seem right and natural that you should lend a hand to help him out of and so you see the cause being a good cause the lord has given you both wisdom and strength to do what is right we owe a duty to our country and we serve god and our country both when we strengthen the hands of its that s a speech young lady and it s a noble speech said horse shoe with an earnest emphasis i have often told the major that the women of this country had as honest thoughts about this here war and was as warm for our cause as the men and some of them perhaps a little warmer they could be against the women of any quarter of the globe in bearing and both when it is for the good of the country henry is asleep on his horse said looking at her brother who now and worn with the effort of travel was nodding and dropping his head forward and almost losing his seat u what henry brother she added loud enough to rouse up the young my are you going to fall from your horse where is all that boasted upon which you were disposed to be so eloquent only a week ago i thought a man on horseback was naturally proud i fear it was only on i lay occasions you meant henry you a word for a horse shoe robinson sunny day and a dry journey f you more like a miller s boy with his bag of meal than a young soldier setting out on his adventures ah sister said henry waking up this is nothing but pine pine and sand without end there is no game in the woods to keep a man on the look out except here and there a herd of wild that and run from us like a of cavalry with their set up on their backs as fierce as the back fin of a there is not even grass to look at you might see a black snake running half a mile amongst the trees and then there are such great patches of burnt timber every trunk staring right at you as black as thunder i m tired of it all i want to see the green fields again and in truth brother so do i	29
but not until we can bring merry faces to look upon them how far are we from we should be drawing nigh to the town replied horse shoe for you may see that we shall soon be out of these woods by the signs of open country ahead the last of that passed us said that when we came to the farms we shouldn t be more than five miles from the town and the sun isn t above an hour high in the hope of being soon then mr robinson i may confess to you i am somewhat weary but a good night s rest will put me in fair condition for to morrow s ride again after the lapse of an hour the party were safely sheltered in a tolerably comfortable inn at the village and aided by the care of henry found herself well bestowed in the best chamber of the house chapter xl from our travellers continued their route towards the by the main road which led through cross creek a small hamlet on cape fear river near the site of the present town of the general features of the country were even more forbidding than those i have already described as characteristic of this portion of north even to the present day cultivation has done but little to cheer up the natural desolation of those tracts of wilderness which lie between the rivers but at the early period to which the events i have been have reference the journey undertaken by our little might be compared to that which is now frequently made through the more southern extremity of the union from the atlantic to the gulf of an attempt seldom by a female and sufficiently trying to the of the travellers the and attention of horse shoe robinson however contributed to the pains of the enterprise and to enable to overcome its difficulties in the present alarmed and excited state of this province the party were less liable to interruption in this secluded and destitute section of the country than they might have been had they chosen a lower and more district and the consciousness that every day s perseverance brought them nearer to the ultimate term ot their journey gave new vigor at least to s capacity to endure the to which she was exposed but few of the war yet occurred to their view the great wilderness like the great ocean no traces of the passage of hostile bodies sometimes indeed the signs of a were visible in the midst of the forest on the margin of some brook or around a fountain where the impression of recent prints the scattered fragments of cut for temporary shelter and the still ashes of camp fires showed s shoe that masses of men been in motion the deer fled too with a more frightened bound towards their as if lately alarmed by the pursuit of ike but the images of which are associated with the horrid front of war in the mind of all familiar with its were absent the eternal leafy shade high over the heads of the furnished no object for human vengeance and it still sighed in the of the breeze as of old it sighed before man claimed dominion in the soil it sheltered a far different scene was shortly to be looked upon by our friends several days had again passed by for the journey through the wilderness had been slowly when robinson towards the approach of evening announced to his conjecture that they were not far off the the banks of this river had been the scene of frequent and the war that had been carried on here was of the most kind the river is by a broad deep and quiet stream with a vegetation of exceeding its seems to have poured out upon its margin a soil of inexhaustible richness that for a mile or two on either side forms a striking contrast with the low barren sand hills that hem in the river plain along this tract of level border all the way to the atlantic are found as is usually the case throughout the the large of gentlemen who by the cultivation of rice and cotton turn the of the soil to the best account these possessions presenting the most points to an enemy and indeed almost the only ones in which the great interests of the province might be wounded were during the whole of that bloody struggle which distinguished the days of the tory the constant objects of attack and here the war was with a on the part of the british and tory that is scarcely surpassed in the history of civil the finest estates were the ft burnt and the property destroyed with rage the men were dragged from their houses and hung the women and children turned without food or into the wilderness and political vengeance seemed to itself to upon its own the thoughts of robinson had been for some days past running shoe upon the probable difficulties that might attend the guise in which he was to return to his native province this was a subject of some concern since he ran a risk of being compelled either to desert his charge or to bring his companions into amongst the many persons of both armies who were at least by report acquainted with his name his military he had explained to the necessity of his appearing in some definite character associated with the object of her journey and of which upon emergency he might claim the benefit to retain his post near her this matter was settled by henry in general mr horse shoe you can call yourself foster you know and you can say that you are mr philip s gardener here can let you enough into the craft to pass muster if any of them should take it into their heads to you mind that	29
and recollect old fellow you are only sister s waiting man master replied and i ll tell you all about so that you can get your lesson by heart you have a wife and five children remember that i ll give you all their names by and by thanks to the of god that ar n t my misfortune yet said horse shoe laughing but mr henry i have got conscience enough now for any lie that can be invented the major and me talked that thing over and he s of opinion that lying in an enemy s country is not forbidden in the and i have the preacher say that who was not a woman of good fame no how yet she was excused by the lord for telling the king of a most lie her not knowing what had become of the two men that the judge of who was a general besides had sent into the town to which was a strong case henry seeing that the was a taking of sides against her own people so i like your plan and i ll stick by it this being agreed upon it became one of the amusements of the road side to put the through his which was designed to make him familiar with the traits of private history relating to the dove and its that he horse shoe robinson might thereby maintain his identity in the event of a close investigation horse shoe was but an awkward scholar in this school of disguise and gave henry sufficient employment to keep him in the path of probability and indeed the young teacher himself found it difficult to maintain an exact in the part which it was his own province to play in this deception on the evening to which we have alluded the finding himself within a short distance of the district of country in which he was almost certain to encounter parties of both friends and foes adopted a greater degree of than he had hitherto deemed it necessary to observe his purpose was to halt upon the borders of the forest and endeavor to obtain accurate information of the state of affairs along the river before he entered upon this dangerous ground like a soldier who had a rich treasure to guard he was determined to run no hazard that might be avoided in the safe conduct of the lady in whose service he was in accordance with this caution he directed the to move onward at a moderate walk in order that they might not reach the limit of the before the dusk of the evening and also in the hope of finding there some habitation where they might pass the night they had not advanced far in this manner before the at some distance ahead a small log hut standing by the road side which by the smoke that issued from the chimney he perceived to be inhabited upon this discovery he ordered the party to stop and await his return then giving spurs to his horse he galloped forward and after a short interval of absence returned made a favorable report of his and conducted his companions to the house the little cabin to which was thus introduced was the of an honest soldier by the name of who was now in service under the command of one of the most gallant that any country ever produced francis then recently promoted to the rank of a the inmates were the soldier s family consisting of a young woman and a number of small children all by their appearance a condition of exceedingly limited comfort the hut contained no more than two rooms which exhibited but a scanty supply of the meanest furniture the forest had been cleared for the space of a few be shoe bob ix bon acres around the dwelling and these were occupied by a small garden or vegetable patch with scattered and half plants and by a along the skirts of which some lean were seen groping with a a shed in the same formed a for a few cattle that probably obtained their principal but slender support from the neighboring wood add to these a troop of fowls that were now at upon one of the trees hard by and we have probably a tolerably correct of the worldly goods of this little family the woman of the house was kind and hospitable and her attentions were in no small degree quickened by the application of a few pieces of money which insisted upon her receiving much to the discomfiture of the dame s self possession the boon consisting of hard coin to an amount of which perhaps she had never before been was exceedingly fatigued and it was an object of early consideration to furnish her the means of rest our hostess assisted by old and but awkwardly by horse shoe began her preparations for supper to the abundance of which the was enabled to contribute some useful elements from his in one of the apartments of the hut a shock bed was spread for the lady and by the assistance of her cloak and some other which had been provided as part of her travelling gear she was supplied with a couch that formed no ill exchange for the weariness of her saddle use and necessity are kind nursing mothers to our nature and do not often fail to us with the qualities proper to the fortune they shape out for us this was not s first experience of a homely lodging since she left the dove and as and toil have a faculty to convert the rough of the peasant into a bed of down she hailed the present prospect of rest with a contented and grateful spirit the supper being our lady was left alone with her hostess to seek the repose of which she stood so much	29
in need the now set about making provision for the rest of his party this was done by a shelter beneath one of the trees of the forest opposite to the door of the cabin it was com horse robinson posed of a few boughs against the trunk of the tree sufficiently covered with leaves to turn aside any rain that might happen to fall under this cover horse shoe appointed that he and his comrades should pass the night them to keep a regular watch for the security of the lady whose welfare was now the object of his most attention all these preparations were made with the of military rule and with a skill that greatly delighted henry the long summer twilight had faded away had been from an early period in the enjoyment of a profound slumber and henry and his negro ally were seated at the front of their tent the had lighted his pipe and now taking his seat upon a log that lay near his post he began to smoke in good earnest with a mind as free from anxiety as if universal peace prevailed in the enjoyment of this luxury he fell into a on matters and things with long and strange stories of his own singular adventures which he told to the no small and amusement of henry and the negro the habits of the experienced soldier were curiously illustrated in the thoughtful and sober foresight with which robinson adapted his plans to the of his condition and then in the light with which after his measures of safety were taken he waited the progress of events his seemed to be an instinct by a familiarity with danger whilst the steady and tone of his mind was an attribute that never gave way to the of care he was the same composed and self possessed being in a garrison in the moment of a threatened as amongst his by a winter fire side in this here henry he said after he had puffed out two or three charges of his pipe i can t see your eyes but by your yawning i judge you are a little sleepy take my advice and turn in a ought to snatch his rest when he can get it hi guard over our young lady the lord protect her for a most an elegant and precious young creature fling your great coat upon the leaves and go at it my lad like a good fellow if i was at home mr horse shoe at the dove i could horse shoe robinson up all night listening to your stories but i believe am to night for my eyelids this hour past have been snapping like rat traps so til just stretch out for an hour or so and then get up and take my turn at the guard don t trouble your head about watching replied horse shoe you are not old enough for that yet at your time of life mr a good night s rest is the best part of a and tomorrow if i m not mistaken you will have need of all the strength you can muster to night as for me it isn t much account whether i m asleep or awake not so fast rejoined the youth i m an older soldier than you take me for and i have watched many a night for no no i ll have my turn towards morning so you and take the first part of the night between you and if anything should happen call me i m one of your minute men so good night my horse harder than i thought he did it was not long before our boasted minute man was locked up in a spell apparently as profound as that which the legend assailed the seven and not even waiting for the good example of his master had already sunk upon the ground with that facility which his race the most and happiest of mortals chapter our fortress in the good green wood our tent the tree we know the forest round ns as know the sea we know its walls of vines its of grass its safe and silent islands within the dark the faithful horse shoe being thus left to himself his pipe and taking his rifle in his hand paced to and fro upon the border of the road holding communion with his own thoughts carefully weighing the connected with his present singular expedition and revolving after his own fashion the fortunes of arthur butler and it was within an hour of midnight when the s meditations were interrupted by the tramp of a horse approaching the hut at a gallop but a few moments elapsed before a traveller who in the star light horse shoe could discern to be armed drew up his rein immediately at the door of the dwelling against which he struck several blows with his weapon calling out loudly at the same time mistress for god s sake open your door quickly i have news to tell you good woman in the name of mercy who are you exclaimed the voice of the dame within whilst a note of alarm was also heard from her fellow what do you mean by this and clatter demanded horse shoe in the midst of the uproar at the same time laying his hand upon the stranger s bridle rein what brings you here sir f stand back the women in that house are under my charge and i won t have them disturbed ft horse shoe robinson if you are a friend to mistress said the sternly speak the word if an enemy i will shiver your skull with the butt of my don t be rash good fellow replied horse shoe i take it you and me are on the same side what s that you stir in such a	29
with an angry vehemence they have had liquor to night or they would hardly up a blaze which should rouse eveiy on to track them like hounds it would be sport worth riding to look at if should get a glimpse of that fire but these wolves r i house shoe robinson have grown ever since gates made his fox at oh it is a most savage war said that roots up the humble hearth and fires the lowly roof where none but women and children abide i shudder to think of such wanton there s the thing miss that turns all our blood bitter man to man is fair game all the world over but this ere stealing of cattle and burning of houses and even cutting up by the roots the plants of the and turning of women and children naked into the in the dead of night it s a sorry business to tell of a christian people and a cowardly business for a nation that s a of its bravery the light of the had soon died away and our pursued their solitary road in darkness ignorant of the country through which they passed and uncertain of the point to which they tended a full hour had gone by in this state of suspense and robinson had once more resolved to make a halt and his party in the woods before however he could put this design into execution he was unexpectedly from the road side with the military demand of who goes there travellers was the reply where do you come from and where are you going u the first question i can answer said horse shoe u and that is from old a fortnight ago but to night from a tolerable snug lodging where some fellows troubled our sleep but as to where we re going it s more likely you can tell that for us you are sir it s more than i meant to be replied the you have of a man they call bloody spur he has pricked your pillows for you has he dick is good at that said a second comrades i understand you now said horse shoe with alacrity dick and bob both belong to your party am i right we are friends to and therefore friends to us said the your name sir and the number you have in company ii o it k shoe take us to the general and we will answer that replied horse shoe the have set upon s house and burn it to the ground it s like we may be able to tell something worth hearing at head quarters your man bloody spur gave us in charge to report him and to say that he would soon follow upon our track i wonder that he isn t here before now i will remain said one of the soldiers to his companion you shall take charge of the travellers the accordingly turned his horse s head and commanded horse shoe and his party to follow the conducted our along a by road that led round the head of a marsh and through several which in the darkness of the night were penetrated with great difficulty during this ride he horse shoe as to the events of the late of the he and his comrade had been stationed upon the path where the encountered them to direct the out riding parties of his corps to the spot of s the policy of this wary officer being to shift his station so frequently as almost equally to defy the search of friend and foe and were both expected and the who remained behind only waited to conduct them to the commanding officer who had since the disappearance of daylight formed a in this neighborhood s custom was to order his parties to return to him by roads where were directed to repair in order to inform them of his position a fact which as his movements were accomplished with wonderful and they were generally unable to ascertain in any other way at length emerging from the thicket and crossing what seemed by the of the horse s feet a the party under the guidance of the came upon a piece of which rising by a gentle slope furnished what might be called an island of dry ground that seemed to be only accessible by crossing the swamp upon this spot were in the form of the a party of cavalry which might have amounted to two hundred men several fires whose ruddy glare had been discerned for the last half mile of the journey were blazing forth from different quarters of the wood and threw horse shoe robinson a bold and sharp upon the figures of men and horses a feature of lively picturesque beauty to the scene the greater portion of the soldiers stretched beneath the trees with no other covering than the leafy above them the horses were in the neighborhood of their and the confused array of and other warlike instruments that were hung upon projecting boughs or against the trunks as they caught the flashes of the frequent fires seemed to be in number equal to the furniture of thrice the force were seen pacing their limits on the outskirts of this company and small bodies of on horseback moved across the with the regularity of military discipline here and there as if regardless of rest or awaiting some soon expected tour of duty small knots of men sat together amusing themselves by torch light at cards and more others had extended their frames in sleep upon their grassy and pillows we have seen war in its horrors exclaimed with an involuntary vivacity and here it is in all its romance sister i wish you were at home said henry eagerly and and i had the on this field to night i would undertake to command	29
