est journey to head-quarters. Your
commands, madam, shall in all respects regulate his motions. My
communications with his lordship shall announce your coming. Now, Miss
Lindsay, with my best wishes for your safety and success, I take my
leave; and, as a parting request, I venture to hope you will do me the
justice to say, that Tarleton is not such a graceless sinner as his
enemies have sometimes been pleased to represent him."

These last words were accompanied by a laugh, and a somewhat bluff
courtesy, as the speaker swayed his rigid and ungainly figure into a
succession of awkward bows by which he retreated to the door.

"I shall be happy on all occasions," replied Mildred, whilst the soldier
was thus strenuously playing off the graces of a gallant, "to do justice
to the kindness which I have experienced at Colonel Tarleton's hands."

"There, Mildred," said Henry, when Tarleton had disappeared, "you see
things have gone very pat for us. That comes of letting these fellows
see who they have to deal with. A little powder and ball is a good
letter of recommendation to the best of their gang. If my carbine hadn't
missed fire to-day, Tarleton would have been short by one bottle-holder,
at least, when he set out to steal liquor from the country cupboards."

"It has ended well, brother," replied Mildred, "but it does not become
you to boast of what you have done. It was a rash and dangerous deed,
and had nearly brought ruin upon this friendly family."

"Tut, sister! you are only a woman. You wouldn't have found the colonel
so civil if we hadn't taught him to look after his men."

CHAPTER XLIX.

MILDRED ARRIVES AT THE TERM OF HER JOURNEY.----THE READER IS FAVORED
WITH A GLIMPSE OF A DISTINGUISHED PERSONAGE.

Cornwallis, after the battle of Camden, turned his thoughts to the
diligent prosecution of his conquests. The invasion of North Carolina
and Virginia was a purpose to which he had looked, from the commencement
of this campaign, and he now, accordingly, made every preparation for
the speedy advance of his army. The sickness of a portion of his troops
and the want of supplies rendered some delay inevitable, and this
interval was employed in more fully organizing the civil government of
the conquered province, and in strengthening his frontier defences; by
detaching considerable parties of men towards the mountains. The largest
of these detachments was sent to reinforce Ferguson, to whom had been
confided th