folks to think of standing out any longer. Why, hundreds are joining
the British every day, and what will be left, in a short time, can do
nothing towards stopping such an army as Burgoyne's."

"What are left will be apt to try it, I think, sir."

The subject was now dropped; and the girl, after a thoughtful pause,
commenced on a theme more agreeable to her suitor, and for a short
time, was unusually sociable and gracious; when she rose, and, carelessly
remarking she must be excused a moment, left the room, and passed out
through the front door, with noise enough in opening and closing it to
leave the other in no doubt as to the direction of her exit.

"Well, Bart, what do you think of that?" whispered our listener to
himself, as now, on the departure of the girl from the room, he
withdrew from his peeping-hole. "Now, I pretend to say, I wouldn't
take a gold guinea for what we have got through that crack, nor two
either, if our legs will carry us to the village and rally help quick
enough to have that batch of tories nabbed before they are off. But
let's jest edge along against the mother's room, and see if there is
any discovery to be made there, before we start."

Being equally fortunate in finding an opening into the room to which
his attention was now directed, Bart cautiously peered in; when his
eye soon fell on the solitary occupant, a fine, resolute-looking
matron, quietly employed in knitting by the light of a torch stuck in
one of the stone jambs of the broad fireplace. He, however, had
scarcely time to note these circumstances before the door was softly
opened, and the girl who had just left the other room entered on
tiptoe, and whispered in her mother's ear something that seemed to