pride; "no, Mr. Caesar, running is not my trade." While speaking, he
walked deliberately to the window, where the family were already
collected in the greatest consternation.[39]

[Footnote 39: fright.]

CHAPTER IV.

CAPTAIN WHARTON'S CAPTURE.

At the distance of more than a mile about fifty dragoons were to be
seen, winding down one of the lateral[40] entrances of the valley. In
advance, with an officer, was a man attired in the dress of a
countryman, who pointed in the direction of the cottage. A small party
now left the main body and moved rapidly toward the object of their
destination.

[Footnote 40: from the side.]

On reaching the road which led through the bottom of the valley, they
turned their horses' heads to the north.

Reaching the dwelling of Birch, they made a rapid circle around his
grounds, and in an instant his house was surrounded by a dozen
sentinels.

Two or three of the dragoons now dismounted and disappeared; in a few
minutes they returned to the yard, followed by Katy, from whose
violent gesticulations[41] it was evident that matters of no trifling
concern were on the carpet. A short communication with the housekeeper
followed the arrival of the main body of the troop, and the advancing
party remounting, the whole moved towards the Locusts with great
speed.

[Footnote 41: signs or motions.]

As yet none of the family had sufficient presence of mind to devise
any means of security for Captain Wharton; but the danger now became
too pressing to admit of longer delay, and various means of secreting
him were hastily proposed.

At length his sisters, with trembling hands, replaced his original
disguise. This arrangement was hastily and imperfectly completed as
the dragoons entered the lawn and orchard of the Locusts, riding with
the rapidity of the wind; and in their turn the Whartons were
surrounded.

The leader of the horse dismounted, and, followed by a couple of his
men, he approached the outer door of the building, which was slowly
opened for his admission by Caesar.

A man, whose colossal[42] stature manifested the possession of vast
strength, entered the room, and, removing his cap, he saluted the
family with a mildness his appearance did not indicate as belonging to
his nature. His dark hair hung around his brow in profusion, though
stained with the powder that was worn at that day, and his face was
nearly hid in the whiskers by which it was disfigured