“‘You are sure, Tom, that you know the way?’
“‘Never fear about that, Captain Aylesworth,’ the other replied. ‘I can take you to Colonel Nutter’s plantation on the darkest night. It isn’t over two miles from here, and we’ll be there in time for you to take supper with his family.’
“I am, as you may know, a South Carolinian, and at once recognized the name of Colonel Nutter as that of a rank Tory and a leader of the Tory forces in this part of the colony. Doubtless he was a personal friend of this Captain Aylesworth, who, finding himself near his residence, was going to make him a visit.
“No sooner had I thought of this when there flashed into my brain a plan by which I was certain I could secure your liberty. Motioning my men to follow me, I kept on the trail of the two men until we were well away from the camp. Then we sprang upon them. Taken by surprise, we had no trouble in effecting their capture, and bringing them down to my boat.
“There I made the captain change uniforms with me, and took that of the soldier along for your use when I should find you. Then I returned to the lines. As soon as it was dark enough to conceal my face, I approached the nearest guard, with some misgiving I admit, yet determined in some way to pass him. When he challenged me, I replied:
“‘I am Captain Aylesworth, who passed you an hour or two ago.’
“‘I remember,’ he answered, ‘but you had a man with you then.’
“‘Yes,’ I agreed, ‘and I’ve got to have another, and so have returned for him.’
“He allowed me to pass, but I was not a dozen feet away when he called out abruptly:
“‘The password, sir. You’ll have to give that.’