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diff --git a/old/44651-h/44651-h.htm b/old/44651-h/44651-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..80bf2f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44651-h/44651-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14751 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of With the Swamp Fox, by James Otis. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1{ + text-align: center; + clear: both; + margin-top: 6em; +} + +h2 {text-align: center; + clear: both; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-size: 1.2em; +} +.chap1 {margin-top: 1em;} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: left; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; +} +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: 33%; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.l15 { width: 15%; + margin-left: 42%; } + +hr.l30 { width: 30%; + margin-left: 35%; } + +hr.l05 {width: 5%; + margin-left: 47%; } + +.center { text-align: center; } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps; } + +.caption { + font-weight: bold; + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + text-align: center; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + +ul.none { list-style-type:none; } +li {margin-left: 1em; + text-indent: -1em;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +p.hanging { + margin-left: 1em; + text-indent: -1em; +} + +.ad { + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +.b20 {font-size:2.0em;} +.b15 {font-size:1.5em;} +.b13 {font-size:1.3em;} +.b12 {font-size:1.2em;} +.s08 {font-size:.8em;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + empty-cells: show; +} + +td {padding-left: 1em; + padding-right: 1em; +} + +.tdr { text-align: right; } + +.tnbox { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + margin-bottom: 8em; + margin-top: auto; + text-align: center; + border: 1px solid; + padding: 1em; + color: black; + background-color: #f6f2f2; + width: 25em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of With the Swamp Fox, by James Otis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: With the Swamp Fox + A Story of General Marion's Young Spies + +Author: James Otis + +Illustrator: J. Watson Davis + +Release Date: January 12, 2014 [EBook #44651] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH THE SWAMP FOX *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tnbox"> +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></p> +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. +Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation in the original +document have been preserved. In particular, the book uses reconnoiter +and reconnoitre, and both redcoat and red-coat.</p> +</div> +<div class="figcenter p6"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="350" height="550" alt="Cover" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter p6"><a name="front" id="front"></a> +<img src="images/i-001.jpg" width="335" height="550" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">I clasped the old man's hand, understanding for the first time what a friend +he was.—<a href="#Page_93">Page 93</a>.</p> +</div> + +<h1> +WITH THE SWAMP FOX +</h1> + +<p class="center b13">A Story of General Marion's +Young Spies.</p> + +<p class="center p2 b13"><span class='smcap'>By JAMES OTIS.</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i-002.jpg" width="232" height="255" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center p2">With Six Page Illustrations by J. Watson Davis.</p> + +<p class="center p2 b12">NEW YORK:<br /> +A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.</p> + +<p class="center p6 s08"> +Copyright, 1899, by <span class='smcap'>A. L. Burt</span>.</p> +<hr class="l05" /> +<p class="center s08">WITH THE SWAMP FOX.<br /> +<span class='smcap'>By James Otis.</span> +</p> + +<p class="p6"> +"Thank God I can lay my hand on my heart and say that, +since I came to man's estate, I have never intentionally done +wrong to any." +</p> + +<p class="center"> +(General Francis Marion's last words, spoken February 27th, 1795.) +</p> + +<h2> +CONTENTS. +</h2> + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td colspan="2"><span class="s08">CHAP.</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="s08">PAGE</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td> My Uncle the Major</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td> General Marion</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td> The Tory Camp</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td> Samuel Lee</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td> The Ambush</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td> The Prisoners</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td> The Retreat</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td> Black Mingo Swamp</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td> The Battle</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td> Georgetown</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td> Gabriel</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<h2> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. +</h2> + +<table summary="List of Illustrations"> + <tr> + <td>I Clasped the Old Man's Hand, Understanding for the First Time What a Friend He Was</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="s08">PAGE</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>As the Tory Spoke, Percy Leaped Upon Him</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i032">23</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Then Suddenly a Red-coated Tory Rushed Toward Me with Upraised Saber</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i060">49</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>As Gavin Gathered Up the Weapons, Percy and I Called Upon the Sleepers to Surrender</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i196">183</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>In the Darkness We Four Comrades Were Sent Forward to Reconnoitre</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i220">205</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Gavin Seized My Arm, Shouting in My Ear: "Surrender, Lad, Surrender!"</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#i268">250</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_1' name='Page_1'>[1]</a></span> +</p> + +<p class="center p6 b20"> +WITH THE SWAMP FOX. +</p> + +<h2 class="chap1"> +CHAPTER I. +<br /> +<span class="s08">MY UNCLE, THE MAJOR.</span> +</h2> + +<p> +He who sets himself down to write of his +own deeds in order that future generations +may know exactly what part he bore in +freeing the colonies from the burdens put +upon them by a wicked king, must have +some other excuse, or reason, than that of +self-glorification. +</p> + +<p> +Some such idea as set down above has +been in my mind from the moment Percy +Sumter—meaning my brother—urged that +I make a record of what we did while serving +under General Francis Marion, that +ardent patriot and true soldier, who was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_2' name='Page_2'>[2]</a></span> +willing to make of himself a cripple rather +than indulge in strong drink. +</p> + +<p> +I question if there be in the Carolinas +any one who does not know full well the +story of that night in Charleston, when, +the door being locked upon him in order +that he might be forced to drink, General +Marion—then only a colonel—leaped from +the window, thereby dislocating his ankle, +rather than indulge in a carousal which to +him was unseemly and ungentlemanly. +</p> + +<p> +This is but a lame beginning to what it +is intended I shall tell regarding those +days when we two lads, Percy and myself, +did, as it has pleased many to say, the +work of men in the struggle against foreign +rule; yet however crude it may appear to +those better versed in the use of the pen, +it is the best I can do. My brother and +myself went into General Marion's camp +before our fourteenth birthday, and since +that time have studied the art of warfare +instead of letters, which fact is due to the +troublous times rather than our own inclination, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_3' name='Page_3'>[3]</a></span> +for my desire ever was to improve +my mind until I should be at least +on equal terms with those lads who were +more favored as to country. +</p> + +<p> +First let me set down that of which we +two—meaning Percy and myself—can +honestly claim without fear of being called +boastful. +</p> + +<p> +Our mother was sister to those noble +gentlemen, John, William, Gavin, James +and Robert James, who one and all devoted +their fortunes and their lives to the cause +of the independence of the Carolinas. She +married a Sumter, who died while yet we +twins were in the cradle, and, therefore, we +were come to look upon ourselves as true +members of the James family, rather than +Sumters, priding ourselves upon that which +every true Carolinian is ready to declare, +that "he who rightfully bears the name +of James is always ready for the foe, the +first in attack and the last in retreat." +</p> + +<p> +I am coming to the beginning of my +story in a halting, and what may seem a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_4' name='Page_4'>[4]</a></span> +boastful, fashion, yet to my mind there is +no other way of telling plainly what Percy +and I were so fortunate as to accomplish +under General Marion, than that of explaining +why it was we two lads, less than fourteen +years of age, should have been given +such opportunities. +</p> + +<p> +Now I will write particularly of my +uncle, the major, in order that it may be +further understood how we lads came to +be known as scouts in the service of the +"Swamp Fox," and while so doing much +which is already well-known must be +repeated. +</p> + +<p> +When the city of Charleston was captured +by the British, thousands of Carolinians +who were true to the cause of independence +voluntarily made of themselves exiles, despairing +of being able to wrest their native +colonies from the hands of the king, and +willing to assist those in the north whose +possibilities seemed bright. +</p> + +<p> +To the men who were left at home, the +proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton, offering +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_5' name='Page_5'>[5]</a></span> +pardon to the inhabitants and a reinstatement +of all their rights, seemed most +honest. +</p> + +<p> +When, however, Sir Henry's second decree +was issued early in August, in the year +1780, declaring that we who accepted "pardon" +must take up arms against those of +the northern colonies who were yet holding +their own against oppression, the condition +of affairs seemed suddenly to have changed, +and the gentlemen of the Carolinas asked +themselves how these two proclamations +could bear relationship. +</p> + +<p> +Such question could only be answered by +those high in authority under the king, and +that the matter might be made plain, the +people of Williamsburg, in the colony of +South Carolina, chose my uncle, Major John +James, to represent them in asking for an +explanation. +</p> + +<p> +The nearest post was at Georgetown, and +the commandant one Captain Ardesoif. +</p> + +<p> +To this officer my uncle presented himself +with the question as to what might be +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_6' name='Page_6'>[6]</a></span> +meant by the demand that the people of +South Carolina "submit themselves to the +king," and if, after having done so to the +satisfaction of his majesty, they would be +allowed to remain at their homes. +</p> + +<p> +The British captain was one who looked +upon the colonists generally as slaves who +should be whipped into subjection, rather +than men who were able and willing to +defend their lives, and taking such view of +the Carolinians, he made answer much in +this fashion: +</p> + +<p> +"His majesty offers you a free pardon, +of which you are undeserving, for you all +ought to be hanged: but it is only on condition +that you take up arms in his +cause." +</p> + +<p> +Had this redcoated captain known my +uncle better, he might have selected his +words with greater wisdom; but, unacquainted +with our family, he could have +made no greater mistake, and proud am I +to set down that which I know to be my +uncle's answer: +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_7' name='Page_7'>[7]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Sir, the people whom I am come to +represent will scarcely submit to such +condition." +</p> + +<p> +Then it was that Captain Ardesoif flew +into a passion, giving no heed to the possibility +that it might be dangerous to allow +his tongue free rein. +</p> + +<p> +"Represent!" he cried in a fury. "You +insolent rebel, if you dare speak in such +language I will have you hung up at the +yard-arm," and the redcoated captain pointed +to his ship, which lay in the harbor. +</p> + +<p> +I had never set myself down as a member +of the James family if such words had +been allowed to pass unnoticed, but those +who know my uncle could have told the +captain that he was most unwise in attempting +to <i>force</i> us into any agreement. +</p> + +<p> +The king's officer was armed, and my +uncle, clad in a garb such as is worn by +us of Williamsburg, carried no weapons. +This fact, however, had no weight with +Major James. +</p> + +<p> +Seizing the chair upon which he sat he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_8' name='Page_8'>[8]</a></span> +rushed upon the insolent Britisher, striking +him senseless with a single blow, and then +making his escape at once, for the king's +soldiers were there in force, he mounted +his horse and fled from the town. +</p> + +<p> +All possibility that we of Williamsburg +would "submit" had vanished, and within +four and twenty hours came the enrolment +of that body of true gentlemen and +noble soldiers who were afterward known, +and the memory of whom will live so long +as the history of these colonies are told, as +"Marion's Brigade." +</p> + +<p> +It was the major, as a matter of course, +who took command of these volunteers, +and they were divided into four companies, +each under a captain. +</p> + +<p> +The first was led by William M'Cottry; +Henry Mouzon had command of the +second. John of the Lake—another branch +of the James family, and an uncle to the +major—was captain of the third, while +John McCauley stood at the head of the +fourth division. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_9' name='Page_9'>[9]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +These gentlemen, who had come together +within less than four and twenty hours +after my uncle's interview with the representative +of his majesty at Georgetown +were all residents of the district of +Williamsburg, and were rendezvoused +on the banks of Lynch's Creek nearby +where it joins the Great Pedee River within +less than two miles of my mother's home. +</p> + +<p> +All this is set down by way of explanation, +so that whosoever in the days +to come shall read what I am so lamely doing, +may understand how it chanced that +we two lads played so important a part—for +circumstances put it in our way to +do good work—in the struggle which finally +freed the Carolinas, as well as the other colonies +of America, from the burdens which +the king put upon them. +</p> + +<p> +Percy and I had seen somewhat of warfare, +or at least we believed we had, and +watched keenly the movements of this brigade +which my uncle commanded, expecting +that such deeds of valor would be performed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_10' name='Page_10'>[10]</a></span> +by him and his soldiers as must +give new impetus to the Cause throughout +all the colonies. +</p> + +<p> +Then, to our great surprise, we learned +that General Marion was appointed chief +over the forces raised in the Williamsburg +district, and our hearts were filled with +disappointment because it appeared to us +that thereby had Major James lost the opportunity +to show himself the valiant and +skillful officer we believed him to be. +</p> + +<p> +As a matter of course we had heard +much regarding this soldier who leaped +out of a window at the expense of breaking +his bones, rather than join a party of +gentlemen in their drinking, and were +burning with curiosity, which as I have +said, was mixed with deep disappointment, +to know what kind of an appearance he +might present. +</p> + +<p> +The men of the command were by no +means as captious regarding him as we +two nephews of the man whom we believed +to be the rightful commander. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_11' name='Page_11'>[11]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Those Carolinians who took part in the +defense of Charleston knew him to be a +brave colonel, and expected much of him +as a general; but we lads were more than +disappointed in the appearance of the +soldier who had already made for himself +a worthy name. +</p> + +<p> +We saw a small, swarthy gentleman, +walking with a decided limp, wearing a +round-bodied, crimson jacket, and, perched +upon his head was a leathern cap ornamented +with a silver crescent on which +were inscribed the words "liberty or +death." +</p> + +<p> +While we were not disposed to compare +the king's soldiers with our own brave men +to the disparagement of the latter, we had +seen officers from many countries, and had +rather more than a vague idea of what +a uniform should be. Therefore this grotesque +costume—for I can call it by no +other name—impressed us unfavorably, +although in a very few days we came to +learn better than ever before that something +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_12' name='Page_12'>[12]</a></span> +more than clothes are needed to +make the man. +</p> + +<p> +When General Marion arrived at Lynch's +Creek on the 12th of August, the men +of Williamsburg had a military organization +numbering, perhaps, four hundred, +and not a man that could boast of a complete +equipment. +</p> + +<p> +Our Carolinians were armed with whatsoever +weapons they owned, some carrying +shot-guns and others muskets, while +M'Cottry's company were provided with +small-bore rifles. Each man had, perhaps, +his horn filled with powder; but no more +than that, and, as I have heard my uncle +say time and time again, when the brigade +first went into camp there was not +of ammunition sufficient to sustain an engagement +lasting half an hour. +</p> + +<p> +The variety of missiles was as great as +that of weapons. A few had muskets or +rifle balls which they themselves had +molded; others carried buck-shot, and +some were provided only with bird-shot. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_13' name='Page_13'>[13]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +As for swords, bayonets and pikes, we +had none, and the first order which General +Marion issued after arriving at +Lynch's Creek, caused me to have a +higher opinion of him than I had at first +believed would be possible. +</p> + +<p> +Word was given that the force disperse +in squads of from five to a dozen men, +and set about sacking the saw mills in the +immediate vicinity. Nothing was to be +taken away from them save the saws, +and these it was proposed should be beaten +by the blacksmiths of the district into +sabres. +</p> + +<p> +Now in such work as this two lads like +Percy and myself could do as much as men, +and, without asking the privilege of volunteering, +we set out, forming an "independent +command of two," as Percy put it, bound +for a certain mill owned by one Pingree, +who had announced again and again that +a Carolinian who would set himself in defiance +against the king deserved nothing +better than hanging. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_14' name='Page_14'>[14]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +It was no brave adventure which we +started upon, and yet it led to our being +brought into direct, and I might almost say +close, contact with General Marion himself. +</p> + +<p> +There was little need that we two lads +should ask permission from our mother to +join in the work of saw gathering, for the +major was at the head of the family in +good truth, and whatsoever he might do, +was, in the opinion of even the most distant +relatives, worthy of being copied. +</p> + +<p> +It was only necessary Percy and I should +announce that we counted on aiding the +major so far as might be possible, and our +mother at once saw that we were provided +with such amount of provisions as would +serve to keep hunger at bay during at least +two days. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps my uncle might have objected +to the plan had he been informed of it; but +such information we were not minded to +give lest the venture should be a failure, +and we become a butt for his mirth. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was we set out secretly, so +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_15' name='Page_15'>[15]</a></span> +to speak, armed with the rifles which during +no less than half a dozen years had +served us in all the turkey-hunts and deer-stalking +parties we were allowed to join. +</p> + +<p> +Because this venture of ours was not +important, save in what it led up to, there +is no reason why I should use many words +in the telling of it. Suffice it to say that +after a tramp of ten miles or more, when we +had crossed the Pedee River at Port's Ferry +and were at Pingree's Mills, we learned, +greatly to our surprise and considerably +to our fear, that we should not be allowed +to dismantle the building. +</p> + +<p> +There we were met by a lad of our acquaintance +whose home was in Kingstree. +Samuel Lee was the name of this fellow, +with whom we had had little intercourse +because of his associating much with the +king's soldiers; there had never been any +bad blood between us, but we held aloof +from him, and now I was less inclined than +ever to give him my confidence. +</p> + +<p> +He was curious to know what brought us +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_16' name='Page_16'>[16]</a></span> +so far from home, and on our part we wondered +what had led him out of the district. +</p> + +<p> +Neither Percy nor I had any particular +reason to fear Sam Lee; yet instinctively +we closed our mouths on his approach, +which was at the very moment when we +were about to wrench the saws from the +fastenings, and awaited his speech. +</p> + +<p> +"What are you two hunting?" he asked +with an unwarranted assumption of +familiarity which Percy at once resented +by closing his mouth closely, while I, little +dreaming what information it was possible +for him to give, replied in a tone intended +to repel his advances: +</p> + +<p> +"Any game which comes our way is not +unwelcome." +</p> + +<p> +"Are you expecting to find fur or feather +in Pingree's Mill?" +</p> + +<p> +I was tempted to reply roughly; but +without knowing why it should be done, I +put a curb upon my tongue and spoke him +fairly, even against my inclination. +</p> + +<p> +"When one has traveled far under such +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_17' name='Page_17'>[17]</a></span> +a blazing sun as shines to-day, any shelter +from the heat is grateful." +</p> + +<p> +"And may at the same time be dangerous +for some lads," he said in a tone which +caused me to believe it was within his +power to give some information of value +to us. +</p> + +<p> +"Why should it be dangerous for some, +and not for others?" I asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Because all who live in the Williamsburg +district do not boast of their relationship +to the James family, great though it +may be." +</p> + +<p> +Now was I certain he had it in his mind +to do us a mischief, and was capable of +carrying it out, else the cowardly lad who +called himself a Loyalist would never have +spoken so boldly. +</p> + +<p> +There was a similar thought in Percy's +mind, as I understood from the meaning +look he gave me, and then I was resolved +to know all Sam Lee could tell. +</p> + +<p> +By way of provoking him to further +speech I said boastingly: +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_18' name='Page_18'>[18]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"If you know of another family hereabout +who have greater reason to be proud +of its members, than ours, I would like +much to hear the name." +</p> + +<p> +"Those who are wrapped up in their own +conceit fail oftentimes of seeing the good +which is in others, and I have heard it said +that not one of the James tribe would admit +that even the king was higher in position +than he." +</p> + +<p> +"You might have heard it said with +equal truth that not a James, or a true +Carolinian would admit that such a king +as now claims the right to rule over us, +was even our equal." Percy replied hotly, +and this seditious remark had the effect +which I was hoping to bring about. +</p> + +<p> +It stirred Sam Lee to anger, and he +cried menacingly, but taking good care +meanwhile to move off at a safe distance. +</p> + +<p> +"Before many days you will learn that +the James family cannot even take care +of themselves!" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_19' name='Page_19'>[19]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"But who shall teach us that lesson?" +Percy asked with a sneer. +</p> + +<p> +"No less a man than Major Gainey himself." +</p> + +<p> +"And how can he, who is now in +Charleston, teach us so odd and sudden a +lesson?" +</p> + +<p> +"The major is at Britton's Neck!" Sam +cried triumphantly. "In command of a +body of Loyalists so large that the people +of Williamsburg will soon be on their +knees begging protection from the king's +troops." +</p> + +<p> +"He will need have more Tories at his +back to do that, than have ever been found +in the Carolinas," Percy cried, now almost +boiling with rage. +</p> + +<p> +"It may be that you Sumter lads, who +hang to the skirts of Major James because +of the great deeds he claims to be able to +perform, have yet much to learn regarding +the Loyalists of the Carolinas! What +say you to two thousand well-armed and +well-drilled men?" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_20' name='Page_20'>[20]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Two thousand?" Percy repeated with +a laugh of scorn. "You know full well, +Sam Lee, that such a number of Tories +cannot be gathered in these colonies." +</p> + +<p> +"There is at this moment, ready to +march upon your wonderful General +Marion, near to that number of men, and +before a week has passed every James +around Williamsburg will be in custody of +the king's forces." +</p> + +<p> +"If all you say be true, and I doubt seven-eighths +of it, why are you so far afield from +those of your kidney? After all that has +taken place in this colony, a Tory would +do well to have a care over his steps lest +he blunder into evil," and now it was that +I began to lose control over my temper. +</p> + +<p> +"It is you who are blundering, Bob +Sumter, for I have but to raise my voice +and an hundred soldiers will answer me." +</p> + +<p> +Percy laughed derisively; but I am willing +to confess that there was something +very like timorousness in my heart as the +Tory lad spoke, for I knew full well he had +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_21' name='Page_21'>[21]</a></span> +not dared say so much unless friends were +close at hand. +</p> + +<p> +Now I felt positive there were no such +number of Tories under Major Gainey as +Sam Lee had said, yet was I equally certain +there must be a strong gathering in the +neighborhood, and he would have been a +dull lad indeed who could not realize how +important it was that my uncle, the major, +have immediate information regarding the +assembly. +</p> + +<p> +Once this fact had gained lodgment in +my mind I was burning with anxiety to +retrace my steps. +</p> + +<p> +There was no longer any desire in us to +bring back a goodly store of saws that our +neighbors might praise us for having been +industrious. +</p> + +<p> +There remained only the question of +leaving Sam Lee as quickly as might be, +without arousing his suspicions as to where +we were going. +</p> + +<p> +It was not a simple matter, however, to +give him the slip. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_22' name='Page_22'>[22]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +He must have read in my face that his +information disturbed me, and, like a fool +who believes that by multiplying words +he gives yet further weight to his argument, +the fellow launched forth in praises +of this vast body of Tories who were to +work us of Williamsburg so much injury. +</p> + +<p> +My impatience increased until it seemed +no longer possible to stand there listening +to what was little less than threats, and, +seizing Percy by the hand lest in his anger +he should leap upon the braggart, I said +with so much of friendliness as could be +assumed: +</p> + +<p> +"As you have said, Master Lee, we are +far from home, and it behooves us to retrace +our steps before sunset, more particularly +if there are so many traitors to their +country in this vicinity as you would have +us believe. We bid you good-day, and trust +that the time may speedily come when it +will not be so simple a matter to part +company." +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i032" id="i032"></a> +<img src="images/i-032.jpg" width="338" height="550" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">As the Tory spoke, Percy leaped upon him.—<a href="#Page_28">Page 28</a> +</p> +</div> + +<p> +"You may be certain that day is near at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_24' name='Page_24'>[24]</a></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_23' name='Page_23'></a></span> +hand," he replied in a menacing tone. +"Before a week has passed I venture to +predict the king's enemies in Williamsburg +will be under close guard, powerless to say +when they will go or come." +</p> + +<p> +As the Tory spoke Percy wrenched himself +free from my grasp, and leaped upon +him. +</p> + +<p> +To flog such a coward as Sam Lee was a +simple matter, and I stepped aside lest it +should afterward be said that two of us +set upon one, thinking that while it might +be imprudent for my brother to mete out +the punishment which was merited, it was +a duty which could not with honor be +avoided. +</p> + +<p> +Sam shrieked lustily, and before he had +received half a dozen well-aimed blows I +heard a great trampling in the underbrush; +then came into view two score or more of +men in the king's uniform, and for an instant +I believed that the Tory's threat was +about to be made good. +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER II.<br /> +<span class="s08">GENERAL MARION.</span></h2> + +<p> +Not until I had warned him, was Percy +aware of the danger which menaced. +</p> + +<p> +Intent only upon the task which he set +himself, with a view of performing it in +the shortest possible space of time, the lad +gave no heed to anything else, and but for +the fact of my being on watch, so to +speak, I believe of a verity he would have +been taken prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +Even as it was, he did not cease his +labors until the Tory crew were come +within fifty yards of him, and then with +one vigorous, well-directed blow by way +of parting, Percy took to his heels. +</p> + +<p> +I had at that moment started toward +him, believing the lad was minded to +give battle even though the odds were +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_25' name='Page_25'>[25]</a></span> +twenty to one, for the James family of +Williamsburg are not given to counting +cost when the chances are heavily against +them. +</p> + +<p> +Then, seeing what was his inclination, +I wheeled about almost at the very instant +when the Tories sent a volley of bullets +after us, and I do truly believe there was +a blush of shame upon my cheek that +men of Carolina should show themselves +such wretched marksmen, for not a missile +hit us, although the range could not +have been above forty yards. +</p> + +<p> +We were not minded to run in the open +where the traitors might practise at +shooting, with us as targets; but, bearing +sharply to the left, we plunged into the +thicket, where I felt certain such as those +who would consort with Sam Lee could +not come up with us. +</p> + +<p> +Percy, whose blood had been warmed by +the punishment given the young Tory, +burned with a desire to halt and give +battle. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_26' name='Page_26'>[26]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"It would be folly for us to set ourselves +against such odds when no benefit may +be derived from the battle," I said, speaking +as we ran. +</p> + +<p> +"If the odds are great, so much more +thorough the lesson, and these skulking +traitors surely need a check just now, +when the fortunes of war seem to be in +their favor." +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, but it is not for us to play the +schoolmaster with less than half a horn +of powder and five bullets," I replied, checking +back the mirth which came upon me +when the dear lad spoke of making an +attack almost empty-handed upon the +Tories of Williamsburg. +</p> + +<p> +It was such a suggestion as might be +expected from a James of the Carolinas, +and certain it is Percy would have halted +with a smile upon his face and a sense +of deepest satisfaction in his heart, even +though by so doing we brought ourselves +face to face with death. +</p> + +<p> +He always looked upon me as a leader, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_27' name='Page_27'>[27]</a></span> +however, and now it was well he had been +accustomed to do so, otherwise I doubt if +we should ever have left that place alive. +</p> + +<p> +"Since we must perforce return empty-handed, +for there are no other mills to be +sacked in this neighborhood, I would give +much for the privilege of showing those +fellows how to shoot, else will this day be +wasted," he said after a pause. +</p> + +<p> +"In that you are making a mistake, lad. +The day would surely be spent in vain if +yonder band of Tories suffer no greater loss +of numbers than we could inflict; but by +running away now it may be possible to +crush out the whole nest." +</p> + +<p> +"Then you have some plan in mind?" +he cried eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"No more than this: After the reverses +which have come to our people at Charleston +something in the nature of success is +necessary to revive the faint-hearted, and +it can readily be done if we carry to General +Marion word of what has been done. Unless +I am much mistaken in our commander, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_28' name='Page_28'>[28]</a></span> +we shall soon have ample opportunity of +showing these traitors how to shoot." +</p> + +<p> +Now, and for the first time, Percy understood +what might be the result of this day's +failure, so far as we were concerned, to secure +material for sabres. +</p> + +<p> +It was no longer necessary for me to +urge him to make greater speed in the +retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Halting only when forced to do so that +we might regain breath, and giving no +thought whatsoever to fatigue, the race +was ended in a little more than two hours, +when we stood before our uncle, the major, +telling him of what we had seen at Pingree's +Mill. +</p> + +<p> +"It is a fortunate chance for us, lads," +he said in a tone of satisfaction. "Scantily +equipped as this force is, we need something +to inflame the courage of our men." +</p> + +<p> +"Sam Lee would have had us believe +there were two thousand Tories nearabout, +sir," I ventured to suggest, and the major +looked at me searchingly for an instant. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_29' name='Page_29'>[29]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Do the odds make you timorous, lad?" +</p> + +<p> +"Not so, sir. But that I believed it necessary +General Marion should know of the +encampment, Percy and I would have given +them so much of a lesson as might be possible +with five bullets. In fact, I found it +somewhat difficult to force him along with +me, so much averse was he to running +away." +</p> + +<p> +My uncle's stern, questioning gaze disappeared +on the instant, and gripping both +of us lads by the hands, he said in a most +friendly tone: +</p> + +<p> +"I had no reason whatsoever to question +your courage, for you are members of our +family; yet for the merest fraction of time +it seemed as if you might 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 numbers, for now has the Cause +fallen into such sore straits that every man +who holds to it must consider himself equal +to a dozen of the king's minions." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_30' name='Page_30'>[30]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Our brigade was set down, rather than +encamped, in the woods; there were no +shelters other than such as the men made +for themselves with pine boughs, and the +command bore but little semblance to a +military organization. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was that we were not +troubled to gain audience with the commander. +</p> + +<p> +The crimson jacket could be seen a long +distance away under a huge live-oak tree, +nearby where were three or four men building +a camp-fire, and toward that gleaming +spot of color we made our way. +</p> + +<p> +"I would introduce to you two members +of my family, sons of the Widow Sumter," +the major said as he saluted, and I was +surprised at the change which passed over +that serious, almost gloomy-looking face +when a friendly expression came into his +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +It was as if he had thrown off the mask, +and shown us a countenance almost the opposite +to that which we had previously seen. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_31' name='Page_31'>[31]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Nothing more was needed to tell me, that +now indeed, we had a leader who was worthy +to supersede my uncle. +</p> + +<p> +"It pleasures me to meet with those who +are akin to such a true patriot as Major +James," the general said most courteously, +and one needs remember that he was speaking +to two lads, in order to understand how +much such words meant. +</p> + +<p> +"I can answer for it they will be true +to any trust you may repose in them," my +uncle said, and Percy gripped me by the +hand that I might understand how well +pleased he was at such words of praise. +"It was not simply to bring the lads to +your notice that I have thus introduced +them, General; they have information of +greatest importance." +</p> + +<p> +General Marion turned toward us inquiringly, +and in as few words as might +be I told him of the encounter. +</p> + +<p> +"A force of two thousand?" he said half +to himself, and added as he looked me full +in the eye. "Can you depend upon the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_32' name='Page_32'>[32]</a></span> +truthfulness of the lad who made the +boast?" +</p> + +<p> +"Indeed we cannot, sir. I would have +been inclined to doubt the entire story, +had not forty or more appeared in response +to Sam Lee's cries for help." +</p> + +<p> +"Are you positive he spoke of Major +Gainey as being in command?" +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, sir; I remember well the name." +</p> + +<p> +"Are you lads enlisted with this force?" +</p> + +<p> +Instead of answering the question I +looked toward my uncle, and he replied +without hesitation: +</p> + +<p> +"They are, General, if it please you to +accept lads as young as they." +</p> + +<p> +"It is the will and the courage, rather +than the age, which we need, Major James, +and unless I have made a mistake in reading +their faces, these sons of the Widow +Sumter may do men's work in the task +which is set them." +</p> + +<p> +Percy and I made our best salute, as can +well be fancied and from that moment +counted ourselves as being enlisted under +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_33' name='Page_33'>[33]</a></span> +that true general and valiant soldier, to +whom the butcher Tarleton gave the name +of "Swamp Fox." +</p> + +<p> +The general, having acknowledged our +salute, turned toward my uncle in such +manner as gave us to understand that he +wished to speak with him privately, and +we withdrew a short distance, to where +Gavin Witherspoon, an old acquaintance, +was making ready for the eating a string +of fish. +</p> + +<p> +"Are you two lads come to see how +soldiers live?" the old man asked with +that peculiar grin which had earned for +him the name of the "big mouthed." +</p> + +<p> +"If we had, it would seem that we were +come to the wrong place," Percy replied +with a laugh. "Surely you are not counting +yourself a soldier, Gavin Witherspoon?" +</p> + +<p> +"I am allowin' I'll come as nigh to it as +many who wear the king's uniform. It +isn't always him who stands the stiffest +that can bring down the most game, an' +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_34' name='Page_34'>[34]</a></span> +there's no need of my tellin' two lads by +the name of Sumter that we of Williamsburg +are not given to wastin' ammunition." +</p> + +<p> +"Of that I am not so certain," Percy +retorted, "for within the past three hours, +forty, who might perhaps claim this district +as their home, had fair shot at us, +and within fifty-yard range, therefore you +can see for yourself whether the ammunition +was wasted or not." +</p> + +<p> +"Forty?" Gavin cried excitedly, forgetting +for the instant his camp duties at this +mention of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +I was not minded to keep the old man in +suspense, therefore at once told him of +what we had seen, whereupon he ceased his +labors as cook and began overhauling the +long, smooth-bore rifle, in the use of which +he might truly be called an expert. +</p> + +<p> +"Are you going out single-handed in +search of them?" Percy asked banteringly. +</p> + +<p> +"Hark you, lads! I served under General +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_35' name='Page_35'>[35]</a></span> +Marion in '75, when he was only a captain, +and know full well what manner of man +he is. Neither he nor Major James would +remain here idle after such a story as you +have brought, and I venture to say this +mess of fish won't be needed until they are +past cookin'." +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon had no more than +spoken, before we heard the word passed +from man to man around the encampment +that an immediate advance was to be +made. +</p> + +<p> +Now to the credit of the men of Williamsburg, +let me set down this fact, that without +the least show of hesitation, although +it was understood the enemy which we +had reported far outnumbered us, every +member of the brigade set about his preparations +for the journey with apparently +as much pleasure as if bent on some merry-making. +</p> + +<p> +We were not well supplied with provisions, +yet there were others than Gavin +Witherspoon who left the food by the fires, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_36' name='Page_36'>[36]</a></span> +lest perchance they should be among the +last who were ready. +</p> + +<p> +I think no more than twenty minutes +passed from the time of our arrival until +everything was in readiness—every man +mounted, except the commanding officers, +and Percy said to me mournfully: +</p> + +<p> +"It is like to benefit us but little, this +having been enlisted under General Marion, +for how may we keep pace with the horsemen?" +</p> + +<p> +I had asked myself that question, and +decided that on this expedition, which +rightfully belonged to us because of the discovery, +we must perforce be left behind. +</p> + +<p> +"All appear to have forgotten us; even +Gavin Witherspoon no longer looks our +way," Percy continued, and it was then +that our uncle called us by name. +</p> + +<p> +It can well be imagined that we lost no +time in obeying the summons, and, approaching +to where he was standing in +company with the general and a captain, we +heard that which gave us much pleasure. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_37' name='Page_37'>[37]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Captain Mouzon has generously offered +you lads a mount. His spare horses are +to be found back here in the thicket, under +care of the servants," my uncle said. "You +will overtake us as soon as may be, and report +at once to me. The general has been +pleased to detail you for special duty." +</p> + +<p> +While speaking he mounted his horse, +the others doing the same, and as Percy +and I hurried away the word was given +for the command to advance. +</p> + +<p> +Even at the expense of telling over-much +that may seem like dry reading, I must +make especial mention of the advantage we +had over the enemy, in the way of horses. +</p> + +<p> +The Carolinians dearly loved a thoroughbred, +and in Williamsburg district every +soldier was mounted in kingly fashion. +</p> + +<p> +The heavy, lumbering work-horses which +were sold to the redcoats, were like snails +compared with the blooded stock our people +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 +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_38' name='Page_38'>[38]</a></span> +the country, striking a blow at night twenty +miles or more away from where we had +hurled ourselves upon the foe in the +morning. +</p> + +<p> +Now we two lads knew that Captain +Mouzon had in his stables not less than +thirty beasts which had no superiors in the +neighborhood, and therefore were we positive +of being astride such as would carry +us well in the advance, however mad might +be the pace set. +</p> + +<p> +We found old Jacob, the captain's chief +groom, in charge of four clean-limbed, noble +beasts as ever wore a saddle, and it was not +an easy matter to persuade him we had authority +to select such as we chose, for he +claimed that until a lad had had much experience +in the hunting field, he was not +to be trusted with a choice of mounts. +</p> + +<p> +Threats would have availed us but little, +for despite the old fellow's dark skin, he +had a brave heart when the welfare of his +stable was at stake, and therefore we spoke +him fairly, using soft words rather than +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_39' name='Page_39'>[39]</a></span> +harsh, until, coming to believe we were but +repeating the words of his master, he saddled +the horses we had selected. +</p> + +<p> +Bestride such animals as could not well +be excelled in the Carolinas, Percy and I +set forth in pursuit of our friends, confident +that we would be able to give a good account +of ourselves, although sadly lacking +an outfit. +</p> + +<p> +"Unless it so be we can borrow powder +and ball, I fear our share in the punishment +of the Tories will be slight indeed," my +brother said mournfully, and I laughed at +his gloomy face. +</p> + +<p> +"Two hours ago, when we were hastening +back from Pingree's Mill, you would +have said that with steeds like these we +should be equipped in most kingly fashion, +and now that we have under us the choice +of Captain Mouzon's stud, you find yet +further necessities." +</p> + +<p> +"I leave it to you to say if five bullets +and half a horn of powder make any very +formidable outfit under such leaders as +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_40' name='Page_40'>[40]</a></span> +General Marion and our uncle, the major, +both of whom are like to show a greediness +for fighting?" +</p> + +<p> +It was a matter which could not be remedied, +this lack of ammunition, until we +were come up with some acquaintance who +had a larger store than he needed, and such +an one might be difficult to find in the district +of Williamsburg, for we who held to +the Cause were poor in everything save +the desire to aid our country. +</p> + +<p> +That exhilaration which comes with the +stride of a horse when one is in the saddle +was upon me, and, for the time being, I gave +little heed to our necessities, save that I +remembered with regret the fish Gavin +Witherspoon had wasted. +</p> + +<p> +After a tramp of twenty miles Percy and +I stood in need of food, and but for our +own foolhardiness we might have eaten +our fill from the different messes which +the men left behind, instantly the word was +given that the enemy were in such position +as invited attack. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_41' name='Page_41'>[41]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +When we were come up with the command, +Major James beckoned for us to join +the general and himself, and then it was +we learned what work had been cut out for +us. +</p> + +<p> +"It is my desire," General Marion said +as if speaking to comrades, "that you two +lads seek out the haunts of the Tories in +this vicinity, and do not let it be known +you are enlisted with us. While our numbers +are few, the blows must be quick and +frequent, therefore it is necessary we have +constantly in advance searchers, or scouts, +whichever you may choose to call them." +</p> + +<p> +"Are we to bear no share in the fighting, +sir?" I ventured to ask, and a great disappointment +came into my heart that we +were to be of so little service. +</p> + +<p> +"No more than absolutely necessary. +You can serve the Cause to better purpose +otherwise, for two lads like yourselves are +less liable to suspicion when venturing in +the enemy's country." +</p> + +<p> +"Any who know us as members of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_42' name='Page_42'>[42]</a></span> +James family will understand full well +that we have no sympathy with the Tories," +Percy cried, whereat the general laughed +heartily as, turning to the major, he +said: +</p> + +<p> +"The ties of kinship are drawn more +closely in the Carolinas than elsewhere in +all the world, I believe, and well it should +be so." Then he added, looking directly at +me. "We shall stir up the nest which you +two found, and perhaps 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 to ride +toward Indian Village, where I have reason +to believe certain enemies under one Captain +Barfield may be found. You will gain +so much of information as is possible, and +report to me somewhere on the east bank +of Cedar Creek." +</p> + +<p> +So that we were to join in this first attack +I gave little thought for the future, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_43' name='Page_43'>[43]</a></span> +and said to myself that if we proved our +metal in one case we might find further +opportunities. +</p> + +<p> +The general dismissed us with a friendly +nod, and we rode down the line, hoping to +find some friend who would loan us powder +and ball. +</p> + +<p> +In this last quest we were so far successful +as to obtain, perhaps, sufficient for +five charges more, and then we had even +a larger store than many a man who rode +with the brigade. +</p> + +<p> +It was within an hour of sunset when +we set out for Britton's Neck, on the first +ride Percy and I had ever undertaken for +the Cause, and it would please me much +to repeat all the incidents of that night's +journey, for they are so deeply impressed +upon my memory as never to be effaced +by whatsoever of adventure may come to +me later in life. +</p> + +<p> +It is not well that I devote so much space, +however, to what others may think uninteresting, +and, therefore, acting on Percy's +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_44' name='Page_44'>[44]</a></span> +advice, I shall say no more concerning +the journey when our brigade, only four +companies strong, rode through the silent +hours of the night at a slow trot, eager to +measure strength with an enemy known +to be several times greater in numbers +than we could muster. +</p> + +<p> +The gray light of the early dawn was +just becoming tinged with that yellow tint +which betokens the near approach of the +sun, when at a signal from Major James +we came to a halt. +</p> + +<p> +Not until that moment could I see any +signs of the enemy, and then, gazing in +the direction indicated by General Marion's +outstretched hand, I saw dimly amid the +mist the outlines of an encampment so +large, that for the moment I had no question +but what Sam Lee told us only the +truth when he said the force of Tories to +be full two thousand. +</p> + +<p> +It may have been one minute or ten that +we remained there, horses and men silent, +and motionless as statues; so great was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_45' name='Page_45'>[45]</a></span> +my excitement that I could not count the +passage of time. Only this do I know, +that it seemed as if we wasted all that early +time of morning twilight before the signal +was given. +</p> + +<p> +Then it was my uncle raised his hat, +waving it above his head at the instant he +gave rein to his horse, and so eager were +our men to be at the throats of the enemy, +that before the major's steed had fairly +made the first bound, every member of the +brigade was riding forward in mad haste. +</p> + +<p> +The onward rush of that body of horsemen +must have presented a singular +spectacle, had any one been near at hand +to look at it calmly. +</p> + +<p> +In the gray light four hundred or more +men riding at full speed in perfect silence, +save for the thud of the horses' feet upon +the sward, and with them in their very +midst, thanks to the fleetness of Captain +Mouzon's steeds, were Percy and I. +</p> + +<p> +My one thought was that to prove myself +a worthy follower of such a commander, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_46' name='Page_46'>[46]</a></span> +I must in this attack appear the equal of +any man in the ranks, and, having such +aim in view, I urged the willing steed forward. +</p> + +<p> +Percy was not minded to be left behind +when there was a chance one might be +accused of timorousness, and side by side +we rode as if on a wager, soon outstripping +all save two who were leading the +advance. +</p> + +<p> +These two were the major, our uncle, and +Captain Mouzon, owner of the horses we +bestrode. +</p> + +<p> +We four were well up to the edge of the +encampment by the time I understood we +were comparatively alone, and not until +then, when the first word was spoken, did +I fully realize the situation. +</p> + +<p> +"The Mouzon stables lead!" the captain +cried triumphantly, thinking even at that +moment of peril more about his horses than +himself. +</p> + +<p> +"But the tribe of James are riding +them!" the major shouted, and then, as if +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_47' name='Page_47'>[47]</a></span> +he had come up through the earth, a Tory +horseman appeared directly in front of us. +</p> + +<p> +Two pistols were discharged almost in +our very faces—so near that the mane of +my horse was singed by the fire, and then +this particular enemy was in full retreat. +</p> + +<p> +"It is Major Gainey!" our leader shouted +as he struck the spurs into his steed, and +before one had time to realize anything +more we four were in the very midst of the +Tory band, while around us, forming a +circle of fire, were the flashes of burning +powder. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_48' name='Page_48'>[48]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER III.<br /> +<span class="s08">THE TORY CAMP.</span></h2> + +<p> +It was the first time Percy and I had +ever taken part in a deadly encounter, +and, perchance, had there been opportunity +for us to consider the situation, one +or both might have shown the white +feather. +</p> + +<p> +As it was, however, and I have since +noted the fact on every similar occasion, +there was no opportunity for fear; the fever +of excitement was upon us; the odor of +burned powder mounted to one's brain, as +it were, and we became more like brutes +than human beings. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i060" id="i060"></a> +<img src="images/i-060.jpg" width="336" height="550" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">Then suddenly a redcoated Tory rushed toward me with upraised +saber.—<a href="#Page_49">Page 49</a>. +</p> +</div> +<p> +There was to me a certain sense of satisfaction +in the danger; a savage delight in +shooting, with intent to kill, at the enemies +of our country, and above all, the knowledge +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_49' name='Page_49'>[49]</a></span> +that we were proving ourselves worthy a +place in the James family. +</p> + +<p> +I saw Captain Mouzon's horse fall, and +looked with a certain curiosity to see how +he might extricate himself from the weight +of the animal. +</p> + +<p> +I also wondered where Sam Lee might +be, hoping it would be my good fortune +to come upon him. Then suddenly, when +my musket was empty, a redcoated Tory +rushed toward me with upraised saber. +</p> + +<p> +I tried to ward off the blow with my gun, +knowing full well that I could not hope to +be successful in such an encounter, and +then the man suddenly fell to the ground +as if stricken by a bolt of lightning. +</p> + +<p> +It was Percy who had brought the Tory +down, thus saving my life, and I heard him, +as one hears from afar off, cry impatiently: +</p> + +<p> +"My last charge of powder is gone!" +</p> + +<p> +It is impossible for me to say, and I have +pondered over the matter again and again, +why it was that the scene suddenly +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_50' name='Page_50'>[50]</a></span> +changed, or how we three—for now that +Captain Mouzon was on foot he did not +count as one of our squad—emerged from +that tangle of men, and found ourselves +in pursuit of the fleeing, panic-stricken +enemy. I remember clearly that one +moment it was as if we were entirely surrounded, +and the next, all was clear before +us, save for that blotch of red in the +distance which we pursued at the full +speed of our horses, Major James shouting +now and again as if to give us lads +courage: +</p> + +<p> +"If it so be that we ride hard they cannot +escape us! Spare not your horses, lads, and +we shall soon clear Williamsburg district +of the nest of vipers that should have been +crushed out years ago!" +</p> + +<p> +I was near to smiling, despite the fact +that this was a race in which human life +had been put at stake, because our uncle +should suggest that we might take any +part in wiping out the "vipers," when our +last charge of ammunition was expended, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_51' name='Page_51'>[51]</a></span> +and we carried no other arms than +muskets. +</p> + +<p> +Yet did we press on at his heels with all +the speed of which Captain Mouzon's steeds +were capable, eager to gain the advance +if that might be, lest he should for a +single instant fancy we had grown faint-hearted. +</p> + +<p> +It was the first time we had had an opportunity +of proving that the James blood +ran in our veins, and had I been certain +death awaited me at the end of that mad +chase, I would have spurred my horse on +yet faster, exulting in the thought that I +might come to my end in such noble +fashion as now, when following the lead of +Major James! +</p> + +<p> +Percy shouted like one who is without +sense, and yet there was no thought in my +mind of chiding him, for I understood full +well why it was that the sound of his own +voice seemed necessary—it was but the +natural vent of the excitement that had +taken hold of him like as a fever, and I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_52' name='Page_52'>[52]</a></span> +have since been told that I also cried out +unmeaning words; but yet was unconscious +of having done so. +</p> + +<p> +Then suddenly the scene changed again, +and with this transformation came into +my heart what was very like fear. +</p> + +<p> +One moment it was as if we had the +whole of General Marion's force at our +heels, and the next we were alone, riding +down into that mass of fleeing Tories +who outnumbered us two hundred to one, +while not a friend of the Cause could be +seen in the rear. +</p> + +<p> +I saw Major James glancing over his +shoulder, and involuntarily I copied the +movement, although for thirty seconds or +more had I known we were so far in the +advance as to be practically cut off from +our friends. +</p> + +<p> +There was no change of expression in my +uncle's face when he realized that we were +come into sore danger—for now we were +well upon the heels of the enemy;—but he +looked at me as if asking whether the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_53' name='Page_53'>[53]</a></span> +knowledge of our situation brought timorousness +into my heart. +</p> + +<p> +I have ever been proud because at that +instant I answered his inquiring look with +such words as tickled his fancy mightily: +</p> + +<p> +"There be three of us, Major, and more +are not needed." +</p> + +<p> +It was the speech of a braggart, but yet +under such circumstances the words gave +my uncle more confidence in our courage +than almost anything else could have +done, and an expression, which for the +moment I took to be affection, came +over his face as he replied in a ringing +tone: +</p> + +<p> +"God bless the sister who gave to me such +nephews!" Then, waving his saber and +shouting at the full strength of his lungs as +if he had a thousand men behind him, he +cried, "Here they are, boys! Here they +are! Come on!" +</p> + +<p> +I believe of a verity that the Tories +fancied he was calling to a large force, +rather than to two lads who were practically +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_54' name='Page_54'>[54]</a></span> +weaponless, for their panic increased, +if that could be possible, and they crowded +upon each other's heels until the advance +was impeded. +</p> + +<p> +With fifty well-armed men at that time +I venture to say we might have wiped out +Major Gainey's entire force, and that officer +himself was nigh to being taken prisoner +when my uncle, spurring his horse into the +very midst of the fugitives, singled out the +leader as if challenging him to mortal +combat. +</p> + +<p> +Major Gainey, although he was a Tory, +had never been called a coward; but on +this morning he absolutely refused the +challenge, and instead of halting to meet +the foe as he would have done had his cause +been just, he forced aside the weaker of his +following, and succeeded in making good +an escape. +</p> + +<p> +"It was shame enough that one from +Williamsburg should be a Tory," my uncle +cried, brandishing his saber in impotent +rage; "but that a Gainey would show himself +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_55' name='Page_55'>[55]</a></span> +a coward as well, I have never believed +until this hour." +</p> + +<p> +It was strange indeed that of all the +enemy we pursued so hotly and so closely, +none turned upon us. +</p> + +<p> +It would have been a simple task for a +dozen of them, armed as we knew they +were, to have allowed us to come into their +midst, and then, closing, taken all three +prisoners, or shot us down as might best +have suited their fancy. +</p> + +<p> +The fever of fear, however, was upon +them until there was no thought in the +minds of any save of individual safety, and +during ten minutes or more we rode upon +the heels of that retreating rabble, taunting +them with such words as should have +turned the faintest-hearted at bay. +</p> + +<p> +There were seconds during that chase +when I trembled with what was like unto +a fear, realizing all which it was possible +for them to do, and then that sensation +would pass away while rage took possession +of me because of my inability to do +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_56' name='Page_56'>[56]</a></span> +other than lash the miserable Tories with +my tongue. +</p> + +<p> +Then Major James wheeled suddenly +about, for we had come to the edge of Pedee +Swamp, and, by his gesture rather than +words, we understood that it was our turn +to retreat. +</p> + +<p> +The Tories were forced, because of the +water, to ride more slowly, and should we +still press upon them they must, even like +rats, turn at bay; when, as a matter of +course, the end would have come for us. +</p> + +<p> +We had shown them what a man could +do whose cause was just, and it would have +been folly to continue on to the useless +sacrifice of our own lives. +</p> + +<p> +We turned about, as I have said, in +obedience to my uncle's signal, and rode to +the rear faster than we came, for now was +there fear some of the cowardly foe might +shoot us in the back, and before drawing +rein we came upon General Marion and +Captain M'Cottry. +</p> + +<p> +These two were, like ourselves, far in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_57' name='Page_57'>[57]</a></span> +advance, and by reining in his horse the +general forced us to halt. +</p> + +<p> +Now occurred that which I shall ever +remember with the most intense pride and +satisfaction so long as the breath remains +in my body. +</p> + +<p> +He who was to be afterward so well-known +as the "Swamp Fox," he who was +the bravest among all the brave men in the +Carolinas, leaning forward in the saddle +held out his hands, one to each of us lads, +and said in a tone so hearty that there could +be no mistaking the sentiment in his heart: +</p> + +<p> +"I have ever believed the members of +the James family to be true to their +country, their friends, and to themselves; +but never before had I expected to see two +boys ride at their kinsman's call straight +into what seemed certain danger. I am +proud indeed that you were eager to seek +service under my command, and promise +that if my life be spared you shall have +fitting opportunity to show your devotion +to the Cause." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_58' name='Page_58'>[58]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +We lads were unable to speak because +of the pride and pleasure which filled our +hearts to overflowing; but my uncle, +taking off his hat with more of homage +than I had ever seen him bestow upon any +other man, made reply: +</p> + +<p> +"When General Marion is pleased to +speak such words to members of my +family, he places under obligation every +one of us." +</p> + +<p> +"There can be no sense of obligation, +Major, when the praise has been won so +handsomely." +</p> + +<p> +"In that I agree with you, General, and +more particularly because neither of my +nephews had a charge of ammunition. +After the first rush they followed bravely, +although virtually weaponless, and I am +happy to be able to call them my sister's +sons. The ride is completed, and we now +await your orders." +</p> + +<p> +"Have all the force escaped?" the general +asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, sir, all save those who may have +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_59' name='Page_59'>[59]</a></span> +been rendered unable to continue the +retreat. They are in Pedee Swamp where +it would be worse than folly to make any +attempt at following them." +</p> + +<p> +The general wheeled his horse around, +motioning Percy and I to ride by his side, +and together we returned to where the +main body of our brigade was halted. +</p> + +<p> +Here after a short time we learned that +a captain and nine men had been killed +from among the Tory force, while our loss +amounted to only two wounded, and it +was safe to say that many days would +elapse before Major Gainey's regiment +could be got into fighting shape again. +</p> + +<p> +There was no reason why any of us +should longer suffer from hunger, for we +were in possession of the Tory camp where +were provisions in abundance, and during +an hour we feasted, Percy and I, as only +lads can who have been without food nigh +on to four and twenty hours. +</p> + +<p> +Then, when believing it would be possible +to return to our home for a short time—and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_60' name='Page_60'>[60]</a></span> +we were eager to tell our mother of +the proud distinction we had won—word +was brought by one of the troopers that +General Marion would speak with us. +</p> + +<p> +I venture to say there was not a man in +the brigade who did not envy us two lads +as we went toward that portion of the +thicket where the commander was seated +under a live oak tree with his officers +clustered about him, and I am also quite +certain that of all the force, we two had +the least right to be praised or singled out +for preferment. +</p> + +<p> +Among those who served the Cause in +the Carolinas there were no cowards; it +appeared much as if the timorous ones +turned Tories because, by professing to +serve the king, a colonist is not required +to bear so many hardships or encounter so +many dangers, as those who would throw +off his majesty's yoke. Therefore it was +that when an officer like General Marion +selected two from among all that gathering, +it was indeed a great distinction, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_61' name='Page_61'>[61]</a></span> +we understood by his sending for us that +we were like to be called upon for an especial +service, as he had already intimated. +</p> + +<p> +Although unused to such a life as we +had so suddenly embarked upon, Percy +and I contrived to salute the general in +something approaching military fashion, +and he, returning it, asked in the tone of a +friend rather than of one who commands: +</p> + +<p> +"Are you lads minded to set out on a +venture which has in it much of danger?" +</p> + +<p> +Percy looked at me as if to say that I +should act as spokesman, and I replied +more readily than perhaps was courteous, +fearing lest it might be fancied we +hesitated: +</p> + +<p> +"Aye, sir; that we are, and the more of +danger the more readily do we set out. I +say this last not in a boasting manner, +but to show you, sir, that we are right +willing to lay down our lives for the good +of the Cause which our uncle serves." +</p> + +<p> +"It is well spoken, young sir. I had +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_62' name='Page_62'>[62]</a></span> +no doubt of your willingness; but rather +made mention of the danger that you +might have an opportunity to draw back +honorably, if it so be you shrank in any +degree from the task, for it is one through +which little honor can be gained, although +the service must be performed." +</p> + +<p> +"We are ready for whatsoever pleases +you, sir," I said, and Percy laid his hand +in mine that it might be understood he repeated +the words. +</p> + +<p> +"Between here and Dubose Ferry—the +precise location you must yourselves determine—one +Captain Barfield lies encamped, +having under him a force not +less than four hundred strong. Our purpose +is to advance upon him immediately; +but having learned that there is a possibility +his men may far exceed ours in numbers, +it is necessary we have full information +before venturing an attack. Are you +minded to seek him out, and learn all that +may be ascertained within a few hours, +returning to us before nightfall?" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_63' name='Page_63'>[63]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"We will set out at once, sir. Captain +Mouzon lent us horses that we might join +in the march, and perhaps he will allow +us to use them in this service," I said, turning +toward the captain, who replied +readily: +</p> + +<p> +"That you may, lads, and in welcome. +I am right glad that the Mouzon stables +can furnish mounts for such riders as you +have shown yourselves to be." +</p> + +<p> +"Then we will set out at once, sir," I +said to the general. "The horses have already +been cared for, and should be able +to make the journey without distress." +</p> + +<p> +"There is no time to be lost. You yourselves +are to decide how the information +we desire can best and most safely be obtained, +for it would be unwise to hamper +you with advice or commands. At about +noon the brigade will set out at a slow +pace in the direction of Dubose Ferry, and +I hope you may be able to meet us several +miles this side of the encampment. +We shall ride so nearly as may be in a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_64' name='Page_64'>[64]</a></span> +straight line, and at about nightfall keep +sharp watch for your approach. The most +important information is as to the number +of the enemy; then the general position +of the camp, and, finally, how it may be +best come upon." +</p> + +<p> +Having said this the general saluted, +as did the officers round about him, and +Percy and I, understanding that we were +dismissed, would have moved away, but +that the major, my uncle, stepped forward, +taking us each by the hand. +</p> + +<p> +He spoke no word; but I understood +that he was bidding us good-by, and his +manner of doing it told me, had such information +been necessary, how dangerous +was the mission with which we were +charged. +</p> + +<p> +Again the general and his officers saluted, +and then we, turning on our heels, set +about making ready for the departure. +</p> + +<p> +Some of the men lounging nearabout +would have spoken with us; but I was not +minded to indulge in conversation just at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_65' name='Page_65'>[65]</a></span> +that moment, and it seemed much as if +Percy had the same idea. +</p> + +<p> +Beginning to realize more fully each +moment what this duty on which we were +embarked might mean, I feared lest we +grow faint-hearted because of the perils. +To have spoken with any one regarding +the service, would have been to show us +more plainly all that it meant, and silence +was safest if we would hold our uncle's +good opinion. +</p> + +<p> +The horses were saddled, and we about +to mount when Gavin Witherspoon, whom +I had not seen since the attack, came up +hurriedly and with the air of one who is +in a fault-finding mood. +</p> + +<p> +"So! We are much puffed up with +pride, eh, since it has been our good fortune +to follow Major James in pursuit of a lot +of scurvy Tories? We don't care to speak +with old friends?" +</p> + +<p> +"Now you are disgruntled without cause, +Gavin Witherspoon," Percy said laughingly. +"How may it be possible that we +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_66' name='Page_66'>[66]</a></span> +speak with old or new friends when we +fail to meet them. Since you dropped the +fish so hurriedly, we have not had a glimpse +of your face, and I question if you cared to +meet us until, perhaps, within an hour." +</p> + +<p> +"I have been looking for you high and +low since we came to a halt here." +</p> + +<p> +"Then it must be your eyes are grown +dim with age," I said, now joining my +brother in his mirth, for the old man's +anger was comical rather than serious. +"We unsaddled our horses in this spot, +and have remained until within ten +minutes under this same tree, therefore it +could not have been a difficult matter to +find us." +</p> + +<p> +"But there is no reason for fault-finding, +and we have little time to spend in conversation," +Percy added. +</p> + +<p> +"You will speak with me though!" +Gavin said, seizing the bridle of my horse +as if fearing I was about to ride away. +"In what direction are you two lads +going?" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_67' name='Page_67'>[67]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"That we may not say," Percy replied +quickly. "It is enough that we are acting +upon General Marion's orders." +</p> + +<p> +"That is as I suspected," Gavin cried, +shaking his fist at Percy as if the lad had +proven himself guilty of some serious +crime. "You would slip away from the +old man, believing yourselves so wondrous +brave that he isn't fit to join in any adventure +however trifling?" +</p> + +<p> +"Now you are talking wildly, Gavin +Witherspoon," I said, losing my patience, +for, knowing we had but little time at our +disposal, I was fretted by what seemed to +me no more than folly. "We have been +entrusted with a duty which must be performed +immediately, and may not stand +here parleying with you over trifling +matters." +</p> + +<p> +"It is my intention you shall remain +until I can have speech with General +Marion, or failing him, with Major James." +</p> + +<p> +"Why should we wait for that?" Percy +asked, leaping into the saddle, and as he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_68' name='Page_68'>[68]</a></span> +did so the old man seized the bridle of his +horse also. +</p> + +<p> +"Because I am counting on going with +you. I promised your mother six months +or more ago that when you two lads were +minded to turn soldiers I would keep an +eye upon you, and now has come the time +when I must fulfil the pledge, or write +myself down a liar." +</p> + +<p> +I knew enough of the old man's character +to understand that we could not +browbeat him into loosing his hold of the +bridle, and was not minded to ride over +him. Therefore said with as much of +patience as I could assume: +</p> + +<p> +"So that you move quickly, we will +wait until you can speak with either officer +you name; but remember, Gavin, we +are under orders to set off without delay." +</p> + +<p> +"What have you in the way of +weapons?" +</p> + +<p> +Until this moment, strange as it may +seem, I had entirely lost sight of the fact +that we were virtually unarmed, and now +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_69' name='Page_69'>[69]</a></span> +I realized the folly of setting out so wholly +unprepared. +</p> + +<p> +"We must have ammunition if nothing +more," I said hurriedly, "and while you +are gone in search of the general, I will +set about procuring it. Therefore the +time spent in waiting for you will not be +wasted." +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon now seemed to have +every confidence that we would not slip +away from him, and hurried off toward +the other end of the encampment, while +I went from one acquaintance to another +in search of powder and ball. +</p> + +<p> +In this quest I was more successful +than had seemed possible. +</p> + +<p> +Knowing that we lads had been entrusted +with a mission, the men bestirred +themselves to see that we were outfitted +properly, and soon our store of ammunition +was even greater than could be used +to advantage. +</p> + +<p> +We had two horns full of powder, thirty +or forty balls, and a couple of pistols; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_70' name='Page_70'>[70]</a></span> +more than that would have hampered our +movements. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps no more than ten minutes had +been spent in outfitting ourselves, and yet +this time was sufficient for Gavin to make +his preparations to accompany us, as was +shown when he rode up while I was dividing +the ammunition with Percy. +</p> + +<p> +"Is it really your purpose to follow us?" +I asked in surprise, for it had not seemed +to me probable the old man would be allowed +to join in the venture. +</p> + +<p> +"I am not countin' to <i>follow</i>, lads; but +ride side by side with you, and perhaps +somewhat in advance. I'm not thinkin' of +letting you go on this mission alone—" +</p> + +<p> +"It may be safer for two than for three," +Percy said half to himself, and the old man, +without so much as turning his head, replied +solemnly and in such a tone as impressed +me strangely: +</p> + +<p> +"There is nothing whatsoever of safety +in an attempt to ride from here to Dubose +Ferry, for two, or even a dozen of those +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_71' name='Page_71'>[71]</a></span> +who love the cause. My going with you +will neither increase nor lessen the danger, +because that is impossible. It may be, +however, that I can give a word of advice +which will prevent your coming to a final +end quite so soon, for I hold to it that General +Marion and Major James have this +day sent you lads to what is little less than +death." +</p> + +<p> +Having thus spoken, and in a manner +well calculated to disturb even the stoutest +hearted lad, the old man wheeled his horse +about and rode in the direction of Dubose +Ferry, never so much as turning his head +to see if we were following him. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_72' name='Page_72'>[72]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER IV.<br /> +<span class="s08">SAMUEL LEE.</span></h2> + +<p> +Had Gavin Witherspoon been less strange +in his manner, I should have taken little +heed of his joining us in the mission with +which we had been entrusted by General +Marion, because the old man was often +given to whims, and this could well +have been considered as simply a fancy +on his part to indulge in the love for adventure. +</p> + +<p> +If he had contented himself with vague +words concerning the possible danger, +neither Percy nor I would have paid any +particular attention to him, believing he +simply magnified the peril in order that it +might appear as if he counted on being able +to protect us. +</p> + +<p> +His manner, however, was so exceeding +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_73' name='Page_73'>[73]</a></span> +odd—I can find no word which comes nearer +explaining it—that I believed at once he +was in possession of some knowledge which +we did not share, and therefore had good +reason for crediting all he said. +</p> + +<p> +A year later, perhaps, after I had had more +experience in what some gentlemen are +pleased to call the "art of warfare," I might +have 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 +life, the old man's actions impressed me +disagreeably, as I have said already, and I +was minded to demand from him an +explanation. +</p> + +<p> +Never before had I found it a difficult +matter to gain speech with Gavin Witherspoon, +for the old man was prone to indulge +in conversation 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 alongside our +self-appointed guardian, and we were, perhaps, +five miles from the camp when I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_74' name='Page_74'>[74]</a></span> +finally succeeded in forcing him to open +his mouth. +</p> + +<p> +"If you count to ride with us, Master +Witherspoon, and claim that it is your +purpose to protect Percy and I, we at least +have the right to know why such an escort +is considered necessary." +</p> + +<p> +"That I have already explained," the old +man replied curtly, and would have spurred +ahead of us once more but that Percy +caught his bridle rein, as he said sharply: +</p> + +<p> +"We are minded, Gavin Witherspoon, to +know the meaning of your mysterious +words and odd behavior. If it so be you +know more concerning the enemy than is +told among the men of our brigade, let us +hear it now, that my brother and I may +be in some degree prepared for coming +events." +</p> + +<p> +"I have ridden with the command, and +had no more means of gaining information +than others. What may be in my mind +has come there through what I call sound +commonsense." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_75' name='Page_75'>[75]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"And you have reasoned out that we are +in greater danger than we were four and +twenty hours ago?" I said with a laugh, +beginning to feel somewhat of relief in my +mind by this discovery, as I believed, that +the old man's fears were the result of his +own imagination. +</p> + +<p> +He must have read in the tone of my +voice somewhat of that in my mind, for, +reining in his horse, he wheeled around to +face Percy and myself as he replied, speaking +slowly and with exceeding earnestness: +</p> + +<p> +"It was known to the leaders of our +brigade that Captain Barfield had a force +of Tories nearabout Dubose Ferry. Think +you Major Gainey and his men did not +have the same information?" +</p> + +<p> +"Of course they did," I replied, wondering +greatly what the old man would +come at. +</p> + +<p> +"It is no more of a journey from Pedee +Swamp to Dubose Ferry, than from where +we halted for breakfast." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_76' name='Page_76'>[76]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Again he paused as if waiting some +reply; but neither Percy nor I spoke, for +as yet we failed to understand what he was +trying to convey. +</p> + +<p> +"Major Gainey's force has lost an outfit, +since our people took possession of it, and +must, therefore, seek another encampment. +Do you believe they will be content to +remain in the swamp, knowin' their friends +are near at hand?" +</p> + +<p> +"It would be reasonable that they rode +in the direction of the Ferry," Percy said, +an expression of deepest seriousness chasing +away the smile which had been upon +his lips. +</p> + +<p> +"Very well. Since you allow that, there +is no need for me to say more. It is the +general belief that Gainey had near to two +thousand men with him, an' think you they +will not fight, however much 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 +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_77' name='Page_77'>[77]</a></span> +have begun to understand how few we +are in numbers—I look to see hot work. +Therefore it is I predict that before arrivin' +at Dubose Ferry we shall meet with many +of those who so lately fled before us." +</p> + +<p> +I now realized why the old man looked +upon the situation as being grave in the +extreme, and there was no further inclination +in my mind to make sport of his forebodings. +</p> + +<p> +Having learned what it might, perhaps, +have been better we did not know, Percy +and I became quite as solemn as was +Gavin Witherspoon, and we three rode on +again as if certain some evil fortune was +about to overtake us, neither so much as +speaking until half an hour or more had +passed, when we came to a sudden halt. +</p> + +<p> +Our road at this time lay through the +bottom-lands, which were covered with a +growth of scrub oaks, and we had heard a +noise as of horsemen forcing their way +through the foliage. +</p> + +<p> +This it was which had caused us to halt so +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_78' name='Page_78'>[78]</a></span> +suddenly, and I was looking to my rifle to +make certain it was loaded, when Sam Lee +came into view. +</p> + +<p> +He was riding a heavily-built iron-gray +horse, the very animal I could have sworn +to seeing during the brush with Major +Gainey's force. Upon his face was an expression +of deepest satisfaction and joy, +which did not change materially when he +saw us. +</p> + +<p> +Percy, quicker than I at such times, cried +out for the Tory to halt, and he wisely +obeyed the command, knowing full well +his steed would have no show in a race +with such animals as we bestrode, even +though our rifles might not have brought +him to a halt. +</p> + +<p> +"Well," he asked, with an evil look upon +his face. "Since when have you begun to +stop peaceful travelers?" +</p> + +<p> +"We have not yet commenced," I cried, +allowing anger to take possession of me. +"In these times a Tory cannot lay claim +to peacefulness, and it is our purpose to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_79' name='Page_79'>[79]</a></span> +make such prisoners whenever and wherever +we find them." +</p> + +<p> +"And I am a prisoner, eh?" he asked, +with not the slightest show of fear, and I +was surprised thereat, because we knew +him to be a rank coward. +</p> + +<p> +"Throw down your musket an' hold up +your hands while Percy makes search for +pistols!" Gavin Witherspoon said sternly, +for the old man was a ready comrade in +times when quick action became necessary. +</p> + +<p> +Sam Lee obeyed without a word, and +after a brief search we discovered that he +had no other weapons than the musket +which lay upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Still he appeared well satisfied—even +pleased. +</p> + +<p> +It angered me yet further, this show of +carelessness, and I cried hastily: +</p> + +<p> +"You were in no such happy mood this +morning, when we chased your friends into +the swamp—when less than four hundred +men put to flight two thousand!" +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon turned upon me +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_80' name='Page_80'>[80]</a></span> +quickly, and with such a show of temper +as caused me to understand in an instant +that I had thus given to the enemy information +concerning the size of General +Marion's force. +</p> + +<p> +It was too late to recall the words, unfortunately, +and Sam, giving no heed to +the old man's show of resentment at my +folly, replied to the words which I had believed +would humiliate him: +</p> + +<p> +"The condition of affairs in the Carolinas +have changed wonderfully within the +past few days, and we who are loyal inhabitants +of the colony have little to fear +from rebels." +</p> + +<p> +Now did I realize that this Tory lad was +certain of his ground, else he would not +have dared to speak in such strain, and the +result was that I, rather than our prisoner, +grew disheartened. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon also pricked up his +ears at this bold speech from the lad who +had heretofore been so cowardly as never +to venture an opinion lest he make trouble +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_81' name='Page_81'>[81]</a></span> +for himself, and the old man asked as he +advanced toward the rascal threateningly: +</p> + +<p> +"What is it that has given you such a +dose of courage, you Tory cur?" +</p> + +<p> +Sam winced, as if believing Gavin Witherspoon +was about to strike him, and then, +understanding an instant later that we +were not of his kidney, who would ill-treat +a prisoner, replied with a laugh which +aroused all my anger again: +</p> + +<p> +"Your General Gates with his rag-tag +and bob-tail of an army has been cut to +pieces at Camden by Lord Cornwallis! +What you are pleased to call the 'Cause,' +is now wiped out from the Carolinas!" +</p> + +<p> +We three sat speechless with dismay, +gazing at each other questioningly, apprehensively, +as the young Tory told a story +which we at the time believed to be true, +and afterward came to learn that no part +had been exaggerated. +</p> + +<p> +General Gates, who believed himself to +be more of a soldier than was the fact, +had moved from Rugely's Mills on the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_82' name='Page_82'>[82]</a></span> +evening of the 15th, with 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 suddenly +met by a volley from the British skirmishers, +and, retreating so far as seemed +necessary for safety, lay upon their arms +until morning. +</p> + +<p> +When the sun rose any other general +than Gates would have known he was defeated, +even before trying the issue. His +men, unused to service, were 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 +ever been under fire, and opposed to them +were picked soldiers—the best to be found +in the king's regiments stationed at Charleston +and Camden. +</p> + +<p> +At sunrise General Gates ordered the +advance of the Virginia militia, who were +met by the redcoats with such a deadly +volley that the division retreated before +more than half of them had discharged +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_83' name='Page_83'>[83]</a></span> +their muskets. The North Carolina militia +followed the disgraceful example, as did +also the cavalry, and a charge by the +British horse completed the rout. +</p> + +<p> +Only the Continentals under command +of De Kalb held their ground until further +resistance would have been madness, and +the battle of Camden had been half fought, +and wholly lost. +</p> + +<p> +No wonder Sam Lee was triumphant. +</p> + +<p> +To us who heard the story it seemed as +if his boast that the Cause had been killed +in the Carolinas was neither more nor less +than the truth, and for a moment I fancied +it our duty to return without loss of time +to warn General Marion. +</p> + +<p> +Now it may seem strange to whosoever +shall read these lines, that we believed so +readily all the Tory told us; but we had +good cause for credulity. +</p> + +<p> +Old soldiers among us—and the men of +my mother's family had been in arms from +the time the colonists first began resistance +against the king's oppression—had again +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_84' name='Page_84'>[84]</a></span> +and again argued that General Gates was +not a skilful officer, despite his victory at +Saratoga. +</p> + +<p> +When it was known that General Marion, +who up to the time of taking command in +the Williamsburg district had been only a +colonel, was to leave the staff of Gates, our +people predicted a disaster similar to what +it seemed had just occurred. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore, when Sam Lee, liar and +coward though he was naturally, gave us +an account of the battle with so much of +detail he could not have invented, we, unfortunately, +had no choice but to believe +the tale. +</p> + +<p> +It was Gavin Witherspoon who first regained +sufficient composure to understand +what should be done, and he soon showed +the Tory that, however hardly our people +had been used, it would not avail him +under the present circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +"It seems to me necessary we keep this +young cub with us, however disagreeable +the association may be, and do you lads +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_85' name='Page_85'>[85]</a></span> +lash him on the saddle in such fashion +that he will not be able to make his escape +without assistance." +</p> + +<p> +Although believing for the moment that +we ought to return immediately to General +Marion, I obeyed the old man's order, +and now it was that the look of satisfaction +and exultation began to vanish from +the coward's face. +</p> + +<p> +He had counted on our so far losing +heart as to make an attempt at currying +favor with him, or, at least, pass him by, +and our thus guarding against the possibility +of escape was by no means to his +liking. +</p> + +<p> +"What is to be done?" I asked when the +lad was secure, for I now realized, as did +Percy, that Gavin Witherspoon should be +given the command of our squad. +</p> + +<p> +"We shall push on as was at first intended, +keeping our wits well about us, +lest we be surprised by others of this +fellow's kidney, who are making haste to +join Barfield. After having accomplished +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_86' name='Page_86'>[86]</a></span> +that for which we were sent, if it be possible, +there will be time enough to repeat the +disagreeable story." +</p> + +<p> +I am making an overly long story of +what should be told in fewer words, +prompted to do so because of the fear +which beset me at this time and caused +the matter to seem of more importance +than it really was. +</p> + +<p> +We pressed forward two hours or more, +Percy and I riding either side of the prisoner, +and Gavin Witherspoon keeping in +advance. +</p> + +<p> +Then we were come, as nearly as could +be judged, to the vicinity of the Tory +camp, and might no longer with safety +use the horses. +</p> + +<p> +Still acting under Gavin Witherspoon's +command, we picketed our steeds in the +thicket, leaving them and the prisoner to +the charge of Percy, while the old man +and I pressed forward to reconnoiter. +</p> + +<p> +This work occupied a full hour, and +the time was by no means wasted, because +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_87' name='Page_87'>[87]</a></span> +when it had expired we were well +informed as to the number of Barfield's +men. +</p> + +<p> +To the best of our belief there were not +less than eight hundred Tories fairly well +entrenched at Dubose Ferry, and Gavin +said to me as we turned to retrace our steps: +</p> + +<p> +"There will be no fighting this night, unless +we are driven to it, for neither General +Marion nor Major James, however brave +they may be, will make the attack with +such odds against us, particularly while it +is certain this same force of Tories will be +reinforced before nightfall by those whom +we drove into the swamp." +</p> + +<p> +A similar thought was in my own mind, +and therefore I made no reply. +</p> + +<p> +It was necessary we rejoin our friends +before they should have come so far as to +put themselves in a dangerous position, +and Gavin and I hurried back to where +we had left Percy. +</p> + +<p> +We had no difficulty in finding the place +where we tethered the horses, and once +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_88' name='Page_88'>[88]</a></span> +there the cold sweat of fear broke out upon +my forehead. +</p> + +<p> +Percy, and prisoner, and the three horses +which we had ridden, were not to be seen. +But for the fact that the gray steed of Sam +Lee was feeding close by, I would have +said we had mistaken the location. +</p> + +<p> +Words are not sufficient to describe my +condition of mind when this horrible +truth burst upon me. I could not so much +as speak; but looked questioningly at the +old man, who said slowly and in a half +whisper, after gazing carefully around: +</p> + +<p> +"The boy has been captured by some of +Gainey's cowards who no doubt are hunting +for us at this moment. Sam Lee knew +for what purpose we went ahead, and as a +matter of course has given his Tory friends +all possible information." +</p> + +<p> +"Why do we stand here idly?" I cried, +regaining speech when the horrible fact +had been put before me in words. "We +cannot desert him, and at whatsoever cost +must go in pursuit." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_89' name='Page_89'>[89]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"It is not possible we could compass +anything save our own capture," Gavin +Witherspoon said, speaking slowly, and +gripping hard both my hands as if to give +me comfort. +</p> + +<p> +"Surely you will not turn your back +upon him," I cried in a fury, trying to +wrench myself from his grasp; "if that +cowardly thought be in your mind you +shall go alone, for I had rather face all +Barfield's force single-handed, than have +it said I deserted my brother." +</p> + +<p> +"Fair and softly, Robert Sumter, fair +and softly. I am not minded to go back. +It is you who shall do that." +</p> + +<p> +"But I will not," and again I strove to +release my hands. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen to me, lad, and the sooner the +better for your brother's sake, because I +shall hold you here by force until having +laid the case squarely before you. Would +you have it told that one of the James +family, on account of his own personal +grief, allowed four hundred brave men to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_90' name='Page_90'>[90]</a></span> +ride on to destruction? Would you have +it said that rather than desert your brother +you allowed the men of Williamsburg to +face certain capture or death? Yet that +is what must happen unless you are willing +to do as I bid." +</p> + +<p> +"But let me hear what is in your mind, +for until then how can I answer the questions +you ask!" and now I was grown +more tractable, understanding that the old +man knew better than I what was necessary +both for the safety of Percy, and those who +were riding behind us. +</p> + +<p> +"There is but one horse here, and it would +be unsafe to set out on foot. Having had +many more years of experience than you, +I should be more capable of following the +Tories who have Percy in their keeping, and +having come upon them, if there be a +chance for his rescue, ought to be able to +take better advantage of the 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, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_91' name='Page_91'>[91]</a></span> +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 whom we both can +trust implicitly will know the situation, +and advise what we may do with honor. +In addition to that you will be spared the +pain of confessing in later days that you +did what a James should never do—left +your friends to ride blindly into such danger +as has never before come upon men of the +Carolinas." +</p> + +<p> +It was not easy to follow this advice, as +may well be imagined, and I spent fully +five minutes trying to force myself to +do it. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed as if by going back when Percy +had been forced to go forward, I was deserting +him, and yet such seeming desertion +was necessary to save, perhaps, the entire +Williamsburg district. +</p> + +<p> +"You will return as a brave lad should," +the old man said finally, and, my heart +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_92' name='Page_92'>[92]</a></span> +well-nigh bursting with grief, I made reply +by mounting the gray horse. +</p> + +<p> +Not until then did I realize how much +Gavin Witherspoon had taken upon himself. +</p> + +<p> +The old man was voluntarily remaining +behind on foot, surrounded by enemies, in +the vain hope that he might by some fortunate +accident rescue Percy, and I knew +full well that the chances were as one in a +thousand that it could not be done. +</p> + +<p> +In other words, he was doing little less +than delivering himself into the hands of +the enemy and I—I was deserting him as +well as my brother. +</p> + +<p> +"I can't do it, Gavin," I said, making as +if to dismount. "It is better you ride +back." +</p> + +<p> +"No, lad. Having once come to a brave +decision, hold steadfast, and forget all else +save that the Cause demands the sacrifice, +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, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_93' name='Page_93'>[93]</a></span> +and before many hours have passed we +may grasp hands again; but I solemnly +swear not to desert Percy whatever may +come upon me." +</p> + +<p> +I clasped the old man's hand, understanding +for the first time in my life what a +friend he was. Then, not daring to so +much as speak, I set the spurs deep into +the gray, and he bounded forward with +more of life than I had expected it would +be possible for him to show. +</p> + +<p> +The wonder of it all to me is now, while +I am writing it down after so many months +have passed, that I was not captured before +having traversed a mile on the backward +journey, for I saw nothing, heeded nothing, +thought of nothing save Percy and the +brave old man who was following on his +trail. +</p> + +<p> +Heedless alike of friend or foe I rode as +if in all the district of Williamsburg there +was not an enemy, and the good God +allowed me to pass through that Tory infested +district in safety. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_94' name='Page_94'>[94]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +It was no more than two hours past +noon when I came upon the advance guard +of our brigade, and five minutes later stood +before my uncle and General Marion, +shaking like one in an ague fit. +</p> + +<p> +Those brave soldiers needed not to be +told that some disaster had befallen us. +The fact, although not the story, was imprinted +plainly on my face, and Major +James dismounted that he might fling his +arm around my shoulders, as he asked +softly and tenderly: +</p> + +<p> +"How far beyond here did you leave +Percy and Gavin Witherspoon?" +</p> + +<p> +"Within three miles of Dubose Ferry, +so nearly as I can say." +</p> + +<p> +"Were you come upon Barfield's force +before this thing happened?" +</p> + +<p> +Then it was that I found my tongue, +and told him all the sad story, taking good +care however, that both he and the general +understood full well the strength of the +enemy as we had found them. +</p> + +<p> +"We will fall upon them as soon as may +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_95' name='Page_95'>[95]</a></span> +be," the general cried, and beckoning to +Captain Mouzon he would have given some +order but that I said hurriedly, forgetting +my manners, as well I might, after all that +had happened: +</p> + +<p> +"Gavin Witherspoon declared that Major +Gainey's men would join Barfield's force, +and should the Williamsburg brigade advance, +it would be only to their capture or +death." +</p> + +<p> +"Death is what every soldier must expect, +and peradventure it be delayed until +the end comes peacefully, then is he less +fortunate, perhaps, than his fellow. We +will ride on, gentlemen, and attack Barfield +as soon as we can come upon him." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_96' name='Page_96'>[96]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER V.<br /> +<span class="s08">THE AMBUSH.</span></h2> + +<p> +Had the men composing the brigade all +been akin to me they could not have shown +greater kindness, nor done more to soothe +my grief, than they did during the brief +time before the march toward the Tory +encampment was really commenced. +</p> + +<p> +One found immediately a better steed; +another brought assurances from Captain +Mouzon that I was not to think for a single +instant of the loss of his horses, since it +was only the fortunes of war, which must +be expected. A third would have pressed +food upon me; but I could not have swallowed +a single morsel unless, perchance, +life itself might have depended upon the +act. +</p> + +<p> +My uncle, Major James, said very little +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_97' name='Page_97'>[97]</a></span> +after hearing the story we had gotten from +Sam Lee. +</p> + +<p> +At first I attributed his silence to the apprehensions +which had come upon him +with the knowledge that General Gates +had been overwhelmed; but later I had +good reason to believe it arose solely from +anxiety concerning my brother. +</p> + +<p> +"You shall ride by my side, lad, until +we have settled this affair, and when it is +done neither you nor I will have cause to +reproach ourselves for not having ventured +enough." +</p> + +<p> +Such a promise from such a man was +sufficient to tell me that while he and I remained +alive, we would struggle as men do +who have no fear of death, until the dear lad +was rescued, or we borne down by press of +numbers. +</p> + +<p> +At this day it seems singular to me that +I heard no one speak of the great disaster +which had come upon the colonists at +Camden. +</p> + +<p> +I can only explain it by the supposition +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_98' name='Page_98'>[98]</a></span> +that each man saw in the adventure before +us an opportunity to do somewhat by +way of retaliation, and set all his thoughts +on that purpose. +</p> + +<p> +We were halted, after my rejoining the +brigade, twenty minutes or more, and then +the word to advance was given; but not +in such fashion as I had supposed from +what General Marion said, on his learning +of the disaster which had come upon +Percy. +</p> + +<p> +My idea was, and in my ignorance I saw +no other method of procedure, that the little +troop would ride into Barfield's Tories even +as they had among those commanded by +Major Gainey, and that we should profit +by the surprise. +</p> + +<p> +This could not be done, as I afterward +came to realize. +</p> + +<p> +The capture of Percy, and what Sam Lee +could tell, would be sufficient to prevent us +from coming upon them unexpectedly. +</p> + +<p> +When the Tory lad should inform the +commander that two of Major James' +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_99' name='Page_99'>[99]</a></span> +nephews were in that vicinity, it would be +immediately known that our uncle, with +a goodly following, was somewhere nearabout. +</p> + +<p> +The Tories would be prepared, and those +who had suffered defeat that morning must +have, by this time, a very good idea of our +strength. +</p> + +<p> +General Marion, as I afterward came to +know full well, was not the man to neglect +any precaution, and while he counted on +making an attack despite the difference in +numbers, it was his intention to do so in +such manner as would come nearest to +guaranteeing success. +</p> + +<p> +Fifty of the best mounted men were +detached and sent straight toward Dubose +Ferry, while the remainder of the brigade +rode off at right angles, in such direction +as would bring us to the timber lands +eastward of the road leading to Indian +Village. +</p> + +<p> +It was this last portion of the force which +my uncle and I accompanied, and I, surprised +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_100' name='Page_100'>[100]</a></span> +that a part of the brigade rode at full +speed, while we loitered, as it were, asked +the reason. +</p> + +<p> +"Those in advance are mounted in such +fashion that they may easily outrun the +enemy, and it is the plan that they appear +before Barfield's force as if intending +to make an attack," my uncle replied. +"After thus showing themselves the +squad will beat a retreat, causing it to +appear as if they were surprised by seeing +so large a force. Then, unless the Tories +are quicker witted than I give them credit +for being, a goodly portion of the band will +be led into ambush." +</p> + +<p> +It was the Indian's favorite method of +warfare, and, cruel though I had ever considered +it, at this moment it gave me most +intense pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +I had said to myself that we could hope +to do little less than die in the vain attempt +to rescue Percy; but now it seemed as if, +should our lives be demanded as a sacrifice, +we might sell them dearly. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_101' name='Page_101'>[101]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Well, all went as our commander had +counted upon. +</p> + +<p> +We hid ourselves in the thicket either +side the road, three hundred and fifty +horsemen, with not a man dismounted, for +we counted upon riding the Tories down +when they should retreat after the first +volley had warned them that they had been +led into a trap. +</p> + +<p> +There we waited upwards of an hour, no +man venturing to so much as speak, and +each looking well after his steed lest one +of the animals whinny at the supreme +moment, thus giving the enemy a clew, +before they were fairly within our grasp, +of what awaited them. +</p> + +<p> +During that hour I resolutely kept my +thoughts on trifles, such as caring for the +animal I bestrode, making certain I was in +such position that it would be possible to get +out of the wood with the least possible delay +when the enemy was thrown into confusion, +and by these and other means prevented +myself from dwelling upon Percy's fate. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_102' name='Page_102'>[102]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Then came that sound for which we had +waited—the thunder of horses' feet upon +the beaten road. +</p> + +<p> +We heard cries of fear, which were uttered +by our decoys to entice the Tories into +yet hotter pursuit, and far in the distance +could be distinguished the crack of rifles +and the rattle of muskets. +</p> + +<p> +At that time, with the blood literally +boiling in my veins and my heart beating +like the blows of a hammer, I never stopped +to question how many of ours might be +killed in this attempt to deal out punishment +to the enemies of the colonies; but +realized only that now was come the +moment when I could strike a blow in +defense of my brother. +</p> + +<p> +Nearer and nearer came the horsemen, +until through the trees we saw the Williamsburg +men riding madly down, not a +saddle emptied, and before one could count +twenty the advance of the Tories came +in sight. +</p> + +<p> +A whispered word went around among +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_103' name='Page_103'>[103]</a></span> +us to "hold ready," although every man +was on the alert, and when the road in +front of us appeared to be one dense mass +of horses, and men wearing red uniforms, +my uncle gave the signal for which we +waited: +</p> + +<p> +"Fire, boys, and at them!" +</p> + +<p> +From each side the road rang out reports +of rifles which had been leveled in deadly +aim, for at such short range each could pick +his man and make certain of bringing him +down. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly the ranks were broken; the +redcoated horsemen reined in their steeds +as the squad they had been pursuing halted +and fired their volley, and then came a +scramble and retreat when we dashed +among them. +</p> + +<p> +Twice I loaded and discharged my rifle, +and then it seemed to me as if such work +was all too slow. +</p> + +<p> +Using the weapon as a club, I rode by +my uncle's side into the very midst of that +scrambling, terrified mass of human beings, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_104' name='Page_104'>[104]</a></span> +and cried aloud with savage joy when +I struck one of the frightened villains +down. +</p> + +<p> +As was afterward learned, there were +no less than one thousand men who had +set out in pursuit of our decoys, and yet +after our first attack not one of them +remained to hold us in check. +</p> + +<p> +Had they been only so many sheep, we +could not have found them easier prey. +</p> + +<p> +The major, my uncle, had said I should +ride by his side, and so I did, down the +road at the heels of the Tory scoundrels, +ever as we had done the night previous. +Then on, and on, striking down a foe here +and there until we were come, nearly the +whole brigade, into that encampment +which Gavin Witherspoon and I had looked +upon, believing it could not be taken by +such a force as ours. +</p> + +<p> +Out of all those scoundrels who had so +lately held the place, believing that those +true to the Cause had been virtually +crushed by the defeat of General Gates, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_105' name='Page_105'>[105]</a></span> +only two men came forth to meet us, and +those two, my brother and Gavin Witherspoon. +</p> + +<p> +Is there any need I should say how warm +was the greeting between us two lads when +I threw myself from the horse and clasped +to my heart the dear boy whom I had +thought never to see again in this life? +</p> + +<p> +It needed no more than an hundred +words for him to tell his story. +</p> + +<p> +While he remained in the thicket guarding +Sam Lee a body of men, who had lately +served under Major Gainey, came upon +them by chance, and, as a matter of course, +he was at once taken prisoner, Sam Lee +immediately telling the story of his own +capture. +</p> + +<p> +Then it was the Tory Sam who became +the jailer, and Percy the prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +My brother was conducted to Barfield's +camp, and there kept under guard of Sam, +who did all that lay in his power, save by +way of personal violence, to pay off old +scores. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_106' name='Page_106'>[106]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon, wily as an Indian, +had crept up to the very edge of the encampment, +and was lying there in the +vain hope that some opportunity would +come for the rescue, when our force, sent +as a decoy, appeared. +</p> + +<p> +An hundred or more men were left to +guard the encampment, and Gavin hoped +the moment had come when he might be +of service to the lad. +</p> + +<p> +Believing that the Tories would be victorious +in the chase, because of superior +numbers, he ventured too near Percy, and +was himself captured. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later the first of the terrified +fugitives burst into the encampment, riding +straight through it in their wild terror, +thus causing a panic among the guard +who might even then, because of their +intrenched position, have held us in check. +</p> + +<p> +In a twinkling Percy and Gavin were +free; but in imminent danger of being +ridden down by the panic-stricken. +</p> + +<p> +Crouching behind trees, or at the stronger +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_107' name='Page_107'>[107]</a></span> +portions of the intrenchments, they awaited +our coming, and when we rode into camp +came forth to greet us as I have said. +</p> + +<p> +Our force remained in the captured +quarters until next morning, and during +the evening Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and +myself had much to talk about. +</p> + +<p> +My brother and I were come by this time +to look upon the old man as a comrade, +and well we might, after the friend he had +proven himself to be. +</p> + +<p> +While we talked only concerning ourselves, +and looked after our own welfare, +General Marion and the officers of the +command spent the time discussing how +it might be possible for so small a force to +uphold the cause in the Carolinas, for since +the defeat of Gates ours was the only +body of men in the colony to oppose the +foe. +</p> + +<p> +It was as if the king's troops had indeed +crushed what they were pleased to term +"rebellion," and more than one man in the +brigade whose fidelity to the Cause could +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_108' name='Page_108'>[108]</a></span> +not be questioned, asked his comrade if it +were wise to longer remain in arms when +we were virtually whipped. +</p> + +<p> +The outlook was gloomy indeed for those +who had hoped to be freed from the burdens +the king had put upon them; but, fortunately +for the Cause, General Marion and +Major James were not the men to give in +beaten so long as life remained. +</p> + +<p> +Even while some among us were making +ready to say openly that the time had come +when we must submit, those two gallant +gentlemen were planning for the future—planning +as to how four hundred or less +might best oppose ten times their number +of trained soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and myself, +while listening to the faint-hearted ones or +discussing the situation between ourselves, +hoped that the general would call upon us +for some especial mission, even as he had +when we were sent to spy out Barfield's +camp; but the time was not come when +we were needed for a venture of any +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_109' name='Page_109'>[109]</a></span> +moment, as we learned an hour before +daybreak next morning. +</p> + +<p> +Then the men were aroused with orders +to breakfast from the Tories' provisions as +hurriedly as might be, and make ready for +the forced march. +</p> + +<p> +Among those with whom I talked, when +in the gray light we made our preparations +for the march, not a man believed there +was the slightest question we should continue +upon the offensive. +</p> + +<p> +All understood that we could not in +safety remain much longer in the Tory +camp, for unless those whom we had routed +were greater cowards than was generally +believed, they would soon recover from the +panic into which we had driven them, and +return to make an attack. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was that we set out believing +the move was made simply for the purpose +of changing quarters, and when orders +were given that each man take from the +Tory stores so much of provisions for himself, +or provender for his horse as could be +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_110' name='Page_110'>[110]</a></span> +carried conveniently behind him, we fancied +it was the general's purpose to so outfit +the brigade that it might lay in hiding +two or three days without being forced to +venture forth in search of food. +</p> + +<p> +Before noon came, however, all understood +that some maneuver was in progress. +</p> + +<p> +Instead of riding rapidly, as would have +been the case had we counted on simply +exchanging one encampment for another, +we went forward at a leisurely pace, making +no halt until the sun was high in the +heavens, when we were come to the ford +on Black River, half a dozen miles or more +south of Kingstree. +</p> + +<p> +Then the men and horses were allowed +a rest of an hour, after which we bore +nearly due west until we struck the road +leading from Georgetown to Nelson's +Ferry, and the word was whispered from +man to man that the commander had it in +mind to strike yet another blow at the +red-coated enemy before we laid down our +arms. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_111' name='Page_111'>[111]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +It is well known, as a matter of course, +that the "war-path" from Charleston to +Camden crosses Santee River at Nelson's +Ferry, and here, above all other places, +would one who was eager for fighting be +likely to get his fill. +</p> + +<p> +More than once during the day had we +learned from planters, who were true to the +Cause, additional particulars concerning +the blunder of General Gates, and before +nightfall we understood beyond a peradventure +that the story told by Sam Lee was +only untrue in so far as it did not contain +all the disasters which had befallen the +American arms. +</p> + +<p> +Now we knew how many prisoners had +been taken, and, what was more to the +purpose, learned that our unfortunate +countrymen were being sent as rapidly as +possible from the scene of the one-sided +conflict to Charleston. +</p> + +<p> +It was an hour before sunset, and we +were holding the same pace at which we +started, with no evidence of going into +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_112' name='Page_112'>[112]</a></span> +camp, when Gavin Witherspoon said bitterly, +as if the thought had just seized +him: +</p> + +<p> +"Lads, if it so be you have any curiosity +concerning this long march of ours, during +which we have traversed the Williamsburg +district apparently for no other purpose than +to come upon an enemy who may crush us +with but little trouble, I can satisfy you." +</p> + +<p> +"Have you been getting some special +information?" Percy asked with a laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"Aye, lad, that I have, and you may count +upon its being true, although I got it only +from my own head." +</p> + +<p> +"Then you are guessing as to where we +are going?" I said with no great show of +enthusiasm, for I was weary to the verge +of exhaustion with long remaining in the +saddle. +</p> + +<p> +"It is more than guessing, lad. It is +what has been learned from observation, +and that is the most reliable information +a man can obtain. We are heading for +Nelson's Ferry." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_113' name='Page_113'>[113]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"If that is all your observation has +taught you, it would seem as if much time +had been wasted," Percy replied laughingly. +"Every man in the brigade has +known as much since noon." +</p> + +<p> +"True, lad, but that is not the sum of the +information I am willing to give. It has +been told us that the American prisoners +which Lord Cornwallis took are being sent +to Charleston as rapidly as possible, and +you will admit with me that all must +pass through this same place toward +which we are bound. It is General +Marion's purpose to strike another blow, +if no more, at the enemy, and in so +doing set free some of those who were +made prisoners through their general's +stupidity." +</p> + +<p> +There was much of sound common sense +in Gavin Witherspoon's reasoning, and +straightway the truth of it came into my +mind, all sense of fatigue was lost sight of +in the relief which was mine at knowing +we would not yet submit to the Britishers, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_114' name='Page_114'>[114]</a></span> +even though it seemed as if we were +already driven to the last extremity. +</p> + +<p> +A moment before the old man gave +words to his thoughts, I would have said +that both the animal I bestrode and myself +were so near to exhaustion that we could +not hold the pace an hour longer; but now +it was as if I had enjoyed a long time of +repose, and action was absolutely necessary, +lest I grow rusty with much idleness. +</p> + +<p> +We three discussed the possibility of the +future as if all Gavin Witherspoon had +suggested was known to be true, until one +of the general's aides came riding down +the line, drawing rein in front of us, as he +said curtly: +</p> + +<p> +"The general would speak with you." +</p> + +<p> +"We have not been forgotten," Percy +cried gleefully, "and now has come our +time to render some immediate service." +</p> + +<p> +"Or fall into the hands of the enemy," +Gavin Witherspoon added with a smile. +"These special missions are not the safest, +and sometimes he who sets out on them +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_115' name='Page_115'>[115]</a></span> +with the idea of making his name famous, +comes to grief." +</p> + +<p> +"As I did yesterday," Percy replied, still +laughing. "When I have as comrades you +and Bob, it matters little how much of +unpleasant adventure I see, save for the +discomfort of the moment." +</p> + +<p> +Then the dear lad spurred his horse onward, +and we two followed, Gavin Witherspoon +wearing a serious countenance, while +I was in much perplexity as to whether two +lads like Percy and myself should be trusted +with work such as old soldiers oftentimes +fail at doing successfully. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the head of the line we found +the general and Major James riding side +by side. +</p> + +<p> +Both returned our salute, but neither +slackened speed, and we rode alongside of +the general, Percy and I, while Gavin remained +slightly in the rear. +</p> + +<p> +"We should be within twenty miles of +Nelson's Ferry," the commander said, +speaking as if we were eager for such +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_116' name='Page_116'>[116]</a></span> +information. "It is certain that portions +of Cornwallis's force guarding American +prisoners will pass there from time to time +within the next eight and forty hours. It +is my desire that we have early information +of such coming and going, and to that +end I have sent for you, lads." +</p> + +<p> +He paused for an instant as if debating +in his mind what to say next, and Gavin +Witherspoon rode up that he might attract +the general's attention, when the latter said +with a smile: +</p> + +<p> +"I am speaking to you two lads and the +old man who is so eager to participate in +venturesome missions. Any force coming +from Camden will halt over night, at least, +nearabout the Ferry. By riding up the +river ten miles or more you should be able +to give me timely information of their +coming. Within an hour we shall halt, +and then it is you who must push forward +so far as the animals can go. Continue on +until having come to a point ten or twelve +miles above the Ferry. There remain, in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_117' name='Page_117'>[117]</a></span> +whatsoever fashion may please you, until +you hear of the enemy's approach. Then +wait only so long as may be necessary to +learn how strong he is in numbers, after +which you will ride without delay to Taw +Caw Creek, on the bank of which we shall +be encamped." +</p> + +<p> +Having said this he saluted, as did my +uncle, and we three, understanding that +this was the signal for dismissal, reined +in our steeds until we were fallen back to +our proper place in the line. +</p> + +<p> +The knowledge that we were to perform +some especial work which bid fair to be of +service to the Cause, heartened us wonderfully, +and indeed we had need of something +to raise our courage, for much talking +about the disasters which had overtaken +the American troops caused it to seem +as if the so-called rebellion was well-nigh +come to an end. +</p> + +<p> +"It may be our last chance of striking +a blow at those who represent the king, +lads," Gavin Witherspoon said cheerily. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_118' name='Page_118'>[118]</a></span> +"Mayhap we shall be fortunate if a British +bullet finds lodgment in our bodies with +sufficient force to wipe us out of existence, +for such a death as that is preferable to +hanging, and that is what awaits us of +Williamsburg who defy his majesty, after +my Lord Clinton's second proclamation." +</p> + +<p> +"It is a doleful way you have of preparing +one for venturesome work," Percy said, +with a laugh which told that he claimed +little share in these forebodings. "If to +be shot is good fortune, then we may rejoice, +for I doubt not but that there are +hundreds of the king's servants who will +readily grant such a favor." +</p> + +<p> +"I am not minded to dishearten you," +Gavin said in a kindly tone; "but the +straits into which the Cause has fallen are +so sore and desperate now, that to an old +man like me who has ventured all, it would +seem as if a soldier's death, coming before +the last blow to the colonies had been +struck, was a kindly thing. However, we +are like to go ten miles above Nelson's +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_119' name='Page_119'>[119]</a></span> +Ferry and back, without falling into more +harm than was brought about by the capture +of Sam Lee, and I venture to say we +shall report in proper form and due time +such information as the general desires." +</p> + +<p> +Then we fell silent, each intent on his +own thoughts, and at that moment I was +thinking far more of my mother than of +the Cause, for Gavin Witherspoon's words +had depressed me until it began to appear +as if I might never see her dear face +again. +</p> + +<p> +From this pleasant but yet painful reverie +I was roused by the halting of the command, +and Percy said, seizing me by the arm as +if believing I had fallen asleep: +</p> + +<p> +"The time has come for us to push forward +alone, Bob, and we must make as +many miles 'twixt now and dark as can be +forced out of these jaded steeds." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_120' name='Page_120'>[120]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VI.<br /> +<span class="s08">THE PRISONERS.</span></h2> + +<p> +Giving no heed to those around us, we +continued on when the command was +halted, much as if we had not heard the +orders, and without anything in the way +of leave-taking. +</p> + +<p> +I know not how it may have been with +my companions; but as for myself, I was +in no mood to speak even with my uncle, +so thickly did the sad and gloomy thoughts +flow through my mind. It was to me as +if we were playing the last acts in that +drama which should have had a glorious +ending—as if we were assisting at the +death of the Cause, and I believe that nine +out of every ten men in the brigade had +some such thought as myself. +</p> + +<p> +It was true that we might strike a blow +at Nelson's Ferry, but let the reader remember +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_121' name='Page_121'>[121]</a></span> +that ours was probably the only +armed force, true to the colonies, then in +the Carolinas; let him remember that the +Britishers overran our land, even as did +the locusts of old, and how might four +hundred men or less oppose all the soldiers +the king could send against us? +</p> + +<p> +Surely for us of the southern colonies, +this night, when we three set out to spy +upon the victorious troops coming down +from Camden with our friends as prisoners, +was the worst ever known. +</p> + +<p> +We were beaten—hemmed in, and, like +rats in the corner, could only make one +desperate fight, not against death, but +simply as proof that our courage held +good even to the very last moment. +</p> + +<p> +Let all these things be borne well in +mind, and it is little wonder that when +we rode on after the command was halted, +we were in no mood for leave-taking. +Ours might, and it seemed probable it +would, be the last blow in a gallant struggle +for liberty. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_122' name='Page_122'>[122]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +When we passed the group of officers +at the head of the column, all sitting their +horses motionless as statues, looking +neither to the right nor the left, but each +man as it were peering into the recesses +of his own heart, asking himself in what +way the end would come, I gave one glance +toward my uncle, and it seemed to me as +if there was a certain uplifting of the eyebrows +which I interpreted as a "good-by." +</p> + +<p> +More than that we saw not, and five +minutes later the brigade of Williamsburg +patriots, tried and true, were left behind, +while we two lads and the old man rode +forward, hoping almost against hope that +it might be possible we should accomplish +something toward showing the British +king how strong in our hearts was the +desire for liberty. +</p> + +<p> +Our horses, jaded by the long march of +the day, were unwilling to leave the troop; +they went forward listlessly, and we had +not the heart to spur them on because it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_123' name='Page_123'>[123]</a></span> +was much as if they shared our feelings. +</p> + +<p> +I question if we gained ten miles in advance +of the column that night. +</p> + +<p> +Certain it is we were not yet come within +the vicinity of Nelson's Ferry when +Gavin Witherspoon's horse stopped short, +and the old man said as he dismounted +slowly: +</p> + +<p> +"We may as well rest here for the night, +as a mile or two further on. I propose that +we halt until a couple of hours before sunrise, +and by so doing we shall gain time." +</p> + +<p> +After the experience we had had with +the old man, Percy and I were more than +willing to follow his advice, and we set +about making ourselves as comfortable as +might be under all the circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +A better place for camping could not +be found. A tiny brook running through +a grove of pines, where the underbrush +was so dense as to form ample hiding-place, +as well as a shelter from the dews of the +night. There was little green feed for the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_124' name='Page_124'>[124]</a></span> +horses; but we carried a goodly store of +grain on our saddles, and, heedless of the +possible necessities of the future which +seemed so dark, we allowed the tired steeds +to eat their pleasure from the store. +</p> + +<p> +Such food as we had, and as I have said +was taken from the Tory camp, we ate, and +then, lame and sore in every joint from the +long hours in the saddle, we laid ourselves +down for perchance the last sleep on this +earth. +</p> + +<p> +My eyes were closed in slumber within +two or three minutes after I was thus +stretched at full length upon the bed of pine +needles, and it seemed as if I had slept +several hours when something—I know +not what—awakened me. +</p> + +<p> +There was no movement, and the faint +light of the stars did not penetrate the +thicket; yet I could see that the horses +were lying down; that my comrades were +wrapped in slumber, and it puzzled me to +make out why I was thus wakeful. +</p> + +<p> +Then, partially turning my head, for no +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_125' name='Page_125'>[125]</a></span> +other reason than to make a change of +position, I saw what appeared to be the reflection +of a camp-fire through the underbrush. +</p> + +<p> +When one knows that he is surrounded +by enemies, the lightest thing out of the +ordinary arouses his suspicions, and although +this gleam of light was so faint +that at another time I would have given +no heed to it, now it seemed absolutely +necessary I should understand the cause. +</p> + +<p> +It would be foolish to awaken my comrades, +so I argued, when there might be +no good reason, and I crept out through +the bushes softly until, having traversed a +distance of fifty yards or more, when I saw +that we were not the only ones who had +utilized this thicket as a camp. +</p> + +<p> +Four men sat around a small fire eating, +and near by were tethered their horses. +</p> + +<p> +It was fortunate our steeds were so leg-weary, +else when this party drove up they +might have given the alarm, for I doubted +not but that these were enemies. At such +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_126' name='Page_126'>[126]</a></span> +time in the history of the so-called rebellion +we had so few friends as to be able to say +with a certainty where they were. +</p> + +<p> +It was in my mind to return at once and +arouse Gavin Witherspoon and Percy, that +we might make our escape; but all was +so quiet, and these four apparently unsuspicious +that any save themselves were +in the vicinity, that I delayed carrying out +the purpose in my mind, until, having +almost unconsciously approached a few +yards nearer, I recognized in one of them, +that Tory villain, Sam Lee. +</p> + +<p> +Once this discovery was made I no longer +thought of returning to where I had left +my comrades; but wriggled along yet +nearer, and was well repaid for the delay. +</p> + +<p> +It would seem as if the men had been +questioning young Lee as to his ability to +do something which had been promised, +for one of them was saying when I came +within earshot: +</p> + +<p> +"It is a blind chase to push ahead in +search of a party of rebels who by this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_127' name='Page_127'>[127]</a></span> +time may have returned home, hoping to +keep secret the part they have been playing." +</p> + +<p> +To this Sam Lee replied hotly, much as +if the honor of the James family were in +his keeping: +</p> + +<p> +"The major will never go home alive so +long as one other can be found to remain +with him, and there are many of his kin +in Williamsburg." +</p> + +<p> +"But what reason have we for believing +you can lead us to them?" +</p> + +<p> +"Because I know of their haunts," the +scoundrel said, as if he was telling the +truth. "So far all they have accomplished +has been by surprising our people who are +not soldiers; but I guarantee that you men +of the Prince of Wales' regiment will make +a different showing among them." +</p> + +<p> +"Of that I have no question; but these +people, knowing fully the country, can +easily disperse between the time we come +upon them, and word has been sent to the +command. Then again, we must trust to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_128' name='Page_128'>[128]</a></span> +your finding them, which I misdoubt +greatly, else are you a keener lad than I +have seen in the Carolinas." +</p> + +<p> +It was the eldest of the three men who +said this, and as he moved slightly I saw +that his uniform, which I knew full well, +was that of the Prince of Wales' regiment, +to which organization Sam Lee had referred. +</p> + +<p> +"You may do as you please," the young +Troy said angrily. "I have told the colonel +that I could lead you to where the scarecrow +Marion was encamped and put you +on their trail wheresoever the forces +might be going; but if, now that we are +hardly more than started, you choose to +turn back, it is none of my affair, I have +done my part." +</p> + +<p> +No reply was made to this, and for a +time the men were silent, while I, speculating +as to what might be their purpose, believed +it was a simple matter to guess why +they were there. +</p> + +<p> +We knew full well that Sam Lee had been +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_129' name='Page_129'>[129]</a></span> +in Captain Barfield's encampment, and, like +the coward that he was, fled when our +troops came up. He also must have ridden +all day in order to gain Nelson's Ferry; had +most likely met this regiment of the king's, +and claimed ability to deliver our people +into their hands. It seemed also true that +these troopers had ridden in advance of the +command, as had we three, and we were +thus come together at a place midway between +the Britishers and our own force. +</p> + +<p> +Up to this point I had no difficulty in +forming a satisfactory conclusion; but beyond +that I was all at sea, and naturally +thought the proper course was to return +and give information to Gavin Witherspoon. +</p> + +<p> +In fact I was in the act of turning when +one of the soldiers said grumblingly: +</p> + +<p> +"Even though the rebels may be where +this lad has stated, I fail to see why we +should have left the camp and ridden half +a dozen miles in advance. What good can +be gained by spending the night here, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_130' name='Page_130'>[130]</a></span> +when we might have done so with our +comrades?" +</p> + +<p> +"For my part," the third trooper added, +"I would rather sleep here than do my share +of guarding an hundred or more scurvy +rebels. Had we stayed in camp some +portion of the duty would have come upon +us, whereas we may lie down under these +bushes and sleep until it pleases us to open +our eyes next morning." +</p> + +<p> +"That is all very true," the first speaker +replied; "yet there were good quarters to +be found at Nelson's Ferry, and here a bed +upon the ground is the best to be had." +</p> + +<p> +It was almost with difficulty that I suppressed +a cry of triumph, for now I had +the full story, and we might return with +the information desired by General Marion +before having fairly set out to do the +work. +</p> + +<p> +The British force, comprised in whole or +in part of the Prince of Wales' regiment, +and guarding an hundred or more of our +people, captured when General Gates was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_131' name='Page_131'>[131]</a></span> +defeated, were encamped at Nelson's Ferry, +six or seven miles away. These fellows, +through information given by Sam Lee, +were coming out in search of us, and would +not leave their halting-place until sunrise. +</p> + +<p> +It was a lucky chance which led us to +this spot, and the forebodings which had +weighed heavily upon me a few hours previous, +were lightened wonderfully by the +thought that fortune, which had borne so +hardly upon us in the past, was about taking +a turn in our favor. +</p> + +<p> +I lost no time in returning at once to my +comrades, although forced to do so slowly +lest I make so much of noise that the Tory +and his red-coated companions be warned +of our nearness. +</p> + +<p> +Then, having arrived by the side of Percy +and Gavin Witherspoon, I pressed both +hands upon their mouths to prevent any +cry in their awakening. +</p> + +<p> +The old man's grasp upon my arm told +that he was fully alive to the situation, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_132' name='Page_132'>[132]</a></span> +and I repeated as quickly as might be all +that had been heard. +</p> + +<p> +Sitting bolt upright as if any future +movement depended wholly upon me, he +said in a whisper: +</p> + +<p> +"Whether the horses can cover sixteen +or twenty miles after a long day's work, is +a question." +</p> + +<p> +"But one which you should not ask," +Percy added in a more serious tone than I +had ever heard him employ. "We have +gained the information for which we were +sent, and it must be carried back to camp +without delay." +</p> + +<p> +"I grant you that, lad; but was only +asking myself whether it might be possible +for our people to take advantage of +it." +</p> + +<p> +"Such speculations can be deferred until +we have spoken with General Marion," +Percy replied as he arose, and after that +there was no discussion among us. +</p> + +<p> +To get the horses on their feet without +making a noise was no slight task; but +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_133' name='Page_133'>[133]</a></span> +we accomplished it after a certain fashion, +and led them out of the thicket, not mounting +until we were fully two miles away. +</p> + +<p> +After that our progress was no more +rapid than if we had remained on foot, for +it seemed impossible to urge the animals +at a pace faster than a walk, and it appeared +to me as if the morning must be +near at hand when we were finally come +to the encampment. +</p> + +<p> +All our men were not given over to +slumber, as was shown by our being +challenged before yet we knew how near +to us was the military force, and five +minutes later we were standing beside +our uncle, who, suddenly aroused from his +sleep, asked with a note of alarm in his +tones: +</p> + +<p> +"What disaster has befallen you?" +</p> + +<p> +We soon gave him to understand that +fortune had played us a good turn, and +immediately the information was given he +became animated. +</p> + +<p> +One would have said he had never known +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_134' name='Page_134'>[134]</a></span> +fatigue, to have seen him as he ran toward +where General Marion was sleeping, and, +shaking the officer into wakefulness, he +repeated in a few words our story. +</p> + +<p> +I had supposed the news we brought +would cause some sensation in the camp; +but never believed it would be acted upon +so quickly. +</p> + +<p> +Within fifteen minutes from the time +of our being challenged by the sentinel, +every man was in the saddle, and Percy, +Gavin Witherspoon and myself were riding +at the head of the column by my uncle's +side, in order that we might point out the +place where the soldiers and Sam Lee were +encamped. +</p> + +<p> +We now learned that it was midnight; +the tired men and their horses had had six +hours of rest, and although the advance +was not rapid, we pressed forward with +greater speed than I had believed possible, +our own steeds seeming to be revived by +the companionship of the others. +</p> + +<p> +Now I am come to that point in this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_135' name='Page_135'>[135]</a></span> +story concerning which I can say but little +of my own knowledge, for certain it is that +I fell asleep even while in the saddle, and +was not conscious of anything until the +halting of my horse nearly threw me over +his head. +</p> + +<p> +We had arrived within two miles of +Nelson's Ferry, and it was yet night. Unless +some unfortunate accident occurred +at the last moment, there was an opportunity +of our soon learning whether the +British regulars would hold firm under +such a surprise as we should be able to +give them. +</p> + +<p> +The purpose of the halt was not to reconnoiter, +as I had at first supposed, but +in order that a squad of twenty might be +detached to gain possession of the road in +the swamp at that post known as Horse +Creek, while we were to attack the main +body in the rear. +</p> + +<p> +The scouts who had been sent ahead +half an hour before my awakening, came +back reporting that the enemy were encamped +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_136' name='Page_136'>[136]</a></span> +on the east bank of the creek, +which was another and a great point in +our favor. +</p> + +<p> +Once more would General Marion have a +chance to execute his favorite maneuver, +the only one by which we could hope to +win while the odds were so heavily against +us. +</p> + +<p> +Twenty minutes or more were spent +here waiting for the detachment to get into +position at Horse Creek, and then the +advance was resumed, this time at a slow +pace lest the thud of our horses' feet upon +the road should give an alarm. +</p> + +<p> +Despite the fact that I knew full well +we would soon be engaged in deadly encounter, +slumber weighed heavily upon +my eyelids, and it was with difficulty I +could prevent them from closing. +</p> + +<p> +Rather like one in a dream, than a lad +who burned to give his life for the Cause, +did I hold myself in the saddle, and it +seemed as if no more than ten minutes +had passed when we were halted again, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_137' name='Page_137'>[137]</a></span> +this time so near the enemy that the +gleam of his camp-fires could be seen. +</p> + +<p> +The moment for reflection had come. +</p> + +<p> +General Marion's force was about to be +hurled upon the best men in the king's +army. We who knew little or nothing of +military tactics, we who were mounted +upon jaded steeds, and half dead for lack +of sleep, were about to charge a camp of +well armed men, most likely in the best +possible condition, and if the end for us of +the southern colonies was near, it seemed +as if this was indeed the last moment. +</p> + +<p> +"At full speed, and do not fire until we +are close upon them!" was the whispered +word passed from man to man, and I saw +those either side of me carefully charging +their rifles or muskets. +</p> + +<p> +Even though we were come upon the +Prince of Wales' regiment and a portion of +the 63d Regulars, as was afterward +learned, the result was much the same as +when we rode down upon the undisciplined +Tories. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_138' name='Page_138'>[138]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +There was the onward leaping of the +horses as the spurs were sunk deep in their +flanks; the thunder of their hoofs; the +cries of the enemy as they were awakened +from their slumbers; our shouts of +triumph; the crackle of musketry and the +groans of the wounded. +</p> + +<p> +It was a dream—a horrible nightmare +rather than a reality, and had I been a +spectator instead of a participant, it would +have seemed no different. +</p> + +<p> +At such times the excitement of the +battle is full upon one, and I have yet to +see man or boy who can give a clear and +detailed account of all that occurred while +the scent of the powder was in his nostrils. +</p> + +<p> +This much I do know, that, as twice before, +I loaded and discharged my musket, +or used it as a club; that I forced my horse +to keep pace with my uncle's steed, who +was ever foremost in the fray, and then +the fleeing mass told that the enemy were +in retreat. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_139' name='Page_139'>[139]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +This victory, when the majority of our +men had believed the attack would prove +our final ending, did more to revive the +drooping spirits of General Marion's force +than anything else could have done. +</p> + +<p> +We forgot weariness; forgot everything +save the fact that we of Williamsburg had +been pitted against the king's best soldiers, +and were come out of the battle as well as +when we met Major Gainey's or Barfield's +men. +</p> + +<p> +On this occasion, however, we did not +press the pursuit. It was known that these +soldiers would re-form, where raw recruits +might continue panic-stricken, and we were +not so strong in numbers as to risk a regular +engagement. +</p> + +<p> +My uncle was the foremost here, as he +ever had been, and Percy and I remained +by his side, therefore can I say of a verity +that we did not ride after the retreating +column more than half a mile; but, once +well clear of the encampment, drew rein +and turned about. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_140' name='Page_140'>[140]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +It was now near to daylight, and we +soon learned that we had captured or killed +twenty-two regulars, among whom was a +captain, and held two Tories as prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +Our loss was one killed and one +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +In addition to having thus gained a victory +over the best of his majesty's soldiers +in the colonies, we had recaptured one +hundred and fifty men, and it is not necessary +to say how much of rejoicing there +was in our lines when the sun rose. +</p> + +<p> +Now am I come to the shameful part of +the story, and one which will be most difficult +of belief. +</p> + +<p> +To Percy and I it seemed that with this +successful attack, by liberating one hundred +and fifty men who were supposed to be +friends to the Cause, because of wearing +the Continental uniform, we had added +just so much to General Marion's strength, +and neither of us had any question but +that every one of them would gladly join +our force. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_141' name='Page_141'>[141]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +As we two believed, so did all our comrades +as well as the officers who led us, for +after the first rejoicings were over those +who had been prisoners were ordered into +line, and Major James proposed, with the +air of one who thinks he makes what will +be accepted without question, that they +enroll themselves among us of Williamsburg +until such time as we could fight our +way through the district to where others +who loved the Cause might be found. +</p> + +<p> +To the shame of these Continental soldiers +it must be set down that out of that number +freed by us at risk of our lives, only three +consented to serve under the general. +</p> + +<p> +Some said that the "Cause was lost;" +others declared that to fight longer was +"simply to risk one's life without an object, +because the king's troops overrun the +country, and after the defeat of Gates there +was no longer the slightest chance we could +hold our own many days." +</p> + +<p> +When no more than these three stepped +forward from the ranks in response to his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_142' name='Page_142'>[142]</a></span> +proposal, and the others talked loudly +among themselves, or with our men, my +uncle turned away like one who is stricken +with a deadly wound. +</p> + +<p> +Then Percy and I made our way among +these men who wore the buff and the blue, +to hear further reasons as to why they had +acted such a cowardly part. +</p> + +<p> +It was a captain, one who should have +been the first to urge his men to enlist, who +said in reply to my questions: +</p> + +<p> +"Surely the Cause has none in the Carolinas, +save this beggarly force to which +you are attached, while the British have +overrun this section of the country. The +Continentals are dispersed or captured; the +Virginia and North Carolina militia are +scattered to the four winds; Sumter's +Legion has been whipped by Tarleton, and +their leader is fleeing for his life. In addition +to all that, here is a copy of the letter +which Lord Clinton has sent to the commandants +of the different posts throughout +the colonies." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_143' name='Page_143'>[143]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Then the officer handed me a slip of paper +on which was written the following: +</p> + +<p> +"I have given orders that all of the inhabitants +of this province who have subscribed, +and have taken part in this revolt, +should be punished with the greatest rigor; +and also those who will not turn out, that +they may be imprisoned and their whole +property taken from them or destroyed.... +I have ordered in the most positive +manner that every militiaman, who has +borne arms with us, and afterwards joined +the enemy, shall be immediately hanged!" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_144' name='Page_144'>[144]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VII.<br /> +<span class="s08">THE RETREAT.</span></h2> + +<p> +We of Williamsburg were most certainly +in a peculiar position, after having released +one hundred and fifty prisoners and discovered +that only three had sufficient faith in +the Cause, or were sufficiently eager for +death, to join us. +</p> + +<p> +Now right here let me set down that the +men under General Marion were true patriots, +gentlemen of the Williamsburg district, +and in every sense of the word, worthy +citizens. This I say because the British +people even at this late day, five years since +peace was declared and we have become a +free and independent people, say that "that +officer who caused Tarleton so much annoyance +had as a following only the dissolute +and depraved." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_145' name='Page_145'>[145]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +I repeat, the force under General Marion +was made up of gentlemen, the greater +number of whom owned plantations in or +near the Williamsburg district, and the +fact that they had for a leader such a man +as my uncle, Major James, is sufficient +proof as to their character. +</p> + +<p> +Although these men were by this time +come to believe that the Cause for which +they had struggled so long was much the +same as lost, so far as we in the southern +colonies were concerned, yet they were not +of the class that acknowledges itself beaten +while life remains. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was, that instead of being +yet further disheartened by this failure +which followed a brilliant victory, they +were the more determined to strike every +possible blow before the end should come. +</p> + +<p> +The cruel and barbarous proclamation of +Lord Clinton aroused their anger rather +than fear, and within half an hour after it +had been circulated among us, I heard my +uncle, the major, say that no document +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_146' name='Page_146'>[146]</a></span> +could have been put in a style better calculated +to drive recruits into our ranks +than that which was written evidently for +the purpose of frightening the colony into +submission. +</p> + +<p> +There is, perhaps, a good word to be +spoken for those men, who, having been +released from captivity by us, were willing +to serve under General Marion. +</p> + +<p> +They had been whipped at the very moment +victory seemed certain, and it is little +wonder that the faint-hearted should have +begun to despair, when, after four years of +desperate struggling, the "rebellion" was +well-nigh crushed out. +</p> + +<p> +At the moment, we of Williamsburg +could have no sympathy for such cowards, +as we called them, and had any of the men +begged us for food I question if we would +have supplied their wants, so angered were +we by the refusal to enlist. +</p> + +<p> +It was evident to every man among us +that it was not safe to remain on this road +over which the British soldiers were continually +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_147' name='Page_147'>[147]</a></span> +passing, and particularly since +those whom we had defeated would speedily +give information to all the king's officers +in the colony. +</p> + +<p> +From this hour our little brigade would +be hunted down without mercy, and there +could be no question but that the chase +would be a lively one since the Britishers +in this section had no other "rebels" with +whom to occupy their attention. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was that every man in the +command felt a certain sense of relief, +when, after a halt of no more than four +hours, word was given to remount the tired +horses. +</p> + +<p> +We rode four hours or more, and then +were come to the forest round about Hope +Mountain, when the word was given that +we would have an opportunity to indulge +in a long rest. +</p> + +<p> +During this march it can well be imagined +that Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and myself +kept a sharp lookout for Sam Lee. The +greatest desire in my heart at that moment +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_148' name='Page_148'>[148]</a></span> +was to make a prisoner of the young Tory, +for he, knowing well every man in the +brigade, would be able to give the Britishers +many valuable hints regarding our probable +whereabouts, and so long as he remained +at liberty we had a dangerous +enemy afoot, even though that enemy was +a coward. +</p> + +<p> +Every man, including officers, brought +away with him from this last encounter a +goodly store of provisions, and there was +no fear of suffering from lack of food, even +though we remained a week in this encampment +at the foot of the mountain. +</p> + +<p> +The days were passed in perfect idleness, +save so far as the grooming of our horses +was concerned, and, although not a trooper +left the camp, we were kept well informed +regarding the movements of the enemy, +by such of the people round about as were +friendly to the Cause. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was that we heard sad news +from Camden when the humane and chivalrous +Lord Cornwallis hanged eight old +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_149' name='Page_149'>[149]</a></span> +men and seven boys, prisoners whom he +had taken after the battle, simply because +there was a suspicion that they might +have been concerned in the so-called rebellion. +</p> + +<p> +Nor was this wholesale murder the only +crime committed by the conquerors in the +Carolinas during the week we remained +idle. +</p> + +<p> +From every quarter came stories of +barbarity and excesses committed by +British officers, and that which seemed like +a great misfortune soon proved, despite +the horror, to be a blessing in disguise, for +it drove into our ranks every man from +the surrounding country who had ever +been charged, whether rightfully or no, +with taking any part whatsoever in the +resistance to the king's oppressions. +</p> + +<p> +Within six days there were enrolled +among the followers of General Marion no +less than seven hundred and fifty good men +and true; but it is not to be supposed that +such number remained in camp. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_150' name='Page_150'>[150]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In fact, although the brigade was being +strengthened daily, the force under arms +was decreasing, and for two good reasons: +First, because such a body could not readily +be supplied with provisions, and secondly, +because the majority of these troopers +were men of families, who, during this +season of inactivity, took advantage of the +opportunity to provide for the wants of +those at home. +</p> + +<p> +No more than one hundred and fifty remained +in the camp at Hope Mountain; +but the others stood ready to respond to +the first summons that their service was +needed. +</p> + +<p> +It was late in the evening of the eighth +day, when one on whose fidelity to the +Cause we could rely, came into camp with +the information that Tarleton's Legion and +a strong force under Major Wemyss, had +been sent by Lord Cornwallis against us. +</p> + +<p> +Although his lordship had affected to despise +General Marion, he certainly acted +as if he believed our commander a gallant +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_151' name='Page_151'>[151]</a></span> +officer, otherwise why were the 63d +Regulars and the Legion of Tarleton sent +against what the Britishers had contemptuously +termed "that beggarly crew." +</p> + +<p> +Before morning other friends came into +camp, and we knew that the two forces +were not as yet united; but Major Wemyss +with the 63d Regulars, and a large body +of Tories under Major Harrison, were +advancing rapidly toward Hope Mountain, +information of our whereabouts having +been given, perhaps, by that young scoundrel, +Sam Lee, who I doubted not was doing +his best to work us harm. +</p> + +<p> +Although there was much in this information +to dishearten, I believe every member +of our small band felt a certain sense +of satisfaction that the time for action was +near at hand. None of us had doubted but +that we should be employed against the +enemy in some manner, despite the great +difference in numbers. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and I were so +fortunate as to be among the fifty selected +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_152' name='Page_152'>[152]</a></span> +to reconnoiter, and when we saddled our +horses, which were in prime condition after +their long halt, there was a certain sense +of exultation in our hearts, even though it +seemed absolutely certain we could effect +nothing so far as the welfare of the Cause +was concerned. +</p> + +<p> +It is not my purpose to write at any +length regarding the adventure which befell +us, for among the many deeds of daring +which the followers of General Marion +were given liberty to perform, this incident +would seem to one who did not take part +in it, as something too trifling to be worthy +of mention. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore will I tell it hurriedly, and in +the fewest words, in order the sooner to +come to that time of sorrow and humiliation +when we began the retreat from the +lower Carolinas. +</p> + +<p> +We, fifty picked men, and I speak of +Percy and myself as such although we +were only boys, set out near to noon on the +reconnoiter, understanding that the remainder +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_153' name='Page_153'>[153]</a></span> +of the force led by General Marion +would follow fifteen or twenty miles in the +rear in order to be ready, if opportunity +presented itself, to fall upon the detached +bands of Major Wemyss' command. +</p> + +<p> +It was known, however, that the general +would halt at the old Sinclair plantation, +if it so chanced that the venture should +lead us thus far. +</p> + +<p> +Until nightfall we rode straight on, and +then we were met by those who told us +that the advance guard of the enemy was +near at hand. +</p> + +<p> +The command was immediately given +for each man to conceal himself in the +thicket either side the road, where a view +could be had of the enemy as they passed, +and in such position we were to remain +until the last straggler was beyond us, +after which the major proposed that, by +making a wide detour, we could reach the +Sinclair plantation in ample time to give +an alarm, should it be learned that the +attack was not advisable. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_154' name='Page_154'>[154]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Although we were in hiding, and there +was little reason for whosoever might lead +this force to believe any of Marion's men +were in the vicinity, the position we had +taken was a dangerous one, for peradventure +one of our horses was allowed to +whinny, the Britishers would attack immediately, +when fifty against a thousand +would stand small chance of escape. +</p> + +<p> +It was nightfall before the first of the +red-coated column appeared, and Percy and +I, standing side by side, gripping our +horses' muzzles, saw the formidable 63d +Regulars as they came up with swinging +stride even more than a thousand strong, +and marched by our place of concealment +with never a thought that the very prey +for whom they were seeking might be +near at hand. +</p> + +<p> +My heart literally stood still for the time +being, because even a lad unused to warfare +knew beyond a question that should +these men learn where we were hidden +the end would come speedily. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_155' name='Page_155'>[155]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +I hardly dared to breathe, lest by so doing +an alarm be given, and yet although +fifty horses were concealed either side the +road, not a sound was heard to betoken +their whereabouts. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment marched by; then came +the Tory command under Major Harrison, +which I believe was even more in numbers +than Major Wemyss' men, and after them, +more than a thousand yards in the rear, +twenty Tory stragglers. +</p> + +<p> +The major, my uncle, was stationed on +the opposite side of the road from where +Percy and I stood, and we had no knowledge +whatsoever of his movements. +</p> + +<p> +When these rascally traitors to their +country lounged along, evidently believing +themselves safe because of the large +force in advance, the thought came into +my mind that it would be a proper ending +to our reconnoissance if we set upon +them suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +This idea had no more than come into +my mind when we heard a crashing noise +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_156' name='Page_156'>[156]</a></span> +from the opposite side of the road, and +immediately the major appeared, followed +by all who had remained with him, and +we needed no other signal. +</p> + +<p> +In a twinkling, as it were, the Tory +stragglers were surrounded, and perhaps no +more than sixty seconds elapsed before +each man of them had been disarmed +and was mounted behind one of our troop. +</p> + +<p> +Then it can readily be understood that +we put spurs to our horses, striking through +the wooded country to the left in order to +circle around the main body of the enemy, +and the frightened prisoners had an opportunity +of knowing that we raised good +stock in Williamsburg district, for in less +than an hour we were come to the Sinclair +plantation. +</p> + +<p> +The information for which we had sent +was gained, and, in addition, we had twenty +disconsolate-looking prisoners, who by this +time had come to know that the Cause of +freedom in the Carolinas was not yet wholly +crushed out. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_157' name='Page_157'>[157]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +The renegades were herded into a stable, +and, to the surprise of us all, no order was +given to dismount. +</p> + +<p> +That portion of the force which had been +left behind with General Marion was in the +saddle when we came up, and there they +remained, as did we, while our officers, +withdrawing to a clump of live oaks near +at hand, entered into what proved to be a +long, and certainly was a serious, consultation. +</p> + +<p> +We knew full well that our future movements +were being decided upon, and although +there were more than two thousand +armed men in the immediate vicinity +searching for us, who would soon be joined +by Tarleton's Legion, I believe there was +not one of our brigade who did not hope +most certainly that we would be pitted +against them, desperate though the odds +were. +</p> + +<p> +Not until an hour before sunrise was the +consultation come to an end, and then came +the long expected order to advance. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_158' name='Page_158'>[158]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Ay; but in what direction?" Gavin +Witherspoon, who was by my side, asked +in a low tone, and the answer came later, +when General Marion said: +</p> + +<p> +"My men, it is the opinion of all in command +that we return to Lynch's Creek, and +I ask you to have confidence in us who have +arrived at this decision, which is as painful +to those who made it as to those who hear +it. Nothing can be accomplished by staying +here where capture or death must inevitably +result; but so long as we remain +at liberty, so long will the Cause live, and +I promise you that however unpleasant and +apparently disastrous may seem this move, +you shall yet have many opportunities of +striking at the British uniform. I ask +that you follow, as you have done since I +came among you, cheerfully and without +question, believing that this step has not +been decided upon without due deliberation." +</p> + +<p> +"We are on the retreat," Gavin Witherspoon +said to me as the general ceased +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_159' name='Page_159'>[159]</a></span> +speaking, and the words were no more than +uttered before a groan was heard throughout +the entire line. +</p> + +<p> +I here set it down, repeating the words +that these brave fellows, only an hundred +and fifty strong, could not repress their +sorrow because at this moment, when we +were threatened by over two thousand +armed men, one-half of them well-trained +troops, the word had been given to fall back. +</p> + +<p> +It is proof of the spirit of patriotism +which animated the hearts of those in +Williamsburg district, that they were saddened +only because of not being brought +immediately face to face with an enemy +which could conquer them by sheer force +of numbers. +</p> + +<p> +If the cause of liberty was crushed out +elsewhere, it yet lived and burned with an +ardent flame in the hearts of those who +had pledged themselves to follow General +Marion, and among these patriots Percy +Sumter and myself had the good fortune +to be numbered. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_160' name='Page_160'>[160]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Well, we set out on what can be called +none other than a retreat, for once we left +the enemy behind us there was no other +name for the move. The old camp at +Lynch's Creek was the direct road to North +Carolina, and the king's forces were hunting +for us in Williamsburg district. +</p> + +<p> +Now let it be fully understood what all +that meant, and then in years to come no +man may wonder why we whose homes +were hereabout had sadness in our hearts. +</p> + +<p> +For the first time since we had risen in +our might against the king's oppression, +were the people of Williamsburg and of +Pedee to be left unprotected. Until this +moment the enemy had never appeared +in our neighborhood with such a force as +enabled them to over-run it without fear +of opposition. +</p> + +<p> +Once we were gone our people must suffer +the tender mercies of the Britishers +and the Tories who had in other parts of +the Carolinas, wherever they penetrated, +written their names in blood and in flame. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_161' name='Page_161'>[161]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Heretofore the James family, standing +at the head of those who served the Cause, +had kept this section of the Carolina colonies +free from the invader. Now they +were to leave it—to abandon it—while +there were yet two thousand enemies in +the district with more to come, and knowing +full well that should they ever return +again it would be to find their houses smoking +ruins, their wives and children homeless +and wandering. It was to leave behind +all that was dear, and all that was sacred +in order that the flame of freedom might, +although burning feebly, yet be unquenched. +</p> + +<p> +Even if Percy and I were yet lads, we +were full grown in the knowledge of what +had been and what would come, therefore, +but in a lesser degree, of course, were we +bowed down by sorrow as, setting our +faces in that direction which would lead +us away from home, we allowed the steeds +to make their way at such pace as pleased +them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_162' name='Page_162'>[162]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +No man set spur on that ride; no man +urged his horse forward, for it was as if we +were held back by chains, and little wonder. +</p> + +<p> +At the time this seemed to us to be a +shameful march; but now I can look back +upon it and realize how necessary it was—can +understand that He who rules the +destinies of nations had willed that, like +the children of Israel, we should wander +through the desert a certain time before +we were come to the Promised Land. +</p> + +<p> +Now having set down all that was in our +hearts at this time, let me hurry over such +portion of the story, for it is not pleasant +to dwell upon it. +</p> + +<p> +We arrived at Lynch's Creek that evening, +and here we were halted only so long +as was necessary to make the arrangements +already decided upon between our leaders. +</p> + +<p> +Those who had families were requested, +when we had come into the old camp, to +leave the brigade and return home, there +to remain until such time as they might +be again summoned. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_163' name='Page_163'>[163]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +This was done in order that we might +move more secretly, and also that those +who were needed at home should be enabled +to give to their loved ones at least the +last words which might be spoken on earth. +</p> + +<p> +Within an hour our force was reduced to +sixty men, and yet there remained among +us every member of the James family—a +fact which went far toward cheering Percy +and I in this retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Five were there, John, William, Gavin, +Robert and James, and each had a family; +yet none would desert the leader in whom +they had every confidence—none would desert +the Cause, although it was come so low. +Yet for the honor of those who dropped out, +it must be said that they were ready at the +first signal to rejoin the brigade. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon had a wife and five +children, the youngest eight years old. To +him I said, when, man after man, raising +his hat in adieu, departed with an expression +on his face which told of the sadness +in his heart: +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_164' name='Page_164'>[164]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"It is for you to go also, Gavin. Such as +Percy and I can well be spared, even though +we leave behind a mother whom we love; +but she has kinsfolk who will comfort +her." +</p> + +<p> +"My family are alone in the district, +Robert Sumter, and yet they will be comforted, +knowing that I am doing my duty +as a man." +</p> + +<p> +"Yet every one should care for his own, +and you can well be spared when this +movement is no more than a retreat." +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, so I may be," the old man replied +emphatically, and in such a tone as caused +me to grip him heartily by the hand. "So +I may be, and yet it would shame me to go, +because now has come the hour of our adversity—the +time when all hope seems to +have fled; but my desire to free the colonies +from the yoke of the king is as strong as +when I first set out, nigh on to four years +ago. I shall remain in the saddle, Robert +Sumter, until we have won that toward +which we set our faces, or a British bullet +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_165' name='Page_165'>[165]</a></span> +has brought me low, and in the doing find +happiness for myself as well as give comfort +to those who look upon me for an +example." +</p> + +<p> +It was a brave man who spoke those +words, and I said then in my heart that +never again would I allow another to utter +aught against Gavin Witherspoon—never +again would I allow Percy or myself to +laugh at his oddities or his whimsical +fancies. +</p> + +<p> +Freshly mounted were we who left +Lynch's Creek at sunset on the day when +we were arrived at the old camp, after those +who went insisted on bringing to us their +best horses and the major part of all their +store of ammunition, because, in so doing, +it seemed as if they were contributing in +some slight degree to sustaining the Cause +which they had long since despaired of +seeing successful. +</p> + +<p> +Dark days indeed were these which had +come upon us; but they were needed, as +was afterwards proven, to strengthen our +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_166' name='Page_166'>[166]</a></span> +hearts for the future trial, which led us on +to victory when defeat was seemingly already +upon us. +</p> + +<p> +From the hour of leaving Lynch's Creek +until we were arrived in North Carolina, +at Amy's Mill on Downing Creek, we never +drew rein, save to halt that the tired steeds +might find rest, and at this last encampment, +we remained four and twenty +hours. +</p> + +<p> +From there a detachment of ten was +sent back as scouts to gain intelligence of +what might be going on in the lower Carolinas, +and to cheer those of our number +who had been left behind, in order that the +fire of patriotism might be kept burning. +</p> + +<p> +Then once more we took up the line of +retreat, holding it until we were come to +the east side of White Marsh, near the +head of the Waccamaw River, where my +uncle, the major, told us three comrades +that a permanent camp would be established. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_167' name='Page_167'>[167]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VIII.<br /> +<span class="s08">BLACK MINGO SWAMP.</span></h2> + +<p> +A protracted halt to men whose hearts +are heavy is not a desirable boon, and so +we from Williamsburg soon discovered. +</p> + +<p> +The first idea in our minds, when we +were come into camp and began to build +shelters for ourselves, each after his own +liking, was that we could enjoy this respite +from a roving life, where it was necessary +to be constantly on the alert against +danger. +</p> + +<p> +Once we had really settled down, however, +and there was nothing of especial +moment with which to occupy our attention, +the hours moved so slowly as to seem +like unto days. +</p> + +<p> +At first we three comrades spent a goodly +portion of the time speculating among ourselves +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_168' name='Page_168'>[168]</a></span> +as to how long we might be able to +hold the field against the numberless men +which the king was sending in pursuit; +but after a time we were wearied with such +occupation, and began to long for active +duty. +</p> + +<p> +This isolation and sense of perfect security +grew irksome, and there was not a man +among the small detachment who would +not gladly have faced a foe of five times +our number, in order to shake off the lethargy +which began to creep over him after +eight and forty hours had passed. +</p> + +<p> +On the fourth day after our having settled +down in this encampment, Major James +and Captain Mouzon were sent back into +the lower Carolinas to make certain those +who were enlisted in the Williamsburg +brigade held steadfast to their pledges, and +the absence of our uncle was to Percy and +I like a great calamity. We looked upon +him not only as the head of the family; +but as a true friend and companion-in-arms +upon whom we could rely under every circumstance, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_169' name='Page_169'>[169]</a></span> +and although not thrown much +in his company because of the position we +occupied in the force, the knowledge of his +being near at hand, did we need his advice, +was in itself a pleasurable satisfaction +which we failed fully to realize until he +was absent. +</p> + +<p> +When a week passed and we were "rusting +out," as Gavin Witherspoon said, it +seemed absolutely necessary we have some +employment, and the old man said to me +one morning while Percy was making +ready the breakfast: +</p> + +<p> +"Three men have already been sent out +as scouts since we came into this camp, +and such duty is necessary because it +stands to reason that the Tories will make +every effort to discover the general's hiding-place." +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, all you have said is true, Gavin +Witherspoon," I replied; "but of what +avail is it to us since the general calls upon +others to act as scouts, forgetting that we +readily performed such duty when it was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_170' name='Page_170'>[170]</a></span> +an hundred times more dangerous than +at present?" +</p> + +<p> +"This is how it may avail," the old man +said in the tone of one who defies contradiction. +"You shall go this morning to +General Marion and offer the services of +us three, promising that we will act as +scouts so long as the detachment remains +here." +</p> + +<p> +"But if he refuses to detail us for such +work?" +</p> + +<p> +"Then pluck up sufficient courage to remind +him that we went gladly, when, +perchance, every man in the command +would have hesitated. By so doing you +may make him understand he owes something +to us three." +</p> + +<p> +At first thought I was not willing to +browbeat our commander, for it appeared +to me that what Gavin Witherspoon had +proposed was little less than an attempt +to bully the general into acceding to our +desires; but the longer I considered the +matter the more reasonable did it seem +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_171' name='Page_171'>[171]</a></span> +that we should be sent out, rather than +forced to remain in camp where our presence +was of no possible benefit. +</p> + +<p> +By going we should take away nothing +of value from the encampment, and it +might be possible fortune would so favor +us that we could render some signal assistance, +even though it did not seem probable +there was any force of the enemy in that +vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it was that I did as Gavin +Witherspoon requested, and to our great +surprise the general not only willingly +gave his consent, but said it pleasured him +much that we should so desire to serve the +Cause. +</p> + +<p> +"While we remain here waiting such +turn in the tide of affairs as will give us +an opportunity to serve the colonists, it is +well to know thoroughly all the country +and its inhabitants," he said in conclusion. +"Therefore, so that you return to camp +and report once in every four and twenty +hours, you not only have my permission; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_172' name='Page_172'>[172]</a></span> +but will lay me under obligation by +acting the part of scouts, spies or whatsoever +you choose to call the officer." +</p> + +<p> +It can well be understood that we did +not linger long after this interview. +</p> + +<p> +In less than an hour we three, provided +with such store of provisions as would be +our portion until the following day, and +carrying an ample amount of ammunition, +set out with no idea whatsoever as to where +chance might lead us, save that it seemed +wisest to travel toward the south, for in +that direction lay home and friends. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon at once took command +of the party by proceeding in advance, +and we, having good cause to trust +him implicitly, were more than willing to +follow as he should propose. +</p> + +<p> +There was no thought in our minds that +a single enemy might be near at hand. +</p> + +<p> +The only possibility counted upon was +that we should run across one or more +Tories seeking to find the encampment, and +thus, perchance, prevent discovery. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_173' name='Page_173'>[173]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Thus it was we proceeded with a certain +amount of caution, although not deeming +it necessary. +</p> + +<p> +Until late in the afternoon we traveled +along the banks of the Waccamaw River, +our faces turned toward Williamsburg, and +then Percy said, as he threw himself at full +length by the side of the stream: +</p> + +<p> +"We are come on a mission which cannot +bear fruit, and it makes little difference +whether we halt here, or five miles further +on. Having remained so long in camp +without exercise, my legs tire quickly, and +I propose to rest for the night." +</p> + +<p> +We were ready to gratify him in this +respect, the more so because all of us were +in much the same condition, and therefore +it was that our scout came to an end, for +the time being, hardly more than fifteen +miles from the starting-point. +</p> + +<p> +Surely we had no reason to grumble +against fortune on this our first visit in the +Upper Carolinas. +</p> + +<p> +Such food as we had was ready cooked, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_174' name='Page_174'>[174]</a></span> +and in order to make camp it was only +necessary to lie down among the bushes, +where for a time all slept as we had not +done during the time of idleness. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was within an hour of setting +when I awakened and found my companions +lying in restful attitudes, but with +open eyes. +</p> + +<p> +They also had satisfied the desire for +slumber. +</p> + +<p> +How it chanced that we three remained +there without speaking one to another, I +know not; but so we did, strangely enough, +and because of our unwitting silence were +we enabled to accomplish that which had +seemed improbable. +</p> + +<p> +Human voices in the distance, but sounding +nearer and nearer, attracted our attention, +causing all three to rise and +seek better concealment, when we saw +through the foliage a party of seven +armed men coming up the bank of the +stream from the south, and proceeding with +a certain degree of caution which told that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_175' name='Page_175'>[175]</a></span> +they were in search of something or some +one. +</p> + +<p> +Although not absolutely certain, we felt +reasonably sure these travelers were enemies, +and well we might, considering the +fact that nowhere between here and the +Carolinas was it known that any friends of +the Cause had habitation. +</p> + +<p> +When the party passed where we were +in hiding, they had ceased conversation; +therefore we had no means of determining +who they were, save that all wore portions +of a Britisher's accouterments, while our +friends still held to the powder-horn and +shot-pouch. +</p> + +<p> +Not until they were lost to view in the +distance did either of us speak, and then +it was Percy who said, much as if he had +made an important discovery: +</p> + +<p> +"They are Tories, and searching for +General Marion's encampment." +</p> + +<p> +"I allow all that to be true, lad, and now +what may be our duty?" Gavin Witherspoon +asked. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_176' name='Page_176'>[176]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"To learn where they halt for the night, +and then carry the information back to +camp," my brother said heedlessly, for indeed +that seemed to be the only course left +for us. +</p> + +<p> +"There is in my mind a better plan, +lad, and, if it so be you two are willing +to take the chances, I venture to +predict we will carry yonder gentlemen +before General Marion, instead of +hastening ahead to tell him they are +coming." +</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean that we three are to attack +seven?" Percy asked, and the old +man said with a smile: +</p> + +<p> +"I have seen both you lads ride gallantly +forward when it was a case of twenty +against one, and yet you hesitate with the +odds not much more than double against +us?" +</p> + +<p> +"Percy does not hesitate," I replied, +jealous lest there should be a question as +to the courage of one of our family. "So +that it is in your mind, Gavin Witherspoon, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_177' name='Page_177'>[177]</a></span> +we will agree to anything that has the +faintest hope of success." +</p> + +<p> +"This is my plan: Yonder strangers +are doubtless enemies; but if they prove to +be friends, then have we done them no +harm by carrying out that which is in my +mind. We will follow so far in the rear +that there is no danger of being discovered +until they camp for the night, and then it +will go hard indeed if we fail to find an +opportunity for making them prisoners." +</p> + +<p> +I did not agree with Gavin Witherspoon +in his belief that we might readily make +prisoners of seven men; yet was I well +pleased to venture the attempt, believing +something of good might come, even +though we failed in the purpose. It was +seldom we who held true to the colonies +had an opportunity of striking even so +slight a blow as this when the odds were +no more than two against one, and it would +have been folly for us to have refused such +a chance. +</p> + +<p> +Percy, once the plan was made plain, did +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_178' name='Page_178'>[178]</a></span> +not consider it necessary to say whether +he agreed to it or not. +</p> + +<p> +To his mind, all who were acquainted +with him should know he would favor any +plan, and there was little need for Gavin +Witherspoon to go further into details than +he had already done. +</p> + +<p> +"It is such work as this for which we +left the camp," Percy said quietly, "and +if the strangers are friends, we can atone +for any rough handling by showing them +the way to General Marion's camp." +</p> + +<p> +This, so nearly as I can repeat it after +these many years, was all that passed between +us regarding the venture, and we set +off on the trail without further delay. +</p> + +<p> +There is less difficulty in successfully +stalking a man than a deer, and this last +had both Percy and I performed time and +time again until it seemed to us like a +simple task. Therefore it was that Gavin +Witherspoon had no green hands to aid +him in the work he had cut out. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping so far in the rear as to hear the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_179' name='Page_179'>[179]</a></span> +noise as they forced their way through the +underbrush, and yet not so near that we +might by any possibility be seen, the three +of us followed this little company who +might be friends, but were probably enemies, +until the going down of the sun, when +we knew from such sounds as came to us +that they had halted. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was only a matter of waiting, +which, under almost any circumstances, +is the most difficult task to perform patiently; +yet every lad who has hunted wild +turkeys is well schooled in such work, and +it can safely be said that we did not risk a +failure by being over-eager. +</p> + +<p> +The men, although having advanced +with but little caution, realized the fact that +there might be enemies in the vicinity, for +they forbore building a camp-fire, and this +fact rendered our work rather more difficult +than it otherwise would have been. +</p> + +<p> +After it was certain they had settled +down for the night we stole nearer and +nearer, until it was possible to hear the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_180' name='Page_180'>[180]</a></span> +conversation carried on in an ordinary tone, +and then we remained motionless until the +time for action should arrive. +</p> + +<p> +When we were come thus far I believed +we should hear such words as would declare +whether these seven men were friends or +enemies, and in this I was not disappointed, +although we failed to learn anything of +importance. +</p> + +<p> +While eating supper one of them, in the +course of the ordinary conversation concerning +the tramp of the day, remarked: +</p> + +<p> +"There is no probability we shall find +any of the rebels during the next two or +three days' march, for as yet we are among +those who remain loyal to the king." +</p> + +<p> +The words as written above were all we +had to give us a clue to the character of +these strangers; but they were sufficient. +</p> + +<p> +We knew now, as well as if these men +had explained at length, that they were +in search of General Marion's encampment, +and from that instant, answering for Percy +as well as Gavin Witherspoon, I know that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_181' name='Page_181'>[181]</a></span> +the three of us counted on making a capture +at whatsoever hazard. +</p> + +<p> +Not until fully an hour after the men +had stretched themselves upon the ground +and the last word was spoken between +them, did we make a move toward nearing +the encampment. +</p> + +<p> +Then it was that I would have gone forward, +risking the danger with the belief +that my life had better be made the price, +rather than either of the others, when the +old man laid his hand on mine as he +whispered softly in my ear: +</p> + +<p> +"It is for me to go, first, because I have +had more experience in such work, and +again, on the plea that I can best be spared +to the Cause if either of us must pay a +penalty for leading in the attack." +</p> + +<p> +Although there may be the twang of a +braggart in the words, still must it be set +down that I tried to restrain Gavin Witherspoon, +but without success. +</p> + +<p> +When I would have pushed him away +he held me back, and it seemed impossible +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_182' name='Page_182'>[182]</a></span> +to advance without such a squabble as +would have given the alarm. +</p> + +<p> +I was absolutely forced to let him take +the lead; but Percy and I kept close upon +his heels. +</p> + +<p> +When, after creeping so cautiously that +not a twig snapped beneath our weight, we +had come to the small cleared place on +the bank of the stream which the men +had selected as an encampment, we saw +that they were sleeping near the foot of a +pine tree that had been overturned by the +wind. +</p> + +<p> +The overhanging mass of roots formed +a certain sort of shelter which served to +protect them from the dew. +</p> + +<p> +Their rifles were stacked against one of +the branches at a distance of fully three +yards from where they lay, and, as a matter +of course, it was necessary to first secure +possession of these. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i196" id="i196"></a> +<img src="images/i-196.jpg" width="347" height="564" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">As Gavin gathered up the weapons, Percy and I called upon the sleepers to +surrender.—<a href="#Page_183">Page 183</a>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Gavin did his work, as we knew beyond +a question he could do, and when he raised +himself beside the weapons, we two, Percy +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_183' name='Page_183'>[183]</a></span> +and I, sprang to our feet, calling upon the +sleepers to surrender. +</p> + +<p> +They had no other choice than to obey, +and sheepish indeed were these seven after +we had drawn them up in line, when they +understood how small was the force which +had taken them prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +Yet were they reasonably good men, so +far as Tories go, inasmuch as no one spoke +a word, all refusing to answer the questions +which we asked. +</p> + +<p> +So far as we ourselves were concerned +this made little difference, and without delay, +although they as well as ourselves were +fatigued, most likely, by the long tramp, +we began the return to General Marion's +camp. +</p> + +<p> +As it proved later, our capture was of +great importance, even though the prisoners +stoutly refused to give information +when the general questioned them, for their +presence showed that Tarleton was hot +after us, knowing somewhat of our whereabouts, +and the time was come when we +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_184' name='Page_184'>[184]</a></span> +must retreat yet further, or return to the +task of showing the invaders that the +spirit of liberty in these southern colonies +was not yet crushed out. +</p> + +<p> +Now let me set down here what we had +learned since the day when we set free +the one hundred and fifty Continentals +who refused, save in the case of the three +true men, to join our force. +</p> + +<p> +Major Wemyss had marched for seventy +miles from Nelson's Ferry, straight across +the district of Williamsburg, desolating +a path fifteen miles in breadth after such +merciless fashion that one would have +said he had been taught in the schools of +the savage. +</p> + +<p> +All the dwellings on his way, save those +habited by well-known Tories, were given +to the flames; the people were plundered +of their possessions; such property as the +troops could not use was destroyed, while +the animals were wantonly shot and allowed +to rot where they fell. +</p> + +<p> +Those who were thus plundered saw all +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_185' name='Page_185'>[185]</a></span> +their belongings swept away by fire, and +they, even to the women and children, were +held forcibly back to prevent them from +saving the smallest article of value. +</p> + +<p> +Men were hanged without semblance of +trial, and when their loved ones pleaded +for mercy, the British soldiery rode them +down. +</p> + +<p> +All the time it seemed almost as if the +good God had forsaken the colonies, and yet +we came to know that all these acts of +barbarous cruelty were necessary to arouse +our people from the fear and the despondency +into which they had fallen. +</p> + +<p> +It did arouse them. +</p> + +<p> +It forced men into the ranks of the +patriots who otherwise would have waited +quietly by until the colonies or the king +should have proven a right to the +country. +</p> + +<p> +Within two days from the time the seven +scouts were taken prisoners and we had +arrived at our encampment, the hour was +come when we should return, and among +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_186' name='Page_186'>[186]</a></span> +those on the banks of the Waccamaw who +held steadfast to General Marion, there +was no one who did not rejoice because the +moment for action was at hand. +</p> + +<p> +Taking the prisoners with us, we set out +on a forced march, which was continued +night and day until we had seen the sun +rise and set three times while we yet remained +in the saddle, save when it was +absolutely necessary to give rest to our +steeds. +</p> + +<p> +Then we were come to Lynch's Creek +once more—to the old camp—where we +found all those who had waited behind +until the signal should be given, with the +addition of more than two hundred new +recruits—men who had been driven by the +cruelty of the king's hirelings into the +ranks of those who would save their +country. +</p> + +<p> +More than this, those whom we met +gave information that Major Wemyss had +retired to Georgetown, wearied with chasing +the Swamp Fox, and a body of six +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_187' name='Page_187'>[187]</a></span> +hundred well-armed Tories were encamped +near Black Mingo Swamp, fifteen miles below +where we were halted, under command +of Captain John Ball. +</p> + +<p> +Here was our work cut out for us, and +like the true patriot and ardent soldier +that he was, General Marion gave us no +cause to complain of hesitation on his part. +</p> + +<p> +It was less than four hours from the +time our command was halted, and while +yet we were exchanging greetings with +those who had parted from us so many +days before, that our commander, calling +the men in a body around him, thus +spoke: +</p> + +<p> +"Hardly more than two hours' ride from +here are encamped a force of these renegades +whom we call Tories. They outnumber +us slightly; but even though +there were twice as many, yet I believe +you who have served so gallantly under +me since I came into the Williamsburg +district, could whip them in the open field. +We are told that recruits are flocking from +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_188' name='Page_188'>[188]</a></span> +every quarter of this portion of the colony +to join us, and by waiting we may double +our strength; yet at the same time it is +possible that the enemy will take the alarm +and flee. I propose that we march at once, +and within twenty-four hours from the +time of returning to the scene of our +labors strike such a blow as shall give +Tarleton and Wemyss to understand that +the spirit of liberty has been revived, +rather than broken, by their butcheries +and their barbarities." +</p> + +<p> +A ringing cheer, in which every man +participated, was the answer to this speech, +and more than that no commander could +need. +</p> + +<p> +Five minutes later, it could not have been +more, we were in the saddle, led by two +sons of Captain Waties, who had already +made themselves familiar with the approaches +to the enemy's camp, and Major +James, my uncle, said as he reined his horse +in that he might fall back between Percy +and I for a moment: +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_189' name='Page_189'>[189]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Lads, we have once more taken up the +work, and with such a commander I venture +to predict that it will not cease, until +the last adherent to the Cause has yielded up +his life, or we have brought the Carolinas +out from under the sway of the butchers." +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon, who had been riding +slightly in the rear, spurred his horse forward +until he could speak with my uncle: +</p> + +<p> +"Whereabout in the Black Mingo are +these scurvy scoundrels encamped?" +</p> + +<p> +"At Shepherd's Ferry on the south side +of the stream." +</p> + +<p> +"Then we must cross that bridge on +planks, if I mistake not, in order to come +at them?" +</p> + +<p> +"You are right, Gavin." +</p> + +<p> +"And so many horsemen as we number +may not be able to do that without giving +an alarm." +</p> + +<p> +"It is a chance which we must take. +Whether they have warning of our approach, +or not, from the moment we reach +the causeway our advance must be rapid." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_190' name='Page_190'>[190]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Then my uncle rode ahead to join General +Marion, and we, tired and sleepy from +being long in the saddle without proper +hours of rest, relapsed into silence until we +were arrived at this same bridge of which +Gavin had spoken. +</p> + +<p> +It was midnight, and I had said to Percy +that all the odds were in our favor, so far +as taking the enemy by surprise was concerned, +when the foremost of the troops +clattered across the planks. +</p> + +<p> +Within sixty seconds an alarm gun was +heard from the Tory encampment. +</p> + +<p> +Now was come the time, and the first, +when we two lads were to take part in a conflict +where the enemy was expecting us. +</p> + +<p> +It would be a real battle, and Percy cried, +clasping my hand as we spurred our horses +on at a gallop lest we be left in the rear: +</p> + +<p> +"We may perchance come to our death, +Bob, before the sun shall rise again; but +it shall never be said that we failed to follow +the head of the family wherever he +might lead!" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_191' name='Page_191'>[191]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER IX.<br /> +<span class="s08">THE BATTLE.</span></h2> + +<p> +Of the battle, short, sharp and bloody, +which followed after we had given the +alarm by riding across the plank causeway +into Black Mingo Swamp, I can set down +but little of my own knowledge, because +Gavin Witherspoon, Percy and myself were +with what was called, for the time being, +the "cavalry," and we saw only that portion +of the engagement which fell to our +share. +</p> + +<p> +However, I have heard my uncle tell the +story again and again in these words, and +there can be no doubt as to its correctness, +however the historian of the future may +write concerning the action: +</p> + +<p> +"After the alarm gun sounded, promptness +and swift riding became as necessary +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_192' name='Page_192'>[192]</a></span> +as had caution, and the general ordered +his men to follow him at a gallop until the +force reached the main road, about three +hundred yards from where it was known +the enemy lay. +</p> + +<p> +"Here, with the exception of a small +number who were to act as cavalry, the +entire command dismounted. A body of +picked men under Captain Waties was ordered +down the road to attack Dollard's +house where the Tories had been posted. +Two companies under Hugh Horry were +sent to the right, and the cavalry to the +left, to support the attack, Marion himself +bringing up the rear. +</p> + +<p> +"It so happened, however, that the Tories +had left the house immediately after being +alarmed, and were strongly drawn up in a +field near at hand. +</p> + +<p> +"Here it was they encountered Horry's +command on the advance, with a fire equally +severe and unexpected. The effect was +that of a surprise upon the colonists. +Horry's troops fell back in confusion, but +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_193' name='Page_193'>[193]</a></span> +were promptly rallied and brought on the +charge. +</p> + +<p> +"Immediately the battle became obstinate +and bloody; but the appearance of the +men under Waties, who came up suddenly +in the rear of the Tories, soon brought it to +a close. Finding themselves between two +fires, the enemy gave way in all directions +to flee for refuge to the neighboring swamp +of Black Mingo." +</p> + +<p> +This is the story of the battle as I have +heard my uncle tell it many times. +</p> + +<p> +As for the part which we three comrades +played, I can say but little in detail. +</p> + +<p> +When the advance was ordered we rode +forward eagerly, for inaction had whetted +our desire, and once more we gave the renegade +sons of the colony a much needed +lesson. +</p> + +<p> +To me the engagement was not as desperate +as either of the others in which Percy +and I had taken part, for at no time did +we of the cavalry come to a hand-to-hand +encounter with those who chose to serve a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_194' name='Page_194'>[194]</a></span> +king whose only delight was in oppression; +but that it was a real and a bloody battle +was known full well after we had gained +possession of the field, for then our officers +learned from such prisoners as had been +taken, that the enemy outnumbered us two +to one, and of all those engaged, true colonists +as well as false, a full third were +killed or disabled. +</p> + +<p> +Our loss was great, when one takes into +consideration the fact that we made the +attack, and that it was in a certain sense +surprising. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Logan was killed; Captain +Mouzon and Lieutenant Scott so severely +wounded that even though their lives +were saved it would be impossible for them +to do active service again, and more than +an hundred people were dead or disabled. +</p> + +<p> +Among the Tories the execution had +been great; Captain Ball was dead, and a +full two hundred lay on the ground lifeless, +or wounded to such an extent that retreat +was impossible. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_195' name='Page_195'>[195]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In addition to that, we had among us +one hundred and two as prisoners, and +they who had a few hours previous believed +the Cause of freedom in the Carolinas +was dead, now pleaded eagerly to be +allowed to enlist. +</p> + +<p> +They had no love for country; but were +ready as ever to join such force as appeared +to be gaining ascendancy, and this +one victory had put the Cause on a different +footing from what it had been since +the day we made the attack upon the +Prince of Wales' regiment at Nelson's +Ferry. +</p> + +<p> +In discussing this engagement afterward, +Gavin, Percy and I have decided, to our +own satisfaction at least, that not one +among our leaders had any idea of the +good which might result from what was +little less than a chance encounter when +the king's officers believed we had been +whipped into submission. +</p> + +<p> +We ourselves almost became weary of +it as the days passed and this man or that, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_196' name='Page_196'>[196]</a></span> +who had previously declared his allegiance +to the king, came into camp, begging the +privilege to enlist under the banner of +General Marion. +</p> + +<p> +But I am getting ahead of my story, +and it is little wonder, for on the night before +the battle at the Black Mingo we had +considered ourselves outlaws, whose only +hope lay in striking one or more severe +blows before death should befall us. Then +to find that the Cause had suddenly received +a new lease of life was so unexpected +and happily surprising, that even +at this late day I cannot forbear a sense +of triumph such as I did not know even +on the day peace was declared, when these +colonies had become a free nation—a nation +such as I doubt not will one day be a +power in the world. +</p> + +<p> +We laid in this captured camp sufficiently +long to give all our friends opportunity +of joining us, and the faint-hearted +inhabitants nearabout time to declare +their pretended love for the Cause, before +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_197' name='Page_197'>[197]</a></span> +attempting to continue the lesson to the +red-coats which had been so long delayed. +</p> + +<p> +It was during this time of inaction that +we were joined by a young man hardly +older than myself, who was destined to +make the fourth in our comradeship. +</p> + +<p> +This was none other than Gabriel Marion, +the general's nephew, a lad loved by our +commander as if he had been a son, and +on whom one might pin his faith, knowing +full well it would never be betrayed. +</p> + +<p> +This Gabriel did not resemble his uncle +in feature, else might we never have come +to take him to our hearts as we did. The +general wore a somber countenance, while +the lad was ever smiling, however great +the danger which threatened. +</p> + +<p> +The general rarely spoke in a jovial +tone, while Gabriel never lost an opportunity +of uttering a jest. +</p> + +<p> +Within half an hour after he rode into +the captured camp at Shepherd's Ferry +the general sent for Percy and myself, +and, when we presented ourselves, introduced +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_198' name='Page_198'>[198]</a></span> +his nephew much in the following +fashion: +</p> + +<p> +"This lad is as dear to me as a son, and +his honor, his courage and patriotism as +near to my heart as my own, therefore do +I present him to you two lads whom I +know to be true and faithful to whatsoever +you set your word. Make of him a comrade, +and you will please me; hold him to +his duties as you hold each other, and you +will benefit him." +</p> + +<p> +No words could have been more flattering +or more pleasing to us, and it can well +be imagined that we were especially careful +from this day out to merit the continuance +of the same favorable opinion. +</p> + +<p> +Gabriel was a lad whom all would love +immediately after knowing him, and once +having formed his acquaintance, he was +found to be the same one day as another,—a +true, lovable comrade. +</p> + +<p> +To him, as a matter of course, we told +all that had come to us, since we were regularly +enrolled as members of his uncle's +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_199' name='Page_199'>[199]</a></span> +force, and in so doing spoke necessarily of +Sam Lee. +</p> + +<p> +Although we held ourselves ever ready to +meet any enemies of the Cause, it was that +young Tory whom we especially hoped to +come across. +</p> + +<p> +If I have not heretofore set it down +strongly, let it be understood we had never +come to a new neighborhood without a +strong hope that he might be met, and +the three of us were resolved to capture +him at the first opportunity whatever the +hazard, for in all the Carolinas could be +found no more bitter enemy than this +same lad who had taken sides with the +hirelings of the king simply because of his +own vicious nature. +</p> + +<p> +"Without good reason therefore, Sam Lee +is, I believe, bent on doing all possible +harm to us of Williamsburg, and when we +have made him prisoner, holding the +scoundrel so close that he cannot escape +until the Cause be won or hopelessly lost, +we shall have accomplished a good work," +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_200' name='Page_200'>[200]</a></span> +Percy said when I had finished the story +regarding that young Tory. +</p> + +<p> +"How may he, a lad without influence, +do so much mischief?" Gabriel +asked, and Gavin Witherspoon replied +promptly: +</p> + +<p> +"It is because of being a mere boy that +gives him the advantage. Unless our +friends know him for what he is, it would +naturally be thought that he was incapable +of harm. I had rather have him in +my clutches than any man short of a +major in the British service." +</p> + +<p> +"What prevents our setting out some +day and bringing him into camp?" +Gabriel asked with a merry laugh; but +there was no need I should answer the +question, for he knew full well had it been +possible we would have had the Tory within +our grasp long before this. +</p> + +<p> +Just how many days we remained in +camp at Shepherd's Ferry I am unable to +set down, because there was much to occupy +our time, although such occupation +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_201' name='Page_201'>[201]</a></span> +was not directly connected with the +Cause. +</p> + +<p> +We four comrades were constantly being +sent out as scouts, or to urge that the +planters near at hand bring in food, so +that one day went by after another with +exceeding swiftness and so much of pleasurable +intercourse that it was more like a +merry-making than a struggle against a +mighty king. +</p> + +<p> +However, the day came when word was +whispered round about the camp that we +were to set out at once for Lynch's Creek, +to make an attack upon Colonel Harrison +and his Tory Legion. +</p> + +<p> +While we were preparing for the journey, +good friends came in with tidings that +the renegades were gathering in large +force in and about Salem and the fork of +Black River. +</p> + +<p> +Here it was, so we were told, that +Colonel Tynes of the British service had +appeared, summoning the people as good +subjects of his majesty to take the field +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_202' name='Page_202'>[202]</a></span> +against their countrymen, and he brought +with him ample supplies of war materials, +provisions, and even of luxuries such as +our people had not seen for many a month. +</p> + +<p> +Eager though we were to be at Harrison's +Tories, the tidings of new muskets with +bayonets, broad swords, pistols, saddles, +bridles, and of powder and ball which the +Britisher had brought with him caused +our mouths to water. +</p> + +<p> +Had General Marion neglected to take +advantage of such opportunity as seemed +suddenly to have presented itself, I believe +the men of his brigade, obedient and +faithful as they had been, would have +burst into loud murmurings, for we were +sadly in need of equipments. +</p> + +<p> +Before the day on which this information +was brought had come to an end, +others who were friendly to the Cause +arrived with the definite information that +Colonel Tynes was encamped at Tarcote, on +the forks of Black River, and apparently +so secure in mind regarding his position +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_203' name='Page_203'>[203]</a></span> +that such watchfulness as common prudence +would have dictated was neglected. +</p> + +<p> +It was just such an advantage as General +Marion delighted in; exactly the kind of +work for which we of the brigade were best +adapted, and every man was in a fever to +be at the task which was at one and the +same time for the benefit of the Cause and +the better equipment of ourselves. +</p> + +<p> +While the officers deliberated, the rank +and file announced what articles they most +needed, as if it were only necessary to make +the statement in order to have their desires +fulfilled, and, in short, there was not one +among us but that believed we could have +for the choosing anything in Colonel Tynes' +stores. +</p> + +<p> +Tarleton with his Legion was hot after +us, and so every one knew; but thus far we +had failed to meet him, and between his +force and ours was that gallant general of +Carolina, my father's kinsman, General +Sumter standing ever ready to interpose lest +Tarleton should fall upon General Marion +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_204' name='Page_204'>[204]</a></span> +when he was least prepared, and who +delighted in leading that British butcher +on a wild-goose chase. +</p> + +<p> +Truly we two, Percy and I, had reason to +be proud of the men to whom we were +bound by ties of blood, for the names of +Sumter and James stood high, and with +good cause, among the defenders of the +Carolinas in those dark days when armed +resistance seemed little short of suicide. +</p> + +<p> +I realize that this task which Percy has +insisted I shall perform is being done in a +halting fashion, because of my speaking +overly much, perhaps, of those who +remained true during the darkest days +known by the southern colonies; but yet +how may it be possible to tell any portion of +the story of the Carolinas without mentioning +again and again the names of those +patriots who ventured life and fortune +when such sacrifice seemed hopeless? +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i220" id="i220"></a> +<img src="images/i-220.jpg" width="342" height="550" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">In the darkness we four comrades were sent forward to reconnoitre.—<a href="#Page_205">Page 205</a>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +However, just now must be told what +we of the Williamsburg district did with +the overly confident Colonel Tynes, and yet +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_205' name='Page_205'>[205]</a></span> +the story must be brief, because the adventure +was no more than an ordinary occurrence, +where neither glory nor honor is to +be won, nor great deeds accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +At midnight, eight and forty hours after +the news had been brought, General Marion's +brigade descended upon Colonel +Tynes' camp, and simply overran it. +</p> + +<p> +It seems strange even now that we +should have seized upon all that store, +throwing so many well-armed men into a +panic by simply riding among them, yet +such is the fact. +</p> + +<p> +When, in the darkness of the night, the +brigade came upon the encampment, we +four comrades were sent forward to reconnoiter, +and true it is that we failed to find +a single sentinel on guard. In some of +the camps men were playing cards, in +others they slept, and yet more sat around +the camp-fires, drinking and smoking. +</p> + +<p> +The officers were making merry in a +building hard by, and there were none to +oppose our progress. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_206' name='Page_206'>[206]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +The reconnaissance was attended with +as little danger as if we four had gone out +sight-seeing among friends, and when we +returned to where General Marion and my +uncle the major, awaited our coming, it +was with a story so incredible that for an +instant they could hardly believe our +statements. +</p> + +<p> +Then the word "Forward" was given, +and we, as I have said, overran that camp +without hindrance. +</p> + +<p> +Neither Britisher nor Tory so much as +discharged a gun; the redcoat and renegade +Carolinian alike sought refuge in flight, +hoping to gain the fastness of Tarcote +Swamp, and to have cut them down in +their panic would have been like murdering +men in cold blood, for how can you +take the life of him who offers no resistance? +</p> + +<p> +Twenty minutes had not elapsed from +the time we made our report, until the encampment +with all its wealth of British +stores was our own, and here and there +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_207' name='Page_207'>[207]</a></span> +came some scurvy Tory crawling and +cringing before our officers as he begged +to be allowed the privilege of enlisting. +</p> + +<p> +It was not warfare; but simply a foraging +expedition among people who were the +same as unarmed. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Tynes, two of his captains, and +fifty-four British regulars were taken +prisoners. We hardly troubled ourselves +about the Tories, save that Gavin, Percy, +Gabriel and I rode here and there searching +eagerly for Sam Lee, but finding him not. +</p> + +<p> +When day broke our men overhauled +the equipments and the provisions which +were intended for those who should take +up arms against us, and before we gave +heed to breaking our fast the old and +patched saddles were replaced by new ones +of English make; our powder-horns and +shot-pouches were filled; we wore breeches +and boots that had been brought for the +benefit of our enemies, and, to a man, were +as well equipped as any force the butcher +Tarleton ever headed. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_208' name='Page_208'>[208]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +The prisoners were sent to Kingstree, +which town we now believed ourselves +capable of holding, and in the fourth encampment +that had been wrested from the +Britishers or their allies, we feasted and +made merry, Gabriel declaring that he +was "disappointed in having thus joined +a band of foragers when he expected to +see somewhat of warfare." +</p> + +<p> +And the poor lad did see warfare in +its most bitter phase before many days +passed. +</p> + +<p> +Now that I am come to the closing acts +in this life which we knew for so short a +time and loved so well, I must hasten over +them because of the bitterness which +comes to me with the memory that has +never faded. +</p> + +<p> +We three comrades—meaning Gavin, +Percy and myself—had seen the darkest +days of the struggle, and then suddenly +participated in the joy which came to us +when, seemingly without good reason, we +were once more triumphant. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_209' name='Page_209'>[209]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Gabriel had come at the moment when +we were flushed with the excitement of +unexpected success, and he saw but little +of it, poor lad! +</p> + +<p> +While we lay at Salem receiving every +day new recruits from those who had been +lukewarm to the Cause, and from the +cowards who believed safety lay only in +friendship with the "rebels," word was +brought that Lord Cornwallis had begged +Colonel Tarleton to "get at" General Marion. +</p> + +<p> +It was said that the butcher had arisen +from a bed of sickness brought about by +his own excesses, with a vow that he +would capture "the scurvy Swamp Fox," +and that his Legion, which was before +Camden, had orders to meet him on the +Wateree River, from which place he +would set out to make a prisoner of our +general. +</p> + +<p> +This information came to us at a time +when we were not only ready, but willing, +to meet the infamous Tarleton, although +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_210' name='Page_210'>[210]</a></span> +in his Legion were two men, where there +was one of ours, and, as my uncle said with +a grim smile, when speaking to Gavin +Witherspoon after orders had been given +us to prepare for the march, "we would +make Colonel Tarleton's mission as easy +of accomplishment as was possible, so far +as showing him the whereabouts of the +Swamp Fox was concerned." +</p> + +<p> +Our horses were in good condition; +every man among us eager to measure +strength with this human brute who had +devastated the Carolinas wherever he +marched, and we hardly drew rein until +arriving once more at Nelson's Ferry, on +the Santee River. +</p> + +<p> +This was the second time we had crossed +the entire district of Williamsburg with +a swiftness such as astounded the British +horsemen, and it is little wonder that our +general received from them the name in +which we of his brigade gloried. +</p> + +<p> +Exactly how strong the Britishers were +there was no means of knowing, although +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_211' name='Page_211'>[211]</a></span> +one might guess that Tarleton would not +come out with less than his full legion, +which numbered upwards of eleven hundred +men; but yet we pressed forward even +after having come upon their trail, and +knowing how much greater their force +was than ours—pressed forward close upon +their heels until the hour came when +it would have been folly to continue on, +because the horses were winded. +</p> + +<p> +Then we made camp in the woods, +Gabriel Marion complaining bitterly because +his uncle had called a halt, although +the steed the lad bestrode could not have +advanced five miles more at an ordinary +pace. +</p> + +<p> +Near the enemy, as we knew ourselves +to be, it was necessary to take every precaution +at this encampment, and we were +yet hard at work while our steeds were +feeding, throwing up such rude shelters as +would suffice for the use of the sharp-shooters, +when Colonel Richardson, who +served under General Sumter until +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_212' name='Page_212'>[212]</a></span> +wounded and had then retired to his plantation +for a time, came into camp. +</p> + +<p> +Percy and I were acting as sentinels +when he first arrived, and, fearing some +treachery, for he was a stranger to us, +would have prevented him from even +speaking with one of our officers, had he +not referred to his services under our +father's brother with such minuteness of +detail that we could not longer remain incredulous. +</p> + +<p> +I conducted him to where General Marion +and Major James sat upon the ground +amid a clump of bushes discussing plans for +the next day's work, and had hardly more +than saluted when a great light flashed +up on the western sky. +</p> + +<p> +"It is the flames of my dwelling," Colonel +Richardson exclaimed bitterly, even before +the general and the major had time to +welcome him. "Tarleton's Legion is within +five miles, bent now as ever upon their +work of devastation!" +</p> + +<p> +"And you have fled at such a time?" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_213' name='Page_213'>[213]</a></span> +my uncle, the major, said, in a tone very +nearly that of reproach. +</p> + +<p> +"I would willingly have given up my +life in defense of those whom I love; but +that you are in the greatest danger. Hidden +with my wife and children in one of +the outbuildings—no other able-bodied +man on the plantation to aid me in a +defense which would have been vain—I +saw a lad, whom I believe to be one of +the Tory Lees from nearabout Kingstree, +ride up and demand audience of Tarleton. +So near was the butcher to me at the +moment that I heard plainly the young +scoundrel's speech, and it was to the effect +that General Marion with his brigade lay +here at this place. There was no longer +any course left me save to give you warning, +for as soon as my plantation has been +ruined and the butcher satisfies himself I +am not at hand to be hanged, he will make +a descent upon you." +</p> + +<p> +"We have come to give him that opportunity," +my uncle, the major, said proudly, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_214' name='Page_214'>[214]</a></span> +whereat Colonel Richardson showed signs +of great alarm. +</p> + +<p> +"You can easily be surrounded here, +and, with a force such as Tarleton has, +must be cut to pieces, however bravely +your men may fight. To make a stand +would be useless sacrifice of life, and I conjure +you, General Marion, that you seek a +more advantageous place in which to meet +the enemy; but whatsoever may be your +decision, I here offer myself as a recruit +until you shall have given the British cutthroat +a proper lesson." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_215' name='Page_215'>[215]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER X.<br /> +<span class="s08">GEORGETOWN.</span></h2> + +<p> +The information which Colonel Richardson +brought regarding the renegade who +had acquainted Tarleton with General +Marion's whereabouts, fired us four comrades +to such a degree that right willingly +would we have pushed forward alone in +the hope of taking him prisoner, even +while surrounded by his British friends. +</p> + +<p> +As has already been set down, we gave +Sam Lee credit for doing whatsoever was +in his power against us, but, while it was +no surprise that he should have continued +making every effort to work harm to the +friends of freedom, there was mingled with +our righteous anger something of astonishment +at his success. +</p> + +<p> +He might have lived twice the ordinary +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_216' name='Page_216'>[216]</a></span> +lifetime of a man without being able to do +as much mischief as in this case, when +our people were making ready to fall suddenly +upon Tarleton's forces. +</p> + +<p> +Now, however, that was impossible. +Even Major James realized that, instead +of pushing on, we must beat a retreat +once more, and without loss of time. +</p> + +<p> +From this moment until that sad hour +when Gavin, Percy and myself, to say +nothing of the general, were so sorely +afflicted, there is nothing of particular +moment to write, except that I set down +the different movements made by our +brigade, and the situation of affairs in the +Carolinas. +</p> + +<p> +In less than twenty minutes from the +time Colonel Richardson came into the +encampment, were we urging our jaded +steeds through that gloomy swamp known +as the "wood-yard," and two hours later +the command was halted on Jack's Creek. +</p> + +<p> +We had covered only six miles in all that +time, owing to the condition of the horses; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_217' name='Page_217'>[217]</a></span> +but it was sufficient, so far as eluding the +Britishers was concerned, because they +might not find us unless, perchance, more +spies were lurking around, until after the +day should break. +</p> + +<p> +While Colonel Tarleton was a butcher—a +man who had no idea of mercy or compassion, +it is only just to give him the +credit of being a good soldier after his own +particular fashion. +</p> + +<p> +As a man to lead rough-riders, he was +perhaps the best in the king's service, and +we who were fleeing before him understood +that not a single moment would be lost in +the pursuit. Ride as fast and as constantly +as we might, his men would be ever on +our heels, so long as they could hold the +pace, and it was endurance and the speed +of the horses which should give the final +result. +</p> + +<p> +At daybreak our brigade was on the +march once more, making its way over +bogs and through swamps until it was arrived +at Benbow's Ferry, about ten miles +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_218' name='Page_218'>[218]</a></span> +above Kingstree, where was a strong natural +camp. +</p> + +<p> +It was a place with which we were all +familiar. It commanded a passage of the +river, and was within easy riding distance +of all the country roundabout from which +we must draw provisions and provender. +As a rallying point it could not have been +equalled in the Carolinas, and should we +be hard pressed there were three difficult +passes through the swamp in the rear +where, if necessary, we might make a stubborn +fight. +</p> + +<p> +Strong as was this position, General Marion +set about strengthening it yet further. +</p> + +<p> +Trees were felled, breastworks put up, +and in eight and forty hours we were prepared +to meet Tarleton's much-vaunted +legion, reasoning that our defenses made +up for lack of numbers until we were fully +the enemy's equal. +</p> + +<p> +Now we believed that a decisive battle +would soon be fought—one in which the +victory could not be doubtful, but where +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_219' name='Page_219'>[219]</a></span> +the conquerors might for a certain length +of time hold undisputed possession of the +Williamsburg district, and we counted on +being those conquerors. +</p> + +<p> +It was not destined, however, that the +struggle in the Carolinas should be brought +to so speedy a conclusion. +</p> + +<p> +Tarleton pursued our brigade, losing time +here and there to burn dwellings which +sheltered only women and children, until +he was come to within less than twelve +miles of our camp, when, to the surprise +of enemies as well as friends, he turned +suddenly about and marched with all +speed for Camden. +</p> + +<p> +It was afterward said by the Tories that +Lord Cornwallis had expressly ordered +him to return; but more than one of us +believed then, and yet hold to it, that the +redcoated Britisher who could be so courageous +when he had none but old men, +boys and women in front of him, was absolutely +afraid to measure strength with +General Marion. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_220' name='Page_220'>[220]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Now while we laid here in safety, +gathering numbers every day, much was +done by our friends in other parts of the +colony. +</p> + +<p> +General Sumter, our kinsman, gave +battle to Tarleton at the Blackstock farm +on the banks of the Tyger, defeating him +utterly, but at a terrific loss, so far as the +Cause was concerned. The Britishers had +ninety-two killed and one hundred and +four wounded. Among the Americans +only three were slain and four wounded; +but in the latter list was the general himself, +who bore as marks of the victory a +severely dangerous wound in the breast. +</p> + +<p> +His gallant followers, true to him as +was our brigade to General Marion, lashed +him in the raw hide of a bullock which +was slung as a litter between two horses, +and thus, guarded by an hundred picked +men, he was carried to the upper colony, +so we were told, where he lay hovering +'twixt life and death. +</p> + +<p> +It was also while we were encamped +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_221' name='Page_221'>[221]</a></span> +here that the battle of King's Mountain +was fought, when the British, under +Major Ferguson, were defeated handsomely, +the killed, wounded and captured +of the enemy amounting to eleven hundred +men, and among the dead was the +major himself. +</p> + +<p> +Two exceedingly fortunate encounters +for us—encounters such as guaranteed +to us final victory if we could but hold +out as we had begun, and this seemed +most probable, for, as ever will be the +case, a successful commander finds plenty +of recruits. +</p> + +<p> +We of Williamsburg were not inactive +during the days spent in camp; but made +forays here and there, capturing in some +places bands of Tories on their way to +Georgetown, or, having the good fortune +to come across detachments of the redcoats +who were guarding store-trains, until, +should I attempt to repeat all the little +adventures which befell us, I might continue +this writing until so many pages +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_222' name='Page_222'>[222]</a></span> +were filled that one would shrink from the +reading because of the magnitude of the +task. +</p> + +<p> +It is with the more adventurous, but +yet the sadder part of our service under +General Marion that I must close this record +which has been intended only to show +what we comrades did, up to the time +Snow's Island was fortified, when we +ceased active operations during the year. +</p> + +<p> +The British post at Georgetown was the +one place which our people most needed +as a base of operations against Charleston, +and, in fact, to hold our own in Williamsburg +district. +</p> + +<p> +Situated as it was, we were constantly +menaced, wherever our brigade might be, +by the enemy holding possession of the +place. In addition to that, it was a depot +for supplies of salt, clothing and ammunition +for the king's troops, and of such +goods, we who fought for the Cause were +grievously in need. +</p> + +<p> +To capture Georgetown would be an exploit +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_223' name='Page_223'>[223]</a></span> +such as might advantage our people +more than had the victory at King's Mountain, +therefore it was to this end that our +general proposed to bend all his energies, +and in the proposition he was seconded +ably by such followers as Major James and +Colonel Richardson, the last-named gentleman +having remained with us since the +day his home was destroyed. +</p> + +<p> +It was believed that the enemy lay at +Georgetown in great force, perhaps to the +number of four thousand men, and we +knew full well the nature of the fortifications +round about the post. +</p> + +<p> +A direct assault would have been fatal +to us. It was only by such methods as +had won for our general the name of +"Swamp Fox," that we could succeed, and, +as can well be fancied, none of our people +were averse to an attempt under those +circumstances, for we believed ourselves, so +far as backwoods strategy was concerned, +far superior to any of the king's forces. +</p> + +<p> +The first we of the rank and file knew, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_224' name='Page_224'>[224]</a></span> +regarding the method by which it was hoped +we might succeed, was when we broke +camp, carrying with us all our equipage +and so much of provisions as could be +gathered from the country round about, +and crossed Black River to a little settlement +known as Potato Ferry, advancing +toward Georgetown by that road called the +"Gap Way." +</p> + +<p> +Now this much by way of explanation +for the benefit of those who are not acquainted +with the vicinity of that post. +</p> + +<p> +Three miles from Georgetown is an +inland swamp known as White's Bay, +which, discharging itself by two mouths, +the one into Black River and the other +into Sampit, completely cuts off the post, +which stands on the north side of the last-named +river near its junction with Winyaw +Bay. Over the creek which empties into +Sampit there is a bridge, two miles from +the town. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was in the rear of this swamp +that we finally came to a halt, having, as +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_225' name='Page_225'>[225]</a></span> +was believed, arrived there without knowledge +of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon claimed that he understood +all which the general proposed to +do, but that statement I question seriously, +otherwise would we have heard from the +old man concerning several moves that +would have been more than injudicious if +General Marion had the same idea in mind +Gavin gave him credit for. +</p> + +<p> +Let it be understood that we were come +to this point, not more than three miles +from the post, five hundred and fifty +strong, each one mounted and carrying +so much of provisions and provender as +would suffice for eight and forty hours' consumption. +</p> + +<p> +Up to the moment of our halting we had +seen no persons save those whom we knew +beyond a peradventure to be devoted to +the Cause, and, therefore, could say to a +certainty that we were thus far advanced +toward the object of our desires in such +fashion as the Swamp Fox most desired. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_226' name='Page_226'>[226]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Unless some false move was made, some +prying, unfriendly eye discovered us, we +would be able to ride down upon Georgetown +as we had ridden into many a British +camp before, doing more through fear +than bullets, and gaining victory where +by rights none should have been enjoyed. +</p> + +<p> +Well, we were halted here, and all had +dismounted, each man feeding his horse +in anticipation of the work to come when +the speed of the animals would avail as +much, perhaps even more than the accuracy +of our aim. +</p> + +<p> +Then it was, after a consultation with +the general, my uncle advanced where all, +save that line of sentinels which hemmed +us in to keep prying eyes at a respectful +distance, might see him, and Gabriel +Marion said to me gleefully: +</p> + +<p> +"Now has come the time, lad, when we +will be able to ride into this adventure side +by side, and carve out for ourselves such +names as shall live in the grateful memory +of men after these colonies are free." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_227' name='Page_227'>[227]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +And the dear lad did carve out a name +for himself! +</p> + +<p> +"I call for volunteers who will present +themselves for dangerous service," my uncle +began, and every man pricked up his +ears, each eager to be among those who +might distinguish themselves. "Two +squads of twenty each, and so many as are +minded to sacrifice their lives, perchance, +for the benefit of the brigade, may step +forward two paces." +</p> + +<p> +Gavin, Percy, Gabriel and I advanced +without loss of time, and the blood fairly +leaped in my veins when I saw that of all +the brigade every man had made the same +movement. +</p> + +<p> +In General Marion's force each was +equally eager to lay down his life for the +others, and it was that spirit which finally +gained for us the independence of the +American colonies. +</p> + +<p> +"I had expected some such outburst of +patriotism; but failed by a considerable +degree to anticipate the reality," my uncle, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_228' name='Page_228'>[228]</a></span> +the major, said with a smile of satisfaction. +"You be brave lads all, as has been proven +many and many a time before, and therefore +each and every one is entitled to the +honor of making his life the sacrifice for +the others; but, unfortunately for your +desires, only forty men may be chosen. +Let those who are willing to relinquish the +desire to show their love for country in +order that others who, perhaps, can better +be spared may make any sacrifice, retreat +two paces." +</p> + +<p> +Not a man moved; every trooper of the +Williamsburg brigade stood firm in place, +as if determined that he, and he alone, +should be the one who would give up his +life for the other, and among them all were +we four comrades, tried and true—comrades +who were destined to ride on until +we saw one of our number fall, foully murdered, +without being able to raise a hand +in his defense. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was that General Marion advanced +to the side of my uncle, his eyes all +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_229' name='Page_229'>[229]</a></span> +aflame, and more enthusiasm showing in +that quiet face than I had ever believed +could find a place there. +</p> + +<p> +"Gentlemen of the Williamsburg brigade, +I thank you from the bottom of my +heart. Many a time before have you +proven yourselves heroes; but never so +truly, never so emphatically as at this moment—when +every man of you is eager to +offer up his life, and in that for which the +volunteers are called I do assure you there +are eight chances out of ten that no one +comes back alive. Now I entreat that so +many of you as are fathers of families shall +step back, allowing younger soldiers to +take your places." +</p> + +<p> +Yet every man remained in his place, +and it seemed much as though we might +come at loggerheads, one with the other, +as to who should die first, for all knew that +this attack upon the well-fortified, over-garrisoned +post of Georgetown was no +child's play, no feint at warfare; but a +desperate undertaking which to succeed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_230' name='Page_230'>[230]</a></span> +must be carried on with total disregard of +life. +</p> + +<p> +"Now has come the time when I myself +must make the selection," the major, my +uncle, said with a look on his face which +told how greatly this exhibition pleased +him. "I shall call out one man, and the +general may select another, each making +his choice until the forty have been chosen. +Let it be remembered that in this case I +exercise the right to use favoritism, for +there be among you lads of my own blood +whom I am minded shall go forth in preference +to those who have families dependent +upon them. Therefore, men, do not +blame me when I claim what I <i>may</i> claim, +even disregarding the privilege of others." +</p> + +<p> +Then it was, and proud am I to write it, +that he cried out: +</p> + +<p> +"Robert Sumter!" +</p> + +<p> +I stepped forward, my face flushed with +pardonable pride, and in his turn the general +cried: +</p> + +<p> +"Gabriel Marion!" +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_231' name='Page_231'>[231]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Percy Sumter!" my uncle next called, +and the general added: +</p> + +<p> +"Gavin Witherspoon!" +</p> + +<p> +Thus were we four comrades the first to +be selected for this post of honor which will +be remembered, as I fondly believe, long +after we are gone from this world, and in +all the Carolinas were no four individuals +more puffed up with pride and pleasure +than we. +</p> + +<p> +Around us everywhere were envious +eyes, as if life had suddenly lost all its +charm, and death were the one thing most +desired. +</p> + +<p> +Man after man was thus summoned to +take his place in the ranks of the devoted, +until we had the full number two paces in +advance of all the rest, and then it was my +uncle said, moving up and down the line +as if it pleasured him to look on those who +were selected for the most perilous venture: +</p> + +<p> +"Gentlemen, it may be that after another +hour has passed we shall not meet +again on this earth. Therefore I pray you, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_232' name='Page_232'>[232]</a></span> +those who have any request to make, speak +now, that we may remember in the days to +come that all you desired was granted." +</p> + +<p> +No man spoke for so long a time as would +have taken me to count twenty, and then +Gabriel Marion, dear lad that he was, raised +his cap courteously, as he bowed and +said: +</p> + +<p> +"Major James, if it so be the request we +make now be granted, I pray your pardon +when I ask a selfish one, which is that us +four who have been comrades since I joined +the brigade—us four who have eaten and +slept together, may not be separated when +you shall divide this squad into two. That +we may be allowed to go on side by side, as +we have from the day I first knew these +lads and Gavin Witherspoon." +</p> + +<p> +"It shall be as you say," my uncle +replied, and then turning, looked at the +others. +</p> + +<p> +Emboldened by Gabriel's speech, one +man requested that should he fail to return, +evidence might be sent his kinsmen that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_233' name='Page_233'>[233]</a></span> +he was proud at being able to thus serve +the colonies. +</p> + +<p> +Another made a similar request, and +so on until perhaps half a dozen had spoken, +when all fell silent. +</p> + +<p> +There was no more to be said. It only +remained that we march forth to lay down +our lives, or to win them, as the case might +be. +</p> + +<p> +As for myself, I believed we who were +chosen would probably perish in whatsoever +of adventure was before us, for I +thought then, much as did Gavin Witherspoon, +that we were to make an attack +upon two portions of the town, while the +remainder of the brigade, after we were +slain, would come in a different direction, +and, taking advantage of the diversion +caused by our attack, win the day. +</p> + +<p> +It would be a glorious ending of one's +life; yet as I reflected upon it, although not +in the least degree wishing I might have +been among this third party rather than +in the lead, I said to myself that it would +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_234' name='Page_234'>[234]</a></span> +be sweet to live until we had thrown off +the king's yoke, for at this moment when +we stood face to face with death, almost +feeling the great white angel's cold hand +upon us, I was as certain we would finally +win the victory, however many hirelings +his majesty might send upon us, as I was +certain that my life might within a very +few moments be the penalty of the pride +which was within me. +</p> + +<p> +Perchance never in the history of the +Carolinas has there at any one time so +much of true bravery been shown as we +saw then when the only discontent was +because one was more favored than another +in the permission to offer his life as +a sacrifice. +</p> + +<p> +Well, we were not kept long in line after +such arrangements had been made as I +have described. +</p> + +<p> +Before being dismissed, however, those +who were to be left behind would have +raised a cheer, but that Captain Horry prevented +any such outburst lest scouting +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_235' name='Page_235'>[235]</a></span> +parties of the enemy might be near, and +then the final preparations were made +without loss of time for the work in hand. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Melton was named as the gentleman +who should lead our squad, and Captain +Horry given command of the other. +</p> + +<p> +So far as his purpose was concerned, +General Marion did not leave us in doubt, +claiming, as he said, that we had the right +to know exactly what he proposed doing so +we might act the more intelligently. +</p> + +<p> +Our squad was to approach the town +near White's Bridge, and the other would +reconnoiter on the opposite side of the +post; but neither was to return, save in +case of some serious disaster, until the +main attack had been made. +</p> + +<p> +It was not exactly as Gavin Witherspoon +had predicted, because we were given no +orders to assault the enemy independently; +but were to make a detour, each squad +half around the post, and in case of any +important discovery to send word back immediately +to the general. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_236' name='Page_236'>[236]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +At the dawn of the following day the +brigade was to advance, and at the first +alarm, wherever we of the chosen ones +might be, we would join the assaulting +party in such manner as our commanders +thought proper. +</p> + +<p> +All this, as I have said, was told by General +Marion himself, and nothing could +have given us greater confidence in the adventure +than that he should see fit to explain +his plans when another commander +might have remained silent. +</p> + +<p> +There were no leave-takings; no delay. +</p> + +<p> +Such work as ours was to be done on the +instant, and Captain Melton, advancing at +the head of our squad, for by this time we +had been told off in two parties of twenty, +said quietly: +</p> + +<p> +"We will move on foot in such formation +as may be most agreeable. As I understand +it, our work is rather in the +nature of spying than of a military movement, +and my only order is that you allow +me to lead." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_237' name='Page_237'>[237]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Captain Horry was already leaving the +encampment when we set off, following +our commander much as a party of pleasure +seekers might troop after him who +had promised to show them some desirable +place of entertainment, and as we threaded +our way through the swamp Gabriel +Marion, linking his arm in mine, said +cheerily, with never a tremor in his voice +to show that the doom of the future lay +upon his heart: +</p> + +<p> +"We four are in rare luck, Robert Sumter. +I did not believe my uncle would +grant me so great a boon as to call my +name, and when yours was spoken by +Major James the tears almost came into +my eyes, fearing lest you should go while +I remained behind." +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_238' name='Page_238'>[238]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER XI.<br /> +<span class="s08">GABRIEL.