The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13


homestead There is naught left me
save this poor hut and my little maid"
He came a step nearer and faced me
boldly. Listen. sir: Two OF my sons
were left on the bloody field OF Camden.
and the butcher Banastre Tarleton slew
the other two At Fishing Creek. A
month since a band OF rowing savages,
armed with King Georges muskets. mind
you, sir. came down upon US at Northby,
and this little maids mother"
He stopped and choked; and the child
looked I'D into my face with her blue
eyes full Of nameless terror. "Oh, /
want my nanny" she cried. Won [
you find her for me, Captain Jack?"
slipped from the saddle, sull clasping
the little one tightly in my arms.
Enough, sir" I said, when could
trust myself to speak. This same King
Georges minions have made me a home
less outcast. too. live but TO give some
counter stroke. II I may"
'Hav said the old man, starting PACK
"then YOU are for our side? But your
uniform"
rs that Of an Austrian officer. my good
sir. which ] should right gladly exchange
. for the buG and blue, but that can
serve the cause better in this
He dropped the Queen 's-arm, took the
child from me and bade me welcome 70
his cabin and all IL held. But l was not
minded 10 make him a sharer in my pri-
30 said T. Tell me how I may
fnd Gilbert Town and Major ers usoL Ha :
rendezvous. and 1 viii ride while can
see tre waV
Tie looked at me narrowly. Ferguson
left Gilbert Town some days since II
f-fe rb.. place you seek. you are gone iar
out Of your way: = It's the man
'''Tis the man. cut IN hasIAS-
The natriarch shook his head
..if Won he of our side. as you say, he
viii hang you out Of hand
so I can make my errand good care
,s+rlo how soon he hangs me
~sud what may your errand be- May
hap I can help you -. .
-,o-,ntafr men can overtske him.
The old man trembled with excite
mont l.lle a boy going into his first bat
tie
~Ab. II YOU could-if you could" he
cried. But It's too late now. Listen
his present camp is but three miles 10
the westward on Buffalo Creek was
there no longer ago than the "Wednesday.
II made my submission to him-curse
him-so that I might mayhap learn OF
his plans. He told me all; how that now
he was safe: that the mountaineers were
gone on from the fording OF the Broad
on false scent: that Tarleton with 1our
hundred Of the legion would soon be
marching 10 his relief
s'I stole away when I could, and that
night took horse and rode twenty miles
10 Tom Sunter's camp at Flint Hill-all
70 little purpose. ! fear. Poor Tom is
still desperately sick Of his Fishing Creek
wounds and Colonel Lacey was the only
ofacer 1T TO 90 after Shelby and the
mountain men 70 set them straight L
should have gone myself but
eStav. my good friend" said 1; you
70 too fast for me. If Ferguson is still
out Of communication with the main at
Charlotte we may halt him yet
The old man made a gesture OF impa-
Iris thing done because IL is as
good as done. The major will break
camp and march tomorrow morning. and
he can reach Charlotte at ease in two
DAYS What with their losing OF his
trail the mountain men are those same
two days behind him"
said / Have you ever an inkhorn and
g quill in your cabinT
Both; at your service, sir. But can
not understand"
I'VE may call it the little maids judg-
ment on those who have made her father
less. But for her stopping Of me L
should have come unprepared into the
camp Of the enemy. / am the bearer or
q letter from Lord CORVALLIS TO this
same Major Ferguson"
.'You2-a bearer Of Lord Corvallis
dispatches2" The old man put blade s
length between US and held the little one
aIoft as II he feared I might do her a
mischief. Laughed and bade him be
comfOrted.
"'Tis a long story and I may not take
Atle time to tell It now. But a word will
suffice Like yourself I made my sub
mission-and for the same purpose. My
lord accepted II and made me his dis
y r~r~r-N
the way to Ferguson when no one else
knew IT, But enough OF this; time
presses. Let me have ink and the quill"
The old man led the way into the cabin
and nut his writing tools at my disposal.
Left TO myself. ] should have broken the
seal Of the packet. but my wise old ally,
cool and collected now. showed me how
20 eplft The paper beneath the wax.
Onened and spread before us on the rude
slab table the letter proved TO be the
lriefest Of military commands: per-
ernptcrv order to Ferguson to rejoin the
r.lain body ct once. proceeding by forced
marches II needful and on no account to
risk engagement with the Over-mountsin
men.
How to change such an order 70 re-
verse its effect. / knew no more than a
yokel: but here again my ancient ally
showed himself to be a man of parts.
Dressing the pen to make It the fellow
Of that used by my Lord CORVALLIS. he
scanned the handwriting Of the letter
closely, made a few practice pothoo6s to
get the initiative hang Of il, and wrote
this postscriptum at the bottom Of the
sheet.
Since writing the foregoing I have
your courier and his dispatches. Lieu
tenant Colonel TarletOn with four hun
dred OF his legion will take the road for
you tonight. II battle is forced upon
NJ. make a stand and hold the enemy in
check TIL reinforceme1ts come.
"cORNWALLIS"
The old man sanded the wet pen
strokes and bade me say IL IL would
serve. Twas a most beautiful forgery.
Ny lords Grabbed handwriting was cop
lel 10 2 rLcntr and Of the two sic-na tlIres