lightning, he plunged the spurs into his sides, and dashed forward. A loud scream from the quarter whence the shot had proceeded, sent every drop of blood to his heart; and with every pore reeking with perspiration, drawn forth by the agony caused by that sound, he dashed on; and as he turned the curve in the road, which had thus far hidden Margaret from his sight, he saw her struggling in the arms of one of the ruffians, two of whom had made a short detour of the woods, and had come upon her suddenly as she sat on her horse, listening anxiously to the sounds of the muskets and pistols, and the clashing of the sabres, as they struck the assailants' weapons.

Quick as thought, she levelled a pistol, which she had drawn from its holster at the moment of the first firing, and as one of them neared her, she discharged its contents full in his face. The ball struck him in the throat, and he fell to the earth with a groan and a curse. fore she could detach the other weapon from its holster, the second ruffian was upon her, and seizing her by the arm essayed to drag her from the saddle.

Be

It was then, for the first time, she uttered any sound, and the wild scream of terror which issued from her lips, had been heard by her newly-won lover. Before he could reach the spot where this most unequal conflict was going on, Margaret, who had resisted with her utmost strength, aided by Selim, who reared, and pranced, and wheeled in his efforts to free his bridle

from the hold of the ruffian who was assailing his young mistress-had been dragged from her seat, and the fellow was bearing her, struggling and screaming, toward the woods.

But Major Burr had seen enough to arouse all his energy, and to inspire him with the courage of desperation, and spurring his horse forward, he caught the ruffian by the cravat, and being too near to use the blade of his sword, dashed the hilt into his eyes with a force that drove them from their sockets, and he fell senseless to the ground, his arm still clasping the waist of the now fainting girl. Springing from his horse, Major Burr, forgetting, in the intensity of his passion, that a helpless foe lay before him, brought down his sabre with a force which sent it crashing through his skull, and he rolled over, dead.

Releasing the almost inanimate form of Margaret, whose clothes were covered with the blood and brains of the dead ruffian, he strove, by every endearing epithet and caress, to recall her to consciousness. In a few moments his men came galloping to the spot, and seeing their commander seated on the greensward, holding the senseless form of their charge in his arms, their rage was unbounded.

"Your flask, any of you," he said, as they approached, and three or four rough apologies for flasks were handed him, by as many willing hands.

As he was unwilling that any one should be present when Margaret returned to consciousness, he directed his men to scour the road, as well in the rear as forward, and he would attend to the lady, an order which was most cheerfully obeyed; for every man was anxious to have another chance at these lawless ruffians, who were the terror only of the innocent and defenceless, and who never made an attack under equal cir

cumstances.

A little rum poured down Margaret's throat, brought her to partial consciousness, and opening her eyes languidly, she met the gaze of Major Burr fixed on her with an intensity of anguish which went to her very soul, and feeble as she yet was from affright, she smiled on him, and gently pressed the hand which held her

own.

"I

"I am not hurt at all, Aaron," she said, in feeble tones, after another interval of a few moments. will be myself directly; but that ruffian did frighten

me."

"No wonder, Margaret, no wonder. But are you sure you are not hurt? Who fired that shot ?"

"Look in the road, Aaron. I told you I was sure of one; but before I could draw the other pistol, that man seized my arm. Bless you, Aaron, dear Aaron !" she added, as she still reclined in his arms, looking up in his face with an expression of gratitude and affection; and Major Burr, unable to control himself as

he heard those words, and met that look, bent down and imprinted a kiss upon her not unwilling lips; and thus was sealed their untold pledge of mutual love.

CHAPTER VII.

THE ROYALISTS PLOTTING.

WE left Corbie and Forbes closing the house of the former after the departure of the guests, and this done, Corbie filled two glasses, and drawing a chair to the table on which Forbes had already planted himself, said:

"I wonder what, in the name of all that's bad, they want of Hickey ?"

66

Oh, don't borrow trouble, Corbie; it will come fast enough if this is found out. I tell you it can't be anything that concerns us, or Drake never would have been so open about it. No, no; so far so well. I wonder what's the next move ?"

"Perhaps we shall know to-night. Do you think the colonel will come up in such a storm ?"

"Storm-why it's just the thing for him. The boat can't be seen ten feet off shore, and I don't believe the sentinels care overmuch for being out in the rain. Not a bit of it; they are hid away in some of the groves along the shore, and the rain and wind together would drown any ordinary sound; besides, the boat's oars are always muffled."