They talked of this thing and of that; sometimes as to the good points of their horses, and again of the make of saddle most suited to a rider, never saying anything to give us a clue as to their purpose until nearly two hours had passed, when the conversation turned upon the next day’s journey, one of them saying carelessly: “There is little likelihood we shall come across any rebels during the next two or three days’ march, for all the people around about here are loyal to the king, therefore may we ride as fast as we please to-morrow.” This was all we heard betokening their intentions, yet the words were sufficient to tell what we desired to learn. There could no longer be any doubt that they were searching for the “ragged regiment,” incited to such task, most likely, by the rewards which had been offered by the British for reliable information concerning the whereabouts of the “Swamp Fox.” It would have been a simple matter for us to capture a certain number of the party, but in order to do our work thoroughly it was necessary we take even the last one, for if either escaped us, then would the word be carried back that General Marion was in the vicinity of this camp, because none save he would venture thus to brave the anger of the king’s troopers. Therefore it behooved us to take every precaution lest a single man slip between our fingers. We waited fully two hours after the last sound of conversation had died away, and then was it certain, if the strangers were counting on sleeping that night, their eyes were closed in rest. Gabriel motioned for us to follow him, and we did so knowing full well that upon the strict silence in which we made our way all the success of the adventure depended. After creeping for five minutes or more so cautiously that not a twig snapped beneath our weight, we came to the small cleared place which the strangers had selected as an encampment, and even in the gloom could see that they were sleeping near the foot of a pine-tree that had been overturned by the wind. The overhanging mass of roots formed a certain shelter which served to protect them from the dew. Their rifles were stacked against one of the bushes at a distance of no more than three yards from where they lay, and, as a matter of course, it was first necessary to secure possession of these. I would have moved on in advance in order to do this most important portion of the work, but that Gabriel held me back, himself taking the lead, and when Archie and I were come within perhaps a dozen paces of the sleepers, we halted until our comrade rose up from behind the bushes with the muskets in his arms. Then we stood erect, our weapons levelled full upon the unconscious men, and Gabriel cried in a loud voice: “You have come to an end of your work as far as hunting rebels is concerned, and now yield yourselves prisoners or we shall fire!”