a with any man here to horse shoe these were familiar scenes and he could not comprehend the source of that sudden interest which had so vividly aroused the admiration of his companions but asking the guide to conduct them immediately to general he followed the soldier across the whole extent of the until they halted beneath a large tree near which a few officers were assembled one of this group was seated on the ground and close by him planted in the soil a blazing pine flung a broad light upon a saddle the of which the officer had converted for the occasion into a writing desk make way for a of travellers picked up on the road tonight said the in a loud voice they wish to see general in a moment our party was surrounded by the officers and horse shoe addressed the person nearest to him shoe a lady sir from virginia that i started with from her father s house to fetch to but who has been most and in the very middle of the night by a pack of my name is sir said henry riding to the front my sister and myself were travelling south and have been obliged to fly to night before a of from bob s said horse shoe as i should judge some six miles back i want to report to general the lady likewise is tired as she has good right to be the officer to whom this was addressed directed a soldier to seek general and then approaching said madam we can promise but little accommodation suitable to a lady the tree is but an uncouth resting place but what we can supply shall be heartily at your service i feel sufficiently thankful replied to know that i am in the hands of friends sister alight said henry who now stood beside her and offered his hand and in a moment was on her feet the officer then conducted her to a bank upon which a few blankets were thrown by some of the soldiers in attendance if this strange place does not alarm you he said f you may perhaps find needful repose upon a couch even as rough as this you are very kind replied herself brother do not quit my side she added in a low voice i feel foolishly afraid but a few moments elapsed before the light of the gleaming upon his figure disclosed to the approach of a person of short stature and delicate frame in whose step there was a singular and rapidity he wore the blue and uniform of the staff with a pair of a belt and a three cocked hat ornamented with a buck tail gave a peculiar to his naturally sharp and decided features and a pair of small dark eyes in the from a countenance originally sallow but now from sun and wind there was a conspicuous alacrity and courtesy in the gay and tone in which he general madam is too happy to have his poor camp shoe honored by the visit of a lady they tell me that the were so as to break in upon your to night it adds greatly to my grudge against them have ventured said into the field of war and it does not become me to complain that i have met its gallantly spoken madam may i be allowed to know to whom i am indebted for the honor of this visit my name is my father at the dove in virginia under the protection of my brother and a friend i left home to travel into a long journey madam interrupted and you have been sadly vexed to night i learn we have a rude and country my sister and myself said henry u counted the chances before we set out i would call you but an inexperienced guide sir said the general addressing henry and smiling oh as to that replied the youth we have an old soldier with us horse shoe robinson hem foster i meant to say horse shoe robinson exclaimed where is he mr henry general and me said the have been a lie to tell the in case they should take us unawares but it sticks you see in both of our throats it s the true fact that i m horse shoe himself this calling me foster is only a hanging out of false colors for the benefit of the red coats and upon occasion horse shoe good fellow your hand said with vivacity i have heard of you before miss excuse me if you please i have business to night which is apt to thrust itself between us and our duty to the ladies he continued addressing a young officer who stood near him see if you call find some refreshment that would be acceptable to the lady and her brother horse shoe this way r i would speak with you now retired towards the place where the writing ma were first noticed and entered into an examination of the as to the particulars of the recent upon cabin before robinson had finished his narrative of the events of night a dashed up almost at full speed to the spot where stood and flinging himself from his saddle whilst his horse stood panting beside him asked for the general how now bloody spur what s the news demanded the black river are flying said the soldier i have heard that already interrupted the teu me what else i stayed long enough to secure s cattle and then set out for the river to cut loose the boats at the i did it in good time four followed close upon my heels who had been sent ahead to make sure of the means of crossing the fellows found me after my work was done and chased me good three miles they will hardly venture general	29
to swim the river tonight with all the they have in their hands and i rather take it they will halt at the till daylight then that s a lucky cast dick exclaimed u ho there wake up that tell him to sound to saddle come lads up up gentlemen to your duties forthwith the trumpet sounded and with its notes everything asleep started erect were seen hurrying across the ground in rapid motion some hastily on and their others the horses and everywhere were seen passing to and fro in all the agitation of a sudden muster as soon as had set this mass in action he repaired to and in a manner that no excitement from the general stir around him he said i owe you an apology miss for this desertion which i am sure you will excuse when you know that it is caused by my desire to punish the who were so ill as to intrude upon your i hope however you will not be a by the of our people as i will take measures to put y u under the protection of a good friend of mine the widow of a horse shoe robinson worthy soldier mistress who lives but two miles from this and whose hospitable mansion will afford you a shelter more congenial to your wishes than this broad of ours a guide shall be ready to conduct you your kindness general said puts me under many obligations horse shoe shall take a line of explanation to my friend added and now madam farewell he said offering his hand and you master or henry i don t know which you seem entitled to both good night my brave lad i hope before long to hear of your as a gallant soldier of independence u i hope as much myself replied henry withdrew and by the time that he had prepared the letter and put it into horse shoe s hands his troops were in line waiting their order to march the general mounted a spirited and galloping to the front of his men wheeled them into column and by a rapid movement soon left horse shoe and his little party attended by one who had been left as a guide the only tenants of this lately so busy scene the change seemed almost like enchantment the fires and many were yet but all was still except the distant murmur of the receding troops which grew less and less until at last there reigned the silence of the native forest our travellers waited almost without exchanging a word absorbed in the contemplation of an incident so novel to and her brother until the distant tramp of the cavalry could be no longer heard then under the direction of the guide they set out for the residence of mrs chapter the day had just begun to dawn as our party under the guidance of s soldier were across the on the opposite bank of which river lay the estate and mansion of mrs the and of the past night had ceased to the frame of and she now found herself sinking under the most painful weariness henry had actually fallen asleep as he sat upon the of the boat and rested his head against the s shoulder the whole party were overcome with the that is so distressing at this hour of dawning to all persons who have spent the night in watching and even the himself to the influences of fatigue and the most inaccessible of mortals and by fate or fortune the most occasionally nodded his head as if answering the calls of man s most welcome visitor it was therefore with more than ordinary contentment that our travellers when again mounted were enabled to in the first light of the morning a group of buildings seated upon an eminence about a mile distant on the further side of the cultivated that stretched along the southern margin of the river the guide announced that this was the point of their destination and the intelligence encouraged the party to the speed with which they over the plain when they arrived at the foot of the hill the character of the spot they were approaching was more distinctly developed to their view the mansion by a of trees that flung their broad and ancient limbs above its was of the best class of private dwellings old and stately in its aspect and exhibiting all the that the seat of a wealthy proprietor it was constructed entirely of wood in accordance with a notion that prevailed at that period no less than at the present that a frame structure was best adapted to the character of the climate it occupied the crest of a h o ft s k shoe robinson hill which commanded a view of the river with its extensive plains whilst in turn it was overlooked by the adjacent tract of country bearing the name of the as the party ascended this eminence henry in the eager and thoughtless satisfaction of the moment put his to his mouth and continued to blow with all his might deaf to the of his sister who was to explain that there was some want of courtesy in so abrupt a challenge of the hospitality of the family the blast was interrupted by horse shoe s laying his hand upon the instrument as he gave the a short military lecture you might fetch trouble upon us henry this here of horns or trumpets is sometimes a sort of of a garrison and if an enemy should happen to be on post here as god knows is likely enough in such wars as these why you have set the thing past cure for it is cutting off all chance of escape just as much as if the people had been ordered to horse it leaves nothing for us but to brazen	29
it out an old negro was first startled by the summons and appeared for a moment at the door of one of the out buildings as he looked down the road upon the approaching manifest signs of consternation after a brief glance he was seen to retreat across the yard to the door of the mansion house where he fell to beating at it with as much earnestness as if giving an alarm of fire shouting at the same time lord bless us mistress here is a whole of coming to turn everything get up get up open the door stop your you black jack said robinson who had galloped up to the spot and none of your lies is the lady of the house at home a window was thrown up at the same moment in an upper story and a female head decorated with a was thrust out whilst a voice tremulous with inquired what was the cause of this disturbance but before an answer could be given the head was withdrawn and the door opening discovered a youth scarcely in appearance over sixteen with a loose robe thrown around his person and a pistol in his hand ho shoe robinson who comes here and with what purpose was the question firmly put by the young man friends said horse shoe sent to the good lady by general sorry sir to be the occasion of such a but this here young lady has travelled all night and is most dead with hardships who with the rest of the company had now arrived near the door was about to speak when the retired calling the negro after him into the house in a moment the servant returned with mrs s compliments to the party and a request that they would alight then all s well said horse shoe and immediately afterwards lifting from her saddle a friend in need madam is the greatest of god s blessings i make no doubt you will find this as snug a nest as you ever flew into in your life and good most specially welcome replied smiling in the midst of all her pain for in truth i never was so weary the guide having now performed his duty announced that he must return to his corps and after a few cheering words of kind remembrance from coupled with a message of thanks to he wheeled about and galloped back towards the river and henry entered the house and the taking command of followed the horses towards the stable the brother and sister were ushered into an ample parlor comfortably furnished according to the fashion of the classes of that day and as she threw herself upon a sofa could not fail to recognise in the formal portraits that were suspended to the walls that she was in the dwelling of a family of some pride of name and after a short interval the of the mansion entered the parlor she was a lady of a kind and gentle aspect apparently advanced beyond the middle period of life and her features somewhat gave a sign of feeble health she was attired in hastily thrown on and there was some expression of horse shoe v a alarm in the and familiar manner with which she approached and inquired into the nature of this early journey i hope no unhappy accident my dear has driven you at this unusual hour to my poor house you are heartily welcome i fear to ask what has brought you my brother and myself madam said have had a most adventurous night this letter will explain general was so kind as to commit us to your hospitality the lady took the letter and read it miss my child i am truly happy to serve you you have had an awful night but these times make us acquainted with strange this young gentleman your brother is he your only attendant l n began to communicate the details of her journey when she was interrupted by her hostess u i will not trouble you with questions now my dear you must have sleep i dread lest your health may by this harsh exposure after you have had rest we will talk more and become better acquainted continued the matron addressing a servant maid who had just entered the room attend this lady to a chamber mr henry i believe so general calls you my son alfred shall take you in charge with these words the good lady left the room and in an instant after returned with the youth who had first appeared at the door upon being introduced by his mother to the guests he lost no time in obeying her orders in regard to henry whom he had conducted out of the room at the same moment that followed the servant towards a chamber the entire day was spent by our party in their strength towards which needful care the hospitable hostess contributed by the tenderest attentions on the following morning although refreshed by the of the long interval still exhibited the traces of her recent fatigue and upon the earnest recommendation of mrs by the almost authority of horse shoe for the had greatly won upon the respect of his companions by his prudence and discretion she determined to remain another day in her present resting place b shoe robinson mrs was the widow of a gentleman who had borne the rank of a colonel in the and had been employed in the earlier stages of the war in the southern provinces he had fallen in an unfortunate with some of s light troops on the river some sixteen months before and his widow with three daughters and no other male protector than an only son was now in this season of extreme peril upon a large estate which the evil fortune of the times had made the theatre of an	29
and active war she had been exposed to the most cruel from the to whom her possessions were generally yielded up with a passive and helpless submission and the firmness with which in all her difficulties she had to the cause for which her husband fell had gained for her the generous sympathy of the leaders and more than once stimulated them to in her behalf that were followed by severe upon her enemies these circumstances had given extensive to her name and drawn largely upon her the observation of both friend and foe to who hovered upon this border more like a than a champion whose footsteps might be her protection had become a subject of peculiar interest and the soldier frequently started up in her neighborhood when danger was at hand with a mysterious form of opposition that equally defied the calculations of and the lady was still in her weeds and grief and care had thrown a upon her cheek but the imposed upon her by the of the day her familiarity with and the necessity for constant foresight and decisive action had a certain into her character that is seldom believed to be but yet in the hour of trial itself an attribute of the female bosom her manners were considerate kind and with dignity she was the of a class of that for the honor of our country and of the human race was not small in its numbers nor upon trial unworthy of its fame in the sad history of the sufferings of the evening of the day on which arrived at the mansion brought of a brilliant achieved by and more accounts on the following morning confirmed ho shoe robinson the good tidings the alert had fallen upon the track of the who had been on the of north and whose had our travellers from s cabin had overtaken them before sunrise on the bank of the where they had been detained by reason of s successful removal of the boats a short but most decisive combat was the consequence and victory as she was wont had seated herself upon s banner the and his followers had as usual disappeared and the whole country was in a stale of agitation and dread the one side fearing a repetition of the blow in some for quarter the other alarmed by the expectation of quick and bloody these events still more contributed to s resolution to remain another day under the shelter of mrs s friendly before she would venture forth in the further of her journey here for the present we must leave her chapter at s mill she by the narrow door the way also and thought each bush her robe that tore the grasp of a foe the month of september was more than half gone the night had just set in and the moon shone forth from a clear heaven flinging her rays upon the rippling surface of the and upon the glossy leaves that in the wind by the banks of the stream when mary with wary and stealthy pace glided along the path intricate with that led upwards immediately upon the margin of the river for a full half hour had she toiled along this narrow way since she had stolen past the near her father s gate the distance was not a mile but the anxious maiden pursued by her own fears had more than once in the fancy that she was followed stopped in her career and concealed herself in the thick wood and listened with painful intensity for the footsteps of those whom her imagination had set upon her track there was however no pursuit it was the fox or the whose leap had disturbed the dry and rotten branches that lay upon the ground and mary smiled with faint at the illusions of her own mind she arrived at last beneath the brow of a that over the stream and in the shade of one of the angles of the rock she discerned the figure of a man seated upon the grass she paused with a caution as she the silent and half concealed person john is it you for mercy speak i why would you frighten me me mary don t you know me said the maiden as she took heart of grace and advanced near enough to put her hand upon john s shoulder powers above the horse shoe robinson man s asleep she added with a laugh who would have thought i should have caught you john at such a time as this why in truth mary said john waking up under the touch of his mistress and rising to his feet i deserve to be shot for sleeping on my watch but i have been so driven from post to pillar for this last fortnight that it is as much as i can do to keep my eyes open when night comes on so mary you will forgive me and more particularly when i tell you i was dreaming of you and thought this war was at an end and that you and i were happy in a house of our own i have been waiting for you for upwards of an hour ah john i don t think i could sleep if it had been my turn to watch for you there s the difference replied john u you women and us men you are so full of and and that i do verily believe all the sleeping in the world could never make you shut your eyes when anything is going on that requires watching whether it be for a sick friend or for a piece of now with us we take a nap on a hard trotting horse and fall to up to the very minute that the trumpet wakes us to make a charge what news from butler it is all	29
fixed answered mary to our hearts content lieutenant ever since s letter allows major butler greater privileges and the are not half so strict as they used to be so that i think we may give them the slip by the window that looks out from the garret room the major will be able to get upon the roof and that he thinks is near enough to the tree for him to risk a leap into its branches though i am almost afraid he is mistaken for it looks awfully wide for a spring he says if you will be ready with the horses an hour before day light to morrow he will try the leap and join you at the above the mill will saddle one of the and lead him to the place and the who keeps guard on that side p ah john that us said mary i m so much afraid that you will be rash it is in your nature to forget yourself tt tut girl don t talk of that i ll find a way to manage the i will steal up to him and take him unawares and then b robinson seizing him by the throat give him his choice of a knife in between his ribs or a handful of guineas in his pocket hadn t we better tell him what a good man the major is said mary alarmed at the idea of a struggle in which her lover s life might be and try to him to take our ha ha ejaculated the involuntarily that s a very good woman s thought but it won t hold out in a campaign the fellow might happen to have some honesty and then away goes our whole scheme no no blows are the coin that these buy their bread with and faith well trade with them in the same article u but then john you will be in danger u what of that girl when have i been out of danger and don t you see mary what good luck i have with it never fear me i will the fellow in the fashion known in the wars and if it must be so john i will say my prayers for yon with more earnestness than i ever said them in my life as my father says the god of will stand by our cause and when he is for us what care we who is against us you are a good girl mary replied john smiling get back to the house let major butler know that you have seen me and that i will be ready tt he is to be at the window said mary and i am to signify to him that you are prepared by setting up a plank against the garden fence in a place where he can see it he is to keep a from the window all night and when the time comes you are to flash a little powder on the edge of the woods upon the hill if he is ready then he will show his candle near the window sill that he says must be a sign for you to come on and when he sees you he will take the leap i understand it said tell to be sure of the horse u i have a great deal of courage john when danger is far but when it comes near i tremble like a poor coward said mary m does not my hand feel cold horse shoe robinson your lips are warm mary replied john kissing her and your heart is warm now never flag when it comes to the trial everything depends upon you we shall be very happy by to talk this thing all over how many soldiers are on s guard have none left you since i saw you yesterday none said mary one man left the mill two days since i think i heard them say he was going to ninety six on business for the lieutenant well well it makes but little odds how many are there so they but sleep soundly our business is more to run than to fight mary my girl step across to my father s to morrow and he will tell you what has become of me we must get the major out of this country of wolf traps as fast as we can u i forgot to ask you said the maiden if you had some coarse clothes ready for the major he must not seem to be what he is trust me for that replied the has given me a bundle with as fine a dusty suit in it as any miller s boy ever wore and besides that i have a meal bag to throw across the major s saddle and as for myself mary there s in my very looks we shall cheat all the this and now john before i leave you i have one favor to ask and what is that inquired the generous hearted soldier you know if i can i will grant it before it is named i would ask as a favor to me said mary with earnestness that you will not be too the major is a wiser man than you so be governed by him remember john if any ill were to happen to you it would break my heart i am not so my girl replied but that when there s occasion for it i can show as clean a pair of heels as any man and so for your sake you he said as he put his hands upon her cheeks and again snatched a kiss i will run to morrow like a whole troop of devils and now mary good night and god bless you girl it is time you were at home yet upon second thoughts i will walk part of the way with you	29
