A yell of defiance responded to this announcement, as the men all started to go in search of their horses, which were left tied in the pine woods. A few men, however, remained, guarding the prisoners. “Leave these people to find their way home as they can! We cannot be encumbered with them! And Mutchison! seize that girl and bring her along after me! that girl in the claret-colored dress!” cried Goldsborough. “Claret?” repeated Mutchison, looking around in perplexity; for he was very considerably “fuddled.” “Seize the girl in the red stuff gown, and bring her after me!” cried Goldsborough, as he turned and rode off. “Oh!” exclaimed Mutchison. And without more ado he pounced upon Elfie, threw her over his great shoulders and bore her off, she screaming and struggling violently, in the direction taken by Goldsborough. Little Mim sprang instantly to the rescue, gave chase, overtook the giant, and attempted to stop him by seizing his leg. The act nearly threw the guerrilla down, but he quickly recovered himself, whirled around, and with the iron handle of his sword aimed a blow on the head of Mim, which struck the little hero, bleeding and senseless, to the ground. “Oh, you villain! I’ll have you hanged for that!” screamed Elfie. “Oh no, you won’t! I’ll give you a better sweetheart than that little fellow!” laughed Mutchison, and he continued his flight, no one else daring to stop him, until he reached a clearing in the pines where the whole cavalry force of Goldsborough’s guerrillas were preparing to mount. Colonel Goldsborough was in the midst. “Mutchison, set that girl on the horse behind me, and secure her to my waist with these two straps!” said Goldsborough. And Mutchison prepared to obey. Now had Elfie been a very dignified young lady she would have been too proud to resist where resistance was vain. But Elfie had more temper than dignity. And so she fought and kicked and scratched and bit and screamed and scolded with all her might and main, and left upon the face of Mutchison marks of her teeth and nails that he would be likely to carry to his grave. “Thunderation! what a little tiger-cat! Look here, girl! if you leave the prints of your fingers on my face in that style, the men will be taking me for your husband, and the colonel wouldn’t like that!” laughed Mutchison. After much difficulty Elfie was conquered, and bound upon her seat behind her captor, who put spurs to his horse and bore her off in triumph! CHAPTER XI. A MOONLIGHT FLIGHT. “She is won! we are gone over bank, bush and scaur; They’ll have fleet steeds that follow,” quoth young Lochinvar, So daring in love and so dauntless in war. Have ye e’er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?—SCOTT.