With the Swamp Fox

im, was Percy aware of t

est possible space of time, the lad gave no heed to anything else, and but for the fact o

were come within fifty yards of him, and then with one vigorou

battle even though the odds were twenty to one, for the James family of Willia

ullets after us, and I do truly believe there was a blush of shame upon my cheek that men of Carolina should show th

ith us as targets; but, bearing sharply to the left, we plunged into the thicket, wher

e punishment given the young Tory, burne

ainst such odds when no benefit may be derive

, and these skulking traitors surely need a check just n

er and five bullets," I replied, checking back the mirth which came upon me when the

it is Percy would have halted with a smile upon his face and a sense of deepest satisfa

it was well he had been accustomed to do so, otherwis

sacked in this neighborhood, I would give much for the privilege of showing th

if yonder band of Tories suffer no greater loss of numbers than we could inf

me plan in mind?"

ecessary to revive the faint-hearted, and it can readily be done if we carry to General Marion word of what has been done.

might be the result of this day's failure, so far a

for me to urge him to make

whatsoever to fatigue, the race was ended in a little more than two hours, when we

one of satisfaction. "Scantily equipped as this force i

usand Tories nearabout, sir," I ventured to suggest,

make you ti

y and I would have given them so much of a lesson as might be possible with five bullets. In fact

on the instant, and gripping both of us lads

perchance show the white feather when our enemies were in such force. Come with me to the general, and you shall see whether any account be taken of nu

no shelters other than such as the men made for themselves with pine boug

ere not troubled to gain a

e live-oak tree, nearby where were three or four men building a c

major said as he saluted, and I was surprised at the change which passed over tha

and shown us a countenance almost the opp

that now indeed, we had a leader w

ajor James," the general said most courteously, and one needs remember that

by the hand that I might understand how well pleased he was at such words of praise. "It was not simply to bring

uiringly, and in as few words as mi

d added as he looked me full in the eye. "Can you depe

to doubt the entire story, had not forty or more

spoke of Major Gainey

remember wel

enlisted wit

on I looked toward my uncle, an

it please you to accept

r James, and unless I have made a mistake in reading their faces, these s

oment counted ourselves as being enlisted under that true general and va

to understand that he wished to speak with him privately, and we withdrew a short distance, to

the old man asked with that peculiar grin which

ong place," Percy replied with a laugh. "Surely you a

im who stands the stiffest that can bring down the most game, an' there's no need of my telli

ho might perhaps claim this district as their home, had fair shot at us, and within fifty

rgetting for the instant his camp

hat we had seen, whereupon he ceased his labors as cook and began overhauling the

-handed in search of them

l what manner of man he is. Neither he nor Major James would remain here idle after such a story as

e heard the word passed from man to man around the

tion, although it was understood the enemy which we had reported far outnumbered us, every member of the briga

hers than Gavin Witherspoon who left the food by the fires,

arrival until everything was in readiness-every man mounted, e

having been enlisted under General Marion,

this expedition, which rightfully belonged to us bec

erspoon no longer looks our way," Percy continued

ns, and, approaching to where he was standing in company with the

ere in the thicket, under care of the servants," my uncle said. "You will overtake us as soon as

doing the same, and as Percy and I hurried awa

like dry reading, I must make especial mention of the

bred, and in Williamsburg district ever

rode, and because of these did General Marion owe much of his success in the days to come, when we dashed here and there over

s which had no superiors in the neighborhood, and therefore were we positive of being

le, and it was not an easy matter to persuade him we had authority to select such as we chose, for he claimed t

he welfare of his stable was at stake, and therefore we spoke him fairly, using soft words rather than harsh,

cy and I set forth in pursuit of our friends, confident that we would be

hare in the punishment of the Tories will be slight indeed,"

hat with steeds like these we should be equipped in most kingly fashion, and now that

any very formidable outfit under such leaders as General Marion and our u

aintance who had a larger store than he needed, and such an one might be difficult to find in the district

addle was upon me, and, for the time being, I gave little heed to our necessi

lhardiness we might have eaten our fill from the different messes which the men left beh

ckoned for us to join the general and himself, and th

his vicinity, and do not let it be known you are enlisted with us. While our numbers are few, the blows must be quick and fr

entured to ask, and a great disappointment came int

better purpose otherwise, for two lads like yourselves are le

l well that we have no sympathy with the Tories," Percy cried, wher

give you a share of the fighting, but only because Britton's Neck is, from this point, on the direct road to another quarter I would have you visit. You may, if you please, join us in the first attack, and then I shall expect you t

thought for the future, and said to myself that if we prove

, and we rode down the line, hoping to find

erhaps, sufficient for five charges more, and then we had ev

aken for the Cause, and it would please me much to repeat all the incidents of that night's journey, for they are

vice, I shall say no more concerning the journey when our brigade, only four companies strong, rode through the silent hours of t

ith that yellow tint which betokens the near approach of th

arion's outstretched hand, I saw dimly amid the mist the outlines of an encampment so large, that for the moment I

statues; so great was my excitement that I could not count the passage of time. Only this do I know,

horse, and so eager were our men to be at the throats of the enemy, that before the major's ste

t have presented a singular spectacle, had a

ce, save for the thud of the horses' feet upon the sward, and with them in their

ommander, I must in this attack appear the equal of any man in the ra

ight be accused of timorousness, and side by side we rode as if on a

uncle, and Captain Mouzon, o

I understood we were comparatively alone, and not until then, w

triumphantly, thinking even at that moment

houted, and then, as if he had come up through the ea

o near that the mane of my horse was singed by the fir

efore one had time to realize anything more we four were in the very midst of the Tor