“Not this time, old friend. I ride far, and I must ride hard, and I must ride alone.”
“Then God be with you!”
“May He be with Watauga—with America!” softly added Sevier.
He wrote a few words and handed them to Stetson saying:
“A few lines to Judge Campbell if I’m not here. Now, good night.”
Their hands met, and Stetson reluctantly departed.
Sevier caught up his weapons from behind the table and hastened to his horse corraled back of the court-house. As he threw on the saddle he told the intelligent animal:
“Tonpit and Polcher are ahead of us, old boy. We’ve got to kill Polcher and head Tonpit off. Neither must reach Little Talassee. If we can steal Miss Elsie, then Tonpit’s errand is spoiled. McGillivray won’t trust him till he has the girl as a hostage.”