At a meeting held one night they decided upon the name “Loyal” for their little community.

“I feel we could not choose a better one,” the Colonel said.  “Every one here is an outcast for loyalty to the King, and when we get our flag-staff erected, the Union Jack floating above the trees will be a reminder to friend and foe alike of our unswerving devotion.”

No one had interfered with the arrow embedded in the pine, and that lordly tree had been left standing while most of its nearby companions had fallen beneath the axe.  Not a day passed that Jean did not glance toward the arrow, and each time she thought of him who had become so real to her.  But for two weeks no further sign was vouchsafed, until one morning as she came forth from her tent she saw a brace of fine partridges hanging from the arrow.  Once more excitement spread throughout the camp, and again various conjectures were heard as to the presence of the partridges.  The birds were carefully examined, and several small pieces of lead were found in their bodies.  Jean showed these to Mammy in her effort to convince the superstitious servant that the devil had nothing to do with it.

“Why, these birds were shot, Mammy,” she explained.  “Some one with a gun did it, and brought them to us.”

“Ah, Missie Jean,” and the old woman raised a warning finger, “de debbil knows eberyt’ing.  He kin use a gun when he wants to, an’ he kin make men do his nasty work.  Didn’t he put it into de heart of ol’ Judas Scariot to betray de good Lo’d?  An’ mark my word, dat’s jes what he’s doin’ now.  He’s up to some trick.”

“But why would he be so friendly, Mammy?  He’s helping us instead of trying to do us harm.”

“Doan ye know yo’ Bible, chile?  Doesn’t it say in de Good Book dat de debbil comes to folks as an angel of light, an’ makes ’em b’lieve dat he’s friendly an’ good?  No, ye kin nebber trust de debbil.  He’s got somet’ing up his sleeve, an’ doan yo’ fo’git it.”

Jean merely smiled at the woman’s fears, knowing how useless it was to reason any further.  She was satisfied in her own mind where the birds had come from, and the thought brought a thrill to her heart.  This was intensified several days later when two wild ducks were found one morning suspended from the arrow.

“This is getting to be almost uncanny,” the Colonel remarked as he examined the birds.  “Whoever is responsible for these presents is a strange friend.  I wish he would make himself known that we might thank him.”

Jean was of the same opinion, although she did not say so.  She had often wondered why Dane Norwood had remained hidden.  That it was the courier she had not the slightest doubt.  But why did he not come by day that she might see him?

Two weeks passed and nothing more happened.  Most of the houses were almost completed.  The Colonel had his finished first, and it was a proud day when he gave the order to move their few belongings from the tent.  This was soon done, and Jean and Mammy spent the whole of the afternoon fitting up their new abode.  The day was unusually hot, and at times they were forced to seek shelter beneath the shade of some friendly trees.  Night brought but little respite, and even Old Mammy complained of the heat.