Cardigan

emen lounging within, and somewhat boisterous over their wine and filberts; so thinking

I saw Walter Butler rise and shut the door, taking the additional precaution to lock it. Turning to rejoin the company

g up at Mr. Butler. "When you are seated, sir

for one, was not aware of it," observed Mr. Butle

ut that moment came in, when he interrupted qu

g kinsman has my confidence, and it is time he shoul

maudlin chuckle, "I knew a thing or two, I'll

Claus never even troubled to give me a glance, but I sa

Sir William, but Lo

w, Sir William! Scratch me raw! if I hadn't put a finger in

have only to say-and I say it with all respect and submission to Governor Tryon-that I do not believe it

ominate the county, and these rascals must be brought to understand it. Trust me, messires

litia," observed Walter Bu

was set hard, bu

Sir William; "come, now! curse me blind! but we shall have the

if it lay with your Lordship you

Lord Dunmore for a moment, and he

erful chief, Red Jacket, at my table to-night, and he

awled Lord Dunmore, "d'ye think I care w

your Lordship has so conducted in Virginia, the Kin

ed Lord Dunmore in a pet. Then a subtle smirk settled on his waxen cast of a face and h

p to drive the Cayugas into a hatred for the colonies, nor did I doubt b

rike fire. But he said nothing to interrupt Lord Dunmore, who had now launched into a gust of incoherent words and prote

oken by the clear sarcas

r Tryon the opinion of a country Baron

ryon, cordially, looking up from

r show of militia; that, secondly, if they should once entertain a suspicion that England, in the event of war, proposes to employ savages as allies to subdue rebellio

n pass his hand over his mouth to conceal a smile. But Walter Butler's passionless voice w

inform you, gentlemen, as to the actual existing conditions in the Indian Department. That, Sir William can do better than any one in America. Therefore, I beg S

ng from the bag. Yet nobody by glance or w

binding his chin deepened, and his brows bent in towards his nose as

ang like thunder-clouds along our frontiers. Gentlemen, I am not of that opinion. I have said openly, and I care not who knows it, that if war must com

is possible to so conduct that these savages will remain

ht at Lord Dunmore, raising his voic

fy my wards, to keep them calm and orderly in the event of a war which I, for one, regard with horror. Were I to do otherw

d Dunmore wiped his bleared eyes with a rag of l

g, and rebuke those who seek to tarnish it. And if there are now those among his counsellors or deputies who

ow and fixed his ey

How then can you propose to let loose the

e same savages on us," re

lliam

marvel then that my Lord North should misunderstand them,

o break the tension ere sharp words flew. "Did I not know you to the bone, sir,

. "Skewer me! Sir William, but you talk l

Even Governor Tryon glanced uneasily at Lord Dunmore to see how he might swallow such a pill, but that nobleman

Indian Department, exchanged puzzled glances. But I noticed that

ing here amid all the perplexities of the times; but it is a matter touching on my

deliberately o

s. I know not, nor do I care, what the motives of these men may be, but I protest against it, and I shall do all in

e? Curse me! Skewer me! Claw me raw! but it is not fair," he snivelled. "No, it is not fair! Take your hands off my sleeve a

nobody had mentioned Cresap-the startling disclosure, too, of Walter Butler's interest in

's aggression meant; no man there dared

sarcastic voice p

t could harbour suspicions of a foul conspiracy between your Lords

Dunmore, on Sir William, and then on me.

