"Such speculations can be deferred until we have spoken with General Marion," Percy replied as he arose, and after that there was no discussion among us.
To get the horses on their feet without making a noise was no slight task; but we accomplished it after a certain fashion, and led them out of the thicket, not mounting until we were fully two miles away.
After that our progress was no more rapid than if we had remained on foot, for it seemed impossible to urge the animals at a pace faster than a walk, and it appeared to me as if the morning must be near at hand when we were finally come to the encampment.
All our men were not given over to slumber, as was shown by our being challenged before yet we knew how near to us was the military force, and five minutes later we were standing beside our uncle, who, suddenly aroused from his sleep, asked with a note of alarm in his tones:
"What disaster has befallen you?"
We soon gave him to understand that fortune had played us a good turn, and immediately the information was given he became animated.
One would have said he had never known fatigue, to have seen him as he ran toward where General Marion was sleeping, and, shaking the officer into wakefulness, he repeated in a few words our story.
I had supposed the news we brought would cause some sensation in the camp; but never believed it would be acted upon so quickly.
Within fifteen minutes from the time of our being challenged by the sentinel, every man was in the saddle, and Percy, Gavin Witherspoon and myself were riding at the head of the column by my uncle's side, in order that we might point out the place where the soldiers and Sam Lee were encamped.
We now learned that it was midnight; the tired men and their horses had had six hours of rest, and although the advance was not rapid, we pressed forward with greater speed than I had believed possible, our own steeds seeming to be revived by the companionship of the others.