* * *
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 Eoofec fap ;f tire. 3 tame <25ottH Lincoln 
 
 MARJORIE'S QUEST. For Young People. Illus 
 trated. 12010, $1.50. 
 
 A GENUINE GIRL. i6mo, f 1.25. 
 
 AN UNWILLING MAID. Illustrated. i6mo, #1.25. 
 
 A PRETTY TORY. Illustrated. Mino, $1.50. 
 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY, 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK.
 
 f.ERALDINE
 
 A Pretty Tory 
 
 Being a Romance of Partisan 
 Warfare during the War of Inde 
 pendence in the Provinces of Geor 
 gia and South Carolina, Relating 
 to Mistress Geraldine Moncriffe 
 
 By JEANIE GOULD LINCOLN 
 
 Author of " Marjorie 1 ! Quest,' 1 '' " A Genuine Girl," "An 
 Unwilling Maid" etc., etc. 
 
 Say, pretty Tory, coy as fair, 
 Of the King's colors be you 'ware, 
 When in those eyes of heaven's own hue 
 Reluctant smiles the rebel blue! 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 
 
 s#, Cambri&0e 
 
 1899
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY JEANIE GOULD LINCOLN 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
 F5 
 
 To G. G. L. 
 
 The story was planned in the Long Ago, 
 With a merry jest and a smile, 
 
 But the heart we knew so loving and true, 
 Has gone Beyond for awhile. 
 
 And now, on some leaf as you turn its page, 
 
 If you trace an ideal fair, 
 You will see and know that the Long Ago 
 
 Has been tenderly written there ! 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., August 23, 1899.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 L ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT .... 1 
 
 n. IN MUSGROVE SWAMP ..... 10 
 
 <s> III. AN OFFICER OF THE KING .... 22 
 
 H- 
 
 i-*- 1 IV. AT GLENMOIRA 40 
 
 ^ V. UNEXPECTED GUESTS 52 
 
 VI. GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 65 
 
 ca VII. ROY'S REFUSAL 77 
 
 VIII. ROSE'S DILEMMA 91 
 
 IX. IN MARION'S CAMP 108 
 
 ^ X. A CLEVER RUSE 116 
 
 tf> XI. THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE . . 132 
 
 > XII. " SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULD N'T " . . 148 
 o 
 
 XIII. LADY DOLLY ACCEPTS THE ROLE OF CONFI 
 
 DANTE 165 
 
 XIV. UNDER WHICH COLORS 179 
 
 3 XV. ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP Fox . . . 189 
 
 M; XVI. IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES .... 205 
 
 XVII. MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 219 
 
 XVIII. AT COWPENS 235 
 
 XIX. WHO WINS? 249 
 
 XX. THE REBEL BLUE 259 
 
 44723
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAOB 
 
 GERALDINE Frontispiece 
 
 A GIRL'S FACE LOOKED CAREFULLY OUT .... 20 
 
 " NOW AND ALWAYS THE HUMBLEST OF YOUR SLAVES " 130 
 
 " FAREWELL " . 230
 
 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT 
 
 A FAINT pink glow crept softly up on the hori 
 zon where the sky and water met off the Bay of 
 Savannah, and the slight mist of a spring morning 
 lifted slowly, disclosing the ships which lay at 
 anchor near the city. Of these the most notice 
 able was His Majesty's ship Vigilant, that with 
 her consort, the Phrenix, and two corvettes, having 
 arrived in port the night before, was preparing to 
 land the troops just ordered from old England 
 upon the shores of her rebellious colonies. 
 
 Below decks, the men were busy packing their 
 kits and making ready for disembarking as the 
 sailors unswung the ship's boats from the davits. 
 Then the roll sounded and the soldiers formed 
 a line on deck, and their officers came up the 
 companion-way, accompanied by the captain of the 
 ship. 
 
 " I have to thank you for much courtesy, Cap 
 tain Thornton," said Major Sefton, the officer in 
 command. "You have made a long and tedious
 
 2 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 voyage seem short, and I shall surely report your 
 kindness to Sir Henry Clinton." 
 
 "Duty, sir, duty," returned the British captain 
 somewhat gruffly, "though I may add, pleasure 
 also, in your case and that of your brother officers. 
 I have never had a stouter set aboard my ship ; I 
 would rather land you at Southampton, however. 
 These American rebels are a pestilent sort, and 
 fight like devils ; your men and you are too good 
 to serve as targets for them." 
 
 " I think you reverse matters somewhat strangely, 
 sir ; we came to seek targets for our bullets, not to 
 serve as such," retorted Sefton, somewhat angrily. 
 
 "Nay, I meant no offense, but I am not a 
 stranger to these shores, as you are. The boats are 
 ready, sir ; fare you well." 
 
 Major Sefton touched his hat in grave salute, 
 and was about to descend into the waiting boat 
 where his officers were already seated, when a 
 thought struck him and he stepped back to Captain 
 Thornton's side. 
 
 " Your lady passenger " he said, with some 
 what heightened color, as the Captain smiled ; " do 
 you desire me to bear a message to the fort, or 
 have you already " 
 
 " Yes," answered the captain, interrupting him 
 suddenly, as the sun threw its first beams across 
 the sparkling blue water, disclosing a small boat 
 which had apparently just shoved off from the 
 shore ; " I sent Colonel Moncriffe word an hour 
 after we had dropped anchor, and unless I mistake
 
 ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT 3 
 
 yonder boat contains him, or some trusty escort for 
 his lovely daughter." 
 
 " Then will you say to Mistress Moncriffe " 
 
 " Do not hinder Captain Thornton with even so 
 slight a thing as your message of farewell," said 
 a soft, slow voice behind them ; " he is a most 
 busy officer and is surely relieved to find that his 
 task of looking after a troublesome maid is almost 
 over ; " and Geraldine Moncriffe's radiant smile 
 deprived her words of their slight sting as she ex 
 tended a slender hand to the somewhat embar 
 rassed sailor. " What good fortune is mine to 
 come safe in port, with such near prospect of see 
 ing my beloved and honored father ! " 
 
 " And that fast approaching boat is fetching 
 him to you, madam ; this, then, is our farewell," 
 replied Major Sefton as the captain hurried off 
 to the ship's side. 
 
 " Nay, why say farewell in so tragic a tone ? 1 
 am but going to my father's plantation, a short 
 distance from Savannah, and the officers from the 
 fort will ever be welcomed by him. Surely Major 
 Sefton knows that the American loyalists serve 
 the king as well as those of His Majesty's sub 
 jects who have the good fortune to be born on 
 English soil." 
 
 " I can believe nothing but good of you and 
 yours," murmured the officer, pressing her hand as 
 he dropped his plumed hat, and hurried down the 
 side of the ship toward the waiting boat. Geraldine 
 Moncriffe drew her long cloak around her, and
 
 4 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 leaned ever so lightly against the rail, shading her 
 eyes with her hand as she gazed anxiously in the 
 direction of the small boat which she had been 
 told was bringing Colonel Moncriffe to the vessel. 
 
 As the beams of the now risen sun struck the tall 
 masts of the Vigilant and fell aslant the girl's up 
 raised face, there could be but one opinion as to 
 her singularly great beauty. It was not so much 
 the contour of her face and form, nor even the 
 finely cut features, but her coloring, which added 
 to her unusual and striking appearance, and gave 
 her an air of much distinction. Her skin was 
 extremely fair, and the tint of pink in her cheeks 
 was like the heart of a wild-rose, while her eye 
 brows were very dark, though delicately penciled. 
 Her hair, from which her hood had fallen slightly 
 back, was a marvelous wreath of color, a red- 
 golden, rather than a golden-red, so peculiar in 
 shade that once seen it impressed itself upon the 
 imagination from its striking contrast with her 
 eyes. For when Geraldine Moncriffe lifted her 
 long, dark lashes, there flashed upon you, instead 
 of the brown eyes one expected to see, the most 
 expressive pair of blue ones that ever adorned a 
 girl's face, eyes at once frank, tender, bewitch 
 ing, haughty, and proud, but never cold ; and it 
 was this strange, crowning beauty which had made 
 her the toast of a brief London season as " the 
 Blue Bell of Scotland, the fair Moncriffe." 
 
 Faster and faster came the little boat she was 
 watching toward the vessel, and as it rocked in the
 
 ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT 5 
 
 swell caused by the departing troop boats, Geral- 
 dine saw the tall cloaked figure sitting in the stern 
 raise his hand to shade his eyes as he eagerly 
 surveyed the ship's side. 
 
 " I am here, father," she called, and the clear, 
 soft voice carried well, for Colonel Moncriffe bared 
 his head and waved his hand in reply, as he urged 
 his oarsmen to greater speed, while Geraldine sped 
 lightly along the deck, just in time to see her 
 father greet Captain Thornton as he climbed the 
 ship's companion-way ; the next minute she was 
 clasped in his arms. 
 
 "And where is Margot?" asked the colonel, 
 surveying his daughter with proud satisfaction as 
 she stood blushing before him ; " it was an un 
 precedented bit of good luck which enabled me to 
 procure passage for you on this ship, and Lady 
 Adair only obtained it through the very highest 
 influence ; but since this pestilent war we royalists 
 must chance it as we may, and I rested tranquil in 
 the assurance that you would be safe under charge 
 of Margot, for nothing escapes her watchful eyes." 
 
 " Here she is," said Geraldine, turning toward 
 the tall, gaunt figure who had quietly followed her 
 down the deck and taken a position just behind 
 them in time to hear the last remark. 
 
 " My grateful duty to you, Colonel Moncriffe ; 
 the night wad be dark and the day long that didna 
 see auld Margot caring for her pretty bairn." 
 
 " Aye, Margot," and the colonel extended his 
 hand to the fine-looking Scotchwoman who, with
 
 6 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 the plaid around her shoulders, seemed to bring 
 with her a breath from the hills and moors of his 
 boyhood, where Margot's mother had been his 
 foster-mother as well. " My sister said I needed 
 no better guardian than you, and from Geraldine's 
 appearance the voyage has done her no harm." 
 
 " We have had favorable winds most of the way, 
 and Captain Thornton thinks us good sailors. 
 Are the boxes ready, Margot ? I am impatient to 
 be off, father, and long to see Glengarry again." 
 
 " We are to breakfast at the fort," said Colonel 
 Moncriffe, " and the somewhat chilly air gives me 
 a sharp appetite. This way, then ; " and he con 
 ducted them to the companion-way where Captain 
 Thornton was waiting to make his farewell. With 
 a light, sure foot Geraldine made her descent, and 
 Margot clambered after, shutting her eyes tight 
 and clinging to the sailor who assisted her on 
 board the little boat with a grasp that made his 
 fingers tingle with reminiscence for some minutes. 
 Then the colonel, uttering courtly thanks, sprang 
 down beside them, and the boat shoved off, while 
 Geraldine waved adieu to the good ship which had 
 brought her safe to port. 
 
 Fort Wayne looked grim and battered in the 
 morning sunshine as the boat sped on its return 
 trip to shore. On the land side were gangs of 
 negroes busily at work upon the fortifications 
 which had suffered so severely at the time of the 
 siege, some months before. So determined and 
 obstinate had been the attack of the Americans,
 
 ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT 7 
 
 that the bitterest feeling still existed among the 
 conquerors, and many families of birth and position 
 had been compelled to flee from the city in various 
 directions by the victorious British. Indeed, so 
 greatly incensed were the invaders that they 
 offered a reward of two guineas for every citizen 
 known to adhere to the cause of the Whigs, and 
 the country-folk and negroes bringing produce and 
 vegetables into Savannah after the surrender were 
 forbidden to sell except to those who had taken 
 the oath of allegiance to King George. Had it 
 not been that there were many faithful souls who 
 continued to supply them with food, even under 
 these stringent and cruel conditions, the little 
 band of patriots who still dared occupy their 
 homes would have suffered starvation, and perhaps 
 death. 
 
 To Geraldine, coming across the bay, there had 
 been few more charming events than her return 
 to the land of the palmetto. Her three years' ab 
 sence had but increased her love for her native 
 land, where she grieved sorely that rebellion had 
 broken forth against the authority which she had 
 been taught to reverence and honor. Even in 
 London, when her aunts, Lady Adair and Lady 
 Moncriffe, had presented her at court and in so 
 ciety, her cheeks would flush and her eyes fire at 
 the sneers and abuse leveled upon the colonists ; 
 the haughty pride which her father had always 
 fostered forbade her to disown her country, and 
 deep down in her heart, below loyalty to king and
 
 8 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 crown, there smouldered hot resentment which 
 might some day astonish her by its awakening. 
 
 "Father," she asked, after Colonel Moncriffe 
 had pointed out the havoc made by shot and shell 
 in the fort, "your letters have left much untold. 
 What of my friends the girls I loved and played 
 with? the Daytons, the Houstons, and above all 
 my dear, lovely Rose Telfair? For some cause 
 unknown to me, it is almost a year since I have 
 heard from Rose, and " 
 
 " Say no more," said her father sternly, " for 
 that there is ample reason. The Houstons are 
 here ; the Daytons gone to New York ; but the 
 Telfairs are the most pestilent of Whigs and reb 
 els, and since the absence of his father, young 
 Telfair, it is said, has joined Marion's men in the 
 partisan warfare which is a disgrace to the South." 
 
 " Marion's men ? Nay, father, I am perfectly 
 ignorant of whom you speak. Who is Marion ? " 
 
 " The ' Swamp Fox,' 1 the man who conducts 
 a band of cut-throats and thieves in irregular 
 raids upon our soldiers at most unexpected points ; 
 who is hated, and I must admit feared, more than 
 any other in the rebel ranks. 'T is a disagreeable 
 and unprofitable subject, my daughter. Let us 
 dismiss it," as the boat's keel grated on the 
 land below the fort, " and with all my heart I 
 bid you welcome home ! " 
 
 So busily employed was the colonel in assisting 
 Geraldine ashore, that he did not see a bit of 
 
 1 The name given Colonel Marion by the British.
 
 ON BOARD H. M. S. VIGILANT 9 
 
 quick pantomime which took place on the boat be 
 hind him. As Margot rose to her feet the oars 
 man nearest her drew in his oar, and under pre 
 tense of guiding her steps, laid his hand upon her 
 arm. Margot's keen blue eyes looked swiftly into 
 his ; and under her plaid he passed a bit of gray 
 moss, and as her fingers closed on it he said in her 
 ear, " To-morrow night, at ten ! " ,
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 
 % 
 
 " HAVE care, sir ; why do you jostle me so rudely ? 
 I think the street wide enough for both you and 
 me." 
 
 " I crave your pardon, sir ; I am sorely troubled 
 with my eyesight and am usually given right of 
 way." 
 
 The street was long and narrow, and led west 
 erly through the burned and deserted section of 
 Savannah. Beyond the winds were sighing softly 
 above Musgrove Swamp, for the tide was running 
 in, and with no moon to light the way, all that the 
 eye could see in the starlight was an expanse of 
 water and what might be quicksand to any but one 
 who knew the locality well. 
 
 The first speaker wore a British uniform, but 
 his manner was so unusually civil that the other 
 eyed him somewhat keenly, notwithstanding his 
 excuse of blindness. The officer had taken a hasty 
 step in the direction of the city, when a sudden 
 reflection made him pause. 
 
 " As I have lost my way once I may do so 
 again ; can you inform me how I may reach the 
 fort?"
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 11 
 
 " Yes," answered a slow, drawling voice, as a 
 slouching figure revealed itself on the left of the 
 first speaker ; " ef yo' keep 'long to the right till 
 yo' come to a baker's shop, an' just beyond that a 
 blacksmith's, go down to the left an' yo' '11 get 
 there." 
 
 " I am obliged to you ; I arrived by ship to-day 
 from England and am not yet familiar with your 
 city ; " and the officer was presently lost to sight 
 in the darkness. 
 
 " He will hardly reach the fort before morning 
 if he follows your trustworthy directions," said 
 the other to his rustic companion as they resumed 
 their way, picking their steps carefully in order to 
 avoid the debris of the ruins around them. 
 
 " But he will be well on the way to Thunder 
 bolt unless some equally veracious wayfarer come 
 to his rescue. 'T is but seldom one has opportu 
 nity to be-devil a Britisher in civil fashion. He 
 seemed a trifle more courteous than usual." 
 
 " Aye ; that 's because he has but just landed 
 and has no experience with ' Yankee curs.' 'Gad, 
 it 's dark," stumbling over an obstruction lying 
 directly across the foot-path they followed. " The 
 place of meeting should not be very far distant 
 now, hark ! " 
 
 A low note of the whip-poor-will sounded softly 
 to the left, and turning suddenly in its direction, 
 the pair found themselves confronted by a tall 
 form wrapped in an Indian blanket. 
 
 " Ossaba ! " said the newcomer softly. The
 
 12 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 rustic pushed his companion aside quickly as he 
 returned the countersign. 
 
 " Laceola ; where are the others ? " 
 
 The Indian made no response, but walked swiftly 
 and steadily on, as he motioned them to follow, and 
 presently the little party turned past a tall chimney 
 which had apparently formed part of a stone house. 
 To this there still remained a sort of vault, or cel 
 lar, and at the entrance stood a short, stout man, 
 dressed in homespun. 
 
 " He is here," said the Indian, drawing back, 
 and the whole party crawled through the narrow 
 opening in silence. Inside was a good-sized room, 
 its walls somewhat damp, which showed that the 
 tides that flooded Musgrove Swamp had sometimes 
 penetrated the outskirts of the city itself. A pine- 
 knot torch was stuck between two projecting stones, 
 and its flickering light disclosed a group of men, 
 who were talking earnestly in low tones. They 
 started apart, at the sound of approaching foot 
 steps, and darting forward one of them struck the 
 tall stranger on the shoulder. 
 
 " Welcome, welcome, McKay," he exclaimed. 
 " We have expected you since last week, when one 
 of the Legion brought your message." 
 
 "I was detained on the way and lay over at 
 Snow Island." 
 
 " Then you bring news from Colonel Marion ; 
 how fares he, and the cause ? " 
 
 " That question were better answered by an 
 other," returned Captain McKay, stepping aside
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 13 
 
 as his rustic companion dropped his cloak and 
 stood erect before them. 
 
 " The ' Swamp Fox ' himself ! " cried the eager 
 speaker, as he flung his arm over Marion's shoul 
 der, while every man pressed forward to wring 
 the hand of the famous partisan leader, the 
 " Washington of the South." 
 
 The little gathering of ten counted some of the 
 best known and most loyal of the patriots of Geor 
 gia; tall, muscular men, with stern, set faces, and 
 of military carriage. Among them the small, wiry 
 form of Marion seemed almost insignificant, until 
 you gazed into his eyes, which gleamed beneath 
 the heavy brows with the fire, acuteness, and un 
 dying determination which was the keynote of 
 his character. As he grasped the hand of each 
 man in turn, the courtesy of his manner and the 
 genial smile of friendly recognition gave evidence 
 of the kindly heart and generous qualities which 
 made men willing to follow wherever he led, and, 
 if need be, to die with him in defense of their 
 liberty. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said Marion, " the time presses, 
 for I am somewhat late in reaching you. You see 
 our situation ; you have heard of the battle aye, 
 more than battle the massacre of Waxham 
 Creek, when Colonel Tarleton put all who sur 
 rendered to the sword, and you know what you 
 yourselves have suffered in Savannah and the 
 surrounding country. I have sworn an oath to 
 Almighty God that while the heart of Marion
 
 14 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 v 
 
 beats my eye will not relax its vigilance, nor my 
 arm its effort, to defend the cause of my country 
 and rid it of its oppressors. Gentlemen, you are 
 with me," for a low murmur of assent filled the 
 narrow room. " You were to have prepared for 
 Captain McKay a memorandum of names and 
 resources of the patriots here in Savannah, so that 
 when my raids are made I may know who are for 
 and who against us. Let me have the papers, and 
 then I must away, to a rendezvous on the farther 
 outskirts of Musgrove Swamp, where important 
 news awaits me." 
 
 Silently the little band of patriots gave into 
 Marion's hand the slips of paper so pregnant with 
 danger to themselves if discovered by the enemy, 
 and with a gesture of farewell to their gallant 
 leader, they filed quietly, one by one, out of the 
 vault, and scattered in various directions. By the 
 flickering light of the pine-knot torch Marion's eye 
 ran swiftly through the papers ; then he placed 
 them carefully in a wallet, and concealed them on 
 his person. 
 
 " Extinguish the torch, Ossaba," he said briefly, 
 to the Indian who stood waiting beside the en 
 trance, " and then lead on to the boat. McKay, 
 go first," and with careful steps the three men 
 went out into the night. 
 
 The wind had risen somewhat, and the sound of 
 the small waves of the incoming tide was plainly 
 perceptible as, after walking some half a mile 
 farther, they came to the shore. The Indian
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 15 
 
 waded out a few feet, and groping under the gray 
 moss which hung from the trees on the edge of the 
 bank drew out a canoe into which the two officers 
 stepped easily. As Colonel Marion seated himself 
 his hand came in contact with something soft, like 
 a mantle, and he stooped to examine it. 
 
 "Woman went first," muttered the Indian, as 
 he plied the paddle with due caution; "left 
 blanket behind." 
 
 " Then the messenger has gone to the hut," 
 whispered McKay. Marion nodded, and the boat 
 glided on its way in silence through the swampy 
 waters which extended for some distance west of 
 the city and really formed one of the natural de 
 fenses of Savannah. 
 
 Ossaba, with the unerring instinct of his race, 
 seemed able to avoid swags or too thick grasses 
 which might have impeded their progress ; indeed, 
 there undoubtedly was a water-trail which he 
 knew well, for after steadily paddling some twenty 
 minutes, he shot the little boat swiftly into a small 
 bend of the shore, which in clearer water might 
 have been styled a cove, and standing up, separated 
 the gray moss which swept down almost to the 
 heads of the seated men, as the bottom grated 
 softly in the sand. 
 
 " Wait with the boat, Ossaba," said Marion, 
 and the Indian sank back on the seat. A few 
 yards away on the right, far enough to be beyond 
 the inroads of the tide-water, was a low, rude hut, 
 so carefully concealed among the underbrush and
 
 16 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 moss as to be unperceived by any but those 
 who knew of its existence. To this hut, Marion 
 guided Captain McKay, and pausing at the low 
 door which was roughly but securely barred, he 
 whispered the countersign " Laceola." A glim 
 mer of light followed the whisper, and in another 
 second the bar was undone, and on the threshold 
 stood a tall, manly figure dressed in what resembled 
 a hunting-shirt of dark green. Brown leggings 
 encased his shapely legs, and a pair of pistols were 
 stuck in his belt, while a broad, low hat was 
 pushed carelessly on the back of a crop of wavy 
 chestnut hair. 
 
 " Safe, thank God ! " he cried, wringing Marion's 
 hand as he entered. " I 've had fifty minds in the 
 last hour to go in search of you, fearing your cap 
 ture in yonder unhappy city." 
 
 " You had been foolish to try it," said Marion 
 dryly, but with an indulgent smile, as he gazed up 
 into Roy Telfair's handsome face, " and beside the 
 messenger "- 
 
 " She is here," interrupted the other, " and it 's 
 well you finally arrived, colonel, for not a penny 
 of the much needed treasure would Margot intrust 
 to my hands. Faith, I think she suspects me of 
 turning loyalist in her absence." 
 
 " I wad ken ye by the joke ye are fain to crack," 
 was the quick retort, as Margot's gaunt figure rose 
 from a cricket by the one window (or the opening 
 that passed for such) that the hut boasted of. 
 "My duty to you, sir that is, if it be really
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 17 
 
 Colonel Marion, an' not another of Maister Roy's 
 jokes." 
 
 " I am he, good woman." Margot curtsied re 
 spectfully. " But how 's this, Telfair ? I looked 
 for a messenger in kilts, not skirts." 
 
 A slight flush rose to Margot' s cheek. "I 
 wadna contradict your Excellency; mayhap the 
 kilt wad suit the emergency better, but the laird 
 took what he had nearest at hand, and a Scotch 
 tongue does na tattle whether it be hung in a 
 mon's head or a woman's." 
 
 " She has you there, colonel," said McKay, 
 laughing, while Marion hastened to soothe Mar- 
 got's feelings by remarking that he, too, had been 
 but joking. 
 
 " I 'm thinking it 's the way o' the land," said 
 Margot with fine satire. " Here is the packet, sir, 
 and right glad am I to surrender my charge, for 
 many a sleepless night it 's caused me since it was 
 put in my keeping," and with another courtesy she 
 returned to the window, where she stood respect 
 fully out of earshot, as Marion broke the seal, 
 and opened the packet. 
 
 " Our friends of the cause in Scotland have 
 done nobly ; here are five hundred pounds in notes, 
 gentlemen. Most of this goes to aid our suffering 
 soldiers ; the rest for arms and ammunition. Stay, 
 here is a letter from Me Alpine," and he ran his 
 eye hastily over the paper. " Listen ; this is a 
 clever way of forwarding aid to us rebels, is it not ? 
 McAlpine says : ' I lost my chance on the sloop,
 
 18 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 as she carried no passengers, but this woman (one 
 of my clan) goes over as passenger in His Maj 
 esty's ship Vigilant, being nurse and escort to the 
 daughter of Colonel Moncriffe ' ' 
 
 " Moncriffe ! " ejaculated McKay, " this is in 
 deed a merry stratagem."- 
 
 " ' And,' '" continued Marion, smiling, " ' know 
 ing you are sore bestead in the provinces, I send 
 it, being assured that no search will be made of 
 the belongings of so good a loyalist as Miss Mon 
 criffe.' " 
 
 " This is after your own heart," laughed McKay, 
 " setting a loyalist to guard money for such 
 ' pestilent rebels ' as we ! You seem to know the 
 old woman, Telfair ; who and what is she?" 
 
 " Margot McAlpine was half-sister to the Scotch 
 woman who nursed my sister Rose and me," said 
 Roy coldly. " My father's plantation adjoined 
 that of the Moncriffes', and since we were babies 
 we have been friends until the colonies rose 
 against British rule. Colonel Moncriffe remained 
 loyal to the crown, and sent his only child three 
 years ago to finish her education in England and 
 Scotland. It is scarcely to be wondered that 
 Mistress Moncriffe remains true to the principles 
 of her family." 
 
 Colonel Marion looked- up from the paper he 
 had been studying ; he detected the under-tone of 
 irritation in Roy's voice, and with the wonderful 
 tact for which he was noted interposed at once. 
 
 "We have still some miles to travel, and the
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 19 
 
 night is safest for our undertaking, McKay. You, 
 Telfair, had best wait here for another twenty- 
 four hours, as I think you told me you had some 
 family matters to attend to. But, I beseech you, 
 see to those with due care of your own safety, and 
 join your command as soon as may be, as I have 
 other work for you. Ossaba remains with the 
 skiff ; do you desire him to take the Scotch woman 
 back to Savannah ? " 
 
 "It is the way she came, and she would be 
 missed by daylight. I will escort her to the edge 
 of the swamp. Farewell, Colonel ; I will finish 
 my private affair and join at once. McKay, your 
 most obedient. Come, Margot, we will to the 
 boat." 
 
 Margot drew her plaid around her shoulders, 
 and the young man took her hand to lead her 
 through the darkness as they left the hut. He 
 had nearly reached the shore before he spoke. 
 
 "Margot, stop a moment. You have told me 
 no word as yet of Geraldine. Is she lovelier than 
 ever ? or is she changed and grown into the man 
 ners and ways of the court since she left these 
 humbler colonies ? " 
 
 " She was always a bonny bairn," said Margot, 
 cautiously, " and she has a deft way wi' her noo ! 
 Changed, aye; if you ca' changed to be mair 
 beautiful and mair haughty than iver. I dinna 
 ken quite what 's in her mind ; she 'd scoff and flout 
 the gay gallants in Edinburgh an' London till 
 they were fit to tear their hair wi' vexation. But
 
 20 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 she has the same soft, winsome smile, and her 
 sweet, sweet voice wad wile a bird off yonder bush. 
 I dinna say that she 's coquette, but to my mind 
 there 's mony shades of that same complaint. 
 D'ye ken what they call her over there in Lon 
 don ? the ' Blue Bell o' Scotland ; ' and I heard 
 the officers at Leddy Moncriffe's dinner toasting 
 her by that bonny name. She 's different since 
 ye saw her, Maister Roy, but somehow her auld 
 nurse thinks she 's the same at the bottom of her 
 heart, and she '11 aye be leal and true to her ain 
 people." 
 
 Roy's hand closed warmly over Margot's as he 
 led her on to the boat. " Thank you," he said 
 simply ; " I dare not send a message, for the giving 
 it would reveal that you have seen me. But, Mar- 
 got, I am coming into the city to see my mother 
 and Rose, and I may contrive to be somewhere 
 near Geraldine. I may not reveal myself, but I 
 own I 'd like a glimpse of my old playmate. Here 
 is the boat, Ossaba ; return to the city with the 
 pale-face woman, but moor the boat safely again 
 for me on your return. Farewell, Margot," and 
 he bent over and kissed the faithful Scotch woman 
 as he shoved the boat from shore, then hurried 
 back to the hut, whistling softly under his breath 
 as he went. But after he passed the spot where 
 he had paused in the path to question Margot, the 
 long branches of an overhanging tree were sepa 
 rated by a slim, dark hand ; first a girl's face 
 looked carefully out between the gray moss cur-
 
 A GIRL'S FACE LOOKED CAREFULLY OUT
 
 IN MUSGROVE SWAMP 21 
 
 tain which clung to the branches, then slowly a 
 graceful figure stepped forth, as she peered into 
 the darkness with her hand shading her eyes. 
 
 " He talked of the pale-faced maiden to her," 
 she murmured to herself; "it is the same long 
 name he whispered in his sleep under the trees 
 yesterday. Laceola will remember; Laceola can 
 wait."
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 
 
 IT was about seven o'clock in the morning, and 
 the thrifty little village of Ebenezer, which lay 
 some twenty-five miles distant from Savannah, 
 looked awake and in motion. Early in the his 
 tory of Georgia it had been settled by the Saltz- 
 burgers, a shrewd, grave colony of men and 
 women, who sought there freedom of religious 
 opinion, and who, when the war for Independence 
 dawned, promptly declared themselves upon the 
 side of the patriots, with but few exceptions. 
 So determined were the Germans in giving aid 
 to the Continentals that the colony became a 
 source of menace to the British, who, a year or 
 more before, took forcible possession of it, and 
 Colonel Maitland, the officer in command, had 
 left and still maintained a garrison there. 
 
 A comely-looking woman of middle age came 
 slowly down the street which led through the 
 village, accompanying a stout boy of twelve who 
 led a horse by the halter. It was a rather un 
 kempt nag, and somewhat thin, and its gait was 
 rendered uneven by its lack of a shoe, which gave 
 it a queer amble enough.
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 23 
 
 " Franz," said the woman, speaking in German, 
 but with a pleasant voice, " did thy father say at 
 what hour to-morrow he would meet thee at the 
 turn of the road ? " 
 
 "No, mother," answered the lad in the same 
 tongue, " but I am to fetch the cart also." 
 
 "Then there be others coming," said the wo 
 man, half to herself, as they turned aside, and 
 walking a few steps farther stopped before a 
 blacksmith's shop, where the fire had not yet 
 been lit in the smithy. " Give me the hal 
 ter, Franz ; I '11 hold the beast while thou go 
 call Wilhelm," and she sat down on a conven 
 ient tree stump as Franz opened a gate and 
 ran up the path which led to the blacksmith's 
 house. 
 
 Presently a stout, burly figure was seen, accom 
 panied by another, a half-grown fellow, who car 
 ried a bellows and a bit of burning wood on a 
 shovel, which would serve to light the fire. Franz 
 ran nimbly ahead, and took the halter from his 
 mother as she rose from her seat. 
 
 " A fine spring morning, Frau Hartzel. I am 
 sorry to have kept you waiting, but the house 
 mother has gone to the pasture for the cow, and I 
 was giving little Gottlieb his bread and butter. 
 Why, the horse has been unlucky to lose another 
 shoe," examining that animal, as his apprentice 
 and Franz set eagerly to work blowing the fire ; 
 " it was only last night that " 
 
 " Aye," interrupted the woman hastily, " but
 
 24 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 the beast has been on a long journey since, where 
 the way was rough, and I only wonder it did not 
 lame him far worse. And he 's needed for more 
 work to-morrow, so I brought him up early lest 
 others might observe." 
 
 "The redcoats have spared him so far; you 
 are more in luck than some of us." 
 
 " That 's because he 's not much for looks," 
 was the shrewd answer, as Frau Hartzel followed 
 the blacksmith inside the smithy ; " there are few 
 can outstrip the old beast when Hans has need of 
 speed. Shoe him as fast as you are able, Wil- 
 helm ; I 'd not like to be stopped and questioned 
 by the British patrol on our way back." 
 
 "Then you did not pass the church on the 
 way ? " The blacksmith hurried to his anvil, then 
 came back and took up the horse's fore foot and 
 inspected it carefully. 
 
 "What's amiss?" 
 
 " Naught," returned the man, but with a twinkle 
 of his blue eye, as he passed his hand over the 
 fetlock ; " that shoe is no mate to any in Eben- 
 ezer, though I can make good guess whence it 
 came." 
 
 " Tell me," whispered the woman, getting closer 
 that the two lads might not hear the conversation. 
 
 "The farrier that nailed that shoe is many a 
 mile from here, guten Frau. It bears the private 
 mark of the Swamp Fox ; behold ! " and raising 
 the hoof again cautiously he placed his finger on a 
 rudely scrawled Indian arrowhead. "Hans will
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 25 
 
 tell you that is why the Swamp Fox's men never 
 miss the trail of their own rangers. 1 But let it not 
 pass your tongue ; the secret is of great value so 
 long as the British are in ignorance of it. Here, 
 Franz, hold the halter ; I '11 have the shoe on 
 quickly." 
 
 Frau Hartzel mused for a moment, and was 
 about to return to her seat on the tree stump 
 outside when a sound of horses' feet made her 
 turn her head. Coming up the street were two 
 men, mounted, followed by four others. The two 
 in advance were evidently officers, both young 
 men ; one wore the uniform of the Georgia loyal 
 ists (a body of Tory troopers, made up partly 
 of New Yorkers and South Carolinians as well), 
 and the other, a strikingly handsome fellow, was 
 dressed in full panoply of scarlet and gold lace, 
 which the trappings proclaimed to be that of a 
 lieutenant-colonel in His Britannic Majesty's ser 
 vice. The officer's carriage was military in the 
 highest degree ; his figure was tall and erect, and 
 he sat his horse with ease and grace. Under his 
 heavy brows a pair of fine dark eyes flashed, which 
 were both keen and relentless ; his nose was slightly 
 aquiline, but not too prominent, and gave strength 
 to the face ; his complexion clear and of olive tint, 
 while his mouth and chin were of the most deter 
 mined character, a face of infinite possibilities 
 and contradictions, proud, inscrutable, and fasci 
 nating ; but to a close observer the smile which at 
 1 See Lee's Memoirs.
 
 26 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 that moment lit his countenance, as he turned his 
 head toward his companion, was full of satire, and 
 there was a cruel gleam in the handsome eyes 
 which belied his calm, tranquil voice. Such, at 
 the age of twenty-six, was Colonel Banastre Tarle- 
 ton, a man feared by many, hated by more, and 
 known by none. 
 
 The little party were entering the village from 
 the north, and as they drew near the blacksmith's 
 shop one of the four troopers, who apparently 
 formed the escort, rode forward and addressed 
 Tarleton. 
 
 " If the colonel pleases," he said, saluting re 
 spectfully, " the hind shoes of my horse are loose, 
 and I fear he will lose them before we reach 
 Savannah. Shall I have them tightened by this 
 man?" 
 
 Tarleton turned quickly and drew in his rein. 
 He was always solicitous as to his men's equip 
 ment, and especially as regarded the horses. 
 " Hallo, fellow," he said imperiously, addressing 
 Wilhelm, " quit fumbling with that sorry-looking 
 beast and attend to my horse here. His shoes 
 want fastening securely, as we have a journey to 
 finish before nightfall, and here 's sixpence for 
 your pains," and tossing the coin carelessly in 
 the direction of the smith Tarleton rode down 
 the street to the brick church, once the pride of 
 the people of Ebenezer, but now occupied as hos 
 pital and stable by the British. 
 
 Wilhelm went leisurely on driving the nail on
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 27 
 
 which he was working, as the trooper flung him 
 self from the saddle. Frau Hartzel drew away 
 into the corner of the smithy, motioning Franz 
 to take the halter she dropped, which he did 
 with alacrity. 
 
 " There," ejaculated the blacksmith, resting his 
 hammer as he lowered the horse's foot and stood 
 upright. " 'T is a job well done. Nay, lad," as 
 Franz produced a coin from his pocket, " thy 
 father and I are old neighbors I keep no ac 
 count with such. Give it to your mother ; I '11 
 come and share thy dish of sauerkraut, Franz, 
 to-morrow night." 
 
 " You have a seeming lack of regard for money," 
 said the trooper, as he loosened his coat and leaned 
 up against the side of the smithy. "Yonder is 
 the sixpence the colonel flung ye ; for my part I 
 do not treat a likeness of His Majesty so lightly. 
 Why did you not stoop to pick it up ? We hear 
 that you people of Ebenezer are a very pestilent 
 lot, but you are a fool to let your politics have the 
 ordering of your pockets." 
 
 " Belike," returned the smith dryly. 
 
 " It 's well the colonel did not see you scorn his 
 gift." 
 
 " Gift, man? 't is my honest earning." 
 
 " Then why not lift it off the ground? " pursued 
 his tormentor. 
 
 " No one is likely to steal it ; we are honest folk 
 here in Ebenezer." 
 
 " You handle the hammer well ; 't is a pity so
 
 28 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 stout a fellow as you should stop here in these 
 troublous times. Why as you will not accept 
 His Majesty's sixpence why not take the king's 
 shilling and join our company ? It 's a life full 
 of adventure, and I 'm in search of recruits since 
 this last affair at Waxham Creek." 
 
 " Where be that ? Is it a battle, and did you 
 redcoats win it ? " 
 
 " A battle ! Aye, a slaughter, for the place ran 
 red with rebel blood before Tarleton sheathed his 
 sword. The rebels cried out for ' quarter, quar 
 ter,' and the legion stabbed and shot them as 
 they lay wounded along the banks of the creek till 
 darkness came down " 
 
 " Ah ! " Frau Hartzel could not restrain a 
 faint cry of horror. 
 
 " Go home, Frau," said Wilhelm shortly, as 
 the shuddering woman, followed by the boys with 
 the horse, passed out of the smithy. " What are 
 ye made of, man, that ye stand and tell bragging 
 tales of such hellish work? Quarter asked, and 
 none given ! Such news as that will send every 
 Saltzburger in Ebenezer who remains true to king 
 and crown into the ranks of the patriots. Out 
 of my smithy, and take thy nag with thee ; he is 
 too good an animal to carry such a beast as thou ; " 
 and the burly German rushed upon the trooper 
 with such sudden force that he bore him to the 
 ground before he had opportunity to draw a 
 weapon. 
 
 "Enough, enough," shouted the trooper, as
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 29 
 
 Wilhelm raised his great fist for another strike ; 
 " this is more than I had cause to expect, much 
 as I desired to prove you. Have you forgotten 
 a night last March on the edge of Musgrove 
 Swamp " 
 
 " Thou thou ? I begin to see thy face is 
 known to me. But where is thy beard ? and what 
 brings thee here in the train of yonder monster of 
 cruelty ? " 
 
 " Hush ! " The trooper rose, shook the dust off 
 his coat, and glanced cautiously up and down the 
 road. " By command of the Swamp Fox two 
 months ago I left Snow Island, and turned up at 
 Charleston with a clever tale of starvation and 
 wrongs at the hands of the patriots. Colonel 
 Tarleton was busy recruiting for his legion, and 
 I enlisted with him. I have been on several raids 
 without exciting suspicion, but this horrible affair 
 at Waxham has tried me sorely. God ! how those 
 men were slaughtered ! Had I not been detailed 
 as guard with some others to protect the baggage 
 of the officers in the rear I would have deserted ; 
 aye, had I even seen the butchers at their work 
 I must have struck a blow for my countrymen. 
 I did not know till too late to succor, and even 
 after the fight, received from a fugitive whom I 
 helped escape, orders of grave importance from 
 Colonel Marion. Hark ye," he put his mouth 
 almost at the smith's ear and whispered softly, 
 " I am a special spy on Tarleton, and have man 
 aged to ingratiate myself with him. We are on
 
 30 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 the road to Savannah, where no doubt he goes to 
 plot further deviltries, and I must establish a trail 
 here to convey information I may send. I remem 
 bered you the instant I saw we were to pass Eben- 
 ezer, and I contrived to loosen those shoes an 
 hour ago." 
 
 " Good ; what can I do for thee ? " The trooper 
 passed around to the other side of his horse, who 
 stood waiting with head patiently bowed. From 
 beneath the saddle he drew forth a scrap of chamois 
 skin on which were scrawled some rude characters 
 which looked like Indian pictures. 
 
 "This must reach the Swamp Fox in safety; 
 can you take it, or have you others by whom to 
 send it ? " 
 
 " Hans Hartzel ; he comes to-morrow. That 
 was Ids wife here, and his horse, and I know by 
 unfailing signs that he has lately been in close 
 communication with the patriots." 
 
 " Take it then," the sound of a bugle came 
 floating up on the morning air : " I have been 
 full long over that loose shoe." He sprang into 
 the saddle, but the smith's hand detained him. 
 
 " Your name in case I have to use it." 
 
 " Oh, aye ; Burt, Norman Burt. That 's my 
 name now ; perhaps I may confess to another 
 some day," and the trooper trotted off in the di 
 rection of the church, as the smith went back to 
 his anvil. 
 
 The Lutheran church of Ebenezer was a square, 
 low structure, and had been the principal building
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 31 
 
 of the place, but now, divided as it was into 
 part hospital, part stable, its desecration and filth 
 were a source of burning wrath to the inhabitants. 
 Just beyond the church was a wooden house 
 painted white, formerly the parsonage, but the 
 minister had been driven away and it was used as 
 headquarters of the garrison by the British. In 
 side the low portal could be seen a table spread 
 with food, and seated at it with several others were 
 Colonel Tarleton and Captain Israel Halleck, of 
 the Georgia loyalists, who at that time formed one 
 of Tarleton' s military family, and was probably 
 his only intimate friend. 
 
 The officers stationed at the post were evidently 
 delighted to entertain Colonel Tarleton, for the 
 room rang with laughter and jest, and the break 
 fast was prolonged half an hour to permit the 
 horses to be baited. At the end of that time, 
 Tarleton drew back his chair, and buckling on 
 his sword walked out on the low veranda which 
 ran around two sides of the house. 
 
 " I have ordered an Indian scout to give you 
 the trail for some eight miles of the way, colonel ; 
 after that the road lies straight ahead to Savan 
 nah," said Captain Conway, the officer in com 
 mand. " Are either of your fellows familiar with 
 these parts ? " 
 
 " The trooper holding my horses is our guide ; 
 he is a Georgian and has keen eyes for a trail. 
 Can I do anything for you, Conway, in the 
 city?"
 
 32 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 "Nothing except to beseech the commandant 
 to relieve me," laughed Conway ; " it 's so devilish 
 dull at this post of psalm-singing, sauerkraut Ger 
 mans that I 'd exchange to field duty with most 
 cheerful alacrity. Farewell, Tarleton ; fortune 
 favor your mission whatever it be." 
 
 Colonel Tarleton trotted briskly off, with Hal- 
 leek following, but after going a half mile he 
 drew rein and waited for his friend to ride beside 
 him. 
 
 " Conway little knows," he said with a laugh, 
 " what my so-called mission may be. Of course, 
 the military part of it we have discussed, but that 
 which relates to love, not war, is something I have 
 reserved for your private ear." 
 
 " I suspected as much," said the other dryly ; 
 " there is usually the swish of a gown to be heard 
 in your pathway." 
 
 " What would the world be without women for 
 our lighter hours, man ? I 've had battles enough 
 for a while, and can afford to dally a little with 
 mine own affair. You may recollect the packet 
 which came express to me a month ago before we 
 left Charleston? Well, 't is of that I wish to tell 
 you. 
 
 " You have, I think, already met Colonel Mon- 
 criffe of our army. He was born in Scotland, but 
 took an American wife and is one of the staunch- 
 est adherents to the crown in the provinces. My 
 father and he were bosom friends long before their 
 respective marriages, and pledged each other that
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 33 
 
 the friendship should be continued by a union be 
 tween their children (should the Lord be pleased 
 to vouchsafe them olive-branches) in the future. 
 Behold in me the party of the first part ; the fair 
 Geraldine Moncriffe the party of the second." 
 
