n take a letter."

"I may not trust to letters, I must go myself. You will protect me, Mr.
Robinson? my brother and I will form some good excuse that shall take us
through safely."

"Sartainly, ma'am, I will stand by you through all chances, if you go,"
replied the sergeant. "But there's not many women, with their eyes open,
would set out on such a march."

"It will be easily achieved," said Mildred: "it is an honest and
virtuous cause that takes me away, and I will attempt it with a valiant
spirit. It cannot but come to good. My father's name will give me free
passage through the enemy's lines. And you shall pass as my attendant."

"If you have a heart stout enough, ma'am, for such hard fare, I believe
I mought undertake for your safe passage," answered Horse Shoe, "and it
sartainly would do the major great good to hear that you was stirring in
this matter."

"Sergeant, recruit yourself as long as you think necessary," said
Mildred; "but if you can be ready to set out to-morrow, I should like to
go then, and at an early hour."

"Don't stand upon my fatigue, young lady: I never saw the time when I
wan't ready to march at the shortest warning. With your leave, I will go
look after my horse, Captain Peter, I call him, ma'am. A little chance
of a roll, and the privilege of a good green pasture, soon puts him in
marching trim."

The sergeant now left the room.

"Sister," said Henry, "you never thought a better thought, and you never
contrived a better act, than just taking this matter in hand yourself,
under mine and Horse Shoe's protection. Because Horse Shoe is as brave a
man as you ever fell in with, and as for me, I'll back the sergeant. We
can finish the thing in two or three weeks, and then, when I see you
safe home, I'll go and join the Rangers."

"It is a perilous and uncertain journey, brother, but it is my duty. I
would rather fall beneath the calamities of war than longer endure my
present feelings. Provide yourself, brother, with all things requisite
for our journey, and give old Isaac, the gardener, notice that he must
go with us. We shall set out to-morrow. I will write a letter to my
father to-night explaining my purpose. And one thing, Henry; you will be
careful to say nothing to any one of the route we shall travel."

"I'll take my carbine, sister," said Henry, "I can sling it with a
strap. And I was thinking I had better have a broadsword."

"Leave that behind," replied Mildred, as a smile ros