174
THE TRIUMPH AT PLATTSBURG
not curse her—She has broke[n] my heart, but she is still my child and I will not curse her.
Mrs. Mack. Have you received no tidings of her yet, sir?
Major McCrea. This morning I heard that she had just left the village, and hoping that she might have sought protection under your roof, I left my station and came in pursuit of her, but she is not here, alas! she is not here.
(Distant drums.)
Mrs. Mack. Hark! sir, the enemy approaches. If you remain here you will certainly be taken prisoner. Is there nothing we can do to save you?
Major McCrea. You have said that your son is not here. Get me a suit of his apparel; I will pass for your son.
Mrs. Mack. Pass for my son!
Major McCrea. Where are his clothes? We have no time to lose.
Mrs. Mack. Follow me, sir, and I will get you a suit.
Major McCrea. (To Mrs. M.) Do you remain here and give me timely notice when danger approaches.
(Exit with Lucy into the mill.)
Mrs. Mack. What an astonishing adventure. I am thankful that an opportunity has occurred for me to evince my gratitude to him who protected the widow and her son for years. What, so soon returned?
(Enter Lucy.)
Lucy. I have given him the cloathes, ma'am, but I did not stay to help him on with them because he is a man.
Mrs. Mack. You are a prudent girl. A young woman ought not to expose herself. Ah! the soldiers here already. We are lost.—(Goes to mill.) Major, have you finished? Hasten or your fate is inevitable.
(Enter Captain Stanley and soldiers.)
Capt. Stanley. Halt.—Be not alarmed, good woman. No injury is intended; I have merely come to station a sentinel at this place. Have you any men in your family?
Mrs. Mack. My son Andre, sir.
Capt. Stanley. Where is he?
Mrs. Mack. He is—
Lucy. In the mill, sir.
Capt. Stanley. I would speak to him.—(Goes to mill.)
Mrs. Mack. Do not put yourself to the trouble sir: I will go in search of him.
Capt. Stanley. No; I wish to satisfy myself that he is alone in the mill. My friends, follow me.
Mrs. Mack. Heavens! what shall we do!
Lucy. He is lost.
(As soldiers are about to go into mill. Enter from mill Major McCrea in a miller's dress.)
Major McCrea. Here I am, my friends—what would you have?—Captain Stanley—I must be on my guard. (Aside.)
Mrs. Mack. O! fortunate!
Capt. Stanley. Are you the owner of this mill?
Major McCrea. No, not as long as my mother lives.
Capt. Stanley. Well, friend, I ought to advise you that I have orders to place an advance sentinel on this spot.
Major McCrea. Then address alone can save me. (Aside.)
Capt. Stanley. Be not concerned; the females of your family shall be respected.
Major McCrea. I doubt it not; you do not wage war with women. Well I am glad of the measure, it will protect my mill from depredators.—Captain, my mother is a fine fresh looking old lady for sixty five, is she not?
Mrs. Mack. The captain can see plain enough, son, that you don't know my age. I am not sixty-five.
Lucy. She must be that full out if she intends to pass for the mother of the major.—{Aside.)
Major McCrea. I think, mother, you would take off a few years.
Capt. Stanley. Women are liable to those mistakes.—Have you any spirits in the house, my good fellow?
Major McCrea. Certainly, and good too. Mother, give us some brandy.
Mrs. Mack. But, my son, we have none.
Major McCrea. Have none? Ah! true, it is all out, but if you would like some whiskey—
Capt. Stanley. Anything.
Mrs. Mack. We have a little whiskey still left.
Major McCrea. Then let us have it.—(Exit Mrs. M.) You appear fatigued.
Capt. Stanley. Yes; we have had some skirmishing on Cumberland Head, and no rest since.
Major McCrea. The first virtue of a soldier is to endure fatigue.
Capt. Stanley. Why, comrade, from your
