at the same time laying his hand upon the
stranger's bridle rein. "What brings you here, sir?--stand back; the
women in that house are under my charge, and I won't have them
disturbed."

"If you are a friend to Mistress Wingate," said the horseman, sternly,
"speak the word; if an enemy, I will shiver your skull with the butt of
my musket."

"Don't be rash, good fellow," replied Horse Shoe; "I take it you and me
are on the same side. What's afoot that you stir in such a hurry?"

"The Tories are afoot--the devil's afoot! Open, Mistress Wingate--open
to Dick Peyton!"

"The Lord preserve us!" ejaculated the mistress of the hovel, as she
opened the door; "Bloody Spur, is it you? What ill luck brings you here
to-night?"

"A gang of Tories, Mistress Wingate, from the Black River, under that
cut-throat Fanning, crossed Pedee this morning at Lowder's Lake. They
have been thieving and burning as far as Waggamaw, and are now on the
road home by the upper ferry. They will be along here in less than half
an hour. Your husband, Bob Wingate, and myself, were sent out by General
Marion this morning, to reconnoitre the roads. We fell in with the
ruffians, after sunset, below Lumberton, and have tracked them up here.
Bob has got a pistol-shot through his arm. He was lucky enough, however,
to escape their clutches; but believing they had a spite against him,
and would ride past his house to-night, he told me to call and give you
warning, and to help you to drive the cattle back into the swamp."

"How many mought there be, friend?" asked Horse Shoe, calmly.

"Between two and three hundred, at least," said the trooper; "we counted
fifty in the vanguard--those that followed made a long column of march.
They have stolen a good many horses and cattle, all of which are with
them, and several prisoners."

"What, ho!--Isaac, Henry Lindsay; fall to, and saddle, boys," shouted
Horse Shoe. "Miss Mildred, it will not do to stand. I am sorry to break
in upon your rest, but you must be ready to move in a few minutes."

Everything about the hut was now in confusion. Henry and the sergeant
were equipping the horses, whilst Isaac was gathering up the baggage.
Bloody Spur--to adopt the rider's _nom de guerre_--had dismounted, and
was busy in removing the few articles of value from the hut; the mother
and children, meanwhile, were pouring forth loud lamentations.

Mildred, in the midst of this scene of uproar, hurriedly made her
preparations for