ork town without seeking it among the loyalists of this county. Nobody believes that my Lord Dunmore is seeking trouble with your tame Indians, Sir William. If

p, in the drunken sulks, and straightway fell a-squabbling

and his shameless impudence in openly attempting to muzzle

Walter Butler, as far as his hope of Silver Heels was concerned. A fierce happines

et cat, left the room swearing audibly, while his playful Lordship threw a few glasses after him and then collapsed i

ye on him; and, when he left the table to saunter towards the door,

or, and surveyed us with cool effron

as my secretary, Captain Butler," said Sir Wi

Butler, drawing the keys from his pocket and

as marvellous considering he was fac

face, "I consider myself released from my conse

Captain Butler, cynically,

id, but Sir Willia

it. But my decision is irrevocable, Mr. Butler, for I have des

uth into that ghastly grimace I knew

ance, too," said M

manded Sir William, steadyi

tarily turned to find me, rigid, behind him. The next moment Captain Butler p

l with Walter Butler, and awaiting only for Sir William to return to the library, and leave

aid a hand on my shoulder and spun me shar

alf divining the truth. "Michael! Michael! Don't be

I answered,

roughly. "Have I not sorrow enough without seeing you carr

n score to clean

a selfish quarrel-eh? I was a fond ol

eyes; I could have b

ing out the words. "I meant no harm; I a

y ask you to learn discretion. This is no time to settle private matters. No man

ide, sir?"

ile. Presently he took my arm a

, but I can place matters in a clear light for

out their consent, but I could not see why they should no

estate some day. You are, at sixteen, an officer of his Majesty's border cavalry; you have every prospect of promotion; the King remembers your father, Governor Tryon is your friend. And I

fork, in the ranks of your countrymen? Could you give up ease, hopes, position? Could you give up your friends and kinsmen? Could you give up what sum I may leave you in my will? For Sir John would never let

r you to-night

d!" he sai

ere my heart is, I would follow in

came running out of the darkness an officer with naked claymore shin

d with fever! The doctor lies in the hut with a b

swayed as th

a panther and-we had your orders not to fire. He will die, anyhow; the doctor says he will seek

kets, on which sat our doctor, Pierson, head hanging. And when Sir Willia

him down, but he had the strength of delirium, Sir William. I want that fat surgeo

oldiers and the injured man passed on towards the g

ud, "God's will be don

ll crowded, and in the library my Lord Dunmore lay on the carpet cursing and vomiting and shriek

eward, followed by their patient squaws; here and there sedan-chairs

twinkling with lights, and when the wind set our way, we could he

ndow were gathered Colonel Claus and his lady and Sir John Johnson, whispering. Brant, surrounded by a bevy of fine ladies, was turning over the pages of a book

ir William, in a bitter voice, "not o

lucked at his slee

d a man now-a man of experience, a ma

whispered. For the first and only time in my

o carry it out. I know what you wish. I know you cannot trust your message to paper, nor to a living sou

was speaking, Sir William holding me so tigh

at Cresap remains undisturbed. The Ohio trails will be watched for a messenger from me. Wh

officer in uniform?

des in Johnstown to hire?" replied Sir William, bitterly. "Why, the

irginia line with Brant? Do you think I could fail to reach Cresap with the whole forest as plain to me as the Stony Way below this hill? And remember I carry no papers to be stolen. I could first

of the King?" said Sir Wil

retorted, in a flash. "Ar

huskily, "do you understand that

w my arms around him with

nted, while he murmured brokenly that he could

edly my purpose, and to prove that I knew the trails, I sharpened my treasured Faber pencil and made a drawing for him, noting every ford

Sir William had made to Quider, as nearly as I could remember, and delivering each belt in dumb show and with all

o had become deeply interested; "wh

I replied

n Onon

tah,

in Ca

en blushed, for

re you to bear my peace-belts if you know not

od-red, not war-red," I replied, so na

ations. It eases my mind to find you quick and ingenious in a tight place, lad. But, Mic

