he might be discovered leading two horses, one bearing a
side-saddle, down to the margin of the stream. There was a short visit
to the house by the young man--a word whispered in the ear of the
mother--a shake of her head, an expression of doubt, a final nod of
assent,--and, in the next moment, Mary and Christopher were seen
trotting off on horseback, on the road that led towards Ramsay's.

When they had ridden some two or three miles, and had entered upon the
high-road between Ninety-Six and Blackstock's--somewhere near to that
piece of haunted ground, where, on the morning of this very day, a
goblin had struck down James Curry from his steed--they descried a
military party of horse and foot slowly advancing from the direction to
which they were travelling. In a few moments they met the first platoon
of the cavalry, headed by a trumpeter and the unsightly captain Hugh
Habershaw. They were detained at the head of this column, whilst some
questions were asked respecting the object of their journey, the troops
in their neighborhood, and other matters connected with the affairs of
the times. Christopher's answers were prompt and satisfactory: he was
only riding with his kinswoman on a visit to a neighbor; Innis's camp
was not above two miles and a half away, and the country in general was
quiet, as far as he had the means of knowing. The travellers were now
suffered to pass on. In succession, they left behind them each platoon
of threes, and then encountered the small column of march of the
infantry. Mary grew pale as her eyes fell upon the form of Arthur
Butler, posted in the centre of a guard. Her feeling lest he might not
recognise her features, and guess something of her errand, almost
overpowered her. She reined up her horse, as if to gratify an idle
curiosity to see the soldiers passing, and halted in a position which
compelled the ranks to file off, in order to obtain a free passage round
her. Every look seemed to be turned upon her as the escort marched near
her horse's head, and it was impossible to make the slightest sign to
Butler without being observed. She saw him, however, lift his eyes to
hers, and she distinctly perceived the flash of surprise with which it
was kindled as he became aware of her features. A faint and transient
smile, which had in it nothing but pain, was the only return she dared
to make. An order from the van quickened the march; and the detachment
moved rapidly by. As Mary still occupied th