The broad ax., 1898-08-27

are hereabouts, and they don't want to
take any more from the garrison OF
the fort than they can help. Boys.
mount quickly. We viii station our
selves along the road, and Ne must
rescue the colonel. There II no one
else. and he win be murdered IL We
don't get him"
But. Jeth. what can handful, OF
boys like u dot" asked Arthur Wal
lace. doubtfuliy. why. It would be
folly to even try against all those SOL
diers They'd shoot our heads on be-
fore we could turn around"
we have one to three" declared
Jethro. boldly. Didn't MEion whip
out that squad Of Britishers up on the
Santee last week when he hadn't even
one to ten? That's the way our SOL
diers nghtr proudly.
yes, but we are not Marion" re-
piled Arthur, decidedly.
But we are Marion's menT declared
Jethro, proudly, the IRE of manhood In
his eyes.
The words acted like trumpet call.
Each young soldier buckled on his pis-
tol. seized his rife and sprung to his
horse, shouting: "Marion's men! We
are Marion's men!"
Once through the thicket they halted
about 200 yards from the. edge OF the
public road. for consultation. II was
agreed that they were to divide them
selves into two squads. One squad
was to take up its position in q small
thicket Of pines, with q dense under
growth Of wild myrtle. about an eighth
of mile from the scene OF execution
The other squad was to be concealed
| In a similar thicket Of scrub turkey
oak and myrtle, within 200 or 800
yards Of the first. When the soldiers
from the fort, carrying the old colonel
to execution, were midway between the
two squads the attack was to be MADE
and with all the noise and demonstra-
ton possible. They had not more than
taken their places when the procession
from the fort was seen approaching.
There were twenty soldiers. Eight
were walking four abreast, In 'front.'
the same number behind, while In the
center was the colonel with two SOL
diers on either side Of him. These five
were on horseback The old mans hat
was on. II had fallen, and the soldiers
would not stop to pick Il up. He rode
with head erect, the sunlight cleaning
down upon his silvered locks. His
hands were tied behind his back. but
he held himself proudly up. He looked
what he was, every inch q courtly gen
tIeman, despite the degradation OF his
position.
The procession came along slowly.
Evidently the soldiers were in no hur-
~. Step by step they neared the first
squad of young partisans concealed IL
the thickets.
Suddenly the boot of an owl rang
out. It was answered by another. The
second had barely died away when
there was a quick report Of firearms,
then the clang Of sabers, while later
above the din came the cry Of Marion!
Marioni Marion"
4 a
British soldiers stopped, threw NJ
their heads and stood ready for the
word Of command. The attack had
evidently come from the front, for the
noise and smoke were still apparent
from that direction. As the word was
given the soldiers raised their mus
kets and fred The noise had barely
died away when there vame the Sec
ond attack. this time from a diff
ferent direction. The soldiers turned
In CONSERVATION. They were attacked
also from the rear. Something like 9
panic ensued. Just as II was develop
ing itself very perceptibly there arose
that dreaded cry of Marion! Marion
MarionP' q name that at that time new
er failed to carry terror to the heart Of
even the bravest Britisher.
The soldiers were at once thrown In.
to confusion. It seemed to them that
they were being closed In by the en-
envy, and beyond doubt by Marion's
whole army, for were not those cries
Of Marion! MarionI MarionT re.
sounding on all sidesT
The eight men in the rear were ths
first to break ranks and Zee. By max.
ing hasty detour Of the woods to the
right Of them they might yet reach the
fort in safety. The eight In front. see
ing their ranks thus weakened and
hearing the noises Of the combined at
tacks increasing moment by moment
also lost heart as well as courage and
turned in pursuit Of their companions
Only the four about Col. Rutledg.
seemed determined to remain. They
now closed around their prisoner and
for q moment or so showed stubborn
fight. But the next moment, there be
ing q rush on horseback from tn,
woods in two directions, It was NOR,
than even their nerve could stand
wheeling their horses. they, too, Join
ed in the flight. But before turning d
nee two hands had sought to grasp tn,
coloners bride reins and to compel hi