by the
mourners.

The detachment consisted of a company of horse numbering some fifty men,
who had no scruple in seizing upon Butler and his companions as
prisoners of war. It was some relief to Butler when he ascertained that
his present captors were ignorant of his previous history, and were
unconnected with those who had formerly held him in custody. He was also
gratified with the assurance that no design was entertained to molest
any others of the party, except those whom Butler himself indicated as
belligerents.

Captain McAlpine halted with his men at the woodman's cabin, until after
sunrise. During this interval, Butler was enabled to prepare himself for
the journey he was about to commence, and to take an affectionate leave
of Musgrove and his daughter, David Ramsay, and the woodman's family.

Allen Musgrove and Mary, and their friend Ramsay, deemed it prudent to
retreat with the first permission given them by the British officer;
and, not long afterwards, Butler and his comrades found themselves in
the escort of the Tory cavalry, bound for Ferguson's camp.

Thus, once more, was Butler doomed to feel the vexations of captivity.

CHAPTER XLVII.

A COUNCIL OF WAR AT MRS. MARKHAM'S. THE SERGEANT SETS FORTH ON AN
ADVENTURE.

We return to Mildred Lindsay, who, comfortably sheltered under the roof
of Mrs. Markham, had found herself, after the repose of forty-eight
hours, almost entirely reinstated in her former strength; her thoughts
were now consequently directed to the resumption of her journey. The
gentle and assiduous attentions of the family whose hospitality she
enjoyed, were, however, not confined to the mere restoration of her
health. The peculiarity of her condition, thus thrown as she was amongst
strangers, in the prosecution of an enterprise, which, though its
purpose was not disclosed to her entertainer, was one manifestly of
great peril, and such only as could have been induced by some urgent and
imperious necessity, awakened in Mrs. Markham a lively interest towards
Mildred's future progress. This interest was increased by the deportment
of our heroine herself, whose mild and graceful courtesy, feminine
delicacy, and gentleness of nurture, were so signally contrasted with
the romantic hardihood of her present expedition. General Marion's
letter, also, in the estimation of the hostess, put her under a special
obligation to look after the welfare of her guest. Accordingly, now when
the th