FRANCIS MARION 343 



I^le; the Swamp Fox himself, that famous guerrilla of 

 Carolina, with his modest person and demeanour, even 

 while he remained the sleepless master of every situation ; 

 the Game Cock, Sumter, with his dash and sensitive 

 pride ; besides William Washington, the nephew of the 

 commander-in-chief, and Lee, and the Huguenot Horry 

 and the rest. 



IV 



In this connection we may well give place to some a stirring 

 verses of one of Simms' ringing martial lyrics which ^^"^ 

 well describes Marion and his men : 



We follow where the Swamp Fox guides, 



His friends and merry men are we ; 

 And when the troop of Tarleton rides, 



We burrow in the cypress-tree. 

 The turfy hammock is our bed, 



Our home is in the red-deer's den, 

 Our roof, the tree-top overhead, 



For we are wild and hunted men. 



Free bridle bit, good gallant steed, 



That will not ask a kind caress, 

 To swim the Santee at our need. 



When on our heels the foemen press — 

 The true heart and the ready hand. 



The spirit stubborn to be free — 

 The twisted bore, the smiting brand — 



And we are Marion's men, you see. 



Now light the fire, and cook the meal — 



The last, perhaps, that we shall taste. 

 I hear the Swamp Fox round us steal, 



And that's a sign we move in haste. 

 He whistles to the scouts, and hark ! 



You hear his order calm and low — 

 Come, wave your torch across the dark, 



And let us see the boys that go. 



