The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-21

! had left behind Us on that Angus. Sunday
| following the disastrous battle OF Camden
was but little changed. General Gates. with
| the scantiest following. had FASTENED first
| to Salisbury and later to Hillsborough, and
had since been busy striving to reassembls
| his scattered forces.
A few military partisans. Ike my host hsd
| kept the field. doing what the few might
against the many to retard my Lord Corn.
wallts's northward march: and week
earlier the Colonel with his handful OF
mounted rifiemen had dared to oppose his
entry into Charlotte.
Twas no more than g hint TO bis Lord
ship that we were not afraid OF him." said
my doughty Colonel. you know the town.
take it?''
Very WELL indeed"
We'll. we had harasssd him all the way
from Blsir's Mil. and twas midnight when
We reached Charlotte. There we determined
to make stand and give him a taste of our
mettle. We dismounted. took post behind
the stone wall OF the Courthouse green and
under cover OF the fences along tho road"
"Goodi an ambush said L
Hardly that since they were looking
to have resistance. Tarleton was SICK and
Major Hanger commanded the British van.
He charged. end We peppered them srnartly.
They tried 1t again. and this time their
infantry cutflanked US. We abandoned the
Courthouse and formed again IN the east-
ern edge Of the town; and now. bless you!
twas my Lord Charles himself who had
to ride forward and fout at his men for
their want Of enterprise"
But you could never hope to hold on
against such oddsH' exclaimed.
'Oh. no; but We held them for Q third
charge, and beat them back, too. Then
they brought up two more regiments and
we mounted and got Of in tolerably good
order, losing only SIX men killed. But
Colonel Francis Locke was one of these:
and my brave Joe Graham was all but cut
to pieces-a sore blow TO US just now
The Colonel sighed and a silence fen
upon Us. Twas I who broke It to say:
Then We arc still playing q losing hand
In the South. as take itT'
IT'S worse than that. As the game
stands We have played ell our trumps and
have not SO much as q long suit left Corn
wallis VIII go on as he pleases and overrun
the State, and the militia will never stand
Worse still. Ferguson IS of to the west
ward, embodying the Tories by the hundred,
and We shall have ournings and hangtngs
and harryinss to the Kings taste"
I nursed my knee moment and tnsu
said: What may one man do to hcln
Colonel Davier'
He looked Up Quickly. Much. II you
are that man. and you do not value your
Life too highly. Captain Ireton."
You may leave that out of the question:
said I. II shall count 1t the happiest mo-
ment Of my life when I shall have done
something worth their killing me for"
Again he gave me that curious look had
noted before. Then he.lauShed
II you were as young as Major Joe Gra-
ham, and had been well crossed in love
could understand you better. Captain. But,
testing aside. there is thing to do. and
You are the man to do It. Our spies arc
thick in Cornwallis's camp. but what Is
needed Is some master spirit who cari plot
rs well spy for US. Major Ferguson
moves as CORVALLIS pulls the strings
Could we know the Majors instructions
and designs. We might cut him Of. bring
tho Tory uprising to the ground. and 10
hearten the country beyond measure I say
We might cut him of. though know not
where the men would come from to do it,
Weir" said I, when he paused.
The preliminary is some better inforna-
tion than our spies can give US. Now, you
have been an officer In the British service
and"
smiled Truly, and have the honor,
II you please to cal1 It So Of his Lordship's
Also. have that Of Coronaa
Tarleton and the members Of his stan. the
same having tried and condemned mo a.
spy at Appleby Hundred some few weeks
before this chase I have told you of
His face fell Then, Of course. It Is out
Of the question for you to show yourself In
headquarters"
/ rose and buttoned my borrowed coat.
"On the contrary, Colonel Davie I am
more than ever at your service. Let mo
have a cut of your venison and feed for
my horse. and l shall be at my Lords
headquarters al soon as the nag can carry
me there"
CHAPTER XXI.
In which I am Bedded In . Garrs&
"'Tis a very pretty hazard. Captain Ire
.on- But can It be brought of; successfully,
hink your
"As have said, It hangs somewhat upon
he safety Of my portmanteau. II that has
come through unseized to Mr.. Pettigrew at
and 1 can lay hands on 1t, twill
DO half the battle
You say you left It behind you at New
Rerne?'
yes: Mr.. Carey was to forward It as he
.ould" -. 20.
Colonel Davie had given me bite and sup
and was ready to take the road. My plan,
Iuch as It was. had been determined upon.
md to the furthering Of 1t, the Colonel g.
,ad written me q letter to a friend in the =
own who might shelter me for night and
make the needed inquiry for my belongs
ngs. Also. he had given me another letter. .
II which more anon. and had pressed upon
ne a small purse Of gold pieces-a treasure \.
are enough in patriot hands In that i'm
oovertshed time. o.. -i-=-