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 OF THE 
 
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This book must not 
 be token from the 
 Library buifding. 
 
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BOYS OF LIBERTY LIBRARY. 
 
 l2rao. Cloth, handsomely bound. Price, each, postpaid, 50 cents. 
 
 PAUL REVERE and the Boys of Liberty. By John De Morgan. 
 
 THE FIRST SHOT FOR LIBERTY or The Minute Men of Maasachusetts. 
 
 By John De Morgan. 
 FOOLING THE ENEMY. A Story of the Siege of Boston. By John De Morgan. 
 
 INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH or The Boys of Liberty at the Battle of 
 
 Long Island. By John De Morgan. 
 THE HERO OF TICONDEROGA or Ethan Allen and His Green Mountain 
 
 Boys. By John De Morgan. 
 ON TO QUEBEC or With Montgomery in Canada. By John De Morgan. 
 FIGHTING HAL or From Fort Necessity to Quebec. By John De Morgan. 
 MARION AND HIS MEN or The Swamp Fox of Carolina. By John De 
 /' Morgan. 
 
 '^ THE YOUNG AMBASSADOR or Washington's First Triumph. By John 
 
 De Morgan. 
 THE YOUNG GUARDSMAN or With Washington in the Ohio Valley. 
 
 By John De Morgan. 
 THE CRUISE OF THE LIVELY BEE or A Boy's Adventure in the War 
 
 of i8i3. By John De Morgan. 
 THE TORY PLOT o- Saving Washington's Life. By T. C. Harbaugh. 
 IN BUFF AND BLUE or Serving under Old Put. By T. C. Harbaugh. 
 WASHINGTON'S YOUNG SPY or Outwitting General Howe. By T. C. 
 
 Harbaugh. 
 UNDER GREENE'S BANNER or The Boy Heroes of 1781. By T. C 
 
 Harbaugh. 
 FOR FREEDOM'S CAUSE or On to Saratoga. By T. C. Harbaugh. 
 CAPTAIN OF THE MINUTE MEN or The Concord Boys of 1775. By 
 
 Harrie Ir\'ing Hancock. 
 THE TRADER'S CAPTIVE or The Young Guardsman and The French 
 
 Spies. By Lieut. Lounsberry. 
 
 THE QUAKER SPY, A Tale of the Revolutionary War. By Lieut. 
 
 Lounsberry. 
 
 FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM or The Birth of the Stars and Stripes. By 
 
 Lieut. Lounsberry. 
 
 BY ORDER OF THE COLONEL or The Captain of the Young Guards- 
 men. By Lieut. Lounsberry. 
 
 A CALL TO DUTY or The Young Guardsman. By Lieut. Lounsberry. 
 
 IN GLORY'S VAN or The Young Guardsman at Louisbourg. By Lieut. 
 
 Lounsberry. 
 
 THE YOUNG PATRIOT or The Young Guardsmen at FOrt William 
 Henry. By Lieut. Lounsberry. 
 
 ••OLD rt r" THE PATRIOT or Fighting for Home and Country. By 
 
 Fre«»- rick A. Ober. 
 
 THE LEAGUE OF FIVE or Washington's Boy Scouts. By Commander 
 
 Post. 
 
 THE KING'S MESSENGER or The Fall of Ticonderoga. By Capt. Frank 
 Ralph. 
 
 DASHING PAUL JONES, The Hero of the Colonial Navy. By Frank 
 
 Sheridan. 
 
 FROM MIDSHIPMAN TO COMMODORE or The Glories of Our Infant 
 
 Navy. By Frank Sheridan. 
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE ESSEX or Making the Stars and Stripes Re- 
 spected. By Frank Sheridan. 
 
UNDER GREENE'S 
 BANNER 
 
 OR 
 
 THE BOY HEROES OF 1781 
 
 BY 
 
 T. C. HARBAUGH 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 " In Buff and Blue," " The Tory Plot," " Washington's 
 
 Young Spy," etc. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER 
 610 South Washington Square 
 
Copyright, 1904 
 By STREET & SMITH 
 
 Under Green's Banner 
 
 o 
 
UNDER GREENE'S BANNER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CAPT. SAMSON MEETS HIS MATCH. 
 
 "What would I do if I had the power, eh? There 
 wouldn't be a live rebel in the Carolinas. I'd make 
 the trees bear the strangest fruit they ever bore. 
 King George has been too lenient with his rebellious 
 subjects. They deserve death, every mother's son 
 of them ! I wish he would give me power to chas- 
 tise them." 
 
 'T'm afraid you'd need a larger army than Lord 
 Cornwallis has." 
 
 "What's that, boy? You're one of 'em, I suppose." 
 
 "Just as you please, Capt. Samson." 
 
 Capt. Samson, who was known as one of the Tory 
 leaders of the Carolinas, a big, brutal-looking man, six 
 feet in his heavy boots, which were heavily slashed 
 with mud, threw a look of withering hatred and scorn 
 at the youthful speaker. It was seldom anyone 
 deigned to cross him, and he felt the stroke. 
 
 "Why don't you take service under your Gen. 
 
6 Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 
 
 Greene, who runs away from Lord Cornwallis like a 
 rabbit from a hound? You're old enough to hang, by 
 George ! you are !" 
 
 There was no immediate response to this savage 
 taunt. 
 
 The youth, who was operating the pole of a black- 
 smith's bellows in a little smithy on Rocky Creek in 
 North Carolina, a stream that ran between the upper 
 Peedee and the Catawba, bent to his work, but he did 
 not take his eye from Capt. Samson. 
 
 *T don't know but what I may," he said at last. 
 
 "The sooner you go the better. We'll have rope 
 enough left when it's needed for you." 
 
 The little group in the smithy looked at one an- 
 other and feared for Rodney Black, the boy. They 
 admonished him with their looks to curb his tongue 
 while arguing with Capt. Samson, but he did not seem 
 to fear the bitter partisan. 
 
 Old Jackson, the blacksmith, continued to beat out 
 the horseshoe on the anvil, bending to his work with 
 zeal, for he feared the Tory legion led by Capt. 
 Samson. 
 
 Moreover, he was old, and had a family to support, 
 though it was known that he was a rebel at heart 
 and had performed some good work for the cause in 
 the making of sabers for Marion and his men, who 
 averred that better weapons were never put into the 
 hands of the defenders of freedom. 
 
Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 7 
 
 The shoe was for the Tory's horse, which stood 
 champing his bit at the door under a large tree. The 
 home of the blacksmith stood near the shop, and 
 standing in the doorway from which she could hear the 
 voices was Jackson's niece, a fair young girl of nine- 
 teen, the belle of the district, and one whose heart 
 was with Rodney, the boy apprentice. 
 
 She recognized Capt. Samson's vociferous tones, for 
 she had heard his invectives on other occasions, and 
 she longed for the time when the big fellow should 
 fall into the hands of Marion or Hugar. 
 
 It was a long day when the Tory leader dropped 
 a quarrel of his own making. 
 
 ''Drop your work and go to Greene !" he snapped, 
 returning to the altercation with Rodney. "By the 
 way, I like to slap insolent little rebels." 
 
 He advanced across the dirt floor of the shop, and 
 his eyes fairly blazed. 
 
 Rodney watched him closely, and worked the bel- 
 lows. 
 
 He was a stout built boy of sixteen, and his muscles, 
 owing to his occupation, had become as steel. 
 
 **You had better not," his eyes said. 
 
 "I don't take Insolence. I wouldn't If It cam.e from 
 the rebel Washington !" continued the Tory. 
 
 By this time he was face to face with the young 
 partisan. His great hand, which had helped more than 
 
<<T'1 
 
 8 Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 
 
 one patriot into eternity, was lifted in mid air and his 
 face grew dark with passion. 
 
 Seeing that the man really meant to carry out his 
 threat, Rodney dropped the bellows pole and stepped 
 aside. It was a quick move on his uart, and the next 
 moment he stood erect, holding in hiG hands a hammer 
 that leaned against the anvil block- 
 He looked like a person brougn.t to bay, and his 
 tense muscles told that he would defend his honor to 
 the last extremity. 
 
 "Going to show fight, eh?" laughed the captain. 
 "That's just what I like!" 
 
 I'll defend myself, as everyone should." 
 But you won't strike me with that weapon?" 
 That's for you to find out." 
 
 Capt. Samson seemed to retract his hastiness, but he 
 was not of the kind to retreat. 
 
 "Put it down !" he cried. "Throw it down, I say !" 
 
 Rodney did not obey. That was the last thing he in- 
 tended to do. 
 
 "I'll give you half a minute, and, if at the end of that 
 time you menace me with that hammer, I'll leave my 
 mark on your face." 
 
 "You can try it, sir.'* 
 
 "I can, eh? By George! I'll accept the challenge, 
 so here goes !" 
 
 With this he executed a sudden movement forward 
 ?.nd his arm shot out toward the. patriot boy. 
 
 «' 
 
 «' 
 
Capt. Sa.jiaon Meets His Match. 9 
 
 It would have delivered a terrible blow, for the 
 blood of the brute was at fever heat, but at that mo- 
 ment the hammer on the long handle was thrown for- 
 ward and, beating dov/n the captain's arm, struck him 
 on the head. 
 
 With a half stifled cry the Tory reeled away and 
 dropped to the ground, almost under his horse's feet. 
 
 The few spectators stood appalled. 
 
 Still holding his novel weapon in his hands, Rod- 
 ney looked at his fallen foe and then glanced round 
 the shop. 
 
 He knew that the lookers-on were, for the most part, 
 with him. 
 
 Capt. Samson bled profusely, for the slanting blow 
 had cut through the scalp, and when he opened his 
 eyes and staggered to his feet he had a dazed look. 
 
 Rodney had not moved from his tracks. 
 
 "Where's the young rebel?" cried the giant. 
 
 "Here !" 
 
 Capt. Samson started forward, but the hammer 
 shot into the air again, the hands of the boy clutch- 
 ing the handle with the determination of fate. 
 
 All expected to see the Tory draw one of the pis- 
 tols in his leathern belt, but his hand did not reach 
 in that direction. 
 
 He seemed to take another and wiser view of the 
 situation, for he grated his yellow teeth and said 
 nothing. 
 
lo Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 
 
 Old Jackson, whose work had been interrupted by 
 the scene just described, resumed it, and in a few min- 
 utes he had fitted the shoe to the animal's foot. 
 
 It did not take him long to finish the job, and he 
 turned to Capt. Samson to announce that the job was 
 done. , 
 
 Without so much as offering a farthing in pay the 
 Tory leader mounted the animal and gathered up the 
 lines. 
 
 ''We'll settle this another time !" he cried, hoarse 
 with rage, as he singled out Rodney Black. "I'll not 
 forget that blow, you young reb^l imp. I'll have the 
 pleasure of stringing you up to a limb before long, 
 and woe to the man who cuts you down !" 
 
 A smile of fearlessness was the boy's reply. 
 
 '*We are going to drive Greene into the sea or 
 catch his whole rabble !" he went on, laughing bois- 
 terously. 'We've got him in a trap now " 
 
 "He seems to get out of your traps with ease," 
 grinned Rodney, for he recalled how Greene had 
 slipped through the fingers of Comwallis ever since 
 Greene superseded Gen. Gates in command of the 
 American army in the South. 
 
 "But he's in the last trap, confound him !" roared 
 Samson. "We've got him on the hip now. And 
 there'll be some tall hanging when we get him." 
 
 "You catch your hares before you skin them." 
 
 "What's that, you little demon?" 
 
Capt. Samson Meets His Match. ii 
 
 "I say you catch your hares before you skin them/' 
 repeated Rodney. 
 
 Capt. Samson threw one leg over the saddle as if 
 about to dismount. 
 
 Rodney's hands went toward the hammer again. 
 
 "Never mind ! I'll see you later." 
 
 "I hope so." 
 
 With this the Tory captain spoke to his horse and 
 the animal, as if eager to get away, bounded forward 
 and carried his rider under the trees that lined the 
 road in front of the smithy. 
 
 Rodney looked after his foe with blazing eyes, but 
 was silent. 
 
 ''You've got yourself in trouble, boy," said one 
 of the men ; **for Capt. Samson never forgets any- 
 thing." 
 
 "I'm sure he won't forget what the hammer did 
 
 very soon." 
 
 "You've made an inveterate foe." 
 
 "Yes ; of the meanest man in the Carolinas," re- 
 marked another man. 
 
 "Very well, if it is to be war between us, war let it 
 be," answered Rodney. 
 
 "You'll see him again." 
 
 "Truly, I hope so." 
 
 "Look out if you do, for that man has no heart and 
 
 no conscience." 
 
 Meanwhile, old Jackson, the blacksmith, had said 
 
12 Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 
 
 but little. He went about his work, while Rodney 
 turned again to the bellows. 
 
 One by one the spectators went home, until Jackson 
 and his apprentice were the sole occupants of the 
 little shop. 
 
 The afternoon was closing fast, and the shadows of 
 the trees were long. 
 
 Night would soon come again, and the partisans of 
 the South would sally forth on their wild forays. 
 
 It was the seventh year of the war for freedom. 
 Washington, confiding much in Greene, the "fighting 
 Quaker of the Revolution," had intrusted the cam- 
 paigns in the South to him. And well did he select 
 his man. 
 
 Gen. Nathaniel Greene, born in Rhode Island, of 
 Quaker parentage, wgis the man for the occasion. He 
 had seen service at Trenton, Brandywine, Monmouth 
 and other great battlefields of the Revolution. 
 
 Moreover, he worked with the commander-in-chief, 
 always approving Washington's plans and demonstrat- 
 ing that he himself was great in the art of war, know- 
 ino;- how to meet and harass the enemv and how to 
 elude tne many traps set for his captirre. 
 
 Greene himself was in early youth a blacksmith, 
 and had studied by the light of the forge, filling his 
 mind with information which in after life stood him 
 in good stead. 
 
 Pure in morals, a brave patriot, and one of the best 
 
Capt. Samson Meets His Matcho 13 
 
 known strategists of his day, he was able to cope with 
 such officers as Cornwallis and Tarleton. 
 
 He was now retreating before the superior army 
 of Lord Cornwallis. 
 
 His force, composed largely of militia from the 
 South, was heading for Guildford Courthouse, where 
 he expected to turn and give the enemy battle. 
 
 It was the most masterly retreat in military annals, 
 for Greene had rivers to cross with the redcoats 
 swarming behind him in all the panoply of war, eager 
 and expectant, while the patriot army, half clothed, 
 half famished, was pushing on, led by their indefatig- 
 able commander, who at no time lost hope. 
 
 "This is my last day at the forge," said Rodney 
 Black, as he threw down the hammer with which he 
 had been helping old Jackson. 
 
 "What's that, boy?" 
 
 "I'm going to take Capt. Samson*s advice." 
 
 'You are, eh?" 
 
 'Yes ; I'm going to join Gen. Greene, if he'll have 
 
 tf^ 
 
 «■' 
 
 me. 
 
 "When ?" 
 
 "This very night." 
 
 "He'll take you, of course," was the answer. "You're 
 5tout enough to cut a dragoon clean through to the 
 shoulders. It'll be a long ride alone, though." 
 
 "Perhaps I won't go alone." 
 
 "No?" 
 
i4 Capt. Samson Meets His Match. 
 
 ''Jack and I have been thinking of this for some 
 time." 
 
 "Jack " 
 
 "The Widow Glenn's son." 
 
 Old Jackson leaned on his hammer, which rested 
 on the anvil, and studied Rodney for a moment. 
 
 **The cause needs young bloods," he said. "You 
 will find two sabers in the garret. I put my best work 
 into 'em. And," he lowered his voice, "if you get 
 into a tussle with Capt. Samson, cleave him to the mid- 
 dle." 
 
 Rodney might have replied, but at that moment 
 the sound of hoofs were heard and a horseman drew 
 rein in front of the smithy. 
 
 "Tarleton is coming! Tarleton! Tarleton!" he 
 shouted. "God have mercy on our souls !" and the 
 next moment he was off like the wind. 
 
 It was a cry that had been heard before in the war- 
 ravished South, and mothers had hushed their crying 
 children by the mention of one name — the dreaded 
 name of Col. Banastre Tarleton, the merciless leader 
 of the British dragoons. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE TRAIL OF THE REDCOATS. 
 
 Rodney Black and old Jackson did not have to 
 watch long to discern the cavalcade that came down 
 the road. They were British, sure enough, and, more- 
 over, they belonged to Tarleton's Legion. 
 
 Col. Tarleton, who afterward was rewarded for his 
 outrages on the patriots with a major general's com- 
 mission in the service of King George, did his in- 
 famous work well. He had for his assistants a lot of 
 Tories, who were men after his own heart, and more 
 than one hearth did they render desolate in the South 
 during the Revolution. 
 
 As the dragoons came nearer a verse from a favorite 
 song of the day floated out on the gathering shades of 
 night : 
 
 "We're Tarleton's men, ho ! ho ! ho ! ho ! 
 
 Our life is gay and free; 
 
 We hang the rebels as we go 
 
 Upon the greenwood tree," 
 
 In a little while the troop came fully into view. 
 
 The foremost horseman was a burly fellow, with a 
 swagger in the saddle that stamped him a braggart in 
 scarlet, and his followers were little better, at least 
 in appearance. 
 
36 The Trail of the Redcoats. 
 
 They did not appear to notice the smithy and, for- 
 tunately, they did not see the pair of keen eyes that 
 watched them from its protecting shadows. 
 
 In the center of the squadron were two steeds that 
 were not ridden by soldiers. 
 
 One of these was mounted by an old man whose 
 hands were bound at his back, while his legs were 
 lashed to the sides of the horse. 
 
 The other saddle was occupied by a young girl not 
 past eighteen, whose looks betokened good lineage. 
 She was bare-headed, and her eyes were fastened pity- 
 ingly upon the old man at her side. 
 
 Rodney Black uttered a sharp exclamation the mo- 
 ment he caught sight of the pair. 
 
 "Look !" he cried to his companion, the blacksmith. 
 "Master Callaway and his daughter. Mistress Alice, 
 have fallen into the hands of the forayers !" 
 
 'It seems true, boy." ^ 
 
 They are taking them toward the British camp; 
 but it will be fortunate for them if they are permit- 
 ted to reach it alive. You remember that last fall 
 three dragoons were killed on Master Callaway's place, 
 and Tarleton swore revenge." 
 
 "Indeed do I recall that. Mistress Alice is not 
 bound like her father, but she is in the hands of the 
 miscreants just the same.'* 
 
 "And doomed like him." 
 
 "I have fears of that." 
 
 «i 
 
 tc 
 
The Trail of the Redcoats. 17 
 
 <(/ 
 
 'Col. Tarleton swore at the time to pay Master 
 Callaway the debt of blood. And now that he is in 
 their hands it will be short shrift for him." 
 
 Old Jackson, who evidently was thinking deeply, 
 made no reply, but watched the squadron out of sight. 
 
 "Something must be done for them !" cried Rod- 
 ney. ''They must not be allowed to die at the hands 
 of those rascals." 
 
 "But how save them?" 
 
 "We must try, at all events." 
 
 "They will be taken to Tarleton, and not even the 
 interposition of Lord Cornwallis can rescue the cap- 
 tives." 
 
 "But a trial shall be made," and Rodney turned 
 from the forest forge. "I think I can find Jack, 
 and " 
 
 "What will two boys be against the minions of Col. 
 Tarleton ?" 
 
 "Not much, perhaps ; but " 
 
 "If they catch you, I fear " 
 
 "Good-by!" interrupted the boy partisan. "Mis- 
 tress Alice is too young and fair to suffer at the hands 
 of those heartless wretches. She must be saved." 
 
 Before old Jackson could reply Rodney had 
 bounded from the shop and was tearing toward the 
 house. «i 
 
 The old blacksmith's niece met him on the porch 
 and, startled by his appearance, caught his arm. 
 
1 8 The Trail of the Redcoats. 
 
 "Which way, Master Rodney?" she asked. 
 
 "The sabers ! quick, Miss Dora ! Your uncle said 
 they were in the garret." 
 
 'The sabers ?" 
 
 "Yes ; the good ones he made secretly when no 
 Tories were spying around. I need them !" 
 
 "Why both?" queried the half-dazed girl. 
 
 "Explanations later on. Quick ! the sabers !" 
 
 Miss Dora bolted into the house and in a minute 
 Rodney saw her emerge with two sabers in her hands. 
 
 "Here they are," she said, handing them to the 
 young patriot. "I hope they will some day give a 
 good account of themselves." 
 
 "They shall, and at no distant day, either! Good 
 luck to you. Mistress Dora. I am off !" 
 
 "Surely, Rodney " 
 
 "Ask your uncle," broke in the boy, looking into 
 the deep brown eyes of the Carolina beauty. "Good- 
 by!" 
 
 The girl watched him out of sight, and heard his 
 footfalls die away in the dusk. 
 
 It did not take Rodney long to get off of the little 
 place owned by the old blacksmith. 
 
 He did not keep to the road, but with the keen- 
 edged weapons clutched eagerly in his hands, he ran 
 through a little wood, then crossed a meadow and 
 brought up in front of a small house on a slight knoll. 
 
 Here he stopped and sent forth a bird call, which 
 
The Trail of the Redcoats. 19 
 
 was undoubtedly a signal, for the door of the house 
 soon opened and a boy of his own age sprang out. 
 
 "Jack !'* 
 
 "Rodney !" 
 
 "The time has come!" said Rodney. "You remem- 
 ber our agreement. Where are the horses?" 
 
 Jack Glenn pointed to a stable near by. 
 
 "Come !" went on Rodney. "No time is to be lost." 
 
 "Is it for Greene's army, Rodney?" 
 
 "Yes, yes ; but we have other work to perform be- 
 fore we reach the general." 
 
 The two boys hastened to the stable, the door of 
 which Jack unlocked with eager fingers, and both went 
 inside. 
 
 It did not take them long to saddle two horses that 
 occupied the stalls. 
 
 "Mother will know all when she misses the horses," 
 said Jack, as he led one of the well-limbed bays into 
 the waning light. "I told her the other day about our 
 compact, and she did not dissent. She is for the 
 cause, would give up her life for Hberty in North 
 America, and she told me that when I went to Greene 
 to put in some good strokes on the right side." 
 
 Up to this time Rodney had not acquainted Jack 
 with the fight at the forge between himself and Capt. 
 Samson, nor had he mentioned the arrest of Master 
 Callaway and his daughter. 
 
<<1 
 
 w 
 
 20 The Trail of the Redcoats. 
 
 — - — _^ _ < 
 
 This he did a little later on while they rode along 
 the road and Jack listened half bewildered. 
 
 "The dragoons cannot reach Cornwallis to-night," 
 he said. "They must camp somewhere." 
 
 "Perhaps on Swift Fork. It is a good camping 
 ground, you know. They will be guarded there by the 
 lay of the land." 
 
 "That is true, and there, perhaps, they may dispose 
 of theii prisoners." 
 
 T shudder to think of it," said Rodney. 
 
 The wonler is that they got the old man without 
 a fight," responded Jack. "Thomas Callaway has 
 fighting blood in his veins, and he could not be taken 
 fairly without bloodshed." 
 
 "Perhaps they played a stratagem. They may have 
 first secured the person of Mistress Alice and after 
 that the capture of her father was not difficult." 
 
 Jack thought a moment. 
 
 "Don't you think the hand of Red Dan is in this 
 business?" he asked. 
 
 "What ! the hand of that merciless scapegrace — the 
 young rascal whom Mistress Alice struck across the 
 face with her riding whip last summer?" 
 
 "The same." 
 
 "It may be. He swore revenge, too, and since she 
 rejected his suit he has asked for a command under 
 Tarleton, though he seldom fights as fair as that 
 
The Trail of the Redcoats. 21 
 
 leader. But I do not remember seeing Red Dan 
 among the troopers as they rode by the forge." 
 
 *'Of course he may keep in the background, though 
 the real work of capture may be his." 
 
 **Woe to him if he harms either Mistress Alice or 
 her father ! But here we are at the creek. Let us see 
 if the troops crossed the ford. If they have the 
 ground will tell." 
 
 The boys dismounted and, holding the bridle reins 
 of their horses, examined the soft fringe of the wind- 
 ing creek in the clear starlight, which had come on. 
 
 "They crossed here !" suddenly exclaimed Rodney. 
 "Now our way seems clear. They appear to be 
 headed for the old rendezvous on Swift Fork." 
 
 In another moment the youthful pursuers were on 
 the road again. 
 
 The road, which wound across the country, was 
 easily seen, and the boys galloped forward with high 
 hopes. They had secured the two sabers to their per- 
 sons, and in addition to these weapons they each car- 
 ried a trooper's pistol, which Jack some time before 
 had concealed in the stable loft — relics of the Cowpens. 
 
 A ride of seven miles brought them to the vicinity 
 of Swift Fork, as they knew by the change in the 
 ground, and at last they slackened their speed. It 
 was now time to be cautious, for they did not care to 
 run into the detachment of forayers. They feared 
 that the British, if they had made camp, would sur- 
 
12 The Trail of the Redcoats. 
 
 round themselves with alert pickets, for the partisan 
 warfare in the South had ever been one of constant 
 surprises. Men like Marion, Huger, Pickens and 
 Moultrie were nightly swooping down upon British 
 camps, and woe to the ones they founr nprepared 
 for their swoop. 
 
 They would alight upon a sleeping camp, rush 
 through it like a whirlwind, saber the half-dazed 
 enemy and, before the rest could recover, they would 
 be far away, riding toward one of the swampy fast- 
 nesses of the country, where they would be perfectly 
 safe. 
 
 Fearful of meeting the outposts of a camp, Rodney 
 and Jack proceeded now with the utmost caution. 
 Swift Fork was not a wide nor a turbulent stream, 
 except after a heavy rain, when it was sure to over- 
 flow its banks and the adjacent territory. 
 
 It flowed some distance between hills of consid- 
 erable height, covered with a growth of stunted pine, 
 but the old camping ground for the different forces 
 was in a hollow or low ground well wooded. 
 
 The British had had considerable start of the two 
 boys, therefore they could have reached the old ground 
 well ahead of them. 
 
 It was possible, however, that they had concluded 
 to keep on and rejoin Cornwallis and Tarleton, with- 
 out so much as stopping for the night on Swift Fork. 
 
 Suddenly Jack laid his hand on Rodney's arm. 
 
The Trail of the Redcoats. 23 
 
 "Look to the left," he whispered. "Fires over yon- 
 der." 
 
 Rodney looked quickly in the direction designated, 
 and caught sight of what appeared to be bivouac fires 
 in the darkness. 
 
 "We are upon them, sure enough !" he said. 
 
 They drew rein upon a little rise, and for some mo- 
 ments studied the lights ahead. 
 
 Then they proceeded again, but riding slowly and 
 with great caution, for their safety depended now 
 wholly upon that. 
 
 In their advance they were well screened by the 
 trees that stood in profusion. 
 
 Between them they could make out half a dozen fires 
 that gave every appearance of being camp fires, and 
 at last they caught sight of men in scarlet uniform 
 lounging on the ground in the light. 
 
 Jack was for rushing forward while the foe sus- 
 pected nothing, and, before he could recover, release 
 Thomas Callaway and his daughter, but Rodney re- 
 strained him. 
 
 "Let us make a careful survey of the field first," the 
 young blacksmith replied. "Let us locate the prison- 
 ers and then, if we can rescue them, we will try our 
 best." 
 
 The two boys rode forward again for a closer view, 
 and got it. 
 
24 The Trail of the Redcoats. 
 
 They discovered, sitting apart from the British, but 
 watched by them just the same, Callaway and Alice. 
 
 They were within the line of light, and thus per- 
 ceptible to the would-be rescuers. 
 
 The old man leaned against a tree, and the head 
 of his daughter reposed in his lap, her nut-brown hair i 
 falling in abandon over his limbs. 
 
 It was a sight calculated to stir into action every drop 
 of blood that coursed through the veins of the two 
 boy patriots. 
 
 They looked to the priming of their pistols, and loos- 
 ened the sabers. 
 
 Just as Rodney was about to whisper something to 
 his companion there was a slight rustle in the leaves 
 almost under their feet and the next sound they heard 
 startled them beyond description: 
 
 "Surrender! you young rebels! We've got the 
 drop on you good and hard. You are prisoners of the 
 king!" 
 
 The boys could not answer ; but they could look and 
 see that they were surrounded by at least a dozen men, 
 and that as many weapons covered them. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE NICK OF TIME. 
 
 The peril that menaced the boy partisans of the 
 Revolution was anything but pleasant to contemplate. 
 
 The men who had so suddenly surrounded them 
 seemed to have risen from the ground. 
 
 That they were British soldiers they saw at a glance, 
 despite the semi-darkness that prevailed, and some 
 of the weapons which they thrust forward were within 
 a few inches of their faces. The first thought, of 
 course, was quiet submission, then almost as suddenly 
 a bold, courageous stroke suggested itself; but this 
 would have magnified their danger. 
 
 They glanced at one another speechless in their ut- 
 ter amazement. 
 
 Had there been a chance for a bold dash they might 
 have succeeded in getting out of their toils, for their 
 horses were fleet-footed, and a match for the best in 
 Tarleton's Legion. 
 
 But they thought of the other captives in the British 
 camp, and wanted to render them the best of service, 
 therefore, they held up their hands, expecting to be led 
 to the fires as prisoners. 
 
 The weapons of the enemy were lowered a jot and 
 the reins of their steeds seized. 
 
l6 The Nick of Time. 
 
 Prisoners of King George! 
 
 The thought went through the boys like an arrow. 
 
 In a short time they had been escorted from the 
 scene of their capture, but they were not permitted 
 to come in contact with the lights of the bivouac. 
 
 They were removed behind one of the little knolls, 
 where they were compelled to dismount. 
 
 The soldiers, rough-looking fellows, gathered round 
 them and the leader leaned forward with a leer of tri- 
 umph in his eyes. 
 
 "What brought you here, you young rebels?" he in- 
 quired. 
 
 'Haven't we a right to ride where we please?" 
 
 'That depends. Two young traitors wearing 
 swords and pistols don't look much like peaceful peo- 
 ple who love their king." 
 
 "You have just called us rebels," answered Rodney, 
 with a smile. "If rebels we are we don't love the 
 king." 
 
 "By George ! that's right. And, as you're rebels, 
 what's to hinder us from having a quiet little rope- 
 stretching right here?" 
 
 "Nothing, if you don't mind disgracing the uni- 
 forms you wear." 
 
 The dragoon winced. 
 
 "You're spies ! spies for Greene !" he said, accus- 
 ingly. 
 
 "We are not spies," answered Rodney, with em- 
 
 <<i 
 
 ii' 
 
The Nick of Time. 27 
 
 phasis, though he feared the denial would do them 
 no good. 
 
 *'You have stolen upon our camp. You don't deny- 
 that, I hope?" 
 
 "We were near your camp ; but not as spies I" 
 
 ''Come, captain !" blurted out a big, impatient fel- 
 low, with a cropped mustache, "what's the use wast- 
 ing time with the young rapscallions? Haven't we 
 spared too many rebel fledglings already? They'll be 
 in full feather ere long if we let them off. Here's a 
 rope and a good limb/* 
 
 This brutal proposition seemed to take immensely 
 and immediately among the band. 
 
 "What was your mission?" demanded the leader 
 again. 
 
 "It was a fair one — all's fair in war, you know I'* 
 said Jack. 
 
 "We don't think so. Washington, the high rebel, 
 who will some day stretch hemp, says the same, no 
 doubt, and yet he commissions men like the Swam^p 
 Fox, who hangs people in the dark of the moon and 
 who is a guerrilla besides." 
 
 This estimate of Gen. Marion caused the boys to 
 smile, especially when they compared him and his 
 warfare with that sanctioned by Cornwallis and 
 Tarleton. 
 
 "String 'em up, and be quick about it!" exclaimed 
 
aS The Nick of Time. 
 
 ■ II ■ 
 
 the dark-faced dragoon. "Here, throw the rope over 
 the limb yonder, and give me one end of it !" 
 
 The boys prepared for death. 
 
 Was this to be the outcome of their first adventures 
 as partisans in the saddle? 
 
 They saw ropes placed over one of the limbs of 
 the nearest oak and nooses were quickly made and 
 thrown over their heads. 
 
 "Will you promise to swear allegiance to the king if 
 we spare your lives?" asked the leader of the band. 
 
 "To King George the Third?" 
 
 "Certainly ; there is no other." 
 
 "We are patriots." 
 
 "Rebels, you mean." 
 
 "We swear allegiance to no king. We are for free- 
 dom in North America!' 
 
 "String 'em up, then!' 
 
 The hands of the boys had been already fastened 
 behind their backs, and they felt the merciless nooses 
 tighten about their necks. 
 
 "For the last tim.e, will you become king's men?" 
 
 "No ! Long live Gen. Washington !" 
 
