The remark burst involuntarily from Miss Stead, who blushed and cast down her eyes as if conscious of having said too much for maidenly propriety, but the smile of acknowledgment on Colonel Washington’s face gave way to a look of grave anxiety as he replied, “No lady of Carolina shall ever need a defender while a man of my command is left to draw a sword; but we have news of movements on the enemy’s part which require our presence nearer to the city, and I have advised that all noncombatants who can possibly move into Charleston should do so at their earliest convenience.  Perhaps we may meet there in a few days.”

A momentary pallor had overspread Miss Elliott’s face, but it was succeeded immediately by a proud flush as she said, “It is true, then, that General Clinton has left Savannah and is moving on Charleston?”

“Such is the report, and I fear we are badly prepared to meet him.”

“We have a righteous cause, and God is on our side,” replied the brave girl with flashing eyes.  “Governor Rutledge has issued a call for all men not in service to take up arms, and the whole upper country will swarm down to meet these hireling British.”

“So we all hope and expect; and if they are only in good time, there will be no fear of the result.”

“Fear!  Who fears these upstart baronets and their insolent soldiers?  Oh, how I wish women could fight!  If the men can’t drive them back, let us take the field, and Clinton shall never set his foot in the streets of Charleston;” and the brave little beauty looked as if she meant every word she said.

“The men cannot fail to be heroes when the eyes of such women are upon them,” exclaimed the gallant colonel, looking with amused admiration at the lovely face all aglow with patriotic excitement.  “But you must let us do the fighting, Miss Elliott, while you cheer and support us with your smiles and your prayers.—­Peyton, what do you think would be the result of a charge by a squadron of ladies upon Tarleton’s Legion?”

“I can’t answer for Tarleton,” laughingly replied the orderly, who had just entered the room, “but I am afraid I should throw down my arms and desert in the face of the enemy.”

“You are an ungallant fellow, Peyton, to hint even that the ladies could ever be your enemies.”

“Oh, do look there!” cried Miss Stead with a silvery laugh, and pointing through the open window:  “shall we take the issue of that struggle as an omen?”

The whole party rushed to the window and looked out on the lawn.  A brilliant redbird, the proximity of whose nest perhaps had fired his timid heart with courage, had made a savage assault on a bluejay, the colors of whose feathers were strikingly suggestive of the Continental uniform.  For a moment the two combatants fluttered in angry strife, and the result seemed doubtful, when a female mocking-bird flew from her nest in the shrubbery and drove them both ingloriously from the field.