Dick shaded his eyes with his hand and surveyed the couple to whom Fritz had called his attention. The man was unquestionably threatening his companion with violence, and the girl, although she made no effort to escape, glanced back frequently as if looking about her for assistance. "Come on, let's investigate," cried Dick, putting spurs to his horse. Fritz followed closely, and the pair soon overtook the two pedestrians whom they had observed. As they rode up, the man, who was evidently a young southerner, seized his companion by the wrist, at which she cried out. "That strikes me as very poor courtesy," shouted Dick, reining up, "and is most surprising to see in a man of this state!" "State," snapped the other, still retaining his hold on the girl, who looked as if she might be his sister, as the boys soon discovered she was. "To all but rebels this is a loyal colony of His Majesty, King George." "Rebels is a hard word," replied Dick, "and, moreover, my friend and I shall be indebted to you if you will immediately release the lady, who doesn't appear to be greatly flattered with your attentions." "Yah," chorused Fritz. "So are we." "You don't seem to lack admirers," drawled the southerner, turning to his sister. Then, his rage overcoming him, "You little rebel spy!" he hissed. The girl paled, and at this added insult Dick leaped to the ground and advanced on the troublesome one. Grasping him by the collar and giving him a vigorous push in the proper direction, Dick sent the young Loyalist sprawling in a ditch. "Ha, ha!" shouted Fritz, "my turn next." "It will be both of your turns next," yelled their new acquaintance, who had promptly recovered his feet, and was retiring down the road in discomfort, evidently feeling sure that retreat was the safest in the face of such odds. "Oh," cried the girl, "now I've drawn you into trouble, haven't I?" "Not that I can notice," replied Dick, with quiet indifference. "I trust that we have been of service to you and haven't interfered where we shouldn't have." "I can't thank you enough for getting rid of him just at this moment," she replied. "As he said, I'm a Patriot, and he was trying to force some important information from me regarding the forces in Charleston." "My name is Dare, miss, and this is Fritz Schmockenburg, both of Capt. Morgan's company." The girl nodded brightly at Fritz, who was overwhelmed by the suddenness with which he was thrown into a lady's company. "My brother is very influential in the King's army," she said, "and now I'd advise you to hurry along if you expect to avoid any further trouble with him." At that moment Dick thought he distinguished the dull sound of hoof-beats coming from the direction in which the young Tory had retreated. "Guess you're right," replied Dick, "but if we go on, what will happen to you?"