nd
of mine, the widow of a worthy soldier, Mistress Rachel Markham, who
lives but two miles from this, and whose hospitable mansion will afford
you a shelter more congenial to your wishes than this broad canopy of
ours. A guide shall be ready to conduct you."

"Your kindness, general," said Mildred, "puts me under many
obligations."

"Horse Shoe shall take a line of explanation to my friend," added
Marion. "And now, madam, farewell," he said, offering his hand. "And
you, Master or Mister Henry, I don't know which--you seem entitled to
both--good night, my brave lad: I hope, before long, to hear of your
figuring as a gallant soldier of independence."

"I hope as much myself," replied Henry.

Marion withdrew, and by the time that he had prepared the letter and put
it into Horse Shoe's hands, his troops were in line, waiting their order
to march. The general mounted a spirited charger, and galloping to the
front of his men, wheeled them into column, and, by a rapid movement,
soon left Horse Shoe and his little party, attended by one trooper who
had been left as a guide, the only tenants of this lately so busy scene.
The change seemed almost like enchantment. The fires and many torches
were yet burning, but all was still, except the distant murmur of the
receding troops, which grew less and less, until, at last, there reigned
the silence of the native forest.

Our travellers waited, almost without exchanging a word, absorbed in the
contemplation of an incident so novel to Mildred and her brother, until
the distant tramp of the cavalry could be no longer heard: then, under
the direction of the guide, they set out for the residence of Mrs.
Markham.

CHAPTER XLII.

The day had just begun to dawn as our party, under the guidance of
Marion's soldier, were ferried across the Pedee, on the opposite bank of
which river lay the estate and mansion of Mrs. Markham. The alarms and
excitements of the past night had ceased to stimulate the frame of
Mildred, and she now found herself sinking under the most painful
weariness. Henry had actually fallen asleep as he sat upon the gunwale
of the ferry-boat, and rested his head against the sergeant's shoulder:
the whole party were overcome with the lassitude that is so distressing,
at this hour of dawning, to all persons who have spent the night in
watching; and even the sergeant himself, to the influences of fatigue
and privation the most inaccessible of mortals, and, by fate