The river seemed but a mile distant, so clear was the air in the mountains, but we journeyed on, hour after hour, until the big yellow moon floated above the hills, and the river faded into the blue shadows of a splendid night.
Mount had thrown aside all caution now. He strode on ahead, singing a swinging air with full-chested lungs:
"Come, all you Tryon County men,
And never be dismayed,
But trust in the Lord,
And He will be your aid!"
And one by one we all took up the stirring song, singing cheerily as we marched in file, till the dark forest rang back word for word.
And I do remember Shemuel, his thumbs in his arm-pits, and cap over one eye, singing right lustily and footing it proudly beside Mount.
Suddenly a light twinkled on the edge of a clearing, then another broke out like a star in the bush, and soon all about us cabin-windows gleamed brightly and we were marching down a broad road, full of stones and stumps, and lined on either side by cultivated land and cabins enclosed in little stockades.
"Shoulder arms! Right wheel!" cried Mount; and we filed between two block-houses, and across a short bridge, and halted, grounding arms under the shadow of a squatty fort built with enormous logs.