Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-04-28
aud the young band followed their leader

aud the young band followed their leader
in profound silence.
Twas noble sight! those brave young
spirits setting out TO avengs the wrongs oil
their mothers and sisters: at the risk OF
their own lives, and against fearful odds OF
numbers and experience, but stern resolve
sat upon every brow, and firmly beat each
heart! Soon they approached the spot
where lay encamped The objects OF their
haired; the British numbered twenty. and
were all wrapped in profound sluEber.
Slowly and steal,hily they neared the en-
envy, their hearts beating violently as they
saw them in their power-but not word
escaped their lips their calculations had
been well made, aud they continued to ad-
vance cautiously until they were within
about thirty feet Of The red Goals, when a
gesture from their leader brought them 10
stand. Each boy singled out his man
the command was given in low tone,
and the sharp report Of the fifteen rifles
broke upon the stiffness of the night, and
re. echoed along the hills and crags of Shan
mock Instantly. under cover of the smoke,
they rushedin upon the survivors, and PIN
ioned them ere they could recover from the
sudden surprise! The aim Of the boys had
been fatally true-ffteen soldiers. among
them was Capt. Smith, lay wellering in
their blood, groaning aud nlingling curses
g. execralions with their departing breath!
The Eve prisoners, securely bound,
were marched at once 10 the copse from
which the youthful band had SET ou' there
consultation was held 10 determine their
fate.
Some who had individual wrongs to
avenge were desirous 10 hang them at once
upon the nearest tree. Others, more len
lent, wished 10 allow them soldiers
death. Many and various were the OPT.
MONS aud methods proposed-but they all
agreed TO be guided by the decision Of their
leader, Dan Lount.
During the whole affair, Dan had scarce
ly spoken, except 10 give the necessary
commands, and now when appealed TO to
decide the fate Of the prisoners, he merely
said" To Me DevIL's HALF ACRE !'
Aresponsive save" hurst simultaneously
from all, aud in few minutes they stood
near the mouth Of "the well -
Sin with ,hem,". cried the excited boys,
"here they buried the widow Gale, and
old Pomp! 10 with them, :" and spite the
struggles ofthe captives. they were already
upon. The very ysrse of the yawning pit,
when their, leader exclaimed, Hold !''5.slI
Not YET, boys, said Dan, II wish 70
say aIew words before yon throw shsmsin I
and dfwfiea the prisoner had been led back
few feet, eScontinued in voice tremb-
/ ling with emotion You all kne,s the
widow Gale-you'kuow her lovely daugh
,ters-blithesome, amiable, lighlhearted,
happy girls Y ou know them, but, mol as
I do ;you love them, but not as will as
7. The eldest is my atfianced bride!
My whole soulis wrapped up 10 her-she
is my guiding star-Ilove her better, far
better that my life, and the wrong she has
suffered wrings my very soul! Before
you, you see the guilty perpetrators.
Look 10 them-are they fit 10 live?"
mo, no :" exclaimed each and every
one.
Then my friends. they are not fit to die /!
We have already spilled blood enough for
one night. aud the death of these men will
not repair the wrongs already committed.
What say you?-Will it not be nobler for
to spare their lives ?-Let US leave further
vengeance to the laws, or TO Him who has
said "Veneeuce is Mine !" Fifteen have
already forfeited their lives; may we not
spare the five T.
Though every heart was still burning
for revenge, the example shown by poor
Dan, who had suffered more than any
present, soliened their hearts. and they
allowed themselves 10 be pursuaded.
The prisoners were led down the noun
tain side, aud the mex, murniug taken 10
Somervile aud delivered to company of
Continenlals who were stationed there.
The actors in the scene have oil passed
to that "bourne from whence no traveller
returns" but the recollection of old Daniel
Lount and his matronly wife, is still fresh
in the memory Of the writer.
Boiling Ponds in Ne,o Zealand.-On
the edge Of a great swampy fiat | met with
number of boiling ponds; some of them
Of very large dimensions. We forded a
river fuwing swiftly towards the lake,
which is fed by the SHOWS melting in the
valleys Of the Tongariro. In muddy places
in the bed of this river the water boils up
from the subterranean springs beneath,
suddeoly changing the temperature of The
stream, 10 the imminent risk Of the indivl-
dual who may be crossing. Along whole
tracts of ground l heard the water boiling
violently beneath the crust over which l
was treading. 1t is very dangerous IRA
yelling; for if the crust should break,
scalding to death must ensue. am told
that the Roturua natives, who build their
houses over the hot springs in that district,
for the sake Of constant warmth at night,
frequently meet with fatal accidents OF
this kind; it has happened that when a
party have been dancing on the floor, the
crust has given way, aud the convival as
sembly have been suddenly swallowed up
in the boiling cauldron beneath. Some
of the ponds are go feet in circumference,
| filled with transparent pale blue boiling