ed commander of the English
troops.

"Thank God!" cried the youth, recovering his breath, "I am safe, and
have escaped from the hands of my enemies."

The captain briefly explained to the group of listeners the manner of
his capture, the grounds of his personal apprehensions, and the method
of his escape. By the time he had concluded his narration, the
fugitive Germans were collected in the rear of the column of infantry,
and Colonel Wellmere cried aloud:

"From my soul I congratulate you, my brave friend; prepare yourself to
grant me your assistance, and I will soon afford you a noble revenge."

"I do not think it altogether prudent to cross this brook into the
open plain, in the face of those Virginian horse, flushed as they must
be with the success they have just obtained," returned young Wharton.

"Do you call the rout of those irregulars and these sluggish Hessians
a deed to boast of?" said the other.

"And I must be allowed to say, Colonel Wellmere, that if the
body-guards of my king were in yon field, they would meet a foe that
it would be dangerous to despise. Sir, Mr. Dunwoodie is the pride of
Washington's army as a cavalry officer," cried Henry, with warmth.

Colonel Wellmere inquired with a supercilious[55] smile:

[Footnote 55: haughty.]

"You would not have us retire, sir, before these boasted horsemen,
without doing something that may deprive them of part of the glory
which you appear to think they have gained?"

"I would have you advised, Colonel Wellmere, of the danger you are
about to encounter."

"Danger is but an unseemly word for a soldier," continued the British
commander, with a sneer.

"And one as little dreaded by the 60th as any corps who wear the royal
livery," cried Henry Wharton, fiercely; "give but the word to charge,
and let our actions speak."

"Now again I know my friend," cried Wellmere, soothingly; "but if you
have anything to say before we fight that can in any manner help us in
our attack, we'll listen. You know the force of the rebels; are there
more of them in ambush?"

"Yes," replied the youth, chafing still under the other's sneers; "in
the skirt of the wood on our right are a small party of foot; their
horse are all before you."

"Where they will not continue long," cried Wellmere, turning to the
few officers around him. "Gentlemen, we will cross the stream in
column and display on the plain beyond, or else we shall not be able
to entice these valiant Yan