Word had been passed for the horses to be saddled preparatory to beginning the march toward King's Mountain, and Nathan and Evan were attending to the steeds which had been provided for them, when a sudden commotion on the outskirts of the encampment caused every member of the troop to look about him in alarm.
The sound of voices in loud, angry conversation could be heard; but it was not possible for the lads to distinguish any words save these:
"He should have been hanged! It was little less than a crime to allow him to live!"
"Of whom are they speaking?" Evan asked in surprise.
"It can be none other than Ephraim, and yet I had supposed he would be forgotten, until after the battle."
"The men must have learned more of his doings, for certain it is that no one has given him a thought during the last half-hour."
A moment later it became evident that whatever had caused this last outburst against the Tory spy was of considerable importance, for the cries of anger were redoubled as a full third of the little army ceased their work of preparation to gather around the officers' quarters.
"Something has gone wrong!" Nathan exclaimed as the confusion increased. "When the command has been given for us to saddle, the men would not spend valuable time crying out against such as Ephraim Sowers. Can it be possible he has escaped?"
"That is an idle proposition, for Joseph Abbott could not have been so careless," Evan replied; but there was a sudden tremor of his voice which told that he was not as confident as the words implied.
The boys no longer gave any heed to their steed; but pressed on toward the throng which was surging around the officers' quarters, until it was possible to hear yet more of that which the excited men said.