betake herself back to the Dove Cote.

The scenes around her had wrought upon her nerves; and, although she was
singularly fortunate in the courtesy which she had experienced from all
into whose hands she had fallen, yet the rude licentiousness of the
camp, and the revolting acts of barbarity which were ever present to her
observation, appalled and distressed her. Besides, she now saw the
fixed purpose with which Cornwallis was preparing to march forward in
his course of invasion, and thought with alarm upon the probable event
of soon having the theatre of war transferred to the neighborhood of her
native woods.

Robinson's advice seconded her own alacrity. It was to hasten, with all
despatch, in advance of the invading army; and as this body was now
about taking up its line of march, no time was to be lost. Accordingly,
but a brief delay took place after Cornwallis and his suite had departed
from head-quarters, before our party set forward, accompanied by the
small guard of cavalry that had been ordered to attend them. The troops
were just wheeling into column on the ground where they had been lately
reviewed, when Mildred and her attendants galloped past, and took the
high road leading to the town of Charlotte, in North Carolina, towards
which it was understood the invaders were about to direct their journey.
In less than an hour afterwards they had left behind them the line of
baggage wagons and the small military parties of the vanguard, and found
themselves rapidly hastening towards a district occupied by the friends
of independence.

The sergeant had now occasion for his utmost circumspection. In pursuing
the destined route of the invasion, he had reason to expect an early
encounter with some of the many corps of observation, which the opposite
party were certain to put upon the duty of reporting the approach of
their enemy. And so it fell out; for, towards the middle of the day,
whilst the travellers were quietly plying their journey through the
forest, the discharge of a pistol announced the presence of a hostile
body of men; and almost instantly afterwards a small handful of Whig
cavalry were seen hovering upon the road, at the distance of some three
or four hundred paces in front. Robinson no sooner recognised this squad
than he took the lady's handkerchief and hoisted it on a rod, as a flag
of truce, and, at the same moment, directed the escort to retreat,
apprising them that their presence was no longer ne