pence,'—said Tarleton, reading.—'Tush, this is a tavern bill!'

'Ha, ha,—so it is,'—exclaimed Robinson.—'Well, I have been keeping that there paper for a week past, thinking it was my certificate—and, like a fool, I have gone and tore up the t'other.'

'We are wasting time, gentlemen,'—said the commander.—'Turn this fellow loose, and let him go his ways. But hark you, Mr. Numskull,—did you hear of a fight lately on Pedee, between some of our people and Marion—three days ago?'—

'They talked of such a thing on the river,'—replied Horse Shoe.

'Well, and what was said?'

'Nothing in particular that I can bear in mind.'

'Like all the rest we have tried to get out of him!—You don't even know which party got the better?'—

'Oh, I have hearn that, sir.'—

'What did you hear?—speak out!'—

'Shall I give you the circumlocutory account of the matter?'—asked Horse Shoe,—'or did you wish me to go into the particulars?'—

'Any account, so that it be short.'—

'Then I have hearn that Marion gave the t'other side a bit of a beating.'—

'Aye—aye—so I suppose!—Another tale of this Jack the Giant Killer!—And what has become of Marion."—

'That's onbeknowns to me,'—replied Horse Shoe.

'Do you remember the fool we met at the Waxhaws, last May?'—asked one of the officers present, of another. 'This fellow might pass for a full brother in blood—only I think this clown has the less wit of the two.'—

'As heavy a lump, certainly,'—replied the officer.— 'This, you say, is the first time you have been in Carolina?'—

'To my knowledge,'—replied the sergeant.

'It is broad day, gentlemen,'—said Tarleton,—'we have been squandering precious time upon an empty simpleton.'—Give him his beast and let him be gone.—Sirrah, you are free to depart.—But, look you—If I hear any reports along the road of your having seen me,—or a word about my coming, I'll ferret you out and have you trussed upon a stake twenty foot long.'—

'Thank your honour,'—said Horse Shoe, as he left the tent.—'I never troubles my head with things out of my line.'—

Then seeking his horse he leisurely rode back by the way he had come;—and as soon as he found himself beyond the out-posts of the corps, he urged Captain Peter to as much speed as the late arduous duties of the good beast left him power to exert.

CHAPTER XXIII.

AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR NOT UNFAMILIAR TO THE TIME.

Breakfast was just over when Robinson was seen, from the windows of Mrs. Markham's parlour, pricking along the avenue that conducted to the front of the mansion; and when he drew up his horse at the door, the family were already assembled there to greet him. The plight, both of himself and of his steed, was such as to tell the best part of his story—they had travelled far and seen rough service. The rest was supplied by the sergeant himself who, before he moved from the spot where he had dismounted, gave a narrative of his adventures, which was listened to with great anxiety by the household.

By the sergeant's reckoning, Mrs. Markham's residence could not be more than twenty miles from the place, where, at day-break, he had encountered the British partisan,—whom he had left with a full conviction that the expedition, then on foot, was to be directed against the country lying upon the river. These tidings spread consternation throughout the mansion, and the morning was passed in all the confusion which such an alarm might be supposed to produce. The fright of the females rendered (hem irresolute, and incapable of attending to the most obvious precautions necessary to meet the emergency.

roL.n. 17*

In this conjuncture, Robinson felt himself bound to assume the direction of affairs. At his suggestion, the plate and such other valuables as were likely to attract the cupidity of a licentious soldiery, were secreted in hiding places sufficiently secure to defy a hasty search. The family was advised to assume the appearance of as much composure as they could command;—and the last and most emphatic injunction of the sergeant, was to provide an ample and various repast, in the hope that the illwill of the visitants might be conciliated by the display of good cheer. All this was accordingly put into a train of accomplishment.

In the midst of these preparations, the fears of the inhabitants of the mansion were but too truly realized. It was scarcely noon when the long column of Tarleton's cavalry was descried descending the high hills that lay in the distance, and, soon -afterwards, taking the road that led into the plantation.