 " You do surprise me, Tarleton. Is is possible 
 that you, the fickle, the changeful, the fastidious 
 Tarleton, are about to concentrate your affec 
 tions upon one fair damsel, leaving numberless 
 victims to mourn your capture ! " 
 
 " Mock me as you will," said Tarleton, with a 
 satirical smile ; " you have not yet heard the 
 story. A year ago, I had intimation from my 
 father that the Moncriffe, in addition to her charms 
 of face and form, will be a very great heiress, for 
 this part of the world, and a goodly one even in 
 old England. Whether the colonel has found a 
 gold mine in this pestilent country or no, the golden 
 casket, with its accompanying jewel, lies waiting 
 for me ; and perhaps I am rendered more keen in 
 pursuit of my fair quarry by a miniature which 
 the lady's father was good enough to forward 
 me in the packet which reached me at Charles 
 ton. What think you of that face, Halleck? Be 
 she but one half as beautiful she will serve to 
 make profound love to for a month." As he 
 spoke, Tarleton drew from an inner pocket a small 
 case which he handed to his friend, and an ex 
 clamation of surprise and admiration burst from 
 Halleck's lips as he opened it and there flashed 
 upon his gaze Geraldine Moncriffe's exquisite
 
 34 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 beauty, painted by one of the great artists of the 
 day. 
 
 "You are right! What glorious eyes, what 
 superb coloring ! I wonder if 't is true to life." 
 
 " It can hardly be less, for my father writes that 
 she has been the toast in town this season, and by 
 a fanciful title, the ' Blue Bell of Scotland.' " 
 
 " She 's divine ! Here, take back your portrait, 
 or I shall be tempted to enter the lists myself." 
 
 " Against me ? Pray do ; jealousy and strife 
 will give the needed flavor to my suit ; my only 
 fear is that the conquest backed by her father 
 may be too easy a one." 
 
 " Fie, Tarleton ; I begin to believe that the 
 New York dames and damsels have turned your 
 brain with their attentions, only I do remind me 
 that Mistress Betty Wolcott turned a deaf ear " 
 
 " Hold, sir, you go too far," interrupted Tarle 
 ton haughtily, as he thrust the case inside his 
 coat. Then, after a moment, he added in a softer 
 tone, " The shoe pinches not so much as you think, 
 Halleck, but I own I have not yet forgotten that 
 pretty rebel. I wonder if the fair Moncriffe pos 
 sesses the same charm ; one cannot have every 
 thing, and fascination combined with beauty 
 grows not on every bush." 
 
 Their horses going at a fairly good speed, it did 
 not take long to reach the end of the trail for 
 which the little party had been offered the ser 
 vices of Captain Conway's Indian scout, and after 
 his departure they resumed their way, which led
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 35 
 
 partly through woodland, from which glimpses 
 might be occasionally had of the river winding 
 on its way south. When the sun overhead pro 
 claimed noon, Tarleton ordered a halt, and under 
 shade of a great tree and its curtain of gray moss 
 they rested the horses and took a drink from the 
 flasks which the officers carried, the men having 
 some provisions in the saddlebags. But Tarleton, 
 impatient to be off, cut short their meal (such as 
 it was), and mounting, desired the trooper Burt to 
 ride ahead, as he knew the trail. 
 
 " 'T is ticklish business," muttered Burt to him 
 self, as he tightened his stirrup and trotted on. 
 " We may strike the Rangers at any moment, 
 and then Gad, I 'd not like to bite the dust of 
 Georgia soil by a shot from my old comrades. 
 But I 'd cheerfully lose a leg or arm to get yonder 
 fiend into Marion's hands. Those bushes at the 
 right have been recently bent ; the twigs are wilt 
 ing in the sun," and then, as the thought flashed 
 through his brain, he saw, peering at him in the 
 thicket, a pair of glittering eyes. 
 
 Involuntarily, Burt's hand sought his pistol ; but 
 before he could draw it from his belt, the bushes 
 parted, and the slender, graceful figure of an 
 Indian girl glided out on the path. Tall and 
 well formed, her dark flowing hair was bound 
 with a strip of scarlet cloth, fastened by an eagle's 
 feather ; her blanket was slung around her shoul 
 ders with more than ordinary care, and on her 
 feet were beautifully embroidered moccasins. On
 
 36 A PRETTY TORT 
 
 each shapely, bronzed arm she wore an armlet of 
 roughly beaten silver, and around her neck a 
 silver chain, from which hung the totem (the 
 emblem of her tribe), a coiled rattlesnake, with 
 its head reared as if to strike. 
 
 " Halt ! " cried Tarleton, spurring forward, as 
 his eye caught the strangely picturesque figure, 
 but before he reached the spot Burt's quick per 
 ception had taken every detail of the girl's ap 
 pearance, and under his breath he said softly, 
 " Laceola ! " 
 
 A slight quiver of the dainty nostrils was the 
 only sign that betrayed her knowledge of the word ; 
 she stood motionless as Tarleton accosted her. 
 
 " Who are you, and from whence do you come? " 
 
 " I am Laceola, the sister of Ossaba." 
 
 " Where are you going, and why do you walk 
 alone in the forest ? " 
 
 " Laceola walks where she will," said the girl 
 proudly; "the palefaces are kind to her. She 
 goes to Yamacraw, where now is a settlement 
 they call Savannah." 
 
 Tarleton hesitated a moment, and Burt took 
 the opportunity to say in a low tone, " She is a 
 Creek, and the colonel knows that tribe have 
 been employed by the Tories in this war." 
 
 " Faith, Halleck," said Tarleton, with a laugh, 
 " she has the air of a princess this American 
 savage. Come nearer, girl," and, as Laceola 
 stepped fearlessly to his side, he stooped sud 
 denly in his saddle and kissed her on the lips.
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 37 
 
 There was a flash and gleam of steel as a long 
 knife shot into the air, and but for the swerving 
 aside of his frightened horse, Tarleton's career 
 had ended then and there. The knife grazed the 
 horse's ear and buried itself in the green sward 
 beyond, while the girl, panting for breath, stood 
 with her small hands clenched, the embodiment of 
 concentrated rage. 
 
 " Laceola has seen many pale-faced men she 
 has walked these forests alone both day and night ; 
 no Inglese, no Yankee, has harmed her. Redcoat, 
 you are a villain ; pah ! " and she drew her hand 
 across her lips with a gesture of scorn and loath 
 ing, " you are a coward ! " 
 
 A red flush mounted to Tarleton's forehead, as 
 he half drew his pistol, then dropped his hand, 
 with a sneering laugh. 
 
 " 'T is only a wildcat, after all. Burt, tie the 
 girl's hands and mount her before you on the 
 saddle ; I '11 carry a prisoner with me into 
 Savannah." 
 
 Halleek opened his lips to speak, then thought 
 better of it, and in silence Burt dismounted, 
 secured Laceola' s hands, and, with the aid of the 
 other troopers, placed her on his horse. But just 
 as he was about to spring up behind her, the girl 
 bent her head ; swift as lightning she seized the 
 reins, which lay loosely on the horse's neck, in her 
 teeth, and, striking the animal a blow with her 
 feet, in one second she was off, tearing like mad 
 up the road, where a sudden bend hid her from
 
 38 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 view almost before the men had time to grasp the 
 fact that their prisoner had escaped. 
 
 "To horse!" cried Tarleton ; but the troopers 
 had barely sprung into their saddles before he 
 checked them. " Pursuit is useless ; the jade will 
 have joined some lurking Indian by this, and I do 
 not care to be shot from ambush. Halleck, I was 
 a fool to try issue with a Creek ; we have had 
 trouble enough with that nation." 
 
 " Aye," said Halleck dryly, " better let women 
 alone if you can." 
 
 Tarleton laughed again ; his good humor had 
 apparently returned, but the gleam in his eye 
 boded no good to Laceola even while he jested. 
 
 " 'T was a clever escape, by Gad ! the princess 
 has a ready wit. But you '11 have to ride double, 
 my man," to Burt, " or else foot it into Savannah." 
 
 Burt saluted, and went toward the other troopers, 
 but as he again put foot in the stirrup, a distant 
 neigh was heard, and as the party turned in its 
 direction, to their amazement they beheld the 
 missing horse, riderless, trotting rapidly back to 
 join its companions. 
 
 " By " Burt ripped out an oath. " Beg 
 
 pardon, colonel, but of all adventures " and he 
 gazed blankly at the officers. 
 
 Halleck burst into a hearty laugh. " You must 
 e'en make the best of it, Tarleton ; the wench 
 was honest enough to return your property, but 
 none will ever believe the tale of how an Indian 
 girl flouted the gay and gallant Tarleton," and
 
 AN OFFICER OF THE KING 39 
 
 spurring their horses both friends galloped down 
 the road. 
 
 But Burt, riding more slowly in their train, said 
 to himself, " The Swamp Fox is not far away. 
 I '11 wager the colonel has not heard the last of 
 this pretty encounter."
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 
 
 THE mansion stood in the centre of a grove of 
 live oaks and myrtle trees, and was an unusually 
 fine specimen of the residence occupied by the 
 rich planters of that day. It had been built 
 by Madam Moncriffe's father, and added to in 
 various ways at different times, until it presented 
 a combination of quaintness, stability, and even 
 elegance, being built chiefly of brick imported from 
 England, as was then the custom, and in some 
 part of wood after the fashion of the early days 
 of the province. The plantation itself extended 
 for miles, being part of the original letters-patent 
 granted to Percival Heathcote, and then considered 
 as belonging to the province of South Carolina. 
 When the new province of Georgia was given to its 
 trustees by King George the Second, the Heath- 
 cote of that day exchanged part of his land for 
 that within the new grant, and, proceeding to 
 plant rice in these most fertile swamps formed 
 by the Savannah River, amassed what was for 
 those days a handsome fortune, which, added to 
 his hundred or more slaves, made him a power 
 in that vicinity. Dying, he left an only daughter,
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 41 
 
 whom Colonel Moncriffe married, and it was a 
 noticeable fact that, although an officer in His 
 Majesty's service and a gallant soldier (as he had 
 proved himself during the siege of Savannah), 
 Colonel Moncriffe seemed to have a gift for 
 acqiiiring money outside his profession, and in 
 dulged in every extravagant fancy of the day. 
 Costly furniture, pictures, and china were always 
 coming from England for transportation to Glen- 
 moira, and before the war broke out his elaborate 
 entertainments were the talk of the town. The 
 death of his wife, some four years previous, 
 had called a temporary halt in his gayeties, but 
 now that Geraldine had returned home with the 
 triumph of a London season hovering about her, 
 the Tory dames of Savannah gossiped behind 
 their fans as they met in the streets and at 
 each other's houses, and predicted that the re 
 newal of hospitality would be speedy, and after 
 even more prodigal fashion than before. 
 
 The front of the house was most imposing, with 
 its tall white pillars, and square entrance flagged 
 with stone, whence the descent to the ground was 
 made by six broad, low steps. The wings stretched 
 to right and left, and were irregularly built, one 
 side being devoted to bedrooms, where bachelor 
 guests were bestowed, and the other running out 
 still further and used as servants' quarters ; these 
 wings added much to the picturesque appearance 
 of the place, as they were completely covered by 
 vines which ran up even to the slanting roofs.
 
 42 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Near one of the large white pillars sat Geral- 
 dine on a low stool, two great baskets of roses be 
 side her, and at her elbow a small table on which 
 stood a huge blue china bowl which, with deft, 
 busy fingers, she was engaged in filling with 
 flowers. Her white gown (tied around the short 
 waist with a broad blue ribbon) with its scanty 
 skirt gave enchanting glimpses of the dainty feet 
 beneath the petticoat, and became her well, while 
 her red-gold hair, drawn up from the nape of her 
 slender neck and piled in curling masses over her 
 broad brow, seemed a fitting crown to her beauty. 
 
 " Hech ! but she 's bonnie," thought Margot, as 
 she came out of the door, her hands filled with 
 long, feathery sprays of green, "I wish Maister 
 Roy could see her noo ! " 
 
 " Just in time, Margot ; oh, tell Jumbo to fetch 
 me the tall blue jars from the mantel in my room. 
 Nothing becomes deep red roses like them. Do 
 you mind, Margot, "- falling into a little of the 
 quaint Scotch phrase as she sometimes did when 
 alone with her, " do you mind how I used to 
 greet for the red and white roses, and how my 
 aunt scolded me because I said nothing could com 
 pare with our cherokee hedges of white ? Ah, 
 Margot, 'tis sweet to be in my own home once 
 more ; to see the kindly black faces of the slaves, 
 and hear them sing their plaintive songs at night 
 fall, and though I love the English nightingale's 
 note, there 's a wild melody in the mocking bird 
 which goes straight to the heart." Margot looked
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 43 
 
 up quickly enough to see a tear that fell from her 
 young mistress's eyes among the roses. 
 
 " You see, Margot," Geraldine went on, half 
 talking, half thinking aloud, " London was grand 
 and beautiful and stately and I love to be stately 
 and grand as well as most maids. But somehow 
 last night when I rode down through the live-oaks 
 with my father, and the wind blew a spray of gray 
 moss across my face, and I heard a distant whip- 
 poor-will, I thought of the days when I used to 
 stand down yonder by the thicket, and how Rose 
 Telfair and I made wreaths to deck my mother's 
 grave, and Roy oh, I wonder where Roy is now, 
 Margot? My father says he has taken arms 
 against the king. I could not have believed it of 
 him. Think, think of being a rebel, Margot, and 
 in arms against your country ! " 
 
 " It depends mickle upon whilk country ye 
 claim for your ain," quoth Margot, with a twinkle 
 of fun in her shrewd bright eyes. " Some o' your 
 forbears, I 'm thinking, puzzled over that question 
 in the ' Forty-Five ! ' " 
 
 " Truly," and Geraldine laughed lightly at Mar- 
 got's thrust. "But that was so different; we 
 were fighting for a king, even then." 
 
 "An' the patriots are fighting for their, lawful 
 rights," said Margot stubbornly. "What I'm 
 thinking is that what 's sauce for the goose is like 
 to be sauce for the gander in this war as in mony 
 ithers." 
 
 "Margot, Margot, are you turning rebel? Oh,
 
 44 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 for peace' sake do not let my father hear you. He 
 has been giving me a long account to-day of the 
 iniquitous doings of the partisans here, and truth 
 to say my head is somewhat bewildered." 
 
 " Look yonder," interrupted Margot, suddenly 
 waving her hand as the sound of a galloping horse 
 was heard coming toward them. Geraldine's eye 
 followed the gesture, and as she rose to her feet she 
 saw a pretty picture. Over the thicket where 
 grew the cherokee roses, some quarter of a mile 
 from the house, came flying a handsome chestnut 
 filly, her neck stretched high, her head well up as 
 her heels cleared the top, and on her back a slen 
 der figure who, laughing and waving her hand in 
 salute, galloped swiftly up to the door. 
 
 " Rose, Rose, my own dear Rose ! " cried Geral- 
 dine, running down the steps just in time to catch 
 the pretty creature who bounded from the saddle 
 into her outstretched arms. " Rose ! " holding 
 her at arm's length, and surveying every laugh 
 ing feature "it is really you, and just as dear 
 and merry as when I left you three long years 
 ago." 
 
 " And twenty times as naughty," returned the 
 newcomer ; " my father says I will never learn to 
 be grown up and proper. But you oh, Jerry, 
 Jerry, to think you have seen the world, and even 
 courtesied before the king not that I love the 
 king" - with a charming blush at tripping in her 
 speech " but the gay, beautiful London and the 
 gallants there though I do suppose I should
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 45 
 
 hate them violently if they dared sneer at us 
 ' rebels.' " 
 
 " Rose, Rose, remember in whose house you 
 stand and for the matter of that you know that 
 I am, as of old, a Tory." 
 
 Rose Telfair flashed a merry, wicked glance at 
 her friend as she ran lightly up the steps, and a 
 little black boy came running from the servants' 
 quarters to take the chestnut mare. 
 
 " A Tory ? verily you have not that air, try as 
 you may. It 's tiresome enough in the city where 
 the officers' dames turn their backs and extremely 
 ugly, badly dressed backs they are to boot and 
 endeavor not to see me, when if they but knew it 
 I would not stop and speak to them no ! not for 
 twenty pounds," and Rose ended more hotly than 
 she began. 
 
 "A truce to politics," said Geraldine gently. 
 " Here 's Margot waiting for a word from you." 
 Margot courtesied, but the impulsive girl's arms 
 were thrown round her neck, and Rose kissed the 
 ruddy cheek with a hearty affection which brought 
 tears to the Scotchwoman's eyes. 
 
 " Ah, but you favor Maister Roy ; the same 
 eyes wi' the laughing glint in them, the same wav 
 ing chestnut hair, and will you never stop growing, 
 Mistress Rose," glancing up at the slender figure, 
 which was unusually tall for a woman ; " mair by 
 token as ye overtop my young leddy." 
 
 "How do you know that I resemble Roy so 
 closely?" asked Rose with a mischievous smile,
 
 46 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 which set Margot's cheeks tingling at her slip of 
 the tongue, but which Geraldine did not catch the 
 meaning of. 
 
 " Hoot, d' y' think I 've forgotten," said Margot, 
 recovering herself quickly. " Mony 's the time 
 Elspeth and I said ye might pass for twins, the 
 likeness was sae great between ye. Do ye need 
 mair flowers, Mistress Geraldine, or are these eno' 
 for the vases ? " 
 
 " Quite enough, Margot, and I '11 leave them to 
 you to finish. Rose and I are going to my own 
 room." 
 
 Inside the square hall rose a winding staircase 
 with solid mahogany balustrade, and the rooms 
 above opened on a gallery which ran around it. 
 Into one of these Geraldine guided Rose, and 
 pulling a high chair forward to the window seated 
 her guest, while she took refuge on a quaint settle 
 beside her. 
 
 " What a lovely room ! " said Rose ; " those cur 
 tains of pale yellow are most novel. And the bed 
 drapery is the same; are these the last London 
 mode?" 
 
 " My father ordered them last year, and I found 
 the room just as you see it when I arrived." 
 
 " And your gowns " eagerly " where are 
 your gowns, Geraldine? I trust you come back 
 prepared to dazzle the eyes of the Tory dames m 
 Savannah, for we poor Whigs are fain to wear 
 last year's costumes, being too proud to ape those 
 of a foreign court."
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 47 
 
 " Gowns, aye ; but let us not trouble with these 
 just now, Rose. I I have so much to say to 
 you ; have you patience to listen ? " 
 
 " Surely ; 1 meant no harm by my silly desire 
 to see the wardrobe of a woman of fashion. 
 What troubles you ? or are you grown too staid 
 to frolic with your old playfellow ? " 
 
 " Never," said Geraldiue, with quiet emphasis, 
 " but I scarce feel in frolicsome mood to-day. What 
 air would you think becoming to a maid who is 
 bidden to receive a suitor who comes with her 
 father's consent to ask her hand in marriage ? " 
 
 " It would greatly depend on the suitor ; who is 
 he ? what is he like ? are you madly in love ? " 
 Rose poured out question after question, and Geral- 
 dine's laugh rang out blithely. It seemed impos 
 sible to be serious and sedate with Rose ; evidently 
 the gravity of the situation did not impress her. 
 
 " You have not changed a particle in these three 
 years. How can I tell you what he is like when I 
 have never yet set eyes on him ? " 
 
 " Good lack ! this is quite in royal fashion. 
 And who may the suitor be ? " 
 
 " Colonel Banastre Tarleton, of England, for 
 merly aide to Lord Cornwallis ; but my father tells 
 me that he now commands a legion made up of 
 Georgia and New York loyalists, and that he was 
 most prominent at the taking of Charleston." 
 
 " Colonel Tarleton ! " Rose ejaculated, then 
 stopped short and bit her lip. " How comes it 
 tliat you are plighted to him ? "
 
 48 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " I am not plighted yet," responded Geraldine 
 somewhat warmly. 
 
 " Oh, but you said " 
 
 "That he comes here to-day, unless some ill 
 fortune of war detain him. You do misjudge me ; 
 am I the style of maiden who can be won before 
 she is wooed? My father is an old and bosom 
 friend of Colonel Tarleton's father, and so and 
 so" 
 
 " I see ; they have arranged the match between 
 them. Well?" 
 
 " I had not given you my confidence had I sup 
 posed you lacked interest in my fate," said Geral 
 dine, with heightened color. 
 
 " Nay, nay," cried Rose, seizing her hand, " I 
 did not mean to anger you. Go on, tell me 
 more ; you know how I love you. It was my sur 
 prise that made me seem petulant. Forgive it." 
 
 " I scarcely know what to say ; my father tells 
 me the gentleman is young, handsome, brave, and 
 rich. Sometimes I think I am fortunate, then 
 I know not why I loathe him." 
 
 " Is there " - Rose hesitated. " Geraldine, is 
 there perchance another ? have you left your heart 
 behind you in London ? " 
 
 "No, no" with burning cheeks. " But duti 
 ful daughter though I am and desire to be, I feel 
 such strange reluctance to this project." 
 
 " Wait and see the gentleman," said Rose, with 
 cool philosophy; "did you say he was expected 
 to-day?"
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 49 
 
 " Yes, and my father has bidden a party from 
 the fort to dine with us and to meet him, also sev 
 eral friends from the city. I heard Margot telling 
 Jupiter to set the table and put out the new silver 
 plate which came from England a month ago ; did 
 you not see me arranging the roses as you came in ? 
 Stay with me, Rose, and grace my first dinner with 
 your charming presence." 
 
 " In my habit, and to meet all those redcoats ? 
 Truly, you forget that I am both Whig and rebel ; 
 I should be the skeleton at your feast." 
 
 " I have done nothing but talk of my own affairs 
 and am self-reproached. 'T is my turn to question 
 now as to the state of your affections," with mock 
 gravity. 
 
 " I knew that would be your next question. No, 
 the tender passion has not yet touched my heart. 
 I am constant to my childish hero my brother 
 Roy." 
 
 " And Roy what of him ? " said Geraldine 
 softly. " I did not ask because " 
 
 " Because you have doubtless heard him called 
 rebel and traitor," cried Rose ; " do not fear to 
 confess it. I have heard Colonel Moncriffe ex 
 press his opinion to my father, and in no mea 
 sured terms my father's reply." 
 
 " Alas, upon what times have I fallen to return 
 to my country ! Rose, Rose, do not let this war 
 part you and me." 
 
 Rose sprang to her feet. "You have heard 
 one view from your father ; now hear mine. Be-
 
 50 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 cause we will not take oath of allegiance to a 
 king whose yoke we have thrown off and whose 
 armies we have defeated, aye, many times, we 
 are hounded like outlaws. Since Savannah has 
 been taken by the British, since the siege, even 
 the country-folk are forbidden to sell their pro 
 duce to us, and rewards were offered by the 
 British officers for the detection of every citizen 
 who adhered to the Whig cause. Were not the 
 Clark, the Dayton, and the Mclntosh houses 
 guarded and the women of the families confined 
 within them, their only offense being that their 
 fathers, sons, and brothers were in arms for their 
 liberties ? Did they not try to hold my own dear 
 father on our plantation as hostage for a British 
 officer of rank whom Colonel Marion captured in 
 one of his daring raids, coming abnost to the city 
 limits ? You ask for Roy ; he is out there, 
 somewhere in the swamp, with his dashing leader, 
 serving gallantly through hardships untold for the 
 great and glorious cause of Freedom." 
 
 The fire of patriotism blazed in the hazel eyes 
 as they flashed upon Geraldine, but the glowing 
 blue ones flung back the challenge. 
 
 " You speak as you have been reared to do, and 
 so will I. My duty and loyalty are for the king, 
 whose faithful subject I am, now and always." 
 
 " Do you mean it ? " 
 
 Rose's low cry of anguish smote Geraldine to 
 the heart, but she went on calmly : " We will 
 never mention this subject again : I would be
 
 AT GLENMOIRA 51 
 
 false alike to my father and myself if I permitted 
 it. Rose, dear Rose, forgive me." 
 
 " Farewell ! " The lovely, laughing face was set 
 in stern lines as the mournful word left her lips ; 
 slowly Rose stooped and kissed her friend on the 
 brow. " The day may come when you, too, will 
 know that love of country is an all-absorbing 
 passion beside which kings and crowns crumble 
 and decay," and before Geraldine had time to 
 fully realize the significance of her words and 
 action, Rose vanished across the threshold, and ere 
 Geraldine could follow and detain her the sound 
 of the chestnut's galloping feet reached her ears, 
 as horse and rider sped down the road and were 
 lost to view among the myrtle trees.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 
 
 " JUPITER, tell your mistress that I await her 
 presence in the drawing-room." 
 
 " Yes, Marse Colonel." 
 
 "And fetch the decanters of cognac and port 
 at once, and see that Margot has the chambers 
 ready." 
 
 " Yes, Marse Colonel," and Jupiter vanished as 
 Colonel Moncriffe ushered his visitors with stately 
 courtesy across the square hall and up the stair 
 case into the drawing-room, whose wide door stood 
 invitingly open to receive them. 
 
 " I crave your pardon for our somewhat untidy 
 appearance," said Tarleton, throwing himself into 
 an armchair as Captain Halleck followed his host 
 into the room. " We stopped half an hour at the 
 fort, leaving my troopers there, and trusting to 
 Halleck's recollection for the road. My orderly 
 is somewhat behind us ; his saddle girth broke 
 and we left him patching it up as we rode along." 
 
 "Your portmanteaux reached here yesterday," 
 said Colonel Moncriffe ; " Colonel Prevost sent them 
 down by pack-horse, and one of my blacks will 
 attend you gentlemen at your toilets. I think you
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 53 
 
 will find him a clever valet, for I devoted some 
 time to his training." 
 
 " I appreciate your kindness ; faith, 't is so long 
 since Halleck and I have doffed our uniforms that 
 other clothes will set awkwardly upon us. What 
 a fine mansion you have here, colonel, " gazing 
 around him at the costly furniture and carved 
 pillars which divided the entrance to the hall ; "I 
 could fancy myself once again in London except 
 for the clinging jasmine vines outside the window, 
 and the mocking bird singing yonder in the 
 thicket." 
 
 Colonel Moncriffe colored with pleasure. " You 
 compliment me, sir ; may I offer you a glass of 
 cognac ? What 's that, Jupiter ? I fail to catch 
 your message." 
 
 " Yes, marse," said Jupiter, who with silver 
 salver and glasses stood bowing at his elbow. 
 " Young Missy begs you '11 'cuse her as she 's oc 
 cupied wid de young ladies dat come two hours 
 ago, an' she '11 hab de pleasure ob seeing de 
 gentlemen later." 
 
 A quick frown passed over Colonel Moncriffe's 
 face, but recovering himself he said with good 
 humor, " I had forgotten our fair guests, Mistress 
 Molly and Anne Durbeville, who have driven out 
 from Savannah to join our party this evening. 
 Gentlemen, I make my daughter's excuses, and 
 will, if you permit me, escort you to your cham 
 bers." So with Jupiter following he led the way 
 down to the right whig of the mansion, where
 
 54 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 were the suite of rooms on the first floor known 
 as "bachelor quarters," and reserved for all un 
 married guests. 
 
 At the first door stood Phoebus (the blackest 
 sort of darky, named after the Sun-god in a mo 
 ment of satire by his master), and beside him a 
 droll little assistant in the person of Cupid, his ten- 
 year-old son, whose chubby face and rolling black 
 eyes instantly attracted the attention of the 
 guests. 
 
 " By Gad, you 're a knowing-looking specimen," 
 said Halleck, unbuckling his sword and flinging 
 himself upon a couch which stood invitingly be 
 neath the open window ; " here, boy, can you pull 
 off my riding-boots ? " 
 
 " Yes, Marse Redcoat," grinned Cupid, as he 
 saw his father perform the same office for Colonel 
 Tarleton in the chamber adjoining, whence pre 
 sently came a sound of splashing water and other 
 evidences of the performance of a toilet. Halleck, 
 with Cupid's assistance, was proceeding in a lei 
 surely manner to induct himself into a suit of 
 clothes which he had dragged from his portmanteau, 
 when there came a knock on the door of his room. 
 Cupid sprang to open it, and on the threshold 
 stood the trooper, Burt. 
 
 " Beg pardon, captain ; I came to report my 
 self." 
 
 " Colonel Tarleton is in the next room ; any 
 thing the matter, Burt? you look troubled." 
 
 " Nothing much, sir ; I have been thinking ever
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 55 
 
 since that Indian girl's escape that some scheme 
 is afoot, perhaps an Indian outbreak, and I 
 made bold to say as much at the fort." 
 
 " Afraid ? eh ? " Burt flushed, but a queer 
 smile lighted his face as he shook his head. 
 
 " Not I, captain. But here on this plantation 
 it would be an easy matter to capture " 
 
 " Who talks of capture ? " Tarleton's door was 
 thrown open and he appeared fully dressed in all 
 the bravery of satin and lace, with his hair pow 
 dered and tied in a queue, a strikingly handsome, 
 elegant figure. " Is that you, Burt ? What are 
 you croaking about ? Have you not found your 
 quarters, or what 's amiss ? " 
 
 Burt saluted gravely. " I made bold to tell 
 them at the fort of our adventure in the forest, 
 and they '11 post an extra sentry to-night, sir, in 
 the direction of this plantation." 
 
 " Very good, you may retire," and Burt disap 
 peared. 
 
 . " I vow, Tarleton, you are in luck," said Hal- 
 leek, with an envious glance at his friend ; " how 
 came you to essay powder? My ambitions had 
 not reached that point, though I have put on ruf 
 fles," and he surveyed himself with an air of vast 
 satisfaction in the mirror above the mahogany 
 dressing-table. 
 
 " Sit down and let my black fellow arrange 
 you," said Tarleton, laughing. " He seems a neat 
 hand at a perruque." 
 
 " Bress de Lord, Marse Colonel teach me 'bout
 
 66 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 dressing de hayd long time ago," said Phoebus, 
 waving his powder-puff solemnly. " Cupid, you 
 jes' stand an' hold de box, and obliterate de rug 
 wif it," and while the much amused officer sub 
 mitted to the hair-dressing operation, Tarleton 
 walked up and down the apartment, his head bowed 
 in deep thought. 
 
 Upstairs the mansion was the scene of busy 
 preparation. When guests came to dine at Glen- 
 moira, they and their horses and chariots were 
 always put up for the night, and on this, the 
 re-opening of the hospitalities of the family, every 
 arrangement had been made in the most lavish 
 manner. Margot, presiding with great dignity 
 over a corps of black servants, detailed a maid to 
 each of the different guests, reserving to herself 
 and a bright, pretty mulatto girl named Ginger 
 the delightful task of completing Geraldine's toilet. 
 Well did Margot know what was in the wind of 
 matrimonial possibilities, and mingled with her 
 loving admiration of her young mistress was very 
 decided disapprobation, which, however, she was 
 sufficiently shrewd to keep to herself. 
 
 An hour later Geraldine stood beside her proud 
 and satisfied father in the drawing-room as Colonel 
 Tarleton was announced in a loud voice by Jupiter, 
 who prided himself upon his sonorous accents on 
 all social occasions. Profound was the bow and 
 deep the courtesy with which the pair saluted each 
 other, and Tarleton's dark, handsome eyes were 
 fixed with admiration on the beautiful young girl
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 57 
 
 whose hand he ventured to kiss in courtly fashion. 
 Dressed entirely in white, with a shining train of 
 satin, with her exquisite neck and bosom slightly 
 veiled in lace, her hair guiltless of powder, and 
 around her lovely throat a string of priceless opals 
 (the gift of a princely Stuart to her grandmother), 
 Geraldine's blue eyes smiled graciously upon her 
 suitor, whose passionate, fickle heart went down 
 before her beauty, and made her the one genuine 
 love of his bold, reckless life. 
 
 The gay and brilliant company were handed out 
 in the fashion of the day, the gentlemen conduct 
 ing the ladies by their finger-tips. Colonel Mon- 
 criffe led the way with Lady Dolly Menteith, the 
 sister-in-law of the commandant at the fort, and 
 Geraldine followed with Captain Sir Charles 
 Adderly, of the fleet now stationed off New York, 
 who, in obedience to Sir Henry Clinton's desire to 
 know the exact situation at Savannah, was making 
 a brief visit to Colonel Prevost. Tarleton, to 
 whom was assigned pretty Mistress Anne Durbe- 
 ville, found himself seated at Geraldine's left, to 
 his infinite satisfaction, and he proceeded to put 
 all his power of fascination at work to interest the 
 charming young hostess. But he soon found that 
 it was no easy task to rivet her attention ; the blue 
 eyes that were by turns so playful, mischievous 
 and alluring, were also disdainful and a trifle 
 haughty ; never had he seen so tantalizing a beauty, 
 and as one witty story after another fell from his 
 lips, and the conversation of the entire table uncon-
 
 68 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 sciously turned to him, Tarleton vowed that " The 
 Blue Bell of Scotland" should be his, and his 
 alone. 
 
 " Do you know, colonel," said Lady Dolly 
 Menteith to her host, " I spent the time I was 
 driving out this afternoon in little thrills of ex 
 citement and with a cold, creeping feeling going 
 up and down my spine, fancying that perchance 
 I might be ambushed by Indians, or have some 
 wonderful adventure to carry back to England 
 with me as a reminiscence of my sojourn here." 
 
 " Indians ! " said Molly Durbeville, at the other 
 side of her host ; " you are more likely to suffer 
 from a raid of Marion's men. Good lack, they 
 have been more daring than ever of late ; did you 
 hear, colonel, of the capture of Mr. Sylvester by 
 them as he was riding into the city ? And it was 
 in broad daylight, too." 
 
 " They are a most daring rebel crew," replied 
 Colonel Moncriffe, " but you need suffer no appre 
 hension, Lady Dolly, for I believe they confine 
 themselves to capturing men, and the fair sex has 
 so far escaped." 
 
 " But 't is deliciously romantic ; why, one feels 
 quite like Hampstead Heath and ' stand and de 
 liver,' highwayman fashion. Do these gentlemen 
 rebels demand one's purse and jewels ? " 
 
 " At all events we will try to protect you from 
 having to answer your own question, Lady Dolly. 
 I cannot tell you what pleasure it gives me to see 
 you at my table and beneath my roof," said Colo-
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 59 
 
 nel Moncriffe, bestowing a glance of admiration 
 upon the lady, who promptly resumed the coquetry 
 for which she was famous. 
 
 " That was a maladroit remark," whispered 
 Molly Durbeville to her right-hand neighbor, a 
 young officer from the fort named Selwyn ; " from 
 being the dearest friends, I hear that our host has 
 fallen out with Mr. Telfair, ever since the affair 
 of the magazine, when that gentleman assisted the 
 Whigs to carry off the king's powder." 
 
 " Is n't there a young Telfair who has joined 
 the raiders recently ? " asked Selwyn. 
 
 " Aye, Roy Telfair ; so 't is said, but you know 
 an atmosphere of mystery surrounds the whole 
 thing. No one knows who belongs to Marion's 
 force ; he has friends and sympathizers everywhere. 
 If it were not that your coat is scarlet I might 
 even suspect you," and Molly laughed roguishly, 
 in the ensign's face. " What think you of our 
 young hostess ? Is she not marvelously beautiful ? 
 We were playmates before she went to England, 
 and no one was so great a favorite as she among 
 us." 
 
 But Selwyn, with wisdom beyond his years, was 
 careful in his reply, and the conversation between 
 him and his teasing companion soon turned upon 
 more personal subjects. 
 
 The dinner was nearly over, the cloth had been 
 removed, and Colonel Moncriffe had proposed the 
 health of his guest Colonel Tarleton in most glow 
 ing terms, and Tarleton rose to answer and to give
 
 60 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 the toast in return. Wine had flowed freely, and 
 several of the men around the table were beginning 
 to show its effects, but Tarleton, beyond a slight 
 flush and perhaps added fluency of expression, dis 
 played no trace of his cups. 
 
 " I am somewhat put to the blush," he said, " in 
 responding to sentiments which are beyond the 
 measure of my deserts. I have been for some 
 four years a resident of these colonies, colonies 
 so fair that Great Britain cannot forego her claim 
 to them. And not alone does the mother country 
 desire to retain her lands, but her gallant sons and 
 lovely daughters as well, who, though born on this 
 soil, are still hers by descent and kinship. I 
 drink, therefore, to our bewitching hostess, fair 
 Mistress Geraldine, on this her home-coming after 
 a three years' absence, and with this sentiment ; 
 To the American White Rose, and may she deign 
 to smile on the pretensions of the humblest of her 
 slaves, who wears the colors of the king," and 
 bending forward with glass in hand Tarleton 
 plucked a ruby rose from the vase before him, 
 which he extended to Geraldine ; but before she 
 could accept or refuse it, it was snatched from his 
 hand and a clear, calm voice, which rang distinctly 
 out above the clash of glasses, said sternly, 
 
 " Go seek your roses elsewhere ! Gentlemen, 
 you are my prisoners ! " 
 
 Geraldine sprang to her feet and looked around 
 the apartment. In each window and at the door 
 stood armed men, men in the motley garb of
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 61 
 
 green and brown, but stern of face and with their 
 guns leveled, as the keen eyes glanced down the 
 barrels and waited for their leader's command, 
 which followed swiftly. 
 
 " Protect the ladies seize every man and se 
 cure him ; let none escape." 
 
 With a fierce oath Tarleton rushed upon his 
 captor, but powerful as he was he was unarmed, 
 and in hand to hand wrestling was no match for 
 the agile American. Panting and breathless with 
 rage, his lace ruffles torn, and his satin coat 
 stained with wine, he was placed in a chair, his 
 hands bound behind him, while Colonel Moncriffe 
 was struggling and shouting in despair at the 
 other end of the room. 
 
 " Villains, thieves, murderers, how dare ye in 
 vade a man's house and insult his guests in this 
 fashion ! But you shall pay dearly for it ; oh, I 
 know whence you come. You are Marion's men, 
 that foul traitor who raids thus on innocent wo 
 men, and no doubt your leader can be bought, 
 if the ransom be but high enough. Where are 
 my slaves ? Jupiter, Sambo, Phoebus, will you 
 see your master made prisoner thus oh, vil 
 lains " and he sank almost speechless with 
 wrath on the settle beside Lady Dolly Menteith, 
 who began to sob violently. 
 
 " Here, good Master Robbers, take my jewels 
 my necklace, my bracelets but spare my life, 
 and let me but get back to Savannah in 
 safety."
 
 62 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 "Tarleton," shouted Halleck from the seat 
 where he also was pinioned, " where 's Burt ? 
 Call, and perhaps he '11 hear you." 
 
 " Gone to the devil," retorted Tarleton, furi 
 ously ; " oh, for my sword ; I 'd soon settle you, 
 sir," and he glared at the leader, who stood quietly 
 beside him. 
 
 " I shall be at Colonel Tarleton's disposition at 
 any time when the fortunes of war do not compel 
 me to make him prisoner," was the stranger's 
 answer. 
 
 The whole attack and capture had taken place 
 with the greatest rapidity, and Geraldine, clinging 
 with one hand to the table, in her first fright, 
 cast her eyes rapidly about her, the black ser 
 vants had evidently been secured first, outside ; 
 she had not noticed that when the toasts began 
 Jupiter and his assistants had withdrawn, and the 
 entrance of the Rangers had been so skillfully 
 planned that with every eye turned upon Tarleton 
 no one had seen the unexpected guests. What 
 could she do to rescue her father and their friends ? 
 Oh, for a chance to slip out and mount her horse 
 or should she make appeal to the leader, whose voice 
 seemed strangely familiar? Where was Mar- 
 got where ? But just at the moment that these 
 thoughts were whirling through her brain, she 
 felt some one touch her foot underneath the table, 
 and the start and exclamation she gave passed 
 unheard amid Lady Dolly's screams, and the 
 general hubbub which prevailed among the guests,
 
 UNEXPECTED GUESTS 63 
 
 for every one was talking, the ladies crying, the 
 men swearing, and the only silent ones were those 
 grim Rangers in green. Looking down cautiously, 
 Geraldine saw peeping out, beneath the mahogany 
 table, a small woolly head and the rolling eyes 
 that could only belong to Cupid, who, for some 
 purpose best known to himself, had carefully 
 hidden there before the dinner began, fallen 
 asleep, and only waked at this very exciting 
 moment. 
 
 Geraldine was quick of wit; with a sudden 
 movement she contrived to overturn the massive 
 candelabra which with its wax lights stood on the 
 table before her, and as the cry of alarm sounded 
 through the room (which was rendered dim for 
 the moment, though not entirely dark), she bent 
 down as if to gather up her train and seized Cupid 
 by the arm. 
 
 " Quick, crawl on your hands and knees to the 
 pantry window drop down to the ground from 
 it, and fly up the road to the fort for help." 
 
 Frightened, but still capable of obedience, the 
 boy crept along under the table, which extended 
 nearly the length of the room, and once at the 
 end, it was easy for him in the confusion which 
 the rolling candles had made to escape observation 
 and find the pantry door. Cupid was an adept in 
 climbing trees for bird-nesting purposes, and had 
 often received chastisement at the hands of his 
 mother for indulging in that pastime ; therefore he 
 slid down from the pantry window by a catalpa
 
 64 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 tree with the agility of a monkey, and in three 
 minutes more was tearing along the avenue, dodg 
 ing in and out of bushes, and making for the road 
 which led to the city.
 
 " WHIST, mon, are ye there ? " 
 
 It was a very low, soft whisper, and Margot 
 crept along cautiously in the dark passage con 
 necting the servants' quarters with the house. 
 On the brick floor lay the figure of a man, evi 
 dently bound, for just before she spoke he had 
 been endeavoring to roll himself along nearer the 
 door which opened on the porch ; but at her 
 whisper he lay still, and answered with equal 
 caution : 
 
 " Who are you ? " 
 
 " I 've come to let you free of your bonds ; those 
 above " mysteriously " told me when I heard 
 an owl hoot beneath the willow you were to be 
 freed," and stooping down she cut the band which 
 held his arms and legs, with a knife which she 
 concealed behind her. " I 'm thinking that knot 
 was na drawn over snugly," she said, with a grim 
 smile ; " perhaps like some ithers ye are not pre 
 cisely what you seem." 
 
 " Hush," said Burt, as he regained his feet, 
 "give me your knife I've a part to play as 
 well as you," and snatching it from her he felt
 
 66 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 his way in the dark to the door, behind which 
 he crouched as Margot departed silently as she 
 came. 
 
 Above stairs the uproar and confusion which 
 had attended the capture of Colonel Moncriffe 
 and his guests was beginning to subside. Geral- 
 dine drew back from the table, where she had made 
 her daring attempt to assist Cupid's escape, and 
 in the dim light she saw the Rangers lead their 
 prisoners out of the door, and knew by the sound 
 that they were being taken down the staircase. 
 The ladies rushed after their respective husbands 
 and friends, sobbing and imploring, except Lady 
 Dolly, who was indulging comfortably in hysterics 
 on the settle, and Molly Durbeville, who en 
 deavored to compose her. Geraldine gave a 
 terrified glance around, and then flew through 
 the open door. 
 
 " Father, father, where are you ? " she cried, 
 sudden terror getting the better of her as she 
 realized that perhaps he was being borne from 
 her, and frantic thoughts rushed through her 
 brain of what Marion might deem fit reprisals for 
 the indignities heaped upon the Whigs of Sa 
 vannah. But as she reached the stairs the tall 
 figure of the leader barred her passage. 
 
 " Stand aside, sir," she ordered haughtily ; " do 
 you forbid a daughter to seek her unfortunate 
 parent ? " 
 
 " You will not find him below ; in accordance 
 with my instructions we have left Colonel Mon-
 
 GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 67 
 
 criffe safely bound in his own chamber. No harm 
 is intended him, and beyond a few hours of dis 
 comfort he will be none the worse." 
 
 " I shall release him at once." 
 
 " Not while I hold the key of his door." 
 
 " Give it to me instantly, sir ; how dare you 
 commit such an outrage ! " and for the first time 
 Geraldine raised her eyes to the handsome face 
 above her. 
 
 " Roy ! " The girl staggered back a step, and 
 caught at the balustrade for support. 
 
 " Geraldine ! " He stretched out both hands 
 toward her, but she shrank farther away, growing 
 deathly pale as she gazed. 
 
 " And so we meet again," she murmured ; " so 
 I find you in arms against your lawful king, 
 invading a peaceful home, imprisoning my guests. 
 Oh, God ! can it be you, my playfellow, my " 
 She choked for breath ; a dry sob left her lips. 
 
 " Your lover," cried Roy Telfair, passionately, 
 "aye, your lover still. Do you think I have 
 forgotten one sweet word you spoke " 
 
 " Hush, sir, for shame's sake ; do not dare to 
 remind me of that day. You have forfeited every 
 right to to my friendship, and I forbid you 
 to remember anything." 
 
