guard into the presence
of Campbell and his staff. Their report announced them to be Major
Chandler and Captain Johnson, of Clarke's party, who, with thirty
followers, had been despatched from the western side of the Allegany, to
announce to the confederated troops the complete success of that
officer's endeavor to reach the settlements on the Nolachuckie and
Wattauga rivers. Their tidings were immediately communicated to the
army; and the deep and earnest interest which officers and men took in
this agreeable intelligence, was evinced in a spontaneous acclamation
and cheering from one extremity of the column to the other. The
messengers proceeded to narrate the particulars of their late hazardous
expedition, and fully confirmed the most painful anticipations which the
listeners had previously entertained of the difficulties, toils, and
sufferings incident to the enterprise. Clarke's soldiers, they further
reported, were too much disabled to be in condition immediately to
recross the mountain and unite in the present movement against Ferguson;
but that, as soon as they should find themselves recruited by needful
rest, they would lose no time in repairing to the scene of action.

Towards sunset of the succeeding day, our sturdy adventurers entered
Gilbert-town. This post had been abandoned by Ferguson, and was now in
the occupation of the two staunch Whig leaders, Brandon and Lacy, at the
head of about three hundred men, who had repaired thither from the
adjacent mountains of Rutherford, to await the arrival of Campbell and
his friends. It was manifest that affairs were rapidly tending towards a
crisis. Ferguson had hitherto appeared indifferent to the dangers that
threatened him and his movements indicated either a fatal contempt for
his adversary, or an ignorance of the extent of his embarrassments--each
equally discreditable to the high renown which has been attributed to
him for careful and bold soldiership.

CHAPTER LIII.

MILDRED MEETS AN AGREEABLE ADVENTURE.

We left Mildred securely lodged with her new and kind-hearted friends,
under the hospitable roof of the farmer, hard by the Yadkin. The reader
has, doubtless, found reason in the course of this narrative to marvel
much that a lady so delicately nurtured should, with so stout a spirit
and with such singular devotion, have tempted so many dangers, and
exposed herself to such unwonted hardships, for the sake of the man she
loved. Perhaps, I might be