osted a sentinel. He was too weary even to be troubled with the cares
of his present condition; and, without waiting, therefore, for food, or
seeking to inquire into whose hands he had fallen, or even to turn his
thoughts upon the mysterious train of circumstances that hung over him,
he flung himself upon the couch and sank into a profound and grateful
sleep.

CHAPTER XXII.

AN ADVENTURE WHEREIN IT IS APPARENT THAT THE ACTIONS OF REAL LIFE ARE
FULL AS MARVELLOUS AS THE INVENTIONS OF ROMANCE.

David Ramsay's house was situated on a by-road, between five and six
miles from Musgrove's mill, and at about the distance of one mile from
the principal route of travel between Ninety-six and Blackstock's. In
passing from the military post that had been established at the former
place, towards the latter, Ramsay's lay off to the left, with a piece of
dense wood intervening. The by-way leading through the farm, diverged
from the main road, and traversed this wood until it reached the
cultivated grounds immediately around Ramsay's dwelling. In the journey
from Musgrove's mill to this point of divergence, the traveller was
obliged to ride some two or three miles upon the great road leading from
the British garrison, a road that, at the time of my story, was much
frequented by military parties, scouts, and patroles, that were
concerned in keeping up the communication between the several posts
which were established by the British authorities along that frontier.
Amongst the whig parties, also, there were various occasions which
brought them under the necessity of frequent passage through this same
district, and which, therefore, furnished opportunities for collision
and skirmish with the opposite forces.

It is a matter of historical notoriety, that immediately after the fall
of Charleston, and the rapid subjugation of South Carolina that followed
this event, there were three bold and skilful soldiers who undertook to
carry on the war of resistance to the established authorities, upon a
settled and digested plan of annoyance, under the most discouraging
state of destitution, as regarded all the means of offence, that,
perhaps, history records. It will not detract from the fame of other
patriots of similar enthusiasm and of equal bravery, to mention the
names of Marion, Sumpter, and Pickens, in connexion with this plan of
keeping up an apparently hopeless partisan warfare, which had the
promise neither of men, money, nor ar