 On the stillness of the night outside the mansion 
 there suddenly broke a distant sound of a bugle, 
 and close below the window near which the pair 
 stood came the "hoot hoot" of a nio-ht owl: 
 
 O * 
 
 with a swift bound Roy Telfair darted down the
 
 68 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 stairs, and Geraldine, gathering her gown in her 
 hand, fled after him. In the darkness of the 
 porch she could dimly discern a band of mounted 
 men some of whom evidently had their prisoners 
 before them on the saddles, and directly in front 
 of the door stood a horse apparently waiting for 
 its master. To this animal Roy Telfair bounded, 
 catching the bridle of another horse, which stood 
 beside it, on whose back, well secured, Geraldine 
 saw a figure which she recognized as Colonel 
 Tarleton. Quick as a flash she darted forward 
 and seized the rein, and Roy pulled his horse 
 almost back upon his haunches to avoid trampling 
 upon her as she stood directly in the path. 
 
 " Are you mad ? Let go that horse, I implore 
 you," cried Roy. Again the sound of a bugle 
 floated on the wind, this time nearer, and 
 standing in his stirrups Telfair shouted to his 
 men : " Disperse ! " 
 
 Like shadows, and almost as silently (for the 
 horses' feet had been muffled), one by one the 
 Rangers faded from view, and, stooping down, 
 with a supreme effort of strength he lifted Geral 
 dine from the ground and swung her before him 
 on the saddle. But the gallant feat was just too 
 late, for as Roy seized the rein of Tarleton's horse 
 from her hand, there came a rush of troopers up 
 the avenue, a shout from Tarleton, " This way, 
 men, quick, quick ! " and in another moment 
 they closed around the group, and the brave young 
 Ranger was in the hands of his foes.
 
 GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 69 
 
 "Pursue those fellows for a rescue," shouted 
 Tarleton, as his men dragged Telfair from his 
 horse and helped Geraldine to the ground ; " send 
 half the force in pursuit, keep the others here 
 with me. Is that you, Burt? " seeing who was 
 releasing him from his bonds, " by gad, you were 
 just in time, my brave fellow, and shall be re 
 warded." Burt smiled grimly at the mistake, but 
 did not think it wise to enlighten him, and he 
 assisted Tarleton up the staircase, as the colonel 
 was somewhat cramped from being bound to the 
 horse. 
 
 "Into the library," said Tarleton, "and tell 
 them to fetch the prisoner here," and while Burt 
 departed with the order, he endeavored to adjust 
 his coat and ruffles which had become disordered 
 in the scuffle, and to compose his face into its 
 ordinary calmness before he heard the approaching 
 footsteps of his prisoner. 
 
 " And now, sir," he said, throwing himself 
 back in a chair, as two troopers brought Roy 
 before him, " I think the tables are well turned, 
 though the result may not strike you as satisfac 
 torily as it does me. Who are you, and for what 
 reason did you commit to-night's glaring outrage?" 
 
 " My name is Roy Telfair, captain in the Georgia 
 Rangers, commanded by Colonel Francis Marion 
 of the Continental Army." 
 
 " One of the lieutenants of the Swamp Fox ! 
 Well, sir, proceed." 
 
 "There is no further reply necessary," said the
 
 70 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 prisoner calmly ; " I have nothing to explain. 
 Colonel Tarleton has probably heard of reprisals, 
 and after his most dastardly conduct to our 
 wounded at the battle of Waxham Creek, should 
 expect nothing less at the hands of an American 
 officer." 
 
 " Then, Captain Telfair, as you know me so 
 well, you will not be surprised by my ordering 
 you shot at daybreak," said Tarleton, with 
 mocking courtesy that was the more cruel be 
 cause of its suavity. "You dared to lay hands 
 upon Mistress Moncriffe, the lady whom I have 
 the honor to address in marriage, and your 
 ruffianly conduct shall meet its deserts. Ah, you 
 grow pale, sir ; the prospect of meeting one's 
 deserts is not always agreeable to contemplate." 
 
 " I shall not stoop to argue with you, but let my 
 execution take place outside the bounds of this 
 plantation, in common humanity to those whose 
 guest you are." 
 
 " I require no lessons in courtesy, sir. Go ! " 
 To the troopers, " Keep the prisoner in close 
 confinement until I send the order ; find some 
 room below where you can bestow him," and as 
 the men conducted Telfair from his presence, 
 Tarleton started to seek his host. 
 
 The rescue by the British had followed so swiftly 
 upon her fruitless attempt to detain Roy that 
 Geraldine, as soon as her feet touched the ground, 
 paused not a moment, but flew up the staircase, 
 and met Margot on the gallery.
 
 GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 71 
 
 " Oh, Margot, did they seek to harm you ? are 
 you unhurt ? And my father we must release 
 him at once. He is in his chamber, bound "- 
 
 "No," said Margot, laying a detaining hand 
 upon her mistress's arm, " the colonel is be 
 low ; dinna ye hear him ? " as the sound of 
 remarkably fluent and forcible English oaths 
 sounded from the porch. " I made bold to enter 
 by your room when I heard the din the colonel 
 was raising, and " 
 
 " But Roy had the key oh, Margot, it was 
 Roy, Roy, who dared execute this bold outrage, for 
 which I will never, never grant him forgiveness." 
 
 " Hush, hush, my bairn ; we are come upon 
 troublous times, and it does na become me to ad 
 vise ye, but auld woman that I am I have still to 
 see the day when a human being could dare assert 
 that she wad be mair implacable than the Al 
 mighty." 
 
 They were standing near the door of Geraldine's 
 room, and just at this moment glancing down they 
 saw the troopers bringing the prisoner up the stair 
 case. Pressing back into the dimly lighted gallery 
 they watched the group enter the library. 
 
 " Margot," whispered Geraldine, " go down to 
 the door, stand without and listen, and fetch me 
 word here what Colonel Tarleton says to Captain 
 Telfair." The woman nodded, and went softly 
 around the gallery as Geraldine opened the door 
 of her own room. 
 
 " Oh, 't is you at last," cried Molly Durbeville,
 
 72 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 from the couch where she had thrown her pretty 
 self ; " we thought the Rangers had carried you off 
 among the others, and I was about to set forth on 
 a hue and cry after you when Anne dragged me in 
 here." 
 
 " Where are the others ? " asked Geraldine"; " I 
 must look after Lady Dolly and the rest." 
 
 " You need not ; Lady Dolly is safely bestowed 
 in the blue chamber with Ginger for company and 
 guardian ; the others M argot has taken care of, 
 and we have invaded your room because, forsooth, 
 Anne, here, was so terrified that I thought between 
 us we might beat some composure into her timid 
 pate." 
 
 " Indeed, indeed," sobbed Anne, " I am confi 
 dent Mr. Selwyn will be hanged or murdered " 
 
 " Or drawn and quartered ! Was ever so silly 
 a maid as you ? Marion's men do not commit 
 murders they are our protectors and defenders. 
 Surely you cannot accuse Roy Telfair of belonging 
 to any cut-throat crew ? " said Molly, with vehe 
 ment indignation. 
 
 " Roy ! Do you mean to say he was there ? " 
 and Anne's curiosity effectually quenched her 
 tears. 
 
 " Had you no eyes ? Why, he was the leader 
 who snatched the rose from Colonel Tarleton's 
 hand Oh, Geraldine, that was neatly done. And 
 did you hear the challenge that passed between 
 them?" 
 
 " I did not know that it was a betrothal din-
 
 GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 73 
 
 ner," said Anne. " Your father has kept the secret 
 well." 
 
 Geraldine wrung her hands. " I entreat you, 
 say no more. That Colonel Tarleton honors me 
 by his addresses I acknowledge, but the matter 
 has not yet been decided, and" she paused, the 
 bright color which had flown to her face died away 
 to almost ashen pallor as she saw Margot open 
 the door. 
 
 " Will you step here, my leddy," said Margot, 
 drawing Geraldine outside and closing the door 
 behind them. " It 's ill tidings I bring ye, and ye 
 must act swift and sure if ye wad save a 
 life. Maister Roy dies the morn ; he 's to be shot 
 at daybreak." 
 
 Geraldine's beautiful eyes filled with horror. 
 " Shot ! " she gasped ; " no, no, it shall not be ! " 
 She flew down the gallery, Margot following swiftly 
 after, and as she reached the door of the library 
 she almost fell in to Tarleton's arms as he issued 
 from the room. 
 
 " I crave your pardon," he cried, with his win 
 ning smile ; "I was just starting to find your father 
 and inquire for your well-being." 
 
 With intuitive quickness Geraldine seized the 
 situation. " I am unhurt, and came to ask if you 
 are the same. Can you spare me a few moments, 
 Colonel Tarleton ? Margot, await me here," and 
 with almost perfect self-possession and calmness she 
 crossed the threshold, and sinking into a chair 
 motioned Tarleton to another.
 
 74 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " I cannot tell you how deeply I am grieved that 
 you should receive such treatment at the hands 
 of my misguided countrymen," she said softly. 
 " You will have most unpleasant recollections of 
 your first evening under our roof." 
 
 " On the contrary, it would require more than 
 the raid of a few outlaws to obliterate the remem 
 brance that I have not only had the happiness to 
 sit beside you and gaze upon your beauty, but I 
 feel that to your brave effort on my behalf I owe 
 my rescue." 
 
 " You are pleased to flatter me ; I perceive that 
 Colonel Tarleton knows how to compliment." 
 
 " Compliment ? ah, madam, never have I seen 
 such courage as you displayed in seizing my rein, 
 helpless as I was, and the act is engraved upon 
 the heart of Banastre Tarleton. You know what 
 brought me hither; my high hopes, my ardent 
 aims. It is, perhaps, too soon to say all that is 
 in my mind, but here at your feet I lay my devo 
 tion." 
 
 " Stay, sir, stay ; I had not meant to provoke this 
 avowal, and mayhap it is not quite maidenly to 
 see you thus without my father's presence. But 
 I heard that you were here with a prisoner, and my 
 womanly curiosity prevailed so far that I came to 
 ask who and what he is ? " 
 
 " He is not worth your consideration ; a pesti 
 lent fellow, named Telfair." 
 
 " Telfair ? the son of my father's old friend and 
 neighbor ? "
 
 GERALDINE'S DISCOVERY 75 
 
 " The same, probably," said Tarleton carelessly, 
 his eyes still fixed upon her in admiration. " I 
 think he called himself Captain Roy Telfair, of 
 Marion's men." 
 
 " And what disposition have you made of him ? 
 My father will be grieved to know of his dis 
 loyalty." 
 
 " He is under guard below, somewhere, but where 
 matters little. He dies to-morrow ; let us talk of 
 happier things." 
 
 " Dies ! " Do what she would, the color fled 
 from Geraldine's face. " Colonel Tarleton, you 
 shock me beyond words. Oh, sir, do not, I beg 
 you, begin our acquaintance in this manner ; it 
 were an evil omen," and she shuddered violently 
 even while she courageously lifted her eyes to his. 
 
 " Forgive me," he answered gently. " I am but 
 a bluff soldier and unused to the softness of 
 women's hearts. I should not have told you so 
 abruptly." 
 
 "Nay," she said, with an enchanting smile, 
 while every nerve in her body thrilled with terror ; 
 "nay, grant me his reprieve. It would sadden me 
 too much to feel that you pronounced sentence 
 against one whom I have known in childhood's 
 days." 
 
 Tarleton looked at her keenly, but subtle as he 
 was he could not penetrate behind that smile ; he 
 did not know that the hand which waved her fan 
 had crushed its delicate sticks until they broke. 
 
 " An old play-fellow ? " he questioned lightly.
 
 76 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Yes, and no. Rose Telfair, his sister, and I 
 were old and dear friends ; I suppose she will hardly 
 speak to me now that I am so loyal to the colors 
 of the king." 
 
 Tarleton threw himself on one knee and kissed 
 her hand. " The queen my queen commands," 
 he said gallantly ; " what is a miserable rebel's life, 
 after all ? Take it ; it is yours."
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 BOY'S REFUSAL 
 
 THE troopers who conducted Captain Telf air be 
 low found Burt at the foot of the stairs. 
 
 " What 's to be done with the prisoner, O'Brien ? " 
 he asked of his comrade, a happy-go-lucky Irish 
 man, who was a great favorite among the men. 
 
 " Faith, it 's a short shrift," answered O'Brien, 
 with a compassionate glance ; " shot at daybreak. 
 Sure, what did ye expect ? " 
 
 Roy, alert as ever, caught the whisper, and 
 looking at Burt, saw something in his face which 
 gave him a ray of hope. He had no intention of 
 submitting tamely to untoward fate, and was 
 ready to take advantage of the slightest chance for 
 his life. 
 
 " The colonel's orders are to confine him closely ; 
 any place will do." 
 
 " Then follow me," said Burt, turning down the 
 passage which led to the servants' quarters, where 
 he had been rescued from his bonds by Margot ; 
 "there's a storeroom here which has bars across 
 its only window, no doubt for keeping out the 
 blacks, who are a thievish lot where provisions are 
 concerned. It will do excellently, as you have
 
 78 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 only to turn the key in the door and keep guard 
 outside." 
 
 The light was dim in the passage, as it came 
 from two tallow dips stuck in a pewter sconce, one 
 of which Burt took in his hand as he opened the 
 storeroom door. The soldiers peered curiously 
 about, but all the narrow room (scarcely more than 
 a closet) afforded was rows of shelves either side 
 of the barred window referred to, and a floor 
 flagged with brick and stone like the passage. On 
 the shelves were jars of jellies and conserves, dear 
 to Margot's housewifely soul, and packages of tea 
 and coffee, with sundry blue jars of quaint shapes 
 which evidently contained condiments and delica 
 cies pertaining to the table. 
 
 " I shall not starve," said Koy with a smile, as 
 he surveyed these ; " get me a stool and a bit of 
 writing paper, and I '11 ask for nothing more." 
 
 " Hold him fast till I return," answered Burt, 
 sticking the candle in a cup which stood conven 
 iently on a shelf. He was back in a second, and 
 producing a scrap of rather soiled paper from his 
 pocket, set down the three-legged stool which he 
 had procured from his own quarters. 
 
 " Here 's your seat," he said somewhat roughly, 
 for O'Brien's eyes were upon him, and O'Brien 
 was almost as keen as Burt himself. " The paper 
 is not very clean, but it 's all I have," shaking it 
 open to prove that nothing was written upon it ; 
 " d' ye wish to write a letter ? " 
 
 " Perhaps," returned Roy, and then his eyes
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 79 
 
 lightened, for, as Burt passed the paper into his 
 extended hand he saw a very faint tracing in one 
 corner of an Indian arrowhead. 
 
 " Come on, men, we '11 not disturb him longer," 
 said Burt, turning hastily away as he perceived he 
 was understood ; " sleep if you can ; you '11 be called, 
 never fear," and they filed out, O'Brien locking the 
 door and taking the key carefully out of the lock. 
 
 Half an hour after Jupiter came slowly along 
 the passage blinking like a venerable owl, and 
 evidently in a state of agitation. Attacks and 
 rescues were decidedly out of Jupiter's line, and he 
 was more frightened than he ever had been in his 
 life. Consequently when his eyes fell upon the 
 soldiers stationed at the door of the storeroom, 
 and saw the guns standing against the wall, his 
 teeth began to chatter and he imagined he should 
 be seized and punished. 
 
 " I ain't don' any harm, please, good massa-raid- 
 coats ; jes' comin' ter look for de colonel's gem'- 
 man. Dun' no what yo' call 'im, but he 's de 
 one who corned dis evening, bef o' dinner, befo' 
 de battle." 
 
 " Battle ! " said O'Brien with a grin ; " save yer 
 sowl, d'ye call that race a battle ? More by token 
 our fellows should be reportin' before long, though 
 I have me doubts if all the followin' in the world 
 would catch up wid them thieves of Rangers. It 's 
 fleet heels they have, an' sorra a wan of our officers 
 will we see till they're exchanged or ransomed, 
 I 'm thinkin'."
 
 80 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Whar am de gem'man?" said Jupiter, obsti 
 nately standing his ground, though trembling, 
 " caise I 's got a message fur him from de raid- 
 coat colonel." 
 
 " Why did n't you say so ? " sharply ; " do you 
 mean the prisoner ? " 
 
 " Dun no nuffin' 'bout prisoner, marse ; I was 
 tole to find de raidcoat who come down on de por 
 tico when yo' was dere." 
 
 " He means Burt, the colonel's orderly," said 
 the other soldier. 
 
 " Oh, aye, Burt ; well, here he comes," for the 
 door at the end of the passage swung open at the 
 moment. 
 
 " Dun yo' hear dat bell ringing ? Dat 's yo' 
 colonel," turning to Burt, " an' he says he wants 
 yo' to fetch de prisoner straight up to him." 
 
 " Whew," whistled O'Brien as he put the key 
 in the door ; " wonder what 's to pay now ? Hope 
 he is n't going to attend to that little matter which 
 was coming off at daybreak with his own hands." 
 
 "It wouldn't be the first time if he did," mut 
 tered Burt to himself, his heart beating a trifle 
 quicker as he tried to imagine what new turn 
 affairs could be taking. 
 
 Roy looked up as the men entered. " It 's not 
 daybreak yet," he said calmly ; " can I not be left 
 unmolested until then ? " 
 
 " You are wanted above," said the Irishman, 
 catching him by the arm and motioning to his 
 comrade to take the other side. " I say, Burt," in
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 81 
 
 a whisper as they moved down the passage, " d' ye 
 think he 's having a change of heart ? It 's a foine 
 young fellow we '11 have to shoot." 
 
 "Hush," said Burt sternly, and in silence the 
 little group marched up the stairway, Burt salut 
 ing at the door of the room. 
 
 " The prisoner is here, sir," he said. 
 
 " Bring him in, close the door, and let the others 
 stand guard outside." 
 
 Roy crossed the threshold with firm step ; if he 
 felt emotion of any kind as his gaze fell upon Ger- 
 aldine leaning back in her carved chair, it did not 
 appear in his face as he bowed haughtily to Tarle- 
 ton, quietly ignoring her presence. A faint flush 
 mounted to Geraldine's cheeks, but she toyed with 
 her broken fan, and dropped her eyes until the 
 long dark lashes almost hid them from view. 
 
 " I have sent for you, sir," said Tarleton, in 
 coldly polite tones, " to change somewhat the order 
 with which I dismissed you a short tune ago. This 
 lady" with a wave of his hand toward Geral- 
 dine " has been pleased to intercede for you." 
 
 " I am deeply indebted to the lady," returned 
 Roy, with a profound bow. 
 
 " In response to her request I have decided to 
 remit your sentence of death, and shall hold you 
 close prisoner at the fort to await the orders of Sir 
 Henry Clinton. Well, sir, have you no word of 
 thanks for my clemency ? " 
 
 " I beg to congratulate Colonel Tarleton upon 
 experiencing so novel an emotion. Faith, unless
 
 82 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 the lady vouches for you, sir, it will hardly be 
 believed." 
 
 " You go too far, sir ; you go too far," cried 
 Tarleton, springing from his seat, his face con 
 vulsed with sudden passion ; " it is not yet too 
 late to return to my former mind as regards your 
 affair." As he spoke, his coat, which was still 
 somewhat disordered from his hand-to-hand conflict 
 with Telfair, fell open, and from his breast rolled 
 a small case, which, breaking as it touched the 
 highly polished floor, landed at Roy's very feet, 
 disclosing the miniature portrait it contained of 
 Geraldine. 
 
 Tarleton darted forward, but ere he could reach 
 it, Roy had seized the picture. With one long, 
 eager gaze he took in every detail of the lovely 
 face ; then he laid it in Tarle ton's hand. 
 
 "I return your property," he said courteously, 
 " with an apology for unwittingly seeing what was 
 not intended for my eyes. You have offered me 
 my life at Mistress Moncriffe's intercession. I de 
 cline to take advantage of her well meant, but 
 wholly unauthorized effort on my behalf, and pre 
 fer that Colonel Tarleton should follow his natural 
 impulses undisturbed." 
 
 " Captain Telfair ! " Geraldine's voice fell un 
 heeded upon his ear. In the wild passion that 
 possessed him, Telfair was, for the moment, beyond 
 the bounds of reason. 
 
 Tarleton darted a quick glance of keen sus 
 picion at the pair. Telfair regarded him with a
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 83 
 
 contemptuous smile, while Geraldine, with the 
 spirit and pride of her gallant ancestry, would 
 have died rather than have betrayed to either man 
 the agony they were causing her. 
 
 " You hold your life lightly, sir, and are either 
 a desperate man or a very brave one. Notwith 
 standing what you are pleased to call my ' natural 
 impulses ' I can find it in my heart to admire your 
 recklessness. Remove the prisoner, Burt, and see 
 that he is well secured." 
 
 Everything swam before Geraldine's eyes, and it 
 was only by an intense effort of will that she con 
 trolled herself sufficiently to acknowledge Roy's 
 salutation as he turned and left the room, and she 
 sat motionless while the sound of his footsteps died 
 in the distance. 
 
 " On my word, the gentleman has a taste for 
 raising my temper," said Tar le ton, with a light 
 laugh ; " he is somewhat of a dare-devil to provoke 
 me thus." 
 
 " I trust, Colonel Tarleton, that you will not per 
 mit his his I scarcely know what to name it, 
 his behavior, to affect your decision ? " 
 
 " His insolence," interpolated Tarleton quickly. 
 " Madam, my word is pledged to you, and Captain 
 Telfair shall have his life to throw away as he 
 pleases after his release from captivity in British 
 prisons, which, if I read Sir Henry Clinton's mind 
 rightly, will not be soon. I have the honor to 
 kiss your very beautiful hand and to thank you 
 for the boon of this interview."
 
 84 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 With trembling fingers Geraldine accepted the 
 salute, and swept from the apartment to find 
 Margot in the gallery. But at the touch of 
 M argot's hand her forced composure forsook her, 
 and throwing her arms around her old nurse's 
 neck she burst into a passion of sobs and tears. 
 
 Burt had scarcely obeyed his orders and locked 
 the door of the storeroom upon Roy Telfair be 
 fore he was summoned to Tarleton's bedroom. 
 The colonel had thrown off his coat, and was writ 
 ing rapidly. Burt stood at attention and waited 
 his leisure. 
 
 " Here," said Tarleton, signing his name to the 
 paper, and dusting the ink with sand from a box 
 at his elbow ; " I cannot spare the others, so you 
 must take horse at once and speed to the fort with 
 this for Colonel Prevost. The night is too far 
 spent for any arrangement at daybreak, but noon 
 day will serve as well." The last sentence ap 
 parently escaped him unawares, for he cast a 
 penetrating glance at Burt as if to see whether 
 it had been heard, but that worthy presented a 
 perfectly stolid countenance as he saluted, turned 
 on his heel, and left the room ; and Tarleton, un 
 dressing with great rapidity, flung himself upon 
 his bed and was presently fast asleep. 
 
 Burt went down the passage and made his way 
 outside ; he eyed the note with much perplexity as 
 he passed the lantern which swung in the portico. 
 All was still inside ; after the rush and excitement 
 every soul seemed to have retired. He paused,
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 85 
 
 glanced uncertainly into the darkness, then wheeled 
 and stole cautiously back to the portico, where he 
 carefully unfolded the note intrusted to him. It 
 took but a moment to master its contents, and 
 Burt swore under his breath and shook his fist 
 as he read. 
 
 " 'T is as I suspected. Oh, wily villain, to make 
 smooth promises one moment and belie them the 
 next," he thought rapidly. " How to circumvent 
 him ! If I could find the woman who cut the 
 cords for me when I lay bound yonder has she 
 gone to bed as well as the blacks? I have it; 
 I must ride dispatch on the colonel's business, and 
 I '11 be hanged if I know where to find my horse 
 without assistance," and back went Burt, softly as 
 a cat, into the house. " She was there at the 
 door waiting for the young mistress ; I '11 warrant 
 I '11 find her somewhere in the gallery." Step by 
 step Burt went up the staircase, and his shrewd 
 ness was rewarded, for his foot had not touched 
 the topmost step when he saw Margot, candle in 
 hand, emerge from Geraldine's door, and he heard 
 her bid " good-night " as she closed it behind her. 
 
 " Weel, mon, what brings ye here ? " asked 
 Margot, recognizing him as she reached his side. 
 " Dinna make a noise, but let this distracted 
 household sleep in peace." 
 
 " I want my horse," said Burt, in a tone that 
 might reach a possible eavesdropper. Then in 
 her ear, " Quick, follow me below if you want to 
 prevent more deviltry than has occurred already."
 
 86 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Come outside and I '11 turn ye in the direction 
 of the stables," said Margot readily, as she led 
 the way down. " Ye are free frae listeners noo ; 
 what 's your will ? " 
 
 Burt leaned closer, as they stood under a myrtle 
 tree before the door, and whispered rapidly. 
 Margot started back. " D' ye mean it ? Oh, the 
 wickedness of man ! Whist, let me think ; in whilk 
 room did ye put the prisoner? " 
 
 " In the storeroom ; it has a barred window. 
 He could not break it without noise that would 
 betray him, nor could I help him from the outside 
 without detection." 
 
 " In the storeroom ! then 't was the finger o' 
 the Lord wha guided ye. Trouble your head nae 
 mair ; leave it to me." 
 
 " If you would be pleased to explain " 
 
 " Tut, mon, and for what ? He 's safe, I tell 
 ye, and dinna seek to know mair o' the secrets o' 
 the house. What your brain does na ken your 
 lips will never tell." And before Burt could lay 
 hand on her, Margot disappeared in the darkness, 
 and Burt, with a low chuckle of delight and 
 amazement, went off to find the stable and his 
 horse. 
 
 In the mean time, Roy Telf air, with wildly beat 
 ing heart, was sitting in his narrow prison consumed 
 with jealousy, love, and anguish. It was not enough 
 that Geraldine his mistress, his star of hope, 
 the idol of his boyhood that she should stoop 
 from her high estate and ask reprieve of Tarleton,
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 87 
 
 but to know her false, alike to him and to her 
 country, for what was he to conclude from 
 seeing that Tarleton carried her portrait in his 
 breast, apparently with her knowledge and con 
 sent? What indeed, except that every word of 
 love that had passed between them was forsworn, 
 that she was fickle as she was fair ! Oh, God, 
 how beautiful she was, as she sat there, in her 
 pallor and distress. Could it be that even then 
 she repented ; that she bethought of the vows 
 exchanged that day beneath the myrtle trees, 
 when she was about to put the ocean be 
 tween them ? She was very young, barely turned 
 sixteen, scarcely more than a child, and yet with 
 the depth of feeling and devotion of a woman. 
 Could it be that wealth, adulation, and the 
 flatteries of a court had changed her thus? Per 
 haps she had not known or fully realized the 
 momentous question of freedom and liberty for 
 which her people were fighting. Would it come 
 home to her heart some day ? But, no ; there 
 was a gleam of satisfied ambition in Tarleton's 
 eye ; his air of proud proprietorship could not be 
 mistaken. Well, it would soon be over ; a volley, 
 a shot, and He hoped they would give him 
 decent burial. And then he turned his face to 
 the wall, and thought of his father, his grand, 
 noble father, who had given all to his country, 
 and of his sister Rose, and his brave heart swelled 
 almost to bursting. 
 
 How long he sat thus a prey to agonizing
 
 88 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 reflections, Roy never knew. The tallow (lip was 
 burning low in its socket when a very faint noise, 
 like the scratching of a mouse, attracted his at 
 tention. He looked up in its direction, and 
 noticed that a blue jar which stood upon one of 
 the shelves shook a trifle, as if it had been stirred. 
 He wondered if the mouse might be inside ; then, 
 as he fixed his eyes upon the jar he became con 
 scious that a crack in the wall which he had not 
 perceived hitherto was widening before his eyes. 
 Fascinated by this curious phenomenon he watched 
 for a moment ; slowly the crack opened, the shelf 
 moved back, and Roy beheld a hand silently beck 
 oning to him, and behind the hand a face he knew, 
 the face of Margot. 
 
 Despairing lover though he was, the desire to 
 live was by no means extinguished in Roy. Very 
 softly, step by step, in order that his movement 
 should not be heard by the guard outside the 
 door, he drew near the narrow aperture which the 
 panel disclosed, and bending his head he finally 
 passed through it to the other side. Margot took 
 his hand, and slowly, without even a creak, the 
 panel, under her skillful touch, swung back to its 
 place. 
 
 "Creep after me on your hands and knees, 
 Maister Roy ; after a few rods you may stand up 
 again," whispered Margot in his ear. 
 
 Roy obeyed, and after proceeding several feet he 
 felt the air of the vaulted passage rush higher over 
 his head. By a pressure of his hand, which she
 
 ROY'S REFUSAL 89 
 
 still retained after he rose to Ms feet, Margot pre 
 served his silence ; then they went on for a short 
 distance, when another turn brought them to four 
 steps, up which they mounted ; and Roy found 
 himself in a good-sized room, around which he 
 glanced with a look of recognition as the lantern 
 placed on the floor enabled him to see his surround 
 ings. 
 
 " The old summer-house ! " he exclaimed. "Why, 
 Margot, I never knew of the existence of this 
 underground passage connected with the mansion." 
 
 " It 's no likely ye would, Maister Roy ; the 
 mistress confided the secret to me nine years syne, 
 and somehow I never saw my way clearly to 
 informing the colonel." 
 
 " Then no one knows but you ? " 
 
 " An' yoursel' ; mind ye keep the secret. Had 
 it not been for my getting the word in time ye 
 wad dree the weird that yon bloody colonel has 
 planned for you. Nay," for Roy threw his arms 
 around her neck, and kissed her fondly, " dinna be 
 foolin' wi' an auld wife like me. Get ye gane, 
 and take better care o' yoursel' in future, for if ye 
 fall into British hands after this night's work it 
 will gae hard wi' ye." 
 
 "Not harder than this has been," said Roy, 
 bitterly. The Scotchwoman looked at him with 
 shrewdly affectionate eyes as she laid her hand on 
 his shoulder. 
 
 " Dinna take too much for granted ; there 's 
 mony a deed planned whilk never reaches matu-
 
 90 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 rity, and mony a heartache whilk a bit o' patience 
 will explain away," and giving Roy a gentle push 
 outside the door of the summer-house Margot 
 walked rapidly back to the mansion.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 HOSE'S DILEMMA 
 
 IT was early morning, and the mocking birds 
 were whistling in the thickets at Dumblane, as 
 Rose Telfair stepped lightly out on the verandah 
 which ran across the south side of the mansion and 
 was raised a few feet from the ground by brick 
 pilasters. Without possessing the stately air of 
 Glenmoira, the place had an attraction of its own 
 in its peculiarly fine old trees and wealth of vines, 
 the latter covering every available wall, and even 
 the great brick chimney, which, being built on the 
 outside of the house, was a picturesque feature of 
 itself. A Virginia creeper, with a mass of scarlet 
 blossoms, climbed up one side of the verandah and 
 was met by a wilderness of morning-glories, that 
 joined hands with the creeper in its laudable 
 achievements and reached the slanting roof over 
 head. As Rose leaned over the railing and looked 
 out in the sunshine, she sang gayly a snatch of the 
 old Jacobite song : 
 
 " Fling open the West Port and let me gae free , 
 For 'tis up w' the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee ! " 
 
 " A good morning to you, fairest and most rebel 
 lious of cousins," called a voice from below, as a
 
 92 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 young man in a riding-suit emerged from behind a 
 tall china tree ; " you are late this morning." 
 
 " Not I," returned Rose, " 't is you who are 
 early. Who gave you permission to invade Dum- 
 blane at this hour?" saucily; "I am sure it was 
 not my mother for she is still in her chamber, and 
 I recollect your bidding me a most serious, not to 
 say solemn, farewell two days ago when I met you 
 in the city." 
 
 " If you did not look so enchantingly pretty 
 peeping out between those scarlet flowers I should 
 feel inclined to mount and ride back to the city, 
 even without the breakfast that I came for," said 
 Allastar Murray. " Give me at least a blossom to 
 pin in my coat to console me for your unkindness. 
 You have no idea how scarlet becomes you ; ah, 
 you must return to the colors of the king at last." 
 
 With a provoking smile, Rose turned and 
 plucked a lovely blue morning-glory from the vine 
 and tossed it down to him. " Be it upon your own 
 head, sir ; if you wear my flower it must be one 
 of rebel blue, whether it suits with your humor 
 or not." 
 
 Murray caught the flower as it fluttered from 
 her hand. " Rose," he said entreatingly, " how can 
 
 you"- 
 
 " I will even come down and pin it to your 
 breast," quoth the willful coquette, as she gained 
 the steps and ran swiftly down them. " Here," 
 with a pretty air of command, and standing with 
 her head on one side as she surveyed his perplexed
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 93 
 
 countenance ; " nothing ever looked so well in your 
 buttonhole as this." 
 
 " If you would not make everything a matter of 
 partisanship "- 
 
 " Very well, sir," coldly, " you can scorn my gift 
 if it pleases you to do so." 
 
 " Oh, Rose, Rose, pin it on at once." 
 
 "You know you began it," returned his tor 
 mentor, as she finally adjusted the offending blos 
 som to her satisfaction, and stood with her hands 
 demurely folded, contemplating the effect of her 
 teasing. " So you came over to breakfast with 
 us ? I fancy Dinah has had it smoking hot this 
 half hour, for I confess I am somewhat tardy. I 
 was later than usual in returning last night." 
 
 " Then you were at Glenmoira? I heard that 
 Colonel Moncriffe was giving a large dinner to 
 celebrate the home-coming of his daughter." 
 
 " No," answered Rose, her eyes suddenly filling 
 with tears, as she discreetly dropped them from his 
 view. " I was bidden to that feast, but I de 
 clined." 
 
 " And wherefore ? Surely you are not so pre 
 judiced as to refuse to welcome an old playfellow 
 and friend because the men of your families are at 
 variance over a political quarrel ? " 
 
 " Precisely so ; you are beginning to understand 
 me at last." 
 
 " Nay, I think I am farther from it than ever." 
 
 " I saw Geraldine yesterday ; she is more beau 
 tiful than she was, if that were possible, and my
 
 94 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 heart was filled with joy to see her once more. 
 But Oh, talk of something else ; my mind is 
 weary with these endless dissensions." 
 
 "A truce to them," said Murray gently, as 
 they turned toward the door. 
 
 " Hark, what is that ? " asked Rose, as the pat 
 ter of running feet struck her ear, and looking 
 around she saw flying up the path the chubby 
 figure of a little black boy. " What ails the 
 pickaninny ? He seems decidedly out of breath," 
 said she, as the new-comer brought up before her, 
 panting with his exertions. " Who are you ? and 
 what do you want ? " 
 
 " I 'se Cupid," said the image, and stopped for 
 breath, rolling his eyes in a most comical manner. 
 
 " Shade of Eros ! " ejaculated Murray ; " where 
 has he left Psyche?" 
 
 " She 's home, marse," said Cupid, with an air 
 of surprise ; " laws, do yo' know my sister ? " 
 
 " Do not tease the child I think he is 
 frightened. Cupid ? oh, aye, you are one of the 
 pickaninnies from Colonel Moncriffe's. I recol 
 lect you took my horse yesterday when I was at 
 the plantation." 
 
 " Yes, missy, I 'se Phrebus' boy, an' I come to 
 tell yo' we had mighty wild times las' night. De 
 ladies an' gem'men was to dey dinner ; an' some 
 how rudder de green Rangers bust in de doors and 
 winders, an' when I waked up under de table dey 
 was shootin' and firin', an' Missy Geraldine, she 
 jus' took de candles an' frowed 'em round de
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 95 
 
 room, an' she ketch me by de arm whar I was onto 
 de flo' by her feet, an' whispers I 'se to get out de 
 pantry winder an' run fur help to de city ; " and 
 Cupid, exhausted with his own eloquence, sat de 
 liberately down on the ground at Rose's feet. 
 
 " The Rangers ! " gasped Rose ; " I can scarce 
 believe it. Go on, Cupid. What did you do 
 when your mistress told you to seek assistance ? " 
 
 " I croup 'long under de table, an' slipped down 
 de catalpa tree 'longside de winder, an' I ran, an' 
 I ran, up de road like de hounds was after me, 
 an' 'bout halfway to de city dere was a redcoat 
 soldier, an' he caught me, an' scared me mos' to 
 deff wid he gun, an' I tole him whar I come from 
 an' how my mistress sent me for help, an' he called 
 a lot more o' dem, an' dey all rode back to marse's 
 house." 
 
 " Another raid of Marion's men ! What hap 
 pened then, Cupid ? " 
 
 " I sat down on the roadside, an' I reckon I went 
 fas' asleep, 'caise when I waked up de sun was 
 shining, an' I jes' come long hyar an' stop by for 
 something to eat, 'caise I 'se mighty hungry, I is." 
 
 " Dinah will give you breakfast. But, Cupid, 
 tell me, how did you know it was the Rangers ? and 
 was any one hurt when the guns went off ? " 
 
 " I 'se seen dem befo'," said Cupid, with a rogu 
 ish twinkle in his eye. " I come on two ob dem 
 one day when I was hunting up de river for birds' 
 nests, an' dey was good to me dey gave me silver 
 money to carry a letter inter dey city, an' I jes'
 
 96 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 stuck it in de winder whar dey tole me, an' ran 
 away fo' anybody ketched me." 
 
 " He is n't Cupid, he 's Mercury," said Murray, 
 unable to help laughing at the imp's face and 
 manner. " Do not look so terrified, Rose ; the 
 story is somewhat incoherent. I '11 wager there 
 was not a gun fired. Here, Cupid, did you see 
 anyone shot ? " 
 
 " No, marse, but I see de Rangers holdin' up 
 dey guns an' lookin' like dey was boun' to shoot 
 mighty quick, an' two ob dern was tying ole Marse 
 Colonel to de chair, an' de ladies was screaming 
 all 'cept Missy Geraldine." 
 
 " Rose, Rose," called a gentle voice from the 
 verandah. " What are you and Allastar talking 
 about ? I have been trying to tell you that break 
 fast is ready, but you pay no attention." 
 
 " Oh, mother, such news ; we '11 be with you 
 in a trice. Cupid, go and find Dinah and get 
 something to eat," and Rose, followed by Murray, 
 went into the dining-room, where Madam Telfair 
 had preceded them. 
 
 She was a commanding-looking woman in the 
 prime of life, with silvered hair and soft hazel 
 eyes, and her manner to her kinsman was full of 
 graciousness, although she knew how widely apart 
 the gulf stretched between Whigs and Tories. 
 Allastar Murray was a far-away cousin of her hus 
 band's, who had come to Savannah from Scotland 
 just before the War of Independence broke out, 
 and had shown his fondness for kingly rule by
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 97 
 
 affiliating with the Tory society there, having been 
 private secretary to the governor of the province, 
 Sir James Wright (upon his return to the city in 
 1780, after its capture by the British), and he 
 still held the position, greatly to the annoyance of 
 Rose, who took every opportunity to tease and tor 
 ment him upon his political principles. But as 
 Murray had been hopelessly in love with her ever 
 since they first met, he could find it in his heart 
 to forgive her for being a staunch Whig, and per 
 haps (though he would not admit as much) the 
 young Scotchman loved her all the more for her 
 enthusiastic patriotism. 
 
 The Telfairs were among the most highly re 
 spected families in the province. When the news 
 of the battle of Lexington reached Savannah, 
 Edward Telfair, with five others, had secured a 
 large quantity of powder stored in the king's 
 magazine, and secreted it so carefully that although 
 a reward of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling 
 had been offered for its recovery, it was never 
 found, but was actually sent North and used at 
 the battle of Bunker Hill. Belonging also to the 
 Council of Safety, Rose's father stood high in the 
 confidence of the Whigs, and being made a dele 
 gate to the Continental Congress, was, at this time, 
 in Philadelphia, having left his wife and daughter 
 upon the plantation in charge of his son. But 
 after the siege of Savannah, Madam Telfair could 
 restrain her boy no longer, and Roy cast his lot 
 with Colonel Marion, whose bravery and untiring
 
 98 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 energy in pursuit of the British appealed to the 
 gallant young Southerner's very soul. The fact 
 that Rose and her mother remained alone with 
 their black servants at Dumblane afforded suffi 
 cient excuse for Allastar Murray's frequent visits 
 there, and his position with Governor Wright 
 enabled him, in a quiet way, to obtain both favors 
 and protection for them which were not often 
 vouchsafed the Whigs, especially since the cruel 
 and stringent rules of the British officers had 
 obtained in Savannah. 
 
 When Rose had finished telling her mother 
 Cupid's story, the ladies looked at each other, an 
 unspoken terror in their eyes. What if Roy had 
 been one of the daring band ! He had sent them 
 a message two days before, and therefore could not 
 be far away. Indeed, so sudden and unexpected 
 were Marion's raids both in South Carolina and 
 Georgia that it might easily happen that Roy 
 would appear at Dumblane at any moment. But 
 Rose, after giving her mother a reassuring smile, 
 proceeded to keep up a running fire of mischievous 
 and teasing questions, as much to cover her 
 unspoken anxiety as for the pleasure of tormenting 
 her cousin. 
 
 " What is the news in the city ? It seems you 
 have to come to Dumblane to hear what is going 
 on, even if only one of the Swamp Fox's raids. I 
 am dying for some bit of gossip. What are you 
 doing at the governor's house, for example ? " 
 
 "Making ready for a fete which takes place
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 99 
 
 shortly, in honor, Sir James tells me, of Mistress 
 Geraldine Moncriffe. Lady Dolly Menteith is to 
 play the part of hostess, and it promises to be a 
 grand affair." 
 
 " Lady Dolly is rather a gay young dame, is she 
 not ? " asked Madam Telfair. 
 
 " Oh, aye, but so playful and amiable that she 
 makes herself a great favorite. I am sure my 
 cousin Rose would find her a most agreeable com 
 panion." 
 
 " Your cousin Rose is not in a way of seeing 
 much of her at present. And how are the Durbe- 
 ville girls ? Anne, no doubt, fainting at sight of 
 a mouse, and Molly speaking her mind without 
 regard to tact or policy." 
 
 " Which is very descriptive of another than 
 Molly," said her mother with an indulgent smile. 
 " I thought we heard somewhat of the devotion of 
 one of the officers at the fort to Molly." 
 
 " You mean young Selwyn ; 't is a pretty boy, 
 but hardly worthy bright Mistress Molly." 
 
 " Protect me from my friends," cried Rose. 
 "Are not you and Mr. Selwyn bosom com 
 panions ? " 
 
 " Surely, there is nothing opprobrious in my 
 remark ? He is but a boy, and he is " 
 
 " Pretty ! " with a pout of scorn, " oh, what 
 ever a man may be Why, Hector," to the ser 
 vant behind her mother's chair, " what are you 
 about ? You will certainly drop that coffee cup if 
 you flourish it so wildly."
 
 100 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Yes, missy," returned Hector. " Somebody 
 have come to see you," and he pointed toward the 
 open window. As he did so, a shadow fell on the 
 floor, and looking behind her quickly Rose saw in 
 the doorway, upon the threshold, the slight figure 
 of an Indian girl. 
 
 " Laceola ! " Rose sprang to her feet, with out 
 stretched hands. " How glad I am to see you ; it 
 seems long since you were here." 
 
 " The White Fawn's words are sweet," said 
 Laceola, stepping inside the room ; " her voice is 
 like the running brook which plays in the sun. 
 Laceola has walked many miles since sunset, but 
 she forgets the long road when the White Fawn 
 speaks." 
 
 Murray looked up in surprise at the girl's 
 musical voice and poetry of speech. 
 
 " Have you never chanced to meet Laceola ? " 
 asked Madam Telfair. " She and her brother, 
 Ossaba, wandered to our door after the battle 
 with the Creeks some years ago, when Ossaba was 
 a lad of fifteen and she about ten years old. We 
 took them in, fed them, and taught them English, 
 but we never have been able to induce Laceola to 
 remain with us. The brother and sister belong 
 to the Musgogees, one of the tribes of the Creek 
 nation, from which the chiefs are taken ; and 
 when you look at the girl it is easy to imagine her 
 possessed of royal blood among her own people. 
 The totem she wears is the symbol of her rank ; 
 Ossaba has the same tattooed upon his left arm.
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 101 
 
 Rose taught her English, but the poetic rendering 
 of her Indian similes is all her own." 
 
 " The White Fawn's eyes are troubled ; peiiiaps 
 Laceola can say some words to make her dream 
 pleasant things. Can Laceola speak without 
 fear ? " and the girl shot a quick glance toward 
 Murray. 
 
 Rose gave the slender hand she still held a 
 warning pressure. " Have you come from the 
 Enchanted Mountain ? 1 Is not this the time of 
 year when the tribes meet there ? " 
 
 " Not yet ; Laceola has been with the Uchees. 
 Their squaws are on Isla Island, not far from the 
 place called ' the stone of help.' " 
 
 " She means Ebenezer, the German settlement," 
 said Rose. " But the British soldiers are there 
 now. Laceola, you must be more careful how you 
 wander through the forest." 
 
 " No one dare harm Laceola," said the Indian 
 girl haughtily. " She carries a knife and can 
 guard herself. But the White Fawn must eat ; 
 when the sun has come an hour higher in the sky, 
 Laceola will return and talk with her." 
 