 The next moment the boys were jerked from the 
 damip ground with strong hands at the ropes. 
 
 Their captors seemed fiends incarnate. 
 
 Not far away slept Mistress Alice in her father's 
 lap, oblivious of the terrible drama being enacted un- 
 der the gloomy trees. 
 
 r> 
 
 i'> 
 
The Nick of Time. 29 
 
 But the boys' time had not yet come. 
 
 As their bodies left the ground they heard shots and 
 shouts and the whole camp seemed in an uproar. 
 
 The executioners paused in their work, and looked 
 at one another. 
 
 "Down with the redcoats !" rang in the boys' ears. 
 "Strike and spare not, men of CaroHna !" 
 
 The ropes slackened as suddenly as they had tight- 
 ened, and Rodney and Jack dropped to the ground. 
 
 Their ears rang with confused sounds, they heard 
 the shouts of combatants and saw their late captors 
 spring toward the camp from which the mingled noises 
 
 came. 
 
 Long live the king!" rose on the air as the two 
 forces came together. 
 
 *T>own with Tarleton's minions! Death to every 
 Britisher in North America!" 
 
 In a moment, as it were, the fight seemed over. 
 The surprise was most complete. The troopers in 
 scarlet fled in dismay before the American partisans, 
 some of the fugitives passing so near the breathless 
 boys that they might have touched them. 
 
 As soon as they could, Rodney and Jack made their 
 way to the late camp, where they met thirty-five 
 Americans under the leadership of one Gorman, other- 
 wise called Black Gorman, a bitter partisan chief, al- 
 most as much dreaded by the British and Tories as 
 Marion. 
 
JO The Nick of Time. 
 
 Thomas Callaway and his daughter were rejoicing 
 over their rescue when the young patriots came up. 
 
 "It was a narrow escape for you and your venerable 
 father, Mistress Alice," said Rodney, with a bow, as he 
 halted in front of the young girl. 
 
 He had seen her before, though his acquaintance 
 with her was very Hmited. 
 
 "Indeed it was. It seems providential. I believe I 
 am speaking to Mr. Rodney Black, the young smith 
 of Rocky Fork." 
 
 "That is my name, and this is my friend, Jack 
 Glenn.' 
 
 Jack doffed his hat cavalierly, and paid his obeisance 
 in a manner that delighted the young miss. 
 
 "Were you with the rescuing party?" asked Miss 
 AHce. 
 
 "We intended to be the rescuing party," smiled 
 Rodney, "but were interfered with. We have to thank 
 Capt. Gorman for his arrival in the nick of time, for 
 we were in a pretty tight place." 
 
 "Not captives, I hope?" 
 
 'Captives, and already noosed." 
 
 What?" exclaimed Mr. Callaway, who had over- 
 heard the last words. "You do not mean to say that 
 they intended to hang you?" 
 
 "It looked very much that way," responded "^odney; 
 "but here is Black Gorman himself " 
 
 Hi 
 
 l'^ 
 
The Nick of Time. 31 
 
 «i 
 
 «' 
 
 The famous rebel had just come up, and, seeing the 
 boys, broke out into a laugh. 
 
 "How did these young fish get into our net, I 
 should like to know?" 
 
 'They were captives like father and I," said the 
 young girl. "But until just now I was unaware of 
 the fact." 
 
 "Captives, eh? Are you rebels, too?" 
 'Rebels to the core !" exclaimed Jack. 
 'Then hurrah for Washington!" shouted Black 
 Gorman at the top of his voice. ''You're a hearty pair, 
 upon my soul, and, methinks, youVe agile and strong 
 enough to take service under Black Gorman." 
 
 "We were going to Gen. Greene," said Rodney. 
 
 "Then to him you shall go with Black Gorman's 
 compliments. Tell him I send him good reinforce- 
 ments, and that while you two boys live King George 
 will never conquer America." 
 
 "Thank you, Capt. Gorman. We shall be glad to 
 report your victory to-night." 
 
 It was found that the weapons carried from the 
 Jackson home by the two boys had beeen left on the bat- 
 tlefield, and they were soon in their possession once 
 more. 
 
 Three British dragoons had been killed in Black 
 Gorman's rush on the camp, and it was thought that 
 at least a dozen more had been able to ride away with 
 serious mementoes of the occasion. 
 
32 The Nick of Time. 
 
 Mounted once more on their horses, Rodney and 
 Jack prepared to ride to Greene's camp. 
 
 "I wish you a safe journey," said Mistress Alice, 
 as she came alongside and put up her shapely hand. 
 "I thank you just as much as if you and not Capt. 
 Gorman had been our rescuers to-night. You were 
 willing to risk your lives to save us. I trust I shall 
 hear from both of you, and I know the reports will 
 be encouraging." 
 
 "We shall see that you hear nothing bad of us!" 
 responded Rodney, who knew that he spoke for his 
 companion as well. "Under Greene's banners we hope 
 to render our beloved country some service. Let us 
 hope that you have seen the last of the enemy." 
 
 "Oh, as to that, it is not likely," was the answer. 
 "Until these British are driven out of the Carolinas 
 we are liable to be troubled by them." 
 
 "Do you think, Mistress Alice, that Red Dan had 
 a hand in this affair?" 
 
 The fair girl started and threw a swift glance to- 
 ward her father. 
 
 "1 fear to answer your query as it seems to demand," 
 she replied. 
 
 'Very well, then, I will not press the matter." 
 
 'He is a despicable person," she said, with rising 
 feeling. "Because I rejected his advances he turns on 
 me like a serpent. While he was not among our cap- 
 tors, I am not ignorant of all things." 
 
 (C 
 
 tC] 
 
The Nick of Time. 23 
 
 This was enough, and told Rodney all he wanted 
 to know. 
 
 ''Young gentlemen," said Thomas Callaway, at this 
 juncture, *'I hope you will give a good account of 
 yourselves. You ought to reach Gen. Greene to-mor- 
 row some time, for you have excellent anim.als. Be on 
 the watch. You don't know when some band like the 
 one that pounced upon me may give you another turn- 
 ing over. You will present my compliments to Gen. 
 Greene, and tell him that while Thomas Callaway 
 lives one man at least will breathe the air of liberty. 
 Say to him that I am still the friend of Washington, 
 still the unconquerable patriot and the hater of kings." 
 
 "We shall be pleased to deliver your m.essage." 
 
 Everything being ready for their departure, the boys 
 looked at the partisans to whom they owed their lives 
 and Black Gorman adm.onished them to ride fast, but 
 with extreme caution. 
 
 He told them where to find Greene's army, and 
 mapped out the shortest way to it, for all of which the 
 boys thanked him. 
 
 Then after shaking hands once more with the Cal- 
 laway s, whom they were to meet again under exciting 
 circumiStances, they turned their horses' heads toward 
 the north and galloped oflf. 
 
 "That was a close call. Jack," said Rodney, when 
 they had left the scene of their adventure behind. 
 
 "Too close to be comfortable." 
 
34 The Nick of Time. 
 
 **But for the timely arrival of Black Gorman and 
 his band there might have been two young rebels less 
 in North Carolina." 
 
 "And two less swords for Greene, eh? Did you 
 notice, Rodney, how Mistress Alice started when you 
 spoke of Red Dan?" 
 
 ''Yes ; that rascal was at the bottom of all their 
 troubles. He dared not show his face in the open, but 
 he undoubtedly planned the raid upon the manor. I 
 trust we will meet him in the near future." 
 
 "We probably shall, if he is brave enough to appear 
 on the battlefield, which I seriously doubt." 
 
 "I would go out of my way to seek him. But let us 
 first become a part of Greene's command. We can 
 lay our other plans after that." 
 
 All through the night the boys rode northward, the 
 whole time on the alert, and during the forenoon of 
 the following day they feM in with a scouting party 
 belonging to Col. William Washington's command, 
 and their hearts beat with joy and pride, for they 
 knew that at last they were under Greene's banners. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FATHER AND SON. 
 
 Leaving Rodney and Jack on their way to Greene's 
 camp, escorted by the troopers who became so famous 
 during the Revolution under the leadership of the gal- 
 lant Col. Washington, we will proceed to see more of 
 another person who has been already mentioned in the 
 course of our narrative. 
 
 "Red Dan" Jeffrys was the son of a wealthy planter 
 of South Carolina. 
 
 At the age of seventeen he was a wild, roystering 
 blade, fond of sports of all kinds. Always supplied 
 with money by his father, who from the first had been 
 a Tory, the scion of the house of Jeffrys had his own 
 way in ever}i:hing. 
 
 He imbibed the thoughts and feelings of his parent, 
 he praised King George on every occasion, and natur- 
 ally drew against him the Whigs who opposed every- 
 thing the ranting Tories did. 
 
 On one occasion Marion swooped down upon the 
 JefTrys' plantation and deprived the old Tory of some 
 good horses, saying that they were just the animals he 
 wanted to keep Tarleton on the move, and this event, 
 of course, only served to embitter more than ever the 
 losers of the steeds. 
 
^6 Father and Son. 
 
 Red Dan was a tall and handsome young man. He 
 had gained his well-known nickname from the color 
 of his hair, and he thought that he was supreme in 
 love affairs wherever he went. 
 
 But it had taken Alice Callaway to teach him a 
 lesson he never forgot. 
 
 The fair girl, intensely loyal to the cause of liberty, 
 repelled Dan's lovemaking with emphasis. He would 
 not be put off, arguing, in his impulsive way, that he 
 would honor her in becoming her husband, as if the 
 Jeffrys blood was better than that which flowed 
 through Callaway veins. 
 
 This insinuation the Whig maiden indignantly re- 
 sented. 
 
 One day Red Dan, in pushing his suit, got Mistress 
 Alice's riding whip across his white cheeks, and it stung 
 not only his face but his very soul. 
 
 It was the night before the capture of Thomas Cal- 
 laway and his daughter that Red Dan might have been 
 seen in a deeply wooded grove near the banks of a lit- 
 tle river. 
 
 He had ridden thither on his spirited black, which 
 he had tethered to a sapling, and was walking up and 
 down the sward, flecking bits of mud and dust from 
 his leggings. 
 
 Presently he spied some one coming down the nar- 
 row road leading along the stream, and in a short 
 time he was looking up into the face of a dragoon. 
 
Father and Son. 37 
 
 The soldier wore the insignia of a Ueutenant on his 
 person, and greeted Dan with a smile. 
 
 The two repaired deeper into the grove, where 
 they found a fallen tree, upon which they sat down. 
 
 "You understand," said Red Dan, getting quickly 
 at the matter nearest his heart, "I want the whole 
 thing done with neatness and dispatch. As for the old 
 man, I don't care what you do with him — it might be 
 well to string him up, for he deserves a rope — but the 
 girl is not to be harmed." 
 
 *T see. You don't want the feathers of the pretty 
 bird ruffled." 
 
 "That's it. And don't destroy the nest, either. Cal- 
 laway Manor may come into my possession one of 
 these fine davs, and I don't want it laid waste." 
 
 "Do you think the old man will show fight?" 
 
 "He's liable to do that. There's fighting blood in 
 his veins. I believe his ancestors fought under Crom- 
 well at Naseby." 
 
 "Then the old eagle may shov^ fight." 
 
 "But you know how to surprise him." 
 
 "I guess we can attend to that. After we have them 
 in our hands we will m.ake off as rapidly as possible." 
 
 "You had better, for Black Gorman and his cohorts 
 have been in the vicinitv lately." 
 
 The dragoon was silent a moment, during which 
 time Red Dan thrust his hand into his pocket and with- 
 drew it, filled with gold coins. 
 
38 Father and Son. 
 
 ''Here's half the wage," he went on, handing the 
 money to the dragoon. 'The rest will come after you 
 have carried out your part of the bargain." 
 
 The soldier took the coins and arose. 
 
 "We'll do the thing up brown. Besides, we've been 
 longing to get ahead of the old eagle, who has his nest 
 at Callaway Manor, and we won't give him much 
 mercy." 
 
 "The less you give him the better it will suit me," 
 said Dan. 
 
 "I'll see you later on," he continued, as the dragoon 
 moved toward his steed. "If I'm not mistaken, I'll see 
 a good deal of you fellows hereafter." 
 
 "Then you intend to enter the ranks?" 
 
 "Yes ; such is my intention. Col. Tarleton has of- 
 fered to take me in, and I think I would look pretty 
 well in a red coat; don't you think?" 
 
 "As well as the best." 
 
 Both men laughed, and Red Dan accompanied the 
 dragoon some distance down the road. 
 
 When the young man reached Jeffrys Manor a few 
 hours later he crossed a wide hall and entered a large 
 room, in the middle of which sat his father. 
 
 Austin Jeffrys had long since passed the middle 
 period of life, and was nearing its close. 
 
 He was an imposing lookmg old man, with a wealth 
 of snowy hair that fell in the wildest abandon over his 
 still shapely shoulders. His nose was sharp and 
 
Father and Son. 39 
 
 drooping like the bills of some hawks, and his eyes as 
 gray and keen as an eagle's. 
 
 As Dan entered the chamber the elder Jeffrys looked 
 up and uttered an exclamation of welcome. 
 
 "You're a pretty blade," said the old man. ''Where 
 have you been roystering now? If I mistake not, 
 you've not been home for three days. Did you stay 
 till the gamblers fleeced you?'^ 
 
 "I haven't seen Eagle Tavern for three whole days," 
 answered Dan, with some acerbity. "Haven't I a right 
 to ride where I please " 
 
 "Ready to be picked up by some of these rebel for- 
 ayers? Don't you know that men like Marion or 
 Black Gorman would like to catch you and hold you 
 for ransom?" 
 
 "Well, you'd ransom me, I suppose?" 
 
 "Who would if I did not, I should like to know ?" 
 
 Red Dan threw his riding whip upon a table ifl 
 one corner of the room and went over to the window 
 and stood there. 
 
 His back was turned to his father, who regarded 
 him in silence from the depths of his chair. 
 
 Austin Jeffrys was a widower, having lost his wife, 
 Dan's mother, before the beginning of the war, and 
 Heaven had blessed him w4th no other heir. 
 
 "Dan," he said at last, when he had completed his 
 fstudy of the figure at the window. 
 
 "What is it?'^ 
 
4Q Father and Son. 
 
 "I want you to be looking round for a wife pretty 
 
 soon." 
 
 'Time enough yet," replied Red Dan, in a careless 
 manner. 
 
 *'But I say now ! And, mind you, I don't want you 
 to be looking after any of these fair rebels." 
 
 "Oh, you are to select for me, then ?" 
 
 "I am to have a say in the matter, understand that." 
 
 "And I am to marry the person whom you see fit 
 to choose for your daughter-in-law? Well, my dear 
 father, whom have you selected? I am dying to 
 know." 
 
 The old man pushed back a strand of white hair 
 which had fallen over his forehead. 
 
 "They tell me," he said, looking into Dan's face, 
 "that you have been making love." 
 
 "Indeed? Some Httle bird broke the news, I sup- 
 pose." 
 
 Austin Jefifrys did not seem to notice this sarcastic 
 levity on his son's part. 
 
 "They have said that you want to ally the house of 
 Jeffrys with that of an infernal rebel." 
 
 "Love seldom takes notice of politics." 
 
 "It must in this affair !" cried the old Tory, bringing 
 one hand down upon the side arm of the chair. 
 
 Dan was silent. 
 
 "You, 'tis said, have been making love to the child 
 
Father and Son. 41 
 
 of an old foe of mine — to the daughter of Thomas 
 
 Callaway." 
 
 "Well, what about it ?" 
 
 'This, sir!" roared Austin Jeffrys, as he left his 
 chair and towered before his son like a Lear suddenly 
 lifted in rage, "it shall not be so! You must not think 
 of taking for a wife the spawn of this rebel. Why, 
 sir, he detied the king, he reads rebel newspapers, gives 
 aid and comfort to our enemies, and entertains the 
 dastardly Swamp Fox and his minions." 
 
 The rage of the speaker was terrible. 
 
 **They say that you are forcing your attentions upon 
 his daughter, that she does not care a pinch for you, 
 yet " 
 
 He seemed to break down suddenly in the intensity 
 of his overweening passion, and Red Dan waited 
 coolly for him to resume. 
 
 "By the powers above ! I'll send you into the army, 
 and let the rebels split your head before Til see you 
 the son-in-law of Thomas Callaway!" he suddenly 
 shouted. 
 
 "I've been thinking of joining Col. Tarleton myself." 
 "You have, eh? That's good. But tell me if it's 
 true that you've been thinking of Mistress Callaway 
 as well?" 
 
 "I have. She's quite handsome, you know " 
 
 "But she's not for you. You must leave off this 
 
42 Father and Son. 
 
 affair. I won't permit it. When can you join Tarle- 
 ton ?" 
 
 "Say the day after to-morrow.'^ 
 
 "Will you really go?" 
 
 "I will. I like a busy Hfe, and those who ride with 
 him find it to their heart's content, they say." 
 
 "Then to Col. Tarleton you go the day after to- 
 morrow. You can have Black Betty, and she can 
 overtake the fleetest rebel that ever showed his heels 
 to the king's dragoons." 
 
 Red Dan stepped back. 
 
 "Is that all?" 
 
 "You .are to give up this love afifair with Mistress 
 Callaway," was the reply. "Is it true that so long ago 
 as last summer she cut you across the face with her 
 riding whip?" 
 
 "I believe it must be, since you seem to be so well 
 informed, sir!" 
 
 "Good ! Good for her !" laughed the old Tory. "Cut 
 my son, Dan, with her whip ! I ought to pension Mis- 
 tress Callaway. Now go, sir, and make preparations 
 for joining Col. Tarleton." 
 
 Red Dan strode from the room and shut the door 
 with considerable emphasis. 
 
 "Wants me to get killed, I suppose," he said to him- 
 self. "Well, though I ride with Banastre Tarleton, I 
 will see to it that no rebel saber leaves its crimson 
 mark on my anatomy." 
 
Father and Son. 43 
 
 Beyond the door an old man was striding up and 
 down the room with the impatience of a tiger. 
 
 His hands were cUnched and his face was white. 
 
 **I'd hang all the rebels in the Carolinas if I could 
 before my son Dan should marry Mistress Callaway !'' 
 He breathed hard. "I have selected a wife for him ; 
 but I didn't see fit to tell him her name. Not just yet." 
 
 A moment later Dan's face appeared at the door. 
 
 "Here come some of your friends, father," he an- 
 nounced. 
 
 "Friends of the Legion?" 
 
 "Well, hardly," and Dan withdrew. 
 
 Austin Jeffrys soon appeared on the long vine-cov- 
 ered veranda of the manor house, and fixed his gaze 
 upon some twenty horsemen who galloped up the 
 road. They soon turned into the grounds, and their 
 leader saluted the old man. 
 
 "Anybody worth hanging round here?" asked Capt. 
 Samson. 
 
 "Not just in this vicinity, I believe. You might 
 find some good hanging timber a little further up the 
 road." 
 
 "Then we'll look for it. By the way, we're quite 
 thirsty and would like a little wine." 
 
 Knowing that it would not do to refuse the Tory 
 marauders anything, Austin Jeffrys sent a slave into 
 his wine cellars, and in a short time the band — a rough- 
 
44 Father and Son. 
 
 looking, merciless set of men — were helping them- 
 selves. 
 
 They drank numerous toasts to King George, and, 
 of course, confusion to Washington and Greene ; they 
 filled their glasses to the master of the manor, and 
 old Austin bowed as they drank his health. 
 
 They emptied a good many bottles, and at last rode 
 oflF with wild huzzas, Capt. Samson looking like a 
 wild Cossack in the saddle. 
 
 'That's a pretty lot of rascals," smiled Austin Jef- 
 frys, as he looked after them. "King George would 
 blush to own them as his allies. I hope the day will 
 come when the last of them will go down before the 
 broadswords of the Swamp Fox. I'm ashamed of the 
 whole lot, but they're for the king, and so am I." 
 
 "You treated your friends right royally," said the 
 voice of Red Dan at his father's elbow. 
 
 "It was the quickest and cheapest way to get rid 
 of them. It is a burning shame that we must call such 
 villains our friends. I trust it will not be for long 
 any more." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 RODNEY AND JACK's FIRST FIGHT. 
 
 When Rodney and Jack reached Greene's army they 
 found it encamped at the Iron Works on the Haw, 
 just above High Rock ford. 
 
 The wily commander, who so far had completely out- 
 witted the renowned Cornwallis, had halted there for 
 reinforcements before risking the battle he had planned 
 at Guildford. 
 
 His army consisted for the most part of militia, but 
 through it ran a sprinkling of veterans, including Lee's 
 Legion and Washmgton's splendid cavalry. The 
 militia were men who enlisted for no definite period, 
 who frequently ran at the first fire, leaving the older 
 troops to stand the brunt of the engagement. 
 
 But for his militia Greene would have won more bat- 
 tles than he did, but for all this his defeats were really 
 victories, for the enemy was usually so crippled that 
 he dared not pursue. 
 
 The boys rode into the American camp, and Col. 
 Washington, who was from the first proud of his 
 young recruits, presented them at once to Greene. 
 
 They saw a rather portly man, with a kindly coun- 
 tenance and blue eyes. The effects of his long retreat 
 before the British army had told but little on the in- 
 
46 Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 
 
 trepid Greene. He seemed as fresh after his two hun- 
 dred miles of marching and countermarching as when 
 he began it. 
 
 He was simply tireless, and could wear out the 
 youngest man under him. 
 
 More than once Cornwallis thought he had the 
 American in his net, but time and again Greene crossed 
 the rivers, putting them between him and the enemy, 
 so that when the British were about to bag their game 
 it was out of their reach, and a turbulent stream rolled 
 between. 
 
 This was actually done four times that eventful 
 spring, and at last, with the Haw between him and 
 Cornwallis, Greene prepared to measure arms with 
 one of the ablest generals of Europe. 
 
 "So you wish to take service under my banners?" 
 asked the general, when the boy partisans had been 
 presented. 
 
 "That is what we are here for," answered Rodney, 
 pleased with the great soldier's kindly manners. 
 
 "Very well, I shall be too glad to test your courage, 
 which I am sure will prove all I look for. You are 
 strong and active. I am certain you will give good re- 
 ports of yourselves. Are you mounted?" 
 
 "We brought our horses along." 
 
 "Then they escaped the British and Tories?" 
 
 "They would have had a fight for them had they 
 tried to take them," said Jack, his eye kindling. 
 
Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 47 
 
 "I've no doubt of that, my boy. Capt. Trevors, you 
 will see that our young friends are cantoned with Col. 
 Washington's command." 
 
 The captain saluted. 
 
 "You are armed, I see," continued Greene. "Whc 
 made your broadswords?" 
 
 "Abner Jackson, of Rocky Ford." 
 
 "Which is guarantee that they are finely tempered. 
 I wish I could arm a legion with the old smith's 
 weapons. There are none better in North Carolina." 
 
 "He makes good blades, sir." 
 
 "The very best, and, what is still better, he makes 
 none for our enemies, if he knows it." 
 
 "Not unless he is forced to." 
 
 *Ah, do they force Jackson to be their armorer?" 
 
 *They did so once, and he made a broadsword for 
 a doughty Tory leader, but he knew how to temper 
 it so that it broke at the hilt the first stroke." 
 
 Greene laughed at this, and his blue eyes kindled. 
 
 The boys were then shown to the camp of Wash- 
 ington's troopers, where they again met their leader, 
 who received them kindly. He said that his force had 
 become depleted by the arduous campaign they had 
 just passed through, and that he needed all the good 
 swords fortune chose to send him. 
 
 "Would you mind going out on a scout?" he asked 
 the two boys, several hours after their arrival in camp. 
 
 i( 
 
 t{' 
 
48 Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 
 
 "I don't care to hurry you into action, but I suppose 
 you didn't come to us to remain idle." 
 
 "We came for action," replied Rodney, "and any 
 service you have for us will be welcome, whatever 
 it be." 
 
 *'We hear that the Tory chief, Capt. Samson, is in 
 the vicinity, and we would like to let him know that 
 there is some mettle in Continental swords." 
 
 Rodney started at these words. 
 
 Was he to meet Capt. Samson so soon after the af- 
 fray at the smithy? He had not forgotten that in- 
 dividual's last words, which composed a threat, and 
 now that he was armed and in many ways the Tory's 
 equal, he burned to encounter him again. 
 
 "I should like to meet Capt. Samson," he said, 
 eagerly. 
 
 An old enemy, eh?" 
 
 We've met before, but under different circum- 
 stances." 
 
 *'He is a braggart, a sort of Bombastes Furioso ; but 
 for all this he gives us no end of trouble. Marion, 
 shrewd as he is, has failed to bag this Carolina fox, 
 but we hope for better success." 
 
 Col. Washington waited till the shades of night be- 
 gan to lengthen among the pines, when twenty men 
 were chosen from his command, and Rodney and Jack 
 took their places in the ranks. 
 
 (( 
 
 t(^ 
 
Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 49 
 
 Not willing to intrust the expedition to a subaltern, 
 Washington took command in person. 
 
 A better lot of saberers never rode through the 
 Carolina woods. 
 
 Col. Washington w^as the Murat of Greene's army, 
 and whenever he swooped down upon infantry the red- 
 coated ranks recoiled, for he charged like a whirl- 
 wdnd, and his strong-armed heroes often cut their way 
 through the scarlet legions. He had saved the day for 
 Greene on more than one occasion, and the command- 
 ing general knew well that he did not have to call 
 in vain on Col. Washington. 
 
 The country of the Haw was well wooded, but here 
 and there little open places peeped forth, and now and 
 then a house was to be seen. 
 
 The command rode along the river for some distance 
 and then struck off into the country, galloping over 
 tie hills and underneath the pines. 
 
 Word of Capt. Samson's appearance in a certain re- 
 gion had been secretly brought to Washington, and 
 the neighborhood was so well known to the Ameri- 
 can that he needed no guide. 
 
 They half expected to find Capt. Samson and his 
 marauders engaged in some pestiferous business not 
 in accordance wath the rules of civilized warfare, for 
 he disdained such and fought as he pleased. 
 
 For some miles the ride was without moment. The 
 boys liked their new experience ; they chatted with 
 
50 Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 
 
 _ - .,- — — . • ■- . ■ ■■ ■M^ ,^ 
 
 the others as they rode along, but suddenly word for 
 silence passed through the ranks. 
 
 At last the little party came out upon the summit 
 of a gentle rise that commanded a fair view of a 
 valley. 
 
 In another moment voices were heard and then a 
 flame shot heavenward. 
 
 "At their dastardly work," said Col. Washington, 
 through set teeth. "The wolves of the South are hav- 
 ing a feast to their liking. Forward !" 
 
 The command descended the hill in complete si- 
 lence, their weapons being held in such a manner as to 
 prevent noises, but at the foot of the rise all halted 
 again. 
 
 The flame had increased. 
 
 A house was burning, a mile away, and already dark 
 forms could be seen in the glow. 
 
 Capt. Samson, or some one else, had fired the home 
 of a Whig, and his men were carrying on like a lot 
 of demons. 
 
 Every now and then their shouts came to the ears 
 of the American avengers. 
 
 It made their blood boil. 
 
 At a signal from Col. Washington the whole com- 
 mand moved forward again. 
 
 Nearer and nearer, like death eagles, they apH 
 proached the enemy. 
 
Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 51 
 
 A dense clump of timber hid them from the Tory 
 band. 
 
 The horses of the Americans seemed to know as 
 well as their riders what was going on. 
 
 Their muscles quivered for the fray, but they curbed 
 their impatience. 
 
 At the edge of the timber, after passing through 
 it unobserved, the voice of Col. Washington startled 
 everv'one that heard it. 
 
 "Forward ! Americans ! Charge !" 
 
 Like a score of thunderbolts the little force dashed 
 from the copse and fell upon the forms about the burn- 
 ing house. 
 
 It was a complete surprise, but the Americans soon 
 discovered that thev had a stubborn foe to deal with. 
 
 "Down with the rebels !" roared a voice above the 
 sound of cracking pistols. 
 
 "Death to the house burners !" came back in reply. 
 
 Col. Washington's command was bravely met after 
 the first onslaught. 
 
 Fully forty Tories sprang to saddle and advanced 
 upon their foes. 
 
 The clash came fairly in the spreading light of the 
 blazing home. 
 
 The Americans attempted to ride through the ma- 
 rauders' ranks, then to turn and cut them down from 
 the rear with their heavy broadswords. 
 
 But the Tories, led on by their chief, a giant with a 
 
52 Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 
 
 black beard, prevented the carrying out of such tactics, 
 and for the moment Col. Washington was forced to 
 fall back. 
 
 In full face of his enemy he reformed his ranks and 
 came on again. 
 
 This time nothing could stop the impetuous Ameri- 
 cans. They broke through the Tory lines, scattering 
 them like chaff, while their cry, "Washington and 
 Liberty!" soared to the stars. 
 
 During the melee Rodney and Jack kept close to- 
 gether. 
 
 They plunged into the thickest of the fight, and 
 Rodney had his cap swept from his head by a sword 
 that barely missed his skull. 
 
 Almost at the same moment Jack, seeing his friend's 
 peril, discharged his pistol squarely into the face of 
 the Tor}', and a saddle w^as emptied as the marauder 
 released the lines and tumbled to the ground. 
 
 "Quick ! the big captain, Rodney !" cried Jack. "I 
 believe it is Capt. Samson." 
 
 The giant leader of the Tory band, seeing that his 
 men were fleeing before the swords of Washington, 
 had turned himself, and, hatless, was urging his steed 
 to his utmost efforts. 
 
 This was the man Rodney had singled out. 
 
 "Come, Jack!" 
 
 The boys spurred their steeds after the fleeing foe. 
 
 In a moment they were out of the line of the fight- 
 
Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 53 
 
 ing, seeing nothing but the horseman, who had re- 
 doubled his efforts. 
 
 It promised to be an even race, for the three steeds 
 seemed well matched. 
 
 Rodney forgot everything but the affair at the forge ; 
 he yearned to meet Capt. Samson again. 
 
 ''Take him on the left," he said, hurriedly, to Jack. 
 **We must overtake him this side the dark copse yon- 
 der." 
 
 The boys separated. 
 
 Rodney turned a little to the right, while Jack rode 
 to the left ; thus they hoped to come alongside the Tory 
 leader, one on each side and simultaneously. 
 
 They bent every energy to this one purpose. 
 
 At last they could hear the panting of the hard- 
 pressed horse compelled to carry his heavy burden in 
 such a race for life. 
 
 Not once did the Tory look back. He seemed to 
 imagine that at least half a dozen of Washington's 
 veteran troopers were at his heels. 
 
 The noses of the boys' horses were nearly at the 
 hunted courser's flanks, when suddenly the man in the 
 saddle turned. 
 
 A cry of recognition fell from Rodney's lips. 
 
 Sure enough it was Capt. Samson! 
 
 The blazing eyes of the Tory leader flashed their 
 baleful light into the faces of the boys. 
 
54 Rodney and Jack's First Fight. 
 
 Jack rose in his stirrups as he swung the saber over 
 his head. 
 
 "Surrender !'' 
 
 A hoarse cry of defiance was the answer he re- 
 ceived. 
 
 At the same moment Rodney, standing almost erect, 
 dashed alonside. 
 
 "Down with Tories !" pealed from his throat. 
 
 Capt. Samson tried to parry the blow he saw about 
 to fall upon him. He threw up his sword arm and 
 struck with all his might, but the boy was too quick for 
 him. 
 
 Rodney's weapon cam^e down upon the Tory's head, 
 and at the same time Jack fearlessly seized the bit of 
 the plunging steed. 
 
 Capt. Samson let his sword fall, he reeled in the 
 darkish saddle, shot Rodney a savage glance, and lay 
 on the neck of his horse. 
 
 The following moment, as the steed stopped, the 
 huge bulk of the Tory captain slipped to the ground 
 and quivered there. 
 
 "The end of a brute !" said Jack. 
 
 No ; it was by no means the end of Capt. Samson. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ON SECRET SERVICE FOR GREENE. 
 
 Upon examination it was discovered that the re- 
 nowned Capt. Samson was not dead, but unconscious. 
 
 The blow delivered by Rodney, while intended to 
 be fatal, had proved but a glancing one, enough, how- 
 ever, to stretch the Tory on the ground and render 
 him hors de combat for the time. 
 
 He was securely bound when signs of returning con- 
 sciousness were noticed, and he was carried back to 
 the victorious Americans. 
 
 He proved a sulky prisoner ; but when he wanted to, 
 he could berate them in vigorous language, which he 
 did not hesitate to do, for he expected no mercy at the 
 patriots' hands. 
 
 So bitter had been the partisan warfare in the Caro- 
 linas that but little quarter was given ; trials, when had, 
 if the enemy was taken in the act, were very brief, and 
 a convenient tree usually bore human fruit. 
 
