_George_. Those trunks in the forward team. Make haste. We've no time to lose. This box in the wagon where the children are.--Carefully--carefully, though. (_A Soldier enters_.) _Sol_. Hurra, hurra, the house there! Are you ready? Ten minutes more. _George_. Get out. What do you stand yelling there for? We know all about it. _Sol_. But your brother, the Captain, says, I must hurry you, or you'll be left behind. _George_. Tell my brother, the Captain, I'll see to that. We want no more hurrying. We have had enough of that already, and much good it has done us too. Stop, stop,--not that. We must leave those for the Indians to take their tea in. _Workman_. But the lady said---- _George_. Never mind the lady. Well, Annie, are you ready? Don't stand there crying; there's no use. We may come back here again yet, you know. Many a pleasant sunrise we may see from these windows yet. Heaven defend us, here is this aunt of ours.--What on earth are they bringing now? (_A Lady in the door with a couple of portraits, followed by others bringing baskets and boxes, etc_.) _Lady_. That will do, set them down; now, the Colonel and his lady, on the back room wall, just over against the beaufet. Stop a moment. I'll go with you myself. _Betty_. (In, the door.) Lord 'a mercy! Here it is broad day-light. What are we waiting for? I am all ready. Why don't we go? _George_. I tell you, Aunt Rachael, the thing is impossible. This trumpery can't go, and there's the end of it. St. George and the Dragon---- _Miss Rachael_. Never mind this young malapert--do as I bid you. _Betty_. Lord 'a mercy, we shall all be murdered and scalped, every soul of us. Bless you--there it is in the garret now!--just hold this umberell a minute, Mr. George,--think of those murderous Indians wearing my straw bonnet. Lord bless you! What are you doing? a heaving my umberell over the fence, in that fashion! _George_. These women will drive me mad I believe. Let that box alone, you rascal. Lay a finger on that trumpery there I say, and you'll find whose orders you are under; as for the Colonel and his lady, they'll get a little drink out of the first puddle we come to, I reckon. [_Goes out_. _Miss R_. (_Coming from the house_.) That will do. That is all,--in the green wagon, John---- _Ser't_. But the children---- _Miss R_. Don't stand there, prating to me at a time like this. Make haste, make haste! How perfectly calm I am! I would never have believed it;--just tie this string for me, child, my hands twitch so strangely,--they say the British are just down in the lane here, with five thousand Indians, Annie. _Annie_. It is no such thing. Aunt Rachael. The British are quietly encamped on the other side of the river; three miles off at least.