The cottage now presented a singular
spectacle. The ladies were gathered around Sarah, who yet continued
insensible, in one of the rooms that had escaped the notice of the
marauders. Mr. Wharton sat in a state of perfect imbecility, listening
to, but not profiting by, the meaning words of comfort that fell from
the lips of the clergyman. Singleton was lying on a sofa, shaking with
debility, and inattentive to surrounding objects; while the surgeon was
administering restoratives, and looking at the dressings, with a
coolness that mocked the tumult. Caesar and the attendant of Captain
Singleton, had retreated to the wood in the rear of the cottage, and
Katy Haynes was flying about the building, busily employed in forming a
bundle of valuables, from which, with the most scrupulous honesty, she
rejected every article that was not really and truly her own.
But to return to the party at the Four Corners. When the veteran had got
his men mounted and under arms, a restless desire to participate in the
glory and dangers of the expedition came over the washerwoman. Whether
she was impelled to the undertaking by a dread of remaining alone, or a
wish to hasten in person to the relief of her favorite, we will not
venture to assert but, as Hollister was giving the orders to wheel and
march, the voice of Betty was heard, exclaiming,--
"Stop a bit, sargeant dear, till two of the boys get out the cart, and
I'll jist ride wid ye; 'tis like there'll be wounded, and it will be
mighty convanient to bring them home in.
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