 In this instance there was, of course, a clamor for 
 severe justice in Capt. Samson's case, for he had been 
 taken in the very act of destroying private property, 
 having just burned out a Whig family ; but Col. Wash- 
 ington deemed it best to take his prisoner back to 
 Greene's camp, which was done. 
 
56 On Secret Service for Greene. 
 
 Rodney Black received some dark glances from 
 Capt. Samson, who evidently recalled the affair at the 
 forge. He returned the looks with interest, so that 
 there was no love lost between the two. 
 
 Samson was placed under guard in the American 
 camp. 
 
 He had lost five of his men in the fight at the burn- 
 ing house, while four others had been taken prisoners. 
 
 Gen. Greene resolved to prevent the Tory from tak- 
 ing any part in the coming battle, which was near at 
 hand, therefore he kept him bound in a small log hut, 
 within the confines of the camp. 
 
 The morning after the night battle Rodney was 
 called into the presence of the American commander. 
 
 After praising him for his part in the affray. Gen. 
 Greene asked him if he cared to undertake a secret 
 mission, saying that he could complete his work and 
 return in time to take part in the expected battle at 
 Guildford. 
 
 "I am at your service, sir," said the boy. "As a 
 soldier, it is my duty to carry out, so far as I can, the 
 wishes of mv commander." 
 
 "I desire to secure some information regarding the 
 enUstments of Tories in Cornwallis' army. It is said 
 that they are flocking to his standard in the vicinity 
 of Rocky Fork, and, I believe, you are familiar with 
 the ground." 
 
 "I came from that region, sir." 
 
On Secret Service for Greene. 57 
 
 ''And that is why I think you are the proper person 
 to send back there." 
 
 "I am ready to go, your excellency." 
 
 Gen. Greene then proceeded and gave Rodney his 
 instructions, telling him that his commission required a 
 good deal of secrecy, that he would be expected to get 
 at the facts in the case, using his own means for do- 
 ing so. 
 
 It was a service which the boy partisan did not think 
 of when he enlisted under Greene's banners. 
 
 He knew the fate of spies when captured ; but as he 
 was going back to his own stamping ground he felt 
 sure that he would be able to succeed. 
 
 That same night he set out. 
 
 This time he was going alone, as Jack was to re- 
 main in camp and keep an eye on Capt. Samson. 
 
 The ride to Rocky Fork was without particular in- 
 cident. 
 
 When Rodney came in sight of the old forge it was 
 dark, but the outlines of the shop rose between him 
 and the brilliant stars. 
 
 There hung over the place a stillness which seemed 
 ghostly. 
 
 Back of the smithv stood the little home of old 
 Jackson and Dora, his niece, and one of Rodney's 
 best friends. 
 
 The boy drew near and halted in front of the shop. 
 
58 On Secret Service for Greene. 
 
 Spring had come again, and the trees had put forth 
 in full leaf and the air was invigorating. 
 
 Rodney was on the eve of moving on when a low 
 hum of voices came to his ear. 
 
 The old smithy was occupied ! 
 
 As he bent forward he became sure of this. There 
 were men in the shop. 
 
 Perhaps old Jackson was holding a meeting with 
 some of the Whigs of the neighborhood, for he knew 
 the old man's sentiments. 
 
 "Swear for the king — forever !" said a low voice, 
 which reached the ears of the alert boy. 
 
 "We swear !" 
 
 The answer was chorused by a number of men, and 
 this startled the boy. 
 
 When had old Jackson turned Tory? What had 
 happened to cause him to desert the cause of liberty ? 
 
 Rodney, with one hand on the butt of his pistol, 
 leaned nearer still, for he now knew he was on dan- 
 gerous ground, and not a word escaped him. 
 
 The secret conclave in the smithy must be probed 
 to the bottom, for here was the very information 
 Gen. Greene wanted. 
 
 "We are four and twenty now," continued the voice, 
 which had administered the oath of allegiance. "By 
 to-morrow night there will be others. What say you, 
 Mr. Jeffrys, to a raid before you go to join our 
 friends ?'* 
 
On Secret Service for Greene. 59 
 
 "It might be a good idea to give this Whig nest a 
 good cleaning out," repHed a voice, which Rodney at 
 once recognized as belonging to Red Dan. 
 
 "Then we will." 
 
 "Confound it ! I want the matter attended to better 
 than the other party did. They let the old Whig Cal- 
 laway slip through their fingers." 
 
 "They couldn't help it, if my information is cor- 
 rect, Brother Jefifrys. You see, Black Gorman came 
 down upon them like death upon the Persians, and 
 they had to release their captives. But we will take 
 care of them this time." 
 
 The voices now ceased, and there were signs that 
 the night conclave was breaking up. 
 
 Rodney moved on again, and halted under some 
 trees, where he could not be observed. 
 
 Presently a number of men glided past his hiding 
 place and vanished. 
 
 He counted twenty-four. 
 
 When the last figure had disappeared he turned to- 
 ward the house. 
 
 He wondered if old Jackson and Dora were aware 
 of the secret gathering. 
 
 Tethering his horse in the yard, where the foliage 
 screened him, he crept toward the darkened domicile. 
 Not a sound broke the strange stillness. 
 He took good care to make no noise as he crossed 
 
6o On Secret Service for Greene. 
 
 the porch, and in a moment he had tried the latch of 
 the door. 
 
 To his surprise it opened without difficulty, and he 
 stood in the darkness, listening with all ears. 
 
 He could have heard a pin drop to the floor, every- 
 thing was so still. 
 
 Taking out his flint and tinder box he struck a light, 
 and as the flame leaped up from the tow he held it 
 above his head and took a survey of the little room. 
 
 To his utter astonishment it was bare of furniture. 
 
 Rodney gazed with increased amazement at the sight 
 before him, and his wonder grew. 
 
 What had become of Dora and her uncle? 
 
 Shutting the door behind him he resolved to probe 
 the mystery to the bottom, for he did not believe that 
 they would desert their home without some cause. 
 
 He proceeded to another room — there were but two 
 on the ground floor — but found it as bare as the one 
 just inspected. 
 
 The Jacksons were surely gone. 
 
 Then the boy partisan found the narrow stairway 
 which led to the craniped garret overhead. 
 
 He crept up the rickety stairs with the ever ready 
 pistol in his grasp, and at the topmost step halted and 
 listened. 
 
 Even the darkness told him that the loft was as 
 deserted as the lower part of the house ; but in order 
 
On Secret Service for Greene. 6i 
 
 to make sure he was about to resort to his tinder box 
 again when a sound Hke a groan fell upon his ears. 
 
 The boy fell back and raised the weapon. 
 
 He tried to estimate from what particular corner 
 of the attic the sound had emanated, but this he was 
 unable to do. 
 
 "Merciful heavens! must I die here?" 
 
 Rodney started to his feet with a cry. 
 
 It was a female's voice, and it sent a thrill through 
 every fiber of his frame. 
 
 He struck a light as soon as possible and advanced. 
 
 In a moment, as it seemed, the light penetrated the 
 darkest corners of the hole, and then another exclama- 
 tion welled from Rodney's throat. 
 
 Lying on the bare floor, with her hands bound on 
 her back and her ankles lashed together, lay Dora, the 
 blacksmith's niece. 
 
 Her face was colorless, and her eyes looked like 
 globes of pain in the glare of the boy's improvised 
 torch. 
 
 "Is it you — you, Rodney?" cried Dora. "Thank 
 Heaven ! you have found me at last !" 
 
 The young trooper could not speak for a moment. 
 
 "What has happened?" he asked, at length. "In 
 the name of Heaven ! what brought about this terrible 
 misfortune?" 
 
 At the same time he severed the thongs that held the 
 girl prisoner, and helped her to her feet. 
 
6a On Secret Service for Greene. 
 
 "It was like the bursting of a thunderbolt," said 
 Dora, when she found her tongue, after several ef- 
 forts. ''They came upon us last night. They were 
 masked, and rode horses. They captured both of us, 
 carried away the forge tools, bound me and left me 
 where you have found me." 
 
 "And your uncle?" 
 
 "I know nothing about him. I suppose they must 
 have dealt severely with him, for he struck their leader 
 with the sledge." 
 
 "But the furniture?" 
 
 "Oh, they burned that in the yard." 
 
 "The miscreants !" 
 
 "They even fired the house ; but a gust of wind and 
 rain extinguished that in time to save my life." 
 
 "And you have been here ever since last night?" 
 
 "Ever since the miscreants went awav." 
 
 'Who led them, Dora?" 
 
 *T cannot say ; they were masked, as I told you ; but I 
 thought I recognized a certain voice." 
 
 "Capt. Samson's." 
 
 "No; Red Dan JeflFrys'." 
 
 "I do not doubt it, for that young scamp is about 
 to join Tarleton. I discovered that much before I 
 found you. You cannot remain here !" 
 
 "I dare not. I " 
 
 "You have friends farther down the creek. You 
 
On Secret Service for Greene. 62 
 
 might find an asylum in the home of Mistress Calla- 
 way if you wished to go thither." 
 
 Dora seemed to shrink from Rodney at these words. 
 
 "What ! Alice Callaway take into her home the niece 
 of a blacksmith?" she exclaimed. 
 
 "She is a young lady with a kind heart, Dora. Be- 
 sides, both she and her father are true to our cause. 
 
 They have suffered at the hands of the Tories and, 
 therefore, would naturally feel for you." 
 
 "But my uncle ? If I could be sure of his fate " 
 
 "I fear the worst, of course ; but we will hope for 
 the best. A day of vengeance is waiting for men like 
 Red Dan and Capt. Samson. I have had the pleasure 
 of meeting the latter villain since quitting Rocky Fork. 
 I am now doing service for Gen. Greene." 
 
 "Why are you not with him?" 
 
 "He gave me a commission, which brings me back to 
 this region. If you will go to Callaway Manor I will 
 see that you get there. You can ride behind me " 
 
 "There seems no other asylum ; but it is not very 
 near," broke in Dora. 
 
 "My horse is fleet. We will soon cover the dis- 
 tance." 
 
 Dora made ready to accompany Rodney to Calla- 
 way Manor, and they glided down the Stairs. 
 The tinder box was not needed now. 
 In a few moments they were at the door, when 
 
64 On Secret Service for Greene. 
 
 heavy footsteps sounded on the porch and the pair 
 drew back. 
 
 The door opened and some one came inside. 
 
 *'I guess the bird has had her wings folded long 
 enough to listen to me now," said a voice, in the almost 
 palpable darkness. "I'll play lover before I take up 
 the sword in earnest ; and the old man with the sledge 
 isn't here to defend his kith and kin." 
 
 Dora almost betrayed her presence with a cry, and 
 as the unseen moved toward the stairs she clutched 
 Kodney's arm and whispered at his ear: 
 
 "Red Dan !" 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 hangman's oak. 
 
 The thought of Red Dan being so near stirred Rod- 
 ney's blood till it tingled his finger ends. 
 
 This was an adventure he had not taken into con- 
 sideration, but he was ready for it, nevertheless. The 
 thought of the indignities suffered by Dora and her 
 uncle was enough to fire the demand for vengeance, 
 and he doubted not from what he had heard at the old 
 forge that Red Dan had had a hand in the infamous 
 game. 
 
 So, surroimded by darkness, the pair heard footsteps 
 move toward the stairway, and presently the door lead- 
 ing to the steps opened. 
 
 They knew tnat in a little while the man, whether 
 he was Red Dan or not, would discover the absence 
 of the prisoner of the garret, and that he would come 
 back in a fury. 
 
 All this happened just as they imagined, for in a 
 short time loud oaths were heard overhead, heavy feet 
 crossed the floor and then came down the stairs. 
 
 The door burst open and the invader of the house 
 was again near the couple. 
 
 "Some one's found her," they heard him say. "She 
 could not have released herself, for I saw to it that she 
 
66 Hangman's Oak. 
 
 was well secured ; but somehow or other she is at 
 liberty." 
 
 Rodney and Dora had drawn back to the wall, which 
 they hugged in silence, while they listened to the out- 
 bursts of passion from the lips of the unseen. 
 
 "I'll strike a light and see what's here, anyhow," he 
 went on. "Maybe the boys overlooked something. I 
 am of a mind to set fire to the whole nest." 
 
 Dora felt Rodney's hand leave her wrist at this 
 threat. 
 
 The following moment she saw the sparks that flew 
 from the unknown's flint and then, as a little flame 
 leaped up from the ready tow, she witnessed a spring 
 on Rodney's part. 
 
 The young patriot went across the space that sepa- 
 rated him from the firemaker like a missile hurled 
 from a catapult. 
 
 There was a cry, and two persons fell to the floor, 
 and the burning tow became scattered. 
 
 Rodney had not miscalculated the distance, nor the 
 strength of his adversary. 
 
 He had the advantage of taking him unawares, but 
 for all this he instantly discovered that he had an agile 
 foe to deal with, for a pair of lusty arms were wrapped 
 round him and he was pressed downward and against 
 the body of his enemy. 
 
 Not far away the bit of tow was blazing well, and 
 
Hangman's Oak. 67 
 
 Dora, springing forward, picked it up and held it over 
 the struggling combatants on the floor. 
 
 By the aid of its light Rodney was enabled to see 
 the face of his antagonist. 
 
 He was Dan Jeffrys of Jeffry Manor sure enough. 
 
 Almost at the same time Dan recognized his enemy, 
 for he had seen Rodney at the forge ; indeed, the young 
 Whig had on several occasions assisted in the shoeing 
 of his horse. 
 
 Dora threw down the burning tow when she had 
 taken in the situation, and struck Dan's wrists with a 
 stick which happened to be at hand. 
 
 This caused the young Tory to loosen his clasp above 
 Rodney's back, and the boy patriot took advantage of 
 this assistance. 
 
 In another minute his hands had been transferred 
 to Mr. Dan's throat, and as they tightened there the 
 Tory gasped. 
 
 Tighter and tighter grew the boy's grip. 
 
 Dora, to assist him, stood resolutely on one of Dan's 
 arms, nor could he shake her off. 
 
 In time the young spy was sure to conquer, and at 
 last he found that the victory was won. 
 
 He had choked Red Dan into insensibility. 
 
 "Now," he said, rising and throwing a look of tri- 
 umph into the young girl's face, "we have the young 
 rascal at our mercy. What shall we do with him ?" 
 
 "The secret of my uncle's fate must belong to him," 
 
68 Hangman's Oak. 
 
 said the girl. "He should first of all be compelled to 
 reveal it." 
 
 'That he shall. But we must secure him first." 
 
 Red Dan was bound with ropes, which were found 
 in the old closet, near at hand, and then the young cap- 
 tors revived him with the application of water. 
 
 A bunch of tow burning in a tin dish on the floor 
 lighted the apartment, and when Dan came back to 
 consciousness he tugged at his bonds and then gave 
 over. 
 
 "What did you do with Uncle Jackson last night?" 
 queried Dora, bending forward and fixing her gaze on 
 the young Tory. 
 
 (( 
 
 Last night?" 
 
 "When you and your friends committed your depre- 
 dations. You carried him away with you." 
 
 "You're pretty bold, my young miss. Do you take 
 me for a night robber?" 
 
 "I take you for just what you are, Mr. Jeffrys," was 
 the quick reply. "I recognized your voice last night, 
 and it was at your instigation that I was bound and 
 left in this plundered house." 
 
 "And so you would like to know what became of 
 your relative?" 
 
 "You know." 
 
 "I'll tell you on one condition." 
 
 "Pray what is that?" 
 
 "Then I am to be released and " 
 
Hangman's Oak. 69 
 
 ''And permitted to escape unpunished from the 
 house?'' put in Rodney. 
 
 ''Exactly, young sir." 
 
 The boy Whig glanced at Dora, who remained silent 
 and did not respond even by gesture or look. 
 
 Red Dan wanted to make his own terms, and the 
 terms he chose to make would, of course, be very ad- 
 vantageous to himself. 
 
 Rodney was almost as deeply interested in the fate 
 of the old blacksmith as was the fair girl at his side, 
 but he believed that he could have guessed it. 
 
 However, he thought he would meet Red Dan again 
 and under other circumstances, since he was about to 
 join Cornwallis, therefore he argued that he could af- 
 ford to be lenient in return for information concerning 
 old Jackson's fate. 
 
 "We accept," he said to their prisoner. 
 
 "Cut my bonds, then." 
 
 "No, sir ; not until you have revealed the secret of 
 Jackson's fate. I give you my word, Dan Jeffrys, 
 that you shall be free the moment you have told the 
 truth." 
 
 Jefifrys winced at this, and set his teeth hard. 
 
 "Very well," said he ; "the old blacksmith was taken 
 from the shop and pulled up." 
 
 There was no contrition in the voice, no pity for the 
 old man whose terrible fate had just been revealed. 
 
 "You did not trv to save him?" cried Dora. 
 
70 Hangman's Oak. 
 
 "I put in my protest, Mistress Dora; but, you sev 
 he struck our leader with the sledge, and they were 
 determined on revenge." 
 
 "Whither did they take him ?" 
 
 "To the big oak at the forks of the road, where 
 the creek bends. You must know where it is." 
 
 "I know." 
 
 "And they hanged him?" 
 
 "I suppose so. I did not accompany them ; but they 
 told me afterward that they pulled him up to a limb 
 and left him there." 
 
 "The soulless miscreants !" exclaimed the young girl. 
 The next moment Rodney's knife severed Dan's 
 bonds and that young worthy rose to his feet. 
 
 "Well, you've kept your promise," he growled, glar- 
 ing at Greene's young recruit. "I hope we may meet 
 again under other circumstances." 
 
 "I reciprocate that feeling," was the prompt reply. 
 "As I hear you are going to Cornwallis, I am pretty 
 sure we will meet, provided you stand fire!" 
 
 There was a good deal of sarcasm in Rodney's last 
 words, which Jeffrys noticed, but without remark. 
 
 He was glad to find himself free from bondage, and 
 without replying he strode to the door. 
 
 "Good-by !" he cried, in a hiss as he jerked the portal 
 open and turned on the threshold, facing the young 
 pair in the house. "If you two birds expect to wear all 
 
Hangman's Oak. 71 
 
 your feathers at the close of the war you reckon with- 
 out your host." 
 
 "What's that, you miserable Tory?" 
 
 Rodney, with flashing eyes, sprang toward the 
 speaker, but the hand of Dora Jackson held him back. 
 
 "You heard me," repeated Red Dan. "Of course 
 Tm going to Cornwallis. And woe to you if your head 
 gets in the way of my sword !" 
 
 He was gone when Rodney broke from Dora's grasp 
 and reached the porch. 
 
 He saw him riding away on Black Betty, the hoofs 
 of the mare making music in the road as her shoes 
 struck the flintv stones, 
 
 "Come now," said Rodney to his companion ; "we 
 are rid of Master Jeffrys and can ride to Callaway 
 Manor." 
 
 *To the other place first," said the girl. 
 
 'The oak by the creek, you mean?" 
 
 *Yes ; we can at least give my uncle burial, for these 
 minions of the king did nothing of the kind." 
 
 Rodney bowed acquiescence, and the pair emerged 
 from the house. 
 
 The boy partisan helped Dora to a seat on the horse 
 behind him and rode away. 
 
 The place designated by Red Dan as the spot where 
 the execution of old Jackson, the blacksmith, had taken 
 place was more than a mile from the smithy. 
 
 The road wound to it and near by ran the purling 
 
 »<»■ 
 
 tc 
 
 {(•f 
 
Jl Hangman's Oak. 
 
 ■ ■ ^ ^ ■ ■■■■■■■■■ — .» m. ., — —.-■ ,.i I , , ,. — . ——I. ■■■■■■■■ ■ I I,. ^■«i— ^ 
 
 stream, fringed here and there with the lordhest trees 
 in all that section. 
 
 The pair spoke but little during the ride. Dora's 
 heart was filled with sadness, and she brooded over 
 the dark vengeance of the Tory band, and thought of 
 the work her hands would have to perform yet that 
 night. 
 
 "Here we are," spoke Rodney, at length, as he 
 reined in the horse. "This is the big oak, Dora." 
 
 The young girl turned and looked with bated breath, 
 talcing in the scene about her. 
 
 *T see nothing," she said, at last. 
 
 The boy patriot urged his horse forward and pulled 
 up again. 
 
 "Look ! Here is a bit of rope dangling from a limb ; 
 but I can see nothing of the victim of Tory fury." 
 
 "Perchance some friendly hands cut him down and 
 gave him Christian burial." 
 
 "All of which may be true. But there's something 
 fluttering from the tree itself." 
 
 "Seems like a bit of paper." 
 
 Rodney reached out a hand and tore the object from 
 the tree trunk. 
 
 Then he urged the horse from under the big oak 
 and into the ligh^, for the moon, riding now through 
 the cloudless heavens, flooded the spot with her silvery 
 effulgence. 
 
 "What is on the paper?" cried Dora, with unsup- 
 
Hangman's Oak. 73 
 
 pressed eagerness, while Rodney bent forward to de- 
 cipher the scrawl which had already caught his eye. 
 
 "It is a poor scrawl," replied the boy, without look- 
 ing up. **It seems to have been written with a bit of 
 sharpened lead. I'll master it presently, I hope." 
 
 Dora waited with impatience. 
 
 *'l have it at last. Your uncle escaped the death pre- 
 pared for him by the Tories." 
 
 "Escaped the noose?" 
 
 "I can't say as to that. But listen. This is what 
 the paper says : 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a 
 tooth. Old Jackson, deprived of all that was dear to 
 him, has drawn his sword for freedom, and woe to the 
 villains who tried to strangle him ! The day of settle- 
 ment is not far away. Vengeance ! May we meet in 
 battle; but wherever we meet, last night's work shall 
 be paid for. Jackson.' " 
 
 Dora uttered a cry of relief when Rodney finished 
 reading. 
 
 "Surely, some one cut him down before life was ex- 
 tinct," she exclaimed. "But why did he not return 
 to the forge? That is something I cannot understand. 
 But ail will be explained later on." 
 
 "Let us hope so. Now for Callaway Manor, and, 
 after seeing you safe there, I must return with my re- 
 port to Gen. Greene." 
 
 The horse was guided from the scene of more tlian 
 
74 Hangman's Oak. 
 
 one dark deed during the Revolution, and canteiel 
 down the river road with his double burden. 
 
 Rodney recalled his adventure during the last few 
 hours, and yearned for the time when he should meet 
 the redcoats in a pitched battle. 
 
 That time was close at hand, for both Cornwallis 
 and Greene had stripped for the conflict. 
 
CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 GUILDFORD. 
 
 True to Rodney's predictions, Dora found an asylum 
 at Callaway Manor. 
 
 She was welcomed by Mistress Alice who, as tho 
 reader knows, had already suffered at the hands of the 
 Tories, and the boy patriot, after seeing her snugly 
 ensconced there, bade the girls good-by and set out on 
 his return to the army. 
 
 He had obtained some information of the kind 
 wanted by Gen. Greene, and flattered himself that he 
 would reach the army in time to take part in the com- 
 ing battle. 
 
 The American general had chosen Guildford for his 
 battleground. 
 
 There he expected to measure strength with Com- 
 wallis, his inveterate foe and relentless pursuer. 
 
 He had halted in his retreat across the Carolinas 
 at the Iron Works on the Haw to wait for reinforce- 
 ments. 
 
 These came at last, and he found himself at the 
 head of five thousand five hundred men, the largest 
 number ever mustered at one time under his banners. 
 
 His long retreat had been glorious. 
 
 Comwallis thought many times that he had the 
 
76 Guildford. 
 
 American army in a net from which there was no 
 escape, but each time had the masterful Greene sUpped 
 through his fingeis. 
 
 While Greene's army was numerically stronger than 
 thsit of his adversary, he could scarcely hope for 
 success. 
 
 Cornwallis' men were trained veterans, who had seen 
 service in Europe; the greater part of Greene's force 
 was a mere militia rabble. 
 
 On the 14th of March, 178 1, the American army 
 halted at Guild +nrd. 
 
 A single building, called by courtesy a courthouse, 
 crowned a hill in the midst of a clearing. 
 
 The spot was lonely and forsaken, no other house 
 being in sight, and everywhere stretched a bound- 
 less forest, broken here and there by little patches of 
 cultivated land. 
 
 On the morning of the 15th Greene drew^ up his lit- 
 tle army in three lines. 
 
 He placed the North Carolina militia along a stone 
 fence facing a cornfield. 
 
 Fifty yards behind them lay the Virginia recruits 
 
 under Stevens and Lawson. 
 
 Four hundred yards behind these stood the veteran 
 Continentals, men of many a bloody affray, led by 
 Greene himself. 
 
 Lee's Legion covered the right flank of the little 
 
Guildford 77 
 
 army, while Washington's heavy dragoons, with whom 
 Rodney and Jack served, protected the left. 
 
 Such was the order of battle. 
 
 It was most admirable. 
 
 If the militia could be held to their work there were 
 hopes for Greene, otherwise there were none. 
 
 It was an ideal day. 
 
 Birds sang in the trees and the sky was as soft as 
 the blue vault of summer. 
 
 When Rodney reached the camp, just before the 
 march to the battlefieW, Jack was the first to impart 
 some important information. 
 
 Capt. Samson had effected his escape the night be- 
 fore. 
 
 It was supposed that some Tory spy, who had entered 
 the camp, had assisted him to freedom, for the guard 
 on the outside of the hut where the captain was con- 
 fined had been strangled into insensibility, and investi- 
 gation proved that the blackbird was gone. 
 
 This did not trouble the boy partisan very much, 
 for he felt that Capt. Samson had rejoined the rem- 
 nant of his band, and he hoped that they would take 
 part in the coming battle, where chey could be ridden 
 down by Washington's dragoons. 
 
 "We'll clip his feathers good the next time, never 
 fear," said Rodney to Jack. "This rascal has but a 
 breathing spell, and his career is very apt to end at the 
 point of a sword or the twist of a rope." 
 
78 Guildford. 
 
 *' Really, I hope so. And you say that Red Dan is 
 now with Tarleton?" 
 "He undoubtedly is." 
 That's good! Another chance to settle some old 
 
 if 
 
 scores." 
 
 This conversation took place on the battle line, in the 
 glorious beams of the sun, while the little army waited 
 for the enemy. 
 
 Higher and higher rose the god of day, illuminating 
 the east, but Cornwallis came not. 
 
 Noon came, and the air was not stirred by the crash 
 of the furious legions. 
 
 At last, by one o'clock, the sound of drums assailed 
 the ears of the colonists. 
 
 The foe was at hand ! 
 
 In another moment the earl threw forward his artil- 
 lery and opened on the foremost line of the Ameri- 
 cans, and, under cover of the dense smoke, pushed his 
 infantry into the cornfield facing the North Caro- 
 linians. 
 
 Now was the time for the militia of the old North 
 State to cover themselves with glory ; but it was not 
 to be. 
 
 Behind the stone fence the patriots watched the red- 
 coats as they formed for the charge, they looked upon 
 the long line of glittering steel and saw the bayonets 
 lowered for the work of death. 
 
 Suddenly, with deafening shouts, the British line 
 
Guildford. 79 
 
 dashed forward, and without firing a shot, the North 
 Carolinians turned and ran like a pack of frightened 
 sheep. 
 
 Gen. Greene had not expected them to withstand the 
 charge of Europe's veteran legions ; but he did hope 
 that they would pour at least three or four rounds into 
 the scarlet coats, but not a round did they fire. 
 
 It was shameful. 
 
 Vainl> did the intrepid Lee dash among them with 
 drawn saber, threatening to cut the cowards down, but 
 it had no effect ; they ran on with the exulting foe 
 thundering behind them. 
 
 The Virginians stood firm. 
 
 They met the enemy with a deadly volley, and the 
 ground was flecked with scarlet uniforms. 
 
 Bravely did they stand, till they were overpowered. 
 They did all that men could do, but, when crushed by 
 the weight of numbers, they turned and fled. 
 
 Then the grand old Continental line threw itself 
 forward. 
 
 It sprang up from the ground, and in another mo- 
 ment was upon the victorious British. 
 
 With lowered bayonets the Americans flung them- 
 selves upon Cornwallis' veterans, broke through their 
 ranks with a fury that could not be checked, and had 
 the battle almost won. 
 
 But at every step they were met by hundreds of 
 redcoats, and the battle became a carnage. 
 
8o Guildford. 
 
 Meanwhile, our young heroes had patiently bided 
 their time. 
 
 They had been told that Gen. Greene always re- 
 served Washington and his cavalry for the critical 
 
 moment, and at last it came. 
 
 The Marylanders, fighting like Spartans, were about 
 to be crushed by the foe. 
 
 They could hold the thin line but a little while. 
 
 Suddenly the bugles sounded loud and clear. 
 
 Sabers had been drawn and pistols loosened in the 
 holsters. 
 
 "We're in for it now !" said Jack to Rodney. 
 
 *'At last, thank fortune!'* 
 
 Onw^ard went the troopers, swinging straight upon 
 the British line that was pressing the Continentals to 
 the last extremity. 
 
 Almost before one could breathe a second time the 
 horsemen were upon the infantry. 
 
 It was like the impact of a thunderbolt. 
 
 ''Be steady and firm!" cried the heroic Stuart, who 
 commanded the English. "Don't let the rebel horse- 
 men drive you back." 
 
 Rodney and Jack kept as close together as possible. 
 
 They saw Washington riding at the head of his le- 
 gion like a real god of battle, his saber swinging round 
 'his head and his whole soul in the fray. 
 
 The clash was terrible. In vain did the British col- 
 
Guildford. 81 
 
 umn present their bayonets to the maddened riders, 
 they were dashed aside and the ranks forced. 
 
 Nothing could stay the advance of those sabering 
 heroes of the South. 
 
 'That officer yonder! Come!" cried Jack, in the 
 excitement of the moment. 'They are rallying round 
 the colors. Let us take them !" 
 
 He turned slightly to the left without looking for 
 Rodney, but Rodney had heard and was close behind 
 him. 
 
 Jack had already cut one soldier down, and there 
 wxre drops of red on his saber. 
 
 In a mom^ent they were upon the little group of 
 twenty men who had rallied round the colors. 
 
 They presented their warlike front to the troopers, 
 and stood their ground like heroes. 
 
 Had the boy patriots tried to check their steeds it is 
 doubtful if they could have succeeded before they were 
 upon the group. 
 
 *The flag ! the flag !" they both shouted in unison. 
 
 The officer who clung to the flagstaff retreated a 
 step and looked defiance at the speakers. 
 
 Others were rushing to the rescue, and the boys 
 were liable to be surrounded. 
 
 Jack struck at the officer, but his saber was knocked 
 aside by a giant grenadier, who parried the stroke with 
 his musket, and the boy was almost thrown from the 
 saddle. 
 
2l Guildford. 
 
 "The flag ! We must have the colors !" exclaimed 
 Rodney. 
 
 He was upon the little group, his horse plunging 
 right among them, while his blade knocked the British 
 captain's hat flying from his head. 
 
 In another moment he had seized the flagstaff and 
 had wrenched it by main force from the hands that 
 would have preserved it from capture. 
 
 It was a glorious moment for the boys of Carolina. 
 
 As they wheeled and rode back they were met by a 
 volley of grape and cannister, for Cornwallis, seeing 
 that in order to save his guards from annihilation he 
 must shoot into friend and foe alike, so intermingled 
 were they, had brought up his artillery, and was strew- 
 ing the ground with humanity. 
 
 The terrible volleys sent from the brass guns turned 
 the tide of battle. 
 
 The brave troopers were forced back, the American 
 infantry reeled from the shock^ and the iron balls con- 
 tinued to plow through their ranks like engines of 
 destruction. 
 
 A moment since the field of Guildford was won, 
 now it was irretrievably lost. 
 
 Such is the fate of war. 
 
 Rodney and Jack were borne back on the tide of 
 battle. 
 
 The former still clung to the captured colors, while 
 Jack held in his hand a colonel's sword. 
 
Guildford. 83 
 
 Lee and Campbell on the left still maintained the 
 fight, but they could not hold out long. 
 
 Where Washington's troopers had ridden the ground 
 was literally covered with redcoats. 
 
 For hours the battle had raged among the sturdy 
 trees, and the ground had shaken with the tread of 
 the stubborn legions. 
 
 The sun sank into a mass of clouds, and the only 
 noises that at last came from the field were the cries 
 of the wounded. 
 
 The battle of Guildford was over. 
 
 Gen. Greene reluctantly gave the order to retreat, 
 placing his brave Virginians as a rear guard. 
 
 Cornwallis advanced upon this line, hoping to break 
 it ; but the Virginians received the victors with such a 
 galling fire that they fell back in disorder. 
 
 They did not try it again, for other engagements 
 had told the British commander that Greene was most 
 dangerous when whipped. 
 
 The little army fell back to its old encampments at 
 Reedy Fork. 
 
