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By sunup we had left the city on the three hills, Elsin, Colonel Van Schaick, and I, riding our horses at the head of the little coluers plodded the laden bat-horses, behind theon, loaded with provisions and ammunition, drawn by two more horses, and the rear was covered by another squad of buckskinned riflehtly in double file

Nobody had failed ers had kept the tryst with swollen eyes but steady legs; a string of bat-horses stood at the door of the Half-Moon when Elsin and I descended; and adown the hilly street, followed by Colonel Van Schaick and a dozen dragoons

When he saw nize me, so broad and tall had I become in these four years Besides, I wore ed doeskin, and carried the rifle given hing

"You! Can that be you, Carus!" he cried, spurring up tome by both caped shoulders "Lord! Look at the lad! Six feet, or I'm a Mohawk!--six feet in his moccasins, and his hair sheered close and his cap o' one side, like any forest-swaggering free-rifle! Carus! Carus! Dareet me but noith your iue? By gad, you've kept your promise for a heart-breaker, you curly-headed, brown-eyed forest dandy!"

He gaveand a hearty shake, so that the thrums tossed, and my little round cap of doeskin flew fro it in my hand, presented him to Elsin

"We are affianced, Peter," I said quietly "Colonel Willett ht in Albany subsides"

"Oh, the luck o' thatthe hand she stretched out "Why do you not choose a man like me, madaratitude! And you are going to marry this fellow Carus? Is this what sinners such as heh the woods, if such maidens as you find that attractive!"

"I find you exceedingly attractive, Colonel Van Schaick," she said, laughing--"so attractive that I ask your protection against this man who desires to be rid of me at any cost"