“Why do you not keep in the saddle that you may follow our people?” and Edward replied with a laugh which had in it no tremor of fear: “Are we not Minute Boys of South Carolina as well as you, and shall we separate at the very moment when there is opportunity of showing what our company may do?” However dire had been the danger, I must have laughed at that moment, when he spoke of us four boys as representing the company which we hoped would some day win renown, and yet the lad was right in telling us to stand together, for, without in any way thinking to take praise to myself, we did on that night make such a name for the company yet to be formed as brought to us more recruits than we had anticipated even in our wildest dreams. I know not how it may be with others, but as for me, once the fumes of powder are in my nostrils, and the angry buzzing of bullets sounds in my ears, I lose consciousness, so to speak, even as I did on this night when I loaded and discharged my weapon until the barrel of the musket was hot, so that it burned my hands. I was wondering what must be the result when the gun was no longer in condition for use, but was interrupted in my speculations by a wild cry from Gabriel, as he seized my arm and rushed forward in what seemed to be the very thick of the fray, where were horses and men in one confused tangle. “See! Yonder is Seth Hastings dragging Archie to cover!” Then for the first time did my heart sink within me, because the cur of whom he spoke, with our comrade in his power, was on the other side of the encampment. Between them and us were both friend and foe, and it seemed absolutely certain we must plunge straight into death if any attempt to reach them was made. CHAPTER VI THE RESCUE Just for a moment as we stood there in the midst of the battle, for such indeed it was, did I believe it would be impossible for us to aid Archie, howsoever eager we were to do so, and this same thought must have been in the minds of my comrades, for Gabriel shouted as if to arouse our courage: “We should be able to make our way around the combatants! Our people are holding their own despite the heavy odds, and I believe we may leave them to do all the work since we are shirking the fight for the purpose of rescuing a prisoner.” “We can still be taking good part in the battle while making a change of position,” Edward Marshall added, as if he thought it necessary to argue me into the mood for going to Archie’s aid. Even while making reply I glanced around, able now to take in the details of the scene as I had not done before, for this brief conversation had aroused me, so to speak, from the fever born of battle.