so take my arm and let us begin the retreat john i do so fear you may be hurt said the maiden as they shoe robinson pursued their way along the path her whole thoughts being absorbed with the danger of the enterprise be careful when you come near the to wait until his back is turned this moon shines bright and you may easily be seen but look girl the moon has scarcely two hours yet to travel and from that circle round it i shouldn t wonder if we had rain before day light so by the hour we have fixed for the major s escape it will be dark enough therefore you may be easy on that score the humble and ardent lovers pursued their way towards the miller s dwelling with slow steps intently engaged in conversing over the chances of their perilous project until they arrived at a point beyond which it was not safe for john to venture here after many affectionate caresses and fond they separated the maiden to steal to her place of rest the soldier to hasten back to his horse that awaited him near the scene of the late meeting mary soon arrived at the mill then carelessly towards the dwelling house began the better to conceal her purpose to sing a simple air during which she had wandered up to the garden fence where she delayed long enough to set up the plank the small window in the angle of the roof of the cottage looked down upon the spot where she stood and as she cast her eyes towards this part of the building she received a recognition from the prisoner in a slight waving of the hand which was sufficiently by the light of the within s having gone so far to the maiden s satisfaction she now retreated into the house the reader will perceive from thia narrative that butler s fortunes had greatly improved since we last took leave of him the messenger despatched to by had brought back to the fair forest where it will be remembered the of had retreated a more favorable answer than even the republican leader had hoped the british commander was not ignorant of the capture of butler but the circumstances of the trial bad not before been communicated to him upon the representation of he had no hesitation to order a horse shoe oh to be given to the prisoner for such reasonable time as might be necessary for further investigation this obvious act of justice was more than in the circumstances of the times might have been expected from the cruel and bloody policy which he adopted towards the inhabitants of the immediately after the battle of showed a tone of personal that was scarcely consistent with the displayed towards butler it is not unlikely therefore that the fear of upon the young st of whose fate he might have been informed from officers of his own camp might have induced him to in the present case and to grant a of proceedings against the rebel prisoner the reply to s letter accordingly intimated that for the present major butler should be held in close as a prisoner of war leaving the determination of the manner in which he was finally to be disposed of a subject for future consideration john after the departure of horse shoe robinson for virginia instead of his regiment returned to the forest camp where he remained with until the answer from was received the tidings of this answer he undertook to convey to butler and he again set out for bis father s house john felt himself now regularly in the service of the prisoner and having found means to communicate his present employment to general he obtained permission to remain in it as long as his assistance was of value the service itself was a grateful one to the young it accorded with the generosity of his character and gratified his personal pride by the trust which it implied but more than this it brought him into opportunities of frequent meeting with mary who passionately beloved by the soldier was not less ardent than he in her efforts to promote the interest of butler the state of the country did not allow john to be seen in day time and he and mary had consequently appointed a place of meeting where in the shades of night they might together on the important subjects of their secret conspiracy night after night they accordingly met at this spot and here all their schemes were contrived mary sometimes came to david s dwelling and the old man s counsel was added to that k of the lovers and were not ignorant of what was in contemplation but it was a piece of necessary policy that they should appear to be as little connected with the prisoner as possible therefore pursued his duties as assistant quarter master or to the little garrison under s command with the plan of butler s escape was john s he had been anxiously awaiting an opportunity to attempt this enterprise for the last fortnight but the difficulty of operations with the prisoner had his movement this difficulty was at last overcome and for a few days past the plan had been arranged all that was left to be done was to the hour and mary alone of the miller s family were made acquainted with the details was to provide a horse and a suitable disguise for butler and these were to be ready at a of that grew upon the edge of the river some quarter of a mile above the mill whenever mary should announce that john was ready to act s horse was to be brought to the same spot the preparatory already mentioned were all agreed upon and understood by the parties butler was to escape to the roof and thence by	29
and the into which they were brought gave rise to various inquiries after news amongst the on either side in this press butler was startled to observe the eyes of an individual him with a somewhat pointed scrutiny and it was with an emotion that had well nigh betrayed him that he recognised in this person one of s soldiers it was the man whom the lieutenant had despatched a few days previous with an errand to the post at ninety six and who was now returning with this of the soldier was evidently at fault for in a moment afterwards butler could perceive from his expression of face that whatever might have been his first suspicion it was by another glance the disguise was so far effectual but another cause of alarm arose that for an instant brought butler into greater the horse on which the messenger was mounted was the yoke fellow of the lean wall eye and the two beasts had been long accustomed to work side by side in the same wagon their mutual recognition t this critical moment became conspicuous their noses were brought in contact and they began to and the in that intelligible manner which one of the forms of expression by which this portion of the brute creation acknowledge their the presence of mind of john saved the explosion which must soon have followed he his horse between the two noisy and restless animals and immediately addressed a conversation to the soldier which for the moment turned his thoughts into another channel by this time the conference had terminated and the two leaders directing their men to move forward the was passed and each party from the other but no sooner was the separation completed than butler s wall eye began to with the most whilst a response was heard in the same tones as from the retreating companion on the other side of the horse shoe robinson u we were in great danger from yonder said addressing butler did you see that one of these fellows rode the mate of the beast you are on who could he be it was one of s men replied butler i knew the fellow the moment we met but thank heaven this humble dress concealed me faster major cried john these cursed horses are calling after each other now pray push forward until we get out of hearing how unlucky that should have given you one of the wagon cattle look back lads exclaimed winter with great earnestness there is something wrong these fellows are returning whip and spur or we are overtaken s soldier it seems having his attention drawn to the singular motions of his horse had become suddenly confirmed in the suspicion which at the late meeting for a moment rested upon his mind as to the identity of butler and having communicated his thought to the commanding officer the whole party of the tory had wheeled about to demand a further investigation they were now some hundred paces in the rear of the and were pressing forward at high speed the officer in the front calling out at die same time hold rein up and return we have questions to ask halt cr we shall fire u to it boys cried harry winter your safety is in your legs r and the party pricked onward as fast as they could urge their cavalry along the road the chase continued for some half hour or more the little escort of butler leaving the road and plunging into the recesses of the forest an occasional pistol shot was fired during this retreat but without effect on either side the tangled character of the ground over which they passed greatly the pursuit and before the half hour was spent none but a few of the of the were found in the chase seeing their number diminished and finding also that the horses of his own comrades were beginning to flag john assumed the command and directed his party to turn about and offer battle to the the immediate effect of this k robinson movement was to bring the to a halt which was no sooner witnessed by john than he shouted charge lads charge and the day is ours hack and good fellows down with the n this animated was followed up by a prompt in which the brave led the way and such was the of the assault that the enemy although consisting of twice the number of those who attacked them were forced to give ground a sharp ensued during which several were discharged on both sides and some hand to hand were sustained with a sturdy resolution but at last our friends succeeded in turning their to flight the combat had been maintained in that form of attack and defence which defied compact or organized resistance and the individuals of each party had been scattered over the wood for a considerable distance so that when the late were compelled oo retreat each man urged his horse in such a direction as was favorable to his escape by degrees butler s few companions began to at that part of the wood where they had their first stand there is nothing like striking the first blow at the right time aid harry winter as with his hat in his hand to allow the air to cool his brow he rode up to butler and halted to gain breath give me a hot charge on a slow enemy and i don t care much two to one of odds thank god that business is done and here we are all safe i hope where is john he inquired looking around him and observing that their comrade w b not amongst the number assembled i saw him close at the heels of the said one of the john has a trick of seeing a to the end and it is	29
his way back to s cottage and to endeavor to console the afflicted parents under their severe in his present state of feeling the disguise that seemed to make him almost a stranger to himself he threw aside the miller s dress and again appeared in his true character resolved to meet what he now believed to be the almost certain result a with all its probable consequences some of his party who were acquainted with the of their present position suggested to him that a family of the name of resided at no great distance from the scene of the late encounter and that by bearing to this place they might secure for it a decent burial the remains of the were accordingly laid upon a rude litter and his mourning comrades slowly and sorrowfully their way through the forest to the habitation here they arrived about noon having traversed a space of more than two miles to gain this asylum was a and occupied a rude cabin with a small clearing around it in the depths of the wilderness so remote from the highway as to promise as much security from the quest of the enemy as might be expected from any portion of the region in which he lived he received his guests with kindness and as he was himself acquainted with the family of the deceased he exhibited a lively sympathy with the around the body ho it si when butler now made known his purpose to set out immediately for the habitation of david winter asked permission to accompany him bat the interposed and recommended that he alone should be permitted to perform that errand leaving the others to remain with the corpse until his return it is before all others my duty said butler and come what may i will perform it then we will go together added the proprietor of the cabin it will be wise to wait until the day is a little more spent and return in the darkness of the night david will come back with us he would like to see his son before we put him in the ground that shall be as you please friend said butler i will be under your guidance an hour or two before sun down butler and his new companion left the cabin and took their route across the woods towards ram say s dwelling leaving the dead body in charge of the s family and the three soldiers the distance they had to travel did not exceed eight miles the of the tory party in the of the morning seemed to have induced a belief on the part of the enemy that the had made a successful retreat which was now beyond pursuit and there were in consequence no parties on the road to the travellers under these circumstances it was still daylight when they came in view of david s chapter great agitation prevailed at s post when the morning disclosed the of butler the lieutenant was conscious that this had exposed him to the risk of heavy censure and as was natural to a man who could not entirely himself of some neglect in the performance of his duty his first measures were taken in a spirit of and angry severity small parties were sent out to explore the neighborhood with a view to gain intelligence of the direction taken by the fugitive with orders to bring him in dead or alive the who were on duty during the night were arrested and subjected to a rigid examination on the events of their watch the several members of s family were also as to matters touching their own with the prisoner nothing however was gathered from these that was calculated to cast a suspicion of in butler s upon any individual either of the garrison or of the family it was only apparent that the prisoner had availed himself of the of the guard and the darkness of the night to make a bold descent from the window and had succeeded by one of those lucky accidents which sometimes the most cautious foresight the nature of the attempt did not necessarily suppose the aid of an and a faint hope was therefore entertained that be found still lurking in the vicinity of the post in the course of a few hours the first parties that had been in the morning returned they could give no account of the prisoner nor was there any light thrown upon the escape until about the dinner hour when a portion of the which had butler and his comrades in the morning arrived at the mill under the conduct of the soldier whose suspicions had led to the pursuit and which we have already described the report of these men left no room to doubt the identity robinson of butler with the person described a farther examination at the suggestion of the soldier showed that wall eye the was missing and it now became certain that butler had been aided by a party of the enemy with whom he must have been in correspondence the conclusion was that with his means of flight there could be little doubt of his being long before the pre sent period of the day out of the reach of successful pursuit the scheme was laid to the account of horse robinson whose name and adventures were already famous in this district and it was that was secretly posted in some neighboring to give his assistance to the enterprise with these reflections felt himself obliged to submit to the of the case a point of philosophy which he did not practise without a very visible and mortification his men were called together and after a short lecture on their neglect and an to a more soldier like vigilance in future which of the caution of the stable after the was stolen they were dismissed about an hour before	29
had fallen upon my own head oh no no no w exclaimed the matron as a flood of tears rolled down her cheeks and she endeavored to wipe them away with her apron it isn t true it can t be true my poor dear brave boy at the same instant mary fell insensible into the arms of her father where it was some moments before she gave signs of animation at length being laid upon the bed a deep groan escaped her which was followed by the most piteous wailing the scene wrought upon th younger members of the family who as well as the were heard pouring forth deep and loud accompanied with of the death of the soldier when this first burst of the general grief was over david arose from his seat and walked across the room to a window where he stood to compose and master his feelings at length facing butler he said in a low and tranquil john my son killed killed in a god is my witness i expected it it was his failing to follow his enemy with too hot a hand and i am to blame perhaps that i never checked him in that temper but he died like a man and a soldier major butler he added firmly he died in my arms replied butler as bravely as ever soldier closed his life his last thoughts were fixed upon his parents and dead interrupted as if with himself and regardless of butler s words dead he fell doing his duty to his country that s a consolation a man cannot die better if it please god i hope my end may be like his my boy come here you are now my oldest living son he said taking the lad s hand and looking him full in the face as he spoke with a of his lips i am willing much as i love yon that the country should have you no david david interrupted the mother rousing herself from her silent grief we have given enough no other child of mine shall venture in the war john john john my dear boy my brave son how good and kind he was to us all and how glad he was to get home to see us and how much we made of him silence wife said david this is no time to hold back from our duty listen to me remember your brother has met his death fighting against these monsters who hate the very earth that nurses liberty you are young boy but you can handle a we will not forget your brother s death nor the burning of a good house over your head and a full barn father nor the they have given my poor mother nor the thousands of brave men added the father who have poured out their blood to give us a land and laws of our own my boy we will remember these for vengeance not for vengeance said for justice david your enemy should be remembered only to prevent him doing mischief the lord will give him sword and spear and shield who stands up for the true cause and when it pleases him to require the sacrifice of life from the faithful servant who fights the battle he patience and courage to meet the trial your son was not the man david to turn his face away from the work that was before him may god receive him and comfort his distressed family he was an honest and brave son david a soldier never on replied the father yes i looked for this ever since my dwelling was to the ground by these i looked for it john s passion was up then and i knew the thoughts that ran through his mind ever since that day his feelings have been most bitter and he has flung himself amongst the making as little account of them as the when he puts his into the grass of the meadows god forgive him david said and strengthen horse robinson you and the boy s good mother in this sharp hour of trial they who draw the sword in passion may stand in fear of the judgment of the sword it is a fearful thing for sinful man to shed blood for any end but that of lawful war and at the bidding of his country god alone is the mary had again raised herself from the bed and at this moment gave vent to her feelings in a loud and bitter john is dead is dead she exclaimed i cannot believe it he that was so true and so warm hearted and that everybody loved they could not kill him oh i begged him to keep his foot from danger and he promised me for my sake to be careful i loved him father i never told you so much before but i am not ashamed to tell it now before everybody i loved him better than all the world and we had promised each other it is so hard to lose them that we love n she continued sobbing violently he was so brave and so good and he was so handsome mrs and so dutiful to you and his father coming home to see you whenever the war would let him and he walked and rode and ran and fought for his friends and them that he cared for he was so thoughtful for your comfort too she added as she threw herself on her knees and rested her head in the lap of the mother and there paused through a long interval during nothing was heard but her own mingled with the sighs of the party we were to be married after this war was at an end and thought we should live so happily but they have murdered him oh they have murdered him and with	29
matters of detail in the arrangements for the as required their attention a rude coffin hastily constructed of such materials as were at hand was deposited near the table a solemn silence prevailed which no less consisted with the gloom of the occasion than with the late hour of the night when the newly arrived party had dismounted and entered the apartment a short salutation in suppressed tones was exchanged and without further delay the whole company set themselves to the melancholy duty that was before them david approached the body and turning the sheet down from the face stood gazing on the features of his son there was a settled frown upon his brow that contrasted with the composed and tranquil of the deceased the father and son presented a strange and remarkable type of life and death the countenance of the stamped by the agitation of keen living emotion and the object mourned bearing the impress of a serene placid and repose the one a vivid picture of misery the other a quiet image of happy sleep david bent his looks horse shoe the body for some minutes without an endeavor to speak and at last retreated towards the door striking his hand upon his forehead as he breathed out the my son my son how willingly would i change places with you this night m was less agitated by the spectacle and whilst he surveyed the features of the deceased his lips were moved with the utterance of a short and almost prayer then turning to he inquired has the grave been thought of f who has attended to the preparations it has been thought of replied the i sent two of my people off to dig it before i went with major butler to see david we have a grave yard across in the woods nigh a mile from this and i thought it best that john should be buried there it was kindly thought on by you replied tf you have your father and others of your family in that spot david will thank you for it i do heartily said and will remember it at another time let the body be lifted into the coffin said the order was promptly executed by harry winter and the ther in a few minutes afterwards the rough boards which had been provided to close up the box or coffin were laid in their appropriate places and winter had just begun to hammer the nails into them when from the outside of the cabin was heard a wild and piercing scream that fell so suddenly upon the ears of those within as to cause the to drop the hammer from his hand in one moment more mary rushed into the room and fell prostrate upon the floor she was instantly followed by god of heaven exclaimed butler here is misery upon misery this poor girl s brain is by her misfortune this is worst of all mary mary my child ejaculated as he raised his daughter into his arms what madness has come upon you that you should have wandered here to night how has this happened said david all in the same breath x robinson when mary heard replied in answer to his father s question that you had all come to s to bury my brother she couldn t rest content and she prayed se to come after you and see him before they put him in the ground that i thought it right to tell her that i would come with and if i hadn t she would have come by herself for she had got upon her horse before any of us were aware i couldn t stay at home father said mary and speaking in a firm voice u i should have died with a broken heart i couldn t let you come to put him in the earth without following after you where is he i heard them the coffin it must be broken open for me to see him these words uttered with a bitter vehemence were followed by a quick movement towards the coffin which was yet and the maiden with more composure than her previous gestures seemed to render it possible for her to acquire paused before the body with a look of intense sorrow as the tears fell fast from her eyes it is true it is too true he is dead oh john john she exclaimed as she stooped down and kissed the cold lips u i did not dream of this when we parted last night near the you did not look as you do now when i found you asleep under the rock and when you promised me john that you would be careful and keep yourself from danger if it was only to please we were doing onr best for you then major butler and here is what it has come to no longer than last night he made me the promise oh me oh me how wretched how miserable i am daughter dear said u rise up and behave a brave girl as you know i have often told you you were we are born to and young as you are you cannot hope to be free from the common lot tou do yourself harm by this grief there s a good and a kind girl sit yourself down and calm your feelings took his daughter by the hand and gentry conducted her to a seat where he continued to address her in soothing language secretly afraid that the agony of her feelings might work some serious misfortune upon her senses house you are not angry with me father for following you tonight said mary for a moment the of her sorrow no child no i cannot be angry with you bat i fear this night ride may do you harm i can but die father	29
