“Halt!” once more came the voice of dread; “Halt, or your blood be on your head!” Then, no one answering to the calls, Sped after her a volley of balls. They passed her in their rapid flight, They screamed to her left, they screamed to her right; But, rushing o’er the slippery track, She sent no token of answer back, Except a silvery laughter-peal, Brave, merry-hearted Jennie M’Neal. So on she rushed, at her own good will, Through wood and valley, o’er plain and hill; The gray horse did his duty well, Till all at once he stumbled and fell, Himself escaping the nets of harm, But flinging the girl with a broken arm. Still undismayed by the numbing pain, She clung to the horse’s bridle rein, And gently bidding him to stand, Petted him with her able hand; Then sprung again to the saddlebow, And shouted, “One more trial now!” As if ashamed of the heedless fall He gathered his strength once more for all, And, galloping down a hillside steep, Gained on the troopers at every leap; No more the high-bred steed did reel, But ran his best for Jennie M’Neal. They were a furlong behind, or more, When the girl burst through the colonel’s door, Her poor arm hanging helpless with pain, And she all drabbled and drenched with rain, But her cheeks as red as firebrands are, And her eyes as bright as a blazing star; And shouted, “Quick, be quick, I say! They come! they come!--away! away!” Then sunk on the rude white floor of deal, Poor, brave, exhausted Jennie M’Neal. The startled colonel sprung, and pressed The wife and children to his breast, And turned away from his fireside bright, And glided into the stormy night; Then soon and safely made his way To where the patriot army lay. But first he bent, in the dim firelight, And kissed the forehead broad and white, And blessed the girl who had ridden so well To keep him out of a prison cell. The girl roused up at the martial din, Just as the troopers came rushing in, And laughed, e’en in the midst of a moan, Saying, “Good sirs, your bird has flown. ’Tis I who have scared him from his nest; So deal with me now as you think best.” But the grand young captain bowed, and said, “Never you hold a moment’s dread. Of womankind I must crown you queen: So brave a girl I have never seen. Wear this gold ring as your valor’s due, And when peace comes I will come for you.” But Jennie’s face an arch smile wore, As she said, “There’s a lad in Putnam’s corps Who told me the same, long time ago; You two would never agree, I know. I promised my love to be true as steel,” Said good, sure-hearted Jennie M’Neal. WILL CARLETON. (By special permission of the author, and of Harper and Brothers.) 9 SONG OF MARION’S MEN