Surely we had no reason to grumble against fortune on this our first visit in the Upper Carolinas.
Such food as we had was ready cooked, and in order to make camp it was only necessary to lie down among the bushes, where for a time all slept as we had not done during the time of idleness.
The sun was within an hour of setting when I awakened and found my companions lying in restful attitudes, but with open eyes.
They also had satisfied the desire for slumber.
How it chanced that we three remained there without speaking one to another, I know not; but so we did, strangely enough, and because of our unwitting silence were we enabled to accomplish that which had seemed improbable.
Human voices in the distance, but sounding nearer and nearer, attracted our attention, causing all three to rise and seek better concealment, when we saw through the foliage a party of seven armed men coming up the bank of the stream from the south, and proceeding with a certain degree of caution which told that they were in search of something or some one.
Although not absolutely certain, we felt reasonably sure these travelers were enemies, and well we might, considering the fact that nowhere between here and the Carolinas was it known that any friends of the Cause had habitation.
When the party passed where we were in hiding, they had ceased conversation; therefore we had no means of determining who they were, save that all wore portions of a Britisher's accouterments, while our friends still held to the powder-horn and shot-pouch.
Not until they were lost to view in the distance did either of us speak, and then it was Percy who said, much as if he had made an important discovery:
"They are Tories, and searching for General Marion's encampment."