my reader will readily imagine with what fresh the grief rf poor mary broke forth whilst standing on the verge of the pit i which were to be the remains of one so dear to her ihe solemn interval or pause which between the arrival of the corpse at this spot and its being lowered into the ground was one that was not only by the loud sorrow of her who here bore the part of chief but all even to the who stood musing over their gave vent to feelings horse shoe robin k which at such a moment it neither belongs to humanity nor becomes it to resist the funeral service was performed by the character of the miller both physical and moral impressed his present employment with singular though his frame bore the traces of age it was still robust and muscular and his bearing erect and steadfast firmness of mind his head partially bald was now uncovered and his loose locks played in the breeze the were raised above the group and as they in the wind and flung their heavy volumes of smoke into the air they threw also a blaze of light upon the venerable figure of the miller as he poured forth an impassioned to the deity which according to the habit of thinking of that period and also to the of the religious to which the speaker belonged might be said to have expressed in an equal degree resignation to the will of heaven and defiance of the power of man though the office at the grave was thus prolonged it did not seem to be unexpected or wearisome to the who remained with interest until they had a hymn which was given out by the miller and sung in successive the religious of the place seemed to have taken a profitable hold upon the hearts of the and before the hymn was concluded even the voice of mary rose with a clear upon the air and showed that the of piety had already some of the more violent of grief this exercise of devotion being finished the greater part of the company began their retreat to the s cabin winter and his comrades remained to perform the useless and idle ceremony of their pistols over the grave and when this was accomplished they hurried forward to overtake the party in advance they had scarcely rejoined their companions before the horses of the wagon were seized by an unknown hand and the glare of the presented to the view of the company some fifteen or twenty of british u stand i charge you all in the name of the king called out an voice from the thicket and before horse shoe another word could be uttered the funeral train found themselves surrounded by enemies u hands off exclaimed butler as a soldier had seized him by the coat a pistol shot was heard and butler was seen plunging into the wood followed by winter and one or two others the were pursued by numbers of the hostile party and in a few moments were dragged back to the lights who are you sir demanded an officer who now rode up to butler that you dare to a command in the name of the king f friend or foe you must submit to be questioned u we have been engaged said in the peaceful and christian duty of burying the dead what right have you to interrupt us u you take a strange hour for such a work replied the officer and by the fired over the grave i doubt whether your service be so peaceful as you pretend old man what is he that you have laid beneath the turf to night f a soldier replied butler worthy of all the rites that belong to the of a brave man u and you are a comrade i suppose i do not deny it what colors do you serve who is he that asks captain m of the new replied the officer now sir your name and character you must be convinced of my right to it i have no motive for concealment said butler since i am in your power myself and four comrades are strictly your prisoners the rest of this party are inhabitants of the neighboring country having no with the war but led hither by a simple wish to perform an office of humanity to a deceased friend in myself and those under my command i for the others an from all i am an officer of the continental service butler is my name my rank a major of after a few words more of explanation the party were directed by the british officer to continue their march to a shoe robinson cabin whither in a brief space they arrived under the escort of their a night was passed under the s roof and when morning came the circumstances of the of butler were more fully disclosed the under captain m were on their way to join who was now posted in the upper district and being attracted by the sound of voices engaged in the at the funeral of john and still more by the discharge of the over the grave they had directed their march to the spot which they had no difficulty in reaching by the help of the borne by the the consisted of a company of horse some fifty men who had no scruple in seizing upon butler and his companions as prisoners of war it was some relief to butler when he ascertained that hi present were ignorant of h previous history and were with those who had formerly held him in he was also gratified with die assurance that no design was entertained to any others of the party except those whom butler himself indicated as captain m halted with his men at the s cabin until after sunrise during this interval	29
butler was enabled to prepare himself for the journey he was about to commence and to take an affectionate leave of and his daughter david and the s family and mary and their friend deemed it prudent to retreat with the first permission given them by the british officer and not long afterwards butler and his comrades found themselves in the escort of the tory cavalry bound for s camp thus once more was butler doomed to feel the of chapter a council of war at mrs s the sets forth on an adventure return to who comfortably sheltered under the roof of mrs had found herself after the repose of hours almost entirely in her former strength her thoughts were now consequently directed to the of her journey the attentions of the family whose hospitality she were however not confined to the mere restoration of her health the peculiarity of her condition thus thrown as she was amongst strangers in the of an enterprise which though its purpose was not disclosed to her was one of great peril and such only as could have been induced by some urgent and imperious necessity awakened in mrs a lively interest towards s future progress this interest was increased by the of our heroine herself whose mild and graceful courtesy feminine delicacy and gentleness of were so contrasted with the romantic of her present expedition general s letter also in the estimation of the hostess put her under a special obligation to look after the welfare of her guest accordingly now when the third morning of our travellers had arrived and thought of taking leave of the friendly family the first announcement of this purpose was met by an almost positive you are young my dear said the matron in your experience of the horrors of this civil war and make a sad mistake if you think that your sex or any sufficient reason you may have to justify you in going on will protect you against insult in case you should be so unfortunate as to meet parties of the t horse shoe my object madam replied is to go into the very heart of the enemy s ranks my business is to see lord himself shall therefore proceed directly to his head quarters that being my purpose i shall not regret the opportunity to throw myself upon the protection of the first band of loyal troops i may meet into lord s presence said mrs with an expression of wonder you have some very near friend who has suffered in the late battle a prisoner perhaps as this question escaped the lips of the lady who had hitherto purposely to inquire into the private history of s journey she shook her head and after some deliberation added you will pardon me my child for what may seem to be an idle curiosity i seek to know nothing that you may desire to keep secret but your journey is so full of to one so young and helpless as yourself that i fear you hav wisely considered the evil chances to which you may be exposed i have spent no thought upon the hazard madam replied there is no degree of danger that should my resolution you guess truly i have a friend who is a prisoner and in sad and more than that dear madam i have persuaded myself that i have power to save him a tear started in he eye as she added that is all i have thought of then may a kind and merciful heaven shield you they little know the heart trials of war who have not felt them as i have these rude soldiers miss i shudder at the thought of your trusting your safety to them my name madam replied i am ashamed to tell you has all its associations on their side i must trust to its power to bear me through not all sister interrupted henry from the beginning up to day i can answer for myself i have never had a thought that didn t take sides against the red coats a faint smile played upon mrs s features as she turned to henry and said you are a young rebel and a warm one i perceive such troubles as ours require grave my brother and myself must not be continued i alluded o ly to my father s in fl t have horse shoe robinson heard that lie some consideration in the esteem of lord and it is upon the strength of that i ventured besides i am well attended by a careful and wise soldier who rides as my companion and guide one who would not quietly see me let him be brought into our said mrs u i would not act without his advice with your leave i will send for him henry and alfred immediately upon this hint went in pursuit of horse shoe that important and personage arrived in the parlor a regular conference was opened which after a fe on the general aspect of affairs wherein the showed an abundance of sagacity and knowledge and a still greater share of warm and faithful concern for the welfare of the sister and brother whom he had in ward resulted in the conclusion that measures should be taken to ascertain the state of the country around in reference to made by the late movements of and his and especially what character of troops occupied the region over the would be to conduct his charge th the very considered as belonging to himself and he therefore determined forthwith to set out on a expedition as we propose to bear him company we will for present leave the family n the parlor to the enjoyment of the land communion that had already a mutual affection n the hostess and her guests the took his departure no the urgent of	29
after a few moments rest he saw them ride into the stream and pass in around the base of the rock the passage of the brook occupied some time for the thirsty horses were given a slack rein as they entered the ford and were allowed to drink this delay separated the aj those who first passed over had advanced a considerable before the of the rear had quitted the stream ome minutes that stir and noise prevailed which in a military ff generally the attempt to restore order amongst confused or broken ranks the frequent commands of officers the and their delay were given from front to rear in loud tones and the swift gallop of those who had in the stream as they obeyed the order and hastened forward to sent forth a quick and spirited evidence of bustle that broke sharply upon the silence of the surrounding forest these indications of activity unfortunately pricked with a sudden astonishment the ear of one who has heretofore a i not without renown in this history the and faithful peter who not sufficiently alive to the distinction between friend and foe now began to snuff and the ground and then a long and clear note or recognition to express his feelings of od fellowship towards the unseen strangers another moment and the gay and thoughtless reared plunged broke hia an i bridle and bounded through the woods with a speed that brought him into the midst of the troop where he wheeled up and took his place like a on the flank of one of the this incident caused the officer in command of the party to come again to a halt and to despatch a portion of his men to seek the owner of the horse an eager search commenced which was almost immediately terminated by the wary presenting himself to the view of the troop on a prominent and exposed point of the rock where he seemed to be busily and engaged with his jack knife in the bark from the roots of a tree that grew out of one of the of the cliff apparently he gave no attention to the around him nor seemed to show a wish to conceal himself from notice who in the devil are you and what are you about exclaimed the leading soldier as he mounted the rock and came up immediately behind robinson who was still fixed with one knee upon the ground his labor at the root of the tree good day friend said robinson looking up over his shoulder good day from your looks you belong to the army and if that s true perhaps you be able to tell me how far it is from here to the river get up on your feet said the other and follow me quickly i will take you to one who will oil the joints of your tongue for you and put you to studying your quick fellow move your heavy or i promise you i will fat sides with my sword point anywhere you wish sir if you will only give me time to gather up this here bark said the who heedless of the of the deliberately the handkerchief from his and spreading it out upon the ground threw into it the pieces of bark he had been cut ting and then taking it in his hand rose and walked after the soldier he was conducted to the troop who were waiting in the road the return of the men that had been despatched on this piece of service u quick move yourselves we have no tone to lose cried out the officer in command of the as shoe and his guide came in view and then after an interval of silence during which the walked heavily to the spot where the troop waited for him he added with an impatient make few words of it sir your name where from and where are you going my name captain if your honor is a captain and if i you i ax your honor s pardon my name is is foster most commonly u well whence do you come v u from fool why do you stop you i think where i was going i was going to get on my horse that s broke his bridle which i see you have for me and then back to my young mistress sir that was taken sick over here at a s house on she thought a little tea might help her along and i was sent out to try and get a few of the bark to take to her i suppose i must have rode out of my way a matter of some eight or ten miles to find it though i told her that i thought a little out of the garden would have done just as well but women are women sir and a sick woman in particular this fellow is more than fool i take it said the officer to a companion near him his horse seems to have been trained to other duties than gathering for ladies of delicate replied the other my horse interrupted the would have broken clean off if it hadn t a been for your honor they say he belonged to a muster in and i was warned that he was apt to get when there was anything like a set of nigh him and that is about the reason i expect why he took it into his head to fall into your company get on your beast said the officer impatiently u you must go with us if upon further acquaintance i form a better opinion of nay go about your business i am somewhat in a hurry to get back to the lady robinson silence mount your horse fall to the rear attend to this fellow he t leave us said	29
to that said horse shoe putting his hands into his pockets it i was told for i can t read of my own accord that i pass free without from the of the king this is it i believe sir to three at the rising sun four and six pence said reading this is a tavern bill ha ha so it is exclaimed robinson well i have been wo h i robinson keeping that there paper for a week past thinking it was my and like a fool x have gone and tore up the t other we are wasting time gentlemen said the commander turn this fellow loose and let him go his ways but hark you did you hear of a fight lately on between some of our and three days ago p they talked of such a thing on the river replied horse shoe well and what was said p nothing in particular that i can bear in mind like all the rest we have tried to get out of him you don t even know which party got the better oh i have that sir what did you hear speak out shall i give you the account of the matter p asked horse shoe or did you wish me to go into the particulars p any account so that it be short then i have that gave the t other side a bit of a beating aye aye so i suppose another tale of this jack the giant and what has become of p that s to me replied horse shoe do you remember the fool we met at the last may p asked one of the officers present of another this fellow might pass for a full brother in blood only i think this has the less wit of the two as heavy a lump certainly replied the officer this you say is the first time you have been in p to my knowledge replied the it is broad day gentlemen said we have been precious time upon empty give him his beast and let him be gone you are free to depart but look you if i hear any reports along the road of your having seen me or a word about my coming i ll you out and have you upon a stake twenty feet long thank your honor said horse shoe as he left the tent i never troubles my head with things out of my line horse shoe robinson then seeking his horse he leisurely rode back by the way he had and as soon as he found himself beyond the of the corps he urged captain peter to as much speed as the late duties of the good beast left him power to exert i chapter an incident of the war not to the time breakfast was just over when robinson was seen from the windows of mrs s parlor along the avenue that conducted to the front of the mansion and when he drew up his horse at the door the family were already assembled there to greet him the plight both of himself and of his was such as to tell the best part of his story they had travelled far and seen rough service the rest was supplied by the himself who before he moved from the spot where he had dismounted gave a narrative of his adventures which was listened to with great anxiety by the household by the s reckoning mrs s residence could not be more than twenty miles from the place where at daybreak he had encountered the british whom he had left with a full conviction that the expedition then on foot was to be directed against the country lying upon the river these tidings spread consternation throughout the mansion and the morning was passed in all the confusion which such an alarm might be supposed to produce the fright of the females rendered them and incapable of attending to the most obvious precautions necessary to meet the emergency in this robinson felt himself bound to assume the direction of affairs at his suggestion the plate and such other as were likely to of a were in hiding sufficiently secure to defy a hasty search the family was advised to assume the appearance of as much composure as they could command and the last and most emphatic of the was to provide an ample and various in the hope that the ill will of the might be by the display of good cheer all this was accordingly put into a train of accomplishment m horse shoe robinson in the midst of these precautions the fears of the inhabitants of the mansion were but too truly realized it was scarcely noon when the long column of s cavalry was descending the high hills that lay in the distance and soon afterwards taking the road that led into the plantation whilst the panic produced by this sight was still fresh the sound of and trumpets showed that the had already turned their steps towards the dwelling and the next view disclosed them from a wood and advancing at a full trot the quick beat of hoofs upon the soil and the sounds of shaken against the of the horses struck upon the terrified ear of the of the estate like the harsh of impending ruin and in the despair and agony of her distress she retreated hastily to her chamber whither she summoned her female and gave way to a flood of tears she was followed by who touched by the of the family in the alarm and found herself overcome by a terror which she had never before experienced in all the scenes which she had lately gone through obeying the instinct of her present fears our heroine beside her weeping friend in the midst of the group of servants and awaited in mute	29
the hostess and bar companion these sounds abruptly ceased and it was evident that the visitors had quitted the house it was with an emotion of delight that mrs from the window beheld colonel and his comrades galloping towards the main body of his troops that awaited him near the barn but on to the hall this sudden gleam of satisfaction was as suddenly clouded when the matron perceived a posted at the front door as soon as she came within speech of this he threw up his hand to his brow as he said the colonel commanded me to make his compliments to the ladies and asks the honor of their company at dinner colonel forgets himself said mrs with a stately reserve that showed she had now dismissed her fears u a brave soldier would hardly think it a triumph to insult females he is here to speak for himself madam replied the as at this moment returned to the door the lady of the house thus taken by surprise firmly stood her ground and awaited in silence the of the officer was somewhat disconcerted by this unexpected encounter he had entered with a hurried step but the moment he was aware of the presence of the dame he halted and removed his cap from his head as he made a low i am too happy madam he said in the persuasion that you have overcome your unnecessary alarm at this visit and feel pleased to be afforded an opportunity of making my respects in person i can conceive no sufficient colonel why a house like mine should provoke the visit of such a host of armed men shoe robinson your house madam has some fame upon this border for good entertainment it fell in my way and you will excuse me for the freedom of saying that i boast myself too much of a to pass it by by some token of my regard besides i may add without meaning to be rude our necessities in the article of madam are quit as great as general s who i understand does not scruple sometimes to take his contribution from you i should more readily excuse your visit replied the lady if you would time it when general was his contribution you might then your right to the share you claim this house is yours sir and it is not fit that i should remain to debate with you your claim to dispose of whatever you may find in it u why what a and wrinkled piece of insolence is here muttered the angry soldier his teeth under this rebuke as the matron withdrew well let the rail and the maidens weep their fill the border is mine and merrily will i hold it and will i light up the river too before i leave it curse on these free spoken women who says they are with that weapon that god has given them what ho you bag of foster i say look you have you all the provisions in the house set out upon the tables and don t spare your brandy which we have already tasted you have more of it so let us have the best i shall feast with a good will to day and i will do it or your ears shall be u everything in the kitchen sir is going on at a gallop said horse shoe and as for the your honor shall command the house to the last then yourself for i am in no mood to in a brief lapse of time an abundant board was spread and the leaders of the corps consisting of some twenty or officers of all ranks were gathered around it a scene of uproar succeeded that to the roof with the and mirth of those engaged in the when they had eaten and drunk their fill the greater portion of the guests were assembled at the front door from this position shoe robinson there was to be seen at no great distance a small of not above ten feet square constructed with a dark above which a venerable willow drooped its branches towards this some ve or six of the repaired to gratify an idle and at present a curiosity when they arrived here they leaned across the to read the inscription upon a stone that seemed but recently to have been placed there it was a simple memorial of the death of colonel of the which was recorded to have taken place but eighteen months before on the river in an engagement with the troops under general to this was added in the spirit of the times and in accordance with the sentiments of the leaders in the war of independence a bitter expression of censure upon the barbarous disposition of the enemy in homely but earnest phrase and speaking the hate of the in the same sentence that commended the virtues of the dead it was an moment for such a to meet the eye of those who gazed upon it and when it was read aloud by the captain of a troop whose natural temper rendered savage by the of the war was also at this moment exasperated almost to by the freedom of the table he his curses in loud and coarse rage against the memory of him to whom the stone was this fire of passion spread through the group around the tomb and each man responded to the first by others still deeper and more fierce the inscription to be an insult they made an attack upon the which was instantly and seizing upon the largest stones at hand they assailed the with such effect as soon to break it in pieces and then with a useless malice applied themselves to the inscription upon the fragments engrossed with the of this their attention was suddenly aroused by the near report of a	29
