ke, warn the greasy captain to have his whole squad
with him; for Horse Shoe Robinson, you know, is not to be handled by
boys; it will be a bull-fight, or I'm mistaken."

"The major seems to have a wicked eye too, Wat," said Lynch. "I
shouldn't like much to be in his way, if he was angry; these copperheads
are always in a coil ready to strike. But, Wat, how if they don't ride
by the Dogwood Spring?"

"Leave that to me; I'll contrive to go as far as the forks of the road
with them. And then, if they don't take the right hand fork, why, you
may say it's for the want of my not knowing how to tell a lie."

"Now, Wat Adair, I don't like to spoil sport, but, may be, you have
never thought whether it would be worth while just to take t'other side,
and tell Horse Shoe the whole business. Couldn't we, don't you think,
get as much money, and just as honestly, by hoisting colors with Major
Butler?"

"But I _have_ thought of that, and it won't do, for two reasons. First,
these Continentals are on the down-hill, and money is as scarce with
them as honesty with the red-coats: and, second, the Tories have got so
much the upper hand in the whole country, that I should have my house
burnt down and my children thrown into the blaze of it, in less than
three days, if I was to let these fellows slip through my fingers."

"Well, I never knew," said Mike Lynch, "any piece of villany that hadn't
some good reasons to stand by it, and that's what makes it agreeable to
my conscience to take a hand."

"Why, you off-scouring," replied Wat, "it is enough to make Old Scratch
laugh, to hear you talk about conscience! There ain't no such a thing
going in these days. So be off; I'll look for you at daylight."

"I'll ride, Wat, as if the devil was on my crupper; so good bye!"

The cessation of the voices, the distant tramp of Lynch when he had left
the cabin, and the cautious retreat of Wat Adair to his chamber, told
to Mary that the affair was settled, and the plan of treachery in full
career towards its consummation.

The dialogue that had just passed in the hearing of the maiden,
disclosed a plot that deeply agitated and distressed her. What did it
become her to do, was the first question that presented itself to her
reflection, as soon as she was sufficiently self-possessed to turn her
thoughts upon herself. Was it in her power to avert the impending
disaster which threatened the lives, perhaps, of those who had sought
the hospitality of h