Jennifer whilst the
colonels were setting their commands in order for the march and loading
the prisoners with the captured guns and ammunition.

"What is to the fore, Dick?" I asked; "more fighting?"

The lad shook his head. "Never another blow, I fear, Jack. These fellows
crossed the mountain to whip Ferguson. Having done it they will go
home."

I could not forego a hearty curse upon this worst of all militia
weaknesses, the disposition to disperse as soon as ever a battle was
fought.

"'Tis nigh on to a crime," said I. "This victory, smartly followed up,
might well be the turning of the tide for us."

But the lad would not admit the qualifying condition. "'Twill be no less
as it is," he declared. "Mark you, Jack; 'twill put new life into the
cause and nerve every man of ours afresh. And as for the redcoats, if my
Lord Cornwallis gets the news of it in a lump, as he should, Gates will
have plenty of time to set himself in motion, slow as he is."

'Twas then I had an inspiration, and I thought upon it for a moment.

"What are your plans, Richard?"

He shook his head. "I have none worth the name."

"Then you are not committed to Colonel Sevier for a term of service?"

"No; nor to Cleaveland, nor McDowell, nor any. We heard there was to be
fighting hereaway,--Ephraim Yeates and I,--and we came as volunteers."

"Good! then I have a thought which may stand for what it is worth. To
make the most of this victory over Major Ferguson, Gates should be
apprised at once and by a sure tongue; and his Lordship should have the
news quickly, too, and in a lump, as you say. Let us take horse and ride
post, we two; you to Gates at Hillsborough, and I to Charlotte."

"I had thought of my part of that," he said in a muse. Then he came
alive to the risk I should run. "But you can't well go back to
Cornwallis now, Jack: 'tis playing with death. There will be other
news-carriers--there are sure to be; and a single breath to whisper what
you have done will hang you higher than Haman."

I shrugged at this. "'Tis but a war hazard."

He looked at me curiously. I saw a shrewd question in his eyes and set
instant action as a barrier in the way of its asking.

"Let us find Colonel Sevier and beg us the loan of a pair of horses,"
said I; and so we were kept from coming upon the dangerous ground of
pointed questions and evasive answers.

Somewhat to my surprise, both Sevier and Shelby fell in at once with our
project, commending