 " No, no ! " cried Rose, perceiving that Laceola's 
 visit meant more than appeared upon the surface. 
 " Come out on the verandah with us and we will 
 ' powwow.' " 
 
 " No time for ' powwow,' " shaking her head 
 with a smile ; " the wild pigeon flies in the day ; 
 
 1 A mountain so called by the Indians of that day because of 
 the curious natural formations upon the rocks found there.
 
 102 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 when night falls she perches in the trees out of 
 reach, where the hunter cannot climb, but the 
 bounding elk stays on the plain below." 
 
 Rose's heart gave a throb of dismay. "The 
 Bounding Elk," that was Laceola's playful name 
 for Roy ; was he in danger ? She must let the 
 girl execute her errand in her own way, trusting 
 that Murray would not understand the gravity of 
 the situation or Indian hyperbole. 
 
 " Let the Wild Pigeon fold her wings and rest," 
 said Rose, readily adopting the simile ; " she can 
 both eat and drink here." 
 
 " She drank from the brook where the water 
 flows clearest in the spring-house," returned 
 Laceola, bending a penetrating look upon her. 
 " The tramp of horses had muddied the stream 
 below." 
 
 " Horses ? Did you ride around through the 
 plantation as you came this morning ? " said Rose 
 to Murray. 
 
 " Not I," he replied carelessly, as he rose from 
 the table ; " probably Cupid's friends, the troopers, 
 may have taken the short cut through this place to 
 reach Glenmoira." 
 
 " Very likely ; " and Rose, Laceola, and Murray 
 stepped aside to permit Madam Telfair to pass 
 through the door, but the Indian girl made a sig 
 nificant gesture unseen by the others as she whis 
 pered in Rose's ear, " The Bounding Elk waits at 
 the stream go quickly," and then she glided 
 with noiseless step on the verandah.
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 103 
 
 Rose stood motionless for a moment as she 
 realized her dilemma. Roy must be concealed at 
 the spring-house ; he might even be rash enough 
 to come to the mansion unless she forestalled him, 
 and Laceola's words convinced her of the necessity 
 of haste. She dare not trust to Murray's sense 
 of kinship if he were suddenly confronted with one 
 of Marion's men, and beside, his confidential posi 
 tion with the governor might be jeopardized were 
 it discovered that, in addition to his frequenting 
 the plantation of such well-known Whigs, he had 
 met a rebel in arms there. What excuse should 
 she make? how absent herself long enough to fly 
 down to the spring-house without suspicious rude 
 ness ? For twit and tease him as she might, in her 
 heart she had rather a good opinion of Allastar 
 Murray's quickness and ability, and that added to 
 her ardent desire to outwit him in the present 
 emergency. 
 
 There was but one thing to do, and Rose 
 promptly executed her little plan. If she could 
 induce Laceola to tell one of her Indian legends 
 she could slip off quietly during the recital, leav 
 ing her mother to listen and take care of Murray. 
 And fortune favored her, as that fickle jade does 
 sometimes when we least expect it, for when she 
 followed the others to the verandah she overheard 
 Murray say, 
 
 "What a singularly musical name even for 
 an Indian." 
 
 " Laceola ? Yes, is it not ? You should hear
 
 104 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 her tell the legend, and why she bears it. For it 
 is not a woman's name, is it, Laceola ? " 
 
 The girl looked up at Rose, and divined her 
 meaning, for she threw herself on a cushion at 
 Madam Telfair's feet, and began her tale in her 
 low, monotonous tone which somehow had a strain 
 of sweetness and pathos in it. 
 
 " Laceola was a brave chieftain," she said 
 proudly, " and because I am of his blood, I bear 
 his name. Long ago before the pale faces ever 
 set foot in the land of my people, and the Indian 
 walked his native forests, there lived a moon's 
 journey from here the beautiful Nacoochee. She 
 was the daughter of the chief of her tribe, and 
 many young braves sought her. But one day, 
 wandering alone in the thicket, an arrow sped so 
 closely that it grazed her arm. She cried aloud in 
 terror, and the bushes parted, and a young brave 
 glided softly toward her. Nacoochee knew by his 
 totem that he belonged to a warlike tribe who were 
 enemies of her father, and prepared to die. But 
 struck by her beauty and helplessness, he kneeled 
 at her feet, confided to her that he was Laceola, 
 the chief of his tribe, and binding up her wound 
 begged her to forgive him. It was enough ; the 
 young blood flows fiery in the veins of my people, 
 and from that moment they loved each other." 
 
 At this point in the story there arose a sound 
 of voices from the dining-room. Laceola cast a 
 beseeching glance at Rose, who sprang up, seeing 
 her opportunity.
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 105 
 
 "That is Hector arraigning Cupid for some 
 piece of mischief. Go on with your story, Laceola ; 
 I will return in a few minutes," and sighing with 
 relief, as she blessed Cupid in her heart for his 
 pranks, Rose flew down the staircase and out of 
 the back door, down the path to the spring-house. 
 
 Laceola resumed her story with unruffled com 
 posure. " After that day Nacoochee was changed. 
 Every day the lovers met by stealth, and the 
 young chiefs and braves of her tribe became de 
 spairing, for she would not smile for them. At last, 
 one spring day her father followed her, with sev 
 eral of his young men, and concealing themselves 
 in the thickets saw the lovers' meeting. FiUed 
 with rage, he fitted an arrow to his bow and drew 
 it upon Laceola, but Nacoochee's keen ears had 
 caught the sound, and as she flung herself upon 
 Laceola's breast, the arrow found her heart. Then 
 tho chief and his companions fell upon Laceola, 
 and so, pierced with several arrows, still clinging 
 to Nacoochee, he died. But the Great Spirit was 
 angry because of the slaughter of two unoffending 
 lovers, and He caused remorse to fall upon the 
 chief, and they were buried in the same grave, and 
 a great mound was made to mark their tomb. 
 That lovely valley where they died is called Na 
 coochee to this day, and Laceola goes sometimes 
 to invoke their spirits to aid her when she is sad." l 
 
 Rose fled like a lapwing through the still wet 
 
 1 For this legend, see Historical Collections of Georgia. The 
 Nacoochee Valley is celebrated for its beauty.
 
 106 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 grass, and as she reached the spring-house her 
 heart beat almost to suffocation lest she was too 
 late. But as she ran up the steps, a dear voice 
 spoke softly, and in another instant she was clasped 
 in her brother's arms. 
 
 " Oh, Roy, Roy, is this prudent, is this wise ? 
 If 't was you of whose raid last night I heard, you 
 should have been many miles away in the forest. 
 Every instant here is a fresh danger." 
 
 " Hush, Rose ; do you think I would have left 
 my command willingly ? No, I have been tasting 
 the fruits of captivity almost of death, and 
 but for dear old Margot I might now be looking 
 down the muzzles of the guns of a squad of British 
 troopers detailed to shoot me for my treason." 
 
 " Good God," she gasped, " how, and where 
 fore ? " 
 
 " Because I have had the ill luck to fall into 
 Tarleton's hands." 
 
 " Aye, he was expected at Glenmoira last night, 
 so Geraldine told me." 
 
 " Geraldine ! " he said bitterly ; " never name 
 her to me again. She is false to the very core ; 
 troth-plighted to him, that monster of cruelty." 
 
 " Oh, Roy, indeed you wrong her. She is not 
 yet plighted ; she told me " 
 
 " 1 tell you I saw the love-token, her miniature ; 
 it rolled from his breast on the floor, at my feet, 
 and she did not gainsay it. She asked him for 
 my life, Rose, and I flung it back in his teeth, 
 and for a tune I believe I went utterly mad."
 
 ROSE'S DILEMMA 107 
 
 " You are not yourself now ; I do beseech you 
 to be calm, and fly before it is too late." 
 
 " Nay, I renounce her and henceforth I live 
 but for my country. Alas, my mind misgave me 
 when she left her home. I might have known 
 that a woman cannot withstand the glitter and 
 glamour of a court, corrupt though it be, or the 
 questionable gallantries of a man like Banastre 
 Tarleton." 
 
 " Roy, be still." Rose laid a small, firm hand 
 on his arm. " Somehow I cannot quite believe 
 you. When I looked in Geraldine's eyes yester 
 day there was the same steadfast beauty as of old. 
 She avowed her Toiy principles, and I left her in 
 momentary anger, for you know my spirit cannot 
 brook an enemy to my cause or my country. Be 
 not rash ; try to see, when your passion cools, that 
 there may yet be a chance " 
 
 " And you think I would take it ? Surely, you 
 cannot understand what you propose. Never, Rose, 
 never ! Farewell ; my duty to my mother, and all 
 the love I have left to you both. Tell Laceola to 
 follow me to the Swamp ; she knows the place. 
 Farewell, farewell ! " and leaving a fond kiss on 
 her upturned face Roy dashed down the steps, 
 crossed the brook, and was gone.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 IN MARION'S CAMP 
 
 ON the banks of the Ogeechee River, some 
 thirty miles from Savannah, and as the crow flies, 
 nearly opposite the settlement of Ebenezer, there 
 was a level plateau of perhaps a quarter of a mile, 
 when you emerged from the forest, and, troubled 
 with comparatively little undergrowth, continued 
 on to a bluff, below which ran the stream, making 
 a sharp bend as it flowed southerly. Generally 
 speaking, this plateau was silent and deserted as 
 the rest of the forest around it, save for the deer 
 that came to drink there, but this morning it was 
 full of unwonted visitors and presented a scene of 
 busy activity. Picketed to the live-oak trees were 
 full sixty horses, whose riders were busy giving 
 their beasts food, and then leading them, one by 
 one, to the shore to drink from the river, while at 
 a campfire other men were broiling fish and game, 
 preparatory to breakfast, which would soon be 
 ready. 
 
 On top of the bluff, overlooking the water, were 
 a group of men, who, though they bore no insignia 
 of rank on their green blouses, were unmistakably 
 the officers of the detachment. Brown of face,
 
 IN MARION'S CAMP 109 
 
 sturdy of limb, they looked like genuine sons of 
 the forest, and one could almost fancy himself 
 back among the bold outlaws of Robin Hood's 
 band, who fought, as these of a later day and new 
 born colony, for freedom from the tyranny of an 
 English king. 
 
 " It strikes me, McKay," said a young fellow, 
 not more than twenty, who was peeling the bark 
 off a willow stick which he had just broken to use 
 as a riding switch, " it strikes me that we should 
 hear something of Telfair and his expedition. 
 What good fortune it will be if he contrive to 
 capture Tarleton ! And why should he not, as he 
 had certain information that the colonel was mov 
 ing southward with a few men as escort ? I con 
 fess I envy Telfair his detail," and he heaved a 
 genuine sigh of regret. 
 
 " Wait until you hear the result. Telfair may 
 have met with unexpected obstacles, and the ren 
 dezvous is not until to-night, here, at this spot. 
 Gad, if he does manage to capture ' the butcher ' 
 he will be the most to be envied of any of the 
 Rangers ; for I know Colonel Marion burns to 
 avenge the slaughter at Waxham Creek." 
 
 " And well he may," cried the youngster fiercely ; 
 " ' Tarleton's Quarter ' is become a by- word and 
 the rallying cry to us, one and all." 
 
 " What 's that ? " said McKay, springing to his 
 feet, as his quick ear caught the sound of breaking 
 twigs in the thicket to the left of the plateau, and 
 following the sound they saw an Indian glide
 
 110 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 toward them, waving his hand in apparent amity 
 and good faith. 
 
 " Ossaba, the scout, news then," and off sped 
 McKay to where the leader stood with his trusty 
 lieutenants around him. 
 
 " The Rangers are coming ; they bring ten 
 prisoners to the Swamp Fox," said Ossaba, gravely 
 saluting Marion, who stepped forward to meet 
 him. 
 
 "Redcoats?" questioned he briefly. 
 
 " Two ; others all city men ; much eat, much 
 drink, much 'f raid, like squaws ugh ! " said 
 Ossaba contemptuously. 
 
 " Two, only, if by chance one should be 
 Tarleton ! " 
 
 " Not big chief ; Bounding Elk tie him to horse 
 
 then come redcoat men and seize Bounding 
 
 Elk ; Ossaba hide in thicket ; Rangers ride away." 
 
 " By heavens, gentlemen, he means that Telfair 
 is in the hands of the enemy, and that enemy 
 may be Tarleton himself. God forbid that our 
 expedition should end thus disastrously," and 
 Marion's bronzed face grew pale at the very 
 thought. 
 
 " Hark, here comes the detachment," cried 
 McKay, as the sound of voices, mingled with the 
 movement of mounted men seen through the trees, 
 reached their eager ears, and the troopers appeared 
 on the plateau, and flung themselves off their tired 
 horses, while the sergeant in charge dismounted 
 and made his report.
 
 IN MARION'S CAMP 111 
 
 " Just arrived from Colonel Moncriffe's planta 
 tion, sir, with ten prisoners, captured while at 
 dinner by Captain Telfair. No casualties, but 
 have to report the captain as captured by a squad 
 of British troopers, who came suddenly upon us as 
 we were about riding off. Captain Telfair had 
 taken Colonel Tarleton with his own hands, and 
 had him securely tied to a led horse, but being 
 hampered by Mistress Moncriffe's appearance and 
 by her throwing herself directly in his pathway, 
 he ordered us to disperse, which order we instantly 
 obeyed, and Captain Telfair was captured." 
 
 " Better have lost the prisoners than have con 
 signed Telfair to such fate," cried McKay passion 
 ately. 
 
 " The sergeant seems to have obeyed orders," 
 said Marion quietly, as he saw the color brighten 
 in the trooper's cheeks. " Where are the prison 
 ers ? Fetch them before me at once." McKay 
 bit his lips, and as Marion saw the hot tears that 
 rushed to his eyes, he said in a low tone, " Trust 
 Telfair to extricate himself if possible ; if not, 
 we may effect an exchange." 
 
 Colonel Marion, with his officers, stood con 
 fronting the prisoners as they were grouped before 
 him, guarded by the Rangers. They presented a 
 somewhat woe-begone appearance, with the excep 
 tion of the two officers, Major Sefton and Ensign 
 Selwyn, while Sir Charles Adderly had lost his 
 debonnaire air of elderly beau, and with his queue 
 untied and his lace ruffles torn was a prey to the
 
 112 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 deepest dejection. Having been treated by the 
 Tories to tales of ferocity and bloodshed regarding 
 Marion and his men ever since reaching Savannah, 
 he did not for a moment suppose that the cour 
 teous, almost mild-mannered gentleman who ad 
 dressed him could be the famous partisan leader of 
 the South. 
 
 " May I ask your name and rank, sir ? " said 
 Marion, saluting him gravely. 
 
 " Captain Sir Charles Adderly, Royal Navy, 
 commanding His Majesty's ship Hornet, now 
 stationed in New York harbor." 
 
 " And how came you off duty, sir, in Savannah ? 
 Perhaps for a pleasure trip ? " 
 
 " I have hardly found it such in this portion of 
 His Majesty's dominion, I do assure you. I am 
 ordered here by Sir Henry Clinton, to report the 
 condition of ships in the port of Savannah and 
 the state of feeling in the province toward the 
 crown." 
 
 " I fear that the latter is not such that you can 
 report favorably," said Marion dryly. " Stand 
 aside ; who are these officers ? " 
 
 Major Sefton and Selwyn now came up for in 
 spection, and after asking them a few questions he 
 dismissed them, and then Marion confronted the 
 remaining seven others. 
 
 " So," he said sternly, " we have here a group of 
 men of whom I know something. All of you, save 
 one, are men of means and education, born on this 
 soil, the sons of those who came to these shores to
 
 IN MARION'S CAMP 113 
 
 find that greatest gift of God, freedom of speech 
 and action. And how have you used your privi 
 leges ? traitors that you are to your kin and 
 neighbors, who open your homes to the soldiers of 
 a corrupt king, who come to curtail our liberties 
 and to force us to adopt unjust laws at the point 
 of the sword ! Answer for yourselves, if you 
 can, for at the door of such as you lies the blood 
 shed at Charleston, at Waxham, and at the siege 
 of your own city of Savannah, which cries to 
 Heaven for succor." 
 
 The American Tories stood mute under Marion's 
 fiery arraignment ; hardly a man dared meet his 
 scornful eyes, and after a moment's pause, to con 
 trol his passion, Marion resumed. 
 
 "You will be taken, securely guarded, to my 
 camp in South Carolina, there to remain until I 
 can exchange you for men who are now im 
 prisoned in Charleston. I will see that messages 
 be sent your families in Savannah as to your 
 condition as prisoners of war. Guards, remove 
 the prisoners." 
 
 As Marion was about to turn away* and seek his 
 breakfast, he perceived Ossaba standing at his 
 elbow. 
 
 " Ossaba has more to tell the Swamp Fox," said 
 the Indian softly. " He heard the redcoats talk 
 as they fed horses ; Ossaba lie still, listen ; they 
 say Bounding Elk will be shot at fort ; big chief 
 very angry with him." 
 
 " When ? did you hear when ? "
 
 114 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " No, Ossaba hear too much talk ; too many 
 tongues same time." Marion stood for a moment 
 in deep thought ; then he walked back where the 
 two English officers were seated beneath a tree, 
 eating with apparent relish the breakfast of 
 broiled fish that had been set before them. 
 
 " I have received intelligence which somewhat 
 alters my plans in regard to one of you two gentle 
 men. Your name, sir, I think you told me, was 
 Selwyn?" 
 
 " Yes," answered the young man, springing to 
 his feet and unconsciously according to Colonel 
 Marion the courtesy of a salute. 
 
 " Then I wish to ask if I release you upon 
 parole to carry a message from me to your com 
 mandant, Colonel Prevost, will you deliver it and 
 keep faith with a Whig and a rebel ? " 
 
 A flush stained Selwyn's cheek. " Why not, 
 sir ? Although the British consider your command 
 in the light of outlaws, I am aware that you hold 
 a commission from the so-called Continental Con 
 gress, and therefore I accept parole." 
 
 "I thank^you, sir; my message will be brief, 
 but you will see that there is need for speed in 
 the matter. I am informed that Captain Telfair, 
 who commanded the detachment which made you 
 prisoner, has been condemned to death by Colonel 
 Tarleton. You will kindly convey to Colonel 
 Prevost my assurance that I hold Captain Sir 
 Charles Adderly as hostage for Captain Telfair, 
 and that so surely as harm befall my comrade, Sir
 
 IN MARION'S CAMP 115 
 
 Charles's life will answer for it. You understand 
 me, his life. A horse here for Mr. Selwyn ; you 
 will pardon my cutting short my farewell, as I am 
 aware that Colonel Tarleton acts with dispatch, 
 and I advise you to make the best speed you are 
 capable of. Ossaba my scout will conduct you on 
 the trail as far as the town of Ebenezer ; when 
 there you can readily reach Savannah. Farewell, 
 sir, and recollect that two lives hang on your 
 speed." 
 
 Marion walked hastily away, and in less time 
 than it takes to tell, Selwyn found himself again 
 mounted on horseback, and with Ossaba in close 
 attendance, plunged into the forest on his return 
 journey to Savannah.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 
 
 THE household at Glenmoira slept late the 
 morning after the dinner which had been so rudely 
 interrupted by Marion's men, and Venus, chief of 
 the kitchen, had sent two messages to Jupiter be 
 fore that worthy appeared, rubbing his eyes and 
 full of apologies for oversleeping. 
 
 " Such goings on," sniffed Venus, her red madras 
 handkerchief poked ominously over her left eye 
 brow, as it was given to be when her temper was 
 ruffled. " De bes' sort o' sweet puddin's and 
 cheese-tarts all los', de salads frow'd onto de pantry 
 flo', and ebery 'ting topsy-turvy 'caise dem rebels 
 come here invadin' peaceful folks. An' de quality 
 too. I 'd like ter know what Marse Colonel and 
 young miss hev got to do wif dem ole green-coats ; 
 de raid ones is much mo' to my mind, I jist tell 
 yer dat, Jupiter." 
 
 " Dun no 'bout dat," quoth Jupiter, with a du 
 bious shake of his grizzled pate. " Did yer 'preciate 
 de fac' dat de young marster who grabbed de rose 
 outen de British colonel's han' was Marse Roy, 
 Madam Telfair's son an' Missy Rose's brudder ? 
 He come 'long up de staircase jis' as I was 'bout 
 fetchin' marse de ole an' bes' port, an' he clap him
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 117 
 
 han' on my arm an' says, ' Jupiter, my ole fren', 
 don' yo' interfere in dis 'fair,' an' he march me 
 down de stairs, like a lamb, ah' turns de key on 
 me in de twinklin' ob an eye, an' dere I stay till 
 yo' come and let me out." 
 
 " An' yo' was hollerin' fit to raise de daid," re 
 turned Venus, beating eggs vigorously. " Why, in 
 de Lord's name, did n't yo' do dat befo' ? " 
 
 " Befo' ? " asked Jupiter with an air of injured 
 innocence, " what fer I go spile sport dat er 
 way?" 
 
 " Call dat sport ? You 'se a mean sneakin' ole 
 Whig, dat 's what you is," snorted Venus, who had 
 long since declared her preference for kings and 
 Tories, " an' yo' ought to be 'shamed o' yourself, 
 wif yo' gray hairs, helpin' such spoilin' ob good 
 food an' spillin' ob good wines ! Hi, who dat comin' 
 bawlin' and cryin' into my kitchen, I'd like ter 
 know." 
 
 In the doorway appeared the distracted figure 
 of a young slave girl, closely followed by Phoebus, 
 who seemed to be doing his best to comfort her. 
 
 " It 's only me an' Cinthy, Aunt Venus. She 
 cayn't fin' Cupid, an' she 's certain suah dat de 
 rebels done carry him off wif dem." 
 
 " He 's daid, he 's daid, my lil' Cupid," wailed 
 Cinthy. " I hear de whipporwill cry free times be- 
 hin' de wood-pile night fo' las', an' dat 's heap bad 
 luck, an' I '11 never see my chile no mo'," and she 
 threw herself down on the floor with an evident 
 intention of developing hysterics.
 
 118 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Stop dat," said Aunt Venus, setting the eggs 
 down and seizing the girl with a firm hand ; ;t dey 's 
 no use o' yo' makin' a fool o' yo'self 'fo' yo' know 
 de chile ain't somewhar 'roun' de plantation. 
 Dem rebels ain't spendin' dere time huntin' fer 
 piccaninnies. 'Caise dat boy is smart an' peart, 
 ain't no reason fer makin' dem dare-debils any 
 blacker dan dey is. Yo' jis' stop yo' nonsense, 
 Cinthy. I 'clare fer it,' ef Phoebus cay n't make 
 yo' behave I '11 jis' call somebody who can." 
 
 As Cinthy knew that this threat meant an ap 
 peal to " marse," whose temper was of the short 
 est, and to whom a piccaninny more or less only 
 signified as they were valuable for his purposes, 
 she thought better of giving way to hysterics, and 
 was presently consoled by Phoebus' promising to 
 ransack the entire place in search of the missing 
 one, and a cup of Venus' hot coffee proved suc 
 cessful in stopping her tears for the time being. 
 
 " Dar goes marse," said Phoebus, as the sound 
 of a gong came echoing down the stairway. 
 " Reckon he ain't 'pearin' in de shape ob an angel 
 dis yer morn in', an' be keerful, Venus, dat de 
 coffee am clar an' strong." 
 
 " Yo' go long an' min' yo' own business, an' 
 lemme 'tend to my cookin'. What am dis plan 
 tation comin' to when de niggers tink dey can 
 specify Venus' coffee ! " 
 
 Phoebus dodged the egg the insulted goddess 
 of the kitchen sent whirling at his head, and sub 
 dued his chuckle over having teased the divinity
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 119 
 
 as he rapped cautiously on Colonel Moncriffe's 
 door. 
 
 " Here, boy, fetch me my morning punch," came 
 the voice behind the curtains of the four-posted 
 bed, "and be quick about it. Have my guests 
 arisen ? " 
 
 " I tink not, marse, ain't heard any ob dem 
 stirrin' 'roun' in de bachelor quarters," said 
 Pho3bus, bringing the decanter from the dresser 
 to the bedside, and pouring out a glass of its 
 golden contents. " Marse Captain was mighty 
 lucky las' night." 
 
 " What captain, you rascal ? Oh, I suppose 
 you mean Halleck, the gentleman who arrived with 
 Colonel Tarleton." 
 
 " Yes, marse, de way was dis. When de 
 Rangers " 
 
 " Damn it, boy, call them rebels." 
 
 " Rebels," corrected Phoebus submissively, 
 rolling his eyes as he went deftly on with his mas 
 ter's toilet, " when dey fotched all de gem'men out 
 an' perceeded ter put dem onto de hosses, de feller 
 leadin' him foun' dat particular hoss what was fer 
 him an' de captain was limpin' in de fo' foot, an' 
 so he had ter stop an' see what 's de matter, an' 
 befo' he quite tended to dat foot de bugle was 
 blowin' an' de British was hyar, an' so dat rebel 
 jis' made off in de dark, leavin' Marse Captain on 
 de groun'. He lay dar cussin', caise I hear him 
 when I come 'long from de quarters whar I was 
 locked up, an' I ran an' foun' a knife and cut de
 
 120 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 cords mighty quick. 'Pears like he was lucky, 
 marse. Does you b'lieve close prisoners will be 
 shot by de rebels, eh, marse ? " 
 
 At this point Colonel Moncriffe relieved his 
 mind by language which added to Phrebus' opinion 
 that his mood was far removed from the angelic, 
 and so impressed him with the necessity for speed 
 in the toilet operations that the colonel descended 
 to find his guests before the hour struck, and as he 
 reached the portico there arose the most extraordi 
 nary hubbub in the region of the servant's quarters, 
 and O'Brien came running out, breathless and 
 frightened. 
 
 " Good-morning, sergeant," said Moncriffe, as 
 the trooper paused, uncertain which way to pro 
 ceed ; " are you looking for Colonel Tarleton ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir. I beg your pardon, sir, but are there 
 ghosts in this house who can open doors without 
 saying by your lave ? " 
 
 " Ghosts ? It 's early in the day for you to be 
 drunk, my man," said Colonel Moncriffe in an 
 offended tone. 
 
 " I 'm not drunk, sir, but small blame to ye for 
 thinking so. I 'm on the way to report to Colonel 
 Tarleton that the prisoner has escaped." 
 
 " Escaped ! " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; divil a bit of him can we find any 
 how. We locked him in that storehouse beyant, 
 the three of us, Burt, McGinnis, and me, and the 
 bars at the window are not touched, nor disturbed, 
 but the young gentleman is not to be found inside,
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 121 
 
 and we are ready to swear that we kept good guard 
 outside the door in the passage, for not a wink of 
 sleep came betune our eyelids the blessed night 
 or what was left of it, for dawn was not long 
 coming after Burt rode off." 
 
 " But it 's impossible out of the question ! 
 That storeroom has 110 exit except by the passage 
 where the servants' quarters are located. Are you 
 very sure you secured the lock properly?" 
 
 "Ay, sir," said the trooper doggedly, " an' not 
 a fly or a mosquito even could pass the keyhole 
 widout my knowing it. I 'm told that witches 
 sometimes are seen on the plantation." 
 
 " Damnation ! " Colonel Moncriffe's irritation 
 was beginning to find vent, when his colloquy was 
 ended by the appearance upon the portico of both 
 Tarleton and Halleck, the former laughing heartily 
 at some joke he had just been relating, when he 
 caught sight of his host. 
 
 " You look disturbed, sir," was Tarleton's greet 
 ing as they bowed with stately politeness to each 
 other. " I trust your daughter and the other 
 ladies are well this morning and suffer no ill effects 
 from the drama enacted last evening? Had our 
 Ranger friends but given us intimation of their 
 purpose we might have rehearsed the play more 
 smoothly." 
 
 " I have not heard from our guests as yet, but 
 pardon me we have a more serious affair here. 
 Your sergeant informs me that the prisoner you 
 secured last night has escaped."
 
 122 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " What, sir ? " Tarleton's brow clouded and 
 his dark eyes sparkled ominously, as he turned 
 them upon O'Brien, who shrank back as he real 
 ized the fact of his colonel's anger. " Are my 
 fellows capable of such loose guard as this? 
 Speak, O'Brien, what's occurred?" 
 
 O'Brien in as few and terse words as possible 
 repeated his statement. Tarleton thought for a 
 moment and then his face cleared. 
 
 " So the beggar got away," he said with a 
 laugh, greatly to the surprise and relief of O'Brien. 
 " As I gave him his life when I dismissed him, 
 the escape is not of much consequence; we are 
 but a prisoner the less. But I own my curiosity 
 is aroused as to the manner of his evading us. 
 With your permission, Colonel Moncriffe, I '11 in 
 spect the room where he was confined." 
 
 " With all my heart. I '11 accompany you, for 
 't is as much a mystery to me as to you." 
 
 O'Brien held open the door of the passage 
 and they walked quickly down it. The storeroom 
 stood open. McGinnis, gun in hand, leaned 
 against the wall beside it, and back of him, hud 
 dled in a frightened group, stood Jupiter, Venus, 
 and half a dozen other house-servants, all agog 
 with surprise and terror. 
 
 Tarleton crossed the threshold, and taking the 
 candle offered him by O'Brien, ran his keen eyes 
 about the narrow room. But although he peered 
 at each shelf, and felt along the wall on lx>th sides 
 of the window, he could discover no trace of any
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 123 
 
 means of escape (so cleverly was the secret pas 
 sage concealed), although he noticed a few drops 
 of tallow adhering to the lower shelf. But that 
 might have fallen from the cup which held the 
 candle if it had been carelessly moved. He then 
 stamped upon the floor several times ; but as it gave 
 forth no sound, he abandoned the idea, with a 
 shrug of his shoulders. 
 
 " It seems a case where outside help was abso 
 lutely necessary," he said, addressing his host, 
 " unless Captain Telfair has sworn a compact with 
 the devil and been released by a thunderbolt." 
 
 " Telfair ! " interrupted Colonel Moncriffe, " I 
 do not comprehend you. I heard you had been 
 so fortunate as to capture the leader of the band, 
 but I did not hear his name or personality. Do I 
 understand you to say it was Telfair ? Not Roy 
 Telfair ! " 
 
 " Ay, sir, so he proclaimed himself. A son, I 
 think, of some neighbor of yours." Tarleton 
 checked his speech suddenly. He did not choose 
 to inform her father of his interview with Geral- 
 dine, or the fact of her plea for the condemned 
 captain. 
 
 " By heavens ! there must be some collusion 
 with my household," cried Moncriffe furiously. 
 " If I detect my slaves at such tricks it will fare 
 ill with them. Jupiter ! " The old servant came 
 forward. " How 's this ? Who is accountable for 
 this outrage ? " 
 
 " Dun know, no mo' 'an de daid, marse,"
 
 124 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 answered Jupiter, the picture of injured innocence, 
 and being, moreover, perfectly convinced that some 
 supernatural agency had been at work, and that the 
 hand of the Lord was assisting the Whigs, which 
 was proof conclusive that they were His chosen 
 people, " 'cept it 's de witches, or de han' o' Provi 
 dence." 
 
 Colonel Moncriffe hit him squarely with a cane 
 he carried. " None of your absurd nigger super 
 stitions ; go question every one on the plantation, 
 whether man, woman, or child were seen about out 
 side the mansion after the troopers left, and report 
 to me." 
 
 As he spoke, the blacks, who had been slowly 
 sidling off down the passage, disappeared, and 
 there came the sound of rapid hoofs nearing the 
 door. 
 
 " Shall we see who comes ? " he said, addressing 
 the two officers, and they retraced their steps in 
 time to see Burt fling himself from the saddle at 
 the portico. 
 
 " I delivered the letter to Colonel Prevost, sir," 
 he said to Tarleton. " There was no reply, but 
 the colonel's wishes should be followed in every 
 respect, and they would be ready for the prisoner." 
 
 " The prisoner," said Tarleton, laughing, but 
 with a sneer that sounded ominous in Hurt's ears, 
 " the prisoner has taken what we may call ' French 
 leave.' " 
 
 " Shot himself? " gasped the trooper. 
 
 " No, escaped ; though how, or by what agency
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 125 
 
 of this world or the next, opinion seems to be 
 divided." 
 
 Burt recovered himself as he drew up in salute, 
 and it was well that he did, for the sudden 
 flush which covered his face caused Tarleton to be 
 stow a glance of surprise upon his orderly which 
 put Burt on his guard instantly. 
 
 "You're not suspecting O'Brien, sir?" he 
 asked, with warmth. " You might as well suspect 
 me, and a damned sight better," he added to 
 himself. 
 
 " No, no," said Tarleton, disarmed at once, for 
 by a singular chance he felt a certain attachment 
 to his quick-witted recruit. " Go to quarters, 
 Burt, and after breakfast report to me. We will 
 try other means to penetrate this mystery." 
 
 While this scene was transpiring below, the 
 occupants of the several guest chambers were 
 waking, dressing, and chatting with the respective 
 maids detailed to assist them in making ready for 
 breakfast. Lady Dolly, after her cup of coffee, 
 which she had besought almost before opening her 
 eyes, fell to lamenting her box of cosmetics which 
 she had carelessly left behind in the city, and was 
 only consoled by finding in response to a message 
 that Anne Durbeville could supply the want, hav 
 ing just received a consignment from Paris by the 
 last ship which came out to Savannah. But not 
 withstanding all the noise and chatter which pene 
 trated the gallery, and even reached her chamber, 
 Geraldine slept on, having just at dawn yielded to
 
 126 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 exhaustion and sunk into such deep slumber that 
 Margot went twice to her bedside and forbore to 
 wake her. 
 
 Margot had returned for the third time, and was 
 about to draw the curtain, when with a sigh the 
 girl turned on her pillow and awoke. 
 
 " Is it morning, Margot ? oh, why did you suf 
 fer me to rest so long ? Judging by the sun on 
 my window the day must be advanced, and I must 
 bestir myself to attend my guests." 
 
 " No such haste," said Margot, pouring water 
 from the ewer and making ready for Geraldine's 
 toilet ; " the other leddies are still in their bed 
 chambers, and the colonel has eno' on his hands 
 for the present in cross-examining every black on 
 the plantation ; hech, I 'm thinking he '11 even gang 
 down to the rice-fields in his hunt." 
 
 " What has happened now ? " asked her mis 
 tress in a trembling voice, as she thrust her bare 
 feet into delicate fur-lined slippers ; " surely one 
 such unhappy night is enough for this household." 
 \ " Weel, I 'm thinking a knowledge o' events will 
 na worry ye," returned Margot, with a twinkle of 
 her eye. " It seents that when yon redcoat 
 troopers went to open the door o' the storeroom 
 whaur the puir young prisoner was confined, in 
 order to take him intil the city, he wasna there ; 
 by some strange interposition he had clean dis 
 appeared." 
 
 " Gone escaped ? for Heaven's sake, how ? " 
 
 "Hoo' can I tell ye, my leddy; when your
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 127 
 
 father, the colonel, speers an' speers, and ca's all 
 the blacks to witness, an' not a trace to be found 
 o' Maister Roy's flittiii' wad ye suppose auld 
 Margot could be wiser than her betters ? " 
 
 " Margot ! " Geraldine caught the Scotchwoman 
 by both arms and her blue eyes beamed with sud 
 den laughter. " Margot, look me in the face ; do 
 you mean to tell me that you had no hand in the 
 matter ? " 
 
 " I canna say wi' positiveness na, an' I wadna 
 be willing to proclaim yes. Is it not sound Bible 
 doctrine as expounded in the Kirk that ye maunna 
 let your right hand know what your left hand 
 doeth ? " 
 
 " You dear darling old casuist ! " Geraldine 
 gave way to her laughter, laughter brighter and 
 more girlish than any that had passed her lips for 
 many a day. " You mean that if I ask you no 
 questions you '11 tell me no lies ; is that about the 
 state of your canny Scotch mind ? " 
 
 " Just aboot," said Margot, the twinkle broad 
 ening into a smile, " an' if ye wad see to it that 
 Colonel Moncriffe will na pit me in the witness- 
 box, it wad be greatly to the relief o' ma con 
 science." 
 
 " Margot, Margot, no Jesuit ever evaded ques 
 tions more cleverly. Be sure I am dying of curi 
 osity, but I know you well ; when you close your 
 mouth in that fashion I wait till to-morrow," 
 and Geraldine's light-hearted laughter rang out 
 again. Then soberly, but with dancing eyes,
 
 128 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Good Margot, to bring me tidings that my old 
 playfellow has escaped a British prison. It grieved 
 me sorely to think of dear Madam Telfuir and 
 Rose's misery, and though Colonel Tarleton gave 
 me the reprieve most graciously, 1 am more re 
 joiced, perhaps, than a loyal subject of His Majesty 
 should be to feel that it is not under our roof that 
 a rebel meets with his deserts." 
 
 Margot had it on her tongue's end to remark 
 that possibly she did not enjoy a monopoly of Jesu 
 itism, but she only said 
 
 " Ah, my leddy, it always warms the heart to 
 think we 've done a guid action, an' yours last 
 night will perhaps bring ye mony a happy hour 
 that now is hid frae your e'." 
 
 A beautiful bright blush dyed Geraldine's fair 
 cheek, and she moved away lest the kindly, shrewd 
 eyes should read more than she was ready to ac 
 knowledge even to herself. But whatever the 
 reason of her strange feeling of happiness, she in 
 stinctively resumed her usual calm demeanor as 
 she finished her toilet and went down to meet her 
 guests in the dining-room. 
 
 The breakfast could hardly be called a gay one, 
 for the wives and sisters of the American Tories 
 who had been spirited away by Marion's men 
 were naturally in great agitation still over the 
 ultimate fate of the prisoners ; and ransom, ex 
 change, and the thousand and one chances of war 
 were the sole topics of conversation, while Colonel 
 Moncriffe endeavored to encourage the ladies by
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 129 
 
 taking a more cheerful view of the situation than 
 he really felt. War, grim war, was coming home 
 to the Tories as it had been so long a cause of tor 
 ment to the Whigs, and in more than one fair 
 breast there may have been an unspoken wish that 
 they had been more kind less cruel to their 
 former neighbors when exulting in the result of 
 the siege. 
 
 Later, when the sun had dried the dew, the 
 party trooped out on the avenue which formed 
 an approach to the mansion, and Tarleton found 
 himself, as he had been manoeuvring to do, near 
 Geraldine, with the others beyond earshot. Roy's 
 escape had been discussed at the breakfast-table, 
 and with infinite tact Geraldine had displayed but 
 passing interest hi the event, with the result that, 
 subtle as he was, Tarleton remained in doubt 
 whether the news was a relief to her heart or 
 merely a matter of no moment, since she had ob 
 tained his life at her request. He felt his passion 
 for the lovely American gaining strength every 
 moment, and he had little doubt that if he put forth 
 his full power of fascination he could win this 
 beauty, who tantalized him by her coldness while 
 she drew him on by her gracious air of gratitude. 
 She was a problem to be solved, and what man of 
 Tarleton's temperament could withstand the desire 
 to read the solution? 
 
 " Madam," he said, and never was voice more 
 caressing and seductive than his when it pleased 
 him to make it so, " I trust you will permit me to
 
 130 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 tell you of the unbounded admiration which fills 
 my breast when I reflect upon your attitude of 
 last night. What a position, and how exquisitely 
 you filled it ! Your kindly feeling toward that 
 misguided young man, your confidence and trust 
 in my honor which enabled you to ask his life, his 
 monstrous arrogance and insolence, and finally the 
 unspeakable grace with which you permitted me 
 to render you a service. No words can convey to 
 you my delight at this sudden and unexpected op 
 portunity to read your heart ; that maiden heart, 
 which has thus become the object of adoration to 
 Banastre Tarleton, who here begs you to permit 
 him to continue his suit for your hand, and to be 
 now and always the humblest of your slaves." 
 
 " Sir," said Geraldine simply, but with much 
 dignity, " you do me great honor by this some 
 what sudden avowal. I cannot deny that I have 
 been for some months aware of your suit, which 
 has the sanction of my father and of yours, but I 
 am hardly prepared for such passion on your part. 
 What do you know of me, the real Geraldine 
 Moncriffe, and how can I believe in the sincerity 
 of an affection which is the growth of a single 
 night ? " 
 
 " But what a night ! so pregnant with varied 
 emotions. Nay, any one of them would be suffi 
 cient to fill me with enthusiasm. Why deny my 
 sincere homage to them all ? " 
 
 " Perhaps, sir, I desire time to be wooed before 
 I am won."
 
 NOW AND ALWAYS THE HUMBLEST OF YOUR SLAVES'
 
 A CLEVER RUSE 131 
 
 " By heavens you shall have it, empress of 
 Tarleton's heart," he cried, actually carried out 
 of himself by the delicious touch of archness in 
 her tone ; " give me but opportunity (and there 
 is none like the present) to prove to you that my 
 impetuosity is tempered by my discretion." 
 
 " And your boldness by timidity ; at this pace, 
 sir, you bid fair to defeat the boon I asked." 
 
 Tarleton bit his lip with a smothered exclama 
 tion. Could it be possible that this lovely, tanta 
 lizing American was laughing at him? For his 
 life he could not tell. The situation was a novel 
 one, and, to a man accustomed to easy conquests, 
 of unprecedented interest. Before he had time to 
 reply to this last sally, Halleck, who had approached 
 them unperceived, stood bowing at Geraldine's 
 elbow. 
 
 " Lady Dolly's horses wait, and she bids me tell 
 you she desires to make her farewell." 
 
 " Truly," responded Geraldine, " Colonel Tarle 
 ton will excuse me while I attend my guest," and 
 with a graceful courtesy she left them to return to 
 the house. 
 
 " How progresses your suit ? " whispered Hal 
 leck, as they watched the charming figure flit 
 across the grass. 
 
 " 'T is hard to say." Tarleton's tone was a mix 
 ture of satisfaction and chagrin. " She has greater 
 wit and more beauty than I ever imagined, but 
 ' Chateau qui parle ' - - you know the rest."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 
 
 ALLASTAR MURRAY had concluded his evening 
 task of looking over the last English mail, and 
 after arranging the governor's letters and papers 
 ready to his hand whenever it might please His 
 Excellency to peruse them, he made ready to start 
 for a walk, during which he could reflect how soon 
 he might discreetly visit Dumblane again. For 
 Murray had now reached the stage of making 
 haste slowly, as the Latin saying has it, and so 
 far had found it profitable, although it must be 
 confessed that he did not enjoy it. 
 
 He had not proceeded very far down the street 
 which led to the Thunderbolt road (so called be 
 cause it extended to the little settlement which 
 Governor Oglethorpe had named thus, because as 
 he quaintly remarked, " after the fall of a thunder 
 bolt a spring then uprose, which still smells of the 
 bolt," and whose sulphur waters were of some 
 repute among the early settlers), when he saw, 
 slowly approaching him, a lady mounted on a fine 
 horse which he recognized as one belonging to Colo 
 nel Prevost, and following her a black servant,
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 133 
 
 also mounted. As he came nearer, Lady Dolly 
 drew up her horse and greeted him. 
 
 " A good-day to you, sir ; have you heard the 
 news ? " 
 
 " What news ? " asked Murray, not being minded 
 to relate Cupid's story, but wondering if this 
 could be what the dame referred to. " I am out 
 in search of something to amuse me, having had a 
 most tiresome evening poring over official papers 
 and letters." 
 
 " Then you do not know of my capture and res 
 cue?" said Lady Dolly, enjoying the novelty of 
 the situation, now that the fright was over ; " or 
 how a band of outlaws attacked Colonel Mon- 
 criffe's plantation and secured all his guests by 
 binding them to chairs and otherwise, and were 
 about to execute their savage purposes (Heaven 
 save me ! I had already offered them every jewel 
 I possessed, fearing some sinister ending), when a 
 brave band of troopers rode down from the fort 
 just in the nick of time, and put the invaders to 
 flight, and speadily rescued us. My word, but 
 Colonel Tarleton was in a pretty rage ; he had a 
 hand-to-hand tussle with the leader himself." 
 
 " And pray who were this party ? " asked Mur 
 ray, as she paused for breath ; " and whence did 
 they come ? " 
 
 " They called themselves Rangers, or Marion's 
 men." 
 
 " I thought as much ; the Swamp Fox is, as a 
 rule, too wary to be caught, but in this instance
 
 134 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 our men must have taken some of them prisoners, 
 did they not ? " 
 
 " None but the leader, for, alas, the Rangers 
 made good their escape with some eight or more of 
 our friends set on the saddles before them. And 
 do you know, the leader was such a fine handsome, 
 personable fellow, that, between ourselves, I am 
 only half sorry that he also contrived to escape, 
 though I left Colonel Moncriffe in a towering rage 
 because he could not trace the manner of it." 
 
 " The manner of it ? was there any blood shed 
 in the matter ? " 
 
 " No, for which Heaven be thanked. You see 
 Tarleton was greatly elated by the capture of 
 what was it they called him ? oh, Telfair, 
 Captain Telfair, yes, that is it ; and he had the 
 prisoner safely bestowed in a strongly barred room, 
 whence there is no exit except by the passage where 
 the guards were placed ; and, lo, this morning my 
 gentle outlaw is found missing, and there are strong 
 suspicions that, having sold himself to the devil 
 for the sake of his freedom, he disappeared through 
 the keyhole with a witch on a broomstick." 
 
