d.

Another gay kerchief was crossed over her ample bosom, and her skirt of
white cotton with a red stripe stood out stiff with starch, making Mammy
look much like a sailing balloon as she came slowly along.

"What dat sojer man sayin' to you, honey?" she asked, as Sally flew up
to her in a way to do her affectionate old heart good.

"Nothing much," said Sally. "I dropped some leaves and he picked them up
for me, but I didn't want him stepping beside me, so I ran up to you."

"Which am de proper ting to do," said Mammy, with dignity. "Doan't you
let none of dem Britishers go sparkin' yo' pritty face, honey, nor
doan't you be a bit 'fraid o' dem, neder. I nebber was 'fraid ob de face
of clay, and dar doan't no sojers make eyes at me when I goes out
walkin' ov an evening."

Sally wanted to laugh at the pompous air with which Mammy stalked along,
much like an old dragoon, she thought, for the soft spring weather had
helped her rheumatism, and she could get along with considerable
comfort.

But the road forked, and Mammy went off toward Ingleside, while Sally
went on to the parson's.

She had reached the gate, and was startled as she began going up the
gravelled walk to hear a soft voice beside her say:

"Allow me, ma'selle," and the tall soldier's sword grated on the walk,
as, bending low, he put a card in the curve of her arm. Then lifting his
hat gay with gold lace high above his head, he said, with his gentle
accent, "Au revoir, ma'selle." And he was gone.

"He is French," said Sally, "for he said 'Au revoir, ma'selle,' and that
means 'adieu, or good-by, mademoiselle, until we meet again.'"

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE BREAKING OF THE STORM

Peace was at an end. The smell of war was in the air. May had dawned,
hot, sweet, and full of the jangle of many tongues. Strange, wild things
were happening, and so swiftly that hardly could men sleep, so fierce
were they for news.

Lord Dunmore, Virginia's governor, was looked upon as an enemy, false
and dangerous. Besides trying to take from the people all their
gunpowder, it was found that he had tried to stir up the Indians to make
one of their cruel attacks upon the people. Soon after this he left
Williamsburg not to return.

News travelled but slowly in those days, and so the May sun had been
shining some weeks when a man on horseback brought the tidings that at
about the same time that the gunpowder had been seized, there had
actually been fighting near Bos