They quickly surrounded him and made him their prisoner.
"Come with us," they said, "and we will teach you that the king's
soldiers are not to be trifled with."
They took him to the British camp.
"What is your name, young rebel?" said the British captain.
"Andy Jackson."
"Well, Andy Jackson, get down here and clean the mud from my boots."
Andrew's gray eyes blazed as he stood up straight and proud before the
haughty captain.
"Sir," he said, "I am a prisoner of war, and demand to be treated as
such."
"You rebel!" shouted the captain. "Down with you, and clean those boots
at once."
The slim, tall boy seemed to grow taller, as he answered, "I'll not
be the servant of any Englishman that ever lived."
[Illustration]
The captain was very angry. He drew his sword to hit the boy with its
flat side. Andrew threw out his hand and received an ugly gash across
the knuckles.
Some other officers, who had seen the whole affair, cried out to the
captain, "Shame! He is a brave boy. He deserves to be treated as a
gentleman."
Andrew was not held long as a prisoner. The British soldiers soon
returned to Charleston, and he was allowed to go home.
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