Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 395: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Dare 373 Tarleton to “protect the persons and property of the _Anderson family of Oxheart Plantation with vigilance.” “Mimi! Mimi! He came to save us from the raid — from the Black Dragoons!”” And, bending down, she took Leslie’s hand between her palms, her tears falling like rain. ““My dear, you forget this is a terribly sick man! Busher, get out!”’ said the doctor, “jumping on” poor Busher, to hide his emotion. Convoyed by the big Welshman, Dare hurried to the dining-room. It was empty — and so were the decanters on the table! The candles had burned to their sockets. Cigar-ends lay among the almond-shells scattered over the damask. Precious minutes were wasted before Dare was certain he had gone. “Ts there an officer in this house’”’ she asked the guard at Leslie’s door. ““A sergeant, miss,” respectfully. He would not do! “Busher, we must have two horses.” The giant wagged his head. “Look, ll’ Missy!” The burning tobacco-houses lighted up the landscape for miles. As far as eye could reach, the “big road”’ was choked with cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses, these followed by an army of blacks. “Have they taken every horse?”’ The giant nodded. “Then we'll take two of theirs. Go out to the privet hedge and pull on a red coat. Lead two of those black horses down to the quarters. Hide them somewhere! — and watt for me.” She tied a scarlet Canton-crépe shawl over her bare neck and arms, slipped through a window, and crept along a line of fencing. Pickets? It would be “‘ Boots and Sad- dles”’ with the whole force of raiders directly, in order to bring up the rear of that caravan out yonder, miles of men and beasts, on the march. So she reasoned with herself. But how madly her heart beat as she fled along through the deserted quarters! The cabin doors hung open. Every GOmiGcsoo —_ SS (CO) im