, mile by mile, computing the circles I should be obliged to take

t wait till he reaches Virginia before he sends out his emissaries

sh until you reach Crown Gap. I take it that Lord Dunmore's men, being Vi

ngers and mischances only to discount them with confidence in my knowledge of woodcraft, a

the King, I cannot for shame aid me by wearing the King's uniform. Therefore, with your approval, sir

m, slowly, "you must go

me; I was face to

ered. The prospect of the sacrifice choked my speech, and my heart

ur errand is an errand of justice and mercy. I send you as my own messenger. It is my duty to protect my Cayugas, and it is yours to obey me. Y

vil moment which I now understood was surely coming for us both. He knew it, too; his face was loose and seamed and

that ominous future, I heard Silver Heels come running up

a glimpse of Sir William within, she marched past me and perc

efusal, and presently it came out that she was teasing to be allowed to go with

une running races, and there will be horses from Virginia and Maryland and New York, and we are to have dancing every evening and

striving to undo her arms from his neck, but she only kissed him and

mind you take Betty with you! And mind th

way to the nursery without a glance at me. What did I care? I had begun to disli

, and I observed her departure grimly. As for Sir William's new desire to see us wedded, I h

the hallway, saying, with affected carelessne

" said I,

ibrary when you go.

ursery where Mistress Molly was saying: "What is all this about Felicity's journeying to Pittsburg,

and I'll send to New York, my dear. Of course I know our little maid must outshin

or closing, and I stole back through the dark

at the nearness of my departure proved a lively antidote for sorrow-nay, the fever of an

loaded with glory and importance. Then I might see her at Fort Pitt. But what did I care? She couldn't marry Walter Butler; the dragoon Bevan belonged to Mrs. Hamilton; and now she was going to Pi

ted socks. Down in the store-room I found corn-meal, salt, and pork, and tied each in its sack. Powder and ball were to be had in the

ut, as I darted past and unhooked the keys of the

I weighed them in the guard-house scales and

eer in May? What the deuce do you want of all this pow

curiously. I ignored Mr. Duncan's banter and plum

pping face over the barber's basin. "Unless," he added, politely,

ep and have a care to follow grain. I cared not a whit for Mr. Duncan's mirth, I was

med Mr. Duncan. "Nay, ba

d trim my hair to a crop, Wraxall! Whew! man, don't breathe on me

demanded Wraxall, sulkily

roared with laughter; "I don't desire a shave

ked Mr. Duncan. But I refused to be drawn out, and finally he

the house. The place was dark save for a light in the library. I felt my way up the stairs and into my chamber, where I first

ed by mice, to leave me without cords should I need them. Over my shoulders I slung powder-horn and bullet-pouch, slipped

ceiling. So all was ready. I lingered only to buckle my money-belt under my shirt, pouch a dozen new flints and a case of wadding

memory of her many misdeeds hardened it immediately, and I went on, tasting contentedly of a perv

ress Molly did not awake-or was it that she knew what errand I was bound on? Perhaps. Still, to this

ough the card-room, and tapped at the lib

. All the joy and exhilaration of adventure had suddenly left me; I felt the straps of my pa

on him in these few weeks! Where was that ruddy glow, that full swell of muscle as he moved, that clear-eyed, full-fronted presence that I knew s

through the dark house and out to the porch. Dawn silvered the east, but the moon in its first quarter

never a word was said, and never a sound fell on the night air save

ears, breathless, too, for, as I halted and turned to look back, far away against the dawn I saw our house as a bl

ch swaggering and drunkenness in Johnstown, and I marvelled at it as I hastened on. Once, as I passed a tavern, two men, journeying in opposite directions, hailed each other with a new phrase: "Greeting, frie

r! Tory! Kill the red-coat!" And everywhere along the street windows were raised and men looked out, s

d set him on his legs. He was a small Hebrew man, Saul Shemuel, who came a-peddling often to our servants; but in his terror he did not k

pot-house much frequented by Boston men. Presently as I climbed the hill I heard the drums at the guard-

amn each other for rebels and Tories? It amazed me to see old neighbours shaking their f

tea drove men mad, what wonder Sir William and Governor Tr

south, vague as a ghostly vision in the moon's beams. Ah, my woods!-my dear, dear woods! One pl