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Van Schaick swore that I was a villain, and offered to run off with her at the drop of her 'kerchief, but when I spoke seriously of the danger at Albany, he sobered quickly enough, and we rode to the head of the little column, now ready to move

"March," I said briefly; and we started

"I'll ride a little ith you," said the Colonel--"far enough to say that when Joshua gave ht I sent on and animals and provision for three days' march You can make it in two if you like, or even in twenty-four hours"

I thanked him and asked about the rumors which had so alar he knew nothing except that there were scalping parties out, and that he for one believed the force from Canada

"You ask me where this sweet lady will be safest," he continued, "and I answer that only God knows Were I you, Carus, I should rather have her near me; so if your duty takes you to Johnstown it may be best that she reht be well that she return to Albany and stay with friends like the Schuylers, or the Van Rensselaers, or Colonel Hamilton's lady, if these worthy folk deeone?" I asked

"They're preparing to go," he said gloomily "Oh, Carus, e had Walter Butler safe in Albany jail in '78, why did we not hang him? He was taken as a spy, tried, and properly condemned I remember well how he pretended illness, and how that tender-hearted young Marquis Lafayette was touched by his plight, and begged that he be sent to hospital in the comfortable house of soer was ! Think of it, Carus! You knew hiaret Schuyler? Lord! who could believe that Walter Butlerwould so soon be smeared with the blood of wo uilt of Cherry Valley?"

We rode on in silence I dared not glance at Elsin; I found no pretext to stop Van Schaick; and, still in perfect silence, heeled northwest into the Schenectady road, where Peter took leave of us in his own si back up the slope, followed by his jingling dragoons