 " Lady Dolly, you are incorrigibly fond of a 
 jest," said Murray, unable to help laughing, as the 
 merry dame pursued her tale with evident relish, 
 and an air of mock mystery. " What do you 
 mean me to conclude ? " 
 
 " What you please, sir ; half the whites and all 
 the blacks on the plantation will vow he escaped 
 by supernatural agency."
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 135 
 
 " 'T is much more probable by the assistance of 
 some of the blacks aforesaid ; many of them are 
 secretly on the side of the Whigs, and I confess 
 myself skeptical as to the broomstick." 
 
 " That appears to me the most delightful stroke 
 of all. But, stay, who comes yonder ? Is it can 
 it be Selwyn ? Now we shall hear the postscrip- 
 tum of my story," and Lady Dolly trotted up the 
 street, as the horseman was evidently going toward 
 the fort. With brisk footsteps Murray followed 
 her, and found that it was indeed Ensign Selwyn, 
 looking somewhat soiled and travel-worn, but other 
 wise quite unhurt, and none the worse for his tem 
 porary imprisonment. 
 
 " What is that you tell me, Lady Dolly ? " he 
 said, as Murray came within hearing. " Do I un 
 derstand that Captain Telfair has indeed made 
 his escape from Glenmoira ? " 
 
 " Certainly, the manner of his going is bewilder 
 ing in its possibilities of the supernatural, but the 
 fact remains that the gentleman is probably DOW 
 journeying whence he came." 
 
 " I can find it in my heart to be devoutly thank 
 ful," said Selwyn, and then explained how he had 
 been compelled to give his parole until due ex 
 change could be made of prisoners, and that Colo 
 nel Marion was holding Sir Charles Adderly as 
 hostage for the safety of his young officer. " I 
 can tell you I did not spare my nag," he contin 
 ued, looking down at his wet and tired animal, 
 " for I am aware of Tarleton's reputation for the
 
 136 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 speedy stamping out of treason, and my mind 
 misgave me sorely, as I counted poor Sir Charles' 
 chances but small under the circumstances." 
 
 " And you were actually in the camp of those 
 daring outlaws ? " demanded Lady Dolly, still 
 eager in the pursuit of knowledge as regarded 
 every event in this strange and novel land and its 
 inhabitants. " How did you fancy a close view of 
 this terror of the province, this Marion ? Is he a 
 ruffian and of bloodthirsty propensities ? " 
 
 Selwyn laughed. " Faith, it would add zest to 
 the tale could I thus depict him. No, Lady Dolly, 
 he is small and alert, with an air of great com 
 posure and command, and while he issued his 
 orders to me it was with that courtly air which en 
 forces respect. Indeed, it was only when address 
 ing the American Tories that he spoke in anger, 
 and I do assure you that I would hardly care to 
 rest under the sting of such rebuke as he adminis 
 tered to them. But I must on to the fort and 
 make my report to Colonel Prevost. May I have 
 the honor to escort you, Lady Dolly? Do not 
 forget, Murray, that you are supping with me this 
 evening, and thank Marion, rebel though he be, 
 that I am thus able to keep my appointment." 
 But as he raised his hat in farewell to Lady Dolly, 
 who thus pursued her way to the city, Murray also 
 turned about and retraced his steps, wondering as 
 he went whether it would be wise and prudent 
 to advise the family at Dumblane of Roy Telfair's 
 escape.
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 137 
 
 " No," he said to himself, " they will be likely 
 to hear of it if from no other source than the 
 blacks. How rejoiced Rose will be, and how full 
 of quips and jests on the mystery ! I '11 warrant 
 she rings the changes on British stupidity and 
 Tory dullness, and I will not be able to catch her 
 tripping or even making an admission as to the 
 manner of his midnight flitting." From which 
 reflections it will be seen that Murray was begin 
 ning to appreciate the ready wit and quick resource 
 of his American sweetheart in a fashion which 
 would have caused her the keenest enjoyment. 
 
 Just before sunset, as Murray started forth for 
 his evening walk, in the forest that skirted Mus- 
 grove Swamp and not far from the direct road to 
 Savannah, there drew up a covered cart, from 
 which descended the short, squat figure of a man. 
 He threw the reins on his horse's back, and after 
 ransacking for a moment in the back part of the 
 vehicle, produced a bag from whence he took a 
 wooden measure of corn, and after setting it down 
 on the ground by the horse, he returned to the 
 cart. 
 
 " Wake up, Franz," he said, speaking in Ger 
 man, in a somewhat slow, but pleasant voice. 
 " You must be rested by now, and it is best for us 
 to take supper here, as I do not wish to reach the 
 city too early." 
 
 " Yes, father," said Franz Hartzel, giving him 
 self a shake, and rubbing his eyes as he jumped 
 over the wheel to the ground; "shall we light a
 
 138 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 fire and make some coffee? Here are sticks in 
 plenty, and dry ones, too." 
 
 " No, Franz. Did not thy mother bestow some 
 home-brewed beer with the meat and bread? Ah, 
 I thought so ; beer is better than even the hot 
 coffee for us Saltzburgers." 
 
 The boy and his father sat down on the grass 
 beside the cart, after carefully surveying the spot 
 lest it should be an abiding place for snakes, and 
 were enjoying their supper with the spice of 
 healthy appetities, when they became aware of a 
 slight rustle in the undergrowth not far from 
 them. 
 
 " Hist," said Hans Hartzel, " some one comes 
 yonder ; if it be those redcoat soldiers remember 
 we are bringing the farm produce to the city for 
 sale." 
 
 " I will not forget, father," answered the boy, 
 quietly munching his bit of corn bread, with an 
 air of unconcern. There was a moment's pause 
 as both listened intently without appearing to do 
 so, and then the figure of a man broke through 
 the thicket and came toward them. 
 
 " Which way, friend ? " asked Hans, rising and 
 speaking in fairly good English. " Will you have 
 a bite of bread and a bottle of mine own home 
 brewed beer ? " 
 
 " Thank you for your hospitality," answered the 
 new-comer. " I accept it heartily, for I forgot to 
 take my breakfast, and having gone fasting all 
 day find traveling on foot is hungry business."
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 139 
 
 Franz sprang up to find a fresh supply of food 
 from the cart, and as he did so, Hans said in a low 
 voice, with a good-humored smile : " Any and all 
 of the Swamp Fox's men are welcome to share 
 what I have, and if Captain Telfair does not 
 remember me I have not forgotten him, nor the 
 kindness he once did my hausfrau." 
 
 Roy started as the German laid his hand on 
 his sleeve, and surveyed him closely. " I confess 
 you had me at advantage. 'T is Hans Hartzel, 
 from Ebenezer. I do remember the night I lay 
 hid at your house, and helped the frau watch the 
 sick boy ; and if my small knowledge of medical 
 treatment was of service you are most welcome to 
 it. Is this the lad ? " 
 
 " Yes, and a hearty, well-grown fellow for his 
 years. How can I serve you, beside begging you 
 to share our simple meal? " 
 
 " What brings you here ? " asked Roy, to whom 
 the beer tasted more delicious than any wine he 
 had ever drunk. " Are you carrying garden stuff 
 to the city ? " 
 
 " Aye, the governor, yonder, deals with my frau, 
 and thinks her eggs and chickens of the best. 
 But," Hans looked cautiously over his shoulder, 
 "wait; I'll send the boy out of earshot. 
 Franz, go carefully to the road and watch there, 
 lest any one surprise us." 
 
 Franz nodded, and ran rapidly away as his 
 father turned back to continue his conversation. 
 "Do you come from the Herr Colonel to-day? " 
 he asked.
 
 140 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " I have but just escaped imprisonment by the 
 British, and am on my way back to camp. Colonel 
 Marion was to be in this vicinity for some days 
 longer, before returning to South Carolina. My 
 men made a capture of some importance, and but 
 for bad fortune I should have been with them and 
 carried back the prisoners." 
 
 " Then that was the party I met this morning, 
 south of Ebeuezer. I am engaged at present on 
 a mission for the Herr Colonel." 
 
 " Indeed ; may I ask what, if it be not secret ? " 
 
 " Listen ; I would be glad of your counsel. Do 
 you know one of the patriots in Savannah, named 
 McAlpine?" 
 
 " Oh, aye ; the hero of many hair-breadth es 
 capades. What of him ? " 
 
 " I have a letter for him which must reach him 
 without fail before to-morrow night, and I think, 
 from what I gathered of the talk in camp, that 
 there is a plan on foot which concerns surprising 
 the fort." As he spoke there was a sudden rush 
 ing, crackling noise overhead, and Roy sprang to 
 his feet just in time, for a great branch, which must 
 long before have rotted and decayed, fell crashing 
 to the ground. Poor Hans was not so lucky, for 
 being older and stouter, he was in the act of rising 
 when the branch struck him, and throwing him 
 down, rendered him blind and senseless. Franz, 
 hearing the noise, came running back, pale with 
 terror. 
 
 " Quick, lad, help me to raise the branch off his
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 141 
 
 arm ; there, turn him on his side and let me examine 
 his injury," and Roy knelt down and after a few 
 anxious moments succeeded in restoring Hans to 
 consciousness. No bones seemed broken, but the 
 shock had been great, and every time he attempted 
 to move he turned so ill and faint that finally he 
 lay back on the ground and declared his inability 
 to proceed further. Franz stood gazing at his 
 father with great dismay, and Roy suggested 
 placing the injured man in the cart and taking him 
 back to Ebenezer. 
 
 " Nay, nay ; that will never do," said Hans, 
 comprehending their intention ; " what will become 
 of my mission?" 
 
 " I '11 do your errand," said Telfair quietly. 
 
 " But it would not be safe for you to reenter 
 Savannah," interrupted Hans. 
 
 " Did you not say the message was urgent ? 
 Why consider my safety ? " 
 
 " Aye ; then listen ; I have a plan. Leave me 
 here, safely bestowed under yonder group of trees 
 whose branches seem safe enough, and do you put 
 on my gray blouse which is within the cart, and 
 take Franz with you, for they know the lad in the 
 city, and drive to the governor's mansion, deliver 
 the eggs and vegetables, and then contrive to exe 
 cute the other errand. You can safely pass for a 
 neighbor of mine, Gottlieb Reiter, who is about 
 your height and build and has darker hair than 
 most of us ; and if you could manage a few words 
 of German"
 
 142 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " I can readily do that," interposed Telfair, in 
 that language. 
 
 " So ! " ejaculated Hans, in pleased surprise, 
 " then you are safe enough if you keep your face 
 well concealed, or will use a little juice of the mul 
 berry to darken your skin." 
 
 "But I hardly like to leave you here," said 
 Roy, after hearing a few more instructions from 
 Hans, " and surely I can take the cart and return 
 without Franz, who I think should stop with you 
 here." 
 
 " For what? a few bruises and a sick stomach? 
 No, take the lad ; he may prove more useful than 
 you think." 
 
 " But stop, Hans ; it strikes me that I can arrange 
 the plan better. If I drive now to the governor's 
 I will be very apt to encounter just those whom I 
 wish to avoid, for at this hour after supper, it is 
 the custom for the gentlemen and their friends to 
 take air in the gardens, and while you might 
 escape critical examination, it would be just my 
 fortune to experience it. I know the usual haunts 
 of McAlpine, and I also know a place where I can 
 put up the cart and horse for the night. I will go 
 there first, leaving Franz here with you. He can 
 join me at an early hour in the morning, near the 
 store by the tall chimney which still stands in the 
 burned quarter. If I am not there by seven 
 o'clock, then proceed to Tondee's tavern at the 
 corner of Broughton and Whitaker streets." 
 
 " Very good ; here, find the letter," and he in-
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 143 
 
 dicated where it was concealed on his person. 
 " Franz, turn the horse ; 't is a good beast, and 
 can travel well, even better under the saddle than 
 with my cart. Now stain your face a bit, not 
 forgetting your hands ; I fear the blouse is over 
 wide for you." 
 
 " Not so wide," said Telfair, as he drew it to 
 gether across his broad shoidders, "but a trifle 
 short; however, one hardly expects elegance of 
 attire when arrayed in a blouse shirt. Now for the 
 mulberry juice ; I saw plenty of them on the other 
 side of the road," and he plunged through the 
 thicket in that direction. When he returned a 
 short time after, his disguise was fairly good, and 
 after receiving due admonition as to the proper 
 price to be paid for the contents of the cart, Roy 
 finally mounted the seat, Franz having led the 
 horse back to the road, and waving a good-by, he 
 drove away. 
 
 The sun had set, and the shadows were length 
 ening as the covered cart made its way into the 
 city. The driver sat slouching forward in the seat, 
 and the horse ambled along in a leisurely fashion, 
 which by no means suggested the speed the animal 
 was capable of. After picking the way carefully 
 along, Roy turned into South Broad Street, then 
 almost a country road, with a few scattered houses 
 all on the north side, the chiefest of these being a 
 public (as the inn was called), owned by Eppin- 
 ger, at the northeast corner of Jefferson Street. 
 Here were several men, lounging and drinking,
 
 144 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 and as Roy drew his cart up in front of the door, 
 one of them called out : - 
 
 " Here comes a country man well laden ; go, boy, 
 and see if the larder needs replenishing." 
 
 A black fellow of about eighteen ran out, and 
 Roy accosted him in broken English with an 
 occasional German word. 
 
 " Lodging here for horse and man ? I vonts 
 feed for mine guten horse. He vas come thirty 
 miles since sun-up." 
 
 " Yes, marse, plenty place under shed ; I '11 
 fotch him 'roun'." 
 
 But Roy did not seem willing to descend from 
 his perch, so he drove around to the back of the 
 house, following the black boy, who ran ahead, 
 his object in so doing being to inspect the in 
 mates of the room, whose windows he passed as 
 he went. But the face he was looking for was 
 not there, and it occurred to Roy that although the 
 cart and horse might find shelter here, he would 
 himself be safer elsewhere, for half the men 
 lounging inside were soldiers from the fort, and 
 he was not particularly anxious to cultivate their 
 observation after his so recent encounter with some 
 of their comrades. So he hesitated, and chaffered, 
 and bargained, and finally pretending that he had 
 a friend to see, turned the cart around, and again 
 proceeded on his way. 
 
 It was now quite dark, save for the light of a 
 young moon which drifted out of the clouds at 
 intervals, and Roy drove along the streets, which in
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 145 
 
 good colony times had been so neatly kept, but 
 which now bore evidence, in many places, of the 
 siege. He passed the house of Colonel McAlpine 
 and drew the rein, then slacked it, as he reflected 
 that Tondee's Tavern, on Broughton Street, was 
 much more likely to harbor that gentleman's dare 
 devil relative, Roderick, who was as famous for 
 his cups as his courage. And so proceeding, he 
 drove through State Street, passing St. James 
 Square, where the stately mansion occupied by 
 Governor Wright stood, almost alone, surrounded 
 by large, and for that period, well-kept garden and 
 grounds. But if Roy was minded to pass the 
 gate, not so his steed, for suddenly, without any 
 warning of his intention, that animal stopped short, 
 and Roy, who happened to be leaning forward, was 
 shot out of his seat and over the shafts to the 
 ground, striking his head as he went against the 
 gatepost. And having accomplished as much 
 harm as possible, the horse gave forth a plaintive, 
 long-drawn whinny, and stood still. 
 
 Roy was not stunned, though he ought to have 
 been, by the shock, but he lay still, seeing stars and 
 feeling giddy for several minutes, until roused by 
 the sound of an imperious voice demanding who was 
 blocking the way, and another which said laugh 
 ingly > - 
 
 "Some country yokel has evidently left his 
 horse and cart standing outside while he makes 
 love to the maidservants ; did you harm yourself 
 as you ran against the wheel ? "
 
 146 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Not I ; the blow has merely detached ray fob 
 from my watch. Stand still a moment, Murray, I 
 think I can fasten it," and Halleck steadied him 
 self against the cart-wheel as he spoke. " Selwyn's 
 port was somewhat heady ; I '11 take some coffee 
 with you, and then to bed, as I slept none last 
 night." 
 
 Roy lay still ; they had not perceived him, as 
 he was hidden by the other wheel of the cart. The 
 horse, having done his worst, seemed disposed to 
 be quiet, and bent down his head, munching a 
 stray tuft of grass which had sprung up outside 
 the gate. 
 
 " To resume," said Halleck, going back to what 
 had evidently been the topic of their conversation 
 as they approached, " you cannot think how mon 
 strous amusing the whole affair is to me. I have 
 seen Tarleton through half an hundred romantic 
 and mad fancies, but nothing has ever approached 
 in intensity his passion for the fair Moncriffe. By 
 gad, sir, his face when she flouted him this morning 
 was a study that even a friend might smile over," 
 and his laugh rang out at the recollection. " Why, 
 man, Tarleton the irresistible, Tarleton the indif 
 ferent, the cynical, was left standing there agape, 
 while she walked off tranquilly. And I never 
 saw him so nonplussed in my life. 'Chateau 
 qui parlej he said to me. What will you take 
 as to the chances, Murray, of his success? " 
 
 " Nothing ; she may be dazzled by his position 
 or even bewitched by the conquest of one so well-
 
 THE MOTH RETURNS TO THE CANDLE 147 
 
 known as a breaker of hearts. 'T is hard to tell 
 a woman's way." 
 
 " Ay ; and there is, I am told, the complication 
 of a former swain." 
 
 " Indeed ! " said Murray in a tone of surprise. 
 " Do you speak by the card ? " 
 
 " So far as that Mistress Molly Durbeville con 
 fided to me that there had been rumors of love 
 passages between our lovely hostess and a Whig 
 gentleman, whose name she would not divulge I 
 think because she feared I might tell Tarleton 
 and bring vengeance on some rebel's head (for 
 Mistress Molly has leanings that way, I fancy). 
 Tarleton has sworn to win the fair Geraldine, and 
 he would move even hell itself, were that pos 
 sible, to gain the object of a passion which, though 
 it may be short-lived, has the elements of a whirl 
 wind while it abides. I love him much, as man to 
 man, but with the gentle sex his way is to win^ 
 wear, and soon forsake. Come, Murray, my fob is 
 mended ; let 's on to the house and take a cup of 
 Sir James's coffee before retiring." 
 
 Roy lay still until the echo of their footsteps 
 died away. Then he sprang up, his eyes alight, 
 his heart beating wildly. 
 
 " Have I been mad to doubt her ? " he thought. 
 " Oh, Geraldine, my darling, while the faintest ray 
 of hope lights my breast, not man nor devil shall 
 tear us asunder ! :
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 " SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULD N'T " 
 
 TONDEE'S TAVERN on Broughton Street had 
 been the well-known rendezvous for the patriots 
 ever since the organizing of the Georgia Sons of 
 Liberty and the Council of Safety when the war 
 of independence began, and consequently it was 
 a house always under surveillance after the British 
 occupation in 1779. But try as those in authority 
 did to maintain efficient police system, the patriots 
 continued to evade it, and through the guests who 
 most frequented that hostelry Marion received 
 much of the secret information which enabled him 
 to plan and make his raids upon the enemy with 
 that rapidity and unerring certainty which made 
 his name at once a terror and a success in the 
 provinces of Georgia and South Carolina. 
 
 The day was yet young when a barefooted black 
 boy came sleepily through the door of the tavern 
 aforesaid, carrying a bucket of water which he 
 proceeded to splash up and down the wooden floor 
 of the front portico, preparatory to mopping the 
 same. He had succeeded in wetting it pretty 
 thoroughly when his attention was directed from 
 the task he was lazily accomplishing by a shout
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 149 
 
 from the room whose low window opened upon the 
 portico. 
 
 " I say, boy, stop that infernal splashing long 
 enough to tell some one to fetch me a morning 
 punch. The sound of that water trickling down 
 makes me thirsty. Egad, 't is the first time water 
 ever affected me in any manner whatever," and 
 the speaker thrust his head out of the window, 
 laughing good-humoredly as he spoke. 
 
 " Laws, marse, dey ain't nobody 'round jes' 
 yit," said the boy, setting down his bucket, " but 
 ef yo' hole on fer a minute tel I git dis yere done, 
 I '11 come an' help yo' fin' de bottles." 
 
 " Oh, if it 's a matter of rinding bottles, I can 
 mix it myself," said the other, drawing back from 
 the window, and proceeding to institute a search in 
 the cupboard behind the low shelf which served 
 as the bar. " I wonder what became of those 
 two spies who were lounging here when I went 
 to sleep ; faith, I fancy I tired them out with my 
 stories of Scotch wars." This remark was de 
 livered in an undertone to himself, as he brought 
 out tumbler and bottles. At last, finding what 
 he sought, he poured it into the glass, and was 
 about drinking the mixture when he became aware 
 that a head (not belonging to the black boy) was 
 thrust inside the window, and its owner was quietly 
 regarding him. 
 
 Roderick McAlpine drank long and deep, re 
 gardless of the stranger's scrutiny, and then setting 
 down the empty glass, turned toward the window.
 
 150 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Good-day, sir," said Roy Telfair politely ; " if 
 you will invite me I will join in your morning re 
 freshment, providing you do not object to my 
 vaulting over the window-sill, as the doorway is 
 flooded with water." 
 
 " On my word, sir, you have easy manners," 
 returned McAlpine, as Roy sprang in and ap 
 proached him ; " not that I am lacking in hospital 
 ity, but " - 
 
 " You prefer to select the object of it," inter 
 rupted Roy, making the secret sign which was used 
 by the Rangers. " Pardon my early intrusion, but 
 I searched the house for you last night, met with 
 a misadventure which detained me, and spent the 
 night in a cart full of farm produce, which I have 
 left, with the horse tied carefully to a tree, just 
 around the corner there, feeling sure that I could 
 get some news of you here." 
 
 " But I know you, sir," said the other, survey 
 ing him keenly as his dark eyes scrutinized the dis 
 guise of the supposed countryman ; " and you wore 
 a lighter skin and coat of another color under the 
 trees in the Swamp Fox's camp. Captain Telfair, 
 what can I do for you ? " 
 
 " I bring you this letter ; it was first intrusted 
 to other hands than mine ; give me word of mouth 
 in return, as, after my business be ended in the 
 city, I go direct to join Colonel Marion." 
 
 But McAlpine was engaged in deciphering the 
 scrap of paper and paid no heed for a few seconds. 
 Then he raised his head, looked round the room 
 cautiously, and spoke in a whisper.
 
 " 'T is a plan well arranged and matured, by 
 which we hope to capture the fort, but it will take 
 more forces than I conceive Colonel Marion can 
 bring to aid at the present time. We have 
 suborned several of the garrison, and are warned 
 from Charleston of a spy, who travels with Tarle- 
 ton's escort, and goes by the name of Norman 
 Burt." 
 
 " Ay, a tall trooper ; I know him, and I think 
 he had a hand in my escape from Tarleton's band 
 two days ago, when I stood good chance to be 
 shot." * 
 
 " Burt is one of the moving spirits in the affair. 
 I have here a paper," and he drew it from an 
 inside pocket, " which contains a plan, rudely 
 done as you see, of the fort, and the places indi 
 cated where we may make entry provided we can 
 surprise the garrison. Take this, and the rest shall 
 go by word of mouth, but not till nightfall, as I 
 must gather some information to-day which is of 
 importance. Can you meet me between ten and 
 eleven to-night in the peach orchard, behind the 
 governor's mansion ? He holds fete to-night, I am 
 told, for the new beauty, Mistress Geraldine Mon- 
 criffe, and I shall mingle with the guests, as those 
 I wish to see will be there." 
 
 A hot flush dyed Telfair's face. "Was this then 
 his opportunity to see Geraldine, and perhaps gain 
 speech of her? The daring thought suited his 
 impetuous temper, and he eagerly assured Mc- 
 Alpine that he would keep the appointment at the
 
 152 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 hour named, and hiding the paper containing the 
 plan of Fort Wayne in his breast, he bade him 
 farewell, and springing out of the window pro 
 ceeded to find the horse and cart, which had re 
 mained apparently undisturbed in his absence. 
 
 The fete which Sir James Wright, governor of 
 the province of Georgia, was about to give had 
 been the subject of much talk and gossip, as it 
 would serve the double purpose of celebrating the 
 return of British rule and of compliment to the 
 daughter of the officer who had taken prominent 
 part in the siege, and with the exception of the few 
 houses still occupied by the Whigs who dared to 
 remain in the city, there was not a resident who 
 had not been included in the invitations, and con 
 sequently Savannah felt in a properly gala mood. 
 Flags floated on the fort and the governor's man 
 sion, and the sun rose brightly over the waters of 
 the bay. It was rumored that a gay party was ex 
 pected from Charleston, who were coming by sloop, 
 and this added to the interest of the affair, as even 
 in those early days there was generous social 
 rivalry between the two cities. 
 
 Molly Durbeville, sitting in her window on 
 Broughton Street, watched the carts and pedes 
 trians as they passed, most of them, as she shrewdly 
 conjectured, on the way to the scene of the night's 
 festivities, and she commented on each in her 
 usual lively fashion : " There goes the third black 
 boy carrying vines, Anne ; I am sure they must 
 be decking the whole pavilion, which is to be set
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 153 
 
 in the garden. And here are flags ; oh, ay, no 
 doubt for the ballroom, and one, two, four carts, 
 filled with provisions. See this covered one. I 
 am sure that is from Ebenezer ; yes, there 's the 
 same bright-looking lad whom -I purchased the 
 roots and vines from last year, which reminds me 
 that I need a few more to replenish those that have 
 not flourished. Here, lad, here," calling and 
 waving her hand, " stop a moment ; " and greatly 
 to the horror of her more decorous sister, Molly 
 flew out of the door and ran down to the cart. 
 
 Franz, who was driving, drew up his horse 
 obediently, as Molly accosted him. " Do you re 
 member me ? I had vines of you last year." 
 
 " Yes," said Franz, nodding back at the plea 
 sant-voiced maid, " did the lady want more ? I 
 have not them to-day ; I go to take mine load to 
 the governor's." 
 
 " I thought so, but just let me look " and then 
 Molly stopped abruptly, for back in the cart she 
 saw a pair of eyes that even beneath the battered 
 hat she recognized, and the bright color deserted 
 her face with rapidity born of consternation. Tel- 
 fair smiled, and laid a finger on his lips, but Molly 
 impulsively ran around the cart and whispered to 
 him, 
 
 " How dare you be here ! for Heaven's sake 
 take care, and seek better disguise." 
 
 *' I am on the way to secure such," he answered; 
 " keep my counsel and receive my thanks." 
 
 Molly returned to the house much more soberly
 
 154 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 than she left it, and watched the cart out of sight 
 as it drove slowly around the corner of Jefferson 
 Street and disappeared, but she pondered much 
 and long that day, and did not recover her spirits 
 until she commenced to dress for the fete. 
 
 Sir James Wright's guests began to arrive be 
 times for the governor's fete, which comprised, first, 
 a stately ceremonial in the way of a reception held 
 in the pavilion erected a short distance from the 
 mansion. Next, the dance, which was arranged in 
 the house, a whole floor having been cleared for 
 the purpose ; and lastly, the abundant supper, that 
 was served at half past ten o'clock and continued, 
 together with the dancing, until broad daylight, if 
 it suited the guests to remain until the sun rose. 
 
 The pavilion was lighted with wax lights and 
 hung with wreaths of green and flowers, and the 
 path to and from it to the mansion lighted by lan 
 terns fixed to the trees, which cast a light sufficient 
 to penetrate a short distance into the garden, be 
 yond which lay the peach orchard that ran back to 
 South Broad Street and there straggled off in a 
 westerly direction. As a chronicler of the times 
 quaintly remarks, the fete " was the most numer 
 ous and brilliant appearance ever known in the 
 town, and was long talked of and discussed in the 
 social circles of Savannah." 
 
 When Geraldine, accompanied by her father and 
 Colonel Tarleton, entered the pavilion a soft mur 
 mur of admiration ran around the room, for even 
 her stately court gown did not detract from her
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 155 
 
 beauty and grace; and the touch of powder on 
 her hair brought out the rose-leaf tint of her com 
 plexion, while the diamonds that glittered on her 
 neck seemed to reflect the sparkle of her blue 
 eyes. Tarleton, chapeau in hand, approached 
 Lady Dolly, who, dressed in a marvelous " atlas 
 gown of blue and gold with flowered petticoat " 
 (again we quote the chronicler), was doing the 
 honors of the evening, with her merry yet courtly 
 air, and bade Geraldine stand beside her until it 
 should please His Excellency to open the ball with 
 her. 
 
 Geraldine, it must be said, was in the highest 
 possible spirits. All day long she had teased and 
 tormented Tarleton, never once allowing him ' to 
 pass the barrier she had so coquettishly laid down, 
 and even evading her father's evident desire to 
 obtain some definite assurance of her satisfaction 
 with the proposed alliance. But why her heart 
 bounded so lightly within her bosom Geraldine 
 would not acknowledge, albeit she could not re 
 strain a smile when Margot, having completed her 
 careful toilet, said gravely, as she surveyed her 
 with bland satisfaction, 
 
 "Ah, my leddy, the air o' the plantation has 
 done mickle for ye since yester e'en ; I wadna 
 think ye the same lassie that fell asleep wi' tears 
 in her bonnie blue e'." 
 
 But Geraldine only shook her head playfully as 
 she went down the gallery. Not even to Margot 
 would she confess that the magic which had
 
 156 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 changed her mood was the timely escape of a 
 rebel and an ingrate. 
 
 Outside the mansion about the time of Geral- 
 dine's arrival, down in the peach orchard, beside a 
 horse which he had tied to one of the trees, stood 
 Roy Telfair. He had changed his dress for that 
 of a seafaring man, and restored his face to its 
 usual complexion, depending upon a wide hat low 
 over his brow, and a blue handkerchief around his 
 neck for concealment, as he argued that he would 
 probably have to run for it should his way be 
 challenged, and in the haste of his departure, aided 
 by the uncertain light, could escape recognition. 
 Capture with the plan of the fort upon him meant 
 a spy's death ; but even so, he would dare all for 
 his country's sake. 
 
 He waited with what patience he could, creep 
 ing about in the shadow of the trees, for McAlpine, 
 and at last was relieved by seeing him saunter 
 carelessly into the summer-house. A low call 
 of the whippoorwill made it certain, and skirting 
 along the side of the house he met McAlpine at 
 the door. 
 
 " I have seen four of the men I hoped to find," 
 said McAlpine in low tones, stepping back in the 
 shade made by the vines, " and you may say to 
 Marion for me that the raid cannot take place be 
 fore the change of the moon. I have still one more 
 patriot to hold counsel with, but slipped away lest 
 you should deem me unable to keep the rendezvous ; 
 if so be you can tarry without suspicion for a half
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 157 
 
 hour longer I will return, but further from this 
 point Hist ! I hear voices. Wait if you can ; 
 if not speed on at the expiration of the half hour, 
 and by all means protect yourself." Roy glided 
 back to the place where his horse stood tied, and 
 McAlpine, humming a Scotch air, went carelessly 
 back toward the pavilion. 
 
 " Mistress Moncriffe, I solicit the honor of your 
 hand in the opening contra-dance," said Sir James 
 some half hour later, bowing profoundly ; and then 
 led the way through the garden to the ballroom, 
 where the band from the fort sent forth inspiring 
 music as the gay company entered and formed for 
 the dance named, Lady Dolly and Tarleton leading 
 from the other end. Slow and stately was the 
 movement (in contrast to ours of a later day), and 
 many the admiring glances cast on the principal 
 performers by those who looked on, awaiting their 
 turn as etiquette demanded. 
 
 After the formal opening the dancing became 
 general, and Geraldine's partners were so many 
 that Tarleton, to his chagrin, was only able to ob 
 tain a fourth or fifth dance from the pretty Tory. 
 But with his usual adroitness, he sought out those 
 guests whom he had met at Glenmoira, dancing in 
 turn with them while consumed with inward impa 
 tience for his return to Geraldine. 
 
 Allastar Murray, having been so fortunate as to 
 secure one of the coveted dances, enjoyed it even 
 beyond his expectation, for a casual mention of 
 Dumblane gave Geraldine her opportunity, and all
 
 158 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 unconscious that she was delighting her listener, 
 she poured forth her love and admiration for Rose 
 into his delighted ears, and thereby secured to her 
 self a loyal and faithful admirer. And being loath 
 to leave so interesting a topic at the end of the 
 dance, Murray proposed a stroll in the garden, 
 and Geraldine, feeling the heat of the ballroom, 
 gladly acquiesced, and they walked quietly and 
 unperceived forth into the night. 
 
 " Oh, how lovely ! " said Geraldine as they fol 
 lowed the path that led beyond the pavilion toward 
 the orchard, where the trees were making exquisite 
 shadows in the growing moonlight. " I think Sir 
 James said there were seats in the pleasaunce, 
 yes, there are some, beneath that vine." 
 
 " Better still, the summer-house ; I fear the dew 
 is falling and you are not yet acclimated. This 
 Southern air, soft though it be, is very different 
 from our Scotch breezes." 
 
 " True, I had forgotten ; then we will try the 
 summer-house." But as she spoke a strange, swift 
 shiver crept over Geraldine and with a light laugh 
 she said, " You are wise to warn me ; I think per 
 haps we had best return, cool and grateful though 
 the air is, for I am somewhat chilly here now, unless 
 you will fetch me my scarf which I carelessly 
 left somewhere in the pavilion. Thank you," as 
 Murray acquiesced ; " no, I will await you here ; 
 it can do me no harm, for I will pin my kerchief 
 across my breast." 
 
 Murray sped away, and Geraldine, seating her-
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 159 
 
 self on the wooden bench, gave a low sigh as she 
 enjoyed the luxury of being alone and off her 
 guard for a few brief moments. And so, of course, 
 fate took instant advantage, for, intent upon her 
 thoughts, she never heard a footstep brush the 
 grass and steal across the threshold, till with a wild 
 start she came back from her dreams, to feel a 
 strong arm around her and hear a tender voice say 
 in the tone she had never forgotten, " Geraldine, 
 my own, forgive me, and believe that I was mad to 
 doubt you." 
 
 For a brief instant she lay still in his embrace, 
 half terrified at the wave of emotion that swept 
 over her, then she tore herself away. 
 
 " Roy, Roy, is it really you ? Oh, how can you 
 tempt death and destruction thus ? I have been 
 so happy in the belief that you " she paused 
 with trembling lips, which he, half beside himself 
 at her change of mood, bent down and kissed. 
 " Oh, you are not safe here for one brief moment. 
 Go, go, I do beseech you." 
 
 " Not till I hear that you forgive that you 
 love me still, that this hateful alliance will never 
 be consummated," and he threw himself on his knees 
 before her. 
 
 " Alas, I cannot tell," she sighed softly ; " what 
 is a dutiful daughter to decide when her father 
 commands ? " 
 
 " Consult your own heart and answer me here 
 and now. That you did love me I truly believe ; 
 that you still love me I hope as for my salvation."
 
 160 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 *' I stand I hardly know how between two fires, 
 either of which threatens to destroy me." 
 
 " Nay, sweetheart, if you view me with terror 
 that is a deathblow to love. Kiss me once and say 
 farewell." 
 
 " Ah," a little, fond heart-breaking cry. " Oh, 
 for some guide to show me the way out of this 
 labyrinth ! " 
 
 " Geraldine, let your heart speak ; dismiss these 
 dreams of ambition and be true to your noblest 
 self. Bend your lovely eyes to mine, love ; in 
 their blue depths I can see that almost against 
 your will you are loyal to your country and to me." 
 
 " I had better close my eyes since they are such 
 telltales and say so much," she whispered with a 
 low laugh, and then as she uttered the arch con 
 fession, looking behind them toward the pavilion, 
 to her horror she saw approaching in the moon 
 light the figure not of Murray, but Tarleton. Oh, 
 kind Heaven, could she rescue Roy again, and how ? 
 
 " Rise, sir," she said, in a voice so cold and 
 scornful that Roy gazed at her in stunned sur 
 prise, unable to account for her sudden change of 
 manner, " rise and annoy me no more. I am in 
 deed amazed at your presumption and must ask 
 that you leave me instantly." 
 
 " Mistress Moncriffe has here a protector and 
 defender," cried Tarleton, darting to her side, as 
 Telfair, scarce able to believe his ears, staggered to 
 his feet. " Well, sir," as he suddenly recognized 
 his former prisoner, " you are a braver man even
 
 "SHE WOULD AND SHE WOULDN'T" 161 
 
 than I thought, since not content with again put 
 ting your head in the lion's mouth you dare to as 
 pire to the lady whom Tarleton claims " 
 
 " By God, sir, your claims shall be promptly 
 settled," cried Roy, pale with fury, and as Murray 
 came suddenly upon the group, he saw him strike 
 Tarleton lightly upon the face with the palm of 
 his hand. " I am ready to give all the satisfaction 
 you demand, and more. Murray, your sword will 
 answer my purpose," and, snatching the rapier 
 which Murray wore at his side, Roy cried, " On 
 guard, sir," as he made a pass at Tarleton and 
 drove him across the threshold of the summer- 
 house to the grass beyond. 
 
 Tarleton's sword flew from its sheath, his eyes 
 blazing, even as he debated whether he should call 
 for aid to secure his former prisoner, but the pre 
 sence of Geraldine forbade the treachery, and 
 besides it would be easy enough to secure Telfair 
 after he (one of the best swordsmen in the British 
 army) had disarmed him and taught this saucy 
 rebel a much needed lesson. For a few seconds 
 nothing was heard except the clash of steel and 
 the hurried breathing of the combatants ; then 
 Telfair began to push his adversary with surpris 
 ingly swift strokes, and suddenly, with a wonderful 
 quickness which the lookers-on hardly realized, 
 there was a flash, a gleam of bright steel in the 
 moonlight, as Tarleton's sword flew from his hand 
 and he stood absolutely at Telfair 's mercy. 
 
 " So turns the wheel of fortune," said Telfair,
 
 162 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 as he calmly possessed himself of the weapon. 
 " Yours yesterday, mine to-day. I give you your 
 life, sir, as you gave me mine ; accept the gift at 
 the hands of a rebel whom you scorned, but who 
 has at least taught you that he is worthy of respect. 
 I regret that an engagement with Colonel Marion 
 compels me to leave you somewhat abruptly. Take 
 your sword," and he flung it contemptuously at 
 Tarleton's feet, " I will not burden myself with so 
 bloody a weapon ; but remember when next you 
 meet an American on the field that one of them 
 gave you the quarter you denied his countrymen," 
 and before his passionate, ringing tones had fairly 
 died on the air, he thrust his sword into Murray's 
 hand and plunged among the shadows of the trees. 
 
 For an instant the group stood as if paralyzed, 
 but choking though he was with mortification and 
 rage, Tarleton was the first to recover himself. 
 "Help, help," he shouted, as he dashed up the 
 path and ran full against Selwyn and McAlpine, 
 " to horse with all speed ; that ubiquitous rebel, 
 Telfair, has just escaped through the orchard, and 
 unless he be the devil himself we can stop him 
 this time." 
 
 Selwyn dropped McAlpine's arm and joined 
 Tarleton in the hue and cry, the result of which 
 was that several officers and men, with Tarleton at 
 their head, were soon mounted and in hot pursuit 
 up Jefferson Street, where they debated for a mo 
 ment which way to proceed. 
 
 Geraldiue, clinging to Murray's arm, felt a
 
 deadly faintness creep over her, although she 
 struggled for composure. 
 
 " You cannot walk," cried Murray, " let me fly 
 for a glass of wine; rest here. Oh, sir," to 
 McAlpine, who approached them on his way to see 
 if aught had befallen Telfair, " assist Mistress 
 Moncriffe for an instant until I return." 
 
 " It is hardly necessary," faltered Geraldine, 
 sinking on the bench of the summer-house as 
 Murray ran hastily toward the pavilion. "You 
 are most kind, sir. Do you think is it possible 
 that Captain Telfair can escape ? " There was 
 such a note of agony in her voice that McAlpine, 
 who had been about to make a far different assur 
 ance, said kindly, 
 
 " Why not ? Marion and his men bear charmed 
 lives, they say, and Telfair has doubtless provided 
 for his own security. Hark ! we cannot hear dis 
 tinctly, but I am sure that a horseman is racing 
 out on South Broad Street ; trust him to double on 
 his pursuers." 
 
 It was indeed Roy, as McAlpine shrewdly sur 
 mised, and he had a few precious minutes' start, as 
 he had calculated. But as he turned again to 
 take the road that led out by Musgrove Swamp he 
 heard the rapid beat of horses' hoofs and knew 
 they were hot upon his trail. Hans' horse was 
 proving himself a gallant beast, and he headed him 
 straight for the water, pulling out his pistol as he 
 rode and thrusting the telltale plan of the fort 
 inside it as a wad, determined that he would save
 
 164 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 it if he could, or thus destroy it if forced to shoot. 
 On, on, but the hoof-beats were coming nearer ; 
 one more desperate effort, and the bend in the 
 road touched the shore, where he could leave 
 the horse and hide in the swamp. 
 
 The tide was coming in over the swamp, and 
 springing from his horse, Telfair flung the reins 
 over the good beast's neck, and plunged deep into 
 the water. As he did so, he could both hear and 
 see the group of mounted men who paused be 
 wildered to survey the tired horse, but a faint 
 sound at his left, where grew a cluster of low trees 
 which would afford him concealment, made him 
 turn his head. The bushes parted, and as he swam 
 nearer he saw, in their shadow, an Indian canoe, 
 and in the boat, regarding him silently, sat 
 Ossaba. A moment longer and Hoy clambered 
 over its side, and sank breathless and in safety on 
 the bottom of the boat, as the bushes closed over 
 their heads.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 LADY DOLLY ACCEPTS THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 
 
 " MY cup of chocolate at once ; I have actually 
 waited ten minutes, and I must make my toilet by 
 twelve." 
 
 "Yes, madam, it is not my fault that your orders 
 are not fulfilled. These African servants are both 
 slow and lazy and have apparently no account of 
 time," replied Lady Dolly's prim English maid. 
 " If your ladyship would be pleased to speak " 
 
 " But I 'm not pleased about anything," re 
 torted Lady Dolly sleepily, from between the bed 
 curtains. " I am half dead from dancing until 
 four o'clock this morning, and really, Simpson, as 
 that chocolate is so tardy, you may fill me a glass 
 of liqueur from the cabinet yonder;" and her lady 
 ship yawned and thrust one pretty bare foot out 
 side the coverlet as she spoke. Simpson fetched 
 the liqueur as she was bid, and presently came a 
 rap on the chamber door, and a salver made its 
 appearance containing a pot of steaming chocolate, 
 accompanied by hot corn-bread which Lady Dolly 
 managed to swallow with keen relish, talking the 
 while busily to her maid. 
 
 " It was the prettiest fete I 've seen since I left
 
 166 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 home," declared she, draining her second cup of 
 chocolate with unabated appetite. " There is a 
 species of novelty about the social element, and 
 with due ceremony at one moment, a curious lack 
 of it the next, which appeals to me. I trust you 
 had some refreshments, Simpson, for I believe I 
 kept you waiting an unconscionable time." 
 
 " Yes, my lady, we were all served after coming 
 in from the garden, where we servants ran when 
 the hue and cry sounded, and I was like to die of 
 fright because the blacks declared that it was a 
 raid of Marion's men, and I expected nothing but 
 that we should all be taken prisoners." 
 
 " And carried off to mountain fastnesses," cried 
 Lady Doll}', laughing in high glee. " Oh, Simp 
 son, what an opportunity was lost ! If those bold 
 outlaws only had appeared think what an ad 
 venture to have told when we return home ! " 
 
 " Yes, madam," replied Simpson meekly, but 
 inwardly giving thanks that her madcap mistress 
 was safely bestowed in bed, instead of under the 
 greenwood tree she aspired to ; u will you have the 
 blue or the purple paduasoy this morning ? " 
 
 " Oh, the blue, by all means ; 't is a delicate 
 compliment to the brave young fellow who so suc 
 cessfully made his escape. On my word," and 
 Lady Dolly sighed softly with an air of sentiment 
 as she rose, " if I stop here among these extraor 
 dinary people longer, I shall awake some morn 
 ing and find myself a rebel of the deepest I 
 mean bluest dye."
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 167 
 
 " I thought, your ladyship, that the color 
 adopted by these outlaws was green. I 'm sure 
 that is what they wore that awful night on the 
 plantation." 
 
 " Oh, ay ; blue in New York, green in Georgia, 
 but all of them tarred with the same stick," said 
 Lady Dolly, laughing. " I really am anxious 
 about that reckless young man. Fancy his daring 
 to challenge Colonel Tarleton when he might be 
 surrounded and captured at any moment. Did you 
 hear whether he made his escape by land or 
 water ? " It must be confessed that Lady Dolly 
 loved to gossip, whether it be with her maid up 
 stairs, or in the drawing-room below, and Simpson 
 was perfectly aware of the fact, so she retailed a 
 highly colored and picturesque account of Captain 
 Telf air's adventures, with an added detail to the 
 effect that some supernatural agency certainly 
 superintended his fortunes, or his capture would 
 have been inevitable. 
 
