The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-06
N him i piteous look for mercy.


burst from the lips of the partisan. and
his descending sword glittcrea il, tho;
moonbeams, and fell like a thunder.
bolt upon the skull Of the tory -
When Michael and his conpnniclis
reached the spot, they found Conycrs
gazing sadly upon the corpse Of. his
foe.
sit is all over now: mike" said he
IN a tone Of sadness to his young lieu.
tenant. never sought an enemy
more eagerly, or slew one more re.
iuctantly. | trihcd with and spared
him as long as revenge ranked in INV
heart, and when that was gone slew
him. feel that my DAYS arc now
nearly numbered. One more blow in
the service of my country, and nv.
heart tells me shall be even as he.
save the inslorious cause in which he
iell. But let us return speedily, for
the light may not yet be over"
The party having secured the horse
OF the fallen tory, then returned to the
camp. The battle, if such it could be
called, had already ceased. and when
they reached the spot, they found that
Marion had already posted his scnti.
nels, and taken every prccaution for
his security during the night. The
sumptuous feast prepared by the tories
was eaten by unbiddcn and unexpected
guests. The wearied flmishe,f soldiers
OF Marion fell to the abundant cheer
with well whetted appetitcs, and kept
up the feast to'a late hour of the night.
lhc dclivcfancc of Michael. and the
events of the nig ght's surprised formed
me ch'ci topics OF conversation among
them. Michacl's friends every wh,re
gathered around him with ruda but
hearty congratulations
My situatian was rather a DESPAIR
ate one, boys" said Michael, MS a
crowd of his comrades gathered around
him g but kept in heart when |
heard Raudal's voice from the swamp.
Ills hooiing does the owls but little
credit; it could impose upon. none but
q raw British recruit or drunken tory.'
l. a good reason why Randall acted
! the owl SO badly. n.said QUO, 9. lie lost
his Old blanket at the camp on Pee
Dee, and has had Il bad cold ever since.
But why was all this hootine,
boys, asked Michael "what was the
object of it,"
| We'll, Mike" said an old weather.
beaten rifleman, GIL tell you all
about that. Marion knew he wouIdn't
have minute to spare, and so Some
ten miles before where we struck into
the swamp, he put off dozen of The
boys, under the lead of all old swamp
sucker, who was to ride under whin
and spur, and station. them along the
best crossing on the swamp. agin the
time the General came up, and they
was to signal along from one place to
another by hooting, and they led us
from one to the 6thcf, until we came
out on this side tho swamp. We got
| knocked Off before we reached the
swamp, and SO lost an hour; but
Marion led the way across the swamp
on old Ball, from owl to owl, and he
was SO afraid we'd get here too late,
that he led us across good part Of the
swamp over cypress knees, ard all at
II salop. But Jack Bugslcs, who
knows the swamp.well, was among the
hrst that got over. and he's had you
under his rifle since sunset, aud jacks
rifle throws Il true ball: you know"
And that was jacks rifle then, |
suppose" asked Michael, "that tum.
bled over my hangnan SO opportunc-
Iy?"
"Oh, no." answered dozen, Cap.
tain Conycrs said he'd trust no eve
but his own to draw bead when Your
life was at stake, and SO he did the
business"
IT WAS \ SHOT IN TINE: replied
Michael with much emoticn.
"l.icutenant !illscot," said an officer,
stepping up and tapping him on the
shoulder, you are wanted at the gen.
erals tent.
! Trun," said Michael, starting up.
have not yet paid my respects to
Marion. Lead on, however, and |
F.! will follow"
Marion had already takenposscssion
OF the well-iumishcd tent, 50 lately oc-
cupcd by the leaders of the tories,
who, with many of The misguided men
whom he had scduccd from tho path Of
duty, were sleeping the long sleep of
death on the field Of battle.
| Conycrs and some two or three Of
his most confidential officers were in
the tent with Marion, and they all rose
uD0n thn opfronno Dr Nf;,J,o II