p their quarters in your wiry-haired
noddle! How in the devil it came to pass, William, that yonder green and
grey shirts should have trusted themselves with such a piece of prudence
at their head, is more than I can guess."

At this moment a soldier pressed forward into the circle of officers:

"A letter for Colonel Shelby," he said, "brought by a trooper from
Cleveland."

"Ah, ha! This looks well," exclaimed Shelby, as he ran his eyes over the
lines. "Cleveland is but ten miles behind, and desires us to wait his
coming."

"With how many men?" asked one of the party.

"The rogue has forgotten to tell. I'll warrant, with all he could
find."

"With a good party, no doubt," interrupted Sevier. "I know the Whigs of
Wilkes and Surry will not be backward."

"From this despatch, gentlemen, I suppose we shall rest here for the
night--what say you?" was the interrogatory proposed to the group by
Shelby.

The proposition was agreed to, and the several officers repaired to
their commands. As soon as this order was communicated to the troops,
everything assumed the bustle incident to the preparation of a temporary
camp. Fires were kindled, the horses tethered, guards detailed, and
shelters erected of green wood cut from the surrounding forest. In
addition to this, a few cattle had been slaughtered from a small herd
that had been driven in the rear of the march; and long before night
came on, the scene presented a tolerably comfortable bivouac of
light-hearted, laughing woodsmen, whose familiar habits at home had
seasoned them to this forest-life, and gave to their present enterprise
something of the zest of a pastime.

In the first intervals of leisure, parties were seen setting out into
the neighboring hills in pursuit of game; and when the hour of the
evening meal arrived, good store of fat bucks and wild turkeys were not
wanting to flavor a repast, to which a sauce better than the wit of man
ever invented, was brought by every lusty feeder of the camp.

At sundown, a long line of woodland cavalry, in all respects armed and
equipped in the same fashion with those who already occupied the valley,
were seen winding down the rugged road which led from the high grounds
to the camp. At the first intimation of the approach of this body, the
troops below were ordered out on parade, and the new-comers were
received with all the military demonstrations of respect and joy usual
at the meeting of friendly bodies of soldiers. S