 It had been defeated : but the enemy had been ter- 
 ribly punished. 
 
 Six hundred redcoats lay on the grass and leaves 
 about Guildford Courthouse. 
 
 Well might Fox say on the floor of Parliament, 
 when the news of this battle reached England : 
 
 "Another such victory will ruin the British army." 
 
84 Guildford. 
 
 "Two of my bravest !" said Gen. Greene, when Jack 
 and Rodney rode up to his tent, one with the captured 
 colors and the other bearing the handsome sword he 
 had captured in fair fight. ''Had I had heroes Hke 
 you at the stone fence to-day we would have gained a 
 brilliant victory.'* 
 
 *'But the enemy has been terribly punished, general/' 
 said Rodney. "He doesn't even growl." 
 
 "No ; we pulled too many of his teeth ; he cannot 
 growl." 
 
 The boys rode back, ready for the next adventure, 
 which was to be of a different nature, and as exciting 
 as the battle. They felt that it was something to serve 
 under the banners of the gallant Greene. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 AN INTERRUPTED WELCOME. 
 
 After his defeat at Guildford, Gen. Greene resolved 
 to carry the war into South CaroUna. 
 
 The British followed, but with caution, for it was 
 like trailing a wounded lion, which growls all the time 
 and is likely to turn upon his hunters. 
 
 Greene at times turned on his pursuers and in- 
 flicted heavy damage. 
 
 Going back into South Carolina pleased Rodney and 
 Jack. 
 
 They would soon reach ground familiar to them 
 both, and they hoped to pay off some old scores with 
 the Tories. 
 
 Besides this, it would permit them to be near Calla- 
 way Manor, where both Dora and Alice were, and 
 they feared that the two girls would need at times the 
 strength of their protecting arms. 
 
 It had not been their fortune to encounter Capt. Sam- 
 son or Red Dan at Guildford, for they did not come in 
 contact with Tarleton's horse ; but now that they were 
 riding south they felt assured that they would soon 
 meet these two worthies again. 
 
 Callaway Manor was a large estate, which had been 
 in possession of the house many years. 
 
86 An Interrupted Welcome. 
 
 ' "■■— ■ ' ' — — — ■ ' ■ ■ -I - -■ — ■ -1 1 - 1 11 ■III k.t,ij 
 
 Its former owners had beautified it until it was one 
 of the fairest plantations in the Palmetto State, the old 
 manor house standing on a rise back of a grove of 
 stately trees, whose shade lent a cooling freshness to 
 the landscape. 
 
 Being near it one dusk Rodney proposed to his 
 friend and companion a ride to the place, and in a 
 short time they dismounted in front of the long vine- 
 covered porch, which was supported by enormous 
 columns. 
 
 A faithful slave first discovered them, and their ar- 
 rival was the signal for great rejoicing. 
 
 They were escorted into the great parlor, where 
 they found the master of the place ready to greet them. 
 
 The two girls, their eyes gleaming with pleasure, 
 added zest to the welcome, and in a little while a 
 sumptuous repast was set before the young troopers. 
 
 The boys had much to tell, the marches with Greene, 
 the fierce fight at Guildford, in which they had taken 
 such a prominent part, the stubborn retreat into South 
 Carolina, and finally the hopes of soon seeing the end 
 of the war with the establishment of a new nation de- 
 voted to freedom in North Am.erica. 
 
 In the midst of Rodney's recital of an incident of 
 the retreat a darky bounded into the dining room, his 
 eyes rolling in fright and his breath no longer at his 
 command. 
 
 "De — Tories ! dey am comin' down de road !" he 
 
An Interrupted Welcome. 87 
 
 finally made out to say. "Dey am a thousand strong, 
 an' dey come fo' the young dragoons !" 
 
 In an instant everyone left the table, and the boys, 
 seizing their weapons, bolted for the door. 
 
 The night had not fairly settled over the scene, for 
 objects were discernible some distance away. 
 
 One glance was enough. 
 
 The road leading past the house and between it and 
 the first line of trees, seemed full of men. 
 
 The jingle of warlike weapons was distinctly heard, 
 and after a look the door was closed. 
 
 *Ts it Tarleton?" asked Thomas Callaway. 
 
 *T think not. Col. Tarleton can hardly be in this 
 neighborhood just now. It may be a band of Tories led 
 by some such fellow as Capt. Samson " 
 
 "Or Red Dan." 
 
 *We shall soon see." 
 
 Almost before the last words had left Rodney's lips 
 the band halted in front of the mansion and a part of it, 
 separating, rode round it, forming in a moment a cor- 
 don of living humanity. 
 
 Silence reigned within the manor house. 
 
 *'Come out and surrender !" called a loud voice. "We 
 have you all in a trap. Come out or take the conse- 
 quences !" 
 
 Before he could be restrained, Thomas Callaway 
 opened the door and stepped bodly upon the porch. 
 
 At sight of him a shout of derision cleft the air. 
 
88 An Interrupted Welcome. 
 
 "The old lion himself!" laughed the leader of the 
 Tories. "Where are the cubs ?" 
 
 "What is wanted?" 
 
 **We want the young rebels whom you harbor, that's 
 what we're here for." 
 
 "You mean " 
 
 "Come ! No words spoken for time ! We'll not put 
 up with delay. Trot out the rebel whelps, I say !" 
 
 "You must be mistaken. You " 
 
 "We trailed them here, and they're inside," was the 
 unceremonious interruption. 
 
 "Men, I trust you won't inflict any indignities upon 
 the young ladies under my care." 
 
 "We won't do more than look at the beauties per- 
 haps, but we want the rebel cubs." 
 
 Rodney and Jack quivered with indignation behind 
 the heavy oaken door. 
 
 "Will you surrender them?" demanded the heavily 
 bearded leader of the forayers. "We can't remain here 
 all night in a fruitless parley." 
 
 Callaway's blood boiled in his veins. 
 
 "Then," he cried, "if you want the guests of Calla- 
 way Manor you must come and take them !" 
 
 This defiance sent a cry heavenward from the throats 
 of the men in the road. 
 
 "And we'll take 'em, too 1" 
 
 The master of the manor turned and re-entered the 
 mansion. 
 
An Interrupted Welcome. 89 
 
 As the door closed behind him a heavy plank shot 
 into its place, and the portal was barricaded against the 
 enemy. 
 
 A few moments of most painful silence followed this 
 act, and then the troopers outside sent up a chorus of 
 maddening yells. 
 
 ''You will defy the king, eh?" they cried. 
 
 Silence, which meant ''yes," was the only reply. 
 
 Those inside heard a command as it was spoken by 
 the leader of the Tory band, and all withdrew a short 
 distance. 
 
 Suddenly the stillness outside was broken by a vol- 
 lev, and bullets hurtled throus^h the shutters, to strike 
 the wall beyond with dismal thuds. 
 
 The girls stood erect, refusing to retire to a place 
 of safety, and Thomas Callaway, who had vanished for 
 a moment, came back with an armload of loaded mus- 
 kets. 
 
 "We are prepared for a pretty good siege, you see," 
 he said, with a smile to the two boys. "They will have 
 some sport taking Fort Callaway, I'm thinking." 
 
 In a little while the demand for surrender was re- 
 peated, but it met with a stern refusal. 
 
 "How many are out there?" queried Jack. 
 
 "I think I counted twenty-six in front of the house, 
 but there are others behind it." 
 
 "And we are five." 
 
 "Do you want to be smoked out?" 
 
90 An Interrupted Welcome. 
 
 This was the usual Tory threat, for men of Capt. 
 Samson's ilk did not hesitate to apply the torch, no 
 matter if women and children were in jeopardy. 
 
 "Cowards, do you worst!" answered Mr, Callaway, 
 with his lips at the door. *'We don't expect mercy 
 from a band of Tory cutthroats !" 
 
 Fearful that the fire, if started at all, would begin 
 in the rear of the house among the smaller buildings, 
 Rodney ran through the room and sought a window 
 in the kitchen. 
 
 Halting there, rifle in hand, he looked out upon the 
 gathering shadows. 
 
 A man was creeping toward the manor house like 
 an Indian. 
 
 He bellied the ground like a panther, wriggling his 
 way forward through the low bushes. 
 
 Rodney raised the lower sash without noise and 
 waited. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the man. 
 
 When near the house he drew something from his 
 bosom and struck his flint. 
 
 A little spark no larger than a pea leaped up, then 
 the tow caught. 
 
 The hand of the boy ranger clutched the gun more 
 firmly. 
 
 He rested it upon the sash, and, taking aim at the 
 crouching figure, touched the trigger. 
 
An Interrupted Welcome. 91 
 
 Tlie report was followed by a cry, and the man leaped 
 into the air and fell among the bushes. 
 
 "One Tory less, I trust," said Rodney, as he ran 
 back to report his success. 
 
 The shot was followed by a number of revengeful 
 cries, and another volley was poured through the front 
 windows, fortunately inflicting no injuries on the be- 
 sieged. 
 
 "What's that?" exclaimed Jack, as the sound of an 
 ax reverberated through the manor. 
 
 "They are felling one of the younger trees." 
 
 'Tor a battering ram. They will storm the door!" 
 
 Thomas Callaway set his teeth hard, but did not 
 speak. 
 
 He knew that the door, despite the barricade, could 
 not long resist a battering ram in the hands of ten 
 or twenty determined men. 
 
 "It is a fight to the finish," he said at last, as he 
 looked at the boys. "Callaway Manor shall not be sur- 
 rendered so long as its master lives." 
 
 "That's right ; and you will find us with you to the 
 bitter end," was the response. 
 
 One of the girls, who had been stationed at the 
 kitchen window, reported that everything was quiet 
 in that direction. 
 
 The summary death of the incendiary seemed to have 
 quieted the marauders on that side of the house. 
 
 The making of the battering ram went on. 
 
92 An Interrupted Welcome. 
 
 Each blow of the ax seemed to shorten the doom of 
 the devoted defenders of the manor. 
 
 At last the strokes ceased. 
 
 The terrible weapon was finished. 
 
 "Now, for the last time, we demand your surrender," 
 came from without. 
 
 ''Clearly that was Capt. Samson's voice," said 
 Rodney. 
 
 "Yes ; I am Capt. Samson. I am the man who wants 
 to settle with you young rebel cubs. For the last time, 
 I say, will you surrender ?'' 
 
 "For the last time, no !" 
 
 Capt. Samson withdrew. 
 
 "It will come now," said Thomas Callaway, as he 
 picked up one of the muskets and made ready for a 
 stubborn defense. 
 
 Sure enough, it did come, for all at once there came 
 to the alert ears of the besieged the tramping of many 
 feet on the porch and a blow that seemed to twist the 
 door on its heavy hinges. 
 
 But the barricade did not yield. 
 
 Three rifles were thrust through openings in the 
 shutters and flashed in the faces of the men on the 
 porch. 
 
 There were cries of mortal pain, horrible curses and 
 imprecations of all kinds. 
 
 The volley had told. 
 
 Then came a shuffling of feet on the porch and next 
 
An Interrupted Welcome. 93 
 
 another rush, the long timber crashing against the 
 door and knocking one of the irons that held the barri- 
 cade to the floor. 
 
 The critical moment had arrived. 
 
 All saw that another attack would send the door 
 from its hinges, and that the house would swarm with 
 the enemy. 
 
 Yet there was no sign of yielding. 
 
 ''Quick !" shouted Thomas Callaway, at the top of his 
 voice, "the powder! Spring the mine, and let all, 
 friend, and foe, perish together!" 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE FIRE IN THE REAR. 
 
 The command which the stern old Whig uttered 
 with such emphasis was intended to convey the im- 
 pression to the enemy outside that the house, or at 
 least a portion of it, had been undermined for a dire 
 emergency, and that a spark would send it hurtling 
 into the air, burying in its ruins friend and foe alike. 
 
 A startling silence followed the words. 
 
 Then there was a hasty scrambling from the porch, 
 the Tories in their haste fairly tumbling over one an- 
 other in their eagerness to escape the peril they thought 
 awaited them. 
 
 "They're gone !" exclaimed Miss Alice. 'The threat 
 shows that a Tory is, after all, afraid of gunpowder.'' 
 
 A smile wreathed the lips of the old master of the 
 manor. 
 
 ''Now for a breathing spell," said he. 'We can re- 
 pair the damage to the door." 
 
 The missing staple was found on the floor and driven 
 into a new place in the heavy oaken frame, the barri- 
 cade was replaced, and the door made as stout as 
 possible. 
 
 The two boys knew that their horses had fallen into 
 Capt. Samson's possession ; but they were still uncap- 
 
The Fire in the Rear. 95 
 
 tured, and hoped to give the murderous band the best 
 fight possible. 
 
 For some little time silence reigned around the manor 
 house. 
 
 "If we were outside with some of the legion there 
 would be a great scampering of Tories," said Rodney. 
 
 "As you say that Lee is not far away, it is possible 
 that he may have heard the firing and will come to our 
 rescue." 
 
 "He will surely ride this way if the firing has reached 
 his ears, Mistress Alice." 
 
 "Let us hope that it has." 
 
 By this time there seemed to be a reaction of senti- 
 ment on the foe's part. 
 
 They appeared to have seen through the ruse which 
 had chased them back, and now they came on again. 
 
 "Will you not -surrender and spare the effusion of 
 blood?'' asked Capt. Samson. 
 
 "Why surrender to you?" was the response. 
 
 "Because you are greatly outnumbered." 
 
 "Callaway Manor is a fort that will be defended tc> 
 the last extremity!" 
 
 "Then the mercy you may get by submitting may 
 not be tendered at all." 
 
 'Mercy is not expected." 
 
 'Just as you will," growled the Tory captain. 
 
 'I think if we were only outside we could soon put 
 a different face on affairs," whispered Rodney, at this 
 
 iC] 
 
 tf 
 
 tn 
 
^6 The Fire in the Rear. 
 
 juncture. *'The house is surely watched on all sides, 
 
 and it might be difficult to get through the enemy's 
 
 lines, but " 
 
 "Very well — if you are willing to try your stratagem 
 
 you shall have a chance/' responded Thomas Callaway. 
 
 ""There is the underground passage " 
 
 "Is there such a thing connected with the manor?" 
 "There is ; but it has not been used during the war 
 
 that I know of." 
 
 "Where is it?" 
 
 "Alice will show you." 
 
 The young girl turned away and left the room, fol- 
 lowed by the two boys. 
 
 Mr. Callaway and Dora were left to hold the foe at 
 bay in a parley as long as possible. 
 
 Alice Callaway descended steps into the cellar, car- 
 rying a light in her hand. 
 
 Traversing the wine vaults, she came to a door set 
 in the wall. 
 
 "There is the passage," said she. "It terminates un- 
 derneath the spring house, where there is a door in 
 the floor. The passageway is very ancient, for it was 
 there long before father was born, having been built, 
 it is supposed, by old Audran Callaway, who fought 
 tmder Cromwell. He may have built it for safety 
 from the Indians, but of that we are not certain." 
 
 Rodney caught hold of the iron ring which was set 
 
The Fire in the Rear. 97 
 
 in the door of the passageway and, by main strength, 
 pulled it open. 
 
 A dark, cavernous opening yawned in his face. 
 
 Alice held the light, so that its rays revealed a flight 
 of steps, which seemed to lead into the bowels of the 
 earth, but which, in fact, did not lead very far down. 
 
 ''Now, bring three or four muskets hither, Jack," 
 said the boy blacksmith. "We will treat these Tories 
 to a fire in the rear, something they have never yet 
 been known to stand." 
 
 Jack bounded back to the room where Mr. Callaway 
 and Dora stood, and returned with four guns. 
 
 **You will shut the door behind us," Rodney said to 
 Alice. "We will find the door at the other end of the 
 tunnel. Keep up a stout heart, and if we do not outwit 
 Capt. Samson and his band it will not be our fault." 
 
 The boy partisans now plunged into the tunnel, and 
 Alice pushed the heavy door back to its place. 
 
 Then she listened a while and heard faint sounds be- 
 yond the portal, which told her that the daring young 
 Whigs were gliding through the darkness under- 
 ground, bent on the stratagem they had in view. 
 
 "It's as dark as Eg>'pt in here," said Rodney, as he 
 guided himself by keeping a hand on the cold wall. 
 'Darker even than that," was the reply behind him. 
 'Never mind, we must play our hand out. Remem- 
 ber, that we are dealing with Capt. Samson." 
 
 "Just as if I could forget it for a moment." 
 
 <<i 
 
 <<i 
 
98 The Fire in the Rear. 
 
 Down the tunnel the boys made their way, keeping as 
 close together as possible, and each bore his share of 
 the muskets and extra ammunition. 
 
 The old passage seemed endless. 
 
 At last, however, they reached the end of the tunnel, 
 for they were stopped by a solid wall. 
 
 *We must be underneath the spring house." 
 
 'It would seem so, for this is the end of the tunnel." 
 
 Rodney felt overhead and moved his hand over a 
 great flat stone. 
 
 'I've found the trap," he whispered to his com- 
 
 <<i 
 
 «i 
 
 <<T>_ 
 
 panion. 
 
 "That's good luck." 
 
 "Now, with me, place your shoulders against the 
 stone and we will see if we can raise it." 
 
 The boys drew close together, and placing their 
 strong shoulders against the stone above them, exerted 
 all their strength and found that it moved. 
 
 Another trial and it fell backward, and they drew 
 themselves out of the pit. 
 
 The muskets were pulled out after them, and they 
 stood free again. 
 
 The old spring house was about two hundred yards 
 from the manor house, and stood among a lot of trees. 
 
 The boys did not take time to inspect their sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 As they hastened toward Callaway Manor they sud- 
 
The Fire in the Rear. 99 
 
 denly stopped, for there were shouts of triumph in that 
 direction. 
 
 *'The demons have fired the house ! Look, Jack !'* 
 
 This seemed true, for a tongue of flame had leaped 
 heavenward, and as it gathered in volume the boys 
 stood transfixed with horror, as it seemed. 
 
 ''The brutes I" hissed Jack. ''Come, we may not 
 be too late." 
 
 They sprang forward with the agility of young pan- 
 thers, and soon gained a place in the enemy's rear. 
 
 *'Now let them have it !" said Rodney. "Fire the 
 muskets as rapidly as possible, and I will do the rest." 
 
 The boys discharged the muskets one after the other, 
 and Rodney's voice was heard above the din : 
 
 "Forward, Virginians ! No mercy to the Tories of 
 the Carolinas ! America forever !" 
 
 The effect was electrical. 
 
 In a moment there were signs of skurrying in front 
 of the manor house, and men were heard flying in all 
 directions. 
 
 A fire in the rear was something the Tories of the 
 Revolution could not stand. 
 
 "Forward ! Death to the villains of the South !" 
 Rodney continued to cry out. 
 
 Some more shots were fired from the muskets, and 
 as the boys dashed forward they found no one to op- 
 pose them., 
 
 There still rung in their ears sounds of flight as 
 
lOO The Fire in the Rear. 
 
 Capt. Samson and his band urged their horses from 
 the scene of the unexpected attack. 
 
 The boys were on the porch in a little while. 
 
 "Look! The door is beaten in!" exclaimed Jack, 
 **Can it be that the enemy has accomplished his pur- 
 pose ?" 
 
 They stopped a second at the door, which swung 
 brokenly from its hinges, while behind the house the 
 flames were creeping upward in their eagerness to 
 leave it a heap of ashes. 
 
 "Where are you, friends?" cried Rodney, halting in 
 the dark and the silence. 
 
 There was no response. 
 
 The boys now threw open the doors that led from 
 the room into the chambers, and this let a flood of fire- 
 light into the place. 
 
 "They are gone! Capt. Samson has captured all!" 
 
 It seemed indeed true, for certain signs showed that 
 a desperate struggle had taken place in the parlor, but 
 Mr. Callaway and the two girls were missing. 
 
 "We must have been just a few seconds too late," 
 said Rodney, with a sigh. 
 
 "It looks so." 
 
 It now became the boys' duty to save the grand old 
 house, and in this they were assisted by some of the 
 slaves, who had returned from hiding from the Tory 
 band. By persistent efforts on the part of all the fire 
 
The Fire in the Rear. loi 
 
 was subdued, and nothing but a few charred planks 
 showed where it had gnawed its mad way. 
 
 Afoot, with their friends in the hands of Capt. Sam- 
 son, Rodney and Jack feh the sting of rage and keen 
 disappointment. 
 
 The slaves told them how the Tories had ridden off 
 when the attack in the rear began, and how they had 
 previously rushed the house, despite the defense put 
 up by those inside. 
 
 "They must be followed !" exclaimed Rodney. "Capt. 
 Samson must not boast of his triumph long." 
 
 "But the horses?" 
 
 Not a horse had been left on the premises by the 
 enemy. 
 
 Cupe, the head slave, a giant darky, and one de- 
 votedly attached to his master, volunteered to assist 
 the boys in their pursuit ; but it was feared that but 
 little headwav could be made without horses. 
 
 The Tories had taken the road leading across the 
 country, and which, three miles away, struck a river, 
 barely fordable. 
 
 Pursuit seemed almost out of the question, but the 
 boys were not to be discouraged. 
 
 It was feared that the life of Thomas Callaway was 
 in danger, for he had been such a pronounced enemy 
 of the king, and on several occasions had rendered 
 Marion a good deal of assistance. 
 
 This had rendered him a marked man by the British 
 
I02 The Fire in the Rear. 
 
 — - — ■ ■■ '■■- — - — ■ ■ ■ II— 1^^ 
 
 and Tories, and we have already seen how near death 
 he had been while a prisoner in their hands. 
 
 "Horses or no horses, we must follow them!" cried 
 Rodney. 
 
 "I am with you, of course, but " 
 
 ^ Well ?" 
 
 <( 
 
 'Are there no Tory horses near by ? Who owns the 
 next plantation, Cupe?" 
 
 "Massa Brunix." 
 
 "Whig or Tory ?" 
 
 "Him no say much." 
 
 "Then he is not Whig." 
 
 "Him keep mighty still dese days." 
 
 "Which means that he sympathizes with the king. 
 Has he any horses?" 
 
 "De bes' in de deestrick." 
 
 "Show us the way to Mr. Brunix's." 
 
 Cupe was delighted to do this, for he had no love 
 for the man he had mentioned. 
 
 The three reached the Brunix stables in a short run. 
 
 They stood well secluded, and the darky led the way 
 to the door. 
 
 "If Brunix is Whig, he will have no horses," said 
 Rodney. "If Tory, we will find them in the stables." 
 
 It did not take long to open the stable door. 
 
 "Horses galore!" exclaimed Jack, who was the first 
 to enter. 
 
 "That settles Mr. Brunix's politics," was the reply. 
 
The Fire in the Rear. 103 
 
 and in a few moments three steeds were saddled and 
 led forth. 
 
 The trio mounted and a musket was placed in Cupe's 
 hands. 
 
 "Forward !" cried Rodney. "No rest now till we've 
 found Capt. Samson and his band." 
 
 The animals, eager to get out of the stables, bounded 
 forward like Roman racers, and the trio soon struck 
 the Tory trail. 
 
 'They will make for the ford — the upper one being 
 nearest," remarked Rodney. 
 
 "Why not strike across country and make the ford 
 first?" 
 
 "That's it." 
 
 This was done, and after some hard riding, the pur- 
 suers reached the ford. Rodney dismounted and ex- 
 amined the ground. 
 
 "I fear we have missed it. No one has been here 
 to-night." 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 A SERIOUS TIME FOR RED DAN, 
 
 About the hour of the last assault on Callaway 
 Manor by Capt. Samson and his desperate band of 
 Tories, a man raised the flap of Gen. Greene's well- 
 worn tent and entered without ceremony. 
 
 The general was alone. 
 
 He had given himself little rest since the battle of 
 Guildford, and his men were well spent by the march 
 since their last encounter with the enemy. 
 
 As the man made his appearance Gen. Green looked 
 up and seemed to study him for a moment. 
 
 "Well, you see, general," cried the swarthy-looking 
 man, "a man can even escape death after they have 
 noosed him." 
 
 "I don't quite understand, sir." 
 
 **Oh, I am old Jackson, the blacksmith."' 
 
 "You? I thought " 
 
 *T thought so, too, at one time," interrupted the other, 
 with a grin. 
 
 'The report is that they hanged you." 
 
 'So they did." 
 
 'But you're alive." 
 
 'I feel that way, general ; really, I do, though there's 
 
 <<( 
 
 ((1 
 
 «i 
 
A Serious Time for Red Dan. 105 
 
 a little soreness here," and the speaker put his hand 
 under his chin. 
 
 ''They swooped down upon me like a pack of eagles," 
 he went on. "They took me completely by surprise, 
 and they wanted me to sharpen some Tory swords, 
 which I would not do." 
 
 "You braved them, did you ?" 
 
 "Yes ; I told them the day had gone by when I sharp- 
 ened swords for the enemies of liberty." 
 
 'T admire your pluck, sir." 
 
 *Tt cost me dearly. They destroyed my tools, or 
 carried them off, then they seized my niece, Mistress 
 Dora, and carried me to the big oak near the creek, 
 where they proceeded to make short work of me." 
 
 "But failed?" 
 
 "It wasn't their fault that they failed. I was swung 
 up to the limb and left there with a Tory rope round 
 my neck. But old Jackson's time hadn't come yet/' 
 
 "That's good!" 
 
 "I was rescued in the nick of time by a negro. I was 
 cut down, after which I left a note of vengeance and 
 warning nailed to the oak. I hope they've seen it." 
 
 The old blacksmith's eyes had a baleful glitter. 
 
 "I've been back to the house ; but I can find nothing 
 of Dora. I suppose they carried her off." 
 
 They left her bound in the house, I believe." 
 
 'So you've heard of the raid?" 
 
 T was told by a boy, who belongs to my command," 
 
 <<' 
 
 <<( 
 
 iC\ 
 
io6 A Serious Time for Red Dan. 
 
 answered Greene, and he proceeded and narrated the 
 story which Rodney had imparted to him. 
 
 The old man Hstened attentively. 
 
 "There's good stuff in that boy !" he exclaimed, with 
 ? enthusiasm. "He hasn't handled the sledge for noth- 
 ing. Give him a chance and he will show the enemies 
 of freedom a thing or two." 
 
 "He acquitted him well at Guilford. He captured 
 some colors there." 
 
 "Good ! Now, general, I am out for revenge." 
 
 "You have my best wishes in that direction, I assure 
 you." 
 
 "I want first to find Dora, and afterwards to come 
 across the young rascal who led the Tories that night." 
 
 "You recognized him? I thought they were all 
 masked ?" 
 
 "You can't fool me on a voice." 
 
 "Then " 
 
 ''Their leader was Red Dan Jeffrys." 
 
 *'A bad young blade, I hear." 
 
 "One of the worst ever whelped in South Carolina/* 
 
 "And you would like to see him?" 
 
 "It is my sole wish just now." 
 
 The American general seemed to reflect a moment. 
 
 "I might gratify your whim under certain condi- 
 tions." 
 
 'What ! do you know where he is ?" 
 
 "He is a prisoner at this hour in my camp." 
 
A Serious Time for Red Dan. 107 
 
 Old Jackson gave vent to a prolonged whistle. 
 
 "He was captured last night inside our lines." 
 
 "As a spy?" 
 
 "That is to be determined by a court-martial." 
 
 "Who caught him, general?" 
 
 "Some scouts of Lee's Legion." 
 
 "Where is the young wolf?" 
 
 "Gen. Lee is guarding him, I believe." 
 
 "Might I see him?" 
 
 "Under certain circumstances." 
 
 "Name them, your excellency." 
 
 "You must remember that he is my captive." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "And you are not to injure him while he remains 
 such." 
 
 "I want to know what they did with Dora " 
 
 "Oh, she's safe at Callaway Manor." 
 
 "Then, I'll want to find out what they did with 
 some important papers I've been treasuring for years." 
 
 "You can ask him." 
 
 The next moment Greene bent over his little camp 
 table and wrote hurriedly for a short time. 
 
 When he finished he handed the paper to Jackson. 
 
 "Take this to Lee and he will let you see the pris- 
 
 oner." 
 
 The blacksmith took the document and saluted in a 
 rough manner. 
 
 As he was about to quit the tent Greene said : 
 
lo8 A Serious Time for Red Dan. 
 
 "What are your plans now ?" 
 
 **I want service under your excellency," was the re- 
 ply. "I've got an arm that can drive a sword through 
 any British head in the army." 
 
 "I don't doubt that, Jackson. We need such men as 
 you, and you may consider yourself one of us." 
 
 The old man bowed and smiled. 
 
 He disappeared with the permit. 
 
 Ten minutes later it was in the hands of Lee. 
 
 A soldier was detailed to escort the blacksmith to a 
 little log shanty, before which a soldier paced wath a 
 musket on his ragged shoulder. 
 
 The door of the hut was secured with a chain and 
 staple, but it was opened to the old man. 
 
 A candle was produced by the guard and lighted 
 within the shanty. 
 
 As Jackson entered, a man who had been lying on 
 some straw rose and confronted him. 
 
 "They've no right to treat me thus," he said, in the 
 voice of a bully. 
 
 It was Red Dan, and his appearance had suffered 
 a good deal since his brief imprisonment. 
 
 But the moment he looked into Jackson's face he 
 fell back to the w^all and stared at him. 
 
 "You know me," said the old smith. "A hanged man 
 doesn't always die underneath the limb." 
 
 The young Tory was speechless from amazement. 
 
 "Oh, I'm no ghost, but flesh and blood," continued 
 
A Serious Time for Red Dan. 109 
 
 the blacksmith. *'You should have remained under the 
 oak and seen your work well done." 
 
 "I — I thought we had done it well?" 
 
 "Oh, no. You only sowed the seed of vengeance, 
 that's all." 
 
 "But why are you here?" 
 
 "For a purpose. Now, Mr. Jeffrys, I want to know 
 what you did with the papers in the old chest in the 
 garret ?" 
 
 "What were they to me?" 
 
 "That's not answering my question. They were im- 
 portant to me, as you evidently knew before you 
 swooped down upon the nest. Those very papers were 
 wanted by you, and helped to arm you for your das- 
 tardly work." 
 
 "And you would like to have them, I suppose?" 
 
 "I intend to recover them." 
 
 "When ?" 
 
 "As soon as possible, and at whatever cost. They 
 are documents which prove Dora's claim to a large es- 
 tate in England. Now, look here, Mr. Jeffrys, you 
 knew that if those papers were out of our hands and 
 in the hands of certain parties across the water she 
 would lose what rightfully belongs to her." 
 
 "How could I know that?" 
 
 "Your father was possessed of the information, and 
 I hear that you boasted that you would deprive the 
 girl of her rights because she was old Jackson's niece." 
 
no A Serious Time for Red Dan. 
 
 Red Dan frowned and walked away. 
 
 "Where are those papers?" demanded the old man, 
 clinching his fists. 
 
 "Find them !" 
 
 "You cowardly wretch, do you want to test my pa- 
 tience?" roared the blacksmith. "I've given my pledge 
 to Gen. Greene not to harm you, because you are an im- 
 portant prisoner, but " 
 
 There was danger in the old Whig's eyes, and that is 
 what frightened the young Tory for a moment. 
 
 "But I may break my word with him," finished Jack- 
 son. "I want those papers. I intend to have them !" 
 
 "Very well. If you will get me out of this snap I 
 will see that you are accommodated." 
 
 "That's clever, now. isn't it? You know your pre- 
 cious neck is in peril, and I suppose you would do any- 
 thing to save it. But I couldn't trust you out of my 
 sight." 
 
 "Don't try to if that is your opinion of Dan Jef- 
 frys," was the retort. 
 
 "You will not tell me where the documents are?" 
 
 "Not without I'm set free." 
 
 "They charge you with being inside their lines, and 
 they are going to try you for a spy." 
 
 "Well ?" 
 
 "You know what they did with Major Andre, and 
 this same Gen. Greene is the man who was president 
 of that court-martial." 
 
A Serious Time for Red Dan. 1 1 1 
 
 '1 know that." 
 
 "He hates spies." 
 
 Red Dan made no reply to this, but looked at Jack- 
 son from his place against the wall. 
 
 "Get me out of this and then the papers will be 
 talked about." 
 
 *'I can't set you free, and even if I could, do you 
 think for a moment that I have forgotten the scene 
 beneath the big oak?" 
 
 "That's pretty hard to forget, I'll admit." 
 
 "Especially when my throat is still sore from the 
 choking." 
 
 "Then I guess we can't treat," growled Red Dan. 
 
 "I guess I'll know before I leave this place what 
 you did with the papers." 
 
 "You will, eh ?" 
 
 The following moment, and before the young Tory 
 could guard against him, Jackson flung himself for- 
 ward, and, catching the prisoner by the throat, pressed 
 him against the wall. 
 
