keep him company, were now directed
to take a station amongst the common prisoners, and Butler was furnished
with his horse, and commanded to submit to the particular supervision
of the dragoon. These arrangements being made, the march of Ferguson
commenced.

The army moved cautiously towards the upper sections of the district of
Ninety-Six. It was evident to Butler, from the frequent hints dropped in
conversation by the royalist officers, that Ferguson supposed himself to
be getting every moment nearer to Clarke. In this state of suspense and
weariness the first day's march was concluded.

The second was like the first. Ferguson still moved south, slowly, but
steadily. Every man that was met upon the road was questioned by the
commanding officer, to ascertain whether there was any report of troops
westward. "Had any crossed Saluda--or been heard of towards the
mountains!"--was an invariable interrogatory.

None, that the person questioned knew of--was the common reply.

"Tush! the devil's in it, that we can hear nothing of the fellow!"
exclaimed Ferguson, after the fifth or sixth wayfarer had been examined.
"Clarke and his beggars are flesh and blood--they travel by land, and
not through the air! Faith, I begin to think Cruger has saved us
trouble, and has got his hand on the runaway's croup! James Curry."

The dragoon rode to the front and bowed.

"You left Fort Ninety-Six only on Wednesday?"

"I did."

"Where was Cruger then?"

"Marching towards Saluda, with Brown--following Clarke, as it was
supposed--but on rather a cold scent as one of the couriers reported."

"Humph! I must get still nearer to the mountains," said Ferguson, as he
clenched his teeth and seemed absorbed in thought.

In a short time after this, the column diverged from their former course
by a road that led westward.

Thus ended the second day.

During the next two days, Ferguson had become manifestly more
circumspect in his movement, and spent the greater portion of this
interval upon a road which was said to extend from Ninety-Six, to the
Allegany mountain. Here he remained, with the wariness of the tiger
that prepares to spring upon his prey; and it was with a petulant temper
that, after this anxious watch for forty-eight hours, he turned upon his
heel and summoned his officers around him, and announced his
determination to penetrate still further into the forest. Like a man
perplexed and peevish with crosses, he soon changed his