"I have no doubt Williams has contrived to hide away enough provisions for _our_ use. So _I_ sha'n't suffer from hunger, and as for Lee's Light Horse, I defy them and all other rebels. Come, aunt Sally!" She had ascended as far as to the fourth step of the stairway, and Miss Sally was about to follow, when there was heard, above the wind's moaning, another sound of galloping horses. Like the previous similar sound, it came from the north. Elizabeth stopped and stood on the fourth step. Miss Sally raised her finger to bid silence. Colden's attitude became one of anxious attention, while he dropped his hat on the settle and drew his cloak close about him, so that it concealed his uniform, sword, and pistol. The galloping continued. When time came for it to turn off eastward, as it would do should the riders take the road to Mile Square, it did not so. Instead, as the sound unmistakably indicated, it came on down the post-road. "Hessians, perhaps!" Miss Sally whispered. "Or De Lancey's Cowboys," said Valentine, but not in a whisper. Elizabeth cast a sharp look at the old man, as if to show disapproval of his use of the Whigs' nickname for De Lancey's troop. But the octogenarian did not quail. "They're riding towards the manor-house," he added, a moment later. "Let us hope they're friends," said Colden, in a tone low and slightly unsteady. Elizabeth disdained to whisper. "Maybe it is Lee's Light Horse," she said, in her usual voice, but ironically, addressing Valentine. "In that case we should tremble for our lives, I suppose." "Whoever they are, they've stopped before the house!" said Miss Sally, in quite a tremble. There was a noise of horses pawing and snorting outside, of directions being given rapidly, and of two or three horses leaving the main band for another part of the grounds. Then was heard a quick, firm step on the porch floor, and in the same instant a sharp, loud knock on the door. No one in the hall moved; all looked at Elizabeth. "A very valiant knock!" said she, with more irony. "It certainly _must_ be Lee's Light Horse. Will you please open the door, Colden?" "What?" ejaculated Colden. "Certainly," said Elizabeth, turning on the stairway, so as to face the door; "to show we're not afraid." Jack Colden looked at her a moment demurringly, then went to the door, undid the fastenings, and threw it open, keeping his cloak close about him and immediately stepping back into the shadow. A handsome young officer strode in, as if 'twere a mighty gust of wind that sent him. He wore a uniform of blue with red facings,--a uniform that had seen service,--was booted and spurred, without greatcoat or cloak. A large pistol was in his belt, and his left hand rested on the hilt of a sword. He swept past Colden, not seeing him; came to a stop in the centre of the hall, and looked rapidly around from face to face.