ard upon thirty miles from
here, on his way towards Charlotte."

"Say you so?" exclaimed Campbell; "then, by my faith, we have no time to
lose! Gentlemen, we will rest but an hour, and then to it, for a night
march. Pick me out your best men and stoutest horses; leave the footmen
behind, and the weakest of the cavalry. This fellow may take it into his
head to show his heels. If I can but tread upon the tail of the
copperhead with one foot, he will throw himself into his coil for
fight,--that's the nature of the beast,--and after that, if need be, we
can threaten him until all our force arrives. Shelby, look to the
immediate execution of this order."

"That's glorious, sergeant," said Henry, who, with his companion,
Robinson, had stolen up to the skirts of the circle of officers during
this conference, and had heard Campbell's order. "I am of this party,
whoever goes. Colonel Campbell," he added, with the familiarity of his
privilege, "the Rangers are ready for you, at any rate."

"There's a mettlesome colt," said Campbell, laughing and speaking to the
officers around him, "that bird shows fight before his spurs are grown.
Pray, sir," he continued, addressing Henry, "what command have you?"

"I consider myself answerable for the second platoon of the Amherst
Rangers," replied Henry, with a waggish sauciness, "and they march this
night, whatever happens."

"You shall serve with me in the staff, master," said Campbell,
playfully, "such fiery young blades must be looked after. Get your men
ready; you shall go, I promise you."

Henry, delighted at the notice he had received, rode off with alacrity
to spread the news.

The council broke up, and the earliest arrangements were set on foot to
make the draught required by the general orders.

Before the day had departed, nine hundred picked men, well mounted and
equipped, were seen spurring forward from the line, and taking a
position in the column of march, which was now prepared to move. All the
principal officers of the army accompanied this detachment, in which
were to be seen the Amherst Rangers with their redoubtable recruits,
Henry Lindsay and the sergeant.

It rained during the night, a circumstance that, however it increased
the toils of the soldiers, but little abated their speed--and, an hour
before daybreak, they had reached the destined point on Broad river: but
the game had disappeared. Ferguson, as we have seen, had pushed his
march on the preceding even