the circumstances that belonged to Butler's means of liberation
were anxiously discussed.

"How unlucky is it," said Mildred, "that my father should be absent at
such a moment as this! Arthur's appeal to him would convince him how
wicked was Tyrrel's charge against his honor. And yet, in my father's
late mood, the appeal might have been ineffectual: he might have
refused. Sergeant, we are in great difficulties, and I know not what to
do. A letter, you say, has been written to Lord Cornwallis?"

"Yes, ma'am, and by a man who sharpened his pen with his sword."

"You heard nothing of the answer of his Lordship?"

"There was not time to hear."

"Cornwallis will be prejudiced by those around him, and he will refuse,"
said Mildred, with an air of deep solicitude.

"Not if he be the man I take him to be, young lady," replied Horse
Shoe. "The world says he is above doing a cowardly thing; and it isn't
natural for one brave man to wish harm against another, except in open
war."

"Did you hear of one Tyrrel, in the British camp? But how could
you?--that was an assumed name."

"You mean the gentleman who was here when the major stopped at Mrs.
Dimock's?" said Robinson: "that was the name the landlady spoke
about--if I remember myself. I did not hear of him, ma'am, in my
travels; but his servant, James Curry, I met oftener, I undertake to
say, than the fellow wished. He was consarned in ambushing Major Butler
and me at Grindall's Ford. It was our opinion he was hired."

"There," exclaimed Mildred, "that confirms what I guessed of Tyrrel's
villany. I will go to Cornwallis myself: I will expose the whole matter
to his lordship. Henry, my dear brother, it is a rash venture, but I
will essay it. You must accompany and protect me."

"That's a sudden thought, sister, and you may count on my hearty good
will to help it along. It is a brave thought of yours, besides," said
Henry, pondering over it--"and everybody will praise you for it."

Robinson listened to this resolve with an incredulous ear.

"You wouldn't venture, young madam, to trust yourself amongst such rough
and unchristian people, as you would have to go among before you could
see Cornwallis? in danger of being taken up by outposts and pickets, or
arrested by patroles, or dragged about by dragoons and fellows that have
more savagery in them than wolves. Oh no, ma'am, you don't know what you
would have to put up with; that's onpossible. Mr. Henry, here, and me,
ca