nue that conducted to the front
of the mansion; and when he drew up his horse at the door, the family
were already assembled there to greet him. The plight, both of himself
and of his steed, was such as to tell the best part of his story--they
had travelled far and seen rough service. The rest was supplied by the
sergeant himself, who, before he moved from the spot where he had
dismounted, gave a narrative of his adventures, which was listened to
with great anxiety by the household.

By the sergeant's reckoning, Mrs. Markham's residence could not be more
than twenty miles from the place where, at daybreak, he had encountered
the British partisan, whom he had left with a full conviction that the
expedition then on foot was to be directed against the country lying
upon the river. These tidings spread consternation throughout the
mansion, and the morning was passed in all the confusion which such an
alarm might be supposed to produce. The fright of the females rendered
them irresolute, and incapable of attending to the most obvious
precautions necessary to meet the emergency.

In this conjuncture, Robinson felt himself bound to assume the direction
of affairs. At his suggestion, the plate and such other valuables as
were likely to attract the cupidity of a licentious soldiery, were
secreted in hiding-places sufficiently secure to defy a hasty search.
The family was advised to assume the appearance of as much composure as
they could command; and the last and most emphatic injunction of the
sergeant was, to provide an ample and various repast, in the hope that
the ill-will of the visitants might be conciliated by the display of
good cheer. All this was accordingly put into a train of
accomplishment.

In the midst of these precautions, the fears of the inhabitants of the
mansion were but too truly realized. It was scarcely noon when the long
column of Tarleton's cavalry was descried descending the high hills that
lay in the distance, and, soon afterwards, taking the road that led into
the plantation.

Whilst the panic produced by this sight was still fresh the sound of
bugles and trumpets showed that the invaders had already turned their
steps towards the dwelling, and the next view disclosed them deploying
from a wood and advancing at a full trot. The quick beat of hoofs upon
the soil, and the jangling sounds of sabres shaken against the flanks of
the horses, struck upon the terrified ear of the proprietress of the
esta