irst chance that might offer an
honorable escape from all these heartburnings? 'Twas a weakness, if you
choose; I set down here naught but the simple fact, which had by now
gone as far beyond excusings as the underlying cause of it was beyond
forgiveness.

'Twas on the final day, the day when we were riding tantivy to reach
Queensborough by evening, that my deliverance came. I say deliverance
because at the moment it had the look of a short shrift and a ready
halter.

We had crossed our own Catawba and were putting our horses at the steep
bank on the outcoming side, when my saddle slipped. Dismounting to
tighten the girth, I called to the others to press on, saying I should
overtake them shortly.

The promise was never kept. I scarce had my head under the saddle flap
before a couple of stout knaves in homespun, appearing from I know not
where, had me fast gripped by the arms, whilst a third made sure of the
horse.

"A despatch rider," said the bigger of the two who pinioned me. "Search
him, Martin, lad, whilst I hold him; then we'll pay him out for
Tarleton's hanging of poor Sandy M'Guire."

I held my peace and let them search, taking the threat for a bit of
soldier bullyragging meant to keep me quiet. But when they had turned
the pockets of my borrowed coat inside out and ripped the lining and
made it otherwise as much the worse for their mishandling as it was for
wear, the third man fetched a rope.

"Did you mean that, friend?--about the hanging?" I asked, wondering if
this should be my loophole of escape from the life grown hateful.

"Sure enough," said the big man, coolly. "You'd best be saying your
prayers."

I laughed. "Were you wearing my coat and I yours, you might hang me and
welcome; in truth, you may as it is. Which tree will you have me at?"

The man stared at me as at one demented. Then he burst out in a guffaw.
"Damme, if you bean't a cool plucked one! I've a mind to take you to the
colonel."

"Don't do it, my friend. Though I am something loath to be snuffed out
by the men of my own side, we need not haggle over the niceties. Point
out your tree."

"No, by God! you're too willing. What's at the back of all this?"

"Nothing, save a decent reluctance to spoil your sport. Have at it, man,
and let's be done with it."

"Not if you beg me on your knees. You'll go to the colonel, I say, and
he may hang you if he sees fit. You must be a most damnable villain to
want to die by the first rope you