e ground on which she had
halted, and was gazing after the retreating corps, she saw Butler turn
his face back towards her; she seized the moment to nod to him and to
make a quick sign with her hand, which she intended should indicate the
fact that she was now engaged in his service. She thought she perceived
a response in a slight motion of Butler's head, and now resumed her
journey, greatly excited by the satisfaction of having, in this
accidental encounter, obtained even this brief insight into the
condition of the prisoner.

The sun was set, when Mary with her convoy, Christopher Shaw, arrived at
Ramsay's. Always an acceptable guest at this house, she was now more
than ever welcome. There was business to be done in which she could
discharge a most important part, and the service of Christopher Shaw in
reinforcing the garrison was of the greatest moment. When the
intelligence regarding the movement of Butler to Innis's camp was
communicated to the sergeant, it suggested a new device to his mind,
which he determined instantly to adopt. Butler was at this moment, he
concluded, in the hands of those who had engaged the ruffians to set
upon him at Grindall's ford, and it was not improbable that he would be
summarily dealt with: there was no time, therefore, to be lost. The
sergeant's plan, in this new juncture, was, to compel the young ensign
to address a letter to the British commandant, to inform that officer of
his present imprisonment, and to add to this information the
determination of his captors to put him to death, in the event of any
outrage being inflicted upon Butler. This scheme was communicated to
Ramsay, Shaw, and Mary. The letter was to be immediately written; Mary
was to return with it to the mill, and was to contrive to have it
secretly delivered, in the morning, at Innis's head-quarters; and David
Ramsay himself was to escort the maiden back to her father's house,
whilst Shaw was to attend the sergeant and assist him to transport the
young ensign to some fit place of concealment. The private soldiers were
to remain prisoners, under the guard of Andrew, until his father's
return, when they were to be released on parole, as prisoners of war.

The plan being thus matured, Robinson went forthwith to the
prison-house, and directed Ensign St. Jermyn to follow him into the
dwelling. When the young officer arrived in the family parlor, he was
ordered to take a chair near a table, upon which was placed a light,