Sarah Dillard's Ride

self by coming into the British camp as a spy, neither Nath

y in their intercourse with the so-called rebels, and that such perso

without a murmur, therefore there was no painful anxiety regarding the outcome of the matter

ory and in league with the Britishers would be carried to all that cou

afely count on his doing whatsoever was in his power to have them held prisoners, even if worse did not follow, and it was evident Nathan feared this l

to us through havin

and it will be exceedingly fortunate if he leaves this encampment without hav

be silenced, Evan, and I am thinking Ephraim Sowers knows in this e

d dare to kill us?" and n

rs, for there is no reason why we should look abroad for trouble when we have sufficient of it close around us. We will

y engaged he may be it is necessary for his own safety, should he ever retur

long as we are held prisoners here, and who shall say that we may not soon find an opportunit

ng him here and realizing what his coming might mean, as

he scoundrel, and he hurried away as if bent on visiting the commander. I

hat might be the result of Major Ferguson's march through the mountains, and in other ways discuss

en food that night, rations were served out to them, and they were partaking of the limited meal with such k

formation he desired?" Nathan asked curtly, only glancing

hat wouldn't be pleasant for you t

guess that you have done all the injury to yo

t of you two that he won't be likely to pa

we found you were playing the part of spy," Evan said, determined to so far h

enemies of the king," Evan replied, assuming

u stand ready to aid his officers by playing the spy up

face crimsoned with mingled rage and shame, for he knew full well that but for the aid afford

bels, and more particularly will I exert myself against the Mountai

ut for him you would have starved. Let me see: vipers have been supposed

s clinched hand in impotent rage, and so threatening was his attitude that the sol

trembling with passion. "I am not to be treated

your liberty save when it becomes necessary to prevent you from striki

dea of touc

though these two lads be rebels, they shall be

ed, and that before l

ront of Nathan and Evan, as if to afford protection; while Ephraim, standing a few paces away, poured o

ot to be treated as a prison

rn to the rebels! I brought Major Ferguson information that Clarke and his men are in camp

down upon your mother's own cous

ne once he raises his

yet further increased the Tory's wrath. "But have a care, Ephraim Sowers. The men in this colony are not easily whipped into submission, nor do they readily forget

ss it never will, you won't be here to know what comes to me, for before the

name of soldiers," and now Evan was rapidly becoming as excited as the Tory. "It may be you can succeed in hav

on, and when that has been done we will see what

that instant a soldier came up from the direction of Major Ferguson's

in many minutes at a time," Nathan said in a tone of relief as the spy walked reluct

is in a position to work us great injury, and by yet further provoking hi

f that could

ispute his power

bouts of Colonel Clarke's forces, knowing full well that this troop can readily cut them

this moment, because of the knowledge

s nothing we can

aid suddenly, lowering his voice to a whispe

fresh, instead of so weary that I question if we could travel a single mile further, and if we might so far elude the sentinel as to gain the cover o

possible, but only spoke because my thoughts were with

a long-drawn sigh, and then the two fell sile

ing more had been seen o

ously to yield themselves up to slumber, and after a time, bound as they

as if those useful members had been paralyzed. They had slept fitfully, and

relief of both the lads a captain, more humane that his c

t any attempt at flight would be useless, and ye

ey were happily disappointed, and when the march was begun they almost believed Ephraim Sowers

y. "He counts on seeing those who have played the part of friends to him shot

as reasonable to suppose Major Ferguson, although not prone to be overcareful of the fe

rtin Drake's plantation, where the cavalry had already halte

or food, and the household furniture which, rude though it was, represented all that went to make up the inter

in that short time they had completely wrecked the dwelling portion of the plantation, and caused such a

"for it was Martin Drake's wife who tended him when he was ill wi

en him since

th the advanced detachment, for it seems

treble the amount of food the troop could consume, the boys were given nothing more than

e windows shattered, was the march resumed, and then the prisoners heard the Tory who w

f what threatened, for Captain Dillard was in his command, and if information could b

but Evan failed to see any possibility that good might be

portunity of sending a messenger from the plantation. Ephraim Sowers knows full well where the cap

the name of the Bloody Scouts, as she did on that night when alone she crossed the Ennoree, swollen tho

"Thanks to Ephraim Sowers, the commander of this force will know only too well how eager

he best," Nathan replied bravely, and then wor

they utterly wrecked, shooting from sheer wantonness the live stock that could not be run do

f the Dillard plantation, and knew that the time was near at hand when, if eve

or it seemed reasonable to suppose he was making himself obnoxious in the dwelling of those

and Evan sighed as he nodded in reply, for it seemed to him there was little chance they would be permitted to hold a c

, with the windows and doors flung wide open, they had a full vie

, for he believed it betokened yet more mischief on the part of

ll still look upon him as a friend, and, in case the captain should

exacting demands of the officers who had quartered themselves upon h

rform her share of waiting upon them. Now one would call out some peremptory order, and then follow it with a demand that the mistress of the house give it her especial at

ling every animal which came within range of their guns, and a huge bonfire had been bu

in it the officers had taken up their quarters, and once they were ready to d

guard, and then one of the officers appeared to have suddenly become co

serve as a prison for two rebel cubs that we have

, which might readily be broken out if your prison

wer our purpose? If not, the men can speedily nail

purpose," Mrs. Dillard said, as she glanced toward the boys with a certain uplift

roopers to turn carpenters," the officer said with a laugh, as if believing he had given words to some

to Major Ferguson, who was seated at the head of the table, giving his undivided attention

outside with oaken rails stout enough to resist the efforts of any three of our troopers, I should say. The door can be not

he lads cannot break out, and the sooner they are lodged within the sooner you will be ready to hold your peace, thus giving me an opportunity

o the upper floor, and this trifling matter having been arranged, the gallant British