hing," exclaimed
Robert Dale fervently.

"And now let's go home for dinner, and forget all about this little
unpleasantness," exclaimed Mr. Owen. "Clifford, lad, we can't leave
thee here. My wife will not forgive us if we do so."

Again Clifford's lips set in an obstinate line, but Drayton spoke
quickly:

"Captain Williams, I know how it irks you to be obliged to give me
your parole; so, if you will go with Mr. Owen, or the major here, to
General Hazen, he will receive your parole."

For a moment Clifford struggled with himself. Then he said, and the
effort it cost him was plainly visible:

"I can be as generous as you, sir. I give you my word of honor that I
will make no attempt to escape while I am at large."

"Thank you," said Drayton simply. "You are at liberty to go with your
relatives, sir."

Peggy lingered for a second behind the others.

"Isn't thee coming too, John?" she asked.

"Not to-day, Peggy. Clifford will enjoy it more if I am not there.
Odds life! he did well to give that parole. He deserves to have one
day free of me. But, Peggy, I'll come out to-night, if I may. And
don't worry about that wagon. I'll take it in hand while your father
is not here."

"Was there anything else contraband in the wagon, John?" she queried
anxiously that evening when the two found themselves alone on the
piazza.

"Yes. The quartermaster was about to turn it over to Major Gordon when
I told him I would take another look through the contents. Peggy, in a
barrel of vinegar was a water tight cask just filled with goods. That
slight emphasis on 'that' lost the British a pretty penny. I was alone
when 'twas found, Peggy, so that no one knows about it but us two. We
won't let your father, her brother, or Dale know about it. They all
believe in her so, and I owe her something for what she did for me at
Yorktown."

"Perchance she really does not know any more about this than she did
about the false bottom to the wagon, John."

"It may be, Peggy. We will give her the benefit of the doubt, but it
does look suspicious. She is not so high minded as her brother is."

"John!" Peggy hesitated and then spoke quickly: "Thee knows how proud
I am of her, and that I am fond of her. She is so beautiful and
brilliant that I cannot help but be glad when she is with us. But
there is always an uneasy feeling too. Is there any mischief to the
cause that could be done here?"

"No," he answered emphatically. "Aside from bringing in