the sleeping girl. He beckoned her and she came out to him.
"Ugly Meg," he chirped in his voice like a bird's, "I wish you joy of your white-livered, rabbit-hearted behemoth of a husband."
She glowered down upon the little man.
"What's he done now?" she growled.
He jerked his head towards the tent.
"The young lady yonder, Mistress Jolie Stanwicke, has run away from her father who is a vile beast that any daughter would be proud to run away from. However, as you know, old Stanwicke is a great man in the Province and has power with the Governor, and Almayne and Lachlan McDonald are of the opinion that a party may come in pursuit of her with the Governor's authority to take her back to Charles Town. It has occurred to them at this late day that if she is found in Jock Pearson's pack train there will be evil consequence for Jock, and to save him this danger they have proposed that our parties separate. You know and I know and Jock Pearson knows that with the Cherokees ripe for war we are too small a party to venture through the upper country with this girl in our charge."
Mistress Pearson's grim eyes were fixed upon her husband where he still lolled on the grass between Almayne and Lachlan.
"Let be, Mr. O'Sullivan," she said peevishly. "That sweet lamb will be in Meg Pearson's care until she's safe in Fort Prince George."
