In reply to this speech of our honored general, we told him, in brief,

it was on account of his noble sentiments we had always so highly
esteemed him; that it was on account of these we had already suffered so much,

and were ready to suffer more; and that rather than see our country
in that wretched state which he had so feelingly described,

and which, with him, we firmly believed would be the case
if the British were to get the upper hand, we had made up our minds

to fight by his side to a glorious death.
I never saw such a change on the face of a human being,

as then took place on that of Marion. His eyes sparkled with pleasure,
while in transport he exclaimed -- "Well, now colonel Doyle, look sharp,

for you shall presently feel the edge of our swords."
Soon as night came on we mounted, and took the swamps of Lynch's creek,

though swimming deep, and after a long time spent in plunging and splashing
through the dark floods, we got over, at least about two-thirds of us.

The rest, driven down by the force of the current, were cast ashore
on hills and high banks, which by the freshet were converted into islands;

and there they continued whooping and hallooing to each other all night.
When the welcome light returned, they plunged again into the furiousstream,

and though swept down a good way by the force of the current,
arrived safely on our side where we had prepared some large fires

to dry their clothes and muskets, and plenty of roasted roots and Indian cakes
for breakfast.

As God was pleased to have it, none of us lost our lives, though many did
their great coats, blankets, and saddles, and some few their pieces.

As to myself, I must needs say, I was never so near the other world
in my life. For, as we were borne along down the stream in the dark,

my horse and I were carried under the limb of a tree hung thick
with wild vines, which soon caught me by the head like Absalom,

and there held me fast, dangling in the furious flood, while my horse
was swept from under me. I hallooed for some time like a lusty fellow,

without getting any answer, which made me begin to think my chance was bad.
And, God forgive me for it! I could not help thinking it a sad thing,

that after so many fierce frays and hard knocks with the British and tories,
I should come at last to be choked like a blind puppy, in this dirty swamp:

but God be praised for his good angel, who had brought me through six dangers,
and now took me out of the seventh. For, as I was near giving out,

a bold young fellow of the company overheard me bawling,
and having the advantage of a stout horse, dashed in and took me safely off.

I was afraid at first that my horse was drowned -- but sagaciously following
the rest of the horses, he made his way good, but lost my saddle, great coat,

and clothes. But what grieved me most of all was the loss of my holsters,
with a pair of elegant silver mounted pistols, a present from Macdonald,

and which he had taken from a British officer whom he killed near Georgetown.
Soon as our firearms were dried, and ourselves and horses were refreshed,

we mounted and rode hard all that day, to surprise colonel Doyle.
About midnight we had approached the house of a good whig, who told us

that Doyle had been there, but that warned by an express from Camden,
he had started in great haste, and was certainly by that time

far beyond our reach. We were much puzzled in our minds
for the meaning of this precipitateretreat of colonel Doyle;

however, after one day of welcome rest and high cheer, we faced about,
fully determined, notwithstanding our inferiority of force,

once more to try our fortune with colonel Watson. But in reaching the ground
where we had left him encamped, we got advice that he too,

with all his troops, were gone off, at a tangent, as hard as he could drive.
While we were wondering what could have possessed the British

to scamper thus in every direction, captain Conyers, of Lee's legion,
hove in sight, with the welcome news that the brave colonel Lee was at hand,

coming up full tilt to join us; and also that general Green,
with a choice detachment from the great Washington, was bending

towards Camden, to recover the laurels which the incautious Gates had lost.
These glorioustidings at once explained the cause of the enemy's flight,

and inspired us with a joy which the reader can better conceive
than I express.

Chapter 24.
Marion's method of managing the militia -- sends the author

on another expedition against the tories -- anecdote of Mr. F. Kinloch --
curious dream of black Jonathan, and fortunate escape of Mr. Kinloch --

the author's party surprised by the British, but come off
with flying colors.

The world, perhaps, never contained a partisan officer
who better understood the management of militia than did general Marion.

He was never for `dragooning' a man into the service.
"God loves a cheerful giver, and so do I," said he, "a willing soldier.

To have him such you must convince him that it is his interest,
for interest is every man's pole star. Every man wishes to be happy,

and thereto wishes a happy wife and children, a happy country and friends.
Convince him that all these invaluable blessings cannot be had

without sweet liberty, and you shall have a soldier as brave as Washington. --
For no man, worthy of the name, could ever yet bear to see

his wife, children and friends, enslaved and miserable."
Such was Marion's method of making soldiers. And what with this,

and the cruelty of the British and tories, he had with him, perhaps,
some of as brave and desperate men as ever fought.

"Never ride a free horse to death," he used to say to his officers;
"push, while he is fresh, but soon as he begins to lag,

then lie by and feed high is your play."
For this purpose he always kept a snug hiding-place in reserve for us;

which was Snow's Island, a most romantic spot, and admirably
fitted to our use. Nature had guarded it, nearly all around,

with deep waters and inaccessible marshes; and the neighboring gentlemen
were all rich, and hearty whigs, who acted by us the double part

of generous stewards and faithful spies, so that, while there,
we lived at once in safety and plenty.

We had reposed ourselves but two days in the pleasant wilds of Snow's Island,
before Marion, learning that a part of the enemy were in the neighborhood,

desired me to take captains Clarke and Irwin, with fifty men,
and try if I could not bring him a good account of them.

We encamped the first night on the plantation of Mr. John Withers,
where hearing that Mr. F. Kinloch, our member of Congress,

was at a neighboring house, I sent him the following note.
Honorable Sir,

If in these dangerous times you can think yourself safe
among a handful of militia-men, I shall be very glad to see you at our camp.

As to supper, thank God we can give you a trencher of fat pork and potatoes,
but for bed and furniture, we can promise you nothing better

than earth and sky. I shall place a sentinel on the road to conduct you to,
Honorable Sir, your friend,

Peter Horry.
Mr. Kinloch, who was one of the cleverest men in the world,

instantly set out to come to us, but unluckily missed our sentinel,
and went several miles below us to Mr. Alexander Rose's plantation,

managed by a mulatto driver named Jonathan. The day being nearly spent,
Jonathan very politely urged Mr. Kinloch to alight and spend the night there,

promising him a warm supper and a good bed. Mr. Kinloch accepted
Jonathan's offer very cheerfully, and after taking part of a nice fowl

and a cup of coffee, went to bed. He had not slept long before
Jonathan waked him up, and, with great terror in his looks, told him,

"he was mighty 'fraid there was harm a-brewing."
"Aye, Jonathan! why so, my good lad."

"Oh, sir," replied Jonathan, "such a dream as I have had, sir!
a marvellous bad dream about the enemy's coming upon you to-night, sir!"

"Poh!" quoth Mr. Kinloch, turning himself over for another nap:
"I have dreamed nothing about it, Jonathan. And I'm sure such a dream

ought to have come to me, and not to you: so we'll even go to sleep again,
and trust to heaven."