When he returned half an hour later we gathered around him eagerly, and he told us in substance, although in not the exact words which I have set down, that our commander and Captain Horry believed it would be unwise to remain in South Carolina while the chase was conducted with such spirit, for further attacks upon the enemy would result in the entire country being laid waste. It was to avoid this wholesale destruction of property and consequent sufferings of the people, that General Marion had decided to take refuge in the Black Mingo Swamp, but he counted on remaining there only until the pursuit had in a certain degree been abandoned, when all the members of his command would be summoned for duty, and we find ourselves with plenty of work cut out for us. Gabriel’s interview with his brother proved to be of considerable more importance than that of gratifying our curiosity. The general stated as his belief that we might be forced to remain inactive for several weeks, and during that time it was in the highest degree necessary he should have full information concerning what was being done in the country roundabout. To such end he intended to send out two small parties as scouts, three or four men forming one company, and an equal number of the Minute Boys the other. These scouts were to remain absent eight and forty hours, one squad setting off four and twenty hours in advance of the other, thereby ensuring a report at least once every day. It goes without saying that this information pleased us wondrously, for it would have been heart-sickening to remain there idle while knowing that the king’s hirelings were working their will among our people, and even though we might not have an encounter with them, there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that we were at least doing something in the way of maintaining a hold upon our own homes, however feeble it might be. Even while Gabriel was repeating to us the conversation which had passed between his brother and himself, three of the men rode out through the swamp under the guidance of old Peter, and we knew that the first party of scouts had begun the work of gathering information. Then came the question as to which of our company should first go on this duty. As a matter of course every fellow was eager to be up and doing as soon as possible, and it would have been unfair had Gabriel made any selection when one had as good a right as another to be foremost in the work. It was Archie Gordon’s proposition that we draw lots for the coveted task, and in order that there might be no question as to the fairness of this method, old Peter was called up as soon as he came back from guiding the men, to prepare seventeen twigs, three of which should be shorter than the others, and those who drew these last were to comprise the first scouting party.