Audrey

MacLean sprang up from the log, and, joining her, saw indeed two horsemen

galloping toward them, their heads bent and riding cloaks raised to shield

them from the whirlwind of dust, dead leaves, and broken twigs. He knew

Haward's powerful steed Mirza, but the other horse was strange.

The two rode fast. A moment, and they were splashing through the stream;

another, and the horses, startled by Audrey's cry and waving arms and by

the sudden and violent check on the part of their riders, were rearing and

curveting across the road. "What the devil!" cried one of the horsemen.

"Imp or sprite, or whatever you are, look out! Haward, your horse will

trample her!"

But Audrey, with her hand on Mirza's bridle, had no fears. Haward stared

at her in amazement. "Child, what are you doing here? Angus, you too!" as

the storekeeper advanced. "What rendezvous is this? Mirza, be quiet!"

Audrey left her warning to be spoken by MacLean. She was at peace, her

head against Mirza's neck, her eyes upon Haward's face, clear in the

flashing lightning. That gentleman heard the story with his usual

calmness; his companion first swore, and then laughed.

"Here's a Canterbury tale!" he cried. "Egad, Haward, are we to take this

skipping rope, vault it as though we were courtiers of Lilliput? Neither

of us is armed. I conceive that the longest way around will prove our

shortest way home."

"My dear Colonel, I want to speak with these two gentlemen."

"But at your leisure, my friend, at your leisure, and not in dying tones!

I like not what I hear of Monsieur Jean Hugon's pistols. Flank an ambush;

don't ride into it open-eyed."

"Colonel Byrd is right," said the storekeeper earnestly. "Ride back, the

two of you, and take the bridle path that will carry you to Fair View by

way of the upper bridge. In the mean time, I will run through the woods to

Mr. Taberer's house, cross there, hurry to the quarters, rouse the

overseer, and with a man or two we will recross the creek by the lower

bridge, and coming upon these rogues unawares, give them a taste of their

own medicine! We'll hale them to the great house; you shall have speech of

them in your own hall."

Neither of the riders being able to suggest a better plan, the

storekeeper, with a wave of his hand, plunged into the forest, and was

soon lost to view amidst its serried trunks and waving branches. Haward

stooped from his saddle; Audrey set her bare foot upon his booted one, and

he swung her up behind him. "Put thine arm around me, child," he told her.

"We will ride swiftly through the storm. Now, Colonel, to turn our backs

upon the enemy!"