er's horse so
capersome of a morning. Wife, make haste with your preparations; Horse
Shoe and his friend here mustn't be kept back from their day's journey.
Stir yourself, Mary Musgrove!"

"Will the gentlemen stay for breakfast?" inquired Mary, with a doubtful
look at Butler.

"Will they? To be sure they will! Would you turn off friends from the
door with empty stomachs, you mink, and especially with a whole day's
starvation ahead of them?" exclaimed the woodman.

"I thought they had far to ride," replied the girl, "and would choose,
rather than wait, to take some cold provision to eat upon the road."

"Tush! Go about your business, niece! The horses are not caught yet, and
you may have your bacon fried before they are at the door."

"It shall be ready, then, in a moment," returned Mary, and she betook
herself diligently to her task of preparation. During the interval that
followed, the maiden several times attempted to gain a moment's speech
with Butler, but the presence of Adair or Lynch as frequently forbade
even a whisper; and the morning meal was at length set smoking on the
table without the arrival of the desired opportunity. The repast was
speedily finished, and the horses having surrendered to the emissaries
who had been despatched to bring them in, were now in waiting for their
masters. Horse Shoe put into the woodman's hand a small sum of money in
requital for the entertainment afforded to his comrade and himself, and
having arranged their baggage upon the saddles, announced that they were
ready to set forward on their journey. Whilst the travellers were
passing the farewells customary on such occasions, Mary Musgrove, whose
manner during the whole morning gave many indications of a painful
secret concern, now threw herself in Butler's way, and as she modestly
offered him her hand at parting, and heard the little effusion of
gallantry and compliment with which it was natural for a well-bred man
and a soldier to speak at such a moment, she took the opportunity to
whisper--"The left hand road at the Fork--remember!" and instantly
glided away to another part of the house. Butler paused but for an
instant, and then hurried forward with the sergeant to their horses.

"Wat, you promised to put us on the track to Grindall's Ford," said
Horse Shoe, as he rose into his seat.

"I am ready to go part of the way with you," replied the woodman, "I
will see you to the Fork, and after that you must make out for
your