“We must tell Gabriel and the rest of the company,” I said excitedly. “Wait here and I will fetch them.” Then I ran with all speed to the commander’s quarters, finding there Gabriel and half a dozen of my companions, whom I summoned without loss of time by saying: “Jacob and Jared have brought in great news. Come at once to our quarters!” They could understand full well from my appearance that something of moment was in the wind, and I had no reason to complain of their delay. Five minutes later the Minute Boys were gathered, and Jacob repeated his story. My comrades were quite as highly excited as was I, and never one of them doubted the truth of the information, or that it related to the lad we were so eager to get into our clutches. In a twinkling, forgetting that because of having walked into the trap which the traitorous cur laid for us we had vowed never to go out as a company of Minute Boys on our own account, we at once began to argue as to how we might turn this news to advantage. More than one believed we should set out in skirmish line, advancing two or three miles from the encampment in the direction from which we believed the cur would come, and there await him. I was of this number. If the scoundrel came up until having seen our people, he would make his escape, and we would be culpable because of having lingered in camp without taking some steps toward welcoming him in proper fashion. Unfortunately as it then seemed--and I still hold that the disaster which finally came to us might have been averted if we had set off in search of Seth Hastings at once--the day was destined to be one of excitement, for before we could decide upon a plan satisfactory to all, two men, well known to be friends to the Cause, rode into camp with information of the highest importance. It was rumored among the people of Georgetown, so the newcomers said, that Lord Cornwallis had begged Tarleton to make an end of General Marion, with the result that the infamous butcher had arisen from a bed of sickness brought on by his own excesses, with a vow that he would capture the “scurvy Swamp Fox,” and at once sent word to his legion, which was before Camden, with orders to meet him on the Wateree River, from whence he would set out to capture our general. We lads did not hear this report made, but several of the troopers were present at the interview, and reported that our general said in reply: “We will make Colonel Tarleton’s commission as easy of accomplishment as possible, so far as the whereabouts of the ‘Swamp Fox’ is concerned.” Of course this was the same as saying that General Marion intended to set off to meet the butcher Tarleton half-way.