“’Tis the Southern fever,” spoke Colonel Owen, coming to the door at this moment. “So you escaped a briny grave, my little cousin? How came you here? Was it to seek us that you came? You at least seem to have suffered no inconvenience from this climate. It hath carried off many of our soldiers, and Harriet hath pulled through by a miracle. It will take time, however, to restore her fully to strength. Did you say you came to seek us?”
“Nay,” interposed Colonel Tarleton. “The girl is my prisoner, Colonel Owen. I will leave her with you for the present, but will hold you answerable for her safety. You are to send her to me each day so that she may give attention to this wound which I owe to her marksmanship. So soon as it shall heal I will decide upon her punishment.”
“Well, upon my word, my cousin,” exclaimed William Owen as Colonel Tarleton, scowling fiercely, went away. “You are improving. I knew not that Quakers believed in bloodshed. Tell us about it.”
And Peggy, drawing Harriet close to her in her strong young arms, told of her rescue and how she came to be once more with them.
“The bugles sound the swift recall; Cling, clang! backward all! Home, and good-night!”
Each day Peggy was taken to Colonel Tarleton to attend his wound. It was in truth painful, and often her tears fell fast upon the inflamed surface when she saw the suffering he endured, and knew that it had been caused by her hand. But it was healed at last, and when she told him joyfully that he had no further need of bandages or treatment, he looked at her with some amusement.
“And now for the punishment,” he observed. “What do you deserve, mistress?”
“I don’t know,” said Peggy, growing pale.
“I leave for the southern part of the state to-morrow,” he said. “The matter must be decided to-day. What say you to a parole?”
“Nay,” and the girl shook her head. “My father doth not believe in them, and neither do I. I want to be free to help the cause in any way that I can.”
“Well, upon my word!” he cried. “You are pleased to be frank.”
“Would you not rather have me so, sir?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “I would. Then what are we to do? Ah! I have it. I shall banish you.”
“Banish me?” repeated she with quivering lips. “To—to what place, sir?”