"What did you come here for?"
"None of your business."
This reply created a commotion. The captain could hear the marauders swearing. "We'll break down the door," one of them said as he stepped forward. The next moment he had fallen to the ground. When the smoke cleared away the captain saw that the rascals were gone, but there soon came from the woods a shower of blazing arrows. It was time to get away. The captain made a hole in the roof, crawled out, sprang to the ground and hurried into the woods.
Early the next morning he went to Patterson's house. The family had heard of the fight.
"You neenter be 'larmed now, dough, sah," said Alf, the negro, "caze da foun' out dat you wuz er Newnited States ossifer, an' it skeered 'em putty nigh ter def. You gin it ter one o' 'em putty hard, I ken tell you. Shot him squar through, an' da doan think he gwine ter lib, da doan, but dat ain't no matter, fur he wuz de wust one in de bunch. Ef he dies, folks 'roun' yare will hol' er pra'r-meetin' thankin' de Lawd."
Patterson and his wife left the room, but the negro sat in the doorway.
"Ansy," said the captain, "I owe my life to you."
"Dat you does, sah," Alf replied.
The captain gave him a significant glance and again turned to the girl.
"Yes, you have saved my life, but that is not the cause of my deep—deep (he glanced at the negro)—deep regard for you."