I question if it be not more wearying to spend a day in the saddle, to one who had not ridden for many months, than to walk during that length of time. For my part, I was thoroughly tired out when I threw myself upon the ground with no more care as to a bed than to use my saddle for a pillow, and it was as if I had just composed myself to rest when I drifted off into slumber-land. It seemed as if I had no more than closed my eyes in rest when I was awakened by being shaken violently, and on first returning to consciousness I heard old Peter whispering in my ear: “Rouse up, Marse Randolph, I’se allowin’ dem British sojers am near by.” I was awake on the instant, and then understood, from the absence of the moon, which had been shining when I fell asleep, that the night was more than half-gone. My comrades were already awake and on their feet, and Gabriel was saying in an anxious whisper as I joined them: “It’s certain that a party of horsemen have gone on up the road, for I heard the trample of hoofs even as old Peter awakened me. It stands us in hand to know whether they be friend or foe.” “Why should it concern us, if so be they travel rapidly enough to keep out of our way?” I asked like a simple, and Gabriel, true lad that he was, replied gently when he would have been warranted in speaking sharply: “We must know what lies ahead of us, else are we like to ride into danger as do those who are blindfolded.” “And how do you count on finding out?” I asked irritably, for it vexed me to thus be deprived of the rest I needed. “One of us must follow until it is certain the strangers have not gone into camp, and at daybreak the others may bring up the horses. I am ready to act as scout, and you fellows may lie down again with the understanding that one or the other stand guard during the remainder of the night. Instead of showing ourselves worthy to become soldiers, we have acted like children in making camp as we did, for the first duty should have been to station a sentinel.” “You shall not go on alone,” I said, now ashamed because of having given heed only to my own desires, and Archie stoutly claimed the right to go with us. We might have argued on this question until another day had come, had not Gabriel said hurriedly: “Since neither of you will take advantage of the opportunity to sleep, we’ll all go, and if by daylight old Peter has heard nothing concerning us, he shall come up the road with the horses.” As Gabriel said, so we did, and with our weapons charged, for we had left General Marion’s plantation fully equipped, we advanced swiftly, yet with due heed lest we overrun the quarry, leaving behind old Peter in a very disagreeable frame of mind, for his last words were a complaint that he was to be left in the rear when it was his duty to lead the way.