Mother, observing the mood into which I had fallen, bade me forget her words, but not the substance of them, and to change the current of thought suggested that father and myself escort her around the encampment in order that she might meet our friends.
We were on the point of acceding to what was really a proposition, when one of the Regulators came up hurriedly with the word:
"The members of the association are ordered to fall into line, mounted, and fully armed."
It was a command to be obeyed on the instant, and as I ran toward my camp to make preparations, I wondered what could have happened to give color to such a warlike proceeding.
So far as I was able to see, everything appeared in much the same condition as when we had rescued Sandy, yet there could be no question but that danger threatened from some quarter.
Sidney was by my side before I arrived at the lean-to, and his first question was as to whether I knew the meaning of the command.
"I can see nothing to cause alarm, and yet General Hamilton is far too cautious to do anything unnecessarily which might provoke a conflict," I replied. "At such a time as this it needs but a spark to set all these men aflame, for after the many wrongs committed in the king's name they are like to so much tinder, and our forming into ranks will arouse them at once."
"If Sandy Wells can stir up the visitors to the point of murder, it stands our officers in hand to go slowly and with exceeding caution," Sidney said in so grave a tone that I looked at him in surprise.
When we began saddling our horses, which had been kept within the enclosure that day lest they might be frightened away, or stolen, the collector was alarmed, and, poking his head out from under the brushpile, asked in a voice trembling with apprehension:
"What is the matter? Have any others from the sheriff's office been so reckless as to follow my example by coming across the river?"