His pack, much diminished in size, lay at the feet
of the peddler, who waved his hat to the youth, exultingly, as the
latter flew by him. The English captain took the advice of this
mysterious being, and finding a good road, which led to the highway,
that intersected the valley, turned down its direction, and was soon
opposite to his friends. The next minute he crossed the bridge, and
stopped his charger before his old acquaintance, Colonel Wellmere.
"Captain Wharton!" exclaimed the astonished commander of the English
troops, "dressed in mohair, and mounted on a rebel dragoon horse! Are
you from the clouds in this attire, and in such a style?"
"Thank God!" cried the youth, recovering his breath, "I am safe, and
have escaped from the hands of my enemies; but five minutes since and I
was a prisoner, and threatened with the gallows."
"The gallows, Captain Wharton! surely those traitors to the king would
never dare to commit another murder in cold blood; is it not enough that
they took the life of Andre? Wherefore did they threaten you with a
similar fate?"
"Under the pretense of a similar offense," said the captain, briefly
explaining to the group of listeners the manner of his capture, the
grounds of his personal apprehensions, and the method of his escape.
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