appeared more than perilous; it seemed to
him that nothing less than a miracle could bring them off safe from an
encounter at such an amazing disadvantage. He stepped aside and kneeled
by the side of a cannon--and then most fervently prayed that the Lord
God Almighty would be his shield and defence, for nothing less than an
almighty arm could protect him. He continued on his knees till the word
passed along the line. He fully believed that his safety during that
night of peril was from the interposition of God. Again, he said, about
the battle of the Cowpens, which covered him with so much glory as a
leader and a soldier--he had felt afraid to fight Tarleton with his
numerous army flushed with success--and that he retreated as long as he
could--till his men complained--and he could go no further. Drawing up
his army in three lines, on the hill side; contemplating the scene--in
the distance the glitter of the advancing enemy--he trembled for the
fate of the day. Going to the woods in the rear, he kneeled in an old
tree-top, and poured out a prayer to God for his army, and for himself,
and for his country. With relieved spirits he returned to the lines,
and in his rough manner cheered them for the fight; as he passed along,
they answered him bravely. The terrible carnage that followed the deadly
aim of his lines decided the victory. In a few moments Tarleton fled.
'Ah,' said he, 'people said old Morgan never feared;'--'they thought
Morgan never prayed; they did not know;'--'old Morgan was often
miserably afraid.' And if he had not been, in the circumstances of
amazing responsibility in which he was placed, how could he have been
brave?"

[Illustration: GENERAL MORGAN.]

"We seldom hear of a man admitting that he was ever afraid," observed
Hand. "But the man who never knew fear must be possessed of a small
degree of intelligence and no sense of responsibility; neither of which
are creditable. Great generals, and soldiers, in all ages, have boasted
of their freedom from dread under all circumstances. But it is a mere
boast. Fear is natural and useful, and I have ever observed that the man
of most fear is the man of most prudence and forecast."

"Do you mean to say that the coward is the wisest man?" enquired
Kinnison, in astonishment.

"Oh, no. A coward is one who will not grapple with danger when he meets
it, but shrinks and flies. A man who is conscious of dangers to be met,
and feels a distrust of his own power to me