 " Pooh! " said Lady Dolly as she arrayed herself 
 in the blue paduasoy, which was most becoming to 
 her blonde coloring, " if I had the cross-examining 
 of those blacks on the plantation I '11 wager I 'd 
 have got to the bottom of that mystery. What 's 
 that at my door, Simpson? Some one knocks." 
 
 In response to the summons, Simpson presently 
 informed her mistress that Colonel Tarleton was 
 below and craved the pleasure of seeing her, 
 which information caused a slight flutter on the 
 part of that fair lady, who, nevertheless, contrived
 
 168 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 to descend in another ten minutes, filled with over- 
 powering curiosity and no little mischief. 
 
 The drawing-room of Colonel Pre vest's resi 
 dence was a long, low-ceilinged room, with windows 
 looking out on the bay, and in one of them stood 
 Tarleton, with somewhat frowning brow, as Lady 
 Dolly entered. 
 
 " A good day to you, sir. You are early astir 
 after the festivities of last night, or rather this 
 morning," giving him her hand, upon which he 
 instantly pressed a kiss, " and you look as fresh as 
 if you had not been doing duty both as carpet- 
 knight and soldier. By the bye, how far out did 
 your pursuit of that lively and ubiquitous young 
 man take you ? " 
 
 " Just a mile up the road, where we found an 
 old and rather blown nag standing riderless (it 
 was claimed by a Dutch lad, who told a pitiful tale 
 of how the rebel had stolen it from his cart where 
 the animal stood hitched on State Street), and for 
 the moment we were quite at fault; but the 
 troopers declared that our quarry had taken to the 
 swamp, and by the time we had finished debating 
 the point, we were forced to abandon it for lack of 
 boat to explore, though they tell me that Mus- 
 grove Swamp is a devilish good place for both 
 hiding and drowning." 
 
 Lady Dolly gave way to laughter, and after 
 frowning for a moment, Tarleton joined her. 
 " Forgive me," she said, taking breath again, " the 
 humorous side is uppermost in me to-day."
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 169 
 
 " ' He laughs best who laughs last,' " quoted Tarle- 
 ton somewhat grimly, but aware that he could not 
 wholly conceal his discomfiture and rage from the 
 quick-witted lady, although he prayed devoutly 
 that she had not yet heard the disastrous end of 
 his duel with Telfair. " But a truce to this epi 
 sode, which I own causes me chagrin. I came to 
 see you for a far different cause." 
 
 " Indeed," regarding him intently ; " then 't is 
 love, not war, that makes your errand." 
 
 He smiled at her readiness as he made answer : 
 "Ay, and 'pon honor, for the first time I am 
 minded to ask one of your sex about another." 
 
 " Ah, Tar le ton, to what a pass do I see you 
 brought gay gallant as you are by this fair 
 and subtle American ! " 
 
 " You are right," he cried, with such infinite 
 passion and earnestness that Lady Dolly was 
 startled into gravity. " I half believe I am be 
 witched, for her beauty entrances me while her 
 coldness maddens me. You are wise tell me, 
 shall I press her for definite assurance that I may 
 win her, or give her what she asks of me time ? " 
 
 " Has it then gone so far ? Women, like horses, 
 love to have their heads given them, and I do 
 think whip and spur a mistake, under most circum 
 stances, with either ! " 
 
 " You may be right." He sighed, walked back 
 and forward a few restless steps, and then re 
 sumed : " That fellow," with concentrated hatred 
 in his tone that made Lady Dolly open wide her
 
 170 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 eyes and stare at him, " that fellow has the 
 audacity to admire her; damn him ! " 
 
 " Fie, fie," shaking her head in pretended horror 
 at the oath ; " what do you mean ? Not the gentle 
 man who does the disappearing act so cleverly ? " 
 
 " Ay, I found him on his knees before her in 
 the summer-house." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Lady Dolly to herself ; and it was 
 a very large round O, and meant at least a quarto 
 volume of comprehension. But aloud she mur 
 mured softly, " What presumption ! I trust Mis 
 tress Moncriffe reproved him promptly ? " 
 
 " Faith, she did, and almost summoned me to 
 her side by her answer. And I rushed to her," 
 Tarleton caught himself just in time. 
 
 " And he escaped," cried Lady Dolly, now fully 
 convinced that in the encounter between the two 
 men, Tarleton had been worsted, and unable to 
 help a little private exultation over the dashing 
 rebel whom in her naughty heart she admired. 
 " Why, man, the field is open for you, but for 
 Heaven's sake ride carefully or you will be thrown." 
 
 Tarleton smiled at the racing simile. Sir Don 
 ald Menteith was master of hounds at home, and 
 Lady Dolly dearly loved to follow the pack, and 
 seldom failed to be in at the death. 
 
 " Then you counsel me to moderation ? But 
 war waits not for love, and I must soon leave this 
 place to stamp out this rebellion against His 
 Majesty. And you know I ani somewhat given to 
 impetuosity."
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 171 
 
 " I am aware 't is your most glaring fault," said 
 Lady Dolly, with an amused recollection of certain 
 passages between her and Tarleton before she 
 changed her name and took Sir Donald for better 
 or worse ; " but let desire wait on expediency ; be 
 lieve me, 't is the wiser plan to-day. And now I 
 must dismiss you, for I am going for a ride at noon 
 and am sure to be late as it is. Farewell," and 
 she courtesied to him with a merry smile. 
 
 Geraldine, unlike Lady Dolly, had made an 
 early awakening, if indeed she could be said to 
 have slept, for after conquering her faintness she 
 had returned to the ballroom with Murray and 
 danced every dance as she had promised, Tarleton 
 returning in time to claim two of these, and so 
 fearful was she of giving cause for gossip, or of 
 allowing Tarleton for one moment to suppose that 
 Telfair occupied her thoughts, that she unbent a 
 little from her proud dignity and was almost rest 
 less in her gayety. Perhaps that added to her 
 charm, for when she left the ballroom, even the 
 feminine verdict of Savannah was in her favor. 
 
 It had been Geraldine's plan to stop that day in 
 the city, but her father sent word by Margot that 
 he should be detained at the fort on official busi 
 ness, and she therefore excused herself to her host, 
 Sir James, and ordered her chariot to take her 
 back to the plantation. But when it came around 
 to the door, there came also Jumbo leading her 
 own bay horse, and Geraldine promptly decided 
 that Margot should return in the chariot, while
 
 172 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 she would ride with Jumbo as escort. And so bid 
 ding graceful farewells and thanks to the governor, 
 she mounted and rode swiftly away, before Lady 
 Dolly had finished her first cup of chocolate. 
 
 She had not gone far, however, on her homeward 
 way, before she was seized with a curious, half- 
 homesick longing to once more see Dumblane and 
 her friend Rose. To be sure, her father was not 
 friendly now with the Telfairs, but then he had 
 made no remark when she told him of Rose's visit, 
 nor had he forbidden her to return it. Why not ? 
 They were companions almost since babyhood ; 
 how could she be blamed for wanting to continue 
 the bond of friendship even if this unholy war had 
 intervened ? So with a quiet word to Jumbo, who 
 galloped back to deliver her message of where she 
 was going to Margot, and to bid her go on to 
 Glenmoira, Geraldine turned aside as she came to 
 the cross-road, and cantered on up the avenue to 
 Dumblane. 
 
 Rose, sitting with her mother on the portico, 
 engaged in the homely and necessary employment 
 of rolling bandages, which were to be sent, when 
 opportunity afforded, to the forces of the patriots 
 in South Carolina, could hardly believe her eyes 
 when she saw the bay horse and beheld Geraldine 
 waving a pretty salute to them, and she flew to 
 meet her as she drew rein at the door. 
 
 " Welcome, thrice welcome," she cried, throwing 
 her arms around her friend, forgetting in her 
 warm-hearted affection the terms upon which they
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 173 
 
 had parted, while Geraldine totally ignored the 
 fact of her Tory sentiments, and embraced her 
 rebel Rose with the utmost fervor. "Look, 
 mother, is she not more lovely than ever? and 
 grown, yes, though even now you are not so tall as 
 I," and Rose gave a mock condescending glance at 
 the red-gold head. 
 
 " I see but little change," said Madam Telfair, 
 as she kissed the pretty cheek which glowed afresh 
 under gaze of eyes so like those which had looked 
 into her own a few hours before. " Yes," smiling, 
 as she noted the girl's brief embarrassment, " you 
 have the air of the world you lacked before, and I 
 think have gained in self-control. I wish I could 
 say as much for Rose, who, as you see, remains 
 outspoken as ever." 
 
 " Who wants me otherwise must ride away," 
 returned Rose gayly. 
 
 " I, for one, do not, although you did read me a 
 lecture the other day," said Geraldine, with a teas 
 ing gleam in her eye ; " but I came for only a brief 
 moment, as I am returning home after the fete of 
 last night." 
 
 " Oh, ay, the fete given by Sir James. I know 
 you were the admired of all," said Rose in a voice 
 of such hearty conviction that both her mother 
 and Geraldine could not refrain from laughing. 
 
 " Not precisely all, Rose ; indeed, if my mem 
 ory serves there was one young and passable-look 
 ing gallant, who occupied his entire dance with 
 me by talking of you, and not content with that,
 
 174 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 he resumed the fascinating topic when he claimed 
 me for a second. I had never met your cousin be 
 fore, but his remarks convinced me he is a man of 
 taste." 
 
 It was Rose's turn to look out of countenance, 
 but merriment got the better of her, and she in 
 stantly plunged into laughing abuse of Murray, 
 which would have rejoiced his soul to hear, and 
 Madam Telfair, for the first time, wondered in her 
 heart whether it was wise to have that young 
 gentleman come so frequently and familiarly to 
 Dumblane. 
 
 The pleasant chat flowed on, for although Geral- 
 dine was possessed with the uneasy consciousness 
 that no doubt in a few hours Rose and her mother 
 would hear of the duel and of Roy's escape, she 
 could not bring herself to inform them of it ; 
 looking at it in any light it was neither wise nor 
 prudent for her to do so, and finally bidding Madam 
 Telfair farewell the two girls walked down the 
 avenue together, Jumbo following with the horses, 
 and Rose, longing with all her heart to speak of 
 Roy, was withheld by fear of incautious meddling 
 in what she felt was the happiness of her brother's 
 life. But suddenly Geraldine stopped short in the 
 path, and laying her hand in Rose's, said softly : 
 
 " I do not know when I may see you again, dear, 
 or what you may hear said of me and the events 
 that seem to be crowding each other in my life, 
 but Rose, promise me that you will trust me, 
 and and make those you love trust me also if 
 you can."
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 175 
 
 " I promise," said Rose, in her low, steadfast 
 voice. 
 
 " I am sore bestead ; I am pressed on every 
 side. My father is, you know, a stern man and 
 accustomed to be obeyed. He has none but me, 
 and to go against his plans, matured for some 
 years, will vex him sorely. But, Rose, when my 
 own heart speaks Oh, I am talking in enigmas 
 you cannot know what I mean, and honor ties 
 my tongue." 
 
 " I guess more than you think," whispered Rose, 
 as she saw a brilliant flush dye the fair face. 
 
 Geraldine hurried on as the horses came nearer. 
 " Roy thinks he has cause to despise me, alas ! I 
 must leave my vindication to time" - Jumbo 
 stood at her elbow, and in a second Geraldine was 
 in her saddle. But she bent down for a parting 
 kiss, and as she gave it, she breathed softly in 
 Rose's ear, " Tell Roy to trust me still," and was 
 off before Rose could answer. 
 
 As Geraldine galloped back down the avenue 
 to the main road she felt a throb of hope. But 
 would Roy understand ; could he be so blind as not 
 to know that her apparently cruel speech of the 
 night before was said for Tarle ton's ears, because 
 she knew he was close enough to catch her words, 
 and that the knowledge that Roy had been and 
 still was her lover was sufficient to transform him 
 from vague suspicion to unrelenting enmity ? Oh, 
 luckless fate, for her coldness had apparently pre 
 cipitated all she had tried to avoid !
 
 176 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Jumbo and she turned out of the avenue and 
 were proceeding at a moderate pace toward Glen- 
 moira when they caught the sound of horse's feet 
 coming rapidly behind them, and looking back 
 Geraldine saw Tarleton riding after her. Her first 
 feeling was one of thankfulness that he had not 
 chanced to encounter her as she came out from 
 Dumblane, her next was to steady her nerves, and 
 determine that he should be kept at arm's length 
 in his suit by whatever device might come to her. 
 
 " A bright morning after our festivities," he 
 said, sweeping her a graceful salute with his 
 plumed hat, for Tarleton always rode faultlessly 
 attired, and his grace and ease were part of his 
 fascinating manner to women ; " you look as fresh 
 as the day itself. I waited, hoping to have the 
 honor of being your escort back to the plantation, 
 as Colonel Moncriff e told me he should be detained, 
 but when I returned from a necessary errand they 
 told me you had taken horse." 
 
 " Yes, riding seemed preferable to driving. 
 After dancing it was ever my aunt's custom in 
 London to bid me go for a gallop." 
 
 " I have not yet had opportunity to ask how 
 you enjoyed your ball. Indeed I was so annoyed 
 by my enforced absence when in pursuit of that 
 insolent rebel that I scarce had my wits about me 
 for the remainder of the evening." 
 
 "You could hardly have been more annoyed 
 than I," said Geraldine coldly. 
 
 " Annoyed ! " he began eagerly ; then glancing
 
 THE ROLE OF CONFIDANTE 177 
 
 at her still, proud face, he changed his tone. " Do 
 you mean that you did me the grace to miss me, 
 or have I had the great misfortune to annoy you ? " 
 
 " Surely Colonel Tarleton can hardly consider 
 that he complimented me by making me the object 
 of a broil a hand-to-hand combat ! We are now 
 affording the gossips of Savannah a fruitful topic, 
 no doubt." 
 
 " But, madam," cried Tarleton, hi absolute dis 
 may, as the red blood rushed into his face, " you 
 are surely aware that I was subjected to the igno 
 miny of a blow, I, Banastre Tarleton, and 
 that instant satisfaction was imperative. Permit 
 me to remind you that I came to your rescue as 
 well, from importunities that seemed to offend 
 you." 
 
 " I am quite able to defend myself, sir," said 
 his tormentor, " 't is the publicity of the affair that 
 distracts me. How could you bring me into such 
 unenviable notoriety ? " and Geraldine turned her 
 beautiful eyes reproachfully upon him, thereby 
 completing his bewilderment. 
 
 " Do you mean that I should again have per 
 mitted that insolent rebel to make his escape with 
 out endeavor to stay him ? He is hardly worth 
 the discussion between you and me, but if he is 
 the cause of your coldness to me this morning, I 
 can find it in my heart to hate him even more than 
 before. Let him look to himself when next he 
 meets Tarleton," and he smothered the oath that 
 came readily to his lips. " Forgive me ; I have
 
 178 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 startled you, and let me make my peace, or this 
 will be the most wretched day of my existence." 
 
 " Then let it pass," said Geraldine gently, and 
 having thus reduced the hitherto invincible Tarle- 
 ton to abject despair, she allowed him to dismount 
 her as they drew up their horses before the door 
 of Glenmoira.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 UNDER WHICH COLORS 
 
 COLONEL MONCRIFFE sat in his library, turning 
 over a pile of papers with hasty hand and frowning 
 brow. His was usually a calm, almost stern de 
 meanor, but it was very evident that something 
 had occurred to ruffle him, for after reading the 
 same letter thrice in succession, he threw it from 
 him, and leaning forward touched the hammer of a 
 gong upon his table sharply. Jupiter, whose duty 
 it was to answer the colonel's summons, came with 
 sufficient speed only to find his master in the act 
 of ringing the second time almost before the first 
 call had died away. 
 
 " Tell your mistress I desire her to come to me 
 at once," and Jupiter vanished before what he felt 
 was a coming storm ; or, as he expressed it to Mar- 
 got, to whom he delivered the message, " Marse 
 been takin' counsel wif de debbil, suah ; bes' not 
 keep him waitin'. " Which translated by Margot 
 reached Geraldine as, " The colonel 's in the 
 library, my leddy, an' somewhat warm ; ye '11 be 
 needin' a' your coolness, so dinna fash yoursel'. " 
 
 Geraldine's color mounted, and there was a 
 sparkle in her blue eyes which told of high courage
 
 180 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 as she went swiftly along the gallery. She was 
 aware that Tarleton and her father had been 
 closeted for more than an hour, and that in all 
 probability she could no longer postpone a decision 
 of some sort as regarded his pretensions. 
 
 "You sent for me, father," she said softly, as 
 closing the door she entered his presence. And 
 then she sat down calmly in a high-backed, carved 
 chair, and awaited the storm. 
 
 Nothing could have been so disconcerting as 
 this, and Colonel Moncriffe bit his lip, and began 
 the conversation in far more moderate tones than 
 he had intended. This was not the child who had 
 left him three years before, whom he could control 
 by a frown or a sharply spoken word, but a woman 
 with self-possession that equaled if it did not exceed 
 his own. " I have somewhat to say to you, my 
 daughter, in continuation of the subject I broached 
 soon after your return. I then laid before you a 
 plan the dearest of my life, I think which 
 involves your future and I may add your happi 
 ness. I have made this province my abode ; here 
 I met my life's sorrow, the loss of your mother, 
 and three charming boy infants, who might have 
 lived to become the prop of my declining years. 
 Alas ! death has left me but you and on you 
 depends my future to a greater extent than per 
 haps you can understand." His voice trembled, 
 he was a consummate actor, and he was playing 
 his role to win, the stakes being a child's happi 
 ness or misery versus his own comfort and good
 
 UNDER WHICH COLORS 181 
 
 name. It must be confessed that Geraldine had 
 never regarded her father, a man in the very prime 
 of life, as in immediate need of a prop of any kind, 
 and she surveyed him with a look of bewilderment 
 which he interpreted in his own way. 
 
 " You doubtless are aware that Colonel Tarle- 
 ton has fallen monstrously in love with you a 
 climax which, though I hoped for, I did not con 
 sider necessary, as experience has taught me that 
 matrimonial connections are happier when formed 
 with good judgment and regard than those of 
 highly wrought passion. But this is immaterial ; 
 may I ask your feeling toward your suitor? I 
 trust you have arrived at a point where the ques 
 tion is not premature." 
 
 " Most assuredly not, but it is unfortunate that 
 Colonel Tarleton has conceived such violent ad 
 miration for me, as, save for his handsome looks 
 and fine manners, he does not appeal to me in the 
 least." 
 
 " Geraldine ! " Her father's voice deepened 
 ominously, and she braced herself again as she 
 recognized it. " Surely you are not mawkish 
 enough to desire to fall in love with a husband ? " 
 
 " I confess to a prejudice in favor of that emo 
 tion," she said. " Father, I am by no means ready 
 to marry any one. Colonel Tarleton, I am aware, 
 does me much honor. Coming from England, 
 from scores of titled beauties whom Lady Dolly 
 assures me have smiled upon him in vain, he seeks 
 an American with whom he has not one thought
 
 182 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 in common. You sent me to England to be 
 educated, to learn English ways, English ideas, 
 and (I now understand) to many an Englishman. 
 I may have acquired the way, the manner of a 
 court, but deep down in my heart I am every inch 
 an American." She paused, hef color rose, and 
 she went on more rapidly. " Dear father, now 
 that I have come home, I realize what the ever- 
 recurring want has been during my life in Eng 
 land. In Scotland I had the home-feeling more, 
 for I love my clan, and the tales of my gallant 
 ancestors found a responsive throb in my heart each 
 time I heard them. But here, ah, here, where I 
 was born, is the sole spot on earth where I can be 
 happy, and I know now that the ambitions and 
 glitter of a court can never, never satisfy me. 
 Thank Colonel Tarleton for the distinguished 
 honor he has paid me, but let me stay here and live 
 and die in my own beautiful land of the South." 
 
 As Geraldine's voice rang out with its pathetic 
 pleading her father's face changed from surprise to 
 fury, and when she ceased he was absolutely livid. 
 
 " So, girl," he said under his breath, " you are 
 an American ; are you likewise a rebel or a pa 
 triot, as their jargon has it? for your high-flown 
 sentiments need go but one step farther to make 
 you discard the colors of the king." 
 
 " Father ! " 
 
 "Ay, and perhaps you are making ready to 
 take it. That I should live to hear my daughter's 
 proud name linked with an outlaw-raider! 'Tis
 
 UNDER WHICH COLORS 183 
 
 common gossip in the city how at the governor's 
 fete a duel was fought for your hand " 
 
 " Stop ! " The tone was haughty and inflexible 
 as his own. " I can guard and protect my own 
 dignity even when my father stoops to use such 
 language to his child." 
 
 Moncriffe gasped for breath, and for a moment 
 Geraldine thought he would raise his hand and 
 strike her. There was not a sound except his 
 labored breathing, and a sensation of terror crept 
 over the girl, as she watched him until the spasm 
 of fury passed. When he finally spoke he had 
 regained his color, and something of his usual 
 manner. 
 
 " In my anger, drawn forth by your contu 
 macious behavior, I have said more than I should," 
 he continued, with cold, but stately courtesy. " I 
 withdraw the epithet I used, but I have now to lay 
 my commands upon you. This match with Colonel 
 Tarleton has the sanction of his father as well as 
 yours; you will accept him, and when the time 
 arrives go with him to the altar." 
 
 " Never ! " Geraldine sprang from her seat as 
 she spoke, but suddenly, before she could utter 
 another syllable, her father stretched out both 
 hands towards her, tears actually streaming down 
 his face. 
 
 " Geraldine, my child," he cried in a voice of 
 agony, " forbear ! Take time, put him to the test ; 
 ask any terms you please but do not deprive me 
 of life itself by disobeying my request."
 
 184 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Bewildered, alarmed, with an undefinable sense 
 of some mystery that she could not penetrate, 
 Geraldine paused, her eyes filled with terror. 
 Could she but have read a letter hidden beneath 
 that pile of papers on the desk before her, she 
 would have appreciated the cleverness of the act 
 ing whose real motive was selfish, calculating con 
 cern for his own ends and purposes alone. 
 
 " Father, I do not understand your meaning. 
 How can I promise to do what I never intend to 
 perform ? Would you counsel me to put such an 
 insult upon Colonel Tarleton as to pretend that I 
 will bestow my hand upon him, and then with 
 draw?" 
 
 " No, no," he cried still wildly, as he thought he 
 perceived that it was possible to carry his point, 
 " not that, but women have been known to change 
 their minds, and "- 
 
 " What would you have me do ? " Still the 
 sense of alarm was strong within her ; she could 
 not account for it. 
 
 " Only this," he took her hand and pressed it 
 fondly ; " say to him that you will consider the 
 matter, but there shall be no haste, that you do not 
 know your own heart " 
 
 " Alas, I read it but too well," murmured Geral 
 dine to herself, but she answered, " If Colonel 
 Tarleton be willing to take such reply in all 
 earnestness " 
 
 " He is here to make answer for himself," said 
 Moncriffe, rising suddenly and throwing open the
 
 UNDER WHICH COLORS 185 
 
 door of his private cabinet, where Tarleton had 
 been concealed during the entire interview, 
 although out of hearing. " I will not anticipate 
 him." 
 
 " Then, mistress of Tarleton's heart, you will 
 grant my prayer and make me the happiest of 
 men," cried Tarleton, advancing toward her, and 
 at the same moment bestowing a private maledic 
 tion upon Moncriffe for remaining as witness to 
 the interview, which indeed, for special reasons of 
 his own, that personage did not dare to have tran 
 spire except hi his presence. 
 
 "Nay, you would be of all men most miser 
 able were I to consent at present," said Geraldine, 
 now fully convinced that there was something 
 beneath the surface, and that for the moment she 
 had best appear to yield, " but as I have told you 
 already, I desire time, and, at some later day, 
 perhaps"- And then while Tarleton fell to 
 kissing her hand with rapturous thanks, and her 
 father raised his eyes to Heaven in hypocritical 
 gratitude, Geraldine was saying to herself, " Oh, 
 Eoy, Roy, forgive me for the subterfuge," and 
 presently excused herself, and with outward calm 
 ness, but inward tumult, went quietly back to her 
 own room, leaving the two men together. 
 
 "Faith," said Tarleton, flinging himself on a 
 chair, " you are a man of your word. Leave the 
 rest to me, sir ; I can usually bend a woman's will 
 to mine." 
 
 " Whether you do or not, my word is pledged,"
 
 186 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 returned Moncriffe grimly, thinking how he would 
 destroy that letter the moment he was free to 
 do so. 
 
 Margot, going into her young mistress's cham 
 ber a little later, found her sobbing bitterly with 
 her face pressed against the pillows of her bed. 
 
 " My bairn, my bairn," cried the Scotchwoman, 
 " whatever has befallen ye ? Dinna greet ; there '11 
 be happier days to come." 
 
 " Not for me, perhaps," said Geraldine despair 
 ingly, "but come what may, Margot, one thing is 
 sure. From this day forth I wear the rebel blue, 
 and God save the cause of freedom ! " 
 
 " I knew it wad come, sooner or later," said 
 Margot ; " 't is the bluid your mither's bluid 
 whilk comes bounding in your veins. Ah, diuna 
 I tell ye that Maister Roy "- 
 
 " Hush ! do not name him now, for my heart is 
 torn. Listen, Margot," and she related her inter 
 view with her father, and its result. 
 
 " An' did he greet, an' ca' on Heaven, and 
 fright ye sair ? Ah, the villain ; forgie me, my 
 leddy, but I hae seen him do the self-same trick 
 wi' your mither, and I ken weel his ways." 
 
 " Margot, what do you mean ? Tell me, I im 
 plore you." 
 
 " Not noo ; the time 's not ripe, but bide a wee, 
 an' some day I '11 tell ye a'." And with that as 
 surance Geraldine dried her eyes, and rose to dress 
 for supper, for in the days of our grandmothers, 
 as now in ours, they hid their heartaches under
 
 UNDER WHICH COLORS 187 
 
 laughter and smiles, and quenched their tears with 
 a repartee. 
 
 Margot was standing in the servants' quarters 
 some two hours later, giving out supplies from the 
 storeroom, when she heard the trooper, Burt, come 
 whistling softly along the corridor. 
 
 " Is that you, Mistress Margot ? " said he, stop 
 ping to survey the row of shining black faces, 
 which smiled back at him good-humoredly, for 
 Tarleton's orderly had made himself very popular 
 among the dusky part of the household during his 
 stay on the plantation. " Sugar and coffee, too ; 
 you'll grow fat on such liberal provision, Aunt 
 Venus." 
 
 " 'T ain't likely," retorted the goddess of the 
 kitchen, surveying her portly person with satis 
 faction ; " reckon dis chile 'bout reached de line fer 
 her time ob life, an' she 's boun' to keep it, ef so 
 be yo' don' hab no mo' battles an' raidin' roun' dis 
 yere plantation to skeer de life outen us. De 
 Lawd knows I ain't lackin' fer hospertalerty, but 
 de sooner we sees de backs ob soldiers, raidcoats or 
 green, it don' matter which, de sweeter will be 
 sleep an' res' fer Venus." 
 
 Burt laughed, as the line of blacks trooped away, 
 Aunt Venus leading them, and then he turned 
 toward Margot with a change of face. " I have 
 somewhat to say to you," he said under his breath ; 
 " come outside for a moment ; I distrust brick 
 walls," and Margot, comprehending, motioned 
 him to go before her, and then followed him back
 
 188 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 of the quarters, where they stopped under a myrtle 
 tree. 
 
 " I have something here for your mistress, which 
 came to my hand from a Dutch boy who was riding 
 a horse I happened to know. Use care, Mistress 
 Margot," and he pressed a scrap of paper into her 
 hand, and walked off whistling in the direction of 
 the stables. 
 
 Margot looked down dubiously at it, as she pro 
 ceeded back up the staircase. " "Will it hurt or 
 please her ? " she thought. " I dinna ken the ways 
 o' these young sweethearts ; ane day cruel, ane day 
 kind. But perhaps 't will set her mind at rest 
 ane way or t'ither." 
 
 What would sage old Margot have said had she 
 read the few unsigned words on that soiled bit of 
 paper, which her young mistress held in her hand 
 that night as she fell into sweeter sleep than had yet 
 visited her eyes ? For the writing, in a hurried, 
 cramped hand, ran : " I have penetrated your 
 ruse ; courage, till we meet again."
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 
 
 IT was the close of a hot August day, and the 
 Southern night, which always falls more swiftly 
 than in Northern latitudes, was softly obscuring the 
 landscape not far from where the Santee River 
 wound its way. In the dim light one could still 
 distinguish groups of men, horses, and a train of 
 baggage-wagons with mules tied near them, while 
 here and there was the light of a campfire where 
 the men were cooking fish and making coffee. The 
 command was of goodly size, composed of Georgia 
 loyalists and Tarleton's legion, and for several 
 months they had been engaged in scouring the 
 country in search of Marion, who, having scored a 
 brilliant victory over Frazier at Parker's Ferry, 
 was now engaged in harrying Tarleton, often 
 marching, mounted on the fleet horses which the 
 patriots brought to his aid, sixty miles between 
 sundown and daybreak, striking blows now here, 
 now there, until the British began to regard the 
 Swamp Fox with nameless terror as a mysterious 
 foe, who was always at hand when least expected, 
 with his terrible shout and overwhelming charge. 
 In short, no romance of the Middle Ages excelled
 
 190 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 this partisan warfare, which, on account of the 
 cruelties employed by the British after the occu 
 pation of Charleston and Savannah, was conducted 
 with far more bitterness and revenge than any 
 other part of the war of independence. 
 
 In his tent, with Halleck and several other 
 officers, sat Tarleton, resting after many hours 
 spent in the saddle, for having received what ap 
 peared to him reliable information, he had made 
 a forced march from the Black River, where he 
 had encamped the day before, to his present po 
 sition. His camp chest was open, and Burt had 
 just fetched fresh bottles of wine from the sutler's 
 cart, but though jest and mirth filled the tent, 
 Tarleton's brow was moody and his air impatient. 
 
 " That innocent, stupid-looking lout whom we 
 found on the river-bank had an eye for a comfort 
 able camping-ground," said Halleck, leaning over 
 as Tarleton refilled his glass in silence. 
 
 " Ay, but I am not so sure of its safety," 
 muttered his friend, " therefore I took the pre 
 caution to ride fully a mile further than he indi 
 cated. These pestilent Whigs have a way of 
 transforming themselves from soldiers into peace 
 ful-looking husbandmen in a fashion that I believe 
 they borrow from the devil himself. Do you re 
 collect the farmer on the Pedee River ? " 
 
 " Who almost led us into ambush ? Ay, but 
 his punishment was swift and sure." 
 
 " I made certain of that," replied Tarleton 
 grimly, " for I gave the thrust with my own hand ;
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 191 
 
 he did not need a second. Gascoigne," addressing 
 a young officer of the group, " see that the sentries 
 are placed close along the line of approach from 
 the river ; I am somewhat uneasy to-night." 
 
 " Yes, colonel," said the man addressed, salut 
 ing, as he cast an unconscious glance of regret 
 toward the glass he set down unemptied. 
 
 " And return, Gascoigne ; we need you to reduce 
 this bottle," said Tarleton, more good-hum oredly, 
 with that comradeship which made him a favorite 
 with his friends and those thrown in close compan 
 ionship with him. 
 
 " Tarleton," said Halleck in a low voice, as the 
 others continued the discussion for a moment in 
 terrupted, " what news did Burt fetch you ? I 
 knew, or rather guessed, what his three days' ab 
 sence from the command probably meant, but from 
 your careworn brow I fear he brought you some 
 what of ill-tidings." 
 
 " You are right ; affairs at Glenmoira do not 
 appear to progress ; in fact I think the lady grows 
 more cold each time I receive a missive if indeed 
 I be so fortunate as to have reply to mine, which 
 is not always. Halleck, I sometimes think I am 
 indeed bewitched, for the less my passion has to 
 thrive upon, the more mad it grows." 
 
 Halleck eyed him for a moment with a half- 
 whimsical smile. " 'T is opposition which feeds 
 the flame ; your conquests have been all too easy 
 heretofore, man. And then, I grant you, Mistress 
 Moncriffe is wondrous beautiful, and possesses a 
 charm all her own of sweet graciousness."
 
 192 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " And playfulness, and humor, and wit oh, 
 ay, I can run the gamut of all her witcheries, I 
 promise you. But for me, Halleck, she cares as 
 little as the thistledown that the wind wafts across 
 her path." 
 
 " Then why pursue the affair further ? There 
 be others " 
 
 " No," cried Tarleton impetuously, " to me 
 there is but the one woman in the universe." 
 
 " To-day, but to-morrow ? " Halleck hes 
 itated, for he saw the spark of anger light Tarle- 
 ton's dark eyes. 
 
 " I tell you," he said in accents of concentrated 
 passion, " not all the powers of this world or the 
 next can change my purpose. I care not whether 
 she comes to my arms a willing bride or no 
 possess her I will, or " 
 
 Out on the still night air there rang a sudden 
 shot, followed by a distant shout, which was re 
 peated from sentry to sentry. Tarleton sprang to 
 his feet and snatched his sword from the spot 
 where he had flung it down, and in a second the 
 party were outside the tent, where they were met 
 by Gascoigne. 
 
 " The shot came from the sentry furthest west," 
 said he. " Hark ! the picket-guard are advancing 
 this way," and through the bushes came a line of 
 soldiers with some one in their midst. 
 
 " A prisoner," cried Tarleton eagerly, his eyes 
 beginning to sparkle with the excitement of coming 
 strife. The group of officers peered intently into
 
 the gloom, as the guard filed in sight, and the 
 corporal, saluting, pressed forward. 
 
 " I have to report a prisoner, sir, who endeav 
 ored to land and cross our lines from a canoe which 
 she had evidently paddled down the river" 
 
 " She ! " echoed Tarleton, as the slim, straight 
 figure of an Indian girl stepped forward with a 
 trooper on either side. " Whom have we here ? 
 Bring her inside my tent," and he walked leisurely 
 back, signing Halleck to accompany him. Enter 
 ing, he took a pine torch, and cast its light full 
 upon the girl, who stood unmoved beneath his 
 scrutiny. 
 
 " My princess of the woods ! " cried Tarleton, 
 suddenly recognizing Laceola. " By gad, Halleck, 
 she has wandered far to find me this time. Search 
 her," to the guard, " and be sure she has no 
 weapons." 
 
 " Apparently none, sir," said the soldier, while 
 Burt came forward and stood behind her, obedient 
 to a sign from Tarleton ; " there was a pistol hi her 
 belt which the sentry secured. That was the shot 
 you heard ; she was trying to escape." 
 
 " You may go," said Tarleton after a pause, dur 
 ing which he eyed Laceola intently, and the guard 
 left the tent. The flickering light of the pine 
 torch fell aslant the girl's face, but she might have 
 been a statue save for her breathing, so motionless 
 was she, as she stood, her haughty eyes looking 
 beyond the inmates of the tent, in silence. 
 
 " What brings you here ? " asked Tarleton, 
 breaking the stillness sharply.
 
 194 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " The redcoat soldiers dragged Laceola ; she 
 hod no wish to come." 
 
 " Answer iny question ; what brought you on 
 the river ? " 
 
 " Laceola goes on her way toward the setting 
 sun. Her home is beyond the Great River ; let 
 her return undisturbed to her people." 
 
 " Not until I am satisfied that you are not a 
 spy ; have you not been with Marion's forces ? " 
 
 " The lair of the Swamp Fox is many miles away 
 on an island where there are no bridges for the 
 redcoats to cross," said Laceola contemptuously. 
 
 " Can you direct us on the trail ? If we can 
 but locate the spot, girl, I will reward you well." 
 
 " Laceola's eyes are keen, but she cannot see far 
 enough to show the road to the soldiers of the 
 king." 
 
 " In other words, you will not. Beware, I am 
 not to be trifled with, and I do not choose to hold 
 prisoners." It did not need the deadly menace of 
 his tone to convey his meaning, for his sinister 
 glance was interpreted both by the Indian girl and 
 Halleck, and the latter said hastily under his 
 breath : " Better powwow, Tarleton ; you may 
 persuade, but I fear you cannot drive this piece of 
 femininity. Let me try." 
 
 Something in the girl's fearless eye made Tarle 
 ton pause, and Halleck addressed her in softer 
 voice. " Has Laceola seen the Swamp Fox this 
 moon ? Does he ride with many men ? " 
 
 " Some days many, some days few. Did not
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 195 
 
 the redcoats find him on the banks of the Pe- 
 dee?" 
 
 " Ay, curse you ! " cried Tarleton, stung by the 
 reference, " 't is useless parleying with the jade 
 longer. We could not trust her even as guide, 
 and she might lead us into ambush. Oh, could I 
 but capture this wily Marion hark ! more trouble 
 along the line," for a rushing, murmuring sound 
 came on the wind. " See to it that the girl does 
 not elude you this time, Burt. What 's that ? 
 Good God ! the enemy ! " 
 
 Well might Tarleton shout " To horse ! " as he 
 tore out of the tent, followed by Halleck, for on 
 his left and in his rear were dashing lines of riders 
 led by the invincible Marion himself, and out 
 above the clash and din, as the surprised British 
 endeavored to rally and charge, came the hoarse 
 battle-cry of the patriots, 
 
 " No quarter for Tories ! Remember Waxhaw 
 Creek!" 
 
 Laceola laid her hand on Burt's arm, as he 
 sprang to follow Tarleton. " Laceola's shot was 
 the signal to the Swamp Fox," she whispered 
 breathlessly. " He had been watching for the 
 British from yonder morass since morning, and 
 Laceola paddled her canoe softly down the river 
 till she came where the sentry stood. Bounding 
 Elk said Laceola must speak soft words until she 
 heard the horses' hoofs rush from behind." 
 
 " By heavens, girl, you did your trick well ! 
 I '11 not detain you," and extinguishing the pine
 
 196 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 torch he rushed out into the fight followed by the 
 Indian girl. 
 
 Outside was wild tumult and confusion ; the 
 deadly ring of the sharpshooters' bullets, the rifle 
 volleys, shouts, shrieks, and groans, as horses and 
 men went down before that wild charge of Marion's 
 men. Frequently had that redoubtable leader at 
 tacked the enemy at night, and it was said that the 
 patriots as well as their trusty beasts could see as 
 clearly by night as by day, and this added to the 
 terror which they inspired. In vain did Tarleton 
 and Halleck, with scores of pther officers, try to 
 rally their command ; the rout went on, and sore- 
 pressed, fighting bravely in his rage and mortifi 
 cation, Tarleton finally made good his escape with 
 a handful of his legion, and reached the banks of 
 the Edisto River as dawn broke over the forests. 1 
 
 To Marion and his gallant band the sun rose 
 joyously, for beside as many prisoners as they could 
 safely manage to carry with them, they had cap 
 tured Tarleton's baggage train, and it may be 
 readily imagined with what delight those men who 
 had for months subsisted on the most meagre diet 
 welcomed a return to food in plenty. And safely 
 ensconced in a friendly swamp, which afforded 
 them ample concealment and means of escape in 
 case of attack, they indulged in the almost for 
 gotten luxuries of sugar, tea, coffee, and even pep- 
 
 1 In this engagement at midnight, Marion lost one man killed ; 
 the Tories were almost annihilated. (Losaing's Field Book of the 
 Revolution.)
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 197 
 
 per, with an appetite which threatened to make 
 large inroads into their newly acquired stores. 
 
 On the log of a fallen live oak sat Boy Telfair, 
 talking busily with McKay, as they ate their 
 breakfast, with an air of elation which they had 
 fairly earned the right to enjoy. 
 
 " Faith, Telfair, those British know how to pro 
 vide for their comfort," said McKay, stirring the 
 unwonted sugar in his pewter pannikin of coffee. 
 " This is an improvement on our herb tea, which, 
 even with a dash of cognac in it, was hardly palat 
 able." 
 
 " Ay, and the river fish never tasted as good as 
 with this sprinkle of pepper," taking a liberal 
 pinch of that condiment from an oak leaf where 
 he had bestowed it. " It gives one rather a home 
 sick feeling for the nonce, McKay : perhaps 't is 
 as well for us that we have a few hardships in the 
 way of subsisting on what we forage for ourselves 
 in the forest. 'T is a strong, hardy life, and for 
 one, I 've grown to love it well." 
 
 "And so have I," returned McKay heartily, 
 "but I hear rumor has it that we are ordered 
 to join the new general, Gates, whom the com 
 mander in chief has sent to superintend the cam 
 paign in the South." 
 
 " Pray Heaven he may be a better one than our 
 last. Who 's this coming over the grass in our di 
 rection ? " Both officers looked up to see Ossaba, fol 
 lowed by Laceola, approaching them, while from the 
 other side came an orderly who addressed Telfair.
 
 198 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " Colonel Marion desires that Captain Telfair 
 and Captain McKay come to him for conference 
 at once. He is a few yards to the right, beyond 
 the wagons." 
 
 " Laceola will wait," said the Indian girl, as Roy 
 turned courteously towards her before departing on 
 the errand. " Ossaba and Laceola are to scout ; 
 the Bounding Elk will hear the Swamp Fox's 
 words and return," and folding her blanket across 
 her breast Laceola seated herself calmly on the 
 ground as Telfair and McKay went hastily in re 
 sponse to Marion's summons. 
 
 They found their leader in full conclave with his 
 officers, and as they approached he beckoned the 
 young men to his side. 
 
 "I sent for you, gentlemen, to thank you for 
 your personal prowess of last night, and to inform 
 you that I am ordered to report, with such of my 
 command as I can gather, to General Gates, just 
 appointed to take the field in the Carolinas. I 
 shall therefore push on to join him near Camden 
 with all possible dispatch, but I deem it necessary 
 that a small force be left to hang upon the British 
 flanks between this and the Savannah River. 
 Therefore I shall detach some two hundred men, 
 leaving you, Captain McKay, in command, with 
 Telfair as your second, and detach two of the 
 Indian scouts to accompany you, as they are of 
 great service in such duty. Take care of your 
 men, gentlemen ; beware of surprises (except they 
 be of your own making), and remain upon this
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 199 
 
 duty until further orders. The force will be ready 
 to march by sunset. Farewell, and good fortune 
 attend you till we meet again," and with a warm 
 pressure of the hand and his kindly, almost affec 
 tionate smile, Marion dismissed them, and resumed 
 his conversation with his other officers. 
 
 McKay and Telfair had a busy day before them, 
 and it was not until it was almost time to start 
 that the latter found time to speak to Laceola, who 
 wandered to and fro, helping the men, who wel 
 comed her warmly, for her good service of the 
 night before had been made rumor in the camp, 
 and Marion himself had commended her. 
 
 " We move toward the southwest," said Roy, 
 " and can easily reach the Edisto by the morning. 
 There is a pony for you, Laceola ; Ossaba can 
 take the trail to-night." 
 
 " It must be as the Bounding Elk pleases." A 
 swift flush mounted to the girl's face. " Laceola 
 can scout by night or day. Is her place in the 
 front or the rear?" 
 
 " In the rear when we start. Are you not 
 tired? Last night's skirmish and march were 
 heavy work." 
 
 " Not when the redcoats fall and flee," said the 
 girl proudly, " but the chief-who-loves-blood es 
 caped. Laceola' s knife was ready and its blade is 
 keen ; he spoke bad words to Laceola, and she 
 does not forget." * 
 
 " Tar le ton ? " cried Telfair amazed. He knew 
 nothing of Laceola's encounter with the British
 
 200 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 officer, and could imagine no cause for her apparent 
 hatred. 
 
 " Laceola was his prisoner as he rode to see the 
 palefaced maiden, the White Fawn's friend, 
 but she escaped. The chief-who-loves-blood kissed 
 Laceola on the lips pah ! " and her eyes blazed 
 at recollection of the insult. 
 
 " He did ! " The swift blood flew to Roy's face. 
 " The base villain, to take advantage of your help 
 lessness ! Would I had been there ! " 
 
 A soft moisture wet Laceola's eyes as she turned 
 them upon him. " The Bounding Elk's words are 
 good, they fall kindly upon Laceola's ears. Do 
 not fear ; Laceola can both shoot and strike," and 
 she laid her hand on her belt as she bent her head 
 and glided swiftly away, for the men were mount 
 ing, and Roy turned his horse's head toward the 
 column, fuming inwardly at this fresh evidence of 
 Tarleton's profligate ways. 
 
