cts to wearied
travellers. Here the whole of our little army were scattered through the
wood; some intent upon refreshing their steeds in the running water,
many seated beneath the trees discussing their own slender means, and
not a few carelessly and idly loitering about the grounds in the
enjoyment of the mere exemption from the constraint of discipline. The
march of the troops on this day had not exceeded ten or twelve
miles:--they might have been said to creep through the woods. Still,
however, they had been in motion ever since the dawn of day; and as they
measured the ground with their slow but ceaseless footfall, there was a
silent disquiet and an eagerness of expectation, that were scarcely less
fatiguing than more rapid and laborious operations.

"Cleveland will certainly join us?" said Shelby, as, in the vacancy of
the hour, he had fallen into company with his brother officers, who were
now assembled on the margin of the brook. "It is time he were here. I am
sick of this slow work. If we do not make our leap within the next two
or three days, the game is lost."

"Keep your temper, Isaac," replied Campbell, who, being somewhat older
than his comrade, assumed the freedom indicated in this reply, and now
laughed as he admonished the fretful soldier. "Keep your temper!
Williams is below, and on the look-out; and most usefully employed in
enticing Ferguson as far out of reach of my lord Buzzard, there at
Charlotte, as we could wish him. Ben Cleveland will be with us all in
good time: take my word for that. You forget that he had to muster his
lads from Wilkes and Surry both."

"And Brandon and Lacy are yet to join us," said M'Dowell.

"Damn it, they should be here, man!" interrupted Shelby again; "I hate
this creaking of my boots upon the soft grass, as if we had come to fish
for gudgeons. I am for greasing our horses' heels and putting them to
service."

"You were always a hot-headed devil," interrupted Campbell again, "and
have wasted more shoe-leather than discretion in this world, by at least
ten to one. You are huntsman enough to know, Isaac, that it is sometimes
well to steal round the game to get the wind of them. Your headlong
haste would only do us harm."

"You!" rejoined Shelby, with a laugh, excited by Campbell's face of good
humor. "Verily, you are a pattern of sobriety and moderation yourself,
to be preaching caution to us youngsters! All wisdom, forecast, and
discretion, I suppose, have taken u