It was on my tongue’s end to suggest that twenty could hardly hope to stand up very long against four hundred; but, fortunately, the words were not spoken, and thus I did not again prove myself a simple. If you ask me whether I felt any fear regarding the coming attack, when we were to be outnumbered twenty to one, I must say “no,” and this not because I can be counted a lad of wondrous bravery, but simply for the reason that the desire to release Archie Gordon was so great there was no room in my mind for any other thought. To make this attack was but a means of gaining the end I so ardently desired. Our people made no other preparation than that of resting and feeding themselves and their horses until an hour after sunset, and one would have said we were a party of idlers who cared only to pass the time as comfortably as might be; but when the commander and Captain Horry began saddling their horses, the bustle and excitement were decidedly of a warlike nature. Old Peter proposed to carry me, during the short march, behind him on the saddle, and one of the troopers who bestrode a heavy beast afforded like service to Gabriel. Therefore we were not forced to lag in the rear during this march, which was made at a slow trot until having arrived at a point which Gabriel and I believed was not more than a mile from the encampment. Then it was that we were halted, and our commander said, speaking in a low tone and yet so clearly that all could hear him: “You already understand what may be expected when we strike the enemy. You know quite as well as I how important to the cause it is that we should come off victorious in whatsoever attempt is made just at this time. If you would save your own lives you must fight as you never did before, and if you would free your country, there must be in your hearts no fear of death.” It was not so much the words, as the tone in which they were spoken, that thrilled me. Every nerve in my body was aquiver with excitement as I, in obedience to Captain Horry’s gesture, slipped off from old Peter’s horse and made ready to follow as best I might in the mad charge so soon to be made. “You two lads shall not be handicapped by arriving too late,” General Marion said as if conferring upon us some great favor. “We will wait here ten minutes while you are advancing, and if it so be no obstacles are found in your way, you should be ready to join us in the attack.” His was a thoughtfulness which touched me deeply, for it is not often that a man eager to win renown as a champion of his country’s cause, overburdened by that desire, stops to realize the sorrow a lad may feel because he is not allowed an opportunity of showing whether he can do full duty as a soldier. I vowed then, while I pressed forward by the side of Gabriel, who was advancing at his best pace, that however sorely fortune might buffet me, so long as Francis Marion remained at liberty to march against the enemy, so long would I follow him while I might.