Fairfax made no answer, but stood in a dejected attitude, his head sunk upon his breast. The stillness without was ominous. Presently jets of flame crept across the threshold of the door leading to the lean-to. The farmer uttered an exclamation almost of despair as he reached for the water bucket. "We are all right as long as the water holds out," he groaned, dashing the bucket's contents on the blaze. "God help us when 'tis gone." "Uncle Tom," spoke the youth imploringly, "they only want me. Let me at least make a dash for the woods. There would be a chance of escape, and 'twould draw them away from here." "Would they really take after Fairfax if they saw him taking to the woods?" queried Nurse Johnson abruptly. "Of a truth, Hannah. You see they'd like to get him on account of capturing Edwards, but we won't give him up. He's too necessary to the country." "Another place is on fire, friend," screamed Sally at this moment. Both the youth and his uncle sprang for the blaze, beating the flames with heavy wet cloths. Under cover of the excitement Nurse Johnson threw her son's long cloak around her, caught up his three-cornered hat, and, before they realized what she was about, had opened the rear door of the kitchen and darted out. A shout went up from the raiders, telling that she had been seen. A few scattering shots followed, then the clarion tones of the leader rang out: "Don't shoot, boys. Take him alive. We've got him now." "Mother!" cried Fairfax, springing toward the door. Tom Ashley caught him in an iron grip. "Be quiet, nevvy," he said sternly. "Hannah's got too much wit to be taken, and she hath saved you; and all of us, for that matter. You are too valuable to the country to be given to such wretches. Even though all the rest of us perish, you must live. Now help me put out this fire. Peggy, do you run up-stairs, and see what's happening." Up the stairs darted Peggy, with Mrs. Ashley and Sally following after. Too eager to be cautious she flung back a shutter, and looked out. The night was now far spent, and in the dim gray light of early dawn Nurse Johnson's tall figure was not unlike that of her son. The intrepid woman had cleared the open spaces of the yard, and was now under the great trees of the forest, with the raiders in full pursuit. A few moments, and hunted and hunters were swallowed up by the long dark shadows of the woods. CHAPTER XIV MARCHING ORDERS "Our bugles sound gayly. To horse and away! And over the mountains breaks the day; Then ho! brothers, ho! for the ride or the fight, There are deeds to be done ere we slumber to-night! And whether we fight or whether we fall By saber-stroke or rifle ball, The hearts of the free will remember us yet, And our Country, our Country will never forget." --_Rossiter Worthington Raymond._