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When Ellen arrived in the British camp, her delight at
finding the story of her lover's captivity and wounds untrue,
scarcely left room either for indignation at the fraud
which had been practised upon her, or for alarm at her personal
peril. Her father's extreme illness also immediately
engrossed her attention, until the day before the flight of
the army, when it terminated in his death. When this
melancholy event had occurred and the retreat was about
to commence, she applied to Sir John Johnson for permission
to remain behind, and enforced her appeal with every
argument that fear or hope could dictate. But the artful
Waldon had anticipated this movement. Captain Welles,
entertaining the strongest prejudice both against Dudley
and the American cause, and still reposing a mistaken confidence
in Waldon, had been prevailed upon in his last
hours to constitute the latter the guardian of his child, and
had enjoined upon him to see her removed to some more
loyal district. He had also expressed a strong desire that,
at a fitting time, the guardian and ward might assume the
relationship of husband and wife. It was not surprising,
therefore, that the loyalist leader turned a deaf ear to the
entreaties of Ellen, as Sir John would scarcely have required
so good an excuse either for rewarding a friend or
punishing a political enemy. He did not even hesitate to
assert that he hoped, within a few weeks, to see the guardian's
power transformed into that marital authority which

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the late Capt. Welles had evidently been so anxious should
be established. “That event,” he continued with a lofty
air, and in an unfeeling tone, “will effectually put an end
to any puerile attachments which you may fancy that you
have formed, and to those equally puerile but more pernicious
political sentiments which you seem to have imbibed.”

Convinced that all effort in this quarter was useless, she
next resolved to appeal to the generosity of Waldon himself.
But she little knew the nature of the man into whose
toils she had fallen. He openly exulted in the power which
he possessed over both the person and property of his unfortunate
ward.

Circumstances, he said, with cool sarcasm, required their
immediate departure for Oswego, at which place he hoped
for leisure and means to effect a change in her views. The
arguments which she undervalued in a lover would be more
potent, he thought, from the lips of a husband, in which
light he begged Miss Welles, from the inevitable necessity
of the case, to accustom herself to look upon him in future.
The nuptials indeed, he said, were already arranged; and
Sir John had himself promised to give away the bride.
“Miss Welles will not flatter herself,” he concluded, in a
severe tone, “that any contingency can prevent this result.
Contumacy might indeed prevent any public ceremony,
but would secure to her no further immunity.”

Astounded and maddened by these fearful threats, Ellen,
nearly in a state of unconsciousness, continued sitting in
the tent which had been allotted to her use, long after
Waldon's departure. When she revived she was startled
to perceive that she had another companion who bore the
appearance of a private soldier; but her alarm was quickly
changed to delight as she recognized in the intruder's face
the familiar and welcome countenance of Rogers.

Enjoining the strictest secrecy, the sergeant hastened to

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inform Ellen that he knew her danger, and that his only
business in the British camp was to attempt her rescue.
At the same time he assured her that there was no present
prospect of relief, and that all he should probably be enabled
to do would be to second such efforts as Dudley
would undoubtedly make in her behalf. He also reminded
her that not only his ability to aid her, but his life itself
depended upon her discretion. The interview was necessarily
brief, but it resulted in a partial renovation of Ellen's
spirits, and committing her cares and hopes to Him
who “hears the sighing of the needy,” she patiently awaited
the development of events.

Rogers had joined the army as a loyalist, and, not being
known as a deserter, no suspicion had attached to him.
Waldon knew nothing of his participation in the defence at
Lee's, or of his subsequent enlistment at the fort, and being
equally ignorant of his intimacy with Dudley, never
doubted his loyalty. He had, therefore, easily procured
an interview with Miss Welles, as an acquaintance and former
neighbor. The perfect secresy of his movements had
been prompted by his habitual caution, and by the great
danger of any rumors following him to the British camp,
which would result in his trial and conviction as a spy.
He cared little for the temporary odium of a deserter at
home, while he retained the confidence of Dudley, who he
believed would rightly conjecture his designs. How little
his confidence was misplaced will appear.