</span></h2> + +<p> +I know not how to set down properly +such a narrative as this, and, therefore, +should be excused for such mistakes as may +occur through ignorance and inexperience. +</p> + +<p> +It is with the attack upon Georgetown +that I must end this portion of the adventures +which befell Percy and myself during +the time we served under General Marion, +and it may be the story should be continued +straight on without any heed whatsoever +to those who fought with us, although +in the same squad. +</p> + +<p> +Whether it be right or wrong, I cannot +well neglect to speak of the part played +by that other party of twenty who volunteered +their lives as eagerly as did we who +followed Captain Melton, and what I write +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_239' name='Page_239'>[239]</a></span> +concerning them must, of course, be from +hearsay. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore it seems to me proper to tell +first the story of Colonel Horry's squad, +as I have heard it related again and again, +before attempting to set down that which +I know of my own knowledge. +</p> + +<p> +When the forty volunteers were divided +into two squads there was no time lost, as +I have already said, in setting forward +upon that mission which we believed could +be fully accomplished only through the +sacrifice of us all, and we parted at the +limits of the temporary halting place, +Captain Melton leading his force to the +right, while Colonel Horry began the reconnoiter +by bearing to the left. +</p> + +<p> +As to what befell the first squad, this is +as I have heard it related: +</p> + +<p> +They continued on through the woods +until near to daybreak, when, as Colonel +Horry himself has said, and I am now +quoting from his official account, he "laid +an ambuscade, with my twenty men, near +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_240' name='Page_240'>[240]</a></span> +the road. About sunrise a chair appeared +with two ladies escorted by two British +officers. I was ready in advance with an +officer to cut them off, but reflecting that +they might escape, and alarm the town, +which would prevent my taking greater +numbers, I desisted. The officers and chair +halted very near me, but soon the chair +went on, and the officers galloped into +the town. Our party continued in ambush +until 10 o'clock. +</p> + +<p> +"Nothing appearing, and we having +eaten nothing for many hours, retired to +a plantation not far distant, where I knew +were to be found friends. As soon as I entered +the house four ladies appeared, two of +whom were Mrs. White and her daughter. +I was asked what I wanted. I answered, +food, refreshment. The other two ladies +were those whom I had seen escorted by +the British officers. +</p> + +<p> +"The strange ladies seemed greatly +agitated, and begged most earnestly that +I would go away. I kept my eye on Mrs. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_241' name='Page_241'>[241]</a></span> +White, and saw she had a smiling countenance, +but said nothing. Soon she left the +room, and I left it also and went into the +piazza, laid my cap, sword and pistols on +the long bench, and walked the piazza; +when I discovered Mrs. White behind the +house chimney beckoning me. +</p> + +<p> +"I got to her undiscovered by the young +ladies, when she said: 'Colonel Horry, be +on your guard; these two young ladies are +just from Georgetown; they are much +frightened, and I believe the British are +leaving it and may soon attack you. As +to provisions, I have plenty in yonder +barn, but you must affect to take them by +force.' +</p> + +<p> +"I begged her to say no more, for I was +well acquainted with all such matters. +We both secretly returned, she to the room +where the young ladies were, and I to the +piazza I had just left." +</p> + +<p> +The colonel had no more than gained +this point, when the sentinels gave an +alarm. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_242' name='Page_242'>[242]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Two musket-shots told him that an +enemy was near at hand, and almost immediately +afterward the firing became so +rapid that he knew an encounter was already +begun. +</p> + +<p> +That brave officer thought only of his +men, and so nearly were the interests of +the squad allied, that he forgot all else save +the desire to be with them in the time of +danger. +</p> + +<p> +He rushed into the fight, forgetting to +take with him even his saber—intent only +on being with those who had so well proven +their devotion to the Cause. +</p> + +<p> +The British were seventeen in number, +well armed, and commanded by a brave +fellow named Merritt; but they were taken +by surprise. +</p> + +<p> +The redcoats retreated, but turned in +their flight to strike a blow, and our men, +believing they had been ordered on even to +death, pursued with fatal earnestness. +</p> + +<p> +Of the enemy's force only two men escaped +death or capture, and one of these +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_243' name='Page_243'>[243]</a></span> +was the captain, of whom Colonel Horry +writes: +</p> + +<p> +"My men in succession came up with +Captain Merritt, who was in the rear of his +party, urging them forward. They engaged +him. He was a brave fellow. Baxter, +with pistols, fired at his breast, and +missing him, retired; Postell and Greene, +with swords, engaged him; both were +beaten off. Greene nearly lost his head. +His buckskin breeches were cut through +several inches. I almost blush to say that +this one British officer beat off three Americans. +Merritt escaped to a neighboring +swamp, from whence, at midnight, he got +to Georgetown." +</p> + +<p> +I would it were possible for me to give +as brief an account, with as satisfactory +an ending, regarding our portion of the +reconnoiter. +</p> + +<p> +As has been said, after crossing White's +Bridge the two squads separated, Colonel +Horry's going toward the left and ours to +the right. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_244' name='Page_244'>[244]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Then it was, as we rode on slowly, +mentally nerved for anything which might +happen and fully expecting sharp and +bloody work at any instant, that Gabriel +Marion said, looking first at Percy and +then at me: +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps it will never again be our good +fortune, comrades, to have such an opportunity +of proving our metal as has +come to us this night. Now I am in nowise +eager for death; but to my mind +there is little fear that the end be near at +hand. Although the odds are so strongly +against us, we shall take this post of +Georgetown, and I believe it because my +uncle, the major, is a careful, prudent soldier, +never taking upon himself chances +that are utterly without hope, although +many times the fact may have seemed to +be the reverse. We shall capture Georgetown, +comrades, and if either of us fails to +come out alive, we have the proud satisfaction +of knowing that whatsoever befalls +the Cause our names must live among +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_245' name='Page_245'>[245]</a></span> +those who volunteered everything for +freedom." +</p> + +<p> +"I hold to it that this is not the time +for such speeches," Gavin Witherspoon +said nervously; and had I not known him +to be a man of tried courage I should have +said that at that moment he was afraid. +"These forty men who came forward so +gallantly understood full well in what +kind of an adventure they were engaged. +It does not prove that his courage is the +greatest who speaks overly much regarding +the future." +</p> + +<p> +"Meaning by such speech, that I had +best hold my tongue," Gabriel said with a +laugh. "Perhaps you may be right, and +yet there is upon me the inclination to +speak of what we have ventured, in order +that I may be the better able to appreciate +life after it has been offered as a sacrifice +and refused." +</p> + +<p> +"I guarantee that once we are come out +from this expedition, you will need no +thought of the past to make you understand +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_246' name='Page_246'>[246]</a></span> +that we rode down the very shadow +of death, when we crossed yonder bridge, +and this I say, not because there is in my +mind any foreknowledge of the future, +but from what I know regarding the +enemy. I realize, without being told, that +ours is as desperate an undertaking as +men can well imagine." +</p> + +<p> +"I am thinking that your words, Gavin +Witherspoon, are as ill-timed as were +Gabriel's, for while he spoke of what might +be our reward, you are weighing, as it +were, the chances against us, and to my +mind it is not pleasant," Percy said with +an attempt at cheerfulness which I knew +full well was forced, and, stepping nearer +to the lad, I grasped his hand, an act +which, perhaps, gave him as much encouragement +as was in my mind to impart. +</p> + +<p> +Gabriel continued to speak of the future, +as if he had no part in the present, until +word came that each man must hold himself +silent because we were come so near +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_247' name='Page_247'>[247]</a></span> +the town that there was good reason for +believing the enemy's sentinels might be +close at hand. +</p> + +<p> +We straggled on, each as he pleased, although +there was some little show of military +formation. Captain Melton was allowed +to remain in the lead as he had +stipulated, but we four comrades took +good care not to fall back more than two +or three paces, for we were minded to +bear the brunt of the first encounter. +</p> + +<p> +I had never before known what it was +to advance against an enemy on foot, and +the fact of being without a horse gave me +a certain sense of uneasiness. +</p> + +<p> +So far as we of these two advanced +squads were concerned, there could be no +sudden dash; no spurring forward into +the very midst of the enemy. We must +fight our way forward slowly, and, as it +seemed to me, at a disadvantage. +</p> + +<p> +However, it is true that my courage did +not fail me, although my hand trembled +with excitement, and my mouth was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_248' name='Page_248'>[248]</a></span> +parched and dry as if I had been many +hours without water. +</p> + +<p> +Gabriel had just thrown his arm over my +shoulder, to show the affection which was +in his heart for us all, when the thud of +horses' hoofs directly in the front told that +the enemy were on the alert. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly we were halted, every man in +a posture of defense, and I venture to say +that there was not one among us who did +not wish he was in the saddle. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold steady, boys!" Captain Melton +whispered. "Yonder comes the patrol, +and it may be they will turn before coming +as far as this; but if not, we have our +work cut out for us. The enemy must not +pass this point lest our friends in the rear +be discovered!" +</p> + +<p> +Involuntarily we four had crouched +upon our knees in such position that we +could use the muskets to good advantage, +and thus we remained in the front line +while the horsemen galloped nearer and +nearer until they were absolutely upon us. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_249' name='Page_249'>[249]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Fire!" our commander shouted, and +from that little squad of crouching figures +a line of fire flashed forth into the very +nostrils of the animals, causing them to +rear and plunge madly, thus diverting our +bullets from their targets. +</p> + +<p> +Three saddles were emptied when a full +twenty would have been the result of the +volley had we fired one minute before, and +then every man among us began to reload +his weapon with feverish haste, for but +few seconds could elapse before the Britishers +would charge. +</p> + +<p> +"This is what may be called a real battle!" +Gabriel cried exultantly; but no +one replied. +</p> + +<p> +Death for many of us was close at hand, +and at such a time words do not come +readily. +</p> + +<p> +I was ramming home the bullet in my +musket when the horsemen again dashed +upon us from out the darkness; there +came a roar as if a thousand guns had +been discharged at the same instant, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_250' name='Page_250'>[250]</a></span> +all before me seemed to be a sheet of +flame. +</p> + +<p> +Of what followed during the next five +or ten minutes I have no clear idea. +</p> + +<p> +Before me reared and plunged the +British horses, while here, there and everywhere +I heard cries of rage or groans of +mortal agony until it was all a hideous, +whirling, dancing picture in which I could +distinguish only the outlines of my comrades, +who held their places bravely. +</p> + +<p> +Side by side we fought against the redcoats, +ignorant of the fact that we were +alone, and then came the moment when +all our muskets were emptied at the same +instant. +</p> + +<p> +The horsemen surrounded us; our weapons +were of little service against the sabers +of the enemy, and we understood it, although +there was no thought of surrender +in my mind until Gavin Witherspoon +seized me by the arm, shouting in my +ear: +</p> + +<p> +"Surrender, lad, surrender! There is +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_251' name='Page_251'>[251]</a></span> +neither honor nor glory in dying when our +lives are of no avail for the Cause!" +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i268" id="i268"></a> +<img src="images/i-268.jpg" width="340" height="550" alt="" /> +<p class="caption">Gavin seized my arm, shouting in my ear: "Surrender, lad, surrender!"—<a href="#Page_250">Page 250</a>. +</p> +</div> +<p> +Even as he spoke three of the redcoats +had clutched Gabriel and Percy. +</p> + +<p> +I allowed my musket, which had been +raised as a club, to drop, and immediately +I felt, for the first time, the grasp of a +Britisher. +</p> + +<p> +We were prisoners. The glory of fighting +to the bitter end with the knowledge +that in so doing we were opening the way +for those in the rear, was denied us, and +but for the shame of it I could have wept +like a girl. +</p> + +<p> +And yet all this was as nothing compared +with what followed. +</p> + +<p> +The troopers were about to disarm us, +and some one had fired a torch that we +might be the better seen, when Sam +Lee—that miserable Tory and renegade—came +up from the rear, where most likely +he had been skulking during the fighting, +and, seeing us, set up a shout of +triumph. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_252' name='Page_252'>[252]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +"Now have I got you rebels where +I've been burning to see you?" he cried. +</p> + +<p> +"Now we shall see—" +</p> + +<p> +"Is that Sam Lee?" Gabriel shouted, +struggling to release himself from his captor's +grasp. +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, and it is the cur who has sold his +country, his kinsmen and himself for the +king's gold!" Percy replied. "There is no +dishonor in being overpowered by true soldiers +in a fair fight; but to have such as +that villain alive before one's eyes is a disgrace." +</p> + +<p> +"It shall be worse than that to you!" +Sam shrieked, "and as for that nephew of +the rebel Marion, I—" +</p> + +<p> +"What are you saying?" one of the +troopers asked, seizing Sam Lee and shaking +him as if to force the reply more +quickly. "Is one of these a nephew to the +Swamp Fox?" +</p> + +<p> +"Ay, that he is!" Gabriel made answer, +stepping forward as far as the hand of +the captor would permit. "I am the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_253' name='Page_253'>[253]</a></span> +nephew of General Marion, and proud indeed +of the kinship!" +</p> + +<p> +I was looking at the dear lad that instant, +having turned my eyes from the +scurvy Tory when Gabriel began to speak, +otherwise, perhaps, I might have prevented +that terrible thing which followed. +</p> + +<p> +While the remainder of the party were +looking at the brave lad who stood before +them in the glare of the torches, Sam Lee, +doubled-dyed villain that he was, rushed +upon him with a saber which he had +seized from the hand of the trooper. +</p> + +<p> +In the flickering light I saw the gleam +of the steel, and before a word of warning +could escape my lips, the cruel weapon +descended, striking Gabriel full upon the +head, sheering its way downward until the +dear lad sank a lifeless mass at the feet of +that cur who was not worthy to so much +as kneel before him. +</p> + +<p> +On the instant it was as if my eyes were +blinded by the crimson flood that followed +the stroke of the blade. There was a sensation +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_254' name='Page_254'>[254]</a></span> +as if all my blood was boiling, and, +for the time being, reason left me. +</p> + +<p> +Gavin Witherspoon declares that I +wrenched myself free from the trooper who +held me, as if the Britisher had been no +more than a babe, that at the same instant +I leaped upon the Tory murderer, bearing +him to the earth till his face was sunk deep +in the blood-stained moss, and with the +same weapon which had let out the life of +the most gallant lad who ever lived, I +killed him. +</p> + +<p> +It was done so quickly, Gavin declares, +that the redcoats had no time to interfere +before the work was accomplished, and +while they, horror-stricken as it were by +that which was not warfare in any sense +of the word, stood before us three—two +dead and one senseless, the remainder of +our squad fell upon them. +</p> + +<p> +This last attack was successful; the +Britishers were beaten off, and our brave +fellows carried Gabriel's dear body, and +myself, back to the rear. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_255' name='Page_255'>[255]</a></span> +</p> + +<p> +The attempt to capture Georgetown was +a failure, now that the enemy had been +warned, and our brigade beat a hasty +retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Of all that I know nothing; it was many +days before my senses returned, and then +we were encamped on Snow's Island. +</p> + +<p> +It is best that I add to my story what +has been written by one who is a master +hand at wielding a pen, while I am only a +novice, and that I bring this portion of +the adventures which befell Percy Sumter +and myself to an end, with the promise to +write out at some later day what we two +did when the work of the patriots was +finally crowned with success. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +"The murder of Gabriel Marion, with +some other instances of brutality and +butchery on the part of the Tories, happening +about this time, gave a more savage +character than ever to the warfare which +ensued. Motives of private anger and personal +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_256' name='Page_256'>[256]</a></span> +revenge embittered and increased the +usual ferocities of civil war; and hundreds +of dreadful and desperate tragedies +caused the inhabitants to pursue each +other rather like wild beasts than like +men. +</p> + +<p> +"In the Cheraw district, on the Pedee, +above the line where Marion commanded, +the warfare was one of utter extermination. +The revolutionary struggle in +Carolina was of a sort unknown in any +other part of the Union. +</p> + +<p> +"The attempt upon Georgetown was defeated. +The British had taken the alarm, +and were now in strength, and in a state +of vigilance and activity which precluded +the possibility of surprise. Marion's +wishes, therefore, with regard to this place, +were deferred accordingly to a more auspicious +season. +</p> + +<p> +"He retired to Snow's Island, where he +made his camp. It was peculiarly eligible +for his purposes, furnishing a secure retreat, +a depot for his arms, ammunition, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_257' name='Page_257'>[257]</a></span> +prisoners and invalids—difficult of access, +easily guarded, and contiguous to the +scenes of his most active operations. +</p> + +<p> +"Snow's Island lies at the confluence of +Lynch's Creek and the Pedee. On the east +flows the latter river; on the west, Clark's +Creek, issuing from Lynch's and a stream +navigable for small vessels; on the north +lies Lynch's Creek, wide and deep, but +nearly choked by rafts of logs and refuse +timber. The island, high river swamp, +was spacious, and, like all the Pedee river +swamp of that day, abounded in live stock +and provision. Thick woods covered the +elevated tracts, dense cane-brakes the +lower, and here and there the eye rested +upon a cultivated spot, in maize, which the +invalids and convalescents were wont to +tend. +</p> + +<p> +"Here Marion made his fortress. Having +secured all the boats of the neighborhood, +he chose such as he needed, and +destroyed the rest. Where the natural +defenses of the island seemed to require +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_258' name='Page_258'>[258]</a></span> +aid from art, he bestowed it; and, by cutting +away bridges and obstructing the +ordinary pathways with timber, he contrived +to insulate, as much as possible, the +country under his command. +</p> + +<p> +"From this fortress his scouting parties +were sent forth nightly in all directions. +Enemies were always easy to be found. +The British maintained minor posts at +Nelson's Ferry and Scott's Lake, as well as +Georgetown; and the Tories on Lynch's +Creek and Little Pedee were much more +numerous, if less skilfully conducted, than +the men of Marion. +</p> + +<p> +"Marion's encampment implied no repose, +no forbearance of the active business +of war. Very far from it. He was never +more dangerous to an enemy than when +he seemed quiet in camp. +</p> + +<p> +"His camp, indeed, was frequently a +lure, by which to tempt the Tories into unseasonable +exposure. The post at Snow's +Island gave him particular facilities for +this species of warfare. He had but to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='Page_259' name='Page_259'>[259]</a></span> +cross a river, and a three hours' march enabled +him to forage in an enemy's country. +</p> + +<p> +"Reinforcements came to him daily, and +it was only now, for the first time, that his +command began to assume the appearance, +and exhibit the force of a brigade." +</p> + +<p class="center p4"> +THE END +</p> + +<div class="ad p6"> +<p class="center"> +<span class="b15">A. L. BURT'S PUBLICATIONS</span><br /> +<span class="b13">For Young People</span><br /> +<span class="s08">BY POPULAR WRITERS.</span><br /> +<span class="b13">52-58 Duane Street, New York.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Bonnie Prince Charlie</b>: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon +Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The adventures of the son of a Scotch officer in French service. +The boy, brought up by a Glasgow bailie, is arrested for aiding a +Jacobite agent, escapes, is wrecked on the French coast, reaches +Paris, and serves with the French army at Dettingen. He kills +his father's foe in a duel, and escaping to the coast, shares the +adventures of Prince Charlie, but finally settles happily in Scotland. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Ronald, the hero, is very like the hero of 'Quentin Durward.' The lad's +journey across France, and his hairbreadth escapes, make up as good a narrative +of the kind as we have ever read. For freshness of treatment and +variety of incident Mr. Henty has surpassed himself."—<i>Spectator.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Clive in India</b>; or, the Beginnings of an Empire. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With 12 full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon +Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The period between the landing of Clive as a young writer in +India and the close of his career was critical and eventful in the +extreme. At its commencement the English were traders existing +on sufferance of the native princes. At its close they were masters +of Bengal and of the greater part of Southern India. The author +has given a full and accurate account of the events of that stirring +time, and battles and sieges follow each other in rapid succession, +while he combines with his narrative a tale of daring and adventure, +which gives a lifelike interest to the volume. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"He has taken a period of Indian history of the most vital importance, +and he has embroidered on the historical facts a story which of itself is deeply +interesting. Young people assuredly will be delighted with the volume."—<i>Scotsman.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Lion of the North</b>: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the +Wars of Religion. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations +by <span class='smcap'>John Schönberg</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In this story Mr. Henty gives the history of the first part of the +Thirty Years' War. The issue had its importance, which has extended +to the present day, as it established religious freedom +in Germany. The army of the chivalrous king of Sweden was +largely composed of Scotchmen, and among these was the hero of +the story. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The tale is a clever and instructive piece of history, and as boys may be +trusted to read it conscientiously, they can hardly fail to be profited."—<i>Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Dragon and the Raven</b>; or, The Days of King Alfred. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>C. J. Staniland</span>, +R.I. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In this story the author gives an account of the fierce struggle +between Saxon and Dane for supremacy in England, and presents +a vivid picture of the misery and ruin to which the country was +reduced by the ravages of the sea-wolves. The hero, a young +Saxon thane, takes part in all the battles fought by King Alfred. +He is driven from his home, takes to the sea and resists the Danes +on their own element, and being pursued by them up the Seine, +is present at the long and desperate siege of Paris. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Treated in a manner most attractive to the boyish reader."—<i>Athenæum</i>. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Young Carthaginian</b>: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>C. J. Staniland</span>, +R.I. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Boys reading the history of the Punic Wars have seldom a keen +appreciation of the merits of the contest. That it was at first a +struggle for empire, and afterward for existence on the part of +Carthage, that Hannibal was a great and skillful general, that he +defeated the Romans at Trebia, Lake Trasimenus, and Cannæ, +and all but took Rome, represents pretty nearly the sum total of +their knowledge. To let them know more about this momentous +struggle for the empire of the world Mr. Henty has written this +story, which not only gives in graphic style a brilliant description +of a most interesting period of history, but is a tale of exciting +adventure sure to secure the interest of the reader. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Well constructed and vividly told. From first to last nothing stays the +interest of the narrative. It bears us along as on a stream whose current +varies in direction, but never loses its force."—<i>Saturday Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>In Freedom's Cause</b>: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In this story the author relates the stirring tale of the Scottish +War of Independence. The extraordinary valor and personal +prowess of Wallace and Bruce rival the deeds of the mythical +heroes of chivalry, and indeed at one time Wallace was ranked +with these legendary personages. The researches of modern +historians have shown, however, that he was a living, breathing +man—and a valiant champion. The hero of the tale fought under +both Wallace and Bruce, and while the strictest historical accuracy +has been maintained with respect to public events, the work is +full of "hairbreadth 'scapes" and wild adventure. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"It is written in the author's best style. Full of the wildest and most remarkable +achievements, it is a tale of great interest, which a boy, once he has +begun it, will not willingly put on one side."—<i>The Schoolmaster.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Lee in Virginia</b>: A Story of the American Civil War. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon +Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The story of a young Virginian planter, who, after bravely +proving his sympathy with the slaves of brutal masters, serves +with no less courage and enthusiasm under Lee and Jackson +through the most exciting events of the struggle. He has many +hairbreadth escapes, is several times wounded and twice taken +prisoner; but his courage and readiness and, in two cases, the +devotion of a black servant and of a runaway slave whom he had +assisted, bring him safely through all difficulties. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"One of the best stories for lads which Mr. Henty has yet written. The +picture is full of life and color, and the stirring and romantic incidents are +skillfully blended with the personal interest and charm of the story."—<i>Standard.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By England's Aid</b>; or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by +<span class='smcap'>Alfred Pearse</span>, and Maps. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The story of two English lads who go to Holland as pages in +the service of one of "the fighting Veres." After many adventures +by sea and land, one of the lads finds himself on board a +Spanish ship at the time of the defeat of the Armada, and escapes +only to fall into the hands of the Corsairs. He is successful in +getting back to Spain under the protection of a wealthy merchant, +and regains his native country after the capture of Cadiz. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"It is an admirable book for youngsters. It overflows with stirring incident +and exciting adventure, and the color of the era and of the scene are +finely reproduced. The illustrations add to its attractiveness."—<i>Boston +Gazette.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By Right of Conquest</b>; or, With Cortez in Mexico. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>W. S. Stacey</span>, and +Two Maps. 12mo, cloth, price $1.50. +</p> + +<p> +The conquest of Mexico by a small band of resolute men under +the magnificent leadership of Cortez is always rightly ranked +among the most romantic and daring exploits in history. With +this as the groundwork of his story Mr. Henty has interwoven the +adventures of an English youth, Roger Hawkshaw, the sole survivor +of the good ship Swan, which had sailed from a Devon port +to challenge the mercantile supremacy of the Spaniards in the +New World. He is beset by many perils among the natives, but +is saved by his own judgment and strength, and by the devotion +of an Aztec princess. At last by a ruse he obtains the protection +of the Spaniards, and after the fall of Mexico he succeeds in regaining +his native shore, with a fortune and a charming Aztec +bride. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"'By Right of Conquest' is the nearest approach to a perfectly successful +historical tale that Mr. Henty has yet published."—<i>Academy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>In the Reign of Terror</b>: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>J. Schönberg</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Harry Sandwith, a Westminster boy, becomes a resident at the +chateau of a French marquis, and after various adventures accompanies +the family to Paris at the crisis of the Revolution. Imprisonment +and death reduce their number, and the hero finds +himself beset by perils with the three young daughters of the +house in his charge. After hairbreadth escapes they reach Nantes. +There the girls are condemned to death in the coffin-ships, +but are saved by the unfailing courage of their boy protector. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Harry Sandwith, the Westminster boy, may fairly be said to beat Mr. +Henty's record. His adventures will delight boys by the audacity and peril +they depict.... The story is one of Mr. Henty's best."—<i>Saturday +Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Wolfe in Canada</b>; or, The Winning of a Continent. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon +Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In the present volume Mr. Henty gives an account of the struggle +between Britain and France for supremacy in the North +American continent. On the issue of this war depended not only +the destinies of North America, but to a large extent those of the +mother countries themselves. The fall of Quebec decided that +the Anglo-Saxon race should predominate in the New World; +that Britain, and not France, should take the lead among the +nations of Europe; and that English and American commerce, the +English language, and English literature, should spread right +round the globe. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"It is not only a lesson in history as instructively as it is graphically told, +but also a deeply interesting and often thrilling tale of adventure and peril by +flood and field."—<i>Illustrated London News.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>True to the Old Flag</b>: A Tale of the American War of Independence. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by +<span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In this story the author has gone to the accounts of officers who +took part in the conflict, and lads will find that in no war in which +American and British soldiers have been engaged did they behave +with greater courage and good conduct. The historical portion of +the book being accompanied with numerous thrilling adventures +with the redskins on the shores of Lake Huron, a story of exciting +interest is interwoven with the general narrative and carried +through the book. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Does justice to the pluck and determination of the British soldiers during +the unfortunate struggle against American emancipation. The son of an +American loyalist, who remains true to our flag, falls among the hostile redskins +in that very Huron country which has been endeared to us by the exploits +of Hawkeye and Chingachgook."—<i>The Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Lion of St. Mark</b>: A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth +Century. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by +<span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A story of Venice at a period when her strength and splendor +were put to the severest tests. The hero displays a fine sense and +manliness which carry him safely through an atmosphere of intrigue, +crime, and bloodshed. He contributes largely to the victories +of the Venetians at Porto d'Anzo and Chioggia, and finally +wins the hand of the daughter of one of the chief men of Venice. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Every boy should read 'The Lion of St. Mark.' Mr. Henry has never produced +a story more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious."—<i>Saturday +Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A Final Reckoning</b>: A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>W. B. Wollen</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The hero, a young English lad, after rather a stormy boyhood +emigrates to Australia, and gets employment as an officer in the +mounted police. A few years of active work on the frontier, +where he has many a brush with both natives and bushrangers, +gain him promotion to a captaincy, and he eventually settles +down to the peaceful life of a squatter. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty has never published a more readable, a more carefully constructed, +or a better written story than this."—<i>Spectator.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Under Drake's Flag</b>: A Tale of the Spanish Main. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A story of the days when England and Spain struggled for the +supremacy of the sea. The heroes sail as lads with Drake in the +Pacific expedition, and in his great voyage of circumnavigation. +The historical portion of the story is absolutely to be relied upon, +but this will perhaps be less attractive than the great variety of +exciting adventure through which the young heroes pass in the +course of their voyages. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A book of adventure, where the hero meets with experience enough, one +would think, to turn his hair gray."—<i>Harper's Monthly Magazine.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By Sheer Pluck</b>: A Tale of the Ashanti War. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The author has woven, in a tale of thrilling interest, all the details +of the Ashanti campaign, of which he was himself a witness. +His hero, after many exciting adventures in the interior, is detained +a prisoner by the king just before the outbreak of the war, +but escapes, and accompanies the English expedition on their +march to Coomassie. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty keeps up his reputation as a writer of boys' stories. 'By Sheer +Pluck' will be eagerly read."—<i>Athenæum.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By Pike and Dyke</b>: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Maynard +Brown</span>, and 4 Maps. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +In this story Mr. Henty traces the adventures and brave deeds +of an English boy in the household of the ablest man of his age—William +the Silent. Edward Martin, the son of an English sea-captain, +enters the service of the Prince as a volunteer, and is employed +by him in many dangerous and responsible missions, in the +discharge of which he passes through the great sieges of the time. +He ultimately settles down as Sir Edward Martin. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Boys with a turn for historical research will be enchanted with the book, +while the rest who only care for adventure will be students in spite of themselves."—<i>St. +James' Gazette.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>St. George for England</b>: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon +Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +No portion of English history is more crowded with great events +than that of the reign of Edward III. Cressy and Poitiers; the +destruction of the Spanish fleet; the plague of the Black Death; +the Jacquerie rising; these are treated by the author in "St. +George for England." The hero of the story, although of good +family, begins life as a London apprentice, but after countless adventures +and perils becomes by valor and good conduct the squire, +and at last the trusted friend of the Black Prince. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty has developed for himself a type of historical novel for boys +which bids fair to supplement, on their behalf, the historical labors of Sir +Walter Scott in the land of fiction."—<i>The Standard.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Captain's Kidd's Gold</b>: The True Story of an Adventurous Sailor +Boy. By <span class='smcap'>James Franklin Fitts</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +There is something fascinating to the average youth in the very +idea of buried treasure. A vision arises before his eyes of swarthy +Portuguese and Spanish rascals, with black beards and gleaming +eyes—sinister-looking fellows who once on a time haunted the +Spanish Main, sneaking out from some hidden creek in their long, +low schooner, of picaroonish rake and sheer, to attack an unsuspecting +trading craft. There were many famous sea rovers in +their day, but none more celebrated than Capt. Kidd. Perhaps +the most fascinating tale of all is Mr. Fitts' true story of an adventurous +American boy, who receives from his dying father an +ancient bit of vellum, which the latter obtained in a curious way. +The document bears obscure directions purporting to locate a certain +island in the Bahama group, and a considerable treasure +buried there by two of Kidd's crew. The hero of this book, +Paul Jones Garry, is an ambitious, persevering lad, of salt-water +New England ancestry, and his efforts to reach the island and +secure the money form one of the most absorbing tales for our +youth that has come from the press. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Captain Bayley's Heir</b>: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>H. M. +Paget</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A frank, manly lad and his cousin are rivals in the heirship of a +considerable property. The former falls into a trap laid by the +latter, and while under a false accusation of theft foolishly leaves +England for America. He works his passage before the mast, +joins a small band of hunters, crosses a tract of country infested +with Indians to the Californian gold diggings, and is successful +both as digger and trader. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty is careful to mingle instruction with entertainment; and the +humorous touches, especially in the sketch of John Holl, the Westminster +dustman, Dickens himself could hardly have excelled."—<i>Christian Leader.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>For Name and Fame</b>; or, Through Afghan Passes. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +An interesting story of the last war in Afghanistan. The hero, +after being wrecked and going through many stirring adventures +among the Malays, finds his way to Calcutta and enlists in a regiment +proceeding to join the army at the Afghan passes. He accompanies +the force under General Roberts to the Peiwar Kotal, +is wounded, taken prisoner, carried to Cabul, whence he is transferred +to Candahar, and takes part in the final defeat of the army +of Ayoub Khan. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The best feature of the book—apart from the interest of its scenes of adventure—is +its honest effort to do justice to the patriotism of the Afghan +people."—<i>Daily News.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Captured by Apes</b>: The Wonderful Adventures of a Young +Animal Trainer. By <span class='smcap'>Harry Prentice</span>. 12mo, cloth, $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The scene of this tale is laid on an island in the Malay Archipelago. +Philip Garland, a young animal collector and trainer, of +New York, sets sail for Eastern seas in quest of a new stock of +living curiosities. The vessel is wrecked off the coast of Borneo +and young Garland, the sole survivor of the disaster, is cast ashore +on a small island, and captured by the apes that overrun the +place. The lad discovers that the ruling spirit of the monkey +tribe is a gigantic and vicious baboon, whom he identifies as +Goliah, an animal at one time in his possession and with whose +instruction he had been especially diligent. The brute recognizes +him, and with a kind of malignant satisfaction puts his former +master through the same course of training he had himself experienced +with a faithfulness of detail which shows how astonishing +is monkey recollection. Very novel indeed is the way by +which the young man escapes death. Mr. Prentice has certainly +worked a new vein on juvenile fiction, and the ability with which +he handles a difficult subject stamps him as a writer of undoubted +skill. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Bravest of the Brave</b>; or, With Peterborough in Spain. +By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>H. M. +Paget</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +There are few great leaders whose lives and actions have so +completely fallen into oblivion as those of the Earl of Peterborough. +This is largely due to the fact that they were overshadowed +by the glory and successes of Marlborough. His career +as general extended over little more than a year, and yet, in that +time, he showed a genius for warfare which has never been surpassed. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty never loses sight of the moral purpose of his work—to enforce +the doctrine of courage and truth. Lads will read 'The Bravest of the Brave' +with pleasure and profit; of that we are quite sure."—<i>Daily Telegraph.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Cat of Bubastes</b>: A Story of Ancient Egypt. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full page Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A story which will give young readers an unsurpassed insight +into the customs of the Egyptian people. Amuba, a prince of the +Rebu nation, is carried with his charioteer Jethro into slavery. +They become inmates of the house of Ameres, the Egyptian high-priest, +and are happy in his service until the priest's son accidentally +kills the sacred cat of Bubastes. In an outburst of popular +fury Ameres is killed, and it rests with Jethro and Amuba to +secure the escape of the high-priest's son and daughter. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The story, from the critical moment of the killing of the sacred cat to the +perilous exodus into Asia with which it closes, is very skillfully constructed +and full of exciting adventures. It is admirably illustrated."—<i>Saturday +Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Washington at Monmouth</b>: A Story of Three Philadelphia +Boys. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Three Philadelphia boys, Seth Graydon "whose mother conducted +a boarding-house which was patronized by the British +officers;" Enoch Ball, "son of that Mrs. Ball whose dancing +school was situated on Letitia Street," and little Jacob, son of +"Chris, the Baker," serve as the principal characters. The +story is laid during the winter when Lord Howe held possession +of the city, and the lads aid the cause by assisting the American +spies who make regular and frequent visits from Valley Forge. +One reads here of home-life in the captive city when bread was +scarce among the people of the lower classes, and a reckless prodigality +shown by the British officers, who passed the winter in +feasting and merry-making while the members of the patriot army +but a few miles away were suffering from both cold and hunger. +The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life skillfully +drawn, and the glimpses of Washington's soldiers which are given +show that the work has not been hastily done, or without considerable +study. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>For the Temple</b>: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>S. J. Solomon</span>. 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Henty here weaves into the record of Josephus an admirable +and attractive story. The troubles in the district of Tiberias, the +march of the legions, the sieges of Jotapata, of Gamala, and of +Jerusalem, form the impressive and carefully studied historic +setting to the figure of the lad who passes from the vineyard to +the service of Josephus, becomes the leader of a guerrilla band of +patriots, fights bravely for the Temple, and after a brief term of +slavery at Alexandria, returns to his Galilean home with the favor +of Titus. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Henty's graphic prose pictures of the hopeless Jewish resistance to +Roman sway add another leaf to his record of the famous wars of the world."—<i>Graphic.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Facing Death</b>; or, The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of +the Coal Mines. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations +by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +"Facing Death" is a story with a purpose. It is intended to +show that a lad who makes up his mind firmly and resolutely that +he will rise in life, and who is prepared to face toil and ridicule +and hardship to carry out his determination, is sure to succeed. +The hero of the story is a typical British boy, dogged, earnest, +generous, and though "shamefaced" to a degree, is ready to face +death in the discharge of duty. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The tale is well written and well illustrated, and there is much reality in +the characters. If any father, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the lookout +for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth his salt, this is the +book we would recommend."—<i>Standard.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Tom Temple's Career.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger</span>. 12mo, cloth, +price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Tom Temple, a bright, self-reliant lad, by the death of his +father becomes a boarder at the home of Nathan Middleton, a +penurious insurance agent. Though well paid for keeping the +boy, Nathan and his wife endeavor to bring Master Tom in line +with their parsimonious habits. The lad ingeniously evades their +efforts and revolutionizes the household. As Tom is heir to +$40,000, he is regarded as a person of some importance until by +an unfortunate combination of circumstances his fortune shrinks +to a few hundreds. He leaves Plympton village to seek work in +New York, whence he undertakes an important mission to California, +around which center the most exciting incidents of his +young career. Some of his adventures in the far west are so +startling that the reader will scarcely close the book until the last +page shall have been reached. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's +most fascinating style, and is bound to please the very large class +of boys who regard this popular author as a prime favorite. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Maori and Settler</b>: A Story of the New Zealand War. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Alfred Pearse</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The Renshaws emigrate to New Zealand during the period of +the war with the natives. Wilfrid, a strong, self-reliant, courageous +lad, is the mainstay of the household. He has for his friend +Mr. Atherton, a botanist and naturalist of herculean strength and +unfailing nerve and humor. In the adventures among the Maoris, +there are many breathless moments in which the odds seem hopelessly +against the party, but they succeed in establishing themselves +happily in one of the pleasant New Zealand valleys. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Brimful of adventure, of humorous and interesting conversation, and +vivid pictures of colonial life."—<i>Schoolmaster.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Julian Mortimer</b>: A Brave Boy's Struggle for Home and Fortune. +By <span class='smcap'>Harry Castlemon</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Here is a story that will warm every boy's heart. There is +mystery enough to keep any lad's imagination wound up to the +highest pitch. The scene of the story lies west of the Mississippi +River, in the days when emigrants made their perilous way across +the great plains to the land of gold. One of the startling features +of the book is the attack upon the wagon train by a large party of +Indians. Our hero is a lad of uncommon nerve and pluck, a brave +young American in every sense of the word. He enlists and holds +the reader's sympathy from the outset. Surrounded by an unknown +and constant peril, and assisted by the unswerving fidelity +of a stalwart trapper, a real rough diamond, our hero achieves the +most happy results. Harry Castlemon has written many entertaining +stories for boys, and it would seem almost superfluous to +say anything in his praise, for the youth of America regard him +as a favorite author. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +"<b>Carrots</b>:" Just a Little Boy. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With +Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"One of the cleverest and most pleasing stories it has been our good fortune +to meet with for some time. Carrots and his sister are delightful little +beings, whom to read about is at once to become very fond of."—<i>Examiner.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A genuine children's book; we've seen 'em seize it, and read it greedily. +Children are first-rate critics, and thoroughly appreciate Walter Crane's +illustrations."—<i>Punch.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Mopsa the Fairy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Jean Ingelow</span>. With Eight pages of +Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mrs. Ingelow is, to our mind, the most charming of all living writers for +children, and 'Mopsa' alone ought to give her a kind of pre-emptive right to +the love and gratitude of our young folks. It requires genius to conceive a +purely imaginary work which must of necessity deal with the supernatural, +without running into a mere riot of fantastic absurdity; but genius Miss Ingelow +has and the story of 'Jack' is as careless and joyous, but as delicate +as a picture of childhood."—<i>Eclectic.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A Jaunt Through Java</b>: The Story of a Journey to the Sacred +Mountain. By <span class='smcap'>Edward S. Ellis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The central interest of this story is found in the thrilling adventures +of two cousins, Hermon and Eustace Hadley, on their +trip across the island of Java, from Samarang to the Sacred Mountain. +In a land where the Royal Bengal tiger runs at large; +where the rhinoceros and other fierce beasts are to be met with +at unexpected moments; it is but natural that the heroes of this +book should have a lively experience. Hermon not only distinguishes +himself by killing a full-grown tiger at short range, +but meets with the most startling adventure of the journey. +There is much in this narrative to instruct as well as entertain the +reader, and so deftly has Mr. Ellis used his material that there is +not a dull page in the book. The two heroes are brave, manly +young fellows, bubbling over with boyish independence. They +cope with the many difficulties that arise during the trip in a fearless +way that is bound to win the admiration of every lad who is +so fortunate as to read their adventures. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Wrecked on Spider Island</b>; or, How Ned Rogers Found the +Treasure. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A "down-east" plucky lad who ships as cabin boy, not from +love of adventure, but because it is the only course remaining by +which he can gain a livelihood. While in his bunk, seasick, +Ned Rogers hears the captain and mate discussing their plans for +the willful wreck of the brig in order to gain the insurance. Once +it is known he is in possession of the secret the captain maroons +him on Spider Island, explaining to the crew that the boy is +afflicted with leprosy. While thus involuntarily playing the part +of a Crusoe, Ned discovers a wreck submerged in the sand, and +overhauling the timbers for the purpose of gathering material +with which to build a hut finds a considerable amount of treasure. +Raising the wreck; a voyage to Havana under sail; shipping there +a crew and running for Savannah; the attempt of the crew to +seize the little craft after learning of the treasure on board, and, +as a matter of course, the successful ending of the journey, all +serve to make as entertaining a story of sea life as the most +captious boy could desire. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Geoff and Jim</b>: A Story of School Life. By <span class='smcap'>Ismay Thorn</span>. Illustrated +by <span class='smcap'>A. G. Walker</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This is a prettily told story of the life spent by two motherless bairns at +a small preparatory school. Both Geoff and Jim are very lovable characters, +only Jim is the more so; and the scrapes he gets into and the trials he endures +will, no doubt, interest a large circle of young readers."—<i>Church +Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This is a capital children's story, the characters well portrayed, and the +book tastefully bound and well illustrated."—<i>Schoolmaster.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The story can be heartily recommended as a present for boys."—<i>Standard.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Castaways</b>; or, On the Florida Reefs. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This tale smacks of the salt sea. It is just the kind of story +that the majority of boys yearn for. From the moment that the +Sea Queen dispenses with the services of the tug in lower New +York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off the coast of +Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind through her +rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to the +leeward, and feel her rise to the snow-capped waves which her +sharp bow cuts into twin streaks of foam. Off Marquesas Keys +she floats in a dead calm. Ben Clark, the hero of the story, and +Jake, the cook, spy a turtle asleep upon the glassy surface of the +water. They determine to capture him, and take a boat for that +purpose, and just as they succeed in catching him a thick fog +cuts them off from the vessel, and then their troubles begin. +They take refuge on board a drifting hulk, a storm arises and they +are cast ashore upon a low sandy key. Their adventures from +this point cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young +people Mr. Otis is a prime favorite. His style is captivating, and +never for a moment does he allow the interest to flag. In "The +Castaways" he is at his best. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Tom Thatcher's Fortune.</b> By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Like all of Mr. Alger's heroes, Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, +unselfish boy. He supports his mother and sister on +meager wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John Simpson's factory. +The story begins with Tom's discharge from the factory, because +Mr. Simpson felt annoyed with the lad for interrogating him too +closely about his missing father. A few days afterward Tom +learns that which induces him to start overland for California with +the view of probing the family mystery. He meets with many adventures. +Ultimately he returns to his native village, bringing consternation +to the soul of John Simpson, who only escapes the consequences +of his villainy by making full restitution to the man +whose friendship he had betrayed. The story is told in that entertaining +way which has made Mr. Alger's name a household +word in so many homes. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Birdie</b>: A Tale of Child Life. By <span class='smcap'>H. L. Childe-Pemberton</span>. +Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>H. W. Rainey</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The story is quaint and simple, but there is a freshness about it that +makes one hear again the ringing laugh and the cheery shout of children at +play which charmed his earlier years."—<i>New York Express.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Popular Fairy Tales.</b> By the <span class='smcap'>Brothers Grimm</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"From first to last, almost without exception, these stories are delightful."—<i>Athenæum.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Lafayette at Yorktown</b>: A Story of How Two Boys +Joined the Continental Army. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, +price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The two boys are from Portsmouth, N. H., and are introduced +in August, 1781, when on the point of leaving home to enlist in +Col. Scammell's regiment, then stationed near New York City. +Their method of traveling is on horseback, and the author has +given an interesting account of what was expected from boys in +the Colonial days. The lads, after no slight amount of adventure, +are sent as messengers—not soldiers—into the south to find the +troops under Lafayette. Once with that youthful general they +are given employment as spies, and enter the British camp, +bringing away valuable information. The pictures of camp-life +are carefully drawn, and the portrayal of Lafayette's character is +thoroughly well done. The story is wholesome in tone, as are all +of Mr. Otis' works. There is no lack of exciting incident which +the youthful reader craves, but it is healthful excitement brimming +with facts which every boy should be familiar with, and +while the reader is following the adventures of Ben Jaffreys and +Ned Allen he is acquiring a fund of historical lore which will +remain in his memory long after that which he has memorized +from text-books has been forgotten. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Lost in the Cañon</b>: Sam Willett's Adventures on the Great +Colorado. By <span class='smcap'>Alfred R. Calhoun</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This story hinges on a fortune left to Sam Willett, the hero, +and the fact that it will pass to a disreputable relative if the lad +dies before he shall have reached his majority. The Vigilance +Committee of Hurley's Gulch arrest Sam's father and an associate +for the crime of murder. Their lives depend on the production +of the receipt given for money paid. This is in Sam's possession +at the camp on the other side of the cañon. A messenger is dispatched +to get it. He reaches the lad in the midst of a fearful +storm which floods the cañon. His father's peril urges Sam to +action. A raft is built on which the boy and his friends essay to +cross the torrent. They fail to do so, and a desperate trip down +the stream ensues. How the party finally escape from the horrors +of their situation and Sam reaches Hurley's Gulch in the very +nick of time, is described in a graphic style that stamps Mr. Calhoun +as a master of his art. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Jack</b>: A Topsy Turvy Story. By <span class='smcap'>C. M. Crawley-Boevey</span>. +With upward of Thirty Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>H. J. A. Miles</span>. +12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The illustrations deserve particular mention, as they add largely to the +interest of this amusing volume for children. Jack falls asleep with his mind +full of the subject of the fishpond, and is very much surprised presently to +find himself an inhabitant of Waterworld, where he goes though wonderful +and edifying adventures. A handsome and pleasant book."—<i>Literary World.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Search for the Silver City</b>: A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan. +By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Two American lads, Teddy Wright and Neal Emery, embark +on the steam yacht Day Dream for a short summer cruise to the +tropics. Homeward bound the yacht is destroyed by fire. All +hands take to the boats, but during the night the boat is cast upon +the coast of Yucatan. They come across a young American +named Cummings, who entertains them with the story of the +wonderful Silver City, of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians. Cummings +proposes with the aid of a faithful Indian ally to brave +the perils of the swamp and carry off a number of the golden +images from the temples. Pursued with relentless vigor for days +their situation is desperate. At last their escape is effected in an +astonishing manner. Mr. Otis has built his story on an historical +foundation. It is so full of exciting incidents that the reader is +quite carried away with the novelty and realism of the narrative. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Thrown upon his own resources Frank Fowler, a poor boy, +bravely determines to make a living for himself and his foster-sister +Grace. Going to New York he obtains a situation as cash +boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a wealthy old +gentleman named Wharton, who takes a fancy to the lad. Frank, +after losing his place as cash boy, is enticed by an enemy to a +lonesome part of New Jersey and held a prisoner. This move recoils +upon the plotter, for it leads to a clue that enables the lad to +establish his real identity. Mr. Alger's stories are not only unusually +interesting, but they convey a useful lesson of pluck and +manly independence. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Budd Boyd's Triumph</b>; or, the Boy Firm of Fox Island. By +<span class='smcap'>William P. Chipman</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The scene of this story is laid on the upper part of Narragansett +Bay, and the leading incidents have a strong salt water flavor. +Owing to the conviction of his father for forgery and theft, Budd +Boyd is compelled to leave his home and strike out for himself. +Chance brings Budd in contact with Judd Floyd. The two boys, +being ambitious and clear sighted, form a partnership to catch +and sell fish. The scheme is successfully launched, but the unexpected +appearance on the scene of Thomas Bagsley, the man +whom Budd believes guilty of the crimes attributed to his father, +leads to several disagreeable complications that nearly caused the +lad's ruin. His pluck and good sense, however, carry him through +his troubles. In following the career of the boy firm of Boyd & +Floyd, the youthful reader will find a useful lesson—that industry +and perseverance are bound to lead to ultimate success. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Errand Boy</b>; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. By +<span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The career of "The Errand Boy" embraces the city adventures +of a smart country lad who at an early age was abandoned by his +father. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted innkeeper +named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for the +hero's subsequent troubles. Accident introduces him to the +notice of a retired merchant in New York, who not only secures +him the situation of errand boy but thereafter stands as his +friend. An unexpected turn of fortune's wheel, however, brings +Philip and his father together. In "The Errand Boy" Philip +Brent is possessed of the same sterling qualities so conspicuous in +all of the previous creations of this delightful writer for our youth. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Slate Picker</b>: The Story of a Boy's Life in the Coal Mines. +By <span class='smcap'>Harry Prentice</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This is a story of a boy's life in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. +There are many thrilling situations, notably that of Ben Burton's +leap into the "lion's mouth"—the yawning shute in the breakers—to +escape a beating at the hands of the savage Spilkins, the +overseer. Gracie Gordon is a little angel in rags, Terence O'Dowd +is a manly, sympathetic lad, and Enoch Evans, the miner-poet, is +a big-hearted, honest fellow, a true friend to all whose burdens +seem too heavy for them to bear. Ben Burton, the hero, had +a hard road to travel, but by grit and energy he advanced step by +step until he found himself called upon to fill the position of +chief engineer of the Kohinoor Coal Company. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A Runaway Brig</b>; or, An Accidental Cruise. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +"A Runaway Brig" is a sea tale, pure and simple, and that's +where it strikes a boy's fancy. The reader can look out upon +the wide shimmering sea as it flashes back the sunlight, and +imagine himself afloat with Harry Vandyne, Walter Morse, Jim +Libby and that old shell-back, Bob Brace, on the brig Bonita, +which lands on one of the Bahama keys. Finally three strangers +steal the craft, leaving the rightful owners to shift for themselves +aboard a broken-down tug. The boys discover a mysterious +document which enables them to find a buried treasure, then a +storm comes on and the tug is stranded. At last a yacht comes in +sight and the party with the treasure is taken off the lonely key. +The most exacting youth is sure to be fascinated with this entertaining +story. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Fairy Tales and Stories.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Hans Christian Andersen</span>. +Profusely Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"If I were asked to select a child's library I should name these three volumes +'English,' 'Celtic,' and 'Indian Fairy Tales,' with Grimm and Hans Andersen's +Fairy Tales."—<i>Independent.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Island Treasure</b>; or, Harry Darrel's Fortune. By <span class='smcap'>Frank +H. Converse</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Harry Darrel, an orphan, having received a nautical training on +a school-ship, is bent on going to sea with a boyish acquaintance +named Dan Plunket. A runaway horse changes his prospects. +Harry saves Dr. Gregg from drowning and the doctor presents his +preserver with a bit of property known as Gregg's Island, and +makes the lad sailing-master of his sloop yacht. A piratical hoard +is supposed to be hidden somewhere on the island. After much +search and many thwarted plans, at last Dan discovers the +treasure and is the means of finding Harry's father. Mr. Converse's +stories possess a charm of their own which is appreciated +by lads who delight in good healthy tales that smack of salt +water. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Boy Explorers</b>: The Adventures of Two Boys in Alaska. +By <span class='smcap'>Harry Prentice</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Two boys, Raymond and Spencer Manning, travel from San +Francisco to Alaska to join their father in search of their uncle, +who, it is believed, was captured and detained by the inhabitants +of a place called the "Heart of Alaska." On their arrival at +Sitka the boys with an Indian guide set off across the mountains. +The trip is fraught with perils that test the lads' courage to the +utmost. Reaching the Yukon River they build a raft and float +down the stream, entering the Mysterious River, from which they +barely escape with their lives, only to be captured by natives of +the Heart of Alaska. All through their exciting adventures the +lads demonstrate what can be accomplished by pluck and resolution, +and their experience makes one of the most interesting tales +ever written. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Treasure Finders</b>: A Boy's Adventures in Nicaragua. By +<span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Roy and Dean Coloney, with their guide Tongla, leave their +father's indigo plantation to visit the wonderful ruins of an ancient +city. The boys eagerly explore the dismantled temples of an extinct +race and discover three golden images cunningly hidden +away. They escape with the greatest difficulty; by taking advantage +of a festive gathering they seize a canoe and fly down the +river. Eventually they reach safety with their golden prizes. +Mr. Otis is the prince of story tellers, for he handles his material +with consummate skill. We doubt if he has ever written a more +entertaining story than "The Treasure Finders." +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Household Fairy Tales.</b> By the <span class='smcap'>Brothers Grimm</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"As a collection of fairy tales to delight children of all ages this work +ranks second to none."—<i>Daily Graphic.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Dan the Newsboy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, +price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The reader is introduced to Dan Mordaunt and his mother living +in a poor tenement, and the lad is pluckily trying to make ends +meet by selling papers in the streets of New York. A little +heiress of six years is confided to the care of the Mordaunts. At +the same time the lad obtains a position in a wholesale house. +He soon demonstrates how valuable he is to the firm by detecting +the bookkeeper in a bold attempt to rob his employers. The +child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child to the house where +she is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt of the little +heiress is so delighted with Dan's courage and many good qualities +that she adopts him as her heir, and the conclusion of the book +leaves the hero on the high road to every earthly desire. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Tony the Hero</b>: A Brave Boy's Adventure with a Tramp. By +<span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen, is under the control +of Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal, shiftless and lazy, spending +his time tramping about the country. After much abuse Tony +runs away and gets a job as stable boy in a country hotel. Tony is +heir to a large estate in England, and certain persons find it necessary +to produce proof of the lad's death. Rudolph for a consideration +hunts up Tony and throws him down a deep well. Of +course Tony escapes from the fate provided for him, and by a +brave act makes a rich friend, with whom he goes to England, +where he secures his rights and is prosperous. The fact that Mr. +Alger is the author of this entertaining book will at once recommend +it to all juvenile readers. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A Young Hero</b>; or, Fighting to Win. By <span class='smcap'>Edward S. Ellis</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This story tells how a valuable solid silver service was stolen +from the Misses Perkinpine, two very old and simple minded +ladies. Fred Sheldon, the hero of this story and a friend of the +old ladies, undertakes to discover the thieves and have them arrested. +After much time spent in detective work, he succeeds in +discovering the silver plate and winning the reward for its restoration. +During the narrative a circus comes to town and a +thrilling account of the escape of the lion from its cage, with its +recapture, is told in Mr. Ellis' most fascinating style. Every +boy will be glad to read this delightful book. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Days of Bruce</b>: A Story from Scottish History. By <span class='smcap'>Grace +Aguilar</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"There is a delightful freshness, sincerity and vivacity about all of Grace +Aguilar's stories which cannot fail to win the interest and admiration of +every lover of good reading."—<i>Boston Beacon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Tom the Bootblack</b>; or, The Road to Success. By <span class='smcap'>Horatio +Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the bootblack. He was +not at all ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the +lookout to better himself. His guardian, old Jacob Morton, died, +leaving him a small sum of money and a written confession that +Tom, instead of being of humble origin, was the son and heir of +a deceased Western merchant, and had been defrauded out of his +just rights by an unscrupulous uncle. The lad started for Cincinnati +to look up his heritage. But three years passed away +before he obtained his first clue. Mr. Grey, the uncle, did not +hesitate to employ a ruffian to kill the lad. The plan failed, and +Gilbert Grey, once Tom the bootblack, came into a comfortable +fortune. This is one of Mr. Alger's best stories. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Captured by Zulus</b>: A story of Trapping in Africa. By <span class='smcap'>Harry +Prentice</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This story details the adventures of two lads, Dick Elsworth +and Bob Harvey, in the wilds of South Africa, for the purpose of +obtaining a supply of zoological curiosities. By stratagem the +Zulus capture Dick and Bob and take them to their principal +kraal or village. The lads escape death by digging their way +out of the prison hut by night. They are pursued, and after a +rough experience the boys eventually rejoin the expedition and +take part in several wild animal hunts. The Zulus finally give +up pursuit and the expedition arrives at the coast without further +trouble. Mr. Prentice has a delightful method of blending fact +with fiction. He tells exactly how wild-beast collectors secure +specimens on their native stamping grounds, and these descriptions +make very entertaining reading. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Tom the Ready</b>; or, Up from the Lowest. By <span class='smcap'>Randolph +Hill</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +This is a dramatic narrative of the unaided rise of a fearless, +ambitious boy from the lowest round of fortune's ladder—the +gate of the poorhouse—to wealth and the governorship of his +native State. Thomas Seacomb begins life with a purpose. While +yet a schoolboy he conceives and presents to the world the germ +of the Overland Express Co. At the very outset of his career +jealousy and craft seek to blast his promising future. Later he +sets out to obtain a charter for a railroad line in connection with +the express business. Now he realizes what it is to match himself +against capital. Yet he wins and the railroad is built. Only +an uncommon nature like Tom's could successfully oppose such a +combine. How he manages to win the battle is told by Mr. Hill +in a masterful way that thrills the reader and holds his attention +and sympathy to the end. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Roy Gilbert's Search</b>: A Tale of the Great Lakes. By <span class='smcap'>Wm. P. +Chipman</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A deep mystery hangs over the parentage of Roy Gilbert. +He arranges with two schoolmates to make a tour of the +Great Lakes on a steam launch. The three boys leave Erie on +the launch and visit many points of interest on the lakes. Soon +afterward the lad is conspicuous in the rescue of an elderly gentleman +and a lady from a sinking yacht. Later on the cruise of the +launch is brought to a disastrous termination and the boys narrowly +escape with their lives. The hero is a manly, self-reliant +boy, whose adventures will be followed with interest. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Young Scout</b>; The Story of a West Point Lieutenant. By +<span class='smcap'>Edward S. Ellis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The crafty Apache chief Geronimo but a few years ago was the +most terrible scourge of the southwest border. The author has +woven, in a tale of thrilling interest, all the incidents of Geronimo's +last raid. The hero is Lieutenant James Decker, a recent graduate +of West Point. Ambitious to distinguish himself so as to win +well-deserved promotion, the young man takes many a desperate +chance against the enemy and on more than one occasion narrowly +escapes with his life. The story naturally abounds in +thrilling situations, and being historically correct, it is reasonable +to believe it will find great favor with the boys. In our opinion +Mr. Ellis is the best writer of Indian stories now before the +public. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Adrift in the Wilds</b>: The Adventures of Two Shipwrecked +Boys. By <span class='smcap'>Edward S. Ellis</span>. 12mo, cloth, price, $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Elwood Brandon and Howard Lawrence, cousins and schoolmates, +accompanied by a lively Irishman called O'Rooney, are en +route for San Francisco. Off the coast of California the steamer +takes fire. The two boys and their companion reach the shore +with several of the passengers. While O'Rooney and the lads +are absent inspecting the neighborhood O'Rooney has an exciting +experience and young Brandon becomes separated from his +party. He is captured by hostile Indians, but is rescued by an +Indian whom the lads had assisted. This is a very entertaining +narrative of Southern California in the days immediately preceding +the construction of the Pacific railroads. Mr. Ellis seems to +be particularly happy in this line of fiction, and the present story +is fully as entertaining as anything he has ever written. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Red Fairy Book.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A gift-book that will charm any child, and all older folk who have been +fortunate enough to retain their taste for the old nursery stories."—<i>Literary +World.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Boy Cruisers</b>; or, Paddling in Florida. By <span class='smcap'>St. George +Rathborne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price, $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Boys who like an admixture of sport and adventure will find +this book just to their taste. We promise them that they will +not go to sleep over the rattling experiences of Andrew George +and Roland Carter, who start on a canoe trip along the Gulf +coast, from Key West to Tampa, Florida. Their first adventure +is with a pair of rascals who steal their boats. Next they run +into a gale in the Gulf and have a lively experience while it lasts. +After that they have a lively time with alligators and divers +varieties of the finny tribe. Andrew gets into trouble with a +band of Seminole Indians and gets away without having his +scalp raised. After this there is no lack of fun till they +reach their destination. That Mr. Rathborne knows just how to +interest the boys is apparent at a glance, and lads who are in +search of a rare treat will do well to read this entertaining story. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Guy Harris</b>: The Runaway. By <span class='smcap'>Harry Castlemon</span>. 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Guy Harris lived in a small city on the shore of one of the +Great Lakes. His head became filled with quixotic notions of +going West to hunt grizzlies, in fact, Indians. He is persuaded +to go to sea, and gets a glimpse of the rough side of life +in a sailor's boarding house. He ships on a vessel and for five +months leads a hard life. He deserts his ship at San Francisco +and starts out to become a backwoodsman, but rough experiences +soon cure him of all desire to be a hunter. At St. Louis he becomes +a clerk and for a time he yields to the temptations of a +great city. The book will not only interest boys generally on +account of its graphic style, but will put many facts before their +eyes in a new light. This is one of Castlemon's most attractive +stories. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Train Boy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, price +$1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported +his mother and sister by selling books and papers on one of the +trains running between Chicago and Milwaukee. He detects a +young man named Luke Denton in the act of picking the pocket +of a young lady, and also incurs the enmity of his brother Stephen, +a worthless fellow. Luke and Stephen plot to ruin Paul, +but their plans are frustrated. In a railway accident many passengers +are killed, but Paul is fortunate enough to assist a Chicago +merchant, who out of gratitude takes him into his employ. Paul +is sent to manage a mine in Custer City and executes his commission +with tact and judgment and is well started on the road +to business prominence. This is one of Mr. Alger's most attractive +stories and is sure to please all readers. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Joe's Luck</b>: A Boy's Adventures in California. By <span class='smcap'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Without a doubt Joe Mason was a lucky boy, but he deserved +the golden chances that fell to his lot, for he had the pluck and +ambition to push himself to the front. Joe had but one dollar in +the world when he stood despondently on the California Mail +Steamship Co.'s dock in New York watching the preparations incident +to the departure of the steamer. The same dollar was +still Joe's entire capital when he landed in the bustling town of +tents and one-story cabins—the San Francisco of '51, and inside +of the week the boy was proprietor of a small restaurant earning a +comfortable profit. The story is chock full of stirring incidents, +while the amusing situations are furnished by Joshua Bickford, +from Pumpkin Hollow, and the fellow who modestly styles himself +the "Rip-tail Roarer, from Pike Co., Missouri." Mr. Alger +never writes a poor book, and "Joe's Luck" is certainly one of +his best. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Three Bright Girls</b>: A Story of Chance and Mischance. By +<span class='smcap'>Annie E. Armstrong</span>. With full page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>W. +Parkinson</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +By a sudden turn of fortune's wheel the three heroines of this +story are brought down from a household of lavish comfort to +meet the incessant cares and worries of those who have to eke out +a very limited income. And the charm of the story lies in the +cheery helpfulness of spirit developed in the girls by their changed +circumstances; while the author finds a pleasant ending to all +their happy makeshifts. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The story is charmingly told, and the book can be warmly recommended +as a present for girls."—<i>Standard.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Giannetta</b>: A Girl's Story of Herself. By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Mulholland</span>. +With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Lockhart Bogle</span>. 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The daughter of a gentleman, who had married a poor Swiss +girl, was stolen as an infant by some of her mother's relatives. +The child having died, they afterward for the sake of gain substitute +another child for it, and the changeling, after becoming +a clever modeler of clay images, is suddenly transferred to the +position of a rich heiress. She develops into a good and accomplished +woman, and though the imposture of her early friends is +finally discovered, she has gained too much love and devotion to +be really a sufferer by the surrender of her estates. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Extremely well told and full of interest. Giannetta is a true heroine—warm-hearted, +self-sacrificing, and, as all good women nowadays are, largely +touched with enthusiasm of humanity. The illustrations are unusually good. +One of the most attractive gift books of the season."—<i>The Academy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Margery Merton's Girlhood.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Alice Corkran</span>. With full-page +Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. 12mo, cloth, price +$1.00. +</p> + +<p> +The experiences of an orphan girl who in infancy is left by her +father—an officer in India—to the care of an elderly aunt residing +near Paris. The accounts of the various persons who have an +after influence on the story, the school companions of Margery, +the sisters of the Conventual College of Art, the professor, and +the peasantry of Fontainebleau, are singularly vivid. There is a +subtle attraction about the book which will make it a great favorite +with thoughtful girls. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Another book for girls we can warmly commend. There is a delightful +piquancy in the experiences and trials of a young English girl who studies +painting in Paris."—<i>Saturday Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Under False Colors</b>: A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By +<span class='smcap'>Sarah Doudney</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>G. G. Kilburne</span>. +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +A story which has in it so strong a dramatic element that it +will attract readers of all ages and of either sex. The incidents +of the plot, arising from the thoughtless indulgence of a deceptive +freak, are exceedingly natural, and the keen interest of the +narrative is sustained from beginning to end. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories—pure +in style, original in conception, and with skillfully wrought out plots; but +we have seen nothing equal in dramatic energy to this book."—<i>Christian +Leader.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Down the Snow Stairs</b>; or, From Good-night to Good-morning. +By <span class='smcap'>Alice Corkran</span>. With Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Gordon Browne</span>. +12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +This is a remarkable story: full of vivid fancy and quaint +originality. In its most fantastic imaginings it carries with it a +sense of reality, and derives a singular attraction from that combination +of simplicity, originality, and subtle humor, which is so +much appreciated by lively and thoughtful children. Children +of a larger growth will also be deeply interested in Kitty's strange +journey, and her wonderful experiences. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Among all the Christmas volumes which the year has brought to our +table this one stands out <i>facile princeps</i>—a gem of the first water, bearing +upon every one of its pages the signet mark of genius.... All is told +with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream appears to be a +solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's Progress."—<i>Christian Leader.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Tapestry Room</b>: A Child's Romance. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. +Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. 12mo, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mrs. Molesworth is a charming painter of the nature and ways of children; +and she has done good service in giving us this charming juvenile which will +delight the young people."—<i>Athenæum</i>, London. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Little Miss Peggy</b>: Only a Nursery Story. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. +With Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. 12mo, cloth, +price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Molesworth's children are finished studies. She is never +sentimental, but writes common sense in a straightforward manner. +A joyous earnest spirit pervades her work, and her sympathy +is unbounded. She loves them with her whole heart, +while she lays bare their little minds, and expresses their foibles, +their faults, their virtues, their inward struggles, their conception +of duty, and their instinctive knowledge of the right and +wrong of things. She knows their characters, she understands +their wants, and she desires to help them. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Polly</b>: A New Fashioned Girl. By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +Few authors have achieved a popularity equal to Mrs. Meade +as a writer of stories for young girls. Her characters are living +beings of flesh and blood, not lay figures of conventional type. +Into the trials and crosses, and everyday experiences, the reader +enters at once with zest and hearty sympathy. While Mrs. +Meade always writes with a high moral purpose, her lessons of +life, purity and nobility of character are rather inculcated by +example than intruded as sermons. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Rosy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. +12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Molesworth, considering the quality and quantity of her +labors, is the best story-teller for children England has yet +known. This is a bold statement and requires substantiation. +Mrs. Molesworth, during the last six years, has never failed to +occupy a prominent place among the juvenile writers of the +season. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A very pretty story.... The writer knows children and their ways +well.... The illustrations are exceedingly well drawn."—<i>Spectator.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Little Sunshine's Holiday</b>: A Picture from Life. By <span class='smcap'>Miss +Mulock</span>. Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. 12mo, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This is a pretty narrative of baby life, describing the simple doings and +savings of a very charming and rather precocious child nearly three years +old."—<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Will be delightful to those who have nurseries peopled by 'Little Sunshines' +of their own."—<i>Athenæum.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Esther</b>: A Book for Girls. By <span class='smcap'>Rosa N. Carey</span>. Illustrated, +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"She inspires her readers simply by bringing them in contact with the +characters, who are in themselves inspiring. Her simple stories are woven +in order to give her an opportunity to describe her characters by their own +conduct in seasons of trial."—<i>Chicago Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Sweet Content.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>W. +Rainey</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"It seems to me not at all easier to draw a lifelike child than to draw a +lifelike man or woman: Shakespeare and Webster were the only two men of +their age who could do it with perfect delicacy and success. Our own age is +more fortunate, on this single score at least, having a larger and far nobler +proportion of female writers; among whom, since the death of George Eliot, +there is none left whose touch is so exquisite and masterly, whose love is so +thoroughly according to knowledge, whose bright and sweet invention is so +fruitful, so truthful, or so delightful as Mrs. Molesworth."—<span class='smcap'>A. C. Swinburne.</span> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>One of a Covey.</b> By the Author of "Honor Bright," "Miss +Toosey's Mission." With Numerous Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>H. J. A. +Miles</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Full of spirit and life, so well sustained throughout that grown-up readers +may enjoy it as much as children. This 'Covey' consists of the twelve +children of a hard-pressed Dr. Partridge, out of which is chosen a little girl +to be adopted by a spoilt, fine lady.... It is one of the best books of the +season."—<i>Guardian.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"We have rarely read a story for boys and girls with greater pleasure. +One of the chief characters would not have disgraced Dickens' pen."—<i>Literary +World.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Little Princess of Tower Hill.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated, +12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This is one of the prettiest books for children published, as pretty as a +pond-lily, and quite as fragrant. Nothing could be imagined more attractive +to young people than such a combination of fresh pages and fair pictures; +and while children will rejoice over it—which is much better than crying for +it—it is a book that can be read with pleasure even by older boys and girls."—<i>Boston +Advertiser.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Honor Bright</b>; or, The Four-Leaved Shamrock. By the Author +of "One of a Covey," "Miss Toosey's Mission," etc., etc. +With full-page Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"It requires a special talent to describe the sayings and doings of children, +and the author of 'Honor Bright,' 'One of a Covey,' possesses that talent +in no small degree."—<i>Literary Churchman.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A cheery, sensible, and healthy tale."—<i>The Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Cuckoo Clock.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With Illustrations +by <span class='smcap'>Walter Crane</span>. 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A beautiful little story. It will be read with delight by every child into +whose hands it is placed.... The author deserves all the praise that has +been, is, and will be bestowed on 'The Cuckoo Clock.' Children's stories are +plentiful, but one like this is not to be met with every day."—<i>Pall Mall +Gazette.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Girl Neighbors</b>; or, The Old Fashion and the New. By <span class='smcap'>Sarah +Tytler</span>. With full-page Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>C. T. Garland</span>. +12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"One of the most effective and quietly humorous of Miss Tytler's stories. +'Girl Neighbors' is a pleasant comedy, not so much of errors as of prejudices +got rid of, very healthy, very agreeable, and very well written."—<i>Spectator.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Little Lame Prince.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Miss Mulock</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"No sweeter—that is the proper word—Christmas story for the little folks +could easily be found, and it is as delightful for older readers as well. There +is a moral to it which the reader can find out for himself, if he chooses to +think."—<i>Herald</i>, Cleveland. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Adventures of a Brownie.</b> As Told to my Child. By +<span class='smcap'>Miss Mulock</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The author of this delightful little book leaves it in doubt all through +whether there actually is such a creature in existence as a Brownie, but she +makes us hope that there might be."—<i>Standard</i>, Chicago. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Only a Girl</b>: A Story of a Quiet Life. A Tale of Brittany. +Adapted from the the French by <span class='smcap'>C. A. Jones</span>. Illustrated, +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"We can thoroughly recommend this brightly written and homely narrative."—<i>Saturday +Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Little Rosebud</b>; or, Things Will Take a Turn. By <span class='smcap'>Beatrice +Harraden</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A most delightful little book.... Miss Harraden is so bright, so +healthy, and so natural withal that the book ought, as a matter of duty, to +be added to every girl's library in the land."—<i>Boston Transcript.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Little Miss Joy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Emma Marshall</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A very pleasant and instructive story, told by a very charming writer in +such an attractive way as to win favor among its young readers. The illustrations +add to the beauty of the book."—<i>Utica Herald.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This story is unique among tales intended for children, alike for pleasant +instruction, quaintness of humor, gentle pathos, and the subtlety with which +lessons moral and otherwise are conveyed to children, and perhaps to their +seniors as well."—<i>The Spectator.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Joan's Adventures at the North Pole and Elsewhere.</b> By +<span class='smcap'>Alice Corkran</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Wonderful as the adventures of Joan are, it must be admitted that they +are very naturally worked out and very plausibly presented. Altogether +this is an excellent story for girls."—<i>Saturday Review.</i> +</p> + +<p> +<b>Count Up the Sunny Days</b>: A Story for Boys and Girls. By +<span class='smcap'>C. A. Jones</span>. With full-page Illustrations, 12mo, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"An unusually good children's story."—<i>Glasgow Herald.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Sue and I.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. O'Reilly</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A thoroughly delightful book, full of sound wisdom as well as fun."—<i>Athenæum.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Lewis Carroll</span>. +With 42 Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>John Tenniel</span>. 12mo, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"From first to last, almost without exception, this story is delightfully +droll, humorous and illustrated in harmony with the story."—<i>New York +Express.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Celtic Fairy Tales.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>. Illustrated by +<span class='smcap'>J. D. Batten</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A stock of delightful little narratives gathered chiefly from the Celtic-speaking +peasants of Ireland."—<i>Daily Telegraph.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A perfectly lovely book. And oh! the wonderful pictures inside. Get +this book if you can; it is capital, all through."—<i>Pall Mall Budget.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>English Fairy Tales.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>. Illustrated +by <span class='smcap'>J. D. Batten</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The tales are simply delightful. No amount of description can do them +justice. The only way is to read the book through from cover to cover."