THE PARTISAN. 219
Bridge. This was a few miles above Dorchester, on
the same river, and immediately contiguous to the Cy-
press Swamp. An old battery and barracks, built by
General Moultrie, and formerly his station, prior to the
siege of Charlestown^ furnished a much more comfort-
able place of abode than that which he had just vaca-
ted. Here he took that repose which the toils of the
last twenty-four hours rendered absolutely necessary.
CHAPTER XVIII.
- Let her pulse beat a stroke the more or less
And she were blasted. I will stand by this ; My judgment is her fsar." Leavino Singleton as we have seen, as soon as the absence of Croggle from camp was certainly known, Humphries hurried on his returning route to the village of Dorchester. Cool and calculating, but courageous, the risk which he ran was far from inconsiderable. How could he be sure he was not already suspected ; how know that some escaping enemies had not seen and given intelligence of his presence among the rebels ; and why should not the fugitive be already in the garrison with Proctor preparing the schemes which were to wind about and secure him ? These questions ever rose in his mind as he surveyed his situation and turned over his own intentions ; but though strong enough as doubts, they were not etiough to turn him from a purpose which he deemed good and useful, if not absolutely necessary. He dismissed them from his thoughts, therefore, as fast as they came up. He was a man quite top bold, too enterprising to be dis- couraged and driven from his plans by mere suggestions of risk ; and whistling, as he went, a merry tune, he dashed forward through the woods, and was soon out of the bush and on the main road of the route — ^not
