unheeded
charger; sparks of fire, issuing from the armed feet of the horse,
gave a momentary light by which the captain was seen dashing like the
wind towards the highway.

"He's off!" cried the leader, hoarse with rage and exhaustion;
"fire!--bring him down--fire, or you'll be too late!"

"He would not fall if you had killed him," muttered one; "I've known
these Virginians sit their horses with two or three balls through
them; aye, even after they were dead."

"A short half hour will bring down that canting sergeant and the guard
upon us," cried the leader. "'Twill be lucky if the guns don't turn
them out. Quick, to your posts, and fire the house in the chambers;
smoking ruins are good to cover evil deeds."

Wellmere availed himself of the opportunity, and stealing from the
stable with his own charger, he was able to gain the highway
unnoticed. For an instant he hesitated whether to ride towards the
point where he knew the guard was stationed and endeavor to rescue the
family, or, profiting by his liberty, to seek the royal army. Shame,
and a consciousness of guilt, determined him to take the latter
course, and he rode towards New York.

The report of the fire-arms first roused the family to the sense of a
new danger, and but a moment elapsed before the leader and one more of
the gang entered the room.

CHAPTER XVI.

HELP WELL TIMED.

But to return to the party at the Four Corners. The veteran got his
men mounted, when firing was heard.

"Hark! What is that?" said Hollister, pricking up his ears. "I'll
swear that was a human pistol, and one from our regiment. Rear rank,
close to the front!" A volley of musketry now rattled in the night
wind, and the sergeant exclaimed:

"March!--Quick time!"

The next instant the trampling of a horse was heard coming up the road
at a rate that announced a matter of life or death.

"Stand! Who goes there?" shouted Hollister.

"Ha! Hollister, is that you?" cried Lawton; "ever ready and at your
post; but where is the guard?"

"At hand, sir, and ready to follow you through thick and thin."

"'Tis well!" said the trooper, riding up to his men; then, speaking a
few words of encouragement, he led them down the valley at a rate but
little less rapid than his approach.

On arriving near the gates of the Locusts, the trooper halted his
party and made his arrangements for the assault. Dismounting, he
ordered eight men to follow his example, and, turning to Hollister,