Now it was we halted for the merest fraction of time that General Marion and Captain Horry might take the lead, the former saying as he passed us: “Follow me, and see to it that you keep together, at least until we are well at the end of the charge.” Then, as we allowed the horses to walk up the hill through a heavy growth of timber wherein there was little or no underbrush, Gabriel, who rode between Archie and me, said in a whisper: “We will follow the leader until such time as we catch a glimpse of Seth Hastings, and then, unless the redcoats make a stand when our services will be needed with the troop, we are to strike out for ourselves, because I am not minded that cur shall give us the slip.” “I am not certain I can do very much in the way of shooting from the saddle,” I said, unslinging my musket, thus following the example of those around me, and Gabriel replied as if in alarm: “Don’t make any attempt to shoot the traitor, for then his troubles would soon be over, and I am of the mind that he needs more punishment in this world than a speedy death.” “I hope you do not propose that the Minute Boys shall turn Indians and give him a taste of torture?” Archie said sharply, and one of the men riding near at hand reproved him for speaking aloud, because it was of the utmost importance that we succeed in surprising the redcoats. “We won’t make quite such heathens of ourselves,” Gabriel whispered sufficiently loud for me to hear; “but at the same time I almost believe we would be warranted in outdoing even the Indians toward the squaring of accounts. Once we clap our eyes on him, however, it is for us to ride the cur down, however far the chase may lead.” Save for such experience in warfare as I had had during the siege of Charleston, I was a novice in the soldier’s trade, and had never yet fired a gun at a human being. Therefore it was little wonder that every nerve in my body was tingling with the excitement of the moment, and my heart seemingly crowding its way up into my throat. The one fear I had was that if the enemy made a stand, and we were thus forced to fight a pitched battle, I might show the white feather; but immediately we joined the troopers on the hill, and found General Marion and Captain Horry waiting for us to come before giving the signal to make a dash, I forgot everything save the desire to wreak vengeance upon those who had captured our city, and done so much to humiliate us. Then I saw the general raise his hand. It was the signal, and as my fingers tightened on the bridle-rein, the horse beneath me leaped forward eagerly as if burning with the same mad desire that was in my heart! I urged him forward even though he was doing his best, and prayed that it might be my good fortune to show what one boy of South Carolina could do when there came to him an opportunity of avenging the insults which the king’s hirelings had heaped upon his people. CHAPTER IV DISAPPOINTMENT