“Thanks to this young lady who lied to us!” the third man struck in. I knew him slightly—a New York Tory holding a commission in Tarleton’s horse and like many loyalists more bitter than the regulars. “It would serve Madam right,” he continued rudely, “if we burned the roof over her head! And for my part I’m for doing it!” “Hold your tongue, Carroll!” Paton cried angrily. “You’re always for burning some poor devil’s house or playing some silly trick of that sort! Don’t be afraid, Miss Wilmer,” he continued, “You played your hand, and had a right to play it, and played it well! And by jove, such a face as yours, if you will allow me to say so, knows no laws. But I can tell you,” he went on, addressing me, “my lady came pretty near to bamboozling us, Major! We were just toasting her in a last glass when you came in looking like Banquo’s ghost—and damme, almost as pale! Five minutes more and we should have been off and away!” “And we ought to be away now!” Haybittle said, rising to his feet. “Sergeant! Get ’em to horse. Don’t lose a minute!” “I’m on parole,” I said. “Parole be hanged!” Haybittle answered bluntly. “We retake you! Hit in the arm, eh, Major? Well, you can ride and we’ve a horse for you. And ride we must as if the devil were behind us. I’m not for doing anything to this young lady,” with an awkward look at her, “because she fibbed to us! But I don’t trust her for that reason, and—” “Steady, Captain Haybittle,” I said, regaining my voice and my faculties—the girl continued to sit and look before her with the same stricken face. “This lady’s father saved my life when I was wounded and helpless. He has sheltered me and treated me more than well, and more than humanely. Not a dog must be injured here, or a truss taken, or you will have to reckon with me. I am the senior officer here—” “No, by G—d, you’re not, Major,” Haybittle retorted bluntly. “Not till your name’s replaced on the active list, and that can’t be till you have reported yourself at Headquarters as returned to duty. General Tarleton put me in charge of the expedition, and I’ll give up the lead to no one—with all respect to you.” “And I’m for doing something! I’m for teaching these rebels a lesson!” Carroll protested, encouraged by Haybittle’s action. “You’ll learn a lesson yourself, Lieutenant,” Haybittle rejoined, “and that pretty quickly if you don’t see the men to horse. While we’re mounting, throw forward vedettes as far as the smithy we passed. Off, man, and see to it!” Then to me, “We’re thirty miles from Fishing Creek, where our supports are, and seventy miles from our lines. Green is at Charlotte, a deal too near us for my taste, and has thrown forward Sumter’s men. I’ll give you three minutes, Major, by my watch to get your things together—not a second more. We’re only twenty, all told, and before we are ten miles from here we shall have the country swarming on our backs.”