"It's a flag of truce!" exclaimed Colonel Daubenspeck, and a sigh that expressed incontestable relief broke from that officer.
"The cowards!" cried Ardmore. "Does that mean they won't fight?"
"It means that hostilities must cease until we have permitted the bearer of the flag to carry his message into our lines."
The man with the basket was already crossing the creek in charge of a corporal.
"I have read somewhere about being careful of the Greeks bearing gifts," said Jerry. "There may be something annoying in that basket."
The bearer of the basket gained the North Carolina shore and strode rapidly toward Miss Dangerfield, Ardmore and Colonel Daubenspeck. He handed the trifle of a basket to the colonel, who gazed upon its contents for a moment with unspeakable rage. The color mounted in his neck almost to the point of apoplexy, and his voice bellowed forth an oath so bleak, so fraught with peril to the human race, that Jerry shuddered and turned away her head as from a blast of flame. The colonel cast the wicker basket from him with a force that nearly tore him from his saddle. It struck against a tree, spilling upon the earth six small, hard, bright green apples.
"My letter," said the emissary soberly, "is for Mr. Thomas Ardmore, and, unless I am mistaken, you are that gentleman."
Ardmore seized a long envelope which the man extended, tore it open, and read:
Thomas Ardmore, Esq., Acting Governor of North Carolina, In the Field:
SIR--As I understand the present unhappy differences between the states of North and South Carolina, they are due to a reluctance on the part of the governor of North Carolina to take steps toward bringing to proper punishment in North Carolina an outlaw named Appleweight. I have the honor to inform you that that person is now in jail at Kildare, Dilwell County, North Carolina, properly guarded by men who will not flinch. If necessary I will support them with every South Carolinian able to bear arms. This being the case, a _casus belli_ no longer exists, and to prevent the effusion of blood I beg you to cease your hostile demonstrations on our frontier.
Our men seized a few prisoners during the night, and I am willing to meet you to arrange an exchange on the terms proper in such cases.