sure?"

"Yes; and she has been on her journey some four or five hours."

"She?"

"Yes. That girl of Geiger's went to the camp this morning and
volunteered for the service."

"The ----!" But we will not stain our pages with a record of the
profane and brutal words that fell from the lips of the tory.

"She has the swiftest horse in the camp," said the man, "and unless
instant pursuit is given, she will soon be out of our reach."

With a bitter oath, Loire swore that she should never reach the camp of
Sumter.

"Take Vulcan," said he in a quick, energetic voice, "and kill him but
what you overtake the huzzy, between this and Morgan's Range."

"She has nearly five hours' start," replied the man.

"But you must make two miles to her one."

"Even then she will be most likely ahead of the Range ere I can reach
there."

"Very well. In that case you must start Bill Mink after her, with a
fresh horse. I will give you a letter, which you will place in his
hands should you fail to overtake the girl."

With these instructions, the man started in pursuit. He was mounted on
a large, strong horse, who bore his rider as lightly as if he had been
a child.

In the mean time, Emily, who had received minute information in regard
to her journey, and who was, moreover, no stranger to the way, having
been twice to Camden, struck boldly into the dense forest through which
she was to pass, and moved along a bridle track at as swift a pace as
the animal she rode could bear without too great fatigue. The
importance of the work upon which she had entered, and the enthusiasm
with which it inspired her, kept her heart above the influence of fear.
No event of moment happened to her during the first day of her journey.
In passing a small settlement known as Morgan's Range, which she did at
about four o'clock in the afternoon, she took the precaution to sweep
around it in a wide circle, as some of the most active and evil-minded
tories in the state resided in that neighbourhood. Successful in making
this circuit, she resumed the road upon which her course lay, still
urging forward her faithful animal, which, though much fatigued by the
rapidity of his journey, obeyed the word of his rider, as if he
comprehended the importance of the message she bore.

Gradually, now, the day declined, and, as the deep shadows mingled more
and more with each other, a feeling of loneliness, not before
experienced, came over the mind of Emily, and her eye