case
of surprise, and wrapping his rough horseman's coat around him, he flung
himself upon a mat in the centre of the wigwam, and sank into a profound
slumber.

CHAPTER XL.

"He should be hereabouts. The doubling hare,
When flying from the swift pursuit of hounds,
Baying loud triumph, leaves her wonted path,
And seeks security within her nest."
_The Captive._

On the evening which followed the events narrated in the last chapter, a
party of half a dozen horsemen might be seen riding leisurely along the
road which led to Windsor Hall. From their dress and bearing they might
at once be recognized as military men, and indeed it was a detachment of
the force sent by Sir William Berkeley in search of such of the rebels
as might be lurking in different sections of the country. At their head
was Alfred Bernard, his tall and graceful form well set off by the
handsome military dress of the period. Dignified by a captaincy of
dragoons, the young intriguer at last thought himself on the high road
to success, and his whole course was marked by a zealous determination
to deserve by his actions the confidence reposed in him. For this his
temper and his cold, selfish nature eminently fitted him. The vindictive
Governor had no fear but that his vengeance would be complete, so long
as Alfred Bernard acted as his agent.

As the party approached the house, Colonel Temple, whose attention was
arrested by such an unusual appearance in the then peaceful state of the
country, came out to meet them, and with his usual bland courtesy
invited them in, at the same time shaking Bernard warmly by the hand.
The rough English soldiers, obeying the instructions of their host,
conducted their horses to the stable, while the young captain followed
his hospitable entertainer into the hall. Around the blazing fire, which
crackled and roared in the broad hearth, the little family were gathered
to hear the news.

"Prythee, Captain Bernard, for I must not forget your new title," said
the colonel, "what is the cause of this demonstration? No further
trouble with the rebels?"

"No, no," replied Bernard, "except to smoke the cowardly fellows out of
their holes. In the words of your old bard, we have only scotched the
snake, not killed it--and we are now seeking to bring the knaves to
justice."

"And do you find them difficult to catch?" said the Colonel. "Is the
scotched snake an 'anguis in