 The door had been closed after his entrance, and the 
 guard, deeming everything safe, had stepped aside a 
 few feet. 
 
 The attack was so sudden that Red Dan, finding him- 
 self in the clutches of this giant, could not resist. 
 
 Jackson seemed to press him into the logs at his 
 back. 
 
 Tell me!" he hissed in Red Dan's ear. "Tell me 
 
 <<' 
 
112 A Serious Time for Red Dan. 
 
 where the documents are, or Gen. Greene will never 
 get to string you up." 
 
 "I— I " 
 
 ''Don't tell me you don't know, for you do. They fell 
 into your hands, for no one else in your band wanted 
 them, or knew of their existence." 
 
 The hands seemed to sink deeper and deeper into 
 Red Dan's throat. 
 
 **What became of the papers?" demanded Jackson 
 again. 
 
 ''Release — me — and " 
 
 "You'll tell, eh?" and the great blackish fingers re- 
 laxed their hold a little. 
 
 "Now, sir, tell the truth." 
 
 Red Dan breathed freer. 
 
 As he twisted his precious neck half free a loud 
 cry welled from his throat. 
 
 "Help! murder! murder!" he yelled. 
 
 "Ho ! that's your game, is it ?" cried Jackson, re- 
 suming his terrible grip. "You prefer hanging to 
 telling the truth, I see. Very well, they'll hang a dead 
 man, then." 
 
 The rage of the old blacksmith was terrible. He for- 
 got his promise to Greene in his deadly ire, and, push- 
 ing Red Dan against the logs again, he buried his 
 fingers once more in his throat. 
 
 The guard heard the cry and rushed into the hut. 
 
A Serious Time for Red Dan. 113 
 
 He seized Jackson's arm and tried to tear loose the 
 hand bent on vengeance. 
 
 ''You'll kill the prisoner," cried the guard. *'He is 
 to be tried as a spy and " 
 
 ''There he is ; try him, then !" and with this Jackson 
 turned and flung Red Dan at the soldier's feet. 
 
 "Curse you, madman ! I believe you've killed him," 
 said the guard. 
 
 "I hope I have," was the response. "It keeps some 
 others from doing the same." 
 
 Jackson strode from the hut while the guard held the 
 light over the blackened face of Red Dan Jeffr}'s. 
 
 Such w^ere the passions of the Revolution. 
 
 The blacksmith hurried back to Gen. Greene's tent. 
 
 "You saw him, I suppose?" asked the commander, 
 as he recognized his visitor. 
 
 "I saw him and left him for dead in the cabin." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "I couldn't help it. I've saved your court-martial a 
 job, that's all. I surrender to you, general, to be tried 
 for what I've just done. I hope the young whelp's 
 dead, I do indeed. When you want to try old Jack- 
 son you will find him easily. He won't leave the 
 camp," and with this the blacksmith walked away. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A DEED OF BLOOD. 
 
 Capt. Samson and his prisoners had such a good 
 start of the young pursuers that it would require the 
 utmost speed and diligence to overtake them. 
 
 The last assault on the manor house had been suc- 
 cessful, and after a desperate fight with the inmates, 
 for both Alice and Dora battled to the last against ad- 
 verse circumstances, they were overcome and fortu- 
 nately escaped the shots fired into the band by Rodney 
 and Jack, who, as we have seen, delivered their vol- 
 leys after emerging from the tunnel. 
 
 Thomas Callaway was securely bound on a horse 
 while the girls were too closely guarded to think of 
 escaping, which they would not do so long as the old 
 Whig was in the hands of his foes. 
 
 They determined to share his fortunes to the last. 
 
 The Tories who were killed in the fight at the manor 
 house, along with those who were wounded, were car- 
 ried off by the retreating band. 
 
 It was at first intended to cross the river at the 
 upper ford, but Capt. Samson feared that their pursuers 
 would naturally make for that quarter, so he changed 
 his course and headed for another ford lower down. 
 
A Deed of Blood. 115 
 
 Here the band crossed witliout difficulty and then re- 
 sumed their journey. 
 
 Samson believed that the shots fired from the rear 
 were really fired by a party of Americans, so com- 
 pletely did the boys deceive them, though he could not 
 account for the fact that Rodney and Jack were not 
 among the captives. 
 
 The first halt of any consequence did not take place 
 until the Tories had put many miles between them 
 and the manor. 
 
 Then reins were drawn in a grove of great natural 
 beauty, and it was determined to deal with Thomas 
 Callaway after the merciless manner of the times. 
 
 The old man was lifted from the horse and placed 
 in the middle of the foraying band. 
 
 Short was to be his shrift. 
 
 They recalled his former rescue by Black Gorman, 
 and it was determined that this should not happen the 
 second time. 
 
 Several pine torches had been provided to light up 
 the weird scene, and Capt. Samson approached the 
 prisoner. 
 
 "You might have surrendered and saved the effu- 
 sion of blood," said he. 
 
 The only answer he received was a scathing look 
 which did not smooth his temper. 
 
 "You have been judged already," the Tory leader 
 
ii6 A Deed of Blood. 
 
 proceeded. "Sentence having been passed on you, 
 nothing is left but its execution." 
 
 "You have me in your power," said Callaway at 
 last. 
 
 "And we intend to see that justice is meted out to 
 you. You are against the king." 
 
 "I am against tyranny wherever I find it." 
 
 "You have openly aided and abetted this rebellion/* 
 
 "I have lifted my voice for freedom. If that is 
 treason, make the most of it." 
 
 Capt. Samson scowled. 
 
 In order to guard against a surprise, pickets had 
 been thrown around the camp, and it would be impos- 
 sible for the Tories to be molested in their murderous 
 work without notification. 
 
 "What have you to say, Thomas Callaway?" 
 
 "You have just heard me." 
 
 "Then you plead guilty?' 
 
 "To hatred of tyranny, yes." 
 
 "That's sufficient." 
 
 At a sign from Capt. Samson a man came forward 
 bearing a rope. 
 
 Alice uttered a sharp cry at sight of the symbol of 
 death. 
 
 "Remove the ladies," said Samson, with a wave of 
 his hand. 
 
 But at that moment Alice sprang forward and threw 
 her arms round her father's neck. 
 
A Deed of Blood. 117 
 
 The Tories looked at one another. 
 One of the darkest of the lot strode forward and 
 caught hold of the girl's arm. 
 
 But Alice would not be shaken off, and her look 
 abashed the despicable wretch. 
 
 "He is my father !" she cried. "Would you commit 
 murder?" 
 
 "Do your duty !" roared the voice of Samson. 
 
 The hireling put forth his utmost strength to separate 
 father and child, but it was a harder task than he had 
 bargained for. 
 
 "Don't let the wench cow you !" was the stern com- 
 mand. "She must not interfere with the powers of 
 justice. Take her away!" 
 
 A strong pull separated the pair, but Alice planted 
 herself in front of her parent and defied the band. 
 
 "If you dare," she cried. "This is foul murder and 
 vengeance will be swift and sure." 
 
 Capt. Samson laughed at this and ordered the girl 
 to be taken away along with Dora. 
 
 But so defiant was her mien that those to whom the 
 command was issued hesitated. 
 
 "It must be done," and the next moment Capt. Sam- 
 son himself came forward with his eyes ablaze. 
 
 He was about to lay hands on the girl when her form 
 seemed to increase in stature and a knife flashed in 
 the light. 
 
Ii8 A Deed of Blood. 
 
 "If you dare, monster !" she exclaimed, and the blade 
 executed a sudden swoop toward the Tory's face, 
 
 Capt. Samson drew back with a curse, but Alice did 
 not flinch. 
 
 It was to be seen that she intended to make use of 
 the weapon she had drawn if pressed, but the Tory 
 band was not to be balked by a girl. 
 
 "To the limb with the old traitor," shouted the loyal- 
 ist captain, and a rush was made in which Mistress 
 Alice was rudely thrust aside. 
 
 She turned, however, and, with a cry, sprang to- 
 ward her father, throwing herself by her agility be- 
 tween him and his enemies, and once more presented a 
 defiant front. 
 
 By this time the blood of the Tories was at a white 
 heat. 
 
 The interference had exasperated them beyond en- 
 durance. 
 
 The fair girl was seized despite the threat of the 
 knife ; she was thrown aside and fell at Dora's feet 
 with a wild cry of utter despair. 
 
 The scene was most exciting. 
 
 The glare of the faggots gave it a ghostly appear- 
 ance, and the weird light thrown off by them was ter- 
 rorizing. 
 
 Thomas Callaway was dragged to a great limb that 
 jutted out from the tree about ten feet from the ground 
 and an agile Tory threw the noosed rope over it. 
 
A Deed of Blood. 119 
 
 In another moment the death cord encircled the old 
 man's neck and he felt it tighten. 
 
 *'For the last time," said Capt. Samson, "will you 
 renounce allegiance to America?" 
 
 "For the last time, no !" 
 
 "Then up with him !" 
 
 These words were accompanied by a wave of the 
 hand, and the body of Thomas Callaway shot upward, 
 the rope being manipulated by ten stout miscreants. 
 
 Alice uttered a cry and Dora echoed it as the old man 
 was jerked clear of the ground. 
 
 Again the daughter sprang toward her father, but 
 she was again seized and flung back. 
 
 It was enough to draw pity from a heart of stone, 
 but the Tories of the Revolution had pity for no one. 
 
 The rope was now fastened around a limb, and the 
 torchlight fell upon the face of the master of Callaway 
 Manor. 
 
 This time there was to be no rescue. 
 
 "You will hear me now," exclaimed Mistress Alice, 
 as she freed herself from the grasp of the man who 
 held her and reached the spot where her father hung. 
 "The day of vengeance for this brutal deed will not be 
 long delayed. God is a God of vengeance, and He 
 will repay. More than this : I will hunt down the 
 miscreants responsible for this bloody work, and when 
 my day comes let every man look in vain for mercy. 
 The blood of Cromwell's famous captain runs through 
 
I20 A Deed of Blood. 
 
 my veins, and, as you have slain, so shall you feel the 
 vengeance of the child of Thomas Callaway." 
 
 She embraced the still swaying limbs of her father 
 and then rejoined Dora. 
 
 "To horse !" cried Capt. Samson. **Let the buz- 
 zards feast on the flesh of the old rebel, and so may it 
 be with all who take up arms against our king 1" 
 
 In a little while the two girls were lifted from the 
 ground, and, with a last look at the one whom she 
 loved so dearly, Alice Callaway was hurried from the 
 scene, followed by her fair companion in misfortune. 
 
 But little was said by the Tory troop during the next 
 hour. 
 
 The band galloped through the country, stopping 
 now and then to listen for pursuers, but none seemed 
 near, and at last at daybreak the horses sniffed a 
 meadow and soon afterward the Tory camp was 
 reached. 
 
 Just beyond it lay another camp, and here and there 
 were seen the bright uniforms of British dragoons. 
 
 "Is Col. Tarleton over yonder?" asked Alice of her 
 nearest escort. 
 
 "It is Tarleton^s camp.'' 
 
 "Will we be taken to it ?" 
 
 "That rests with Capt. Samson." 
 
 As the girls were lifted from the horses in the heart 
 of the encampment, a handsome-looking officer in scar- 
 let advanced toward them. 
 
A Deed of Blood. ill 
 
 'That is Col. Tarleton," whispered Dora. "Uncle 
 once shod his horse and I remember his face." 
 
 Mistress Alice uttered a cry and sprang toward the 
 officer. 
 
 "Is this Col. Tarleton of the king's dragoons?" she 
 inquired. 
 
 "I have the pleasure to bear that name and rank, 
 miss," was the answer. 
 
 "Then let me accuse yon man of murder," and Alice 
 turned and covered Capt. Samson with a withering 
 finger. 
 
 "Of murder, miss ? That's a grave charge." 
 
 "I witnessed the terrible deed, for it deprived me 
 of a father. I was made an orphan last night by the 
 brutality of that man, who pretends that he carries out 
 your king's commands." 
 
 "Then your name is " 
 
 "Alice Callaway." 
 
 Tarleton seemed to start and threw a quick look in 
 the direction of Capt. Samson. 
 
 "From what I have heard of your father, miss, he 
 was very bitter against the king." 
 
 "Have we no right to our opinions?" 
 
 "No right to rebellion," was the reply. 
 
 "Then to think is to rebel? Is that true, Col. 
 Tarleton ?' 
 
 "Your parent was a rebel, not only a rebel, but he 
 has done all he could against us." 
 
Ill A Deed ot Blood. 
 
 "He was for liberty." 
 
 "He rebelled against His Majesty, George HI., and 
 we are here to punish rebellion and high treason." 
 
 Alice drew back and looked for a moment in silence 
 at the great dragoon. 
 
 "Then you indorse the act committed by Capt. 
 Samson last night? You sanction murder in South 
 Carolina ?" 
 
 "We must deal with rebels without gloves." 
 
 "Then may the vengeance of Heaven overtake you as 
 well," cried the patriotic girl. "If this is to be war to 
 the death so let it be, Col. Tarleton. For every drop 
 of blood shed by British arms in the country, in order 
 to destroy the love of liberty, a hundred will be shed in 
 retaliation. King George, if he be a man, should blush 
 to think that Col. Tarleton wears a scarlet uniform." 
 
 With this Alice turned and walked away, leaving 
 the officer looking after her with a face almost as red 
 as the coat he wore. 
 
 "On my life, a rebel witch !" he exclaimed to one 
 of his aides. *Tf we are to conquer the women of this 
 accursed country I fear it will be a long campaign." 
 
 "An endless one," said the aide, as he flecked his 
 leggings with a whip. 
 
 Just then Capt. Samson came up and saluted. 
 
 "So you hanged the old rebel, did you, captain?" 
 queried Tarleton. 
 
 'We strung him to an oaken limb. There's one 
 
 f(^ 
 
A Deed of Blood. laj 
 
 rebel less to hang when the general hanging takes 
 place." 
 
 "You did well, sir. I thank you in the name of the 
 king. But you might have left those young ladies be- 
 hind you." 
 
 With this Tarleton strode away and Capt. Samson 
 sent after him one of his wolfish snarls. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A GALLANT SURPRISE. 
 
 Failing to find traces of Capt. Samson's band at the 
 npper ford, as they had hoped, the young patriots, ac- 
 companied by Cupe, the slave, were compelled to turn 
 back. 
 
 They rode rapidly to the lower ford, where they 
 found many evidences of a crossing, and, in a short 
 time, they were on the farther side of the stream. 
 
 But they had lost much valuable time and were far 
 behind the enemy. 
 
 However, they tried to make up the lost time by hard 
 riding, and in due course reached the scene of the 
 hanging. 
 
 There, to their horror, they found the body of the 
 master of Callaway Manor dangling from the limb of 
 the oak, and they lost no time in cutting it down. 
 
 Their indignation knew no bounds. 
 
 The inhumanity of the Tory chief angered them 
 beyond expression and many were the threatenings of 
 vengeance that escaped their lips. 
 
 Cupe was left to bear the body of his beloved master 
 home, while the boys pressed on. 
 
 The trail of the miscreants was so fresh that they 
 had no difficulty in following it. 
 
A Gallant Surprise. 125 
 
 They did not think of a party of Tarleton's dragoons 
 being in the vicinity, although that ranger was liable 
 to turn up almost anywhere. 
 
 He was accustomed to hang upon the flanks of 
 Greene's army and more than once his fearlessness had 
 cost him dearly, as Washington's troopers met him 
 bravely and disputed with him for the mastery of 
 battle. 
 
 Rodney and Jack came almost suddenly upon Tarle- 
 ton's camp. 
 
 They were struck with amazement at sight of it, but 
 as the trail had led them in that direction they now 
 doubted not that Capt. Samson had joined the 
 dragoons. 
 
 They also believed that they had found the girls, for 
 they were equally sure that they were prisoners in the 
 British camp. 
 
 Finding a densely wooded place, which afforded a 
 good screen during daylight, the boys penetrated to its 
 center and prepared to rest till nightfall. 
 
 They were determined not to retrace their steps 
 without an effort to rescue the two fair captives. 
 
 From the wooded knoll upon which they lay con- 
 cealed they had a good view of the encampment, and 
 they discovered that the two forces had come together. 
 
 They even detected Capt. Samson from his swagger 
 as he passed through the camp and made out an 
 officer whom they took to be Col. Tarleton himself. 
 
126 A Gallant Surprise. 
 
 Slowly the day passed for the young forayers. 
 
 They saw the sun decline behind the hills in the 
 west, and at last night threw her somber mantle over 
 all. 
 
 *'Now for it !" said Rodney, to his friend. *'We must 
 rescue the captives before daybreak, or we will lose 
 the fruits of our long ride." 
 
 **If we are caught there will be other gallows' fruit. 
 You know what Tarleton thinks of boy soldiers." 
 
 "Yes, he wantonly hanged the Biddle brothers last 
 winter, and we will suffer a like fate if we fail, but we 
 must not fail. Jack." 
 
 ^'Certainly not." 
 
 It was one thing to watch a camp of the enemy and 
 quite another to enter it on a hostile mission. 
 
 But the boys did not permit the outlook to daunt 
 them. 
 
 Leading their horses to the edge of the camp under- 
 neath the curtain of stars, they left them in a secluded 
 spot and crept into the cantonment itself. 
 
 Tarleton had selected an ideal spot for his camp, a 
 spot naturally guarded, and the white tents showed the 
 boys where they were. 
 
 From what they had seen from their ambush they 
 were almost certain that they could locate the tent in 
 which the captives had been placed for a guard paced 
 in front of it. 
 
A Gallant Surprise. lay 
 
 They crept toward this particular canvas with the 
 utmost caution. 
 
 In the center of the encampment stood a large tent, 
 which was Tarleton's, and there a number of officers 
 were making merry with wine recently stolen from 
 some rebel's cellars. 
 
 Thev could hear the loud sounds of the carousal as 
 they were borne outward on the wind, and the favorite 
 drinking song of the British struck harshly upon their 
 ears: 
 
 "We drink the health of Royal George, 
 
 We cut the rebels down, 
 And with our swords for him we forge 
 A brighter, grander crown ! 
 
 "Then ho ! ho ! ho ! to war we go, 
 W^e fill this rebel land with woe ; 
 Our good swords ring, our pistols sing. 
 Huzza! huzza! for George, our king!" 
 
 The boys paused a moment and looked at one an- 
 other with smiles as the drinking song floated out upon 
 the night wdnd and was borne afar, to echo back 
 through wood and marsh, 
 
 "They're having a fine time," whispered Jack. "But 
 just wait till Col. Washington gets a chance at them. 
 There will be songs of another nature then." 
 
 "Ay ! that there will. Other swords will ring then 
 and upon the heads of the singers over yonder." 
 Slipping from tree to tree, as they approached the 
 
128 A Gallant Surprise. 
 
 tent which was their goal, they made out at last the 
 figure of the sentry who guarded it. 
 
 Of course Capt. Samson was with Tarleton. 
 
 When they crouched within ten feet of the tent they 
 watched the sentry a few moments and laid their plans 
 accordingly. 
 
 They noticed that he was a well-built dragoon, who 
 did not particularly like his job, for he walked negli- 
 gently on his beat, with his w^eapon in an improper 
 position for a soldier. 
 
 "The tree yonder when the guard turns his back the 
 next time," said Rodney, in low tones. 
 
 Jack nodded. 
 
 Presently the opportunity came and the boys gained 
 the tree unperceived. 
 
 They were now within a few feet of the sentry's beat 
 and only waited for their opportunity. 
 
 In a short time the sentry came back slowly, and, 
 at a signal from Rodney, both sprang forward and fell 
 upon the unsuspecting dragoon like young panthers. 
 
 The guard was borne to the ground in the twinkling 
 of an eyelash. 
 
 A pair of hands were placed over his mouth, and, as 
 he tried to resist. Jack struck him a vicious blow on 
 the head with the butt of a heavy pistol which put him 
 out of the way for the moment. 
 
 In another second they had securely gagged him, 
 
" As the boy partisan pulled aside the flaps of the prison tent, two white, half- 
 frightened faces stared at him." (See page 129) 
 
A Gallant Surprise. 119 
 
 the man being unconscious, and now they had their 
 own way. 
 
 Rodney sprang to the flaps of the tent. 
 
 They had made but little noise in the capturing of 
 the sentry, but that little had been heard by eager ears. 
 
 As the boy partisan pulled aside the flaps of the 
 prison tent, two white, half-frightened faces stared at 
 him. 
 
 "Not a word," said the young Whig, quickly. "Get 
 ready to leave this villainous nest." 
 
 "We are ready now !" 
 
 As the two girls stepped from the tent Rodney and 
 Jack seized the guard and threw him inside, where he 
 fell upon the bundle of straw which had been provided 
 as beds for the fair captives. 
 
 "Come," said Rodney. "We must now traverse the 
 camp to the horses. The officers are still merry over 
 their rebel wine and the poor privates seemed to have 
 slipped away to dreamland." 
 
 With the greatest caution the quartet commenced 
 the movement toward the confines of Tarleton's camp. 
 
 The crisis of the adventure had been reached. 
 
 All knew that discovery meant terror, if not death, 
 but this only lent the four courage. 
 
 "Did you find — father?" suddenly asked Alice, as 
 she clutched Rodney's arm. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 ''And " 
 
ijo A Gallant Surprise. 
 
 "Not a word. The wind may bear a whisper to 
 Tarleton's watchers." 
 
 Alice did not press her question. 
 
 Suddenly Jack touched Rodney's shoulder and 
 pointed to the left. 
 
 All halted and looked in that direction. 
 
 Outlined against the myriads of stars was a giant 
 figure which had the statuesque pose of a Roman. 
 
 Indeed it looked like a statue in bronze, but the boys 
 knew that it was a living enemy. 
 
 The man was not twenty yards away, and Jack 
 could not have told when he came to the spot he occu- 
 pied, nor how. But he was there, and his presence 
 meant danger. 
 
 More than this, the man stood between them and 
 the horses, a deathly barrier as it seemed. 
 
 The sight was enough to chill the blood in the veins 
 ^f the four, and the girls drew closer to their friends. 
 
 What was to be done? There was no time for a 
 council of war ; the danger was too imminent. 
 
 But something had to be done and that immedi- 
 ately. 
 
 Rodney sized up the situation, and with a look at 
 Jack bounded straight at the ghostlike figure. 
 
 The man did not look for this. 
 
 Before he could make a move calculated to baffle 
 the young Whig, he was upon him and the two went 
 to the ground together. 
 
A Gallant Surprise. 131 
 
 Jack, seeing this, ran to Rodney's assistance, and the 
 boys soon discovered that they were dealing with no 
 ordinary person. 
 
 The man struggled like a savage taken unawares; 
 he rolled his huge bulk over, struck out with arms and 
 feet, and finally freed himself only to be attacked again. 
 
 This last time he was struck with a heavy stick which 
 Jack had picked up, and, half stunned, reeled away, 
 uttering a wild cry. 
 
 "Now for the horses !" cried Rodney. "It is now or 
 never. That rascal will have the camp at our heels." 
 
 The boys guided the girls to the steeds and but 
 little time was consumed in mounting. 
 
 "Wasn't that Capt. Samson?" queried Jack. 
 
 "I thought so, but am not certain. If it was • 
 
 Hark !" 
 
 There were the sounds of many voices in the camp. 
 
 Men were rushing hither and thither, pandemonium 
 seemed to reign everywhere, but fortunately as yet 
 there was no head to the movement. 
 
 Gathering up the reins, the boys urged the horses 
 forward at their utmost speed. 
 
 The animals seemed to realize by the double burdens 
 they now carried that everything depended on fleetness 
 of foot, and they stretched away like Barbary coursers. 
 
 Away over the road which led from the camp they 
 went, their riders clinging gallantly to their backs. 
 
132 A Gallant Surprise. 
 
 speaking only at long intervals in the intense excite- 
 ment of the run. 
 
 Not until several miles had been placed between them 
 and the camp was a rein drawn. 
 
 Then thev halted and listened. 
 
 A gentle wind was blowing through the trees that 
 lined the road, and near by a Httle stream purled over 
 its pebbly bed. 
 
 Jack sprang from his horse and put his ear near the 
 ground. 
 
 Suddenly he sprang up and resumed his place in 
 the saddle. 
 
 "You need keep nothing from us/* said Alice, look- 
 ing at the boy. "They are in pursuit." 
 
 "Yes, the enemy has recovered from the surprise. 
 He is now behind us riding like the wind." 
 
 "Then we shall outstrip the wind," cried Rodney. 
 "Heaven helping us, we will beat Tarleton's scarlet 
 riders and win the victory." 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE DEMON WITH THE HAMMER. 
 
 The belief, nay, the evidence, that British and Tories 
 were on their trail, sufficed to render the situation 
 most desperate. 
 
 Both Jack and Rodney knew something of the riding 
 qualities of Tarleton's fierce dragoons. 
 
 These men in scarlet had been the terror of the South 
 for many a long month. 
 
 They seemed born to the saddle and knew the coun- 
 try over which they rode. 
 
 Aided by their Tory friends, they had devastated one 
 of the loveliest parts of the land, and they did not 
 hesitate to destroy property and lives on the slightest 
 provocation. 
 
 Mothers frightened their babes to sleep with the 
 name of Banastre Tarleton, and his warfare, notably 
 the affair at Waxhaws, had rendered his name ac- 
 cursed forever. 
 
 The fugitives, fully expecting in time to be over- 
 taken — for the two steeds carried double, and, besides, 
 had not fully rested from the long ride to the British 
 encampment — sped on. 
 
 They did not have to draw rein now to listen to the 
 sounds of pursuit. 
 
134 l^hc Demon With the Hammer. 
 
 They could hear the clink of sabers and knew that 
 the enemy was riding in their wake. 
 
 *'They don't hear us," said Rodney, suddenly, as 
 they reached the bank of a small stream that flowed 
 through the soft starlight. "We must fight them here." 
 
 "As you say, boy," responded Jack. 
 
 A fringe of trees stood along the water's edge, while 
 beyond it lay a spot of open ground. 
 
 The enemy would have to cross this open space be- 
 fore reaching the creek, while the boys and their friends 
 were well concealed by the timber. 
 
 The pistols were placed in the girls' hands. 
 
 "You know how to use the weapon?" Rodney said 
 to Alice. 
 
 The young girl smiled. 
 
 "Father taught me." 
 
 "I can vouch for your marksmanship, Dora," he went 
 on, as he looked at the blacksmith's niece. "We used 
 to practice with the pistol by the old forge." 
 
 "And I always beat you, didn't I ?" 
 
 Rodney nodded, while he and Jack made ready with 
 the muskets. 
 
 All knew that the creek was not deep and could be 
 forded with the greatest ease, therefore they determined 
 to meet the enemy as he plunged into the open and 
 afforded good targets for their aim. 
 
 "Don't throw away any shots. Remember this is 
 retaliation and vengeance." 
 
The Demon With the Hammer. 135 
 
 '*Just as if I could forget after what I have passed 
 through," said AHce Callaway. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the pursuers. 
 
 It was necessary to stop them at the creek if they 
 were to be stopped at all. 
 
 It was not possible that Tarleton had ordered out his 
 entire force in the chase, and the young partisans hoped 
 they would not have to encounter more than a dozen. 
 
 "Here they come !" whispered Jack, as the enemy 
 reached the edge of the open ground. 
 
 It was true, for the next moment the little place 
 seemed alive with horses and men. 
 
 "Wait a moment. They will come nearer still." 
 
 The suspense was terrible. 
 
 "Fire !" suddenly cried Rodney, and four well-aimed 
 weapons belched forth their contents. 
 
 There were loud cries among the hunters in red and 
 buckskin. 
 
 Horses fell back and two men dropped from the 
 saddles. 
 
 The whole band seemed thrown into the direst con- 
 fusion. 
 
 This gave the boys time to push new charges into 
 the muskets and again the weapons spoke. 
 
 "Now the creek," said the boy leader of the little 
 band. 
 
 The horses plunged through the belt of trees and 
 dashed across the stream. 
 
136 The Demon With the Hammer. 
 
 Bullets whistled round their heads and cut the water 
 about the feet of the horses. 
 
 **Bad shooting in a bad cause," grinned Jack, with a 
 laugh following. 
 
 As the steeds scrambled up the opposite bank the 
 enemy fired another volley and came forward. 
 
 Then there rose underneath the stars a figure at 
 which all four looked with staring eyes. 
 
 It was a man mounted on a large, black horse, and 
 with a yell that seemed to congeal the blood of all who 
 heard, he plunged into the ford straight in the teeth 
 of the king's men. 
 
 "Some madman," said Jack. "Look what a strange 
 weapon he has. It is not a sword." 
 
 This was true, for the weapon carried by the stranger 
 was a hammer at the end of a long handle, and he 
 swung it over his head as he drove his steed at the foe. 
 
 He stood erect in his stirrups, his great bulk looking 
 weirdly large in the uncertain light. 
 
 **Death to George !" he cried at the top of his strong, 
 vibrant voice. "Down with royalty in North America !" 
 He was in the middle of the stream now. 
 
 The hammer swung over his head, and he had re- 
 linquished his hold on the reins. 
 
 "Is he real ?" cried one of the girls. 
 
 "What make of monster can he be?" queried Jack, 
 who gazed wonder-struck at their new ally. "Some 
 
The Demon With the Hammer. 137 
 
 madman at large, no doubt, or some person driven 
 insane by the work of Tarleton's minions.'* 
 
 The enemy, who had reached the water, drew back 
 with pallid faces. 
 
 Clearly they had never encountered a foe like the 
 unknown. 
 
 His voice roared like a tornado, leaping from his 
 throat in mad sentences, while he drove his heels into 
 his horse's flanks and urged him c»i. 
 
 "Will they withstand the apparitic«i ?" cried Rodney. 
 "Look ! they are going to meet him. No, they are 
 drawing back, but that will not balk the night fiend." 
 
 True it was that the king's men on the farther bank 
 were hesitating, for they had not fired a shot at the 
 unknown. 
 
 Seconds seemed minutes to those who beheld this 
 strange conflict. 
 
 "Death to all Tories and British ! Down with King 
 George!" welled again from the giant's throat. 
 
 The black horse struck the other bank. 
 
 His rider seemed to lift himself from the stirrups 
 as he shot straight at the enemy. 
 
 The hammer executed a new circle and a new yell 
 followed it. 
 
 "Look ! look ! He is among them !" 
 
 The pursuing band had hesitated too long. 
 
 The apparition was really among them, the hammer 
 moving in swift and terrible circles around his head. 
 
138 The Demon With the Hammer. 
 
 Horses were forced back upon their haunches, and 
 men with blanched faces reeled from the madman. 
 
 It was a scene of terror and confusion. 
 
 The terrible hammer made a pathway through the 
 ranks of British and Tories for its owner. 
 
 It did not seem a second until the unknown was be- 
 yond them, and then, to the amazement of all, he 
 turned and came back. 
 
 By this time the king's dragoons seemed to recover 
 a part of their courage, for they struck at the unknown 
 with their sabers, but the novel weapon beat them 
 down. 
 
 It was like Thor riding through a flock of sheep. 
 
 'Can't we help him?" cried Dora. 
 
 'He is vengeance itself," was the reply. "Let us 
 wait till he comes." 
 
 There were flashes of muskets and pistols behind the 
 stranger, but he seemed to bear a charmed life. 
 
 He turned, laughed at the enemy, and plunged 
 through the water. 
 
 The sudden checking of Tarleton's men in such a 
 startling manner had held the four spectators almost 
 spellbound. 
 
 They were speechless when the unknown appeared 
 among them. 
 
 "Come ! Follow me !" he commanded, and the two 
 horses fell in behind him. 
 
 He kept well ahead, with bullets still whistling 
 
 <</ 
 
 tc\ 
 
The Demon With the Hammer. 139 
 
 round the ears of all, for the enemy, while they feared 
 to continue the pursuit, could still send leaden missiles 
 in their wake. 
 
 For more tlian a mile the unknown led the little party 
 through the woods and over the open lands. 
 
 He spoke not, but sat his saddle like a born Cossack. 
 
 More than once Dora leaned forward and studied 
 him attentively. 
 
 Her face assumed a singular expression while she 
 did so, as if there was something familiar about the 
 unknown. 
 
 "I half believe it," she was heard to exclaim at last. 
 
 ''What do you half beUeve,. Dora?" asked Alice. 
 
 The blacksmith's niece was silent. 
 
 "No, it cannot be, for they hanged him; I'm sure 
 they did." 
 
 "Dora," put in Rodney, "you remember the warn- 
 ing we found on the tree where Capt. Samson hanged 
 your uncle?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, look at those shoulders. Isn't there something 
 familiar in their shape?" 
 
 "There is, there is ! I see it now. But yet it cannot 
 be he." 
 
 "Ride on and look back in his face." 
 
 "You can urge the horse forward and I will look." 
 