Whilst the panic produced by this sight was still fresh, the sound of bugles and trumpets showed that the invaders had already turned their steps towards the dwelling, and the next view disclosed them deploying from a wood, and advancing at a full trot. The quick beat of hoofs upon the soil, and the jangling sounds of sabres shaken against the flanks of the horses, struck upon the terrified ear of the proprietress of the estate, like the harsh portents of impending ruin; and, in the despair and agony of her distress, she retreated hastily to her chamber, whither she summoned her female domestics and gave way to a flood of tears. She was followed by Mildred, who, touched by the pervading disquiet of the family, participated in the alarm, and found herself overcome by a terror which she had never before experienced in all the scenes she had lately gone through. Obeying the instinct of her present fears, our heroine cowered beside her weeping friend, in the midst of the group of clamorous servants, and awaited in mute solicitude the coming events.

The cavalry had turned aside and halted in front of a barn some distance from the dwelling house, and a small party, consisting principally of officers attended by a sergeant's guard, were immediately afterwards seen galloping up to the door. The air of exultation exhibited in their movement, their loud jocularity and frequent laughter, resembled the burst of gladsome riot with which a party of fox-hunters are wont to announce the first springing of their game, and gave evidence of the feelings of men who set little account upon the annoyance they threatened to a peaceful and unoffending household. When the officers of the party had dismounted and entered the hall, the first person they encountered was sergeant Robinson, who had thoughtfully posted himself in view of the door,—and now, with some awkward and ungainly bows and scraping of his feet across the floor, bade them welcome.

'What,'—said Tarleton, who was at the head of the intruders,—'have we stumbled so soon again upon our shrewd and sensible ox!—Wise master Stephen Foster,— well met! So, you are the gentleman-usher to our good friend, Mrs. Markham! By my faith, the old lady is likely to have the honours of her house well administered!'—

'Your sarvant, sir,'—said Horse Shoe, again bowing and scraping his foot with a look of imperturbable gravity.— 'Mought I ax your honour to stomp as light upon the floor as you can?—My young lady is sick up stairs—and much noise is apt to flurry her narves.'

'Tread daintily gentlemen,'—said Tarleton, laughing,— 'for your gallantry's sake!—A lady's nerves are as delicate as the strings of a harp, and must not be rudely struck. The damsel's page here, (pointing to Horse Shoe) puts down his foot like a most considerate elephant— soft as a feather, you perceive;—and I would, by no means, have you give so worshipful a master of courtesy cause to complain of you.—As your wisdom,'—he-added, again addressing the sergeant,—'has found out, by this time, that you are in the house of mistress Markham,— although you disremembercd that this morning—I suppose you can tell whether she is-at home?'—

'I can answer you that she is at home, sir,—that is, onless she has went out sence I saw her—which is not likely, sir.'—

'Then, present her colonel Tarleton's respects, and say that he has come to offer his duty to her.'—

'I suppose by that, you are wishing to see the lady,'— replied the sergeant,—'I'll let her know, sir.'—

Robinson retired for a few moments, and when he returned he announced to the commander, that Mrs. Markham was not willing to come from her chamber.— 'But whatsomever your honour pleases to ax after, the lady promises you shall have,'—continued the sergeant.

'Well that's a condescension!—a good, comfortable lady!—So, gentlemen, you see we arc in luck;—a broad roof over head,—a larder well stored. 1 hope,—and a cellar not altogether empty, 1 think 1 may undertake to promise.—Where are your waiting-men, my nimble Ganymede?—You are- a sluggish oaf,—fellow—not to see that soldiers must have drink1'—

Alfred and Henry now entered the hall, and the former approaching Tarleton, said, with a firm but respectful tone.—

'My mother has before been visited by British troops,— and she had so little then to thank them for, except their departure, that the fear of meeting them again has greatly alarmed her.—Our family, sir, has no older man in it than myself—and out of regard to helpless women'—

'That's enough, my pert lad,'—interrupted Tarleton,— 'I have heard of your good mother before,—she is somewhat over-ready in her zeal in behalf of Marion's ragamuffins:—and, truly, I think she is more squeamish than she should be at the sight of a soldier, when she could look upon such hang-gallows knaves without shuddering.—You have another man in your house, I see, (directing his eye towards Henry Lindsay who had seated himself in the hall)—and full, as old, I take it, as yourself.'—

'I wish 1 were a man of full age,'—said Henry, looking fearlessly at the British officer, and remaining fixed in his chair.—

'Why so, my gay sparrow-hawk?'—

'I would have disputed with you, your right to enter this door.'—

'These young cocks are all trained to show their