nest conversation; the cheeks of the young girl were flushed her eyes beamed with a soft look, and there was every indication, at least on her part, that they had arrived at a mutual and pleasant understanding, though Margaret had too much tact to notice the change in her appearance; but, approaching the table, she took from it her pistols which she had placed there on her first entrance, and, opening the pans of the locks, examined them carefully, to see if they were properly primed; then, drawing forth the ramrods, she tried each barrel, to see if it was duly loaded.

"You are exceedingly particular, Miss Moncrieffe,” said Major Burr, as he looked admiringly at the young and beautiful girl, thus cautiously providing against accident or design.

"I was always taught that a pistol would be useless unless loaded and primed," she said, quietly; and having satisfied herself that all was right, and, lifting her valise from the floor, she continued: "I will have this strapped on Selim, and then I shall be ready for you, major," and she moved gracefully away, bearing in one hand the loaded pistols, and in the other the valise.

Major Burr, with a gallantry and a grace peculiar to himself, and in which few could excel him, sprang forward to relieve her of the valise; but with a smile and a courtesy, she declined his aid, and again he was alone with Patsy.

"I don't like her, Aaron,” said Patsy, turning to the major, as she followed with her eyes the retreating form of the graceful girl.

"I know that very well," he replied, with a quiet smile; "but there's no occasion for alarm, Patsy." And Patsy shook her head meaningly; for she had good cause to dread the fascinations of the beautiful and high-bred girl, as compared with her own humble but more substantial charms.

A few words of kindly greeting passed between Margaret and her hostess, as she thanked her courteously and gracefully for her kindness during the period she had been an inmate of her family. To Patsy she gave a warm embrace, and, as she imprinted on her forehead a farewell kiss, she drew from her finger and slipped on one of Patsy's, a beautiful turquoise ring.

"Keep that, Patsy, in remembrance of me; and perhaps the time may come when I shall be able to repay your kindness to me. Now, major, I will leave you to your adieux," and, with a quiet smile, she withdrew, and proceeded toward the place where Selim was picketed.

The valise was strapped on behind the saddle; the pistols were carefully placed in the holsters, and stepping lightly on the outstretched hand of the young trooper, who had paid her the compliment of admiring her horse, she sprang to the saddle, and, adjusting herself in the seat, turned her head toward the house and

awaited the approach of the leader, who was to escort her to her new home.

A very few moments sufficed to pay his adieux to Mrs. Adams and Patsy, and, vaulting in the saddle with a light spring, the party was put in motion.

Major Burr and Margaret brought up the rear, the troopers riding about a hundred feet ahead of the main body, to keep a look-out ahead, and in this order they left the house, and were soon hidden from sight by the dense forests through which their road lay.

CHAPTER V.

THE ROYALISTS IN THE CITY.

BUT leaving the major and his fair and fascinating companion, let us turn to the city of New York, where events were daily transpiring which involved seriously the deepest interests of the Colonies, and which, if carried to consummation, might have terminated most disastrously for their cause and liberties.

The head-quarters of the commander-in-chief were at that period located at Richmond Hill, now far below the centre of our city's limits, though then so far removed from its resident population as to be deemed at a great distance from the city proper. The house selected for the head-quarters of General Washington was large and spacious, affording abundant room for his family and suite, and was in after years purchased by Major Burr, and occupied by him as his residence, the hill and pond which lay beneath being recognized as "Burr's Hill" and "Burr's Pond."

It was situated on an eminence commanding a view of the Hudson River and bay, for at that time there were no houses or other objects in the vicinity to obstruct the vision. The mansion was surrounded by

noble trees; a carefully cultivated lawn stretching on one side as far as the road, which ran past the house, and a beautiful garden, in a high state of cultivation, skirting it on either side.

Across the road, and distant perhaps two hundred yards southward, stood a small two-story farm-house, occupied at that time as a tavern, by a well-known Tory, named Corbie. It was the resort of all partiesWhig and Tory-for Whig and Tory alike, in those days, would frequent any place where refreshments could be procured, for there were very few allowed in the city at that time. There was one at the lower end of the city, known by the sign of the "Highlander," and standing at what is now the corner of Broadway and Beaver street, directly opposite the then headquarters of General Putnam, already named; but the house kept by Corbie, being furthest removed from the city proper, and hence less under the surveillance of the officers, received much the larger share of custom; and it was surmised, as it was afterward well established, that within its walls was hatched many a conspiracy against our country and its liberties. The life-guard of the commander-in-chief, when not on actual duty at Richmond Hill, found this a very convenient place of resort, and many a Continental dollar found its way into the rapacious pocket of Corbie, in exchange for the Jamaica rum and other bibables which he kept on sale. Here Whig and Tory met, as it