"Do you remember, Lance," said Singleton to the boy,--"do you remember the chase we had from the Oaks when Proctor pursued us?""Yes, sir; and a narrow chance it was when your horse tumbled.I thought they would have caught and killed you then, sir; but I didn't know anything of fighting in the woods then.""Keep cool, and there's little danger anywhere," responded Singleton."Men in a hurry are always in danger.To be safe, be steady.But hark! do you not hear them now? Some of them have got upon our track.""I do hear a noise, sir: there was a dry bush that cracked then.""And a voice,--that was a shout.Let us stop for a moment and reload.A shot may be wanted."Coolly dismounting, Singleton proceeded to charge his rifle, which had been slung across his shoulder.His companion did the same.While loading, the former felt a slight pain and stiffness in his left arm: "I am hurt, Lance, I do believe.Look here at my shoulder.""There's blood, sir; and the coat's cut with a bullet.The bullet's in your arm, sir.""No, not now.It has been there, I believe, though the wound is slight.
There! now mount; we have no time to see to it now.""That's true, sir, for I hear the horses.And look now, major! There's two of the dragoons coming through the bush, and straight toward us.""Two only?" said Singleton, again unslinging his rifle.The boy readily understood the movement, and proceeded to do likewise; but he was too late.The shot of Singleton was immediate, and the foremost trooper fell forward from his horse.His companion fled.
"Don't 'light, Lance: keep on.There's only one now, and he won't trouble us.Away, sir!" It was time to speed.The report of the shot and the fall of the dragoon gave a direction to the whole force of the pursuers, whose shouts and cries might now be heard ringing in all directions through the forest behind them.
"They can't reach us, Lance," said Singleton, as they hastened forward."We shall round that bay in a few seconds, and they will be sure to boggle into it.On, boy, and waste no eyesight in looking behind you.Push on; the bay is before us."Thus speaking, guiding and encouraging the boy, the fearless partisan kept on.In a few minutes they had rounded the thick bay, and were deeply sheltered in a dense wood well known at that period by a romantic title, which doubtless had its story."My Lady's Fancy.We are safe now, Lance, and a little rest will do no harm."The partisan, as he spoke, drew up his horse, threw himself from his back, fastened him to a hanging branch, and, passing down to a hollow where a little brooklet ran trickling along with a gentle murmur, drank deeply of its sweet and quiet waters, which he scooped up with a calabash that hung on a bough above.
Then, throwing himself down under the shadow of the tree, he lay as quietly as if there had been no danger tracking his footsteps, and no deadly enemy still prowling in the neighborhood and hungering for his blood.
--From "Mellichampe."
DEFINITIONS:--Partisan, any one of a body of light troops, designed to carry on a desultory warfare.Audacity, daring spirit.Knoll, a little round hill.Shrouded, hidden.Calabash, a dry gourd scooped out.
NOTES.--Marion's Men.During the Revolution, General FrancisMarion was in command of a body of partisan soldiers known by the above title.They were for the most part poorly clad and equipped, but their bravery, self-denial, and patriotism enabled them to do good service in the cause of freedom.Their deeds have been commemorated in Bryant's well-known poem, the first stanza of which is as follows:-- "Our band is few, but true and tried, Our leader frank and bold; The British soldier trembles When Marion's name is told."Tarleton.Colonel Tarleton was in command of a portion of the British forces in South Carolina during the Revolution.He was an able, brave, but merciless soldier.
