tween the forest-clad hills on either side, basking here for a moment in

A pain that eats its way ever inward, a thirst that never slackens, and over all the black night lowering down. Aye, so it is, Si

for it, for here comes our first adventure. Is

along the lower road, a gentleman riding on a powerful horse, while behind him on a pi

Gordon of the Br

e suspect

ter. They say she is the fairest

, "with a fair face at st

drew nearer to us we saw that he was a splendid speci

that bespoke the accomplished horseman and gentleman. His splendid head and face showed the marks of an a

r, the glimpse we caught of the fair burde

wn that waved and clustered around the temples-a mouth that was winsome and sweet, a small and aristocratic nose, a ch

ravelling the same way, will you permit us to accompany you? My friend

your company to the Head of Elk. I know your families and your houses w

t was only a week ago that my mother s

e," he replied. "She was a great

uld talk to Mistress Jean, much to Master Richard's secret indignation. But she received me with a show of disp

e head was in the air, "afraid to be seen riding wi

ed that I wore the

you think I am afraid of our own men? Why, if Mistress North herself were half as fair as your ladyship of

eyes. "Would you wear the red

seduce me from my allegiance

atriots? What of your

self-defence to take up arms in revolt. Would you have m

-day and good to-morrow, but if you once strike a blow at the mother country and

ve thought of that befo

Because the taffy is not as good as usual you

met numbers of men travelling the same way with us, all bound for the great mustering, and though the

ry," I would hear them growl

and the mutterings deeper and louder. But no man as yet sought to beard him, for his courage and his daring

e appearance of a well-regulated camp. The little town amid the trees, busy with the life of the moving crowd, and

rt and leggings, with his long and deadly rifle, totally unadorned by the glint of silver or chasing on th

ce George. The youngster to whom he was talking, clad in the scarl

he city swell, all mingled together, and all animated with one all-pervading and all-engross

d, with our black cockades, the crowd murmuringly gave way before us, and though all the people were hostile to him

would like to tell these rebels what she thought of their treatment of her father. And I, seeing the war sign

genial host and Scotchman, who was well known in three

ough he was a stanch patriot, he and G

d to honour my roof with your prese

ssist Mistress Jean to dismount, he was bef

e," which brought a blush to her cheek. Then, turning, h

place for you." Then drawing the Tory aside for a little way, we heard him remonstrating with him

a mob, boiling and seething around you. The officers will not be able to hold the

d clear: "I thought you knew me better, McLean. I would not hide my head

he, "both in this country and the old; tell a Gordon of a danger and h

ession on the old Scotch

to a small room under the gable roof. "It is the only r

lves presentable and partaken of a lunch, we went to report ours

"You are the very lads I have been waiting for," he said. "I ha

en tried yet. Let us go into the ranks and fight ou

though I, too, said the same thing, I confess I hope

that I will have no better fighting stock in the army." And thus it was settled, and we became officers in that Maryland