Chapter 20 - Page 2

of one who merits thy respect and
thy duty."

The eye of the former studied the meek countenance of her from whom this
reproof came, with an intenseness and a melancholy that showed her
thoughts were on other matters, and then, as it suddenly recalled to what
had passed, she resumed--

"Truly, what with duty to the man as a husband, and respect to him as an
officer of the colony Madam Heathcote, the task is not one of easy
bearing. If the King's representative had given the colors to my brother
Reuben, and left the Dudley with the halberd in his hand, the preferment
would have been ample for one of his qualities, and all the better for the
credit of the settlement."

"The Governor distributed his favor according to the advice of men
competent to distinguish merit," said Content. "Eben was foremost in the
bloody affair among the people of the Plantations, where his manhood was
of good example to all in company. Should he continue as faithful and as
valiant, thou mayest yet live to see thyself the consort of a Captain!"

"Not for glory gained in this night's marching, for yonder cometh the man
with a sound body, and seemingly with the stomach of a Cæsar--ay, and
I'll answer for it, of a regiment too! It is no trifle that will satisfy
his appetite, after one of these--ha! pray Heaven the fellow be not
harmed--truly, he hath our neighbor Ergot in attendance."

"There is other than he too, for one cometh in the rear whose gait and air
are unknown to me--the trail hath been struck, and Dudley leadeth a
captive! A savage, in his paint and cloak of skin, is taken."

This assertion caused all to rise, for the excitement of an apprehended
inroad was still strong in the minds of those secluded people. Not a
syllable more was uttered, until the scout and his companion were
before them.

The quick glance of Faith had scanned the person of her husband, and,
resuming her spirits with the certainty that he was unharmed, she was the
first to greet him with words:

"How now, Ensign Dudley," said the woman, quite possibly vexed that she
had unguardedly betrayed a greater interest in his welfare than she might
always deem prudent. "How now, Ensign, hath the campaign ended with no
better trophy than this?"

"The fellow is not a chief, nor, by his step and dull look, even a
warrior; but he was, nevertheless, a lurker nigh the settlements, and it
was thought prudent to bring him in;" returned the husband, addressing
himself to Content, while he answered the salutation of his wife with a
sufficiently brief nod. "My own scouting hath brought nothing to light,
but my brother Ring hath fallen on the