pistol the ball of which it was discovered had struck into the trunk of the willow i will kill some of the if i die for it was the exclamation heard immediately after the shot and alfred was seen struggling with an officer who had seized him the young man had been observed and followed as he madly rushed from a wing of the mansion towards the burial place horse shoe robinson and arrested at the moment that he was a second pistol henry shoot him down he screamed to his companion who was now approaching armed with his let me go sir i will not see my father s tomb disturbed by loose your hands cried henry directing his passionate defiance to the individual who with alfred loose your hands i say or i will fire upon you fire at the drunken around my father s grave shouted alfred they shall have it returned henry eagerly if it is the last shot i ever make and with these words the youth his piece at the same group which had before escaped alfred s aim but luckily the snapped and missed fire in the next instant horse shoe s broad hand was laid upon henry s shoulder as he exclaimed why master henry have you lost your wits do you want to bring and both down upon the heads of the whole house robinson stand back ejaculated henry i am not in the humor to be hush for god s sake hush foolish boy returned robinson with real anger you are as fierce as a young i am ashamed of you by this time the whole company were assembled around the two young men and the violent outbreak of wrath from those at whom the shot was aimed as well as from others present rose to a pitch which the authority of in vain sought to control already in this of rage one of the party whose motions had escaped notice in the confusion of the scene had hurried to the kitchen fire where he had snatched up a burning brand and hurled it into the midst of some in a narrow apartment on the ground floor the had drawn mrs and to the chamber window and whilst they looked down with a frightened gaze upon the confused scene below it was some moments before they became aware of the of henry and alfred in this sudden and angry was the first to discern the horse shoe two young men as they were dragged violently across the open space in front of the mansion by the crowd and to hear the threats with which this movement was accompanied merciful heaven i she exclaimed they have laid hands upon henry and alfred they will kill my brother my dear brother almost frantic at the danger that threatened henry and his companion she fled down the stair case and in a moment stood confronted with colonel and his soldiers never fear sister cried out henry who was already brought into the hall as he saw descending the stairs t be alarmed for either alfred or me we are ready to confess what we did and why we did it and colonel if he is a true man will not dare to say we did wrong i charge you colonel said with a firm but excited voice as the soldier of a christian nation to save the people of this house from an and most wicked outrage i you as an officer who would be esteemed and as a gentleman who would fly from to rescue your name from the disgrace of this barbarous violence for the sake of mercy spare us spare us as she uttered this last her spirit yielded to the vehemence of her feelings and she flung herself upon her knee at the feet of the commander oh sir do not let harm fall upon my brother i know not what he has done but he is thoughtless and rash said henry immediately rushing to his sister and lifting her from the floor why should you kneel before him or any man here this is no place for you get back to your room then turning to he continued alfred and i tried to shoot down your men because we saw them breaking the tomb if it was to do over again our hands are ready they have insulted the memory of my father exclaimed alfred trampled upon his grave and broken the stone that covers him i aimed to kill the drunken coward who did it that i say sir to your face for a space seemed to be bewildered by the scene he looked around him as if hesitating what course to pursue and once or twice made an effort to obtain silence in the hall but the horse h b tumult of many voices in angry still continued at last he presented his hand to and with a courteous action conducted her to a chair then begged her to calm her fears as he promised her that no evil should either of the young men whose had occasioned the present uproar in god s name have they fired the dwelling j he exclaimed as at this moment a volume of smoke rolled into the hall what ho there o look where this smoke comes from and instantly the fire stir yourselves gentlemen by my if any of mine has been so wild as to put a torch to this house i will hang him up to the ridge pole of the roof look to it every man quick quick there is danger that the flames may get ahead in an instant nearly every soldier in the hall departed in obedience to this order i beg madam continued that you will dismiss your alarm and rest upon my pledge that no of this house	29
shall be i conjecture that i have the honor to speak to miss i have been informed that that lady has lately found shelter under this roof u it is my name sir and as the daughter of a friend to your quarrel let me you to see that this house is safe i cannot speak with you until i am assured of that at this juncture mrs was observed at the head of the first flight of stairs pale with wringing her hands and uttering loud of terror and grief as she made her way down to the hall oh sir she said as she approached the commander we are harmless women and have done nothing to call down this vengeance upon us take what you but spare my roof and save my family god will reward you even for that act of humanity to a desolate widow before could reply to the matron a party of officers came hastily into his presence at the head of whom was captain o who reported that the fire was extinguished one of the mess to day he said heated with drink and roused by the foolish temper of these hot headed boys threw a horse shoe robinson blazing into a closet luckily we reached the spot before any great harm was done the should be and taught better manners it was a silly affair and might have made mischief see that the be arrested replied i will take measures to this license these too however i can t blame them they had provocation i confess and this war gives an edge to all the metal of the country instead of pop guns now every baby has his powder and ball dismiss the boys to your post captain and order every man to join his company now madam he added in a tone of to mrs as soon as the hall was cleared i am sure you will not accuse me of my people have withdrawn the fire is extinguished these lads at liberty i answered your wish you have won the gratitude of a mother replied the dame and the respect of an enemy i am bound to say to you in return that i cheerfully surrender to you whatever you may choose to take from my estate for the supply of your soldiers alfred my son give me your arm and help me to my chamber i am feeble and faint i must ask your permission to withdraw she continued as she to and ascended the stairs and j too must take my leave said but before i go i may claim the privilege of a word with miss you spoke of your father madam and especially as a friend of our arms i have been told he lives in virginia philip the proprietor of a seat called the dove a too am i right p so my father is known sir that name has stood you in stead to day madam and this is your brother i should think he is hardly of your father s mind in regard to our quarrel this way my thoughtless young gallant it was a wild bold and very conceited thing of you to be my and would have been no so if you had had twenty score of tall fellows at your back but it is past now and you need not for it it showed at least and we never quarrel with a man for that may j horse shoe robinson inquire miss in what direction you travel for i learn you are but a here it may be in my power to your safe conduct i seek your general lord on matters of private concern replied u and if i might venture to ask it of colonel his service in affording me an passage would be a favor that i should gratefully acknowledge the obligation will be on my side madam it will be a pleasure to me to believe that i can serve a lady much more the daughter of an honorable subject of the king permit me without further for time presses at this moment to say that i will leave an escort behind me under the command of a officer who will wait your pleasure to conduct you by the safest and easiest journey to head quarters your commands madam shall m all respects his motions my communications with his shall announce your coming now miss with my best wishes for your safety and success i take my leave and as a parting request i venture to hope you will do me the justice to say that is not such a sinner as his enemies have sometimes been pleased to represent him these last words were accompanied by a laugh and a somewhat bluff courtesy as the speaker swayed his rigid and figure into a succession of awkward bows by which he retreated to the door i shall be happy on all occasions replied whilst the soldier was thus playing off the graces of a gallant to do justice to the kindness which i have experienced at colonel s hands there said henry when had disappeared you see things have gone very pat for us that comes of letting these fellows see who they have to deal with a little powder and ball is a good letter of recommendation to the best of their gang if my hadn t missed fire to day would have been short by one bottle at least when he set out to steal liquor from the country it has ended well brother replied but it does not become you to boast of what you have done it was a rash and l horse shoe robinson dangerous deed and had nearly brought ruin upon this friendly family tut sister you are only a woman you wouldn t have found the colonel so	29
civil if we hadn t taught him to look after his men chapter arrives at the term of her journey the reader ib favored with a glimpse of a distinguished personage after the battle of turned his thoughts to the of his the invasion of north and virginia was a purpose to which he had looked from the commencement of this campaign and he now accordingly made every preparation for the speedy advance of his army the sickness of a portion of his troops and the want of supplies rendered some delay inevitable and this interval was employed in more fully the civil government of the conquered province and in his frontier by considerable parties of men towards the mountains the largest of these was sent to to whom had been confided the operations upon the north western border the of the time inform us that the british general lay at until the th of september at which date he set forward towards north his movement was slow and cautious and for some time his head quarters were established at the a position directly upon the border of the province about to be invaded at this post our story now finds him the period somewhere about the commencement of the last quarter of the month a melancholy train of circumstances had followed the fight at and had the feelings of the parties against each other to an unusual degree of the most prominent of these topics of anger was the unjust and severe construction which the british authorities had given to the obligations which were supposed affect such of the inhabitants of south as had after the of surrendered themselves as prisoners on or received robinson from the new government a issued by sir henry in june the and ordered all who had obtained them to render military service as subjects of the king this order which the prisoners as well as those who had obtained held to be a dissolution of their contract with the new government was by a large number of the inhabitants many of whom had immediately after the joined the american army permitted himself on this occasion to be swayed by sentiments unworthy of the character generally to him many of the inhabitants were found in the ranks of gates at and several were made prisoners on the field latter by the orders of the british general were hung almost without the form of an inquiry and it may well be supposed that in the heat of war and of passion such acts of de on such light grounds were met on the opposite side by severe almost every day during the british commander s advance some of the citizens of the province whom this harsh construction of duty affected were brought into the camp of the and the had grown horribly familiar with the frequent military that ensued it was in the of the occupations and cares presented in this brief reference to the history of the time that i have now to introduce my reader to he had resolved to move forward on his campaign orders were issued to prepare for the march and the general had announced his determination to review the troops before they broke ground a beautiful bright and cool morning shone upon the wide plain where an army of between two and three thousand men was drawn out in line the tents of the recent had already been struck and a long array of were now upon the high road slowly moving to a point assigned them in the route of the march attended by a score of officers still occupied a small farm house which had lately been his quarters a number of saddle horses in the charge of their and fully equipped for service were to be seen in the neighborhood of the door and the principal apartment of the h r x shoe h bi b k house showed that some of the of the company were yet engaged in the morning meal the de camp were seen between the army and the general with that important and neck haste which the tribe of these and almost a arrived bearing some message of interest to the commander in chief himself sat in an inner room v busily engaged with one of his principal officers in some documents regarding the detail of his force apart from them stood with hat in hand and in humble silence a young of your name sir said as he threw aside the papers which he had been and now addressed himself to the young officer of the thirty third foot replied the young man i have come by the order of the general to inform your that i hare just returned to my regiment having lately been captured by the enemy while marching with the third of the prisoners to ha you were of that party what was the number of prisoners you had in charge one hundred and fifty so please your they were captured u on by the and interrupted the i have been in the of the for a week but contrived a few days since to make my escape where found the men to master you even from the country through which we replied the the who can blame us major m arthur said the general appealing to the officer by his side with an interest that obviously spoke the contest in his own mind in regard to the justice of the daily which he had who can blame us for hanging up these for their faith with such thick before our eyes this district to a man had given their and taken my protection and now the first chance they have to play me a trick they are up and at work attacking our feeble that should in their sickly state have rather looked to them for aid shoe i will out the	29
work by my sword it shall go on sternly enough back to your company he said bowing to the young officer who at once left the room what is your s pleasure regarding this adam inquired at arthur oh aye i i had well nigh forgotten that man he was taken i think in the act of firing on a boat at the ball passed through the hat of my lord said m arthur the lurking hound a subject turning to his duty e en let him bide the fate of his brethren m arthur merely nodded his head and rising from his chair strode a few paces backwards and forwards through the room i would tune my bosom to mercy he said at length and win these dog headed back to their duty to their king by kindness but and charity towards them fall upon their breasts like water on a heated stone which is thrown back in no no that day is past and they shall feel the rod we walk in danger whilst we leave these in the grass order the gentlemen to horse major m arthur we must be stirring let this fellow be dealt with like the rest gentlemen added the as he appeared at the door amidst the group who awaited his coming to your several commands captain the principal at this moment arrested the preparations to depart by placing in s hand a letter which had just been brought by a to head quarters the general broke the seal and running his eye over the contents said as he handed the letter to the this is something out of the course of the campaign a letter from a lady now at the guard and it seems she desires to speak with me who brought the captain this one of a special escort from the they have in charge a party of travellers who have hither under s own pledge of captain replied mount and seek the party conduct them to me without delay what toy is this that brings a lady to my camp r b shoe robinson the de camp mounted his horse and galloped off with the he was conducted far beyond the utmost limit of the line of soldiers and at length arrived at a small where some fifty men were drawn up under the command of an officer of the guard which was about returning to join the main body of the army here he found and henry and their two companions horse shoe and old attended by the small escort furnished by this party had been two days on the road from mrs s and had arrived the preceding night at a cottage in the neighborhood where they had found tolerable quarters they had advanced this morning at an early hour to the corps de of the where preferred remaining until henry could despatch a note to lord him of their visit when captain rode up the travellers were already on horseback and prepared to move the de camp respectfully saluted miss and her brother and after a short with the officer of the escort his services to the strangers to conduct them to head quarters u the general madam he said would have done himself the honor to wait on you but that you were already on your route to his quarters where you might be better received than in the of an he is led to hope that he your wish and your comfort both by inviting you to partake of such accommodation as he is able to afford you tt my mission would idly stand on ceremony sir replied i thank lord for the with which he has answered my brother s message u we will follow you sir said henry the party now rode on their path lay along the skirts of the late upon the border of an extensive plain on he opposite side of which the army was drawn out and it was with the exultation of a boy that henry as they moved forward looked upon the long line of troops glittering in the bright sunshine and heard the drums rolling their spirited notes upon the air when they arrived at a point where the road emerged from a narrow strip of forest they could discern at the distance of a few horse shoe robinson hundred paces the quarters of the commander in chief immediately on the edge of this wood a small party of soldiers attracted the attention of the visitors by the earnest interest with which they stood around a withered tree and gazed aloft at its and huge boughs before anything was said had already ridden within a few feet of the circle where turning her eyes upwards she saw the body of a man swung in the air by a cord attached to one of the spreading branches the unfortunate being was just struggling in the of death as his person was swayed backwards and forwards with a slow motion by the breeze oh god what a sight is here exclaimed the lady i cannot will not go by this spot henry brother i cannot pass the checked his horse and grasped her arm before her brother could reach her and horse shoe at the same moment sprang to the ground and seized her bridle i should think it but a decent point of war to keep such sights from women s eyes said robinson somewhat angrily peace returned the you are i trust madam you are not seriously ill i knew not of this execution or i should have spared you this unwelcome spectacle pray compose yourself and believe madam it was my ignorance that brought you into this difficulty i will not pass it cried wildly as she sprang from her horse and ran some paces back towards the wood with her hands covering her face in a moment henry was by	29
her side nay sister dear sister he said do not take it so the officer did not know of this there now you are better we will mount again and ride around this frightful place gradually regained her self possession and after a few minutes was again mounted and making a circuit through the wood to avoid this appalling spectacle who is this man asked henry of the de camp in a half whisper and what has he done that they have hung him it is an every day tale replied the officer a rebel traitor who has broken his by taking arms against the king in his own conquered province i keep no count of these fellows but i horse shoe robinson believe this is a bold rebel by the name of adam that was caught lately at the and our must be packing him off to head quarters for us to do their s work if we were to hang all of your men that we catch replied henry is an article that would rise in price what sir returned the officer with a look of surprise do you class yourself with the what makes you here under s i thought you must needs be friends at least from the manner of your coming we ride sir where we have occasion said henry and if we ride wrong now let his decide that for us and we will return by this time the company had reached head quarters where found herself in the presence of lord u though on the wing miss said his as he respectfully met the lady and her brother upon the porch of the dwelling house i have made it a point of duty to matters of business to receive your commands bowed her head and after a few words of courtesy on either side and a formal introduction of herself and her brother to the general as the children of philip a gentleman presumed to be well known to his and some expressions of surprise and concern on the part of the chief at this unexpected announcement she begged to be permitted to converse with him in private when in accordance with this wish she found herself and her brother alone with the general in the small parlor of the house she began with a trembling accent and cheek i said my lord that we were the children of philip of the dove in in the province of virginia and being taught to believe that my father has some interest with your he is a worthy thoughtful and wise gentleman of the best consideration amongst the friends of the royal cause interrupted the earl so speak on madam and speak calmly take your time your father s daughter shall not mid me an unwilling listener horse shoe robinson my father was away from home interposed henry and tidings came to us that a friend of oars was most and by a charge carried to the ears of your as we were told that major arthur butler of the continental army who had been made a prisoner by your red coats somehow or other for i forget how but the charge was that he had contrived a plan to carry off my father from the dove if not to kill him which was said besides and upon that charge it was reported that your people were going to hang or shoot him hang i suppose from what we just now saw over here in the woods and that your had given orders to have the thing put off until the major could prove the real facts of the case the tale is partly true young sir said we have a prisoner of that name and rank my sister and myself thinking no time was to be lost have come to say to your that the whole story is a most sinful lie on purpose to make mischief and most probably by a fellow by the name of my brother speaks too fast interrupted it deeply concerned us to do justice to a friend in this matter if my father had been at home a letter to your would have removed all doubts but alas he was absent and i knew not what to do but to come personally before your to assure you that to the perfect knowledge of our whole family the tale from beginning to end is a malicious major butler loves my father and would be accounted one of his nearest and dearest friends listened to this disclosure with a perplexed and bewildered conjecture to the strange riddle which it presented to his mind how may i understand you he said this major butler is in the service of even so your speaks truly your father my friend philip is a and to the peril of his life and fortune replied and yet butler is his friend he would be esteemed so if it please your and n heart and feeling is so horse shoe robinson he is related to your family perhaps related in affection my lord and love said blushing and her eyes upon the ground so now i apprehend and there are between you i may not answer your returned the lady it only our present business to tell your tl at arthur butler never to the dove but with the purest purpose of good to all who lodged beneath its roof he has never come there but that i was of his intent and never thought rose in his heart that did not breathe blessings upon all that near my father oh my lord it is a base trick of an enemy to do him harm and they have contrived this plot to impose upon your s generous zeal in my father s behalf it is a strange story said and does your father know nothing	29
