Part 15 (1/2)

Here, darting at e, he exclai man!

catch the British? Why, have you not heard that the British are carrying every thing before theulars to pieces; scattered the eneral Gates to Jericho, and to the d---l for what I care?”

”God forbid!” said Marion

”Nay, that is past praying for,” replied ht to have made it sooner

It is too late now”

”Great God!” returned Marion; ”and so our army is lost!”

”Yes,” continued un: and that is not all; for De Kalb is killed; Sumter surprised and cut to pieces; and Charleston illuht for joy”

We could neither of us utter a word

Presentlyeye around on our men, about thirty in number, asked where our troops were

I told hiood old gentleone into fits

He rolled up his eyes to heaven; s them by a sudden jerk to his breast, with a shrill whistle exclai fellow is as mad as a March hare -- Well, I'll tell you what, nephew ofthe planters' boats at this rate, but I would not be in your coat, old”

I asked him what he meant by that?

”Why, I mean,” replied he, ”that if you are not, all of you, knocked on the head in three hours, it will be a wonder”

”Aye! what makes you think so, uncle,” said I

He answered: ”You knowman, Tom, don't you?”

”To be sure I do,” said I; ”I have known Tom ever since I was a boy, and should be confounded sorry to hear Tom prophesy any harm of me; for I have always taken him to be a very true man of his word”

”Yes, I'll warrant hiro, and as black as old Nick, yet I would as soon take Tom's word as that of any white man in Carolina Well, Tom, you know, has a wife at Mr ----'s, as rank a tory as we have hereabouts

On cohty 'fraid you and Col Marion were in a bad box; for, that he got it from one of the black waiters in the house, who overheard the talk, that there are THREE co ready to cut you off”

I looked at Marion and saw battle in his face

My uncle was about to invite us to the house; but Marion interrupted hi;” and turning to his trumpeter, ordered him to wind his horn, which was instantly done

Then placing hi lope; with equal speed we followed and soon lost sight ofthe woods, Marion ordered the troop to halt and form; when, with his usual entlemen, you see our situation! widely different from what it once was Yes, once ere a happy people!

Liberty shone upon our land, bright as the sun that gilds yon fields; while we and our fathers rejoiced in its lovely beaay as the birds that enliven our forests But, alas! those golden days are gone, and the cloud of war now hangs dark and lowering over our heads

Our once peaceful land is now filled with uproar and death

Foreign ruffians, braving us up to our very firesides and altars, leave us no alternative but slavery or death Two gallant armies have been marched to our assistance; but, for lack of coeneral Lincoln, after having been duped and butchered at Savannah, was at last coeneral Gates, after having been imprudently overmarched, is now cut up at Camden Thus are all our hopes from the north entirely at an end; and poor Carolina is left to shi+ft for herself