By this time we were come to the main entrance of the house, where the doors should have been flung wide open at the sound of our horses’ hoofs, for Master Sinclair was noted throughout the Colonies for his hospitality. Not a sound could be heard as Gabriel dismounted, beckoning me to do the same, and the other lads remained in the saddle as we two opened the door, which was unfastened, and entered the dwelling. Inside it was as if the family had just stepped out for a moment; nothing appeared to be disturbed, such as must have been the case in the event of the redcoats visiting the plantation, for those hirelings of the king never lost an opportunity to destroy whatsoever of property they came across which could not be carried away. We shouted as we went from one apartment to the other, but received no reply, and then for the first time did Gabriel speak: “There has been something of disaster here, Rufus, and what it is we should learn without delay.” “But I see no signs of wrong-doing, or of trouble. Mayhap the Sinclairs have gone away for a friendly visit.” “But why should the dwelling have been left thus deserted with not a door fastened?” “I question if Master Sinclair ever believed it necessary to bar his doors,” was my reply, and at the same time there was much of disquiet in my mind, for the entire absence of life upon this plantation where I had ever seen so much of bustle and gaiety, was mystifying. Having satisfied ourselves that the dwelling was indeed unoccupied, Gabriel led the way to the front door, and there said to Jacob Breen and Archie Gordon: “Ride through the negro quarters and out into the fields, to see if you may come across any of the servants.” The lads departed at once, and when Gabriel seated himself on the edge of the veranda, his chin in his hands as if trying to solve some difficult problem, Jared Green, forgetting that it was a soldier’s duty to remain silent until spoken to by his commander, asked with somewhat of fretfulness in his tone: “Is there any good reason why we should remain in the saddle while the sun beats down on us so fiercely?” “No, lad, I had forgotten my duty,” Gabriel replied gently, looking up as if just aroused from some dream. “It is well that you stable and feed your horses while there is opportunity, for we may be in need of leaving this place hurriedly, when fresh steeds will be of more value than those that are jaded.” The lads knew full well where to find quarters for the animals, and they rode away, taking with them Gabriel’s horse and mine, whereupon our leader looked at me with mute inquiry in his eyes. There was no need for him to give words to the question which I saw there. “I cannot make a guess, lad. It is enough for us, however, that there are no signs of the British near about, and, as I look at the matter, we are as clearly bound to remain here on guard as if having found the family waiting to give us welcome.”