 The sun was setting in a golden bank of clouds 
 as the forces separated, Roy and McKay with their 
 little band, and Marion to j$de and join Gates, 
 where his ragged and ill-clad soldiers excited de 
 rision (to his shame be it said) in the new com 
 mander, and caused him to mistakenly imagine 
 that Marion's men were of small consequence as 
 a fighting factor, and for this reason, on the eve 
 of the battle of Camden, Marion and Horry were 
 sent back on the useless errand of destroying 
 bridges behind the British to prevent their escape. 
 Thus Marion's men were saved to the partisan war-
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 201 
 
 fare ; a most providential happening for the pro 
 vinces of South Carolina and Georgia. 1 
 
 It was almost the close of the second day, when 
 McKay and Telfair drew rein, and advised the 
 men to dismount in a glade which appeared as a 
 welcome relief to the forest and undergrowth 
 through which they had been struggling for some 
 miles. But tempting though it looked to the 
 weary riders, Telf air's mind misgave him, and he 
 suggested to McKay that a certain piece of swamp 
 land some five miles further, of which Ossaba in 
 formed him, was perhaps a safer, though not so 
 attractive a camping-ground for the night. McKay, 
 usually kindly, was chiefly irascible when in com 
 mand, and considering this somewhat of a reflection 
 upon his judgment, sharply replied that five miles 
 further would tire both horses and men to no pur 
 pose, so Roy wisely kept his temper and said no 
 more. But he was not rendered less uneasy by 
 seeing that Laceola slipped from her pony, and 
 instead of resting or coming to partake of supper, 
 disappeared silently among the trees. 
 
 An hour later, nothing seeming to disturb the 
 quiet of the improvised camp, Telfair began to 
 dismiss his distrust of the position, and having 
 eaten his supper, and seeing that the men and 
 horses were equally well supplied, he threw him 
 self on the ground by McKay and resolved to keep 
 awake in the twilight if possible, and await the 
 return of Laceola. But to resolve was one thing ; 
 1 See contemporaneous histories.
 
 202 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 tired nature, which rebelled against three consecu 
 tive days in the saddle, another, as Roy found ; for 
 presently, to McKay's secret enjoyment, Telfair 
 made no answer to a question put to him, and look 
 ing around he saw that his friend had fallen fast 
 asleep, with his head resting against the trunk of 
 a tree under which they sat. Another hour, and 
 McKay was meditating upon following Roy's ex 
 ample, when suddenly Laceola came flying at full 
 speed across the open glade, and between the trees, 
 dimly seen, were troopers in pursuit. 
 
 " Mount ! mount ! " cried the girl as she rushed 
 past the men, who, springing up, ran for their horses, 
 and with incredible swiftness she reached the spot 
 where Roy's horse was tied. With shouts and 
 shots the British were upon them, and as Roy 
 sprang to his feet Laceola thrust the reins in his 
 hand and darted behind a tree. Volley upon 
 volley from the British followed, and the Ameri 
 cans, rallying almost instantly from their surprise, 
 stood bravely to their rifles and returned the fire, 
 but slowly and sullenly they were forced to retreat 
 into the brush and down the trail toward the river. 
 Roy, fighting gallantly, at last was compelled to 
 follow his men, but as he backed his horse, in the 
 act of firing, a shot struck him in the side, and he 
 fell headlong from the saddle, rolling under the 
 horse. That animal (a finely bred hunter, in the 
 days before Roy joined Marion) stood still, and 
 Roy looked about him for a chance of escape. 
 Alas, it seemed but small, for the British (a com-
 
 ON THE TRAIL OF THE SWAMP FOX 203 
 
 mand, as he afterwards found, who were marching 
 from Charleston to join Taiieton) far outnumbered 
 the Americans, and should he give sign of life he 
 had little doubt he would be put to the sword, as 
 many of the troopers had dismounted, and were 
 apparently engaged in slaughter. Suddenly his 
 horse, already roused by the gleam of steel, and 
 the whistle of bullets which still continued, began 
 to prick its ears and show every sign of excitement ; 
 what if he could cling to its neck and so be borne 
 from the fray ? The thought had hardly passed 
 through Roy's brain, when floating on the breeze 
 came the faint notes of the American bugler sound 
 ing " retreat." With a supreme effort (for he was 
 beginning to feel the loss of blood attendant upon 
 his wound) Roy raised himself and flung both arms 
 around the good beast's neck as the horse, with 
 ears erect and nostrils distended, started to gallop 
 in the direction of the call. A leap, a bound, 
 they were halfway across the glade, the horse 
 dashing with greater speed as he passed over the 
 wounded who lay on the ground ; another effort, 
 heightened in its swiftness by shots from a trooper 
 who stood in the path of the now thoroughly terri 
 fied animal, and with a loud neigh, as if to answer 
 the call he knew so well, the horse and his master 
 dashed on through the British ranks, and in a few 
 seconds more were far beyond pursuit, heading gal 
 lantly for their comrades. 
 
 Roy closed his eyes ; the excitement of his 
 strange rescue over, he began to wonder if his
 
 204 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 strength would hold out until they could reach 
 his retreating command. Fainter and fainter he 
 grew ; he tried to speak to the horse, but words 
 seemed denied him, and only gasps came from his 
 lips. Finally, he felt his arms relax, and a thrill 
 of horror passed over him as he realized that he 
 might be trampled upon by those flying hoofs ; 
 then he heard as in a dream a faint cry, the horse 
 stopped as a hand grasped the bridle, and Roy fell 
 senseless upon the grass beneath him.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 
 
 LACEOLA'S first effort after backing the horse 
 from Roy's prostrate body was to secure that ani 
 mal to the nearest tree, then she knelt down beside 
 Roy and succeeded in stanching the blood which 
 flowed from his wound, by tearing a strip from 
 her blanket and binding it snugly around his arm 
 and shoulder, and after a few minutes of terror 
 and anxiety she had the satisfaction of seeing him 
 open his eyes. 
 
 " It is you, Laceola," he said faintly ; " where are 
 the others ? " 
 
 " Far away on the southern trail ; is the Bound 
 ing Elk able to raise himself ? If so, Laceola will 
 mount him on the saddle and ride behind him to a 
 place of safety." 
 
 " How did you come here, and where are we ? " 
 
 " Laceola had crept, Indian fashion, to cover, 
 and when she saw the Bounding Elk pass her 
 hanging to the horse's neck she ran swiftly in the 
 same direction ; Laceola is fleet, and no one saw 
 her. The British were too busy with the wounded 
 to follow, and the horse knew Laceola's voice and 
 stopped when she caught the bridle."
 
 206 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " I owe you my life, Laceola, for I recollect 
 thinking I could not hold on an instant longer." 
 
 " But the Bounding Elk must not tarry here ; 
 we are too near, and a scout may find us." 
 
 " Ay," said Roy, making an effort to rise and 
 sinking instantly back. " I fear you will be 
 obliged to leave me here, for I seem utterly spent. 
 Drag me into the bushes there, and go in search 
 of some of the men. I can manage by myself, no 
 doubt, until it be safe for you to bring me aid." 
 But even as he uttered the brave words, Roy knew 
 that the chances were about even that he would 
 perish by loss of blood, or at the hand of some 
 merciless camp-follower, who might give him a fin 
 ishing stroke, if only to plunder the sword he 
 wore. 
 
 Laceola looked at him for a moment in silence ; 
 then she went swiftly to the horse and untied him, 
 and bringing him to the decayed stump of a tree 
 not many feet from the spot where Roy had fallen, 
 she threw the reins on his neck, as he had been 
 trained to stand, and went back to Roy. 
 
 " Let the Bounding Elk put his hand on Laceola's 
 shoulder as she creeps by his side, and she will 
 guide him to the stump, yonder ; from the stump, 
 she can lift him to the saddle. Laceola is young 
 and strong." 
 
 But she spoke to almost deaf ears, and realizing 
 how precious time was, the Indian girl stooped, and 
 clasping the almost senseless man in her arms, 
 half carried, half dragged him the few feet she knew
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 207 
 
 were necessary for his safety. As she did so she 
 felt something hard press against her arm, and 
 putting her hand inside his coat pulled forth a 
 pocket flask of leather, and, to her great relief, she 
 found that it contained a small amount of liqueur. 
 Panting and almost breathless from her exertion, 
 she propped Roy's head against the friendly stump, 
 and held the flask to his lips. To her dismay, at 
 first the cognac seemed to trickle down outside his 
 mouth, but by holding his head farther back, she 
 succeeded in getting a few drops between his teeth, 
 and finally after swallowing a mouthful, he opened 
 his eyes and revived. 
 
 " I thank you," smiling bravely up into the anx 
 ious face bending over him ; " that puts some life 
 into me. Perhaps I may try to mount " 
 
 " Bounding Elk must not talk some one may 
 hear, hush!" panted the girl, as she heard a 
 rustle in the bushes, but it was only a jack-rabbit, 
 which gazed at the pair with its bright, surprised 
 eyes as it sped hurriedly away, and recovering her 
 self Laceola brought the horse close to Roy's side. 
 After giving him a little more cognac he was able 
 to raise himself ; at last with one brave effort he 
 struggled once more into the saddle, and with a 
 bound Laceola mounted behind him. Throwing 
 her arms around him as she caught the reins, they 
 were away, but walking the good horse slowly, both 
 for fear of noise attracting attention from out 
 lying scouts, and because a more rapid motion 
 might start the bleeding again.
 
 208 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 They traveled thus for more than a half hour, 
 Laceola guiding the horse with unerring skill, but at 
 last Roy began to lean more and more heavily upon 
 her, and she realized that he must be speedily laid 
 down and his wound dressed, or worse might ensue. 
 Like every Indian, Laceola knew a few simple and 
 effective means of relieving him, and after peering 
 anxiously along, as the late moon came up in the 
 sky and gave her more light as guide, she appar 
 ently discovered what she was seeking, for with a 
 relieved sigh and a few muttered words in her own 
 tongue, she plunged out of the main trail which 
 they were following, and struck off toward the 
 northwest. Still on, and the path grew more 
 rocky ; they seemed to be making an ascent as of 
 a hill, and at last, when about halfway to its sum 
 mit, Laceola checked the horse and threw herself 
 off its back just in time to receive Roy's fainting 
 form as it slipped from the saddle into her out 
 stretched arms. 
 
 Then followed a long, long night to Roy Telfair. 
 In it he seemed to see strange forms and places ; 
 now he was wandering through a forest with 
 Laceola in search of game, then he seemed to be 
 in a high, vaulted room with white marble pillars, 
 which closed above his head like the arches of some 
 grand cathedral. The light seemed dim, and was 
 that Geraldine, that graceful form which seemed 
 to flit in and out of this dome-like place ? Was 
 this the choir of an English church, or a palace 
 where he was imprisoned? And then off again
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 209 
 
 into wild fever and delirium, when all he was con 
 scious of was a cool hand laid on his brow, or a 
 drop of water that moistened his parched mouth. 
 But there came a day when he opened his brave, 
 sunny eyes and saw and knew the world again. 
 
 When he came to himself he was lying on a 
 heap of dried moss and leaves, and, as he felt these 
 with trembling fingers, his hand came in contact 
 with something like a blanket. His eyes, growing 
 accustomed to the light (and even that was some 
 what dim, as it came from a distant torch out of 
 the range of his vision), saw above him the high 
 vault of a cavern, but what a cavern, for the 
 air seemed sufficiently clear and pure, and there 
 were the strange pillars which had haunted his 
 dreams, of pure white, and, where the light struck 
 them, glittering like snow in the sunlight. As 
 Roy's mind slowly and gropingly took in these sin 
 gular details, with the sudden flash that some 
 times illuminates the brain after long torpor, he 
 realized his surroundings, and knew that he must 
 be lying within one of the curious and beautiful 
 saltpetre caves of which he had often heard, but 
 which he had never seen. 1 
 
 As he turned his head he uttered a faint sound, 
 and from the foot of one of the stalactite pillars 
 he saw Laceola rise and come swiftly toward him. 
 Joy beamed in her dark eyes as she said in a voice 
 that trembled with feeling, 
 
 1 For description of saltpetre caves, see Historical Collections 
 of Georgia.
 
 210 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " The Bounding Elk Las come back to life once 
 more ; does he know Laceola ? " and with an in 
 describably graceful yet pathetic gesture she took 
 his hand and carried it to her lips. 
 
 " Laceola, what have you done for me, and why 
 am I here?" 
 
 " Does the Bounding Elk remember how he was 
 shot, and then the horse brought him away ? He 
 has been ill with fever." 
 
 " How long ? and did you take care of me, 
 Laceola? I recollect that ride, but I do not re 
 member coming to this place. How did you find 
 it?" 
 
 " Laceola's tribe know many of these caves. 
 Some of them, far away toward the north, are 
 places where her people meet for dances or coun 
 cils. This is smaller than most ; it has but two 
 rooms ; see, there is where we came in," and she 
 pointed to a low passage-way ; " the horse is there 
 beyond ; he was too tall to crawl through the nar 
 row way where Laceola brought the Bounding Elk 
 inside the cave." 
 
 "But tell me, quickly, what ails me? where is 
 the bullet, which I remember struck my shoulder ? " 
 
 " There was no bullet left in the Bounding Elk ; 
 it tore his shoulder, but it did not lodge there. 
 Laceola knew how to treat the wound ; there are 
 leaves growing on the hillside which she laid on 
 it, and it is healed. And she gave him herbs to 
 drink, and they cooled the fever. He has been 
 here for two moons and a day."
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 211 
 
 " Almost two months ! " cried Roy in dismay. 
 " How did you live are you not starving ? " 
 
 Laceola shook her head, and her smile deepened. 
 " The Bounding Elk forgets that Laceola can shoot 
 and fish. The river is not far away and there is 
 a spring on the hillside." 
 
 " And my horse did you not say he was here 
 also ? How did you continue to feed him ? " 
 
 " That was easy ; there is always grass, and 
 Laceola feared to let him graze outside lest the 
 cave be discovered by those who might harm the 
 Bounding Elk, so she gathered the grass and fed 
 the horse with it." 
 
 " How can I ever repay you ? " cried Roy, his 
 eyes filling as he heard this simple story of the 
 Indian girl's devotion. " But for you I should be 
 lying dead under the gray moss food for the 
 buzzards, with none to tell the story of how I 
 died." 
 
 Laceola laid her hand on his arm. " Too much 
 talk will make fever ; here is food ; then Bounding 
 Elk must sleep." Roy watched her curiously as 
 she went through the narrow opening which evi 
 dently connected the two compartments of the 
 cave. Presently she returned, bringing, in the 
 leather flask which he recognized as his own, some 
 warm liquid which she put to his lips. 
 
 " Do not fear ; it is made of the flesh of a rab 
 bit which Laceola trapped. This cave has been 
 once inhabited by my people, long, long ago, for 
 Laceola found a rude earthen pot one day over
 
 212 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 there by the big white stone, and she was glad, for 
 in it she fetched water from the spring, and 
 warmed it to slake the Bounding Elk's fever. 
 Sleep now," as Roy sank back among the leaves, 
 " Laceola will watch." 
 
 That sleep proved the turning-point in Roy's 
 recovery, for when he woke again, which was not 
 for some eight hours, he had improved sufficiently 
 to sit upright, and so Laceola found him when she 
 came in from the other side, hearing him move, 
 and her clear pretty laugh provoked an echo in the 
 cave, and pleased Roy because it was so seldom 
 heard. 
 
 After that day Roy improved rapidly, and at 
 last was able to walk slowly about the cave, whose 
 singular beauty had a great attraction for him. 
 The continual drippings of lime and saltpetre 
 had formed by concretion these strangely shaped 
 mounds and columns, and Laceola, returning one 
 day after a brief absence, found him seated and 
 examining them closely. 
 
 " I am almost myself again," he said as she 
 entered, stretching out his hands, though a warning 
 twinge in his left shoulder made him regard it 
 somewhat ruefully. " Faith, 't is fortunate I have 
 my sword arm unhurt, and this improves daily ; I 
 believe it only needs exercise. I must not tarry 
 here, Laceola, but get back to my command, 
 though Heaven knows where that may be ; if, as 
 you say, we have been almost two months im 
 prisoned here."
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 213 
 
 " The Bounding Elk is not yet able to sit his 
 horse ; perhaps if Laceola could hold him " 
 
 " No, no," cried Roy, " that I absolutely forbid. 
 When we go forth from this cave I will ride as a 
 man should, and I am able to do it now. I owe 
 more to you than I can ever pay, and I must be 
 off." 
 
 "The Bounding Elk owes Laceola nothing," 
 said the girl, in a proud, hurt tone ; " he has more 
 than paid her by his grateful words." 
 
 " Nay, I did not mean to wound you ; forgive 
 me." 
 
 Laceola looked at him for a moment in silence ; 
 then she seated herself beside him, and with 
 bowed head and clasped hands, began to speak, at 
 first low and faltering, but then in bolder fashion. 
 
 " The Bounding Elk knows not all ; he is able 
 now to listen ; let him hear the words of Laceola. 
 When he lay day by day tossing with fever in this 
 cave, some days silent, some days talking, Laceola 
 learned many things. He thought he was roam 
 ing with her in the forest, where he shot the game, 
 and Laceola carried it, and was happy. Then for 
 days he walked with the palefaced maiden she 
 with the hair like sunset, and eyes like the blue 
 waters ; and he prayed and pleaded with her, for 
 love was on his lips and in his heart. And then 
 the heart of Laceola grew hot within her breast, 
 for when she held his hand and bathed his fore 
 head he thought it was that other, and he kissed 
 her hands and said words that pierced the soul of
 
 214 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Laceola." She paused for a moment, and Roy 
 regarded her with absolute consternation, as a con 
 viction of what he must have revealed burst upon 
 him. He was about to speak, but the Indian girl 
 raised her slender hand. " Wait ; let the Bound 
 ing Elk hear all." Her great soft eyes glowed 
 with sombre fire ; never had she been so beautiful 
 or so sad. 
 
 " Then as Laceola looked upon him and felt the 
 power of his words, she said within herself, ' Why 
 should the Indian girl save the life which is not 
 for her ? ' for, to her shame, Laceola knew that 
 she loved the Bounding Elk and longed for his 
 love in return. And thinking thus she laid him 
 back upon his bed and crept away, leaving him to 
 die. Over there, by the white mound she sat, till 
 the sound of his voice grew faint and weak then 
 it stopped altogether. Still she sat motionless, 
 until the stillness became too great to bear, and 
 then she crept softly back to his side. One look 
 at his face told her that he was almost in the land 
 of spirits. She cried out in her despair, because 
 Laceola knew at last that for her it was greater 
 pain to lose him than to see him live and know 
 that he loved the beautiful maiden of the pale 
 faces." 
 
 Again Roy tried to speak, but she forbade him. 
 " She tore open his coat and felt that his heart 
 still beat, though feebly, and she once again forced 
 the fire-water through his lips, and after a long, long 
 time she brought the almost escaped spirit back to
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 215 
 
 his body, and the Great Spirit, who had hid his 
 face from Laceola while evil thoughts had posses 
 sion of her, smiled upon her effort, and slowly, slowly 
 life and strength came back to the Bounding Elk. 
 He will soon be able to tread the forest as of old, 
 but before he goes will he say ' forgive ' to Lace 
 ola?" 
 
 She raised her head, her great eyes swimming 
 in tears, and stretched out her slender hands 
 toward him ; the passionate, faithful love she bore 
 him shone in every feature of her speaking face. 
 
 " Laceola ! " Roy's voice trembled, and his love 
 for Geraldine did not prevent a bitter pang of 
 regret that all unconsciously he had won a de 
 votion so pure, a love so humble, that it had forced 
 a confession where none was needed, as her nobility 
 of soul forbade her to be silent because of her 
 involuntary treachery, so deeply repented. " How 
 can I express my grief that I should have caused 
 you such pain, how tell you that I "- 
 
 " Hush ! " Laceola sprang forward as the warn 
 ing left her lips. Her quick ears had caught a faint 
 sound in the cave beyond. She drew Roy's pistol 
 from her belt, where she had worn it since the 
 night of the skirmish, and with steady aim she 
 covered the narrow entrance of the cave. Another 
 rustling, sound ; the horse whinnied gently ; then 
 Roy heard the unmistakable tramp of mounted 
 men, and a dark form came cautiously into view. 
 
 " Ossaba ! " Laceola thrust the pistol aside and 
 darted forward, and in another second McKay had
 
 216 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 made his way through the passage, and was wringing 
 Roy's hand, talking so rapidly and joyously that 
 it was at first difficult to understand how or whence 
 he came. 
 
 " We gave you up for lost weeks ago ; indeed, two 
 of the men declared that they passed you lying 
 wounded beneath your horse "- 
 
 " Ay, so they may have, but Laceola aided my 
 escape and with wonderful heroism brought me 
 here." 
 
 " Brave girl," cried McKay. " Marion himself 
 shall thank you." 
 
 " But how did you find me, McKay ? Did Os- 
 saba bethink himself of this cave ? " 
 
 " No, we are on a scout ; for since the dire con 
 fusion after the battle of Camden (we lost fear 
 fully there, Telfair ; but by great good luck Gates 
 had dispatched the Rangers southward before the 
 conflict) we have been doing yeoman service at our 
 old trade of harrying the British all over the pro 
 vince. But as we were passing the foot of this hill 
 Ossaba declared that he saw Laceola's trail (these 
 Indians appear to have the instinct of a hound for 
 friend or foe), and that roused me, for we thought 
 the girl dead also ; so we came cautiously up, and 
 at last Ossaba told me he believed there was a 
 cave midway of the ascent ; we continued to fol 
 low him, heard your horse call its fellows, and, 
 thank God, found both that brave girl and you." 
 
 " And what of the cause ? " asked Roy, as, some 
 hours after, the troopers helped him outside, and
 
 IN THE SALTPETRE CAVES 217 
 
 he sat down to eat a meal with his comrade, who 
 determined not to push on until he could take Tel- 
 fair with him. " Fancy my thirst for news, and 
 relieve my suspense." 
 
 " Oh, aye ; we have changed generals again, and 
 Gates is to be superseded by Greene, a man whom 
 Marion likes and respects for his military ability 
 And by word which reached me last night, who 
 do you think comes to join us of the South V 
 Morgan, the ' Border Eagle ' as the Indians call 
 him, Morgan, who, though invalided and sent 
 home, can no longer hold back, and notwithstand 
 ing his notorious ill treatment by the Continental 
 Congress, to his eternal honor, be it told, comes 
 back to the army as colonel, where his services 
 merit that he should be general. You must hasten 
 to make your recovery, man ; we have made his 
 tory these two months past, and we need all good 
 patriots such as you to help us on to victory." 
 
 " And my people," questioned Telfair ; " can 
 you give me news of them ? Do they also believe 
 me dead ? " 
 
 " They know that you are missing, for Ossaba 
 has lately visited Savannah, and while there he 
 saw your sister. But you can easily relieve their 
 apprehensions now. Faith, I can scarcely yet 
 believe in your good luck in escaping, and my 
 conscience has nearly weighed me down with the 
 burden of thinking that I should have taken your 
 suggestion and gone on to the swamp that night 
 we were surprised. I made a clean breast of it
 
 218 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 to Colonel Marion, and gave you due credit for 
 advice I was fool enough to reject," and the gal 
 lant fellow's voice broke, as he wrung Roy's hand 
 again for the twentieth time. 
 
 But next day when McKay realized how serious 
 had been Roy's long suffering, he decided that he 
 could not take him with his command, so he de 
 tached four troopers as escort, and dispatched his 
 friend to Snow Island, where in Marion's camp he 
 felt sure he would be far safer than to return to 
 Savannah, as at Dumblane he would be in a posi 
 tion to be captured at any moment by the British. 
 Roy reluctantly agreed to this decision, but before 
 he started he called Laceola to his side. 
 
 " Farewell," he said; " remember that I am now 
 and always your debtor for nobility and devotion 
 that I have never known surpassed." 
 
 " Then the Bounding Elk forgives ? 
 
 The hot color rushed into Roy's pale face ; he took 
 the girl's hand and raised it to his lips as reverently 
 as if she had been a princess. " Never name such 
 a thing between you and me. I were less than 
 man did I not feel that you have given me life." 
 
 " Farewell," she said gently ; " the Wild Pigeon 
 flies southward, and she will bear tidings to those 
 the Bounding Elk loves which will bring light to 
 their eyes and gladness to their hearts. Farewell ! " 
 and as Roy rode carefully down the hillside he 
 paused at its foot to look back and wave his hand 
 to the graceful, watching figure standing with her 
 face turned toward the rising sun.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 
 
 LADY DOLLY was having her matinee, and what 
 with her personal charm and popularity, and the 
 novelty of holding an informal reception at eleven 
 o'clock in the morning, the drawing-room was 
 fairly crowded with all the social world of Savan 
 nah. True, some carping critics had sneered in a 
 superior manner when the idea was broached as 
 being quite the latest mode in London and Paris, 
 but after the first two of these delightfully infor 
 mal affairs had passed off successfully, the third 
 bade fair to include every one who had any pre 
 tension to being fashionable, even the critics afore 
 said. 
 
 Lady Dolly, dressed in the last new negligee 
 costume, which happened to be a Watteau-shaped 
 garment of rose-colored satin, with the daintiest of 
 lace mobcaps crowning her yellow curls, sat at a 
 three-legged Chippendale table, dispensing choco 
 late in tiny, priceless cups of Sevres china, look 
 ing very much like a Dresden figure herself. 
 Allastar Murray stood at her elbow, and Molly 
 Durbeville occupied a chair at her left, where En 
 sign Selwyn was whispering in her ear and en-
 
 220 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 deavoring to retain the attention of that lively 
 and capricious lady. 
 
 " I have not seen you for an age," said Lady 
 Dolly, as Murray ventured to beg for another cup 
 of chocolate ; " between my trip to Charleston and 
 various engagements since my return I seem to 
 have lost count of my friends in Savannah. Give 
 me a vivid and particular history of all that has 
 transpired since we met." 
 
 " That is hardly possible, for we are too tranquil 
 just now to be interesting ; we have actually been 
 some weeks without any warlike episodes near us ; 
 surely you had plenty of such in South Carolina ? " 
 
 " Oh, aye, and that reminds me, I saw Colonel 
 Tarleton one night at a supper monstrous pleased 
 because he had had a skirmish with Sumter and 
 forced him to retire." 
 
 " But the Tories have had much the best of it in 
 South Carolina of late, save for your old acquaint 
 ances, the followers of the Swamp Fox, who are 
 giving them perpetual trouble." 
 
 "That gentleman is well named," said Lady 
 Dolly, laughing ; " and that reminds me r has that 
 disappearing rebel, young Telfair, been heard of 
 lately?" 
 
 " No, not since the duel in the governor's gar 
 den ; indeed there is great distress at Dumblane, 
 for Madam Telfair believes him dead." 
 
 " Dead ! " cried Lady Dolly, shocked into sud 
 den gravity. " Oh, I hope not. So gallant a foe 
 commands my sympathy, and to be frank, Murray,
 
 221 
 
 his escapades savored so much of the romantic that 
 (shall I own it ?) I was naughty enough to rejoice 
 in his success." 
 
 " Oh, fie, Lady Dolly ; 't is well you are whis 
 pering to one who knows you so well. What 
 would all this assembly say to such treasonable 
 utterances ? " 
 
 Lady Dolly eyed him with a mischievous smile. 
 " Rumor has it that you are somewhat bitten with 
 the same ; indeed, I heard a whisper that a fair 
 lady at Dumblane was answerable for your luke 
 warm sentiments in favor of the crown." 
 
 Murray flushed scarlet. " Who dares " he 
 began hotly. But Lady Dolly laid a pretty hand 
 on his arm. 
 
 " And why not ? Love laughs at locksmiths, 
 why not at Whigs and Tories? I am, myself, 
 half touched, half fired by these dashing, brave un 
 complaining patriots. Your forbears and mine 
 were out in the ' Forty-Five ; ' it occurs to me 
 that perchance I have a few ounces of rebel blood 
 somewhere in these blue veins of mine, which 
 makes them thi'ob in sympathy." 
 
 There was a little stir near the door, and as it 
 swung open Geraldine Moncriffe crossed the thresh 
 old. Murray started forward to meet her, and 
 Lady Dolly motioned her to sit at her side. 
 
 " A good day to you," she said warmly, as she 
 pressed Geraldine's extended hand. " 'T is early 
 for a trip from Glenmoira, and I am much honored 
 by your presence at my matinee."
 
 222 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Geraldine murmured her thanks as she accepted 
 a cup of chocolate, and Lady Dolly's keen, bright 
 eyes searched her face with a single rapid glance. 
 What had changed her thus? The lovely rose- 
 tinted skin was beautiful as ever, but in those deep 
 blue eyes there lay a shadow of anguish, and the 
 dark lines beneath told of tears and sorrow. What 
 could have befallen her? 
 
 " There is some mystery here," thought Lady 
 Dolly, more grieved than she could have believed 
 herself capable of being, although she called her 
 self a woman of sentiment. " Can Tarleton be 
 responsible for this ? He is cruel as the grave, and 
 if jealousy prompts him, a fiend. No, she has too 
 much pride and spirit to submit to that. Oh ! I 
 must find out what grieves her, or die of sym 
 pathy." The last was Lady Dolly's picturesque 
 method of disguising her insatiate curiosity. For 
 give her ; we are all prone to seek pretty names 
 for our pet foibles. 
 
 In a few seconds there was a little circle sur 
 rounding Geraldine, for her popularity had grown 
 since the governor's fete, and beside, the unceasing 
 round of entertaining at Glenmoira was fully ap 
 preciated by the Tory element of society. Molly 
 Durbeville and Selwyn joined the circle, and 
 laughter and pretty speeches prevailed until one 
 unlucky woman chanced to remember a tale told 
 last evening by her maid. 
 
 " Have you heard the news ? " she asked, ad 
 dressing no one in particular, and yet the conversa-
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 223 
 
 tion paused at her question. " 'T is quite thrilling 
 in its details. There has been a whisper brought 
 to town (no one knows how, probably by the 
 blacks) that ever since the battle of Camden, 
 Captain Roy Telfair has been among the missing. 
 They say his father caused inquiry to be closely 
 made, and that it was learned he made his escape 
 from the battlefield, but being closely set upon by 
 the British forces, he was recaptured, and so worked 
 upon by the officer in command that at last he con 
 sented to conduct a small party to the secret camp 
 of Marion, provided his freedom be given him." 
 
 " I do not credit it for one instant," cried the 
 indignant voice of Molly Durbeville. 
 
 " But wait until you hear the sequel. Captain 
 Telfair, sharing apparently the foxlike attributes 
 of his commanding officer, carefully led the party 
 into an ambush, but alack ! he did not provide for 
 his own neck, for he fell pierced by a dozen shots 
 from the British, and was instantly killed. They 
 say the body has not yet been recovered, although 
 Marion's scouts are searching for it." 
 
 " Where did you hear that veracious tale ? " 
 asked Murray, seizing the chocolate cup which al 
 most slipped from Geraldine's trembling fingers, 
 and thereby screening her emotion from observa 
 tion. " I am aware that Telfair has been missing 
 for some two months (I have it from the family 
 at Dumblane), but I am sure that gruesome tale 
 lacks confirmation." 
 
 " Trust that elusive young gentleman to make
 
 224 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 good an escape," interposed Lady Dolly ; she was 
 positive now from Geraldine's agitation that this 
 was an affair that appealed to her most romantic 
 side, and in her heart of hearts, as usual, espoused 
 the cause of true love and its troubled waters. 
 " From my own knowledge of him (which, Heaven 
 save the mark, is but small) I can testify that he 
 crawls through keyholes and out of barred win 
 dows at least that is what we are all forced to 
 believe at Glenmoira. Nay, must you go ? " as 
 Geraldine, with an eloquent glance of her expres 
 sive eyes, rose to leave. " I shall not fail to come 
 as I promised to-morrow." 
 
 " Let me see you to your chariot," said Murray, 
 and he followed Geraldine down the staircase to 
 the door. 
 
 " What did Rose say ? " she asked, and her 
 voice was now under sufficient control to be steady ; 
 " had they any further tidings of Captain Tel- 
 fair?" 
 
 " Only what you have heard, but truly we must 
 make large allowances for the way a story gathers 
 as it goes from tongue to tongue. I think Lady 
 Dolly's estimate far more likely to be correct than 
 that circumstantial tale," and he pressed Geral 
 dine's hand with warm friendliness as he saw the 
 blue eyes fill with tears even as she smiled farewell. 
 
 Geraldine threw herself back on the cushions 
 of her chariot, and rode on through the city a prey 
 to agonized doubt. These two months had been 
 full of anxiety, for there had been no cessation of
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 225 
 
 her father's pressure of Tarleton's suit, and that, 
 together with the passionate love letters which 
 Tarleton himself continued with clever ingenuity 
 to have showered upon her (no matter how distant 
 he might be), kept her in a perpetual state of ex 
 citement. Margot was a great source of comfort 
 to her young mistress during those trying days. 
 Of course, all intercourse was forbidden between 
 Rose and herself, but it was wonderful how little 
 notes and words of cheer found their way to the 
 plantation ; sometimes from Cupid, who had been 
 following his favorite occupation of bird-nesting 
 and had met Rose in some mysterious manner ; 
 sometimes from Jumbo, to whom a missive had 
 been delivered when exercising the horses. And 
 these had kept up Geraldine's heart, in a way, 
 until Ossaba's interview with Rose had almost de 
 prived her of hope. 
 
 But it was luxury to Geraldine to be alone, as 
 the chariot rolled slowly along, for nowadays it 
 seemed as if the long hours of the night were all 
 she could claim as her own, and she had welcomed 
 the opportunity to attend Lady Dolly's matinee 
 because Colonel Moncriffe never rode to the city 
 at that time unless called by official affairs. Half 
 the distance was passed, and she was nearing the 
 plantation, when Jumbo's voice aroused her from 
 her painful reverie : 
 
 " Hole on dar ! what fer yo' do dat er way ? 
 Don' yo' know, gal, dose hosses am 'fraid ob strange 
 pussons?" and wondering what could cause this
 
 226 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 excitement on Jumbo's part, Geraldine thrust her 
 head through the window of the chariot as it drew 
 up at the roadside, and saw, standing near the 
 horses' heads, the picturesque form of Laceola. 
 
 Geraldine's first thought was of the strange 
 beauty of the girl's face and form, as Laceola ad 
 vanced slowly and with much dignity ; her next, 
 wonderment as to who the stranger might be. 
 
 "Laceola, the sister of Ossaba, would speak 
 with the Pretty Tory," said the Indian girl ; " will 
 the daughter of the palefaces listen ? " 
 
 " Laceola, the Indian girl whom Rose Telfair 
 loves?" said Geraldine, her lovely smile lighting 
 up the face that had been so sad ; " will you come 
 inside and sit beside me ? " 
 
 Laceola smiled back at her, but coming close to 
 the window she said softly, " The little roorn-on- 
 wheels is too small to hold what Laceola would 
 say. Will the Pretty Tory speak with Laceola 
 beyond the thicket, there ? " and she waved her 
 hand toward a majestic oak which stood a few feet 
 back from the roadside. 
 
 "Why do you call me the 'Pretty Tory'?" 
 asked Geraldine as she sprang lightly out at the 
 girl's bidding, and bade Jumbo wait until she 
 returned. 
 
 ' Dun like stoppin' hyar furnuthin'," grumbled 
 Jumbo ; " lil missy not called fur to go round 
 talkin' wif Injius an' sich wile cattle." But Ger 
 aldine had reached the tree, and the faithful black 
 was forced to submit to the caprice of the young
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 227 
 
 mistress whose dignity he so jealously desired to 
 preserve. 
 
 " The paleface maiden is known as the ' Pretty 
 Tory ' in the settlement at Yamacraw because her 
 father belongs to the soldiers of the king, but 
 Laceola calls her the Maiden-with-hair-like-sunset. 
 But listen, for the sun travels high, and Laceola 
 must hasten away." She paused a moment, and 
 then drew closer to Geraldine, who regarded her 
 with eyes of pleased surprise. " Far away from 
 here, beyond the Great River, there rides a brave 
 young warrior ; he goes to the camp of the Swamp 
 Fox, but he must ride slowly, for his face is pale 
 and his arm is weak. Lo ! these two moons he 
 lay ill with fever, and sorely wounded by the sol 
 diers of the king." 
 
 Every vestige of color left Geraldine's face ; 
 she was white to the lips. " Roy do you mean 
 Roy ? " she gasped. 
 
 " The Bounding Elk whose home is there." She 
 pointed in the direction of Dumblane. " He bade 
 Laceola come and bring tidings of his safety to his 
 people, and " she hesitated, and a blush came 
 to her cheek " Laceola knew that the Maiden- 
 with-hair-like-sunset would rejoice." 
 
 With the sweet graciousness which became her 
 so well Geraldine took the Indian girl's hand in 
 hers. " Oh, thank God ! " she cried, as the light 
 came back to her eyes and the sunshine to her 
 face, " he is not dead, as we heard." 
 
 " No, but for many days the Bounding Elk
 
 228 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 knew nothing. But he was happy, for in his fever 
 dreams he was wandering with the Pretty Tory 
 whom he loves." 
 
 " Laceola ! " Geraldine was trembling from 
 head to foot; what did this child of the forest 
 mean by probing her heart like this ? 
 
 "Through the long night Laceola heard his 
 prayers to the paleface maiden. She had listened 
 kindly to the chief-who-loves-blood, and that hurt 
 the Bounding Elk, and caused his heart to swell 
 bitterly. What will the Pretty Tory do now, 
 when both the chief-who-loves-blood and the Bound 
 ing Elk are again upon the warpath? which one 
 will she select, and go to his wigwam ? " 
 
 Geraldine threw back her haughty head, and her 
 eyes gleamed like blue steel as she looked Laceola 
 in the face. 
 
 " How dare you ! " she said, scarcely above a 
 whisper ; " by what right do you question me upon 
 my own most sacred affair? " 
 
 " Because Laceola loves the Bounding Elk," 
 said the girl calmly ; " she loves him far beyond 
 herself. Her care, her hands, have brought him 
 back to life almost from the spirit-land. Will the 
 Pretty Tory make that life glad, or no ? " Geral 
 dine did not answer, and Laceola went on more 
 rapidly : 
 
 " The paleface maiden is proud, but she is no 
 prouder than Laceola, in whose veins bounds the 
 royal blood of an hundred chiefs who roamed these 
 forests long before the soldiers of the king set
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 229 
 
 foot in them. Why should Laceola give to any 
 one the life she has saved ? Because the Bound 
 ing Elk loves the maiden of his own race, and 
 Laceola longs to see him smile again and be happy. 
 Will the Pretty Tory make him so ? " 
 
 The soft deep tones died trembling away as 
 Laceola stood with bowed head and clasped hands. 
 A wave of emotion shook Geraldine from head to 
 foot ; anger died almost as soon as born before the 
 magnanimity, the self-abnegation of this untutored 
 Indian girl. The love which elevated and en 
 nobled her she sacrificed cheerfully and without a 
 murmur, her only wish, to see him happy. The 
 thought pierced Geraldine's generous heart ; she 
 clasped Laceola in her arms and kissed her fondly. 
 
 " You have conquered," she said, her eyes full 
 of tears. " My heart is his and his alone." 
 
 " But the rumor flies that the mansion at Glen- 
 moira is being made ready for a bridal, and that 
 the chief-who-loves-blood comes to wed the Pretty 
 Tory." 
 
 " Never ! " cried Geraldine passionately, and 
 would have added more, but the Indian girl laid 
 her hand on her lips. 
 
 " Some one rides up the road," she whispered ; 
 " Laceola must not be seen, for she risks capture 
 as one of the Swamp Fox's scouts. There is a 
 hollow tree near the summer-house on the planta 
 tion, and a paper placed there after sunset will 
 reach the Bounding Elk. Farewell ; lock up 
 Laceola's secret and throw the key in the river of
 
 230 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 forgetfulness," and pressing a kiss on the hand 
 she held, she ran swiftly into the thicket before 
 Geraldine could stay her flight. 
 
 Margot, after dressing her young mistress for 
 her ride to the city, and seeing her safely off under 
 Jumbo's care, tucked up her gown preparatory to 
 a grand cleaning raid which she felt it incumbent 
 upon her to inaugurate at unexpected intervals, 
 lest the blacks fall into untidy ways beyond her 
 control. At these seasons she was at once a terror 
 and inspiration to the entire household, even to the 
 smallest of the pickaninnies, who fled from her path 
 and sought refuge in the hedges until the fever of 
 " clarin' up " had subsided. But on this particular 
 occasion Margot proceeded no farther than the 
 kitchen door, for Colonel Moncriffe's gong was 
 sounding, and Phrebus appeared with eyeballs 
 rolling, to say that "marse wanted her in the 
 library immediately, ef not sooner." 
 
 *' I wonder what 's i' the wind ? " said Margot to 
 herself, as she smoothed an almost imperceptible 
 wrinkle from her apron and hastened upstairs. 
 " There 's been somewhat brewing for twa days 
 past, an' I dinna ken whose head will catch the 
 blast." 
 
 " Margot," remarked her master, as she walked 
 in, after a subdued rap, and closed the door be 
 hind her, " I have sent for you upon an impor 
 tant and rather confidential errand." Margot 
 courtesied. Colonel Moncriffe was turning over 
 papers on his desk, and kept his eyes carefully
 
 FAREWELL"
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 231 
 
 averted, as the shrewd old woman was quick to 
 notice. 
 
 " I presume that you have understood from the 
 fact of his visits and his close relations with 
 the family that Colonel Tarleton is a suitor for the 
 hand of my daughter. As the rebellion in the pro 
 vince keeps him perpetually upon the move, he is 
 desirous of taking his bride as soon as the next 
 victory permits of his going North to join the com 
 mander in chief, and from his last letter I am of 
 the opinion that our arms will speedily.be trium 
 phant in the Carolinas. Therefore, within the 
 coming month I feel assured that we may prepare 
 for a wedding at Glenmoira, and have sent for you 
 to inquire what amount of preparation will be 
 necessary to make this the grandest event of its 
 kind ever given in the province." 
 
 " A wedding ! " said Margot in the most respect 
 ful of tones, but with a glint in her eye which 
 boded no good to the speaker. " Weel, I 'm think 
 ing, wi' due respect to your wishes, that it wad 
 be mair harmonious for a' concerned if my young 
 leddy gave her consent first." 
 
 " What do you mean, woman ? " asked the 
 colonel, falling back in his chair, and gazing at 
 her with amazement and wrath plainly written on 
 his countenance. " What do you know about my 
 daughter's private affairs? " 
 
 " I ken mickle, an' I speir more. 'T is idle 
 sparring between you an' me, sir ; have I not 
 been confidential maid to the mistress before even
 
 232 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 my young leddy was born, an' d' ye think Mar- 
 got's eyes were blind all these years ? I 've seen 
 one life wither an' pass away because of your 
 schemes an' wily ways, an' I promised the mistress 
 on her dying bed that if ever I saw ye trying the 
 same game wi' her child I 'd stop it, an' the hour 
 has come." 
 
 " What damned nonsense have you got into your 
 head ? " cried the colonel, purple with rage. " Leave 
 the room, and leave the house, for I will not sub 
 mit to yoyr insolence ! " Margot looked at him 
 steadily, but he refused to meet her glance. 
 
 " It 's no for me to tell ye that my young leddy 
 is near to break her heart wi' the pressure ye are 
 bringing down on her, for ye ken yoursel' weel 
 eno' the burden she has to bear frae your wrath 
 an' the importunity of yon bloody Englishman. 
 Why ye should be sae set on the marriage I hae 
 bothered my brain, but I '11 think nae mair aboot 
 it, for wi' due respect to ye, Colonel Moncriffe, 
 without my young leddy 's consent that marriage 
 will ne'er tak place while Margot has words to 
 speak an' breath to tell them." 
 
 " Your words, upon which you lay such ridic 
 ulous stress, have very little to do with the mat 
 ter. Within a month my daughter weds Colonel 
 Tarleton, and you will be packed back to Scot 
 land." 
 
 " I 'm thankin' ye for my passage," said Mar- 
 got coolly, " but bide a wee, an' hear what the 
 auld wife has to say. So sure as ye persist in
 
 MARGOT DOES HER DUTY 233 
 
 bringing doun despair an' unhappiness on Mis 
 tress Geraldine's bonnie head, Margot will keep 
 your secret nae longer. How will it sound in the 
 city aye, an' across the water, where ye hold up 
 your head sae high if they find out how ye mak 
 your money, an' the sin an' disgrace that sticks 
 to ivery gold piece which passes through your 
 fingers." 
 
 " My God ! " The man sank back in his chair, 
 huddled in a heap, trembling among the cushions, 
 and regarded her with wide-open terror-stricken 
 eyes. " How did you know what am I saying ? 
 It 's a foul lie, and your tongue should be torn out 
 for uttering it." 
 
 " Ma tongue is safe eno'," said Margot firmly, 
 " an' what I know, I know, an' I can give my testi 
 mony. But ye '11 never come to that, sir ; ye '11 
 never let Margot tell how ye are a " 
 
 " Stop ! " shrieked the proud man, trying to 
 rise, but unable to do so from absolute fright and 
 agitation, " the walls have ears, woman. At least 
 I can command you to hold your peace." 
 
