se to call it so, of
his Lordship's acquaintance. Also, I have that of Colonel Tarleton and
the members of his staff, the same having tried and condemned me as a
spy at Appleby Hundred some few weeks before this chase I have told you
of."

His face fell. "Then, of course, it is out of the question for you to
show yourself in Cornwallis's headquarters."

I rose and buttoned my borrowed coat.

"On the contrary, Colonel Davie, I am more than ever at your service.
Let me have a cut of your venison and a feed for my horse, and I shall
be at my Lord's headquarters as soon as the nag can carry me there."

XXXII

IN WHICH I AM BEDDED IN A GARRET

"Tis a very pretty hazard, Captain Ireton. But can it be brought off
successfully, think you?"

"As I have said, it hangs somewhat upon the safety of my portmanteau. If
that has come through unseized to Mr. Pettigrew at Charlotte, and I can
lay hands on it, 'twill be half the battle."

"You say you left it behind you at New Berne?"

"Yes; Mr. Carey was to forward it as he could."

Colonel Davie had given me bite and sup, and I was ready to take the
road. My plan, such as it was, had been determined upon, and to the
furthering of it, the colonel had written me a letter to a friend in the
town who might shelter me for a night and make the needed inquiry for my
belongings. Also, he had given me another letter, of which more anon,
and had pressed upon me a small purse of gold pieces--a treasure rare
enough in patriot hands in that impoverished time.

When all was done, two of my late captors were ordered to set me
straight in the road; and some half-hour past noon I had shaken hands
with the big fellow in homespun who had been so bent upon hanging me
without benefit of clergy, had crossed the river, and was making the
first looping in a detour which should bring me into Charlotte from the
westward.

'Twas drawing on toward evening, and I had recrossed the river a mile or
more below Appleby Hundred, when I began to meet the outposts of the
British army. I was promptly halted by the first of these; but my
borrowed uniform and a ready word or two passed me within the lines as a
courier riding post to headquarters from Major Ferguson in the west.

The lieutenant in command of the first vedette line was not
over-curious. He asked me a few questions about the major's plans and
dispositions,--questions which, thanks to Colonel Davie's information, I
was able to answer gli