“Is there no man of experience among them?” asked Tom.
“Not one, not one,” answered the burgess, “and it’s a great pity, for they are a fine body of men.”
He shook his head once more and sighed regretfully. Then turning to Tom he continued:
“I sent a messenger to Governor Rutledge asking him to select a leader for this company.”
“What was his answer?”
“He said that there was but one man in the entire South whom he would name as an ideal leader of irregular troops.”
“And that man was——?”
“One Francis Marion.”
Tom started in surprise and then laughed with pleasure.
“Well,” said he to the stout old burgess, “why do you not secure him?”