to miss our mark," cried the
leader of the gang. The next instant he was as good as his threat, but
happily missed the terrified speculator and equally appalled spinster,
who saw herself reduced from comparative wealth to poverty, by the
blow.

Prudence dictated to the pair a speedy retreat; and the next morning
the only remains of the dwelling of the peddler was the huge chimney.

CHAPTER XII.

HOTEL FLANAGAN AND ITS INTRUDERS.

The position held by the corps of dragoons, we have already said, was
a favorite place of halting with their commander.

A cluster of some half-dozen small and dilapidated[79] buildings
formed what, from the circumstances of two roads intersecting each
other at right angles, was called the Four Corners. As usual, one of
the most imposing of these edifices had been termed, in the language
of the day, "a house of entertainment for man and beast." On a rough
board, suspended from the gallows-looking post that had supported the
ancient sign, was written in red chalk, "Elizabeth Flanagan, her
hotel," an ebullition[80] of the wit of some of the idle wags of the
corps. The matron was the widow of a soldier who had been killed in
the service, and who, like herself, was a native of a distant island,
and had early tried his fortune in the colonies of North America. She
constantly migrated with the troops, and it was seldom that they
became stationary for two days at a time but the little cart of the
bustling woman was seen driving into the encampment, loaded with some
articles she conceived would make her presence welcome. With a
celerity[81] that seemed almost supernatural, Betty took up her ground
and commenced her occupation. Sometimes the cart itself was her shop;
at others the soldiers made her a rude shelter of such materials as
offered. But on the present occasion she seized on a vacant building
and formed what she herself pronounced to be "most illigant lodgings."
The men were quartered in the adjacent barns, and the officers
collected in the "Hotel Flanagan," as they facetiously[82] called
headquarters. Betty was well known to every trooper in the corps,
could call each by his Christian or nickname, as best suited her
fancy; and although absolutely intolerable to all whom habit had not
made familiar with her virtues, was a general favorite with these
partisan warriors. Her faults were, a trifling love of liquor,
excessive filthiness, a total disregard of all the decencies of
langu