“That cannot be,” he told her. “I happen to know that this especial horse came down from New York City on one of the transports with Sir Henry Clinton. So you see that it cannot be yours.” “But it is, sir,” cried she. “I came down at the same time with my cousin Colonel Owen and his daughter Harriet on the ‘Falcon.’ Our horses, Harriet’s and mine, were put on one of the transports.” “Then why are you not in Charleston with the others?” he demanded. “Why, they were lost at sea,” she replied, turning upon him a startled look. “We took to the boats, but ours was caught by the current and swept away from the schooner. It must have gone down afterward.” “I see,” he said. “Then if all this is true, and you came down with Sir Henry and his company, you must be a loyalist? In that case, of course, you may have the horse.” “It is indeed truth that I came here in that manner,” reiterated Peggy. “And the horse is truly mine.” “But are you loyal?” he persisted. “If you will say so you may take the beast, and aught else you wish on the premises.” Peggy leaned her head against Star’s silky mane and was silent. It would be so easy to say. She could not part with Star now that she had found her. Would it be so very wrong? Just a tiny fib! The girl gave a little sob as the temptation assailed her and tightened her clasp of the pony convulsively. It was but a moment and then, stricken with horror at the thought which had come to her, Peggy raised her head. “Sir,” she said, “I am not loyal to the king. I am a strong patriot. In sooth,” speaking more warmly than she would have done had it not been for that same temptation, “in sooth, I don’t believe there is a worse rebel to His Majesty anywhere in these parts; but for all that thee shan’t have Star. Thee shall kill me first.” And so saying she picked up the Bible from the ground where it had fallen, and sprang lightly into the saddle. The captain had smiled in spite of himself as she flung him her defiance. Peggy aroused was Peggy adorable. With eyes flashing, color mantling cheek and brow, the crushed creamy blossom nestling caressingly in her dark hair, the maiden made a picture that would bring a smile from either friend or foe. But as she sprang to the saddle the officer seized the rein which she had unknotted from the tree, exclaiming: “You have spirit, it seems, despite your Quaker speech. The horse is yours for one——” At this instant there came a shout from the soldiers who had resumed the chase of the poultry during the colloquy between their officer and the maiden. Some of their number had struck down some beehives formed of hollow gum logs ranged near the garden fence. The irritated insects dashed after the men, and at once the scene became one of uproar, confusion and lively excitement.