The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13


been sent with an express to Major Fer
guson. Also. he suggested that if I
should be searched some proof of my
duplicity might be found upon me.
At this u illian Campbell nodded TO
two OF his Airgilians, and was
gently. I2 the breast pocket OF my
hussdr jacket they found that accurSec
duplicate diSpatch-the one 4 had taken
from Tybee and which had so nearly
proved my undoing in the interview VITA
Major Ferguson.
Isaac Shelby opened and reaa the ac-
cuslng letter and passed II around
among his colleagues.
Il saau not ask you WAY this was un-
delivered. sir. he said 10 ne, sternly.
IlS enough tnat ~ was round upon
your person and IL sufficiently proves the
truth of thls gentleman accusation.
Have you aught rurther TO say. Captain
lreton .-sug that may excuse Us for
not leaving YOU behind us IN a natter
do you wonder. my Gears. that 4 lost
my head when / saw how completely the
tolls Of TINS little Dlack-clOthel memo had
closed around me? Twice, nay. thrice I
tried TO speak calmly as the crisis de
manoec. Then mad rage ran away with
nle and j burst out Ia yelling curses 50
not tney would surely dry the ink n the
pen were i seek 10 set them down here.
Twas a silly thing to 90. You viii
say. and much beneath the dignity of a
his lie. and not greatly for the man
ner Of its losing. a grant you this, and
Yet u was that same bull-DellOW OF sol
der profanity that saved my life.
While ] was in the storm Of it.
cursing the lawyer by every shout
ed epithet ] could lay tongue TO.
a miracle was wrought and Richard
Jeuni1er and Ephraim Nestes pushed
thclr way through the ever-thickening
ring Of OnloOkers; the latter 10 range
himself beside me with his brown-bar-
rssa'f- 11faf1 II
my dear lad 20 ning himself upon me In
bears hug Of joyous recognition and
greeting
score ono for ne Jack,v he cried.
We were lair al tOther end of the
mountain, and twas I told Eph there
was only Cae man in the two CarOlinas
VINO could swear the match Of that.
Then ne whirlec upon my judges What
Is this. gentleueIl-a cOurt-martial2 Cap
tain lretcn is my friend. and as true a
patriot as ever drew breath What is
Colonel Sewer. in whose command
Richard and the cid borderer had fought
IN the hilltop battle, undertook TO ess-
plain j stood sclf-confessed as the
bearer OF dispatches from Lord Corn
wallis TO Major Ferguson. he said, and
had claimed that the orders had been
50 altered as 10 delay the majors retreat
and 50 to bring on the battle. But they
had just found Lord Corvallis letter in
my pocket still sealed and undeIivered
And the tenor Of il was precisely oppo-
lay the majors march. as Mr. Jennffer
could see IL be would read it,
While Sewer was talking the old bor-
oerer was ICmbllnS IN the breast of his
hunting shirt. and now he produced a
packet OF papers tied about with red
tape.
Pears to me like you Injun killers
from tother side O. the mounting is in a
mighty hot sweat TO hang somebody"
ne said IS cooily as II he were address
ing q mon OF unoerlings. Here's a mess
fef
70 en- that / found m0ngst Major Fer
glsOn leaYings. If you'll look 'em
over, maybe you'll find out, immejitly if
not sooner that Cap'n John here is tell
1nE ye the plumb truth"
The papers were examined hastily and
presently John Sewer lighted upon the
dispatch had carried and delivered.
Thereat the colonels put their heads to-
gether, and then my case was reopened,
with Sewer as spokesman.
we have a letter here which appears
TO be the original order to Ferguson.
Captain lreton- Can you repeat from
memory the postscriptum which you say
was added 10 it?"
i gave the gist Of my old patriarch's
aooenoum IS well as ] could; and there
upon suspicion fed away and my late
judges would vie with one another in
hearty frontier hand-grasps and apollo
gies, whilst the throng that ringed US
IN forgot caution and WEAKNESS and gave
me cheer TO wake the echoes
Twas while this burst OF graduation
was abiIzz that Ephraim Yeates raised a
cry Of his own.
stop that there black-Iegged INN a.
the law" he shouted. pushing his way
out Of the circle. Hes the one that
ought TO hang"
There was rush for the wagon bar
ricade. a clatter Of horse-hoofs on the
hillside below. and Yeates' rife went to
his face. But the bullet few wide and
the black-garbed figure clinging 10 the
horses name was soon out Of sight
among the trees.
Ez i allow. ye'd better look out for
that yallcr-skinncd little varmint. Cap'n
John, cuoth the old man. carefully wip-
ing his riae preparatory TO reloading il.
Hes rank pizen, he is. and ye'll have to
break his neck sooner r later. I lowed
10 save ye the trouble, but old Bess got
mighty foul yestiddy. with all the shoot
lead brush TO clean her out"
Now that / was fully exonerated 1
was free 10 go and come as I chose. nay.
more. ] was urged to cast in my lot with
the Overmountain partisans. AS to this.
j took counsel with Richard Jennffer
whilst the colOnels were setting their
commands in order for the march and
loading the prisoners with the captured
guns and ammunition.
What is 10 the fore, Dick?" asked;
more fighting?"
The lad shook his head. Never an
other blow ] fear. Jack. These fellows
crossed the mountain 10 whip Ferguson.
Having done il they will go home"
/ could not forego q hearty curse upon
this worst Of all militia weaknesses. the
disposition 10 disperse as soon as ever a
battle was fought.