The rest dropped off by degrees as they approached their several hiding-places, lying snug, until they again heard the signal of their commander,--frequently nothing but a whisper,--which once more brought them forth, to turn the pursuit upon their enemies and avenge themselves by sudden onslaught for the ruin of their homesteads.

On this retreat, Marion took with him the two field-pieces which we found him placing in battery on the Pedee a short time before.

His desire to save these pieces was due rather to the supposed effect which their possession had upon the minds of the Tories, than because of any real intrinsic use which they possessed in his hands.

They encumbered his flight, however, and he disposed of them, finally, without compunction.

Wheeling them into a swamp he left them, where, possibly, they remain to this day, the object of occasional start and wonderment to the stalking deer-hunter.