of this visit have you miss committed yourself to all the chances of this rude war and undertaken this long and journey to a rebel charged with a most device of it is a deep and painful interest that could move you to this enterprise my lord my mission requires a frank confidence i have heard my father say you had a generous and feeling heart that you were a man to whom the king had most wisely committed his cause in this most trying war that your soul was gifted with moderation wisdom firmness and that such a spirit as yours was fit to master and command the rude natures of soldiers and to compel them to walk in the paths of justice and mercy all this and more have i heard my father say and this encouraged me to seek you in your camp and to tell you the plain and truth touching those charges against major butler as heaven above hears me i have said nothing but the simple truth arthur butler never of harm to my dear father he is a brave soldier said henry and if your would give him a chance and put him before the man who invented the lie he would make the scoundrel eat his words and they should be handed to him on the major s sword point the gentleman is happy said die chief in two such robinson friends you have not answered me is your father aware of this visit miss he is ignorant even of the nature of the charge against arthur butler replied the lady he was absent from the dove when the news arrived and fearing that delay might be disastrous we took the matter in hand ourselves you might have written u the subject so please your was too near to our hearts to put it to the hazard of a letter u it is a warm zeal and deserves to be with a life s devotion said you young sir just now that you suspected the author of this my brother is rash and speaks hastily interrupted tt whom were you about to name asked the general of henry there was a man named replied the youth that has been whispering in my father s ear somewhat concerning a proposal for my sister here cast a keen glance at her brother and bit her lip u and they say love sometimes makes men desperate and i took a passing notion that may be he might have been at the bottom of it i know nothing positively to make me think so but only speak from what i have read in books smiled as he replied my young philosopher you must not take your wisdom from i have heard of and will stand his that love has raised no devil to such mischief in his breast what will satisfy your errand hither miss a word from your that no harm shall befall arthur butler beyond the necessary of a prisoner of war that is granted you at once replied the general granted for your sake madam in the spirit of a who would deny no lady s request and i rather grant it to you because certain threats have been sent me from some of the major s holding out a determination to blood for blood these had almost persuaded me to run against my own will to an extreme i would have you let it be known that as a free grace to a lady i have done that which i would refuse to the of the mountains what next would you have horse shoe robinson simply an passage hence beyond your s posts that too shall be cared for and thus the business being done with your leave i will go to more a letter for your said an officer who at this moment entered the door and putting a packet into the general s hand retired opened the letter and read it ha by my faith but this is a rare coincidence this brings matter of interest to you miss my officer who had butler in writes me that two days since his prisoner had escaped escaped exclaimed forgetting in whose presence she spoke thank heaven for that sat for a moment silent as a frown grew upon his brow and he played his foot against the floor abstracted in thought these devils have he muttered in every cabin in the country we have treachery and deceit lurking behind every bush we shall be poisoned in our by these false and hollow if it gives you content madam he said raising his voice that this major butler should abuse the kindness or of his guard and fly from us at the moment we were extending a boon of mercy to him through your you may hereafter hold your honorable soldier in higher esteem for his dexterity and cunning i pray your to believe said with a deep emotion which showed itself in the rich full tones of her voice that major butler knows nothing of my coming hither i speak not in his name nor make any pledge for him if he has escaped it has only been from the common instinct which teaches a bird to fly abroad when it finds the door of his cage left open by the of his i knew it not nor alas have i heard aught of his but as i have already told your he is an honorable soldier rich in all the virtues that may commend a man i would your knew him better and in more peaceful times u well it is but a and silly boy said horse shoe who when his pie is stolen the war has many to settle and we contrive to make one day s profit pay another s loss the account for the present is balanced and so miss without	29
i may leave you with a fair wish for a happy and prosperous journey back to your father s roof to the good gentleman himself i desire to be well remembered and to show you that this path of war has not quite torn away all the of gentleness from us i think it dutiful to tell you that as i have become the of a precious love tale wherein i can guess some secret passage of mystery is laid which should not be i promise you to keep it faithfully between ourselves and when i reach the dove which god willing under the of st george i do propose within three months to do we may renew our confidence and you shall have my advice touching the management of this dainty and delicate affair and now god speed you with a fair ride and good spirits to back it i am much to your s generosity said as rose with a gallantry and himself to his horse come hither mr henry he said after he had mounted farewell my young you will find a few of men to conduct you and your party beyond our posts and here take this he added as now on horseback he off a few lines with a pencil upon a leaf of his pocket book which he delivered to the youth there is a which shall carry you safe against all intrusion from my people adieu with this last speech the commander in chief put spurs to his horse and galloped to the plain to review his troops and commence the march by which he hoped to make good his boast of reaching the dove how fortune his hopes may be read in the story of the war chapter l a british as the events of this history are confined to the duration of the tory in south it becomes me to prepare my reader for the conclusion to which doubtless much to his content he will hear that we are now hastening we have reached a period which brings us to take notice of certain important operations that were in progress upon the frontier and touching the details of which to avoid i must refer to the graver of the times it answers my present purpose merely to my reader that colonel had lately assembled his followers and marched to where he had made an attack upon brown but that almost at the moment when his and adversary had fallen within his grasp a from fort ninety six under the command of had forced him to abandon his ground and retreat towards the mountain districts of north to this it is important to add that had now a considerable army amongst the native and had moved to the small frontier village of town with a purpose to and thus place him under the disadvantage of having a foe both in front and rear the midnight of arthur butler and his friends whilst returning from s funeral was effected by m who happened at that moment to be hastening by a forced march with a of newly cavalry from ninety six to strengthen and to aid in what was expected to be the certain capture of the troublesome as m s purpose required despatch he made but a short delay after sun rise at s cabin and then pushed forward with his prisoners with all possible expedition the route of his journey almost at the spot of the capture from the horse robinson roads leading towards s mill and lie consequently had but little chance to fall in with parties who might communicate to him the nature of the accident which threw the prisoners into his possession whilst the prisoners themselves were sufficiently discreet to conceal from him everything that might afford a hint of butler s previous condition the road lay through a rugged wilderness and the distance to be travelled before the party could reach town was something more than sixty miles it was accordingly about the middle of the second day after leaving s habitation before the troop arrived at the term of their journey a period that with that of s breaking ground from his late at the which we have seen in the last chapter was a stout fearless and bluff soldier and by the most hatred against all who took up the cause he had been promoted by earl to the rank of lieutenant colonel a short time before the battle of and despatched towards this wild and border to collect together and the tory inhabitants of the district his zeal and activity no less than his bearing had particularly recommended him to the duty to be performed and he is at least entitled to the of having himself with great and in the principal objects of his appointment he was now at the head of between eleven and twelve hundred men of which about one hundred and fifty were of the british line the remainder consisting of the and population of the frontier town was a small village composed of a number of rather well built and comfortable log houses it was situated in a but fertile district of north about the centre of country and i may venture to add which i do upon report only that although its former name has faded from the maps of the present day under that indifference to ancient associations and that love of change which have so many of the of our history yet this village is still a prosperous and pleasant community known as the seat of justice to the county to which it belongs horse robin on t when the troop having charge of butler and his companions arrived they halted immediately in front of one of the largest buildings of the village and in a short time the prisoners were marched into the presence of they were received in a common room of ample dimensions	29
furnished with a table upon which was seen a confused array of drinking vessels and a number of half emptied bottles of spirit surrounding a wooden bucket filled with water immediately against one of the posts of the door of the apartment the of a buck recently shot and now stripped of its skin hung by the of the hinder feet and a soldier was at this moment employed with his knife in the butcher craft necessary to its preparation for the spit himself conspicuous for his robust and weather beaten exterior stood by apparently directing the operation around the room were hung the hide and of former victims of the chase with various weapons of war military boxes and other furniture the habitation of a party of soldiers there was a general air of disorder and throughout the apartment which seemed to early and late and no great of the of even military housekeeping this impression was heightened to the eye of the by the liberty with which men of all ranks as well as officers flung themselves as their occasions served into the room and made free with the contents of the that were scattered over the table ae irregular and ill host under s command lay in and around the village and presented a scene of which the features bore a sufficient resemblance to the economy of their leader s own quarters to raise but an opinion of their and soldier like it was wild noisy and confused when m entered the apartment the words that fell from showed that his mind at the moment was disturbed by a double solicitude between the operations performed the of and certain symptoms of uproar and disorder that manifested themselves amongst the without curse on these he said whilst m and the prisoners stood inside the room as yet unnoticed ho robinson i would as soon undertake to train as many wolves from the mountain as bring these fellows into habits of discipline you cut that too low go deep man a long sweep from the to the it is a saddle worth riding on by the infernal gods if these savages do not learn to keep quiet in camp til make a school for them with my where they shall have good taste of the cat nine hours and all the camp duty besides ha m is it you who have been standing here all this while i didn t observe it man my quarters are like a bar room and have been full of comers and all day i thought you were but some of my usual free and easy customers damn them i am sick of these long legged half civilized but i shall take a course with them yet what news old boy what have you to tell of the is my pretty fellow is still in the woods replied m it would take good hounds to track him and i hope has nose enough to follow so the cunning indian hunter will be caught at last we have him safe now m there is but one path for the fox to come out of the bush and upon that path has about as pretty a handful of mischievous as ever blood the never reaches the other side of the mountains while i am awake with behind our line of posts upon his right the wild mountains as full of as his left and these devils of mine right before him we in a pretty net who have you here captain u some stray rebel game that i picked up on my as i came from ninety six this gentleman i learn is major butler of the continental army and these others some of his party so ho more damn it man exclaimed the why do you bring them to me what can i do with them then dropping his voice into a tone of confidential conference he added but follow the fashion and hang them i have got some score of prisoners already and have been wishing that would cut some devilish that i might have an excuse for them up to get clear of them a major in the regular continental line sir p he asked addressing himself to butler horse shoe robinson butler bowed his bead i thought the your people got at had driven everything like a day light soldier out of the province we have some bush left some jack o lantern devils that live in the and feed on and water and and a few of their but you sir are the first regular continental officer i have met with what brought you so far out of your latitude i was on my way to join one replied butler that but now you seemed to think in severe straits ha to visit eh well sir may i be bold to ask do you know where that gentleman is to be found i am free to answer you said butler that his position at this moment is entirely unknown to me on my journey i heard the report that he had been constrained to abandon yes and in haste let me tell you and in this direction major butler as he needs must i shall make his acquaintance and inasmuch as you went to seek him you may count it a lucky accident that brought you here you will find him all the sooner by it doubtless sir colonel will feel proud to see you returned butler well m said i have my hands full of business for i certainly have the wildest crew of devil s babies that ever stole cattle or fired a i am obliged to them into discipline by a somewhat free use of this mother s milk pointing to the bottles to which i now and then add a gentle at	29
the drum head and when that doesn t serve a of powder and lead administered at ten paces from a few of i have shot a brace of them since you left me only for impertinence to their officers this waiting for plays the devil with us i must be moving and have some thought of crossing the mountains westward and burning out the faith i would do it just to keep my lads in spirits if i thought would give me another week how now that buck should have been half by this time we shall never have dinner with your slow work look at that m there is something to make your mouth water an inch and a half of worse h o k fat on the very ridge of the back give over your prisoners to the camp major he will take care of them and hark you captain he added his comrade aside if you choose as you seem to think well of this major butler you may bring him in to dinner presently with my compliments now j must to business the prisoners were conducted to a separate building where they were put in charge of an officer who performed the duties of over some twenty or more that had been captured in the late excursions of the and brought into camp for safe keeping the place of their confinement was narrow and uncomfortable and butler was soon made aware that in the exchange of his prison at s mill for his present one he had made an venture his condition with however was by the constantly exciting hope that the events which were immediately in prospect might by the chances of war to his advantage in this situation butler remained for several days for although found it necessary to keep in almost constant motion with a view to about the supposed direction of s retreat and to this purpose to advance into south and again to fall back towards his present position yet he had established a guard at town which during all these operations remained stationary with the prisoners apparently waiting some fit opportunity to march them off to s army that was now making its way that opportunity did not present itself the communications between this post and the commander in chief were by a fatal error neglected and in a short time from the date of the present events as will be seen in the a web was woven which was strong enough to and bind up the limbs of the giant who had during the last five months erected and maintained the tory in chapter li turns her steps i have seen a generous and brave boy defied to some enterprise of terror such as to in the dark night alone up many a winding bout of stair case to the garret and he has undertaken the achievement although sore afraid of and gone forth upon his adventure with a step and with a bold whistling or singing on his way his eyes and ears all the time fearfully open to all household sights and sounds now out of their natural proportions and when he had reached the term of his travel i have known him to turn quickly about and come down three steps at a leap feeling all the way as if some his flight and hung upon his rear calling up such a venture to my mind i am enabled by comparison with the speed and anxiety of the boy to show my reader with what emotions her mission being done now turned herself upon her homeward route the excitement occasioned by her knowledge of the critical circumstances of butler and the pain she had suffered in the belief that upon the courageous performance of her duty depended even his life had her resolution to the perilous and hardy in which we have seen her but now when matters had taken such a suddenly turn and she was assured of her lover s safety not even the abrupt joy which poured in upon her heart was sufficient to her sense of uneasiness at her present exposed condition and she eagerly prepared to herself back to the dove the scenes around her had wrought upon her nerves and although she was singularly fortunate in the courtesy which she had experienced from all into whose hands she had fallen yet the rude of the camp and the acts of which were ever present to her observation appalled and distressed m horse robinson her besides she now saw the fixed purpose with which was preparing to march forward in his course of invasion and thought with alarm upon the probable event of soon having the theatre of war transferred to the neighborhood of her native woods robinson s advice her own alacrity it was to hasten with all despatch in advance of the army and as this body was now about taking up its line of march no time was to be lost accordingly but a brief delay took place after and his had departed from head quarters before our party set forward accompanied by the small guard of cavalry that had been ordered to attend them the troops were just into column on the ground where they had been lately when and her attendants galloped past and took the high road leading to the town of in north towards which it was understood the were about to direct their journey in less than an hour afterwards they had left behind them the line of baggage and the small military parties of the and found themselves rapidly hastening towards a district occupied by the friends of independence the had now occasion for his utmost in pursuing the destined route of the invasion he had reason to expect an early encounter with some of the many corps of observation which the opposite party were certain	29
to put upon the duty of the approach of their enemy and so it fell out for towards the middle of the day whilst the travellers were quietly their journey through the forest the discharge of a pistol announced the presence of a hostile body of men and almost instantly afterwards a small handful of cavalry were seen hovering upon the road at the distance of some three or four hundred paces in front robinson no sooner recognised this than he took the lady s handkerchief and hoisted it on a rod as a flag of and at the same moment directed the escort to retreat them that their presence was no longer necessary as he had now an opportunity to deliver his charge into the hands of friends the british accordingly took their leave and in the next moment horse shoe surrendered to a who announced themselves to be a part of the command of colonel horse shoe robinson of the north a gallant then well known to fame and whose after exploits fill up no page of american history it does not enter into the purpose of my story to detain my reader with a minute account of s homeward journey but having now transferred her to the protection of a friendly banner it will suffice to say that she arrived the same evening at where she spent the night in the midst of the active warlike preparations which were in progress to receive it w is towards sunset ou the following day when wearied with the toil of a long and rapid journey our travellers arrived in front of a retired farm house on the road leading through the upper districts of north the cultivation around this dwelling showed both good and a good soil and there was an appearance of comfort and repose which was an unusual sight in a country so much alarmed and by war as that over which the had lately the house stood some short distance apart from the road and in the porch was seated an elderly man of a respectable appearance to whom a young girl was at this moment a draught of water from a small wooden vessel which she held in her hand i am with thirst said pray get me some of that water the place looks so well ma am replied the that i think we could not do better than make a stop here for the night good day neighbor what is the name of the river i see across yon field and where we be just at this time it is the answered the man and this county i believe is though i speak only by guess for i am but a stranger in these parts the lady would be said horse shoe for a drop of that water and if it was agreeable she likewise be pleased to put up here for the night the people of the house are kind and worthy replied the old man and not likely to refuse a favor mary take a cup to the lady the girl obeyed and coming up to the party with the vessel in her hand she suddenly started as her eye fell upon horse shoe and her and wan countenance was seen bathed in tears horse shoe robinson u mr robinson p she exclaimed with a faltering voice yon don t know me me mary father it is our friend horse shoe robinson i then placing the vessel upon the ground she ran to the s side as he sat upon his horse and leaning head against his saddle she wept bitterly sobbing out it is me mary john our john that you loved he is dead he is dead in an instant was at the gate where he greeted the with the affection of an old friend this recognition of the miller and his daughter at once confirmed the in his determination to end his day s journey at this spot in a few moments and her companions were introduced into the farm house where they were heartily welcomed by the consisting of a sturdy cheerful of the soil and a dame whose brood of children around her showed her to be the mistress of the family the scene that ensued after the party were seated in the house was for some time painfully affecting poor mary overcome by the associations called up to her mind at the sight of the took a seat near him and silently gazed in his face visibly laboring under a strong desire to express her in words but at the same time stricken mute by the intensity of her emotions after a long suspense which was broken by her sobs she was enabled to utter a few sentences in which she recalled to the the friendship that had existed between him and john and there was something peculiarly touching in the melancholy tone with which in accordance with the habits by her religious education and most probably in the words of her father s frequent she attributed the calamity that had befallen her to the kindly of heaven to endure which she devoutly and with a sigh that showed the bitterness of her suffering prayed for patience and submission at this juncture interposed with some topics of consolation suitable to the complexion of the maiden s mind and soon succeeded in drying up her tears and restoring her at least to the possession of a tranquil and apparently a resigned spirit when this was done he gave a narrative of the events to the escape of butler and his subsequent at the funeral horse shoe robinson y of john to which it may be imagined and henry listened with the most absorbed attention this tale of the of butler so unexpected and communicated at a moment when s heart beat high with the joyful hopes of speedily seeing	29
