The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER XLVIII.
HOW WE KEPT TRYsT AT APPLEB'
HUNDRED

dOW w T. KEPT TR0ST Al ARPLEB1
HUNDRED.
Twas late in the afternoon of the last
day or January when set out to-
gether, Jennifer and l. from the camp of
conference at Sherrard's Ford.
The military situation. lately so crit1-
cal for us, had reached and passed one
of its many subclimaxes Morgan's lit
tie army. with it's prisoners still safe in
hand. was on its way northward to Char
lottesville. in Virginia. and only the Off
GERS remained behind to confer with
General Greene.
For the others. Huger and Williams
were hurrying up from Cheraw TO meet
the general at Salisbury; and General
DAVIDSON, with a regiment of North Car
olina volunteers. was set to keep the
fOrds OF the Catawba.
AS for the British commanders in
tendings. we had conflicting reports. Two
Gays earlier, Lord CORVALLIS had
burned his heavy baggage at Ramsour
Mill and so We had assurance that the
pursuit was only delayed. But whether.
when he should break his camp al For
negS plantation. ne would so northward
after Morgan and the prisoners or cross
the river at some nearhand ford to chase
our main, none of our scouts could tell
US.
We were guessing at this. Richard and
i, as We logged on together down the
river ford. and were agreed that could
my lord cross the flooded river without
loss OF time. his better chance would be
TO fall upon our main at Salisbury or
his crossing, we fell apart.
Lacking another drop of rain. we are
safe for forty.eight hours yet Dick
river rolling its brown flood at our right
as we Jared on. And with two days
start we shall have him burning more
than his camp wagons TO oyertake u" "
Have it so. If you will" said l. TO end
the argument. But this l know: were
Dan Morgan or General Greene, or you
or l, in Lord Corvallis shoes, the two
days would not be lost"
Jennifer laughed. Leave the rest out
Sir Hannibal IretOn. and tell what you
would do he said. mocking me.
We were at that bend in the road
where Jan Howart and his Tories had
sought to waylay US in the cool gray
dawn of a certain June morning when
we were RallOIing this same road to keep
my appointment with Sir Francis Falcon
net. A huge rock makes a promontOry in
the stream just here, and pointed to
water-worn cavity in it where the food
Tapped in and out in gurgling eddieS
You've been sharp to take me up on
my forgetting of the landmarks, but
there is one I've not forgotten said l.
zone day, about the time you were get
ting yourself born. 1 was passing this
way with my father and a company of
the county gentlemen. Twas in the
Seven Years War, and the Cherokees
were threatening us from the other side
The river was in food as il is now; and
l mind my father saying that when you
could see that hole in the rock Macgow-
an Il OIo Mouiu Oe iiO liOle elati al AhPit
..So?" said Richard; then it behooves
us to" He stopped in mid sentence,
drew rein and shifted his sword hilt to
the front.
What is it?" 1 asked
For reply he pointed me to canoe
half hidden in the bushes where road
l laughed An empty pirogue. Shall
we charge and run it throughg'
Hist said he; that canoe was afioat
a minute since. Mark the paddle-tis
dripping yet"
As he spoke an Indian stood up in the
bushes beside the pirogue. holding out
his empty hands in token of amity We
hands with our old-time ally, the Cataw-
ba.
How" said he; heap how! Chief
Harris glad: wahi Make think have to
go to SaTbury to find Captain Longknife
and Captain Jennif'. Heap much glad"
Chief Harris?" 1 queried. Who may
The Catawba drew himself up and
drummed upon his breast
Chief Harris here he answered
proudly. The Great War Chief" by
which we understood he meant General
Greene. say all Catawba take warpath
'gainst redcoat; make Uncanoola head
man; give 'um new name. Wah!
At this we shook hands with him
again. well pleased that our stanch ally
should have recognition at the hands OF
the general. Then l would ask II he
were on the way to raise his tribesmen
to fight with us.
"Bimeby; no have time now; big thing
over yonder." pointing across the river.
'Manitou Cornwall fool Great War Chief,
mebbe. hey?"
How is that?' said Dick; and the
query ELECTED bit of news to make us
prick our ears. The Catawba had been in
the British camp at Forney's. posturing
again as a Cherokee friendly to the
kings side Some sudden movement had
been determined upon. though what il
was to be he could not learn. At the end
of his own resources he had crossed the
river in a stolen pirogue TO find and warn
What say you, Dickg' I asked. when
we had heard the Catawba through.
The lad was holding his lip in his
hand and scowling as one who pits duty
against inclination.
Then he swore 1t out by length and
breadth. and, when the air was cleared.
let me have what was in his mind.
After all. It's like enough we should
Stair will cling to Lord CORVALLIS coat
skirt as long as he can for sheer safety's
sake. At all events, our business must
wait; the countrys veal comes nrst.
the beasts take the water, will you ferry
US across. chief?"
The Catawba nodded. and made the
nod good by setting us dry-shod on the
farther bank of the brown flood BY. the
time we had the horses rubbed down and
resaddled twas twilight in the open and
night dark in the wood; but we were on
our own ground and knew every by-path
through the forest.
So. when we had sent the Indian back
to carry news of US to General Davidson
at the lower ford. and to advertise him
of our purpose, we mounted to begin a
scouting jaunt, keeping to the wood
paths and bearing cautiously northward
toward the enemy's camp at Forney's
plantation.
At times we were close upon the Brit
ish sentries. with every nerve strained
tense for fight or flight; anon we would
be making wide detours through bog and
fen. or beneath the black network of wet
branches with the rain-soaked leaf beds
under foot to make the horses treadings
as noiseless as a cats.
None the less. in the fullnes of time
twas near about midnight as we guessed
tive had our patience well rewarded.
Hovering the confines of the camp we
heard the mufiied drum-tap of the re-
veille. and soon there was the stir Of an
army making ready for the march.
Which way will it be. north or
south?" whispered Dick. when we had
dismounted to cloak the heads of the
horses.