“Guess their ammunition ’s a leetle wet,” said D’ri, with a shout that turned into laughter as we left the British behind us.

A party of four or five mounted and gave chase; but our powder was a bit drier than theirs, and for a time we raked the road with our bullets.  What befell them I know not, I only know that they held up and fell out of hearing.

Crossing a small river at daylight, we took the bed of it, making our way slowly for half a mile or so into the woods.  There we built a fire, and gave the horses half the feed in our saddle-bags, and ate our mess on a flat rock.

“Never hed no sech joemightyful time es thet afore,” said D’ri, as he sat down, laughing, and shook his head.  “Jerushy Jane!  Did n’t we come down thet air hill!  Luk slidin’ on a greased pole.”

“Comin’ so luk the devil they did n’t dast git ’n er way,” said Thurst.

“We wus all rippin’ th’ air ’ith them air joemightyful big sabres, tew,” D’ri went on.  “Hed a purty middlin’ sharp edge on us.  Stuck out luk a haystack right ‘n’ left.”

He began bringing wood as he sang the chorus of his favorite ballad:—­

  Li toorul I oorul I oorul I ay, etc.

Thurst knew a trail that crossed the river near by and met the Caraway Pike a few miles beyond.  Having eaten, I wrote a despatch to be taken back by Thurst as soon as we reached the pike.  Past ten o’clock we turned into a rough road, where the three of us went one way and Thurst another.

I rode slowly, for the horses were nearly fagged.  I gave them an hour’s rest when we put up for dinner.  Then we pushed on, coming in sight of the Chateau Le Ray at sundown.  A splendid place it was, the castle of gray stone fronting a fair stretch of wooded lawn, cut by a brook that went splashing over rocks near by, and sent its velvet voice through wood and field.  A road of fine gravel led through groves of beech and oak and pine to a grassy terrace under the castle walls.  A servant in livery came to meet us at the door, and went to call his master.  Presently a tall, handsome man, with black eyes and iron-gray hair and mustache, came down a path, clapping his hands.

“Welcome, gentlemen!  It is the Captain Bell?” said he, with a marked accent, as he came to me, his hand extended.  “You come from Monsieur the General Brown, do you not?”

“I do,” said I, handing him my message.

He broke the seal and read it carefully.

“I am glad to see you—­ver’ glad to see you!” said he, laying his hands upon my shoulders and giving me a little shake.

Two servants went away with D’ri and Seth and the horses.

“Come, captain,” said my host, as he led the way.  “You are in good time for dinner.”