 " Aye, sir," returned Margot, with an air of 
 submission which completed her conquest. " I felt 
 quite sure that ye wad never compel my young 
 leddy to break her heart by wedding yon cruel 
 monster (for the tales they tell o' him mak the hair 
 raise on one's head), an' Margot has nae right to 
 meddle save when her promise to the dead maun 
 be keepit. I hae but done ma duty, sir, an' if ye 
 please, wi' that clear in my mind an' a gude con-
 
 234 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 science, I'll gang doun and see that the blacks 
 arrange the drawing-room wi' proper attention to 
 cleanliness," and Margot dropped her lowest 
 courtesy as she closed the door, a victor to the tips 
 of her fingers.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 AT COWPENS 
 
 IT was a bright, crisp January day, and in 
 Marion's camp at Snow Island there was unusual 
 activity even for that tireless command, for the 
 famous partisan leader had returned with a body 
 of his troopers, the evening before, from one of the 
 expeditions which he had successfully planned 
 against the British, having captured a wagon-train 
 of ammunition which was joyfully welcome to the 
 command. 
 
 Snow Island, Marion's favorite rendezvous, was 
 a piece of high river swamp, as it is called in the 
 Carolinas, and was surmounted on three sides by 
 water, so as to be almost impregnable, and he ren 
 dered it even more so by destroying all bridges 
 to the mainland, securing his boats carefully, and 
 placing defenses where it was necessary. The is 
 land was a perfect labyrinth of paths, overgrown 
 with vines and Southern vegetation, and almost 
 impassable for one to traverse who was not famil 
 iar with its tortuous ways. The British had 
 never been able to find it, even by aid of their 
 Indian allies, and there the patriots found their 
 one secure retreat either for rest, or for planning 
 further action.
 
 236 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 To Roy Telfair, this higher, purer air, and the 
 life under the trees, was a veritable salvation after 
 his long illness, and Marion, rejoiced at his rescue, 
 for a long time forbade him any active service, be 
 yond an occasional errand to the mainland. The 
 gloom that had descended upon the patriots after 
 the disastrous battle of Camden was dispelled 
 by the spirited action at King's Mountain, and 
 now the tide seemed to be upon the turn, as the 
 regular troops had had a series of successful skir 
 mishes in different localities since Morgan had 
 come to the Carolinas and divided the army under 
 General Greene. Tarleton had been detached 
 with his newly recruited legion, now some eleven 
 hundred strong, and was marching along the 
 banks of the Pacolet, while Morgan with the 
 American force was between the Catawba and the 
 Black rivers, advancing with a rapidity unknown 
 to the British commander. 
 
 This was the situation and these the tidings 
 that Marion's scouts had brought, and even now 
 the gallant partisan was debating whether to con 
 tinue his harrying of the British or to proceed with 
 the main body of his command to join Morgan on 
 the Catawba. Being an irregular force of horse, 
 composed chiefly of the militia of Georgia and the 
 Carolinas, much was left (and wisely) to Marion's 
 judgment and foresight in the matter of his mili 
 tary movements. 
 
 Roy Telfair was busily engaged in overlooking 
 the condition of his horse (for which, since that
 
 AT COWPENS 237 
 
 animal's gallant service, he had cherished the ut 
 most regard), and came whistling along a shady 
 path on his way to more open ground when he 
 suddenly saw Colonel Marion advancing toward 
 him. 
 
 " Well met," said Marion, as the young officer 
 halted beside him. " I was coming to look for 
 you. Do you think you are able now for active 
 service ? " 
 
 " Both ready and eager, sir ; nothing could de 
 light me more, for though, thanks to your un 
 tiring care, I have enjoyed my return to health and 
 strength I am absolutely pining to feel the sad 
 dle beneath me and be off." 
 
 " You shall have your wish," said Marion, smil 
 ing at the ready spirit which was so like his own. 
 *' I am about to send dispatches to Colonel Mor 
 gan ; the service must be secret, and taken at once. 
 He is somewhere between the Black and the Ca- 
 tawba, but the scouts report him coming south 
 westerly, and you will need to exercise great care, 
 for Tarleton is coming up to intercept him, and 
 there may be a battle." 
 
 " Nothing would please me more." A hot 
 sparkle rose in Koy's sunny eyes at the mention of 
 Tarleton' s name. " When do I start, sir ? I am 
 ready." 
 
 " Then come with me," responded Marion, link 
 ing his arm in Roy's, " and I will tell you what 
 the dispatches contain, lest by some mischance 
 you may have to destroy them to prevent their
 
 238 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 falling into other hands than those for whom they 
 are intended." 
 
 Some two hours after, Telfair, with his good 
 horse, saddle-bags containing food and ammunition, 
 and his dispatches safely hidden in his coat, was 
 ferried by boat to the mainland, starting thus on 
 the trail to find Morgan. McKay, somewhat en 
 vious of his friend's good fortune, but also rejoi 
 cing that he was so honored, accompanied him, and 
 when the boat, paddled by Ossaba, drew in to the 
 shore he stayed a moment to bid farewell. 
 
 " It hardly seems fair to separate us," he said 
 with a regretful sigh, " but when I recollect the 
 skeleton you were when you landed here, I am fain 
 to thank kind Heaven that you can take the field 
 again. Is there anything I can do for you here ? " 
 
 "Nothing," answered Roy; and then as his 
 glance fell on Ossaba, he stepped back and said 
 softly, " only this. If aught befall me and I fail 
 to report within reasonable time, contrive to send 
 tidings of me by Ossaba." 
 
 " To Dumblane ; aye, man, of course " 
 
 " I had also said to Glenmoira," interposed Roy, 
 a flush mounting to his bronzed cheek. 
 
 " Oh," returned McKay with a light laugh. 
 " Have care, Telfair, the Pretty Tory is, they say, 
 dangerously charming." 
 
 " I have always found her so ; nay, McKay, 't is 
 no new or light affair, but one for life, please God, 
 though in these troublous times I care not to pub 
 lish the matter," and lifting his hat in farewell
 
 AT COWPENS 239 
 
 Roy rode away, leaving McKay divided between 
 amazement and chagrin at his own stupidity. 
 
 Telf air's ride was not destined to be a very long 
 one, but he spent the first night on the trail, find 
 ing it safer to travel under cover of darkness, and 
 rest at noonday. He knew the country well, hav 
 ing ridden over a great part of it on previous raids, 
 and he spared his horse all he could lest he should 
 be called upon to press him for serious work. 
 
 Traveling thus steadily northward, Telfair came 
 to the Pacolet River, and approached it warily, 
 knowing that Tarleton could not be far distant. 
 Searching for a ford was loss of time, and he rode 
 carefully along the bank, intending to swim his 
 horse across, when suddenly there rode into view 
 from the thicket on his left two horsemen, who in 
 stead of dashing upon him, drew rein, and awaited 
 his approach. With his hand on his pistol Roy 
 rode straight for them, and as he came nearer his 
 heart throbbed high, for the uniforms they wore 
 were the brave old buff and blue. 
 
 " Halt, sir ! " cried one of the officers, a tall, 
 fine-looking man, who wore the rank of colonel, 
 " from whence do ye come, and whither away ? " 
 
 " I am at present in search of a spot to cross 
 the river, sir, but I think I see before me those of 
 the force I seek," returned Roy, saluting. " My 
 name is Telfair, and I have the honor to bear a 
 dispatch from Colonel Marion to General Mor- 
 gan." 
 
 *' Thrice welcome," said the first speaker, extend-
 
 240 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 ing his hand with frank comradeship. " I am 
 Colonel William Washington, commanding the 
 cavalry corps attached to General Morgan's com 
 mand, and am with my men (back there half a 
 mile) about to join him as he has marched just 
 ahead of me to Burn's Mills, on Thicketty Creek, 
 a few miles farther north. You had better join 
 us, as we take the shortest route we know, unless, 
 perhaps, being a follower of the Swamp Fox, you 
 may have greater knowledge of the locality than I 
 can boast of." 
 
 " By no means, sir, although should you desire 
 me to act as scout it will afford me the greatest 
 pleasure to do so." 
 
 " I thank you, but we have several to act in that 
 capacity, and Howard here," turning to the other 
 officer with a laugh, " has an Indian girl who, he 
 swears, for lightness of foot and keenness of vision 
 has never been surpassed." 
 
 " And rarely equaled," returned Colonel How 
 ard, of the Maryland brigade, as he bowed cour 
 teously to Telfair. " Since we chanced upon her 
 two days ago, she has shrewdly pointed out sev 
 eral trails of value, and besides she carries safe- 
 conduct signed by Colonel Marion." 
 
 " Laceola ! " was Roy's surprised exclamation, 
 and as he spoke her name the girl stepped out 
 upon the bank from behind a willow tree, where she 
 had remained concealed during this short colloquy. 
 
 " The Bounding Elk knows Laceola," she said, 
 with smiling eyes of welcome ; " she has scouted
 
 AT COWPENS 241 
 
 many a trail for him and the Rangers of the 
 Swamp Fox." 
 
 " You 're well vouched for, my girl," said Wash 
 ington, as Roy bent from his saddle and took 
 Laceola's hand, " but we must not delay farther, 
 as we have news that Tarleton is not far behind, 
 and we must keep the force undivided. Your 
 rank, sir, is ah, captain ; then, Captain Telfair, 
 we will follow your scout to the ford, which she 
 tells us lies some quarter of a mile in yonder di 
 rection," and the three officers turned their horses 
 and trotted briskly away. 
 
 Some forty miles in the rear of Colonel Wash 
 ington's cavalry, marching rapidly to cross the 
 Pacolet and prevent (as he supposed) Greene's 
 reinforcements from joining Morgan, came Tarle 
 ton riding at the head of his column with Halleck 
 in close conversation. Tarleton was in the highest 
 spirits ; he had set an iron heel upon the Caro- 
 linas during the past three months, routing Sumter 
 and proving successful in many small raids ; the 
 only antagonist whom he could neither capture nor 
 surprise being the wily and dashing Marion, and 
 so sensitive was Tarleton upon this score that by 
 common consent not an officer in his legion men 
 tioned in his hearing the name of the redoubtable 
 Swamp Fox. 
 
 " Tarleton," said Halleck, " Cornwallis seems 
 to think this campaign will be prolonged into the 
 spring, unless we can annihilate Morgan and force 
 him into a position equivalent to being between 
 the devil and the deep sea,"
 
 242 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 " In which I play the part of the devil," laughed 
 Tarleton. " Well, the role suits me passing well. 
 Cornwallis knows Morgan he remembers Sara 
 toga ; see, here is his last letter to me," and put 
 ting his hand in the breast of his coat Tarleton 
 drew forth the paper which he read aloud. 
 
 CAMP-IN-THE-FIELD, January 15. 
 
 DEAR TARLETON, I sent Haldane to you last 
 night, to desire you would pass the Broad River 
 with the legion and the first battalion of the 71st 
 as soon as possible. If Morgan is anywhere within 
 your reach I should wish you to push him to the 
 utmost. No time is to be lost. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 CORNWALLIS. 1 
 
 " Short and to the point," said Halleck. 
 " Faith, Tarleton, after this you can go back to 
 seek your fair Geraldine in the character of a con 
 quering hero." 
 
 Tarleton's face clouded, but he forced a laugh as 
 he replied, " Oh, aye, but I own I aspire to be a 
 conqueror in the court of love as much as in the 
 field of war. Moncriffe writes that he is even 
 now discussing the preparations for our wedding." 
 
 " I never expected to see you gaze with such 
 calmness upon the forging of your fetters," 
 laughed Halleck, who could seldom refrain from 
 teasing his friend. But Tarleton would not pur 
 sue the subject, and after a moment resumed his 
 1 See Tarleton's Campaigns.
 
 AT COWPENS 243 
 
 discussion of the campaign as they rode rapidly on 
 toward the river. 
 
 In the mean time, General Morgan, having re 
 ceived news that Tarleton was in close pursuit, 
 halted his forces for one night only at Thicketty 
 Creek, and by the time that Colonel Washington's 
 column joined him, he was climbing a mountain 
 road, and then striking a by-path, descended and 
 encamped at Cowpens. Not until nightfall of that 
 day did Roy Telfair obtain opportunity to deliver 
 his dispatch, and when summoned, he found the 
 general in council with his officers. 
 
 "From Colonel Marion, sir," said Roy, as he 
 saluted and fell back, rejoiced at the chance thus 
 afforded to meet the hero of many battles, and 
 one of the most strikingly handsome men of the 
 times. Standing over six feet, with magnificent 
 physique, an eye keen as an eagle's, a smile kindly 
 as a woman's, Morgan was a leader calculated to 
 inspire enthusiasm and devotion. He read the dis 
 patch, and beckoned Roy to approach. 
 
 " I thank you, sir, for your speed, but the for 
 tunes of war compelled me to bring you hither. 
 Colonel Marion's offer of bringing his command 
 to join me is fully appreciated, but at present I 
 cannot order him to do so. We must meet the 
 enemy to-morrow with what force I have, and God 
 defend the cause of freedom ! " He paused a 
 moment, glanced around the circle, and again 
 addressed Roy. 
 
 " Do you prefer to return, or to stop with me
 
 244 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 on the eve of a battle ? Aye," he smiled as 
 Roy's answer was written on his eloquent face, 
 " I thought it would be so ; young blood ever 
 warms at the clash of arms, and my own has not 
 yet grown too old to do the same. I can give you 
 a staff appointment for the time being. Washing 
 ton, what say you to a recruit from Marion's 
 forces ? " 
 
 " With great pleasure, general," replied Colo 
 nel Washington. " I could not ask a better aide- 
 de-camp than Captain Telfair." 
 
 " So be it ; you have hard work before you, sir, 
 and plenty of it. We all know Tarleton ; what 's 
 that?" as loud cheers were heard on the right. 
 
 " Colonel Pickens, general, who has crossed the 
 Broad River and brings with him an hundred and 
 fifty men," said an officer, springing from his 
 horse, and extending his hand to Morgan. But 
 the general threw his arms around him, and fairly 
 hugged the gallant Pickens in his delight at seeing 
 him. 
 
 There was little sleep in the American camp 
 that night, and for Morgan there was no repose. 
 Company after company of militia poured in, all 
 eager to join the " Border Eagle " in the coming 
 fight, and no one knew better than he how to 
 mould together the homogeneous material. His 
 very presence inspired them with confidence ; his 
 dignity and courage, with his fame as a leader who 
 had never met defeat, combined to fill that little 
 army of eight hundred with the wildest enthusiasm,
 
 AT COWPENS 245 
 
 and by the time morning dawned over the field of 
 Cowpens every man was burning for the fight, 
 sure that success depended upon his individual 
 prowess. 
 
 It was not more than three o'clock in the morn 
 ing when an advance guard of Tarle ton's cavalry 
 drove one of Morgan's patrols into camp, and the 
 general, who had been endeavoring to snatch a few 
 minutes' rest, began at once to post his detach 
 ments. After the militia were placed, came the 
 regulars, and Eoy found himself upon a slight 
 eminence, about a hundred and fifty yards in the 
 rear of the main body, with Colonel Washington 
 and his cavalry as a support to the militia, and 
 back of them were the extra horses, saddled and 
 bridled for any emergency. 
 
 Roy, sent for a moment by Colonel Washington 
 to see if the horses were properly secured and 
 attended, went on foot to execute the errand, and 
 as he stood inspecting the position, in the early 
 dawn, he heard the low sound of a voice proceeding 
 from some underbrush near him, and stepped aside 
 to see who and what it was. Peering through the 
 bushes, what was his surprise to see the giant form 
 of Morgan kneeling on the grass, and to overhear 
 his supplication : 
 
 " Thou knowest, O Lord, that I shall be very 
 busy this day ; if I forget Thee, do not Thou for 
 get me, nor Thy sacred cause of Freedom and Lib 
 erty with which Thou hast imbued the souls of our 
 people. They say that Morgan never fears, they
 
 246 A PRETTY TORT 
 
 say that Morgan never prays, but Thou knowest, 
 O Lord, that he is terribly afraid at times, and 
 that he prays to-day that he may have courage to 
 smite the enemy hip and thigh, to Thy Eternal 
 glory, Amen ! " 1 
 
 As softly as he came, Roy sped away, his heart 
 swelling as he thought that nothing could ever con 
 quer a people who prayed as fervently as they 
 fought. 
 
 And that day, as always, the little band of de 
 voted patriots fought nobly, fought with a dogged 
 determination, a desperate coolness, which made 
 the battle of Cowpens the decisive combat of the 
 South, and its results far-reaching in the war of 
 independence. From the moment when Tarleton 
 himself led the opening attack to the time when 
 the militia, mistaking an order, retreated, breaking 
 their lines (and deceiving the British thereby, 
 who imagined a victory was achieved), the combat 
 went on with glory for the American arms. But 
 what seemed a calamity was turned into a victory 
 by the splendid military genius of Morgan and 
 Howard, and as Howard's main line ascended the 
 second eminence the word " Halt " was given. A 
 moment's pause, and Morgan's grand voice rang 
 down the hill : - 
 
 " Face about, one good fire, and the victory is 
 ours ! " 
 
 On rushed the Marylanders ; Lee with his fa 
 mous Virginia horsemen were on the height, and 
 
 1 See Graham's Life of Morgan.
 
 AT COWPENS 247 
 
 Washington in the rear thundered as he rose in 
 his stirrups, " Charge ! " Before that glorious 
 onslaught the British lines wavered, and then went 
 down, and lay, conquered, at the feet of the pa 
 triots. 
 
 " Come on," shouted Washington to Roy Tel- 
 fair, as they saw a handful of the 17th Dragoons 
 headed by Tarleton himself, who essayed to rally 
 his men ; but finding his efforts vain, the British 
 commander turned to flee. Nothing loath, Roy 
 dashed ahead, distancing even Washington himself 
 in his wild eagerness to cross swords again with 
 Tarleton, this time on equal terms. Tarleton, turn 
 ing in his saddle, saw the two, and drew his rein. 
 
 " To the rescue, Halleck," he shouted, and, wheel 
 ing as he spoke, met Roy's sabre-stroke with an 
 other equally fierce, while Halleck crossed swords 
 with Washington. Suddenly Washington's sword, 
 being of inferior steel, broke near the hilt, and 
 Halleck rose in his stirrups to give a final blow to 
 Telfair, who was pressing Tarleton hard. But be 
 fore either British officer could accomplish his 
 purpose, a slight form rose from the ground, a pis 
 tol shot rang in the air and Halleck' s uplifted 
 sword fell from his hand, to be grasped by Colonel 
 Washington, who turned upon Tarleton with the 
 utmost fury, as Laceola staggered back, struck by 
 a passing bullet. Up dashed the troopers to 
 Washington's aid, and the pursuit of Tarleton 
 across the field began. But as he saw the flight 
 of his enemy, Roy sprang from his saddle, and
 
 248 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 lifted the Indian girl from the spot where she had 
 fallen. 
 
 " Laceola ! " he cried. " Oh, my God, are you 
 wounded ? " Laceola opened her dark eyes ; a 
 flood of light beamed in their beautiful depths as 
 she smiled up in the anxious face above her. 
 
 " It is nothing," she said softly ; " the Bound 
 ing Elk must not grieve," and then she lay sense 
 less in his arms.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 WHO WINS? 
 
 FROM the disastrous field of Covvpens, stunned 
 with its surprises, filled with rage at his defeat 
 by a force three hundred less than his own, 
 Tarleton fled with unequaled rapidity, pursued by 
 Washington and his cavalry for twenty miles. He 
 had managed to secure Halleck's bridle-rein, and 
 with the devotion that he frequently displayed 
 toward his friends, contrived to have a trooper take 
 special charge of his wounded comrade, and con 
 duct him aside from the main trail where he could 
 find aid and succor, while he kept the Americans 
 still in pursuit of himself and his handful of the 
 17th Dragoons, and reached at last the bank of 
 the Broad River, from whence he could easily com 
 municate with Cornwallis at Winsborough Court 
 House. And there, the Americans having turned 
 back to rejoin Morgan, Tarleton remained over a 
 day and night, to endeavor to recover from his 
 chagrin, and send dispatches to his superior officer. 
 The slight wound which he had received from 
 Washington burned with consuming fire, and his 
 haughty spirit could ill brook the humiliation of 
 being worsted, with Roy Telfair as witness of his 
 discomfiture.
 
 250 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Bivouacking thus, on the farther bank of the 
 river, Tarleton was reached and found the next 
 day by Burt, who, having passed the trooper sent to 
 report to Cornwallis, obtained from him tidings of 
 Tarleton's whereabouts, and was thus able to fetch 
 before his commander the scout who brought a re 
 turn message from headquarters. 
 
 " Burt," called Tarleton, some half hour later, 
 during which the British officer had been pacing 
 hastily up and down the narrow limits of his biv 
 ouac, " are you ready to start again ? " 
 
 " Aye, sir ; after my horse is fed ; he is at pre 
 sent taking a much needed meal." 
 
 " I go forward at daybreak," said Tarleton, 
 " and join Lord Cornwallis for special conference. 
 But I wish to dispatch you southward with all 
 speed. I have written two letters," pulling the 
 somewhat soiled papers from his breast as he 
 spoke ; " they are, as you see, for Mistress Mon- 
 criffe and her father. You will ride dispatch from 
 here, crossing the Edisto at the point where a de 
 tachment of our troops are watching Marion's 
 movements, and thence to Savannah. I shall prob 
 ably follow you shortly, and send you in advance 
 to announce my presence at Glenmoira. Keep a 
 silent tongue to all outside the plantation as to my 
 anticipated trip ; if you need money, apply to the 
 commandant at Fort Wayne. That is all," and 
 turning moodily away Tarleton resumed his restless 
 walk to and fro. 
 
 The fourth day after Burt started upon his
 
 WHO WINS? 251 
 
 errand he drew rein, as he walked his somewhat 
 tired horse slowly down the main street of the lit 
 tle village of Ebenezer. Not only was the German 
 settlement his shortest route, but he knew he could 
 obtain a fresh mount from the British garrison 
 there, and moreover he had a commission of his 
 own to execute. As he drew near the door of the 
 smithy, he saw within Wilhelm himself, at work 
 at his anvil. 
 
 " Good-day, friend," called Burt, as the black 
 smith paused, hearing the sound of horse's hoofs. 
 " 'T is some months since we met, but I trust I 
 shall not have to recall myself to your memory 
 after the manner of last time ; " and he laughed at 
 the recollection, as Wilhelm came forth with 
 hearty welcome. 
 
 " What news to-day?" asked the German, hav 
 ing shaken hands lustily. " Art the bringer of 
 good tidings ? " 
 
 " That depends much upon to whom I am speak 
 ing," returned Burt with a shrewd twinkle of his 
 eye. " Last time I shocked your ears and my own 
 with the account of the massacre at Waxhaw ; to 
 day I bring news of a terrible defeat at Cowpens " 
 
 " Alas, alas ! " groaned the smith. 
 
 " Nay, man, you are in too great haste, and did 
 not hear all my news. What do you say to Tarle- 
 ton's forces being crushed aye, almost wiped 
 out, with the prisoners counted in by General 
 Daniel Morgan of the Continental Army, and 
 Tarleton himself put to flight with a handful of 
 troopers, of which I am one."
 
 252 A PRETTY TORT 
 
 " Huzza ! " cried the smith, seizing his hat and 
 flinging it so high in the air that it caught on a 
 bough of the tree under which they stood, and 
 dangled there just out of his reach. Burt laughed, 
 and the German surveyed his exploit with a rather 
 sheepish air, but he said, "The news is worth 
 my old hat ; what will the garrison yonder say to 
 it?" 
 
 " I shall proceed to condole with them," replied 
 Burt dryly. " But what I paused for was to ascer 
 tain how fell out our little affair which was so ably 
 planned to secure the fort at Savannah ? " 
 
 " We could not work it ; when you left the 
 train was well laid, but it required more men than 
 the Swamp Fox could well spare at the time, as he 
 was sent for to go to a place where a battle was 
 fought." 
 
 " That was Camden, and a fine fool's errand 
 Gates sent Marion upon that time ! Well, 't was 
 a good scheme, that of ours, and one I spent much 
 time and trouble over, but it was not to be for all 
 my pains. I must be off, so fare you well." 
 
 The Cherokee roses were beginning to bud and 
 olossom in the hedges at Glenmoira some ten days 
 later, and the softest air and sunshine greeted 
 Tarleton as he rode up the avenue in his most 
 carefully appointed fashion. Obtaining a brief 
 leave from Cornwallis, and combining with an 
 elaborately planned military movement his own in 
 tended marriage, he had arrived at Savannah the
 
 WHO WINS? 253 
 
 day previous, and putting up at the fort, was the 
 guest of Colonel Prevost. He had expected no 
 reply to his letters announcing his speedy arrival, 
 and he grew more and more impatient as he came 
 nearer the scene of his anticipated conquest. For 
 Tarleton had determined that he would be patient 
 no longer, but press his wooing to a triumphant 
 conclusion. 
 
 In the door of the mansion stood Jupiter, drawn 
 thither by the sound of the horse's feet, and he 
 came down the steps with due deliberation, in his 
 heart most devoutly wishing that the " raidcoat 
 colonel " was where he came from. 
 
 " Yo' servant, sir," he began, bowing, and 
 Jupiter's bow was a study, and always graduated 
 in proportion to his regard. " Marse Colonel has 
 not entirely made his toilet dis mornin', but yo' 
 mus' 'cuse him, sar, 'caise he dun know de honah 
 you 'se payin' him." 
 
 " Jupiter, you old rascal," shouted the voice of 
 Colonel Moncriffe as he appeared in the door just 
 in time to hear this apology, "take that horse 
 around and be quick about it," and he grasped 
 Tarleton's hand with a cringing air most foreign 
 to his usual pompous manner. 
 
 " You had my letters," said Tarleton, following 
 his host inside the mansion, as Moncriffe led the 
 way to the library. " I hope that every arrange 
 ment is made for my speedy bridal, as 't is only by 
 great pressure that I am able to absent myself 
 from the field, as most important military opera-
 
 254 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 tions in the Carolinas demand my return almost 
 immediately. How and where is my fair bride ? " 
 
 " She is well," stammered Moncriffe, as Tarle- 
 ton flung himself into a chair and looked him im 
 patiently in the face. " I would that your where 
 abouts had been known, for I wished to answer 
 your favor sent by Burt." 
 
 " And wherefore, sir ? Surely there had been 
 time enough for preparation ? There is a limit to 
 my patience," and a fiery spark lit in Tarleton's 
 dark eyes. 
 
 "I I cannot in short, sir, deeply as I 
 regret to say it, I find that although I would will 
 ingly bestow my daughter's hand upon you, she 
 still refuses her consent to go with you to the 
 altar." 
 
 " By God ! sir," cried Tarleton, hot with anger, 
 "was not our little arrangement made with due 
 attention to detail ? Must I rehearse its provi 
 sions again ? In consideration of my silence in re 
 gard to your nefarious operations extending over 
 some years, during which you have repeatedly and 
 by stealth sold into slavery hundreds of negroes 
 employed by the government, and pocketed the 
 proceeds, amounting to thousands of pounds," - 
 
 " Hold ! " murmured the miserable man ; " you 
 need not repeat it " 
 
 " In addition to this crime, which places you 
 within the power of the law, you deliberately falsified 
 my accounts six months ago, the paper falling 
 into my hands, and "
 
 WHO WINS? 255 
 
 " You told me it was destroyed," faltered Mon 
 criffe. " Oh, spare me " 
 
 " I hold you to the terms of our compact : your 
 daughter's hand, sir, or I publish to the world your 
 private career. You have held high estate too long 
 for such villainies ; 't will afford a fine scandal for 
 investigation in the military affairs of this province." 
 
 Moncriffe clutched the table near which he stood 
 to save himself from falling, as a rap sounded 
 softly on the door of the room, and Margot ap 
 peared upon the threshold. 
 
 " If ye please, sir/' she said, respectfully ad 
 dressing Colonel Moncriffe, " my young leddy is 
 waiting to see Colonel Tarleton in the drawing- 
 room." 
 
 " I follow you," said Tarleton, rising, and smooth 
 ing his countenance as if by magic, he left the 
 room without a glance at its miserable master, who 
 sank trembling into the nearest chair. 
 
 Geraldine rose from her seat in a high-backed 
 carved dhair as Tarleton entered, and never had 
 she seemed more beautiful or more stately to his 
 passionate, admiring gaze. The sunshine from 
 the open window played and flickered over her won 
 derful ruddy hair and lost itself in the folds of 
 her white gown as she gave him her hand with her 
 own peculiar grace. 
 
 " I sent for you, Colonel Tarleton," she said, as 
 he, in almost involuntary homage, threw himself 
 on one knee before her, " because I wish to spare 
 my father the pain that I am aware my present
 
 256 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 action will cause him. Had I only known how a 
 dispatch could reach you I should not have allowed 
 you to come upon this bootless errand. My letters 
 must have prepared you for this avowal ; I have 
 never felt for you one particle of affection, and 
 unless my heart goes with my hand I will never 
 bestow either upon mortal man." 
 
 Tarleton sprang to his feet. "Can nothing 
 move you ? " he cried. " Geraldine, I adore you 
 with a love far exceeding your wildest imagination. 
 Many, many times have I uttered vows of devo 
 tion, but they came only from my lips they were 
 but the passing emotion of the hour, caused by the 
 senses ; they died the death of ephemeral passion, 
 and like the whirlwind vanished into air. Your 
 purity, your calm serenity, is to me like a draught 
 of water to a dying man. Your beauty, while it 
 fires my imagination, fills me with awe lest by a 
 word too much I brush the delicate bloom off your 
 innocent cheek. Doom me not to despair, for I 
 swear to you that unless I can possess you no other 
 woman shall ever be led to the altar by Banastre 
 Tarleton." 
 
 Well was it said of Tarleton that he knew how 
 to sway the human heart, and to do him justice, 
 for the first and only time in his career he was 
 sincere in his masterly effort to attain his purpose. 
 No woman could have been insensible to his seduc 
 tive voice and manner, and Geraldine's noble and 
 generous nature was moved almost to the point of 
 surrender.
 
 WHO WINS? 257 
 
 " Sir," she said, and her sweet voice trembled, 
 " if there were but one spark of affection, how 
 ever dim, in my breast for you, your words would 
 light the flame. I cannot but feel that I have been 
 in fault in allowing my father and you to persuade 
 me to give you false hopes, and for that I crave 
 your forgiveness. And perhaps I am all the more 
 culpable in my own eyes " a burning, beautiful 
 blush dyed her face " because I feel it my duty 
 to confess that for years another has filled my heart 
 beyond hope of change." 
 
 " And that other," cried Tarleton, rage taking 
 violent possession of him, " that other is nay, 
 madam, you do not need to speak his name a 
 rebel, in arms against your king ; whose life, in a 
 moment of foolish generosity, I spared at your 
 request." 
 
 Geraldine surveyed him for an instant in silence. 
 " If my recollection serves, Captain Telfair spared 
 you, at his sword's point, and moreover, sir, 
 my gratitude to you in that matter is somewhat 
 obscured by the knowledge that while promising 
 me that your prisoner's life was accorded him, you 
 sent secret advices to Colonel Prevost which, had 
 not Captain Telfair fortunately made his escape, 
 would have resulted in his being shot upon arrival 
 at the fort. I think, sir, that it were well to omit 
 both generosity and gratitude in your account of 
 the matter and to bring this interview to a close." 
 
 Tarleton stood transfixed as her scornful words 
 lashed him. How had she ever learned that secret
 
 258 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 which he thought buried in his own breast ? But 
 as he started forward to detain her, the door 
 opened and Colonel Moncriffe entered. 
 
 " Geraldine, my child," he began, " I have come 
 to add my persuasions " 
 
 " Pray spare yourself the exertion." Tarleton's 
 sneer was deadly in its significance. " I do not 
 now care to enter the family of a man whom I 
 know to be "- the words were frozen on his lips, 
 for with an awful cry which rang through the 
 house, Moncriffe fell forward at Geraldine's feet, 
 dead before he touched the floor.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE REBEL BLUE 
 
 " I DO by no means agree with you," said Lady 
 Dolly decidedly ; " the palest shade of lavender by 
 all means, and if you must have a dash of blue to 
 do honor to the occasion, wear it as a breast-knot. 
 'T will be a delicate compliment in more ways than 
 one," and the fair, but mischievous dame leaned 
 back in her chair and regarded Geraldine with 
 eyes that twinkled with enjoyment. 
 
 There was bustle and hurry in the streets of 
 Savannah, and in the offing lay a score of vessels, 
 making ready to sail as the sun set over a new and 
 ransomed province. For in the eighteen months 
 since the star of victory shone over Cowpens, there 
 had been little pause in the march of events which 
 freed Georgia and the Carolinas from the cruel 
 despotism of Cornwallis and Tarleton, and crowned 
 with triumph the patriots of the South when the 
 American forces met at Yorktown. 
 
 But although not enough troopers to form a 
 corporal's guard were left in the sister provinces 
 after the conflict at Eutaw Springs (of which Fox 
 said in the House of Commons "another such
 
 260 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 victory would ruin the British army"), the British 
 still continued to hold with unrelenting grasp the 
 cities of Savannah and Charleston, and Roy Tel- 
 fair was still with his beloved leader Marion, and 
 had escaped unhurt from many a skirmish with 
 his implacable foe, Tarleton, who, commanding at 
 Gloucester when Cornwallis surrendered his army 
 at Yorktown, was compelled to take refuge under 
 the protection of the French general, Choise, 
 because he dared not fall into the hands of the 
 American militia, and had gotten safely away to 
 England, where he was rewarded for his services 
 to the crown by being sent to Parliament and 
 created a baronet. But after he set sail a letter 
 came by private hand to Geraldine. 
 
 ON BOARD H. M. SHIP HORNET. 
 
 LOVELY AND BELOVED MISTRESS (it ran), 
 When these Lines are read by Eyes more beau 
 tiful than the Sea, more witching than those of 
 Argive Helen, thy wretched Tarleton will be far 
 away never to return to These pestilent Shores. 
 Would that my Pen were a quill of the fabled 
 Swan that it might Sing thy Praises and my De 
 spair ! For while I Threatened I Adored, and I 
 think of Thee in sorrow and alone, and Curse fate 
 who Separates us. Oh, Mistress of Tarleton's 
 heart, deign Sometimes to drop a tear such as may 
 wet the Eye of Purity for even the most miser 
 able of mankind, and as it falls Remember him 
 who while Life lasts will gain his only glimpse of
 
 THE KEBEL BLUE 261 
 
 Heaven as his sad Eyes dwell upon the pictured 
 Face of Her whom he leaves, and leaving, still 
 Adores. Thy lover, 
 
 BANASTRE TARLETON. 
 
 Geraldine laid the letter down with a throb of 
 pity for the strange contradictions which went to 
 make up a character at once fascinating and re 
 pulsive, ungoverned, yet at times restrained and 
 always of meteor-like brilliancy. And through 
 a life prolonged beyond the years of most men, 
 Tarleton kept faith with his American love, for 
 when he died, a solitary recluse, there hung beside 
 his bed, where his last look could rest upon it, a 
 miniature, on the back of which in faded writing 
 was inscribed " The Fair Geraldine." 
 
 When the tragedy of Colonel Moncriffe's death 
 had shocked all Savannah, the first to come to 
 Geraldine were Eose and Madam Telfair, and then 
 Lady Dolly, whose madcap brain was balanced by 
 her warm heart, and when after the funeral, she 
 ventured to suggest that perhaps her presence 
 at Glenmoira might be of use, Geraldine caught 
 eagerly at the idea and begged her to stay on the 
 plantation. For Lady Dolly was in no way con 
 nected with any thought which gave pain to her 
 young hostess, and her tact and good taste soon 
 made her a reigning favorite at Glenmoira, for, as 
 Margot shrewdly observed, " Her Ladyship was na 
 precisely ane thing or t'ither, being a gude Tory 
 wi' fine Whig principles."
 
 262 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 So, to-day, as the friends sat in Geraldine's 
 morning room, the point under discussion was the 
 ceremony which was to be enacted at sunset in 
 Savannah, for the British general, Clarke, had 
 concluded his negotiations with General Wayne 
 for the surrender of the city to the American 
 forces, and the keys were to be delivered by the 
 British commander at the principal gate, where the 
 formal surrender would take place in the presence 
 of both British and American soldiers and the 
 entire population of Savannah. Major Haber- 
 sl HUM. an officer of the Georgia legion and a dis 
 tinguished patriot, had invited the Telfairs and 
 Geraldine to witness the surrender of the keys, 
 and as Lady Dolly vowed she could not see the 
 ceremony, she was to be left at the plantation to 
 await Geraldine's return. 
 
 Geraldine was standing beside her bed, con 
 templating two gowns which were laid there for 
 her inspection by Margot, who stood listening re 
 spectfully while the discussion went on. Geraldine 
 inclined to the white, Lady Dolly to the lavender, 
 and finally Margot fastened the soft clinging stuff 
 around her young mistress' graceful form and stood 
 back, while Geraldine surveyed herself in the mir 
 ror and blushed like a rose at her own beauty. 
 
 " Aye," quoth Lady Dolly, holding her at arms' 
 length, " you have found your colors at last. 
 Strange how the wheel of fortune turns. I wonder 
 who will take part in the procession to-day ? " 
 
 " How can I tell ? " answered Geraldine, as Mar-
 
 THE REBEL BLUE 263 
 
 got fetched the big hat with its white plumes, 
 which gave the added touch of the picturesque to 
 her charming toilet. " Oh, Margot, hasten ; I hear 
 the wheels ; that must be the Telfairs' chariot. I 
 did not know they meant to come for me ; tell 
 Jumbo to follow us closely, for I must return with 
 him. I do not wish to fetch Rose so far out of her 
 way again," and with a kiss and a smile Geraldine 
 said farewell to Lady Dolly and sped away down 
 the staircase. 
 
 Seated in the chariot, drawn by two fine bays, 
 was Madam Telfair. Rose, she explained, had 
 gone into the city at an earlier hour with her fa 
 ther, and then Madam Telfair checked her speech 
 suddenly ; there was one piece of news which 
 she had been carefully warned not to carry to 
 Geraldine. 
 
 The city was in gala dress, but in what un 
 wonted colors ! From every house as they drove 
 slowly along (for the crowd filled the sidewalks 
 and overflowed into the roadway) the buff and the 
 blue floated joyously, and at last the horses drew 
 up a few hundred yards from the city gate. Out 
 on the bay the little white-capped waves tossed 
 and played, the fort stood silent and grim in the 
 sunshine, and on shore, lined up, were the garri 
 son, their scarlet coats making a brilliant bit of 
 color in the picture upon which Geraldine gazed 
 with quickening breath and wide, shining eyes. 
 Every one she knew was in that long line of char 
 iots and foot passengers, and presently outside
 
 264 A' PRETTY TORY 
 
 the town came the long, sweet notes of the bugles 
 which told that the patrols were approaching. 
 
 Leaning back in the chariot, far down the line, 
 sat Rose Telfair, but though her heart beat high 
 with joy, there was an undertone which, disdain 
 as she would, caused her to bite her lips and turn 
 aside as she recognized in the crowd just beyond 
 the Durbeville girls, and saw a figure she knew 
 well pause to speak to them. Truly, it was hardly 
 becoming that Allastar Murray should even be 
 present at this ceremony ; she was glad, of course, 
 that he had come to his senses sufficiently to un 
 derstand that she could have naught to do with a 
 swain who retained his Tory principles, but surely 
 Molly Durbeville was not And then Rose's 
 reflections came to a sudden and speedy end, for 
 a hand was laid on the sill of the window close 
 by hers and a voice she had longed to hear said, 
 
 " Have you no word of farewell for me, sweet 
 cousin ? I sought you at Dumblane this morning, 
 but you had left for the city." 
 
 " Farewell ! " echoed Rose, with a start, as she 
 met the eyes regarding her so closely, " surely ; 
 and a pleasant voyage to you. When do you 
 sail?" 
 
 " Sir James has preceded me to New York and 
 keeps passage for me there, because " 
 
 " Because you cannot quite make up your mind 
 whether you prefer old England to our newer, 
 freer life in the provinces," said Rose, with curl 
 ing lip ; why did something rise in her throat and
 
 THE REBEL BLUE 265 
 
 swell up in her eyes ? She dropped them as she 
 spoke, and to her infinite chagrin a bright tear es 
 caped between the long lashes, and fell glittering 
 on the hand which lay, big and brown, on the 
 window-sill. 
 
 " Rose," the bugles were sounding nearer and 
 nearer, and every head was turned toward the ap 
 proaching music, " little Whig and rebel that 
 you are, do you not know that one word from you 
 will make me stay, aye, even in a far less attrac 
 tive land and life than this which you have taught 
 me to love ? " 
 
 Rose caught her breath, and AUastar Murray 
 bent his head almost to the pretty cheek as she 
 granted his request in her own sweet fashion. 
 " Stay and see our troops come in. I will even 
 make room for you in the chariot." Then, as he 
 hesitated, half afraid to believe his own good for 
 tune, " Stay, unless you would break my heart," 
 said she. 
 
 Outside the gate came the tramp of horses' feet, 
 and in the open, as the troops parted to admit the 
 Americans, stood General Clarke, keys in hand. 
 At the head of the incoming column rode Colonel 
 Jackson, who had been delegated by General 
 Wayne to receive the surrender, and as the horse 
 men passed each other hat in hand, there rang out 
 from the shore the deep-mouthed bay of the can 
 non in the salute of thirteen guns. Down from 
 the flagstaff on the fort fluttered the English en 
 sign, and in its place there floated over a free
 
 266 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 city freedom's own banner, the Stars and Stripes 
 of the United States. 
 
 Cheer upon cheer greeted the little band of regu 
 lars as they swung along, but when to the eyes 
 of the delighted crowd there came his famous 
 Indian scouts Ossaba and Laceola, leading the 
 way with their free proud step a small, but con 
 spicuous figure, followed by the well-known and 
 well-beloved Rangers, a shout fairly rent the air 
 of " Marion ! Marion ! " as the gallant partisan, 
 bending to his saddle-bow, rode along, compelled 
 to halt for the hands stretched out to clasp his 
 and the blessings that were invoked by every voice 
 upon the Defender of the South. 
 
 Geraldine, her hands clasped, the swift blood 
 surging to and fro in her lovely face, maintained 
 her composure until she caught sight of Laceola, 
 as the Indian girl led the Rangers. Then an over 
 powering timidity seized her, and seeing that 
 Madam Telfair was bending forward, all intent 
 upon the pageant, Geraldine quickly opened the 
 door of the chariot, and fled, absolutely fled, a few 
 steps behind, where she knew Jumbo was waiting 
 for his mistress. Without pausing for reflection 
 she sprang into the chariot, and crouching low 
 among the cushions, gave the order to the sur 
 prised and much disappointed Jumbo : 
 
 " Home ! take the back streets and hasten 
 quickly." 
 
 There was that in her tone which made the 
 black obey, and in a few minutes Geraldine found
 
 THE REBEL BLUE 267 
 
 herself, dizzy and panting from the terror of her 
 newborn emotions, rolling along as rapidly as the 
 horses could carry her, while behind her came the 
 shouts and booming guns of a rejoicing people. 
 But just as they turned into the avenue at Glen- 
 moira the reaction came ; how could she be so un 
 gracious, so unloving, what would Roy think, 
 
 Roy, whom she had not seen since that never to 
 be forgotten night in the governor's garden, when 
 she had learned that all the heart she had was his ; 
 
 and to flee from him thus. Oh, surely she had 
 been mad ; and she wrung her hands in dismay as 
 she wondered what spirit of perversity had pos 
 sessed her. 
 
 The horses halted before the door, but as Geral- 
 dine sprang from the chariot her quick ear caught 
 the sound of ringing hoof beats as they came tear 
 ing up the avenue in pursuit, and before she could 
 collect her bewildered senses sufficiently to assume 
 the dignified and proper demeanor befitting the 
 occasion, the reins were flung on the neck of the 
 panting horse, and Roy's dear merry eyes were 
 gazing into hers, and his triumphant voice ringing 
 in her ear, 
 
 " Traitress to flout me thus ! Nay, just one 
 kiss to bid me welcome to my own." 
 
 And so Margot and Lady Dolly found them, 
 and Geraldine was fain to forget her dignity, and 
 submit to be led up the staircase by this lordly 
 young lover, who gave her no time to abdicate from 
 her woman's throne.
 
 268 A PRETTY TORY 
 
 Two days after there was a grand dinner at 
 Glenmoira, which no untoward incident inter 
 rupted, where Marion himself graced the board, 
 where toasts and speeches were the order of the 
 hour, and the health of the " Blue Bell of Scot 
 land" was drunk with three times three, and 
 where Roy Telfair, radiant young bridegroom, 
 toasted his bride, in teasing, playful fashion, with 
 a rhyme which has come down, losing none of its 
 quaint flavor, to this generation : 
 
 " Say, pretty Tory, coy as fair, 
 Of the King's colors be you ware, 
 When in those eyes of heaven's own hue, 
 Reluctant smiles the Rebel blue ' "
 
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