With the Swamp Fox

the mission with which we had been entrusted by General Marion, because the old man was often given to whims

rcy nor I would have paid any particular attention to him, believing he simply magnifie

explaining it-that I believed at once he was in possession of some knowledge w

ave held my peace, trusting in our ability to ward off such dangers as should arise, but then, ignorant as we were of a soldier's

regardless of suitable opportunity or place; but on this morning Percy and I found it necessary to ride at full speed in order to come alon

hat it is your purpose to protect Percy and I, we at least hav

urtly, and would have spurred ahead of us once more bu

ior. If it so be you know more concerning the enemy than is told among the men of our brigade

f gaining information than others. What may be in my min

urs ago?" I said with a laugh, beginning to feel somewhat of relief in my mind by this d

nd, for, reining in his horse, he wheeled around to face Percy and

field had a force of Tories nearabout Dubose Ferry. Think yo

lied, wondering greatly wha

edee Swamp to Dubose Ferry, than f

neither Percy nor I spoke, for as yet we fai

f it, and must, therefore, seek another encampment. Do you believe they will

f the Ferry," Percy said, an expression of deepest seriou

uch cowardice may be in their hearts, when next we ride upon them? If these two forces of Tories come together-and by this time I venture to say the men we routed in the early dawn have begun

as being grave in the extreme, and there was no further

mn as was Gavin Witherspoon, and we three rode on again as if certain some evil fortune was about to over

ere covered with a growth of scrub oaks, and we had heard a

enly, and I was looking to my rifle to make cer

to seeing during the brush with Major Gainey's force. Upon his face was an express

beyed the command, knowing full well his steed would have no show in a race with suc

upon his face. "Since when have yo

of me. "In these times a Tory cannot lay claim to peacefulness, and it i

he slightest show of fear, and I was surprised

earch for pistols!" Gavin Witherspoon said sternly, for the old ma

f search we discovered that he had no other wea

ed well satisfi

r, this show of careless

n we chased your friends into the swamp-when less

per as caused me to understand in an instant that I had thus given to

iving no heed to the old man's show of resentment at my folly,

nderfully within the past few days, and we who are loyal i

else he would not have dared to speak in such strain, and the

d heretofore been so cowardly as never to venture an opinion lest he make trouble

ven you such a dose of

hen, understanding an instant later that we were not of his kidney, who woul

been cut to pieces at Camden by Lord Cornwallis! What you are p

pprehensively, as the young Tory told a story which we at the time believe

h his entire force, never so much as sending scouts in advance to learn whether the enemy might be in the vicinity. His raw recruits were su

ere formed in the swamp with the reserve only a few hundred yards in the rear of the battle line. Perhaps not one out of ten of these had ev

volley that the division retreated before more than half of them had discharged their muskets. The North Carolina mi

round until further resistance would have been madness, and

am Lee was

lled in the Carolinas was neither more nor less than the truth, and for a mome

hese lines, that we believed so readily all the T

the colonists first began resistance against the king's oppression-had again and agai

the Williamsburg district had been only a colonel, was to leave the staff of Ga

e us an account of the battle with so much of detail he could not hav

nd what should be done, and he soon showed the Tory that, however hardly our

able the association may be, and do you lads lash him on the saddle in suc

General Marion, I obeyed the old man's order, and now it was that the l

urrying favor with him, or, at least, pass him by, and our thus guar

re, for I now realized, as did Percy, that Gavin Wi

thers of this fellow's kidney, who are making haste to join Barfield. After having accomplished that

ds, prompted to do so because of the fear which beset me at this tim

y and I riding either side of the prisoner

dged, to the vicinity of the Tory camp, and

teeds in the thicket, leaving them and the prisoner to the charge

no means wasted, because when it had expired we we

t hundred Tories fairly well entrenched at Dubose Ferry

mes, however brave they may be, will make the attack with such odds against us, particularly while it is c

in my own mind, and th

ave come so far as to put themselves in a dangerous positio

re we tethered the horses, and once there the

not to be seen. But for the fact that the gray steed of Sam Lee wa

uth burst upon me. I could not so much as speak; but looked questioningly at th

ting for us at this moment. Sam Lee knew for what purpose we went ahead, an

the horrible fact had been put before me in words. "We can

own capture," Gavin Witherspoon said, speaking slowly,

from his grasp; "if that cowardly thought be in your mind you shall go alone, for I had

ir and softly. I am not minded to g

nd again I strove t

have it told that one of the James family, on account of his own personal grief, allowed four hundred brave men to ride on to destruction? Would you have it said that r

ask!" and now I was grown more tractable, understanding that the old man knew better th

e opportunity than you. Now this is my plan: Mount the gray horse and ride back until you have met our friends; tell them what has occurred, and perchance Major James will send forward ten or twelve experienced woodsmen, who will help me in what seems little better than a forlorn hope. At all events, the gentlemen w

may well be imagined, and I spent fully fi

forward, I was deserting him, and yet such seeming desertion wa

an said finally, and, my heart well-nigh bursting

ze how much Gavin Withersp

the vain hope that he might by some fortunate accident rescue Percy, and I kne

elivering himself into the hands of the enemy a

d, making as if to dismount.

perchance of your life, and certainly of your feelings. Push the horse at his best pace, which will be a sorry one at the most,

e was. Then, not daring to so much as speak, I set the spurs deep into the gray, and he b

at I was not captured before having traversed a mile on the backward journey, for I saw nothing, h

ct of Williamsburg there was not an enemy, and the good God al

dvance guard of our brigade, and five minutes later stood befo

ct, although not the story, was imprinted plainly on my face, and Major James dismoun

did you leave Percy a

of Dubose Ferry, so

arfield's force befor

ory, taking good care however, that both he and the general und

ing to Captain Mouzon he would have given some order but that I said hurr

d join Barfield's force, and should the Williamsburg bri

the end comes peacefully, then is he less fortunate, perhaps, than his fellow.