Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/354

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH, to appreciate these new recruits. Woman and children then had been brought up in the atmosphere of war, and were not to be despised as allies.

"You are Maria Daniels, I imagine?"

"I reckon I am, stranger," one hand on her hip, and chin advanced. "Do yer know Bill?"

"Yes, he belongs to my command, that's his scouting partner yonder."

"Thet red-headed little whiffet?"

I nodded, wondering at the sudden silence without.

"Say, Mister," she burst forth, "whar is Bill? We-uns ain't got no house no more, fer it's burnt down. One o' the Talcott boys said Bill was over this-a-way, an' so we hoofed it yere las' night, but I ain't seen nary thing but Johnnies since, till yer two hellions bust in. If Bill be 'round these yere parts he better be lookin' after me an' ther kids, or thar's a right smart chance o' his losin' us."

"Your husband is in the neighborhood somewhere, Mrs. Daniels," I hastened to say, eager to get busy on the defence of the cabin. "I saw him less than half an hour ago in the house yonder. He left by way of a secret passage. He had heard of your plight, and was seeking you. He even went to Donald to learn the truth."

"Bill did? Ter Jem Donald? Stranger, ye're a blame liar!"

I stepped back, the fierceness of her face startling me

"But, Mrs. Daniels—"

"They're a-coomin', sor!" sang out O'Brien, and [ 334 ]