“We must earn that right!” Jared Green cried quickly, “and we will do so, else am I much mistaken, for, unfortunately, yet many a weary day must pass before we can say that the invaders have been driven from the soil of the Carolinas.” Then we fell to talking of what it might yet be possible for us Minute Boys to do, growing more cheerful each moment, until General Marion and Captain Horry came up, halting directly in front of us. “It is no more than right that I should praise you for what has been done this day,” the commander said abruptly. “You showed the best of soldierly qualities by remaining at the post assigned, instead of joining in the chase, which I know must have been a great temptation to disobedience, and, in addition, gave good proof that we can count on you as upon any others in the force. More than once during the little action did I observe you carefully, and it made my heart warm to see you stand up before that fire like well-seasoned soldiers.” “We are not deserving such praise, sir,” I ventured to interrupt, “and I much fear you have been led to speak these kindly words by Master Sawyer, who was pleased to make sport of us because we were looking mournful at having lost an opportunity to prove ourselves.” “In much of that you are right, lad. It was Master Sawyer called my attention to the fact that the Minute Boys were bewailing what they were pleased to call their ill-fortune, but before he spoke Captain Horry and myself had commented in warm terms upon your bearing under fire, and it was my purpose to repeat later what I have just said. Therefore Master Sawyer had no other hand in it than to hasten the time. Nor are we two alone in believing that you behaved yourselves in goodly fashion, for I have heard more than one of the troopers give you full meed of praise. Keep on as you have begun, and I shall feel proud of having such lads under my command.” With these words the general turned away, leaving us staring at each other like stupids, hardly knowing whether to laugh or frown. We could not disbelieve him, yet it seemed impossible we had fairly won any such commendation. “It seems as if we have very little idea of what the Minute Boys have done,” Archie said laughingly. “Who shall say but that one day we will find ourselves famous throughout all the Colonies without having been aware of doing anything out of the ordinary.” Gabriel’s face was actually radiant with joy because of what his brother had said, and I fancied he was on the point of giving words to that which was in his mind, when a young girl, perhaps no more than fourteen years old, appeared suddenly from around the corner of the dwelling, coming directly toward where we lay. It was not so rare to see girls or women about a plantation as to have excited any comment from us, but there was that in her bearing which spoke of something important. Without being able to explain why, every lad of our company believed she was seeking the Minute Boys.