 Rodney did this and the steed, feeling the prickings 
 
140 The Demon With the Hammer. 
 
 of the spur, soon came alongside of the animal ridden 
 by the unknown. 
 
 Just then the little party struck an open glade, and 
 Rodney's steed reached the black. 
 
 "Look closely," the boy whispered to Dora. 
 
 In another moment their horse had passed the 
 strange helper, and the daughter of the forge looked 
 keenly into the bearded face as they passed it. 
 
 "It is true. Uncle Jackson is the madman !'* 
 
 In another second the big black had forged ahead 
 and was pushing across the glade with increased speed. 
 
 *'That accounts for the hammer," said Rodnev. "It 
 would naturally be his weapon. He must have un- 
 earthed his tools." 
 
 "It was little short of murder, the way he broke 
 heads with that terrible weapon." 
 
 "It was justice! It saved us, girl." 
 
 In a short time they beheld the strange ally awaiting 
 them on the summit of a slight knoll. 
 
 *We shall know now," said Jack to Alice. 
 
 That is if he sees fit to disclose his identity." 
 
 'But he has evidently halted for that purpose." 
 
 The unknown seemed to have halted for consultation 
 with those behind him, and as the two steeds came up 
 he pointed ahead. 
 
 "You must leave me here," he said. "There is no 
 fear of pursuit from now on." 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ((' 
 
 «1 
 
The Demon With the Hammer. 141 
 
 *'But you will let us thank you ?" exclaimed Rodney, 
 "You came to the rescue in the nick of time." 
 
 "I came in time to break a few heads, you mean. 
 You will go on." 
 
 "Nay, let me see you first," cried Dora; "I know 
 you, and I am Dora !' 
 
 The arm that pointed ahead was not dropped a hair. 
 
 The features of the man did not relax any of their 
 gravity at Dora's words. 
 
 "Go! Young sirs, you will be needed in Greene's- 
 camp ere long. The battle hour is almost at hand." 
 
 "That is true, and we want to strike when it comes, 
 but you must let us thank you " 
 
 "Go!" was the stern interruption. "No thanks for 
 duty done. Long live the cause of liberty in North 
 America and confusion to King George I" 
 
 He swung the hammer before his face as if in men- 
 ace, and Rodney did not approach nearer. 
 
 "Good-night. We will meet again," he continued. 
 "The road to vengeance is broad enough for all of us." 
 
 "That is true, but you will surely " 
 
 "Enough! Good-night, I say." 
 
 With this the ally turned and gave his horse the 
 spurs. 
 
 "One moment, only one!" cried Dora, flinging out 
 
 her arms imploringly. "Uncle Jackson, listen for a 
 
 moment. I hid the papers before they reached the 
 
 house. I— I Too late I" 
 
142 The Demon With the Hammer. 
 
 Her last words were addressed to Rodney, for the 
 black horse and his rider had vanished on the opposite 
 slope of the hill and they were alone again. 
 
 "It was Uncle Jackson," said Dora, "but he was 
 mad — mad — bereft of reason." 
 
 "Tyranny will have much to answer for in the Caro- 
 linas before the war ends," and with this Rodney mo- 
 tioned for the journey to be resumed, which was im- 
 mediately done. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A PISTOL IN HIS FACE. 
 
 The rest of the ride to Callaway Manor was without 
 incident. 
 
 It was a sad return for Alice, who could repair to 
 the grave of her father, which had been made by the 
 faithful Cupe, and pour out the sorrow of her young 
 heart in silence. 
 
 After seeing the two girls safe under the old roof, 
 Rodney and Jack bade them adieu and returned to 
 Greene's army. 
 
 The Httle band of patriots had been sadly reduced by 
 desertions and the results of battle. 
 
 The militia had gone home in large numbers, and 
 there was no certainty about their return. 
 
 Comwallis was out of the way for the time at least, 
 but Lord Rawdon lay at Camden with a strong force 
 watching Greene, and eager for an opportunity to 
 swoop eaglelike upon him and crush him at one blow. 
 
 The lack of numbers, however, did not daunt the 
 heroic Greene. 
 
 He resolved to take the initiative and bring about a 
 battle before his enemy expected it. 
 
 Tarleton and his Tory allies were overrunning the 
 whole district, plundering and murdering wherever 
 
144 A Pistol in His Face. 
 
 they could, the tragical close of Thomas Callaway's 
 life being but an incident in their merciless campaign. 
 
 As for Red Dan, whom we left, as the reader will 
 recollect, in Greene's camp, after being assaulted by 
 the patriot blacksmith, he had recovered from the ter- 
 rible choking and had been tried as a spy by court- 
 martial. 
 
 The young scapegrace was saved by the skin of his 
 teeth, as it were, and a few days afterward he effected 
 his escape and turned up suddenly at home. 
 
 Here he was met by Austin Jeffrys, his father, the 
 same stern, old, uncompromising royalist, who, flew 
 into a passion, declaring that a general who would try 
 his son for a spy deserved the most ignominious death 
 the passions of war could inflict. 
 
 "And they wanted to hang you, did they ?" demanded 
 the old man, as he struck the floor with his cane. 
 
 "They came near doing it." 
 
 "Wanted to hang a Jeffrys ! Well, I'll get even with 
 them one of these days. Now, my son, Fve got some- 
 thing to say on the question of marriage." 
 
 This was a subject which Red Dan did not care to 
 discuss just then. 
 
 "You remember the beautiful Miss Somers, of Som- 
 ers Knob?" continued Jeffrys, Sr. 
 
 Dan winced and looked away. 
 
 "Come, sir, no getting away from this business. You 
 recall her, of course?" 
 
A Pistol in His Face. I45 
 
 "I've seen the lady." 
 
 "Of course you have. Well, sir, she has consented 
 to become Mrs. Jeffrys." 
 
 "What, you haven't " 
 
 ^'Certainly I have. You couldn't woo her for your- 
 self, for you were absent, therefore I took the matter 
 into my own hands and have the preliminaries all ar- 
 ranged." 
 
 "But don't you think you've been — ^well, just a little 
 
 hasty ?" 
 
 "Not a bit hasty, young sir." 
 
 "You might have waited till after the war. I might 
 get a bullet through me before that." 
 
 "Or get hanged by Marion or Greene, eh?" 
 
 "One fate or the other is probable," said Dan. "rm 
 quite sure that Mistress Sarah does not care to wear 
 widow's weeds so soon." 
 
 Austin Jeffrys watched his son in silence for a 
 minute. 
 
 "You love the Whig chit, I see," he ventured. 
 
 "Did I say so?" 
 
 "Silence sometimes speaks louder than words. You 
 still cling to the Callaway girl. Why, sir, they've 
 hanged her rebel father " 
 
 "I know that." 
 
 "Do you think for a moment that she would look 
 at you?" 
 
146 "^A Pistol in His Face. 
 
 "She won't look away while I'm present. I'm sure 
 of that/' 
 
 "I don't want the Jeffrys blood mixed with the 
 blood of rebels \" almost roared the old Tory. "You 
 failed to find the papers which Jackson, the blacksmith, 
 had in his house." 
 
 "I searched the premises carefully, but they could 
 not be found." 
 
 "That was poor work. I could have done better my- 
 self." 
 
 "What were those papers ?" 
 
 "They were worth their weight in gold. Why, sir, 
 they settle upon the girl — Dora, they call her— a for- 
 tune which is now across the water. With those papers 
 in my possession I could deprive her of every penny 
 of it. Isn't that enough for you ? I told you to seardl 
 every nook and crevice of the house." 
 
 "Which I did, father." 
 
 'And you hanged the old blacksmith, too?*' 
 
 'Strung him up." 
 
 Dan knew better than this. True, they had hanged 
 old Jackson, but his meeting with the hanged man in 
 Greene's camp had almost proved his own undoing. 
 He did not think it wise to acquaint his father with the 
 truth. 
 
 "Well, going back to the marriage question," re- 
 sumed Austin Jeffrys, "you will consider yourself en- 
 gaged to Mistress Sarah." 
 
 << 
 
 <<( 
 
A Pistol in His Face. 147 
 
 "Engaged by proxy, I presume/' 
 
 "Call it that if you like. Her father is proud of the 
 match." 
 
 "Well, I wish him much joy over his prospects." 
 
 Old Jeffrys caught the sarcasm, poorly concealed by 
 his son's tones. 
 
 "The ceremony will take place this day a week." 
 
 "What, so soon?" 
 
 "You will want to go back to the army, and I thought 
 best not to have you absent from it too long. This 
 war is liable to end suddenly and you haven't had 
 much of a chance as yet to distinguish yourself." 
 
 "Yes," answered Dan, dolefully, "if Greene con- 
 tinues the tactics he has devolped during the last few 
 months the war will come to a hasty close." 
 
 "You don't seem to rate our generals very high." 
 
 "Why should I? Cornwallis has been completely 
 outgeneraled by this rebel, who is, so I am told, the son 
 of a Quaker. Just think of it, a warrior of repute 
 beaten by the scion of a sect opposed to wars. It is 
 disgraceful." 
 
 "But Lord Rawdon is confronting Greene now." 
 
 "That is true and you will see him outgeneraled 
 as well." 
 
 "I can't for the life of me see how a raggamuffin 
 army can outwit us." 
 
 "They outfight us also!" exclaimed Dan. "Why, 
 sir, when men wear nothing but a waistband and carry 
 
148 A Pistol in His Face. 
 
 moss on their shoulders in order to relieve the pres- 
 sure of the musket, marching shoeless hundreds of 
 miles and all the time on the verge of starvation, how 
 are you going to conquer them ?" 
 
 Austin Jeifrys was silent a little while. 
 
 "You say they fight r 
 
 "They are lions in battle." 
 
 "But their militia runs." 
 
 "Of course it does. But the regulars, the Conti- 
 entals, as they call them, stand like stone walls." 
 
 "Why doesn't Tarleton ride them down?" 
 
 "Their Col. Washington rides Tarleton down/* 
 smiled Red Dan. 
 
 The old man again pounded the floor with his cane. 
 
 "Very well. We'll beat them in the end, and then 
 for a great hanging! It will beat Tyburn's jubilee 
 days. We'll hang Greene first, then the Swamp Fox, 
 then Washington, and Lee, and " 
 
 "You'll catch them first, I suppose," broke in Dan, 
 with a grimace. 
 
 "They're as good as caught already. But, my son, 
 you will remain at the hall to-night?" 
 
 "I'll come back. I'm going to ride a little." 
 
 "Not to see the rebel witch?" 
 
 "That is wholly my affair," was the harshly spoken 
 answer. "I am of age, you know." 
 
 • "Then curses follow you!" and the old man raised 
 
A Pistol in His Face. 149 
 
 his hand threateningly. "If you go to Callaway Manor 
 may disaster overtake you !" 
 
 Dan strode to the door and halted there. 
 
 "Nothing can break the bargain I have made," cried 
 his father, as he gazed at the tall, young dragoon. 
 "You must marry Mistress Sarah Somers, of Somers 
 Knob." 
 
 The young man made no reply, but opened the door 
 and was gone in a moment. 
 
 He proceeded to the stables and brought out his 
 horse. 
 
 He no longer wore the uniform of a British dragoon, 
 but was dressed in well-made garments that betrayed 
 no rank. 
 
 A slave held the bridle while he mounted and the 
 following moment he galloped aw^ay. 
 
 Left to himself, old Austin Jeffrys passed into the 
 great, high-ceiled parlor and moved the light to a 
 table, from whence its radiance would fall upon the 
 portrait of a handsome lady in a heavy gilt frame. 
 
 For a long time old Jeffrys stood there with his gaze 
 riveted upon the picture. 
 
 It affected, fascinated him. 
 
 The face was one of great beauty and, strange to 
 say, it resembled the features of his son and heir. 
 
 In short, it was the picture of his dead wife and 
 Dan's mother, and he often stood for hours before the 
 painting, proud of her ancestry and his as well. 
 
150 A Pistol in His Face. 
 
 Meanwhile Dan was scurrying across the country, 
 over roads which he knew as the sailor knows the sea. 
 
 The fresh horse carried him wtII and now and then 
 he looked at his pistols, for he was liable to encounter 
 Black Gorman or men of his ilk, and should be do so, a 
 fight would surely follow. 
 
 It was late, late in the night, when Red Dan drew 
 rein. 
 
 The outlines of an old mansion stood before him. 
 
 It stood on a gentle rise and the young man muttered 
 to himself as he rode forward again. 
 
 He saw a light in one of the large windows on the 
 lower floor just beyond the porch, and as he drew 
 nearer he thought he distinguished voices in the house. 
 
 Holding the lines in one of his hands, he crossed the 
 veranda and rapped lightly on the door. 
 
 In an instant there was a sharp little cry on the in- 
 side and he smiled to himself. 
 
 Footsteps came toward the door and a voice said : 
 
 "Who's there r 
 
 'A friend," answered Red Dan. 
 
 'A friend to liberty ?" 
 
 'Certainly." 
 
 "Whither comest thou ?" 
 
 The young royalist hesitated. There might be a 
 certain signal wanted to gain admission and he was at 
 his wits' end just how to proceed. 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 t<t 
 
A Pistol in His Face. 151 
 
 "I come from the camps," he said, at last, hoping he 
 had found a way out of the difficulty. 
 
 The next moment he heard some one unbarring the 
 heavy portal and then the door swung slowly open. 
 
 Red Dan thrust his body inside and as the Hght that 
 prevailed fell upon his face there was a cry, and two 
 young girls with white faces fell back. 
 
 "You?" cried one of the frightened pair. "Of all 
 men, you?" 
 
 A smile wreathed Dan's lips and he seemed to laugh 
 inwardly at the speaker's fright. 
 
 "You can't remain here," continued the fair speaker, 
 recovering in a moment. "This is no place for one 
 who serves King George." 
 
 "That's why I'm here." 
 
 "You would have hanged my uncle," said the other 
 girl. "You had me bound and left me to die in the 
 old house." 
 
 "But it seems you didn't die there, Mistress Dora," 
 grinned the scion of the house of Jeffrys. 
 
 "It was not your fault that I did not." 
 
 "But I came to see you, Mistress Alice," resumed 
 Dan, turning to Alice Callaway, who had not taken 
 her eyes from his face. "I ask you to become the wife 
 of Daniel Jeffrys, of Jeffrys Hall." 
 
 Alice broke into a laugh. 
 
 "Your wife, sir? The wife of one who serves the 
 greatest tyrant across the seas? Out yonder in the 
 
152 A Pistol in His Face. 
 
 garden under the oak is a grave that ought to answer 
 your demand. Your wife, never !" 
 
 "That's pretty short, Mistress Alice. These are war 
 times and one cannot be expected to woo after the es- 
 tablished manner. You will not, then?" 
 
 "I will not !" 
 
 "But you shall! I swear it by the soul of my 
 mother " 
 
 "This is my hour of vengeance, Red Dan!" cried 
 Dora, at that moment, and the young dragoon found 
 himself looking into the barrel of a pistol which almost 
 touched his face, and he saw, moreover, that the wea- 
 pon was held tightly by the old blacksmith's niece. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 HOW RED DAN WENT HOME. 
 
 Red Dan stood for a moment appalled when he saw 
 the deadly menace of the pistol thrust into his face by 
 the blacksmith's niece. 
 
 He had a rig-ht to believe that his career was about 
 to terminate, for there was a dangerous flash in Dora's 
 eyes and her hand was as steady as that of a bravo. 
 
 "I promised myself that the time for vengeance 
 should come," the daring girl repeated. "You have 
 come hither for doom. Red Dan." 
 
 The white finger touched the easy trigger. 
 
 The young Tory could only look into the muzzle of 
 the pistol and count the remaining seconds of his life. 
 
 But for a hand that shot toward Dora's arm he 
 would have reeled from the deadly flash to fall dead 
 on the porch. 
 
 With a cry Alice clutched the arm of her friend and 
 held it firmly. 
 
 They hanged your father!" cried Dora. 
 T know," replied Alice, clinging to the slender arm. 
 "I know, Dora, dear, but " 
 
 <<' 
 
 <<i 
 
 "Would you avenge him ? Remember your oath. 
 "Not now. The time will come." 
 
 )> 
 
154 How Red Dan Went Home. 
 
 Dora with a look at her companion lowered the wea- 
 pon and Red Dan was saved — saved for another fate. 
 
 "Now go! The night is behind you," commanded 
 Alice. 
 
 He hesitated. 
 
 "Go r 
 
 He saw a look in the speaker's eyes which told him 
 that he might press her patience too far. 
 
 His mad mission had failed; that was evident now. 
 
 He would have to turn back. 
 
 Stepping aside, he smiled and touched his hat to 
 the two girls, then dexterously leaped from the porch 
 and ran to his horse. 
 
 "Confound them, I will get even !" he hissed to him- 
 self, as he sprang to saddle. "This war is not yet 
 over. I will bring the beauty of Callaway Manor to 
 terms some other time." 
 
 If he could. 
 
 In another second a horse was flying through the 
 night. 
 
 The noble animal stretched away, keeping to the 
 winding road that lay before him and at times almost 
 unseating his mad rider by the boughs that crossed it. 
 
 Red Dan was beside himself with rage. To think 
 that he had been foiled by two girls was exasperating, 
 to say the least. 
 
 Some other time ! The expression surged through 
 his brain like a wave of flame. 
 
How Red Dan Went Home. 155 
 
 Suddenly he became aware that he was not the only 
 person on the road that night. 
 
 His alert ears caught the sound of hoofs behind him. 
 
 Qearly, to his suspicious mind, he was being pur- 
 sued. 
 
 On, on he went, giving his steed a free rein and 
 leaning forward in the saddle. He was a splendid 
 rider and knew all the tricks of horsemanship. 
 
 Louder and louder the sounds behind him grew; 
 they rang in his ears like the hoofs of some demon 
 horse. 
 
 "Why not stop and ambush the fiend?" he suddenly 
 said. "I can turn the tables on the enemy. Why 
 not ?" 
 
 But he did not know who was chasing him. He 
 could not cross the intervening space, not even with 
 his keen vision, and discern the man behind him. 
 
 Then, there was the uncertainty of meeting his su- 
 perior, for sometimes the ambushed party wins the 
 victory. 
 
 Something had to be done, and Red Dan had to 
 think quickly, for the unseen was gaining on him. 
 
 Suddenly, with the ambush idea full in his brain, he 
 drew rein. 
 
 To his surprise the other one stopped, too. 
 
 Visions of a wild Whig rider flashed through his 
 mind; he could not keep them out. 
 
356 How Red Dan Went Home. 
 
 At last he reached a bend in the road. The unseen 
 was now but a few lengths behind him. 
 
 Drawing his pistols Red Dan, with bated breath, 
 waited for his adversary. 
 
 Clearly he was now riding into the trap, and while 
 Dan waited he stilled his wildly beating heart and 
 nerved himself for the encounter. 
 
 In another moment his foe would dash by and then 
 — the pistols ! 
 
 He counted the breaths he drew and listened. Down 
 the road, lit up by patches of starlight, came the gal- 
 loping person. 
 
 Like a flash he came up with the young Tory. 
 
 But such a man ! 
 
 Forgetting the cocked weapons he held in his hands, 
 the scion of Jeffrys Hall glared with his eyes nearly 
 starting from their sockets. 
 
 He saw a huge person seated on a black horse, a 
 man with a wild, bearded face. 
 
 He saw more than this. He saw something per- 
 forming great circles about the man's head, whether 
 sword, club or hammer he could not at first make out. 
 
 But he soon solved the myster>% for he saw that it 
 was a huge hammer fastened on a handle as long as 
 a giant's arm. 
 
 This is what the demon of the night was swinging 
 round his head, for he was hatless, and the impetus 
 
How Red Dan Went Home. 157 
 
 of his wild gallop was throwing his shock of hair in 
 many directions. 
 
 "The imp of darkness !" cried Red Dan. "From 
 whence came that fiend?" 
 
 The rider of the night was past in a moment and 
 then the Tory's courage came back. 
 
 He leveled both pistols at the giant and fired. 
 
 Both reports blended into one, there w^as a loud 
 shout and the black horse seemed to halt. 
 
 "Hit !" said the young royalist. "There was a good 
 deal of luck in that." 
 
 When he looked again he saw both horse and rider 
 on the ground near him. 
 
 'Winged ! Why not finish the fiend ?" 
 
 He spurred his steed to the spot without stopping to 
 reload, then leaped to the ground and ran forward 
 with clubbed weapon. 
 
 In another moment he fell back, uttering a gasping 
 cry, for the unhorsed demon had sprung to his feet 
 and was making at him with the circling hammer. 
 
 "Down with King George !" yelled the fiend of the 
 night. "Death to tyranny in North America!" 
 
 Surely he had heard that voice before. In the brief 
 time he was left to prepare for the conflict he tried to 
 recall when and where. 
 
 Like a flash of light the truth broke in upon his 
 brain. 
 
 He had heard that cry last in Greene's camp. 
 
158 How Red Dan Went Home. 
 
 He heard it when Jackson leaped upon him in the old 
 hut. 
 
 He was face to face with that madman again, and 
 practically at his mercy. 
 
 Red Dan, with the desperation born of despair, 
 threw one of his pistols straight at the madman's face. 
 
 It missed its mark by a hair, but did not check the 
 plunger. 
 
 On he came, the wild hammer making concentric 
 circles in the air and Dan, in fear of it, threw out his 
 arm. 
 
 Down went that member as the weapon struck it, 
 and then darkness blotted out consciousness. 
 
 When he came back to life he was lying on a bed of 
 moss with the stars above him. 
 
 At first he could not recall the events of the night, 
 but gradually they came back to him. 
 
 Where he was he did not know. The region seemed 
 strange to him and his head was filled with a thousand 
 aches and pains. 
 
 Suddenly there rose before him the curse of the 
 night, the madman with the hammer. 
 
 Red Dan fastened his gaze upon the fiend and studied 
 him for a moment. 
 
 Now he would know his doom. He saw the bearded 
 face bend over him and heard issue from the throat a 
 laugh that would have done credit to a Malay. 
 
How Red Dan Went Home. 159 
 
 "Red Dan go home," laughed the madman. "He 
 meet old Jackson and Jackson take him to the hall.'* 
 
 What ! That man take him home after beating him 
 down with the terrible hammer? 
 
 He did not reply for fear of irritating the fiend, 
 whom he now believed was truly insane, but looked 
 up into the leaping eyes and darkish face. 
 
 "Red Dan did not die by Greene's rope ; ha ! ha !" 
 continued Jackson, excitedly. "Old Jackson did not 
 choke him hard enough. Where have you been. Red 
 Dan ?" 
 
 "That is my business." 
 
 "Of course it is, and it is Jackson's duty to take 
 you home. You stole the papers and " 
 
 "I never found them." 
 
 "You led the Tories to the old forge and carried off 
 my tools. You were the hyena of that night. Now 
 you go back to the hall with Jackson." 
 
 Dan was lifted from the ground and placed on the 
 back of his horse, which stood near. His hands were 
 lashed at his back and his feet bound to the sides of 
 the animal." 
 
 There was no escape from this old madman. 
 
 "Is the old Tory waiting for his boy ?" queried Jack- 
 son, leering into his captive's face. 
 
 "I cannot say." 
 
 "He is the wolf that owns you for his own. He is 
 for the king.'* 
 
i6o How Red Dan Went Home. 
 
 **He is royalist, if you must know it." 
 
 "That dooms him, the old wolf! Ha! ha! Now 
 off we are." 
 
 Red Dan yearned for a loose hand with a pistol in it. 
 
 He wanted to thrust the weapon against Jackson's 
 head and scatter his brains along the road. 
 
 But he was helpless, not only helpless, but in the 
 hands of a crazy man whose thoughts might in a mo- 
 ment turn to murder. 
 
 The two horses galloped along side by side, Jackson 
 holding the bridle rein of Dan's steed and always 
 watching his owner out of the corners of his eyes. 
 
 *'01d man wants to see his son, eh?" he would say, 
 now and then. "Well, he shall." 
 
 Dan said nothing in reply to such spurts on his cap- 
 tor's part. 
 
 The road seemed interminable to the young Tory, 
 but all the time he knew that he was nearing home. 
 
 Midnight had slipped by and the stars of morning 
 were in the clear ether. 
 
 Now the landscape, what he could make out, was 
 familiar to him ; he saw many things that reminded 
 him of boyhood and home. 
 
 The horses crossed a little stream and then climbed 
 the rise near the hall. 
 
 All at once Jackson leaned toward his prisoner and 
 cut the bonds that held him. 
 
 Free at last! 
 
How Red Dan Went Home. i6i 
 
 A gleam of joy lit up Red Dan's eye for a moment 
 and he looked at the mad blacksmith. 
 
 Oh, for a pistol or a knife, and he would lay the 
 fiend dead on the roadside! 
 
 ''This is your homecoming, Red Dan," suddenly 
 cried Jackson, as his right hand fastened like a vise at 
 the young Tory's throat. "You go back to the old 
 wolf dead!" 
 
 "Heavens !" was all Dan could articulate, as he tried 
 to shrink from that terrible hand, but in vain. 
 
 It was not to be broken loose by any strength of his, 
 and he was an athlete. 
 
 He struggled as best he could ; he tried to twist out 
 ot the saddle, but such was not to be. 
 
 "Mer— cy!" he gasped. "Mer " 
 
 The word was broken on his lips. 
 
 His captor laughed; he saw — and it was the very 
 last thing he did see — the devilish face of the insane 
 blacksmith. 
 
 ''Home, Red Dan ; ha ! ha !" laughed the fiend. "You 
 have come back to JeflFrys Hall." 
 
 Those were the last words the young Tory ever 
 heard this side his grave. 
 
 Old Jackson, rendered mad by the passions of the 
 war, leaned toward his victim and sank his dark 
 fingers deeper into the discolored throat. 
 
 Red Dan was as limber as a rag in his grip. 
 
 All at once Jackson sprang from his horse and. 
 
1 62 How Red Dan Went Home. 
 
 dragging his victim after him, rushed toward the 
 manor house near at hand. 
 
 He plunged across the broad veranda and struck 
 the oaken door with his clinched fist. 
 
 A cry inside told that the summons had been heard. 
 
 Bolts shot back and the door swung open. 
 
 A haughty-looking old man with white hair con- 
 fronted the madman of the Carolinas. 
 
 "Your spawn's come home, Austin Jeffrys !" cried 
 Jackson. "The king has no further use for this piece, 
 of treachery !" 
 
 The following moment something fell at Austin 
 Jf'ffvys' feet and Jackson fell back. The old man ut- 
 tered a wild cry and held the light near the floor. 
 Then, seeing the face of his son, whom he knew was 
 dead, he swooned across the body. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE DANGEROUS MISSION. 
 
 "Gen. Greene would like to see you." 
 
 These words, addressed to Rodney Black by Col. 
 Washington, a few days after the last adventures, 
 caused the boy partisan to start slightly. 
 
 The American army lay near Camden, which was 
 occupied by Lord Rawdon, who had fortified it 
 strongly. 
 
 Both commanders were watching each other, and, 
 though Greene's force was greatly reduced, he did not 
 shirk the danger that menaced him. 
 
 Rodney at once made his way to Greene's head- 
 quarters. 
 
 He found his general alone in his tent, where he 
 was received with marked cordiality, for Greene was 
 proud of his young recruits, but in a moment a seri- 
 ous expression settled over the chieftain's face. 
 
 "They tell me, boy, that you are acquainted in and 
 about Camden?" 
 
 *T have been to the town frequently and the sur- 
 rounding country is almost home to me." 
 
 "So much the better." 
 
 Rodney was silent ; he felt what was coming. 
 
 "I wish some information as to the intentions of 
 
164 The Dangerous Mission. 
 
 the enemy," said Greene. *'I want to learn the dis- 
 position of his forces, his real strength, and so forth. 
 If you could get into his camp " 
 
 "I do not think that part of it would be difficult/' 
 broke in Rodney, eager to help the cause in any man- 
 ner that offered itself. "I am at your service, general." 
 
 Pleased with the young Whig's willingness, Greene 
 proceeded : 
 
 "There is but one person whom you need fear," he 
 said, "and that is your old personal enemy, Capt. 
 Samson. But just now, from the last information I 
 have received concerning him, Sumter is making it 
 warm for him along the Catawba." 
 
 "I have heard that, too." 
 
 "You will exercise the greatest care in your trip. 
 The question of disguise I leave entirely with you." 
 
 "May I not take Jack with me?" 
 
 "Your young friend, you mean ? Well, as two pairs 
 of eyes are sometimes better than one, I do not know 
 but what that would, in this case, be a good idea." 
 
 "Then Jack will go. I have not asked him, of 
 course, but he won't refuse ; I know that." 
 
 Gen. Greene proceeded and gave some minute in- 
 structions as to the service he expected of his young 
 spy and again admonished him to exercise the greatest 
 care. 
 
 When Rodney was ready to leave the tent, Greene 
 
The Dangerous Mission. 165 
 
 came forward and took him by the hand. It was a 
 proud moment for the young Whig. 
 
 "I must thank you for what you have already done 
 for the cause," he said, looking kindly from his deep 
 blue eyes. "Gen. Washington has heard of your ex- 
 ploits at Guildford and I was proud to report them. 
 We are going to win in this war. The light is breaking 
 in, even though it looks dark in some localities. This is 
 the seventh year of hostilities. We have aid from 
 France, but believe me, my boy, the eagle of liberty 
 ere long will bathe his plumage in the sun and there 
 will be no royal banner to kiss the breezes in North 
 America." 
 
 Rodney noted the fervor with which Greene spoke 
 and it thrilled him. 
 
 "That, too, is my belief," he exclaimed. "We will 
 yet see Cornwallis entrapped." 
 
 *T believe he is even now treading the high road 
 to doom. Washington and Rochambeau are on the 
 alert and, between the two, I believe this scarlet fox 
 will be trapped." 
 
 A hearty hand grasp followed these words and Rod- 
 ney withdrew to make ready for his perilous mission. 
 
 Jack was as eager to enter Camden as was his friends 
 
 The tvv^o boys did not confer long together. 
 
 As the long shadows of the April dusk fell over the 
 camp of the enemy a dilapidated wagon, drawn by an 
 equally poor mule, reached Rawdon's picket line. 
 
l66 The Dangerous Mission. 
 
 nie two country-dressed boys who occupied the one 
 seat of the vehicle pulled up short at the guard's chal- 
 lenge and appeared to be unfamiliar with military 
 usages, 
 
 "Can't we get through without the word? Is that 
 it ?" 
 
 "You've got to have the countersign," was the reply. 
 "What do you think they've stationed me here for?" 
 
 '*To keep the rebels from coming too close. Say, 
 when you hang Greene and his ragamuffins I wish you 
 would send us word. You'll find us over on the creek 
 • — Tom Spencer and Ned Bushnell. I guess we'd run 
 half the night to see a lot o' rebels dangling from 
 trees. Eh, wouldn't we, Ned?" 
 
 *7ust try us, Mr. Redcoat." 
 
 "Well, if I'm not very much mistaken you'll hear 
 of the biggest hanging these parts ever saw before 
 long." 
 
 "Good !" and Rodney, who was Tom Spencer for the 
 time, slapped his companion on the back. 
 
 "I say, Mr. Guard, how would you like a drink o* 
 
 cider?" 
 
 "Come, they don't make cider this time o' year." 
 "But we make it in the fall and bury it in jugs in 
 
 the cellar for winter and spring." 
 
 The picket's lips were seen to water at the bare 
 thought of a drink of cider. 
 
The Dangerous Mission. 167 
 
 ■I — ___ _ 
 
 *Tom" reached under the hay, which partly filled 
 the bed of the wagon, and produced a jug. 
 
 Handing it to the soldier, he told him to help himself. 
 
 "Keep the whole jug," laughed "Tom" at the man's 
 piggishness, for he had uncorked the jug and the cider 
 was staining his uniform in his haste to get all of it 
 down his throat at once. "We've got some more here 
 for the general " 
 
 "For Rawdon? That's clever. Well, go and let him 
 sample it. It's sharp enough to make his eyes snap. 
 You're for the king, of course?" 
 
 "Would we want an invitation to a rebel hanging 
 if we were for Greene and Washington?" queried 
 "Ned." 
 
 "Certamly not." 
 
 The boys drove on and left the sentry helping him- 
 self to the cider, which had been procured by Greene 
 from one of the bitterest rebels in the district. The in- 
 gredients put into it for preservation had given it a 
 twang sharp enough to make men fight well. 
 
 Presently the little wagon wabbled into the town of 
 Camden — wabbled is the proper word, for the wheels 
 did not track and the spokes were loose. 
 
 They did not excite much interest, for country peo- 
 ple came to the camp with early produce, which the 
 troops bought up eagerly, paying in British gold, for 
 the continental money of those days was not worth 
 the paper it was printed on. 
 
1 68 The Dangerous Mission. 
 
