how far he was over my famous captain Marion's speed. Presently he hears
that there is to be, next week, a great cock-fight at Dorchester.
Instantly his childish spirits are all on a fever to see the cock-fight.
"Oh heavens! he would not miss the cock-fight for the world!"
But how to obtain leave of absence from the fort at this busy time,
was the rub; however, for such means as he was capable of using,
an invention like his could not long be at a loss. In short,
he went to Marion, with a doleful face, and in piteous accents,
stated that his father, an excellent old man as ever son was blessed with,
was at his last gasp, and only wanted to see him before he died.

The generous Marion, not suspecting that so goodly an outside
could cover such falsehood, did not wait to hear the coming petition,
but instantly granted his wish, unheard -- "To be sure, lieutenant, go,
by all means, go and wait upon your father; but return as soon as possible,
for you see how much we have to do."

The lieutenant affected to be quite overcome with Marion's generosity,
and swore he would be back in two days, or at farthest in three.
As he stepped along by me, he thrust his tongue into his cheek,
and looked prodigiously arch, as if he had achieved a grand exploit.

As soon as he was gone, I told Marion I suspected it was all a trick.
And so it turned out; for instead of hurrying off, as he had pretended,
to see his dying father, he slipt over to Charleston, where,
for fear of being seen by any of our officers, he skulked about
in the lower lanes and alleys until it was time to go up to the cock-fight
at Dorchester.

At length after a fortnight's absence, he came over to the fort,