“Routed him! Wiped him out!” repeated young Drayton with a boyish laugh, and the old toss of his head that Peggy remembered so well. “We met Colonel Tarleton at the Cowpens, and we soundly whipped him.”
[1] Cloak.
CHAPTER II—HARRIET MAKES A PRESENT
| “Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her brave— Gushed, warm with hope and valor yet, Upon the soil they fought to save.” —“The Battle-Field,” Bryant. |
“It is not true,” burst from the English girl. “It can’t be. Met Colonel Tarleton and utterly routed him? Impossible!”
“It doth indeed seem too good to be true,” cried Peggy.
“Impossible or not, it hath really happened,” answered Drayton, laughing gleefully at their amazement. “I was detailed, at my own request, to bring the news to Congress. I wanted to see if you were in truth safe in your own home, Peggy. Another express riding at speed hath gone on to General Washington with the tidings. The victory hath gladdened every countenance and paved the way for the salvation of the country.”
“Begin at the beginning and tell all and everything,” commanded Peggy.
“But first let the lad make himself comfortable,” interposed Mrs. Owen. “He is tired and weary, I doubt not. Take his hat and cloak, Peggy, while I bring him a chair. Harriet, tell Sukey to hasten with the dinner.”