—<i>Magazine +and Book Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The book is intended to correspond to 'Grimm's Fairy Tales,' and it must +be allowed that its pages fairly rival in interest those of the well-known repository +of folk-lore."—<i>Sydney Morning Herald.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Indian Fairy Tales.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>. Illustrated by +<span class='smcap'>J. D Batten</span>. 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Mr. Jacobs brings home to us in a clear and intelligible manner the enormous +influence which 'Indian Fairy Tales' have had upon European literature +of the kind."—<i>Gloucester Journal.</i> +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The present combination will be welcomed not alone by the little ones for +whom it is specially combined, but also by children of larger growth and +added years."—<i>Daily Telegraph.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Blue Fairy Book.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The tales are simply delightful. No amount of description can do them +justice. The only way is to read the book through from cover to cover."—<i>Magazine +and Book Review.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Green Fairy Book.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The most delightful book of fairy tales, taking form and contents together, +ever presented to children."—<span class='smcap'>E. S. Hartland</span>, in <i>Folk-Lore</i>. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Yellow Fairy Book.</b> Edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>. Profusely +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"As a collection of fairy tales to delight children of all ages ranks second +to none."—<i>Daily Graphic</i> (with illustrations). +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.</b> +By <span class='smcap'>Lewis Carroll</span>. With 50 Illustrations by <span class='smcap'>John Tenniel</span>. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A delight alike to the young people and their elders, extremely funny +both in text and illustrations."—<i>Boston Express.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Heir of Redclyffe.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illustrated, +12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A narrative full of interest from first to last. It is told clearly and in a +straightforward manner and arrests the attention of the reader at once, so +that one feels afresh the unspeakable pathos of the story to the end."—<i>London +Graphic.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"Among all the modern writers we believe Miss Yonge first, not in genius, +but in this, that she employs her great abilities for a high and noble purpose. +We know of few modern writers whose works may be so safely commended +as hers."—<i>Cleveland Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"One of this popular author's best. The characters are well imagined and +drawn. The story moves with plenty of spirit and the interest does not flag +until the end too quickly comes."—<i>Providence Journal.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Palace Beautiful</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated, cloth, 12mo, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A bright and interesting story. The many admirers of Mrs. L. T. Meade +in this country will be delighted with the 'Palace Beautiful' for more reasons +than one."—<i>New York Recorder.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>A World of Girls</b>: The Story of a School. By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +"One of those wholesome stories which it does one good to read. It will +afford pure delight to her numerous readers."—<i>Boston Home Journal.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Lady of the Forest</b>: A Story for Girls. By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"This story is written in the author's well-known, fresh and easy style. +All girls fond of reading will be charmed by this well written story. It is +told with the author's customary grace and spirit."—<i>Boston Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class='smcap'>George Macdonald</span>. +Illustrated by <span class='smcap'>George Groves</span>, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"A very pretty story, with much of the freshness and vigor of Mr. Macdonald's +earlier work.... It is a sweet, earnest, and wholesome fairy +story, and the quaint native humor is delightful. A most delightful volume +for young readers."—<i>Philadelphia Times.</i> +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Water Babies</b>: A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby. By <span class='smcap'>Charles +Kingsley</span>. Illustrated, 12mo, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p class="s08"> +"The strength of his work, as well as its peculiar charms, consist in his +description of the experiences of a youth with life under water in the luxuriant +wealth of which he revels with all the ardor of a poetical nature."—<i>New +York Tribune.</i> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="ad p6"> +<p class="center b20"> +BURT'S HOME LIBRARY +</p> + +<p> +Comprising three hundred and sixty-five titles of standard +works, embracing fiction, essays, poetry, history, travel, etc., +selected from the world's best literature, written by authors +of world-wide reputation. Printed from large type on good +paper, and bound in handsome uniform cloth binding. +</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="center"> +<b>Uniform Cloth Binding, Gilt Tops.</b> +<b>Price $1.00 per Copy.</b> +</p> +<hr class="l15" /> + +<ul class="none"> +<li> +Abbe Constantin. By Ludovic +Halevy. +</li> + +<li> +Abbot, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Adam Bede. By George Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Æsop's Fables. +</li> + +<li> +Alhambra, The. By Washington +Irving. +</li> + +<li> +Alice in Wonderland and +Through the Looking Glass. +By Lewis Carroll. +</li> + +<li> +Alice Lorraine. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +All Sorts and Conditions of Men. +By Besant and Rice. +</li> + +<li> +Amiel's Journal. Translated by +Mrs. Humphrey Ward. +</li> + +<li> +Andersen's Fairy Tales. +</li> + +<li> +Anne of Geierstein. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Antiquary, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Arabian Nights Entertainments. +</li> + +<li> +Ardath. By Marie Corelli. +</li> + +<li> +Armadale. By Wilkie Collins. +</li> + +<li> +Armorel of Lyonesse. By Walter +Besant. +</li> + +<li> +Around the World in the Yacht +Sunbeam. By Mrs. Brassey. +</li> + +<li> +Arundel Motto. By Mary Cecil +Hay. +</li> + +<li> +At the Back of the North Wind. +By George Macdonald. +</li> + +<li> +Attic Philosopher. By Émile +Souvestre. +</li> + +<li> +Auld Licht Idylls. By James M. +Barrie. +</li> + +<li> +Aunt Diana. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Aurelian. By William Ware. +</li> + +<li> +Autobiography of Benjamin +Franklin. +</li> + +<li> +Averil. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Bacon's Essays. By Francis +Bacon. +</li> + +<li> +Barbara Heathcote's Trial. By +Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Barnaby Rudge. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Barrack-Room Ballads. By +Rudyard Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Betrothed, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Black Beauty. By Anna Sewell. +</li> + +<li> +Black Dwarf, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Bleak House. By Charles Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Bondman, The. By Hall Caine. +</li> + +<li> +Bride of Lammermoor. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Bride of the Nile, The. By +George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Browning's Poems. (Selections.) +By Robert Browning. +</li> + +<li> +Bryant's Poems. (Early.) By +William Cullen Bryant. +</li> + +<li> +Burgomaster's Wife, The. By +George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Burns' Poems. By Robert Burns. +</li> + +<li> +By Order of the King. By Victor +Hugo. +</li> + +<li> +California and Oregon Trail. By +Francis Parkman, Jr. +</li> + +<li> +Cast Up by the Sea. By Sir +Samuel Baker. +</li> + +<li> +Caxtons, The. By Bulwer-Lytton. +</li> + +<li> +Chandos. By "Ouida." +</li> + +<li> +Charles Auchester. By E. Berger. +</li> + +<li> +Character. By Samuel Smiles. +</li> + +<li> +Charles O'Malley. By Charles +Lever. +</li> + +<li> +Children of the Abbey. By Regina +Maria Roche. +</li> + +<li> +Children of Gibeon. By Walter +Besant. +</li> + +<li> +Child's History of England. By +Charles Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Christmas Stories. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Clara Vaughan. By R. D. +Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Cloister and the Hearth. By +Charles Reade. +</li> + +<li> +Complete Angler. By Walton +and Cotton. +</li> + +<li> +Confessions of an Opium Eater. +By Thomas De Quincey. +</li> + +<li> +Consuelo. By George Sand. +</li> + +<li> +Corinne. By Madame De Stael. +</li> + +<li> +Countess Gisela, The. By E. +Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Countess of Rudolstadt. By +George Sand. +</li> + +<li> +Count Robert of Paris. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Cousin Pons. By Honoré De +Balzac. +</li> + +<li> +Cradock Nowell. By R. D. +Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Cranford. By Mrs. Gaskell. +</li> + +<li> +Cripps the Carrier. By R. D. +Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Crown of Wild Olive, The. By +John Ruskin. +</li> + +<li> +Daniel Deronda. By George +Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Data of Ethics. By Herbert +Spencer. +</li> + +<li> +Daughter of an Empress, The. +By Louisa Muhlbach. +</li> + +<li> +Daughter of Heth, A. By +William Black. +</li> + +<li> +David Copperfield. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Days of Bruce. By Grace +Aguilar. +</li> + +<li> +Deemster, The. By Hall Caine. +</li> + +<li> +Deerslayer, The. By James +Fenimore Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Descent of Man. By Charles +Darwin. +</li> + +<li> +Dick Sand; or, A Captain at +Fifteen. By Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Discourses of Epictetus. Translated +by George Long. +</li> + +<li> +Divine Comedy, The. (Dante.) +Translated by Rev. H. F. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Dombey & Son. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Donal Grant. By George Macdonald. +</li> + +<li> +Donovan. By Edna Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +Dove in the Eagle's Nest. By +Charlotte M. Yonge. +</li> + +<li> +Dream Life. By Ik Marvel. +</li> + +<li> +Duty. By Samuel Smiles. +</li> + +<li> +Early Days of Christianity. By +F. W. Farrar. +</li> + +<li> +East Lynne. By Mrs. Henry +Wood. +</li> + +<li> +Education. By Herbert Spencer. +</li> + +<li> +Egoist, The. By George Meredith. +</li> + +<li> +Egyptian Princess, An. By +George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Eight Hundred Leagues on the +Amazon. By Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Emerson's Essays. (Complete.) +By Ralph Waldo Emerson. +</li> + +<li> +Emperor, The. By George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Essays of Elia. By Charles +Lamb. +</li> + +<li> +Esther. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Executor, The. By Mrs. Alexander. +</li> + +<li> +Fair Maid of Perth. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Fairy Land of Science. By +Arabella B. Buckley. +</li> + +<li> +Far from the Madding Crowd. +By Thomas Hardy. +</li> + +<li> +Faust. (Goethe.) Translated by +Anna Swanwick. +</li> + +<li> +Felix Holt. By George Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Fifteen Decisive Battles of the +World. By E. S. Creasy. +</li> + +<li> +File No. 113. By Émile Gaboriau. +</li> + +<li> +Firm of Girdlestone. By A. +Conan Doyle. +</li> + +<li> +First Principles. By Herbert +Spencer. +</li> + +<li> +First Violin. By Jessie Fothergill. +</li> + +<li> +For Faith and Freedom. By +Walter Besant. +</li> + +<li> +Fortunes of Nigel. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Fragments of Science. By John +Tyndall. +</li> + +<li> +Frederick the Great and His +Court. By Louisa Muhlbach. +</li> + +<li> +French Revolution. By Thos. +Carlyle. +</li> + +<li> +From the Earth to the Moon. By +Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Goethe and Schiller. By Louisa +Muhlbach. +</li> + +<li> +Gold Bug, The, and Other Tales. +By Edgar A. Poe. +</li> + +<li> +Gold Elsie. By E. Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Good Luck. By E. Werner. +</li> + +<li> +Grandfather's Chair. By Nathaniel +Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Great Expectations. By Chas. +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Great Taboo, The. By Grant +Allen. +</li> + +<li> +Great Treason, A. By Mary +Hoppus. +</li> + +<li> +Greek Heroes. Fairy Tales for +My Children. By Charles +Kingsley. +</li> + +<li> +Green Mountain Boys, The. By +D. P. Thompson. +</li> + +<li> +Grimm's Household Tales. By +the Brothers Grimm. +</li> + +<li> +Grimm's Popular Tales. By the +Brothers Grimm. +</li> + +<li> +Gulliver's Travels. By Dean +Swift. +</li> + +<li> +Guy Mannering. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. +</li> + +<li> +Hardy Norseman, A. By Edna +Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +Harold. By Bulwer-Lytton. +</li> + +<li> +Harry Lorrequer. By Charles +Lever. +</li> + +<li> +Heart of Midlothian. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Heir of Redclyffe. By Charlotte +M. Yonge. +</li> + +<li> +Henry Esmond. By Wm. M. +Thackeray. +</li> + +<li> +Her Dearest Foe. By Mrs. +Alexander. +</li> + +<li> +Heriot's Choice. By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Heroes and Hero Worship. By +Thomas Carlyle. +</li> + +<li> +History of a Crime. By Victor +Hugo. +</li> + +<li> +History of Civilization in Europe. +By Guizot. +</li> + +<li> +Holy Roman Empire. By James +Bryce. +</li> + +<li> +Homo Sum. By George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +House of the Seven Gables. By +Nathaniel Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Hunchback of Notre Dame. By +Victor Hugo. +</li> + +<li> +Hypatia. By Charles Kingsley. +</li> + +<li> +Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. +By Jerome K. Jerome. +</li> + +<li> +Iliad, The. Pope's Translation. +</li> + +<li> +Initials, The. By the Baroness +Tautphoeus. +</li> + +<li> +In the Counselor's House. By +E. Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +In the Golden Days. By Edna +Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +In the Schillingscourt. By E. +Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +It Is Never Too Late to Mend. +By Charles Reade. +</li> + +<li> +Ivanhoe. By Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Jack's Courtship. By W. Clark +Russell. +</li> + +<li> +Jack Hinton. By Charles Lever. +</li> + +<li> +Jane Eyre. By Charlotte +Bronte. +</li> + +<li> +John Halifax, Gentleman. By +Miss Mulock. +</li> + +<li> +Joshua. By George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Kenilworth. By Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Kidnapped. By R. L. Stevenson. +</li> + +<li> +Kit and Kitty. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Kith and Kin. By Jessie Fothergill. +</li> + +<li> +Knickerbocker's History of New +York. By Washington Irving. +</li> + +<li> +Knight Errant. By Edna Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +Koran, The. Translated by +George Sale. +</li> + +<li> +Lamplighter, The. By Maria S. +Cummins. +</li> + +<li> +Lady with the Rubies. By E. +Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Last Days of Pompeii. By Bulwer-Lytton. +</li> + +<li> +Last of the Barons. By Bulwer-Lytton. +</li> + +<li> +Last of the Mohicans. By James +Fenimore Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Lena Rivers. By Mary J. +Holmes. +</li> + +<li> +Life of Christ. By Frederic W. +Farrar. +</li> + +<li> +Light of Asia, The. By Sir Edwin +Arnold. +</li> + +<li> +Light That Failed, The. By +Rudyard Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Little Dorrit. By Charles Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Longfellow's Poems. (Early.) +</li> + +<li> +Lorna Doone. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Louise de la Vallière. By Alexandre +Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Love Me Little, Love Me Long, +By Charles Reade. +</li> + +<li> +Lover or Friend? By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Lucile. By Owen Meredith. +</li> + +<li> +Maid of Sker. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Makers of Florence. By Mrs. +Oliphant. +</li> + +<li> +Makers of Venice. By Mrs. +Oliphant. +</li> + +<li> +Man and Wife. By Wilkie Collins. +</li> + +<li> +Man in the Iron Mask. By Alexandre +Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Marquis of Lossie. By George +Macdonald. +</li> + +<li> +Martin Chuzzlewit. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Mary Anerley. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Mary St. John. By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Master of Ballantrae, The. By +R. L. Stevenson. +</li> + +<li> +Masterman Ready. By Captain +Marryat. +</li> + +<li> +Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. +Translated by George Long. +</li> + +<li> +Merle's Crusade. By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Micah Clarke. By A. Conan +Doyle. +</li> + +<li> +Michael Strogoff. By Jules +Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Middlemarch. By George Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Midshipman Easy. By Captain +Marryat. +</li> + +<li> +Mill on the Floss. By George +Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Milton's Poems. By John Milton. +</li> + +<li> +Mine Own People. By Rudyard +Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Molly Bawn. By "The Duchess." +</li> + +<li> +Monastery, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Moonstone, The. By Wilkie +Collins. +</li> + +<li> +Mosses from an Old Manse. By +Nathaniel Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Mysterious Island, The. By +Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Natural Law in the Spiritual +World. By Henry Drummond. +</li> + +<li> +Nellie's Memories. By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Newcomes, The. By William M. +Thackeray. +</li> + +<li> +Nicholas Nickleby. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Ninety-Three. By Victor Hugo. +</li> + +<li> +No Name. By Wilkie Collins. +</li> + +<li> +Not Like Other Girls. By Rosa +N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Odyssey, The. Pope's Translation. +</li> + +<li> +Old Curiosity Shop. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Old Mam'selle's Secret. By E. +Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Old Mortality. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Old Myddleton's Money. By +Mary Cecil Hay. +</li> + +<li> +Oliver Twist. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Only a Word. By George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Only the Governess. By Rosa +N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +On the Heights. By Berthold +Auerbach. +</li> + +<li> +Origin of Species. By Charles +Darwin. +</li> + +<li> +Other Worlds Than Ours. By +Richard Proctor. +</li> + +<li> +Our Bessie. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Our Mutual Friend. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Pair of Blue Eyes, A. By Thos. +Hardy. +</li> + +<li> +Past and Present. By Thomas +Carlyle. +</li> + +<li> +Pathfinder, The. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Pendennis. By William M. +Thackeray. +</li> + +<li> +Pere Goriot. By Honoré de +Balzac. +</li> + +<li> +Peveril of the Peak. By Sir +Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Phantom Rickshaw, The. By +Rudyard Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Phra, the Phoenician. By Edwin +L. Arnold. +</li> + +<li> +Picciola. By X. B. Saintine. +</li> + +<li> +Pickwick Papers. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Pilgrim's Progress. By John +Bunyan. +</li> + +<li> +Pilot, The. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Pioneers, The. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Pirate, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Plain Tales from the Hills. By +Rudyard Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Prairie, The. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Pride and Prejudice. By Jane +Austen. +</li> + +<li> +Prime Minister, The. By Anthony +Trollope. +</li> + +<li> +Prince of the House of David. +By Rev. J. H. Ingraham. +</li> + +<li> +Princess of the Moor. By E. +Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Princess of Thule, A. By William +Black. +</li> + +<li> +Professor, The. By Charlotte +Bronté. +</li> + +<li> +Prue and I. By George William +Curtis. +</li> + +<li> +Queen Hortense. By Louisa +Muhlbach. +</li> + +<li> +Queenie's Whim. By Rosa N. +Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Quentin Durward. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Redgauntlet. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Red Rover. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Reign of Law. By Duke of +Argyle. +</li> + +<li> +Reveries of a Bachelor. By Ik +Marvel. +</li> + +<li> +Rhoda Fleming. By George +Meredith. +</li> + +<li> +Rienzi. By Bulwer-Lytton. +</li> + +<li> +Robert Ord's Atonement. By +Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel +Defoe. +</li> + +<li> +Rob Roy. By Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Romance of Two Worlds. By +Marie Corelli. +</li> + +<li> +Romola. By George Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Rory O'More. By Samuel Lover. +</li> + +<li> +Saint Michael. By E. Werner. +</li> + +<li> +Schonberg-Cotta Family. By +Mrs. Andrew Charles. +</li> + +<li> +Sartor Resartus. By Thomas +Carlyle. +</li> + +<li> +Scarlet Letter, The. By Nathaniel +Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Schopenhauer's Essays. Translated +by T. B. Saunders. +</li> + +<li> +Scottish Chiefs. By Jane Porter. +</li> + +<li> +Scott's Poems. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Search for Basil Lyndhurst. By +Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Second Wife, The. By E. Marlitt. +</li> + +<li> +Seekers After God. By F. W. +Farrar. +</li> + +<li> +Self-Help. By Samuel Smiles. +</li> + +<li> +Sense and Sensibility. By Jane +Austen. +</li> + +<li> +Sesame and Lilies. By John +Ruskin. +</li> + +<li> +Seven Lamps of Architecture. +By John Ruskin. +</li> + +<li> +Shadow of a Crime. By Hal +Caine. +</li> + +<li> +Shadow of the Sword. By Robert +Buchanan. +</li> + +<li> +Shirley. By Charlotte Bronté. +</li> + +<li> +Silas Marner. By George Eliot. +</li> + +<li> +Silence of Dean Maitland. By +Maxwell Grey. +</li> + +<li> +Sin of Joost Avelingh. By +Maarten Maartens. +</li> + +<li> +Sir Gibble. By George Macdonald. +</li> + +<li> +Sketch Book, The. By Washington +Irving. +</li> + +<li> +Social Departure, A. By Sarah +Jeannette Duncan. +</li> + +<li> +Soldiers, Three, etc. By Rudyard +Kipling. +</li> + +<li> +Son of Hagar, A. By Hall +Caine. +</li> + +<li> +Springhaven. By R. D. Blackmore. +</li> + +<li> +Spy, The. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Story of an African Farm. By +Olive Schreiner. +</li> + +<li> +Story of John G. Paton. Told +for Young Folks. By Rev. +James Paton. +</li> + +<li> +Strathmore. By "Ouida." +</li> + +<li> +St. Ronan's Well. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Study in Scarlet, A. By A. +Conan Doyle. +</li> + +<li> +Surgeon's Daughter, The. By +Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Swiss Family Robinson. By +Jean Rudolph Wyss. +</li> + +<li> +Tale of Two Cities. By Charles +Dickens. +</li> + +<li> +Tales from Shakespeare. By +Charles and Mary Lamb. +</li> + +<li> +Talisman, The. By Sir Walter +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Tanglewood Tales. By Nathaniel +Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Tempest and Sunshine. By Mary +J. Holmes. +</li> + +<li> +Tempest Tossed. By Theodore +Tilton. +</li> + +<li> +Ten Nights in a Barroom. By +T. S. Arthur. +</li> + +<li> +Tennyson's Poems. By Alfred +Tennyson. +</li> + +<li> +Ten Years Later. By Alexandre +Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Terrible Temptation, A. By +Charles Reade. +</li> + +<li> +Thaddeus of Warsaw. By Jane +Porter. +</li> + +<li> +Thelma. By Marie Corelli. +</li> + +<li> +Thirty Years' War. By Frederick +Schiller. +</li> + +<li> +Thousand Miles Up the Nile. By +Amelia B. Edwards. +</li> + +<li> +Three Guardsmen. By Alexandre +Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Three Men in a Boat. By Jerome +K. Jerome. +</li> + +<li> +Thrift. By Samuel Smiles. +</li> + +<li> +Toilers of the Sea. By Victor +Hugo. +</li> + +<li> +Tom Brown at Oxford. By +Thomas Hughes. +</li> + +<li> +Tom Brown's School Days. By +Thomas Hughes. +</li> + +<li> +Tom Burke of "Ours." By +Charles Lever. +</li> + +<li> +Tom Cringle's Log. By Michael +Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Tour of the World in Eighty +Days, A. By Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Treasure Island. By Robert +Louis Stevenson. +</li> + +<li> +Twenty Thousand Leagues Under +the Sea. By Jules Verne. +</li> + +<li> +Twenty Years After. By Alexandre +Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Twice Told Tales. By Nathaniel +Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Two Admirals. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Two Years Before the Mast. By +R. H. Dana, Jr. +</li> + +<li> +Uarda. By George Ebers. +</li> + +<li> +Uncle Max. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Uncle Tom's Cabin. By Harriet +Beecher Stowe. +</li> + +<li> +Undine and Other Tales. By De +La Motte Fouqué. +</li> + +<li> +Unity of Nature. By Duke of +Argyle. +</li> + +<li> +Vanity Fair. By Wm. M. Thackeray. +</li> + +<li> +Vendetta. By Marie Corelli. +</li> + +<li> +Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver +Goldsmith. +</li> + +<li> +Vicomte de Bragelonne. By +Alexander Dumas. +</li> + +<li> +Villette. By Charlotte Bronté. +</li> + +<li> +Virginians, The. By Wm. M. +Thackeray. +</li> + +<li> +Water Babies, The. By Charles +Kingsley. +</li> + +<li> +Water Witch, The. By James +Fenimore Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Waverley. By Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Wee Wifie. By Rosa N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Westward Ho! By Charles +Kingsley. +</li> + +<li> +We Two. By Edna Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +What's Mine's Mine. By George +MacDonald. +</li> + +<li> +When a Man's Single. By J. M. +Barrie. +</li> + +<li> +White Company, The. By A. +Conan Doyle. +</li> + +<li> +Whittier's Poems. (Early). +</li> + +<li> +Wide, Wide World. By Susan +Warner. +</li> + +<li> +Widow Lerouge, The. By Émile +Gaboriau. +</li> + +<li> +Window in Thrums. By J. M. +Barrie. +</li> + +<li> +Wing and Wing. By James Fenimore +Cooper. +</li> + +<li> +Woman in White, The. By Wilkie +Collins. +</li> + +<li> +Won by Waiting. By Edna +Lyall. +</li> + +<li> +Wonder Book, A. For Boys and +Girls. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. +</li> + +<li> +Woodstock. By Sir Walter Scott. +</li> + +<li> +Wooed and Married. By Rosa +N. Carey. +</li> + +<li> +Wooing O't. By Mrs. Alexander. +</li> + +<li> +World Went Very Well Then, +The. By Walter Besant. +</li> + +<li> +Wormwood. By Marie Corelli. +</li> + +<li> +Wreck of the Grosvenor, The. +By W. Clark Russell. +</li> + +<li> +Zenobia. By William Ware. +</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +The Fairy Library +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-312.jpg" width="100" height="173" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p> +A series of books composed wholly of Fairy +Stories, compiled and edited by various authors, +comprising the fairy stories and folk tales of +various people. Each volume profusely illustrated +and handsomely bound in cloth ornamented +in gold and colors. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> +<p class="center"> +PRICE $1.00 PER VOLUME. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> + +<p> +<i><b>The Red Fairy Book</b></i>, edited by +<span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>, with numerous illustrations +by H. J. Ford and Lancelot Speed, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>The Blue Fairy Book</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>, with +numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford and G. P. Hood, cloth, price +$1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>The Green Fairy Book</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>, with +numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>The Yellow Fairy Book</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>, with +numerous illustrations by H. J. Ford, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>Celtic Fairy Tales</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>, profusely +illustrated by John D. Batten, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>English Fairy Tales</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>, profusely +illustrated by John D. Batten, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>Indian Fairy Tales</b></i>, edited by <span class='smcap'>Joseph Jacobs</span>, profusely +illustrated by John D. Batten, cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>Andersen's Fairy Tales</b></i>, by <span class='smcap'>Hans Christian Andersen</span>, +with many illustrations by Cooper Edwards and others, cloth, +price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>Grimm's Household Fairy Tales</b></i>, by the <span class='smcap'>Brothers +Grimm</span>, with many illustrations by Walter Crane and others, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>Grimm's Popular Fairy Tales</b></i>, by the <span class='smcap'>Brothers +Grimm</span>, with many illustrations by Walter Crane and others, +cloth, price $1.00. +</p> +<hr class="l30" /> + +<p class="center s08"> +<i>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price +by the publisher, A. L. BURT, 97 Reade Street, New York.</i> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE LITTLE WOMEN SERIES. +</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-313.jpg" width="91" height="145" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +Uniform Cloth Binding. Profusely +Illustrated. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +PRICE 75 CENTS PER COPY. +</p> + +<p> +A series of most delightful stories for young girls. +Selected from the best known writers for children. +These stories are narrated in a simple and lively +fashion and cannot but prove irresistible with the +little ones, while throughout the volumes there is a +comprehension of and sympathy with child thought +and feeling that is almost as rare out of books as in. +These stories are sunny, interesting and thoroughly +winsome and wholesome. +</p> + +<hr class="l05" /> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Adventures of a Brownie</b>, As Told to My Child. +By <span class='smcap'>Miss Mulock</span>. Illustrated. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Adventures in Toyland.</b> What the Marionette Told Molly. By <span class='smcap'>Edith +King Hall</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Lewis Carroll</span>. With 42 Illustrations +by John Tenniel. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Birdie.</b> A Tale of Child Life. By <span class='smcap'>H. L. Childe-Pemberton</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Count Up the Sunny Days.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class='smcap'>C. A Jones</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Cuckoo Clock, The.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With 7 Illustrations by +Walter Crane. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Down the Snow Stairs</b>; or, From Good Night to Good Morning. By +<span class='smcap'>Alice Corkran</span>. With 60 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price 75c. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Joan's Adventures.</b> At the North Pole and Elsewhere. By <span class='smcap'>Alice +Corkran</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Lame Prince</b>, and His Traveling Cloak. By <span class='smcap'>Miss Mulock</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Miss Joy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Emma Marshall</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Miss Peggy.</b> Only a Nursery Story. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With +13 Illustrations by Walter Crane. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Princess of Tower Hill.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated, cloth, +price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Rosebud</b>; or, Things Will Take a Turn. By <span class='smcap'>Beatrice Harraden</span>. +Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Sunshine's Holiday.</b> A Picture from Life. By <span class='smcap'>Miss Mulock</span>. +Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Mixed Pickles.</b> A Story for Girls. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. E. M. Field</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>One of a Covey.</b> By the author of "Honor Bright." With 19 Illustrations +by H. J. A. Miles. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Rosy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With 8 Illustrations by Walter Crane. +Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Sue and I.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Robert O'Reilly</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Sweet Content.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. With 20 Illustrations by W. +Rainey. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Tapestry Room, The.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Through the Looking-Glass</b>, and What Alice Found There. By <span class='smcap'>Lewis +Carroll</span>. With 50 Illustrations by John Tenniel. Cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE CONTINENTAL SERIES. +</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-314.jpg" width="110" height="176" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +Uniform Cloth Binding. Olivine +Edges. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +Extra Illustrated. Price $1.50. +</p> + +<p> +In this series of historical stories each one is +complete in itself, yet taken together they form +one of the most entertaining histories of the Revolution. +The utmost care has been exercised to +have them historically correct, and so much of +romance as is used to make the tales stirring is +subordinated to the facts. They have been written +with the distinct purpose of portraying the +struggle for liberty in romantic form, and while +being in the highest degree interesting stories for +the young, are at the same time especially instructive, +inasmuch as the greatest possible +amount of information is given. +</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p> +<i><b>The Capture of the Laughing Mary.</b></i> A Story +of Two New York Boys in 1776, as set down by Eliphalet +Willett, and edited by <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. With 8 page illustrations +by J. Watson Davis. Extra 12mo, illuminated cloth, +olivine edges, price $1.50. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>With Lafayette at Yorktown.</b></i> A Story of How +Two Boys Joined the Continental Army. By <span class='smcap'>James +Otis</span>. With 8 full page illustrations by George E. Graves. +Extra 12mo, illuminated cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>With Warren at Bunker Hill.</b></i> A Story of the +Siege of Boston. How Ben Scarlett Escaped from Boston +Town, as set down by his Comrade, and edited by <span class='smcap'>James +Otis</span>. With 8 full page illustrations by J. Watson Davis. +Extra 12mo, illuminated cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. +</p> + +<p> +<i><b>With Washington at Monmouth.</b></i> A Story of +Three Philadelphia Boys. By <span class='smcap'>James Otis</span>. With 8 full +page illustrations by George E. Graves. Extra 12mo, +illuminated cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE LITTLE MEN SERIES. +</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-315.jpg" width="102" height="159" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +Uniform Cloth Binding. Profusely +Illustrated. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +PRICE 75 CENTS PER COPY. +</p> + +<p> +This series of boys' books have been selected +from the writings of a large number of popular +authors of juvenile stories, and are particularly +adapted to interest and supply attractive reading +for young boys. The books are profusely illustrated, +and any one seeking to find a book to give +a young boy cannot make a mistake by selecting +from the following list of titles. +</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Black Beauty.</b> The Autobiography of a Horse. By <span class='smcap'>Anna Sewell</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Carrots</b>: Just a Little Boy. By <span class='smcap'>Mrs. Molesworth</span>. Illustrated, cloth, +price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Chunk, Fuskey and Snout.</b> A Story of Wild Pigs for Little People. +By <span class='smcap'>Gerald Young</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Daddy's Boy.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Flat Iron for a Farthing, A.</b> The Story of an Only Son. By <span class='smcap'>Juliana +Horatia Ewing</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Flock of Four, A.</b> A Story for Boys and Girls. By <span class='smcap'>Ismay Thorn</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Geoff and Jim.</b> A Story of School Life. By <span class='smcap'>Ismay Thorn</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Jack</b>: A Topsy Turvy Story. By <span class='smcap'>C. M. Crawley-Boevey</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Jackanapes.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 +cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Larry's Luck.</b> By the author of "Miss Toosey's Mission," "Tom's Opinion." +Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Little Ivan's Hero.</b> A Story of Child Life. By <span class='smcap'>Helen Milman</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Mopsa the Fairy.</b> A Fairy Story for Boys. By <span class='smcap'>Jean Ingelow</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>My Dog Plato</b>: His Adventures and Impressions. By <span class='smcap'>M. H. Cornwall +Legh</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Peter the Pilgrim.</b> The Story of a Boy and His Pet Rabbit. By <span class='smcap'>L. T. +Meade</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Prince Prigio, Adventures of.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Andrew Lang</span>. Illustrated, cloth, +price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Robin's Ride.</b> A Story for Children. By <span class='smcap'>Ellinor D. Adams</span>. Illustrated, +cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Squib and His Friends.</b> A Story for Children. By <span class='smcap'>Ellen Everett +Green</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Tom's Opinion.</b> The Story of a Boys' School. By the author of "Miss +Toosey's Mission." Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>We and the World.</b> A Story for Boys. By <span class='smcap'>Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. +Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Wonder Book, A</b>: For Boys and Girls. Comprising Stories of Classical +Fables. By <span class='smcap'>Nathaniel Hawthorne</span>. Illustrated, cloth, price 75 cents. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE YALE SERIES OF POETS. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-316.jpg" width="124" height="187" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +A Selection of Twenty-five +Authors from the Most Celebrated +Poets of All Nations. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> +<p class="center"> +<span class='smcap'>Each Author's Poems Complete +in One Volume.</span> +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> +<p class="center"> +<i>UNIFORM CLOTH BINDING. PRICE $1.00 +PER COPY.</i> +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> + +<ul class="none"> +<li> +BROWNING, R. +</li> + +<li> +BRYANT. +</li> + +<li> +BURNS. +</li> + +<li> +BYRON. +</li> + +<li> +CHAUCER. +</li> + +<li> +COLERIDGE. +</li> + +<li> +DANTE. +</li> + +<li> +FAUST. +</li> + +<li> +HOOD. +</li> + +<li> +ILIAD. +</li> + +<li> +INGOLDSBY LEGENDS. +</li> + +<li> +KEATS. +</li> + +<li> +LIGHT OF ASIA. +</li> + +<li> +LONGFELLOW. +</li> + +<li> +LUCILE. +</li> + +<li> +MILTON. +</li> + +<li> +MOORE. +</li> + +<li> +ODYSSEY. +</li> + +<li> +POPE. +</li> + +<li> +ROSSETTI. +</li> + +<li> +SHAKESPEARE. +</li> + +<li> +SHELLEY. +</li> + +<li> +SWINBURNE. +</li> + +<li> +TENNYSON. +</li> + +<li> +WHITTIER. +</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +Fireside Series for Girls. +</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-317.jpg" width="100" height="158" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +Uniform Cloth Binding. Illustrated. +</p> + +<p> +A carefully selected series of books for +girls, written by authors of acknowledged +reputation. The stories are deeply interesting +in themselves, and have a moral charm +that emanates from the principal characters; +they teach without preaching, are of lively +interest throughout, and will win the hearts +of all girl readers. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Esther.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>A World of Girls: The Story of a School.</b> +By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Heir of Redclyffe.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illus. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Story of a Short Life.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Our Bessie.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Six to Sixteen: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Gianetta; A Girl's Story of Herself.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Mulholland</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Jan of the Windmill: A Story of the Plains.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Juliana Horatia +Ewing</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Averil.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass.</b> Two +volumes in one. By <span class='smcap'>Lewis Carroll</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Merle's Crusade.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Girl Neighbors; or, The Old Fashion and the New.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Sarah +Tytler</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Polly: A New Fashioned Girl.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illus. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Aunt Diana.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Rosa N. Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Water Babies; A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Charles +Kingsley</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class='smcap'>George Macdonald</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Chaplet of Pearls; or, The White and Black Ribaumont.</b> By +<span class='smcap'>Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Days of Bruce: A Story of Scottish History.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Grace Aguilar</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Margery Merton's Girlhood.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Alice Corkran</span>. Illus. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Three Bright Girls: A Story of Chance and Mischance.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Annie +E. Armstrong</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Pythia's Pupils: The Story of a School.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Eva Hartner</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>The Lady of the Forest: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class='smcap'>L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Only a Girl: A Tale of Brittany.</b> By <span class='smcap'>C. A. Jones</span>. Illus. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Honor Bright; or, The Four-Leaved Shamrock.</b> By the author of +Miss Toosey's Mission. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> + +<p> +<b>Under False Colors: A Story from Two Girls' Lives.</b> By <span class='smcap'>Sarah +Doudney</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE MOTHER GOOSE SERIES. +</p> +<hr class="l15" /> +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-318.jpg" width="134" height="199" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +Handsome Cloth Binding, +Illuminated Covers. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> +<p class="center"> +A Series of Profusely Illustrated +Books for Young +Children. +</p> +<hr class="l05" /> + +<p class="center"> +PRICE, 50 CENTS PER COPY. +</p> + +<hr class="l05" /> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp</b></i>, and Other Stories. +Profusely Illustrated. Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Beauty and the Beast</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. +Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper</b></i>, and Other +Stories. Profusely Illustrated. Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Jack and the Beanstalk</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. +Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Jack the Giant Killer</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. +Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Little Red Riding Hood</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. +Price 50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Mother Goose's Rhymes.</b></i> Profusely Illustrated. Price 50 +cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Mother Hubbard's Melodies.</b></i> Profusely Illustrated. Price +50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>Puss in Boots</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. Price +50 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<i><b>The Sleeping Beauty</b></i>, and Other Stories. Profusely Illustrated. +Price 50 cents. +</p> +</div> + +<div class="p6 ad"> + +<p class="center b15"> +THE IDEAL SERIES. +</p> + +<p class="center"> +Books for Boys by G. A. Henty. +</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/i-319.jpg" width="108" height="166" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Uniform Cloth Binding. Price 75 Cents.</i> +</p> + +<p> +"Mr. Henty is the King of Story Tellers for boys. +All boys will read his stories with eager and unflagging +interest. The episodes are all graphic, exciting, +realistic; in all Mr. Henty's books the tendency is +to the formation of an honorable, manly, and even +heroic character." +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Bonnie Prince Charlie</b>: A Tale of Fontenoy +and Culloden. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>In Times of Peril</b>: A Tale of India. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Clive in India</b>; or, The Beginnings of +an Empire. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Dragon and the Raven</b>; or, The Days +of King Alfred. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Young Carthaginian</b>: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Cornet of Horse</b>: A Tale of Marlborough's Wars. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Lee in Virginia</b>: A Story of the American Civil War. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By England's Aid</b>; or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Boy Knight</b>: A Tale of the Crusades. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 +cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By Pike and Dyke</b>: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Captain Bayley's Heir</b>: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Under Drake's Flag</b>: A Tale of the Spanish Main. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>In Freedom's Cause</b>: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>In the Reign of Terror</b>: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>True to the Old Flag</b>: A Tale of the American War of Independence. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>With Wolfe in Canada</b>; or, The Winning of a Continent. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Young Buglers</b>: A Tale of the Peninsular War. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>By Right of Conquest</b>; or, With Cortez in Mexico. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>St. George for England</b>: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Bravest of the Brave</b>: With Peterborough in Spain. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>For Name and Fame</b>; or, Through Afghan Passes. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Young Colonists</b>: A Story of Life and War in South Africa. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. +Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>The Lion of St. Mark</b>: A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. By +<span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price 75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Through the Fray</b>: A Story of the Luddite Riots. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. Price +75 cents. +</p> + +<p class="hanging"> +<b>Orange and Green</b>: A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. By <span class='smcap'>G. A. Henty</span>. +Price 75 cents. +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With the Swamp Fox, by James Otis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH THE SWAMP FOX *** + +***** This file should be named 44651-h.htm or 44651-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/6/5/44651/ + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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