we to leave the town?"

"I will arrange that; be ready at four o'clock, for the gates are shut
at dusk. I must go now, for there is no time to be lost."

"We are in a nice mess now, O'Brien," observed I, after the woman had
quitted the room.

"Devil a bit, Peter; I feel no anxiety whatever, except at leaving such
good quarters."

We packed up all our effects, not forgetting our two blankets, and
waited the return of the hostess. In about an hour she entered the
room. "I have spoken to my husband's sister, who lives about two miles
on the road to Middleburg. She is in town now, for it is market-day,
and you will be safe where she hides you. I told her it was by my
husband's request, or she would not have consented. Here, boy, put on
these clothes: I will assist you." Once more I was dressed as a girl,
and when my clothes were on, O'Brien burst out into laughter at my blue
stockings and short petticoats. "_Il n'est pas mal_," observed the
hostess, as she fixed a small cap on my head, and then tied a kerchief
under my chin, which partly hid my face. O'Brien put on a great coat,
which the woman handed to him, with a wide-brimmed hat. "Now follow
me!" She led us into the street, which was thronged, till we arrived at
the market-place when she met another women, who joined her. At the end
of the marketplace stood a small horse and cart, into which the strange
woman and I mounted, while O'Brien, by the directions of the landlady,
led the horse through the crowd until we arrived at the barriers, when
she wished us good day in a loud voice before the guard. The guard took
no notice of us, and we passed safely through, and found ourselves upon
a neatly-paved road, as straight as an arrow, and lined on each side
with high trees and a ditch. In about an hour we stopped near to the
farm-house of the woman who was in charge of us. "Do you observe that
wood?" said she to O'Brien, pointing to one about half-a-mile from the
road. "I dare not take you into the house, my husband is so violent
against the English, who captured his schuyt, and made him a poor man,
that he would inform against you immediately; but go you there, make
yourselves as comfortable as you can to-night, and to-morrow I will send
you what you want. _Adieu! Je vous plains, pauvre enfant_," said she
looking at me as she drove off in the cart towards her own house.

"Peter," said O'Brien, "I think that her kicking us out of her house is
a proof o