The travel northward was by slow stages, on account of the intense heat of the lowlands. The settlements along the Cape Fear River were composed principally of Scotch Highlanders, who were favorable to the side of the king, and these the fisherman’s little party avoided by leaving the road and making a wide détour through the woods. But often in the gloaming of the summer evenings the weird notes of the bagpipes sounding old Highland tunes would mingle with the mournful calls of the whip-poor-wills, producing such an effect of sadness that Peggy was oft-times moved to tears.
Still, these regions were not deserted. They sometimes came across numerous groups of women and children—desolated families, victims of Tory ravages, who were fleeing like hunted game through the woods to the more friendly provinces northward. It was a great relief when they finally reached the undulating country of the uplands, and, after a week of hard riding, the town of Charlotte, to the left of which, on the road leading to Beattie’s Ford on the Catawba River, lay the plantation and mill of William and Sarah Sevier, parents of Mistress Egan.
They were unpolished people in many ways, but so kindly and hospitable that Peggy felt at home at once. The community was famed for its love of liberty, and was later denounced by Cornwallis as “a hornet’s nest.” It was here, five years previous to this time, that the spirit of resistance to tyranny found expression in the famous “Mecklenburg resolutions.” In this congenial environment Peggy was as near to happiness as it was possible for her to be so far from her kindred. One thing that added to her felicity was the fact that Charlotte was directly on the route running through Virginia and thence north to Philadelphia, which before the Revolution had been used as a stage line.
“If only I had Star,” she would cry wistfully, “I would try to get home. If only I had Star!”
One morning in the early autumn Mistress Egan called Peggy, and said to her, in much the same manner that her mother would have used:
“I want you to put on your prettiest frock, Peggy. Ma’s going to have a company here for the day. The men are to help pa gather the corn while the women take off a quilt. The young folks will come to-night for the corn-husking, but I reckon there won’t be a girl that can hold a candle to my little Quakeress. The boys will all want you to find the red ear.”
Peggy laughed.
“Is that the reason there hath been so much cooking going on, Friend Mandy? Methought there was a deal of preparation just for the family.”
“There’s a powerful sight to be done yet,” observed Mistress Egan.
“Then do let me help,” pleaded Peggy. “Thee spoils me. Truly thee does. Why, at home I helped mother in everything.”