im the
hour of the day when you met us."

During this short parley the two parties had become united into a common
throng, completely filling up the road; and the proximity into which
they were severally brought, gave rise to various inquiries after news
amongst the subordinates on either side. In this press, Butler was
startled to observe the eyes of an individual scanning him with a
somewhat pointed scrutiny, and it was with an emotion that had well nigh
betrayed him, that he recognised in this person one of Macdonald's
soldiers. It was the man whom the lieutenant had despatched, a few days
previous, with an errand to the post at Ninety-Six, and who was now
returning with this detachment of militia. The soldier was evidently at
fault, for in a moment afterwards Butler could perceive, from his
expression of face, that whatever might have been his first suspicion,
it was quieted by another glance. The disguise was so far effectual. But
another cause of alarm arose, that for an instant brought Butler into
greater jeopardy. The horse on which the messenger was mounted, was the
yoke-fellow of the lean Wall-Eye, and the two beasts had been long
accustomed to work side by side in the same wagon. Their mutual
recognition, at this critical moment, became distressingly conspicuous.
Their noses were brought in contact, and they began to whinny and paw
the ground in that intelligible manner which constitutes one of the
forms of expression by which this portion of the brute creation
acknowledge their attachments. The presence of mind of John Ramsay saved
the explosion which must soon have followed. He spurred his horse
between the two noisy and restless animals, and immediately addressed a
conversation to the soldier, which for the moment turned his thoughts
into another channel.

By this time the conference had terminated, and the two leaders
respectively directing their men to move forward, the defile was passed
and each party extricated from the other. But no sooner was the
separation completed than Butler's brutish steed, Wall-Eye, began to
neigh with the most clamorous vociferation, whilst a response was heard
in the same tones as pertinaciously reiterated from the retreating
companion on the other side of the defile.

"We were in great danger from yonder Tories," said Ramsay, addressing
Butler, "did you see that one of these fellows rode the mate of the
beast you are on? Who could he be?"

"It was one of Macdonald's men