e always dodging
about in gangs; and when they collect the boats on the river, it is
either to help them forward on some house-burning and thieving business,
or to secure their retreat when they expect to have honest men at their
heels. It would be good news to hear that Sumpter was near their
cruppers, which, by the by, is not onlikely neither. You would be told
of some pretty sport then, major."

"Sumpter's means, sergeant," replied Butler, "I fear, are not equal to
his will. There are heavy odds against him, and it isn't often that he
can venture from his hiding-place. But what are we to do now,
Galbraith?"

"Ha, ha! do as we have often done before this, launch our four-legged
ships, and take a wet jacket coolly and dispassionately, as that quare
devil Lieutenant Hopkins used to tell us when he was going to make a
charge of the bagnet. We hav'n't no time to lose, major, and if we had,
I don't think the river would run dry. So, here goes."

With these words Robinson plunged into the stream, and, with his rifle
resting across his shoulder, he plied his voyage towards the opposite
bank with the same unconcern as if he had journeyed on dry land. As soon
as he was fairly afloat he looked back to give a few cautions to Butler.

"Head slantwise up stream, major, lean a little forward, so as to sink
your horse's nose nearer to the water, he swims all the better for it.
Slacken your reins and give him play. You have it now. It isn't
oncomfortable in a day's ride to get a cool seat once in a while. Here
we are safe and sound," he continued, as they reached the further
margin, "and nothing the worse for the ferrying, excepting it be a
trifle of dampness about the breeches."

The two companions now galloped towards the higher grounds of the
adjacent country.

By the time that they had gained the summit of a long hill that rose
immediately from the plain of the river, Robinson apprised Butler that
they were now in the vicinity of Adair's dwelling. The sun had sunk
below the horizon, and the varied lustre of early twilight tinged the
surrounding scenery with its own beautiful colors. The road, as it wound
upwards gradually emerged from the forest upon a tract of open country,
given signs of one of those original settlements which, at that day,
were sparsely sprinkled through the great wilderness. The space that had
been snatched from the ruggedness of nature, for the purpose of
husbandry, comprehended some three or four fie