The state of Wellmere's mind was such,
that he would gladly have gone anywhere to avoid the gaze of horror and
detestation that glared from every eye he met. They reached the stables
before the trooper spoke, when he cried aloud,--
"Bring out Roanoke!"
His man appeared with the steed caparisoned for its master. Lawton,
coolly throwing the bridle on the neck of the animal, took his pistols
from the holsters, and continued, "Here are weapons that have seen good
service before to-day--aye, and in honorable hands, sir. These were the
pistols of my father, Colonel Wellmere; he used them with credit in the
wars with France, and gave them to me to fight the battles of my country
with. In what better way can I serve her than in exterminating a wretch
who would have blasted one of her fairest daughters?"
"This injurious treatment shall meet with its reward," cried the other,
seizing the offered weapon. "The blood lie on the head of him who
sought it!"
"Amen! but hold a moment, sir. You are now free, and the passports of
Washington are in your pocket; I give you the fire; if I fall, there is
a steed that will outstrip pursuit; and I would advise you to reteat
without much delay, for even Archibald Sitgreaves would fight in such a
cause--nor will the guard above be very apt to give quarter.
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