How much more beautiful is an iron
sword with jewels, than a sword of plain gray steel.
Dame Hubbell stood in her door as they went by. Each and all
saluted politely; her guard was ordered to join his regiment. The
lady waved her sun-bonnet in response to their courteous
good-bye, and could not refrain from calling out:
"How about my prophecy, Sir George, and those purses?"
Rolf could not see his hostess, but he heard her voice, and he
saw the astonishing effect:
The British general reined in his horse. "A gentleman's word is
his bond, madam," he said. "Let every officer now throw his purse
at the lady's feet," and he set the example. A dozen rattling
thuds were heard and a dozen officers saluting, purseless, rode
away.
A round thousand dollars in gold the lady gathered on her porch
that morning, and to this day her grand-kin tell the tale.
Chapter 84. Rolf Unmasks the Ambush
Rolf's information was complete now, and all that remained was to
report at Plattsburg. Ten regiments he had counted from his peep
hole. The rear guard passed at ten o'clock. At eleven Mrs.
Hubbell did a little scouting and reported that all was quiet as
far as she could see both ways, and no enemy in sight anywhere.
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