in them before they fire one shot in spite. But
mum, Steve, not a word about our route."

Stephen shook hands with his young comrade; and Henry, seeing that the
rest of the party had already left the door and were some distance down
the hill, called out with an elated tone of good humor--"Farewell, Mrs.
Morrison, and all the rest of you!" and putting spurs to his horse
galloped off to join his sister.

The route pursued by the travellers lay due south, and during the first
three or four days of their journey they were still within the confines
of Virginia. To travel on horseback was a customary feat, even for
ladies, in those days of rough roads and scant means of locomotion: and
such a cavalcade as we have described was calculated to excite no
particular inquiry from the passer-by, beyond that which would now be
made on the appearance of any party of pleasure upon the high-roads, in
the course of a summer excursion. Mildred experienced severe fatigue in
the first stages of her journey; but by degrees this wore off, and she
was soon enabled to endure the long day's ride with scarcely less
inconvenience than her fellow-travellers.

At that period there were but few inns in these thinly-peopled
districts, and such as were already established were small and but
meagrely provided. This deficiency was, in some degree, compensated by
the good will with which the owners of private establishments in the
country received the better class of travellers, and the ready
hospitality with which they entertained them. Henry took upon himself to
obtain information of the gentlemen's seats that lay near the route of
his journey, and to conduct the party to them whenever his sister's
comfort required better accommodation than the common inns afforded.

As our travellers had thus far kept along that range of country which
lay immediately under the mountains, they were not annoyed by the
intense heats which, at this season, prevailed in the lowlands. The
weather, ever since their departure, had been uncommonly fine, and as is
usual in this district, the month of September had brought its cool,
dewy nights, whilst the early hours of the morning were even marked by a
little sharpness, almost approaching to frost. The effect of this on
Mildred was to recruit the weariness of travel, and better enable her to
encounter the noon-tide fervors of the sun; and she had so far endured
the toils of her journey with an admirable spirit. Actual trial