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Roger let out the breath he’d been holding God, what a woman! He hoped passionately that she and her baby would be safe--though if her fat-headed husband chose to step in a gopher hole and break his neck

Williareen eyes narrowed in conteitation of his friend

"Colanced over his shoulder toward the creek, where loud calls to and fro indicated searchers coround "There’s no ti prisoners, and I’ve no h said softly He held Roger’s eyes with his, and Roger thought for afamiliar stirred in those depths A chill of unease ran down his spine

"He’s right," he said to Buccleigh, with a jerk of the head toward the other ainst you--for your wife’s sake"

Buccleigh pursed his lips slightly, thinking

"No," he said at last, "I dinna think ye will Speak against me, that is" He stooped and picked up the sodden, dirt-s with ye, Johnny See to Morag I’ll meet ye later"

"But, Buck"

"Go! I’er, Buccleigh put his hand in his pouch and drew out a snized his own e, the crudely lettered "FC" burned black in the pewter disc

Tossing the badge lightly in his pal a suddenly renewed interest in the proceedings

"I’ve a thought, sir, regarding our er "If you’re with er, back at MacKenzie, and a slow srow beneath his bulbous, reddened nose The ripple of unease down Roger’s back blossomed suddenly into a full-blown jolt of fear

"Help!" he roared "Help,to avoid the him back Calls ca to run

"No, sir," said Williaer’s jaw in a grip of iron, strangling his yells and squeezing his cheeks to force open his ht sain, and tied the tattered neckcloth fast around it

He stood up, then, the ht in his hand As the bushes opened, he turned toward the

67

AFTERMATH

It being now half past two O’Clock the Enemy entirely dispersed, and the Arht adviseable to lose no Time, but to return ions were ordered from Camp which took both the killed and wounded of the Loyalists, and even several of the wounded Rebels, who acknowledged had they gained the day no Quarters would have been given but to such as would have turned Regulators, these were nevertheless, taken good Care of, and had their wounds dressed

--"A Journal of the Expedition against the Insurgents,"