His wound was not a bad one, though it was painful, and partially disabled him. As he had detached himself from the ruffians there was no one to dispute his passage, and he had reached the stable, behind which he had concealed himself when he heard the approach of the horsemen. But, dark as it was, the colonel perceived and recognized him. "What are you doing here, Tilford?" demanded the commander. "I am wounded and in great pain," replied the overseer in weak and submissive tones. "Then why don't you join your friends?" asked the colonel. "I made a mistake to-night, and I did not know who my friends were," pleaded the wounded man. "Sam!" shouted the planter to the house servant, who had followed the party nearly to the stable; and the boy immediately presented himself before his master. "Take the overseer to his room, and do what you can for him." "Thank you, Colonel!" exclaimed Tilford; and his wound seemed to have made another man of him. Sam took the sufferer by the arm, wondering at the magnanimity of his master, who had ordered all the people to shoot him if he was seen again on the premises, and conducted him towards the mansion, where he had a chamber back of the dining-room. As he led him up the steps, Margie and Kate came to him; and they proved to be as forgiving as their father, for they did everything they could to make him comfortable. One of the old "aunties," skilled in nursing, was sent to him, and his wound was dressed. The mounted men, led by the commander, galloped over to the old road, which was deserted at the place where they came out. On a slight elevation in the highway a great fire was blazing brilliantly, and near it was an assemblage of people, the nature of which the commander could not make out. "I don't understand that gathering," said he, as Major Gadbury rode up to his side. "It looks as though the enemy were using the flag of truce ruse over here," replied the major. "I don't believe Major Lyon would fool with them. They are marauders and disturbers of the peace, and I think he is as disposed to deal summarily with them as I am," added the commander. "But we will ride up to the place, and we shall soon know what is going on." "Who are these men coming into the road just ahead of us?" asked Major Gadbury, pointing to three men who were making their way through the field to the road. "The fire on the hill don't give quite light enough to enable me to make them out; but I suppose they are ruffians who have made their way from the new road." "I don't know what they are, but we will go and see;" and they rode forward about a dozen rods to the point where the men were emerging from the field. "Who goes there?" demanded Colonel Belthorpe. "Is that you, Mars'r Cunnel?" asked one of them. "Uncle Dave!" exclaimed the planter. "That's the parson," added Colonel Cosgrove. "What are you doing over here, Uncle?" asked the commander.