her lover again in safety now struck upon her ear with the alarm that upon a who fearing no hidden or unknown hears the of his ship in mid ocean crash against a solid rock it seemed at once to break down the illusion which she had cherished with such fond affection for the remainder of the evening the intercourse of the party was anxious and thoughtful and betrayed the unhappy impression which the intelligence just communicated had made upon the feelings of and her brother after the travellers had been refreshed by food and by the kind and hearty hospitality of the good man under whose roof they were sheltered proceeded to give the a history of what had lately befallen in the neighborhood of the some days after the escape of butler the miller s own family had drawn upon themselves the of the ruling authority his mill and his habitation had been reduced to ashes by a party of who bad made an into this district with no other view than to their vengeance against suspected persons in the same the family of david had once more been assailed find all that was spared from the first was destroyed in the second many other houses through this region had met the same the expedition had been conducted by who it is said carried in his pocket a list of dwellings to which the torch was to be applied and who on each item of his so still runs the tradition would note the work by striking out the from his in this general the families fled like hunted game through the woods and themselves with a disordered haste to the more friendly provinces northward had sent his wife and younger children almost immediately after the assault upon him to the care of a relative in virginia whither they had been conducted some days previous to the date of his meeting with horse shoe by whilst he e robinson and ry had remained behind for a short space to render assistance to the family of to whom they felt themselves almost as closely as if the expected alliance by marriage had taken place when this duty was discharged and s family were provided with a place of refuge had set forward with his daughter to his wife and children in their new asylum it was upon this journey that they had now been accidentally overtaken by our travellers the disclosure of the motives of s expedition to mary and her father as may be supposed warmed up their feelings to a most affectionate sympathy in her troubles they had often heard of butler s attachment to a lady in virginia and were aware of her name from the incidents that had occurred at the trial of but and from the nature of horse shoe s mission to virginia mary had nursed in her mind a fanciful and zealous interest in behalf of the lady who was supposed to have engrossed butler s affections from the earnest devotion which she had witnessed in his first at s and often afterwards during his the effect of this favor now showed itself in her behavior to and in the gentle play which it gave to her kindly sentiments a most happy change was wrought in her present feelings she at once warmly and fervently attached herself to and won her way into our lady s esteem by the most amiable in these offices of love the of her own grief began to give way to the natural sweetness of her temper and they were observed in the same degree to s feelings mary hung fondly about her new acquaintance proffered her most minute attentions of comfort spoke often of the generous qualities of butler and breathed many a sincere prayer for future happiness to him and those he loved as pondered over the new aspect which the tidings of this evening had given to her condition her inclination and duty both prompted her to the resolve to make an effort to join butler instead of returning to the dove she was by that the prisoner had been conducted to who she was told was at this time stationed in the neighborhood of town not a hundred miles from her present position she had ventured far in his services and she could not now that she horse robinson had so nearly approached him consent to abandon the effort of reaching the spot of his she thought with alarm over the dangers that might await him in consequence of his previous escape and this alarm was increased by her remembrance of the tone of bitter resentment with which in a moment of feeling had referred to the event in her late conference with that officer above all it was her duty such was her view of the matter and whatever might he was the lord of her heart and all dangers and difficulties now as heretofore should be cast aside in her determination to administer to his safety or comfort her decision was made and she so announced it to her companions neither the nor henry made the opposition to this resolve that might have been expected to horse shoe it was a matter of indifference upon what service he might be ordered his thoughts ran in no other current than to obey the order and make the most and careful provision for its safe execution to henry that was always a pleasant suggestion which was calculated to bring him more into the field of adventure on this occasion added an opinion which rather favored the enterprise it was not much out of the way he said to go as far as court house where at least the lady was likely to learn something of the plans of and she might either wait there or take such direction afterwards as her friends should advise mary begged that whatever route	29
thought proper to pursue she might be allowed to accompany her and this request was so much to the liking of that she earnestly implored the miller s consent to the plan with some reluctance and feeling thus doubly interested in the fortunes of the party he finally determined himself to attend them in their present enterprise these matters being settled the wearied travellers parted for the night happy at least in having found the weight of their personal relieved by the cheerfulness with which the burden was divided chapter signs of a gathering storm muster of the in arms the huts and rise from winding from brown they poured each hardy tenant down lady or thk lake in gathering up the ends of our story as we draw towards a conclusion we are forced after the fashion of a stirring drama to a frequent change of scene accordingly leaving and her friends to pursue their own way until we shall find leisure to look after their footsteps we must introduce our reader to some new acquaintances whose motions it will he seen are destined greatly to influence the interests of this history the time was about the second of october when a considerable body of troops were seen marching through that district which is situated between the mountain and the head waters of in north this force might have numbered perhaps something over one thousand men its organization and general aspect were sufficiently striking to it to a particular description it consisted almost entirely of cavalry and a spectator might have seen in the rude weather beaten faces and muscular forms of the soldiers as well as in the simplicity of their a hastily band of whose ordinary pursuits had been familiar with the toils of indian warfare and the active labors of the chase they were almost without exception arrayed in the hunting shirt a dress so dear to the recollections of the revolution and which it is much to be regretted the of modern times has been allowed to their weapons in but few instances were other than the long rifle and accompanying hunting knife it was to be observed that this little army consisted of various corps which were in general either by the color of the hunting shirt or by that of the fringe with which this cheap and horse shoe robinson simple uniform was somewhat some few were clad in the plain working dress of the time and here and there an officer might be recognised in the blue and cloth of the regular continental army the buck tail also was an almost indispensable ornament of the cap or usual round hat of the soldiers and where this was wanting its place was not supplied by of green pine or or other specimens of the common foliage of the country the men were mounted on lean shaggy and travel worn horses of every variety of size shape and color and their baggage consisted of nothing more than a light attached to the rear of their or of a supplied pair of the small party on foot were in no wise to be distinguished from the mounted men except in the absence of horses and in the mode of carrying their baggage which was contained in of to their shoulders these moved over the ground with perhaps even more facility than the cavalry and appeared in no degree to regret the toil of the march which was so far the lighter to them as they were from the solicitude which their companions suffered of providing for their beasts the officers in command of this party were young men in whose general and bearing was to be seen that bold and hardy character which at that period even more than at present distinguished the frontier population the frequent against the savages which the times had rendered familiar to them as well as the service of the common war in which they had all had impressed upon their the rugged lines of thoughtful the troops now associated consisted of distinct bodies of who had each assembled under their own leaders without the of the government entirely independent of each other and more resembling the meeting of hunters than a regularly organized military corps they had about a week before the period at which i have presented them to my reader at on the border of in of an invitation from who was now one of the principal officers in command he had himself horse shoe robinson embodied a force of between two and three hundred men in own district of the mountains and colonel now also present had repaired to the with four hundred soldiers from the adjoining county in virginia these two had soon afterwards formed a with m and of north who had thus the joint force to the number which i have already mentioned as the whole array they had marched slowly and wearily from the mountains into the district of country which lay between the forks of somewhere near to the present village of and might now be said to be rather hovering in the neighborhood of then advancing directly towards him the force of the british was as yet too formidable for the attack of these and he was still in a position to make his way in safety to the main army under at this time stationed at some seventy or eighty miles distant it was both to gain increase of force from certain who were yet expected to join them as also without exciting suspicion of their purpose to attain a position from which might more certainly be cut off from that the mountain leaders lingered with such delay upon their march was all intent upon little suspecting the power which could summon up with such incredible alacrity an army from the woods fit to dispute his passage through any path of the	29
country and by this confidence of the enemy and his associates were preparing by secret movements to put themselves in readiness to spring upon their at the most moment in accordance with this plan colonel who yet preserved his on the fair forest was on the alert to act against the british leader who still marched further south at every step the distance between himself and his commander in chief and so far the views of his enemy and his comrades only until their numbers should be complete as speedily as possible after that to form a with and at once enter upon an open and hot pursuit of their adversary their uncertainty in regard to the present condition of added greatly to their desire to strike as early as possible their r horse shoe robinson meditated blow this officer had a few weeks before commenced his retreat from through ninety six with some five hundred men closely followed by brown and and threatened by the indian tribes who inhabited the wilderness through which he the perils and hardships of this retreat arose not only from the necessity was under to plunge into the and almost wilderness of the by a path which would effectually his as well as escape the toils of but they were painfully by the of a troop of women and children who having already felt the vengeance of the savages and fearing its further and the scarcely less hatred of the preferred to tempt the of the mountain rather than remain in their own dwellings it is said that these terrified and helpless amounted to somewhat above three hundred individuals there were no incidents of the war of independence that more strikingly illustrated the heroism which with the difficulties of that struggle at its moment than the patient and gallantry of these brave and their whom we have seen lately assembled in arms history has not yet conferred upon and his companions their tribute of renown some future will find in their exploits a theme for his pen when he tells the tale of their constancy even in the midst of the nation s despair until fortune at length successfully rewarded their vigilance bravery and skill by them to subdue and destroy the tory in the south the enemy in all the strong places with recent victory well provided with the of war high in hope and proud of heart hunted these scattered destitute and slender bands with a of scent swiftness of foot and of temper that can only be compared to the of the this eagerness of pursuit was for the present directed against and it is one of the most fortunate circumstances that belong to the events i have been relating that this purpose of our gallant so completely absorbed the attention of as to cause him to neglect the most ordinary precautions for securing himself against the of the war h r s robinson in this state of things and his waited hie moment when they might direct their march immediately to the attack of the british soldier their anxiety stimulated to a painful by the apprehension that might be overpowered by his enemies or that might receive information of the gathering bands and make a movement to or protect his it was in this moment of doubt and concern that we hare chosen to present them in the course of our narrative the troops had about the middle of the day to take some refreshment the ground they had chosen for this purpose was a narrow valley or by steep hills between which a transparent wound its way over a rough stony bed the margin of the stream was clothed with grass of the and a natural grove of huge forest trees covered the whole level space of the valley the season was the most pleasant of the year being at that period when in the southern the frost is first seen to sparkle on the spray at early dawn the noon tide sun though not warm was still sufficiently to render the shade of the grove and the cool mountain brook in the deep no unpleasant objects to wearied travellers here the whole of our little army were scattered through the wood some intent upon refreshing their in the running water many seated beneath the trees discussing their own slender means and not a few carelessly and idly about the grounds in the enjoyment of the mere from the of discipline the march of the troops on this day had not exceeded ten or twelve miles they might have been said to creep through the woods still however they had been in motion ever since the dawn of day and as they measured the ground with their slow but ceaseless there was a silent and an eagerness of expectation that were scarcely less than more rapid and laborious operations will certainly join us said as in the of the hour he had fallen into company with his brother officers who were now assembled on the margin of the brook it is time he were here i am sick of this slow work if we do not make our leap within the next two or three days the game is lost horse shoe robinson keep your temper replied who being somewhat older than his comrade assumed the freedom indicated in this reply and now laughed as he the soldier keep your temper is below and on the look out and most employed in as far out of reach of my lord there at as we could wish him ben will be with us ah in good time take my word for that you forget that he had to muster his lads from and both and and are yet to join us said m damn it they should be here man interrupted again i hate this creaking of my boots upon the soft grass as if we had	29
come to fish for i am for our horses heels and putting them to service you were always a hot headed devil interrupted again and have wasted more shoe leather than discretion in this world by at least ten to one you are enough to know that it is sometimes well to steal round the game to get the wind of them your headlong haste would only do us harm you rejoined with a laugh excited by s face of good humor verily you are a pattern of and moderation yourself to be preaching caution to us all wisdom and discretion i suppose have taken up their quarters in your haired how in the devil it came to pass william that yonder green and grey shirts should have trusted themselves with such a piece of prudence at their head is more than i can guess at this moment a soldier pressed forward into the circle of officers a letter for colonel he said brought by a from ah ha this looks well exclaimed as he ran his eyes over the lines is but ten miles behind and desires us to wait his coming with how many men asked one of the party the rogue has forgotten to tell i ll warrant with all he could find shoe robinson with a good party no doubt interrupted i know the of and will not be backward from this despatch gentlemen i suppose we shall rest here for the night what say you was the proposed to the group by the proposition was agreed to and the several officers repaired to their commands as soon as this order was communicated to the troops everything assumed the bustle incident to the preparation of a temporary camp fires were kindled the horses guards detailed and erected of green wood cut from the surrounding forest in addition to this a few cattle had been from a small herd that had been driven in the rear of the march and long before night came on the scene presented a tolerably comfortable of light hearted laughing whose familiar habits at home had them to this and gave to their present enterprise something of the zest of a in the first intervals of leisure parties were seen setting out into the neighboring hills in pursuit of game and when the hour of the evening meal arrived good store of fat and wild were not wanting to flavor a to which a better than the wit of man ever invented was brought by every of the camp at sun down a long line of cavalry in all respects armed and equipped in the same fashion with those who already occupied the valley were seen winding down the rugged road which led from the high grounds to the camp at the first intimation of the approach of this body the troops below were ordered out on parade and the new comers were received with all the military of respect and joy usual at the meeting of friendly bodies of soldiers some dozen horns of the tones and with the most ear piercing discord kept up an incessant until the alarmed echoes were startled from a thousand points amongst the hills in spite of the commands of officers straggling shots of salutation were fired and loud greetings of individual acquaintances were exchanged from either ranks as the approaching body filed across the whole front of the drawn up line when this ceremony was over colonel rode up to the little group shoe robinson of officers who awaited his report and after a long and hearty welcome announced his command to consist of three hundred and fifty stout hearts ready and tried friends to the issues of the war the force of the by this accession now amounted to about fourteen hundred men it became necessary at this juncture to give to these separate bands a more compact character and with that view it was indispensable that the command of the whole should be committed to one of the present leaders in the difficulty and delicacy of selecting an individual for this duty the common opinion inclined to the propriety of the appointment to general gates a messenger was accordingly despatched on that night to repair to the american head quarters at to present this subject to the attention of the general in the meantime whose claim perhaps to the honor of leading the expedition was most worthy of consideration with that patriotic and noble of which occurs so frequently in the history of the men of the revolution himself suggested the of the command upon his friend until the pleasure of gates should be known the suggestion was heartily adopted and colonel william was accordingly from this moment the chosen leader of our gallant and efficient little army on the following day the troops were in motion at an early hour to advance with a steady pace towards and thence on the track of the enemy across the border into south in the course of the the were met by a small body of whose travel worn plight and haggard aspects showed that they had lately been engaged in severe service they were now in quest of the very party whom they had thus fortunately encountered upon the march and it was with a lively demonstration of joy that they now rode with the officer of the guard into the presence of and his staff their report announced them to be major and captain johnson of s party who with thirty followers had been despatched from the western side of the to announce to the troops the complete success of that officer s endeavor to reach the on the and rivers their tidings were immediately communicated to shoe the army and the deep and earnest interest which officers and men took in this agreeable intelligence was evinced in a spontaneous and cheering from one extremity of the column to the	29
