my intention to capture nor to slay."

"What then would you have, mysterious being?" said Dunwoodie, hardly
able to persuade himself that the form he saw was not a creature of
the imagination.

"Your good opinion," answered the peddler, with emotion; "I would wish
all good men to judge me with lenity.[89] Major Dunwoodie, danger is
near them you love most--danger within and without--double your
watchfulness--strengthen your patrols--and be silent. With your
opinion of me, should I tell you more, you would suspect an ambush.
But remember and guard them you love best."

[Footnote 89: gentleness, kindness.]

The peddler discharged his musket in the air, and threw it at the feet
of his astonished auditor. When surprise and the smoke allowed
Dunwoodie to look again on the rock where he had stood, the spot was
vacant.

The youth was aroused from the stupor which had been created by this
strange scene, by the trampling of horses, and the sound of bugles. A
patrol was drawn to the spot by the report of the musket, and the
alarm had been given to the corps. Without entering into any
explanation with his men, the major returned quickly to his quarters,
followed by many of his officers, and preceded by Sergeant Hollister,
went to the place which was supposed to contain the peddler.

"Well, sir," said the major to the sentinel who guarded the door, "I
trust you have your prisoner in safety."

"He is yet asleep," replied the man, "and he makes such a noise, I
could hardly hear the bugles sound the alarm."

"Open the door and bring him forth."

The order was obeyed; but, to the utter amazement of the honest
veteran who entered the prison, he found the room in no little
disorder--the coat of the peddler where his body ought to have been,
and part of the wardrobe of Betty scattered in disorder on the floor.
The washerwoman herself occupied the pallet, in profound mental
oblivion, clad as when last seen, excepting a little black bonnet,
which she so constantly wore that it was commonly thought she made it
perform the double duty of both day and night cap. The noise of their
entrance, and the exclamations of the party, awoke the woman.

Dunwoodie turned to leave the apartment, and he saw Captain Lawton
standing with folded arms, contemplating the scene with profound
silence. Their eyes met, and they walked together for a few minutes in
close conversation, when Dunwoodie returned and dismissed the guard to
their place o