Sarah Dillard's Ride

nding the encampment, lingered behind for a moment to speak with the commander, and the newly-released prisoners were still in such

ence; it was as if neither dared to speak lest the sound of his voic

e command which Major Ferguson gave relative to their departure, they went straight from the door toward the trail which led to

dea that you can run away whenever the fancy takes you, for I am not to

one than when we contented ourselves with making you prisoner," N

or he counted upon their having been reduced to abject submission. He was not to be frightened by their threats, however, now that he was

until I can learn what

th a laugh, which only served to irritate the Tory. "We have Major Ferguson's permission

ission to depart!" Eph

upon to put you out of our path w

u say the major

rd, and I shall give no heed as to the consequences," Nathan said sternly. "You and I have a long reckon

cide how he might best reduce these lads to the proper state of submis

aping by pretending that Major Ferguson has given the

rs, or do you repeat

f these two rebels, lest by sheer b

ot minded to take orders from one who does such dirty work as you," the

running quickly up to them the Tory seized one, regardless of the f

imed the weapon full at the

on't think you can get the upperhand of me as readily as you d

ad and let him be deprived of his liberty until

d just come from the dwelling, and before the young Tory was well aware of the change in the position of affairs, he was bein

o not loiter, until you have repeated Major

ring, and as they marched rapidly away the captain fo

eir pace until a mile or more was traversed, when as if with one accord they came to a ha

ords and demonstrations of joy at finding themselves free when it had seemed positive they were doomed

better than by words, and laughed loud and long at the discomfiture of the Tory

been spent before either bethought himself that it was necessary they should push ahead with all speed, for no ratio

after the first excess of joy had passed a

leep had come during the night, and much exc

ould gain the needed rest, and it is not strange that when anot

ble to hold out until the end; but Nathan steadily refused to listen to any suggestions, and th

ans who had repulsed the British forces a few hours previous, and

day and all of the following

for a change of camp, when Captain Dillard awakened the lads

much mistaken you are more in need of food just now than

hungry, but so eager were they to learn the particulars of the combat whi

full stomachs, for I am not minded to have you starve

did get here in t

s; but I am not the one to tell it. Come over by the fire, and after you have filled your

he boys and Captain Dillard were pressing on in advance of the American force, to the dwellin

ion he desired, Nathan first explained how they had left the British camp, and gave all the

nd eagerly did he and Evan drink in the vivid accou

the determined woman who was bent on riding him, for when the boys had let go th

when a single misstep would have thrown him headlong over the cliffs, and yet n

rtunately, it was in a valley where there were no trees, and Sar

becoming convinced that he must carry the life-saving message, he darted onward

n hour, can well be fancied, and it may also be readily understood that, having accomplished the

were inured to hardships of every kind an

so sure were the men in their ability to hold the encampment against the enemy, that a squad of four was sent, as escort

should be called upon to perform no meaner work so long as he might live, than that of bearing on hi

he captain dismisse

e. When the horses were picketed our scouts brought us word, and then it was only a

ose in the front rank. I thought at the moment that they would retreat without so much as firing a shot, because of the astonishment which must have come over them. Fancy, every redcoat there felt certain in his ow

ged, and then I can say truthfully that fully half their number was left behind, for, as we figured it, not more than two hundred came out, and we found dead and wounde

cared for, and now stand prepared to meet Major Ferguson's force again. But tell me wha

er than those to crush out the spirit of rebellion, and if you do not desist from your armed resistance to the king's commands, and take p

will fail the next time he tries the same game. However, it is not for you to question his method of making war until after you have paid the price of your release. Get you gone as soon as may be, lads, and we will utilize the gallant major's paroled prisoners to the calling together of our men, at the same time his threatening words are repeated. You shall be supplied with horses, and I will write down a

d and you have the right to call yourselves free lads once more. Ride with all speed, and waste not an hour

s journey with no more of a halt than was necessary to relate the

us simply recount what was done from that day until the twenty-fifth of Septe

liam Campbell of Washington County, in Virginia, and

saac Shelby, who agreed to bring two hundred a

declared that he, with two hundred and forty of his neighbors from

f Burke and Rutherford, would join the force, and Colonel Cleaveland answered for three hundred and fifty from t

he Cowpens, on Broad River in South Carolina, where he

than and Evan completed their work of repeating Major Ferguso

any claim upon them, and believed themselves entitled to a pla

eived everywhere with the utmost hospitality, and perhaps never were two lads shown more respect th

ese sturdy patriots like equals, and to be besieged on every side with questions a

ed that the boys should be allowed to play the part of officers because of th

s, but if they simply desire to parade themselves before the people in fine feathers, the Carolinas is n

no more responsible part than that of private soldiers, for they knew full well that neither was fitted for

ots had arrived at the Cowpens where Colonel Williams kept his word by marching up with twenty men more than he had promised, it was said among the men as well a

l who might have such information concerning Ephrai

ou. Unless I am very much mistaken, we shall not remain here many hours, for there is a council of war being held, and from what I know of our commanding officers, we shall give the gallant major all the hot work he can desire. Then, if your Tory spy be not we

" Evan said with a laugh, "and I am o

stick to his red-coated friends whom he served so well, or have a mighty lonesome time of it by himself. If I had played his part, doing all in my power to bring about the death of those who had befriended me,

uld be no question of the result, o

me to protect, and so many wrongs to avenge that there can

nk you Major Ferg

ries from fourteen

r own f

om seventee

are the s

ly such as each man can provide, and some of us so poorly armed that half a dozen rounds would see the powder-horns and shot pouches emptied. But we are fighting for the cause, and they for the King. In that you have the whole story, and therefore this