other the messengers proceeded to the particulars of their late expedition and fully confirmed the most painful which the listeners had previously entertained of the difficulties toils and sufferings incident to the enterprise s soldiers they further reported were too much to be in condition immediately to the mountain and unite in the present movement against but that as soon as they should themselves by needful rest they would lose no tone in to the scene of action towards sunset of the succeeding day our sturdy entered town this post had been abandoned by and was now in the occupation of the two leaders and at the head of about three hundred men who had repaired thither from the adjacent mountains of to await the arrival of and his friends it was manifest that affairs were rapidly tending towards a crisis had hitherto appeared indifferent to the dangers that threatened him and his movements indicated either a fatal contempt for his adversary or an ignorance of the extent of his each equally to the high renown which has been attributed to him for careful and bold chapter meets an agreeable adventure we left securely lodged with her new and kind hearted friends under the hospitable roof of the hard by the the reader has doubtless found reason in the course of this narrative to marvel much that a lady so delicately should with so stout a spirit and with such singular devotion have tempted so many dangers and exposed herself to such unwonted hardships for the sake of the man she loved perhaps i might be able to clear up this matter by referring to the extraordinary of circumstances that surrounded her it was no secret that she fervently and with her whole heart yea even with a worship loved the man she sought her affection had been nursed in solitude and like a central fire glowed with a heat unobserved at first silent and steady and by degrees her enthusiasm spread its over the passion and raised it into a fanciful but solemn self this warmth of feeling might still have been witnessed only within her family had it not been that at a most critical moment when her father s absence from the dove left her without other resource than her own counsel she was made acquainted that her lover s life was in imminent peril and that a word from her might perhaps his doom we have seen with what anxious alacrity she set forth in that emergency upon her pilgrimage of duty and how as she became familiar with hardship and danger her constancy and resolution still took a higher tone growing more vigorous even with the that lay across her path this may seem strange to our peace bred and little with that feminine reserve and which we are wont to praise but war distress and disaster work miracles jn the female bosom and render that virtuous and which horse shoe robinson ease and safety might nature is a wise and cunning and in affliction makes that not which in tranquil and happy times she would visit with her censure if these considerations do not suffice to explain the present movements of my heroine i must beg my reader to have patience to the end when he will find a still better reason when morning came was up with the first blush of light her thoughts had dwelt with a busy restlessness upon the late intelligence and she had slept only in short and disturbed intervals she was impatient to be again upon the road accordingly as soon as the preparations for their journey could be made our party now increased by the addition of and his daughter set forward on their travel towards court house this journey was protracted through several days the disturbed state of the country produced by the active which now renewed made it prudent for our frequently to halt amongst the friendly inhabitants of the region through which they travelled in order to obtain information or wait for the passage of troops whose presence might have caused embarrassment the considerate kindness of and the attentions of mary who softened by her own evinced a more touching sympathy for the sufferings of every day increased the friendship which their present companionship had and greatly the road of its and discomfort the journey however was not without its difficulties nor altogether destitute of of interest to this history the upper districts of north present to the eye a very beautiful country by mountain and valley and gifted in general with a rich soil considerable portions of this region were consequently occupied and put into cultivation at an early period of the history of the province and at the era of the revolution were noted as the most desirable positions for the support of the southern armies this circumstance had drawn the war to that quarter and had induced a frequent struggle to retain a footing there by each party who came into possession of it such a state horse shoe robinson of things bad now as we have before remarked embarrassed the progress of our friends and had even compelled them to largely from the direct route of their journey it happened a few days after leaving the that the hour of sunset found our little troop pursuing a road through the deep and gloomy forest which for several miles past had been by any appearance of human habitation neither horse shoe nor possessed any acquaintance with the region beyond the knowledge that they were upon what was called the upper or mountain road that extended from virginia entirely through this section of north and that they could not be much more than fifteen or twenty miles north of court house where they should rest during the night that was now at hand was a matter that depended entirely upon chance and stimulated by the hope of some cabin	29
they in riding forward even when the fading twilight had so obscured their path as to make it a matter of some to pick their way thus the night stole upon them almost unawares there is nothing so melancholy as the deep and lonely forest at night and why it should be so i will not stop to inquire but that melancholy it seems to me is by the of the evening the imagination the impenetrable depths of the wood with which the and shrill that these recesses seem to invest with a voice the earth beneath the feet with the down of darkness has an indefinite surface that causes the traveller to think of and sudden banks and fearful and the grey light of the glow worm or the cold gleam of the rotten timber shine up through the gloom like some witch from a haunted ground then high above the head the sombre forms of the trees nod in the night wind and the stars ineffectual to guide us on our way are seen only in short and rapid glimpses through the foliage all these things affect the mind with sadness but the chattering of the teeth and the cold creep of the blood rendered by a frosty atmosphere make it still more sad and mary experienced a full share of these as they now rode in the dark side by side and per horse shoe robinson adventure an occasional expression of impatience might have been heard in whispers between them by degrees this feeling extended to henry and in due course of time seemed also to have reached the and the miller for these two as if suddenly struck with the necessity of making some provision for the night now came to a halt with a view to inquire into the comfort of the weaker members of the troop and to deliberate on what was best to be done to make a fire erect a tent and resort to the contents of their for supper were the only which their situation afforded and as these arrangements were but the customary incidents of travel in the times to which we refer they were now resolved upon with but little sense of inconvenience or hardship it was proper however that the party should in some position where they might have water and with that object they continued to move forward until they should find themselves in the neighborhood of a running stream an event that from the nature of the country was soon likely to occur there can be no moon to night said the as they rode along in quest of their lodging place yet yonder light would look as if she was rising no it can t be for it is westward as i judge it is westward replied looking towards a faint light which brought the of the tree tops into relief against the horizon there must be fire in the woods the party rode on all eyes being directed to the phenomenon pointed out by horse shoe the light grew broader and flung a lurid beam towards the and as the travellers still came nearer the radiance increased and illuminated summit of a hill which it was now apparent lay between them and the light we must rest here for a while said the up his horse in a dark and narrow the fire is just across this hill in front it would be wise to a little there may be travellers on the t other side or troops for aught we know or it may be an old fire left by the last persons who passed you stay here with the women and i will ride forward to look into the matter henry accompanied the and they both galloped up the hill when they came to the top a rich and strange prospect no broke npon their sight borne or four hundred yards in advance at the foot of the long slope of the hill a huge volume of flame was discovered the entire trunk of a tall pine and forth with sudden flashes amongst the withered foliage the radiance east around from this gigantic torch penetrated the neighboring forest and lit up the trees with a lustre more dazzling than that of day whilst the strong shades brought into such immediate with the sharp red light as it glanced upon every upright stem or trunk gave a new and grotesque outline to the familiar objects of the wood the glare fell upon the of the forest and towards the rear upon a sheet of water which showed the to have been kindled on the bank of some river not less conspicuous than the local features of the scene were the figures of a considerable party of soldiers passing to and fro in idle through the region of the light and a short distance from them a number of horses attached to tha branches of the neighboring trees horse shoe and his young companion stood gazing for some moments upon the spectacle the in silent conjecture and perplexed as to the character of the persons below henry intent only upon the novel and picturesque beauty of the view the light shone directly up the road and fell upon the persons of our two friends a circumstance to which the seemed to give no heed until henry pointed out to him a from the direction of the are who was now advancing towards them turn back into the shade cried henry that man is coming after us keep your ground replied horse shoe he has no to us he wears lie dress of an honest man and a good soldier who goes there called out the as he now came within speaking distance stand and tell me who you are p friends to the hunting shirt and buck tail replied robinson i am glad to hear you say so rejoined the as	29
he advanced still nearer where from and in what direction do yon travel that should be william s voice of the h i robinson shouted henry with animation as i live it is the very man who have we here i returned the henry our why man where did you spring from p he added in a tone of joyful surprise as he offered henry his hand ho sister mr exclaimed henry calling out at the top of his voice to his friends who were waiting behind for intelligence come come up here s good luck and with a continued he galloped back until lie met his sister and conducted her to the top of the hill whence following the guidance of william the party descended to the of the henry eagerly sought out foster and having brought him into the presence of received from him a narrative of the course of events which had led to this fortunate meeting the had marched from virginia a few days after had left the dove they had fallen in with gates s shattered army at where after almost a fortnight they were furnished an opportunity to take some active share in the operations of the day by the enterprise of against the knowledge of which had reached them at gates s whither a messenger from had come to ask for aid the had accordingly volunteered for this service and with the permission of the general were now on their way towards court house there hoping to receive intelligence that would enable them to join the they had for some miles been marching along the same road taken by our travellers not more than two hours ahead of them and having reached the near had determined to there for the night the soldiers to exact discipline had in sport set fire to a tall pine which some accident of the storm had killed and produced the that had lighted horse shoe and his charge to the scene of the present meeting it may be imagined that this incident afforded great satisfaction to and her party who were thus brought into e shoe robinson with a numerous body of friends with whom they determined henceforth to pursue their journey the first good result of this encounter was immediately experienced in the comfortable though rude accommodation which the prompt and united efforts of the supplied to and her friend mary in them to pass a night of sound and sleep on the following day the and their new companions arrived at court house they were here made acquainted with the fact that the mountain troops were at this time moving towards town they accordingly after a night s rest resumed their march and by a journey through a rugged mountain district succeeded on the third evening in reaching the little village which had but a short time since been the head quarters of and the spot of arthur butler s they were now in advance of and his and in waiting for these troops they were afforded leisure to themselves from the effects of their late good quarters were obtained for and her companions she required repose and by the present opportunity to enjoy it the village at this moment was full of troops and with their followers whom we have referred to in the last chapter were already there iu daily expectation of the arrival of the and amongst these men robinson and his companion the miller found the means of the of delay to say nothing of henry who had now become so decidedly martial in his inclinations that the camp was to him a scene of never fading interest in two days s army entered the village after a march of which we have already given a sketch to our reader it was a duty of early concern on the part of and the to him of the presence of and her brother and to communicate to him the singular purpose of her mission the effect of this was a visit by and to the lady on the evening of their arrival the two latter of these officers had already been personally active in the behalf of arthur butler and all felt the interest in his fortunes the singular relation in which seemed to stand to the captive horse shoe robinson and the extraordinary seal which her present betrayed in his cause drew forth a warm sympathy from the generous soldiers around her and there was even a of the romance of chivalry in the with which on the present visit they pledged themselves to her service with the delicacy that always belongs to honorable and brave hearts they refrained from inquiry into the special which could so earnestly the lady in the service of their fellow soldier and strove to raise her spirits into a cheerful and happy tone by the hopes they were able to inspire advances south he has reason to become arthur butler finds himself retreating from his friends we return for a moment to look after butler as near as my information me to speak for i wish to be accurate in dates it was about the d of september when our hero arrived at town and found himself committed to the of his situation in many respects uncomfortable was not altogether without circumstances to the of though a rough soldier and animated by a zealous in the royal cause which his feelings with a deep hatred of the was also a man of education and of a disposition to respect the claims of a gentleman fully equal to himself in rank and consideration even when these qualities were found in an enemy his intercourse of late had been almost entirely confined to the wild spirits who inhabited the frontier and who impelled by passions were accustomed to plunge into every excess which the license of war enabled them to	29
practise he had accordingly adapted his behavior to the complexion of this population and maintained his authority both over his own and such of the opposite party as had fallen into his hands by a severe and not by even a cruel bearing following the example set him by himself he had more than once executed summary vengeance upon the whom the chances of war had brought into his power or what was equally had allowed the tory bands who had under his banner to gratify their own thirst of blood in the most towards butler however he himself with more consideration and sometimes even extended to him such little as might be indulged without i shoe robin k risk to the principal purpose of his safe a separate room was provided for the prisoner and he was allowed the occasional services of harry winter and the other companions of his late misfortune still the familiar scenes of suffering and death which butler was constrained to witness amongst his and the consciousness of his own inability to these greatly weighed upon his spirits his persuasion too that was now by what seemed to be a most effectual in the plan for the capture of and his belief that this blow would sadly if not altogether the friends of independence in the south added to his private grief he knew nothing of the of the and saw no hope of from the difficulties that threatened to his cause such was the condition of butler during the first four or five days of his at town at the end of this period circumstances occurred to raise in his bosom the most lively excitement suddenly an order was issued for the immediate movement of the army and the prisoners were directed to accompany the march it was apparent that information of importance had been received and that some decisive event was at hand when in of this command the troops were for their journey and butler was stationed in the column along with all the other prisoners of the post he was startled to observe the james appear in the ranks as one regularly attached to the corps butler had seen nor heard nothing of this man since he had parted from him at s after the battle of s mill and his conviction that acting under the control of some higher authority this individual had been the principal agent in his present misfortunes gave him a painful anxiety in regard to the future this anxiety was far from being diminished when he now discovered that the same person with a party of was specially with his winter and the other who had until this moment been allowed to keep him company were now directed to take a station amongst the common prisoners and butler was furnished with his horse and commanded to submit to the particular of robin k the these arrangements being made the march of commenced the army moved cautiously towards the upper sections of tht district of ninety six it was evident to butler from the frequent hints dropped in conversation by the officers that supposed himself to be getting every moment nearer to in this state of suspense and weariness the first day s march was concluded the second was like the first still moved south slowly but steadily every man that was met upon the road was questioned by the commanding officer to ascertain whether there was any report of troops westward any crossed or been heard of towards the mountains was an invariable none that the person questioned knew of was the common reply the devil s in it that we can hear nothing of the fellow exclaimed after the fifth or sixth had been examined and his beggars are flesh and blood they travel by land and not through the air faith i begin to think has saved us trouble and has got his hand on the s james the rode to the front and bowed you left fort ninety six only on wednesday i did where was then u marching towards with brown following as it was supposed but on rather a cold scent as one of the reported i must get still nearer to the mountains said as he clenched his teeth and seemed absorbed in thought in a short time after this the column from their former course by a road that led westward thus ended the second day during the next two days had become more in his movement and spent the greater portion of this interval upon a road which was said to extend from ninety six to the mountain here he remained with the of the tiger that to spring upon his prey and it was with a temper that after this anxious watch for forty eight hours he turned upon his heel and summoned his officers around him and announced his determination to penetrate still further into the forest like a man perplexed and with crosses he soon changed his mind and ordered a lieutenant of cavalry into his presence u take six of your best appointed men he said u and send one half of them up this road towards the mountains the other half and command them not to stop until they bring me some news of this night hawk let them be men that you can depend upon i will wait but twenty four hours for them meantime he added turning to another officer present u i will send a after who shall find him if he above ground the following day which brings us to the third of october a decisive change took place in the aspect of affairs before either of the that had been lately despatched had returned a was brought into s camp who being submitted to the usual minute examination informed the that some thirty miles	29
in the direction of fort ninety six he had met upon the road a large party of cavalry under the command of colonel and that that officer had shown great anxiety to learn whether certain troops had been seen near town the added that appeared to him to be strangely particular in his inquiries about this intelligence seemed suddenly to awaken the british from a dream he was now one hundred miles south of and both east and west of the line of communication between them it was apparent that hostile parties were with a view to some united action against him it struck him now for the first time that an enemy might be thrown between the main army at and his and thus cause him some embarrassment in his retreat but it was still with the scorn of a soldier that he to the possibility of hi being forced to fight his way they are for turning the tables on me he said in a tone of horse shoe robinson derision and hope to upon back while i am taken up with this half starved and long legged fellow of the mountains bat i will show them who is master yet m in this temper he commenced his retreat which was conducted slowly and and it may be supposed that butler as he involuntarily followed the fortunes of his enemy contemplated these movements with an anxious interest the common report of the camp made him acquainted with the circumstances which had recommended the retreat and he therefore watched the course of events in momentary expectation of some incident of great importance to himself at night arrived at the just twenty four hours in advance of his enemies whilst resting here he received intelligence of the stout array that had lately assembled at and which he was now told were in full pursuit of him it was at first with an incredulous ear that he heard the report of the numbers of this suddenly mountain army it seemed incredible that such a host could have been in such brief space and with such secret expedition and even more unworthy of belief that they could have been found in the wild and regions of the his doubt however yielded to his fear and induced him to his pace his first care was to despatch on that night a to to inform the general of his situation and ask for the letter which bore this request is still and will show that even in the difficult juncture in which we have presented the writer of it his confidence had not abandoned him before the succeeding dawn he was again in motion directing his hasty march towards the ford of broad river this point he reached at sun down his journey had been pursued thus far with industry if his motions had to his affected of his enemy he would here have halted for rest but like one who flies with the superstitious dread of a the retreating looked over his shoulder with an spirit and made a sign to his companions still to press forward they crossed the river at night and did not halt again until they had traversed some six or eight miles beyond the further bank horse robinson the anxiety suspense and eager expectation of butler increased with these of the approach of a period which he foresaw most be decisive not only of his but in a great degree of the hopes of his country the retreat of towards king s mountain which now lay but a few miles in advance was a visible and most striking type of the vanishing power which for a brief half year had maintained its over the free spirits of the south and which had aimed by a cruel and bloody rule to all that was generous and manly in these afflicted provinces myself with this rapid survey of events which of themselves possess an interest that would if time and space permitted me have justified the detail of a volume i go back to the regular current of my story chapter the continue their march is left behind the army of halted at town only until a from brought tidings of s late move merits these reached early in the day succeeding his arrival at the village and him that followed on the footsteps of the british and would expect to unite his force with that of the allied at the a field not yet distinguished in story whither he expected to arrive on the following day determined in consequence to hasten to this quarter the present position of notwithstanding the kind sympathy with which every one regarded her was one that wrought severely upon her feelings she had heretofore encountered the hardships of her journey and borne herself through the trials so to her sex with a spirit that had before no obstacle but now finding herself in the train of an army just moving forth to meet its enemy with all the and peril of battle in prospect it was with a sinking of the heart she had not hitherto known that she felt herself called upon to choose between the alternative of accompanying them in their march or being left behind to adopt the first resolve she was painfully conscious would bring her to witness scenes and perhaps endure the very thought of which made her shudder whilst to remain at a distance from the theatre of events in which she was so deeply concerned was a thought that suggested many anxious fears not intolerable than the sufferings of the campaign she had thus far all dangers for the sake of being near to butler and now to hesitate or stay her step when she had almost reached the very spot of his and when the fortunes of war might soon throw her into his actual presence seemed to her like m	29

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.