Page:The Partisan (revised).djvu/170

 Thus, you see, we are all engaged or preparing&mdash;all but you, of the parishes. You either hug the knees of your invaders, or sleep on, to escape the sense of shame: all but your Washington, who, I am told, still contrives to keep his horse together, though sadly cut up while under White and Baylor."

"True, true,&mdash;our people here are but too much disposed to submission. They have given up in despair long since."

"I reckon that's a small mistake, colonel," said Humphries, interrupting&mdash;"I beg pardon, sir, but I rather think it's not exactly as you say. I don't think our people any more willing to submit than the people on Black River and Pedee, but it's all because we han't got leaders; that's the reason, colonel. I know, of my own knowledge, there's any number will turn out, if you'll only crook a finger, and show 'em the track; but it's not reasonable to expect poor men, who have never ruled before, to take the lead of great people in time of danger."

Humphries spoke up, and spoke justly for the honour of his neighbours. Singleton continued, when his lieutenant concluded&mdash;

"He speaks truly, Colonel Walton, as I can testify. What if I tell you that your people&mdash;here, under your own eye&mdash;are not only ready to take up arms, but that many of them are in arms!&mdash;more, sir,&mdash;that they have already done service in your own neighbourhood, and are ready to do more&mdash;that a promising squad, under my command, now lies upon your own river, and that, in a few days, I hope to join Colonel Marion with a troop of fifty men, gathered from among your own parishioners! These are the people who are so willing to submit, according to your account; pray you, uncle, never write their history."

"Robert, you surprise me."

"Pleasantly, I hope, mine uncle&mdash;it is the truth. The whole was planned by Colonel Marion, from whom I have this duty in charge. Disguised, he has been through your parish. Disguised, he sat at your board, in the character of a tory commissary, and your scornful treatment persuaded him to hope that you might be brought into action. Are you staggered now?"

The colonel was dumb when he heard this narrative; and Major Singleton then proceeded to give a brief account of the little events