Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

114 but he had disappeared. This stamped him as a spy. “Tf we’re behind our gentleman we'll see if we can’t catch up with him,” Marion quietly decided. ‘‘Give orders to mount.” The chase commenced with no sparing of horses for our game must be run down be- fore forming a junction with the legion. It was a race between us and the legion. Tarleton ordinarily took his time. If Threll was a spy and could get word of our plan to the colonel the latter would show a swift pair of heels. The legion would move leisurely and we still believed we stood an excellent chance of delivering the master- stroke, a most eloquent reply to his lord- ship’s order for the colonel to “get at Mr. Marion.”’ Our confidence of overhauling Tarleton was increased by our knowledge of his recent illness. He would need to halt and rest frequently. As we reviewed Threll’s absences from camp we arrived at the satis- fying conclusion he had had no opportunity to warn Tarleton of our scheme ana that his mischief consisted entirely in misquoting Shonts’ report. When we halted that night in a patch of woods our optimism was quite restored. The men were unsaddling and gobbling down their cold rations when a scout re- ported a strange light beyond the woods and in the direction we had been riding. Even as he announced his discovery the light grew into a glow and by the rapid in- crease of its brilliancy we knew some build- ings must be on fire. Marion watched it for some moments, then said to Colonel Horry— “That would be Colonel Richardson’s plantation, wouldn’t’ it?” “I make it that, sir,’ the colonel replied. ‘‘But here comes some one with news.” It was the faithful Shonts and he was exuding curses as he passed through the growth in search of the general. Marion called out— “This way, Shonts.”’ ‘“‘Richardson’s plantation fired by Tarle- ton’s legion. Tarleton and his troop are there with the legion. Two field-pieces. That Threll’s there, too.”’ ‘Watch them.” Then to Colonel Horry— ‘We'll fall back to Jack’s Creek.” The fire blazed higher, painting the heavens brilliantly, and we were fortunate in having the cover of the woods. We Adventure withdrew in excellent order, although each man’s heart was a volcano and his lips hot with oaths against the spy. Apparently Marion accepted the defeat of his plan very philosophically. We retreated expeditious- ly, for Threll’s presence at the Richardson plantation must mean a hot pursuit. Only the legion’s passion for destroying property had prevented us from riding into trouble. We covered the six miles to the creek and fortified ourselves in a wood- yard. In the early dawn a black man rode in to announce Tarleton’s entire force was after us. He had received this message from Shonts, who, he said, would soon be in touch with us. | Had it been a detachment we would have waited and given battle. But the ground was not suitable for engaging the legion and the two field-pieces. We abandoned the wood-yard and there began a most furious chase. Tarleton had been urged to “get at”’ our leader and never had he had such a promising opportunity as now. Tarleton was a bold, smashing campaigner. ‘There was nothing subtle about his work. He al- ways had had the preponderance in num- bers and never hesitated to send his men in. He was held to be his lordship’s best man at the business and yet after all his efforts Marion was in the country and audacious enough to attempt his capture. He must have known that the present affair was pivotal in his career. The general also ap- preciated the desperation of our position if overtaken and quickly changed the line of our retreat. Bem | WE ENTERED an almost impas- wets sable region, consisting of deep swamps and thick timber. Men who knew the intricacies of the desolate tract led the way. When we drew clear of the abomination we were on the south branch of Black River. Already the gen- eral had reconstructed his plans. We did not cross the river, a move that would have assured our safety, but continued down its south bank for ten miles in the hope we might coax Tarleton to send his light horse after us. Tarleton, however, would not allow any separation of his forces. We finally halted at Benbow’s Ferry, where the general was willing to make a stand against the entire strength of the enemy; and this determina- tion although the British post at Kingstree COmiclboo N ) CO