Tory," said I, "with a fair face at stake, I will speak to
him."

They were as yet some distance off, but as the rider drew nearer to us
we saw that he was a splendid specimen of manhood, such as I had but
seldom seen before.

While strong of frame and above the medium height, he carried himself
and rode with a courtliness and ease that bespoke the accomplished
horseman and gentleman. His splendid head and face showed the marks of
an adventurous career, and all bespoke the blood of the family from
which he had sprung, the Gordons of Avochie.

But striking as was the figure of the rider, the glimpse we caught of
the fair burden behind made us for the moment forget him.

A slender figure it was that sat upon the pillion, with wonderful eyes
of the darkest blue and hair of the deepest brown that waved and
clustered around the temples--a mouth that was winsome and sweet, a
small and aristocratic nose, a chin that was slightly determined,
giving her altogether a queenly air, as she sat so straight and prim
behind her father.

"Sir," said I, making Toby advance and bowing to his mane, "as we are
travelling the same way, will you permit us to accompany you? My
friend is Richard Ringgold of Hunting Field and I am James Frisby of
Fairlee."

"It will give me pleasure," he replied, saluting courteously, "to have
your company to the Head of Elk. I know your families and your houses
well, and you, no doubt, have heard of me, Charles Gordon of the
Braes."

"That we have," said Dick Ringgold. "It was only a week ago that my
mother spoke of your first coming to old Kent."

"It was kind of her to remember me," he replied. "She was a great
belle and a beauty in her youth."

Dick smiled with pleasure, and I, taking advantage of a narrow place
in the road, fell behind, and rode so I could talk to Mistress Jean,
much to Master Richard's secret indignation. But she received me with
a show of displeasure, and though I courteously asked her of her
journey, it was some minutes before I knew the cause thereof.

"Are you not," said she, and her aristocratic little head was in the
air, "afraid to be seen riding with suspected Tories, you who wear the
black cockade?"

And then I remembered that I wore the emblem of our party.

"Afraid!" I replied. "Afraid! We who have bearded the Ministers of the
Crown in the broad light of day? Do you think I am afraid of our own
men? Why, if Mistress North herself were half as fair as your ladyshi