 A few straggling houses were all that made up the 
 village of Camden, the scene of Gen. Gates' defeat 
 earlier in the war and the spot where that officer is 
 said to have exchanged his "Northern laurels for South- 
 ern willows." 
 
 The boy spies drove down the one poor street, look- 
 ing as innocent as country boys could and observing 
 everything warlike that crossed their vision. 
 
 At length they pulled up in front of a house which 
 appeared to be occupied by some officer of distinction, 
 for a flag waved over it and a red-coated sentry of 
 gigantic proportions paced back and forth in front of it. 
 
 "Move on, there !" growled the guard, as he spied 
 the boys. "This is not Raggamuffin Street." 
 'What's that?" cried "Tom." 
 
 T say we don't keep crowbaits at this inn. This is 
 Lord Rawdon's headquarters." 
 
 "Oh !' 
 
 "And where might his excellency be?" asked Jack. 
 
 "Out of your reach, of course," grinned the soldier. 
 
 "Do you think we want to eat him ?" 
 
 "No, but the crows will eat that animal if you don't 
 keep 'im on the go." 
 
 The boys laughed heartily at this sally. 
 
 Just then a well-dressed soldier stepped from the 
 house and the sentry drew up and saluted. 
 
 He w^ore a magnificent uniform, was stately in ap- 
 pearance and carried an elegant sword. 
 
 <<i 
 
 ((■ 
 
The Dangerous Mission. 169 
 
 Rodney and Jack stared at him with well-put-on 
 curiosity, then they ventured to inquire the way to 
 Deepdale. Deepdale was a crossroads just beyond the 
 camp, and a place of no particular importance. 
 
 Lord Rawdon, for the handsome officer w^as the com- 
 mander of the British army, turned toward the wagon 
 at the query. 
 
 "Where are you from, boys ?" he inquired. 
 
 "From over the hills." 
 
 "What's the news?" 
 
 "We don't hunt it up, sir, but the rebel, Greene, says 
 he is going to wallop Lord Rawdon one of these days." 
 
 A smile wreathed the general's lips and he broke into 
 a laugh. 
 
 "So he says this, does he? Going to whip Lord 
 Rawdon? Well, what do you think, boys?" 
 
 "We can't tell till we've seen what you have to whip 
 him with." 
 
 "There is something in that," was the amused reply. 
 "Well, when you go back over the hills just stop and 
 tell this rebel, Greene, that Lord Rawdon doubts his 
 ability to carry out his boast." 
 
 "Be you Lord Rawdon ?" 
 
 "At your service, young sirs," smiled the general, 
 with a mock bow. 
 
 Rodney now produced a jug from beneath the hay 
 and extended it toward Rawdon. 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
lyo The Dangerous Mission. 
 
 t(i 
 
 'Cider, some we made last fall and kept over. It's 
 prime and fine." 
 
 The British officer called an aide from the house and 
 bade him take possession of the jug. 
 
 '^Here's another, general," said Rodney, bringing the 
 second one to light. "We hope you'll soon make their 
 Gen. Greene take to his heels." 
 
 *'Make him run ? Like a hare !" laughed Rawdon, 
 pleased with the present of the cider, of which he was 
 very fond. "Make yourselves at home in camp, young 
 sirs. Don't be backward. You've already paid for 
 your keeping," and with this Rawdon walked back into 
 the house. 
 
 Getting into the good graces of the British com- 
 mander had proceeded as well as the young spies could 
 wish and they drove away with light hearts. 
 
 During the next half hour they had made the rounds 
 of the camp, noting the fortifications, the positions of 
 the batteries, the numbers of the soldiers of all arms 
 and, in short, seeing everything that promised to be 
 of service to the patriot cause. 
 
 When they turned back toward Rawdon's head- 
 quarters they had but one jug of cider left. 
 
 "For an emergency," said Rodney. "For the picket, 
 you know, Jack." 
 
 They drove slowly back down the winding street. 
 
 The day had vanished and camp fires were burning 
 everywhere. 
 
The Dangerous Mission. 171 
 
 Around them the red-coated soldiers were discussing 
 their suppers and the campaign. 
 
 It was no secret in camp that the British would soon 
 move out and fall upon Greene. 
 
 They greatly outnumbered him and hoped to inflict 
 upon him a terrible defeat, after which they believed 
 there would be nothing left of the rebel cause in the 
 two Carolinas. 
 
 When near headquarters the wagon was surrounded 
 by half a dozen soldiers, who loudly demanded cider. 
 
 They miCnaced the drowsy mule with their bayonets, 
 thrust their guns beneath the hay and demanded drink. 
 
 In order to get rid of the boisterous lot, Rodney 
 was forced to produce the last jug, but it was like 
 throwing a shrimp to a whale. 
 
 In a few moments every particle of hay was pulled 
 from the wagon, the vehicle itself threatened with 
 destruction and the safety of the young spies seri- 
 ouslv menaced. 
 
 ''More to-morrow," cried Rodney. "Stand back 
 there or we'll report you to your general." 
 
 "Precious little satisfaction you'll get," was the retort. 
 
 The young Whig struck the animal with the keen 
 switch and the mule started oflf. 
 
 But the soldiers crowded closer and demanded cider, 
 even after they had received evidence that the very 
 last had been given them. 
 
 They clung to the wheels of the wagon, and taxed 
 
172 The Dangerous Mission. 
 
 the pulling powers of the animal in the shafts, Rodney 
 the while belaboring the poor creature with all his 
 might. 
 
 They reached the space in front of Rawdon's head- 
 quarters at last. 
 
 Hearing the uproar, that officer looked out and was 
 immediately spied by the young spies. 
 
 *'Help, general !" appealed Rodney, fearlessly. 
 **They are trying to kill our mule." 
 
 Rawdon with a laugh turned suddenly back into the 
 house. 
 
 "Here, captain," they heard him say to some one as 
 yet unseen. 
 
 "Here, Capt. Samson, are the youngsters who 
 brought the cider." 
 
 Capt. Samson! 
 
 The name seemed to chill the blood in the veins of 
 our young heroes. 
 
 Were they to be betrayed by their worst enemy — the 
 man who wanted their blood ? It seemed so. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE BORDER LINE OF DOOM. 
 
 Fortunately and unfortunately for the imperiled 
 young patriots the man who appeared in the doorway 
 in response to Lord Rawdon's call was not in a very 
 good condition to betray them. 
 
 A glance at him told them that it was the redoubt- 
 able Capt. Samson, and therefore their old adversary. 
 
 He had just returned from a foraying expedition in 
 which he had been severely handled by a detachment 
 of Americans, who had left several of his followers on 
 the field. 
 
 The captain had taken the nearest route to the Brit- 
 ish army, which he knew lay at Camden, and by dint of 
 hard riding had escaped his foes. 
 
 Not only this, but he had plundered a wine cellar 
 belonging to a prominent Whig and had partaken 
 heartily of its contents. 
 
 As he swaggered out of the house and threw a 
 glance in the direction of the boy spies he uttered a 
 hoarse cry and looked again at the British commander. 
 
 "Gave you some cider, did they, general?" he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 "Yes; you have just tasted it, captain." 
 
174 T"^^ Border Line of Doom. 
 
 ((■^ 
 
 lit 
 
 "So I had and it's sharp enough to make one fight. 
 We'll try some more." 
 
 With this he came toward the wagon intent on 
 robbing it of its contents, especially if they consisted of 
 cider jugs. 
 
 The boys put on the boldest front possible. 
 
 *'Hand it out, youngsters !" cried Capt. Samson, 
 'We're just out, sir," said Jack. 
 'Come ! come ! Hand out your goods, I say. I 
 want to drink the king's health and confusion to Wash- 
 ington and his rabble." 
 
 But the boys gently insisted that they did not have 
 any more of the desired article, and even went so far as 
 to express sorrow over their failure to supply the needs 
 of the Tory captain. 
 
 Capt. Samson was now at the front wheel, looking 
 up into their faces. 
 
 The crucial test had come and they both felt that 
 the searching eyes of the Tory was reading them 
 through their disguise. 
 
 Lord Rawdon stood near by enjoying Capt. Sam- 
 son's discomfiture. 
 
 "Drive on, then," suddenly exclaimed the Tory, 
 striking the mule with his open hand. "Don't stay here 
 if your wagon can't become a commissary for the 
 army." 
 
 He turned away as the animal started up again. 
 
 The boys breathed free again. 
 
The Border Line of Doom. 175 
 
 "Hold on!" suddenly rang the voice of Capt. Sam- 
 son, in their ears. "Come back here. You may be 
 rebel whelps. It won't be out of the way to have a 
 little inspection." 
 
 This was the last thing the boys wanted. It meant 
 betrayal and death. 
 
 "Come, captain," said Lord Rawdon, breaking in, 
 "let us resume our council." 
 
 "No, siree ! I intend to bring the young sprigs back 
 for examination. They look like little rebels to me!" 
 
 "Rebels, forsooth, captain ? Let them go !" And to 
 the amusement of all the British general stalked for- 
 ward and, catching Capt. Samson by the collar, dragged 
 him toward the house. 
 
 Little did Rawdon dream what he had effected by 
 his interference. 
 
 The protesting Tory was halted at the door of the 
 house and then pushed inside. 
 
 "Saved, and by a British general!" exclaimed 
 Rodney. 
 
 "We are in the woods yet," responded Jack. "Capt. 
 Samson's words may have taken root in other minds 
 and '' 
 
 "Halt !" 
 
 A soldier had stepped out from some shadows and 
 stood like a statue in the road with his bayonet pre- 
 sented toward them. 
 
 Rodney immediately pulled up. 
 
<<1 
 
 <(' 
 
 176 The Border Line of Doom. 
 
 "What's the disturbance down there ?" asked the red- 
 coat. 
 
 "Oh," answered the boy, recovering in a moment, 
 **we gave away all our cider, but they didn't want to be- 
 lieve it. We're going after more." 
 
 But you can't fetch another load yet to-night?" 
 No, to-morrow." 
 
 "But somebody said down there that you might be 
 young rebels." 
 
 "Only in a joking manner. We rebels? When 
 you have the grand hanging of Greene and his raga- 
 muffins call on Tom Spencer and Ned Bushnell, will 
 you ?" 
 
 "Your names, I take it?" 
 
 "Yes. We live over the hills." 
 
 The gun was lowered and the boys urged the mule 
 away. 
 
 "Free at last," said Jack. "I hope we've seen the 
 last redcoat for to-night." 
 
 But their troubles were not yet at an end. 
 
 All at once they heard a clatter of hoofs behind them 
 and a lot of dragoons came tearing up the road. 
 
 "Halt ! Turn round and ride back to headquarters !" 
 commanded the leader of the squadron. "Lord Raw- 
 don wants to see you." 
 
 Back to Capt. Samson and the British general ! The 
 thought filled the boy spies with horror. 
 
 Yet they could do nothing more than obey, for the 
 
The Border Line of Doom. 177 
 
 troops completely surrounded them and there was no 
 escape. 
 
 Putting the best face they could on the troublesome 
 matter, and permitting the dragoons to act as escort 
 just when they thought they were out of the trap, the 
 young patriots turned back. 
 
 In a few seconds they were halted in front of Lord 
 Rawdon's headquarters and awaited his lordship. 
 
 Presently he emerged from the house and came for- 
 ward. 
 
 He dismissed the troops with a wave of his haiid 
 and laid one of his gauntleted hands on the rim of the 
 wheel. 
 
 As he looked into the faces of the young adventurers 
 they felt that their hour had come. 
 
 "Young sirs," said he, *'do you know Mr. Austin 
 Jefifrys, of the hall?" 
 
 "We've heard of him," said Rodney. "The old man 
 who lives all alone now ?" 
 
 "Yes, 'tis he. He lost his son and heir a few days 
 ago." 
 
 "I've seen the hall," spoke Jack. 
 
 "Would you kindly take a message to him for me ?" 
 
 Things seemed to be coming their way again. 
 
 "We'll be glad to take it, your lordship. We can 
 get it to him to-morrow.'* 
 
 "Very well. Then tell him that by to-morrow night 
 there will be no rebel army where now there is one. 
 
178 The Border Line of Doom. 
 
 '■ M M ■■^»— ■^^M ^.^ Ml ., . — I- ... ■ . - . ^ — — — ■ " . — ■ ■ . I— ^M^B^M^W 
 
 Tell him that his old friend, Francis Hastings, Lord 
 Rawdon, intends to sweep Greene and his horde from 
 the face of the earth ; that by set of sun to-morrow his 
 son will have been avenged." 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 *'And tell him also for me, young sirs, that the 
 glorious end of the war is near at hand. I intend to 
 bring peace — peace with the sword, to the Carolinas, 
 and before the first birds of summer nest the last rebel 
 banner that kisses the air within their borders will 
 have been shot to pieces by my guns. Adieu, young 
 sirs, and may you live to see King George triumph 
 over his rebellious colonies." 
 
 He fell back, a little the worse for wine and cider. 
 and touched his hat to the two young spies. 
 
 In another second a giant figure nearly fell from the 
 door. 
 
 "Stop 'em, your lordship!" this person brawled. 
 "They are young rebels and no mistake !" 
 
 The general laughed and glanced at the boys in the 
 wagon. 
 
 "Don't forget my message," he said. "And see that 
 you deliver it to Austin Jeffrys as early to-morrow as 
 possible." 
 
 "They're spies — rebel spies, I say!" roared Capt. 
 Samson, almost too drunk to keep his feet. "I'll hang 
 'em right in your camp, and inside of an hour." 
 
The Border Line of Doom. 179 
 
 Rodney and Jack drew away as coolly as they could 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 It was a trying moment. 
 
 "Go back, captain, go back!" exclaimed the general. 
 * 'There's to be no hanging in my camp to-night." 
 
 "But, your lordship, they are spies " 
 
 "Spies for whom, pray? Boys are not selected as 
 spies. Captain, you've had too much Sumter late- 
 
 ly " 
 
 iVt this the Tory roared with rage, but the officer 
 pushed him toward the house and followed him inside. 
 
 Saved again by Lord Rawdon, the two boys lost no 
 time in getting out of the camp. 
 
 Not only had they picked up a good deal of valuable 
 information since quitting Greene's army, but they had 
 it from the British general's own lips that the Ameri- 
 cans were to be attacked the following day. 
 
 They had completely deceived Lord Rawdon and 
 they owed their escape to the fact that a drunken 
 Tory captain had not been believed in his charges. 
 
 Had Capt. Samson been sober But they dared 
 
 not think of such a thing. They resolved to lose no 
 time in getting back to Greene and urged their ani- 
 mal forward as fast as possible. 
 
 The space that separated the two armies was not 
 great. It was capable of being traversed in a short 
 time and the boys drove under the stars with high 
 spirits. 
 
i8o The Border Line of Doom. 
 
 "Pretty close, Jack ?" 
 
 "Uncomfortably close," was the reply. 
 
 "NoAv for the picket line." 
 
 They turned from the road, intending to avoid the 
 sentry, but suddenly they beheld a soldier rise in front 
 of them as if from the ground itself. 
 
 He came forward, his musket thrust into their faces 
 and his eyes aflame. 
 
 "Get out, you young rats !" he cried. "Deliver over 
 that stolen wagon." 
 
 "It is not a stolen wagon," protested Jack. "It be- 
 longs to Mr. Bushnell, and that is guarantee that it is 
 in the right hands now, for I am his son, Ned." 
 
 "Get down, I say ! No pulling the wool over my 
 eyes !" 
 
 Here was another peril and the soldier had to be 
 reckoned with. 
 
 Rodney appeared to acquiesce in the demand, for 
 he threw the lines over the mule's back and began to 
 leave the seat. 
 
 All the time he kept his gaze riveted upon the guard. 
 
 "Why didn't they arrest you in camp?" continued 
 the redcoat. 
 
 'They didn't think we were thieves, as you call us." 
 
 'Where were their eyes ? Anyone can see that much, 
 even after dark." 
 
 By this time Rodney was fairly on the ground, while 
 Jack was in no hurry to get down. 
 
 <<' 
 
 in 
 
The Border Line of Doom. i8i 
 
 The sentry lowered his gun and called out, loudly : 
 
 **Do you want to be jerked down, young sir? Get 
 down in a jiffy or down you come without ceremony." 
 
 The following second something landed against the 
 redcoat and, with a furious cry, he staggered back and 
 had his musket jerked from his grasp. 
 
 Rodney, the young blacksmith, had executed a fly- 
 nig leap and the guard found himself disarmed in the 
 twinkling of an eye. 
 
 He tried to recover his musket, but Rodney threw it 
 above his head and brought the heavy stock down upon 
 the redcoat's skull, felling him like a log. 
 
 It was all over in a minute. 
 
 As the soldier sank in a limp heap at the foot of a 
 tree, Rodney threw the loaded gun into the wagon 
 and clambered over the side, at the same time striking 
 the obedient animal with his hand. 
 
 "Now for life — straight ahead !" he shouted in Jack's 
 ear. 
 
 Away bounded the vehicle, striking unseen snags 
 and roots, the boys clinging to the seat while they 
 breathlessly tried to dodge the overhanging boughs. 
 
 Once out into the meadlike country, they urged the 
 mule to still better speed and at last found themselves 
 miles from the scene of danger. 
 
 The next ''halt" that rano- in their ears came from 
 the right side of the landscape and they passed Greene's 
 pickets. 
 
1 82 The Border Line of Doom. 
 
 "Your message to Jeff rys Hall ?" said Jack. "What 
 about that?" 
 
 "We'll deliver it after the fight." 
 
 "Do you think it will come to-morrow?" 
 
 "Undoubtedly. Both armies are ready for the fray 
 and Gen. Greene doesn't intend to shirk the battle even 
 though the British greatly outnumber us. 
 
 They drove into the camp proper and, knowing that 
 Greene would be eager for their report, went direct 
 to his tent. * 
 
 They found him up, for he had the name of being the 
 sleepless general of the Revolution. No fatigue over- 
 came him, no threatening danger ever found Nathaniel 
 Greene unprepared for it. 
 
 The boys told their adventures to a man who lis- 
 tened attentively. 
 
 Greene smiled at times and chased the weary ex- 
 pression from his handsome face with several little 
 laughs. 
 
 "You can take some rest now," he said to the young 
 spies. "You will need it, for we fight to-morrow. 
 The cause of liberty is God's cause as well, and we will 
 see to it that it dies not in North America." 
 
 Immortal Greene! He never despaired of the re- 
 public. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A STARTLING CONFESSION. 
 
 In no portion of the colonies was the struggle for 
 liberty waged with more bitterness than in the South. 
 
 Some of the most heroic feats of the Revolution 
 were performed there, and under the palmettoes and 
 magnolias the men who won the day against the king 
 ever kept up a bold front and not for a moment re- 
 laxed their vigilance. 
 
 The names of Marion, Sumter, Pickens, Lee, Wash- 
 ington, Huger have come down to us surrounded by a 
 halo that grows brighter as the years roll on, and the 
 further we get from those men and others of their 
 heroic mold the grander do they appear in our sight. 
 
 They won their laurels in the face of difficulties that 
 would have shaken the faith of the most trusting, they 
 had to deal with men in red coats and in buckram ; they 
 were called from their homes to take up the sword 
 under the most adverse circumstances ; but, halting not, 
 they cut their way to fame and freedom. 
 
 The brave De Kalb fell at Camden, Pulaski gave up 
 his life for us at Savannah, and the battlefields of the 
 South during that seven years of war become the 
 bivouac of the dead for hundreds of gallant patriots. 
 
184 A Startling Confession. 
 
 Whigs and Tories met each other without mercy 
 and slaughtered the innocent as well as the guilty. 
 
 To be a Whig brought down upon one's head the 
 vengeance of such men as Capt. Samson, and a Tory 
 was made to fly for his life before Black Gorman and 
 his band. 
 
 Between these hot partisans quarter was seldom 
 asked or given. 
 
 Trees bore human fruit all over the South ; the rope 
 was in frequent demand, and women took part in the 
 struggle, many of them bearing arms during the bitter 
 strife. 
 
 Truthfully did Cornwallis say that so long as a 
 woman survived in the Carolinas the king would never 
 conquer America. It was a Mrs. Motte who furnished 
 Marion with fiery arrows, which set fire to her own 
 house, in order to bring victory to the banners of the 
 Swamp Fox. 
 
 Volumes might be written on the heroism of the 
 women of the South during the Revolution. 
 
 Their fame survives them though a century has 
 rolled away. 
 
 It was the same night of the adventures of the 
 boy spies in Lord Rawdon's camp that a man rode 
 slowly over a road fringed with stately trees. 
 
 He was a man of grief and sorrows. 
 
 At the beginning of the war he had taken sides with 
 
A Startling Confession. 185 
 
 the king, for he was haughty and loved royalty, under 
 which he had been nurtured. 
 
 His last grief had been the keenest of all. 
 
 Had not old Jackson, the mad blacksmith, thrown 
 his own son dead at his feet? 
 
 Austin Jeffrys knew that his hour was near at hand. 
 
 A Tory, he feared no living man. 
 
 He had shut up Jeffrys Hall, taken a last look at the 
 portrait of his wife in the lofty room, saddled his fleet- 
 est horse and ridden from the plantation. 
 
 His face was turned toward Rawdon's camp. 
 
 It was late when he entered it. 
 
 The sentinels, looking into the face of the old man 
 and hearing his name, stepped aside for him with low- 
 ered muskets. 
 
 They seemed to feel that he was on an important 
 mission, as indeed he was. 
 
 The guard in front of the general's headquarters 
 stopped him, but let him pass. 
 
 There was something stately and awe-inspiring in 
 the presence of the old Tory and they could not refuse 
 him admittance. 
 
 He found Rawdon looking over some maps and the 
 moment he was seen he was welcomed. 
 
 Lord Rawdon stood clasping old Jeffrys' hand in 
 silence. 
 
 He dared not mention the grief that filled the father's 
 heart. 
 
1 86 A Startling Confession. 
 
 At last Jeffrys spoke : 
 
 * 'General, I have come to you for vengeance. I have 
 come to give my life for the cause." 
 
 "You, friend Austin ?" cried Rawdon. 
 
 "I ! I am alone in the world. A hand that serves 
 our foes took from me the last support of my life. My 
 son W2LS flung dead at my feet. I may meet the mur^ 
 derer. That is my hope. You are going to fight ?" 
 
 "To-morrow, if Greene will stand for a battle." 
 
 "He will stand. I have watched that man all through 
 the struggle. He runs, but he fights." 
 
 *That is true." 
 
 "I want to serve in the ranks to-morrow. I can sit 
 a horse despite my age. Years have not broken my 
 spirit nor cooled my blood. I come of a fighting line." 
 
 "I know it. Your sires fought for Charles at Mars- 
 ton Moor. You shall have your desire." 
 
 The old man smiled. 
 
 "It is the dying wish of Austin Jeffrys to fall fight- 
 ing for his king," he said. "He can wield a sword 
 as did his ancestors ; he can strike and spare not, as did 
 the cavaliers of old." 
 
 Rawdon poured out some wine and the master of 
 Jeffrys Hall drank eagerly. 
 
 "What is the news from the outside?" asked the 
 g-eneral. 
 
 "I have but little for you. The Whigs have flocked 
 
A Startling Confession. 187 
 
 to Greene's banners, but not with the alacrity of other 
 campaigns. He has not the force he had at Guildford." 
 
 "Nor the ground," was the reply. *'We shall beat 
 this rebel to-morrow." 
 
 "I hope so." 
 
 **His sun will set then. He will never again head 
 even a rabble. 
 
 Rawdon was boastful, but he meant every word he 
 spoke. 
 
 Austin JefTrys sat down and buried his aged face 
 in his arms and Rawdon, stepping back, respected his 
 grief. 
 
 Presently the tramping of soldiers was heard and the 
 old man looked up. 
 
 "Stuart's patrol," said Rawdon. 
 
 Jeffrys shook his head. 
 
 "It is terrible, this grief, but it is war," he spoke, 
 in low tones. "With whom can I fight to-morrow, 
 general ?" 
 
 "With Tarleton, if you like." 
 
 "It shall be with Tarleton, then. My boy fought 
 under him. Let the father follow his example." 
 
 "Then you shall serve with Tarleton. He will be in 
 the thick of the battle, for I intend to show these rebels 
 that Tarleton's swords have lost none of their keen- 
 
 ness." 
 
 Pressed to share a pallet in the room, Austin Jef- 
 
1 88 A Startling Confession. 
 
 frys retired, while Lord Rawdon resumed his occu- 
 pation. 
 
 There was something pathetic in this old man coming 
 to the field of battle. 
 
 For a few moments the British general watched the 
 grief-seamed face as it was revealed in the light that 
 
 prevailed. 
 
 He pitied the old man and cursed the fortunes of 
 war which had brought him to his present station. 
 
 Childless, old and sorrowful, he had at last offered 
 what little remained of life to vengeance and the king. 
 
 Suddenly Rawdon was startled by a strange cry and 
 he saw Austin Jeffrys sitting upright on the pallet. 
 
 "I cannot sleep without confession," he said. 
 
 Rawdon looked amazed. 
 
 "What have you to confess?" he queried. 
 
 "Much. Will you listen, general?" 
 
 "If you insist, yes." 
 
 "I insist." 
 
 Jefifryp came over to the table and took a camp stool. 
 
 Leaning on the board in front of him for a moment 
 he studied his lordship's face and then began : 
 
 "It was in England, long ago. When I was a 
 younger man I became infatuated w^ith one of the 
 fairest women in Haworth. She was all the world to 
 me. I would have given my life for her smile ; I was 
 love blind. 
 
A Startling Confession. 189 
 
 "It happened that in the same neighborhood Hved a 
 young man who was my rival. Let me mention no 
 names yet, your grace. We became strenuous rivals 
 for the hand of the beauty of Haworth. 
 
 **I pressed my suit, but I saw the prize slipping from 
 my grasp, and at last I lost it altogether. 
 
 "She gave her hand to the hated one. I retired from 
 the field, but with vengeance in my heart. In time 
 a child came to bless the wedded lives of the pair, a 
 little girl, who in time would inherit a fortune. 
 
 "From that time I plotted more and more. When- 
 ever I caught sight of my enemy, for I regarded him as 
 such, my blood boiled in my veins. I wanted his 
 blood. 
 
 "Fairer and fairer grew the child. She crossed my 
 path with her mother's looks in her eyes, and that mad- 
 dened me more and more. I hated her because of that 
 sweet face. One night I met her father on the moor. 
 He was riding home to wife and child. With the 
 demon of crime in my heart I watched him as he came 
 on, humming a love song which she would never sing 
 for me. 
 
 "I stopped him under a great oak. We had hot 
 words, and when I walked away the moon looked down 
 upon a white face that would never again respond to 
 her smiles. 
 
 "It was a swift ride home. My heart, however, was 
 light. I had settled with my rival. Soon afterward 
 
rpo A Startling Confession. 
 
 I married and came to America. Here my son was 
 born. He was younger than the people suspected, 
 ■who knew not his real age. He looked older than he 
 was, did Dan. He was really younger than the child 
 of my rival. 
 
 *'Soon after reaching this country the belle of Ha- 
 worth died. I heard the tidings with a smile. Then 
 came another surprise. Her child came to this land, 
 accompanied by her uncle. The pair lived together. 
 The uncle never married. They settled near me. I 
 knew all about the fortune which would fall to the 
 young miss when she reached a certain age. If the 
 documents which proved these facts were not stolen 
 she would become rich in a few years. I plotted to 
 steal those papers. They were in her uncle's pos- 
 session. 
 
 "I sent my son to do the work. He failed. At the 
 head of a band of men he raided the house, but the 
 papers were not found. He reported to me and I 
 cursed him. General, the name of the man whom I 
 slew in England was Jackson, his child is Dora Jack- 
 son, and her uncle the old blacksmith who threw my 
 son dead at my feet." 
 
 For some time Rawdon, who had been appalled by 
 this confession, did not speak. 
 
 He drew back and looked into the white face at the 
 table, looking ghastlier in the light. 
 
 "To-morrow is my last day on earth, hence this con- 
 
A Startling Confession. 191 
 
 fession," continued Austin Jeffrys. "I am a murderer. 
 I fled from my crime and added evil to it in this 
 country. I am ready to meet the Avenger of all, but 
 I want to cross swords with this madman who swings 
 the hammer as he rides. Think you he will be in the 
 battle to-morrow?" 
 
 "He is likely to be there." 
 
 "I trust he will. I trust Abner Jackson will be 
 there, and that I may meet him. You should shun 
 me, general." 
 
 "I pity you." 
 
 "I have no pity for myself. I have reaped the 
 whirlwind after sowing the wind — that's all. You 
 will give me a uniform?" 
 
 "I will see to that." 
 
 In a few moments Austin Jeffrys went back to his 
 pallet and fell asleep. 
 
 Lord Rawdon looked at him for a few moments and 
 left the house. 
 
 One hour later he returned, carrying over his arm 
 the brilliant uniform of one of Tarleton's dragoons, 
 sword and all. 
 
 He was about to cross the threshold of the old house 
 when the sentry spoke: 
 
 "Your visitor is gone, your grace." 
 
 "When did he leave?" 
 
 "Half an hour ago." 
 
 A smiled gathered at Rawdon's lips. 
 
192 A Startling Confession. 
 
 He entered the house and threw a swift glance 
 around. 
 
 On the camp table lay a folded note. He picked it 
 up and read it at a glance : 
 
 *'I will see you to-morrow on the field of glory. Till 
 then farewell. Jeffrys." 
 
 Rawdon tore the note into twenty pieces and flung 
 them away. 
 
 "Vengeance will be swift to-morrow, if there is jus- 
 tice in vengeance/' he said to himself. "Who would 
 have thought that the heart of Austin Jeffrys carried 
 such a secret?" 
 
 Five minutes later the guard heard his commander 
 pacing the floor of the old house like an impatient 
 tiger. 
 
 He had laid his plans to overwhelm Greene on the 
 morrow. 
 
 He would sweep the Americans from the field and 
 lighten the heart of the half-imbecile monarch across 
 the water. 
 
 One sure blow, he thought, and Greene would never 
 again raise the banner of revolt. 
 
 But Lord Rawdon, with all his clearsightedness, did 
 not know. 
 
 He was true to his king, but there were men who 
 were just as true to freedom. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE FIGHT AT HOBKIRk's HILL, 
 
 It is an old saying that "Man proposes, but God 
 disposes." This is startlingly true in war, and when 
 Lord Rawdon thought to crush Greene and deprive 
 him forever afterward of being a help to the cause 
 of liberty, he failed. 
 
 The American army consisted of nine hundred foot 
 and fifty dragoons. 
 
 The forces of the British nearly doubled this and 
 they were in better condition to fight and win a battle. 
 
 Gen. Greene had drawn up his little band on Hob- 
 kirk's Hill, a rise about two miles from Camden. 
 
 There, knowing that he would be attacked on the 
 following day, he disposed his men, ordering all to 
 stand firm and meet the enemv with the valor of 
 Americans. 
 
 The troops had been twenty-four hours without 
 food, but this was not uncommon among Greene's sol- 
 diers. They were used to fighting on empty stomachs. 
 But rations were issued on the fateful morning, which 
 was the twenty-fifth of April, and the hungry men sat 
 down to breakfast. 
 
 Rodney and Jack, who had rejoined their command 
 under Col. Washington, were engaged in discussing 
 
194 The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 
 
 the very scant meal when the fire from the videttes 
 outside the camp told that the enemy was at hand. 
 
 They sprang up at once and ran to their horses. 
 
 "They are here !" cried Jack. "This day we shall 
 meet our old friends, the enemy, again." 
 
 *T hope so, and Capt. Samson among the number." 
 
 Gen. Greene was in the act of pressing a cup of cof- 
 fee to his lips when the sharp firing fell upon his ears. 
 
 Dashing it down he sprang to saddle, his mild blue 
 eye lighting up with the fire of battle and his whole 
 soul at once in the fray. 
 
 Everywhere the drums beat to arms, soldiers came 
 running in from the posts and in a few minutes the 
 whole army presented a determined front to the ad- 
 vancing redcoats. 
 
 A road ran directly through the patriot camp, and 
 along it the army was stretched in a single line. One 
 wdng rested on a swamp, while the other seemed to 
 lose itself in a wood. 
 
 The artillery had been planted so as to sweep the 
 road, while Washington's dragoons were stationed 
 behind it, and in reserve. It was nearly the same order 
 of battle which had obtained at Guildford. 
 
 The suspense of silence which followed the firing on 
 the outposts was painful. 
 
 Not a sign of the enemy could be seen. 
 'Where are they?" queried Jack. 
 'You will see enough of them by and by." 
 
 *f^ 
 
The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 195 
 
 Presently a line of scarlet broke into view in the 
 open ground that stretched from the foot of the hill. 
 
