"Even now the
baggage is being carried to the river bank; all the spare horses are
tethered there, and save for the few soldiers who are left in the works,
there is no further heed being given to what our people are doing!"

"Bress de Lawd! Bress de Lawd!" Uncle 'Rasmus cried in a fever of
ecstasy. "I'se done been certain ole Marse would help dribe de red-coats
out ob Virginia; but I neber dreamed dey'd get so scared as to run away.
Bress de Lawd! Bress de Lawd!"

When Pierre joined us, and we were given over to joy and triumph there
suddenly came into my mind the thought that if my Lord Cornwallis did
beat a retreat speedily, and was not overtaken by our people, then was
Silver Heels lost to me forever. He could only leave the village of York
by crossing over to Gloucester and making hurried marches toward the
Potomac River, and under such circumstances I knew that my dear little
Silver Heels could not hold out as would the seasoned steeds of the
troopers. She would be left by the roadside crippled, mayhap, and linger
there until she died.

Dearly though I loved the Cause, or thought I did, I was almost
unwilling to pay such a price for victory as that this colt of mine,
which had been carefully tended since she left her mother, should be
abused as I knew she would be in event of a hurried retreat, and when
Pierre asked in surprise what had happened to cast such a veil of gloom
over my face, I gave words to the fear in my mind, whereupon he said
soothingly, caressing my arm as was his wont, for the dear lad
understood how near to my heart was that same little Silver Heels:

"There are others nearabout, Fitz Hamilton, who can also make a hurried
march, and who knew the country better than do these under my Lord
Cornwallis's command. Do you believe our people will remain idle and let
this army, which they have much the same as gotten under their thumbs,
slip away?"

"But the Britishers will have the start of them before they know what
has been done. Give Cornwallis twelve hours' advantage and traveling
light as I doubt not he intends to do, there is every chance he can make
good his escape."

"But he will not have twelve hours the start!" Pierre cried sharply. "Do
you count that we who call ourselves Minute Boys will linger here one
moment after those red-coats have set off for the Gloucester shore? Do
you fancy we will have no part to play? The moment the troops have been
withdrawn from the fortifications so tha