obeyed."

We had come to where the ferry crosses the Elk, and hailing it we
were soon on the south bank and taking up again the road that leads to
the Braes. Over the hills and dales of Cecil, the forest, streams, and
rivers, the soft warm sunlight played, and nature blessed with lavish
hand the harvest of the year. Seldom had she been more pleasing, the
earth bursting with flowers and the very trees welcoming with
outstretched arms the soft breezes wafted from the bay. And then,
after some hours' travelling, we came to the Braes and I saw again the
long rambling house amid the trees. I took a firmer grip upon my sense
of duty and rode on. The clatter of our horses' hoofs as we rode up to
the door announced us. A moment later Charles Gordon came through the
open doorway on to the porch. Though I had seen him before, it seemed
to me, as I saw him standing there, with the memory of the old tale
in my mind, that I saw not the Tory, but one of those figures of
romance that stepped out from the mystery and the haze of the North,
when Prince Charles raised his standard in the Highlands, one of those
heroic men who drew swords with Wallace and with Bruce, rallied with
Montrose, and went to death with a cheer behind Bonnie Dundee at
Killiecrankie, of such gallant bearing and bold and open countenance
was he.

"What brings you here, Mr. Sheriff, riding so fast?"

"I come, Charles Gordon of the Braes," replied the Sheriff, "to serve
on you the writ and summons of the Committee of Public Safety." And
here he unfolded the summons and read aloud, sitting on his horse as
he was:

"_Whereas_, Great complaints have this day been made against
Charles Gordon of the Braes, for that he has infamously
reflected on the membership of this Committee and the
deputies of this county who lately attended the Provincial
Convention,

"These are therefore requiring the said Charles Gordon of
the Braes that he appear before this Committee, at the house
of Thomas Savin at the Head of Elk, to-morrow at two o'clock
P.M., to answer unto said complaints.

"Hereto fail not on your peril.

"JAMES RODOLPH, Chairman.

"To CHARLES GORDON of the Braes."

Then spoke Charles Gordon:

"Go tell those who sent you, Mr. Sheriff, that if they wish to see
Charles Gordon they will have to come to the Braes to do so; that I
will give them a right warm welcome, as my plantation is lar