 The sight was magnificent, for, by Rawdon's orders, 
 the soldiers had cleaned their clothes and brightened 
 their muskets, and in the sunlight they shone like an 
 army on parade. 
 
 Greene was, above all, a man of action. He had the 
 faculty of solving battle problems in a flash, as it 
 were, and the moment he caught sight of the British 
 he issued his orders in one breath : 
 
 "Let Campbell and Ford turn their flanks, the 
 cavalry take them in the rear and the center charge 
 with trailed bayonets." 
 
 In an instant the entire army flung itself forward. 
 
 "Forward !" cried Col. Washington. 
 
 The dragoons rode toward the enemy's rear and 
 gained it. 
 
 "Charge !" 
 
 With cries, which the British had heard before, the 
 thundering dragoons fell upon them. 
 
 True, there were but fifty, but fifty madmen saber- 
 ing and firing from the saddle as the horses bent to 
 their allotted task, is enough to strike terror to the 
 hearts of the coolest. 
 
 In a moment the fight in the rear was bloody and 
 terrible. 
 
 In vain did the British rear guard try to stem the 
 tide. The American artillery had opened on their ranks 
 
196 The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 
 
 from another direction ; the center, composed of tried 
 troops, was sweeping forward with trailing bayonets 
 and the day was ahnost won. 
 
 The boy dragoons kept close together, as they had 
 at Guildford. 
 
 Suddenly they heard bugles ring out above the bat- 
 tle's roar, and Jack looked at his friend. 
 
 Tarleton had come to the rescue. 
 
 With wild shouts the red-coated riders of the king's 
 army swept forward. 
 
 The meeting between the two legions was the real 
 shock of the battle. 
 
 ''Look ! look !" shouted Rodney, at Jack's ear. "Look 
 over yonder. The man with the hammer !" 
 
 Sure enough, fighting against terrible odds, they 
 saw Jackson, the blacksmith, striking right and left 
 with his ponderous weapon, which was doing murder- 
 ous execution. 
 
 The bloody hammer, swinging in mad circles round 
 its owner's head, was beating through helmets and 
 bone. 
 
 Standing in the saddle he looked like some old cru- 
 sader among the Moslem hordes, or like a modern 
 Cid in war. 
 
 The sight fascinated the two young Whigs for a mo- 
 ment, and they forgot their own peril. 
 
 The British fell back. Before that impetuous rush 
 no men could stand long. 
 
The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 197 
 
 The boys saw the enemy close around Jackson, as 
 if determined to crush him if it cost a hundred lives. 
 
 "He's down !" shouted Jack. 
 
 **No, he's up again. Look! The black horse likes 
 the fight as well as his master." 
 
 "Let us lend him aid." 
 
 The idea was immediately acted upon. 
 
 The boy dragoons flew to the madnian's rescue. 
 
 They had nearly reached the spot when they heard 
 loud shouts of victory on the left. 
 
 They came from English throats. 
 
 Gunby's line had broken ! The brave men who had 
 stood so well at Guildford were fleeing before Raw- 
 don's redcoats. 
 
 The fight was almost lost. 
 
 Never before had the Maryland line turned its back 
 to the enemy in such manner. 
 
 Was Gunby mad? 
 
 "They've broken, curse them !" cried Rodney. "Why 
 can't they stand up to their work?" 
 
 But they had work of their own ahead. 
 
 They saw the lines of scarlet close closer around the 
 mad blacksmith. 
 
 But the hammer still rose and fell. 
 
 Suddenly there came upon the scene a dragoon with 
 long white hair. 
 
 In his rush toward Jackson he pushed every other 
 man aside and rode madly at his enemy. 
 
198 The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 
 
 The boys instinctively drew rein. 
 
 To rush on to Jackson's succor now would be the 
 sheerest folly. 
 
 They saw — and it all passed before their eyes like a 
 flashing dream — the collision of the white-haired dra- 
 goon and the man on the black horse. 
 
 A wild cry leaped from the old dragoon's lips. 
 
 **At last ! Vengeance is mine and not God's ! You 
 know me, murderer. I am Austin Jeflfrys !" 
 
 The master of Jeffrys Hall was answered with an 
 eager cry. 
 
 Jackson swung the hammer once more and Jeffrys 
 struck with his saber. 
 
 At the same time both men came together. 
 
 Austin Jeffrys darted nimbly under the hammer and 
 dealt a quick, upward blow. 
 
 Just then the hammer fell, and the horses collided. 
 
 "Heavens !" cried Jack. 'This is war. Come back, 
 Rodney. The whole line has broken." 
 
 This seemed terribly true. 
 
 The sudden flight of his favorite regiment had al- 
 most broken the heroic Greene's heart. 
 
 He had ventured so much on them, had staked his 
 hope on the Continental line, and now it was flying 
 from the bayonets of Lord Rawdon. 
 
 He plunged into the very ranks of the regiment; he 
 gave orders thick and fast ; he pleaded, he raged, threat- 
 ened and shamed them to another stand. 
 
The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 199 
 
 But it was too late. 
 
 He dashed to the siimmit of the hill and looked over 
 
 the field. 
 
 The enemy had pierced his center, his artillery had 
 been forced back and everywhere the columns in red 
 were pushing on. 
 
 "Save the guns !" he commanded, and springing 
 from his horse, in spite of the hailstorm of lead that 
 filled the air, he seized the drag ropes with his own 
 hands and helped to pull the cannon to a place of safety. 
 
 But it was not a place of safety for long. 
 
 The enemy came on and dashed straight for the 
 guns. 
 
 The heroic Smith, with forty-five guards, tried to 
 save them, and all were shot down but fourteen. 
 
 In another moment Tarleton's cavalry fell upon them 
 and every man died at his post of duty. 
 
 The guns were now lost, but before the victorious 
 foe could drag them ofif Col. Washington came down 
 upon him. 
 
 It was the second charge of the day for this heroic 
 band of riders. 
 
 They fell upon the British like a thunderbolt. 
 
 "Here you are !" cried a voice almost at Rodney's el- 
 bow, and the boy dragoon looked into the malicious 
 face and savage eyes of his old enemy, Capt. Samson. 
 
 Before he could deliver a stroke the blade of the 
 
aoo The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 
 
 Tory leader struck him flat across the face; he seemed 
 to be thrown into a pit of darkness. 
 
 "Surrender !" cried a loud voice, which made the 
 Tory turn. 
 
 A heavy roan horse was almost upon him and a 
 sweeping saber crossed his face. 
 
 "Surrender to a young rebel whelp? You don't 
 know Capt. Samson !" 
 
 "Then take that, sir." 
 
 The saber came down upon the Tory's head, though 
 he tried to break the force of the blow, and he reeled, 
 clutching at air as Jack struck again. 
 
 Down went Samson under the hoofs of maddened 
 steeds and Jack was forced back. 
 
 "Don't lose your life, boy," and he was caught by 
 the arm and dragged from the scene by a huge dragoon 
 of the legion. 
 
 "But Rodney is yonder — on the field." 
 
 "We must save the guns." 
 
 Jack was forced to ride away. The guns were of 
 more importance than the life of a boy dragoon. 
 
 And they saved the guns. The heroic Washington 
 threw about the imperiled cannon a line of steel which 
 the British could not break. 
 
 They rushed against it time after time, but the Amer- 
 icans disputed every inch of ground, and suddenly, in 
 turn, fell upon the advancing foe and sabered their 
 way almost to Rawdon's person. 
 
The Fight at Hobklrk^s Hill. aoi 
 
 That last act checked the enemy. 
 Jack rode slowly from the field, ever and anon look- 
 ing back as if he would go to the help of Rodney. 
 
 It was the first time the fortunes of war had sepa- 
 rated them. 
 
 He cared nothing for the long saber cut across his 
 shoulder, a memento of Capt. Samson's prowess; he 
 thought only of Rodney in the hands of the foe — per- 
 haps dead upon the hill. 
 
 Greene retired from the field with the sullenness that 
 ever characterized him. 
 
 Lord Rawdon had not broken the spirit of the bold 
 leader. 
 
 He had merely wounded the lion and was afraid to 
 follow far. 
 
 The ammunition of the little army of freedom was 
 almost exhausted. 
 
 It had suflfered terrible in the battle, and but for the 
 breaking of the Maryland line victory might have 
 perched upon his banners. 
 
 It was now likely that Cornwallis would unite with 
 Raw^don and both armies fall upon Greene. But even 
 this dark prospect did not daunt him. He only said: 
 "We will dispute every inch of ground, though I know 
 Lord Rawdon will push me back to the mountains.'* 
 
 The field of Hobkirk's Hill presented a terrible as- 
 pect after the battle. 
 
202 The Fight at Hobkirk's Hill. 
 
 Redcoats lay everywhere, and mingled with them 
 were the bodies of their foes. 
 
 Locked in the embrace of death on the crimsoned 
 ground the hunters found two men. 
 
 The white hair of one fell over the face of the other. 
 
 In the hand of one was the hilt of a sword and the 
 fingers of his foe still gripped the handle of a hammer. 
 
 Both were dead. Tlie enemies of form.er years had 
 fought it out on the battlefield and both had avenged 
 the past. 
 
 But Rodney. What of him ? Let us see. 
 
 1 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 VENGEANCE AND VICTORY. 
 
 For three days after the battle of Hobkirk's Hill, 
 Jack Glenn tried to get tidings of Rodney. 
 
 The boy blacksmith had vanished as if the ground 
 had opened and swallowed him. Jack saw him last 
 as he went down before the blow delivered by Capt. 
 Samson, and, though he crept back to the bloody field 
 the night after the battle, searching among the still 
 unburied dead, he had failed to find a single trace of 
 his friend. 
 
 The army retired slowly, for Greene was hoping 
 that Rawdon would follow up his advantage, but that 
 wily officer knew when he had enough. 
 
 A week of uncertainty passed. 
 
 The Americans went back to their old camps to pre- 
 pare for another test of strength, and Tories and Whigs 
 rode the adjacent country, up to their old tricks. 
 
 Rodney surely was either dead or a prisoner of war. 
 
 If a prisoner, he was apt to be sent to Qiarleston, 
 then in the hands of the enemy, and destined before 
 the year closed to welcome Greene at the head of the 
 gallant army. 
 
 So beautiful now was wood and field, clothed in 
 green and crimson, that one would hardly believe that 
 
ao4 Vengeance and Victory. 
 
 war was in the land. Flowers bloomed evervAvhere, 
 the breezes were soft and plentiful, and over all lifted 
 the clear blue vault of heaven. 
 
 Jack was on the eve of carrying out a plan through 
 which he intended to enter the British camp at Cam- 
 den in search of Rodnev when he received a note, 
 which turned him to other fields. 
 
 It came from Callaway Manor, and was from both 
 Alice and Dora asking him to visit them. 
 
 As Rodney was not included in the invitation, he 
 supposed that they had heard of Hobkirk's Hill, and 
 he prepared at once to visit the place. 
 
 Night was falling over the landscape when the boy 
 dragoon rode up the tree fringed way to the old man- 
 sion. The silence that surrounded him was ominous, 
 for he had noticed that such a silence in time of war 
 boded a person no good. 
 
 He reached the porch and was dismounting, when 
 a figure seemed to rise from the ground and his arm 
 was eagerly clutched. 
 
 "Am it you, massa?'' inquired a negro's voice. 
 
 "It is me, Cupe. What is it ?" 
 
 "Dar am Tories in de neighborhood. Dey been 
 watchin' de house long befo' dark." 
 
 "Tories?" echoed Jack. 
 
 "Cap'n Samson and his men." 
 
 "What! is that rascal living yet? I had hoped I 
 finished him at Hobkirk's Hill." 
 
Vengeance and Victory. 205 
 
 "He am de livingest man in all dese parts. An' de 
 wust." 
 
 "Right you are as to the latter observation, Cupe. 
 Where are the young ladies ?" 
 
 "In de house. I'm de — de what you call it in wah ?'' 
 
 "The picket." 
 
 "That's it. Take yer hoss round de house, an' dey'll 
 let you in de back way." 
 
 Jack obeyed, and in a short time stood in a semi- 
 darkened room in the presence of the two girls. 
 
 They welcomed and questioned him in low voices. 
 
 They had sent for him to learn, if they could, par- 
 ticulars as to Rodney's present whereabouts. 
 
 Jack was telling all he knew, and was in the midst 
 of his account when Cupe darted across the room. 
 
 "Dey am here !" he cried, in affrighted accents. 
 "Cap'n Samson is jes' outside." 
 
 Remembering the former attack on the manor, Jack 
 sprang to the door and noticed that it had already been 
 effectually barricaded. 
 
 This time there was no demand for surrender. 
 
 Before the inmates of the manor house could think 
 the door was struck a succession of blows which no 
 portal could withstand, and it quivered and fell inward. 
 
 In another moment the Tory band swarmed into the 
 house. 
 
 "Caught you all napping this time !" laughed Capt. 
 Samson as he came forward, backed by his followers. 
 
(</ 
 
 itt 
 
 ao6 Vengeance and Victory. 
 
 Jack laid his hand on his pistol, but did not draw, 
 for half a dozen weapons were thrust into his face. 
 
 As for the girls, they fell back and gave the 
 triumphant foes look for look. 
 
 "I guess you won't forget this call/' resumed the 
 Tory leader. **If I'm not mistaken, you haven't for- 
 gotten the last one. We have the rebellion in North 
 America about suppressed and hangman's day is about 
 to dawn." 
 
 'On which side ?" cried Mistress Alice. 
 
 'On ours, of course. You don't suppose, miss, that 
 the king will let the Whigs pull the rope?" 
 
 Alice, with a look of supreme contempt, turned away. 
 
 "Search the old nest!" commanded Capt. Samson to 
 his men. "I'll take care of the prisoners. If you find 
 anything valuable take it. We are told to confiscate 
 anything we find that belongs to rebels. I don't want 
 you to be mealy-mouthed about this business, boys. 
 After we've searched the nest we'll lighten the heavens 
 with a Httle fire." 
 
 "Brute!" exclaimed Alice, at thought of her home 
 being destroyed by the Tories. 
 
 "That's a compliment, I suppose," grinned Capt. 
 Samson. 
 
 The partisans dispersed in their search, and presently 
 they were ransacking Callaway Manor to their heart's 
 content. 
 
Vengeance and Victory. 207 
 
 One of the boldest cut the portrait of Alice's mother 
 from its frame and twisted it round his arm. 
 
 The eyes of the girl flashed at this. 
 
 In another moment no one was left in the chamber 
 but the prisoners and Capt. Samson. 
 
 He leaned against a table, his large arms folded upon 
 his broad chest, watching the three as the hawk 
 watches the dove it has ensnared. 
 
 "Capt. Samson, what became of my friend, Rodney 
 Black?" questioned Jack. 
 
 "You lost him at Camden, didn't you?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Oh, the flowers are blooming over him already/' 
 was the reply. 
 
 "I don't believe it !" cried the boy, for something in 
 Capt. Samson's manner belied his words. 
 
 "Why ask me, then ?" 
 
 Jack turned away in time to see Alice reach the ma- 
 hogany mantel and jerk something from it. 
 
 In another second Capt. Samson was looking down 
 the muzzle of a pistol. 
 
 The action occupied so short a time that the Tory 
 chieftain could not realize his peril. 
 
 "What did I tell you the night you dragged me from 
 my father's arms just before you hanged him?" cried 
 the fair avenger. "Did I not say that vengeance should 
 be mine one of these days ?" 
 
ao8 Vengeance and Victory. 
 
 Samson fell back and glared at the speaker. 
 
 ''Why not to-night?" continued Alice. *'Why not rid 
 the earth of its greatest curse — the South of its king 
 monster? You cannot blot out liberty in the colonies 
 any more than you can stem the ocean tides with a 
 feather. It will thrive long after you are dust, Capt. 
 Samson. That night of horror witnessed your triumpn ; 
 to-night shall witness the vengeance of Thomas Calla- 
 way's child !" 
 
 Jack held his breath. 
 
 He feared for the fair girl after her shot, but he 
 knew that she intended to settle forever with the Tory 
 of the Carolinas. 
 
 **You need make no preparation for death," she went 
 on, looking over the barrel of the weapon straight into 
 Capt. Samison's face. "For you there is no forgive- 
 ness. I am a daughter of desperation, and my hand 
 to-night avenges more than one dark crime." 
 
 She seem.ed to take a step nearer the speechless man ; 
 he caught what he thought was a movement, and threw 
 out his hand to beat down the pistol, but that instant it 
 flashed in his bearded face. 
 
 There was a cry, a wild throwing up of a pair of 
 long arms, and the body of Capt. Samson fell against 
 the wall. 
 
 Never villain met a more deserved fate. 
 
 "Quick !" cried Jack to the girls. "Fly before the 
 avengers come back !" 
 
Vengeance and Victory. 209 
 
 The three plunged from the house and across the 
 porch. 
 
 Into the dusk they fled, and heard the Tories clatter- 
 ing- back into the room where their leader lay. 
 
 "Halt !" shouted one of the guards outside, but — Jack 
 flashed his pistol in the fellow's face, and they ran on. 
 
 Already the royalists were pouring out of the house. 
 
 The air was filled with cries of vengeance as they 
 hunted everywhere for their prey. 
 
 "Charge! Down with the Tories of South Caro- 
 Hna!" rang out a voice above the imprecations of the 
 baffled band. 
 
 The Tories stopped and heard the clatter of horse's 
 hoofs in the road. 
 
 Past the spot where Jack and the girls had halted 
 dashed a detachment of Americans, and in another mo- 
 ment they were sabering right among the king's men. 
 
 *Tt must be Black Gorman," said Jack, to his com- 
 panions. "They ride like Gorman's men." 
 
 Before this furious charge the Tories, having lost 
 their leader, could not stand long. 
 
 They fell back in dismay and were chased down the 
 road and through the timber. 
 
 "Where are the inmates of the manor?" inquired a 
 loud voice on the porch. 
 
 'Tis Rodney !" exclaimed Jack, as he bounded for- 
 
 (( }' 
 
2 TO Vengeance and Victory. 
 
 ward and appeared at the speaker's side. "So you've 
 come back from the dead, boy ?" 
 
 Rodney turned and threw his arms about his com- 
 panion. 
 
 "As good as back from the dead," he said. "I gave 
 the enemy the slip at Camden, whither I was carried 
 after the battle, and here I am at last, and just in the 
 nick of time." 
 
 ''But you were wounded at Hobkirk's Hill?" 
 
 "Not badly. I thought when I fell under the horses 
 that I had seen my last fight, but I was strangely saved. 
 A giant trooper fell upon me, crushing me into the 
 ground, as it seemed, and that preserved my life. Ah, 
 here are our friends," and Rodney held out his hands 
 to the two girls. 
 
 He then related how he had fallen in with Black 
 Gorman's men, who were on the lookout for Capt. 
 Samson, and how he had followed them to the spot 
 •where they encountered the Tory chief. 
 
 *T'm sorry he got away," Rodney said. 
 
 ""He did not escape. He is yonder." 
 "In the house. Jack?" 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then we have an important prisoner." 
 "But one who will never stretch hemp." 
 They entered the house and Jack held the light near 
 the dark face on the floor. 
 
Vengeance and Victory. 211 
 
 The girls looked on without a word, while Jack told 
 to Rodney the story of the Tory's doom. 
 
 SfC 3|C 3|C 3|C 3|5 3^ ^p 
 
 The next day and the next the two boy dragoons 
 spent at Callaway Manor. 
 
 While there the waves of war did not trouble them. 
 
 When the time came for their departure the two girls 
 accompanied them to Greene's camp, and were intro- 
 duced to the American warrior. 
 
 "As brave as the bravest!" said the gentle Greene 
 as he held their hands. "With men Hke you to strike 
 for liberty, King George will never again enslave his 
 North American colonies. Cornwallis has turned to- 
 ward the Virginias, where Washington and the French 
 await him, and where the last act of this war, please 
 God, who has been with us through light and shadow, 
 will take place." 
 
 "Will you not visit Callaway Manor, some time, gen- 
 eral ?'* asked Mistress Alice. 
 
 *T shall be glad to see your home and enjoy its hos- 
 pitalities," smiled Greene. "But we will wait till we 
 can enjoy them to the full. Then I will come and I 
 know you will have a smile for Nathaniel Greene, for 
 I myself have smiled but little these seven years 
 of war. 
 
 The girls were escorted home, and Jack and Rodney 
 again took up the trade of war. 
 
212 Vengeance and Victory. 
 
 They followed the fortunes of Greene to the end. 
 
 They were with him at the siege of Ninety-Six, they 
 sabered behind Washington at Eutaw Springs, where 
 the British army was crippled beyond repair. They 
 kept close to his side, until one day, after the haughty 
 Cornwallis had delivered up his blade at Yorktown, 
 Greene entered Charleston at the head of his little army 
 amid the shouts of a happy populace. 
 
 This was on the 13th of December, a day long to be 
 remembered in the battle-shattered South, for then the 
 flag of the new nation kissed the breeze, while the flag 
 of England floated droopingly from the vessels that 
 bore forever from these shores the army of George III. 
 
 After the war Dora came into possession of the for- 
 tune due her from the mother country, but at Alice's 
 request continued to reside for some time at Callaway 
 Manor, in whose stateliest chamber one day a double 
 ceremony was performed — graced by some of the 
 heroes of the long struggle. 
 
 The Swamp Fox was there, and so was Col. Wash- 
 ington, the great cavalry leader of the Revolution ; but 
 the most distinguished guest was a portly man, with 
 mild, blue eyes, who gave away the brides. 
 
 Gen. Greene had made a long journey to be present 
 at the ceremonv, and he was received with delisfht bv 
 the hundreds who came from the surrounding region 
 to greet him. 
 
 Callaway Manor was inhabitated for many years by 
 
Vengeance and Victory. 213 
 
 Rodney and Mistress Alice, while a splendid home 
 arose where the old forge once stood, and there was a 
 great deal of visiting between the places. 
 
 Nathaniel Greene lived but a short time after the 
 close of the war. 
 
 He died from the effects of a sunstroke on the i8th 
 of June, 1786, and was laid away with imposing honors. 
 
 One of the great leaders of the Revolution, he has 
 received the adulation of his countrymen for more than 
 a century. Throughout the great struggle he was the 
 firm friend of Washington, whom he loved next to his 
 country ; and it is of him that Washington truly said : 
 
 "Could he but promote the interests of his country 
 in the character of a corporal, he would exchange, 
 without a murmur, his epaulettes for the knot." 
 
 So fought and died this heroic man, and in the years 
 that followed the Revolution many a patriot referred 
 W'ith pride to the times when he fought beneath the 
 banners of the Quaker's son — Nathaniel Greene. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 Arthur Helmuth Perils of the Jungle 
 
 Check "No. 2134 On the Trail of Geronimo 
 
 rrom Tent to "WTiite House "White Mustang 
 
 GBOROB MA]^VII-I^B FBNN:. 
 
 For the past fifty years Mr. Fenn has been writing books for boys 
 and popular fiction. His books are justly popular throughout the 
 English-speaking world. We publish the following select list of his 
 boys' books, which we consider the best he ever wrote. 
 
 Commodore Junk Golden Magnet 
 
 Dingo Boys Grand Chaco 
 
 Weathercock 
 
 ■^ ' ■ - - I.I II _ I . .. ..^-^_ 
 
 B]VSIGB( CI^ARKB FIXCH, U. S. N. 
 
 A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and tho- 
 roughly familiar with all naval matters. Mr. ititch has devoted him- 
 self to literature, and has written a series of books for boys that every 
 
 DAVII> McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia. 
 
 (iii) 
 
Tonng American should read. His stories are full of very interesting 
 information about the nary, training ships, etc. 
 
 Bound for Annapolis Cruise of the Training Ship 
 
 Clif, the Waval Cadet From Port to Port 
 
 Strange Cruise, A 
 
 ^^*^^"^'~™^ »—■ .1 ■ I— I.I — — ■- . ,1 ■ _ I.I ■■II ■■■■■■ ^ ^mm^m^mm^—^m^^ 
 
 ymOLT^ULlXl mURRAY ORAYDOX. 
 
 An author of world-wide popularity. Mr. Graydon is essentially a 
 friend of young people, and we offer herewith ten of his best works, 
 wherein he relates a great diversity of interesting adventures in various 
 parts of the world, combined with accurate historical data. 
 
 Butcher of Ca^Kmpore, The In Barracks and "Wigwam 
 
 Camp in the Snow, The In Fort and Prison 
 
 Campaigning with Braddock Jungles and Traitors 
 
 Cryptogram, The Bajah's Fortress, The 
 
 From Lake to "Wilderness "White Eling of Africa, The 
 
 I^IHUX. FRBDHRICK OARRISOPiT, 17. S. A* 
 
 Every American boy takes a keen interest in the affairs of West 
 Point. No more capable writer on this popular subject could be found 
 than Lieut. Garrison, who vividly describes the life, adventures and 
 tmique incidents that have occurred in that great institution — in these 
 famous West Point stories. 
 
 Off for "West Point On Guard 
 
 Cadet's Honor, A "West 1 oint Treastire, The 
 
 "West Feint Bivals, The 
 
 «—- ^1 I ■ ■ ■ ■ .^ . I I ■ — ■ ■ I ■ - 1 II ■ ■ ^. ■ I I— ■■ I ^ ^ — — , . ■ I — ■ , i_ . - _■ 
 
 The hunt for gold has always been a popular subject for considera- 
 tion, and Mr. Hill has added a splendid story on the subject in this 
 romance of the Klondyke. 
 
 Spectre Gold 
 
 RBXRY HARRISON I^K^WIS. 
 
 Mr. Lewis is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and 
 has written a great many books for boys. Among his best works are 
 the following titles — the subjects include a vast series of adventures 
 in all parts of the world. The historical data is correct, and they 
 should be read by all boys, for the excellent information they contain. 
 
 Centreboard Jim Ensign Merrill 
 
 King of the Island Sword and Pen 
 
 Midshipman Merrill "Valley of Mystery, The 
 
 "Tankee Boys in Japan 
 
 DAVTD McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia. 
 
 (iv) 
 
A series of books embracing many adventures under our famous 
 tfaval commanders, and with our army during the War of 1812 and 
 the Civil War. Founded on sound history, these books are written 
 for boys, with the idea of combining pleasure with profit ; to cntivate 
 a fondness for study — especiiJly of what has been accomplished hj 
 our army and navy. 
 
 Oadet Kit Carey Bandy, the Pilot 
 
 Captain Carey Tom Truxton*s School Days 
 
 Kit Carey's Protege Tom Truxton's Ocean Trip 
 
 I«ieut. Carey's Luck Treasure of the Golden Crater 
 
 Out "With Commodore Deo«lux> Won at West Point 
 
 BROOKS lUcCORMICK. 
 
 Four splendid books of adventure on sea and land, by this well- 
 kncwn writer for boys. 
 
 Giant Islanders, The Nature's Foung 19'obleman 
 
 How He Won Bival Battalions 
 
 ^WAI^XHR MORRIS. 
 
 This charming story contains thirty-two chapters of just the sort of 
 school life that charms the boy readers. 
 
 Bob Porter »t Liakevie'w Academy 
 
 STAP^I^HY XORRIS. 
 
 Mr. Norris is without a rival as a writer of "Circus Stories" foF 
 fcoys. These four books are full of thrilling adventures, but good, 
 wholsome reading for young Americans. 
 
 Phil, the Show^man Young Showman's Pluck, The 
 
 Toong Showman's Bivals, The Toung Showman's Triumph 
 
 UEUT. JAMBS K. ORTOK. 
 
 When a boy has read one of Lieut. Orton's books, it requires no 
 urging to induce him to read the others. Not a dull page in any of 
 them. 
 
 Beach Boy Joe Secret Chart, The 
 
 Last Chance Mine ^0°^ Havens with the WTiit* 
 
 Squadron 
 
 DAVID McKAY, Publislier, Philadelphia. 
 
 (v) 
 
JAMBS OXIS. 
 
 Mr. Otis is known by nearly every American boy, and needs no in- 
 troduction here. The following copyrights are among hia best : 
 
 Chased Through Norway Unprovoked Mutinj 
 
 Inland "Waterways Wheeling for Fortune 
 
 Beuben Green's Adventures at Tale 
 
 OII^BHRX PATXE^. 
 
 Mr. Patten has had the distinction of having his books adopted by 
 the U. S. Government for all naval libraries on board our war ships. 
 While aiming to avoid the extravagant and sensational, the stories 
 contain enough thrilling incidents to please the lad who loves action 
 and adventure. In the Rockspur stories the description of their Base- 
 ball and Football Games and other contests with rival ',lubs and teams 
 make very exciting and absorbing reading *, and few boys with warm 
 blood in their veins, having once begun the perusal of one of these 
 books, will willingly lay it down till it is finished. 
 
 Boy Boomers Jud and Joe 
 
 Boy Cattle King Bockspur Nine, The 
 
 Boy from the West Bockspur Eleven, The 
 
 Bon Kirke's Mine Bockspxir Bivals, The 
 
 sx* OBOROB raxhbor:nb« 
 
 Mr. Rathbome's stories for boys have the peculiar charm of 
 dealing with localities and conditions with which he is thoroughly 
 familiar. The scenes of these excellent stories are along the Florida 
 coast and on the western prairies. 
 
 Canoe and Camp Fire Chums of the Frairie 
 
 Paddling Under Palmettos Toung Bange Biders 
 
 Bival Canoe Boys Gulf Cruisers 
 
 Sunset Banch Shifting "Winds 
 
 ARXBLUR SB^V^BI.1.. 
 
 An American story by an American author. It relates how ft 
 Yankee boy overcame many obstacles in school and out. Thoroughly 
 interesting from start to finish. 
 
 Gay Dashleigh's Academy Days 
 
 I>AVII> McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia. 
 
 Cvi) 
 
CAI»T. I>AVII> SOUXH^WICK. 
 
 An exceptionally good story of frontier life among the Indians in 
 the far West, during the early settlement period. 
 
 Jack "Wheeler 
 
 The Famous Frank Merriwell Stories. 
 
 BURT 1^ SXANOISH. 
 
 No modern series of tales for boys and youths has met with any- 
 thing like the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank 
 Merriwell Stories. There oust be a reason for this and there is. 
 Frank Merriwell, as portr . by the author, is a jolly whole-souled, 
 honest, courageous Amerio-v nd, who appeals to the hearts of the 
 boys. He has no bad habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea 
 that it is not necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. 
 Frank Merriwell' s example is a shining light for every ambitious lad 
 to follow. Twenty volumes now ready : 
 
 Frank Merriwell's School Days Prank Merriwell's Covirage 
 Prank Merriwell's Chums Prank Merriweirs Daring 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Foes Frank Merriwell's Skill 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Trip "West Frank Merriwell's Champions 
 Frank Merriwell Down South Frank MerrlweU's Beturn to Yale 
 Prank Merriwell's Bravery Frank Merriwell's Secret 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Baoes Frank Merriwell's Iioyalty 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour Prank Merriwell's Beward 
 Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield Prank Merriwell's Faith 
 Prank Merriwell at Yale Prank Merriwell's Viotories 
 
 VICXOR. ST. CI.AIR. 
 
 These books are full of good, clean adventure, thrilling enough to 
 please the full-blooded wide-awake boy, yet containing nothing to 
 which there can be any objection from those who are careful as to the 
 kind of books they put into the hands of the young. 
 Coat Away in the Jungle From Switch to Lever 
 
 Comrades Under Castro Little Snap, the Post Boy 
 
 For Home and Honor Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer 
 
 Zip, the Acrobat 
 
 MATTHEU^ IJITHITE, JR. 
 
 Good, healthy, strong books for the American lad. No more in- 
 teresting books for the young appear on our lists. 
 
 Adventures of a Young Atlilete My Mysteriotis Portxin© 
 
 Eric Dane Tour of a Private Car 
 
 Guy Hammersley Young Editor, Tha 
 
 DAVED McKAY, Publisher, Philadelphia, 
 
 (vii) 
 
ARTHUR M. VTEKFIBLrD* 
 
 One of the most popular authors of bojs' books. Here are three 
 of hb beet. 
 
 Ifark Dale's Stage Venture Toung Bank Cleric, The 
 
 Young Bridge Tender, The 
 
 J . — , — —~ 
 
 OAinLB l^IXXBRXON. 
 
 This verj interesting story relates the trials and triumphs of a 
 Young American Actor, including the solution of a verj puzzling 
 mjsterf, 
 
 IToung Actor. A'-ae 
 
 HRXHSX A. ITOUXG. 
 
 This book is not a treatise on sports, as the title would indicate, bat 
 cdates a series of thrilling adventures among boy campeiB in the 
 Hoods of Maine. 
 
 Boats, Bats and Bioycles 
 
 n/LYU^ McKAT, Publisher* Philadelpliia. 
 
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